The surrounding area of the West Market was already flooded, and thousands of people, despite the reprimands of the gunmen, crowded forward like a tide, surrounded him, picked up the rubbles on the ground, and hurled insults. When he arrived at the execution ground, Yuan Chonghuan was pushed out of the prison car, and the people in front of him spat heavily, stretched out their fists and feet, and hit him like raindrops. His hands and feet were firmly bound by chains, unable to resist and dodge, and he did not want to resist dodge, so he staggered with his eyes closed. Suddenly, the neat robes, hair, and beard were scattered......

Xie Shangzheng betrayed Yuan Chonghuan and not many people knew, they were originally fellow villagers, they played together since childhood, learned literary and martial arts, and later Xie Shangzheng abandoned literature to concentrate on martial arts, and only in the forty-sixth year of Wanli did he win the martial arts, and he has not been happy. The Ming Dynasty had the habit of emphasizing literature and lowly martial arts, and if martial arts were to be awarded official positions, military merits were required. He and Yuan Chonghuan had a good relationship, Yuan Chonghuan was promoted to the military officer, and when he arrived at Shanhaiguan, he was the first to sponsor him, and promoted him step by step to become a general, becoming a confidant and a favorite general, almost always around, but the position was under Zu Dashou, Zhao Shujiao, He Kegang and others. Xie Shangzheng originally wanted to rely on his friendship with Yuan Chonghuan for many years and not be promoted, but unexpectedly, Yuan Chonghuan had a clear distinction between public and private, and he had been in suspense for a long time, but he failed to do so, and he often complained. After Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong, Xie Shangzheng believed in his high merits and hinted several times that he wanted to be a general soldier, but Yuan Chonghuan ignored it, but persuaded him. He was cold in his heart, and he actually had the idea of disarming and returning to his hometown, but he secretly sighed that he went out of the customs with a sword, returned home with cloth clothes, and saved a few taels of silver in his pocket. Yuan Chonghuan thought about it for a long time and ordered him to make up for the deficit as soon as possible, and how to punish it would be discussed later. Xie Shangzheng secretly complained in his heart, the silver had already gone out like water, where could he make up for it? I was embarrassed and responded sullenly. Not wanting to receive an alert from Huang Taiji's entry into the customs, Yuan Chonghuan put the matter aside for the time being and led the army into the customs. Yuan Chonghuan was imprisoned, Xie Shangzheng had the intention to rescue, intending to block Yuan Chonghuan's mouth, and he fell lightly, remembering that the new military department Shangshu Liang Tingdong had served in Liaodong and had some friendship with him, so he secretly entered the city, handed over a silver ticket of three thousand taels, and begged him to intercede.

Liang Tingdong casually sandwiched the silver ticket in a book, motioned for him to sit down and talk in detail, listened to the general outline, sneered a few times, and said, "So Yuan Chonghuan will spare you?" ”

Xie Shangzheng hesitated: "Is the heart changing the heart? Besides, the lowly position has been with him since he was a child, he, is he so ruthless? ”

"You're such an honest man. Is there such a ruthless heart, I can't say, it's just that you have been a four-grade general for so many years, can he be a dead soldier of the township party? Liang Tingdong saw that he was speechless, and said with a smile: "In fact, there are so many roads on the ground, why bother to go all the way to the dark?" Those who know the times are heroes, and they must know how to change! ”

"What the adults are talking about is ......" Xie Shangzheng pondered the meaning of his words, not daring to guess rashly.

Liang Tingdong seemed to be careless, and said indifferently: "I see that you are really embarrassed, after all, you and I have been in Liaodong together for a long time, and I really can't bear to let you out." Why did your Emperor Dao put Yuan Chonghuan in prison? ”

"Enemies!"

Liang Tingdong narrowed his eyes, shook his hand and said, "This is just a superficial talk, just to cover people's eyes." ”

"Didn't the two eunuchs, Yang and Wang, testify?"

"That's just Huang Taiji's counter-plot, Jiang Gan's deeds such as stealing books, how can the emperor be faithful!" Liang Tingdong unconsciously looked left and right, and said in a low voice: "The emperor is suspicious that Yuan Chonghuan has a ghost here." He pointed to his chest as he spoke.

"Suspect he's unfaithful?"

So to speak. At that time, he boasted that he had returned to Liao for five years, but he did not see any effect, and his mouth was not satisfied, which was the crime of deceiving the king. Killing a general is naturally contempt for the emperor. If you don't kill him, how can the emperor's anger be dissipated? ”

"So Inspector Yuan is not saved?"

