The capital of the Ming Dynasty was actually divided into rings.

One ring is the Forbidden City; The second ring is the imperial city; The Third Ring Road is the inner city; The Fourth Ring Road is the entire inner and outer city.

The Forbidden City is in the midst of an imperial city. The Imperial City has twelve gates. Each gate was guarded by standard-bearers.

February 11 of the second year of Hongji, night.

An official wearing a five-grade white robe sneakily came to the east gate of the imperial city.

The gatekeepers saw that his official robe was a five-grade one, and thought that he might be a senator or experience of the General Administration.

At this time, when officials enter the East Central Gate, there is generally only one situation, that is, the General Administration Department has an urgent report to the emperor.

Hundreds of households stepped forward. The moon was dark and the wind was high, and he couldn't really see the official's face. The gatekeeper asked, "Which of the ministers is it?" Have an excerpt to send to the palace? ”

The official lowered his head and let out an old voice: "Ugh! ”

With that, he turned and left.

Guarding the door is confused. I thought: This foolish official. I must have arrived at the gate of the imperial city and found that I didn't bring the fold, so I went back to get it.

A general flag came over with a lantern: "Master Lin, what's the matter?" ”

Baihu replied: "It's okay, I met a foolish official." ”

The light of the lantern illuminated the ground in front of Hyakno.

Baihu suddenly found that there was a letter on the ground where the official was standing just now.

Baihu picked up the letter, only to see that the letterhead read, "The minister is careful to put down the rebellion and the public security of the captive."

Although the hundred households of the Bannerman Guard are martial artists, they are not uninformed old rough hills.

He was puzzled. It looks like this is a note.

However, the Ming courtiers used origami paper to give the emperor, and it was impossible to use an envelope.

And the courtiers must have a signature. It should be "a certain minister, a certain official position, such and such a person, and a certain person, please play such and such a thing".

The letter was unsigned and appeared to be an anonymous letter addressed to His Majesty the Emperor.

Let's say that the official who left the anonymous letter left the sight of the standard-bearer guards and ran all the way. I ran out for three miles to catch my breath.

It just so happened that a night breeze blew and blew away the dark clouds. Moonlight sprinkled on his face. This is an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy. The old "uh" just now was deliberately pretended by him.

An anonymous letter to the emperor was picked up at the gate of the imperial city, and the hundred households did not dare to slack off, and went up to the celebrant layer by layer.

Palm print Xiao Jing and Bingbi Qian can discuss: "Shall we pass this letter to the emperor?" ”

Qian Neng said: "Let's open it first." If the letter is a great rebellion, it must not be handed over to the emperor. ”

Xiao Jing nodded in agreement, opened the letterhead, and read it.

The anonymous letter is 3,000 words, and the writing is brilliant, but the content is very naïve.

The general content is as follows: the minister believes that during the Chenghua Dynasty, the reason why there were constant rebellions in various parts of the Ming Dynasty was mainly because the world was declining and the people's hearts were not ancient.

The minister suggested that the emperor should educate the poor people with Confucian learning. If the poor people were to refrain from self-denial, there would never be a rebellion again.

Successive dynasties of northern captives repeatedly invaded the south. The main reason is that the Beiyu did not study Confucianism. The minister suggested that the emperor send Confucian scholars to the grassland to educate the northern captives on what benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith are.

If the northern captives are enlightened by the saints, they will put down the butcher's knife, become a Buddha on the ground, and live in peace with the Ming Dynasty forever.

Xiao Jing couldn't cry or laugh: "This is a recital written by a second fool and a rotten Confucian!" Childish! ”

Qian Neng also couldn't laugh: "Sending a few Confucian scholars to the grassland, can you make the northern captives no longer go south to enter the Kou?" It's a big joke. ”

Xiao Jing said: "It is estimated that the officials who wrote this recital felt ridiculous after reading it." Sorry for the signature. ”

Qian Neng asked, "Did you burn it?" ”

Xiao Jing smiled: "No." I'll show it to the emperor. When the emperor reviewed the recital every day, he was very tired. ”

"Show the emperor this joke-like letter, Bo Tianzi is happy, and it can be regarded as a pastime for the emperor."

