The next day, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, and Liu Daxia came to Jinyiwei to check the accounts as scheduled.
As the commander, Mou Bin naturally had to come forward and greet the three imperial envoys who were inspecting the accounts together with Chang Feng.
Li Dongyang said: "Commander Mou, Chang Tongzhi. We are also acting according to orders. Please don't bear grudges."
Mou Bin is a kind-hearted person and has always had a good reputation in Beijing. He said: "We are all on errands for the emperor, so there is no need to hold grudges. The three of us can just handle official business."
Chang Feng agreed: "What the commander said is true. We hope that the three imperial envoys will come and check the accounts carefully to prevent the people below from lining their pockets."
These three people said they were here to check the accounts, but they didn't even look at the accounts. Sitting in the command room, chatting casually with Mou Bin and Chang Feng.
They just sent a few clerks from the Ministry of Household Affairs to check Jinyiwei's income and expenditure with the Jinyiwei Department Accountant.
Chang Feng thought to himself: It seems that the previous judgment was correct. The three old men went to the trouble to check Jin Yiwei's accounts just to express an attitude to the civil servants.
An attitude that is incompatible with factory defense.
How can any civil servant not hate factory guards? Li Dongyang and Xie Qian can win the favor of most civil servants at the critical moment of joining the cabinet by making trouble for Jin Yiwei, which will give them extra points.
In the words of later generations, this thing is called winning the mass base.
Li Dongyang drank tea and asked casually: "Chang Tongzhi, how are you preparing for next spring?"
Chang Feng smiled and replied: "Ashamed. I'm afraid I'll miss it again by several laps this time."
Liu Daxia smiled and said: "Young friend Chang, you are too modest. If you have nothing to do, you can write a few exam-oriented articles and let Binzhi (Li Dongyang, also known as Binzhi) take a look and give some advice."
"He is the top two player on the gold list."
Li Dongyang said modestly: "I don't dare to brag about being ranked first in the second class in front of Brother Xie."
After speaking, Li Dongyang pointed to Xie Qian: "Brother Xie is the first scholar and the first scholar in the Eight Classics!"
There are always some people in later generations who advocate that test rankings and scores are useless.
In fact, for students, what should we compare instead of comparing scores and rankings? Who can drink better, who can play games better, who can brag better?
High scores and high exam rankings represent superior IQ.
Throughout the history books, most of the famous officials of the Ming Dynasty had similar experiences: they were child prodigies since childhood, and took the Zhongxiang Examination for Jieyuan and Yayuan when they were teenagers. In a few years, he ranked among the top ten in the first or second class in the imperial examination.
Only those with such top-notch IQs can reach the highest level of power in the empire.
Xie Qian is good at talking, and he always deceives when he opens his mouth: "When I was in the palace examination, I made a trick in my article, and I was ranked first in the first class. When it comes to the art of eight-legged making, you have to look at Bin Zhi."
"He has been working in the Hanlin Academy all year round, and has also served as the examiner for the provincial examination and the general examination. Having said that, with Chang Tongzhi's talent and learning, even without the guidance of an expert, he is enough to be named on the gold list."
"When the time comes, Chang Tongzhi will not only have the qualifications of serving as a dragon, but also the great achievements he has made over the years, as well as his background as a Jinshi. It is possible that he will be ranked in the ministry or even enter the cabinet in the future."
Xie Kankan lives up to his reputation.
The three of them chatted in the bedroom for a whole hour. Xie Qian spit out stars and made everyone stunned.
The clerk of the Ministry of Household Affairs reported: "To the three imperial envoys. Jinyiwei's accounts are clear, and there are no false accounts, withholding of money, etc."
That's a bit nonsense. How could a few scribes check Jin Yiwei's accounts for so many years within an hour?
It was clear that Li Dongyang and others wanted to perfunctory the matter.
They proposed the audit, and they also ordered the perfunctory work. Sure enough, it was just to make a gesture of hatred towards Jin Yiwei.
Li Dongyang raised his hands to Mou Bin and Chang Feng: "You two, the errand is done. Let's say goodbye!"
