Spring is the season of rejuvenation, vitality and rejoicing. But at this time, the situation in Beijing was diametrically opposite, and it was extremely sad and depressing, especially in the major yamen.

The officials and people of the city are like this, just because an old man left at this time. This old man's name is Yang Yu, the word Shiqi!

Yang Shiqi, a native of Taihe, Jiangxi, one of the most outstanding politicians in the Ming Dynasty, since the Jianwen Dynasty entered the official, after five dynasties, the official to the Huagai Palace scholar, and the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, can be described as a very human minister.

With the joint efforts of him and two other cabinet colleagues, the Ming Dynasty finally ushered in the first Qingming era after decades of founding the country - the rule of Renxuan. The treasury that was empty because of Taizu and Taizong's expeditions to the south and north was completely filled, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and internal and external troubles were swept away.

And he, and two other cabinet colleagues Yang Rong, Yang Pu is called the "Three Yang Cabinet" by later generations, in the eyes of future generations, this cabinet is the most united and virtuous cabinet in the Ming Dynasty for more than 200 years, compared to the cabinet of Liu Xie Li and the three people of Xiaozong, it is not an exaggeration to say that the first cabinet of the Ming Dynasty.

But the feast that has been dispersed all over the world has gone through five dynasties, for the court, and for the people for decades, and the old people have finally come to the end of their lives one by one.

Four years ago, Yang Rong died of illness, and four years later, it was Yang Shiqi's turn. The Sanyang cabinet now only has the only remaining Yang Pu to independently support this prosperous world, but the latecomer has not yet appeared. Who will take their place?

This is the question of the Ming Dynasty in this prosperous era, and it is also the doubt of the subjects of the world after knowing that Yang Shiqi died, where will the Ming Dynasty go after the three Yangs?

Yang Shiqi's death shook the government and the opposition, not only the officials and the people mourned, but the Son of Heaven also dropped out of the dynasty for a day, and issued an order to mourn, and then soon announced the mourning after his death - the nickname Wenzhen, given to the Taishi.

March in the capital fell into mourning, but some people were quite excited about it, because he knew that with the death of Yang Shiqi, the mountain that pressed on him had gone, and only one Yang Pu was also old, and the day of his emergence was not far away.

This person is now the first person in the inner court of the Ming Dynasty, and Wang Zhen, the eunuch who is the most favored eunuch of the Son of Heaven!

As a close friend of the East Palace who accompanied the prince when he was still the prince, Wang Zhen has gradually emerged in the palace after the orthodox emperor sat on the throne. And after several years of dormant training and painstaking management, its power inside and outside the palace has become even more terrifying.

Not only did the Son of Heaven rely on him as his cronies' right and left hands, but there were also countless henchmen in the court who used him. If it weren't for the fact that the court is full of upright people now, and there are respected old ministers of the former dynasty like Sanyang who are in control of the situation, I am afraid that this eunuch would have seized all kinds of power by taking advantage of the favor of the Son of Heaven and would have become a generation of eunuchs early.

But now, Yang Shiqi is dead, and Wang Zhen, who has always been cautious, can finally show his skills and ambitions, and let the subjects of the world know that he is not just a little person who can flatter!

Unlike many eunuchs before the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhen did not enter the palace since he was a child. It is the palace gate that is castrated after it is difficult to make a difference on the road to fame after becoming an adult. In fact, he still has a reputation for showing talent.

Wang Zhen's knowledge is nothing compared with the later ceremonial eunuchs. But at this time, among those who don't learn and don't know anything, and most of them don't even know words, they feel like they stand out from the crowd. So the prince who was born in Xiucai quickly stood out, not only the Son of Heaven was trustworthy, but even the eunuchs in the palace were respectful and obedient to him.

In such an environment, the prince's self-confidence naturally swelled infinitely, and his ambition gradually increased. He even had the idea of becoming a Cabinet Minister and having future generations celebrate his achievements.

But Wang Zhen obviously overestimated his identity, and also underestimated Wenchen's contempt and vigilance for them, so in the early years, when he just gave birth to this idea and had not really done anything, he had been collectively boycotted and suppressed by the ministers led by Sanyang.

After his ambitions could not be extended, Wang Zhen could only vent in other ways. For example, he used all kinds of means to grab money and benefits, and for example, he kept buying and installing his own people in the court, waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback.

Now, Sanyang is going to two, and the opportunity is close at hand.

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Although I was very happy about Yang Shiqi's death in my heart, I even wished that even Yang Pu, an old immortal, could go with him. But the superficial kung fu still had to be done, so when the Yang Mansion set up a mourning hall and the hundred officials went to worship, Wang Zhen also followed.

However, after returning from the mourning hall, Wang Zhen's face looked extremely ugly, and the resentment between his eyebrows was so thick that he couldn't dissolve. When he returned to the celebrant with this frustration on his face, the eunuchs under his command didn't even dare to take a breath, trembling and careless.

