On the outskirts of the city, Li Guang, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, lives outside his home.
Li Guang sat on the high platform outside the house, admiring the scenery in front of the house.
The peach blossoms in front of the outer house are in full bloom. This peach forest was originally a thatched house of common people.
Li Guang took a fancy to this piece of land, and asked the magistrate of Daxing County to demolish all the thatched houses.
All the peach trees were ten years old. Li Guang bought them at a high price and hired hundreds of people to plant them in front of his outer house.
The outer house is surrounded by a gurgling stream formed by the Yuquan mountain water.
Li Guang is contented with the scenery.
He was right nine years ago. As long as you hold the queen's big white legs tightly, you will be rich and prosperous and can do whatever you want.
In recent years, there have been a mountain of reports about the censor's impeachment. But he served the queen well. Emperor Hongzhi turned a blind eye to the accusations against him.
In addition to serving Empress Zhang wholeheartedly, Li Guang has also been developing his own power among foreign ministers.
However, his power is far less than that of Shang Ming of the previous dynasty. You can only develop some sixth- and seventh-grade petty officials to be your party members.
Li Guang recently planned to make friends with a few people among the six ministries and nine ministers. As his agent in the foreign court.
If you want to sleep, someone will send the girl to you.
Supervisor Gu Dayong came to Li Guang and said, "Godfather, Liu Zhang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, wants to see you. This is the gift he gave you."
Li Guang's eyes lit up: "Liu Zhang?"
He took a look at the gift list and saw that it said 20 shi for yellow rice and 50 shi for white rice.
According to the rules of Li Guang's mansion, if one stone of yellow rice is written on the gift list, it is equal to ten taels of gold.
One stone of white rice is equal to one hundred taels of silver.
Liu Zhang spent a lot of money in order to find a position as a cabinet member. The price is two hundred taels of gold and five thousand taels of silver.
This is just a meeting gift.
Li Guang said seriously: "Go and tell Liu Zhang. If you want to see me, you can take back the gift list first."
"The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water. I am a gentleman, and I believe he is also a gentleman!"
Li Guang loves money as much as his life. When he said this, his heart was bleeding!
But in order to make friends with a minister, Liu Zhang was made his best friend and became his agent in the foreign court from now on. He would rather give up this fortune.
Gu Dayong said: "Then please invite your son to come to the high platform to see you."
Li Guang nodded slightly first, then stood up: "Forget it. I'll greet him in person!"
Not long after, Li Guang welcomed Liu Zhang onto the high platform.
Liu Zhang looked flattered.
Li Guang smiled and said: "Liu Butang, I have admired you for a long time. You can come to my humble home today, it really makes my humble home shine!"
Liu Zhang said quickly: "Eunuch Li's words make me feel ashamed."
The two of them sat down. Li Guang asked someone to serve tea to Liu Zhang.
Li Guang smiled and said: "This is the Shifeng Longjing brought to me by the children from the Hangzhou Weaving Bureau. Liu Butang has a try."
Liu Zhang tasted the product seriously and said: "The fragrance is as fragrant as orchid, and the taste is sweet and refreshing. It is green in color, fragrant, mellow in taste, and beautiful in shape. It is simply the best of the best!"
Li Guangdao: "Liu Butang is really an expert."
Liu Zhang chatted with Li Guang for a while, and then got to the point: "The emperor only loves the queen, and you are the most popular person around the queen."
"I think in the future, Mr. Xiao and Mr. Qian will be the father-in-law. You will definitely be able to take charge of the Supervisor of Ceremonies!"
Li Guang shook his head slightly: "Ahem. Eunuch Xiao is also in charge of the Royal Horse Supervisor and has military power in his hands. Eunuch Huang oversees the East Factory and has factory guards in his hands."
"What do I, Li Guang, mean? I just have the title of Bingbi!"
Liu Zhang smiled slyly: "Yes, I feel sorry for Eunuch Li too. With your ability, you can obviously control greater power."
