The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 664: Wife and Son Separated
During the Hongzhi period, Dongchang and Jinyiwei had always kept a low profile, and could even be said to have had the worst sense of presence since the Ming Dynasty.

But since Li Zhang took charge, the factory guards began to run rampant, and Zhu Youtang seemed to have acquiesced in the expansion of the power of the factory guards. It seemed that Zhu Youtang also noticed that if he wanted to make the ministers of the DPRK and Central Government listen to him, he just Some unconventional means are necessary, and factory guards are the best weapon to make civil servants obedient.

The twelfth lunar month of winter.

Xie Qian was sentenced to death row and no longer sentenced to punishment. The case involving Xie Qian has also changed from an improper comment made by an official to a disaster for the country and the people. The next task of Dongchang and Jinyiwei is to get Xie Qian to confess who he is. Behind the scenes.

Li Dongyang learned some news that day, and it was inconvenient to tell it in a nearby place. When Liu Jiang just arrived at the cabinet for duty, he hurriedly walked over and said: "The Ministry of Punishment sent people to Beizhen Fusi to inquire about Yu Qiao's case in the past two days. It was hinted that Yu Qiao's situation was not good, and his body might not be able to hold on. "

Liu Jian asked: "What are you worried about?"

Li Dongyang was embarrassed to say it.

In fact, what Li Dongyang was most worried about was that Xie Qian could not withstand the torture, and then exposed the fact that they wanted to find Yan Guan. Although the cabinet was in charge of government affairs in the DPRK, which had become a common practice in the Hongzhi Dynasty, after all, there was no direct order from the cabinet. Six powers.

In other words, the cabinet now regards the authority of advisers as the authority of the leadership, which has led to the expansion of their power.

The emperor seems to want to curb this expansion now. If only one Xie Qian is captured, it seems that this effect is far from being achieved.

port.

Zhang Zhou put down the official document and said with a smile: "This is Mr. Xie Ge. He may be sentenced to death. He is in prison. This year will probably be difficult."

Liu Jian didn't say much, he just raised his hand to indicate that Li Dongyang didn't need help, and then he waved his hand with a bit of regret, as if he didn't want to mention it anymore.

……

"The sword is already hanging over our heads, Binzhi, now we may have to look forward and backward when doing things!" Liu Jiandao.

"Zhongtang?" Li Dongyang asked.

This is to remind Li Dongyang that because of this incident, the people in the court will no longer dare to remonstrate as hard as before. It is equivalent to saying that in the past, the civil servants regarded the emperor as a soft persimmon and thought it was too easy to bully. What will happen in the future? , the emperor will no longer be as easy to control as before.

Liu Jiandao: "If His Majesty insists on inserting this knife into you and me, you and I will not be able to escape. If there is no clear stream in the cabinet, then what is the difference between this court and a pool of stagnant water? We are here, at least the court The traitors in the army still have concerns. If we retreat, then the Ming Dynasty...may really be over!"

……

Zhang Zhou didn't want to explain too much.

Li Dongyang also knew that Liu Jian was just complaining for no reason.

"Brother Zhang, is there something going on in the capital?" Zhu Feng asked curiously when he saw Zhang Zhou holding an official document that had just arrived from the capital.

Liu Jian shook his head and said, "You don't know how, but those in the court do. For their sake and for your own sake, you should be concerned."

Zhu Feng sighed: "I have heard before that they are very concerned about Mr. Xie Ge's affairs. After all, Mr. Xie Ge has been in power for so many years, and many people still think that he is a pillar of the imperial court. Unfortunately, I can't provide anything. Help, no one will listen to my words.”

After nightfall, Zhang Zhou had finished dinner and was chatting with Zhu Feng.

Li Dongyang said: "Even if His Majesty is targeting us, he will not look forward or backward."

If such words were spread, the consequences would be disastrous.

Zhu Feng said: "Mr. Xie Ge? Isn't he the Taifu? How could..."

Liu Jian stood up. He seemed to be unsteady and leaned back. Fortunately, Li Dongyang was close by and stepped forward to support him.

Before the end of the year, Cui Yuan will lead his troops across the sea. After several days of training, most of the soldiers have adapted to sailing and are just waiting to transport these troops across the sea to Liaodong.

Li Dongyang knew very well that in the past, the punishment could not be punished for the scholar-bureaucrats, or for the elders like them, but now the emperor seems to have broken this practice, and the amulets of their group have disappeared... Being imprisoned was originally unacceptable to them, but now It seems that going to jail is good, but being punished and served in prison is not a pleasant feeling.

