Fang Yingwu was full of doubts and couldn't help but ask: "This man is not actually a servant, but a brother of the same clan, just following and serving. I think there are so many good people in the world, why does the factory owner favor him?"
Shang Ming said calmly: "As my adopted son, due to my status, it will be impossible for me to study literature and start a career in the future. The only way is to become a military official. I will ask your majesty for the favor of a military officer position, like a hundred households of Jinyiwei.
However, since you want to be a military attache, it is best to be tall, strong, and have outstanding military skills. Literary talents are really of little use. Even if it is not good, you can also be a strong man who holds an umbrella in front of the emperor.
I just saw your servant in Dongchang. He is young and strong, taller than anyone else, has a strong back and a strong waist, and has a good appearance. He is also a strong man who can fight one against five. At the same time, he is not stupid at all.
So it is very suitable for me. I would like to borrow it for a few days. What do you think? Of course, God’s will is vague, but I just have to do my best and obey God’s will.”
So that was the case, Fang Yingwu suddenly realized that Eunuch Shang was indeed thinking ahead. Although he didn't understand what genes and heredity were, he also knew how to find good candidates for military attachés based on the conditions.
He then replied: "This man is called a servant, but he is not actually a domestic slave. Since the factory owner has called me, I will tell him later and see if he is willing."
"I'm not someone who doesn't recognize my relatives. He won't suffer any loss. There is no reason to refuse..." When he said this, Commander Yuan appeared at the door of the hall, and Shang Ming fell silent.
Of course, Fang Yingwu was sensible enough not to bring up the topic of borrowing seeds, but he already knew Shang Ming's intention of calling him here, so there was no need to stay here any longer.
And the biggest reason is that he has to be sensible and can't be a lightbulb all the time. He must make space and time for Shang Ming and Yuan to conduct secret business. It is impossible for the two big bosses to discuss things in front of him.
But thinking about this, Fang Yingwu suddenly understood. Could it be that Commander Yuan had just excused himself to go out for a while, and deliberately avoided it to give Eunuch Shang a chance to talk to him alone?
In interpersonal communication, every move is truly learned. Fang Yingwu sighed with emotion as he stood up and said goodbye to Shang Ming. As expected, Shang Ming did not try his best to retain him and allowed him to leave.
When Fang Yingwu walked to the door, a word floated into his ears, and he heard Yuan Bin ask Shang Ming: "Has the factory owner seen Eunuch Qin Chang recently?" Further down, Fang Yingwu had already stepped across the threshold.
, and no longer heard it.
But just by hearing the name Qin Chang, Fang Yingwu could guess a lot of the inside story. This is also an important role.
Qin Chang was also the eunuch Bingbi of the Si Li Supervisor, and was actually the second-in-command of the Si Li Supervisor. Shang Ming, the second-in-command, was not worthy of his name and spent most of his time hanging out in the East Factory outside the palace.
If the emperor does not see his ministers, if there is an edict, it will be conveyed to the outside world by Huaien and Qin Chang. Huaien serves as the eunuch. Sometimes it is inconvenient to move lightly, so Qin Chang is more often responsible for the liaison between the emperor and the ministers.
.
If we use the terminology of the 21st century as a metaphor, Qin Chang is equivalent to the great secret beside the emperor.
Yuan Bin asked Shang Ming about Qin Chang. What does this mean? This means that Shang Ming and Qin Chang are accomplices. At least the relationship is very close.
Yuan Bin himself had a good relationship with Huai'en, the eunuch and eunuch of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, both of whom were old men of the Yingzong family. This is probably why Shang Ming invited Yuan Bin for discussion, because he took a fancy to Huai'en behind Yuan Bin.
Fang Yingwu guessed that Eunuch Shang and Commander Yuan were going to stick together to keep warm on this matter today. You asked Huaien to come forward. I asked Qin Chang to come forward and let us all get through the difficulties together.
Huai'en and Qin Chang are both great eunuchs who can talk to you at will. If they can both make a few excuses in front of your majesty, they can at least offset some of the slanderous remarks made by Wantong or Concubine Wan Gui.
