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Wei Jingyuan, the governor of Datong, has arrived at Xuanfu Town. He has only one purpose for coming this time, which is to find Yongningbo Zhang Cheng and raise an army to question him.

Although he, Wei Jingyuan, had little connection with the Shanyou profiteers who smuggled slaves, the profiteers declared that the power of Dasan Town was very important. They had connections with scholars and officials from all over the country, and Wei Jingyuan also had all the help in his ears. His intercessor.

Moreover, when the Yongyi Army, with the cooperation of the Datong Army, raided the business houses of Shanyou profiteers in Datong Town, it would inevitably affect the interests of the Prince of Dai.

This is not only true for the kings of Datong, but also for the Jin Palace in Taiyuan. These vassal kings are confined to their respective cities. They cannot leave the city except to visit their ancestors' tombs every year.

If he made a mistake, he would not even be able to visit his ancestors' tombs in person, and he would be banned from the palace by the Ming Dynasty Emperor and would not be able to leave.

Therefore, they have no other hobbies or abilities. They only do two things in their lives, one is to make money, and the other is to have children!

Their methods of amassing money are twofold. One is to try their best to expand their own royal land, and the other is to open a large number of shops, especially salt, iron, wine and other specialties, which are their favorites. Some are even bold enough to privately Cast copper coins.

And when it comes to giving birth to a baby, if you look at it in contemporary terms, it can even be rated as a Guinness World Record!
According to incomplete statistics, Zhu Yuanzhang only had 26 sons and 15 daughters. However, by the 20th year of Chongzhen, the number of descendants of the Zhu family as part of the Ming Dynasty royal family had reached an astonishing number of more than [-].

Among so many descendants, there are both princes and county kings who have been inherited from generation to generation, as well as generals of Zhenguo, generals of auxiliary countries, generals of Fengguo, lieutenants of Zhenguo, lieutenants of auxiliary countries, lieutenants of Fengguo, etc.

For example, in important big cities such as Kaifeng, Luoyang, Taiyuan, and Xiangyang, almost all of them have reached the level of royal relatives. They occupy a large amount of land and open various business houses to compete with the people for profit without turning over a penny. The national tax of [-]% is really no different from the dynasty.

Therefore, how could a business as profitable as smuggling slaves not include the King of Dai and the King of Jin? How could they not get involved and get a share of the pie?
Although during the process of raiding the properties of profiteers, various departments of the Yongyi Army had spies who had been lurking in the local area in advance to provide lists of names and even lead the way, there were no clear signs for the businesses under the royal family's name, so how could they tell them apart in a hurry.

In this way, under the pressure of local officials and squires, especially the vassal king who had gone crazy, Cai Maode, the governor of Shanxi, was also on his way to Xuanfu Town.

Even the dignified Governor of Xuanda, Jiang Yuxu, couldn't help it now. He had already set off from his base in Yanghe Fort and would arrive in Xuanfu Town in person soon.

All the governors and governors came to the Xuan Mansion in large numbers just to investigate the slave-traffickers and find Zhang Chengxing to question him!
…………

In the West Flower Hall of Zhenshuo Mansion, Bo Yongning and Zhang Cheng were drinking tea with Yongqing, the supervisor.

"Uncle Yong Ning is so elegant."

"Ha ha."

Faced with the teasing of the supervisor Bian Yongqing, Zhang Cheng could only smile and said: "Zhang Cheng only wanted to punish a few slave-dealing traitors for the sake of the court and your majesty. He never thought that there would be such a movement and cause a commotion throughout the Xuan Dynasty. It’s not quiet at all.”

"How much trouble can a few businessmen create?"

Bian Yongqing took a sip of tea before continuing: "Those people who benefit behind them are the key. Uncle Yong Ning's move is tantamount to ruining people's wealth. How could they not look for you and risk their lives?" ?”

"But..."

The expression on Bian Yongqing's face became playful, and he continued: "These people have indeed gone too far. They dare to make any money. Do they still have an emperor in their eyes?"

Although he spoke very indignantly, there was no trace of anger on his face. He turned to look at Zhang Cheng and said with a smile: "Although these people are hateful, if I hadn't met Uncle Yong Ning, I'm afraid no one could cure them. .”

Zhang Cheng heard that there seemed to be something in his words, so he hurriedly added: "Zhang Cheng is loyal to the emperor with all his heart. He is a traitor who has forgotten his ancestors. He was born in the Ming Dynasty and is a subject of the emperor. Only with the grace of the emperor can he do business in the world and earn money from my people of the Ming Dynasty.

Now, for the sake of their own selfish interests, they are smuggling slaves. Such behavior is tantamount to using the blood of our people in the Ming Dynasty to benefit slave thieves. The achievements of the slave war in Jinzhou last year were defeated overnight.

