prosperous age

Chapter 343 Chapter 342
"Master Wei, please take care of me this time, complete the imperial mission as soon as possible, so that we can return to Beijing as soon as possible."

At this time, Chen Ju, who finally got rid of the compliments surrounded by He Shou, Xu Pengju and others, walked out of the crowd and bowed to Wei Guangde.

As for Xu Pengju, the majestic Duke of Wei, he was also a prominent figure in the Ming Dynasty, but on this occasion he chose to curry favor with Chen Ju, and He Shou, who was a great eunuch in the palace, treated him the same as Xu Pengju Traveling south to ask for warmth.

In fact, the reason is also very simple, that is, Chen Ju is a former imperial eunuch and the godson of Gao Zhong.

But now, Chen Ju saluted Wei Guangde first, which puzzled He Shou, Xu Pengju and others.

Wei Guangde didn't understand, he didn't understand why Chen Ju gave himself so much face on this occasion, he hurriedly bowed his hands in return, and said repeatedly: "Don't dare, everyone is on the emperor's mission, and we should do our best to serve the court and share the worries of the Holy One. .”

It was a very formulaic answer, but Wei Guangde saw a different meaning in Chen Ju's eyes.

Wei Guangde's heart skipped a beat when he saw this look in his eyes, don't tell me that old brother Chen came here with a secret order again.

Every time Emperor Jiajing gave orders, he asked Chen Ju to come to see him. Last year, Chen Ju obviously meant to distance himself from him, but when Wei Guangde was ordered to go south on business, Chen Ju came uninvited again and brought Jiajing The emperor's note asked him to investigate the real situation of the folks in the southern prefectures, and to know whether the southern folks were still stable after the tax was added.

Wei Guangde had arranged for people to investigate these matters before, and then wrote a memorial, which was sent up through the passage of Jin Yiwei.

As far as Wei Guangde has learned now, the people in the south are heavily taxed and labored, and the main reason for the increase is not Hu Zongxian's increased military pay, but the extra assignments from the local government.

In order to collect the increased tax and labor, the expenditure of the local government will naturally increase, and the increased part is the additional payment, which is several times the increased tax.

Wei Guangde was clear about the reason, but he just reported the situation to the emperor, and the choice of Emperor Jiajing was out of his consideration.

Finally, I made my own analysis, and the counties in the south are close to the limit of the pressure they can bear. If the Japanese plague cannot be eliminated in a short period of time, and the addition of taxes and assignments is abolished, there is a possibility of civil uprisings in the south.

Afterwards, the Nanjing officialdom held another luxurious banquet for Chen Ju and Wei Guangde, mainly to welcome Chen Ju.

After Chen Ju arrived in Nanjing, he only rested for two days. At his urging, the Nanjing Ministry of Criminal Justice, together with Dali Temple and Nanjing Kedao, interrogated the criminals involved in the Zhenwuying Mutiny case. It is true that the case was concluded in only three days.

But what surprised Wei Guangde was that in the past few days, Chen Ju hadn't come to see him alone, even if they met in court, it was businesslike.

In private, Wei Guogong Xu Pengju also asked him about his relationship with Chen Ju, but Wei Guangde naturally wouldn't say that he had a good relationship with Chen Ju in the past.

Xu Pengju didn't have any interest in continuing to inquire because he couldn't come up with side-by-side questions.

Only Xu Bangrui saw something, and privately asked Wei Guangde if he had a good relationship with Gao Zhong, Eunuch Gao in the palace.

After all, Xu Bangrui had a deep impression on Li Bin when he was investigated. At that time, he guessed that Wei Guangde had strong support in the palace so he dared to give him a guarantee. Now that he saw Chen Ju's attitude towards Wei Guangde, he naturally guessed Wei Guangde's backstage in the palace may be Gao Zhong.

Gao Zhong is definitely one of the most confidant eunuchs in front of Emperor Jiajing. Not only has he followed Emperor Jiajing for a long time, but he is also the chief eunuch who has held the seal of the Imperial Horse Supervisor.

Although he didn't get an answer from Wei Guangde, in Xu Bangrui's view, this is the truth.

Because of the Zhenwu Camp mutiny that broke out in late February, and several messages were sent back and forth between Beijing and Beijing, the time also quietly entered the end of March, and it was almost April.

After completing the verdicts against more than 20 rioting soldiers in Zhenwu Camp, Wei Guangde and his errands in Nanjing were over, and they were ready to go north and return to the capital.

This season, the weather is getting warmer, and the suspended Grand Canal has gradually resumed its traffic capacity. Even the Shandong section has received news two days ago that it can pass the ship. Therefore, Wei Guangde and Chen Ju went to court for the last time and read out the punishment for the soldiers involved. After the verdict, a simple two-sentence communication made the decision, and I was lucky enough to go north and return to Beijing.

