On the 15th day of September in the eighth year of Hongzhi, Changfeng lived thirty years.
Changfu has almost become a market. Among the people who came to congratulate him, in addition to Jin Yiwei Paoze, there were also a large number of foreign ministers and internal officials.
The four elders of the cabinet, Xu Pu, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, were all present.
Twelve officials from six departments and eighteen halls came. Four commanders-in-chief of the Fifth Army came.
Countless distinguished relatives came.
There were nearly 300 civil and military officials of the seventh rank and above, as well as princes and uncles, who came to congratulate them.
The most popular person around Emperor Hongzhi lived a long life, and the civil and military officials in the dynasty wanted to give him face.
Even Queen Zhang sent people to send congratulatory gifts.
Today is a double happiness in the Chang Mansion. Not only to celebrate Changfeng's longevity, but also to celebrate his soon-to-be brother-in-law Huang Yuan's inscription on the Gui Bang.
The scene was filled with loud gongs and drums, firecrackers blasting, red silk fluttering, and huge crowds of people.
There can only be ten tables in the hall of the mansion. Officials of fourth rank and above sit in the hall. The remaining thirty or so tables were placed in the front yard.
There are still two quarters left before the right time to celebrate the birthday. Everyone began to show off the birthday gifts they had brought with great interest.
The Zhang brothers were simple and rude, and what they gave away was gold.
Zhang Heling pulled open a piece of red cloth. In the red cloth was a gold statue of Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth.
Zhang Heling said with a smile: "I know that Brother Chang is from a family confiscator. The family confiscators in the Jinyi Guard worship Zhao Gongming."
"This God of Wealth spent a total of one hundred and ninety-nine taels of pure gold."
Zhang Heling's kindness was hard to resist, and Chang Feng couldn't refuse, which was a disgrace to Uncle Guo's face.
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you uncle for your generous gift."
Zhang Heling said with a smile: "Don't worry, Brother Chang, we haven't finished giving the gifts yet!"
Zhang Yanling stood up and opened an exquisite brocade box. There are three pens in the brocade box.
Every pen is made of jade and wolf hair.
Zhang Yanling said: "This gift is not for Brother Chang, but for our brother-in-law Huang Yuan."
"These three pens were made by a pen maker I hired from Huzhou. They carved the pen holders from Hetian jade from Weigong, Hami. They then used the hair of an old weasel to make pen holders."
"It will be used when our brother-in-law takes the imperial examination in spring next year."
The so-called wolf hair pen is not made of wolf hair, but weasel hair.
Huang Yuan, who was sitting under Chang Feng, quickly accepted the brocade box and thanked him profusely.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I don't have a share in the jade-pole wolf-hair pen? I will also take the Chunwei exam next year."
Zhang Heling said: "Ahem, Brother Chang, this is the Jinshi pen. You have already passed two subjects. If you want to be a Jinshi, you will have already won."
"I heard what Mr. Li Ge said. Your test paper is missing many, many circles from Bagong!"
Chang Feng smiled awkwardly: "Today I celebrate my birthday, uncle Guo, don't expose my background."
Zhang Heling directly put his arm around Huang Yuan's shoulders and said loudly: "There are quite a lot of officials from the capital here today. I have to explain something clearly in public."
"Huang Yuan is not only the emperor's brother-in-law, but also my brother-in-law."
"From now on, no matter who is an official in the capital or has a title. Whoever dares to bully Huang Yuan, I will dig up his ancestral grave!"
Zhang Yanling echoed: "Yes! Yes! We brothers are not digging into people's ancestral graves just once. Who dares to bully Huang Yuan? We will do what we say!"
Huang Yuan didn't know what to say.
Chang Feng quickly smoothed things over for him: "Why don't you thank your two uncles for taking care of me?"
Huang Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you two uncles for taking care of me."
Ma Wensheng, the Minister of Civil Affairs, was as powerful in the court as the cabinet ministers.
Ma Wensheng and Chang Feng have been friends for many years. He smiled and said: "Chang Feng, I am not as rich as your two uncles. I cannot afford to give away gold or jade."
"Normally, weapons cannot be given as birthday gifts. But that is the rule of the literati."
