prosperous age

"This Yan family is so domineering, don't worry, Mr. Wei, this matter is on my shoulders. If I find those credentials, I will send someone to send them directly."

Cheng Shoujie said with righteous indignation after Wei Meng finished describing the details of the incident.

Just now, Cheng Shoujie knew about the festival between the Yan family and the Wei family. The Yan family coveted the Wei family's ancestral property, and actually conspired with Lin Yunzhen, the housekeeper of the Wei family, and finally took it away by force. How could this be possible.

It's really gentle, the Yan family is still the family of the chief assistant of the dynasty, and there are such evil slaves.

Lin Yunzhen is such a stinky Taoist priest, since the Wei family doesn't want to pursue it, then forget it and let him go.

Cheng Shoujie has become an envoy of justice at this time, and made a promise in front of Wei Meng that all the assets embezzled by the Yan family in Jiujiang Mansion will be returned in full and will not be recorded.

"The four manors and some scattered land total more than [-] mu. There is also a house and a few shops in the city."

Cheng Shoujie wrote down all the assets reported by Wei Meng one by one, and guaranteed that he would be the master and return them directly to the Wei family.

Not long after, Wei Mengzhi was satisfied and left the mansion to return to the Wei family.

Wei Meng is not worried that this incident will happen in the future, he believes that such incidents will not be the only one, and there will be more incidents in the future.

In short, Yan Shifan's diligent and conscientious accumulation of Wan Guan's family wealth is actually a wedding dress for the person who laughs last.

If the Wei family fails to stand firm in the future, it will end in the same way.

"Being an official is risky. I have to go back and write a letter to remind my second child. If the officialdom is difficult, I should go to the local government or go back to my hometown to recuperate. With these assets, it will not be a problem to be a rich and idle person."

Wei Meng was still thinking in his heart and made up his mind to write a letter tonight so as not to forget this important event.

In the capital, on Xu Jie's mansion.

"How did the Wei family react?"

Xu Jie heard the report from his servants. Yesterday, Dong Fen had sent his family members to send invitations to the Wei family.

"Our people didn't find out that the Wei family had sent a message to the Dong family."

The master replied respectfully.

"That is to say, the Wei family didn't send anyone to Dong's house today?"

Hearing the servant's answer, Xu Jie frowned.

This is not Wei Guangde's style of doing things, so Xu Jie has to be vigilant.

In fact, after Zhang Juzheng reported Wei Guangde's words two days ago, he wondered if he had misjudged King Yu's character.

It seems cowardly, but it is soft and strong.

If King Yu really made up his mind to get Dong's share, would it be worth fighting against King Yu for him?
In fact, judging from Wei Guangde's words and deeds, this matter is probably true, and King Yu has made up his mind to bring down Dong Fen.

From this point of view, it seems that Wei Guangde has a deeper understanding of King Yu than himself.

After being confirmed by his servants, Xu Jie asked again: "Then, did someone in the Wei residence go to other officials' residences today? Also, where did Wei Guangde go today?"

"Master Wei has been studying at the Imperial College for the past two days, but he didn't go to other places. After leaving the office, he went home directly. Prince Yu's Mansion sent someone to see Mr. Wei two days ago, but he didn't go to the mansion.

Today, the people in the Wei Mansion are coming in and out as usual, they are all going out to buy, and no one has been found in contact with people from other mansions. "

After thinking for a while, the master reported Wei Guangde's two-day itinerary to Xu Jie.

"What about his fellow countrymen? I remember you said a few days ago that he drank with his fellow countrymen in private?"

Xu Jie asked again after recalling carefully.

"That time, the Criminal Division hosted a banquet for Ouyang Yijing, the officials of Jiujiang Mansion in Beijing. Among the people who went there was Mr. Wei, the head of the Criminal Department, Duan Mengxian, and the Procuratorate to observe the government."

The servant replied, as if he had just remembered it, he added: "This Zhang Dao is a Jinshi of the present science, and he was elected into the Metropolitan Procuratorate by the Ministry of Officials, it seems that Wei Guangde secretly found someone to manipulate him.

However, as an observer of politics, he doesn't seem to have the right to be a censor, so he should not be able to impeach others unless he is jointly signed by a censor. "

"Duan Mengxian Zhang Dao"

Xu Jie just read the two names lightly, then closed his eyes and began to think.

I don't know how long he squinted, it seemed that he realized that the head of the mansion was still standing in front of him, so he waved his hand again to let him go down.

At the same time, at Dong Fen's house, Dong Fen knew that Wei Guangde hadn't replied to the greeting card today, but he became more and more irritable in his heart.

After all, he is already a minister, so he didn't vent his anger on others or throw things around like others who didn't like him. Hiding and not daring to show his head in front of him.

However, his eyes became clearer, and Dong Fen's anger gradually subsided. He was alone in the study room, cursing Wei Guangde in his heart.