If we don't get rid of these traitors who are slaves and traitors, how can we calm the hearts of the emperor's bloody soldiers and calm the anger of all the people in the world? "

Zhang Cheng couldn't help but stand up as he spoke, and knelt down with a "pop" facing the direction of the capital. He clasped his fists and bowed in a distance: "My Zhang family has been guarding the border for generations. The emperor's kindness is so great that I have no way to repay it. I only wish to use this flesh and blood body. Protect the Emperor, keep the people at peace, pacify the thieves and drive away the captives, and protect our Ming Dynasty for everlasting prosperity!"

Seeing Zhang Cheng like this, Bian Yongqing's expression changed instantly. Although he didn't know whether what he said was true or not, he still stood up and said: "Bo Yongning is loyal and courageous. It is known to the world, there is no doubt about it.

Even when the emperor was in the palace, he often praised Yongning Bo for his loyalty and bravery. He was a rare pillar of our Ming Dynasty. He should be the pillar of the country and a model for all officials and generals. "

In fact, Bian Yongqing can't conclude until now whether Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng is really loyal to Emperor Chongzhen, but at least on the surface Zhang Cheng has no disrespect for Emperor Chongzhen and has been worried about state affairs.

What's more, in the Ming Dynasty at this moment, there are bandits causing chaos inside, and almost no one can control it. Outside, there are slaves spying on the Central Plains, repeatedly invading the mainland, and there is a faint intention to replace the Ming Dynasty.

"When you come to Xuanzhen, you have to keep an eye on Zhang Cheng on my behalf and destroy the thieves and capture the prisoners. I still need him to help me."

Before leaving, Emperor Chongzhen's instructions were still in his ears. This was the fundamental reason why Bian Yongqing was not very opposed to Zhang Cheng's deal with Shanyou's profiteers.

…………

In fact, Emperor Chongzhen in the palace also heard about the collusion between Shanyou businessmen and the generals and court officials to create slaves. He was not completely unclear about what the Liao and Lian salaries were.

However, there were Donglin Party officials everywhere inside and outside, and even the famous civil servants were mostly in the Donglin Party. They hugged together tightly, deceiving the emperor at the top, harming the people at the bottom, and causing chaos. Ming Dynasty is on the verge of collapse.

When Emperor Chongzhen came to the throne, after he eliminated Wei Zhongxian's eunuch forces with a thunderous force, he also worked hard and worked hard to reverse the decline of the Ming Dynasty and realize his great cause of reviving the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, he successively appointed Li Biao, Han Xu and others as chief assistants to form the "Donglin Cabinet".

But these people only actively assisted Emperor Chongzhen in handling the "imperial counter-case" and vigorously restored the reputation of the Donglin Party members who were persecuted during the Tianqi Dynasty.

A situation of "Donglin's prosperity" was formed inside and outside the imperial court.Although there were also non-Donglin Party officials such as Wen Tiren, the Minister of Rites, Zhou Yanru, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Yongguang, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Shen Yongmao, the minister of the Ministry of War, who were also retained in the cabinet.

Emperor Chongzhen's original intention was to use them to check and balance the power of the Donglin Party, but these four people were secretly called the "Four Evils in the Cabinet" by the Donglin Party members, and they were eager to get rid of them quickly.

After the Donglin Party members took control of the power of the court, although they did some things that were beneficial to the country and the people, they mostly made profits for their party members.

They defied the Ming Emperor's authority, and colluded with the gentry, wealthy merchants, and used their power to formulate national economic policies that favored merchants, and imposed all court taxes on the peasantry.

What's more, they used their power to suppress the Ming Dynasty's collection of salt tax, mining tax, and wine tax, and even directly exempted export tariffs on Jiangnan foreign trade.

The lack of finances depleted the Ming Dynasty's treasury and made it unable to make ends meet, which directly led to the disadvantages in encircling and suppressing bandits and the failure in the border battle to build slaves.

All this has long made Emperor Chongzhen intolerable. He used to have admiration and gratitude for the Donglin Party. However, even though he was very disappointed with the performance of the Donglin Party, Emperor Chongzhen at this moment has not yet shared the same feelings with Donglin. Capital for a complete break between the party members.

The reason why the Donglin Party has been able to completely control the government since overthrowing the Eunuch Party has three main advantages.

First, Emperor Chongzhen could not quarrel with this group of scholars in the court. They were all Jinshi, and most of them had experience in the Yushitai, the most quarrelsome place. What's more, the Donglin Party members themselves established themselves by selling words. of clear reputation.

Secondly, the Donglin Party members enjoy a high reputation among the private gentry circles. This is the most troublesome thing, because the national policies they formulate always have various high-sounding reasons.

In addition, there are indeed several members of the Donglin Party who are loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty who are devoted to the country. They deliberately publicize the deeds of these people who are not afraid of power and loyal to the king, which greatly confuses the people's bad impression of the Donglin Party.

