prosperous age

Chapter 587 Chapter 586
While Chen Ju opened and closed his mouth, he uttered a piece of news that Wei Guangde didn't expect.

"Hu Zongxian may have to come back."

Wei Guangde looked at Chen Ju in a daze for a while, but didn't understand what happened behind it.

"Hu Zongxian, wasn't he dismissed by His Majesty? He is far away from the capital, so how can he recover?"

Wei Guangde couldn't figure it out, he hesitated and asked.

"At the beginning of the year, I don't know what method Hu Zongxian used to get through the relationship between Zhang Hong and Zhang Gonggong, and sent fourteen volumes of secret arts to His Majesty."

Chen Ju said in a low voice.

These have actually revealed the emperor's preferences, and Hu Zongxian's offering of treasures can be regarded as a secret in the palace, so Chen Ju acted very cautiously.

However, he also knew that when Yan Song's party members were liquidated, Emperor Jiajing might have thought that Hu Zongxian had been diligent in the king's affairs in Zhejiang for many years, encircling and suppressing the Japanese pirates. , were still wiped out in his hands.

Therefore, during the incident in Nanjing, Lu Fengyi impeached Yan Song of his party and the ten crimes of adultery, fraud, and corruption. Nine years, people are speechless. I am tired of offering auspiciousness, and I am sickened by evil spirits. And the initial discussion was awarded the fifth-class seal. If I add a crime, who will be in charge of me in the future? The release order stays idle."

Because of what Emperor Jiajing said, the cabinet and the Ministry of Punishment both opened up the case of Hu Zongxian on the Internet. They did not convict him, but released him directly and let him return to his hometown to live.

"Hu Zongxian, Hu Zongxian, he actually has the guts to become an official, hehe, it's great to be an official."

After Wei Guangde knew the secret of Hu Zongxian's recovery, he sneered.

It is true that Hu Zongxian is only in his fifties at this time, and he is also a second-rank official in the dynasty. It is not surprising that he has the idea of ​​​​resurrection, and he can work for several years no matter what.

It's just that Hu Zongxian obviously didn't see the current situation clearly. Maybe he thought that Emperor Jiajing had lenient him back then, and that was because he was still favored, so after returning to his hometown for two years, he became more active.

Can he come back?

Of course not.

Wei Guangde was already annoyed by the officials queuing up for promotion, if Hu Zongxian got up again, it would be jumping the queue.

There are only so many official positions in the imperial court, Wei Guangde doesn't want to give up now, as long as there are official positions vacant, he wants to take them up, he is really forced by Zhang Juzheng.

No matter what, he couldn't be thrown too far by Zhang Juzheng.

He couldn't compare to Gao Gong, so he could only take Zhang Juzheng as his target.

"Wanhua has a heart."

Wei Guangde cupped his hands at Chen Jugong and said.

He understood that he sent this news today, and it was very timely.

Although Chen Ju and others in the palace have no personal experience of the attitude of Prince Yu's mansion towards Yan Song's party members, they can know it.

Hu Zongxian, that is the person with the highest official position in Yan Song's party, so he is naturally the target of the courtiers' cleaning up.

If Emperor Jiajing hadn't changed his attitude back then, the current Hu Zongxian wouldn't have known he would have been assigned to guard the border in that barren land.

You must know that although most of the members of the strict party were not sentenced to death, many were dismissed and assigned.

To put it bluntly, it was worse than killing them.

Moreover, with the hat of the strict party, they will never turn over, unless Yan Shifan really turns over this time.

It's just a pity that Yan Shifan was so smart that he didn't expect that someone would guess in advance, and even more so, he arranged all the suspicious people out of Beijing for official business, so that he would lose the help of hidden party members in Beijing and be unable to turn himself around.

After all, even if you have the ability to penetrate the heavens and penetrate the earth, you can be confined in a prison, unable to display your abilities, or you can only wait for death.

"Is Your Majesty thinking about getting someone to join the cabinet?"

Right now, if Hu Zongxian recovers, he will either continue to serve as the governor of the local area, or he will stay in the capital, regardless of his rank, even if his official position is low.

Thinking about Yan Na's official career, I judged that Emperor Jiajing would continue to install people in the cabinet, disperse Xu Jie's power, and avoid a situation where one person dominates.

Among the six Shangshu, there may be two positions vacant at once.

The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials, Hu Zongxian would definitely not be able to get involved, and the Ministry of War is suitable for him, but he already has Yang Bo, and the remaining three ministries, how Emperor Jiajing will adjust it is impossible to think of for a while.

"The cabinet will definitely have to fill people, but how to arrange it is not what I should know."

Chen Ju said casually, although the tone was very casual, but Wei Guangde also knew it was true.

Perhaps, the words and deeds on weekdays will reveal some of the emperor's thoughts, but the only one who can really guess is Huang Jin, the old eunuch who has been accompanying him all the time.

