Datong had just experienced its first snowfall, and the world was a vast expanse. The boundless wilderness was blanketed in silvery white. Gazing into the distance, one had to squint to reduce the dazzling glare.
The sun was shining brightly, and the wind was much weaker. Two generals led their horses and stepped on the soft snow. Along with the creaking sound, they chatted while walking. Behind them were dozens of personal guards, who were about a hundred feet away.
"I was patrolling the three borders when I received your urgent report. I didn't expect to be transferred back to the capital. Hehe, I only came here last winter, and after a year, I've finally managed to reorganize the army. I really can't bear to leave." Yang Yiqing used the tip of his whip to tip the brim of his hat and smiled at Wang Shouren.
"The Duke recommended you to the Ministry of War because the capital needs you more. Don't worry about the three borders. The Tartars can't even take care of themselves right now. At most, some small tribes can't survive this winter and will risk raiding the borders. They won't amount to much. " Wang Shouren's hands were behind his back, holding the reins. His horse was well-trained, and the reins were loose. The horse followed behind him, puffs of white mist from its nostrils on his hands.
Yang Yiqing sighed. "Bo An, with you around, of course I can rest assured. This is how the world is now. The poorer and more chaotic a place is, the more people like to plunder and fight. Besides their lives, they have nothing to lose. The people beyond the Great Wall don't care about their lives, so you can't be careless.
What I'm most worried about is that once I leave, you'll be the only one left here. The generals at the borders are all arrogant and unruly, and are very particular about seniority. I spent a year and could only barely convince them. You're just a manager in the Ministry of War. I'm afraid you won't be able to control these generals. "
"Hehe, Sir, it's difficult to make these generals submit, but when you return to the capital, it won't be as simple as a battle of wits. The burden on your shoulders is even heavier. The bureaucracy is more dangerous than the battlefield, and the capital is even more complicated. Duke Shi Cong, you must be more careful. "
"Hehe? I'm just doing my best. "Yang Yiqing smiled wryly." Liu Jin pushed the boat with the current and pushed Sir Yang Ling to the position of Duke, and stripped him of his power. Now, the court is almost ruled by the Liu Jin family. When I return to the capital, I'm just an assistant minister of the Ministry of War. The three scholars of the court are helpless against Liu Jin, so what can I do? "
Wang Shouren's eyes flashed. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw a golden pheasant under a pine tree in front of him, dragging a colorful long tail as it bounced across the snowy ground. Wang Shouren immediately abandoned the reins in his hands, and with a flip of his hand, he took out his [Shen Li Leopard Embryo Bow]. From the quiver, he took out an eagle feather arrow. Almost without the slightest hesitation, the bowstring twanged and the golden pheasant was shot through by the divine arrow. It flew more than one zhang away and fell on the snowy ground.
The bodyguards behind him cheered. A soldier excitedly ran over to pick up the golden pheasant. Yang Yiqing stroked his beard and smiled. "Bo An Divine Arrow, done in one go. It's really an eye-opener."
Wang Shouren hung the bow back on the saddle and smiled. "In a while, I'll stew this pheasant and add a pot of good wine to give Sir a farewell dinner."
Yang Yiqing bent over and grabbed a ball of white snow, clenched it into a ball, and took a fierce bite. When the ice and snow entered his stomach, he was invigorated. He laughed heartily. "Good. Today, we brothers will make an exception and drink to our heart's content. The loyal officials in the court are suppressed. This time, I, Yang Yiqing, will give it my all and fight Eunuch Liu."
Wang Shouren shook his head slightly. "If so, Duke Shi Cong can leave his name in history. But what good will it do to the country and the people? Sir has also let down State Duke Wei's order to transfer you back to the capital to take charge of the situation. "
"What?" Yang Yiqing suddenly stopped and looked at Wang Shouren with a pensive look in his eyes. After a long while, he slowly said: "Bo 'an, you and I are fellow soldiers and brothers. If you have anything to say, why don't you say it directly and don't beat around the bush. You mean … Duke Wei's recommendation of me as the Assistant Minister of War, does he have a deeper purpose? But … even though the position of the Assistant Minister of War is not low, how can I go against Liu Jin? Moreover, the Minister of War, Liu Yu, is also a student of State Duke Wei. The role I can play is even more limited. "
Wang Shouren shook his head and smiled. "Duke Shi Cong, why do you think State Duke Wei transferred you to the court?"
