The tenth day of the seventh month in the first year of Hongzhi. Chang Feng and others boarded the ship in Hangzhou and returned to Beijing via the canal.
Almost at the same time Chang Feng and others left Hangzhou. There has been a huge fight between fake Japanese and real Japanese along the southeast coast for nearly a year.
Originally, the eight elders of the Four Seas Society just wanted to "administer a small amount of punishment" to the real Japanese.
But once a fight occurs, it is uncontrollable. Both sides were furious.
You Tianjue of Yongning Guard even saw such a strange scene: two groups of Japanese pirates landed along the coast of Yongning. Instead of attacking the city, they killed each other on the beach.
You Tianjue sat on the mountain watching the tiger fight and picked up 1,200 Japanese pirate heads for free.
It doesn’t matter if he is really a Japanese or not. Anyway, they are all Japanese pirates, and they can be exchanged for silver rewards. After watching the thrilling dog-eating-dog scene, why not get a reward for your money?
The Japanese invasion in Southeast China has improved slightly. The Japanese pirates were busy fighting among themselves, and many innocent people were saved from being massacred.
The initiator of all this is Chang Feng.
During this trip to worship Mazu, he not only made a lot of money, but also did a great thing for the people in the southeast.
On the way back to Beijing, Chang Feng got good news. Liu Xiaoyan gave birth to a son for him. According to what he said in the letter, he was named Chang Ponu.
On the first day of August, six imperial envoys and deputy envoys returned to Beijing.
The first thing they did after returning to Beijing was naturally to go to the Qianqing Palace to find Emperor Hongzhi's resurrection.
Chang Feng didn't even have time to return home, and he didn't even have time to see his son. He knelt down with everyone outside the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
Not long after, Wynn staggered out and announced: "Everyone enter the palace."
Chang Feng discovered that Huaien had become much older after not seeing him for more than five months. His face looked very bad.
He knew that Wynn suffered from severe thirst syndrome due to his obesity. But it's only been five months, and he seems to have aged ten years.
Chang Feng and others entered the main hall.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "I have received a memorial from the Fujian Army Bei Dao Yamen. You were in danger on the way to worship Mazu, and you fought side by side with the Yongning Guard soldiers to repel the Japanese pirates and save the Sea God Pearl. You did not embarrass me."
Li Guang hurriedly grabbed the credit: "Report to the Emperor. When encountering Japanese pirates, the old slave had one thought in his mind. Kill the enemy and serve the country!"
"As long as we can protect the people along the southeast coast and protect our territory of the Ming Dynasty, what does it matter if the old slave's life is left in the southeast?"
If it weren't for the fear of losing etiquette in front of the palace, Chang Feng, Fatty Xu, and Yang Tinghe would probably vomit out their breakfast.
Li Guang is so disgusting! In Yongning Acropolis, he didn't even dare to climb the city wall. While others were fighting on the city wall, he was hiding in the city, his face turned pale with fright and his whole body was shaking.
Now that he has returned to Beijing, he calls himself a loyal minister who protects his family and country.
Emperor Hongzhi praised Li Guang: "Well, you have the legacy of Liu Yongcheng."
Liu Yongcheng was a well-known warrior and wise eunuch in the Yongle Dynasty. Emperor Taizong made five expeditions to Mobei, and took Liu Yongcheng with him three times. He repeatedly made meritorious deeds on the battlefield.
Li Guangda was overjoyed: "Your Majesty has given you too much praise. I am too ashamed to deserve it."
Emperor Hongzhi said to Yang Tinghe again: "It is mentioned in the memorial to the Yamen of Military Preparation. As a civil servant, you personally hold the sword to kill the enemy at the top of the city. You can be called Yu Qian's trumpet."
"I think you should stop being the head of the Ministry of Etiquette. Go back to the Hanlin Academy and be a editor."
Chang Feng on the side was a little strange: Yang Tinghe used to be a editor at the Hanlin Academy. The emperor didn't mention rewards for his meritorious service, so why was he demoted?
Emperor Hongzhi added: "You will only have one errand after returning to the Hanlin Academy, and you will participate in the compilation of the true records of the late emperor."
