After meeting Zhao Junchen, Peng Ji first angrily insulted Yao Rang.
Obviously, the communication between him and Yao Rang was not smooth.
Zhao Junchen was mentally prepared for it. He always felt that Yao Rang, the old eunuch, was not easy.
It is obvious that Yao Rang is already over fifty. Among the powerful eunuchs Zhao Junchen has seen, only Liu Qing, the eunuch in the inner study, is older than Yao Rang, and only Deqing is older.
The emperor's eunuch Zhang De was about the same age as him.
The inner court has always been full of intrigues and unscrupulous despicable villains. Coupled with Emperor Deqing's frequent purges and rectifications, ordinary eunuchs would not live to be old, but Yao Rang can live smoothly now.
At such an age, this situation is enough to explain a lot of things.
Even if he was originally just a piece of rotten wood, poisonous mushrooms must have sprouted from him till now.
So, Zhao Junchen asked: "What's going on? Tell me in detail."
Peng Ji cursed and said: "After I met Yao Rang, I was unwilling to reveal the existence of you, Zhao Gechen, at first, so I hinted that I would embezzle a batch of supplies from the military warehouse, hoping that he could turn a blind eye.
I once thought that this old eunuch had been pretending to be stupid and pretending that he didn't understand at all. Even if his humble position promised him benefits, he was completely unwilling to respond to any promises!
In desperation, he had no choice but to move Zhao Gechen out, saying that this matter was because Zhao Gechen wanted to return the useless things in the Jinzhou camp army warehouse to the national treasury to fill the deficit of the household department. As a result, the old eunuch said...
…“
Zhao Junchen raised his eyebrows and asked, "What did he say?"
"He said that he fully believes in your impartiality, Zhao Gechen! So he is willing to personally assist and do your best for Zhao Gechen!"
Having said this, Peng Ji frowned and his expression was sinister.
Yao Rang's words may seem like good words, but the deeper meaning is somewhat sinister.
Yao Rang said that he believed in Zhao Junchen's impartiality, which meant that he would also act impartially and would truthfully report everything that happened in Jinzhou Camp to Emperor Deqing;
Yao Rang also said that he was willing to personally assist and serve Zhao Junchen. The implication was that he wanted to personally participate in the specific process of this matter, and by the way, closely monitor Zhao Junchen's every move.
Therefore, it is no wonder that Peng Jihui was so embarrassed.
If Yao Rang was allowed to closely monitor every move of Zhao Junchen and Peng Ji, and report everything truthfully to Emperor Deqing, then it would be difficult for Peng Ji to pocket the 30,000 kilograms of gold promised by Zhao Junchen.
Given Emperor Deqing's temperament, once he heard that a mere garrison officer had secretly intercepted 30,000 kilograms of gold that should have been returned to the treasury, Peng Ji would no longer be able to live a stable life for the rest of his life.
Compared to Peng Ji who was extremely embarrassed, Zhao Junchen remained calm.
He arranged for Peng Ji to have contact with Yao Rang, originally just to take the opportunity to test Yao Rang's position and temperament.
But now, Zhao Junchen understood a little bit why Yao Rang was out of tune in the inner court.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Junchen said: "In that case, I will personally come out to contact him! Peng Shoubei, please send a message on my behalf again and invite Eunuch Yao to see me."
Peng Ji shook his head and said: "There is no need to deliver a message for you because of my humble position. Eunuch Yao also said that he will come to see Zhao Gechen in person soon."
Zhao Junchen smiled slightly and said: "It saves trouble!"
However, at this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door, and Linghu Guang's report came from outside the room: "To report to Minister Zhao, there is a military attache from one hundred households in Liaodong Town who is anxious to see Peng Shoubei. It seems that he has something important to report."
After receiving Zhao Junchen's nod of approval, Peng Ji turned around and responded: "Commander Linghu, please bring the military attache from the Hundred Households into the room to talk."
After hearing Linghu Guang's agreement, the footsteps gradually faded away. Peng Ji hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but suggest to Zhao Junchen: "Zhao Gechen, there is a sentence that I don't know whether I should say even a humble person, that is... you let me
Linghu Guang has been following him all this time and allowed him to run errands and do things behind the scenes. I'm afraid there are some hidden dangers! Linghu Guang... is absolutely untrustworthy in his humble position!"
Zhao Junchen smiled softly again and said: "It doesn't matter, don't worry, I have my own arrangements."