Yang Yiqing took a deep breath and hatefully said: "His Majesty thinks that State Duke Wei was harmed by a traitor and bestowed him the position of State Duke. When State Duke Wei returned to the capital, Liu Jin took the opportunity to confirm the Emperor's order and made Mr Yang a mere figurehead, taking sole control of the court. Mr Yang transferred me back to the capital probably because I can barely be considered as an old official with a certain level of prestige in the court. Perhaps I can deal a blow to Liu Jin's arrogance. "
Wang Shouren laughed and said: "Duke Shi Cong is a modest gentleman. His understanding of the trickery of power and tactics is lacking. As an official in the court, it is difficult to gain a foothold if one is not good at trickery. Trickery, trickery, and tactics are all inseparable from the word 'trickery'. Trickery is full of tricks. At the end of the day, it is all about power. How to fight for power, how to control power, and how to consolidate power.
Power and office are not completely one. Power is like the soldiers in our hands, and the officials are like the city we are stationed in. Those who temporarily leave the city might have soldiers in their hands, and those who occupy the city might end up with an empty city. What did the gains and losses of a single place count for? Duke Shi Cong, do you think that Duke Wei, Yang Ling, has really lost his power? "
Yang Yiqing pondered and said: "You mean … Mr Yang is advancing by retreating? But … he has already handed over the Inner Factory and resigned from his position as the Maritime Inspection Minister. Right now, he is only the Deputy Marshal of the four armies outside the capital. It is almost impossible for him to participate in the court. He … has already retreated to this stage. Does he still have a chance to make a comeback? "
"Hehehehe," Wang Shouren laughed heartily, "My Lord, Duke Wei has always been an unorthodox person. Whether it's the civil official faction or the military faction, Duke Wei has always been an outsider who quickly established a huge network of connections and achievements. Tell me, where do you think his authority and prestige come from? The Commander of the Emperor's Personal Guards was just an official position that was casually conferred by the current Emperor. There was no such position in the ranks of military generals. Originally, he was only responsible for the safety of the Emperor's seven Imperial Plantations in the capital. However, how many major things had Duke Wei accomplished in this position?
What about the Inner Factory? No matter how powerful the Imperial Factory and Guards are, they are still the Emperor's internal organization. No matter how powerful he is, he cannot interfere in the court's affairs and has no right to interfere in the court's affairs. But Duke Wei, as the Supervisor of the Inner Factory, is above the Two Factories and One Guard. He can contend with the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers and directly interfere in the court's affairs. When did Duke Wei become a proper official in the court? But how can his power be small? "
Wang Shouren said: "Duke Wei's power lies in him. If he goes to Dongchang, then Dongchang will be above the Three Factories and One Guard. If he goes to the West Factory, then the West Factory will be above the Three Factories and One Guard. He can turn iron into gold, so naturally, he can also turn gold into iron. I suspect that what Duke Wei passed to Liu Jin is a pile of rubbish. "
Yang Yiqing seemed to have understood something.
Wang Shouren said again: "Sir, can't you see? The absolute trust of the current Emperor is the capital for Duke Wei to fight for power. His outstanding military achievements and political achievements are the capital for him to control the power. With these two conditions, he can bring the 'troops' out of the 'city' at any time, defend the 'city' and dispatch the 'troops'. He can even abandon the 'troops' and 'city' and take a leave to return to his hometown.
Now, Duke Wei has retracted his sharp tiger claws and is excitedly playing the role of a gatekeeper lion. But if someone really treats him as a decoration made of stone and swaggers in and out of his residence, then … … it will all depend on his mood when he will show his teeth. "
Yang Yiqing came to a realization and said excitedly: "Mister Yang is playing the role of Zheng Zhuanggong to get rid of the traitor!"
Zheng Zhuanggong's younger brother recruited soldiers and bought horses with the intention of rebelling. The ministers advised Zheng Zhuanggong to summon his younger brother and teach him a lesson so that he would know his place. However, they were scolded by Zheng Zhuanggong and purposely leaked the news to his younger brother, allowing him to act recklessly. Would a person who wanted to rebel be content with his place if you advised him to do so? He would only act more secretively, making it harder for people to guard against him. Who knew when he would fail miserably?
But he hadn't rebelled yet, so he couldn't punish him even if he wanted to. Zheng Zhuanggong was ruthless enough. Not only did he not care, but he also allowed Duke Wei to collect taxes and recruit soldiers. He actively cooperated and worked as one. That was truly the case of brothers being of one mind, their sharpness could cut through gold. Second Brother Zheng finally lived up to his elder brother's expectations and successfully swore to rebel. This crime couldn't be pardoned, and in the end, he had to pay with his head.
First, he indulged him and even helped him to let his opponent torment him. When he caused a ruckus, he would have a justifiable reason to kill him. This kind of playing hard to get was constantly imitated by the later generations. It wasn't that Yang Yiqing didn't know about it, but he didn't expect it to be so easy.
