"I'm afraid that the emperor's holy will has been decided" Wang Peng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, frowned, wanting to see the direction of the wind.

"My household is quiet, not afraid of people checking. Xia Yuanji, the new head of the household department, said indifferently. This is an abstention.

"Everyone, don't forget, the national seal hasn't been found yet. Yan Zhenzhi, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, sneered: "If the emperor has not made up his mind, it is better to say, in case he has already made up his mind to hand over the East Factory to the control of the eunuchs... ”

Yan Zhen didn't finish his words, and he didn't have to finish speaking, everyone understood the meaning, it was nothing more than four words, and he would settle accounts after the autumn. The reputation of eunuchs for holding grudges has been passed down for thousands of years.

Of the six Shangshu, only the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Officials have not yet expressed their position.

Xiao Xuewen, the secretary of the military department, slowly looked at Huang Heng, the secretary of the ministry, and there seemed to be an inquiry in his eyes.

Before Huang Heng could speak, a broken cry suddenly sounded in his ears: "Since ancient times, martial arts have fought to the death, and literature has been admonished." "Ministers are not allowed to interfere in political affairs, and those who are predestined will be killed!" The iron plate is still standing there, can we turn a blind eye?!"

The voice was so loud that the ministers were quiet, and even Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but look sideways.

"It turned out to be him. Zhu Yuanzhang recognized the person who spoke out, it was one of the imperial histories of the Imperial Inspectorate, Zhou Guanzheng, the deputy envoy of the third grade.

recognized Zhou Guanzheng, and the corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth involuntarily pulled twice.

There are many civil and military forces in the Golden Palace, and Zhu Yuanzhang is not every small fish and shrimp can be named, but this Zhou Guanzheng makes him very familiar, and the reason is incredible, Zhu Yuanzhang has suffered his "bitterness".

Everything has to start with the authority of the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

The Imperial History of the Imperial Inspectorate, that is, one of the legendary officials (there are two kinds of officials, one is the Imperial History of the Imperial Palace, and the other is the six departments in the matter), the official rank is only seven grades, and it can only be regarded as a sesame official in this golden palace, but no one dares to despise it. Because although their official rank is small, their power is very great, theoretically they usually have no specific affairs, they just wander around all day long, and if they see anything wrong, they can give advice to the emperor, even if the emperor makes mistakes, they dare to say it. Of course, they can be a little polite when they advise the emperor, but to other colleagues, they really open their mouths and scold.

It can be said that the entire imperial court, from the emperor to the small officials, has no headache for the officials. But they can't be rectified, just because Zhu Yuanzhang gave them a knife and a shield at the beginning of the establishment of the speech official: "But the wind has heard of the incident", "Don't be guilty of words", which translates to "You can scold casually, you can't die." Those of us who listen will change it, and if we don't, we will encourage it. ”

Let's talk about this Zhou Guanzheng, a person who can make Zhu Yuanzhang suffer "hardships" and leave a deep impression is naturally extraordinary.

In the twenty-first year of Hongwu, Zhou Guanzheng was still just a small imperial history of patrolling the city (the lowest imperial history, without the qualifications of the upper dynasty). Once, when Zhou Guan was inspecting, he encountered a eunuch leading a group of female musicians who were preparing to enter the palace from Fengtianmen, so he immediately stepped forward to stop them, on the grounds that "according to the Ming Inner Palace system, female musicians are not allowed to enter the palace." At that time, the eunuch replied, "I have a holy purpose!" The holy decree also represents Zhu Yuanzhang's meaning. But this week, Guan Zheng refused to let him go, insisting that this was a chaotic fate. The eunuch couldn't, and then went back to report to Zhu Yuanzhang. After Zhu Yuanzhang found out, he gave him a face (in fact, it was a face for the Metropolitan Procuratorate set up by himself), passed down the edict not to let the female music in, and praised Zhou Guanzheng.

It is said that the matter will end here, but this week Guan Zheng did not give up, and finally forced Zhu Yuanzhang to come forward in person to appease and admit his mistakes.

Isn't Zhu Yuanzhang angry?

angry, but also happy. After all, these spokesmen were all chosen by themselves, and Zhou Guanzheng's actions were also in line with his original intention of setting up spokespersons. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang did not punish him, but promoted Zhou Guanzheng to the official one after another, making him the deputy imperial envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Now, at this juncture, Zhou Guanzheng stood up again, and Zhu Yuanzhang also frowned, feeling that things were a little difficult to do. The last time Jinyiwei was reinstated, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a reason for investigating the case, and the officials had nothing to say. This time to set up the East Factory, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a reason to investigate the whereabouts of the jade seal, and the Jinyi Wei was not effective, which is no problem, but the eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics is also what he said, this is the problem. The people restricted by the Great Ming Law, in addition to the promotion of the small people, there is also him, the supreme in the world.