"You mean, someone listened to my words?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Yes." Zhu Feng nodded seriously, "Brother Zhang, as long as you say something, it will be easier than anyone else. Even Brother Cui said so. He himself doesn't want to go to Liaodong, but as long as you say it, he will I have to obey. In fact, I am the same. If my family asks me to do something, I usually won’t do it, but if Brother Zhang asks me to do it, I will do it.”

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Don't put a high hat on me. Regarding the matter of Mr. Xie Ge, His Majesty has always hoped that I can avoid suspicion. No one has ever asked me for my opinion on matters related to Tingju. I must take the initiative." To plead for mercy seems to be betraying Xie Ge's old face, but it will not alleviate the conflict at all. Instead, it will make people think that I am pretending to be a winner and mocking them. "

Zhu Feng said: "Sometimes the people in the imperial court do things that are difficult to understand."

"It's good to know." Zhang Zhou said, "Consort Cui will leave tomorrow. Go see him off, but I won't go."

"Ah."

Zhu Feng's eyes suddenly hesitated, as if he didn't want to leave.

"Why, is there anything else?" Zhang Zhou's previous intention was actually to issue an eviction order.

Zhu Feng said with a look of embarrassment: "Brother Zhang, it's like this. I sent a letter to the capital for more than half a month, and it was for Tong'er, but she didn't reply to me, nor did she Do you know what she is like now?"

"Where do I know where to go?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Why, you are still thinking about it? Don't forget, you have a wife now."

Zhu Feng lowered her head in shame and said: "She asked me for help before, saying that life was difficult in the capital, and she hoped to... find you through me. This time I also told her specifically that I will meet you soon, and I wanted to come here with you, and I sent people to help deliver letters and so on, but so far there is no news. "

Zhang Zhou said: "It may be that she was delayed by something, or she doesn't need your help anymore."

Zhu Feng nodded and said: "If that's the case, I really want it. I'm just afraid that something will happen to her. She is a female prostitute. In such a complicated place as the capital, her family can't help her. The only people she can rely on are you and me... ...No, it’s just you, Brother Zhang.”

This sounds flawed, but Zhang Zhou will not argue with Zhu Feng.

"Brother Zhang, what I mean is that you should have accepted her earlier." Zhu Feng said, "I know that you value love and righteousness. Now you and her are friends at most, but as long as you accept her, you will Help her get out of the sea of ​​misery. I also think that she is not suitable for being a prostitute. It was also when she was in Nanjing that she was exposed to more things in this area. She can't take it back. Only you can make her calm down. "

Zhang Zhou said: "Zhijie, why did you suddenly tell me this?"

Zhu Feng smiled and said: "Because even my grandmother said that unless she left the Chengguo Duke's house and could go directly to your house, she was allowed to leave. Now that you don't accept her, even my grandmother I can’t explain it anywhere, and if my grandmother asks about it when I go back, I can only prevaricate.”

"Your grandmother still told you this?" Zhang Zhou frowned. Zhu Feng smiled innocently and said: "Yes, in fact, according to my grandmother's meaning, it was because she knew that after Tong'er left the palace, she had nowhere to go and could only enter your door, so she became a beautiful woman. These are my grandmother's words, I'm just paraphrasing it. It's equivalent to...Oh! Some things don't sound good, so I won't say them."

In fact, even if Zhu Feng didn't say it, Zhang Zhou probably understood.

Ning Tong was equivalent to a "gift" given to him by Duke Cheng. Originally, Duke Cheng thought that Ning Tong was having an affair with Zhang Zhou, and because Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng were friends, they were too embarrassed to take advantage of others, so they decided to There will be talk of "adult beauty" to drive Ning Tong out, and Ning Tong happens to be homeless and goes to Zhang Zhou's side.

Now that Duke Cheng has become a good man, Zhang Zhou will support Zhu Feng even more.

After all, everyone knows what Zhu Feng's character is like, and they also know that there is no real relationship between Zhu Feng and Ning Tong.

Zhang Zhou said: "If I have to sacrifice the reputation of your Duke Chengguo just for the sake of adult beauty, then I will really be a sinner. I also told her that she is fighting not only the people of Taiyuan Hospital, but also Disputes over interests may also get involved in court disputes. She is a good concubine, and no matter how peaceful she is with the queen, there is still a huge grudge.

Zhu Feng nodded seriously and said, "This is exactly what I'm worried about."

Zhang Zhou said: "Then I will go back and ask someone to see if there is really something that delayed her."

"Then I'm relieved." Zhu Feng was very happy. He stood up and saluted, "Brother Zhang, I'll take my leave now. I'll come back and have a drink with you tomorrow after I see Brother Cui off."

After saying that, Zhu Feng almost ran away without waiting for Zhang Zhou to object.

