Zuo Jiayin said worriedly: "This hot spring is a hundred households in Dongchang, and it is a big celebrity in front of the emperor, we have to be careful..."

Meng Tianchu smiled: "I have fully considered this point, you can rest assured." ”

At noon on the day before the court staff again, Hot Spring sent two little eunuchs to the Xia Mansion to invite Meng Tianchu, but he didn't expect Meng Tianchu to be there, leaving a letter and a sealed small paper bag to be handed over to Hot Spring.

After the little eunuch took it back and presented it to the hot spring, the hot spring didn't read the letter, but couldn't wait to pick up the small paper bag and smell it, with a gleam of joy in his eyes, he carefully and quickly tore the paper tape, poured a small pinch of white powder on the table, lined up in a long line, sucked it through his nose, and then rested on the chair with his eyes closed and enjoyed.

After a long time, I opened my eyes in admiration, picked up the letter, tore it open, and saw that the content was very simple, but it was very meaningful: "Father-in-law Wen: Xiaoyaosan only has the last day's amount left, and it is now provided to my father-in-law, and there is no stock in my hands, so I went out to look for and buy the herbs, reconfigure it, and return tomorrow evening." In addition, due to the high cost of the configuration, it is only enough to configure a few days' consumption. I am terrified, and I ask for forgiveness. ”

The hot spring snorted heavily in his nose, rolled his eyes a few times, and stood up and went out.

In the evening, Mrs. Xia's family and Lao Langzhong were waiting for Xia Hong in the living room, because the next day was the day that Gonggong Wen said that Xia Hong and others would be implemented again, and the family was very nervous. has spent the past few days safely, Dongchang and Jinyiwei have not appeared again, and there is no news of being imprisoned again. But the calmer it is, the more worrying it becomes.

Meng Tianchu and Zuo Jiayin left the Xia Mansion the night before, and before leaving, Meng Tianchu handed Mrs. Xia a letter and a sealed paper bag. He said that the hot springs sent people to find him, so he gave them these. Sure enough, two little eunuchs came at noon, and Mrs. Xia gave the things to the two little eunuchs according to Meng Tianchu's instructions before leaving. She didn't know what was inside, and she didn't know what Meng Tianchu was doing mysteriously now.

The worry lasted until the next morning, and there was still no one to take Xia Hong into prison, and it was almost noon when the court staff was carried out, and Mrs. Xia sent several servants to inquire outside the noon gate, and came back to report that the seven people who had been escorted to the noon gate again. The court staff was ready, but at this time, no one had come to escort Xia Hong away. Only then did Mrs. Xia and the others slowly believe that Xia Hong might be able to escape this catastrophe.

It was past noon. The servants who had been sent to the noon gate to inquire about the situation had returned, and reported that the staff had been completed again, and that the second eunuch was still the second eunuch Hot Springs, and that two more had been killed.

Mrs. Xia was frightened and scared and lucky, but she didn't know if she would be beaten again in the future, but if she escaped once, at least there was one life left. She didn't know why this was happening. It is estimated that his bag of gold and silver played a role.

Soon after the cane, Meng Tianchu and Zuo Jiayin came back, and listened to Mrs. Xia talk about Xia Hong's escape from the great disaster with tears in her eyes, but Meng Tianchu was not surprised, but just smiled and checked Xia Hong to make sure that although he was not out of danger. However, his condition is stable.

Subsequently, Meng Tianchu asked Zuo Jiayin to stay and take care of Xia Hong, and he came to the mansion of the eunuch hot spring in a sedan chair alone.

The eunuchs in the Hot Spring Mansion already knew Meng Tianchu. I got an explanation from the hot spring again, so I didn't need to pay a visit, and took Meng Tianchu directly to the back hall to see the hot spring.

Or the last time in the back hall living room, Meng Tianchu left him a lot of white powder on the first day, so the amount of hot spring intake is relatively large, and now he has not committed drug addiction, and the poison has not passed, his spirit is very good, and when he saw Meng Tianchu come in, he nodded and motioned for him to sit down.