"Didn't he save you?" Liang Tingdong's eyes were calm, with a hint of murderous intent faintly, "However, if you want to kill him, you must also teach the world to convince you." The five-year period has not yet arrived, and it is a little late to investigate the crime of killing Mao Wenlong at this time, and there are always some people who are not Mingjun's bearing, and the emperor's anger is not easy to dissipate! He glanced at Xie Shangzheng and said, "This Huo'er, if anyone can rely on the Holy Will and share the emperor's worries, it is not as easy as a mere third-grade general soldier." Yoon-in, do you understand what I'm saying? ”

Xie Shangzheng saw that he had gone around in a big circle, and felt that he seemed to be laying a trap and waiting for someone to drill, so he couldn't help but feel a little shocked in his heart, and said with thanks: "There are soldiers and elders, and there are many courtiers, and it is useless to be humble and want to do your best." ”

"You're thinking wrong." Liang Tingdong said: "Speaking of which, I might as well pick it out." In fact, if you want to share the emperor's worries, you are the only one, as long as you do one thing well, Yuan Chonghuan can no longer help you. ”

"What's the matter? Please make it clear. ”

After Liang Tingdong got up and walked the bookcase, he pointed to the pen and paper: "Just write a testimony." ”

"Testimony?"

"Yes, your words are the most credible, as long as you say that he is an enemy, Yuan Chonghuan will naturally be speechless."

"This ...... I have been friends with him since I was a child, and I am like a brother, and I am sorry for him. Xie Shangzheng's expression darkened, and he turned his face to the side.

Liang Tingdong laughed, left the bookcase, patted him on the shoulder and said: "Yuan Chonghuan will save his life, and he will also lose his official position and resign, you can't rely on his big tree." If people are unlucky, why do you need to accompany them? Let's think about ways to save ourselves! Personal future matters! If you don't know the current affairs, you go against the holy will, hum...... I don't need to say more, you can weigh it up. He deliberately stopped talking, stared at Xie Shangzheng with both eyes, and saw that his face was pale for a while, sallow for a while, and he had been cloudy and uncertain, and his tone was slow, and then he persuaded: "As the saying goes: husband and wife are birds of the same forest, and they fly separately when disaster comes." If Yuan Chonghuan causes a big prison, it will not be easy for you to get rid of him, and you still want to rescue him? Han? , Qian Longxi, Li Biao, and Cheng Ji, which of the people didn't want to save him? But who dares to plead with the emperor in person? You still haven't experienced much, and you don't know the sinister nature of the Huan Sea! Why kill yourself? ”

Xie Shangzheng lowered his head and said indifferently: "My lord, if this matter spreads, I will ...... Despicability is the fear of being reviled by others. ”

"If you have the heart to be loyal to the emperor, but you want to be entangled in the personal relationship of your brothers, how can you achieve great things? If you are obsessed, I will report this silver ticket to the emperor together with your deduction of military salary, and then I will blame me for not being merciful. Liang Tingdong's face sank like water, turned around and sat behind the bookcase, and served tea to the guests.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, let me think about it again......" Xie Shangzheng didn't want him to be so coerced, and when he was sweating like rain, he secretly regretted that he shouldn't have told him about the matter of greedy ink, and stood up in fear.

"What else do you want? You wait to go to jail! Liang Tingdong flicked the sleeves of his robe, as if he was impatient.

Xie Shangzheng stepped forward and said, "My lord, I can write testimony in my humble position, but I am afraid that the lone certificate is not enough to rely on the letter." ”

"And what are you going to do?"

"I want to beg my lord to find someone." Xie Shangzheng sighed in his heart.

In Haochun Xuan, Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren, who had just visited the house, sat around, with bamboo tables and bamboo chairs, a few Yangzhou side dishes on the table, a blue and white pot from Xuande kiln, and two exquisite wine glasses. The two of them must have drunk a few cups, both of them were dressed in loose robes, and there were fine beads of sweat on their faces. Zhou Yanru took a shallow sip of wine, half sat and half leaned on the red brocade cushion, leaned back slightly, raised his eyes to look at Wen Tiren and said: "Uncle Zong, it seems that nothing can be done with less silver, and I didn't expect Xiao Tang to become so greedy." He looked a little indignant.

