Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 50

Two rows of red sandalwood long cases were placed between the left and right pillars of the main hall. The four eunuchs who were in charge of rituals all stood in front of the left long case, and the five cabinet members all stood in front of the right long case.All the people were quietly waiting for the sound of the copper chime coming from the curtain.

There was no wind on this day, and the nine people who decided the national policy of the Ming Dynasty were all waiting quietly in sweat, but the sound was not heard for a long time. heard the voice.

All eight pairs of eyes looked at Lu Fang, hoping to see some information from the Holy Majesty from his eyes and complexion.But Lu Fang seemed more silent than usual this day, her eyes only looked at the ground below.

The hall became more silent, and the cicadas in the distance became louder.

Many eyes quietly looked sideways at the two veils outside the monastery.

Finally, there were footsteps inside, and the veil was slowly lifted by a hand, and Jiajing walked out from inside with a cold face.

"Long live my emperor!" Yan Song was the foreman, and all nine of them knelt down where they were standing.

Jiajing was not the only one who came out, but King Yu was following behind him!

Jiajing was still wearing a thick Songjiang cotton gown. He walked slowly so that the sleeves could not float up. He slowly moved to the chair in the middle and sat down.

King Yu followed him, and stood on the left side of his chair with his head bowed.

"Get up." Jiajing's voice was a little dull.

"Long live! Long live!" The nine people kowtowed and stood up.

Jiajing glanced at all the people as usual, and his eyes finally fell on Yan Song: "Mr. Ge, please sit down."

Yan Song didn't sit down this time, and replied in a heavy tone: "The government made mistakes again and again, and internal and external troubles arose simultaneously. The crime lies in the cabinet. As the leader, I am ashamed of my father. Your Majesty, let me stand and answer. "

"Two things." Jiajing deliberately slowed down his speech, "For decades, what I don't want to talk about is the court situation. It's still the same today. I don't want to discuss the court situation with you. I just want to talk about one topic, father and son!"

Everyone was shocked.In Xu Jie, Gao Gong's and Zhang Juzheng's minds, these words were aimed at King Yu, and in Yan Shifan's mind, they were aimed at themselves.And Lu Fang and his three sons of eunuchs holding pens are not as confident today as usual.All the people's faces were sweating more than before.

"Yan Shifan." Jiajing called Yan Shifan's name at this moment.

"My minister is here." Yan Shifan shuddered, and immediately knelt down.

Jiajing: "My father is over 80, help him to sit down."

"Yes." Yan Shifan stood up again, and supported Yan Song to sit down on the embroidered pier.

"You have all seen it." Jiajing said slowly, "I called my son here today, not to ask him to participate in your political discussions, but to talk to you about being a father and what to do in this world. relationship with the son."

King Yu lowered his head even more, and everyone held their breath.

Jiajing: "From ancient times to the present, who is the most difficult person? It is not the emperor, not the chief kui, nor the eunuch who is the supervisor of ceremonies and Bingbi. It is nothing. The most difficult thing is the father. Let me talk about myself first. My son I have been weak since I was a child, I am indifferent to world affairs, and I rarely discipline him, but I worry a lot. This year he gave me a grandson, which is a great contribution to my Ming Dynasty. As a father and ancestor, I have rewarded him The daughter-in-law's family has [-] bolts of silk. Today, my son returned all the [-] bolts of silk to me."

All the people lowered their heads even lower, lest they show any expression.

Jiajing: "Is this the son who doesn't recognize me as the father, or the grandson who doesn't recognize me as the grandfather?"

King Yu knelt down beside him, bumped his head on the brick floor, and then lay there.

Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng's hearts were all in their throats.

I don't know how long it took before Jiajing continued: "Neither. My son understands the difficulties of being a father, so he returned the [-] bolts of silk. It was not returned to Zhen, but to the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau. Because Someone used my name to lend food to the victims of the disaster. I have to pay back the food, and my son repays the debt, and my son is to pay the debt for me. Who told me that the treasury of the Ming Dynasty was short of money!"

Now it was the other people's turn to kneel down. The five cabinet members and four eunuchs all knelt down and lay there.

Jiajing didn't wake them up any more. Looking outside the gate, a person said to himself: "He took the silk back and reminded me that my life is miserable! Everyone has one son, two sons, There are only a dozen sons if there are many wives and concubines. But as a father, all the people in the Ming Dynasty are my sons, why did I become such a father?" He stopped here again.