However, if Yang Ling was really playing hard to get, it was too risky. Since ancient times, those who used this trick were those who were far stronger than the other party and pretended to be weak. Those who used this trick were confident that they could subdue the other party in one fell swoop when the other party was deserted. What strength did Duke Wei have now? Just relying on the Emperor's trust? But Liu Jin also had the Emperor's trust. In this aspect, he didn't have any advantage. Would it be useful for the political situation if he only transferred him back to the capital?
Regarding this, even Wang Shouren couldn't completely see through it. He frowned and pondered for a while before saying slowly, "I am far away in the border town and can't see through Duke Wei's brilliant plan. I think … after Milord returns to the capital, Duke will definitely find an opportunity to meet with Milord and instruct him personally."
Yang Yiqing said calmly, "Bo An is right. This is most likely the case. If this is the case, then Duke will definitely instruct me when I return to the capital. Hehe, I don't have to worry anymore. After I return to the capital, I will know what Duke Wei is planning. "
Yang Yiqing's heart had always been worried about the situation in court. Liu Jin's power was not something he could pull down. Among the scholars, Yang Tinghe had never gotten along with him. Yang Yiqing had originally planned, as soon as he returned to the capital, to immediately present a memorial to accuse Liu Jin of using cruel means to govern the government, ordering the border army to arbitrarily enforce the law, and imposing fines to supplement pay and salaries, causing the Heavens to be angry and the people to resent, and the army's morale to be unstable.
Regardless of whether this move was successful or not, a life-and-death struggle would more or less force Liu Jin to restrain himself. After Wang Shouren's reminder, he realized that the current situation in the capital was treacherous and Liu Jin might not be the only power. If Yang Ling really had the confidence to turn the tide, it might not be impossible. He couldn't help but rejoice.
The towering city of Datong appeared in front of them. Wang Shouren suddenly thought of something and said to Yang Yiqing, "Milord is returning to the capital tomorrow. I have a suggestion for Milord to pass on to Duke Wei. The Tartar Manduhai Empress has been temporarily detained in the Acting Prince's Residence of Datong.
When Duke Wei discussed with you and me in Datong, he originally considered that once Fire Sieve fell out with Boyan Khan, his power and prestige would be inferior to Boyan and it would be difficult to contend against him. This would not achieve our goal of causing internal strife in the enemy and weakening his strength. This chess piece was prepared to be placed with Fire Sieve when necessary. Now … "
Yang Yiqing understood and said, "I understand. Boyan's subordinate general Gathbu used the excuse of conquering Yongxie tribe's rebellion and led his tribe to Ordos and the grasslands outside Gansu. He refused to return after receiving the imperial edict. He gathered his army and was ambitious. It seems that with the decline of Boyan Khan, the powerful generals within Tartar have become disloyal.
His departure has greatly weakened Boyan Khan's strength. Fire Sieve assessed the situation and chose to ally with Wala. After Gathbu's defection, Fire Sieve is now strong enough to fight a fair battle with Boyan. There is no need to place the weight of Manduhai on Fire Sieve, but … "
Yang Yiqing's smile paused. Wang Shouren continued, "Two heroes exist side by side. If one is destroyed, the grasslands will still be unified. Now that Gathbu wants to join in the fun, why don't we give him a big gift. His strength is enough to gather his army but it is not enough to fight with Fire Sieve and Boyan for the world. As long as Manduhai falls into his hands, he can carry the banner of benevolence and righteousness. He can recruit some tribes loyal to Manduhai from both Fire Sieve and Boyan, forming a tripartite balance. This is even more beneficial to us. "
When Wang Shouren finished, the two looked at each other and laughed loudly. They arrived at the tall city gate. The drawbridge was slowly lowered. Wang Shouren secretly thought, "Mr Yang will definitely not be willing to leave the court and let Liu Jin do as he pleases. But he has handed over the 'army' and the 'city'. How is he going to get back the army and the city?
He cannot leave the center of power for long. If he does, there will be changes. When that time comes, he will be powerless to reverse the situation. Did he transfer Lord Shigun back to the capital just to increase his strength to fight against Liu Jin? It can't be that simple. Mr Yang, Mr Yang, what are you planning? Don't overreach yourself and let Liu Jin really control the whole situation. "
The hooves of the horses clattered. The new commander of the three gates, Wang Shouren, entered the city with Yang Yiqing while he was deep in thought.
※ ※ ※
"Now there are two things to pay attention to. Let Liu Jin handle the rest." Yang Ling sat on the chair and said with a smile.
