The situation in the imperial court has always been one of two and the other.

As an emperor, it is necessary to engage in balancing.

Liu Jin was Ling Chi, and the party tree was scattered. The civil officials headed by Li Dongyang immediately jointly issued a petition to advise Emperor Zhengde to restore the ancestral system.

The so-called restoration of the ancestral system refers to the abolition of the eunuchs in the towns and towns and the supervision of eunuchs in various provinces; restricting the powers of celebrants; The Imperial Horse Supervisor handed over the military power, and the Ministry of War was in charge of the soldiers and horses of the Beijing battalion, the border army, and the local guard station.

Grandpa Tai used to set up an iron plate in Emperor Ying's Palace, and eunuchs could not interfere in politics. The words of the great grandfather are the unshakable ancestral system.

As soon as Liu Jin died, the officials in the world had the momentum of turning into serfs and becoming the masters of the house. The snow flakes that demanded the restoration of the ancestral system were generally sent to Beijing. A small snow-capped mountain was piled up in the leopard house.

Emperor Zhengde had an attitude towards these songs: What do you civil officials want to eat? Eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics? There is no door!

On this day, Emperor Zhengde hosted a banquet for Chang Feng and Qiu Yue in the leopard room.

Qiu Yue will return to the northwest in a few days and command the border armies of Ning, Shaanxi, and Gansu. This meal is a send-off feast.

Emperor Zhengde said: "Qiu Qing, you are about to return to the northwest. During my time in Beijing, I learned a lot from studying military affairs with you. Although he is a military general, he is my master. ”

"This glass of wine, I wish my Taifu a safe journey to the west this time. In the northwest, he made another meritorious contribution to the imperial court! ”

Qiu Yue hurriedly said: "Thank you for the wine." ”

The three of them drank it all.

Emperor Zhengde turned his head to look at Chang Feng: "What do you think of the civil officials who are sparse and let me cut the power of the eunuchs?" ”

This is a proposition.

If Chang Feng says that he should not be cut, he will offend the civil officials all over the world.

Civil officials don't care if Liu Jin is killed by you often. It doesn't matter if you have been kind to us before, as long as you affect our interests, you are our enemy!

If Chang Feng said that he should be cut, he would offend Emperor Zhengde. You are often my house slave, and when you speak for civil officials, don't you turn your elbow outward? Have you forgotten Ben?

Chang Feng's own thoughts are: It is not a good thing for the imperial court for civil officials to cover the sky with one hand. It has only been four years since Liu Jian and Xie Qian abused power. The lessons are vivid.

The first emperor is filial piety everywhere, but the only drawback is that he relies too much on civil officials. As a result, the power of civil officials is too big to fall, lawless, and corrupt. Emperor Zhengde easily corrected the Ming Dynasty from the wrong path, how could he make the same mistake as the previous emperor?

A digression. Da Ming died more than 130 years later. There are many reasons for the loss of the country.

One of the most important is that corrupt civil officials control all levels of government offices. Emperor Chongzhen's decree didn't say anything about the Jingshi, and he couldn't even get out of the palace.

The holy decree issued by Emperor Chongzhen was like wiping paper. No matter how beneficial the decree he issued was to the state and the people, the civil officials below also had a hundred ways to read the scriptures crookedly. The holy decree was carried out by civil officials at all levels, and eventually turned into a vicious government that exploited the people.

One year, in order to implement the strategy of suppressing bandits, Emperor Chongzhen needed one million taels of silver as a military salary. The state treasury had no money, so it had to issue an order to collect this military salary from the people.

Emperor Chongzhen's decree on levying wages was to the effect that: I know that if civil officials at all levels are asked to levy one million taels of silver, the civil officials will extort tens of millions of taels from the people. But the military situation is like fire, and I can only temporarily suffer the people for a year or two for the sake of the Ming Dynasty

No wonder Emperor Chongzhen once issued a sad cry of "civil officials can be killed".

Emperor Ruo Zhengde was a good emperor who followed the rules, and handed over all the power to Liu Jian and Xie Qian. I'm afraid that Daming will die a hundred years early.

Straight to the point. Chang Feng is about to answer the question.

