The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 243 Xia Cong, your life is at stake

For a scholar-bureaucrat, if a man has gold at his knees, he will only kneel to the Lord of Heaven and Earth and his master.

But Chang Feng was right, he was Xie Qian's benefactor.The benefactor is equivalent to the reborn parent and belongs to "relatives".

Compared with Chang Feng, Xie Qian has a lot of worries.Facing an opponent who was determined to die, he had already lost.

Xie Qian was mentally building himself up: there is no shame in kneeling to his benefactor.

"Pfft", Xie Qian knelt down to Chang Feng.With this kneeling, the elder's dignity was completely lost.

Xie Qian said: "Master Chang, I was able to successfully enter the cabinet all because of you clearing my grievances. By kneeling down, I will repay your kindness."

Chang Feng said: "This favor is not easy to repay. Get up."

Xie Qian stood up.

After killing Xie Qian's prestige, it's time to get down to business and talk about conditions.

Chang Feng said: "My condition is that you and your gang will not pursue the case of Xiaoyan killing the official and Xiaojiu selling the stolen goods. Let these two cases go unsolved."

"In addition, Xia Cong from the Criminal Department hurt my Xiaojiu. I want him to pay back tenfold. You are not allowed to interfere!"

Xie Qian frowned: "Xia Cong is my confidant. If someone tries to trick my confidant, I won't care. How can I convince others?"

Chang Feng raised the account book in his hand: "Then let's break up. Just pretend I've never been here. Mr. Xie Ge takes his leave. I'll see you tomorrow morning!"

At the critical moment, Xie Qian still knew the current affairs.He still understands the principle of abandoning pawns to save chariots.

Xie Qian said: "Okay, Mr. Chang, Xia Cong is at your disposal. I won't say anything about it."

Chang Feng said: "Tomorrow the civil servants will kneel down to remonstrate with the Emperor and severely punish my family Xiaoyan and Xiaojiu. Do you think so?"

Xie Qian said: "I will summon them again overnight. Let them never mention this matter again."

Chang Feng stood up: "Okay. Xie Qian, you are a talented person who understands current affairs. I won't say anything else. Farewell!"

Chang Feng wanted to leave, but Xie Qian stopped him: "Master Chang, wait a minute. Do you want to see the real account book and the eight transcripts? I have already given in. Can I destroy these old sesame seeds and rotten millet things?"

Chang Feng sneered: "Oh, don't always think about getting in trouble! I will not hand over the account books to you. I no longer believe in you, and I will not easily believe any of your promises. The account books are in my hands, and that's me Amulet!"

"I'm afraid this amulet is more useful than the death-free coupon the emperor gave me."

After saying that, Chang Feng strode out of Xie Qian's mansion with a victor's attitude.

The second half of the night in Xie's Mansion was very lively.Xie Qian sent people to invite the sleeping civil servants to the mansion again overnight.

Xie Qian was one of the civil servant leaders and the leader of the Chang family.No matter whether the minions are willing or not, understand it or not.Xie Qiandu forced them to give up their kneeling admonishment the next day.

Xie Qian also told them not to mention the two cases involving Chang's wives and concubines in the future.

Morning the next day.

It should be said that Li Dongyang and Ma Wensheng are quite kind.

While lining up in court in the morning, Li Dongyang said to several of his confidants: "If someone once advises the emperor to severely punish the Chang family, you must not get involved! Chang Feng has always made great contributions to the court, to the emperor, and to the people of Li. common people."

"It would be a loss of conscience to impeach him!"

Ma Wensheng asked his deputy, the right servant of the Ministry of Personnel, Jiao Fang: "Have you said hello to everyone above the director of the Ministry of Personnel? If someone is involved in the impeachment of Chang Feng in the morning, we, the people of the Ministry of Personnel, must protect him."

Jiao Fang is Liu Jin's secret party.He is naturally on Chang Feng's side.

Jiao Fang said: "Don't worry, everyone. We have already said hello. We, the officials, will fight hard to maintain the normal wind in the morning."

