The capital of the Ming Dynasty was actually divided into rings.
The first ring is the Forbidden City; the second ring is the Imperial City; the third ring is the inner city; and the fourth ring is the entire inner and outer city.
The Forbidden City is within the Imperial City. The imperial city has twelve gates. Each gate is guarded by flag bearers.
It was night on February 11, the second year of Hongzhi.
An official wearing a fifth-grade white pheasant green robe sneaked up to the east middle gate of the imperial city.
The gatekeepers saw that his official robe was of the fifth grade, and thought he might be a counselor or veteran of the General Affairs Department.
At this time, when officials enter the East Middle Gate, there is generally only one situation, and that is that the General Affairs Department has an urgent memorial to submit to the emperor.
The gatekeeper Baihu stepped forward. The moon was dark and the wind was high, and he couldn't really see the official's face clearly. The gatekeepers asked: "Who is this from the General Affairs Department? Do you have a book to send to the palace?"
The official lowered his head and made an old voice: "Uh!"
After saying that, he turned around and left.
The gatekeepers were at a loss. I thought: What a stupid official. I must have found that I didn't bring the zhezi when I arrived at the gate of the imperial city, so I went back to get it.
A general bannerman came over holding a lantern: "Master Lin, what's going on?"
Baihu replied: "It's okay, I met a confused official."
The light of the lantern illuminated the ground in front of Baihu.
Baihu suddenly discovered that there was a letter on the ground where the official was standing just now.
Hundreds of households picked up the letter and saw the letter written on it: "I would like to report on the matter of quelling the rebellion and bringing peace to the imperial captives."
Although the hundred households guarding the banner are warriors, they are not ignorant old men.
He was puzzled. It looks like this is a memorial.
However, when the officials of the Ming Dynasty submitted memorials to the emperor, they used origami paper and could not be packed in envelopes.
Moreover, memorials sent by ministers must be signed. It should be "I would like to report such-and-such to such-and-such official office."
The letter was unsigned and appeared to be an anonymous letter addressed to His Majesty the Emperor.
Let’s say that the official who left the anonymous letter ran away after leaving the sight of the flag-bearing soldiers. I ran for three miles before I could catch my breath.
It happened that a gust of night wind blew through and dispersed the dark clouds. The moonlight shone on his face. This is a young man of eighteen or nineteen years old. That old "uh" sound just now was a fake one on purpose.
An anonymous letter addressed to the emperor was picked up at the gate of the imperial city. Hundreds of households did not dare to neglect it, and reported it to the ceremonial supervisor one by one.
Can the palm prints Xiao Jing and Bing Qian discuss: "Shall we forward this letter to the emperor?"
Qian Neng said: "We have to open it and take a look first. If the letter contains treacherous words, it must not be handed over to the emperor."
Xiao Jing nodded in agreement, opened the letter, and read it.
The anonymous letter spans three thousand words, and its writing is brilliant, but its content is childish.
The general content is as follows: I believe that during the Chenghua Dynasty, the reason why rebellions continued in various parts of the Ming Dynasty was mainly because the world was declining and people's hearts were not ancient.
The minister suggested that the emperor use Confucianism to educate the poor people. If all the poor people restrain themselves and return to their rites, there will be no more rebellions.
In the past dynasties, the northern barbarians repeatedly invaded the south. Mainly because the Northern captives did not practice Confucianism. The minister suggested that the emperor send Confucian scholars to the grassland to teach the northern captives what benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and trust are.
If the northern captives are taught by saints, they will put down their butcher's knife, become a Buddha immediately, and live in peace with the Ming Dynasty forever.
Xiao Jing couldn't laugh or cry: "This is a memorial written by some stupid fool! It's extremely childish!"
Qian Neng couldn't stop laughing: "Sending a few Confucian scholars to the grassland can stop the northern captives from going south to invade? What a big joke."
Xiao Jing said: "I guess the official who wrote this memorial found it ridiculous even after reading it. I'm embarrassed to sign it."
Qian Neng asked: "Burn it?"
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "No. I will give it to the emperor to see. The emperor is very tired when he reviews the memorial every day."
"Show the emperor this letter that looks like a joke. It will make the emperor happy and give the emperor some entertainment."