Above the Golden Palace, in the silence of everyone, Zhou Guan stepped forward and said proudly: "Your Majesty, eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics, this is an iron law that is not easy for eternity that you have personally established. Whether the East Factory is set up or not, the minister does not know the details, and he does not dare to say anything, but since the East Factory and Jinyi Wei have the same function, it cannot be handed over to the Zhongguan Agency, please think twice!"

Zhou Guanzheng exhorted and was impassioned, and the civil and military ministers fell to the ground in unison: "Please think twice, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked around at the ministers on the ground, and his brows furrowed...

On his side, Zhu Yunwen didn't say a word, like an old monk in a fixed place. There was no way, Zhu Yuanzhang specially instructed him before going to court, asking him to only listen today, not to speak.

Although the generals and nobles knelt on the ground, in fact, they were just following the wind, in their hearts, the world was beaten down by them, the Ming Dynasty could not do without them, and the Jinyi guards did not dare to touch them, did Dongchang dare?

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, the civil officials kowtowed again and shouted: "Please think twice, Your Majesty." ”

The displeasure on Zhu Yuanzhang's face became more and more obvious.

No one noticed that above the jade steps, Lao Zhang, with an old face, and his lips were trembling slightly.

"Your Majesty!" among the ministers, one of them suddenly opened his mouth to break the deadlock: "The ministers of the left and the capital of the imperial history Wei Zhixin to admonish from the bottom of his heart, since ancient times, eunuchs do not know how many disasters are unknown, if the right to be investigated, it will inevitably flow infinite poison, and the world will no longer be stable." The ministers of the court and the central government also panicked and had no intention of doing anything. What's more, eunuchs, with crippled bodies, gloomy minds, no reading, and no etiquette, how can they act as the East Factory?"

In other words, the eunuchs are useless, and they are not capable of managing the East Factory well, and they may cause chaos when the time comes.

As soon as Wei Zhixin's words fell, another person also bowed out and said: "Feng Changyao, the left attendant of the Ministry of Ministers, has something unclear, please ask Your Majesty for advice." ”

"Speak. ”

"Your Majesty intends to set up the East Factory, I don't know if you want to use the eunuchs in the palace to handle the daily affairs, or only the eunuchs will contact the inside and outside of the palace to deliver news?"

Feng Changyao's question was very meaningful, and only a few people in the group understood the meaning, but they all kept silent, pretending not to know.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, and then he smiled "haha" and said: "Feng Aiqing asked well, but I didn't make it clear before." I set up the East Factory, I really just want the eunuchs in the palace to communicate with each other, but it is not the eunuchs who really do things, so Zhong Aiqing does not need to worry. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to cover up the explanation of compensation, but the ministers all came back to their senses. Contacting the inside and outside of the palace, to put it bluntly, is to convey the emperor's meaning to Dongchang? The meaning and will are different, and the difference between the two is very big. Although they are all orders of the emperor, the will is written by the emperor on yellow silk and is well documented, while the other is undocumented, unless you confront the emperor in person. Asking the eunuch to convey the emperor's meaning, isn't this the same as letting the eunuch manage the East Factory? Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang just said this, and what the eunuch of the East Factory said in the future will be the emperor's back, and he will implicitly overwhelm the Jinyi Guard!

Thinking about all this, Huang Zicheng glanced at Feng Changyao, a "sycophant", with hatred, and said without giving up: "Your Majesty, but I don't know who will act after the establishment of this East Factory?"

Since the establishment of the East Factory has become inevitable, Huang Zicheng can only pray in his heart that the person who admits the East Factory is not that Xu Ruyi.

A eunuch who has a close personal relationship with His Royal Highness the Emperor's eldest grandson and the future Great Tomorrow, and then holds the magic weapon of Shangdongchang in his hand, there will be a big disaster in the future!

Regarding Huang Zicheng's thoughts, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to guess, and he didn't bother to think about it, the official was speechless, where did you Huang Zicheng come from?

Glancing at him with annoyance, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand impatiently and said: "I have my own plans, and there will be a will be issued when I go back, and Aiqing will know later." ”

A handful of procrastination, like flowing water.

"This... Huang Zicheng wanted to stop again, but looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's face, he finally gave up helplessly.

The early dynasty has not yet ended, but the news of the official establishment of Dongchang has spread to all corners of the palace, and the concubines of the harem may not care, but there are always people who care.

"It's so dangerous today, I almost let those few miscellaneous things mess up. Li Caiyu still sighed with palpitations: "Thanks to Lao Zhang's wit, there is finally no danger." ”

"It's shocking, but it's not necessarily risk-free. Chu Burier disagreed: "I didn't want the old six and eight to come forward, but I don't know if it's good or bad." ”

"It should be fine. Li Caiyu said with some uncertainty: "Although Zhixin is opposed on the surface, he is a speech official, and he has given the emperor a step up after tasting the medicine, so there should be nothing wrong." ”

"I hope our family is more careful. Chu Shu'er shook his head and said.

