Twenty miles northeast of Chengdu, there is a big town called "Tianhui".

Legend has it that An Lushan rebelled and forced Tang Xuanzong to leave Chang'an in a panic. Halfway to Maweipo, Chen Xuanli mutinied, forcing Li Longji to kill Prime Minister Yang Guozhong and kill Yang Guifei. Li Longji leveled his own soldiers, and with a full of grief and indignation that could not be exported, he continued to flee to Sichuan, the haven of his dreams. As soon as he arrived, Li Longji suddenly heard that his loved, hated, and feared son, Emperor Li Heng (Note 1), had regained Chang'an, and he happily returned with joy.

So this place took the meaning of "the Son of Heaven returned to Luan" and was renamed Tianhui Town. To the south of Tianhui Town, is the only natural barrier in the northeast of Chengdu Province, Weifeng Mountain (now Chengdu Phoenix Mountain). After Weifeng Mountain, the north gate of Chengdu Mansion is in sight.

A thin old man sat in the carriage, the curtains rolled up on all sides. The car swayed on the mountain road, but he still held the scroll in his hand and muttered words in his mouth.

A young officer dressed in a flying fish suit and riding a tall horse smiled and leaned his face to the carriage window: "The boss works hard every day, it's really a shame to kill me and other rough people who don't learn and don't know how to do it!" ”

"Li Qianhu has an overreputation. The old man is a good book, and he has a long journey and has nothing to do, so he can only read books to entertain himself! The old man replied lightly. His accent was a little strange. In the pronunciation of the southern language of the Beijing division, there are both Fujian dialects and Cantonese dialects.

was called a thousand households, and there was immediately a little haze in the young officer's smile. He unceremoniously corrected the old man: "Deputy Qianhu! It's still earned by the ancestors! ”

However, the young officer's unhappiness was quickly dispelled by the sight before him. The chariots and horses passed over the top of the slope, and a large green wheat field was spread at the foot of the mountain, like a huge piece of jasper.

"You keep poking your head out and seeing, it's so beautiful! It is worthy of the land of abundance, which can be compared to the desolation of the Northland! ”

The old man's gaze lifted from the scroll, glanced at it, and returned to the book coupon: "The people of the Northland are making a fuss. The old man's hometown, Chaozhou, is also a general scenery, so it is not uncommon to see more. ”

The young man's passion was poured with cold water, so he had to keep silent. The old man saw the young man's unhappiness, suddenly turned pale, and said solemnly: "Deputy Li Qianhu, I am waiting to come to Shudi, but I am not looking at the mountains and scenery!" We are all the emperor's personal messengers, the old man is the positive, and Master Li is the deputy. The old man is responsible for the Ministry of Rites, the Lord declares the holy decree and handles the funeral ceremonies of the King of Shu; Lord Li is a pro-army in the imperial city, serving as the eyes and ears of the Son of Heaven, specializing in investigating lawlessness. The blood letter of Zhang Jimeng, the prefect of Boryeong, Lord Li also saw it. If the son of Shu really violated the ancestral system, how should Lord Li deal with it? ”

"The ancestral system, it also depends on the ancestral system of which year!" The young officer smiled contemptuously, "The ancestral system of the Wanli Dynasty is not easy to use in the current dynasty!" Our Li family, how majestic the Wanli Dynasty is, but when it comes to this dynasty, ......"

The old man's face sank, interrupting the young man's complaint: "Lord Li, the imperial court has its own rules, how can it be changed at the same time!" The ban on Tibet is relaxed, but there are a number of sects, officials, and businesses, how can there be a saying that Zongfan leads the army? If Zongfan colludes with the place, how can there be a rebellion! ”

The young man snorted coldly and refuted it: "The old man is too worried!" The King of Shu has always been famous for his virtues, saying that the King of Shu rebelled, I bet that the world's Zongfan will not believe it! They will definitely say that the current emperor is poor and crazy, and he has just robbed his relatives, and he has come to fight Zongfan again! The Shu Domain is the richest, so let's take the Shu Domain first!

Besides, rebellions are everywhere. Zhang Xianzhong or Li Zicheng, which one is not an anti-thief? If there is a thief, take it, can we finish it with Jinyiwei? Besides, I don't think that Zhang Jimeng is a good thing at first glance! His father was involved in a major case of rebellion and hung himself on the southeast branch, and he hated the feudal fu in his heart! If he is really wronged, can he go to the court and do his own bird business! ”

"Don't you Jinyi Weibei Town Fusi have the right to visit and arrest the lawbreakers on your own!"