"Okay, it's getting late, and I have to go back to the palace."

After sitting for a while, Chen Ju stood up and said goodbye, "It's been a long time since I came to Shandai. Today I think of it, so I come here to sit."

Wei Guangde sent the man out of the house, and then returned to the backyard to rest.

To deal with Hu Zongxian, Wei Guangde didn't need to waste his brain, as long as he disclosed the news to Xu Jie, out of deep hatred for the Yan family, Xu Jie could handle things beautifully.

Wei Guangde didn't take this matter to heart, and wandered back to the backyard to watch the children.

In the early morning of the next day, Wei Guangde got into the carriage after going out and told the coachman Zhang San: "Go to Prince Yu's Mansion."

Wei Guangde didn't plan to go to Zhang Juzheng or Xu Jie to spread the news from the palace. If there was a mistake, he might not be able to escape the charge of spying on the secrets of the palace.

Prince Yu's Mansion is just right. The people in Prince Yu's Mansion are actually under the management of the inner court, but they are allocated to the Palace to serve the prince.

The carriage arrived outside the gate of Prince Yu's Mansion, Wei Guangde got off the carriage, and the guards of the Palace naturally would not stop him.

In the past years, Wei Guangde's carriage came here every day, that is, the number of these two years has been less, but the guards are not unfamiliar.

An official who is highly valued by the prince, the future is limitless.

After Wei Guangde entered the palace, he quickly called a servant over and asked him to find Li Fang and Eunuch Li.

After all, he is the intelligence chief of the palace, and it is most appropriate to entrust this kind of work to him.

Not long after, Wei Guangde saw Li Fang.

"Master Wei, you have arrived at the palace so early, but what's the matter?"

Now that Wei Guangde goes to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, if he wants to see King Yu, he will definitely not come until the afternoon.

He arrived at the palace in the morning and asked someone to look for him, so something must have happened again.

"Hehe, Eunuch Li, you still understand me."

Wei Guangde happily answered.

After the two sat down and a servant brought tea and cakes, Wei Guangde asked, "Eunuch Li, do you know the relationship between Zhang Hong and Hu Zongxian?"

"Zhang Hong? Hu Zongxian? What's the relationship between the two of them?"

There were only two people in the room, and Li Fang didn't need to pretend to respect the big eunuchs in the palace, but he still asked suspiciously.

Zhang Hong is also the No. [-] figure in the palace, and one of the eunuchs who are in charge of the ceremony, and Li Fang can't help but be indifferent.

"I heard that at the beginning of the year, after Gao Zhong fell ill, the supervisor of rituals sent memorabilia to Yongshou Palace every day. Isn't it just that several pens take turns to do it?

At that time, Zhang Hong once presented fourteen volumes of secret arts to His Majesty, and it is said that His Majesty was very pleased. "

Wei Guangde said softly.

"Is there such a thing?"

Li Fang lowered her head and recalled for a moment, as if she remembered the note with this record, but she couldn't remember it clearly.

Wei Guangde continued: "Eunuch Zhang did not find the fourteen volumes of the secret technique, but someone else."

"Hu Zongxian?"

At this time, Li Fang understood how the relationship between Zhang Hong and Hu Zongxian was involved.

Hu Zongxian knew that the emperor liked Taoist things, especially books on cultivation, so he searched around and collected fourteen volumes of secret arts.

As for which eunuch in the palace to contact, that's simple, just find whoever is suitable.

Zhang Hong is the target chosen by Hu Zongxian.

Naturally, Zhang Hong would not refuse such a great thing as presenting treasures to the emperor.

He also knew Hu Zongxian's heart, but just as Hu Zongxian thought, Zhang Hong certainly knew how he got out of prison two years ago, and he was not sure about Emperor Jiajing's attitude towards Hu Zongxian.

If Emperor Jiajing really had the heart, it would not be a loss if he could be appreciated by the emperor for his little effort.

As for whether it will cause dissatisfaction among the ministers in the court, who cares about the people in the inner court.

On King Yu's side, Zhang Hong also considered it, but it seemed more important to gain the attention of Emperor Jiajing.

Anyway, he is serving his master. After all, his master is now Emperor Jiajing, not King Yu.

"If His Highness finds out, he will definitely be angry again."

Li Fang sighed softly, "Your Highness has always opposed His Majesty's practice of these Taoist secret arts, especially those like elixir. Hu Zongxian would actually offer this thing to His Majesty. He really deserves to die."

"Your Majesty should have mentioned Hu Zongxian again in Yongshou Palace recently. It seems that he has the intention to get back to him."

Immediately afterwards, Wei Guangde threw another bomb at Li Fang.

"Qifu, Qifu is good, go back to the capital, and see how Mr. Xu Ge and the others make him."

The members of the strict party are not only the enemies of Prince Yu's mansion, but also the enemies of Xu Ge's old line. The two groups came together because Yan Song's party was too powerful to resist.

