It is a normal organizational model of a civilized society to dominate military generals with civil ministers, but as far as the Ming Dynasty itself is concerned, it cannot be judged completely according to the standards of later generations. For example, in addition to the military generals of the civil court, the establishment of the vassal king to take charge of the army, which is actually a reference to the Yuan Dynasty kings out of the town system, is not an excellent system, but has a great threat to the imperial power, until after the Yongle Jing, the system of the kings out of the town existed in name only. However, this does not mean that Wenchen can fully control the troops at the local level, in addition to the military generals, another figure in the army that cannot be ignored is the eunuch.

Although the eunuch system was abolished on a large scale during the Jiajing period, the eunuchs of the army were always retained in the nine border areas. The Son of Heaven must monitor the most powerful forces of the empire, and although the actual effect may not be good, this system cannot be abolished.

At present, the power of the eunuchs is not as strong as before, but as far as the border areas are concerned, the eunuchs of the prison army are still in power. As the eyes and ears of the Son of Heaven, they can even hinder the governors and ministers at certain times, especially when it comes to military decisions. For the emperor, these eunuchs sent from the palace are far more credible than the military generals of Wenchen, so if the eunuchs impeach officers, they are basically a hundred shots. It is precisely because of this that the generals of the border army hate and fear the eunuchs, unless they have extremely hard roots in the court, they can only obey the eunuchs' indiscriminate command and intervention, and then they just send money to save their lives, begging the eunuchs not to make random ideas.

For the eunuchs themselves, serving as a supervisor in the border army is also an excellent assignment. After all, military merit is easy to get, and you can get a military merit by messing around, and you can buy it in front of the Son of Heaven. Once called back to the palace, it is immediately of great use. It is a eunuch who can be sent to be a prisoner, and he must be a close confidant of the Son of Heaven, and he is also a person with hands and eyes in the palace.

Just looking at the way this eunuch talked and laughed with Zhang Shunqing, he knew that he was by no means ordinary in the palace, and he was naturally a member of Feng Bao's faction. The reason why Zhang Juzheng didn't introduce this relationship to Fan Jin when Fan came in was mostly because of Feng Bangning's previous incident, Feng Bao didn't say anything on the surface, and he didn't want Fan Jin to have too much intersection with him.

This eunuch was in his early thirties, tall and burly, with black and red skin, bright eyes, and a voice like a bell, looking like a warrior rather than a lieutenant. is not too old, but he is wearing a big red python robe, which shows that his grade is not low.

Seeing Fan Jin come back, the eunuch hurriedly got up and saluted, and Zhang Shunqing introduced at this time: "This is Zhao Xianzhong Zhao Gonggong, who was born as a royal horse eunuch, and is now serving as a supervisor in Yanghe Fort. and Feng Shibo are brothers, and they are still our elders. ”

Zhao Xianzhong hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Miss, this is the longevity of the slave, I don't dare to mention this." The slave maid is just a good fate, and Feng Sili worships a father-in-law, relying on Feng Sili to take care of her in the past few years, barely eating with a mouthful, how dare she be on an equal footing with Si Li, let alone say that she considers herself the elder of the eldest lady and Master Fan. Feng Sili had already sent the letter a few days ago, and he wanted the younger one to entertain the two of them with extra care, and if there was the slightest slackness, Feng Sili would never go around. It is said that I should have come to visit early in the morning, this is not to catch up with some military affairs, I really can't get away, and I have been delayed for a while, and the two adults are still a lot of please don't be surprised. ”

After a few words of greeting, Zhao Xianzhong unabashedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Zheng Luo. "Old Man Zheng relied on his three generations of soldiers, and there was no one in his eyes, and he didn't look at the eldest lady and Master Fan at all. He didn't want to think that Master Fan came with Shang Fang's sword, as if His Majesty was there in person. If there is no Master Fan in his eyes, there is no His Majesty. This one alone deserves death! Look at what he's made it look like, and where is the setting for entertaining guests? The slave is not talented, there are a few properties here, if the eldest lady does not dislike it, she will live there, what you need just to ask, even if you go to the sea and the sea, you have to prepare things for you. Otherwise, Feng Sili blamed it, but the slave couldn't afford it. ”

Zhang Shunqing smiled, "You're welcome." There is a system in the imperial court, and the prime minister should be more cautious when he comes on the orders of the king. If there is a yamen who does not live and disturbs Zhao's father-in-law, Zheng Fanxi is afraid that he will have to speak. ”

"Don't pay attention to that old winter bake! That person just twisted his temper individually, and he couldn't wait to find everyone's bad luck, and he didn't dare to do anything to Master Fan. Anyway, now that there is Feng Sili in the DPRK and Lao Xiangguo outside, and there is Cisheng and her old man in the palace, it is useless for Zheng Fanxi to speak. Besides, in the past, he covered the sky in Xuanda, and now it is not easy to be so arrogant, Master Fan will definitely be able to cure him when he comes! When the time comes, report his pile of to the court truthfully, and I don't think he can wear his black veil tightly! ”

Fan Jin said: "Listening to what Gonggong Zhao meant, is there anything wrong with Zheng Fanxi?" ”

"Inappropriate? This is too cheap for him, he is not indecent, but misbehaving, without a king and a father! As Zhao Xianzhong spoke, his voice unconsciously raised a few points.

