The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

The weather at the end of April is not yet hot for the north where Beijing is located, but people can already see some signs that summer is coming.Now is the time to enjoy the last ray of spring, and many people go out for outings in the suburbs, but those young masters and young ladies never get tired of it, immersing themselves in this luxurious enjoyment all day long.

Today is the third year of Longqing, 1569 A.D., the 23rd day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar. It is advisable to break ground, travel, and migrate;Today is really the day that the chief officer of the Qin Tianjian chose for Zhang Fan to travel.

Early in the morning, Zhang Fan went out with his family members.This time he was going back to his hometown when he was passing through Yangzhou, and Mrs. Zhao wanted to go with him.However, Zhang Fan recently discovered that his mother was always a little uneasy, maybe because he didn't know how to deal with the distant relatives of the Zhang family, so Zhang Fan persuaded his mother to come down by saying that Ru Xue was pregnant and needed someone to take care of her.

The reluctant farewell to Ru Xue made the husband and wife feel a little bit reluctant.Thinking that the two had only been married for half a year, and Zhang Fan almost separated forever when he left home once, Ru Xue still has lingering fears.If it hadn't been for the edict issued by Long Qing, which clearly told her that Zhang Fan was going to that prosperous and stable place in the south of the Yangtze River, Ru Xue would not have let her husband leave so easily.

But the girl Zhaoxue looked at Zhang Fan who was about to leave with a strange expression.The two had a heated fight recently, and the little girl got Zhang Fan's promise, so she didn't have any objections to Zhang Fan's behavior of leaving her to travel far away.But maybe because she couldn't bear the sadness of parting from Zhang Fan, the little girl hid in her room early in the morning, and it was useless for anyone to persuade her.In the end it was Zhang Fan who knocked on her door, not knowing what he had said to her in the room, Zhaoxue blushed and went out to see Zhang Fan out.

Yingyue accompanied him to the south this time as Zhang Fan's personal servant girl, she didn't feel wronged, on the contrary, she enjoyed being able to stick to Zhang Fan's side at this moment.She did know Zhang Fan's plan for her, but she was always a little impolite and would tease Zhang Fan from time to time, and then she would be severely punished by Zhang Fan on her buttocks, which not only prevented her from pain, but On the contrary, she gradually fell in love with this feeling.

A group of people left Zhang's mansion, drove towards the east of the city in a carriage, walked out of the only gate on the east side of Beijing's outer city——Guangqumen, and then continued on until they arrived at Tong County.This is the northernmost end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which runs from north to south, and is the "leading" part of the Grand Canal.Originally, when Zhang Fan went south this time, it was the fastest way to go by land.But does he have any important things to do? In addition, with his current status, walking by land is not only exhausting and exhausting, but also a little bit of a loss of status.So this time Zhang Fan decided to travel by boat. Although the speed was slow, the scenery along the way was beautiful, and with the little fairy Yingyue at his side, he felt that this was the time for him to enjoy himself.

When the millennium Longqing announced the switch, the charts of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, the three treasure eunuchs, were found out.There are not only the routes to the west, but more importantly, the blueprints of those treasure ship designs.The boat that Zhang Fan was going to take was a genuine treasure ship, and it was full of commanders at all levels of Jinyiwei.Jin Yiwei's commander is going to travel, and these people below are hurrying to curry favor!What's more, in order to allow Zhang Fan to obtain important information in a timely manner, Jinyiwei's branches are responsible for delivering information at various places along the way.

On the pier, all levels of officials had arrived, Long Qing specially postponed the morning court for a few hours today, the officials couldn't understand what he meant.So, even if these people could not buy Zhang Fan's face, Long Qing's face would always be given to them, not to mention that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had also arrived, and everyone had no reason not to come.

Because Zhang Fan was just inspecting Jiangnan on behalf of the Son of Heaven this time, and he didn't intend to go thousands of miles away or go to war or anything, so Long Qing couldn't come to see him off in person, but just issued an imperial edict to encourage him.Zhang Fan felt a little helpless. After all, this time he was nominally going to Jiangnan to investigate corruption. Now that he has made such a big fuss, even if he asks an ordinary person, he knows that Mr. Zhongyong is being killed by the emperor. Those sent to the south of the Yangtze River to "collect money" make people dumbfounded.