"However, there are more than [-] doctors and ministers, and the chief ministers are the three elders of the cabinet. It is difficult to say whether they will defect or not."

What is surprising is that since the early dynasty, no civil servants have mentioned the case of the Chang family's wives and concubines.

Emperor Hongzhi, who was sitting on the dragon throne, was puzzled.He had already made up his mind that today he would resist the pressure of the ministers and drag the cases of Liu Xiaoyan and Madam Ninth without trial or verdict.The reason is simply that the dragon's body is not in good condition and the case has been postponed.

However, the civil servants in the early dynasty reported on things such as the repair of the Shandong section of the canal and the harvest of grain in Huguang.

No official mentioned the Chang family.

Emperor Hongzhi turned to look at Chang Feng.Chang Feng looked calm, and he seemed confident at first glance.

Emperor Hongzhi knew clearly: Chang Feng must have used some tricks last night to reach some kind of tacit understanding with the civil officials.

That's right, if Chang Feng doesn't even have the ability to protect his wife and concubines, then he has been used by me for so many years in vain.

After the morning session.The ministers filed out of Fengtian Gate.

Ma Wensheng walked quickly to Chang Feng: "Chang Xiaoyou, you are so clever."

Chang Feng asked, "How do you say it?"

Ma Wensheng said: "Those people are a bunch of mad dogs. You actually have a way to calm the mad dogs. Isn't that a good way?"

Although Ma Wensheng was a civil servant, he was outside the civil service group.He has always looked down upon his colleagues who were full of benevolence and morality, but were full of male thieves and female prostitutes.

Chang Feng said: "It's just a little trick. If a person doesn't want to live, those who want to live will be unable to do anything to him."

As soon as you see it, you will step onto the Jinshui Bridge.Li Dongyang stopped Chang Feng by the Jinshui Bridge.

Li Dongyang raised his hands towards Chang Feng and said, "I apologize to you, Xie Qian. I have scolded him before. His treason against the Chang family is tantamount to repaying kindness with hatred."

Chang Feng said: "Mr. Li Ge, I know it in my heart. This time the civil servants wanted to punish me, but you did not participate. You also protected me in front of them. For this reason, I accept your favor."

Li Dongyang said: "I still don't understand how things got to the point where they are today. If you had not protected Qian Ning from insulting the cabinet member, maybe there wouldn't be so many things."

Chang Feng disagrees with Li Dongyang's point of view.He said: "What Mr. Li Ge said is wrong. The civil servants and I turned from friends to enemies. It seems to be accidental, but in fact it is inevitable."

"The factory guard represents the imperial power. When there is an imbalance between ministerial power and imperial power. Civil servants think about the real master of the world. I, the leader of domestic slaves and the defender of imperial power, will naturally come to oppose you."

"Mr. Li Ge, listen to me and stop all activities. Stay away from Liu Jian and Xie Qian. Sooner or later, these two will cause great trouble and they will not end well!"

Li Dongyang smiled bitterly: "People in the officialdom say that Liu, Xie, and Li are the three gentlemen after Hongzhi. The three of us have long been one. No one can live without the other."

Chang Feng said: "The common people have a saying: listen to others and eat enough. After I have finished speaking, it is your business, Mr. Li Ge, to listen or not."

Let’s talk about the next month.Officials who were originally filled with righteous indignation and kept talking about maintaining discipline seemed to have forgotten the case of Liu Xiaoyan killing an official in the street and the ninth lady selling the stolen goods.No one mentioned it again, no one said it again.

Winter has arrived before we know it.

On this day, Emperor Hongzhi summoned Chang Feng on his sick bed.

Emperor Hongzhi can no longer even get up from the dragon bed.To say he was terminally ill would be an understatement.

Chang Feng kowtowed: "What is the emperor's order when he summons his ministers?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "The matter of your wives and concubines has passed the limelight. It's time to release them and let them return to your mansion."

Chang Feng said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Chang Feng has reached a tacit understanding with the civil service group.Changfeng, as long as you don't mention the old case of Shuangmuhui, you won't cause any trouble.We will naturally turn a blind eye to your wives and concubines.