He only now knew that as the main selection officer for the princess's wedding, it was just a routine matter to personally appear on the first day. Although the selection of the emperor's son-in-law did not have to go through all the difficulties, the whole selection process had to be done six or seven times before some outstanding people could be selected to enter the fifth list. At that time, he and the other two main selection officers would have to do the final selection and choose three people to enter the palace. Among these three people, one would become the husband of Princess Yongfu, and the other two would be recommended to study at the Imperial College. If they came out, they would be the Imperial College students. It was a consolation prize.
Since that was the case, of course, he would not stupidly shake the rattle drum every day. The three main selection officers all handed over the selection to their subordinates and went to busy themselves with their own private affairs.
"High Duke, please explain." Yang Shen bowed and took the fruit platter from Gao Wenxin. He said with a smile, "This lowly official is afraid. Thank you, Madam."
Gao Wenxin was wearing a wedding dress. It was red like fire and bright like a pomegranate. Her eyebrows and eyes were full of the gentleness of a newly married woman. She pursed her lips into a smile and said, "You are the master's close friend. Once you enter the mansion, you do not need to adhere to the official etiquette."
With that, she looked at Yang Ling affectionately and bowed slightly. She said, "Master, I will go to Madam's place to see Sir. I will leave first."
"Go, go. Don't give in to his bad habits. He always hugs and hugs, and now he refuses to sleep without hugs. Other than the two old maids, he is sleeping soundly in my arms. According to Cher's research, my arms are thicker than yours and are more comfortable to use as a pillow. He is comfortable, but won't I be tired to death?"
Gao Wenxin covered her mouth and giggled. She nodded her head toward Yang Shen in greeting and gracefully withdrew.
Yang Ling took a sip of tea and said, "The first is about the Ministry of War. A few days ago, when news of my death spread, the secret agents in the capital reported that Liu Yu was shaken. He expressed goodwill to Liu Jin and intended to rely on him. This person … is too utilitarian. Now that I have retired, it is difficult to guarantee that he will not be disloyal. "
Yang Shen picked up a fruit and gently put it in his mouth. He said with a smile, "Duke only needs to reveal the plan to Lord Liu …"
Yang Ling slowly shook his head and said, "Liu Yu is not my ally in the official circles. Everyone knows that he is my comrade and is second only to Minister Jiao. If such a person is always two-faced and makes decisions according to the situation, it will inevitably have a great impact on others. I am prepared to let him be. Moreover, the Inner Yard has been emptied. Liu Jin will find out sooner or later. If there is no such person as Liu Yu sincerely relying on him, he will certainly be suspicious of my giving up power. "
Yang Shen's eyes flashed and he realized, "So Duke transferred Yang Yiqing back to the capital because of this plan? In the Ministry of War, the Minister of War is in charge of all affairs. The Left Assistant Minister is responsible for the specific promotion and demotion of high-ranking officers. The Ministry of Personnel will make the final decision and submit it to the Emperor. Now, Yang Yiqing is the Left Assistant Minister of War and controls the candidates for the demotion of high-ranking officers. With me, the Minister of Personnel, supervising the final decision of the demotion candidates, even if Liu Yu relies on Liu Jin, he can only play a limited role. "
Yang Ling said with a smile, "Exactly. Liu Jin has always been trying to curry favor with the Emperor and has not committed a crime that must be killed. You are right. If I continue to fight with him in the court, the court will be divided into two factions. If we fight like this for decades, the court will certainly be greatly weakened. I am afraid that it will take a hundred years to recover.
It is better to cut the pain than to prolong it. If he is allowed to cause trouble and bring about his own destruction, let him break the law and corrupt the court. When enough evidence is gathered to bring him down, then we will eliminate him in one fell swoop. Other places are in chaos, but the Ministry of War cannot be in chaos. The Ministry of War is in charge of all the troops in the world. I transferred Yang Yiqing back to the capital to strengthen the Ministry of War and prevent it from falling into the hands of Liu Jin.
If the world is in chaos, we can still manage it. If the army is also in chaos, the court will lose its protection. If something big happens, then we will be in chaos and cannot manage it. Even if Guan Zhong Yue Yi comes back to life, he will not be able to bring the spring back to life to clean up this mess. "
"Hmm, Duke is thinking long-term. Under Liu Jin's control, the court is already in a foul and rotten state. We might as well let it fester and then cut off this piece of rotten meat. However, if the high-ranking officers of the army are transferred at will, it will not be a short time. If war breaks out at this time, Daren's clever plan to get rid of the traitor will be stillborn and will be difficult to realize. "
Yang Ling sighed, "That's right. There is no harm in being prepared, just in case. In fact, it will not only be a civil rebellion. If we allow Liu Jin to do as he pleases in all the yamens, I am afraid the army itself will riot. A few days ago, I received news that two guards in Liaodong rioted. The commander of the guards was so scared that he fled without a trace. The cause was that the army's pay could not be paid. In the end, the higher-ups took out two thousand five hundred taels of silver and the riot subsided. A trifling two thousand taels of silver can cause such a big riot. In order to prevent the soldiers from rebelling, the Liaodong Guards did not even dare to pursue the rioters. Because of this, I do not dare to be careless toward the Ministry of War. "
Yang Shen nodded slightly. However, he was born a scholar. To be honest, regarding politics, he could not understand the simple truth of 'political power comes from the barrel of a gun'. In Yang Shen's heart, he did not think that those brainless soldiers would cause great harm. His main concern was still with the court, with the scholars who controlled the policy.
