The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 59
The news of Li Guang's mansion being raided soon spread, and Tu Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, hurried to find the chief assistant, Liu Jian. The two met in the private house in Dongjiang Mixiang at noon.

"Chaozong, why are you so anxious to meet at this moment?" Liu Jian asked.

"Li Guang is dead, but he committed suicide in fear of crime." Tu Yu came up to tell him what he knew, "His mansion was also confiscated, and a lot of gold and silver were confiscated."

Liu Jian breathed a sigh of relief: "This is a good thing."

But Tu Yu sighed, with a helpless look on his face.

Liu Jian heard the urgency in Tu Yu's words, sensed the clue, and asked, "Could it be that you were involved in it?"

"Ugh!"

Tu Yu sighed, "In the past few years, the operation of the Ministry of Officials has been mostly controlled by internal officials. Whenever there is a vacancy in an official position, the memorials related to the appointment and dismissal of personnel, as short as ten days, and as long as one or two months, there is no reply from Zhu Zhu. Some simply stay in the middle of nowhere. It is a last resort to go out of the way."

When Liu Jian heard this, he was a little annoyed.

This is tantamount to saying that the Minister of the Ministry of Officials who held Li Guang in the past was also involved in Li Guang's embezzlement and bribery case. If it spreads...do civil servants have any face?
"As far as I know, apart from me, there are many colleagues in the court involved. The Jinyiwei has found out the account book of Li Xie's record of receiving gifts, and sent it to the emperor. Even the commander of the Jinyiwei, Mou Xiao, has no way to interfere. If His Majesty continues to investigate, I am afraid that there will be a big shock in the court."

Tu Yu is now taking advantage of the stability of the imperial court to try to persuade Liu Jian to come out and make things better.

But how could Liu Jian be willing to wade into this muddy water?

"Who else?" Liu Jian asked coldly.

Tu Yu kept his secrets secret: "Not all, at least Xu Shiyong from the Ministry of Rites has a share."

This is about Xu Qiong, the current Minister of Rites.

Liu Jian said coldly: "Now that the matter has not happened, don't get confused. Let's not talk about what is recorded in Li Guang's booklet. Even if he really remembers it, how can his family's words be used?"

"That's...don't admit it?" Tu Yu probably heard Liu Jian's meaning.

Giving gifts to Li Guang, the impact of this matter is too bad, it will almost affect the reputation of the civil servants to be honest and honest, especially if you are the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, which makes the court descend from the king, how can you believe that civil servants can help the country?
At present, besides using death as an excuse to deny it, is there any other way?
Liu Jian said: "Try to find a relationship, go and mention it to Eunuch Xiao of Dongchang, and see if he is willing to help."

Tu Yu heard that even if he knew that he was forced to give the gift, Liu Jian still wanted to stay out of it.

Tu Yu sighed, "Right now, that's the only way to go."

……

……

Just when Liu Jian gave Tu Yu a suggestion to go to Xiao Jing, Xiao Jing had already given a big gift to Zhang Zhou's mansion.

Zhang Zhou personally went to the door to greet him, but when he saw that Xiao Jing had only brought a few entourages and didn't even bring a suitcase, Zhang Zhou's welcoming expression became less enthusiastic.

"Eunuch Xiao, didn't His Majesty ask you to bring anything?"

What a snobbery.

Xiao Jing seemed to see through Zhang Zhou's essence, but for some reason, he had no hatred for Zhang Zhou in his heart.

People who have stayed in the power field in the palace for a long time are most afraid of hypocrites, not "true villains" like Zhang Zhou, and Zhang Zhou is not a villain, how can I see a villain who dares to speak out against the king, and dares to speak out? Did you fight to the end with a pampered and powerful man like Li Guang?

"Bring it with you. Your Majesty ordered to prepare a house for Mr. Zhang. It is just outside Dong'an Gate in Qingqingfang. The house in the third courtyard is enough for you to live in." Xiao Jing said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhou changed his expression immediately: "It's not bad, it's really a good place."

