Daming wolf ride

Updated: 2012-10-07

"Your Majesty, it's the second watch, it's time to rest."

In the Qianqing Palace, Wang Chengen, the eunuch who was in charge of rites, looked at Emperor Chongzhen whose eye sockets were a bit dark with distress, and reminded him carefully and softly.

Wang Chengen served Emperor Chongzhen, who was King Xin when he was in Daqian, and he and another eunuch Xu Yingyuan tried to ensure that King Xin entered the palace with another eunuch Xu Yingyuan to succeed him. Unfortunately, Xu Yingyuan accepted Wei Zhongxian without knowing it. Because of the bribes, he was kicked out to Fengyang by the emperor just after he got through it.

With Xu Yingyuan's lesson, Wang Cheng'en did not dare to act recklessly. Although he is a high-ranking supervisor of ceremonies, he is much more honest and honest, never interfering in the affairs of foreign courts.In fact, none of the memorials handed over from the court had been passed by his supervisor of ceremonies. Could it be possible that Wang Chengen didn't know what the emperor was holding in the memorials, and didn't have an idea in his mind? [

Your Daoist priests are all blind, all of them don't know a single word?Absolutely not!To put it bluntly, any one of those Si Li Bing pens who come out is no worse than the great scholar of the dynasty!

The group of ministers in the court, who entered the imperial examination, struggled openly and secretly for decades before they entered the court, and the Bingbi of the inner court did the same. Whoever could sit in the position of ceremonial Bingbi also survived the same way? Those people are not bad at all, otherwise why would this Si Li Bingbi be called Neixiang.

After Chongzhen ascended the throne, he was afraid that there would be another Wei Zhongxian in the inner court, so he didn't set up a seal of rites, lest one eunuch's family would become dominant, and each other would use their pens to check each other, so as to ensure that there would be no eunuchs like Wei Zhongxian.

Therefore, even though Wang Chengen made great contributions to Chongzhen's succession to the throne, he could only end his life in the position of Secretary Li Bingbi. If he wanted to be an ancestor, he might have no hope in this life.

Speaking of it, Wang Chengen was really suffering. If he hadn't traveled around and contacted the eunuchs in the inner court to ensure that most of the eunuchs with palm prints were on Chongzhen's side, how could Wei Zhongxian fall as soon as he said it, and how could Chongzhen really be an outsider? The blessed King?

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration for Wang Chengen to sit in the palm seal of Si Li, but Chongzhen did not have a palm seal, so Wang Chengen could only hold his pen and could not make progress.

But Wang Chengen also understands Chongzhen's difficulty in not having a palm print, it really doesn't matter whether it is a palm seal, Wei Zhongxian didn't use it either, the palm print Wang Tigan is not his dog.As long as you serve the emperor well, it doesn't matter whether it's palm prints or holding a pen, it's just a false name, and the strength is the most important.

As long as you don't interfere in politics, the emperor will let you!

So Wang Chengen was as loyal as he was in Qiandi back then. No, knowing that Chongzhen stayed up all night again, he was afraid that the eunuch on duty would not know what was going on, so he ran over specially, just to let Chongzhen rest early.

This person is not made of iron, how can he stand up to such suffering?

In the past few days, the emperor didn't sleep well, and often stayed up late at night before going to sleep for a while.Woke up again at five o'clock to prepare for the court meeting.At the end of the day, the real sleep time is less than two hours.

Since ancient times, which emperor has been as diligent as Chongzhen?Which emperor is as bitter as Chongzhen?

The emperor is only 21 years old, but there are crow's feet in the corners of his eyes, and his complexion is paler and haggard compared to his peers. He doesn't look like a young man!

Wang Chengen is really distressed!