Xiao Jing took the anonymous letter to Qianqing Palace and presented it to Emperor Hongzhi.
After seeing it, Emperor Hongzhi burst out laughing. After laughing for a while, he asked: "Who wrote the letter?"
Xiao Jing replied: "He is a fifth-grade civil servant. It was dark, and the standard guard guarding the imperial city did not see the man's face clearly."
Emperor Hongzhi suddenly stopped smiling.
Looking at the writing, this person quoted scriptures and had great literary talent. Look at the handwriting, it's neat and strong. Presumably, he must be a two-ranked Jinshi who has read many poems and books.
However, what was going on in this man's head was childish.
This kind of extremely pedantic rotten scholar would be fine if he held a sinecure position in an idle yamen.
If there is an opportunity in the future to be transferred to a local government to be a prefect or prefect, he will definitely harm the local area due to pedantry.
Emperor Hongzhi wanted to find out who this person was. Then give the official department the comment "This person will never be used".
Thinking of this, Emperor Hongzhi ordered: "After tomorrow morning, you give this letter to Chang Feng. Let Chang Feng find out who wrote the letter."
Nowadays, when Emperor Hongzhi has errands, he always bypasses Zhu Ji, the chief shopkeeper of Jinyiwei, and leaves them directly to Chang Feng.
In the early morning of the next day, Chang Feng stood at the end of the military attache's chair and attended the morning court as usual, holding a wat tablet.
The ministers reported more than a dozen things in succession. Emperor Hongzhi handled everything properly.
Chang Feng sighed in his heart: It was worth it to save the prince three years ago. The former prince, the current emperor is a wise king! The people of Ming Dynasty have hope.
At this moment, Yang Shouchen, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, came out: "Report to the Emperor. The morning court time is limited. Because all the ministers have to do errands at noon, and the time cannot be extended."
"The old minister suggested that in addition to the morning dynasty, a noon dynasty should be added."
Yang Shouchen's character is a bit like Hai Rui in later generations. He believed that the emperor should learn from Taizu and Taizong and be model workers.
Xiao Jing's face turned green. Emperor Hongzhi reviewed the memorials until midnight at night. Sleep for two and a half hours at most. Every now and then I have to chat with Queen Zhang. Just take a nap after lunch to catch up on some sleep.
Yang Shouchen's immediate boss Wang Shu also felt that this suggestion was excessive.
Wang Shu said: "The morning dynasty of the Royal Gate is an ancestral system. Have you ever heard of a noon dynasty in the past dynasties? I don't agree with Yang Shilang's suggestion."
Ma Wensheng, Liu Ji, Xu Pu and others all agreed and expressed their opposition to Yang Shouchen's suggestion.
Chang Feng thought: The emperor got off the donkey on the slope to show that he listened to the opinions of the majority, and the matter was over.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongzhi actually said: "I deeply agree with Yang Qing's suggestion. The time in the morning court is limited, and I have no time to discuss many of my country-governing strategies with the ministers in detail."
"I see that I agree with Yang Qing's proposal. Add half an hour to the afternoon court in addition to the morning court."
All the ministers looked at each other.
They only have two words for Emperor Hongzhi at this moment: admiration!
Mingjuns of all dynasties have two iron-clad standards: one is to be diligent and the other is to love the people. Today the emperor has both of them.
Never imagined. Yang Shouchen had to take advantage even if he gained an inch. He actually remonstrated and said: "This is for your Majesty's Majesty. I suggest that we reopen the Great Sutra Banquet."
All the ministers thought in unison: Old Man Yang, you have gone too far!
The so-called Sutra Banquet refers to the imperial lecture hall set up by the emperor to lecture on the Sutra and history. This was made in the Tang Dynasty and continued through the generations.
Lecturers are appointed by bachelors or Hanlin bachelors.
Dajing feast is held three times a month. Carry out on the 2nd, 12th and 22nd day of the lunar month. Two hours each time.
Xiao Jing Feast is held on single days from February to May and August to December every year. Half an hour every time.
There are few emperors in the past dynasties who do not hate Sutra banquets. Not to mention the time it takes, who can stand a bunch of rotten old men chattering in their ears?