After Meng Tianchu sat down, Hot Spring stared at Meng Tianchu, staring at him until his hair straightened, and then Hot Spring said coldly: "Are you guilty?" ”

Meng Tianchu was shocked, and hurriedly got up and bowed down: "The little one is thinking about his father-in-law, and he doesn't dare to have any selfishness, and he doesn't know where the crime comes from." ”

"Hmph~!" Hot Spring snorted heavily, "Surnamed Mengdi, if you want to play tricks in front of our family, you are still a little tender." You're going to end your father-in-law's court the next day, do you want to use this method to demonstrate to our family? If our family doesn't let go of your father-in-law, you will disappear without a trace, and let our family suffer from this, right? ”

You are not stupid, Meng Tianchu thought to himself, he hid in Zuo Jiayin's Heavenly Master Pavilion this day, and he really thought like this, but at this moment, his face showed a very frightened look: "The little one never has the idea that such a crime deserves death, it is really that the Yu is used up, and the small one is going to configure the Yu." ”

"Hehe, no matter if you think so or not, our family can warn you, don't play tricks with our family, our family can let your father-in-law go this time, if you want to take his life again, it is not difficult, in addition, as long as our family knows that you are playing tricks, let you know that Dongchang is tortured in eight ways!"

Meng Tianchu hurriedly bowed ninety degrees and saluted: "Yes, yes, the little one doesn't dare to play tricks in front of his father-in-law no matter what." After that, he took out a small packet of white powder from his arms and put it on the coffee table, "Father-in-law, this is a small one who went to reconfigure yesterday to honor your father-in-law." ”

The hot spring's eyes lit up as if they had turned on a light bulb, and he sniffed involuntarily and said approvingly, "Well, that's pretty much it." He wrapped the paper bag and put it in his arms, clapped his palms, and three little eunuchs came in from outside, two holding two large bags in their hands, and one holding a small box.

Those two big bags were very familiar, similar to the two bags of gold and silver I gave to the hot springs last time. The little box was unfamiliar. The little eunuch opened the small box, and saw that it was full of many small gold ingots neatly stacked, and after calculating it, it was worth more than three million yuan!

Hot Spring changed his smile and said slowly: "Brother Meng, your filial piety to our family is really a good thing, and our family can't let you be filial in vain." The matter of Lord Xia is settled, and the emperor did not say that he had to take his life, and our family will report to the emperor tomorrow, so he said that it has been found out, and Lord Xia is a coercive obedience, and let him be reinstated. These two bags of gold and silver of yours, we will still return them to you. In addition, as you said in your letter, the materials needed for this Xiaoyaosan configuration are very expensive, and our family can't be greedy for your small cheapness, so I will send you a box of gold and silver jewelry to match. When you run out, tell our family, and we will give it to you. ”

Meng Tianchu was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly bowed down and said, "Thank you, Father-in-law Wen!" ”

Money is just a number for the second eunuch hot spring who has looted countless people's fat and rich people. He was indeed very satisfied with Meng Tianchu's carelessness, and he was the third person in Dongchang. One of the important leaders of the East Factory, of course, knows the importance of both grace and power. Therefore, after intimidating Meng Tianchu fiercely in the front, he not only returned the gold and silver sent by Meng Tianchu in front of him, but also gave him another box of gold, silver and jewelry, which was just a drop in the bucket for him, so that Meng Tianchu was desperate to give him a free ride, which was his highest purpose.

Of course the hot springs know. Just the money is not enough to win people's hearts, and he asked, "Where is Brother Meng now?" ”

"Returning to my father-in-law: I will be a famous criminal master in Renhe County, Hangzhou."

Hot Spring nodded and stared at him: "Master Meng, would you like to join our East Factory?" ”

Phew! Meng Tianchu took a sip in his stomach, and you were embarrassed, so Lao Tzu didn't do it, but. Now you have to gain the trust of the hot springs as much as possible, otherwise you will not be able to save your life. Therefore, Meng Tianchu's face suddenly showed an extremely happy and flattered expression, and he said in surprise: "In the next... In the next 10,000 willing..., thank you father-in-law! Thank you father-in-law for cultivating me! ”

"That's good, our East Factory is doing things for the emperor, it's done well, Feihuang Tengda is just around the corner, if it can't be done, the head will move at any time, understand?"

"Yes, yes, I must do my best in the next place, and then die!"

