The Prosperous Era of Longwan

Early the next morning, Wei Guangde followed Weng Pu and led his men to Huairou, which was closer to the front line and could naturally get news faster.

On the way, Wei Guangde was still thinking about what he had considered last night. If Weng Pu insisted on going to Yanqing Prefecture when he arrived in Huairou, would he apply to stay in the pass and not go to Yanqing Prefecture on the grounds that he needed to strengthen the defense around Miyun? He continued to inspect the passes in the Miyun rear defense zone.

The reason, of course, is that the fictitious are real and the real is fictitious. We must be prepared to guard against another false shot and break through the Great Wall wall to threaten the capital. After all, it is still unknown how many Tatars broke through the Longmen Guards.

Beijing.

A four-person sedan chair stopped in front of a large house. Under the attentive service of the servants, an old man got off the sedan chair and walked into the gate.

The old man had gray hair, wrinkles on his face, and was very old. He staggered across the lobby and went directly to the backyard to rest.

When passing by a flower hall near the backyard, I heard that the hall was very lively. Many people were eating, drinking, talking and laughing inside, and from time to time, the charming laughter of women could be heard.

The old man just glanced there, then lowered his head slightly and shook slightly, and continued walking forward, but the voices in the hall still reached his ears.

"Hahaha, if it weren't for the fact that Chen Yifu made two trips and his words were pleasant to the ear, I wouldn't want to offend them. It would be a shame to think that he was a prince. Why don't you obediently give me money, hahaha."

"There really is no money in this world that Brother Donglou dares not to accept, haha."

"What does this mean? Don't talk about Prince Yu. Even His Highness King Jing has to rely on Brother Donglou's support for everything. Otherwise, he should have left the capital long ago and gone to Anlu. No, he should be called Chengtian Mansion now. .”

Hearing the people in the flower hall talking more and more outrageously, the old man just frowned slightly and quickened his pace into the backyard.

He sat down on an armchair in the backyard hall and then ordered a servant: "Go and call the young master. I have something to ask him."

This person was naturally Yan Song and Yan Weizhong. When he passed by the flower hall and heard the conversation inside, he also made a guess. However, he never expected that his son would be so courageous, and the people around him would really dare to say anything. explain.

The current Emperor Jiajing has two sons, King Yu and King Jing. One of them will surely ascend to that position. Forget about those people talking nonsense while drinking. His son, who is usually a smart person, will also become confused.

Well, now I even dare to accept the money given by King Yu.

Wouldn't he know why King Yu gave him the money?

He really didn't know about this before, and later he asked someone about it, but to no avail.

It was precisely because there was no result that he didn't dare to intervene. If he knew who released it, it would be simple.

Unexpectedly, his son actually reached out for those yellow and white things. Listening to the meaning of their words, he was allowed to accomplish this?

Not long after, Yan Shifan walked in, shaking his slightly fat body. When he saw his father leaning on the chair, he hurriedly glanced at the side and a maid immediately brought him a cup of tea.

Yan Shifan took the tea, walked over with a smile on his face, put it on the coffee table in front of his father, and whispered: "Dad, you use tea."

"You all get down."

Yan Song glanced at Yan Shifan and said to the others in the room.

After everyone left the room, Yan Song looked at Yan Shifan and said, "East Tower, did you accept the money from Prince Yu's Mansion?"

"Um?"

Yan Shifan had just come from the banquet. Along the way, he heard that his father would call him over when he came back to the house. He didn't say anything, but his face was not very good. He knew that what he did would definitely displease his father. , but I didn’t expect that this was what dad said.

Surprised, Yan Shifan smiled and said: "Dad, I also think Prince Yu's Mansion is very pitiful. They haven't received rewards for almost three years, so I talked to someone and the Ministry of Revenue."

"Did you do something good?"

Yan Songxu looked at Yan Shifandao with cloudy eyes.

"Of course it's a good thing to help Prince Yu. Aren't those poor people clamoring for Prince Yu to succeed him as the crown prince? I thought it wouldn't be good for Lao He to be unfamiliar with me, so I decided to give him a try and see if the Ministry of Revenue can be accommodating. Down."

Yan Shifan licked his face and said.

"Fart, tell the truth, was it you and Prince Jing who withheld the salary and rewards from Prince Yu's palace?"

Yan Song's face was now very gloomy and his tone was very stern.

"No, my son was never involved in this matter."

Yan Shifan hurriedly explained.

"Then you still dare to interfere in this matter? Have you thought about the consequences?"