"As the governor of Xuanda, he is the one who guards the gate for Banzai, and if the Tartars want to fight, he will accompany them to fight. It's just this errand to do, and when things come, you have to go up, there's nothing to say. But how did he do it? Fear the enemy like a tiger! Bully! On the one hand, we are not allowed to fight with the Tartars, and on the other hand, we hook up with the Tartars, eyebrows, such a person is the governor, and our Ming face has been lost by him! ”

The more he talked, the more angry he became, and finally the ancestral grandmother scolded, and after scolding a few words, he realized that the situation was wrong, and hurriedly apologized: "The eldest lady forgives the sin, the slave maid has been messing around with a bunch of Qiu Ba here all these years, and her mouth has been crooked by them, but she just wants to scold her mother in three sentences, and forget that the eldest lady is here." Stain your ears, slave and maid should be beaten! Palm! ”

As he spoke, he slapped himself in the face, crackling. Although he looks like a martial artist, and his demeanor is also Qiu Ba style, this kind of performance at this time is very similar to the appearance of a eunuch of the courtiers. Zhang Shunqing stopped him and said:

"It's not surprising that I didn't say anything unintentionally, and I wasn't so careful. Listening to what his father-in-law just said, is Zheng Fanxi still colluding with the Tartars? ”

"How not? This time the Tartar died and the Great Khan died, and the dragons on the grassland must be a group of dragons without a leader, and the slaves and maids had already asked him to fight, and took a fine horse out of the fortress to kill the Tartars. But he refused to nod his head at all, and sent a standard camp herald to not allow anyone to provoke without permission, wasting a great opportunity. Later, my eldest son Xin Ai became a great khan and sent a messenger over, Zheng Fanxi was handsome, and he really talked and laughed with the Tartar envoys, and sang and danced at the banquet. Didn't you see that his servile appearance at the banquet made the slaves and maids angry! He sent to kneel down and beg Xin Ai not to send troops to fight, and to make a living for each other. Isn't it just a war, what's so scary! The soldiers could not fight for war, and their morale was greatly frustrated, and in the long run, they were only afraid that the morale of the army would be chilled, and when the Tartars invaded in a big way, it would be difficult to serve the three armies. ”

Fan Jin said with a smile: "Gonggong Zhao is the head of martial arts, it seems that he is a famous general who is familiar with soldiers, Feng Shibo did not use the wrong person." ”

"Where's the word? The slave and maid's skills are nothing, they are all trained in eating and living with those soldiers and generals at the border pass. Master Fan is the root seedling of the prime minister, familiar with military books, and the slave and maid cannot be compared. However, after years of working at the border, I have somewhat understood the way to lead soldiers. This war depends on a breath of energy, and whoever has enough energy may win. Zheng Luo vented his anger, and deliberately curried with the Mongols, blindly currying favor and avoiding the war, and lost three points before they fought. How can such useless people win the war? ”

Fan Jin nodded and said: "What Gonggong Zhao said makes sense, but based on these alone, I'm afraid it's not easy to say that he has any faults, at most, he is a little more careful in his life." The soldiers are fierce and dangerous, and how dare he be careless about his duties. ”

"What Master Fan said is that the slave and maid just complain a few words, and they have no other meaning." Zhao Xianzhong snorted and said: "Xuanda has no special products here, but there are some yellow sheep and fox rabbits outside the plug, and then there are some leather goods." But in the past few years, there have been no good goods on the field, and they can't get into the eyes of the law. But the slave and maid went out with their sons yesterday and hunted a few good yellow sheep, if they were concocted, they would be a good delicacy. Although this thing is in the belly, it is not fresh, and if you want to eat it well, you have to kill it and eat it now. This delicacy can only be eaten here. The slave and maid ordered someone to send the sheep to the kitchen, and after a while, Master Fan tasted it. ”

Fan Jin wanted to keep Zhao Xianzhong's meal, but he claimed to have military affairs in his body, so he left after a while. Back in the study, Zhang Shunqing said: "This Zhao Xianzhong is a good fast knife, and it is the sharp spirit of killing Zheng Luo." ”

Fan Jin shook his head and said: "In his eyes, he also sees you and me as fast knives, but I don't know what whetstone he sent." ”

After a while, Zheng Chan ran in from outside, first looked left and right, and then looked out of the door, Zhang Shunqing said angrily: "What are you looking at there?" Not a spark of decency! This is our business, are you still afraid that someone will overhear? Isn't it just a few taels of silver, and that's it? ”

