Wang Shouren is a very wise man. When it's time to be ruthless, he is ruthless than anyone else.
Without ruthless tactics, he would not have been able to lead a group of stragglers to quell the 100,000-strong vassal rebellion.
Chang Feng came to the palace gate and said, "Brother Shouren."
Wang Shouren got straight to the point: "Brother Chang, they want to ruin your reputation this time. You are in desperate situation."
Chang Feng said: "Qian Ning said you are here to give me a way to escape. Tell me, what should I do?"
Wang Shouren said: "I have two ways."
Chang Feng asked: "What two methods?"
Wang Shouren asked: "What is the best way to defeat a deep-rooted network?"
Chang Feng was stunned: "The best way is to join them. Disintegrate them from the inside. I mean"
Wang Shouren said: "It has been eighteen years since the prosperity of Hongzhi. Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has worked hard to govern, care for the people, and pay attention to people's livelihood. The Ming Dynasty's national power is booming. Although the people are not well-fed and well-clothed, at least there are few famines."
“Throughout the history books, an era when no one can die from hunger can be called a prosperous era.”
"But in prosperous times, hidden dangers also accumulate. Peace brings benefits, and most of the benefits do not fall into the hands of the people."
"The gentry and the civil servants in the world have formed a monolithic unity. They both suffer losses and gain profits. Today's emperor is benevolent and kind, and the power of the civil servants is growing day by day."
"To this day, the imperial power and the ministerial power jointly control the world."
"The so-called co-governance by kings and ministers has become a case of ministers suppressing the emperor. When the emperor is weak, they become more unscrupulous, commit lawlessness and amass money."
"Land annexation, smuggling trade, and competing for profits from the people. These dirty things have enriched them."
"Since ancient times, money can communicate with gods. One hand has power and the other has money. Their power is even greater."
"As of today, the power of the civil servants has become so great that even the current Holy Emperor cannot control it."
"Brother Chang alone cannot break this iron plate from the outside."
"The best way to deal with them is to join them. Disintegrate them from within. Although the chances of winning are slim, at least there is!"
Chang Feng remained silent.
Wang Shouren continued: "Actually, Brother Chang does not have any deep hatred for the civil servants in the DPRK. On the contrary, you were quite kind to those people."
"The reason why you fell out was nothing more than the maritime case two years ago. And the recent incident of the Eastern Palace's penalty for storage."
"In that turmoil, you protected your subordinate Qian Ning. This led to a rift with the Chinese civil servants in North Korea."
Chang Feng said: "You mean, let me bow my head to the civil officials and admit defeat. Use Qian Ning's head as a pledge to join their forces. Become the civil servants' minions, hawks, and henchmen?"
"I can't do this kind of low-minded thing like betraying friends for glory."
Although Chang Feng came from a humble background, he carried an arrogance that was unwilling to bow down.
Ever since he successfully saved his savings eighteen years ago, Chang Feng has rarely experienced major setbacks in his life.
If a person is too obedient, and has been obedient for twenty years, he will naturally develop a sense of arrogance.
There is nothing in the world that I can't do, so why should I bow to others?
Chang Feng said: "Brother Shouren, please tell me the second way."
Wang Shouren said: "The second method is just four words, 'the fish dies and the net breaks the net'. If the people are not afraid of death, why should they be afraid of death? The same is true for scholars."
"Although the Emperor issued an order to burn the confidential files of Jin Yiwei, you have been in charge of Jin Yiwei for more than ten years. Civil officials always have some fatal information in your hands."
"Since they want you to be ruined and force the emperor to kill your wives and concubines, you no longer need to worry about the court situation."
"Civil officials bullied the emperor into being lenient, controlled power, and committed crimes. No matter how bad the court drama is, how bad can it be?"
"I risk your life, and the lives of your whole family, to compete with those people. Maybe you can survive."
Wang Shouren's words awakened the dreamer.
I, Chang Feng, always think about the overall situation, and have repeatedly chosen to minimize major issues and keep things quiet for the sake of the stability of the government.
