"Where's Zhang Shiping?"
Gu Zhengchen frowned.
According to the official documents of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhang Shiping was promoted to the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Industry, and he could be regarded as an important minister of the imperial court.
The Zhang and Zhao families attached great importance to it. Not only did they allow Zhang Shiping and Zhao Yaer to get married in style, they also sent six servants to accompany them to Beijing. They traveled by land and took carriages, and stayed at government-controlled inns along the way. They were supposed to be safe and worry-free. , how did it end up in this situation?
Zhao Yaer covered her face and cried, unable to speak.
Seeing that the two of them had no luggage, Gu Zhengchen thought they had encountered thieves or gangsters, so he turned to Gu Cheng and ordered: "Find her two sets of suitable clothes and deliver them to the inn."
Gu Cheng agreed, turned and left.
Gu Zhengchen placed Zhao Ya'er in the inn, and after Zhao Ya'er changed her clothes and calmed down, he invited her to inquire.
Zhao Yaer was devastated, and her eyes were filled with tears when she spoke: "Ten days ago, we arrived at Taoyuan. My husband, Zhang Shiping, remembered that the saint Zhu Xi had visited this place, so he wanted to go back to the old road, but he accidentally fell into the water..."
Gu Zhengchen sighed secretly.
Literary people have been traveling like this since ancient times. I want to walk along the path that famous people have walked. The general mentality is "I have blown the wind that you have blown. Is this a hug? I have walked the same path that you have walked. , is this considered an encounter?”
Taoyuan has the beautiful scenery of "thousands of hectares of young peaches and thousands of rows of green willows". Zhu Xi once left a poem there:
The sun is shining brightly on the shores of Surabaya,
The boundless scenery is new for a while.
It’s easy to know the Dongfeng side,
It's always spring when it's colorful.
Si Riverside, namely Siyang, was renamed Taoyuan in the Yuan Dynasty.
The same goes for Zhang Shiping. Zhu Xi is looking for spring, and he hasn't fallen into the river yet. If you go during this season, you can even fall into a peach if you look at it.
Zhao Yaer wiped her tears: "The servant went down to rescue and drowned four people. Then he rescued the husband ashore and found someone to rescue him. He finally woke up..."
Gu Zhengchen was worried.
Four lives in exchange for one!
Hey, many people in the north are not good at water. It takes a lot of effort to save people in the water. If you drink a few water in a panic, you may become confused.
"That brother Zhang..."
Liang Jiajun was very puzzled. After being rescued and a few servants died, Zhang Shiping continued on his way to Jinling. Why did he come to Suqian alone instead?
Zhao Ya'er seemed to have encountered something that was difficult to talk about. She hesitated and said intermittently: "Two days later, my husband's health improved, and then... later... he took a bath with cold water in hot weather... and then he couldn't do it anymore."
"Which one can't do it?"
Gu Zhengchen blurted out, then lowered his head, wanting to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
Go ahead, how can you say this?
Not sure whether it was embarrassment or sadness, Zhao Yaer cried even more sadly, covering her face with a handkerchief and crying.
Liang Jiajun and Gu Zhengchen finally understood that Zhang Shiping was gone not because he was killed by gangsters, but because he suffered from horse wind, which in Chinese medicine is called "detachment syndrome", also known as "big catharsis".
Gu Zhengchen felt a little sorry.
It's true that Zhang Shiping is a guy. He has fame and beauty at his side. He has a long life to come, so why rush for a while? No wonder I don’t remember Zhang Shiping as the left minister of the Ministry of Works in the Hongwu Dynasty, and he never reported to the Ministry of Civil Affairs at all.
"and after?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
Later, Zhao Yaer and two servants discussed finding a ship to send Zhang Shiping's body back to Teng County. However, they encountered salt gangsters on the way and their luggage was robbed. The two servants were also arrested. They were probably roped in.
