The twelfth year of Zhengde, winter. Emperor Zhengde returned to Beijing in triumph.

Yang Tinghe, the second assistant who stayed in Beijing, led hundreds of civil and military officials to welcome the holy car at Andingmen.

Emperor Zhengde did not ride a dragon chariot, but rode a war horse. He was wearing the same armor from the Battle of Yingzhou and a big sword at his waist. It was really majestic, heroic, and had the legacy of Taizong.

The generals around Emperor Zhengde are also all in armor. The border soldiers who escorted them all had a murderous aura on their bodies.

Jin Anhou, the governor of both armies, Chang Feng, shouted: "Da Ming Shenwei is invincible, Kou Guangwu Xue is shameful, invincible ”

This strange emperor is not self-appointed by Emperor Zhengde, but made up temporarily by Chang Feng.

As soon as the emperor's horn was shouted, Emperor Zhengde was stunned at first. Then Long Yan Dayue said in his heart: Chang Feng, it has to be you! Civil officials all said that Jiang Bin and Qian Ning would be sycophants. But if you want to talk about sycophancy, I won't accept anyone, so I'll obey you! You're simply the best sycophant in the world! The shoot is quite useful, haha.

The tens of thousands of soldiers who escorted the car shouted in unison: "The Great Emperor is mighty!" Mighty! Mighty! ”

The shouts shook the heavens and the earth. The civil servants who greeted him were shocked.

Emperor Zhengde rushed to his teacher, the second assistant Yang Tinghe. He said, "Mr. Yang, please get up quickly." ”

Yang Tinghe got up: "The ministers greet the emperor's triumph." ”

Emperor Zhengde said to Yang Tinghe excitedly: "Mr. Yang, this time Yingzhou is a great victory, and I will personally go into battle. He also slashed a Tatar cavalryman with his own hands. ”

Yang Tinghe was dumbfounded when he heard this.

Emperor Zhengde looked around at the ministers: "Where is Chang Po slave?" ”

Chang Ponu stepped forward and arched his hand: "The minister is here!" ”

Emperor Zhengde glanced at Zhang Yong beside him: "Decree!" ”

Zhang Yong unfolded the holy decree of the yellow silk cloth: "Fengtian carries the emperor, the edict says." The right servant of the household is often a slave, born in a loyal family for generations, with noble character, shrewd and capable, and diligent in his duties. If there is no impermanence to break the slaves and dispatch the army's salary, grain and grass, how can there be a great victory in Yingzhou? The special purpose is to make up for the right waiter of the household department, and the official is promoted to the third grade. Chin this! ”

Emperor Zhengde's first decree after returning to Beijing was to promote Chang Ponu. The civil officials have a clear mirror in their hearts: the power of the Chang family will be a little greater in the future.

And a thirty-year-old squire. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, it has not been able to find a second place. As long as Chang Ponu continues to honestly mix his qualifications, it will be a matter of time before he enters the cabinet.

Chang Po Nu kowtowed: "Thank you for the emperor's grace!" ”

Next is the entrance ceremony. The Ming Dynasty has a system, the emperor drove the expedition in person, won the battle and triumphed outside, and the duty of the border army was to escort the emperor to the front of Andingmen, and generally did not enter Beijing.

This time it's different. The brave soldiers of the border army and the regimental battalion soldiers entered Beijing majestically.

The emperor returned triumphantly and held a big banquet in the Heavenly Palace. Hundreds of civil and military officials gathered together.

Before the start of the feast, Emperor Zhengde ordered the celebrant to read out the holy decree of the heroes of the great victory in Yingzhou.

The veteran Wang Xun added the title of governor of the rear army and was named Yan Suibo.

The celebrant was in charge of printing Zhang Yongci's "mighty eunuch", plus the title of governor of the right army, and concurrently served as the capital of the North Zhili.

Jiang Binyao led the general troops of the four towns of Xuanfu, Datong, Liaodong and Yansui. Specially enter the Guanglu doctor's loose rank.