Mou Bin and Chang Feng sent the three of them outside the Yamen.
After the three people left, Mou Bin whispered: "This is inexplicable."
Chang Feng smiled slightly: "You think they are inexplicable. They are not inexplicable!"
"For officials to be like them, everything they do has a purpose."
The real situation is as Chang Feng expected. Li Dongyang and Xie Qian took issue with Jin Yiwei in order to win the support of civil officials.
Liu Daxia carried the sedan chair for the two of them.
But Chang Feng didn't hold any grudge against the three of them. Li Dongyang and Xie Qian's character, he, the head of Jinyiwei, knows best.
Both of them are noble men, and Jin Yiwei's eyes and ears have never found any dirt on them. And they all have great political talents.
If one of them finally enters the cabinet, it will be a blessing to the country and the people.
Three days later, Yumen went to court early.
Xu Pu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, first went out to report: "This is to your Majesty. The cabinet has been short of members for half a month. I respectfully request that your Majesty decide on the candidates for the cabinet as soon as possible."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "I have been considering it carefully recently. There will be a decree within three to five days."
At this time, the Li Ke reported the matter to Sun Chunbin: "Report to the Emperor. I want to participate in the impeachment of two people."
Sun Chunbin, in his sixties. His official career was not very prosperous in his life. As he got older, he actually learned to cling to eunuchs.
Since last year, he has become Li Guang's party member.
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Oh? Who is participating in the impeachment?"
Sun Chunbin said loudly: "I'm going to impeach Li Dongyang, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Xie Qian, Zhan Shi!"
Chang Feng in the military attache class was secretly surprised: What a seventh-grade person. If you don't participate in impeachment early, you won't participate in impeachment later. It happened that he participated in the impeachment of Li and Xie at the critical moment of entering the cabinet.
I want to hear what you said about impeaching them. Even our Jin Yiwei can't find any dirt on them.
Sun Chunbin took out a memorial: "Your Majesty. When Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were in the Chenghua Dynasty, they clung to the powerful eunuch Shang Ming."
"In the 16th year of Chenghua, Shang Ming celebrated his birthday. Li Dongyang actually wrote an "Ode to Nei Xiang". This poem is extremely flattering. There are many treasonous and unethical remarks in the article."
"Xie Qian presented a jade horse as a birthday gift. It was taken from the meaning of Shang Ming's 'one horse leads the way' in the court. There was also a line of small words engraved under the jade horse's seat, 'Xie Qian, the lackey of the family, presents this to the internal minister'."
As soon as Sun Chunbin said this, the whole court was in an uproar!
After Emperor Hongzhi ascended the throne, Shang Ming has become a piece of shit! Whoever gets it smells bad.
What Sun Chunbin said is true. Then the reputations of Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were ruined. Not to mention joining the cabinet, there is no question whether he can keep his current official position.
Chang Feng couldn't help but sneered contemptuously: "Heh."
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Changfeng, why are you laughing?"
Chang Feng planned to say a few words of justice for Li Dongyang and Xie Qian.
Chang Feng said: "Your Majesty, what Sun Chunbin said is not even a rumor! It is a frame-up made by red lips and white teeth!"
"As far as I know, in the 16th year of Chenghua, Li Dongyang was just a banquet attendant. Xie Qian was just a Hanlin editor."
"Don't say that they are both noble and noble, they will never curry favor with Shang Ming. Even if they wanted to curry favor with Shang Ming, given their status at the time, they would not be able to enter Shang Ming's birthday banquet!"
Emperor Hongzhi said: "That makes sense."
Sun Chunbin argued with each other: "Chang Tong knows he is wrong! Li Dongyang is the number one scholar in the second class. Xie Qian is the number one scholar in the first class."
"With their Kejia background. Even if their official positions are low, Shang Ming will value them!"
"Your Majesty, I am definitely not talking about what I heard! In the secret files of Jin Yiwei, there is a record of Li Dongyang presenting "Ode to the Nei Xiang" to Shang Ming, and there is also a record of Xie Qian presenting a jade horse to Shang Ming!"