Xiao Jing took the anonymous letter to the Qianqing Palace and presented it to Emperor Hongzhi.

After Emperor Hongzhi saw it, he laughed out loud at first. After laughing for a while, he asked, "Who is the person who wrote the letter?" ”

Xiao Jing replied: "He is a five-grade civil official." It was dark, and the standard-bearers guarding the imperial city did not see the man's appearance clearly. ”

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly restrained his smile.

Looking at the text, this person cites scriptures and classics, and his writing is brilliant. Look at the handwriting, neat and powerful. I think it must be a two-list jinshi who is full of poetry and books.

However, what this man had in his head was naïve.

This kind of extremely pedantic Confucianism would be nothing if he held an idle position in the idle yamen.

If there is an opportunity to be transferred to a local government or prefecture in the future, the local government will inevitably be harmed by pedantic.

Emperor Hongzhi wanted to find out who this person was. Then give the officials a "this person will never be used" criticism.

Thinking of this, Emperor Hongzhi ordered: "Tomorrow morning, you will send this letter to Chang Feng." Let Chang Feng find out who wrote the letter was. ”

Now Emperor Hongzhi has errands, and they all bypass Zhu Ji, the big shopkeeper of Jinyiwei, and directly explain to Chang Feng.

In the early morning of the next day, Chang Feng stood at the end of the military attache with a wat board in his hand to participate in the early dynasty.

The ministers played more than a dozen things in a row. Emperor Hongzhi handled everything properly.

Chang Feng sighed in his heart: It was worth it to protect the prince three years ago. The former crown prince, the current emperor is a bright monarch! The people of Daming have hope.

At this moment, Yang Shouchen, the left attendant of the ministry, came out of class: "Your Majesty." Early dynasties had limited hours. Because the ministers still have to run errands, and they cannot extend the hours. ”

"The old minister suggested that the afternoon dynasty should be added to the early dynasty."

Yang Shouchen's personality is a bit like Hai Rui in later generations. He believes that the emperor should learn from Taizu and Taizong as model workers.

Xiao Jing's face turned green. Emperor Hongzhi reviewed and folded until midnight at night. Sleep for a maximum of two and a half hours. Every three or five days, I have to talk to Queen Zhang. Just take a nap after lunch to catch up on sleep.

Yang Shouchen's immediate boss, Wang Shu, also felt that this suggestion was excessive.

Wang Shu said: "The early dynasty of the imperial gate was the ancestral system. How have all dynasties ever heard of a noon dynasty? Yang Shilang's suggestion did not dare to agree. ”

Ma Wensheng, Liu Ji, Xu Pu and others echoed and expressed their opposition to Yang Shouchen's proposal.

Chang Feng said in his heart: The emperor got off the donkey, saying that he would listen to the opinions of the majority, and the matter would pass.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongzhi actually said: "Yang Qing's suggestion, I deeply agree. In the early dynasties, the time was limited, and I did not have time to discuss many of my statecraft strategies with my ministers. ”

"I saw it, and I approved Yang Qing's recital. In addition to the morning morning and half an hour of the afternoon morning. ”

The ministers looked at each other.

They only have two words for Emperor Hongzhi at the moment: admiration!

The Ming monarchs of all dynasties have two ironclad standards, one is diligent government, and the other is love for the people. Today, the emperor has two of them.

I never expected that. Yang Shouchen has to gain an inch. He even admonished again: "Your Majesty." The minister suggested reopening the large and small sutra feasts. ”

All the ministers thought in unison: Old man Yang, you have gone too far!

The so-called sutra feast refers to the imperial chair set up by the emperor to lecture on the scriptures and discuss history. This is the Tang system, which has been continued through the generations.

The lecturers are appointed as university scholars or Hanlin scholars.

The Great Sutra Feast is held three times a month. The second, twelfth and twenty-second days of the first month. Two hours each time.

The small sutra feast is held every day from February to May and August to December. Half an hour each time.

There are few emperors of all dynasties who are not disgusted with feasts. Not to mention the time-consuming, who can stand the endless chatter of a group of rotten old men in their ears?

Diligent as Taizu and Taizong, at most they only hold a big feast.