Since Chongzhen ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty has been in chaos day by day, and all kinds of documents brought into the palace every day fell on the imperial case like snowflakes, and they couldn't be approved in time.Because there are too many documents, they are afraid that they will not be able to read them in time and miss important ones. Chongzhen adopted the method used in the Song Dynasty. Then use yellow paper to write out the summary of the content and paste it behind, which is called sticking yellow.In this way, he can read the cited and posted yellow first, and he does not have to read the full text of the less important ones.However, the emergency military reports and pond newspapers were sent into the palace as they arrived, and they were not cited as usual, let alone posted.So even though this method was adopted, Chongzhen still had endless documents to deal with every day, and he often went to bed after the third watch, and sometimes stayed up all night.Today, he did not leave the imperial case for a whole afternoon.

This is also the first time the emperor has become a great treasure, and he was frightened by Jiannu two years ago, so he cares a lot, so he can't distinguish the importance of some things, he doesn't care about the beginning and the end, and he can't see the inner mystery.

As far as the emperor will see this memorandum in front of his eyes, what he said is to tell the emperor to stop the mine tax, withdraw the mine supervisor, and not compete with the people for profit.

It has been more than one or two years since the mine was withdrawn from the prison. In the first two years, it was because of the emperor that he ascended the throne, and then the Eastern captives entered the bandits again. After that, it was because of Yuan Chonghuan, so this matter was temporarily shelved.

Right now, the censors of the Donglin Party are on the loose again. One wants the court to exempt the commercial tax, that one wants the court to withdraw the mine and stop the supervision, and the other simply says that the salt and iron monopoly should not be engaged in.What do you say that the emperor is the Ming emperor, the holy master of Zhongxing, and the Ming Dynasty's treasury is abundant, so there is no need to compete with the people for profit.It's better to let the people benefit the people as much as possible, and let the people appreciate the emperor's kindness. [

The memorandum is written well, and the reason is also tempting. As an emperor, all the people in the world are my children. It is only natural for parents to give some benefits to their children.

In other words, this has won the emperor's attention. If we want our family to see it, it's not too much to drag out and chop up these memorials one by one.

You pretend that our family doesn't know, isn't the people in your mouth the same as yourself!If you want the emperor to give benefits to the people, you are actually putting it in your own pocket.Which of these real common people will gain real benefits?

If you see it, you see it, if you know it, you know it, Wang Chengen just doesn’t say it, he is really afraid, knowing that what Chongzhen fears most is not that the courtiers from the outer court will take advantage of him, but that the eunuchs from the inner court will interfere in politics!

Sometimes, even if Chongzhen asked him, he would always reply, "This old slave is stupid, the emperor can make up his own mind."

Answering like this is equivalent to not saying anything, but Chongzhen just followed his example.In fact, Chongzhen didn't really want to ask Wang Chengen for his opinion. The Taizu iron system-eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics. The live examples of eunuchs such as Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, and Wei Zhongxian in the previous dynasty have made Chongzhen unwilling to believe in these people. House slave, otherwise, how could he have recited his elder brother's last words - "Big crotch is honest, capable of doing things, don't abandon it", only a few months after succeeding to the throne, he exiled Wei Zhongxian to Fengyang, and sent him halfway People forced him to death, after all, he was scared by Wei Zhongxian when he was the king of faith.

With a great eunuch like Wei Zhongxian around, what's the point of what the emperor did?

Since ancient times, which Ming emperor has reused domestic slaves and eunuchs?

Now the situation of the Ming Dynasty is in decline, both inside and outside are worried. I have succeeded as a young man. Only by working hard to govern can I protect my ancestors' foundation. So is the praise of the king.

He wrote a pen and criticized "there is nothing better than giving benefits to the people", which means that the dismissal of the mine and the removal of the prison are considered accurate.

Putting down the pen, seeing Wang Chengen looking at the memorial on the imperial case with a strange expression, Chongzhen couldn't help being a little displeased, and said lightly: "Why, is this memorial not approved correctly? According to you, should the mine be abandoned or not?" What about?"

Wang Chengen's heart trembled, he was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down, saying: "I don't dare, I don't dare..." Other than that, he didn't say anything.

