The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

September 24, the 14th year of the Zhengde reign. The Nanjing Military Department held a ten-day meeting.

A group of the heads, palace officials, deputy directors, governors, commanders, and associate governors of the Ministry of War sat together and chatted.

The Nanjing Military Department was a retirement office. The civil officials and military officers directly under it lived a comfortable life all day long. Only the Shangshu Qiao Yu was still competent.

But Old Joe had diarrhea this morning and came late. His subordinates began to chat while cracking melon seeds and drinking tea.

"The new skinny girls at Hongze Tower are both beautiful and talented. Officer Zhao, do you know how much a teacup costs? Only fifty taels."

"Heh, when did Hongze Building become so affordable?"

"By the way, why is Hongze Tower called Hongze Tower? It doesn't sound like a brothel at all."

"The word 'Hongze' means water."

"Ha ha ha ha."

The civil officials and military officers burst into laughter.

Just then, Qiao Yu walked in. The laughter stopped abruptly.

All the officials bowed in unison and said, "Greetings to Minister Qiao."

Qiao Yu pressed his hand and said, "No need to be polite. Please take a seat."

The ten-day meeting began. As usual, all officials reported their respective affairs for the ten-day period.

An hour later, Qiao Yu picked up the teacup and said, "Do you have anything else to say, colleagues? If not, let's end the meeting."

A number of officials said that everything was fine.

Qiao Yu nodded: "Then let's end the meeting and go about our business."

Among the participants of this ten-day meeting, the lowest-ranking official was a Qianhu, whose surname was Xu. His official name was "Qianhu in charge of the keys to the nine gates of Yingtian". To put it bluntly, he was the one who managed the keys to the nine gates.

All the officials had already left, except Captain Xu, who was reluctant to leave.

Qiao Yu asked: "Do you have anything else to do?"

Captain Xu said, "Mr. Qiao, Marshal Jiang Bin sent someone to look for me last night."

Qiao Yu frowned: "What does he want to see you for?"

Captain Xu replied: "Ask for the keys to the nine gates."

After hearing this, Qiao Yu fell into deep thought: What does Jiang Bin want the keys to the Nine Gates for?
The nine keys are not only used to open the locks, but are more like a symbol of power, symbolizing the power to open and close the nine doors.

The nine gates of Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty were always opened at dawn and closed at midnight.

If there was an emergency military situation or the imperial envoy was to go in or out, he would report it to the Thousand-Householder who would open the city gates.

Jiang Bin was the most favored minister of the Zhengde Emperor. He accompanied the Emperor every day. If the Emperor wanted to leave the city, he would follow him and there was no need for the keys to the nine gates. Wasn't the Emperor's oral order more effective than the keys?

Therefore, Jiang Bin's request for the key must have some secret that he could not tell the emperor.

It is well known that Jiang Bin and Emperor Zhengde ate from the same table and slept on the same bed. They were so close that they wore the same pants. What secrets could he not tell the emperor?

there is only one truth!
This guy Jiang Bin might be planning a rebellion!
Qiao Yu shuddered at the thought. If Jiang Bin wanted to rebel, it would be too easy! Who doesn't know that most of the generals of the Southern Expedition Army were his old border troops?
Hundreds of thousands of troops were stationed in and outside Yingtian City. Jiang Bin, the "mighty deputy general of the southern expeditionary army, commander of the Jinyiwei, and superintendent of the East Factory", was similar in position and power to Zhao Kuangyin, the "Palace Guard General" during the Later Zhou Dynasty. It would be very easy for him to rebel.

At this moment, a centurion hurriedly stepped forward to report: "Minister Qiao, Marshal Jiang has brought thousands of Jinyiwei and Dongchang officers to the gate of our Ministry of War." Qiao Yu made a prompt decision: "Immediately go and invite Eunuch Zhang Yong and Lord Chang to the Ministry of War. Go out through the back door!"