"You need a helping hand right now."
Liu Zhang and Li Guang hit it off!
Li Guang asked: "I wonder if Liu Butang would be my helping hand?"
Liu Zhang raised his hand and said, "It is my blessing to serve Eunuch Li. It's a pity that I am so understated in the court."
"The Ministry of Industry has the lowest status and the least power among the six ministries. There is a proverb in the officialdom: There are sixteen ministries in the two capitals, and the lowest is the Ministry of Industry."
"I have the name of a ministry, but I don't have the reality of a ministry!"
Li Guang heard Liu Zhang's implication: "Liu Butang plans to move?"
Liu Zhang lowered his voice: "There is a shortage of members in the cabinet. If I can join the cabinet, it will be more convenient for me to serve Eunuch Li in the future."
Li Guang fell into thinking: If I really helped push Liu Zhang to the position of cabinet member, he would definitely be grateful to me!
At that time, I have the favor of the Queen inside and the support of the cabinet minister outside, so I can’t take off!
For officials that I cannot place, I can ask Liu Zhang to help me place them through the cabinet.
Things that are difficult for internal supervisors to do can be done by Liu Zhang, a cabinet member!
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Li Guang said seriously: "Liu Butang is a famous minister. Compared with Wang Shu and Ma Wensheng, he has to make more concessions. I am willing to help you join the cabinet!"
Liu Zhang said quickly: "If Eunuch Li can really help me join the cabinet, I will definitely give you a generous reward."
Li Guang looked angry and slapped the table, "Bang!"
Liu Zhang panicked: "Eunuch Li, did I say something wrong?"
Li Guangdao: "Not only did you say something wrong, it was a big mistake!"
"You and I are as close as brothers. I'm not helping you for your money!"
"Besides, promoting virtuous people for the country is the foundation of loyal ministers! You Liu Butang is a great sage in this world!"
Liu Zhang can do a good job, so he is certainly not a fool. He understood Li Guang's intentions.
This is both an exchange of interests and a political alliance.
Liu Zhang said: "I should have made friends with Eunuch Li long ago."
Li Guang said with a smile: "It's not too late to make friends! Today is sunny and sunny, and it's full of spring. It's a good day."
"How about we become sworn brothers with different surnames?"
Liu Zhang hurriedly said: "I hope Eunuch Li will not give up, I will try my best!"
The two moved their positions and came to the peach blossom forest in front of the outer house.
Gu Dayong prepared yellow paper, fat chickens, incense candles and other sworn objects for the two of them.
The two chopped off the chicken's head and burned the yellow paper. Then pay homage.
"Brother!"
"Second brother!"
"Ah ha ha!"
The peach blossoms are in full bloom, the grass is growing and orioles are flying.
This time of worship, the spring breeze proudly meets a close friend, and the peach blossoms also reflect the altar with smiles.
In this tribute, Bao Guoan has a generous ambition and has made great achievements and displayed his talents.
This bow, we are loyal and courageous, and we will stick together in adversity and never part ways (sorry, I am biased).
After the sworn vows, Li Guang and Liu Zhang formed a political alliance. Finding a cabinet chair for Liu Zhang became Li Guang's top priority.
One day later, Kunning Palace.
Empress Zhang was in the courtyard in front of Kunning Palace, watching Chang Tian leading Zhu Houzhao and Chang Ponu to play hopscotch.
Chang Tian shouted to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Highness is stepping on the line!"
Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "The little princess is talking nonsense. There is no such thing!"
Chang Tian pinched his waist and said, "Let the Queen tell you whether you step on it or not."
Queen Zhang smiled and said: "Zhao'er, you did step on it."
Zhu Houzhao's face tightened: "Huh! The Queen Mother prefers the Little Princess! My eldest companion, do you think I'm going to be alone?"
Liu Jin played tricks: "It seems like he stepped on it, but it seems like he didn't step on it."