Diligent people like Taizu and Taizong could only hold Dajing Sutra feasts at most.
The late Emperor Xianzong was an emperor who liked to lie down. The first thing he did after he ascended the throne was to abolish the Sutra banquet.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongzhi actually agreed again: "This suggestion is very good. Opening a banquet to discuss the scriptures and history will be of great benefit to me. Ready to go! Starting from this month, the large and small halls will be held in the West Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace. Sutra feast!”
Xiao Jing's face turned green again. He felt very sorry for Emperor Hongzhi.
He knew that Emperor Hongzhi had a full schedule of things to do every day. If you hold a large or small sutra feast, you need to take time to rest.
Later generations can find fault with Emperor Hongzhi, saying that the power of civil servants began to expand from the Hongzhi Dynasty to the point where it became unstoppable by the end of the Ming Dynasty.
But everyone has to admit that Emperor Hongzhi is an out-and-out model worker.
Looking at the sixteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty, there were only four model workers: Emperor Hongwu, Emperor Yongle, Emperor Hongzhi, and Emperor Chongzhen.
With tears in his eyes, Wang Shu fell to his knees and shouted: "Long live the Emperor!"
Different from Wan'an. Wan An shouted long live because of the soup.
Wang Shu's shout came from the bottom of his heart, hoping that the model worker Mingjun on the dragon throne would live a long life.
All the courtiers shouted: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor." Without exception, they all came from the sincerity.
After the morning meeting, Xiao Jing found Chang Feng: "Chang Qianhu, come with me to the room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies. I have an emperor's messenger."
Chang Feng followed Xiao Jing into the check-in room. Xiao Jing told him about the anonymous letter.
Chang Feng couldn't laugh or cry after reading the letter: "The person who wrote the letter must be a rotten old scholar."
Xiao Jing said: "The Emperor thinks so too. So I ask you to find this person and send him to the Nanjing Left-behind Yamen to provide for his retirement."
Chang Feng asked for instructions: "Eunuch Xiao, this letter is also a clue. Can I take it away?"
Xiao Jing nodded: "Well, take it away."
Chang Feng returned to Jinyiwei and first sent someone to find Baihu, the flag bearer guard who was on duty at the East Middle Gate last night.
Originally, he wanted Shen Zhou to draw a small picture based on the descriptions of hundreds of households and find people based on the pictures.
I never thought that hundreds of households would say it was too dark. I couldn't see the man's face clearly. I only saw that the official uniform was fifth grade. He sounded fifty or sixty years old.
After Baihu left, Chang Feng discussed with Fatty Xu: "There is a stupid way to find someone. That is to check all the fifth-grade and subordinate officials in Beijing."
"Liubu Langzhong, Yuanwailang, left and right concubines, Hanlin bachelors, counselors of the General Administration Department, and ministers of Shangbao Temple. In total, there are about one hundred and thirty people."
Fatty Xu said: "Then let's check. First make a list and ask them one by one to come to Jinyiwei for tea."
Chang Feng gave up the idea: "It's better not to use this method as much as possible. It will make people jump all over the place. There are always some timid officials among more than one hundred and thirty civil servants. As soon as I heard that Jin Yiwei was inviting me to drink tea, I was frightened. A few are sick."
"Secondly, I am always very fast in dealing with the emperor's mission. In the arson case of Tang Mansion in the twelfth lunar month last year, the truth was found out in six hours."
"Finding the sender of an anonymous letter can't take three days, right?"
Fatty Xu asked: "What should we do?"
Chang Feng looked at the anonymous letter: "There is a clue in it."
Fatty Xu asked: "What clue?"
Chang Feng answered: "Handwriting. A person's handwriting is like a fingerprint, it cannot be changed."
Fatty Xu said: "You can't recognize the handwriting of more than 130 officials."
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I don't recognize it, but people from the General Affairs Department may recognize it."
General Affairs Department, the full name is "General Affairs Department". Responsible for the presentation of internal and external memorials. Similar to the office of later generations.
There are only two ways to submit memorials to officials in the capital. Or submit the memorial to the General Affairs Department for delivery. Or submit it directly to the emperor in the morning.