"Get up."

With Wang Chengen like this, Chongzhen was a little more lenient, and while taking down a memorial, he casually asked, "How many days has it been?"

"Go back to the emperor, it's time for the second watch." Wang Chengen didn't even dare to shake his head.

"Second watch?" Chongzhen nodded slightly, "It's not too early, I'll go to Concubine Tian to rest after I approve a few more copies."

"The old slave will arrange it now."

Wang Cheng'en seemed to be pardoned, he hurriedly got up and was about to step back and asked the young eunuchs to pass the news to Concubine Tian Gui.

As he was retreating, Chongzhen suddenly stood up happily from the dragon chair, took a memorial and praised repeatedly: "Good, good, good! Liu Mao has hit the point. If the imperial court wants to enrich the treasury, It is not to increase income and reduce expenditure. The matter of increasing income involves competing for the interests of the people. I don’t want to interfere too much, and the cabinet will deal with it. But to reduce expenditure, I have to personally handle it. Well, there are tens of thousands of post stations across the country. If they are abolished, it is true It can save a lot of money and reduce the local burden, it is indeed a great good government..."

Abolish the station?

Wang Chengen was stunned for a moment, always felt that this was a bit weird, but seeing the emperor was happy, he didn't think about it, he waved his hand and wanted to call the little eunuch outside to come over, but suddenly a figure came running outside, impatient and impatient. Without looking at the road, he bumped into him with a "plop".

The man was probably too excited to bump into anyone and didn't notice it. He knelt down in front of Chongzhen while waving the victory report in his hand, and shouted excitedly: "Your Majesty, great victory, great victory, great victory in Liaodong!"

"Great victory? Great victory in Liaodong?"

Chongzhen was stunned for more than ten seconds, then rushed to the eunuch with a stride, grabbed the document, and couldn't wait to open it to read.After only scanning a few lines, the smile on his face couldn't stop.Very excitedly praised:

"Okay, great birthday to his ancestor, it's not in vain that I trust him so much! Beheading more than two hundred people, it really is a great victory! I want to reward, I want to reward, I want to reward..."

Victory in Liaodong?Beheading more than two hundred people?

Wang Chengen was also excited by the good news. Regardless of the pain in his forehead, he knelt down in front of Chongzhen in three steps at a time: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor!"

Chongzhen Xu was too excited, still immersed in the good news of the great victory, and ignored Wang Chengen.

Wang Chengen quietly turned to Cao Huachun, the eunuch who came to report the news, and asked: "Has the news been verified, and it is indeed more than two hundred beheads?"

Cao Huachun looked happy, and nodded with certainty: "Zu Dashou and Qiu Hejia signed the joint application, I'm afraid there will be no false ones."

Wang Cheng'en didn't believe in Zu Dashou, but he believed in Qiu Hejia. When he heard that Qiu Hejia and Zu Dashou jointly reported the report, he believed it [-]%.

But he still asked again: "Is it a real Tartar?"

Cao Huachun said with a smile: "The documents say that there are more than 100 northern captives and more than 80 eastern captives. The heads are already on the way, and they will arrive in about two days."

Beilu refers to Mongolian soldiers, while Donglu refers to Jiannu.

Wang Chengen was convinced that he had made a mistake, and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. He was really intimidated by those documents that reported victory.A few days ago, one after another, the Northwest reported victory documents. Today, the general killed three thousand, and the lieutenant general killed tens of thousands of enemies. In the end, the Ministry of War checked the heads, and it would be considered good if there were a few hundred.Moreover, according to the secret report of the Northwest local officials, there may be some who killed the good and pretended to be meritorious.It made the emperor happy at first, but then he couldn't help getting angry, scolding those generals for lying.The supervisor of rituals did not dare to send such documents to the emperor directly when he received such documents, but sent someone to the cabinet to inquire clearly before deciding whether to report them.Otherwise, if the report is made indiscriminately and blindly again, the emperor will scold them for not knowing the verification.