Of course, the essence of this tacit understanding is that both parties grasp each other's leverage.Everyone keeps each other in check.

Emperor Hongzhi changed the subject: "Also, Chang Feng. My health is failing, and I feel that my end is approaching."

Chang Feng said quickly: "Your Majesty, the Spring and Autumn Period is at its peak, and it is the Year of the Dragon and Horse. A simple illness can be cured with good care in a few days!"

Emperor Hongzhi disagreed: "Don't comfort me. I know my body well. I want to remind you to run to the East Palace more often in the future. Cultivate your relationship with the prince." "You are the dagger I leave to the prince!"

"I pride myself on being a diligent emperor. But no one is perfect. I am too kind and kind. Sometimes kindness and kindness can be said to be weak."

"I have been in power for 18 years, and the power of the civil service has reached a point where it is beyond control."

"Once I die one day, the young prince will ascend the throne. Without a sharp dagger in his hand, the world will no longer belong to the Zhu family, but to the civil servants!"

The most valuable thing about people is self-awareness.Emperor Hongzhi was not confused.He understood that there were already huge hidden dangers under the so-called prosperous age of Hongzhi.

There was helplessness and unwillingness in his voice.

Chang Feng shed tears from the bottom of his heart: "Your Majesty, even if I'm heartbroken, I must be as loyal to the prince as I am to you."

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Okay, okay! I know your loyalty. Okay, you can go down first."

On this winter afternoon in the 17th year of Hongzhi's reign, Emperor Hongzhi's conversation with Chang Feng seemed to be conveying his last words.This made Chang Feng inexplicably sad.

Everyone has feelings.Counting from the winter of the 22nd year of Chenghua, when Chang Feng entered the East Palace and became the prince's personal Han general.He and Emperor Hongzhi had a relationship between emperor and minister for nineteen years.

Chang Feng went to Kunning Palace and took Liu Xiaoyan and Mrs. Ninth back to the house.

Madam Ninth's injuries have been healed.Liu Xiaoyan also recovered from her initial shock.

In the Changfu dining room, the family finally reunited.

Chang Feng raised his wine glass: "Madams, it's me, Chang Feng, who has caused trouble for you. I think I, Chang Feng, am both talented and beautiful. Fortunately, these two ladies have never left me. It is truly a blessing in life."

Although Liu Xiaoyan and Mrs. Jiu are wives and concubines, Chang Feng regards them both as his wives.

Madam Ninth burst into tears: "Master, it's my concubine who has caused you trouble."

Chang Feng sighed: "Wrong. Those damn civil servants came for me. Okay, don't mention this matter again."

In fact, Chang Feng admired Madam Ninth very much.

The torture of the Supervisory Department of the Ministry of Punishments is no less severe than that of the Jin Yiwei.Mrs. Ninth fell into Xia Cong's hands before and actually withstood the torture for an hour and a half, without allowing Xia Cong to get the testimony he wanted.In this regard, Mrs. Ninth is a hero among women!

Liu Bingyi said: "My son-in-law is still very skillful. The ironclad case has made you turn over."

Chang Feng shook his head slightly: "The case has not been overturned. It's just that the civil servants no longer insist on it, and the emperor no longer pursues it."

"The civil servants and I are just blackmailing and coercing each other."

After the family dinner, Chang Feng called over his three confidants, Qian Ning, Shi Wenyi, and Zhang Cai.

Chang Feng said: "Xia Cong from the Superintendent's Department sentenced my Ninth Lady to death. I swore a poisonous oath to cut this person into pieces! Now it's time to fulfill my promise!"

Qian Ning waved his hand: "Okay! Mr. Chang, you are finally going to fight back. I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Shi Wenyi echoed: "We should give them some color. Otherwise, they are really easy to bully as factory guards."

Zhang Cai was thoughtful and hesitant at this moment: "The two ladies have just escaped from danger. If we touch Xia Cong, will it cause trouble and be detrimental to the two ladies?"

Chang Feng dispelled Zhang Cai's worries with words: "Don't worry. Xie Qian has already reached a tacit agreement with me. He will abandon his troops to save his chariot, and I will abandon the fight and die together."

