The two brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling are the mudslides in the elite circles of the capital.
Both are over thirty years old. Zhang Heling was stupid, evil and ruthless, a rude ruffian.
It's just that this ruffian has the title of marquis.
Zhang Yanling seems to be a well-mannered and courteous corporal. In fact, he is full of bad ideas, but he is quite talented, scheming and skillful in doing bad things.
Belong to educated hooligans.
These two brothers committed great evil by annexing people's land, buying and selling by force, competing with the people for profit, and acting as brokers selling officials and titles for profit. He is also a small evil who kicks down widows' doors and digs out graves.
According to the system established by Emperor Taizong, the honorary honorary of Jingnan resides in Shuntian, and the honorable honorary of the founding of the country resides in Yingtian.
Not to mention officials with conscience in the DPRK. Even those nobles from the two capitals who were arrogant about their achievements and were extravagant and licentious couldn't stand the Zhang brothers.
Civil servants, military generals, and eunuchs also looked down upon these two unscrupulous villains.
Even the feudal lord couldn't stand it anymore. King Xing once wrote to Emperor Hongzhi, tactfully reminding him that the emperor should exercise some restraint on his relatives.
It can be said that the Zhang brothers offended the common people, civil servants, eunuchs, generals, nobles and even the clan.
However, no one in the world can touch these two brothers.
Sixteen years after Emperor Hongzhi came to the throne, and fifteen years after his reign was changed, there was still only one woman, Queen Zhang. Not one concubine or concubine was accepted. He is considered doting on Queen Zhang.
Of course, this has the progressive significance of the feudal emperor's practice of monogamy.
But his doting on the queen led him to fall in love with his two uncles.
I can rule the world with civil servants, and I can bow to civil servants. But my bottom line is, you can’t touch my closest relatives!
The three elders of the cabinet maintained a tacit understanding with Emperor Hongzhi. Turn a blind eye to the Zhang brothers.
Let's say that Chang Feng learned that the source of Japanese goods smuggled in the capital turned out to be the Zhang brothers, and immediately came to the Zhang Mansion.
Chang Feng has also disliked the Zhang brothers in the past two years, and tried to keep a distance from the Zhang family. If you can't come to Zhangjiabao Residence, you won't come.
However, the Zhang brothers are very close to Princess Jinyang's mansion. Whenever I have nothing to do, I give Chang Tian various novelties.
There was something delicious and fun, and the Zhang brothers immediately thought of their sweet girl.
In the Zhang family's living room.
Zhang Heling said sarcastically: "Brother Chang, why are you here? In the past two years, you have treated us brothers like shit. You rarely come to our house."
Zhang Yanling quickly smoothed things over: "Brother, don't talk nonsense. Brother Chang is our savior. His heart goes to us brothers."
Chang Feng sighed: "Oh. One of you is a marquis and the other is an earl. I can't act like a big brother and teach you a lesson."
"But you should restrain yourself. Don't smear the Queen."
Zhang Heling said: "We just make a little money and live a small life. Why are you discrediting my sister?"
Zhang Yanling said quickly: "What do you mean? We haven't seen each other for a long time. We quarreled when we met."
"Brother, Brother Chang, please try this tea quickly. I asked someone to get the West Lake Shifeng Longjing Tribute Tea. One tael of tea is worth one tael of gold, and there is still a price but no supply."
Chang Feng knew that quarreling would not produce results. He could only take a sip of tea and said, "Well, it is indeed a tribute tea."
Zhang Heling said angrily: "If Brother Chang feels good, take two taels with you before leaving. Remember to give one tael to Princess Jinyang's Mansion."
Even though the meeting was unpleasant, Zhang Heling still missed Chang Tian. The two brothers really treat Little Tangtang like a family member.
Chang Feng said: "Okay, I've finished the tea. I want to ask you something."
Zhang Yanling said: "What's the matter? Brother Chang, just ask. You saved our lives. Regardless of whether you can't treat us as outsiders, we will treat you as our benefactor."
