Cao Huachun was born in the seventeenth year of Wanli, his family was poor when he was young, and he entered the palace at the age of twelve. Because of his talent, diligence and studiousness, he received a good education in the palace, and was proficient in poetry, calligraphy and painting, and was deeply appreciated by the eunuch Wang An, who relied on him as a cronie. Later, he accompanied and served the Five Emperors, Sun Xin, and Wang Zhu Youzhen.

Later, Zhu Youzhen became Chongzhen, and Cao Huachun and Wang Chengen, who grew up with Chongzhen since childhood, became the most trusted eunuchs by Chongzhen, and their status naturally rose.

Originally, the "chores" of reading the holy decree should not be done by Cao Huachun, a dignified eunuch who was a priest and a pen, but this time the matter was too important, and Chongzhen, who had lost trust in civil officials, thought about it, and only a few eunuchs around him could take on this important task, so Cao Huachun was sent out after the face-to-face teaching machine was turned over.

Cao Huachun hurried to Qingzhou, but found that Qingzhou, which should have been heavily guarded, did not put on a tense appearance, but was peaceful, although the weather has become cold, but the city of Qingzhou is still full of people, a prosperous scene, which also makes Cao Huachun's evaluation of the bold Dingyuan general a few points higher.

After Cao Huachun and his entourage entered the commander's mansion safely, Pang Gang quickly greeted him, and Pang Gang, who was far away, laughed and said: "Grandpa Cao, let's meet again, don't come unharmed." ”

Cao Huachun also showed a sincere smile, and stepped forward and said: "General Pang, the last time our family went to the army camp to announce the decree, you were only a thousand households, but now you are already a general on the town guarding the side, which is really gratifying." ”

Although it was not the first time that Pang Gang had met Cao Huachun, last time he was just a small five-grade thousand household who did not even have the qualifications to speak to Cao Huachun, and only now did he have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with this powerful eunuch.

After the two of them turned over politely, Cao Huachun smiled and said: "Huge man, you must also know the intention of our family today, and our family is about to announce the decree now." ”

"That's nature." Pang Gang nodded, and the celebrity put on the incense table and lit incense.

After everything was done, Cao Huachun took out a bright yellow holy decree from the entourage beside him, walked to the incense case and said solemnly: "Qingzhou Commander, General Dingyuan, and Shandong East Road Staff General Pang Gang knelt down and prepared to receive the order!" ”

Pang Gang also knelt down in front of the case and said, "Minister Pang just took the order!" ”

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor edict said, Qingzhou commander Pang Gang diligently, collect the displaced people, govern Tuntian in a good way, I am very relieved, and he is specially awarded the title of General Dingguo, the right governor of Nanjing, the chief military officer of Shandong Zhendong Road, and his wife Pang Kongshi is the second grade of the wife, Qin this!"

"Thank you, Lord Longen, the minister will accept the order!" After Pang Gang received the holy decree, he respectfully received the holy decree from Cao Huachun.

After receiving the holy decree, Pang Gang took down the incense case, and Cao Huachun brought over the clothes, documents, and costumes of the Dingguo General, the Governor Tongzhi Dayin, the Chief Military Officer Dayin, and the costumes, documents, and orders of the Lady of the Decree, but there were a large box of things.

After announcing the will, Cao Huachun rolled up the holy decree with a smile and handed it to Pang Gang: "General Pang, congratulations, the emperor has nothing to say to you, the right governor of Nanjing is a member of the first rank, even if he sees the six books, he is on an equal footing, and it is not a problem to come out of the cabinet and enter the prime minister." ”

Pang Gang took the holy decree and said with joy: "Hehe, Cheng Cao's father-in-law's auspicious words, this official is very content if he only wants peace and security and can ensure the safety of the people." ”

Pang Gang ordered a feast, set up a banquet to entertain Cao Huachun, and released Liu Zeqing and Chen Xinjia as accompaniments, but when they came out, Cao Hua was stunned when he saw their appearance. is also a captive, Liu Zeqing's red face looks extremely moist, but Chen Xinjia, who was captured with him, has a yellow face and thin muscles and a haggard expression, and his eyes immediately turned red when he saw Cao Huachun, and he almost jumped up and hugged Cao Huachun and cried.

Cao Huachun frowned secretly, he knew that Pang Gang and Chen Xinjia had a holiday, otherwise Chen Xinjia would not have taken the initiative to invite Ying to escort Pang Gang into Beijing last time, but he didn't expect that the person didn't bring it, but he was locked up, it seems that Pang Gang has given this enemy a lot of hardship.

Cao Huachun really guessed correctly, Pang Gang put him in the blackest and smelliest cell after he caught Chen Xinjia, and he had one leftover soup mixed with rice a day, it was impossible to eat enough food, and he could only barely guarantee that he would not starve to death, just like that, Chen Xinjia became like this after half a month.

After the banquet began, Chen Xinjia was like a starving ghost reincarnated, and everyone was taken aback by the ugly appearance of eating, only to see a chicken leg in his left hand and a pork rib in his right hand, and he didn't even use chopsticks, so he devoured it like this. The corners of Liu Zeqing's mouth moved a few times, but then he couldn't help it, he could think of how much of a crime these people had suffered from Chen Xinjia's appearance, but Pang Gang was smiling and constantly serving him vegetables, and people who didn't know would never believe that he was the culprit of all this.

