Jiang Bin can be said to be the military commander version of Zhang Cai. Both of them are the kind of people who are loved by everyone and bloom when they see each other.
And these two people are by no means just embroidered pillows that only pay lip service.
Zhang Cai works as a doctor in the Literary Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and manages everything in an orderly manner. Even the picky old Heavenly Official Ma Wensheng was full of praise for him.
Jiang Bin was promoted step by step in the border area not only because he was handsome and good at talking. And because he can indeed fight, he belongs to the category of white-faced flying generals.
After a heartfelt conversation, Chang Feng sighed: "General Jiang, your future is limitless. You can at least serve as the commander-in-chief of a town in the future."
Jiang Bin spoke very appropriately: "It doesn't matter whether you are a high official or a small official. They are all protecting the people and being loyal to the country. It's late at night. There will be many disturbances in Master Chang's place tonight. I hope you will tolerate it. I will say goodbye."
Chang Feng personally escorted Jiang Bin to the door of the house. Given Chang Feng's qualifications, "sending him off to the house" was a great sign of respect for Jiang Bin.
I have to say that Liu Jin still has a vision. He accepted an outstanding person as a party member.
Before leaving, Jiang Bin said casually: "I will rush to the gate of the East Palace to meet you at the end of tomorrow to deliver Shanxi tribute to His Royal Highness."
Chang Feng kindly reminded him: "His Royal Highness the Prince likes armor the most. Tomorrow you will wear armor the most and go to the East Palace to see me. It will be easier for His Highness to remember you."
Jiang Bin said: "But I heard that there are rules in the palace. Except for generals of the Han Dynasty, military generals are not allowed to enter the palace wearing armor."
Chang Feng said: "It doesn't matter. The Han generals in the palace are all my old subordinates. I will say hello to them and no one will make things difficult for you."
Jiang Bin thought to himself: This legendary Butcher Chang is a warm-hearted senior official. No pretense at all, and even took the initiative to help. From now on I will have to work hard to please you.
The next day at noon, after the morning session.
Jiang Bin, wearing border army armor, knelt down at the gate of the East Palace.
Qian Ning came over and asked, "Is your name Jiang Bin?"
Jiang Bin said: "He is the last general. May I ask who you are?"
Qian Ning said: "I am a subordinate of Master Chang. I know Qian Ning from the right side of the Jinyi Guards Command. Master Chang has ordered us to change the rules of guarding the gates of Han generals today, and you are allowed to enter the palace wearing armor."
Jiang Bin did enough homework before going to Beijing. He is very knowledgeable about all the forces and figures in the DPRK and China.
He knew that Qian Ning was not only Chang Feng's most important confidant, but also the adopted son of Bing Bi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, and Qian Neng, the Governor of the East Factory.
Jiang Bin said quickly: "Thank you Master Qian for your help. After finishing the tribute work, I will go to the house to worship."
In the word "worship", "reverence" is the theme, which is also filial piety.
Qian Ning was happy: this Bian Zhenqiu Bading named Jiang Bin was on the road. I'm going to make a small fortune. He is also a person valued by Master Chang and Eunuch Liu. There's no harm in making friends with him.
The most important thing for promotion in officialdom is to have the help of noble people. Jiang Bin's visit to Beijing this time can be said to be a blessing in disguise, and he has received help from several noble people.
Let’s talk about the East Palace.
Prince Zhu Houzhao was sitting upright in an upright manner.
Li Dongyang stood in front of him, reading a scripture. After reading, Li Dongyang said: "Your Highness, I have to go to the cabinet to handle official business. You must memorize the meaning of this scripture."
After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao felt like he had been pardoned, and he was very happy: Mr. Li is finally leaving!
But he didn't dare to show his excitement in front of Li Dongyang. I just held the meaning of the scripture in my hands, shook my head and read it carefully.
After Li Dongyang left, Zhu Houzhao threw Jingyi directly on the table and shouted to Liu Jin: "Are there any tributes to me today? Let them come in. I want to see what rare things I have."
The envoys from Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang, and Huguang who paid tribute did not even have the chance to enter the East Palace. They were all presented as tribute by the eunuchs.