Yan Song became even more worried when he heard that his son was not responsible for this. He shouted in a stern voice. Then he felt his throat was dry and he lowered his head and coughed twice.

After listening to his father's words, Yan Shifan rolled his eyes inadvertently and then said to Xing Xing: "Although King Jing and I did not do this, I heard that it may have been caused by Sun Yingkui or Han Shiying." Shou, you know that year, the Ministry of Revenue changed two ministers in just a few months, and it’s hard to determine who gave the order."

"Really? Why did they do that?"

Yan Song looked at Yan Shifan and asked.

Yan Shifan hurriedly picked up the tea on the coffee table and handed it over. Yan Song took the tea, took a sip and then put it down.

"Perhaps Prince Yu's Mansion offended them somewhere, so he should have disgusted them before leaving."

Yan Shifan said casually and perfunctorily.

"Are you sure one of them did this?"

Yan Song is not that old and confused yet, he still doesn't believe it.

"How dare your son lie to his father? It's all the truth."

Yan Shifan hurriedly smiled and said.

In this family, there is no one more important than Yan Song. The family's current aura is all due to the power of the father's chief assistant.

Don't look at the fact that he is respectfully called Mr. Xiaoge, but Mr. Xiaoge is not a real cabinet minister, so it's nothing.

As long as my father becomes an official or something, this little bit of power in his family will disappear immediately. He really can't accomplish those things just by relying on his title of Zuo Shilang.

Therefore, Yan Shifan was still a good baby to Yan Song and did not dare to disobey him at all.

Of course, this is only true in person, it depends on the situation behind the scenes.

"You are a smart man, and I have nothing to teach you, but you have to understand what makes the family what it is now. Can King Jing belittle him casually?"

Yan Song continued.

"What dad said is that when his son gets back, he will scold people and tell them not to say that again."

Yan Shifan responded hurriedly.

"Over at Prince Yu's Mansion, you can return the money and make up your own excuses. You can't offend anyone. It's just that you have to live up to those who deserve it, including Prince Jing. Even if you are close, you have to be honest outside. Pay attention."

Yan Song continued to give instructions and began to teach his son how to face the two kings.

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Yan Shifan nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"Don't be duplicitous. We can't figure out what that person is thinking, so don't offend both parties. We should make good friends when we should. That person may not want us to get close to one of the princes."

Yan Song continued.

"I understand this. Our Yan family only recognizes His Majesty and does not recognize anyone else, not even his biological son."

Yan Shifan hurriedly expressed his position again. He and his father had the same thoughts, and he had the same feelings for that person.

"There is always something weird about this matter. There is no way His Majesty doesn't know about it. Otherwise, Lu Wenfu has neglected his duty. Your Majesty has not taken any action, and you still dare to interfere. Where did your past cleverness go?"

Yan Song cursed, hating that iron cannot become steel.

"Perhaps His Majesty is waiting for King Yu's initiative to ask for vassal status."

At this time, Yan Shifan spoke out about Xiao Jiujiu in his heart.

"If that were the case, would you still reach for the silver?"

Yan Song was immediately furious and stared at him angrily.

Yan Shifan knew that he had just said the wrong thing, so naturally he did not dare to answer.

"Perhaps Your Majesty really doesn't like Prince Yu, but you should be respectful when meeting him. Don't be arrogant when you meet Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin on weekdays. I've been keeping a low profile for decades, why haven't you learned the lesson? A little bit."

Yan Song was a little tired after talking for so long after returning to the government. Earlier, he had urgently reported to Beijing and his troops broke through the Great Wall and entered Yanqing. In a short period of time, the court was in a hurry again. He had been on duty in the cabinet for a few days. I did not dare to delay for a moment in handling the memorials reported from various places.

"Dad, when you come back now, have the Andu tribe withdrawn from the Great Wall?"

Yan Shifan saw that his father's temper seemed to be getting better now, so he asked.

Yan Song shook his head, "It's so easy to get out once you've come in."

"Then what order did the cabinet issue?"

Yan Shifan said suspiciously, even if his father was exhausted, given his temper, he would only go home to rest after handling the court affairs, and there was no reason to leave the errands to Xu Jie and Lu Ben.

"After two days of discussion, the decision to mobilize reinforcements from Xuanda was issued. The Yanqing side will hold tight to the wall to prevent the enemy from outside the Great Wall, and will mobilize David Xuan to attack and defeat the Tatars as soon as possible."

In Prince Yu's Mansion, everyone in the Prince's Mansion was beaming with joy at this time. The people who went to the Household Department this morning had returned and brought back several heavy boxes. Everyone knew that they contained silver.