The first emperor Xianzong was an emperor who liked to lie flat. The first thing he did when he ascended the throne was to abolish the sutra feast.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongzhi agreed again: "This suggestion is very good." The opening feast on the history of reading the scriptures is of great benefit to me. Quasi-play! Since this month, the Qianqing Palace has opened a large and small feast in the West Warm Pavilion! ”

Xiao Jing's face turned green again. He felt sorry for Emperor Hongzhi, and he was distressed.

He knew that Emperor Hongzhi had already arranged everything he wanted to do every day. If you have a large or small prayer feast, then you should take time to rest.

Later generations can find fault with Emperor Hongzhi and say that the civil power began to expand from the Hongzhi Dynasty, so that it could not be cleaned up at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

But everyone has to admit that Emperor Hongzhi is an out-and-out model worker.

Throughout the sixteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty, there were only four model workers: Emperor Hongwu, Emperor Yongle, Emperor Hongzhi, and Emperor Chongzhen.

With tears in his eyes, Wang Shu knelt on the ground and shouted: "Long live the emperor!" ”

Unlike Wanan. Wan An shouted long live for the soup.

Wang Shu's shout was from the bottom of his heart, hoping that the model worker on the dragon chair would live forever.

A group of courtiers shouted: "Long live the emperor, long live." "Without exception, it's all from the heart.

After the early dynasty dispersed, Xiao Jing found Chang Feng: "Chang Qianhu, come with me to the ceremonial supervisor duty room, there is an imperial mission." ”

Chang Feng followed Xiao Jing into the duty room. Xiao Jing told him about the anonymous letter.

Chang Feng couldn't cry or laugh after reading the letter: "The person who wrote the letter must be a sour old pedant." ”

Xiao Jing said: "The emperor also thinks so. So let you find out this person and send him to Nanjing to stay in the yamen to retire. ”

Chang Feng asked: "Father-in-law Xiao, this letter is also a clue." Can I take it? ”

Xiao Jing nodded: "Well, take it." ”

Chang Feng returned to Jinyiwei and first sent someone to find the standard-bearer Wei Baihu who was on duty at the East Central Gate last night.

Originally, he wanted Shen Zhou to draw a small picture according to the description of the hundred households, and find someone according to the picture.

Who would have thought that hundreds of households said that it was too dark. I couldn't see the man's face clearly. I only saw that the official uniform was a five-grade. Listen to the voice fifty or sixty years old.

After Baihu left, Chang Feng discussed with Xu Fatzi: "There is a stupid way to find someone." It is to investigate all the officials in Beijing who are in the fifth grade and from the fifth grade. ”

"Liubu Langzhong, Yuanwailang, left and right concubines, Hanlin Bachelor, Tongzheng Senator, Shangbao Siqing. It adds up to about one hundred and thirty people. ”

Xu Fatzi said: "Then check." Let's get a list first, and find them one by one to come to Jinyiwei for tea. ”

Chang Feng dispelled this thought: "Try not to use this benzene method." One tossed and the chickens flew and the dogs jumped. Of the more than 130 civil officials, there are always some who are timid. As soon as I heard that Jin Yiwei invited him to drink tea, he was scared a few more times. ”

"Second, I've always been very quick to do the emperor's errand. In the arson case of Tangfu in Layue last year, the truth was ascertained within six hours. ”

"You can't toss for three days for such a trivial matter as finding the sender of an anonymous letter, right?"

Xu Fatzi asked, "What should I do?" ”

Chang Feng looked at the anonymous letter: "There is a clue in it." ”

Xu Fatzi asked, "What clue?" ”

Chang Feng replied: "Handwriting." A person's handwriting is like a fingerprint, which cannot be changed. ”

Xu Fatzi said: "I can't recognize the handwriting of more than 130 officials. ”

Chang Feng smiled: "I don't recognize it, but the people in the General Administration Department may recognize it." ”

The full name of the General Administration Department is "General Political Envoy Division". Responsible for internal and external submissions. Similar to the office of later generations.

There are only two ways to play the fold in the Jingguan. Either the fold will be forwarded to the Department of General Administration. Either it was presented directly to the emperor in the early dynasty.