Zhao Yaer was alone and had no money, so she had no way to send a body back. In addition, the body started to stink due to the hot weather, so she had no choice but to bury it under an unknown mound. She planned to beg all the way back to Teng County to let the Zhang family Then send people to collect the bones.
Gu Zhengchen and Liang Jiajun were a little sad after hearing this. Good people and official careers were gone at the last word.
Liang Jiajun comforted himself and sighed: "Speaking of it, our journey was quite dangerous. If the inspection department had not taken action, we would have lost all our money and made it difficult to move forward. The world is not peaceful..."
Zhongshu Province.
A middle-aged man in a scarlet robe slammed his hand on the table, and the teacup trembled slightly: "This world is not peaceful, isn't it, Liu Ji!"
Chen Ning, the censor Zhongcheng, looked at Hu Weiyong behind the desk. This man had a high nose, firm lips, and piercing eyes. Even sitting there motionless, he gave people an indescribable intimidation.
Also, just a few days ago, the emperor appointed Hu Weiyong as the right prime minister. Now he has truly controlled the Zhongshu Province. It can be said that he is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people!
But unexpectedly, someone challenged his authority at this time, and this person was none other than Liu Ji Liu Bowen!
The politics of the early Ming Dynasty inherited the Yuan system.
The imperial court established the Zhongshu Province to handle government affairs. Memorials submitted to the emperor by the central government and local prefectures and counties must be "cleared by the Zhongshu Province". All edicts and edicts issued in the name of the emperor must also be issued through the Zhongshu Province.
However, Liu Bowen took advantage of the special situation of the hero and did not send the memorial "Zhou Guangsan's Rebellion of One Hundred Mingyang Military Guards in Qingtian County" directly to the Zhongshu Province. Instead, he chose to hand it directly to the emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. This was because he did not send the newly appointed right-hand man to Prime Minister Hu Weiyong took it seriously, and asked Hu Weiyong to act like a fool in front of the emperor.
Hu Weiyong calmed down his anger and looked at Chen Ning with gloomy eyes: "The emperor has issued an order, ordering me to discuss with the Yushitai and the Governor's Office about quelling the rebellion in Qingtian County. You send a message to summon Le Shaofeng, the Minister of War. , Wu Yun, Secretary of the Ministry of Punishments, Zheng Yuchun, Lu Zhongheng, Hua Yunlong, and others came to Zhongshu Province to discuss matters."
Chen Ning nodded slightly and asked someone to send the message. Wu Yun, the Minister of Punishment, arrived at Zhongshu Province first.
After Wu Yun learned about the situation, he couldn't help but gnashed his teeth: "This Liu Bowen, he just goes home and takes care of himself. Why does his head pop up so often for fear that people will forget him?"
Chen Ning chuckled: "He is old and not what he used to be."
Hu Weiyong had a cold face. Seeing that there were no other ears and eyes around, he whispered: "In the fifth year of Hongwu, Liu Bowen went to Zhongshu Province to write to the emperor, requesting that an inspection department be set up in Tanyang. The emperor agreed. Now there are hundreds more households in Qingtian County Regarding Zhou Guangsan's rebellion, Liu Bowen once again went to Zhongshu Province to write to the emperor. If this person is not removed, it will be difficult to establish rules! In the future, everyone will follow suit, so what is the use of Zhongshu Province?"
"What Mr. Hu means is to send someone to give him to..."
Wu Yun raised his hand and made gestures on his neck.
Hu Weiyong stared, shook his head and said: "He is sincere and has contributed to the country and the country. There is only one person in the world who can kill him. What we have to do is to hand that person a knife and an excuse!"
Wu Yun knocked on the table: "This matter is not easy to handle."
His opponent was Liu Bowen, a man who knew astronomy and geography, had great planning power, and had numerous merits in following the dragon. Although he was jealous of the emperor, he was only granted the title of Honesty Bo after the founding of the People's Republic of China. However, this man was experienced in human planning and had a vicious vision. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, he fought with Li Shanchang. Going, the people of Huaixi had difficulty breathing. If the emperor hadn't secretly helped, and Liu Bowen was too straightforward and lacked respect for the imperial power, he might not have left Jinling!