Thereupon, Yang Shen avoided the topic and asked, "What is Duke's second concern?"
Yang Ling said, "Naturally, it is to end the battle quickly. I did not stop those fence-sitters from seeking refuge with Liu Jin. The affiliation of these people completely depends on the word 'power'. Whoever can build up the power, whoever has the most power, they will go to that side. They have no loyalty or standpoint at all, so it is difficult for these people to be a threat. Naturally, I have a way to gather enough evidence to overthrow Liu Jin and easily pull them back. Now, if we let them cling to him, it will instead encourage Liu Jin's arrogance, which is more beneficial to our plan.
However, the only problem here is that it cannot be too long. Half a year! At most a year! If we cannot make a move against Liu Jin in this period of time, his power will stabilize, and it will be difficult to touch him again. Our plan of 'tolerating and nurturing the traitor, killing him in one strike' will inevitably become a bubble.
Liu Jin has two great advisors under him. Zhang Cai is alert and will not do anything too out of line; Zhang Wenmian, who failed the imperial examinations, has an extreme temperament. In fact, this person really hates the corruption of the officialdom. However, his radicalism is destined to make enemies everywhere. Moreover, he is after all an Elementary Scholar, and his vision is not broad enough. It would be sufficient for him to be the advisor of a prefecture or a county, but to give advice to Liu Jin, it will be difficult for him to take on a big responsibility.
In order for Liu Jin to go further and further out of line, he still needs a good helper, but such a 'talent' is hard to find, and it will not be easy to gain Liu Jin's trust. I am still in the midst of looking. "
Yang Shen's eyes flashed, and suddenly he smiled. He sat up straight, gently brushed his robe, and said with a smile, "I want to recommend a person, what does Duke think?"
"Who is it?"
"Qing City Mad Scholar Lu Shijie!"
"Qing City Mad Scholar?" Yang Ling suddenly thought of that arrogant and conceited famous scholar from Sichuan, who boasted about how he used music to comprehend the best way to rule the world, Lu Shijie. This person … has his eyes on the top of his head, and is unrealistic. Even if he is used to assist a famous and capable minister, if he follows his ideas to govern the country, he will only be able to do bad things with good intentions.
If he were to let this dear friend harm Liu Jin, he does not even need to have any bad intentions, he can just rely on his' worry about the country and the people's great burden ', and it will be enough to harm him to death. But he … for such an important matter, can he be relied on?
Yang Shen said with a straight face, "Duke, Brother Lu is arrogant and has his eyes on the top of his head, this is his shortcoming. But no one is perfect, Brother Lu's knowledge is indeed extensive and profound, it is just that he is not like me and Zhu Rangjin, who grew up in an official's family, and was influenced by what we see and hear, and then verified with what we have learned, only then can we have some insights, so it is inevitable that he is flashy and unrealistic. If he is given some sharpening, it is not impossible for him to apply what he has learned.
Lu Shijie's temperament is arrogant, but his moral character is open and aboveboard, his heart is magnanimous, and … although he appears to be indifferent to fame and fortune, but with a body full of talent and knowledge, in fact, he also wants to make a difference. If there is a chance to eliminate a traitor for the country, I believe Brother Lu will put aside his previous grievances with Daren.
Brother Lu lives in Qing City, but he is a native of Shaanxi, Liu Jin attaches great importance to his hometown, moreover, Brother Lu is very famous in Bashu and Shaanxi, so he is the best candidate, whether it is talent or relationship, he can quickly gain Liu Jin's trust and be put in an important position. It just so happens that when I went to the capital, I wrote him a letter, inviting him to the capital to study. Counting the days, if Daren thinks it is feasible, when he comes, I can talk to him! "
Yang Ling was silent. Yang Shen said, "If Duke is still not assured, I will use my personal name to persuade you, not revealing Duke's plan. In the past, when I was in contact with Brother Lu, when we talked about the spirit of scholars in ancient times, using wisdom and talent to eliminate traitors for the country, Brother Lu often clapped his hands in praise, endlessly admiring him. I think as long as I ask, Brother Lu will gladly serve the traitor, connive the traitor to bring disaster! "
"This person … is reliable?" Yang Ling slowly asked.
