There is a saying that the butt determines the head, and it is really true.
When Zhu Houzhao was already an audience, he was also instilled with the impression that "eunuchs are misused and cause many disasters", but this was no longer the case after he became the emperor.
The civil servants repeatedly pushed him back, but the eunuchs tried their best to complete the tasks assigned to him.
Comparing the two, is there anything more to say?
Of course, public opinion was in the hands of the literati, who often said that eunuchs were greedy for money, harmed innocent people, hindered other officials, and were sinister and vicious.
But if you think about it carefully, does this seem like a label imposed on eunuchs by their rivals?
It's like if a person cuts something, he will naturally become such a person.
But in fact, don’t civil servants do a lot of bad things?
Only eunuchs can do such things as corrupting officials and killing people?
Not necessarily.
Fortunately, Zhu Houzhao has some ability to think independently. There are many inherent concepts that will feel strange if you think about it for a moment when comparing them with reality. And the more you see the fucked up things done by normal officials, the more... in this way.
To put it mildly, if you cut something, at least this group of people will not rape women or take other people’s wives. This is one less crime.
The other crimes were committed by eunuchs and also by civil servants. In essence, people have power but lack control, and it has no fundamental relationship with whether they have that thing or not.
Oh, one more thing, eunuchs rarely rebel.
All in all, all parts of the Ming Dynasty, especially some important towns and places with military defenses, retained guard eunuchs.
In some cities, the only military post was a garrison general, and the court also had garrison eunuchs.
To put it bluntly, the emperor left a pair of eyes here.
The Eunuch Gao Zhang Cong mentioned was named Gao Huai. He was recommended by You Zhi and had appeared in front of Zhu Houzhao several times.
If you leave the capital and come down to work as a guard eunuch, you will definitely get some money, but if you want to say who your heart is towards, it must be You Zhi, it must be the emperor.
If the guarding eunuch is greedy, he will also occupy some fields, but it has been eleven years since Zhengde, and the military settlements have been cleaned up before, so the smart eunuch at this juncture has long stopped making mistakes on this issue.
You Zhi knows the emperor's thoughts best, and this matter must be taken seriously, so You Zhi has given many orders and good words before, but you can't ask him for mercy if something goes wrong.
These are unnecessary to mention.
For other things like getting some money, forget it.
Zhu Houzhao sometimes dealt with things a little vaguely. He really expected all the eunuchs to live a life of pure water and water. That would be too difficult. Without love, there has to be some money to stimulate the excitement.
After Gao Huai received the news, he naturally didn't say anything.
It was not Zhang Cong who ordered him, but the palace had already given advice that the defense should be strengthened during this period, and any problems should be reported to the emperor as soon as possible. And for him, this was an opportunity to perform meritoriously, so he was extremely excited after receiving the news.
After all, Eunuch You was also transferred from the guarding eunuch in Shandong back then and was transferred to the emperor's side.
So these civil servants just didn't like the emperor sending eunuchs to local places.
Strictly speaking, there are two information channels for the emperor, one system for civil servants and another for eunuchs. The power of the ceremonial supervisor is greatly restricted, but this is still a 'big yamen'. The eunuch You Gonggong is in charge, which is difficult for eunuchs in the world to look up to. mountains.
Zhang Cong didn't expect that a local guarding eunuch would be so warm to him. He didn't even come to see him personally. Gao Huai came to visit him himself.
And everything that should be prepared in advance is already in place, as if waiting for such a moment.
Zhang Cong was no longer polite, and was scheduled to go to Qidong in two days.
On the way.
Gao Huai also told him all the things he knew, and said: "This Qidong magistrate Lu Weimin is actually a strong man. It is said that he was selected because of this."
"Why?"
"People's customs vary from place to place. Qidong County has a Wan Guan Family."
Zhang Cong understood.
He grinned.
Back when he was still a commoner, he had looked up to such aristocratic families. The children of these families had rich clothes and cars, beautiful maids and concubines, and their backgrounds for several generations were often difficult for county officials to do anything about.