Wen Tiren laughed dryly, put the chopsticks down, took a hand towel and wiped his slightly hot cheeks, and sighed: "Since ancient times, people have died for wealth, and birds have died for food. It's no wonder that Tang Zhizheng, he has been a eunuch for more than a year, and he must have received more gifts, he has seen a wide range of worlds, and his appetite is not as good as back then. Besides, in order to bring down Qian Qianyi, out of the evil spirit in your chest, you made a move of 80,000 taels of silver, and now you only send 5,000 taels of silver and some Yangzhou and Yixing native products to him, which is becoming more and more shabby and undignified, and he naturally can't see it. Think about it, things have to be done secretly, and he has to secretly ask for help, so can Yu Shi Cao Yongzuo not make money? Liu Wenrui and the other seven people pretended to be spies as evidence, can they not make money? And Jinyiwei's side, is there a lot? Is 5,000 taels enough? Not only can't he get much in his hands, but he can't say that he has to add some to it! He still took care of the last time, otherwise how could he do such a tiring and thankless thing? Don't complain anymore, Xiao Tang has always done things right. ”

"As soon as Mao Wenlong died, he broke the annual Bing Tan Jing and other silver, where can I find a lot of silver? Hum! It's all to blame Yuan Chonghuan, he was originally safe, the well water did not violate the river water, he was a good man, he was a hero, and he killed the feudal officials of the imperial court without asking for an order, where is the emperor in his eyes? Zhou Yanru felt a faint pain in his heart, just the two Yixing pots made by famous hands cost three thousand taels of silver, and it seemed that they were given to an unknown person, and they were treated as mud clay pots.

"Hehe, then don't blame the emperor for not allowing him." Wen Tiren smiled coldly, "Who taught him to do things only before and after, he was happy for a while, what was the consequences?" ”

"The emperor didn't blame him, I have always wondered, but after thinking about it, I understood that the emperor couldn't bear it, because Liaodong still wanted to use him, weighing the pros and cons, so he had to abandon Mao Wenlong."

"Hmmm! The emperor endured it for a while, but I am afraid that he will not be able to endure it for a lifetime. Yuan Chonghuan has the talent to dry the city, and the emperor will naturally not move him to punish him, but now that the emperor's Taiji soldiers are coming to the city and ravaging Jinggi, Yuan Chonghuan is helpless, in an instant, he can't drive out the Tartars and sweep away the wolf smoke, and the emperor is afraid that he will not be as firm as in the past with his heart. Wen Tiren's white eyebrows were raised high, and he drank the remnants of wine in the cup, "Heaven is evil, it is forgivable; You will not live if you have done your own iniquity! I can't blame others. There was a hint of smugness on his face.

"Why do you see that he has lost his favor?"

"You haven't heard that Yuan Chonghuan asked for an order to enter the city to rest the army, but the emperor absolutely did not allow it, and the emperor was suspicious of him. Now that he is suspicious, Yuan Chonghuan's good days are over. Wen Tiren saw that Zhou Yanru could listen attentively, and filled the pot with wine for him, sniffing the amber mellow wine, and said easily: "The wine on your champion house is really different from other houses, and you will definitely hand it over to the Chinese cover after drinking, and I bothered it in the house last time, and I still feel that my lips and cheeks are fragrant, but my wine is too shallow, and I can't enjoy much." However, such a good wine should only be tasted slowly, and it is really a terrible thing to drink and suck whales. ”

Zhou Yanru laughed and said: "Uncle Dazong has tasted the true taste, in fact, rice wine is still authentic in Zhejiang, Jiangsu has only learned some fur, and it should not be so ridiculous." Alas! The New Year's is so unpeaceful, there is no taste, it is better to be lively in Nanjing, if it is not for the great Zongbo Guang, the humble duty is not the heart to drink. ”

"Isn't my brother distressed that Mao Wenlong didn't have that little bit of ice and charcoal, right?" Wen Tiren teased.

Zhou Yanru's face was slightly hot, but fortunately, the wine had dyed his face red, and he couldn't see the slightest abnormality, and said with a smile: "The boss can't help but look down on the lowly position, no matter how poor the lowly position is, there is no need to wait for the silver to buy rice and put it in the pot......"

"Jade rope, the old man is just telling a joke, don't take it seriously." Wen Tiren got up and paced and said: "It doesn't matter if you lose some money, the important thing is not to teach people who don't understand the rules to gain power for too long, and bully us to the point that we can't breathe." The Donglin party is too arrogant, whenever the new monarch is changed, they have to control the government, this time it is even more powerful, none of the ministers are not born in Donglin, Yuan Chonghuan commanded more than 100,000 elite soldiers in Liaodong, if he recovers the lost land, Donglin will inevitably become bigger, and there will be no place for you and me at that time. Hahaha, fortunately, the sky does not destroy Cao, and Huang Taiji actually made a detour to enter the customs, which is really a godsend, and he took this opportunity to manipulate Yuan Chonghuan and look at Han? , Li Biao, Qian Longxi and others, how can they be at ease? ”