"That's good, our East Factory is mainly to visit and plot against the evil and evil, etc., this kind of thing, most of them are carried out secretly, we have a land in the open, this is secretly visited, but there are not many capable people, since you can be a criminal master, presumably there may be achievements in the investigation, in the secret visit, it may be more suitable for you, um~, let's do it, our family appoints you as the foreman of the Hangzhou Mansion of the East Factory."

The chief head of the East Factory, the factory officer, is generally served by the eunuch who holds the seal of the celebrant and the eunuch who is in charge of the punishment of thousands of households and the punishment of thousands of households is generally served by the eunuch of the celebrant and the eunuch of Bingbi (of course, there are also people who are appointed by Jinyiwei). The leaders stationed in the provinces below, as well as the foremen and secretaries of each province, are all selected by the best of the Jinyi Guard, and the following chiefs and fans are generally selected from the clever and treacherous people in the Jinyi Guard. Therefore, the relationship between Dongchang and Jinyiwei is actually two brands and one set of people. In addition to the independence of the highest institutions in the capital, the grassroots institutions of the East Factory in various provinces are generally set up in the thousands of households and hundreds of households in Jinyiwei.

Dongchang is a full-time spy agency specializing in intelligence collection, its provincial head is equivalent to thousands of households in Jinyiwei provinces, the foreman is the leader of Dongchang stationed in various provinces, equivalent to Jinyiwei 100 households, the secretary is equivalent to the secretary, there are a number of people, who are responsible for classifying and screening the massive amount of information collected by the chief and the fans, and submitting important information to the foreman for review and decision, and then summarizing it to the provincial head of the office, which is reported to the Beijing East Factory Office by him, and directly submitted to the emperor after screening. This system is independent from top to bottom, reporting directly to the emperor. Jinyiwei and the local government have no right to interfere at all.

Meng Tianchu was appointed as the foreman of the Hangzhou Mansion of the East Factory, similar to the hundred households of Jinyi Weidi, and the six products. Under the jurisdiction of a number of chiefs and fans, is responsible for the affairs of the East Factory of Hangzhou. Of course, he is also under the jurisdiction of the head of the whole Zhejiang.

Meng Tianchu has been in the Ming Dynasty for several months, especially recently to deal with Dongchang, and carefully collected the relevant information of Dongchang. Therefore, he knew that this foreman was in the East Factory, and he was a small official.

He originally wanted to stabilize the hot springs, and then find an opportunity to kill him, a shame before the snow, he never thought of joining the East Factory at all, but now that the hot springs have been proposed, he has no way to refuse, he doesn't dare to make the hot springs unhappy, at this time, it is important to save his life first, as for whether he is in the same stream, the so-called clean ones are self-purifying, and the turbid ones are turbid, the key is to look at themselves.

Therefore, Meng Tianchu hurriedly looked surprised, bowed down and thanked him.

Hot Spring nodded and smiled with satisfaction, and clapped his palms again, and the other little eunuch came to Meng Tianchu with a beautiful small brocade box in his hand, knelt down on one leg, and raised the small brocade box with both hands.

Hot Spring said: "This is your Dongchang waist card and seal, you are a secret agent, and you have to act in secret." This waist card is not necessary, do not show it. ”

Meng Tianchu bowed down to receive the order, opened the brocade box carefully, there was a silver waist card inside, the front was engraved: "Meng Tianchu, the foreman of Hangzhou Mansion in Dongchang, Zhejiang", a line of small characters below, engraved with his own number, turned over the back, but simply engraved: "Ordered to serve", although simple. But it can make people feel a cold murderous aura. There is another seal in the brocade box, engraved with several seal characters of "East Factory Hangzhou Foreman Seal".

Meng Tianchu's head was in a cold sweat. I thought to myself, this hot spring had already heard that he was the famous master of Renhe County, Hangzhou. Only then did he prepare himself for the official position of Hangzhou Dongchang, and even the Dongchang waist card was ready, it seems that everything is in the hands of this dog eunuch, and he will have to be more careful in the future, and he can't show the slightest idea of killing him, otherwise. I don't know when my head will move. Hurriedly made a gesture full of joy, and asked stupidly: "Father-in-law, how much money do I have as a foreman?" ”

The hot spring sneered and laughed: "According to the system, it is six grades and ten stones, but." We don't have to worry about the silver, you will know this later. ”

One stone in the Ming Dynasty is equivalent to sixty kilograms today. According to the current price of rice of about 7 yuan per kilogram, the monthly salary is 10 stones, which is equivalent to the current monthly salary of 4,200 yuan. Converted into silver, it is equal to four taels and two coins. Since Zhengliupin is equivalent to the current prefecture-level cadres, this month's salary is obviously lower than now.