The forces in the palace are complicated and complicated, and they are not at all simpler than those in the court. When encountering things, they are like the vertical and horizontal alliances in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Sometimes it is so dizzying that it is difficult to see clearly.
Although Fang Yingwu guessed it, it was useless. He was not qualified to participate in this game. In fact, he was very eager to try it, but in the end he could only secretly lament that the hero had no use.
He originally thought that when he arrived in the capital and relied on his own skills to assist his father, he would be like a fish in water, but now it seems that it is not that simple.
The biggest gain is not only being able to rescue my father from the prison, but also gaining a lot of knowledge. Other than that, the only thing I can do is gain some reputation. It is difficult to intervene in actual matters.
If you want to be qualified for admission, you should first study honestly and down-to-earth, and then pass the exam step by step. If you can't pass the exam, you should find another way, such as supervising students.
When Fang Yingwu walked to the gate of Shang Ming's residence, Fang Yingshi quickly came out of the gatehouse and caught up with Fang Yingwu.
Seeing him, Fang Yingwu remembered Shang Ming's entrustment and smiled: "A few days ago, you were still complaining that no woman would defect to you. Today there is an opportunity. I wonder if you want to hear it?"
Fang Yingshi was a few years older than Fang Yingwu, but his family was poor and twenty-year-old man was a bachelor, otherwise he would not have made up his mind to follow Fang Yingwu out to explore the world.
It is impossible to say that he has no feelings for women at this age. Fang Yingshi asked with interest: "Brother Qiu, what do you have to say?"
Fang Yingwu felt funny when he thought about it. He pointed to Shang Ming's mansion behind him, "There are dozens of beauties there, waiting for you to mine them. What do you think?"
Fang Yingshi looked back in panic, "Brother Qiu, do you want me to die? I just found out that it is Eunuch Shang's mansion!"
"What if Eunuch Shang personally invites you to go?"
How could Fang Yingshi believe it, "Brother Qiu has always been careful with his words, why are you talking so freely today? Don't make random jokes to me."
"I'm not talking nonsense. Eunuch Shang has no children, but he wants to raise a son. He has dozens of beauties in his house, but he is also looking for a man, but he has fallen in love with you."
Fang Yingshi was dumbfounded, thinking that the world was full of wonders. There were many eunuchs looking for adopted sons. It should be said that any eunuch who had a good reputation would adopt a son, but there were very few who worked as diligently as Eunuch Shang.
Fang Yingwu looked at Fang Yingshi and was speechless for a long time because of the news, "I wonder what you think?"
Fang Yingshi has not read as many books as Fang Yingwu, has no serious status, and has little moral restraint. Moreover, his temperament is not timid. When he suddenly heard that there were dozens of beauties waiting for him, he felt a little ready to move. Quite a bit.
The feeling of "my ax is already hungry and thirsty".
But rationally, I feel that this is too shameful and embarrassing, and it would be uncomfortable to be pointed at by others.
Finally, Fang Yingshi came to his senses and said embarrassedly: "I don't know. Brother Qiu, you are a person with ideas. Please make this decision for me."
Fang Yingwu curled his lips and said, "The factory boss has spoken to you. This kind of thing is probably too forceful. Whether you want it or not is your own business. I won't say anything, you can just think about it yourself."
But Fang Yingshi gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind, and patted his chest and said: "I have followed Brother Qiu for so long, and I am a person who knows his shame! It is better not to do such a thing as a beast!"
"That's fine! You are worthy of being the person next to me!" Fang Yingwu was of course indispensable, "But if you don't even do the things of an animal, wouldn't you be worse than an animal?"
Fang Yingshi was stunned, and continued to struggle with whether to behave like an animal or worse than an animal, and unknowingly returned to the Zhejiang Guild Hall.
When I met Shopkeeper Huang in the front hall, Fang Yingwu said hello as usual and was about to go over. But Shopkeeper Huang called Fang Yingwu to stop him, "There is Mr. Yao of Zhongyi Bookstore. Someone is looking for you!"