For the rest of the soldiers who participated in the battle, those with high merit among the generals were promoted by three ranks, and the rest were also promoted by one level. In addition to the reward of silver for beheading, the soldier was rewarded with 20 taels per person.

As for the Chang family. In addition to Chang Po slave turned positive, the Marquis of Jin'an, the governor of the Chinese army, Chang Feng, and the former military governor.

Liu Xiaoyan was named Mrs. Weiguo.

Evergreen Cloud taught from the five products to accompany the reading Lang.

The guard dog of the Marquis of Jin'an was sealed as "the incorruptible and incorruptible imperial history of the Metropolitan Inspection Academy", and the post was five products.

Gu Dayong read this long decree of reward, and read it for two quarters of an hour.

The elites in the court were shocked to find that among the more than 360 people rewarded in the holy decree, only Chang Ponu of the Chang family was a civil official. The rest are military generals.

It doesn't make sense. You must know that not only are military generals who are driving in this battle, but also many civilian officials.

Emperor Zhengde's intentions were obvious: to take advantage of the momentum of a great victory to attack the civilian forces.

After the holy decree of the reward was recited, Emperor Zhengde did not announce the explosive decree of accepting the world's military power from the emperor in the Fengtian Temple. He ordered a feast directly.

In an instant, there was great joy, and the eunuchs shuttled back and forth in the Fengtian Hall with wine and food.

Yang Yiqing sat on Chang Feng's left, and his brother Xu Guangzuo sat on his right.

Xu Guangzuo said with a smile: "I said Chang Ye, today's emperor is triumphant, and the most limelight is the Chang family!" Even your dog has been sealed as a five-grade official. ”

"This reminds me of the first year of Hongzhi, when the old minister Huai'en returned to Beijing, and the filial piety grandfather went out of the city to greet him. That day was also Chang Ye, your most limelight. ”

Chang Feng took a sip of wine: "Don't take a sip of Chang Ye in the future." You have to call me uncle. ”

Xu Guangzuo scolded: "You take advantage of Lao Tzu!" When will you become my uncle? ”

Chang Feng said: "Then we have to talk about it well." Your Ling'er will marry my Qingyun in a few days. Do you have to call me uncle? An in-law is also an uncle. In the future, you will not suffer if you meet and call me uncle! ”

Xu Guangzuo scolded with a smile: "you!" ”

Yang Yiqing reminded Chang Feng: "Have you noticed that at today's banquet, my civil colleagues don't look at you right." ”

Chang Feng took a sip of wine: "It's not right." At this moment, they have regarded the Chang family and the Chang family's dog as enemies. ”

Yang Yiqing was a little worried: "The emperor's reward to the Chang family today has pushed the Chang family to the opposite side of civil officials." ”

Chang Feng said: "It doesn't matter. From the time Liu Jian and Xie Qian were in charge of the cabinet, I was already an enemy of civilian officials. ”

Yang Yiqing said again: "I received some wind. said that the emperor wanted to take the military power of the world into himself. In the future, the power to command and transfer troops will be in the hands of the emperor alone. Is there such a thing? ”

Chang Feng replied: "Yes." ”

Yang Yiqing said: "If the emperor decrees this matter, I am afraid that it will cause a political tide in Beijing." ”

Chang Feng asked, "Who do you choose to support?" Emperor or civil official? ”

Yang Yiqing was silent for a long time and said, "I will choose to be silent." ”

Chang Feng said: "Well, you have a hard time. I think the emperor will understand. ”

After the feast, Emperor Zhengde announced that the three generations of Changfeng's ancestors and grandchildren went to the leopard room to drink tea.

Emperor Zhengde first asked Zhang Yong to pour tea for the Chang family.

After the tea, Emperor Zhengde asked Chang Feng: "Do you know what I invited you to tea today?" ”

Chang Feng arched his hand: "Please forgive the old minister for being stupid, the old minister doesn't know." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "I plan to let you pimp." ”

As soon as these words came out, Chang Feng choked on his throat with a sip of tea.

Emperor Zhengde said: "What are you surprised about." I'm not kidding, I really want you to pimp. Guess who I asked you to pull? ”

If you were a dumber official, you would definitely answer the names of a few coquettish married women. Who doesn't know that the emperor likes other people's wives?