"You work as a servant in the Jinyi Guards and are a warrior. I will give you a good weapon today."
After speaking, Ma Wensheng opened a box. Inside the box was a scorpion crossbow.
This scorpion crossbow is very different from what Jin Yiwei usually wears. There are three crossbow slots, holding three short arrows.
Chang Feng asked: "What is this?"
Ma Wensheng said: "When I have nothing to do at home, I like to tinker with cannons, muskets, and crossbows."
"This scorpion crossbow was improved by me. It can fire three arrows in a row. It is lighter than the ordinary scorpion crossbow."
"You specialize in secret errands, so you must have a sharp weapon for self-defense."
Chang Feng played with the scorpion crossbow for a while and couldn't put it down.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "Ma Laobu Tang, thank you very much! This crossbow is truly a peerless magic weapon."
Ma Wensheng waved his hand: "What kind of peerless magic weapon is this? My improved bowl-mouth blunderbuss can be called a magic weapon."
"But that thing is too big. You can't carry a small cannon on secret errands."
Everyone laughed. Chang Feng put away the scorpion crossbow.
Li Dongyang, a new member of the cabinet who joined the cabinet this spring, said: "I am a literati. Chang Tongzhi has a Juren background, and he can also be considered a literati."
"Literati give birthday gifts to each other, and calligraphy and painting are the most elegant. I made a painting as a birthday gift."
Li Dongyang is a master of calligraphy and painting. His calligraphy and paintings are valuable even in the current dynasty, let alone in later generations.
Li Dongyang unfolded a painting and saw that it was a lifelike story about Zhong Kui catching ghosts.
Paint the big book "Zhong Kui's Ghost Hunting Picture".
Chang Feng has many nicknames in Beijing, such as Chang Butcher, Chang Shatou, and Chang King of Hell.
It would be appropriate to send Zhong Kui to the King of Hell.
Shi Wenyi was very good at flattering, he said with a smile: "While serving in Jinyiwei, Master Chang captured countless evil spirits and villains."
"He is the Zhong Kui of our Ming Dynasty officialdom!"
Everyone agreed: "Shi Zhenfu Envoy said well!"
Chang Feng said: "Thank you, Mr. Li Ge, for this painting. I will definitely pay it forward, like Zhong Kui, who is at odds with evil spirits and traitors!"
Qian Neng smiled and said: "Father and son are one, so Ning'er and I will give you a gift. Come on, bring it up."
Qian Ning opened a brocade box. Inside the brocade box is a scabbard. The scabbard is studded with precious stones.
Qian Neng said: "The embroidered spring knife is given by the emperor, and they all look the same. The embroidered spring knife you are equipped with is the same as that of ordinary households of hundreds or thousands of households. How can this be done?"
"This scabbard is specially made according to the length of the Xiuchun knife. It is made of high-quality plain wood and wrapped in leather. It is inlaid with twenty pieces of rare and large gems."
"A good sword goes with a hero, a good sheath goes with a good knife!"
Chang Feng took the scabbard and said, "It's such a gorgeous scabbard. Thank you, boss, for your generous gift."
Qian Neng smiled and said, "Thank you for what you are doing. You are a smart and capable person in charge of Jinyiwei. As a boss, I don't know how much worry I have saved!"
Chang Feng's best literary friend, Zhang Cai, a doctor in the Civil Service Examination Department, stood up and said, "I will give Brother Chang a book."
Zhang Heling looked disdainful: "Zhang Cai, you are one of the four most important officials in the imperial court. Brother Chang is celebrating his birthday, why do you just give him a book?"
"Aren't you too stingy? How much money is a book worth?"
Zhang Cai said with a smile: "My uncle's words, the lower officials do not agree with me. No matter how fat or thin the official position is, they all serve the court. I have always taken Brother Chang as a role model, as clear as water and as honest as a mirror."
After speaking, Zhang Cai opened a book box.
Chang Feng took the book and flipped through it, dumbfounded: "It turns out to be the "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" with inscriptions and postscripts by Master Zhu Xi? Oh my god, there are also inscriptions and postscripts by the founding fathers Liu Ji and Song Lian!"