"In addition, after Shang Ming's mansion was ransacked, all the treasures were confiscated and put into the inner transport warehouse."
"The emperor cares about the country. He ordered most of the treasures to be sold into money and used for state affairs. A small part of the treasures were given to the queen."
"If you search in Kunning Palace, you might be able to find the jade horse!"
Chang Feng couldn't help it anymore: "Sun Chunbin, you are talking nonsense! The secret files of the 16th year of the Jinyi Guard's Chenghua were under the control of the then commander Wantong. Could it be that Wantong would record the hidden affairs of his fellow party member Shang Ming?"
Sun Chunbin smiled and said: "How could Chang Tongzhi forget that Dongchang supervises Jinyiwei. The governor of Dongchang in the 16th year of Chenghua was your godfather Huaien!"
"Eunuch Huai'en was not afraid of traitors and risked his life to record Shang Ming's hidden affairs in a secret file."
"Yes or not, you will know by checking the secret file! In addition, Yuma can also search in Kunning Palace, maybe he can find it!"
Li Dongyang said angrily: "Sun Chunbin, you are slanderous."
Xie Qian also expressed his position: "Your Majesty, please issue an order to investigate this matter thoroughly and restore my innocence."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Sun Chunbin, then at Li Dongyang and Xie Qian.
He secretly thought: Nine times out of ten, it was Sun Chunbin who framed this. But if I want to promote Li and Xie to the cabinet, I must order a thorough investigation and clear their names.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Chang Feng. I order you to check the secret files in Jinyi Guard."
Emperor Hongzhi turned around and said to Li Guang: "Li Guang, you are the steward of Kunning Palace."
"You are in charge of the treasures in Kunning Palace. I order you to check the treasures. See if you can find the jade horse."
Chang Feng and Li Guang received the order.
Sun Chunbin said: "Your Majesty, I heard that Chang Tongzhi has a close personal relationship with Li Dongyang and Xie Qian. In order to prevent Chang Tongzhi from showing favoritism, I request that I go with him to check the confidential files."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "It's accurate."
After the dynasty ended, Chang Feng and Sun Chunbin walked towards Jin Yiwei.
Chang Feng said half-sarcastically: "If you hadn't participated in the impeachment of Li Butang and Xie Zhan today, I wouldn't have known you were still in the imperial court."
"In the case of Xiao Xiao Qipin, at the critical moment of selecting cabinet members, he framed two people who were very likely to join the cabinet. He must have been instigated by someone, right?"
Sun Chunbin frowned and spoke righteously: "This is not a false accusation, but a fact. You will know after checking the secret files!"
Chang Feng said angrily: "You are like a duck."
Sun Chunbin frowned: "Why do you say that?"
Chang Feng explained: "Duck, if you cook the meat well, it won't rot your mouth. It has a tough mouth!"
"I know Fusimi's secret stall in Beizhen better than you! Before the spring of the 23rd year of Chenghua, Shang Ming's secret stall was empty!"
"There is no record of colluding with Shang Ming in the secret files of Li Dongyang and Xie Qian!"
Chang Feng is a very good person. Since the cabinet was short of personnel, he carefully read the confidential files of several officials who might join the cabinet in preparation for Emperor Hongzhi's inquiry.
Li Dongyang and Xie Qian's secret files are fairer than Madam Ninth's buttocks.
The two have been officials for so many years and have basically kept themselves clean.
Both men were extremely concerned with reputation. How could it be possible to curry favor with Shang Ming?
The two came to Jinyiwei. Chang Feng ordered Baihu, the manager of the stalls, to open the secret stall room.
Chang Feng first asked Guan Dong Baihu to find Shang Ming's secret file box.
There are as many as six secret files. But they were all added after Emperor Hongzhi came to the throne, reading Shang Ming's old book.
The secret files are all about kidnapping and extorting wealthy people, colluding with Wantong, flattering Concubine Wan Gui, etc.