However, now they have pushed me to the edge of the cliff! Why care about the overall situation?
Wang Shouren is right. Even if the situation in the court changes, how bad can it be?
In the maritime trade case, Yan Paner’s real account books are still in my house!
Aren’t you going to kneel down together and force the emperor to kill Xiaoyan and Xiaojiu? Are you going to force the emperor to dismiss me from office and behead me as a severe punishment?
Well! I took out the account book. That account book is more effective than the emperor’s death-free coupon!
The worst case scenario is that everyone will die!
Chang Feng held up his hands: "Brother Shouren, onlookers are clear, but those in authority are confused. You woke me up today! Thank you!"
Wang Shouren said: "I am stupid. But I can still tell who is a good guy and who is a bad guy."
"Helping good people deal with bad people is the basic conscience of being a human being. Why should you say thank you?"
After speaking, Wang Shouren left the palace gate.
Chang Feng suddenly felt that Wang Shouren's back looked like an unrelated person: Wang Zhi.
Compared with Wang Zhi, who was full of strategies, Wang Shouren did not have the shortcomings of being greedy for money and power. Almost a perfect strategist.
Chang Feng is preparing to go home.
Although Emperor Hongzhi stated in the early court that "Chang Feng will be temporarily detained in the palace." But the Han generals guarding the palace were all Chang Feng's former subordinates. No one stopped him, he could come and go freely.
After Chang Feng returned home, he called two people, his brother-in-law Huang Yuan and his old brother Fatty Xu.
These two people were the few people he could completely trust.
Chang Feng went to the kitchen first. There is a hidden compartment on the east wall of the kitchen. Opening the secret compartment, there were the account books he stole from Yan Pan'er when he was handling the maritime business case.
Then he came to the study room with the account book. Huang Yuan and Fatty Xu were already waiting there.
Chang Feng said: "Huang Yuan, you are good at 'quick writing'. Tonight, I want you to copy an account book. Copy two volumes."
"I made it clear in advance that this account book can save the lives of your two sisters-in-law. But it involves a lot of hidden affairs of powerful people."
"If you read it, you will become a man with secrets and a threat in the eyes of the powerful."
Huang Yuan was a little anxious: "Brother-in-law, when did this happen! As long as I can save my sister-in-law and sister-in-law, I dare to do anything!"
Chang Feng said: "Okay! You copy it immediately."
Chang Feng planned to copy one account book into three. He kept a copy and took it to threaten Xie Qian.
Fatty Xu and Huang Yuan each kept one copy.
Fatty Xu is Duke Dingguo, the top nobleman of the Ming Dynasty. Huang Yuan is the guest of honor of the princess and a relative of the emperor. No matter how powerful the civil servants are, they cannot easily be touched.
Sharing the secret with them is Chang Feng leaving a way out for himself - a way out of death.
If I, Chang Feng, die in the hands of the civil servant group, Fatty Xu and Huang Yuan can make the account books public. Come, let us be ruined together!
Huang Yuan likes "quick writing". The records were copied very quickly.
Two hours later, two thick transcripts of account books were completed.
Chang Feng solemnly handed one copy to Fatty Xu and one copy to Huang Yuan.
Chang Feng said: "If I can't escape this time, you will make the account books public! Civil officials, powerful officials, clans, and nobles. I will let them be buried with you!"
Fatty Xu nodded: "You are hanging in the air. Since they won't let you live, let's get people from several parties and factions to play together!"
Huang Yuandao: "Brother-in-law has been saving face for these people in the past few years. These people don't know it! If you want to rip each other off, let's do it as fast as possible!"
Chang Feng picked up the account book that belonged to him: "You go back first. I want to go see Mr. Xie Ge."
Xie moved to his mansion.
Although it was late at night, Xie Qian didn't sleep.
He was very excited. In the middle of the night, he summoned more than a dozen civil servant leaders to discuss matters.