Zhu Xi's "Collected Annotations on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" is a must-have book for scholars in the Ming Dynasty to take the imperial examination. It belongs to the textbook plus examination syllabus.
The "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" was personally inscribed and postscripted by Master Zhu, as well as inscribed and postscripted by Liu Ji and Song Lian. The price of this book is probably not lower than that of the God of Wealth made of one hundred and ninety-nine taels of gold.
All the civil servants sitting here relied on Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism to get promoted. This book is to them what the Bible is to the Catholics of Heaven.
The civil servants present circulated it carefully.
Wang Shouren, who owed Chang Feng six pots and hats, came with his father Wang Hua to celebrate his birthday. Because he had known Chang Feng for a long time, he was placed in the hall.
The book was passed to Wang Shouren, but Wang Shouren's eyes were somewhat disdainful.
Today, he no longer regards Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as his guide. To him, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism was just a step towards becoming a Jinshi.
Everyone took turns to offer birthday gifts. The gifts piled up into a mountain.
Finally it was the turn of Wang Hua and his son to give birthday gifts.
Wang Shouren stood up: "Mr. Chang, in the 22nd year of Chenghua, I owed you six pot helmets. I came here to pay you back today as a birthday gift."
After speaking, Wang Shouren presented a plate of pot helmets. On each pot helmet, the character "longevity" is drawn with rose dew.
Such a simple birthday gift seems a bit shabby. Chang Feng liked it very much. He took a pot helmet and took a bite: "It's crunchy and crispy. It's so fragrant."
"Master Wang, from now on our account will be settled in full!"
Very strange. Everyone knows that Chang Feng has the best relationship with Xu Guangzuo, the eldest son of Duke Dingguo.
Although Fatty Xu is sitting at the head of the table today, he has yet to come up with his birthday gift.
Qian Ning smiled and said: "Master Xu, why are you so stingy today? You didn't even prepare a birthday gift?"
Fatty Xu had a mysterious expression on his face: "My birthday gift is not enough for outsiders to see! I have already sent someone to the backyard to give it to my sister-in-law!"
After finishing speaking, Fatty Xu smiled evilly and whispered a few words to Chang Feng.
Chang Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Fat man, thank you!"
Fatty Xu smiled and said: "I only have a nephew, how can this be possible? It is my duty as a brother to help you spread your branches!"
Everyone guessed from Fatty Xu's lewd smile that Prince Xu's birthday gift must be related to the secret technique in the room.
Everyone in the officialdom of the capital knew that Prince Xu was an expert in this regard.
Li Guang arrived late. He said half-heartedly: "I am here to give a birthday gift to Chang Tongzhi on the order of the Queen."
Chang Feng stood up quickly and knelt down in front of Li Guang: "Your Majesty, Chang Feng, thank you, the Queen, for your grace."
Li Guang asked two young eunuchs to unfold a brocade. The word "longevity" is embroidered with gold thread on the brocade.
Li Guangdao: "The Empress asked people from the needlework bureau to make this. It's no exaggeration to say it's worth a fortune."
Chang Feng took the Fang Yun brocade and said loudly: "The Queen's kindness to the Chang family is as great as a mountain. Even if the Chang family ties a knot of grass and a ring, it will be difficult to repay."
Chang Feng lived a glorious life.
At the same time, in the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Hongzhi was lighting lamps and boiling oil to review the memorial. He is a diligent emperor, there is nothing wrong with that.
Xiao Jing, the Chief of Ceremonies, walked into the hall.
Xiao Jing is already old, and his hair has turned a lot gray.
He is a wise official. His talents are as good as those of Hua En. Otherwise, Emperor Hongzhi would not have used him as the Chief of Ceremonies.
After Emperor Hongzhi finished reviewing the memorial, he raised his head and looked at Xiao Jing: "Isn't the money at my side tonight?"
Xiao Jing replied: "Chang Feng has passed his thirtieth birthday. Congratulations that Qian can go over and exchange time with the old slave."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Oh? Chang Feng is thirty years old. Time really flies by."
"Stop talking about him, I'm already twenty-seven."
Xiao Jing lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, Chang Feng's birthday banquet was very beautiful."