"As long as we know, we will tell you everything we know."
Chang Feng asked the main topic: "You opened a trading house called De Shengchang, which specializes in selling Japanese smuggled goods to shops of all sizes in Beijing, right?"
Zhang Heling said: "Brother Chang, don't dare to say this nonsense. Two pieces of Japanese goods are placed in front of you. Can you tell which one was smuggled and which one was paid tribute?"
"Deshengchang Trading Company is opened by our Zhang family. But what we sell are all reasonable and legal Japanese tribute goods."
"There is a record book from the Ministry of Etiquette that I can check."
Zhang Heling has no brains, but Zhang Yanling is meticulous in his work.
The Ministry of Rites is in charge of paying tribute.
Zhang Yanling felt that the blatant distribution of smuggled goods was too ostentatious. So he bribed several heads of the Ministry of Rites, Yuanwailang and Langzhong. Document smuggled goods.
Once the files are prepared, the smuggled goods become tribute goods.
Although the three officials of the Ministry of Rites knew about their subordinates' dealings with the Zhang brothers. But they don't bother to care, good people don't step on stinky shit.
If the Zhang brothers are angered, they may dare to lead people to smash the lobby of the Ministry of Etiquette.
Besides, the Zhang brothers don't even care about the three elders, so what kind of ambition do we, the three officials of the Ministry of Rites, have?
Chang Feng frowned: "The preparation of the Ministry of Rites? What a good trick you guys have."
Zhang Yanling said: "Brother Chang, there are too many people doing this kind of business in the entire Ming Dynasty!"
"To put it bluntly, how much money can we make by selling some Japanese goods?"
"Those maritime merchants who sold silk, tea, and porcelain to the Japanese in the southeast made really big money."
Chang Feng had previously made a bold statement that he would ban smuggled Japanese goods sold in shops of all sizes in the city within a month.
But after coming to Zhang's house and having a conversation, he understood that it was impossible for the Zhang family to stop doing this business.
Chang Feng changed his mind. Since Deshengchang Trading Company cannot be allowed to close down, we should cut off Deshengchang's source of supply.
Chang Feng took a sip of tea and smiled slightly: "Selling Japanese goods is so profitable. I want to try this business."
"Where do the Japanese goods in your trading house come from?"
Zhang Heling was about to speak. Zhang Yanling, however, winked at him and signaled him to be silent.
Zhang Yanling said: "Brother Chang. If you want to do this business, we can give you 20% of the shares. Think of it as filial piety to your savior."
"We can't tell you the source of the Japanese goods. Doing business must be done with integrity. We promised the supplier not to reveal his identity."
Zhang Yanling is an excellent person. He saw through Chang Feng's thoughts at a glance.
Chang Feng was helpless: "I'm talking about you two uncles. Do you know that if you do this kind of business, you will be called Litong a traitor to the country?"
When Zhang Heling heard this, he became angry: "If we Litong are traitors, then there will be countless traitors in Ming Dynasty!"
"I'll tell you the truth. There are so many people doing business in Japan! There are them in every local county, prefecture, third division, and governor's office! There are also six ministries, even within the inner circle."
Chang Feng was stunned: "You mean the cabinet?"
Zhang Heling knew that he had made a mistake and quickly went back to make up for it: "I said that even among the internal officials, the father-in-laws of the shipping company were also involved."
If you rely on the mountains, you will eat the mountains; if you rely on the sea, you will eat the sea. The father-in-laws of the three major shipping companies participated in the smuggling trade, which was unexpected by Chang Feng.
Zhang Yanling said: "That's right. There are so many people doing Japanese business in the world. Why does Brother Chang only keep an eye on our Zhang family?"
"It's the same sentence. If you want to get involved in this business, we will give you shares. You don't have to worry about anything, just get monthly dividends."
"You want to persuade us to cut off this source of wealth. We will never agree."
