The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

March 12, the 16th year of the Zhengde reign.

Civil and military officials, nobles, and royal relatives all knelt in the courtyard in front of the Leopard House.

The 31-year-old Emperor Zhengde had been in a coma for ten days, and he would probably die in a day or two. The needlework and clothing bureaus had already moved 20,000 rolls of plain white cloth from the inner warehouse to make mourning robes for the palace maids, eunuchs, princes and ministers.

Those who were kneeling outside the front courtyard were openly praying for the emperor, but they were all making their own calculations in their hearts.

Yang Tinghe suddenly stood up and said to Liang Chu, the deputy assistant, "I need to go to the bathroom."

After Yang Tinghe left the courtyard in front of the Leopard House, he did not go to the Gongfang, but went to a dilapidated firewood room in the palace.

The Jinyiwei led by Chang Feng had spies everywhere. But no spies would spy on the cabinet chief minister in the palace. For Yang Tinghe, the palace became the most private place.

A thin man stood in the woodshed. He was wearing the finery of a marquis. He was the fifth-generation grandson of Guo Ying, Guo Xun, Marquis of Wuding.

Guo Xun bowed to Yang Tinghe and said, "Prime Minister Yang."

Yang Tinghe returned the greeting with a bow: "The situation is urgent, what do you think?"

Guo Xun said: "This matter is too big."

Yang Tinghe advised Guo Xun, "Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the troops have always been led by nobles. In the Battle of Tumu, almost all the nobles who led the troops in the Ming Dynasty died. Since then, civilian officials have been in charge of the troops. In the Chenghua Dynasty and the current dynasty, eunuchs have been in charge of the troops. The nobles have become idlers. Can Guo Ying's bloodline only be used to fight cocks and dogs, admire skinny horses, and listen to famous actors and actresses and waste their lives?"

Guo Xun clenched his fists and said, "Of course I want to restore the glory of my ancestors."

Yang Tinghe said, "As long as you agree to cooperate with me, I swear to heaven that I will promise you two things: after the success, the troops in the capital of Ming Dynasty will be under your command; your title of marquis will be changed to duke. I have already drafted a title for you: 'Duke Yiguo'."

Guo Xun thought for a moment, then bowed and said, "Okay, I am willing to cooperate with Prime Minister Yang."

Yang Tinghe said: "Well. According to what I said before, let's act according to the plan."

Let's talk about the front courtyard. Chang Feng also stood up and said to Zhang Yong beside him: "Eunuch Zhang, I need to go to the bathroom."

Before Chang Feng left Guangting, he did not use going to the toilet as an excuse like Yang Tinghe did. He really went to the toilet room to squat on the toilet.

There was another person in the Gongfang, the Minister of War Wang Qiong, who was taking a shit.

Although Wang Qiong was a civil servant, he, like Yang Yiqing, was a military commander. He was Wang Shouren's mentor, and it was he who recommended Wang Shouren to be the governor of southern Jiangxi. The most important thing was that Yang Tinghe and Wang Qiong were not on good terms.

It's time for a big change. Chang Feng needs to win over enough allies to ensure safety. Wang Qiong is a suitable ally.

Chang Feng sat down on the toilet next to Wang Qiong without hesitation: "As I get older, I sleep less and less, but I poop more and more."

Wang Qiong exerted all his strength: "Um! Ah! Hey, old Marquis, we are here. Um, ah. Is it safe for us to have a secret conversation here?"

Chang Feng also tried his best: "Hey! Ah! Safe, safe, the area within a hundred steps of the palace has been cleared by my generals."

Wang Qiong said, "Okay. Please tell me what's important."

Chang Feng said, "The Imperial Horse Administration is now in charge of the military power in the capital. If my guess is correct, if the emperor dies, Yang Tinghe will definitely ask Eunuch Zhang to hand over the military power in the name of restoring the ancestral system, and the Ministry of War will take over the military power instead. As the Minister of War, you must sternly refuse."