Chang Feng's answer was very vague: "Your Majesty." The Haihe River irrigates the fertile soil of Beizhili. The minister heard Bai Ang, the first expert in water control in the Chenghua and Hongzhi dynasties, say that the rivers in the world nourish the land and nurture the people when they are docile. When the flood is carried out, it destroys homes and endangers the people of Lebanon. ”

Therefore, there is no river between heaven and earth. If the river overflows, it must be cured. ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "Cunning. Chang Qing, where are you talking about rivers? It's clearly about civilian officials. You're a civil servant who let me rule the first time. ”

Chang Feng said: "Back to the emperor, what the minister said is indeed the river. As for the minister you asked, on the question of whether to restore the ancestral system and weaken the power of the eunuchs, the minister is rude, he is a martial artist who only knows how to kill, rectify people, plant false goods, kidnap tickets, and beat stuffy sticks. ”

"In the past few years, the minister has become more and more confused. It was like a mess of paste in my head. How can the minister answer this kind of big question about the society of the imperial court? ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "Heh, you are not confused. You're smart, and you're thinking of a place with me. ”

"Zhang Yong."

Zhang Yong, who was standing on the side, arched his hand: "Your Majesty." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "Tell Yang Tinghe to draw up a will." The functions and powers of the governors and the three divisions of the provinces were restored. Town guards and eunuchs must not interfere with the affairs of local governors and three divisions. ”

"However, the yamen of the eunuchs who guarded and supervised the towns and regulations in various places shall not be revoked. It's still the same old errand. ”

"Otherwise. The celebrant and the royal horse supervisor are the same as before. The cabinet is in charge of the draft, the celebrant supervises the approval of the red, and the royal horse supervises the Beijing camp. ”

"Again. Liu Liu and Liu Qi rebelled in the north. The local guard army is not in a good position. Ordered the celebrant to use the pen valley to quell the rebellion. The border troops of Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, and Yansui were transferred to Zhili to quell the rebellion, and they were all under the command of Gu Dayong. ”

Emperor Zhengde's will was both compromise and concession, as well as adherence to principles.

Civilian officials want military power? No way! Military power is my most important thing, and I can only hand it over to the people closest to me - eunuchs! This is a big principle that cannot be changed.

Chang Feng put down his wine glass and was just about to shout, "Your Majesty, Shengming!" ”

Emperor Zhengde accurately predicted and waved his hand at him: "Don't shout Shengming!" As you know, the civil servants have recently given you the nickname 'Governor of the Holy Ming'. In their mouths, you are about to become the old Wan'an of the Chenghua Dynasty. ”

Chang Feng said with a smile: "Ah, the civil official praises the minister so much, the minister is very honored." ”

"When the minister was young, he also hated the old man of the Long Live Pavilion, the clay sculpture of Shangshu, and the history of washing birds. At that time, the ministers complained every day that a group of incompetent and mediocre officials had turned the court into a miasma. ”

"But now that the minister is forty-five years old, he has figured out some things. If the monarch is a promising, the courtiers will naturally appear incompetent. ”

"The famous ministers and capable ministers who turn the tide and leave their names in history usually appear in dynasties when the monarch is dumb."

Emperor Zhengde, who often changes the law, is a "promising saint", and Emperor Zhengde is happy in his heart.

Emperor Zhengde smiled: "You can understand this layer, which means that you are now worthy of the words 'old and serious'." ”

"Jinyiwei is in charge of you, I am very relieved."

In the past month or two, Chang Feng has confiscated a large amount of wealth for Emperor Zhengde. Emperor Zhengde was not stingy, so he naturally wanted to repay him.

Emperor Zhengde said: "This time to investigate and prosecute Liu Jin's conspiracy case, Chang Qing, you are really meritorious." The inner carrier warehouse has just received 530,000 acres of land from the eunuch party and changed it to Huangzhuang. I see, the fraction will belong to Chang Qing. I will give you 30,000 acres of land. ”

During the Chenghua period, one acre of land in Daming was worth about one tael of silver.

After 18 years of Hongzhi Zhongxing, the commodity economy between counties has developed rapidly. Over time, the population has been increasing. The price per acre of land has also risen to five to ten taels of silver.

The difference between five and ten taels depends on the fertility and barrenness of the land.

The land occupied by corrupt officials is naturally fertile and good land.

30,000 acres of good land can be worth 300,000 taels of silver!