Chang Feng and Fatty Xu came to the General Affairs Department.
Zheng Ji, the general envoy, heard that Mr. Chang from Jinyiwei was coming, and subconsciously shrank his neck, thinking that he was here to trouble him.
Because Li Zi had served as a general envoy before, and Zheng Ji was his close subordinate at that time.
Zheng Ji said to the handyman who came to report: "Please come quickly. Forget it, I will personally go to greet Chang Qianhu."
Zheng Ji was a civil servant of the third rank, and Chang Feng was a military attaché of the fifth rank. He personally welcomed Chang Feng, which shows how powerful Chang Feng is in Beijing now.
There are many types of power. Winning the emperor's favor is the highest kind.
Chang Feng and Zheng Ji exchanged pleasantries and explained their intention.
Zheng Jichang breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself: I thought I was going to eat Gualuoer from Li Zi Province.
Then Zheng Jidao said: "There is a person in our General Affairs Department who knows the handwriting of Manchu officials."
Chang Feng asked: "Oh? Who?"
Zheng Ji replied: "An old scribe named Fu. He has been working in the General Affairs Department since the early years of Tianshun. He is an old man from the General Affairs Department."
The number of civil servants in Ming Dynasty government offices was limited. Therefore, each government office maintained a large number of scribes. They have no official position and no rank, but every government office cannot do without them.
Youdao is "a court official with flowing water and a scribe with iron strength."
Not long after, Zheng Ji led Secretary Fu to Chang Feng.
Secretary Fu is seventy years old and has lost all his teeth. But he is energetic and energetic.
Chang Feng gave the anonymous letter to Secretary Fu: "Old senior, take a look, which official's handwriting is this?"
Secretary Fu looked at the incense handwriting and said with certainty: "There is no such handwriting among the officials in the capital."
Chang Feng asked: "Senior, are you so sure?"
Secretary Fu replied seriously: "Chang Qianhu doesn't know anything. I have been in the General Affairs Department for more than thirty years. I deal with the names and signatures on the covers of memorials from Beijing officials all day long."
"I can recognize whose handwriting is at a glance."
Fatty Xu on the side was a little disappointed: "Yeah, it was a waste of time."
Chang Feng said: "But the person who threw the letter at the East Middle Gate was wearing an official robe."
Fatty Xu guessed: "Maybe the official robe was stolen."
At this moment, Secretary Fu twisted the letter paper with his hand. He seemed to have discovered something: "This paper."
Chang Feng quickly asked: "What's wrong with this paper?"
Secretary Fu said: "This paper is Songjiang Tan's Note, which is a tribute note from Zhenger's Eight Classics. Only the Inner Court and the Hanlin Academy have it."
"Last year, Songjiang Prefecture paid a tribute of two thousand knives to the inner court. The emperor gave 1,500 knives to the Hanlin Academy."
Changfeng was overjoyed. If we can narrow down the scope of investigation, our visit to the General Affairs Department will not be in vain.
If you target the Hanlin Academy, your errands will be much easier to handle. There are only five fifth-rank officials in the Hanlin Academy: one full fifth-rank bachelor, two ministerial bachelors and two ministerial bachelors each from the fifth rank.
Chang Feng and Fatty Xu turned around and went to the Hanlin Academy and found these five people.
Among the five, those with the best official career prospects are Li Dongyang, a bachelor at the time, and Wang Hua, a bachelor at the time.
Li Dongyang is the vice president of Xianhuang Shilu. A few years later, when the actual records of the late emperor were compiled, it was the day he entered the cabinet.
Wang Hua, a bachelor who serves as a lecturer, was the top scholar in the first class of the palace examination in the 17th year of Chenghua.
In the Ming Dynasty, promotion of civil servants was based on seniority. In terms of seniority, ranking mainly depends on the ranking on the gold list.
Even if Wang Hua, the No. 1 scholar, doesn't achieve much and struggles to qualify, he will at least be able to wear the title of second-rank official in twenty years.
Chang Feng said to the five of them: "Which of the five has submitted a memorial to the emperor recently?"
The memorials of the Ming Dynasty are divided into four types: memorial memorials, memorial memorials, gratitude memorials and congratulatory memorials. The memorial folds are divided into clear folds and dense folds.