Zhang Fan also once asked Zhang Juzheng about this matter. After all, he had only been an official for a short time, so he didn't know what was the mystery behind it, and why Long Qing publicized this matter so much.Zhang Juzheng laughed out loud when he heard this, and explained something to Zhang Fan.It turned out that if it was to send officials, or to send the household department to monitor, then this matter must be kept secret. If those people find out, they will not be able to restrain them with their weight.But Zhang Fan is different. As he holds three titles, what is his status as the crown prince? One of the three masters of the East Palace, once Zhu Yijun ascends the throne in the future, his status will be extremely honorable; This title is the least objectionable, after all, Zhang Fan bought it with his own life; plus the most important position, the commander of Jinyiwei, which makes the officials fear the most.Zhang Fan's trip to the south of the Yangtze River this time is to be as arrogant as possible!

"Teacher, if this is the case, wouldn't those people have heard the news? If they hide themselves, then the students will return in vain in investigating corruption this time!" Zhang Fan asked.

"Hehe, it's a good thing that you are on the rise. But you haven't experienced this kind of ups and downs, so you really don't understand the reason." Zhang Juzheng said.

"Please ask the teacher to explain the students' doubts." Zhang Fan said very sincerely.

"This matter is very simple." Zhang Juzheng said, "The so-called influence of the whole body, the relationship between those people is very large, and the number of people will not be small. It is just an expedient measure for the court to go to the south of the Yangtze River to investigate. You can’t solve the root cause at all. Not to mention that the people you search are all low-level people running errands, at most you can find people three or four layers above them. And they don’t dare to stop corrupting just because of your arrival. Not to mention that this matter involves the interests of many officials. Those who stop their actions without your investigation will probably be suppressed. However, the idea of ​​being a teacher is based on the past. Your Majesty sent you out this time to estimate Have other plans."

"The students are also a little confused." Zhang Fan said, "Why did His Majesty ask me to go to Jiangnan on business when he just said that he would promote me to be the commander of the Jinyiwei, as if it was arranged."

"Jin Yiwei, Jiangnan..." Zhang Juzheng murmured for a while, then suddenly seemed to think of something, and said, "I understand, my majesty has not finished yet!"

"Done? Your Majesty, what hasn't he finished yet?" Zhang Fan asked confusedly.

"Clean up the imperial court!" Zhang Juzheng said, "Master, I thought that after Gao Gong's suppression, the capital city was indeed much better than before, and His Majesty should calm down. But I didn't expect His Majesty to take a long-term view." Very good!"

"Could it be..." Zhang Fan also understood somewhat, but he was not too sure, "...Your Majesty."

"That's right." Zhang Juzheng said, "Your Majesty's sending you there this time is probably the last test for you. After you arrive in Jiangnan, you don't have to worry about anything, and go all out to track down corrupt officials who violate the law, no matter how many people there are." How big is the official, you should boldly pick off the black yarn. Anyway, you have the Shangfang sword bestowed by His Majesty in your hand, so don't worry about it."

Zhang Fan thought about the conversation with Zhang Juzheng that day in his heart, looked at the Shangfang sword wrapped in yellow silk cloth in the hand of Wang Meng who was following behind, and felt a little helpless.It wasn't because he was surprised to see such a rare product as "Shangfang Sword", but he just sighed a little when he thought of how many people would fall on this sword.

Saying goodbye to Yiyi, the official on the pier, Zhu Yijun was extremely reluctant.However, Zhang Fan promised that if he felt bored, he could let someone pick that little girl, Xueer, into the palace to play.Zhu Yijun is only ten years old now, but living in the palace, he understands it very well, and he is really a little ashamed after hearing Zhang Fan's words.

Before boarding the boat, Zhang Fan bid farewell to his family members, looked at Gao Gong on the other side, and then at his teacher Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Fan nodded slightly to him, and got on the boat.Li Yingyue, who was following Zhang Fan, even winked at Zhaoxue on the bank, as if she was showing off something, Zhaoxue's almond eyes widened angrily, and glared at her angrily.

Zhang Fan's trip to the south of the Yangtze River will start from here.