From Dong Fen's point of view, as a minister, it's considered benevolent to Wei Guangde to wash his horse like this. He didn't expect him to put his nose on his face and pretend.

He sent someone to send him a greeting card, but he dared not reply.

Not only was it disrespectful, it was a total disregard for him.

"I am a dignified minister of the Ministry of Rites, and I am afraid that you will not succeed as a small official in Zhan Shifu."

Dong Fen thought to himself, and began to think about how to deal with the current situation.

Wei Guangde seemed unwilling to meet him, if he went rashly, it would be even more embarrassing.

At this moment, after venting his temper, Dong Fen returned to his senses and began to think about his next plan.

Even if you want to trouble Wei Guangde, you have to settle the score after the autumn, and try your best to pass the current test first.

He didn't try his best to find a way to deal with Wei Guangde like ordinary people, but he still had to take the initiative to show his favor and try to resolve the conflict with Prince Yu's Mansion is the top priority, but he has already made a note of Wei Guangde in his heart.

"Send someone to the door again?"

Immediately, Dong Fen shook his head.

I have already sent a post once, and if I can't send someone again immediately, I will lose face.

"Look for a middleman? Ask Wei Guangde to meet for a drink?"

Immediately, Dong Fen thought of an idea.

You Wei Guangde don't want to see me?
I'll find a middleman, invite you and me to the banquet together, and see how you react when the time comes.

Dong Fen had an idea in his heart, and immediately he was determined, and then he began to think about who should be the middleman.

The first choice, of course, is that the officials of the Ministry of Rites are the best, and I am his immediate boss, so I can make decisions.

Secondly, it is best to be either Wei Guangde's fellow countryman, or his same year.

There are such people in the Ministry of Rites, and there are quite a few of them, but these people have little official positions, how should I handle this matter.
The next day, thanks to Emperor Jiajing's laziness, the officials didn't have to get up before dawn, they just had to make sure to clock their oots on time, which allowed everyone to sleep for an extra hour.

"Squeak"

The thick wooden door was pushed to make a harsh friction sound, and the two vermilion doors were opened inwards. On the door plaque were the four characters "Tongzheng Shi".

While the concierge was cleaning the front of the gate, one after another, officials from the General Administration of Political Affairs came one after another, signed the booklets one after another, and then walked into the yamen talking and laughing in twos and threes.

Not long after, he arrived in front of the Tongzhengshisi's door in a small sedan chair, and as the bearer lowered it forward, an official in Tsing Yi got out of the sedan chair.

After getting off the sedan chair, he tidied up his official uniforms a little, and then walked into the office of the Tongzhengshisi Yamen.

After he walked in, the yamen guards who were cleaning both sides looked in surprise.

So early in the morning, officials and lords from other yamen came here, usually for the impeachment memorial, thinking that they would be sent to the cabinet in the first class.

If it was something else, insignificant, most of these officials would not come here so early, but go to their own places first before coming here.

"I don't know which hapless guy got impeached today."

"Nobody's been here for a while."

"Never mind him, there will be news from inside in a while, guess what."

A few people talked in a few words and continued to clean the ground hard.

Not long after, the Tsing Yi official who had just entered strode out again, and the small sedan chair waiting beside him was immediately carried to the gate of the yamen. After he got on the sedan chair, he was carried away to the direction of the imperial city.

This person, of course, was Ouyang Yijing from the Criminal Division, who came to the Minister of General Affairs early this morning, and handed in the memorial to impeach Dong Fen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites.

After he left the Tongzheng Envoy Si Zhengtang, the officials inside exploded.

Dong Fen and Dong Shangshu had a bad time, and they were impeached as soon as they were promoted, and the impeachment was still the major crime of colluding with the Yan family.

Lord Long Live has just executed Yan Shifan, is he going to cleanse the Yan Party again now?
The officials inside were discussing a lot while registering the memorial according to the procedure.

When it comes to purging the strict party, many people in the general affairs department are more or less related to the Yan family.

You know, this is the first site that Yan Song fought for power in the court.

At the beginning, after Yan Shifan figured out the operating procedures of the Ming court, the first Yamen that Yan Song had to take down was the Tongzheng Envoy.

After all, it is a place where the traffic is facing inside and outside. If there is any trouble outside, the Tongzhengshi is undoubtedly the first place to get the news.

For the memorials that are unfavorable to the Yan family, the Secretary of General Affairs can delay sending them to the cabinet for half a day, so that they have time to study countermeasures and tidy up.

"No way, I just saw Mr. Dong giving gifts to Yan's family before. At that time, whoever didn't send things to Yan's family should not be purging the Yan family's party members."

Speaking of purging the strict party is undoubtedly the topic that makes officials of all sizes in the capital turn pale.