。。。。。。

Speaking of the first commander of Jinyiwei in history, anyone who has a heart can find it in later generations, called Mao Xiang. But when it comes to the first director of the East Factory, no one can call his name, because there is no detailed introduction in history, only a short sentence in the "History of the Ming Dynasty: Chengzu III": "It is the year, the East Factory was established, and the official was killed." “

What does this short record mean? It shows that when Zhu Di set up the East Factory, he understated it and it was just a will, and the civil officials who wrote history did not take the newly established East Factory to heart, at least there was no great hostility.

And why did Zhu Yuanzhang put the establishment of the East Factory in the court to discuss? Because he wanted to see the reaction of the civil and military officials, and at the same time, he also wanted to test his authority.

He was basically satisfied with the results of this inspection, the honorable generals had not rebelled, and the civil officials were still obedient, and the subsequent opposition was just because of the "moral kidnapping" of the nerdy officials he had chosen.

Speaking of the official, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction at first, but then frowned again, and said to himself: "The responsibility of the imperial history is to speak out." Zhou Guan is doing it, but the leader of the left capital is Duan Zhe, the imperial history... The voice paused: "It's too slippery." And I can't even suppress the imperial history under my own hands, what's the use of me wanting him?"

"And the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Officials... Zhu Yuanzhang recalled that in the morning, Xiao Xuewen, the secretary of the military department, looked at Huang Heng, the secretary of the ministry, and his face gradually became gloomy.

'What is he looking at?' Is he going to wait for Huang Heng to make a statement?' Or is he just hesitating and casually glancing at it?'

The Ministry of Officials is in charge of the promotion and transfer of civil and official positions, while the Ministry of War is the soldiers and horses who nominally lead the imperial court. These two departments are the real key departments, and they are also the two yamen that Zhu Yuanzhang attaches the most importance to.

'Could it be that this Huang Heng and Xiao Xuewen are secretly... Collusion?' Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes gradually sharpened, and when the word collusion appeared in his mind, Huang Heng and Xiao Xuewen's lives were no longer their own.

"Tell me the will. Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Duan Zhe, the imperial history of the left capital, will be transferred to Zhenjiang as a judge from now on, and as soon as the will arrives, he will set off immediately." ”

"Yes. Lao Zhang agreed and kept it in his heart.

"As for Xiao Xuewen and Huang Heng... Before Zhu Yuanzhang could think of the reason for the killing, a small yellow door bowed down and walked into the Wuying Palace, kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, the slave has brought Xu Ruyi and is waiting for the order outside the palace." ”

"Let him in. ”

"Yes. Xiao Huangmen agreed and withdrew from the hall.

After a while, Xu Ruyi came in and knelt in the hall: "Slave Xu Ruyi to see Your Majesty." ”

"Get up. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Xu Ruyi stood up and bowed.

"I have already written the will of the East Factory, and it will be sent down in a while, and the East Factory will be erected. I don't care about the arrangement of the personnel in the East Factory, but the daily news transmission must be reported to me in time, do you know?

Although you already have some manpower, it's still not enough, so you can hold on to it. I have called you today for two main reasons. First, I have decided to hand over the inspection to you as the commander of the East Factory. You may know the name of the inspection school, or you may not know, it doesn't matter, Lao Zhang will talk to you in detail in a while. Second, I want to ask you, what are you going to do with Dongchang next?"

Xu Ruyi's face was a little bitter, because he already knew the answer to the question. Detecting the world, checking and balancing Jinyiwei, these are the responsibilities of Dongchang, but they are not the answer to Zhu Yuanzhang's question. After Ouyang's attention last time, Xu Ruyi has thoroughly understood that in the next period of time, what Zhu Yuanzhang really wants him to do is to find the whereabouts of the national seal, and to put it more bluntly, it is to pull Lan Yu into the case of the national seal, take the opportunity to set off the prison and bloody the military generals and noble group.

"Find the State Seal. Xu Ruyi said the answer to the question with some difficulty.

"Remember your duty as a slave. Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Xu Ruyi coldly: "In addition, I suspect that Xiao Xuewen, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and Huang Heng, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, are also involved in this case. ”

"Yes. ”

Seeming to be a little dissatisfied with the sadness on Xu Ruyi's face, Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said meaningfully: "I know that you have been in the Blue Jade Mansion, but you have to remember your identity, everything about you is given to you by my heavenly family, I hope you don't make mistakes." ”

"The slave and maid understood. Xu Ruyi knelt on the ground again.