Zhu Houzhao made a face at Chang Tian: "Luanluanluo. The little princess is telling lies with her eyes open!"
No matter how old the prince is, he must be careful in his courtesy. Making faces is obviously against etiquette.
But Queen Zhang never paid attention to these details. Zhu Houzhao was her only son with Emperor Hongzhi. The couple doted on Zhu Houzhao to heaven.
At this moment, Li Guang walked up to Queen Zhang, knelt down and saluted: "Queen!"
Ever since Queen Zhang entered the palace nine years ago, she has been taken care of meticulously by Li Guang.
When she first became a princess, she didn't understand the complicated etiquette in the palace. It was Li Guang who patiently taught her step by step.
She doesn't understand the secrets in the palace and the complicated relationships in the harem. It was Li Guang who guided her step by step.
Li Guang was both a slave and a teacher to her.
Empress Zhang said quickly: "Get up quickly, it's so cold on the bluestone floor. How many times have I told you, you are old. You don't have to kneel when there are no outsiders."
After Li Guang got up, he neither spoke nor left.
Queen Zhang asked: "Is something wrong?"
Li Guang lowered his voice: "Something's wrong."
Empress Zhang told Liu Jin: "Take the prince, Princess Wanping and others to play elsewhere."
Liu Jin took the order. Chang Tian carried Zhu Houzhao on his back and walked away holding Chang Ponu's little hand.
Li Guang then spoke: "This is for the Queen. Qiu Ge in the cabinet died of old illness. Now the cabinet is short of members, and the emperor is selecting new cabinet members."
"There is a person who has outstanding abilities and is loyal and loyal. He is really the best choice for cabinet ministers."
"If the queen can follow the example of Empress Changsun of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and recommend talents to the emperor, it will definitely be a good thing to leave in the history books."
Before Li Guang said Liu Zhang's name, Queen Zhang's expression changed drastically.
Queen Zhang is a woman with a great sense of proportion.
She may have been extremely protective of her little brother, protecting her two younger brothers in everything.
But she adheres to a bottom line, that is: the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics!
Queen Zhang Fengyan was furious: "Li Guang, you are confused! Cabinet members are important auxiliary ministers. The selection of cabinet members is related to the foundation of the country."
"You want me to get involved in the selection of new cabinet members? You are harming me!"
"Do you want me to be Wan Zhen'er?"
Li Guang has never seen Queen Zhang so angry!
He quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "This old slave is confused. This old slave deserves to die."
Queen Zhang said: "You are confused! I know that you are greedy for money. I have no objection to taking some filial piety from my subordinates. People without roots should always save some money for old age."
"But today, you actually instigated me to interfere in politics! If I become the second Wan Zhen'er, you will become the second Shang Ming!"
"You should know better than me what Shang Ming's fate will be!"
Li Guang never expected that he would touch Queen Zhang's bottom line and Ni Lin.
He still didn't understand Queen Zhang well enough. Empress Zhang is a typical person who is light on trivial matters but has great righteousness.
Li Guang kowtowed "bang bang bang". Seeing his white hair, Queen Zhang felt a little pity for him: "That's all. I'll pretend that I haven't heard what you just said."
"Don't be so confused again!"
Queen Zhang left Qianguangting.
Li Guangxin said: It's over, it seems that the Queen's path will not work. We can only find another way to promote Liu Zhang to the throne of cabinet ministers.
The next day, Jin Yiwei.
Qian Ning found Chang Feng: "Mr. Chang, our eyes and ears found out that someone went to Eunuch Li Guang's residence yesterday."
Chang Feng frowned: "According to the rules, Jin Yiwei is not allowed to monitor the palace above the young prisoner. How dare you put your eyes and ears near Eunuch Li Guang's residence?"
Qian Ning explained: "How dare I spy on Eunuch Li Guang?"