Tomorrow morning, more than a dozen civil servant leaders will lead more than 200 civil servants to kneel down and admonish Emperor Hongzhi, kill Liu Xiaoyan and Gani Zhaozhao, and severely punish Chang Feng.
The only threat to the civil service group now is factory guards. If the constant wind is eliminated, factory guards will not be a concern in the future.
By that time, the civil service group will no longer have any scruples to cross the river in the court - walking sideways.
The emperor is dying. If the young prince ascends the throne, wouldn't I, Xie Qian, "not be the prime minister, but be the successor"?
Xie Qian didn't know that more than seventy years later, a famous prime minister also thought the same way: I am not a prime minister, but a photograph.
No matter how well that famous prime minister brought the Ming Dynasty to a halt, no matter how great his achievements were. After his death, he still ended up with a tragic ending of ruined reputation and his family starving to death.
At this moment, the servant called: "Master, Chang Feng from Jin Yiwei wants to see you."
Xie Qian smiled slightly: "The one who bows his head and admits defeat is here! Let him in!"
Xie Qian thought Chang Feng was here to admit defeat. He had made up his mind, no matter how Chang Feng cried and knelt down to beg for mercy. He won't let him go.
This is what wrestling in the court is like, and it is most taboo to let the tiger go back to the mountain. Beating the drowned dog until it dies is the right path.
But Xie Qian did not refuse to see Chang Feng. He wants to enjoy his opponent's begging for mercy as a winner.
Not long after, Chang Feng entered Xie Qian's study holding the account book.
Xie Qian originally predicted that as soon as Chang Feng entered the study, he would kneel down and kowtow in a hurry, shouting "Mr. Ge, spare your life".
But Chang Feng stood as straight as a jade pillar. The expression on his face was extremely cold, and his eyes seemed to be able to shoot out a cold knife.
Xie Qian said: "Why do you come to me so late? If you are asking for mercy, please leave."
"You are kind to me. But as a cabinet minister, I will not give up my favor for favor."
Chang Feng has the reputation of being a great scholar and has read many books by saints and sages. Although he is the leader of the emperor's personal army, his speech is extremely elegant: "Xie Qian, I will blanch your mother!"
Xie Qian was dumbfounded, and after a moment he was so angry that his hands were shaking: "Chang Feng, how dare you speak rudely to me? How are you different from a street ruffian or a street shrew using such filthy words?"
"Don't forget, you came to beg me tonight!"
Chang Feng shouted again gently: "Xie Qian, I'll blanch your mother!"
Xie Qian said angrily: "Chang Feng, you don't want to die, right? Well, let's meet in court tomorrow morning! Send it off."
Xie Qian wanted to say goodbye, but the word "Ke" came out every time. Chang Feng interrupted him: "I am not here to beg you tonight. I am here to accept your prayer!"
Xie Qian laughed out loud: "Chang Feng, are you crazy? You are already dead. Do you want me, a winner, to pray to you?"
Chang Feng said nothing. He just placed the account book in front of Xie Qian: "Open your ungrateful dog eyes and see what this is."
Xie Qian flipped through the account books, and suddenly his eyes were as wide as bells: "This is it?"
Chang Feng said: "This is the real account book of the Shuangmu Society in the fifteenth year of Hongzhi. The one I burned after showing it to you was a fake."
Xie Qian hurriedly turned to the last page and saw the total amount of dividends, which was "three million taels".
Xie Qian said angrily: "Changfeng, you swallowed our 1.5 million taels of silver?"
Chang Feng nodded slightly: "That's right! I gave the 1.5 million taels of silver to Liu Futai of Fujian for use as military expenses for the war against Japan."
Xie Qian closed the account book: "What do you mean?"
Chang Feng said: "My meaning is very simple. Tomorrow morning, I will make the account books public."
Xie Qian smiled: "Make it public? It's not just me and a bunch of powerful civil servants. There's also Qian Neng, the superintendent of your factory guard, two uncles, and even your father-in-law!"
"I don't believe you have the guts."
Chang Feng laughed dumbly: "I don't have the guts? Xie Qian, I will blanch your mother! My two wives and I are now the living dead."