Zhou Yanru secretly thought: At present, his own holy family is in the middle of the day, and if the cabinet ministers are empty, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thinking of this, he couldn't help laughing and said: "After Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong, the government and the opposition were shaken, and there were many people who held grievances. I heard that Lu Yunlong, a native of Hangzhou, wrote a forty-time "Liaohai Danzhonglu", and an anonymous "Iron Crown", all of which praised Mao Wenlong and complained about it. ”

"Is that more than that? There are many people who are uneven, how many courtiers do not secretly scold Yuan Manzi? Even the two famous people in Donglin, Chen Jiru and Qian Qianyi, who are in the opposition, are also indignant, let alone others? The emperor investigated the crime of not strengthening the city wall of the Beijing Division, and put Zhang Fengxiang, the secretary of the Ministry of Works, into prison. Xu Guanji in the camp Shilang, Zhou Changying in the Dushui Shilang, and Zhu Changshi in the Tuntian Shilang were all beaten eighty years old and died under the rod. Although it is the emperor's will, it can be said that it will not be recorded in Yuan Manzi's account, and now everyone is in danger, can everyone not hate it? Wen Tiren stopped, turned around and sat down, the hot rice wine went down to his stomach, and his small but bright eyes narrowed pleasantly.

Zhou Yanru echoed: "This Yuan Chonghuan! The Pope was disappointed. After raising a glass and taking a bite, I couldn't help but shake my head in surprise, I don't know whether it was regret or resentment.

"But "Liaohai Danzhonglu" and "Iron Crown Map" are all savage words talked about in the streets, and it is difficult to enter the emperor's ears." Wen Tiren's words changed, "Mao Wenlong is a registered disciple of Chen Jiru and Qian Qianyi, and he must have given them a lot of silver, and it is common to say a few words of redress in exchange for grievances." As for what people say, Yuan Chonghuan fabricated twelve charges to kill Mao Wenlong, and Qin Hui killed Yue Fei with twelve gold medals, it is really unbelievable, and it is all angry. Yuan Chonghuan is like Qin Hui if he doesn't care, so won't the emperor become Zhao Gou in the south of the Yangtze River? Such a discussion will not only not help the matter, but will also ruin the matter. ”

"Yes. Now the people who resent Yuan Manzi are full of government and opposition, but there is no good way to cure his crimes. ”

"Jade rope, things are man-made, and it depends on the chance, you can't be impatient!" Wen Tiren smiled mysteriously and drank from the cup, which was unfathomable and profound. Suddenly, someone outside the door cheered: "Good wine!" On a good day in early spring, the window is not a fairy, but it is better than a fairy. ”

The two were startled, and saw Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the military department, standing at the door in a green coat and a small hat, and got up to greet each other together. Zhou Yanru said with a smile: "Da Sima is here, and it is too rude to teach students to go straight in." ”

Liang Tingdong's age and qualifications and Wen Tiren seem to be in power, at this time, he has become an important minister in the court, listening to Zhou Yanru's words There seems to be a hint of reproach, but he doesn't care, strokes his gray beard, shakes his hand and says: "The old man originally came to the house of the great uncle to ask for advice, and I heard that the house slave said that the great uncle was in the house of the young uncle, and he never neglected to live with Lord Zhou, he was not reckless, and he came rashly, and he did not teach people to be polite, and he was rude." He glanced at the wine and food on the table, and said with a smile: "When I arrived at the courtyard, a smell of wine entered my nose, and I couldn't help it for a while, and I didn't hold back my mouth, which disturbed the two of you." ”

The wine banquet between the two was disturbed, and Zhou Yanru was faintly unhappy in his heart, but seeing that he spoke boldly, his grade was higher than his own after all, so he was not slack, so he hurriedly smiled and said: "How dare you, how dare you!" Don't let the spring and autumn days pass, and the most favorite wind and rain old people come. A good guest like Da Sima is difficult to invite even if you are afraid, and a few glasses of water and wine are really slow. During the greetings, the family had already set up the bamboo chairs, cups, cups and chopsticks, and the three of them sat down.

Wen Tiren asked, "Brother, I won't concentrate on eating and drinking, but I have a clue about things?" ”

"Not bad." Liang Tingdong took out a piece of paper from his closet, handed it to Wen Tiren and said, "I have got it." This is a transcript of the record, and I have secretly entered the palace with Xie Shangzheng's own testimony, and it is time to send it to the emperor. ”