As soon as Zhao Junchen finished speaking, he saw a Jinzhou householder hurriedly enter the room. He didn't even bother to salute Zhao Junchen, and reported to Peng Ji in a hurry: "Peng Shoubei, you just went to see Yao, the eunuch of the Supervisory Army.
After letting him go, Yao Rang sent a fast horse messenger to leave the Jinzhou camp and head towards the capital. However, he was stopped by his brothers looking for excuses. He just didn't know how long they could continue to block him. Do you think what to do with this fast horse messenger?
Ma Xingshi? Do you want him to leave smoothly?"
After hearing the report, Peng Ji's expression changed and he cursed again: "This old castrate really wants to report the news to the central government of the capital! He was kind-hearted to join him and share the benefits with him, but in the end all his good intentions went to the dog's mouth.
!”
After scolding, Peng Ji looked at Zhao Junchen again, his expression full of viciousness, and asked softly: "Zhao Gechen, if we don't do one thing, we won't stop..."
Then, Peng Ji raised his hand and made a gesture of slitting his neck, obviously intending to kill someone and silence him.
Zhao Junchen shook his head and said: "Yao Rang doesn't know the details, let alone how many things we have to move. Even if he wants to inform the center, it is just some rough information. There is no need to be too nervous, just let the messenger
Let's leave... As for how Yao Rang wants to deal with it, we can wait until I personally contact him."
At this point, although Zhao Junchen has not yet figured out exactly how he is going to deal with Yao Rang, he has already figured out his specific means of dealing with Peng Ji.
*
After about a quarter of an hour, the eunuch Yao Rang finally asked to see Zhao Junchen in person.
At this time, it was already approaching noon, so Zhao Junchen specially arranged a simple banquet to entertain Yao Rang. The two of them ate and talked. Wang Shizhen, the governor of Liaodong, Huang Ke, the inspector-general of Liaodong, and Peng Ji, the garrison of Jinzhou, sat beside him.
After seeing the banquet set by Zhao Junchen, Yao Rang squeezed out a smile on his naturally sad face, and seemed a little embarrassed, saying: "Zhao Gechen, you are so polite, you are a nobleman, and our family has a high status."
How can a humble slave be qualified to receive such hospitality from you! I can’t afford it, I can’t afford it..."
Zhao Junchen smiled and said: "You are the eunuch who supervises the army. I need your help for many things in Jinzhou Camp. Naturally, I want to entertain you well and take the opportunity to get closer. It will be more convenient for future cooperation."
tacit agreement."
After saying that, Zhao Junchen took the lead and sat down. After Yao Rang hesitated for a while, he finally carefully sat next to Zhao Junchen, but he still sat with half of his butt next to the edge of the stool, as if he was ready to get up and serve Zhao Junchen at any time.
.
As soon as Zhao Junchen picked up the wine glass, Yao Rang suddenly jumped up, picked up the wine flask and carefully poured a glass of wine for Zhao Junchen.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but be stunned.
He originally thought that Yao Rang's self-contemptuous remarks just now were just polite, but now looking at Yao Rang's performance, he found that the old eunuch's position in his heart was really just a humble slave, and his reaction on the spot was completely different.
It seems like a fake.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Junchen said slowly: "I'm sorry to say that I have contact with the various yamen of the inner court from time to time, but I don't know much about Yao Neichen. I only know that Yao Neichen is now the supervisor of the Liaodong Army, but I don't know much about Yao Neichen.
Yao Neichen’s past experience, so now I want to get closer to Yao Neichen, but I don’t know where to start.”
Zhao Junchen's statement was obviously trying to find out Yao Rang's background.
After Yao Rang hesitated for a moment, he said: "Speaking of which, there is indeed some fate between our family and Zhao Gechen."
"Oh? What's the reason?" Zhao Junchen asked while carefully observing the changes in Yao Rang's expression.
Yao Rang's expression was a little complicated, and he said: "Our family used to be... from the East Palace. From the birth of His Highness the Crown Prince, our family has been responsible for taking care of him for twenty-two years! I heard that Zhao Gechen and His Highness the Crown Prince are now separated.
It turns enemies into friends, so this can be regarded as the fate between you and our family."
Zhao Junchen's eyes suddenly flashed.
This Yao Rang was actually the close eunuch of Prince Zhu Heyu!
Considering the age gap between Yao Rang and Prince Zhu Heyu, it is not an exaggeration to say that Prince Zhu Heyu was brought up by the old eunuch in front of him!