"It was the eyes and ears of Liu Zhang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, who discovered that Liu Zhang had changed into casual clothes and left the house in a small sedan. The servants behind him were also carrying several large boxes."
"My ears and eyes felt something strange, so I followed him until he reached Eunuch Li's residence."
"My eyes and ears also saw that Eunuch Li and Liu Zhang entered the peach blossom forest to the east of the house. Some young eunuchs brought a sacrificial table into the peach blossom forest, as well as yellow paper, fat chickens, incense candles, etc."
"My ears and eyes judge that Eunuch Li is probably sworn to Liu Zhang."
Jin Yiwei's ears and eyes are indeed very powerful and his mind is very thoughtful. It was actually determined that Li and Liu were sworn brothers.
Chang Feng said nothing, sitting on the chair thoughtfully.
Liu Xiaoyan told him that Liu Zhang had recently sold off his wife's jewelry and seemed to be collecting money to find a cabinet minister.
Today Qian Ning said again that Liu Zhang and Li Guang were sworn sworn friends.
The two events were connected in series, and Chang Feng came to a conclusion: Liu Zhang colluded with the internal prison guards to seek promotion. And the two may have formed an alliance.
However, there is no evidence on this matter. Unlike the imperial censor, Jin Yiwei can hear what is said.
To report to the emperor the illegal activities of officials, there must be evidence.
Chang Feng made up his mind to wait and see what happens.
Censor Changfeng ordered Qian Ning: "Keep an eye on Liu Zhang. Before the new cabinet members are announced to the world, I will know exactly what meals Liu Zhang has eaten every day and which concubines he has slept with."
Qian Ning asked: "Do you want Eunuch Li?"
Chang Feng shook his head: "Jin Yiwei has no right to monitor people above the palace. This is a rule. The rules cannot be broken."
"Eunuch Li is the most popular person around the Queen. We can't touch him easily. Unless...he has done something treasonous."
Qian Ning cupped his hands and said, "Sure. My adoptive father means the same thing."
At this moment, Shi Wen walked in with great loyalty: "Master Chang, something happened!"
Chang Feng asked: "Oh? What's the matter?"
Shi Wenyi presented an official document.
It turned out that Li Dongyang, Liu Daxia, and Xie Qian jointly submitted a petition, suggesting that Emperor Hongzhi issue an order for the Ministry of Household Affairs to take the lead in investigating Jin Yiwei's private treasury. Emperor Hongzhi granted permission and sent three people to come tomorrow to check the accounts.
The reason for checking the accounts is very good: Jinyiwei also belongs to the military attache's yamen. The accounts over the years have been unclear, so there should be an explanation.
Chang Feng couldn't laugh or cry: "At the critical moment of joining the cabinet, why did Li Dongyang do such a thing? These three people have a good relationship with me, and they are all capable ministers, but they are too serious!"
Whether it is ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign intelligence agencies, unclear accounts are a common problem.
How can you run secret errands without secret funds? The flow of funds is not enough for outsiders to understand.
Shi Wenyi said angrily: "These three people are so full that they want to check the accounts of our Jin Yiwei."
Chang Feng is now the boss of Jinyiwei. Of course he has to take care of this matter.
He stood up: "Let's go to the private treasury."
Jinyiwei's private treasury is located next to Fusi's stall in Beizhen. It was obvious and not shy at all.
Who would have thought that someone would check Jin Yiwei's account?
Chang Feng came to the private library.
The accountant Baihu who is in charge of the treasury is nicknamed Big Abacus. As the name suggests, he is a calculating person.
Chang Feng asked Abacus: "How much money is there in private storage?"
The abacus replied: "A total of fifty thousand taels of silver and three hundred taels of gold."
Jin Yiwei had confiscated his house over the years and kept one out of twenty for his private treasury, which was not a small amount.
Although it costs a lot to support ears and eyes and bribe enemy personnel, there is still a lot of money saved.
Chang Feng asked again: "Where are the accounts? How many boxes are there?"