Chang Feng is the essence of the people in the court. The thousand-year-old Wang Ba in the Yongding River is not good at him.

Chang Feng pondered for a moment and replied, "Forgive the ministers for their vain speculation about the holy will. You should be trying to make peace with the minister. ”

Emperor Zhengde smiled: "Go on." ”

Chang Feng replied: "The emperor wants to collect the military power of the world, and the civil officials of the Manchu Dynasty are all resistance." Military power is the lifeblood of civilian officials, and if you forcibly take military power, it may become a political dynasty. ”

"Just after the war, the last thing the imperial court needs is a stormy political tide in the city."

"If the leaders of the civil servants can stand on the side of the emperor, the situation will change immediately."

"It is said that the civilian leader is the first assistant of the cabinet. Not so today. Although Liang Chu is the first assistant, he is loyal. The real civil leader is the second assistant Yang Tinghe. ”

"If Yang Ting supports the emperor to take over military power from civilian officials, it will be a matter of course."

Emperor Zhengde exclaimed: "Chang Feng, you are really a maggot in my stomach!" Ah no, roundworms! ”

"I just said the word 'pimp', and you can guess what I'm thinking. is worthy of being an old minister who grew up watching me grow up! ”

"The first emperor not only left me the Ming Dynasty. I also left a trusted dear and virtuous minister! ”

Emperor Zhengde is learning the skills of Chang Feng wearing a high hat, and he is wearing a high hat to Lao Chang in reverse.

Chang Feng was very calm: "Your Majesty, if you want a person to change his position, you have to offer a price that can make him tempted." ”

"The minister only took a mouth to persuade Yang Tinghe, but he couldn't persuade him."

Emperor Zhengde understood: "I will not let you go to see Yang Tinghe empty-handed." My price is that Yang Tinghe replaces Liang Chu and serves as the first assistant of the cabinet and the head of the civil service. ”

"Yang Tinghe's son, Yang Shen, was promoted to the banquet speaker. The story of the achievement of the Yang family's two emperors. ”

Chang Feng thought for a moment and said, "This price is big enough. It should make Yang Tinghe change his position. ”

As an aside, a "Ming Shilu", two lines run throughout. One line is the war between the Central Plains Dynasty and the Beiyu and Jurchen.

The other line is the game between the emperor and the civil officials.

The relationship between the emperor and the civil officials was by no means a simple monarch and subject. Sometimes the two sides cooperate, sometimes they are opposed. Sometimes the emperor even had to make a bid to bribe civil officials.

Now Emperor Zhengde wants to achieve his goal, he has to buy Yang Tinghe.

Emperor Zhengde said: "I know Mr. Yang. After Li Dongyang left office, I let the loyal and mediocre Liang Chu suppress him for several years. He didn't say anything, and he was very dissatisfied in his heart. ”

"This time, I let him get what he wanted! As long as he does what I want! ”

Emperor Zhengde is on the rise today, and simply revealed his plan to the Chang family.

Emperor Zhengde said: "Everyone thinks that I am a warlike king!" But they don't know why I'm belligerent! ”

"The reason why I have been obsessed with the conquest of the Tatars all these years is to win a battle, so that I can establish an immortal prestige in the army. Let the hearts of the army return to me. ”

"When the heart of the army returns to me, I can regain military power from civilian officials!"

"Regaining military power is only the first step for me!"

"Since the Tumubao Change, it has become the norm for civil officials to check and balance and even suppress imperial power. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty has almost become a puppet of civil officials! ”

"Grandpa Tai Quanxia has knowledge, I'm afraid that the coffin board of Xiaoling can't be suppressed!"

"The reason why civil officials wantonly embezzle bribes, exploit the people, and suck the people's fat and ointment in the capital and local areas is because they have too much power!"

"The second thing I will do after I have military power in my hands is to start depriving civilian officials of their powers!"

"For this purpose, I need to reuse a group of people to replace civilian officials."