Zhao Junchen asked again: "Oh? Then why did Yao Neichen not continue to stay in the East Palace to serve His Highness the Crown Prince, but instead became a military eunuch in Liaodong Town?"
Serving as a military eunuch in Liaodong Town is not only a hard job, but also a dangerous job. In fact, let alone the military eunuch in Liaodong Town, even the guarding eunuchs in the prosperous areas of Jiangnan are far inferior to Prince Zhu He.
The eunuch who accompanied Yu next to him.
You must know that once the crown prince Zhu Heyu successfully ascends the throne, even if the eunuchs accompanying him will not continue to accompany the emperor, they will still have a great chance to take charge of the Chief Ceremony Supervisor. It can be said that the future is bright, but Yao Rang can only serve as the Liaodong Town Governor now.
The eunuchs who oversee the army are naturally "reduced".
Yao Rang's expression became more complicated and full of bitterness. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Zhao Gechen, you also know His Highness the Crown Prince's views on eunuchs in the inner court. He hates eunuchs interfering in politics! Once, our family couldn't help but remind His Highness the Crown Prince.
In one sentence, he was told to pay attention to the villains around him. As a result, His Highness the Crown Prince was offended, and our family was quickly sent back to the inner court! Our family has been living in the inner court for several years, but has never been welcomed, so again
He was assigned a job as a eunuch of the Liaodong Town Supervisory Army."
No wonder I had never heard of the reputation of Eunuch Yao before. It turned out that he had fallen out of power many years ago.
Afterwards, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but fall into thinking again.
The little people around Prince Zhu Heyu...
Given Prince Zhu Heyu's temperament, no matter how much he disliked eunuchs intervening in politics, he would definitely miss his old friendship and would never easily drive away Eunuch Yao, who had single-handedly brought him up.
Obviously, the "little person next to him" whom Eunuch Yao reminded him must have a very important status and be of great significance to Zhu Heyu. That's why Zhu Heyu had such a violent reaction and drove him away directly.
Yao Rang.
And besides the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, who else could this "little person" be?
Perhaps Yao Rang was vaguely aware of the ambition of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, so he reminded Zhu Heyu not to trust Zhu Hejian easily. However, Zhu Heyu was still a naive and stubborn person at the time. When he saw Yao Rang, he actually wanted to separate himself from Zhu Hejian.
After expressing their brotherly love, he was naturally furious, so he drove Yao Rang away directly.
But after all, Yao Rang is the old man from Donggong who raised Zhu Heyu single-handedly. Even if Zhu Heyu drives him away, he will definitely pay attention to his follow-up situation. Therefore, even if Zhu Hejian is angry at Yao Rang's "estrangement", he will not
Dare to kill Yao Rang easily, so he first ignored Yao Rang for a few years. After Zhu Heyu gradually stopped paying attention to Yao Rang, he secretly sent Yao Rang to Liaodong Town as a military eunuch.
In this way, maybe Yao Rang can be killed by Liaodong Town. Even if Yao Rang is not killed, Yao Rang can be kept away from the capital and Zhu Heyu!
According to information from Liaodong Town, after Yao Rang was appointed as the eunuch of the Liaodong Town Supervisory Army, he immediately became pale and panicked. Then he had trouble sleeping and eating for several days, and even secretly cried a few times.
Such behavior may not necessarily be because Yao Rang is afraid of Liaodong Town's methods, but it may also be because Yao Rang is worried that after he is far away from the capital, he will no longer be able to help Zhu Heyu and keep an eye on Zhu Hejian.
If you think about it carefully, after Yao Rang went to Liaodong Town to serve as a military eunuch, Zhu Hejian gradually became active and gradually gained a wise reputation among the government and the public.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen secretly thought: "Although Yao Rang, the old eunuch, had long guessed that he was an unpopular and marginalized figure in the inner court, he did not expect that there would be such a huge windfall! Look!
It seems that this time I came to Jinzhou Camp to take charge of logistics matters, not only did I definitely not lose money, but I also made a profit!"
*
Many calculations flashed through Zhao Junchen's mind, but on the surface he remained calm and continued to entertain Yao Rang at the banquet. It seemed that he deliberately wanted to bring the relationship closer between the two parties, but he did not discuss any serious matters with Yao Rang.
But after the banquet was over, Zhao Junchen suddenly dismissed all the other people, leaving only Yao Rang to talk privately.
"Yao Neichen...what do you think of the seventh prince?"
Afterwards, Zhao Junchen did not beat around the bush and asked straight to the point.