The meal lasted for half an hour before it stopped, and Cao Huachun said to Pang Gang: "Huge man, our family has also drunk wine and eaten, it is time to leave, presumably your promise to the emperor should also be fulfilled, right?" ”

Pang Gang laughed and said: "Grandpa Cao, don't worry, I, Pang someone, can do anything, but I won't deceive people." One million taels of silver are already waiting for you outside the city, along with the subordinates of Lord Liu who have been released, and you can set off at any time. ”

"One million taels of silver!" Chen Xinjia and Liu Zeqing, who had heard of this for the first time, exclaimed in unison, and now the two of them knew why Cao Huachun appeared in Qingzhou, and they actually bribed Chongzhen with one million taels of silver.

In the end, Cao Huachun took Chen Xinjia and Liu Zeqing, as well as the 7,000 soldiers released and the returned weapons, and pressed the million taels of silver to the north, while Pang Gang stood on the city wall with a group of officers to watch them leave.

Hua Yan, who had been standing behind Pang Gang, said with some concern: "My lord, according to the lower officials, I am afraid that Chen Shilang and you have a mortal enmity, and he will be inseparable from you when he goes back." ”

Pang Gang shook his head slowly: "Don't worry, this kind of talentless and virtuous person is not in his eyes, and it is okay to have ten more like him, but the official did not expect that the current imperial court finances are embarrassed to this point." ”

In fact, Pang Gang proposed to donate one million taels of silver to the imperial court, just because he didn't want to conflict with the imperial court so soon, and now Qingzhou's strength is not strong enough to ignore the imperial court. Even if he has the help of the golden finger, but the war is all about manpower, material resources and resources, if Chongzhen is ruthless, and the soldiers and horses in the area of Lu Xiangsheng and Xuanfu and Shanhaiguan are killed with him, even if Pang Gang can win by luck in the end, he can only lose both, and he will cheapen the Liukou and Manchu Tartars who are now wandering.

Therefore, Pang just tried to explore the way with a million taels of silver, but the effect was unexpectedly good, Chongzhen did not mention half a sentence on Pang Gang's previous behavior in the holy decree, but promoted him again, and even Kong Ruolan was also crowned as a second-grade edict, just from this point of view, it can be seen how urgent Chongzhen's need for money is.

Hua Yan also sighed: "My lord, although the imperial court has promoted you to an official, once you have a chance, the emperor will definitely settle the score." ”

"Reckoning?" Pang Gang sighed, "The emperor doesn't have the energy to come to me to settle accounts, Li Zicheng's rogue has turned Henan upside down, and the court is too late to take care of itself, how can you find trouble with the official, let's go back!" ”

When Pang Gang returned to the mansion, he found that the inner courtyard was already very lively, dozens of maids and servants were busy one by one, and his two cheap old men Wei Tongnian, Kong Wen, and his eldest brother Kong Lin and others in the hall of the inner courtyard were awe-inspiring, including Wei Manyao, Kong Ruolan, Li Xuezhu, Ling'er, Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi and other daughters were also not left behind.

"You are" Pang Gang, who was confused, couldn't help but stay on the spot.

"Ah, it turns out that Chaodong is back." Wei Tongnian, who was sitting on the side, saw Pang Gang coming back, and said with a smile: "Chaodong, everyone heard that you were promoted to the general of Dingguo and the governor of the right capital, and they were about to congratulate you, but the old man came uninvited this time." ”

"Where, the father-in-law can come, and the son-in-law is too late to be happy, how can I be surprised. Since you're here, let's get seated."

With a burst of humility from everyone, the ranking of the seats was also arranged, for Wei Tongnian and Kong Wen, although Pang Gang was a junior, he was the biggest official here, and he sat in the main seat. Wei was the first on the left hand in the same year, although Kong Wen was also Pang Gang's father-in-law, but who made him just a businessman, as long as he was ranked second, Kong Lin was ranked third.

Sitting in the first place on Pang Gang's right hand is Kong Ruolan, the current Kong Ruolan is amazing, she is the second-grade lady of the imperial court, really talking about etiquette, Wei also has to salute her when she sees her in the same year, and below Kong Ruolan are Wei Manyao and Li Xuezhu. Although Ling'er was born as a maid, after having a round with Pang Gang, Pang Gang accepted her as a concubine, so she also sat behind Li Xuezhu, and then Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Ru are two daughters.

Looking at the lively and laughing scene of a large group of people, Pang Gang felt a heartfelt warmth, and also realized what is called family happiness.

But at the same time, there is also a thing called responsibility that weighs on my shoulders, and my relatives in this world are here, if I lose power, I think all this in front of me will disappear immediately.

Now although Chongzhen has promoted himself, he must be keeping an account for himself in his heart, and the enmity between Qingguo and himself is too big, he can't wait to eat his own meat, what about the rogues, he has ruined Li Zicheng's good things in Qingzhou, I'm afraid he doesn't have a good impression of himself, think about it, he has unknowingly offended all the forces that can be offended in less than two years, what is this called!

(To be continued)