Although this person has lost power and is no longer in the court, he has always acted cautiously and left no clues. It is difficult to find a knife that can kill him!
Chen Ning pointed to the documents on the table, thought for a long time, and said: "Talking to the Inspection Department and Sergeant Mingyang's rebellion, if these two things are connected..."
Wu Yun's eyes lit up: "Since you are sending a knife to the emperor, you have to find something that the emperor is extremely taboo about, so that you can do it. These two things may be used."
Hu Weiyong picked up the tea bowl: "What do you mean?"
Wu Yun's little eyes narrowed slightly: "Hu Xiang, if Liu Bowen knows that Mingyang is the most important place to pass, but he chooses to set up an inspection department in Tanyang, it means that he has other plans. I heard, Liu Bowen is looking for a site to select a tomb. If this cemetery happens to be a place where people talk about foreign affairs, and this foreign talk happens to be royal..."
Hu Weiyong took a deep look at Wu Yun, this Minister of the Ministry of Punishment - very punishing!
If it works like this, there is no need to worry about Liu Bowen not dying!
Hu Weiyong smiled: "Liu Bowen, aren't you good at pinching and counting? Then I will use your strength to attack your lifeline! This time, let's see how you survive!"
Soon, Zheng Yuchun, Lu Zhongheng, Hua Yunlong, Tang Shengzong and other military generals from the capital came to Zhongshu Province to discuss the matter of putting down the rebellion of Sergeant Mingyang.
Faced with Hu Weiyong's repeated provocations and persuasion, the generals made no move.
Lu Zhongheng glanced at Hu Weiyong and was quite dissatisfied: "The superior issued an edict and sent out the troop deployment talisman. We will go to suppress the rebellion. Why discuss it here and just talk nonsense."
Hu Weiyong saw that these generals were not interested in discussing matters and it was almost dusk, so he took the initiative to invite everyone to drink at Jixian Tower.
Jixian Building, built by the government, has a high platform and double eaves, which is spacious and exquisite.
As soon as the wine and meat were served on the table, Hua Yunlong, Lu Zhongheng and others let go of their hands and feet, shouting and drinking, and it was very lively.
Lu Zhongheng glanced at Hu Weiyong, "If you have to go to your shabby Zhongshu Province to discuss matters or something, you might as well come directly to this restaurant. After all, you are the right prime minister's man, and he can't do anything at all."
Hu Weiyong persuaded them to drink until the people in Dadu Mansion had eaten and drank enough and stood at the door, watching them being picked up by servants one by one, before returning to the restaurant.
Chen Ning looked at Hu Weiyong who was deep in thought, stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Prime Minister Hu, they are from the Governor's Mansion, they are Wu Xun. With such an invitation, wouldn't it cause suspicion if the news reaches the emperor's ears?"
Hu Weiyong smiled calmly: "It is not a taboo to ask for orders. Besides, the Ministry of Education does not have the power to mobilize troops."
Chen Ning looked around and said cautiously: "They are people who fought hard to follow the superiors. They have great achievements. Now they are rich and glorious. It is the time to live comfortably. If you want to use them, I'm afraid you will use them all." Not on!"
Hu Weiyong's pupils were condensed and his eyes were as cold as ice: "Old Chen, you are drunk."
Chen Ning picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp: "Hu Xiang, I am yours, there are some things that should not be hidden! This time we will deal with Uncle Chengyi, and next time, we will be able to deal with it..."
Hu Weiyong interrupted Chen Ning's words, stood up and said, "Let Wu Yun take care of Uncle Chengyi's affairs. As for you, you need to keep an eye on the officials who have been promoted to the capital. These people have just arrived at the court from the local area, and they will inevitably be too high-spirited." , I don’t know the rules, do things differently, beat what should be beaten, recruit what should be recruited, if there are talents, they should be used by me, if not, transfer them out of Jinling!"
