Chenghua twenty-three years, the sixth day of the first lunar month. To the north of the capital city is Andingmen.
The capital of the Ming Dynasty had nine gates, and entry and exit were extremely particular.
Prison carriages are used at Xuanwu Gate in the south of the city; dragon carriages are used at Zhengyang Gate; and wine carts are used at Chongwen Gate.
To the east of the city, brick and lumber carts go to Dongxuan Gate; grain carts go to Chaoyang Gate.
In the west of the city, coal trucks are used at Fuchengmen and water trucks are used at Xizhimen.
In the north of the city are Deshengmen and Andingmen. Send out troops through Desheng Gate, and return troops through Anding Gate.
Two tall horses came to Anding Gate. A dog trotted after him.
The knights on the two horses were Chang Feng and Fatty Xu. Jinyiwei belongs to the category of "soldiers". In order to get a chance to return to Beijing, they made a large circle and entered the city through Anding Gate in the north of the city.
The gatekeeper Baihu shouted at Changfeng: "Who is it?"
Chang Feng replied proudly: "Jin Yiwei tried hundreds of households, Chang Feng, and returned to the capital on the prince's order to serve as the general of the Han Dynasty in the East Palace!"
The thousands of households guarding the gate did not dare to neglect, and quickly ordered the sergeant to let them go.
Chang Feng rode on his horse and entered the capital with his head held high. Quite a bit like "the spring breeze brings joy to the horse's hoof disease".
Concubine Wan Gui is dead, and the prince's status is stable. As a hero in protecting the reserve, he has a bright future.
Two hours later, the crown prince's bedroom was in the East Palace.
Chang Feng knelt down in front of the Crown Prince Zhu Youtang.
The eighteen-year-old prince Zhu Youtang was sitting in front of the desk, immersed in reading the memorials submitted by the provinces. After two moments, he raised his head and asked, "Are you Chang Feng recommended by Huai'en?"
Chang Feng said: "I, Jin Yiwei, have tested Chang Feng, a hundred households, and have been ordered to serve His Highness."
Zhu Youtang said: "Raise your head."
Chang Feng took the order and raised his head.
This was the first time Chang Feng saw the true appearance of the prince. The prince in his eyes was so young and handsome.
What he didn't know was that underneath Zhu Youtang's handsome appearance, there was a young and mature heart.
So many years of open and covert attacks in the palace have allowed Zhu Youtang to develop a meticulous mind.
Zhu Youtang opened his mouth and asked Chang Feng two questions: "Did you arrange the letter from Cai Zhong's residence? Did you fabricate the disaster in Mount Tai?"
These two questions are Zhu Youtang testing whether Chang Feng is worthy of use.
If you change into a idiot who is very happy with your achievements, you will definitely answer: "Yes, yes, yes! I did it all!"
Zhu Youtang will definitely abandon him.
Chang Feng answered without thinking: "Your Highness, Cai Mansion's letter has only been in that box from beginning to end. I don't know what 'transfer' means."
"Unusual disasters are beyond human control. The earthquake in Mount Tai is a warning from God to protect His Highness. With God's blessing, Your Highness will surely benefit the people and prosper the Ming Dynasty."
Chang Feng is very smart: Anyway, Wynn must have told the prince the whole story. The prince knows all about my achievements.
Only a fool exposed these two things in front of the prince and asked for reward!
Zhu Youtang was extremely satisfied with Chang Feng's answer. He did not answer, lowered his head again, and looked at the memorial: "From tomorrow on, you will be alone."
"You're tired from the long journey, so go down and rest first."
Chang Feng stood up, half-hunched over, and slowly walked back to the dormitory with broken steps.
Liu Jin was already waiting for Chang Feng outside the East Palace.
Liu Jin smiled and said: "Chang Baihu, I haven't seen you for more than two months. I'm fine. Congratulations on your promotion."
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said, "Eunuch Liu. We are happy together."
Liu Jin added: "Eunuch Huai'en sent a letter from Nanjing to explain specifically. After you return to Beijing, you will still live in his foreign residence."
"His outer residence is guarded by a regiment of soldiers and is impregnable. It also prevents anyone in the capital from trying to harm you."
The two of them left the palace and first went to Huai En's residence to settle down.
In the early morning of the next day, Chang Feng entered the palace and waited in front of the East Palace bedroom early, preparing to accompany the prince to attend the royal gate.