By this time, Wei Guangde's heart was also in his stomach.

Although I don't know how the inner court assigned the task of passing the decree to Beijing, Chen Ju has not found himself alone so far, which means that this time Chen Ju went south under the decree was just a general task of passing the decree, and did not bring him the emperor Jiajing. Secret decree, this is undoubtedly good news.

The Grand Canal runs through the north and the south, and the mist is vast for thousands of miles.

Pi Rixiu, a poet of the late Tang Dynasty, wrote in "Reminiscences of the Bianhe River": "It is this river that has been destroyed in the Sui Dynasty, and it has been relying on Tongbo for thousands of miles. If there is no dragon boat event in the water palace, Gongyu will not give much credit."

At the same time, the poet Hu Zeng also wrote a poem "Bian Shui": "Once the thousand-mile long river opens, the waves will come for nine days in the Sui Dynasty. The golden sails have not fallen, and the dragon boats will never return."

It can be seen that since the excavation of the Grand Canal in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it has been an important traffic channel connecting the north and the south at that time. Even though the Sui Dynasty was destroyed because of this, in the eyes of scholars at that time, the excavation of the Grand Canal was still a great blessing.

As the canal re-navigated, the number of boats on the canal gradually increased.

On this day, two official ships sailed from south to north. On the first boat stood a man in a blue official robe. Obviously, this man already had an official status.

But if you look closely, you can see that he is not very old, he seems to be about 20 years old, and people who see it can't help but think that he is not another guy who has been sheltered by his ancestors.

At this time, he stood on the bow of the boat and looked into the distance. The Grand Canal emptied from the depths of the white clouds in the sky, "it's really spectacular."

"Hehe, since it's spectacular, did Brother Wei compose a poem impromptu?"

Not far behind him, the cabin door opened, and a man in the same green robe came out. Although it was also in a green robe, the style of official uniform was different from that of the previous man. He was dressed as an eunuch.

"Brother Chen, don't laugh at me, write poetry, in your next life."

The man at the bow just smiled, turned around and said to the eunuch behind him.

Things happened in Nanjing, and they rested for another two days. Wei Guangde and Chen Ju boarded the official ship returning to the north under the escort of Nanjing city officials. Now the ship has passed Yangzhou and is heading for Huai'an.

In the past few days on the boat, Chen Ju and Wei Guangde had more contacts, and they would talk more when watching the canal scenery from the bow and stern of the boat.

"Go and stay in the cabin, it's windy outside."

At this time, Chen Ju, who walked to the bow, turned around and gave orders to the two servants behind him.

"Yes."

Wei Guangde's ears were greeted by two feminine replies, which made him frown slightly, but they immediately relaxed.

Chen Ju's tone of voice also had this kind of taste, but maybe it was deliberate, maybe he was more positive, at least so that Wei Guangde would not have too much disgust when communicating with him.

Straight men, in later generations Wei Guangde also could not understand some so-called little fresh meat dressed up in Korean wave equipment, acting like a girl.

After the two servants entered the cabin, Chen Ju said, "You have entered Prince Yu's Mansion, and we can't have too much contact in the capital."

During the past few days getting along on the boat, Chen Ju also felt the strangeness between him and Wei Guangde, but he was not good when he was in the capital, or he didn't dare to say it, and only when he was out of the capital and getting along with Wei Guangde alone Open your mouth and raise your mouth.

"Huh? When did I enter Prince Yu's Mansion?"

Wei Guangde turned around and looked at Chen Ju in surprise, and asked.

"Last year at the Aoshan Lantern Festival, you and Prince Yu had a great conversation, and I was watching from the city wall."

With a smile on the corner of Chen Ju's mouth, he said softly.

"It doesn't matter if you fall into King Yu's eyes, the future achievements will only be greater."

When Chen Ju said this, he turned his head and looked at Wei Guangde meaningfully.

This glance made Wei Guangde tremble, the meaning of these words is so clear, he seems to bet right.

However, Wei Guangde immediately frowned and said to Chen Ju: "Brother Chen, I seem to understand what you mean, but you have seen the arrival report sent to Nanjing this time. I'm afraid you knew it when you were in the capital. That Guo Xiyan did it because The memorial was beheaded."

To be honest, when we saw the arrival report, Wei Guangde and his party were still in Nanjing city, and Wei Guangde frowned after seeing the reason. If he was in the capital, he would go to Gao Gong, Yin Shizhen and others to yell One pass.

What I said at the beginning was good, and if I didn’t go to the memorial to talk about the matter of becoming a feudal clan, Guo Xiyan wrote a letter to ask King Jing to become a feudal clan. It seemed that he, an older brother, couldn’t tolerate a younger brother. Although it was a court system, before the emperor made a statement, They shouldn't have done these things.