This is to ask someone to answer the question, and of course it can only be Yan Song: "King Yu is benevolent and filial to his son, all because of his disloyalty, which caused the king's father to worry. The ministers please punish the crime."

"I said I don't want to discuss the court situation." Jiajing immediately interrupted him, "The court situation is all your business. Let's take Zhejiang as an example. The governor, governor, inspector, and even a new prefect of Hangzhou are all you Yan Ge The old school and the small pavilion belong to the old school, the weaving bureau is sent by Lu Fang, and the magistrates of the two disaster-stricken counties were recommended by my son to the Ministry of officials. What are you talking about with me now?"

He knocked down everyone again with one blow, and everyone dared not say anything, so they had to lie there again.

Jiajing resumed his previous tone, and said slowly: "As the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, so don't be a horse and an ox for your children and grandchildren. But many fathers are willing to be a horse and an ox. Yan Song, Lu Fang."

Yan Song and Lu Fang lay there and replied, "The minister and servant are here."

Jiajing: "Let's talk about Mr. Yan Ge first. Your son is here, and you know better than me how he treats you. I just want to say hello to you now, don't listen to him in everything. You can let him do some things. Don't let him do some things. Take it easy, it's good for you and him."

Yan Song raised his head: "I would like to accept the holy order!"

The clouds cover the fog, and it's hard to tell whether it's good or bad.Not only Yan Shifan was lying there in a daze, but everyone else was also lying there motionless.

Jiajing met Yan Song's gaze: "It's good to understand my difficulties."

Yan Song's head trembled slightly: "I understand your father's difficulties." He replied and lay down again.

Jiajing's eyes turned to Lu Fang: "Lu Fang."

Lu Fang raised her head: "The servant is here."

Jiajing: "You are a man without a son, but you have more sons than anyone else. Are you tired of having so many godsons and grandsons?"

Lu Fang: "The slave is wrong."

Jiajing: "It has nothing to do with right or wrong, it's all because of confusion."

Lu Fang straightened up and knelt there, looking at Jiajing honestly.

Jiajing also looked at him: "There are so many eunuchs and maids in and out of the palace who call you ancestor. Only the dead are called ancestors. You are a living person and let people call you a dead person, and you will be called dead."

Lu Fang had no choice but to kowtow on her knees and replied, "Your servant is really confused."

Jiajing: "What happened to your godson Yang Jinshui after he returned to Hangzhou? Hundreds of thousands of silks are held in his hands every year. When it comes time, if I want to provide some food for the victims, I have to rely on others to do it well. Now my son has returned it. The 50 bolts of silk will be paid back first. But will the [-] bolts of silk sold to Western merchants this year be settled? It’s unlikely that Hu Zongxian will ask me for military pay while fighting in the front, so I still have to act according to the eyes of others, right?”

Lu Fang immediately replied loudly: "This is the slave's dereliction of duty, the slave first apologizes."

Jiajing: "If you ask for a crime, you can ask for money?"

Lu Fang: "The purpose of the slave's apology is to tell the cabinet that the Weaving Bureau is my Ming Dynasty's weaving bureau. Anyone who uses the court's signboard to do business for personal gain is using business to disrupt the government and has nothing to do with the Weaving Bureau. The cabinet should find out this person immediately. Take it. If you die this year, you will sell 50 pieces of silk to Xiyang to raise military salaries and supply them to the front in time. If you miss Hu Zongxian’s war with the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang and Fujian, the chief inspector and the cabinet will jointly take the blame.”

"I told you to go and discuss the court." Jiajing stood up, "I just want to say hello to you, each of you take care of your own son. For example, Hai Rui who went to Renzhi County in Chun'an this time, the parent officer Well done, although I owed me a huge debt, I was able to appease all the people in his county. I really can't say anything about him. Because this person was recommended by my son, this debt has to be let My father and son are here to pay back. Everyone has their own calculations, and everyone has to pay back their debts!" ​​After speaking, he put down the people who were kneeling on the ground, and walked to the abode alone.

"The ministers wish you peace!" Jiajing's figure disappeared into the curtain amidst the sound of panic.

Including King Yu, there were a total of ten people, and they all stood up slowly at this time.

