Ming Empire

Chapter 73 Investigation Team

On the second day after acting king Zhu Chuanqi failed to ask Cao Yue for someone, Wang Chengen, who received the order of Emperor Chongzhen and went to Datong with Chen Xinjia, Minister of the Ministry of War, to investigate the murder of Wu Ming, the deputy general, also arrived in Datong.

During the Ming Dynasty, the power of the eunuch was so great that it was unimaginable.This was especially true during the time of Emperor Chongzhen. He was suspicious by nature and did not dare to trust the ministers and generals too much. The people who trusted him the most were the eunuchs around him.

During the time of Chongzhen, there were four very trusted servants around him, namely Cao Huachun, Wang Chengen, Gao Qiqian, and Wang Dehua.

Cao Huachun was the most trusted eunuch of Emperor Chongzhen, who was authorized by Emperor Chongzhen to handle Wei Zhongxian's case with full authority, and rehabilitated Wei Zhongxian's unjust, false and wrongly convicted cases in more than two thousand cases.Because of his ability to handle affairs, he won the trust and reliance of Emperor Chongzhen. Later, he was promoted to be the eunuch of Bingbi and the admiral of Dongchang. Wang Chengen, Gao Qiqian, and Wang Dehua were all eunuchs of Bingbi.

At the end of the 11th year of Chongzhen, Cao Huachun, the chief admiral of the Jingying Rongzheng, begged for permission to take leave due to illness, and made three appointments with Emperor Chongzhen.In February of the 12th year of Chongzhen, Cao Huachun asked for leave and returned home.After Cao Huachun returned home on leave, Wang Chengen became the most trusted eunuch of Emperor Chongzhen.

In the Ming Dynasty, the eunuchs of the Supervisor of Ceremony had the duties of admiral, palm seal, pen holder, and attendant, and they were very powerful.In the Ming Dynasty, when the Prime Minister was abolished, the cabinet and the ministers of various ministries made a "vote draft" in advance, and the cabinet members drafted their opinions on how to deal with the matter, and wrote them in blue pen.After submitting it, please ask the emperor for approval. Because the emperor used a red pen for approval, it was called "approving red". However, most emperors in the middle and late Ming Dynasty were lazy in political affairs and neglected government affairs.

The ceremonial supervisor and the eunuch Bingbi are responsible for using the red pen to instruct whether the handling opinions can be implemented, and they have great power.Although Wang Chengen was not as good as Cao Huachun in terms of position, he did not have the position of admiral and palm seal, but there were no other eunuchs in the palace who were more trusted by Emperor Chongzhen.

This is also the main reason why in the original history, when Li Zicheng led the army to break through the Beijing city in the 17th year of Chongzhen, Wang Chengen was finally awarded the admiral to supervise the affairs of the Beijing camp, and finally accompanied the Emperor Chongzhen to hang himself in Meishan.

Wang Chengen's power is known to everyone inside and outside the court, and everyone knows it.Hearing that Wang Chengen personally brought people to Datong to investigate military affairs, Datong town supervisor Zhang An and Wei Daben were all shocked.They knew what the purpose of Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia's visit to Datong was, and they were faintly worried that Cao Yue would be in trouble this time.

After receiving the news, Wei Daben, Zhang An and Cao Yue all went out of the city for ten miles.The acting king Zhu Chuanqi also went out of the city to greet him. Zhu Chuanqi, who knew the reason for Wang Chengen's visit, looked at Cao Yue gloatingly, and Cao Yue didn't even say hello.

Cao Yue didn't bother to pay any attention to it, and stepped forward to greet him very politely, with an expression of neither humble nor overbearing.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone got into the car and sat in sedan chairs, or rode horses back to Datong City together.

Wei Daben, the prefect of Datong, hosted a banquet in the prefect's mansion to welcome Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia.

At the banquet, before Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia took the initiative to ask anything, Cao Yue first told the situation of Duoduo leading the army to attack together.In this battle under the city of Datong, the Datong army not only wiped out thousands of Jiannu, but also captured many alive.Among those captured alive were officers of the Han army, as well as Mongolian nobles and Jurchens.