Yang Shen knew that he was thinking of Zhu Rangjin, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly. After a long silence, he slowly said, "Since Daren trusts me, why do you need to doubt Brother Lu? Rangjin, he … he is too stubborn, pretending to be arrogant is to deceive people, but Lu Shijie is different, his arrogance only causes him to repeatedly offend people, although his reputation is great, there is not the slightest benefit, this person … definitely does not have a greedy heart. "
"Good! Then, let's ask this arrogant scholar of Qingcheng to take action, but … to be safe, for the time being, I will use my personal name to persuade him to lure the traitor to bring disaster, make Liu Jin hate the world and bring about his own destruction. We are taking a dangerous step, one wrong step, every step will be wrong, it concerns the country, the millions of people, it is better to be careful. "
※ ※ ※
After the morning court, the Emperor hurried back to the Leopard Garden, he was going to marry Tang Yixian in the snowy winter, now he was personally planning and busy with his own marriage, rarely staying in the palace.
After the Emperor left, Liu Jin also left the palace in a small sedan chair, returning to his mansion.
After changing into a robe with incense, he was about to spray some incense on his body when Zhang Wenmian hurriedly rushed over from the backyard, Liu Jin could only put down his homemade spray bottle, a little impatiently said, "What's the matter?"
Zhang Wenmian bowed and said, "Liu gong, I heard that today you asked for an imperial edict to investigate the money and grain in the treasury of the world, the annual silver of each side, salt permits, military weapons, and even the transportation of the husband, firewood and charcoal?"
"That's right!" Liu Jin said complacently, "Thoroughly investigate, if there is corruption of public funds, waste of taxes, found one by one, no matter how high the official, no matter who the person is, those that should be compensated, those that should be punished, those that should be banished to the army, those that should be beheaded, should be beheaded!
These matters, how can the officials of the Six Ministries not be involved, as long as the news is released, those with dirty butts will obediently come to us. And only examining the achievements of the officials in the capital, it is obvious that they are messing with Yang Ling's people, if we do a nationwide investigation, it will not be obvious, and we can also achieve some achievements, let those scholars who talk about morality see, I, Liu Jin, am also very capable in being in charge. "
Zhang Wenmian grumbled, "Liu gong, it is naturally good that you have this kind of ambition, but I heard that you have given this task to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Punishments, they are not our people yet, on the surface they obey you, gonggong, but in secret they still listen to Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe. Will they sincerely work for you? What if they do half-heartedly? Won't all of gonggong's efforts go to waste? "
"This …" Liu Jin was also a bit vexed. There were many people who relied on him, but not many of them could accomplish great things. The Bureau of Rites had many trusted aides, but Liu Jin was not very willing to use eunuchs. He had no choice but to rope in the eunuchs who guarded the various areas. It was not like he did not know the quality of the people in the Bureau of Rites. They could plunder the people's wealth, but none of them knew how to do things. If he sent them out, wouldn't that ruin his, Liu Jin's, reputation?
Liu Jin himself was also greedy, and very greedy. Ordinary gifts, if they had less than three thousand taels of silver, they could not even enter the door. If they were seeking an official position, then the starting price was ten thousand taels. But he himself was covered in white hair, yet he looked at others as if they were demons. If he heard that someone was corrupt and accepted bribes, he would really be enraged.
"Ai! Wenmian, although there are many people who rely on us, there are few who can take charge. If we don't hand them over to the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Punishments, who do you expect us to send out? "
"Gonggong is now below one person and above tens of thousands. Your actions are resolute and decisive, and your authority is unparalleled. I heard that the eunuchs in the inner court all call you 'Little Taizu.' Are you still unable to recruit a useful talent?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin perked up and hurriedly asked, "What? What? What Little Taizu? "
Zhang Wenmian said, "Gonggong is decisive in killing and uses harsh laws to deal with corrupt officials and mediocre officials. You have the style of Emperor Taizu, so the eunuchs in the inner court all privately compliment you as' Little Taizu. 'I heard this from Eunuch Luo."
When Liu Jin heard the eunuchs in the inner court compare him to Zhu Yuanzhang, he couldn't help but smile. He laughed and said, "Luo Xiang is here again? Haha, I forgot about him again. He's too pitiful as an enema ambassador. I'll write a note later. Have someone send it over and transfer him to the inner court. "
"Yes," Zhang Wenmian replied.
"Sigh, although I have Emperor Taizu's lofty aspirations, it's a pity that I don't have as many capable officials as Emperor Taizu. The officials that are attached to me are mostly people who curry favor with those in power. Other than Zhang Cai, Cao Wenjin, and Shi Wenyi … Hmm?