In the back hall of the palace, Prince Yu Zhu Zaijing was rubbing his hands excitedly. The palace's predicament had finally been alleviated. Tens of thousands of taels of silver had entered the treasury, and he could live a good life again.

Previously, he could only receive a little princely salary intermittently for two consecutive years, which was not enough for the luxurious life he was accustomed to.

As a last resort, the prince could only suppress himself, try to reduce unnecessary expenses, and save a little money. Except for the expenses of the princess and the young highness, the expenses of the prince's palace were already stretched to the extreme.

"Fortunately, I finally got over it."

King Yu was in a good mood at the moment. He sat on the chair and said to Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhen with a smile.

"Yeah, it's finally getting better."

Chen Yiqin answered with a smile, and Yin Shizhen also sighed: "If I had known, I would have handled this matter earlier, and it wouldn't have taken so long."

Only one side of Gao Gong frowned and thought for a while while being happy.

But at this time, everyone was in a good mood. King Yu had already ordered a banquet, and the palace had not organized it like this for a long time.

"Your Highness, please prepare two thousand five hundred taels of silver. When Guangde returns to Beijing from this business trip, we will send the money back to him."

Gao Gong spoke to King Yu at this time.

"Didn't you borrow two thousand taels of silver?"

King Yu felt a little awkward when he heard Gao Gong said that he would repay Wei Guangde two thousand five hundred taels of silver.

He had just been extorted from two thousand taels by Yan Shifan, so why did he want to extort five hundred taels from Wei Guangde? Only Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhen on one side were thoughtful, and then nodded unconsciously.

"Of course you have to pay back the money you borrow, and there should be interest."

Gao Gong said, but after noticing that King Yu seemed to be opening his mouth, he immediately added: "Although we didn't tell Guangde about the interest when we borrowed the money, Guangde didn't expect that he would be sent as a foreign missionary at that time. , it will delay the time for who knows how long.”

When he said that Wei Guangde was sent on a foreign mission, Gao Gong's tone also became a little more serious. Apparently there was a deeper meaning in his words, and he was reminding King Yu.

King Yu was not stupid. Although he seemed a little indecisive at times, he still understood what Gao Gong meant.

"Okay, let's return the two thousand five hundred taels."

King Yu didn't insist anymore. As long as he could receive the annual salary and annual gifts in the future, he would not be short of the few hundred taels of silver. If he made a new star in the court, this business would not be bad.

"Speaking of which, I don't know what kind of blessing Wei Guangde has cultivated to be so valued by His Majesty."

Chen Yiqin sighed and shook his head with a smile.

"Yes, he is only seventeen years old. He is not old enough for a weak crown. I thought he would have to be twenty to be appointed. I really didn't expect him."

Yin Shizhen also sighed with emotion. At this age, he was still reading and studying at home. Unlike that guy, he was already an official in the court, and his future seemed very promising.

"I heard that Chen Deyan's errand to Shanghe went wrong this time. I don't know what will happen when he comes back."

Chen Yiqin said with regret at this time.

"Maybe he will be released. After all, it is overdue due to illness. Alas, it is a pity to lose a champion."

Yin Shizhen answered.

"I heard that he was originally supposed to be promoted to Taichang Temple for a tour. It's a pity, but in any case, he is indeed overdue for the canonization of King Kangshun. According to the system, he should be treated badly."

King Yu became a little interested when he heard them mention Chen Jin, so he said.

"The seat is available, but he is not lucky enough to sit in that seat, and he doesn't know who will get an advantage? Do you think it will allow Wei Guangde to take advantage of it?"

Gao Gong suddenly interrupted and said.

"It's hard to say, it's hard to say, with the temper of the person above, anything is possible."

Both King Yu and Chen Yiqin were shocked by Gao Gong's guess, and Yin Shizhen responded with a shake of his head.

"If that's the case, and I can't turn back, I have to consider changing my boy's name. 'Shang De is like a valley, enlightenment is like humiliation, Guang De is not enough, Jian De is like stealing, quality is like Chongqing.' You said I should give my boy a name. Is it better to change it to 'Shangde' or 'Jiande'?"

Chen Yiqin suddenly said with a smile.

Wei Guangde was suddenly promoted by Emperor Jiajing before and was awarded an official position without leaving the palace. This made others envious, especially the former concubines of the Hanlin Academy.

Then, it was natural to speculate on how Wei Guangde and He De could be taken seriously by today, and naturally there were various speculations after that.