Now, when he looks at such a wealthy family, he still feels like he is in another world. The memories of the past and the real power are so intertwined that it is even difficult to distinguish them at some point.
"No matter who he is, blocking national policies is a sign of death. If he just accepts his fate, forget it. The more arrogantly he resists, the more likely he will be killed."
Zhang Cong clenched his fists a little. He was now the elder of the court.
In a word, the guarding eunuch in Shandong had to order the soldiers and horses of the two guards to follow him. He also had the king's order flag on his body. He got the emperor's order. As long as it is confirmed to be true and the crime is true, he can be killed first and then reported!
"Walk!"
The large army of soldiers and horses marched toward Qidong County along the official road.
The weather in May made the roads easy to walk, and it didn't take long for this small, quaint county town to come into view.
Before they entered the city, Ma Bin, deputy envoy of Jin Yiwei, had already left the city to greet them.
And handed Zhang Cong a letter, "The names of the three people who were attacked were Mao Xingping, Zhang Keyun, and Miao Jing. Among them, Mao Xingping was injured. The incident took place in a place outside the county town called Shanlinglin by local people. According to the scene Judging from the situation, this was a deliberate attack, or it could be called a murder. Fortunately, Lu Weimin, the magistrate of Qidong County, was somewhat vigilant, and sent people to accompany him for protection, both openly and secretly. The gangsters were probably still a little afraid of the people in the county government. Because of his official status, we did not attack by force. We only fought for a stick of incense and then retreated."
Gao Huai had a long and narrow face and gloomy eyes. He smiled and said, "How can we retreat until the matter is finished?"
"Eunuch Gao is right." Ma Bin can also confirm, "It must be because there is someone behind the scenes, otherwise there will never be unified behavior."
"Yeah. Any clues?"
"There are mainly two clues. One person was injured and was described as missing half of his right ear."
This is an obvious feature.
At this time, there are no particularly efficient methods, but there are particularly reckless officials.
"The official has asked Magistrate Lu to issue an order. First, all drug stores in the city are to be closed down. All people who buy to treat knife wounds must register their identities and send people to follow up and verify the situation of the injured, including coffin shops, shroud shops, etc. in the city. Even if this person Even if they are dead, they must be dug out of the soil. Secondly, we ordered all villages to have the whole village sit down together with anyone who saw such an injury and refused to report it."
At this time, this is not a very cruel thing. Just like Yin Tian, if you don't retaliate, the village chief of your village will be guilty of the same crime.
Otherwise, how can we control the people? Do you really think that all the people in the world are pure and kind-hearted?
"Well done. Where's the second clue?"
Ma Bin took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "Someone reported that Zhuo Yiduan of Qidong County secretly colluded with bandits to harm the villagers. However, there is no evidence, and the person who reported the information must be very timid. He asked a child to send it, and he Didn’t show up.”
"It seems that the small place is also very fierce, and the fight to the death between each other has become even more difficult to hide after we came. Eunuch Gao, is this the luxurious house you are talking about?"
"Exactly."
Ma Bin explained: "The lower official also sent people to visit secretly. This family does have a bad reputation. Most of the people are afraid of it. Even if they want to know more, the people don't dare to talk more."
Zhang Cong didn't care about that, "Arrest him first."
Gao Huai and Ma Bin were both stunned. Ma Bin also added, "Mr. Ge, there is no evidence now."
Zhang Cong's eyes were firm, "Why would you want to accuse him? Just find any crime for him and arrest him first. If you don't scare the shit out of this kind of person, he will always do mischief behind your back."
Zhang Cong thought that this group of people were like this back then. They were arrogant and unreasonable, as if they had no more laws. Moreover, they relied on one thing and another, like flies.
In fact, Zhang Cong himself knew very well that there was no need to say more about this kind of person. The whole family would be arrested and he would definitely not be unjustly charged. He would just make amends for the crime when the time comes.
Of course, this approach is a bit arrogant.
However, Zhang Cong is not only thinking about Qi Dong. Looking at the situation in various places, if he becomes a scholar, he is afraid that things will be more difficult to deal with later. He just assumes the attitude of a gangster and let's see what happens!
(End of chapter)