Wang Qiong picked up the toilet paper and wiped his buttocks: "Yang Tinghe asked me to take charge of the military power. But you asked me to refuse it? We are all officials. How can an official refuse power? You asked me to resign. Are you planning to harm me?"

Chang Feng exerted some strength, and heard a "thump". A relieved expression appeared on his face. "I knelt in front of the Leopard House for a whole day, holding my shit and my pee, but I didn't hold it to hurt you. Do you think that if the Ministry of War takes over the military power, the military power will fall into your hands?" Wang Qiong said, "I am the head of the Ministry of War. If the military power is in the Ministry of War, who will have it if not in my hands?"

Chang Feng said, "How foolish! Yang Tinghe is the chief minister of the cabinet. Once the military power is transferred to the Ministry of War, he will not hesitate to jointly sign with the three cabinet elders to remove you from the post of Minister of War. He will send his confidant to replace you. You are just a tool for seeking power."

Wang Qiong was surprised and asked, "He dares to replace the military official Xia at will?"

Chang Feng said: "If the emperor dies, no matter who the new emperor is, the chief minister of the cabinet will be the minister entrusted with the care of the orphan. Is there anything that Yang Tinghe dare not do? Let me tell you frankly, the emperor fell ill after falling into the water in Huai'an. I think there is something strange about the fall."

Wang Qiong was stunned: "You mean, the emperor's fall into the water was not an accident, but an assassination? Was it instigated by Yang Tinghe?"

Chang Feng said: "I dare not say that. I cannot accuse the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty without solid evidence."

Wang Qiong thought for a long time and said, "Okay. I promise you. I will not help Yang Tinghe seize the military power of the Imperial Horse Administration."

Alliances require bargaining chips.

Chang Feng showed his bargaining chip: "You should know the relationship between my wife and Empress Dowager Zhang. If the emperor dies and the new emperor has not ascended the throne, the empress dowager will be the emperor. I will let my wife persuade the empress dowager to retain your position as Minister of War and let you join the cabinet."

Wang Qiong said, "You can join the cabinet. My friend Wang Shouren can take over as the Minister of War."

Chang Feng stretched out his hand: "Deal."

Wang Qiong said, "I just wiped my butt. There's no need for us to high-five and swear an oath."

Jiang Bin was also in the secret meeting. The secret meeting place was in front of the lion cage in the leopard room.

Three or four of his trusted men formed a circle and pretended to feed the lion.

Zhang Hong, the commander of the rear army, said: "We have prepared everything! As soon as the emperor dies, we can start."

Jiang Bin said: "The nine gates of the capital are now guarded by You Jingwu's two battalions. Are you sure you can take them down?"

Zhang Hong was confident: "Ten battalions against two battalions, we have it in our hands."

Zhang Zhong reminded from the side: "When the uprising begins, Marshal Jiang must leave the city first. Be careful of Yang Tinghe and Chang Feng, they may try to capture the leader first. Ah, bah, I said the wrong thing. You are not a thief, you are the true dragon emperor."

Jiang Bin didn't care: "Those who steal the hook are thieves, and those who steal the country are princes and emperors. There is nothing wrong with that. The emperor may be gone in a day or two. I will leave the city tonight and go to Tuanying to take charge."

That night, Yang Tinghe found Zhang Yong.

Yang Tinghe obviously came to Zhang Yong to form an alliance.

Zhang Yong said bluntly: "Mr. Yang must have something important to tell me since he came to see me so late at night. If you want me to join hands with you to manipulate the government after the emperor's death, I advise you not to say anything. While the emperor is alive, I will be loyal to the emperor. After the emperor's death, I will be loyal to the empress dowager. When the new emperor ascends the throne, I will be loyal to the new emperor. We have a system in the Ming Dynasty that eunuchs are not allowed to collude with foreign officials."

Yang Tinghe looked anxious: "Who do you think I am? I came to you because Jiang Bin is planning a rebellion!"

Zhang Yong was surprised: "What?"

Yang Tinghe said: "It's absolutely true! We must make a decision immediately!" (End of this chapter)