"Civil officials, military generals, internal ministers and foreign ministers. Almost all those in power in the capital have gone."
Emperor Hongzhi was stunned: "Oh?"
Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Chang Feng is too powerful now. Whether it is the Governor of Dongchang, the cabinet ministers, or the Nine Ministers, they all have a close relationship with him."
"Too much power, too much favor, and as an internal minister, he is also friendly with a large group of foreign ministers. This is not a good thing for him, the court, and the emperor."
"Oh, I'm not saying that Chang Feng is not a good person. He is loyal to the emperor and capable. I'm just talking about the matter."
"The overwhelming power can change a person and kill a person."
Xiao Jing admires Chang Feng very much. There was absolutely no intention to slander Chang Feng in front of Emperor Hongzhi.
His words were only public and not private. It is indeed a public opinion.
Emperor Hongzhi thought thoughtfully after listening to Xiao Jing's words: "Yes. He has been too favored in recent years. His power has become more and more powerful. It is time for him to give some power to others."
As an emperor, the most important thing is balance. Emperor Hongzhi trusted Chang Feng. But an emperor cannot concentrate power in the hands of one person.
Once power is concentrated in the hands of a favorite, the result will be "emperor establishment" and "nine thousand years old".
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Isn't Mou Bin, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, also celebrating Chang Feng's birthday in Chang Mansion?"
Xiao Jing replied: "Exactly."
Emperor Hongzhi ordered: "Send someone to wait at the gate of Chang's Mansion. When the birthday banquet is over, as soon as Mou Bin comes out, summon Mou Bin to the Qianqing Palace."
Xiao Jing cupped his hands: "Yes, I will send someone right now."
The Chang family's birthday banquet lasted until the seventh quarter of Hai hour.
Chang Feng was happy, drank a few more glasses of wine, and became very drunk.
As the saying goes, wine is a medium for sex.
After the birthday party, he went to his wife Liu Xiaoyan's room. Together with the wolf-like Liu Xiaoyan, they carefully studied the birthday gift from Fatty Xu.
Mou Bin was called to Qianqing Palace by the young eunuch.
Mou Bin knelt down in front of Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi looked angry: "Mo Bin, I heard that you, the commander, have become the boss."
"I'm not letting you take charge of the Imperial Guard just to hold an official title and get easy pay."
Mou Bin kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I."
Emperor Hongzhi interrupted him: "I know everything about your situation and the situation of Jin Yiwei."
Mou Bin complained in his heart: It was the emperor who hinted and instructed you to allow me to hold an empty official title and let Chang Feng actually take charge. Why do you want to go back on your words today?
Emperor Hongzhi said: "I also heard that everyone in Jinyiwei calls Chang Feng the big shopkeeper? It's a joke, there is only one big shopkeeper in Jinyiwei, and that's you Mu Bin!"
"From tonight onwards, you must take responsibility. Take control of the power of Jinyiwei."
"In addition, I will issue a decree to the Jinyi Guards tomorrow. From now on, the South and North Town Fu Division will be under the exclusive control of the commander. The left and right colleagues are not allowed to interfere in the specific affairs of the Town Fu Division."
"This will is for your good, and also for Chang Feng's good!"
Mou Bin's heart skipped a beat: By issuing this edict, doesn't it mean that Chang Feng has been sidelined?
Emperor Hongzhi added: "Oh, it's not like the left and right colleagues have no power in the future. It's just that their power must be granted by you, the commander."
Mou Bin kowtowed: "I obey your order."
Let's say that Chang Feng and Liu Xiaoyan were having trouble all night long. He didn't give up until Chang Feng shouted, "Madam, please spare my life, I can't move anymore."
You still have to go to court in the morning. Chang Feng got up sleepily and put on his court clothes. First go to the lobby to drink some tea to wake up.
He suddenly discovered that last night's birthday gifts had piled up into a mountain in the hall.
The gift givers were all from the highest level of power in the empire.
Chang Feng suddenly felt a slight chill on the back of his neck.
He thought to himself: Have I gained too much power over the years? Too much power is both a good thing and a bad thing.
(End of chapter)