Liu Jin suddenly came to his senses. He looked at Zhang Wenmian and smiled. "Wenmian, do you still need to beat around the bush when it comes to me? You want a background, right? Hmm … tomorrow, I'll discuss with Li Dongyang tomorrow and transfer you to the Ministry of Revenue. With you there, I won't have to worry about them fooling me. "
Hearing this, Zhang Wenmian was overjoyed. He hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed. "Thank you, eunuch, for your guidance. Wenmian will never forget it!" A failed scholar had now jumped into the Ministry of Revenue, one of the six ministries of the imperial court. Furthermore, he was immediately promoted to the position of the Ministry of Revenue. Liu Jin really did not treat him badly.
Zhang Wenmian was overjoyed. He couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude. "Eunuch, you have good foresight. Most of the officials that are attached to eunuch have no ability. They can only share riches with you, but not through trials and tribulations with you.
Now, all the important matters of the imperial court are decided by eunuch. If eunuch wants to stay young in the imperial court, you must have the Emperor's favor and trust. You must also have a few capable subordinates to share your burdens. To these scholars and famous people, eunuch might as well treat them with courtesy and promise them a bright future. There will definitely be people who will be loyal to eunuch. With the help of capable officials, eunuch will be able to wield both internal and external power. Moreover, your name will go down in history! "
Liu Jin's ambition was fermented by his words, and his back straightened up. But the heat in his heart had passed, and when he thought about the group of crooked people under him, his shoulders slumped down again. It was difficult to find a few capable officials who were willing to follow him wholeheartedly.
As for his subordinates, Cao Wenjin, Yang Yu, Shi Wenyu, and the others could only be hired thugs. The rest were mostly useless. Zhang Cai was the only one who could really get things done. However, he was in charge of the Ministry of Appointments and helped him keep the most important yamen. He no longer had any spare energy to help him accomplish his grand ambitions.
Zhang Wenmian was one of them. Furthermore, he was indebted to him. This Zhang Wenmian was absolutely loyal to him. Other than these two people, who else could it be? Liu Jin pursed his lips and sighed softly. Waving his hand, he said, "I understand. You can go back to your work."
Zhang Wenmian did not know how his words had angered him. Seeing that his expression was not good, he did not dare to say more. He hurriedly acknowledged and quietly retreated to pack his luggage in preparation to take up his post.
Liu Jin carried the watering can into the inner room and let out another long sigh. Who would be willing to submit to me if they were truly capable? Yang Ling did not come from a proper background. However, even people like Li Dongyang, Jiao Fang, and even Yang Tinghe, who did not get along well with him, were polite to him. What about me? They were also polite. However, they were separated by a distance of eight zhang. Did they think that I could not tell?
How am I inferior to Yang Ling? In terms of power, influence, and talent, am I inferior to him? Isn't it just that my crotch is missing a thigh? When the imperial court selected officials, they did not accept those with bad facial features or a bad figure. I am a eunuch. Those people … … look down on me.
Sorrowfully undid his robe and sprayed perfume on his lower body. Liu Jin angrily thought: The foreign officials look down on me and hate me from the bottom of their hearts. How could I not know that? I also hate my incomplete body. My appearance is neither Yin nor Yang.
Not to mention other things, every time I spray perfume on my body, I feel sticky and annoyed. However, if I don't do this, how can I cover up the smell of urine on my body? Can they understand my pain? Nine out of ten people who have been castrated have injured their urethra. They are always dripping all day and cannot control themselves.
What did they call me? Rotten people? Rotten people. That's right! I am a rotten person! Damn it, they look down on me. You can ride on women, but I can ride on you. If you all look down on me, who dares to not kneel properly in front of me? With one order from me, all the civil and military officials in the imperial court will have to kneel and not get up. All the people in the world will have to kneel at my feet!
Hmph, when you go to the imperial court to see the emperor, you can get up after kneeling. I can make you all kneel outside Worship Heaven Palace until you faint! Looking down on me? Not relying on me? I'm the one who looks down on you. You have a lot more on your lower body than me, but your backbone is a lot less than me. I only kneel to the emperor, but you have to kneel to me, a eunuch that you look down on! Why should I? Just because I have power, I can be more manly than you all!
Liu Jin covered his robe and let out a sinister laugh. Power! Now that all the power was in my hands and Yang Ling was done for, no one could threaten me anymore. I had to hold on to my power tightly. If there came a day when my power fell to someone else, I wouldn't be as lucky as Yang Ling. Who knew how many b * stards would immediately turn hostile and pounce on me like a swarm of bees.