Clarification Square, equivalent to the surrounding area of ​​Wangfujing in later generations, stands the Ten Kings’ Mansions of the Ming Dynasty and the North Pavilion of Huitong Hall, the political and diplomatic core of the Ming Dynasty, and no matter how many ministers want to settle there, they cannot afford a house there.

How could Zhang Zhou be dissatisfied with the Qingmingfang mansion given to him by Zhang Zhou when he first arrived?

"The deed..."

Xiao Jing was embarrassed for a moment.

Ordinary people are honored to give officials a place to live, but this is good for you, and you still want to take the house as your own?

"Not without it? If there is no house deed, then if I want to change to a big house in the future, wouldn't it be...a fly in the ointment." Zhang Zhouzhou looked melancholy.

Xiao Jing said helplessly: "It will take time to vacate the official residence, and it will be converted into your private residence, Mr. Zhang, and you need to go through the registration and other things. There is no rush, you might as well go back and have someone take you Go and have a look, see if you are satisfied, and talk about other things?"

Zhang Zhou nodded in satisfaction: "That's how it is. Eunuch Xiao, please take a seat inside."

Xiao Jing couldn't help but startled.

Listen, if our family doesn't bring you something, you don't intend to invite our family to sit in?

You are so philistine and stingy, do you still want to hang out in the Ming Dynasty Hall?
……

……

The main hall of the courtyard, where Zhu Feng was received before, was replaced by Xiao Jing this time.

Xiao Jing smiled and said, "The yard is pretty good."

"It's rented, no matter how good it is, it's someone else's yard. Besides, the surrounding area is complicated, and it will affect my preparation for the exam." Zhang Zhou complained.

"Ha ha."

Xiao Jing smiled, "Mr. Zhang, you are really straightforward."

Zhang Zhou curled his lips and said, "It's just this habit, I can't change it. Eunuch Xiao, is there anything else?"

Xiao Jing immediately took out something that looked like an imperial edict, and Zhang Zhou hurriedly stood up with a solemn expression, ready to respectfully accept it.

"There is no need to be formal." Xiao Jing said, "This is an edict from His Majesty to bestow Yin's son as Jinyiwei Qianhu. You can take it back to Nanzhen Fusi, and someone will take care of it for you."

This time it was Zhang Zhou's turn to be embarrassed.

He took Xiao Jing's stuff and held it in his hand, it was really sweet.

Treating the emperor's daughter and warning the fire in the palace, the emperor finally had a conscience and did not treat him badly, so even if he failed the exam, he didn't have to worry about how to live in Daming.

In this day and age, money is not enough, but power is also needed, otherwise, no matter how much money you have, it will become someone else's.

"In addition, His Majesty ordered Mr. Zhang to take care of the rebuilding of Qingning Palace." Xiao Jing added.

Zhang Zhoudao: "How do I know this? At most, I can provide some references in terms of material selection."

"what?"

Xiao Jing thought to himself, you said that materials are the most important when rebuilding, it seems that you still care about materials?

Don't you realize that when you choose the ingredients, you are the most lucrative, and you deliberately mention it so that the emperor will hand over the fat to you?

"there's one more thing……"

Xiao Jing hesitated and hesitated.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Eunuch Xiao, you have read the brochure, but I haven't. If there is something that is not easy to talk about, just don't talk about it. I am a soft-spoken person, and I can't afford it."

"What?" Xiao Jing suddenly realized, he stood up and stared at Zhang Zhou with wind all over his body, "Mr. Zhang is really clever."

Zhang Zhou was at a loss: "How can I not understand what Eunuch Xiao said?"

Xiao Jing said with a bitter face: "Mr. knows that the account book not only records the quantity of white rice and yellow rice, but also records the name, official position and detailed gift time of the person who gave the rice, so he deliberately ignores it and asks our family to donate it." Your Majesty, so that you can stay out of it!"