Lu Fang looked straight at Yan Song.

Yan Song: "Immediately send it to Zhejiang in an expedited six hundred miles to copy the home of Shen Yishi and raise food and troops to supply Hu Zongxian!"

Yan Shifan: "I will draw up a ticket immediately!"

Ting Ji arrived in the afternoon, and the meeting had to be held overnight.Because of the war, Hangzhou had long been under martial law. At this time, soldiers were standing outside the gate, with torches everywhere, and the guards were heavily guarded.

The sound of horseshoes came from the street outside Yuanmen again, and the same team officer led a few soldiers to meet him. When he found Gao Hanwen who had come from Chun'an and Jiande, he immediately stood aside and waited for Gao Hanwen to rein in his horse. The team officer immediately went up to take the reins: "Gaofutai is finally here. It's in a hurry inside, we're all waiting for you."

Gao Hanwen got off his horse, and just stepped into the yamen, another person was waiting there to meet him, that is the concierge book office.

Gao Hanwen didn't stop and continued to walk towards the yamen, and the book office quickly followed behind him, saying in a low voice: "Gaofutai, there is one thing that Mr. Zheng and Mr. He asked the younger one to return to you."

Gao Hanwen stopped in his tracks.

The book office looked around, only the soldiers standing in their respective positions took out a piece of paper from their sleeves and stuffed it.Gao Hanwen glanced at him, took the paper and just opened it and saw the two lines: "The matter between me and Yunniang has nothing to do with others. Gao Hanwen."

Gao Hanwen's expression immediately turned serious, of course with a bit of disdain, he threw the piece of paper on the ground and continued walking.

The secretary hurriedly picked up the piece of paper and chased after him: "Either the younger one tore it up for the grown-up?" As he said that, he walked sideways in front of him and tore the piece of paper over and over again, tearing it into pieces and throwing it into the air .

Gao Hanwen walked into the lobby and found that not only Zheng Michang, He Maocai and Yang Jinshui were waiting for him, but also four Jinyiwei wearing a wingless black gauze palace hat and red brocade clothes.Although they were subordinates, when Gao Hanwen came in, Zheng Michang, Yang Jinshui, and He Maocai all stood up, and the four Jinyiwei also stood up slowly.

Gao Hanwen was startled when he saw this, and stood there.

Zheng Michang smiled quickly: "The Gao Zhifu doesn't know yet, these are some imperial envoys from the palace, they are discussing with us about a case related to the current fundraising and recruiting soldiers."

Gao Hanwen calmed down and bowed to the hall: "My lords have been waiting for a long time. The matter of raising food and soldiers for the front has been arranged. More than a dozen counties including Chun'an and Jiande are willing to do their best. The most important thing right now It is the imperial court who wants to allocate funds.”

"It is to discuss this matter. Gao Zhifu, please sit down." Zheng Bichang was unusually polite and stretched out his hand.

All sat down again at the same time.

Zheng Michang looked at Yang Jinshui: "Eunuch Yang, did you say this or us?"

Yang Jinshui's face was gloomy: "Ting Ji was sent to you, do you still want to push the matter to me at this time?"

"That's not what it means, that's not what it means." Zheng Michang said it twice quickly, then picked up the court post on the case, and turned his gaze to Gao Hanwen, "The cabinet's court post has arrived, there are two meanings, let me tell you one time."

Gao Hanwen's expression immediately became solemn.

Zheng Michang looked at Tingji: "The first meaning is that Hu Butang and General Qi's military supplies, food, grass and military sources are supplementing the supply of the three provinces of Zhejiang, Nanzhili, and Fujian, and our Zhejiang is the main one. The second meaning is, Investigate Zhejiang businessman Shen Yishi for defrauding the Weaving Bureau, doing business for private interests, and using business to disrupt the government. Order him to ransack his home immediately. All the stolen property will be transferred to the military!"

Gao Hanwen was shocked when he heard this, first he looked straight at Zheng Michang, and then at Yang Jinshui.

Zheng Michang did not avoid his gaze, but Yang Jinshui looked at the case.

Gao Hanwen: "My subordinates don't understand why your lords wait for me to discuss this matter."

Zheng Michang: "We discussed it, and this matter can only be handled by the Kochi Prefecture."

Gao Hanwen stood up: "Why do you wait for me to do it?"