Only Shanxi tribute envoy Jiang Bin entered the East Palace under the guidance of eunuchs.
After a cup of tea.
Zhu Houzhao asked Jiang Bin: "What is your name?"
Jiang Bin replied: "The last general Datong Wei will command Tongzhi Jiang Bin."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Bin carefully: "Hey, you look really talented."
Liu Jin quickly helped Jiang Bin to put gold on his face: "Your Highness, this old slave thinks that this Jiang Tongzhi looks like Mr. Chang when he was young."
Zhu Houzhao said: "When Chang Feng was young, Gu was still a child. I don't remember his appearance. Liu Dabaner said so, so he must be very similar."
"Jiang Bin, you must learn from Chang Feng and be a loyal minister."
Jiang Bin kowtowed: "I am determined to be loyal and conscientious and learn from Master Chang."
Zhu Houzhao asked: "What did Shanxi pay tribute to?"
Jiang Bin replied: "It's a large cloak made of the skin of a prairie white-haired wolf king."
Zhu Houzhao was very interested in wolves and tigers. He quickly said: "Send it up, let's take a look."
Jiang Bin presented the wolf skin cloak. Zhu Houzhao tried it on and couldn't put it down.
Zhu Houzhao asked: "You just said this is the skin of the White-haired Wolf King? What's the point?"
Jiang Bin replied: "Your Highness, the wolf king is the leader of the wolf pack. The white-haired wolf king is a vicious wolf who has been the leader of the wolf pack for more than ten years. It is extremely cunning and difficult to capture."
"It is extremely difficult to shoot the white-haired wolf king. In order to capture this one in your hands, the Datong border army dispatched a total of three hundred cavalry to hunt."
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "Well, it would be great if I could participate in the hunt for the White-haired Wolf King and shoot the wolf with my own hands!"
Jiang Bin quickly flattered Zhu Houzhao: "Who doesn't know that His Royal Highness is a young hero? How can the White-haired Wolf King be your opponent?"
"You can kill this beast with just one arrow."
Zhu Houzhao said proudly: "Jiang Qing doesn't know something. Gu's riding and shooting skills were learned from Gu's imperial aunt Liu Xiaoyan. Although he cannot be said to be able to cross a Yang with a hundred steps, he is still considered a master."
Jiang Bin said: "Everyone says that the wife of Chang Tongzhi, the Jin Yiwei, is the heroine of the world. Only such a heroine is qualified to teach the prince how to ride and shoot."
Zhu Houzhao walked up to Jiang Bin. He became very interested in the border army armor on Jiang Bin.
Zhu Houzhao asked: "Jiang Bin, what kind of armor do you have?"
Jiang Bin replied: "I am wearing a straight cloth face armor." He was secretly happy: Mr. Chang will not deceive me!
Zhu Houzhao was very curious: "Take it off and let Gu try it on."
After putting on the armor, he was very happy and even put on some archery postures.
Zhu Houzhao suddenly discovered that there was damage to the lower right rib of the armor. Although it has been repaired, the abnormalities can still be seen.
Zhu Houzhao pointed to the lower right rib: "Where is this?"
Jiang Bin replied: "Go back to your highness. This was the seventh year of Hongzhi. When I was ordered to go out of the Great Wall and harass the Tatar camp, I received a scimitar from the Tatar."
Zhu Houzhao was forced by civil servants to read Confucius and Mencius all day long, and he yearned especially for the days when he could ride horses on the grassland and kill enemies.
As soon as Jiang Bin said this, Zhu Houzhao immediately became interested: "Hurry up and tell me the story."
Jiang Bin talked eloquently, vividly and exaggeratedly, and Zhu Houzhao listened with great interest. It's just like the song of later generations: "Sitting next to the tall grain pile, listening to mother tell about the past."
In the evening, Chang Feng was about to go home from work. Liu Jin took Jiang Bin to his check-in room.
Liu Jin smiled and said: "Little uncle, His Highness the Crown Prince said that he wants to keep Jiang Bin by his side. I need your help in this matter."