The young man's cold snort turned into a wry smile: "Boss, our Jinyi Wei is a royal dog!" The emperor said that whoever he took, we will take whomever he wants; The emperor didn't say to take it, how dare we make a claim? You scholars, you should always be lawless. As everyone knows, we are also in charge! ”

"You've read Jimeng's blood book! If he really rebelled against the Shu Domain, you would be guilty of knowing it! ”

"Don't worry, the master went to Shudi, so according to the holy decree, Chen Shiqi, Fu Chongqi, Liu Quanzhong, and the father and son of Fushun Wang, who are not as good as beasts, were brought back to Beijing and handed over to Luo Shuai for a first trial. Boss, it's your job to read the books of the sages. Is this trial prisoner, this is the craft of our Jinyiwei! At that time, whether to participate in the Shu Domain or not, that is Luo Shuai's business. Whether you govern the Shu Domain or not, that's the emperor's business, and it doesn't have anything to do with the master! ”

If we continue to talk, I don't know how many big rebellious words will come out of the mouth of this young noble!

The old man had nothing to do with this young man in fancy clothes, so he had to shake his head and sigh: "Okay! This official is according to Lord Li! ”

……

The old man in the carriage is named Huang Jin, and the word Fu Yuan. He was a waiter in the Ministry of Rites the year before last, and at the beginning of this year, he was transferred to the Ministry of Rites, and after serving for just half a year, he was transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. After the announcement of the decree in Sichuan, he went to Jinling to replace Zhu Jizuo, the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, who left at this time last year.

Huang Jin ascended to the throne at the age of 50 (Note 2) and spent 20 years in the court. The emperor asked him to enter the cabinet three times, but he refused. He still knows how many pounds and taels he can do. When it comes to talking about scriptures and history, he is not weak to anyone. If it is said that Gongshu is good at painting, although his works are not as famous as Dong Qichang, he can also sell silver in Beijing. But when it comes to the money and food of the thieves and the captives, he is helpless. From a newly promoted Hanlin Shu who often does the second-grade Nanjing Ministry of Rites, he has seen the emperor mediocre, and he has also seen the power and traitor, and he knows the national fortune of the Ming Dynasty: what is called "helpless flowers fall, déjà vu Yan returns!" ”

I think that Wei Zhongxian's power was monstrous, and all the people built ancestral halls. Only he, Huang Jin, dared to laugh at the door of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Studies and said: "He is also a eunuch, and I am a historian, and I can be a good official and laugh for all generations!" ”

Not afraid of power, not afraid of life and death, what a heroism that is!

But now, everything is not going well in the world. The emperor often took out his anger with his ministers, taking a pair in the morning and a pair of court staff in the evening. And what about the ministers, it's not a thing! Forming a party for personal gain, selling official hair (YU) lords, turning state affairs into private affairs, and treating private affairs as state affairs!

The world is so erosive, if you don't get out of the stinky quagmire of Jingshi, I'm afraid that your name will be tarnished!

"I'm more timid about homesickness, and I don't dare to ask anyone."

Now I'm finally back in the South!

Although Sichuan is based on Guangdong, there are still thousands of miles. But after passing the Qinling Mountains, there was immediately a strong southern atmosphere. After finishing the official affairs here, I went to the idle yamen in Nanjing to serve as a court official for another year and a half, and then I begged the emperor to return from illness and return to my hometown to write a book and speak!

When Huang Jin thought of this, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, revealing a little smile. He looked out the car window and saw the vegetation everywhere full of life. Li Cunliang is also right, this country of abundance in western Sichuan is fertile for thousands of miles. Although there have been military disasters for many years, it has been resting for several years, and it is a thriving appearance!

Thinking about his thoughts, Huang Jin couldn't help but glance at the young man on the horse.

Li Cunliang is the great-great-nephew of the Empress Dowager Xiaoding (Note 3), the eldest grandson of Li Mingcheng, the third-generation hereditary Marquis of Wuqing, and the only son of Li Guochen, the eldest son of Li Mingcheng. His uncle Li Guorui inherited the title of Marquis of Wuqing, seized all the family property, and only gave his brother Li Guochen a hereditary official of Jinyi Wei and a thousand households.

Li Cunliang's father was so angry that he made a mistake to the court, saying that his father had a last wish to donate 400,000 taels of silver to the court. At that time, Xue Guo, the first assistant, observed his words and feelings, so he gave the emperor a bad idea, saying that the world was not without money, and the money was in the hands of officials and relatives of the emperor. I went to the officials to raise salaries, and there was no problem; As for the nobles, it's up to you.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately opened an IOU of 400,000 taels of silver, and sent a eunuch to find the current Marquis of Wuqing, Li Guorui, and said that since your father has a will, you will take the lead. The emperor will reward you with 500 yuan, and he will also issue a big certificate of honor!

Wuqinghou Li Guorui is not a fool. At the instigation of all the nobles, he was naturally an iron rooster that was not plucked. What's more, he demolished the house and dragged out the pots and jars at home to sell on the street to prove that he was really poor, as if Li Yuan (now Qinghua Garden) was not his Li family.