Power, I have to hold on to it day by day. I have to open one eye even in my dreams. Whoever dares to steal my power, I will take their life. But the imperial power is not really in my hands. Am I the 'Little Great Ancestor'? How can I compare to the real Great Ancestor's grand plan? The meticulous system he set can't really transfer the imperial power from the emperor to a eunuch like me.
The eunuchs of the Han Dynasty are really in control, and even the emperor is in their hands. But the eunuchs of the Ming Destiny Dynasty can't compare. As long as Emperor Zhengde turns hostile, my power will be gone in the blink of an eye. Now that I have power, there are many things I need to do. If I can't do these things well, I will have to hand them over to others. Then, the power that I have worked so hard to obtain will have to be given out bit by bit.
But if I don't give out power, I have to handle the affairs of the world myself and not let people bother the emperor. That's the only way. Talent! That damned talent! Why isn't he willing to be used by me and always going against me?
The more Liu Jin thought about it, the angrier he got. He put down the watering can and was about to call someone to fetch water to wash his hands when a manservant ran in and said, "Eunuch, there's a man outside who calls himself Lu Shijie, the Mad Scholar of Qingcheng. He says he wants to see you."
Lu Shijie? Who? Oh … Mad Scholar of Qingcheng. I know him. Big Brother even mentioned him when he came to visit his relatives. He's a famous scholar from our Shaanxi hometown. Liu Jin was overjoyed. He heard that this scholar has his eyes on the top of his head and there aren't many people who can catch his eye. The Shaanxi Provincial Commissioner invited him to a meal, but he still refused. Such a scholar wants to see me?
Liu Jin hurriedly adjusted his hat, tied the belt, and said repeatedly, "Please, please, please quickly invite him in."
The manservant said awkwardly, "Eunuch, this person … since this person arrived at the door, his nose is pointed at the sky. This lowly one still hasn't seen what he looks like. This person is really arrogant. He specifically said that he wants you to personally escort him out. Otherwise … otherwise … he'll leave immediately. Do you think this lowly one should find a few family members and beat this madman out with a stick? "
"Bullsh * t!" Liu Jin stepped forward and slapped the manservant so hard that he spun around on the spot. Immediately, half of his face swelled up.
"Scram to the side. I'll personally receive him." Liu Jin didn't think that this was degrading his status. His official position was definitely many times higher than Lu Shijie's, but this scholar couldn't be invited even if he had the power. If he was willing to pay a visit, how much face did he have?
Liu Jin hurriedly went to the door to welcome him. He thought, "This scholar can't be here to rely on me, right? I can't. If this kind of wild scholar wanted to become an official, he would have done so long ago. Why would he come to rely on me? Maybe it's because he doesn't have money to travel back to his hometown. Mmm, mmm, this is a famous scholar from my hometown. If he's willing to look for me, that's giving me too much face. I'll prepare a heavy gift for him. "
The Great Eunuch Liu Jin, whose power was like the sun at high noon and whose arrogance was unexcelled in the world, happily welcomed Lu Shijie into the hall and repeatedly ordered people to serve tea. Lu Shijie's chin might have been raised for too long and his neck was a little sore. He proudly lowered his head and disdainfully sized up the hall. He still had that disagreeable demeanor.
"When did Young Master Lu come to the capital? Why didn't you inform me? You are a famous scholar from Shaanxi. I've long wanted to recruit you. If I knew that Young Master Lu had come to the capital, I would definitely go and welcome you. Uh … Young Master Lu came to my residence today for …? "
The arrogant scholar of Qingcheng, Lu Shijie, put on a straight face. He was not polite at all to this great eunuch who was the head of the secret service who was revered by all the civil and military officials in the imperial court. Didn't Yang Shen say that he should show his true colors, the wilder the better? Besides … in his heart, he really looked down on Liu Jin.
Lu Shijie asked without hesitation, "I heard that in the past, Gao Lishi doted on all the officials. All the officials inside and outside the imperial court were in awe of him. Such an illustrious person was able to bend and stand tall as needed, taking off Li Taibai's boots. I wonder if Liu Gongzi is also able to do the same?"
Finished speaking, he plopped his butt down on a chair. He looked at Liu Jin from the corner of his eyes. His neck, which had just regained some energy, habitually craned up again. He looked even more imposing than the Emperor. The servants on both sides of him wanted nothing more than to rush forward and give him a good beating.
Liu Jin wasn't vague either. He didn't read many books, but the words of the Great Scholar Lu weren't too profound, so he could understand them.
Liu Jin immediately said, "What's so difficult about that? The arrogant scholar of Qingcheng is Li Taibai. I, Liu Jin, am Gao Lishi. Young Master, please sit, Liu Jin will take off your boots for you. "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