Only Wei Zhong, the godson who was closest to him, waited for a moment before cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Godfather, but those officials have offended you?" ”

"Humph! These things that don't know what to do, sooner or later, our family will make them all kneel down in front of me one by one! Wang Zhen, who gasped for a while, said hatefully.

"Godfather, don't be angry with these guys. It's just that Yang Shiqi is dead, so they are angry with us......"

"It's not just because of this, those civil officials have always looked down on people like our family who are not in good health, and they all feel that we have to bow down to them. It's really funny, they are all people who listen to it in front of His Majesty, where did they have the confidence to believe that our family will be inferior to them! Wang Zhen obviously held back for a long time, and couldn't help but vent at this time.

"What you said is Godfather, in terms of distance from Your Majesty, they can't compare with us at all. It's more capable than capable, with the great talent of your godfather, even His Majesty has to call you sir, how can it be worse than those guys! Wei Zhong hurriedly flattered and flattered.

"After all, it's still something missing from our family...... Wang Zhen's face twitched painfully, and he regretted his decision a little. But he didn't want to think that without this knife, he would not have been where he is today.

"Godfather doesn't have to be discouraged, we are no worse than them, wasn't the ancestor respected by the officials in the first place? To this day, the people still talk about the goodness of his old man from time to time. "The ancestor in Wei Zhong's mouth is Zheng He, the famous eunuch of the Yongle Dynasty.

Hearing him mention Zheng He, Wang Zhen's eyes showed a look of admiration: "Our family's requirements are not high, as long as we can be as satisfied as our ancestors." Tell me, what can be done to achieve this? ”

Wei Zhong was stunned when he asked this, how could he, a eunuch with little power and knowledge, give an answer? But fortunately, this is also a very spiritual guy, and after just a moment's stunned, he already had a saying: "Godfather, according to the child, it should be the status of the ancestor who is beaten with real knives and real guns." At the time of the Jingjing, the ancestor was a ...... who led soldiers."

"Bringing troops?" Wang Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard this: "Not bad!" The ancestor is respected by hundreds of officials, in addition to winning the favor of Emperor Taizong, the military merits he has made are also extremely crucial. I heard that his surname Zheng was given by Emperor Taizong because of his military exploits. Speaking of this, the envy in his eyes became even stronger, the Son of Heaven gave him a surname, even if ordinary officials could not get the benefits, the ancestors got it, I really hope that I will have such a glorious day.

But soon, this excitement cooled down again: "Now that the world is peaceful and prosperous, how can there be such an opportunity?" ”

Wei Zhong didn't dare to answer, because he had no right to speak in this matter at all, so he could only laugh on the side.

"Hey...... It's a pity that because of a moment of soft-heartedness, I agreed to those tartars, otherwise maybe I really have a chance. After being silent for a while, Wang Zhen sighed again and again.

He was referring to a few months ago, when the Mongolian envoy asked the court to open more courts. At that time, those Mongolian people put a lot of effort into doing things, and Wang Zhen, who was a person close to the Son of Heaven, also gained a lot of benefits. It was precisely because of what he said on the side that this matter was quickly completed.

And now, Wang Zhen regrets it a little. If they get in the way and the demands of the Mongolian people cannot be met, maybe they will meet the Ming sword soldiers. And at that time, he asked the Son of Heaven for a decree, and then learned from the ancestor to lead the troops to kill all these Tartars, wouldn't this military merit be in hand?

Wang Zhen thought really well, but he obviously ignored the gap between his own ability and Zheng He, and thought that he would be able to win a big victory if he went. As for how many soldiers will die on the battlefield and how many innocent people will be wiped out once the two sides go to war, he will not think about all this.

"Godfather, when it comes to tartars, the child remembers something. Previously, the general army of Datong submitted a request for merit for a local county commander, saying that he had created a sharp weapon to ward off the enemy. Wei Zhong suddenly mentioned.

"Oh? And what's going on? Go, show me the watch. Wang Zhen suddenly became interested, and ordered with a wave of his hand.

Wei Zhong didn't dare to slack off, and after a while, he found Hu Sui's document asking for merit. This kind of recital sent from the border area that has nothing to do with the war, whether it is a civilian official or a celebrant who actually doesn't care too much, so it was quickly pressed to the bottom, if Wei Zhong hadn't mentioned it at this time, it would have become a pile of waste paper.

And after Wang Zhen read the above description, his heart moved: "This Guangling County Order named Lu Zhen is somewhat interesting...... but he didn't mention any reward, after all, Lu County's Order has nothing to do with him, how can he contribute to it? It's just that the name of this little county order was remembered by him.

Inside and outside the court, no one knew that an idea had been bred in the hearts of the princes, and this would be the beginning of changing the entire Ming situation......