The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

Jinyiwei, that is, the commander of Jinyi's pro-army, is the emperor's bodyguard.Its predecessor was the Gongwei Division set up by Zhu Yuanzhang, specializing in monitoring, investigating, and suppressing illegal activities of officials.Zhu Yuanzhang successively appointed trusted civil and military officials to act as "inspectors", "specially in charge of investigating the injustice, lawlessness and rumors of officials in the big and small yamen in Beijing, all of which are heard."In the second year of Hongwu, it was changed to the Governor's Mansion of the Imperial Army, and in the 15th year, it was changed to Jinyiwei, which served as a military institution for the emperor's bodyguards.At the same time, in order to strengthen the centralized rule, Zhu Yuanzhang specially ordered his chief to be sentenced to prison, gave him the right to inspect and arrest, and engaged in investigation, arrest, interrogation and other activities.

There are 48 guards under the jurisdiction of the imperial guards in the capital. By the 15th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang decided to reform the imperial guards and established twelve pro-military guards, the most important of which was the "Jinyiwei".

Jin Yiwei has a lot of power. Once this power is too great, it is not surprising that they abuse their power.Jin Yiwei is naturally like this. Although the description of him in later generations is a bit terrifying, it must be true that there is no storm without waves.Officials of the imperial court, whether they are upright officials or traitors, also feel a kind of terror towards the Jinyiwei, but after 200 years, the Jinyiwei has always existed. It can only be said that this army is really "too easy to use" for the emperor. !

Perhaps it is because of this that the emperors of the Ming Dynasty produced so many "bastards". They don't need to manage the government personally. They know what the ministers under their hands are doing and thinking. As long as they don't betray him, the emperor will not ask too much. .Perhaps it was the Ming emperor's pinnacle method of centralized rule that actually caused the Ming Dynasty's decline.

Of course, this knowledge speaks for itself.Now Zhang Fan can't think so much, he just knows that there is a commander of Jin Yiwei in the small courtyard in front of him.Walking into the courtyard, there is a man sitting at a small table drinking tea on his own. He is in his 40s and looks very inconspicuous, even giving people a decadent feeling.He just glanced at Zhang Fan the moment Zhang Fan entered the door and stopped asking, but Zhang Fan had also fought with the most powerful army of Ming Dynasty. Subtle, but Zhang Fan can still feel it.

Zhang Fan saw that he was ignoring him, so he didn't go forward to make fun of himself, but now it was time for him to report, after thinking about it, he was about to go forward to speak, when the door of the room in the courtyard was opened from the inside.

"Are you Zhang Fan?" The person who opened the door looked at Zhang Fan and asked.

"That's right, my humble servant," Zhang Fan replied.He sized up the person in front of him. He was a very ordinary middle-aged man, but the aura he revealed showed that he was born into a wealthy family.The feeling of being in power is good, but not very strong.

"I am Zhu Xizhong." The man said, "The Emperor has told me everything about you, come in and discuss it in detail."

"I've seen Commander-sama." Zhang Fan said, and followed him into the room.

This is a separate room, not too big.The furnishings are very simple, no, it should be said that there is nothing superfluous in the furnishings, just some calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.Zhang Fan could see that although these paintings and calligraphy were not the kind of priceless masterpieces, they were very tasteful. It seemed that this Zhu Xizhong was an elegant person.

"Hehe, this is the first time in the [-] years since Jinyiwei was founded!" Zhu Xizhong looked at Zhang Fan and said with a smile.

"Your Excellency, you speak too seriously." Zhang Fan said, "Isn't it because I offended others and was loved by the Emperor, that's why I came here."

"Of course I know about you, and I even know why you and Xu Jie are enmity." Zhu Xizhong said.

Zhang Fan was a little surprised when he heard his words. He originally thought that only he, Zhang Juzheng, and Xu Jie knew about the conflict between him and Xu Jie. Now that Zhu Xizhong said this, it means that he does not know how many people in Jinyiwei alone know about it. Now that Jin Yiwei knew about it, there was no reason for Long Qing not to know about it.Zhang Fan was not worried about himself, but was afraid that if Long Qing knew what Zhang Juzheng was thinking, there would be something wrong.