Emperor Chongzhen's face was slapped hard by his courtiers and relatives, and he immediately became ferocious. He didn't care about the friendship of his clan, so he sent Li Guorui to prison and let him die tragically inside. Li Cunliang's father did not share the Li family's money, and there is no need to avoid this catastrophe. But as a betrayer of the Li family and the nobles, Li Guochen soon died of depression in the contempt and scolding of the Li family and the nobles, leaving only a sixteen-year-old son Li Cunliang, who took the name of the deputy thousand households and messed around in the Jinyi Guard.

With the death of the king of Shu this time, the imperial court should have sent a messenger to preside over the funeral ceremony. But somehow, the emperor not only named Huang Jin as the main envoy, but also named Li Cunliang as the deputy envoy. At first, Huang Jin didn't understand the emperor's thoughts, until he left Beijing, and the emperor's brief words made Huang Jin suddenly realize: the imperial court has no money, and Li Cunliang, a relative of the emperor, can explain one or two to the Shu domain on behalf of the emperor, saving the world from "resenting the court".

"Jinyiwei is the emperor's pro-army, and he can't control it." Huang Jin comforted himself in his heart, "If they want to investigate, they will investigate." If you don't want to check, after you take office in Nanjing, you will send Zhang Jimeng's blood letter to the imperial court, and you will not fail in your mission! ”

……

A group of people came down from the top of Weifeng Mountain. Not long after, a fast horse from the Shufu standard battalion came to catch it, and reported that Liao Daheng, the governor of Sichuan, had led the Sichuan civil and military forces to meet him three miles ahead.

Huang Jin's face was expressionless, he stroked his long white beard in the car, and asked, "Has the prince of the Shu Domain ever gone out of the city to welcome the decree?" ”

"This ...... The last general never saw the royal chariot driving. ”

"The Son of Heaven has his will and that of the officials. If he doesn't go out of the city to meet the decree, does he want the official to go to his carrying hall to announce the decree again (Note 4)! ”

"That's it! A vassal king is too big! I'm waiting for a holy order to be in my body! The young and vigorous Li Cunliang said angrily.

The imperial court system, the decree of the Son of Heaven, the vassal king can kneel in front of the palace to greet him, and Huang Jin, who is familiar with etiquette, is of course aware of this. His plan to sow discord had been sold, so he pretended to convince him: "Master Li! I don't care about him. This is true of all the feudal kings in these places! Everyone loves money like life, fish and meat in the township; Bully the place, humiliate the officer! Zheng Shizi Zhu Yizhong openly robbed people's girls on the street. The magistrate came out to stop him, but he was beaten by the cheap slaves of the palace! Ay! Those who suffer in the world, Zongfan is also! ”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Huang Jin's words came out, Li Cunliang immediately stood on the opposite side of him. Li Cunliang coldly returned back: "Zongfan also has good people, and his relatives are not all bastards!" Eunuchs also have loyal ministers, and there are more treacherous scholars and scholars! For example, the former first assistant Xue Guoguan ......"

"Okay, Master Li doesn't need to say much. This official has his own measure! Huang Jin knew that he had slipped his mouth and touched the young man's scales. He couldn't steal the chickens and rice, so he had to wave his hand and let the group move on.

A few miles away, the carriage took less than half an hour on the flat official road. After a while, the flags looked at each other in pairs, and the sound of drums shook the sky. Huang Jin was dressed and was about to get out of the car to meet Liao Tycoon. Suddenly, a large force of cavalry rushed along the official road like a whirlwind.

is the first young man, plain linen, hemp beam crown, and a bamboo stick as a horsewhip. The flag bearer behind him, holding a fluttering Shu flag, is like a sharp blade, cutting through the autumn morning wind.

Note 1: Tang Suzong Li Heng. On the way to Li Longji's escape, Li Heng ascended the throne in Lingwu on his own, and respected his father as the emperor. In the second year, Li Heng recovered Chang'an and Luoyang.

Note 2: Huang Jin, a native of Raoping, Guangdong, ascended to the Jinshi in the second year of the Apocalypse and was elected to the Hanlin Academy.

Note 3: The Empress Dowager of Xiaoding, often called the Empress Dowager Li in history, is the mother of the Wanli Emperor. Before the Wanli Emperor came to power, she was the actual controller of the Ming Dynasty. It was she who reused the first assistant Zhang Juzheng and the eunuch Feng Bao to create a new policy for the Wanli Dynasty.

Note 4: In the "Emperor Ming Zu Xun", it is stipulated that the emperor declares the vassal king, and the vassal king welcomes him to the Duanli Gate. However, due to the sharp decline in the political status of the feudal kings of the late Ming Dynasty, there are many examples of feudal kings going out of the city to welcome the decree.