Soon, Jiang Bin arrived at the lobby of the Ministry of War in a show of force. As soon as he arrived, he started to question the culprit: "Minister Qiao, I sent people to ask the Chief of Keys for the Nine Gates, but he dared not give them to me. Whose influence did he borrow? Who gave him the courage?"

Qiao Yu said calmly, "May I ask, Master Jiang, what do you want the Nine Gates Key for?"

Jiang Bin said confidently: "I am the mighty deputy general of the Southern Expedition Army, and I am in charge of the imperial guards. It is my job to be in charge of the emperor's guards. The Southern Expedition Army is going to take over the defense of Yingtian City, so naturally they have to take over the Nine Gates first!"

Qiao Yu said: "The nine gates of Yingtian are under the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Military Department. This is the ancestral system set by Emperor Taizong. If you want to take over, then please bring the emperor's edict!"

Jiang Bin sneered, "Oh, a retired official from an idle government office dares to ask me for an imperial decree? This is a rebellion, a real rebellion. Come on, take Qiao Yu down!"

The Jinyiwei, as ferocious as wolves and tigers, rushed forward.

Qiao Yu is well versed in the art of adapting to changing circumstances. What he has to do now is to "delay". Delay until Zhang Yong and Chang Feng arrive. He suddenly put on a smile: "What are you saying? Marshal Jiang is now in charge of the military power. The Nanjing Military Department is considered your subordinate office. We are a family, why do we have to use force?"

Jiang Bin glanced at Qiao Yu and said, "That sounds like human language."

Qiao Yu said, "But the key is in the hands of the Chief of Keys. I have to send someone to find the Chief of Keys first. Marshal Jiang, please wait for a moment."

After that, Qiao Yu ordered a captain: "Go find Captain Xu. Look carefully."

When he mentioned the word "carefully", he deliberately emphasized the tone.

Qiao Yu ordered again: "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you serve tea to Mr. Jiang? Mr. Jiang, please take a seat."

Jiang Bin took the main seat in the hall without any hesitation: "Well. You are quite sensible. No wonder the emperor gave you fish and a reward last time."

Half an hour later, Captain Xu did not come. Chang Feng and Zhang Yong arrived.

Qiao Yu felt like he had found a savior. He stood up and said, "Old Marquis, Eunuch Zhang."

Jiang Bin frowned: "What are you doing in the lobby of the Ministry of War?"

Zhang Yong said, "I heard that Marshal Jiang came to ask Minister Qiao for the keys to the Nine Gates and that he wanted to take over the Nine Gates garrison. I don't agree with this."

Jiang Bin angrily asked, "Why do you disagree?"

Zhang Yong said, "I am the chief of the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Horse Department. You should know what the Imperial Horse Department does very well, right? Basically, you and your old subordinates are all my generals!"

Jiang Bin said angrily, "Okay! I understand. You are in collusion! Zhang Yong, Chang Feng, if I can't deal with you, can I deal with Qiao Yu? Jinyiwei men, step forward! Take Qiao Yu down!"

Qiao Yu said angrily: "I am a second-rank official of the imperial court. What rights do you have to arrest me?"

Jiang Bin said: "The Jinyiwei is responsible for monitoring the illegal activities of all officials. I sense that you have the intention of treason. It is reasonable and legal for me to arrest you!"

The Jinyiwei were about to step forward to arrest Qiao Yu. Chang Feng dodged and protected Qiao Yu: "Hey, arrest someone in front of me? Let's see who dares to do it."

These Jinyiwei were all inferiors in front of Chang Feng. Some were subordinates of Chang Feng's former subordinates, and some were subordinates of the subordinates of Chang Feng's former subordinates.

Although Chang Feng has now faded out of the Jinyiwei, his influence in the Jinyiwei still remains.

The younger Jinyiwei looked at each other in bewilderment, and no one dared to step forward.

Jiang Bin was furious at their lack of fighting spirit: "A bunch of rubbish! Those from the East Factory, come on!"

Zhang Yong also protected Qiao Yu: "I was in charge of the East Factory for twelve years. I want to see if the disciples of the East Factory dare to arrest people in front of the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty!" (End of this chapter)