"The court is nothing more than five groups of people. Civil officials, military generals, clans, eunuchs, and nobles. Chang Feng, which group of people do you say I should appoint to gradually replace civilian officials? ”

Chang Feng talked eloquently: "The military generals are not successful." There is a lesson from the division of the feudal town at the end of the Tang Dynasty. Each town is in charge of both the army and the people, just like the emperor of the soil. It's no wonder that the world isn't chaotic. ”

"The clan is not successful. There are the rebellion of the seven kings of the Han dynasty and the rebellion of the eight kings of the Jin dynasty as a reference. ”

Emperor Zhengde interrupted Chang Feng: "You also said less about the battle of Jingjing in this dynasty." After the Battle of Jingjing, Taizong spent several years weakening the power of the vassal king. In order to prevent the second martyrdom. ”

"I know, you don't dare to say that. I told you for you. ”

Chang Feng continued to take stock: "The eunuchs are available, but they can't completely let go of their power, in case there is a second Liu Jin in this dynasty." ”

Emperor Zhengde smiled dumbly: "After all the calculations, only Xungui is left." You Chang Feng is a member of the honor! ”

Chang Feng was silent. In fact, that's what he thought in his heart.

Emperor Zhengde said: "You went with me." I rewarded the Chang family this time, and promoted your Chang family up and down, just to open a reuse of the noble head. ”

"I will issue an edict in the near future, ordering Nanjing to be garrisoned, and Xu Pengju, the Duke of Wei, will supervise the land and acres of land in Nanjing, and share the power of the governor of the heavens."

"In addition, Xu Guangzuo, the Duke of Dingguo, should also come out to take care of things. I will order him to go to the household department to supervise the write-off of the accounts of this autumn. ”

"There are also several dukes, marquises, and earls, and I will arrange for them to be on a real errand."

No one is a fortune teller. No one would have thought that Emperor Zhengde's idea of weakening civilian power would directly lead to his untimely death. Naturally, these are all afterthoughts.

Chang Feng arched his hand: "Your Majesty, Shengming!" ”

Emperor Zhengde turned his head to look at Chang Ponu: "You have to take care of the stall in the household department." In another three or four years, I will promote you to a scholar and make you my money bag! As long as you work hard, it won't take ten years for you to enter the cabinet and pay respects! ”

Chang Ponu hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you for the emperor's trust." ”

Emperor Zhengde sighed: "Alas, you have played with me since you were a child, and you have been my best friend since you were a child. I don't trust you and your father, so who can I trust? ”

Turning his head, Emperor Zhengde looked at Chang Qingyun again: "You are going to marry the daughter of Xu Guangzuo's family." On the day of the wedding, I will be there to officiate for you. ”

"Ah, yes. Stay in the leopard room tonight! ”

Modern people have pre-wedding bachelorette parties. Emperor Zhengde is avant-garde and wants to give Chang Qingyun a bachelorette party. Let the big sisters of the leopard room be debauched and debauched with him.

Chang Qingyun's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Thank you for the emperor's grace!" Your Majesty, Shengming! ”

The tone of Chang Qingyun's howl "Shengming" was exactly the same as that of his grandfather.

That night, Chang Feng went to the second assistant Yang Tinghe and the house.

The two drank tea and chatted in the back garden.

Chang Feng took a sip of tea: "Good tea, good tea." ”

Yang Tinghe asked: "Brother Chang, let's say, what are you doing in the cold house today?" ”

Chang Feng said with a smile: "We have known each other since the early years of Hongzhi and fought side by side in the Yongning Acropolis in Fujian. It's been thirty years of friendship. ”

"In front of you, I don't talk nonsense."

"The emperor wants to collect the world's military power into his hands. In the future, the military headquarters will become an ornament. The governors will also lose the power to command the garrison forces in their territory. ”

"The emperor hopes that you can support him. Not in vain support. The emperor's price is, first, let you be promoted to the first assistant and become the head of the hundred officials. ”

"Second, promote your son Yang Shen to be the speaker of the feast. Let the Yang family produce two emperors. ”

Yang Tinghe stood up: "It's really an attractive price." ”

(End of chapter)