Chang Feng said: "That's all. I've already said it. You can figure it out yourself."
After speaking, Chang Feng stood up and prepared to leave.
But Zhang Yanling stopped him: "Brother Chang, we brothers regard you as our benefactor. We can't watch you jump into a mountain of swords and a sea of fire."
"There is something we want to remind you - don't be an enemy of the entire court!"
Chang Feng frowned: "I just investigated a Japanese pirate, why did I become the enemy of the entire court?"
Zhang Yanling sighed: "Everyone understands this tacitly. You should know how many people and officials are standing behind the merchants."
"Every year, there are as many people as the stars in the sea who make money through trade with Japan."
"Since ancient times, cutting off someone's financial path is like killing your parents. If you cut off someone's financial path, they will cut off your livelihood."
Zhang Yanling said this because she really thought about Chang Feng.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Heling, a man who didn't keep his mouth shut, actually echoed: "That's right! The leader of the army blocked the way of making money for that group of people, and those people will kill him whenever he says!"
"In order to kill a person, he would not hesitate to fight a war."
Chang Feng's expression changed: "What? Shouning Hou, who is the person who led the army you mentioned? Is it You Tianjue from Fujian?"
Zhang Yanling was so angry at her eldest brother. How could such a confidential and sensitive matter be revealed to Chang Butcher of Jinyiwei?
Zhang Yanling said: "Ah, Brother Chang, don't you know what my brother is? He talks nonsense all day long. He just scares you."
"But I say a thousand words and ten thousand, all for your own good."
Many years of career in Jinyiwei have given Chang Feng a keen sense of smell. He smelled it in Zhang Heling's voice.
There is definitely an inside story to You Tianjue's death.
Chang Feng sat down again: "No. You have to make it clear today, who is blocking who's way of making money. Who will kill who at the risk of a war?"
Zhang Heling stopped talking to Chang Feng. He told the servant: "Go, take away the tea and bring me a pot of wine."
After a while, the servant brought the wine. Zhang Heling drank wine without saying a word.
Zhang Yanling also sat there and said nothing.
There was an awkward silence in the hall.
Chang Feng knew that if the Zhang brothers didn't want to tell, he couldn't ask.
He could not and did not dare to torture the two uncles to extract confessions.
In desperation, Chang Feng had no choice but to leave.
Now Chang Feng is the de facto boss of Jinyiwei, with eight thousand paoze serving under him. There are many things that you don’t need to check personally.
He returned to Jinyiwei and found his confidant Zhang Cai.
Chang Feng said: "Zhang Cai, I have another errand for you. Find out the source of the Japanese goods from Deshengchang Trading Company."
Zhang Cai acted competently and said, "Yes, my subordinates will go check it out right away."
Chang Feng made up his mind that for You Tianjue, he would get to the bottom of things this time.
That afternoon, Liu Jin came to Jinyiwei.
After Li Guang's death, Liu Jin replaced him and became the most favored eunuch in Kunning Palace. Empress Zhang relied on her as a confidant.
Not to mention, Prince Zhu Houzhao regarded him as his most trusted companion.
Officials in both the DPRK and the Central Government said that it was only a matter of time before Liu Jin and Mr. Liu's father-in-law entered the Bureau of Ceremonies.
Liu Jin got straight to the point: "Little uncle. I heard from the two uncles that you want to cut off their wealth?"
Chang Feng was stunned: "They are looking for you?"
Liu Jin said: "The Queen asked me to give them some gifts just now. They complained to me about you, saying that you don't treat them as your own, return it, return it."
Chang Feng asked: "What else?"
Liu Jin replied: "It's better to meddle in other people's business than a dog."
Chang Feng sighed: "Hey, I did my job, but why did I become a dog meddling in other people's business?"
When Liu Jin came to Jinyiwei, he never regarded himself as an outsider. He sat across from Chang Feng, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip.
Liu Jin said: "Little uncle, you and I are all the Queen's empress. The two uncles are the Queen's biological brothers."