Zheng Michang: "Sit down, sit down first."

Gao Hanwen sat down again.

Zheng Michang: "One is because you are the one who raises food and recruits soldiers. If Shen Yishi's private wealth is stolen, Gao Zhifu can immediately use it for military use, so as not to delay the military situation. According to the laws of the imperial court, Jin Yiwei's handling of the case is directly participated by the censors of the provinces. Therefore, the second article, this matter must be handled by the Gao Zhifu."

Although Gao Hanwen knew in his heart that Zheng Michang and He Maocai were pushing himself to the front again, but the two reasons they listed made you unable to shirk it, so you had to remain silent.

"The imperial envoys of Jin Yiwei are still waiting." He Maocai interjected, "Gao Zhifu, there is no further delay."

Gao Hanwen ignored him, and looked at Yang Jinshui: "Eunuch Yang, Shen Yishi is a sixth-rank top wearer from the Weaving Bureau. I don't know if this court dispatcher in the cabinet knows about it?"

Yang Jinshui's eyes were still looking at the case: "He has no support, and he is not from the Weaving Bureau."

After Yang Jinshui finished speaking, the four members of Jin Yiwei stood up.

The head of Jin Yiwei: "The cabinet's Tingji Si Li Jian approved the red, and the red is an imperial edict. Mr. Gao, let's go."

If it was an edict, he had to kneel down to accept it, so Gao Hanwen had no choice but to leave his seat slowly, walked into the hall, and stood there, looking at Zheng Michang.

Zheng Michang got off his seat with both hands of the court letter, and walked up to Gao Hanwen: "Gao Hanwen, the magistrate of Hangzhou and censor of Zhejiang Province, accepts the imperial edict!"

Gao Hanwen knelt down, raised his hands and took Ting Ji over.

Hundreds of looms are still weaving silk, and the sound of the looms is as loud as ever.A group of soldiers ran in with their guns in hand, and quickly blocked the two doors and several passages of Shen Yishi's workshop.

The weavers showed panic in their eyes, but they still didn't dare to stop the looms.

Gao Hanwen and the four Jinyiwei entered next, surrounded by a troop of soldiers.

The team officer who led the team in earlier shouted: "This place has been copied! Stop!"

One loom after another slowly stopped, and each weaver stood up in horror in front of his own loom.

Gao Hanwen stood in the aisle: "It's none of your business! Don't stop weaving, everyone will continue weaving!"

The weavers were still standing there in panic, and no one dared to sit down.

Gao Hanwen glanced at the team officer, who ran over.

Gao Hanwen: "Don't scare them, tell them to continue spinning."

The team officer: "I understand, little one."

Gao Hanwen led the four Jinyi guards and walked from the passage to the opposite door.

"Weaving! Keep weaving!" The team officer's roar sounded behind Gao Hanwen.Then, the sound of weaving gradually started to grow louder behind him.

Gao Hanwen and four Jinyiwei walked into the living room, the steward of Shen Yishi's house was standing with his back against the wall.Seeing Gao Hanwen and others coming in, he went up to greet him and saluted with one leg: "My lords, I asked you all, but they don't know where Shen Yishi is."

His other courtyard immediately appeared in Gao Hanwen's mind: "You don't need to ask, I know where he is." Then he turned to the four Jin Yiwei: "He has another courtyard, let's go there."

The four guards in Jin Yi glanced at each other, but the other guard in Jin Yi didn't seem in a hurry: "We can't run away from him, let's sit here first." He said and sat down on the seat on the left.The other three Jin Yiwei also sat down.

Gao Hanwen was startled, looking at Jin Yiwei.

Jin Yiwei gave the other Jin Yiwei a wink, and that Jin Yiwei walked up to Gao Hanwen and said in a low voice, "We won't go if we arrest him, Gao Zhifu should take care of you."

Gao Hanwen: "Why?"

The Jinyiwei's voice was lowered, and it was close to his ear: "We will also be supervised by Si Li, and give Eunuch Yang a face."

Gao Hanwen suddenly felt chills in his bones. At this moment of silence, he seemed to understand everything from Hangzhou to now: In this Ming Dynasty, there was no Confucianism, conscience, or court law!Submerged in a piece of muddy water from top to bottom!There was a voice in his heart: "What kind of official is this! Why did you come to be such an official!"

(End of this chapter)