Now that Concubine Wan Gui is seriously ill, Emperor Chenghua has not been in court for many days. The imperial administration was handed over to the prince.
Not long after, Zhu Youzang came out with his crown neatly dressed. Chang Feng immediately followed five steps behind him.
At dawn, the prince arrived at Fengtian Gate.
Civil and military officials have gathered.
Xiao Jing, the steward of the East Palace, shouted at the top of his lungs: "Discuss!"
Li Min, the newly appointed Minister of Household Affairs, said: "This is for Your Highness the Crown Prince. Last summer, floods in western Zhejiang destroyed countless dykes and flooded three counties including Jiande."
"I believe that the embankments should be rebuilt in time with the beginning of spring to prevent this summer flood."
Li Min was similar to Wang Shu in that he was also a civil servant who had led soldiers. He once governor of Datong. He has been serving as governor of water transportation for the past two years.
In the past, the Minister of Hubu was concurrently appointed by Liu Jue, the elder who only knew how to spit moxingzi.
After a sudden disaster occurred in Mount Tai and the crown prince's position was consolidated, Liu Jue entered the East Palace late at night to express his intention to surrender and also took credit for the transfer of letters.
On the surface, Zhu Youtang accepted it readily: It's okay to take refuge in me.
But, I think Mr. Liu Ge has to take care of the cabinet affairs and the household department. Really hard work.
Why don't you take the initiative to hand over the Ministry of Revenue, write to the emperor, and recommend Li Min to be the minister.
This is the certificate of submission that Zhu Youtang asked Liu Suina to submit.
As a result, the capable minister Li Min was able to take charge of the household department.
Zhu Youtang said: "What advice does the Chief Assistant have regarding the flood in western Zhejiang? You can inform Li Butang."
The king of fishing, the first assistant Wan An cleared his throat and started the performance between himself and Xini.
Wan An turned to look at Li Min and started to talk nonsense: "Are we talking about your matter? It's not that we won't do it."
"Then but, we haven't said anything, there's nothing we can say! Whatever it is."
"We can't say no. It's up to people to decide. We can find a way. In this way, we will wait until the time comes when you go to court, right?"
"This is ours, right? You should think about this some more, right? When it's over, I'll leave this matter..."
The dignified chief minister, in order not to take responsibility, even said a lot of nonsense when he was listening to the government at the imperial gate. Common people usually describe this kind of nonsense as "eight-character ring fart".
As a Han general, Chang Feng stood behind the prince holding a golden melon. After hearing Wan An's nonsense, he cursed in his heart: Is this the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty's cabinet?
WTF? !
Zhu Youtang felt the same as Chang Feng: How could we manage the Ming Dynasty well with such insects?
Zhu Youtang waved his hand impatiently: "That's enough!"
Wan An stuck his butt out and kowtowed to the ground smoothly: "His Royal Highness, a thousand years old!"
Since Zhu Youtang began to preside over the imperial hearing, Wan An has changed from "Long Live Pavilion Elder" to "Thousand Years Pavilion Elder".
Zhu Youtang said: "I heard that Bai Ang, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, is good at controlling water. He appointed Bai Ang as the imperial envoy and immediately went to western Zhejiang to preside over the reconstruction of the dam."
"Fifty percent of the required silver will come from the Ministry of Household Affairs, and 50 percent will come from the Zhejiang vassal treasury."
Knowing people well and assigning them well is one of Zhu Youtang's strengths.
After the imperial court was over, Chang Feng followed Zhu Youtang back to the East Palace.
Zhu Youtang told Chang Feng: "Take five Han generals, put them into civilian clothes, and go with me to the southern suburbs."
Chang Feng did not dare to neglect, and immediately selected five Han generals and changed into civilian clothes. He left the palace with the prince and escorted him on horseback to the southern suburbs.
Chang Feng didn't know what the prince was doing in the southern suburbs. I didn’t dare to ask any more questions.
While riding the horse, Zhu Youtang asked Chang Feng a question: "It's your first time to attend the Imperial Gate Audition with Gu, what do you think of Chief Minister Wan'an?"
According to the rules, how can a mere Han general comment on the chief minister of the dynasty casually?
But at this time, Chang Feng did not hide his views. He said two words from the bottom of his heart: "Insect!"
These two words speak to Zhu Youtang's heart!
Zhu Youtang turned his head and glanced at Chang Feng. Although he didn't speak, his face showed approval and appreciation.
Zhu Youtang came to the southern suburbs incognito to see someone off.