Chang Feng said: "So, His Highness is very fond of General Jiang! Congratulations."
"It's easy to keep you with His Highness. It's a common practice for meritorious generals from Bian Town to be transferred to the Imperial Guard. However, they have to be demoted."
"It just so happens that the Qianhu who is in charge of the Han generals in Beizhen Fusi is vacant. I think you should take over this position."
"If you take charge of the Han general, you can always be by the crown prince's side."
Jiang Bin bowed his head and said, "Master Chang's kindness in knowing me will never be forgotten, and I will definitely repay you. I would like to hold a banquet tonight to thank Master Chang and Eunuch Liu. I wonder if you can do it for me?"
Chang Feng immediately refused: "No."
Liu Jin quickly explained: "Little uncle, please don't get me wrong. The large amount of money Jiang Bin used for socializing in the capital is by no means dirty silver. It is the reward silver he has saved for many years of fighting. It is clean silver."
Chang Feng smiled and said: "That's not what I meant. I proposed a marriage to my adopted son You Jingwu. Tonight the matchmaker is coming to discuss marriage. I really can't get away."
Before Chang Feng finished speaking, Qian Ning walked in.
Chang Feng said: "Let Qian Ning go to the banquet on my behalf tonight. Jiang Bin, this Qian Ning and Qian Tongzhi are both my right-hand man and the old man of Jin Yiwei."
"You are about to serve as a guard. If you don't understand something, you can ask him for advice."
Turning around, Chang Feng introduced to Qian Ning: "This is General Jiang, who has made great achievements in the Datong Guard. He is highly appreciated by the prince. From now on, he will become your subordinate. You two will have a good relationship."
As soon as Qian Ning heard the words "He is well appreciated by the prince", he immediately gave Jiang Bing a high look and said, "General Jiang, disrespectful."
Jiang Bin cupped his hands and said: "Qian Tongzhi, I have admired him for a long time."
Chang Feng said: "Come on. You guys have your banquet. I have to go back home to arrange Luo Jingwu's marriage."
You Jingwu actually had a family relationship in the 14th year of Hongzhi. In the fifteenth year of Hongzhi's reign, there was a commotion during the Battle of Yongning, and his wife was missing. Maybe she failed to follow the women and children out of the city successfully and was kidnapped by the Japanese pirates.
In the past two years, Chang Feng ordered Jin Yiwei's contacts in Fujian to inquire about You's wife's whereabouts, but found nothing.
You Jingwu was in his prime and a martial arts practitioner. He is the kind of hot-blooded man who can penetrate the bed boards early in the morning, and nothing will happen without a woman by his side.
So Chang Feng made up his mind and asked Wang Miaoxin from Guannan Town Fusi to help him find relatives for his adopted son.
Wang Miaoxin, a small country player, has two major hobbies in his life, playing chess and being a matchmaker. His matchmaking was so professional.
Chang Feng returned to the house, and Wang Miaoxin was already waiting in the living room.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "Brother Miaoxin, you are tired! Don't worry, a pig head will be indispensable when things are done. Tell me quickly, which girl is she from?"
Wang Miaoxin replied: "According to what I have discussed with you before, we will not marry girls from current officials' families, but it is best if they come from a scholarly family."
"It's a coincidence. I have a fellow from Fenyi County, Jiangxi Province, named Yan Huai. He is an old candidate who has failed many times. His daughter, Yan Jiao, is only 28 years old. She is ugly and ugly, but she also knows how to He plays piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and has good character."
Chang Feng asked: "Is this Yan Jiao Yan lady in Jiangxi?"
Wang Miaoxin explained: "In the capital. Yan Huai's family is rich. In order to facilitate the examination, he simply bought a house in the capital six years ago and settled down to prepare for the examination."
"Oh, by the way, the Yan family looks very much like the Chang family."
Chang Feng asked: "Oh? How do you say it?"
Wang Miaoxin said: "Yan Jiao has a 24-year-old brother named Yan Song. He just passed the Jiangxi Provincial Examination this year. Next year, Yan Song will go to the Tribute Academy with his father Yan Huai."