Li Dongyang spoke first: "I handed over the report to report the progress of compiling the true records of the late emperor."
Wang Hua said: "I have been to Anzhe."
The other three people also talked about discounts.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I'm not talking about an ordinary memorial. It's the kind without a signature."
Li Dongyang was confused: "A memorial without a signature? Isn't that just an anonymous letter?"
"Chang Qianhu, you are too small for our Hanlin official's character."
"We, Hanlin officials, bluntly say that when we give advice, we do not change our names in office and our surnames in office. It is a petty act to submit an anonymous letter to the emperor."
Chang Feng took out the letter: "Look, whose handwriting is this?"
After five people watched. Li Dongyang said: "Chang Qianhu, this is not the handwriting of the five of us."
Chang Feng was keenly aware that beads of sweat appeared on Wang Hua's face.
Even though it was February, it was still very cold. Why are you sweating so well? There must be something wrong in my heart.
Chang Feng said: "I'm sorry for disturbing you, all bachelors. Please come back."
The five people turned and left.
Chang Feng suddenly shouted: "Scholar Wang, please stay!"
When Wang Hua heard this, he staggered and almost fell down.
Fatty Xu laughed at the side and said, "Why are you so panicked?"
Wang Hua looked panicked: "Ah, I lost my manners, I lost my manners."
Chang Feng said: "Scholar Wang, you are the top of the gold list in the 17th year of Chenghua, and you have a quick mind."
"Back then, my father forced me to memorize your imperial examination essay in one night."
"I don't think such a childish letter could have been written by you."
"But why were you so nervous after reading the letter?"
Fatty Xu threatened Wang Hua: "Master Zhuangyuan, if you have something in your mind, it's better to get rid of it as soon as possible. If a scholar like you goes to prison...cough!"
"We rough guys can handle you as easily as shaking an egg to make it brown."
Wang Hua knelt down with a bang: "You two, please spare the dog!"
Chang Feng frowned: "Your son?"
Chang Feng suddenly remembered that two years ago he went to Qufu to take office, and on the way he met Wang Hua's eldest son, Wang Shouren, who had fainted from hunger.
Chang Feng asked: "Which son are you talking about? Could it be the eldest son Wang Shouren?"
Wang Hua was surprised: "Chang Qianhu actually knows the name of the dog?"
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I don't know. He owed me six pot helmets in Qufu two years ago!"
"Wait a minute, could this anonymous letter be written by him?"
Wang Hua said dejectedly: "This is his handwriting. Chang Qianhu, please spare him. In January of this year, after scratching bamboos for seven days and seven nights, he fell seriously ill and had a high fever. He was afraid that his brain was burned out. .”
Chang Feng was a little strange: "Ge Zhuzi?"
Wang Hua told Chang Feng about "Shou Ren Ge Bamboo" which was later recorded in the history of philosophy.
Last year Wang Shouren went to Nanchang to discuss the marriage with Jiangxi counselor Zhu Yanghe's daughter. When returning to my hometown in Yuyao, the boat passed Guangxin.
Wang Shouren paid a visit to Lou Liang, a master of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism in Guangxin.
Lou Liang told Wang Shouren about the knowledge of studying things to achieve knowledge. Wang Shouren felt like he had found a treasure.
Later, Wang Shouren looked through Zhu Xi's works. Take what Zhu Xi said as truth: "Everything has its appearance, its essence, and its essence, and every plant and tree has its own rationale."
Theory also needs practice. In the first month of this year, in order to practice Master Zhu's theory, he found a pot of bamboo. I sat opposite Bamboo in the bedroom for seven days and seven nights, drinking only water during this period. The intention is to clarify the situation.
However, after seven days and seven nights, Wang Shouren found no "reason". He also got seriously ill.
After his serious illness, Wang Shouren began to behave erratically.
Chang Feng said: "I understand, Mr. Ling became crazy after a serious illness. He wrote this anonymous letter, stole your official robe, ran to the East Middle Gate last night and threw the letter on the ground."
"Please send someone to bring Mr. Ling here. Oh, and by the way, ask him to bring six pot helmets back to me."
There is another update at around 11:30
(End of chapter)