……

……

As soon as Zhu Feng left, Zhang Zhouben had to go to the nearby construction site to inspect the progress of the work that night.

Especially since the construction of the railway station has begun at the port, and preparations for the production of rail tracks have begun, he needs to personally check this... But before he could set out, Sun Shangqi came in and said something in his ear: "... Mrs. Baoguo asked someone to send a message, saying that she wanted to see you, but you were already outside the back door of the hotel. "

Zhang Zhou said: "What does she want to do?"

Sun Shangqi said: "It seems to be about Duke Baoguo. Recently, she may have known that Duke Baoguo was also sent here. If it is inconvenient for him to see her, just ask the humble official to send a message. But... …”

"But what?" Zhang Zhou said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."

"Young Master, you don't actually need to avoid suspicion. Many criminals are sent here now, and this is your responsibility. Speaking of which, they are all slaves working for you. It's normal for you to see everyone. Besides, you are in charge here." No one will spread it outside." Sun Shangqi was still analyzing it carefully.

Zhang Zhoubai glanced at him and said, "It's just a meeting with Mrs. Baoguo. Are there still people gossiping that I am a British prince? Or do some people think that I have ulterior motives? You, you."

Sun Shangqi smiled ashamedly and said, "It's disrespectful of one's position, but is it just seeing someone?"

"Let's meet." Zhang Zhou said, "Among the family members of the local criminals, she has the highest status, so we should comfort her first so that she can go back and convey His Majesty's wishes."

"Yes."

……

……

Not long after Sun Shangqi left, he appeared in front of Zhang Zhou with Mrs. Baoguo.

This is the second time the two have met. The difference from before is that this time, Mrs. Baoguo looks more haggard and old. The Duke Baoguo’s mansion had just been raided before. Mrs. Baoguo still had a bit of wealth and grace in her body, but Just a few months later, as she had gone through a lot of hard things, almost all the wrinkles and signs of aging that she should have had at her original age showed up.

A woman in her forties can no longer maintain her youthfulness.

"I would like to pay my respects to the father-in-law."

Mrs. Baoguo was sensible and knelt down first when they met.

Zhang Zhou said: "What is this? Madam, get up."

There was no need for Zhang Zhou to stand up and greet him while he was sitting there. Being more indifferent would make the woman in pain think that this was a normal courtesy and condescension, which would reduce her psychological burden.

Because Mrs. Baoguo was used by the emperor to suppress Zhang Mao, even when she arrived at the port, she did not do too heavy work. At most, she worked as a helper in the kitchen, and could even direct others to do things. She also had a son and daughter-in-law to help her. The emperor gave me special treatment.

"If you have something to do, just tell me." Zhang Zhou couldn't help but say when he saw that the person had stood up.

Sun Shangqi on the side was still watching the woman carefully, fearing that she would suddenly come out and harm Zhang Zhou.

Mrs. Baoguo said: "I know that my husband has been transferred from the border to the coastal area, which is within this city fortress. I want to visit. I also hope that my father-in-law can understand the hard work of our family. After all, our Zhu family He also shed his blood for Daming. We want to reunite the family. "

Zhang Zhou asked Sun Shangqi beside him: "Is Zhu Hui here?"

Sun Shangqi said: "Just transferred here."

"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "It's okay to meet once, but if you want to reunite as a family, it will take some time at present. Especially your children and family members are now living in various places, and it is not easy to get them together."

Mrs. Baoguo said hurriedly: "Isn't it okay even if the father-in-law comes forward? We don't ask for immunity, we just want to be reunited as a family. Both my husband and I are willing to work for the court, so we really shouldn't endure the separation of the family. Besides..."

Sun Shangqi interrupted her and said, "Don't make any mistakes!"

Immediately, Mrs. Baoguo did not dare to say anything.

Zhang Zhou asked: "How many people are there in the city of Duke Baoguo now?"

Sun Shangqi said: "There were more than forty family members who were assigned before. Currently, there are nearly thirty people in the city. If you include the servants, there will be more people. However, the whereabouts of those people cannot be traced."

"Excluding those who have agreed to reunite with you before, most of the people in the city now are allowed to meet you every once in a while." Zhang Zhou said, "If you want to truly reunite as a family, you have to do more. Working here, in addition to getting wages, , there will also be some additional rewards. Only if you accumulate more can you be redeemed as civilians, and no one will be able to interfere with your freedom. "

Mrs. Baoguo said: "I don't understand."

"Someone will make you understand." Zhang Zhou said, "Sun Qianshi, please explain the points system to her. If you do a good job, you can be promoted here in the future. Even if you are reinstated, it may not be impossible."

(End of this chapter)