In fact, if Zu Dashou reported that they had killed thousands of enemies, Wang Chengen would absolutely not believe it, but the number in return is unbelievable. There are more than 100 northern captives and more than 80 eastern captives, which makes people believe it.

This time Liaodong finally won the honor of the emperor, the emperor can sleep soundly today!The more Wang Chengen thought about it, the happier he became, and he couldn't help laughing.

His laughter was too loud, a little presumptuous, but Chongzhen was also excited at this meeting, how could he account for the rudeness of this old slave.

"Your Majesty, when Ningyuan was victorious back then, the document that reported the victory was only 260 or [-] ranks, and now the ancestor's birthday is more than [-] ranks, and all of them are real Tartars. The imperial court should give a reward this time no matter what!" Cao Huachun did not forget to remind Chongzhen to report victory on the front line, and to be an emperor has to show it.

"Yes, yes, I am so happy and confused, I want a reward!"

Chongzhen laughed, took the official document and read it again, murmured and announced the decree: "Zu Dashou commanded the army well, resulting in a great victory. I am very happy. I am awarded the rank of General Zhenwu, and a member of Yinzi Jinyiwei. One hundred taels of gold and silver, one each of sable fur, carved saddle, and white horse; In addition, the governor Qiu Hejia was well-organized, and he was given the title of censor, the right deputy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and one hundred taels of gold and silver, one each of sable fur and carved saddle , ten bolts of brocade..."

At this announcement, Chongzhen suddenly paused, as if talking to himself or to Wang Chengen and Cao Huachun:

"It is said in the document that Songshan's garrison was brave, wise and courageous, and he used the strength of an army to defeat the Jiannu Jingqi. It has been promoted to the third level, according to the usual practice, it seems to be impossible, what do you think?"

Without hesitation, Wang Chengen said: "Since his meritorious service is great, he should be promoted. Although he was promoted to a general by defense, although he was promoted to three ranks in a row, it is not unprecedented in this dynasty. Moreover, the beheaded was an elite cavalry soldier who built slaves, an extraordinary refugee. The old slave's opinion, the emperor will accept it. If someone Shi made an exception and mentioned it repeatedly, he must be grateful for the emperor's favor and serve the court, and he may make new achievements in the future!" After finishing speaking, he cursed himself: I am confused, the general promotes himself How can you talk nonsense, isn't this meddling in politics?

"It's up to the emperor to make a decision to reward meritorious generals and schools." Cao Huachun was much smarter, and with one sentence, he came to Chongzhen again.After speaking, he glanced at Wang Chengen.

"Well, that's good, I'm ready. Shi Dayong, who was guarding Songshan, was promoted to Jinzhou General, and he was given 50 taels of gold and silver each. He was also given a sword, ten altars of wine, and other generals and schools in his department. Allocate ten thousand taels of internal money to reward the soldiers who participated in the battle, to show my kindness!"

Chongzhen was happy, and he didn't care whether Wang Chengen was involved in politics, and generously allocated another 1 taels from the internal funds, plus the reward from the treasury, in his opinion, it was definitely a generous reward.

The emperor was not dissatisfied, Wang Chengen was secretly relieved, he shouldn't have said anything more, but he still reminded: "Your Majesty, do you want to award the reward after the first-level inspection?"

Chongzhen thought for a while, nodded and said, "That's fine." He told Cao Huachun, "You draw up an order and ask the cabinet to check with the Ministry of War. After confirming the mistakes, the list of soldiers participating in the battle will be rewarded one by one. There must be no mistakes."

"Slave order!"

…………

Author's note: Liu Maoshang's abolishment of the post station was a matter of the second year of Chongzhen. It is briefly mentioned here. Readers don't need to worry about it. As long as they know that the post station is axed, Li Zicheng, a postman in Yinchuan, will lose his iron rice bowl.