"You don't have to worry, since I told you so, nothing will happen." Zhu Xizhong saw Zhang Fan's worry and said, "From what you said just now, it seems that you don't really want to come to me?"

"My lord has misunderstood." Zhang Fan said hastily, "It's not that I don't want to, but I'm just curious because I think I'm going to work in Jinyiwei."

"Oh." Zhu Xizhong said, "The emperor sent you to me, of course he has the intention of the emperor. Let me tell you clearly, the emperor is very optimistic about you, you have to work harder."

"It's natural." Zhang Fan also let go now, and said, "I still need to get along with adults in the future, and please help me a lot."

"Well." Zhu Xizhong said, "We Jinyiwei inspects officials on behalf of the emperor, and we have a lot of power, so the emperors of all dynasties have always been cautious in employing people here, and they will never appoint people who are not the emperor's cronies. Take care of you. I heard that you have a good relationship with Feng Bao, the chief eunuch of Dongchang?"

"Eunuch Feng and I have only met a few times, so we can talk about it, but we can't really call it irreversible." Zhang Fan said.

"That's enough. At least I know that Feng Bao has a crush on you." Zhu Xizhong suddenly thought of something when he said this, and said with a smile, "But it's really not a good thing to be spotted by an eunuch!"

Zhang Fan was speechless after hearing his words. He was not angry, but felt that the commander was a bit vulgar.

Zhu Xizhong smiled to himself for a while, and said, "Let's not talk about that, since you've come to my place, I have to think about where to let you go."

In addition to Beijing, Jinyiwei has its branches in various places, and its headquarters is in Tianjin.This time Zhu Xizhong was recalled to Beijing by Long Qingmi, and he was only staying here temporarily.Naturally, the capital also has its guards, but it's not here.

As Zhang Fan was personally recommended by Long Qing, Zhu Xizhong naturally attached great importance to it. At that time, he had considered for a long time what position to give him. If he was too high, he might be dissatisfied by the people below, and if he was too low, he might not be able to explain to Long Qing.

"The emperor told me that there is something I need to do here now, so you should do it first." Zhu Xizhong said, "This thing is called an inspection, but it is better to say that it is to deal with the job of building a good relationship in Dongchang. Since you If you are familiar with Feng Bao, you must be able to do it."

"I will obey your lord's orders." Zhang Fan had no objection.

"In that case, Wang Meng!" Zhu Xizhong said to the door.

The man from the yard came in earlier, Zhu Xizhong said to Zhang Fan: "This is Captain Wang Meng, Wang Meng, today you take Zhang Qian to familiarize yourself with various places in Beijing, I have something to go back to Tianjin first."

"As you order, my lord." Wang Meng said very succinctly.

After Zhu Xizhong left, Zhang Fan wanted to start a relationship with Wang Meng, so he took the initiative to say to him, "Zhang Fan is new here, and today I'm going to call Captain Wang Meng."

"My lord, you are welcome." Wang Meng didn't say much.

"Lieutenant Wang seems to have a prejudice against this subordinate?" Zhang Fan said suddenly, "I don't know where I offended Captain Wang?"

"Your Excellency misunderstood, Wang is not good at words, not to mention that he is only carrying out the orders of Commanding Your Excellency, not prejudiced against His Excellency." Wang Meng said calmly.

Seeing what he said, Zhang Fan didn't say anything more.Wang Meng gave Zhang Fan a piece of Jinyiwei's waist card, telling him that it was the certificate of Jinyiwei, and without this thing, some places would be inaccessible.Zhang Fan took it, looked at the wooden waist card in his hand, engraved with the words "Jin Yi Wei Qian Shi", and put it in his arms.

Wang Meng led Zhang Fan to "scatter" around the capital. Zhang Fan didn't remember these many places at first, but thought that these places were too difficult to find, but he gradually realized that Wang Meng took many detours with him. "Probably because I'm afraid of being followed by others," Zhang Fan thought.

Some places are located in very lively or conspicuous places, most of these places are where Jinyiwei is located, and ordinary soldiers are stationed there;People in these places are very enthusiastic about Zhang Fan, and they will not look down on Zhang Fan because of what he did at a young age. Some people know something about Zhang Fan, while some people are just very respectful. It is also an expression of strength.