"Since ancient times, we have never been close to each other!"
"Besides, if you investigate them, it is equivalent to internal fighting. In the end, it will only make those stupid civil servants laugh."
While Liu Jin gained power in the inner palace, he also forged an irresolvable feud with the civil servants. Therefore, he called civil servants "dog fools".
Li Dongyang could not tolerate Liu Jin instigating the prince Zhu Houzhao to indulge in fun and neglect his studies all day long.
When Li Dongyang talks about Liu Jin with his close friends, they always refer to him as "Liu Eunuch".
Chang Feng said: "What if civil servants are also involved in this case?"
Liu Jin was stunned: "Master Chang, let me advise you. Don't fight with civil servants for the time being."
"At least when the current emperor comes to court, you can't defeat the civil servants."
"No matter how powerful you are, you are only the emperor's retainer. The emperor himself is very courteous to the civil servants, so how can you possibly defeat them?"
"Having said that, it will be a matter of time to deal with them. But we have to wait for the emperor."
Liu Jin's words stopped abruptly.
Chang Feng naturally knew what Liu Jin was waiting for. Naturally, he waited until the emperor died and the prince ascended the throne.
The Chang family had such close contacts with Kunning Palace and Dong Palace, so they naturally knew that the prince hated civil servants.
Liu Jin added: "Little uncle, please stop investigating the smuggling matter. Let me tell you clearly, not only a bunch of civil servants are involved in maritime smuggling."
"A bunch of people in the palace are also inextricably linked to maritime merchants."
"Even the retired eunuchs who held great power back then were involved."
"If you investigate this matter, you will offend both civil and internal officials. It will be thankless and you will put yourself in danger."
Chang Feng heard a clue from Liu Jin's voice: "The retired eunuch you are talking about is Wang Zhi who was assigned to Yingtian Xiaoling, right?"
In the first year of Hongzhi, Chang Feng knew that Wang Zhi was one of the eight elders of the "Sihaihui", a maritime smuggling group.
Liu Jin smiled and said: "I didn't say anything. Uncle, I just have an idea."
Then Liu Jin clapped his hands: "Come on, bring it over."
A young eunuch brought a box of snacks.
Liu Jin said with a smile: "These are eight large and small snacks from Guirongzhai. Princess Jinyang loves sweets, so my uncle remembered to bring them to her."
"I'm too busy in the East Palace. I haven't gone to the Princess's Mansion to see her and Huang Yibin for half a month. I miss her so much."
For sixteen years, Liu Jin has always regarded Xiaotangtang as his daughter deep in his heart.
Even though the little Tangtang back then has become a twenty-three-year-old mature woman and the princess of Ming Dynasty.
The love between father and daughter hidden deep in his heart has never changed.
Chang Feng said: "Okay. It's almost summer. The princess's mansion has hired seven or eight people, and they will be waiting for the summer to make sticky cicadas."
"Stop carrying bamboo poles all over the palace in the bright sun to help her catch cicadas. It's beneath your father-in-law Liu's dignity."
Liu Jin smiled slightly: "I have helped her catch cicadas for ten years. I am used to it."
Liu Jin left.
Chang Feng vaguely felt that he had encountered a powerful enemy.
This enemy is like a big net.
On this network, there are maritime merchants, Japanese pirates, civil servants, eunuchs, and relatives of the emperor.
Liu Jin was right. If he wanted to make an enemy of this big network, he would definitely end up being thankless and offending a circle of people.
But Chang Feng still decided to become an enemy of this network.
Time has smoothed his edges as a young man. He is already a veteran in officialdom.
But there is always a belief in his heart.
This simple belief only has four words: "The evil will not prevail against the good."
This is not naive. As long as a person lives, he should always have a belief in his heart. People without faith are still zombies while they are alive.
Okay, let me, Chang Feng, have a fight with you. For You Tianjue and for the faith in my heart!
(End of chapter)