Fang Yingwu looked around and saw no one else waiting in the hall, and asked, "Is it because you couldn't wait any longer, so you left?"
Shopkeeper Huang replied: "Not here. I'm waiting in the small hall next to it."
Fang Yingwu was a little puzzled, and followed Shopkeeper Huang to the side hall. He saw a beautiful young lady in her twenties sitting inside, and suddenly realized that it was really not suitable for a woman to sit there.
Waiting for someone in the crowded lobby.
Shopkeeper Huang introduced Fang Yingwu: "This is Mrs. Zhang who lives in Mr. Yao's room." Then he said to Mrs. Zhang, "This is Mr. Fang."
The woman in Mr. Yao's room was obviously the woman Yao Qian was looking for locally. But she didn't have any status, so she had to be called vaguely.
After the shopkeeper Huang finished the introduction, he took the initiative to retreat, leaving Fang Yingwu and Zhang alone to talk.
Mrs. Zhang stood up and said that the other party would be a blessing. Before she could say anything, tears kept falling out. She wiped her tears again and said, "My master is in trouble. I beg you, Mr. Fang, to save you!"
Fang Yingwu was shocked, "I saw you two days ago and everything was fine. How come you're in trouble?"
Mrs. Zhang sobbed: "Today, someone from Dongchang suddenly broke into the bookstore, claiming that Zhongyi Bookstore committed adultery and took away my master!"
Hearing the word "**", Fang Yingwu automatically thought of nouns such as Jin Ping Mei. However, this strange book must not have been published during the Chenghua period, but it is possible that there will be signs of ** novels.
I can't tell that Mr. Yao is quite sanctimonious. On the day he opened the business, he sternly said to himself that he would never print any obscene books... I'll ask him to borrow a few books later to have a look. They might be masterpieces that have been lost to later generations.
It wasn't Fang Yingwu's malicious speculation, otherwise what kind of ** would Mr. Yao dare to print? To slander Jing Nan? To slander sages? To insult the emperor?
I understand that even if Mr. Yao is brave enough, he would not dare to print such a book, so he can only think about books. This kind of book is just a side project, and it is up to the government to take care of it.
After thinking about this, Fang Yingwu comforted Ms. Zhang and said, "Don't worry, Dongchang Fanzi is only chasing wealthy businessmen for money, and it won't hurt people's lives. It will be resolved slowly."
Fang Yingwu was confident in what he said. Shang Ming, the director of the East Factory, and Wang, the Eunuch of the West Factory, had completely opposite styles.
Eunuch Wang was young and energetic, and he specialized in stirring up troubles in the court, which annoyed the ministers. But Eunuch Shang was in charge of the East Factory, but he rarely provoked the courtiers and concentrated on his activities among the people.
The most common business is to spy on the various faults of rich people, and then take the opportunity to arrest the rich, but without harming people's lives, just for money. And this time, Mr. Yao Qianyao won the prize.
But as long as the money arrives, Dongchang will definitely let him go without any harm. In this regard, Eunuch Shang has a good reputation...
Mrs. Zhang continued to cry: "This time I can only count on Mr. Fang. I heard from my family that Mr. Fang can even talk to Mr. Ge."
Fang Yingwu smiled bitterly, no wonder he came to help a foreign scholar like himself, but Elder Ge and Dongchang, which is directly under the emperor, are two different things. Elder Ge's face may not be useful in Dongchang.
However, it is understandable that Yao Qian has not been in the capital for a long time, and he has not long since opened. He is probably already familiar with the lower-level management organizations such as the Jingxian County Government and the Military and Horse Division.
The relationship has not yet been established, so it is understandable that his family members were so sick that they sought medical treatment to find him.
Fang Yingwu turned his head and said to Fang Yingshi, who was waiting at his side: "Brother Shitou, you are so proud that I may ask you to sacrifice your life. You can't be worse than a beast."
ps: The status is sluggish, so I did the first update yesterday.