Chang Feng and Xu Fatzi came to the General Administration Division.

When Zheng Ji, the political envoy, heard that Jinyiwei's Chang Ye was coming, he subconsciously shrank his neck, thinking that he was coming to trouble him.

Because Li Zixing used to be a political envoy, Zheng Ji was his confidant and subordinate at that time.

Zheng Ji said to the miscellaneous servants who came to Tongyu: "Please." Forget it, I'll personally go to meet Chang Qianhu. ”

Zheng Ji is a civil official of the third grade, and Chang Feng is only a military attache of the fifth grade. He personally greeted Chang Feng, which shows how powerful Chang Feng is in Beijing now.

There are many kinds of power. Gaining the emperor's favor is the highest kind.

Chang Feng explained his intention after greeting Zheng Ji.

Zheng Jichang breathed a sigh of relief and said in his heart: I thought I was going to eat melons from Lizi Province.

Then Zheng Ji said: "There is a person in our General Administration Department who knows the handwriting of Manchu officials. ”

Chang Feng asked, "Oh? Who? ”

Zheng Ji replied: "An old scribe surnamed Fu. He has been on an errand in the Department of Communications since the early years of Tianshun. It's an old man from the Department of General Affairs. ”

The number of civil servants in the Ming government is limited. Therefore each of the offices kept a very large number of scribes. They have no official or character, but they are inseparable from them.

There is a saying that "the hall official of flowing water, the scribe of iron." ”

After a while, Zheng Ji led the Fu scribe to Chang Feng.

Scribe Fu is seventy years old, and all his teeth have been lost. But the spirit is strong, very spirited.

Chang Feng sent an anonymous letter to Scribe Fu: "Senior, look at it, which official's handwriting is this?" ”

The scribe Fu looked at the kung fu of a pillar of incense, and then said with great certainty: "Among the Beijing officials, there is no such handwriting." ”

Chang Feng asked: "The old-timers are so sure?" ”

Scribe Fu replied seriously: "Chang Qianhu doesn't know anything. I have been in the Department of Communications for more than 30 years. All day long, I deal with the name and signature on the cover of the Beijing official play. ”

"Who's handwriting, I can recognize at a glance."

Xu Fatzi on the side was a little disappointed: "Yes, run for nothing." ”

Chang Feng said: "But the person who threw the letter to the East Central Gate is wearing an official robe." ”

Xu Fatzi guessed: "Maybe the official robe was stolen." ”

At this moment, the scribe Fu twisted the letter paper with his hand. He seemed to have made a discovery: "This paper."

Chang Feng hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with this paper?" ”

Fu Shushu said: "This paper is Songjiang Tan Note, which is the tribute paper of the Eight Classics. Only the Inner Court and the Hanlin Courtyard have it. ”

"Last year, Songjiang Mansion paid tribute to the inner court for 2,000 dollars. The emperor gave 1,500 knives to the Hanlin Academy. ”

Chang Feng was overjoyed. If you can narrow down the scope of the investigation, you will not come to the political department in vain.

Targeting the Hanlin Academy, the errand will be much easier. There are only five fifth-grade officials in the Hanlin Academy: one is a fifth-grade bachelor; From the five grades of the bachelor's degree, two bachelor's degrees.

Chang Feng and Xu Fatzi turned their heads and went to the Hanlin Courtyard and found these five people.

Among the five people, the best prospects in officialdom are Li Dongyang, a bachelor's degree, and Wang Hua, a bachelor's degree.

Li Dongyang is the vice president of the Emperor's Record. A few years later, when the revision of the Emperor's Records was completed, it was the day he entered the cabinet.

Wang Hua, a bachelor of waiting, is the first champion in the first class of the 17th year palace examination in Chenghua.

The promotion of civil officials in the Ming Dynasty pays attention to seniority. In terms of seniority, the ranking mainly depends on the ranking of the gold list.

Even if Wang Hua doesn't have any great achievements, he will be able to wear at least a second-grade official hat after twenty years.

Chang Feng said to the five people: "Who of the five recently handed the emperor a fold?" ”

The twists and turns of the Ming Dynasty are divided into four types: the fold of the play, the fold of the play, the fold of thanksgiving, and the fold of congratulations. The folds are clearly folded and densely folded.