Zheng Chan was stunned for a moment, looked at Zhang Shunqing and Fan Jin, and saw that the expressions of the two were similar, she said in a low voice: "You guys...... You all know it? ”

Fan Jin said with a smile: "I didn't know it, but I guessed, Zhao Xianzhong is not a fool, how could he really send a few yellow sheep to eat mutton for me." But I have to go and see what this sheep tastes like, if I really give me a few good yellow sheep to replace them with ingots, I can't spare him. ”

While speaking, the person had already gotten up, took Zheng Chan's hand and walked out, Zhang Shunqing also wanted to follow the past, but seeing Zheng Chan's happy appearance, she sat back again. She herself also knows that during this period of time, she has only the rain and dew, and things are actually a bit excessive, if she keeps up at this time, it is equivalent to putting her husband to death, which shows that she is too narrow-minded and has no room for others. She snorted softly, and said secretly in her heart: And leave you a chance to steal, and the husband will have to go back to my room in the evening.

In the kitchen, Zheng Chan muttered in a low voice, "Look...... Look at those ingots. ”

"Don't look! It's just a few gold ingots, how can you look good. Let me see how much you miss me......"

The bellies of several yellow sheep sent were dissected, and the sheep's organs had already been hollowed out, replaced by a yellow ingot. Stains of flesh and blood cover the surface of the gold, and the alluring metallic sheen mingles with the blood stains to create a unique picture. It's just that the fragrance of flowers is intoxicating at the moment, and no one cares to appreciate it.

After a long time. Zheng Chan, who got up from the firewood stack, complained in a low voice while arranging his dress: "Obviously, I can't lay eggs, and I still block the way of good people." Who the lord wants to be good with is the lord's business, and if he has to squeeze the man into a thief, he is simply a Hedong lion. ”

She didn't know that she couldn't give birth to an heir, but she looked down on Zhang Shunqing, stretched out her foot and kicked at those yellow sheep. "Master, why don't you say that there is not a thousand taels of gold in the belly of these sheep? When they brought me in, I knew there was a problem. A few big men were carrying sheep, and there must have been something in them, but they thought it was silver, but they didn't expect it to be gold. With so much gold, what are they going to do......"

"What else can I do, buy my impeachment. Zheng Luo is the dignified governor of Xuanda, how can he sell it too cheaply. Besides, your man is a figure in the emperor's heart, if the money is less, how can I help them participate in people? I didn't give you anything these days, but I will take two ingots back and make jewelry for myself. ”

"Don't want it, Zhang's is such a person, I just need to reach out and prepare for her to catch her, what if she wants to take the opportunity to drive me out of the house? I just want to stay by my lord's side and not go anywhere. Zheng Chan hugged Fan Jin's waist and buried his head in his arms, recalling the treatment comparable to Mrs. Palm Print when he was in Shangyuan. Now that he is getting older, he has never given birth, and he has long been unfavored by other big families. This man can steal himself at every turn, which is worth far more than gold.

When the two were in love, there were a few light coughs outside the door, Zheng Chan only thought it was Zhang Shunqing who came to the door, and was so frightened that he hurriedly let go, and subconsciously said: "Madam, it's me who is not good, I took the initiative to hide the master, and it is not the master's business." As soon as the words came out, I found that it was not Zhang Shunqing but Liang Pandi standing at the door, and suddenly said angrily: "Third sister, I didn't offend you, right?" What are you doing here? Everyone is a miserable person, who doesn't know whose suffering? I have not done you any good deeds, so why should you come to seek my trouble? ”

Liang Pandi glared at her, "I'm not so idle, it's okay to spoil the good things of the two of you when I'm full." It was someone from the Jinzai faction who had already found out the news, and I had to talk to him face to face. ”

Fan Jin's face was overjoyed, "Oh? So soon there will be a following? ”

"Needless to say? White bread male? If the name is reported, someone will naturally be willing to help you. I just don't know if I want people to see you just like that, and dare to believe you. It's really true that I do this in broad daylight. Brother Liang Pandi glared at Fan Jin, and counted him down a few times like an eldest sister teaching a younger brother, until Fan Jin smiled and hugged her, and then said angrily: "I don't mess around with you...... It's going to be dark if you want to make trouble. Now go to the brick kiln in the west of the city to meet your father-in-law. ”

Zheng Chan was stunned, "The master also has a father-in-law here?" ”

Fan Jin smiled embarrassedly, "This ...... There is no way, there are many women, there are many fathers-in-law, I arranged for someone to find Wu'er's father, but I didn't expect to find it. If you want to fight this lawsuit, you can't just rely on the official documents, but also listen to the situation in many ways, and you should be able to find out the clues from the old people. Besides, it's an elder after all, and I'm going to visit them, you can pick up these sheep, and come back at night to make stewed mutton to eat. ”

Zheng Chan saw that he had already walked out as he spoke, and said in a low voice: "It's better to be Shangyuan, this Xuanda poor mountain and bad water is not good at all." "Even looking at those gold ingots, I feel bleak and unattractive.