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty had two sides in terms of rewards. The relatives of the Zhu Ming royal family and the relatives of the concubines have always been rich. rewarded the military generals but slammed the door.

Like Wang Shu of the previous dynasty, the meritorious old minister Zhishi, the first emperor only gave five hundred taels of gold and silver.

Emperor Zhengde's gift is 300,000 taels. This surprised Chang Feng.

To put it mildly, Emperor Zhengde is sharing the spoils.

Emperor Zhengde had heard Liu Jin say before that the peasants in Fengyang, the hometown of the Zhu Ming royal family, asked a butcher to help kill the New Year pigs. After killing, such as bristles, pig hairs, and pigs going into the water, they must be taken away by the butcher as reward.

Chang Feng helped him collect such a big fortune this time, so he naturally wanted to express it.

After all, after ten or twenty years, there will be no shortage of silver in the treasury, and when Emperor Zhengde wants to gather wealth, he has to count on Changfeng.

Emperor Zhengde is not a fortune teller, absolutely not. Twenty more years? It's just a luxury!

Chang Feng knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "The emperor has such a heavy reward, and the ministers are terrified." Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, be wise! ”

Chang Feng did not refuse the reward. The emperor gives the courtiers face, and the courtiers have to follow.

Rejecting the reward, is it saying that there will be work to kill the New Year's pig in the future, and Lao Tzu will not accept it?

Emperor Zhengde said: "Wei Bin." ”

Liu Jin fell, Wei Bin was not only not implicated, but was promoted to an official and became one of the celebrant supervisors and in charge of the internal transportation warehouse. He is not a bad man by nature, he is peaceful and kind. Of course, he also has the common problem of eunuchs being greedy for money and holding grudges.

Wei Bin arched his hand: "Your Majesty." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "You go to Changfu in the next day." Send the inventory of 30,000 acres of land to my imperial aunt. ”

"The reward I gave to the Chang family is more appropriate for the imperial aunt to manage."

Wei Bin said: "Yes, Your Majesty." ”

Chang Feng ran out of the banquet in the leopard room and returned to the Jinyi Wei office. I returned home in the evening.

Chang Ponu asked for a demotion and went to Daxing County on the outskirts of Beijing to be the magistrate. His wife, Li Pinger, and her young son Chang Qingyun followed her to Daxing. Changfu is a lot deserted.

As soon as Chang Feng entered the house, Liu Xiaoyan greeted him: "What kind of wind is the emperor?" I rewarded our family with 30,000 acres of land. ”

"When I started the country, I only saw the emperor rewarding the vassal king and his relatives with tens of thousands of acres of land. How could there ever be a precedent for rewarding a courtier with 30,000 acres of land? ”

Chang Feng said: "30,000 acres of land is a large amount. If we go to the hired grain for the hired farmers, our family can get at least more than 20,000 stone of grain a year. It's a big deal. ”

"In this way, sixty percent of the annual income will be used to fund the school in Beizhili and open a widow's house."

"Save the remaining forty percent. Leave it to our eldest grandson. In the future, if our eldest grandson wants to take the career of official, let him study and become an official. If you don't want to enter the officialdom, let him be a rich man in the capital. ”

"Remember, the funding of the school and the opening of the widowhood must be done in secret. Don't let others know that our family uses money to do good deeds. ”

Liu Xiaoyan said: "I can't see that you still have the legacy of ancient sages, and you don't leave a name for doing good deeds." ”

Chang Feng smiled bitterly: "I'm not Wang Shouren." You think, let's take the emperor's field and do good deeds. What's the matter with the emperor's ears? ”

"Ah, you often take my land to buy people's hearts? Buying people's hearts is to put it another way, and trying to do something wrong! ”

Liu Xiaoyan had an epiphany: "That's the case. Come on, don't worry, I won't miss a word of goodness. ”

Chang Feng said again: "By the way, in a few days it will be the birthday of Queen Xia's biological father, Qingyang Bo Xia Ru." Don't skimp on your money, give him a generous gift. ”

Liu Xiaoyan said: "The wool comes out of the sheep. Horizontal and vertical is to spend the emperor's money to do our own favor. I won't be stingy and look petty. ”

Chang Feng nodded: "Hmm." Being the ruler of the dynasty is only good for our family, not bad. Speaking of which, in his small courtyard at the beginning, I also worshipped him as a godbrother. ”

At this time, Lu Song from Xingwangfu came to Changfu.