Where were the names of Li Dongyang and Xie Qian mentioned?
Chang Feng read through it and said to Sun Chunbin: "How about it, have you given up? I advise you to confess honestly. Who instigated you to frame Li and Xie."
Sun Chunbin smiled slightly: "Isn't it too early for Chang Tong to tell you? I haven't read the secret files of Li Dongyang and Xie Qian yet!"
"There is no record in Shang Ming's secret file, which does not mean there is no record in their secret files!"
Chang Feng impatiently said to Baihu, the supervisor: "Telegate Li Dongyang and Xie Qian's secret files!"
Not long after, the manager of Baihu brought the secret files of the two of them.
Chang Feng is full of confidence. He had just seen Li and Xie's secret files three days ago. There is no record of making friends with Shang Ming.
After opening the gear box, he began to rummage in front of Sun Chunbin.
Suddenly, he turned to a certain page, and on that page it was written: "In the winter of the 16th year of Chenghua, Shang Ming celebrated his birthday. Li Dongyang presented a poem called "Ode to Nei Xiang"."
On this page, the contents of "Nei Xiangfu" are written in detail. They are all flattering words that give people goosebumps!
What's even more outrageous is that there is another sentence in it: "Shang Gong's talent far exceeds that of Liu Ji, Song Lian, and Gao Qi."
This sentence is shameless just to flatter you! Shang Ming is just a proficient writer, yet why should he be compared with the three great poets of the early Ming Dynasty? How about a "far beyond"?
Sun Chunbin was like a victorious rooster, saying arrogantly: "Look! This is the record of your Jin Yiwei! Li Dongyang is indeed a flatterer!"
Chang Feng was dumbfounded. When he checked Li Dongyang's secret files three days ago, he had never seen this paragraph!
what happened? Could it be that this page of Li Dongyang's dirty information flew into the file box by himself?
Sun Chunbin opened Xie Qian's secret file. After rummaging through it, he pointed to one of the pages and said, "Chang Tongzhi, take a look for yourself!"
Chang Feng took a closer look and saw that it read, "In the winter of the 16th year of Chenghua, Xie Qian spent 800 taels of silver to purchase a Burmese jade horse and presented it to Shang Ming as a birthday gift."
"Under the Jade Horse Seat is engraved 'Xie Qian, the running dog of the family, presents the gift to the internal minister'."
Damn it! This piece of black material also appeared out of thin air in the gear box.
Chang Feng calmed down and thought to himself: There is no ghost in this matter, but there is a ghost! It seems that there is a mole in Jin Yiwei, who entered the stall and tampered with Li and Xie's secret file box!
broken!
Li Guang paid homage to Liu Zhang a while ago, and he probably wanted to push Liu Zhang into the cabinet.
If nothing happened to Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, Liu Zhang would not be able to sit in the cabinet chair.
The emperor asked Li Guang to search in Kunning Palace for the jade horse that Xie Qian "gifted" back then. I'm afraid he might actually find it!
Just order someone to make one, engrave Xie Qian's name on it, and stuff it into a box for storing treasures!
Chang Feng now suspects that Li Guang colluded with Jin Yiwei's mole to add negative information about Li and Xie to the file box.
The purpose is to eliminate competitors for Liu Zhang.
Sun Chunbin smiled and said: "How about it? Your Jin Yiwei's secret files have always been meticulous. This can prove that Li and Xie have the experience of currying favor with traitors!"
At this moment, Cheng Gu Dayong, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, arrived at the door of the stall.
Without the will, he cannot enter the stall. He shouted towards the stall: "Where is Chang Tongzhi?"
Chang Feng walked to the door: "What's wrong?"
Gu Da said in a sinister tone: "Eunuch Li asked me to send you a message. The jade horse that Xie Qian gave to Shang Ming has been found!"
Confidential records and physical evidence are all there. Now Li Dongyang and Xie Qian would not be able to escape even if they jumped into the Yellow River!
Chang Feng took a breath of cold air and thought to himself: What a good trick!
(End of chapter)