But Meng Tianchu was already very happy, plus the salary of his famous master, there were more than six taels in total. Very satisfied. As for what the hot springs said not to worry about the silver, he didn't care, after all, he didn't know what kind of money those outside the water were, and if it was money with a clear conscience, he would never take the land.

Meng Tianchu carefully put the waist card back into the brocade box, and said a lot of words of deep gratitude.

After listening with a smile, Hot Spring asked slowly: "Foreman Meng, our family is scattered, how do you plan to be filial?" ”

Meng Tianchu bowed down and said: "During this time, the lowly will allocate enough for one month's supply to the father-in-law, because of the configuration of this loose thing, most of them are in Hangzhou, and the contemptible people need to go back before they can be configured, and they will be sent to the father-in-law on schedule in the future, so don't worry about the father-in-law." The lowly position will take the allocation of freedom for the father-in-law as the top priority, and dare not make any mistakes. ”

Hot Spring nodded, and said in a strange manner: "That's good, you do things for our family, and our family won't treat you badly." ”

"Yes~!" Meng Tianchu bowed and saluted.

Hot Spring called a few little eunuchs to help Meng Tianchu send the gold, silver and jewelry outside the mansion, put them in a carriage, and called a few guards to escort him back to Xia's house.

When the porter of the Xia family saw that Meng Tianchu was back, he hurriedly ran to report, and the other few helped to carry the two large bags of gold, silver and jewelry to the living room, Meng Tianchu carried the small brocade box under his armpit and another small box of gold and silver, and followed behind with a sad face.

Mrs. Xia, supported by Zuo Jiayin, greeted her, and when she saw Meng Tianchu, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank God, you are back, virtuous son-in-law." ”

Zuo Jiayin looked at Meng Tianchu with concern: "How is it?" Are things going well? ”

"It went well, it went very well, it went more than I expected." Even so, there was only a wry smile on his face.

"Why are you worried about going well?" Zuo Jiayin smiled, and at a glance saw the heavy bag held by the two porters next to him, and said strangely: "Huh! Isn't this what you gave to Gong Gong Wen? What's going on? ”

"Grandpa Wen came back."

When Mrs. Xia heard this, she was very nervous: "That... And your father-in-law's business..."

"Don't worry, your old man, Gonggong Wen said, this matter is over, he will report to the emperor and let his father-in-law reinstate."

Mrs. Xia couldn't believe it, she looked at Meng Tianchu, and then at Zuo Jiayin, she didn't understand, how could the hot spring return the gifts, but she would still help with errands, only Zuo Jiayin vaguely guessed. also comforted Mrs. Xia on the side, so that she could take care of Xia Hong with peace of mind.

Mrs. Xia asked the housekeeper to accept the two bags of gold and silver, but she was still not at ease, so she asked Meng Tianchu vigorously.

Meng Tianchu had to make up a lie, saying that he had helped Gonggong Wen to become a big deal, as for what major matter, it involved state secrets and couldn't be said, Gonggong Wen was very happy, so he opened the net and returned the silver.

Although Mrs. Xia was still skeptical, seeing that Meng Tianchu was so down-to-earth, she thought that Meng Tianchu would not hide this kind of thing, and if there was really something, she couldn't hide it if she wanted to. She didn't ask anymore, and she didn't want to ask too much about the two small boxes that Meng Tianchu was holding under his armpits.

Meng Tianchu put the two small boxes on the table and stepped forward to visit Xia Hong. Xia Hong was already awake, on the splint, unable to move, but his expression was very happy, and he whispered a few words to Meng Tianchu. Meng Tianchu was very happy to see that his language was normal, his thinking was clear, and his hands and feet had stimulus reactions, indicating that his operation was successful and there were no sequelae. Now you just need to slowly recuperate and recuperate.