Zhang Zhou hurriedly said: "Eunuch Xiao, I don't know what is recorded on it, don't wrong a good man."

Maybe Xiao Jing believed it when Zhang Zhou first came two days ago.

But now that he was killed, he didn't believe that Zhang Zhou didn't figure it out.

Xiao Jingdao: "Now that the booklet has been presented to His Majesty, His Majesty has read it. It is really... unsightly... Five of the six ministers are listed, and countless are the military officials of the court. Although your Majesty has not Directly order a strict investigation, but judging from the current posture... I am afraid it is..."

Zhang Zhou sighed: "If we really want to investigate to the end, I'm afraid there will be a big storm."

"So Mr. Zhang must give an idea." Xiao Jing looked at Zhang Zhou with a begging look on his face.

Zhang Zhou asked, "Did His Majesty ask you to speak?"

"No... both our family and Eunuch Dai..."

While waiting, Xiao Jing made his words clear.

At this time, even if the emperor doesn't order it, can the old eunuchs who are close to themselves, the supervisor of ceremonies, not think about sharing the king's worries?

Besides, what can the emperor say about this matter?
There are so many people involved in the involvement of the ministers of the DPRK and China, and they want to calm down the matter, but also fear that they will be punished by the heavens if they disagree with the principles of justice... Zha is also afraid that the involvement will be so wide that it will disturb the government and the public, and destroy the stability and unity of the dynasty.

Zhang Zhou's face turned cold and said: "Eunuch Xiao, I can tell, you want me to deceive you, right?"

"Ah? Mr. Zhang, our family has no such intention." Xiao Jing quickly explained.

Zhang Zhou stood up slowly, and responded in a cold tone: "Eunuch Xiao, if you investigate or not investigate what is before your Majesty, it will cause future troubles, but you and Eunuch Dai want me to use the name of Tianji to persuade you Your Majesty will not investigate! The minister who gave the gift is at peace, and the court is stable, but I have ruined the world’s upholding justice in the way of heaven! Playing in front of the secret hall, what is it not to deceive the emperor?"

"Ah...this...this..."

Xiao Jing panicked.

Xiao Jing's original intention was, of course, to let Zhang Zhou use secrets to fool the emperor.

Let Zhang Zhou be the peacemaker.

But Zhang Zhou knew that it was not easy to be a peacemaker. As Li Guang was a moth of the country, it was the most basic justice to investigate the person who gave him the gift. .

In history, it was Zhang Heling who came to be the "bad guy" and lobby the king, because Zhang Heling didn't care about reputation at all, as long as others gave him gifts, he would take over any job.

But this time, the Qingning Palace caught fire and Li Guang's death was all driven by Zhang Zhou.

At present, the emperor's trust in Zhang Zhou has reached the point where it cannot be increased, Xiao Jing wants Zhang Zhou to mediate, and does not think about others.

"However, from my point of view, those who gave gifts to Li Guang cannot be generalized. If someone wants to use gifts in exchange for fame and fortune, these people should not be let go, and their official positions should also be removed, and the government should be restored. .But if in order to maintain the operation of the yamen, you have to go to dredge...Eunuch Xiao, wouldn't you be involved in this?"

Zhang Zhou's words made Xiao Jing faint instantly.

Xiao Jing lowered his head and said, "Nothing can be hidden from Mr. Zhang, including our family's name."

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Sure enough, if the fire didn't burn himself, who would be in a hurry? I can consider helping you with this."

Only then did Xiao Jing look at Zhang Zhou with his eyes grasping at straws.

For Xiao Jing, he didn't want the emperor to investigate, it was for the overall situation and selfishness, he still wanted to continue working as the admiral of the East Factory, if he was investigated, he would definitely pack up and leave.

By the way, this is a position that can be squeezed out casually, which eunuch doesn't love money?
(End of this chapter)