"I am very selfish. If the world is impermanent, then there is no need for the world to exist."
"Whether we are friends or enemies, just bury them together with me!"
Xie Qian looked at Chang Feng with suspicion: "You are just the enemy of the civil servants at the moment. If this account book is made public, you will be the enemy of the entire court."
Chang Feng laughed again: "Pfft. Xie Qian, have you lost your mind? You only have one life and you can only die once."
"How can a person who is certain to die be afraid of making enemies on all sides?"
"There is a saying among the people that those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. I come from a humble background and have a humble life. Being able to enjoy the glory and wealth for nearly twenty years is a good thing!"
"If I can get you dignitaries to be buried with me before I die, I will earn more!"
"Liu Jian, Xie Qian; Xiao Jing, Qian Neng; Zhang Heling, Wang Zhi. Friends and enemies. Let's finish playing together!"
Chang Feng's words, translated in the vernacular of later generations, are "tired, destroy it!"
Xie Qian saw the courage to die together from Chang Feng's eyes.
The most terrifying people in this world are those who are not afraid of death.
Chang Feng cursed again: "Xie Qian, I'll blanch your mother! I was so blind that I shouldn't have helped you get into the cabinet!"
"You have benefited the people over the years as a cabinet minister. This has nothing to do with me."
"You are going to force my whole family to death today. So I will ask you to be my backer!"
Once people become selfish, many stubborn knots can be easily solved.
The constant wind tonight does not affect the common people in the world. Just for yourself!
Xie Qian said coldly: "Do you think I will let you bring the account books out of the house?"
Chang Feng laughed endlessly.
Xie Qian asked: "Why are you laughing?"
Chang Feng said with a smile: "Hahaha, I laugh at you, a rotten scholar who plays tricks on others and shows off his sword in front of Guan Gong!"
"Assassination is my specialty, Chang Feng! You are a piece of cake!"
"Whether you dare to kill me or not is still unclear. What's more, what if you kill me?"
"Let me tell you, I copied eight copies of this account book and gave it to eight people you can't kill!"
"If I die, those eight people will still make the account books public!"
Chang Feng was scaring Xie Qian. Fatty Xu and Huang Yuan were deliberately described as eight people.
Xie Qian was speechless: "You, you"
Chang Feng shouted loudly: "I'll blanch your mother. What are you doing? You're still young when you're playing tricks with the butcher of Jinyiwei!"
"While I was protecting the crown prince, getting rid of traitors, and destroying powerful eunuchs, you were still a bookworm in the Imperial Academy."
"I have been concerned about the stability of the court in the past few years. I have been forbearing to you again and again. Now that you want my life, I will let the entire court bury me with you!"
Xie Qian was silent for a long time, weighing the pros and cons.
In the end, a person who is determined to die is better than a person who wants to stay in power for a long time.
Xie Qian finally spoke: "Chang Feng, please make some conditions!"
Chang Feng shook his head: "There's no rush. Kneel down and kowtow three times! I helped you wash away your grievances and am your benefactor."
"Kowtowing to your benefactor is the only right thing to do."
Xie Qian said angrily: "Chang Feng, please forgive others if you can!"
Chang Feng made another "poof" sound: "Xie Qian, do you still know how to be merciful and merciful?"
Chang Feng sat on the chair and let out a long suppressed roar: "Kneel down and kowtow!"
"Don't kowtow? That's easy to say. I, Chang Feng, am willing to die together with you all!"
(Note: For a "Big River" with a length of 2 million words and a timeline of 60 years, the protagonist cannot have smooth sailing throughout his life, without suffering any setbacks or experiencing any failures. The author only suppressed the length of "40,000 words" for two years. For example, in real history, how many years did Xu Jie endure to defeat Yan Song? In addition, don’t comment on how this book can’t be written anymore. Even if the subscription for this book is zero, it still has to be completed to 2 million words. Ben. The reason is not convenient to say at the moment.)
(End of chapter)