The third is that the power of the Donglin Party has almost become so huge that it is difficult for the imperial power to check and balance. They control almost all the key departments of the Ming Dynasty. Those memorials that are unfavorable to them cannot enter the cabinet at all, let alone the imperial case of Emperor Chongzhen. .

Moreover, although Emperor Chongzhen vigorously abolished Dongchang and Jinyiwei, which also restricted their power to a great extent, as the only means for the Ming Emperor to control the country and maintain imperial power, he would never completely abolish these two institutions. Lose.

However, when Emperor Chongzhen discovered that the Donglin Party was not as good as they imagined, they were unable to prevent the decline of the empire, and they were even the only cause of the decline of the empire.

He was no longer able to eradicate it. Looking around, the Donglin Party was almost in charge inside and outside the court. Even though he was the supreme emperor of the Ming Empire, so what?
Is it possible to remove all the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, and even the governors, prefects, prefects, county magistrates, etc. from all over the country? It would be impossible to start over with a new set of people!

If Emperor Chongzhen really does this, then the Ming Dynasty, which has been inherited for more than two hundred years, will really not be far from destruction.

Therefore, it was not unreasonable for Emperor Chongzhen to appoint Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren and other non-Donglin party members as chief assistants in the mid-term period to serve as ministers in the cabinet. The purpose was to check and balance the Donglin party.

However, it is too late!

The Donglin Party has become dominant in the imperial court. How can it be overthrown overnight?
Thinking back to the beginning, the Qi Party of Shandong people, the Chu Party of Hubei people, the Xuan Party of Xuancheng people of Anhui, the Kundang of Kunshan people of Jiangsu Province, and the Zhejiang Party of Zhejiang people all had certain strength, and they also played a certain role in the Donglin Party. Checks and balances.

However, with the three cases surrounding Guangzong Zhu Changluo being crowned crown prince and the three cases that occurred before and after his accession to the throne, the Donglin Party members completely seized the right to speak and began to ruthlessly suppress Fei The Donglin Party.

This move caused the Qi Party, the Chu Party, the Xuan Party, the Kun Party, and the Zhejiang Party to completely turn to Wei Zhongxian in order to seek the protection of the imperial power, thus forming the special party form of the "Eunuch Party".

From the fall of the Eunuch Party in the early years of Chongzhen to the present, the people in the imperial court are all members of the Donglin Party.

For example, the reason why the former governor Yang Sichang became the elder of the Pavilion and was highly trusted by Emperor Chongzhen and entrusted with important tasks was not only that he did have some skills, but the more important reason was because he was not a party member and was not a member of the Donglin Party. .

In fact, it’s not that Emperor Chongzhen didn’t know what the Donglin Party was doing, but what could he do?

Not only for the sake of the Ming Empire, but even for himself, he could not remove all officials from the imperial court, as well as all provinces, prefectures, states, and counties.

In that case, not to mention how the Ming court should operate.

I'm afraid it's hard to say whether Zhu Youjian's own life can continue to be saved!

For Emperor Chongzhen, he had to fight against the Donglin Party members and attack them, but he could not completely break up with them. He has now left the Donglin Party members.

At least at this stage, he and his Ming Empire are inseparable from the Donglin Party.

Therefore, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng is more like the sword of Emperor Chongzhen!

Although Zhang Cheng was initially recommended by Lu Xiangsheng, the former Governor-General of Propaganda, and was promoted from General Qian to guerrilla general, but after Lu Xiangsheng died in the battle of Julu, the Donglin Party did not pay enough attention to him.

This led Zhang Cheng to move closer to Emperor Chongzhen's favored minister Yang Sichang, and nominally became Yang Sichang's horse boy. After that, Yang Sichang hanged himself in Shashi, and Zhang Cheng turned to Chen Xinjia, Minister of War.

Later, when they also started to notice Zhang Cheng, it was too late.

At that time, Zhang Cheng had been promoted to the deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanfu Town. Not only did he have the care and support of Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, but he also received the love of Emperor Chongzhen. He was no longer the little guerrilla that could not catch their eyes at the beginning.

If you can't get it, you will be destroyed!
The Donglin Party members regarded Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, as a thorn in their side and wanted to replace him. Zhang Cheng naturally became their first target.

Therefore, they are actually happy to see the success of the Shanyou merchants' frame-up of Zhang Cheng, but even so, they will not rush to the front. At most, they will arrange for their Ma Zai brother to present some impeachment memorials.

Since the profiteers and the Donglin Party have put on a pair of trousers, Emperor Chongzhen in the Forbidden City is naturally happy to see the snipe and the clam quarrel, because he wants to be the fisherman who ultimately benefits.

He even secretly sent a message to Bian Yongqing, asking him to closely observe whether Zhang Cheng made any changes. As for his arrest of profiteers and seizure of traitorous property, as long as it did not harm the country, he did not need to worry about it. (End of chapter)