Lu Song is here to resign. He said to Chang Feng in the living room: "Master Chang Shuai, the errand of paying tribute has been completed. Tomorrow I will go back to Huguang. I hereby resign. ”

Chang Feng was surprised: "Leave so soon?" ”

Lu Song replied: "Before his subordinates left, His Royal Highness King Xing explained that the capital is a nest of right and wrong, and he will not let his subordinates stay for a long time, and let his subordinates return immediately after their errands." ”

Chang Feng smiled: "His Royal Highness King Xing is really an understanding person. Xiao Yan, when I went to the northwest to quell the rebellion, Qiu Yue gave me more than a dozen high-grade wolf skins. ”

"Although wolf skins are not uncommon in the northwest, they are rare in Huguang. You go and get it, and let Commander Lu bring it back. ”

Lu Song thought that Chang Feng was going to give him something. Lu Song arched his hand and said: "My subordinates have no merit and are not allowed to be punished, how dare they accept such a heavy gift from Chang Shuaiye?" ”

Chang Feng was embarrassed: "You misunderstood." I'll let you take these dozen wolf skins back and dedicate them to Concubine Jiang."

Lu Song was so embarrassed that he hated to pick at the courtyard: "Ah, that's the case." Then my subordinates will thank you on behalf of the princess for your kindness. ”

Chang Feng said: "Xiao Yan, you went to the treasury of the house to get the wolf skin, and then went to the account room to get a thousand taels of silver tickets, and twenty taels of red gold from the Jiaojia Mine in Ye County." ”

This time, Lu Song didn't dare to thank him rashly. Because I'm not sure who Changfeng is for.

Chang Feng smiled: "The silver is for you." Everyone knows that the rules of the Xingwang Mansion are strict, and His Royal Highness the King of Xing strictly forbids you, the generals of the protectors, to accept the courtesy of the magistrates. ”

"You just gave birth to a child, and this thousand taels of silver will be used as my boss to subsidize your family."

"In addition, the red gold of the twenty taels of Ye County is in good condition. Five taels are counted as what I gave to your son Lu Bing. You can take it back and put a longevity lock on him. The other fifteen taels are given to your wife. Set of gold bracelets, gold slippers, and gold earrings. ”

Chang Feng is now the military attache of the imperial court. When the official is in this position, he naturally understands the trick of winning people's hearts.

Lu Song hurriedly said: "Ah, the subordinates are useless."

Chang Feng said: "Serving His Royal Highness King Haoxing in Huguang is your greatest credit." ”

Lu Song said again: "A cheap and crude person, how can you deserve to use your gold for what jewelry?" ”

Chang Feng said: "Nonsense." The wife of the commander of the guard army of the dignified Wangfu Palace, the four-grade Gongren of the imperial court, why doesn't she deserve to bring some decent gold jewelry? ”

Jinyi Wei has ears and eyes in the palaces of all feudal kings.

Chang Feng had long known that Lu Song's wife had a large hammer and a fairly correct shape. After giving birth to Lu Bing, the woman is fragrant and full.

Concubine Jiang was very fond of Wang Shizi, and before she was three years old, she let Lu Song's wife be the nurse of the prince.

Emperor Zhengde has been married for five years, and he spoils this and that every day, and he doesn't have any heirs. As the common people say, "Say a lot, no descendants".

If the great sect is really the heir. A hundred years after Emperor Zhengde, the imperial court was not allowed to pick a new emperor from among the cousins and cousins of the previous emperor?

Those who do not seek the world are not enough to seek a moment, and the people on the side of Xingwangfu only have benefits and no harm.

Lu Song got the silver and gold, thanked him a thousand times, and said goodbye and left.

After Lu Song left, Liu Xiaoyan sighed: "It is worthy of being a person who has received 30,000 acres of land." Your hands and feet are getting bigger. ”

Chang Feng smiled: "I am from the general banner of Jinyiwei. How much gold and silver have been copied over the years? ”

"Corrupt officials always think that the most reliable thing in the world is gold and silver. In fact, they are very wrong, and the most reliable thing is the people's hearts. ”

"Only by exchanging gold and silver for people's hearts can we keep safe and be comprehensive."

(End of chapter)