Abacus replied: "There are thirteen boxes and six hundred and fifty volumes of income and expenditure accounts for the past ten years."
Chang Feng said: "The accounts are easy to explain. Just put them in the secret file room and label them as secret files. Foreign ministers like Li Dongyang and others cannot check the secret files without the will."
"As for the silver."
Qian Ning smiled and said: "Master Chang, we have been investigating the 'Ba Zang' for so many years, and this time we have to hide the money to avoid inspection by the civil servants."
Chang Feng laughed dumbly: "Oh, yes. We are good at finding money, and we are also good at hiding money."
"Don't move the money outside the yamen. There is the Sixth Department across the street. There is too much movement with so much money. Why don't you expose it?"
"Twenty thousand taels sank into a dozen Gongfang cesspits in the guard. Twenty thousand taels were dug and buried in the school grounds. Another ten thousand taels sank into several wells."
Shi Wenyi cupped his hands and said: "If you have the order, I will let Pao Ze from the Qianhu Office handle this matter."
Chang Feng ordered Qian Ning again: "Brothers, please keep your mouth shut. Just say that apart from monthly salary, Weili will not give any additional subsidies."
Qian Ning nodded: "Don't worry, Mr. Chang. I'll go and explain to the brothers right away."
It took Chang Feng a day to finish hiding the private treasury. Wait for Li Dongyang and others to come.
At night, Changfeng returned to his house.
It just so happened that Lao Taishan Liu Bingyi came.
During dinner, Chang Feng told Liu Bingyi about the audit.
Liu Bingyi said: "Li Dongyang is a real person. At the critical moment of joining the cabinet, something unexpected happened."
"Fortunately, my dear son-in-law, you are tolerant and generous and won't argue with him."
"If a narrow-minded person were to be in charge of Jinyiwei, and a pair of small shoes were thrown to Li Dongyang, his position as a cabinet member would also be ruined."
Chang Feng gradually figured out the taste: "Civil officials regard Jin Yiwei as their enemy."
"Old Taishan, do you think there is a possibility that Li Dongyang deliberately made trouble for Jin Yiwei in order to gain recognition and support from the civil servants?"
"He knows who I am as a person. He is not afraid that I will retaliate against him."
Liu Bingyi patted his head and said, "I don't understand what I said. What a Li Dongyang! No wonder everyone says he is good at planning."
At the same time, Li Guang lived outside his home.
Li Guang and Liu Zhang sat facing each other with bitter expressions on their faces.
Li Guang sighed: "Oh. I didn't expect that the queen would be so disgusted with recommending people to the cabinet! This road to Kunning Palace is dead!"
Liu Zhang ran out of ideas: "What should we do?"
Li Guang thought deeply and then showed a fierce look on his face.
He took a sip of wine and said fiercely: "There is another way! Kill Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, who are the most promising candidates to join the cabinet. I will also ask a few censors who are close to me to recommend you!"
Killing your competitors is the only way to get promoted.
Since the road of pillow style is unavailable, this is the only way to go.
Liu Zhang was surprised: "Second brother, you said kill them? You don't want to kill them, right?"
Li Guang gave a bitter smile: "Brother, one of these two people is the Right Hall of the Ministry of Rites, and the other is Zhan Shifu of Zhan Shifu. They are both third-rank officials of the imperial court, and they are extremely favored. How can you kill them so easily?"
"I mean framed!"
Liu Zhang asked: "These two are usually cautious, so I'm afraid they won't be framed so easily."
Li Guangdao: "It all depends on people. Now this is the only way to send you, eldest brother, to the cabinet."
"This matter needs to be considered in the long term."
Li Guang conspired with his sworn brother Liu Zhang and his confidant Gu Dayong all night, and finally formulated a plan.
How could Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, who were about to go to Jinyiwei to check the accounts, imagine that a conspiracy was slowly unfolding around them.
(End of chapter)