Yes, Wei Guangde thought that Guo Xiyan's memorial was due to Prince Yu's residence, even though the report only said that it was Guo Xiyan's personal behavior, but in the eyes of most people, it was undoubtedly ordered by King Yu.

Well, the beheading of the man gave another bad impression to the foreign court. It seems that King Yu is really not favored by Emperor Jiajing, and maybe he sent the order of King Yu to become a vassal that day.

"That idiot Guo Xiyan, he is not from Prince Yu's Mansion, and he was not asked by Prince Yu's Mansion to do that thing. He was frustrated in officialdom, so he wanted to opportunistically, just for the sake of supporting him. It is not wrong to kill him."

Chen Ju just replied lightly.

Before and after Guo Xiyan was killed, he waited in the hall. He saw what he should see and what he shouldn't see, and even because of his position, what he saw was even more loyal than his godfather, and what he saw was more loyal than his godfather. Eunuch Huang Jin has even more.

"King Jing went to see the Aoshan Lantern Festival. The emperor never went up to the tower to watch it. Only when His Highness King Yu went down would he go up to the tower to see the lanterns and fireworks. It's just a pity for the emperor's grandson."

Chen Ju's seemingly casual words made Wei Guangde tremble again.

He knew the proverb that the two dragons would not meet, and guessed that Emperor Jiajing was unwilling to meet the two kings.

It's just that he didn't expect to see each other, but Emperor Jiajing was peeping.

The meaning of meeting is naturally that two people can see each other, as long as one party cannot see, it is naturally not considered meeting.

Wei Guangde quickly understood Emperor Jiajing's thoughts, and he didn't find it funny, but rather pitiful.

"Oh, the matter of the emperor's grandson, too."

Wei Guangde couldn't continue after saying a few words. When Gao Gong asked him to inform him about this, he also felt that the sky was about to collapse.

The two sons of Emperor Jiajing have been married for many years, but they are both difficult to be heirs. That is to say, King Yu has such a son, and King Jing hasn't moved yet.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde suddenly felt that after he returned to the capital, he would ask Gao Gong if he wanted to get some medicine for King Yu to cheer him up, let him exercise more at night, and try to create another grandson in front of King Jing.

After all, with the first one, it means that the second one and the third one can be created.
About King Yu's private life, Wei Guangde didn't know about it, and chatting with Gao Gong and the others naturally couldn't involve the prince's privacy, and only those who worked in Prince Yu's mansion would know more about it.

"The emperor likes King Yu, as long as you know that King Yu doesn't make mistakes."

At this time, Chen Ju suddenly spoke in a very low voice, which only Wei Guangde could hear.

Wei Guangde heard that there was nothing to tremble this time, he just nodded slightly to show that he knew.

This is a notification and a reminder.

"After returning to Beijing, let's not contact in private if there is no major matter. I am in the Imperial Palace, and it is not good to walk around too much with people from Prince Yu's Mansion."

Chen Ju went on to say that this seemed to explain the reason why he suddenly alienated him last year.

Wei Guangde nodded, knowing that Chen Ju was protecting himself and him.

Wei Guangde suddenly had a suspicion, is it possible that Emperor Jiajing's time is approaching?

Wei Guangde remembered hearing people say that when some old people had a premonition that their time was approaching, some people suddenly became enlightened, and some people were not the only ones.

Emperor, can he let it go?
Of course, Wei Guangde could only keep this thought in his heart and dare not ask it out.

What a sin to curse the king.

The official ship left Nanzhili and passed Shandong, and arrived outside the capital in a few days.

When the official ship docked steadily at the pier, the boatman set up the gangway, and Wei Guangde and Chen Ju disembarked one after the other. After saying goodbye to each other, they got on their respective carriages and went into the city.

When the ship was in Tongzhou, they sent someone to deliver the letter to the capital, so there were horse-drawn carriages waiting at the pier for a long time.

Chen Ju is an eunuch. When he returns to Beijing on a business trip, he must report to the inner court first, while Wei Guangde needs to make a statement and wait for the emperor's instructions, whether to summon him or not, and give him a few days off.

Wei Guangde calculated that it had been half a year since his trip, so Emperor Jiajing should have given him more than half a month's vacation.

The carriage quickly drove out of the pier and entered Beijing City in a short time.

Even though he has been away for half a year, the prosperity of the capital is still there.

Wei Guangde looked at the streets on both sides through the curtain of the carriage. The business was bustling and there were many pedestrians. If there were no beacon fires in the border towns and the Japanese invasion on the southern coast, this would be a prosperous scene.

However, Wei Guangde soon realized that something was wrong. There seemed to be a lot more Jinyiwei on both sides of the street than usual.
(End of this chapter)