After passing the interrogation, Cao Yue also learned more, and basically clarified the purpose of Duoduo's southern expedition.And these things, he did not tell Zhang An and Wei Daben, nor did he report to the court for the time being.

After talking about these things, Cao Yueting said with emotion: "Chen Shangshu, Wang Gonggong, I didn't expect that the slaves came with such a purpose this time. The attack on Datong was to avenge the revenge of the humble official who led the army to break Shengjing that day. They want to spread rumors when the siege of the city is unfavorable, and use the hand of Long live to get rid of the low position. Their intentions are sinister. During this period, the low position captured many people who were in collusion with Jiannu and the bandits in Datong. After Jiannu was defeated, he spread rumors and slandered the humble official, and asked Chen Shangshu and the prince to investigate clearly, so that the humble official could be innocent."

Cao Yue's preemptive explanation immediately made some people understand his meaning. If the court still pursues his crimes after he led the army to win a big victory this time, it would be in the middle of Jiannu's plan to divorce.In this case, it seems that Emperor Chongzhen is an imbecile, who can't even distinguish such a simple estrangement.

Zhu Chuanqi, who originally wanted to take the opportunity to report on Cao Yue, was suddenly dumbfounded.If Cao Yue said this, and he still stood up and accused Cao Yue of treasonous intentions, wouldn't he just fall into Cao Yue's trap and become a slanderer?

Because of Wu Ming's killing, Cao Yue, Zhang An, and Wei Daben have already stated in the report, and today Cao Yue explained the matter again, and asked the deputy general Zhao Tai, the deputy general Gao Qing, Zhu Yang, and several others Mixed, Mr. Qian came to testify.

Gao Qing and Zhu Yang had firmly stood in Cao Yue's trenches, and they also told the story of Wu Ming wanting to pull them together to frame Cao Yue and replace him.Then Wu Ming led his army to the battle that day, and he also explained in detail how he ran away when he encountered the enemy.

Before Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia could say anything, Cao Yue explained in public too many things they wanted to investigate, and found many witnesses, and made Zhu Chuanqi and other people who wanted to harm him shut their mouths.This shocked Zhang An and Wei Daben. This young man is really powerful. He pre-emptively explained these things, attributed everything to Jiannu's divorce plan, and even alluded to Wu Ming's timid battle with Jiannu There was collusion, and they knew that Cao Yue would be able to survive the investigation without any risk this time.

After thinking about the matter, they also stood up, spoke for Cao Yue, and praised Cao Yue's actions in Datong, especially when the Jiannu attack this time, they were calm and decisive, and finally defeated the Jiannu outside the city, and won a big victory. Total victory.If there is no Cao Yue, today's Datong may still be in war. Although the establishment of slaves may not be able to break through the city, countless people will die in the flames of war, and refugees will rise everywhere.The capital may also be besieged by Jiannu, and Daming will encounter catastrophe.

However, both Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia were scheming people, and they didn't express their opinions immediately. They just said that their main purpose of coming to Datong this time was to reward Cao Yue on behalf of the imperial court, condolences to the soldiers who had done meritorious service, and then understand the situation of this battle clearly.Wu Ming proposed to impeach Cao Yue with the intention of treason. Although the emperor did not believe that Cao Yue had this intention, they also believed that Cao Yue was loyal to the country, but they still need to investigate. Everything will be investigated before making a conclusion. They will Return Cao Yue's innocence.

Wang Chengen and Chen Xinjia declined Wei Daben's intention, and instead of staying in the magistrate's mansion, they lived in the post house.

After returning to the posthouse, Chen Xinjia discussed the matter secretly with Wang Chengen alone.

While drinking tea, Chen Xinjia said slowly: "Eunuch Wang, Cao Yue must have expected that the imperial court would send personnel to investigate whether he had conspired against him or killed Wu Ming. What's going on!"

Wang Chengen also drank tea leisurely, "Chen Shangshu, we are running errands for the Long Live God. We just need to do the job well, investigate the matter clearly, and let the Long Live God rest assured. How to deal with Cao Yue, the Long Live God has his own plans, we Just stop worrying about it!"

The treacherous Chen Xinjia immediately read a special meaning from Wang Chengen's words.

(End of this chapter)