How many Beijing officials have never sent gifts to the Yan family, even Yu Wang and Xu Shoufu, are they also Yan's party?
"This man named Ouyang Yijing, isn't he impeaching Dong Shangshu and the Yan family's activities? Oh, yes, it's about Dong Fen taking money from the Yan family, not giving money to the Yan family."

Finally, someone discovered that the content of Ouyang Yijing's memorabilia was different from what they used to take for granted.

Well, as long as the Yan family is mentioned, most people will always think of sending gold and silver treasures to the Yan family. This is the first time they have seen someone impeached because they took benefits from the Yan family.

"Then Dong Shangshu is brave enough to collect money, probably because he wants to save Yan Shifan."

No one pays attention to the content of the memorandum, as long as they know that Ouyang Yijing told Dong Fen that it is related to the Yan family, it is enough for them to make up a lot of content, and the official who was in charge of copying the copy of the memorandum smiled bitterly and watched his colleagues guessing there, but did not want to talk go in.

Thinking that he has nothing to do with Yan's family anyway, he sent money to Yan's everywhere, but is that a problem?

I was persecuted by the Yan family, and I had to send it away as a last resort, in order to protect the official, um, that's what happened.

Picking up the copied copy, his colleague Ren was still discussing there, so he went straight to the back and sent the original copy of Ouyang Yijing's Memorial to the Tongzheng Envoy, who had already filed the copy away.

The officials outside the main hall listened to the conversation of the officials and masters inside, and soon got the general idea of ​​the matter.

Then, Dong Fen actually took money from the Yan family, and the news that he wanted to rescue Yan Shifan flew to a yamen in Beijing as if he had wings.

If Yan Shifan was still there and had not been punished by Ming Zhengdian, the Beijing officials might still have to worry about things turning around, but everyone was killed, so who would worry about anything else.

Originally, anti-Strict father and son were the embodiment of political correctness.

At the moment, when the Yan family is down, there are still officials who dare to collude with them and try to save people.

For a while, Dong Fen's status in the hearts of Beijing officials plummeted.

What are the basic requirements for being a Minister of Rites?
First of all, it is necessary to have profound knowledge and extensive knowledge, and be familiar with the subset of classics and history and the etiquette system.

Secondly, they must have considerable talent and experience, be proficient in the norms, procedures and details of the etiquette system, and have excellent writing skills and administrative capabilities.

In addition, what is more needed is to have noble morals and integrity, to have the quality of incorruptibility and integrity and a high degree of loyalty.

If Dong Fen is such a money-greedy and ungrateful person, what face does he have to sit on the front seat in the lobby of the Ministry of Rites and hold the seal of the Ministry of Rites.

The Ministry of Rites is in charge of court etiquette, sacrifices, banquets, education, imperial examinations and foreign affairs activities.

If the Minister of Rites is such a person, who can guarantee that the imperial examination can select talents fairly, and will not betray the country and seek glory when interacting with foreign countries.

After Ouyang Yijing returned to the Sixth Division, within an hour, he was surrounded by his colleagues, and everyone asked him about Dong Fen's receipt of money from the Yan family.

Regarding these inquiries, Ouyang Yijing was not afraid. With the evidence collected by Prince Yu's Mansion, he also sent someone to check it secretly, and now he is speaking impassionedly about his findings.

Ever since, after confirming that Ouyang Yijing had the evidence that Dong Fen took bribes from the Yan family, the people from the Sixth Division spurned Dong Fen as a man, and at the same time loudly stated that they would also impeach him in a memorial. Such a person is not worthy of staying. In court, work with them.

This matter has developed to a state that everyone in the capital's officialdom knows, but Dong Fen doesn't seem to notice it. He is processing official documents in the duty room at the moment, looking for official documents related to the target people he chose in the ministry.

As Lord Shangshu, how could he call these sixth- and seventh-rank officials to his room for no reason.

It wasn't until a family member rushed in to inform him of the news of Ouyang Yijing's impeachment that he suddenly lost his hands and feet and became at a loss.

"You said the memorial has already been handed over?"

Dong Fen asked sternly.

"That Ouyang Yijing has already sent the impeachment memorial to the General Secretary, and it should be sent to the cabinet now."

The servant replied worriedly.

"Quick, prepare the sedan chair for me. I'm going to the cabinet to find Mr. Xu Ge."

Dong Fen was really in a panic at the moment. The Minister of Rites accepted bribes. He really didn't know how those mad dogs from the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Division would jump up and bite him. He had to discuss a countermeasure with Mr. Xu Ge as soon as possible.

"Ouyang Yijing, Ouyang Yijing."

When he got out of the yamen and got on the sedan chair, Dong Fen still gritted his teeth and cursed this person repeatedly in his heart. At this time, he had already forgotten that there was Wei Guangde.

Before the general envoy sent the memorial, Xu Jie had already received the news in the cabinet.

Sighing, he knew that Ouyang Yijing's performance must have been arranged by Wei Guangde, and the matter was irreversible.