Chang Feng suddenly realized: not everyone can do the job of compiling the emperor's records.
The Emperor's Chief Executive Officer is a member of the cabinet, and the Vice President is a reserve cabinet member.
The other Hanlin editors who participated were also people whom the emperor valued and would be entrusted with important responsibilities in the future.
Waiting for the editing of the actual record to be completed. Yang Tinghe can at least be promoted to a bachelor's degree or a doctor in the Sixth Department.
Yang Tinghe shouted: "I thank the emperor for your kindness."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at his two brothers-in-law with affection again: "You two have also made meritorious service this time. I think I will promote you to the left and right of the Imperial Guard!"
Chang Feng was astonished: To promote two twelve or thirteen-year-old children to the position of Imperial Guardsmen? This is probably the first time since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
After a moment, he felt relieved again: these two little devils were not doing anything in Wei. It’s the same whether you act as an acquaintance or someone else.
Besides, they seriously consider me their eldest brother. Having two little brothers in high positions has only advantages and no disadvantages for me.
Emperor Hongzhi said to Fatty Xu again: "Xu Guangzuo, you are worthy of being a descendant of King Zhongshan. You have not lost anyone of King Zhongshan on the battlefield. I will grant you the rank of General Wu Jie."
Of the six imperial envoys, Emperor Hongzhi praised one and rewarded four. Only Changfeng is left.
Chang Feng thought to himself: Is it my turn? If Qianhu is promoted again, he will be the governor of the town.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand: "You all retreat. Chang Feng stays."
Chang Feng stayed in the hall and knelt. Emperor Hongzhi ignored him and concentrated on reviewing the memorial.
For a whole hour, Emperor Hongzhi didn't say a word to Chang Feng.
Chang Feng was full of questions: What does the emperor mean by this?
Finally, Emperor Hongzhi put down the memorial. He told Wynn: "You and the palace servants will go down first. I want to talk to Chang Feng alone."
Wynn and others go down. Only Chang Feng and Emperor Hongzhi were left in the hall.
Emperor Hongzhi's words were astonishing: "How do you know that those eight Hangzhou gentry and wealthy traders were involved in Japanese business? Is there any evidence?"
"If there is evidence, why didn't you report it to the court? Instead, you pretended to be Japanese pirates and destroyed their family?"
"I pretended to be a Japanese pirate and killed hundreds of people in one night. My hair stood on end after hearing this!"
"If you don't give me a reasonable reason today, I can only kill you. I don't want to leave Mao Xiang, Ji Gang and the like around me!"
Mao Xiang and Jigang were the commanders of the Jinyi Guards in the Hongwu Dynasty and Yongle Dynasty respectively. Known for his cruelty and bloodthirsty, he is a cruel official with a long-lasting reputation.
Chang Feng was dumbfounded: What's going on? How did the emperor get the news so quickly? Who leaked the news?
Could it be that among my two hundred and thirty robes, there are hidden stakes planted by the emperor? who is it?
After a moment, he forced himself to calm down: it no longer mattered who leaked the news. The important thing is to explain the reasons clearly and pass the emperor's test.
Ma Youlu's confession is of great importance. Chang Feng has been hiding close to his body in Feiyu suit.
Originally, he did not want to hand over the confession to Emperor Hongzhi.
Because he was not sure whether the young emperor would trigger a prison in anger after reading the confession. That would endanger the country's foundation. It is very likely that Emperor Hongzhi will entrust him with this major case.
After the case was settled, Chang Feng's life was gone.
Now it’s impossible not to hand over the confession! It can only be a showdown.
Chang Feng knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty. I did not commit murder in vain! Almost everyone in the southeastern officialdom, scholars, and merchants is involved in Japanese affairs and smuggling goods! There are even clan members involved!"
"I can only resort to thunderous means!"
Emperor Hongzhi said: "You are exaggerating. I know a little bit about the Japanese smuggling in the southeast. How can it be so serious that everyone is smuggling with Japanese? And the clan is involved?"
Chang Feng took out the confession hidden in his arms: "Your Majesty, here is a confession of a Japanese criminal. You will know it at a glance."
(End of chapter)