Li Dongyang spoke first: "I handed over the recital and reported the progress of the revision of the emperor's record. ”

Wang Hua said: "I have been on a recital. ”

The other three also said that they had broken it.

Chang Feng smiled: "I'm not talking about ordinary twists. It's the kind that doesn't have a signature. ”

Li Dongyang was puzzled: "No signature? Isn't that an anonymous letter? ”

"Chang Qianhu, you are too small for the character of our Hanlin official."

"Our Hanlin officials are bluntly admonished, but they don't change their names, and they don't change their surnames. Delivering an anonymous letter to the emperor is a small act. ”

Chang Feng took out the letter: "Look, which of you is this?" ”

After the five people watched. Li Dongyang said: "Chang Qianhu, this is not the handwriting of the five of us. ”

Chang Feng was keenly aware that beads of sweat appeared on Wang Hua's face.

Even though it's February, it's still cold. What kind of sweat do you sweat? There must be a ghost in my heart.

Chang Feng said: "Fellow scholars, please come back." ”

The five turned to leave.

Chang Feng suddenly shouted: "Master Wang, please stay!" ”

When Wang Hua heard this, he almost fell.

Xu Fatzi smiled on the side: "What is the champion panicking about? ”

Wang Hua had a panicked expression: "Ah, I'm out of line, out of line." ”

Chang Feng said: "Master Wang, you are the top of the gold list in Chenghua for seventeen years, and you are quick to think. ”

"Back then, my father forced me to memorize your palace test title document overnight."

"I don't think you wrote such a childish letter."

"But why are you so nervous after reading the letter?"

Xu Fatzi scared Wang Hua: "Champion Gong, it's better to recruit a ghost in your heart early." If a literati like you go to prison? Cough! ”

"We rough people can handle you as easily as we shake an egg apart."

Wang Hua knelt down "poof": "Two." Please spare the dogs! ”

Chang Feng frowned: "Your son? ”

Chang Feng suddenly remembered that two years ago, he went to Qufu to take office, and on the way he met Wang Hua's eldest son, Wang Shouren, who was hungry and faint.

Chang Feng asked, "Which son are you talking about?" Could it be the eldest son Wang Shouren? ”

Wang Hua was surprised: "Chang Qianhu actually knows the name of the dog?" ”

Chang Feng smiled: "Don't you know. Two years ago, he owed me six pot helmets in Qufu! ”

"Wait a minute, this anonymous letter can't be written by him, right?"

Wang Hua hung his head and said, "This is his handwriting." Chang Qianhu, please spare him. In January this year, after seven days and seven nights of bamboo, he had a serious illness and a high fever that did not go away. I'm afraid it burns out my brain. ”

Chang Feng was a little strange: "Ge bamboo? ”

Wang Hua told Chang Feng about the "Shouren Gezhu" that was later recorded in the history of philosophy.

Last year, Wang Shouren went to Nanchang to marry the daughter of Jiangxi Senator Zhu Yanghe. When returning to Yuyao's hometown, the ship passed through Guangxin.

Wang Shouren paid homage to Guangxin's Cheng Zhu master Lou Liang.

Lou Liang told Wang Shouren about the knowledge of learning from things. Wang Shouren is like a treasure.

After that, Wang Shouren looked at Zhu Xi's works. Zhu Xi's words "things have the surface and the inside are coarse, and every grass and tree has reason" as the truth.

Theory also needs practice. In the first month of this year, in order to practice Master Zhu's theory, he found a pot of bamboo. He sat opposite bamboo in the bedroom for seven days and seven nights, drinking only water. The intention is to clear the bamboo tree.

However, after seven days and seven nights, Wang Shouren did not find any "reason". I also had a serious illness.

After a serious illness, Wang Shouren became eccentric.

Chang Feng said: "I understand, Ling Gongzi became crazy after a serious illness." Wrote this anonymous letter, stole your official robe, and ran to the East Central Gate last night and threw the letter on the ground. ”

"Please send someone to invite Ling Gongzi. Oh, by the way, let him bring six pot helmets to return me. ”

There was also a watch about half past eleven

(End of chapter)