"Master Chang and Po Nu's nephew will also enter the Gongyuan Academy next year. They are both father and son taking the exam at the same time, so I say your two families are very similar."
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I see. Although marriage is an important matter, it is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. But according to my opinion, it is better for Yan Jiao and Jing Wu to meet and see what the children want."
Wang Miao felt a little embarrassed: "Meeting an unmarried man and woman who have not yet decided? This is not in line with etiquette. Although Yan Huai is not a Jinshi, he is an old scholar who always talks about ancient rituals."
Chang Feng poured a cup of tea for Wang Miaoxin: "Brother Miaoxin, you have been smart all your life, why are you confused now? It is a piece of cake for Jin Yiwei to frame officials, let alone arrange for a young man and woman to meet by chance on the street?"
Wang Miao suddenly thought: "Master Chang is right. I am confused. It's up to me to arrange the chance encounter."
Chang Feng chatted with Wang Miaoxin for a while. Dinner was served in the dining room, and the two of them drank a few more drinks.
After dinner, the Chang family walked to the door of the house to see Wang Miaoxin off.
Wang Miaoxin entered the official sedan, and Liu Xiaoyan said half-jokingly: "My son's marriage has not been settled yet. I helped my godson find a match. You are partial."
Chang Feng smiled and said: "The Empress has spoken. When Ponu becomes a high school scholar next year, he will be given a marriage. We can't decide on our son's marriage."
The next day, Chang Feng returned to the duty room after his morning dynasty.
Qian Ning walked in, raised his hands and saluted: "Mr. Chang."
Chang Feng said: "How many times have I told you, we are half brothers. Don't engage in so many vain etiquette."
Qian Ning smiled and said, "I regard you as my elder brother. Family gifts cannot be discarded."
Chang Feng asked: "Where is Jiang Bin?"
Qian Ning replied: "I'm going to the Ministry of War to open the appointment letter."
Chang Feng asked again: "How was the drink last night?"
Qian Ning said: "Jiang Bin is a very down-to-earth person. Although he doesn't have the capacity to drink, he has the courage to drink. After drinking too much, he told me many strange things about Shanxi."
"Oh, there is something strange and strange that shocked me."
Chang Feng asked casually: "Oh? What's the matter? Tell me and I'll listen."
Qian Ning recounted: "King Qingcheng of the Jin Dynasty actually gave birth to ninety-one children. Among them, there were forty-four sons and forty-seven daughters."
Chang Feng thought there was something wrong with his ears: "How many children do you think he has?"
Qian Ning replied: "Ninety-one."
Chang Feng was speechless: "Oh my god. King Qingcheng is the king of the county. Except for his eldest son who will inherit the throne of the county, the other sons will be granted the title of general of the country."
"All daughters will be granted the title of county lord. The Jin vassal clan suddenly has ninety-one mouths that have been receiving the royal salary for many years!"
The princes and princes of the Ming Dynasty have rarely had real power since the Yongle Dynasty. Their only hobby is sleeping with women and having children.
Bed play is not only refreshing, it can also make money. Every time the princes gave birth to an additional son or daughter, they could receive an additional royal salary from the court.
Chang Feng remembered something.
A month ago, he saw the Di newspaper, which reported to the governor of Shanxi that the Shanxi clan was the largest in the world. The annual salary of the clan is as high as 770,000 dan.
The royal salary of 770,000 stone accounted for one-thirtieth of the court's total annual tax revenue in kind.
Don't underestimate one-thirtieth, this is just the Jin clan. Including the other provinces, a quarter of the imperial court's income was used to support the clan.
If every clan was like King Qingcheng, and one man gave birth to nearly a hundred children, it would probably take less than a few decades for the Ming Dynasty to be wiped out by the clans.
Chang Feng decided to take care of this matter.
The clan has always been a tiger's butt that cannot be touched. After all, they are relatives of the emperor, both have the surname Zhu, and they have not been close to each other since ancient times.
If Chang Feng wants to take care of King Qingcheng's affairs, he must find a clever way.
(End of chapter)