"If my woman was tortured and suffered a lot, but I didn't hold her accountable, then am I still a man?"

Trickling people is Jin Yiwei's specialty.Not long after, the four of them discussed how to deal with Xia Cong.

A few days later.The residence of Xia Cong, the superintendent of the department.

Xia Cong was writing calligraphy in the study. He was very proud and satisfied.

The cabinet had just recommended him to be the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and the officials had already agreed and gave him a name.He will take up his new position in three days.

The doctor of the Ministry of Justice is the fifth rank, and the Shaoqing of Dali Temple is the fourth rank.Xia Cong was upgraded to two levels in a row.

Moreover, according to the instructions of the chief assistant Liu Jian, even if Xia Cong transferred to Dali Temple to serve, the "Little Jin Yiwei" he had established would still be under his control.

Xia Cong’s future seems bright!
Xia Cong thought to himself: No wonder they say that running secret errands is a shortcut to promotion in the officialdom!
After six years of service, he was promoted to the fourth rank.After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, probably few people could do it.

If he succeeds in his ambition in the future, how dare he laugh at Huo Guang for not being a husband!I will definitely become the prime minister one day!
At this moment, the servant reported: "Sir, there is a criminal whose family members want to see you."

Xia Cong frowned: "The criminal's family? Missing. He has official business and asked him to go to the Superintendent's Office to find me tomorrow. If there is private business, I will be impartial."

But the servant said: "That man was introduced to the house by the family of Jiao Fang, the right servant of the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

Xia Cong was stunned: "Jiao Fang? Okay, I still have to give Jiao Butang some face. Let him come in."

On the surface, Jiao Fang is one of the core members of the civil service group.He also served as deputy director of the Ministry of Personnel.Xia Cong naturally wanted to give him face.

Not long after, a man named Zhao Laoxi came to Xia Cong.

Zhao Laoxi saluted Xia Cong and explained his intention.

Zhao Laoxi is a wealthy vinegar businessman in Shanxi.After making a fortune, he settled in the capital.

His son Zhao Fu has been spoiled by him since he was a child, and he is arrogant and domineering.

After being drunk one time, Zhao Fu went crazy and injured a Fengguo lieutenant in a restaurant.

Although Lieutenant Feng Guo was only the lowest member of the clan, he was still a clan member, and a skinny camel was bigger than a horse.

Is this okay for a despicable businessman's son to injure a clan member?

So Zhao Fu was arrested by the Superintendent of Police.It has been sentenced to sixty with a stick and three thousand miles of travel.However, execution and exile have not yet taken place.

Zhao Laoxi planned to pay 1 taels of silver to ask the Superintendent to let his son go.

Xia Cong glared at Zhao Laoxi: "Do you want me to take the stolen goods and sell them for free?"

Zhao Laoxi said quickly: "How can ordinary people be so courageous? It's just that Quan Zi was wronged!"

Xia Cong said angrily: "You have all the witnesses and material evidence, but you still dare to cry out for injustice?"

Zhao Laoxi said: “Mr. , failed to see the road clearly and collided, resulting in injuries.”

A low-level clan member like Lieutenant Fengguo actually doesn't have much money. 5000 taels of silver was enough to make the beaten Lieutenant Fengguo change his mind.

After hearing this, Xia Cong began to relax: "Since the owner of the suffering is no longer pursuing the case, there is indeed room for maneuver in this matter."

Xia Cong has the same problem as ordinary civil servants: good wealth.

In the eyes of civil servants, someone giving them money represents their ability.Also, silver, well, it smells so good.

But Xia Cong was very cautious: "What is your relationship with Jiao Butang?"

Zhao Laoxi replied: "Jiao Butang's younger brother is doing business in Shanxi. He has many business dealings with me."

Xia Cong said: "Oh, so that's it."

Seeing Xia Cong relent, Zhao Laoxi quickly placed a 1-tael silver note on Xia Cong's desk.

Xia Cong picked up the banknote and put it in the Analects of Confucius on the desk.

This is really the golden house in the book!

(End of this chapter)