After walking through more than a dozen bright and dark strongholds in the capital, Zhang Fan has a general understanding of Jinyiwei. He also knows that these are only on the surface, and there must be more sites of Jinyiwei in this capital.

"Wang...meng." Zhang Fan thought that this was on the street, but it was inconvenient to reveal his identity, so he quickly changed his words, looked around, and said, "Since I did something, it was the main and Dong deal with the factory, please take me there.”

Wang Meng didn't answer, just nodded and led the way.

The front gate of the East Factory is very clean, completely unable to reveal the series of darkness that once existed behind Qi.There were only a few factory guards patrolling the gate. Zhang Fan heard Wang Meng explain that there was one Qianhu in charge and one Qianhu in charge of the punishment in the East Factory, and they were both in charge of Qianhu and Baihu from Jinyiwei.Many of the factory guards in the East Factory were from Jinyiwei.

Zhang Fan stepped forward to reveal his identity, and then someone went in to inform him, and someone else welcomed Zhang Fan in.Before entering the lobby of Dongchang, you can see a "Hundreds of Fame" archway. Just entering the lobby, you can see a large portrait of Yue Fei, which is to remind Dongchang Tiqi to handle cases in vain.Zhang Fan took a look. I'm afraid this was just for outsiders to see. Has Dongchang handled so few unjust cases over the years?

Zhang Fan was looking at the lobby, and Feng Bao came out from it.

"Master Zhang, our family has been waiting for you for a long time." Feng Bao said with a smile when he saw Zhang Fan.

"Hehe, it seems that Duke Du knew that I would come here." Zhang Fan also said with a smile.

Feng Bao just smiled after hearing Zhang Fan's words, but didn't speak.

"Zhang Fan is Jinyiwei's business now, and he will have to trouble his father-in-law in the future, so he came here today to say hello," Zhang Fan said.

"No matter what Mr. Zhang said, we are all doing business for the emperor, so there is no need to be polite." Feng Bao said.

The two sat down and chatted.Through the conversation with Feng Bao, it was Zhang Fan's first in-depth contact with this seemingly upright eunuch.Although Feng Bao hadn't read many books, he could write well. I have to say that Long Qing let him be the eunuch of Bingbi, which also played a big role.When Long Qing first came to the throne, Feng Bao was not very popular with Long Qing. Of course, Gao Gong played a big role in this.At that time, there was a vacancy in the position of Eunuch of the Supervisor of Etiquette, and Feng Bao should have taken over according to his seniority, but Gao Gong, a senior scholar at that time, recommended Chen Hong, the imperial supervisor, to be promoted. However, Gao Gong recommended Meng Chong, who was in charge of the Shangshan Supervisor, to succeed him.Feng Bao is still the eunuch of Bingbi, and Feng Bao is very unhappy about this.At the beginning of this year, the officials impeached Gao Gong, and Feng Bao did his best, but Gao Gong said he was sick and went home to recuperate.Although he didn't beat Gaogong, Feng Bao was also very happy.

But Feng Bao is not the kind of person who only focuses on the emperor and has no selfish intentions.Eunuchs have no fertility and don't like beauty, but they love power and property very much.Feng Bao is now the eunuch of Bingbi, the supervisor of ceremonies, and at the same time he is in charge of the East Factory. He thinks this right is enough, and now it is only the pursuit of property.It is said that even Zhang Juzheng, an upright and honest person, gave Feng Bao a lot of things.It's just that Feng Bao still feels that he still has no sense of security, so his greed for money has been restrained.

Zhang Fan only vaguely heard something from Feng Bao's words, and he couldn't be sure, but he had a general understanding of Feng Bao's personality.That's enough, knowing Feng Bao's weakness, it will be easy to act in the future.

After bidding farewell to Feng Bao, Zhang Fan couldn't help but think that if he could walk into the East Factory calmly and then come out safely, he might be the only one from the East Factory and Jin Yiwei. Rat gone.

After sending Zhang Fan back home, Wang Meng left.Mrs. Zhao didn't ask much about Zhang Fan, she was familiar with her son, at least Zhang Fan didn't seem to have any problems now.Naturally, Xiao Xiangmei and Xue'er couldn't see anything.

Zhang Fan was thinking about things alone in the study: "It seems that this lackey's career is about to begin, and I don't know what will happen to him!" He laughed at himself.