In fact, Li Fang had already thought about this point.

In fact, King Yu not only met Wei Guangde many times in private, but also met Gao Gong many times, but without exception, Li Fang was present inside and outside the house.

Gao Gong has complained many times in front of King Yu that Mr. Xu Ge is corrupt and perverts the law, and shows signs of forming a party for personal gain.

Having said that, Gao Gong still did not forget to remind King Yu not to fight against Xu Jie. Both parties intend to maintain goodwill towards each other, so continue like this.

Perhaps, in the eyes of outsiders, Xu Dang is a member of Prince Yu's Mansion, but only a few people in the Palace know that it is not the case at all.

However, what he saw was Wei Guangde shaking his head.

"Why, Shan Loan thinks it's so inappropriate?"

Li Fang asked hesitantly.

"Eunuch Li, what official position was Hu Zongxian when he was dismissed? If he is really allowed to return to the court, what official position will His Majesty arrange for him?"

Wei Guangde said in a low voice.

"Governor, Minister of the Ministry of War, hiss."

As a senior official of the imperial court, Xu Jie might not be able to move if he returned to the imperial court to occupy this position.

It can only be said that at the beginning, Li Fang thought of Hu Zongxian simply, and forgot that the most glorious feudal official in the Ming Dynasty was once.

"To prevent him from becoming an official."

The next moment, Li Fang said decisively, "Whatever you want me to do, Shandai just say it."

Li Fang didn't bother to ask Wei Guangde for the source. Anyway, Hu Zongxian's name was also in King Yu's notebook, or the list of officials from the Yan Party who had slipped through the net, King Yu kept all of them.

These people, in the Jiajing Dynasty, may now think that they have not been held accountable for their past achievements, but King Yu will not.

If the Yan family hadn't been acting as minions for tigers like them, how could they be so unscrupulous, even daring to bully the prince.

"Eunuch Li should be in contact with Mr. Xu Ge, as long as we disclose this news to him, let him find a way to prevent Hu Zongxian from returning to court."

Wei Guangde spoke.

"This is a decision made by the palace. How can the foreign court stop it? What's more, His Majesty hasn't mentioned this matter yet. Elder Xu Ge can't say that Hu Zongxian is not a good man."

Li Fang hesitated.

"But if His Majesty really makes up his mind, it will be too late to stop it."

Wei Guangde said leisurely.

"How are you going to handle this?"

Li Fang was a little anxious and at a loss. In his opinion, everything was on the emperor's mind, and it was really hard for others to talk about it.

Covering it, I can't find a reason to stop it, and uncovering it, it's not guessing the emperor's heart.

"Hehe, Eunuch Li, what are you in a hurry for?"

Wei Guangde smiled and said casually.

"Shan Loan, have you already thought of a way, tell me quickly."

At this moment, Wei Guangde and Li Fang seemed to be grasping at straws, who were still calm after seeing the big picture.

King Yu must be notified of this news later, but having a way and having no way are two different things.

If you can find a problem but can't solve it, King Yu will look down on you, but if you can find a problem and solve it, His Highness will undoubtedly look up to you.

"Jiangnan is confiscating Yan's family and several party members. Most of those in charge are the disciples of Mr. Xu Ge. When passing on the news to Mr. Xu Ge, let them focus on the correspondence between these people and Hu Zongxian. As long as they are willing, There's always something to be found."

Wei Guangde knew that this time Xu Jie and the others searched Yan's family and others, such as Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing and others, of course they were rushing to eradicate the roots, and they would not give the remnants of the Yan Party any chance.

Knowing that Hu Zongxian, an important member of the Yan Party, might rise again, Xu Jie was probably more anxious than anyone else, and would definitely do everything possible to stop it.

I mentioned something to Li Fang, because I was afraid that if Xu Jie didn't think about it, this would be the best excuse to investigate Hu Zongxian.

As long as he looked for omissions in the correspondence between him and Yan Dang at the beginning, magnified his mistakes, and reported them directly to Emperor Jiajing, he would be dealt with without anyone noticing.

Otherwise, it would be really difficult for a dishonest official to find an excuse to deal with it.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

Li Fang said three good words in a row.

It would not seem abrupt to find Hu Zongxian's criminal evidence from the searched official's home and then send it to the capital.

From the very beginning, Li Fang worried that she could not find a reason to deal with Hu Zongxian.

Everyone has already returned to their hometown, and they are not in the officialdom, so how can they commit crimes.

He has been dealt with before, so we can't use Yan Shifan's treason case to drag him in again. Hu Zongxian was not involved in the original criminal evidence.

It seems much easier to bring Hu Zongxian in by confiscating the criminal official's family letter.

Li Fang would not consider whether Hu Zongxian made any mistakes and omissions and would leave them in the letter. Didn't Wei Guangde say, "As long as you have the heart."

He understood what it meant.

(End of this chapter)