Eight hundred and fortieth chapters labor and wealth
Eunuch Qin came out of the back hall of Queen Fang and went to the front hall to visit Emperor Jiajing again.
Emperor Jiajing still closed his eyes and lay on the couch with his head raised. There was an indescribable smell surrounding him, which even if he lit incense could not completely cover it up.
Nowadays, there are four main people who have been guarding Emperor Jiajing for a long time. The eunuch is Huang Jin, the emperor's companion, the two royal guards are Lu Bing and Xu Miaojing, and the national preceptor Tao Zhenren is responsible for praying.
Everyone else is fine, they know what they are doing and why they are doing it.
Only Xu Miaojing couldn't quite understand why his brother-in-law and eunuch Qin kept him here, guarding the half-dead emperor.
He is neither the emperor's companion who has been with the emperor since childhood, nor the emperor's brother-in-law, nor the emperor's spiritual mentor. It seems that he has no affection for staying here.
Xu Miaojing just vaguely guessed whether her brother-in-law regarded him as a backup insurance.
Of course Xu Miaojing is also happy with this. Although he was led astray by Qin Dewei, he is not a person who particularly likes to fight for power.
Compared with the intrigues and intrigues outside, there is actually something quiet and peaceful around Emperor Jiajing now.
Xu Miaojing stayed here, sometimes feeling like a hermit hiding away from the court. He liked this feeling very much.
Anyway, there is a brother-in-law working hard in the court outside, so just lie down by yourself.
When the Qin eunuch came to visit Emperor Jiajing again, Xu Miaojing was still a little surprised.
Eunuch Qin had already come once before meeting the queen. He didn't expect to come again after meeting the queen.
But Xu Miaojing didn't think much about it. The minds of these big shots were too complicated, and it was of little use if he didn't think about them. Anyway, he just accompanied them.
Before the dragon collapsed, Eunuch Qin stood silently.
Originally, everything was in a good situation, as long as we continued to accumulate strength and carried on steadily and step by step.
After a few more years, when Zhang Zuo is old or gone, he can compete for the position of Supervisor of Ceremonies.
But something like this happened to the emperor, which suddenly disrupted the rhythm.
For me, even if the emperor dies, it is better than living without death.
If the emperor dies, it will be clear that he will change his allegiance to another person, but what is going on now?
Immediately after hearing the news, he had the opportunity to kill the emperor decisively, but another man named Qin was unable to do so due to various considerations.
This was a real embarrassment to my father. Originally, he, Eunuch Qin, did not like taking risks. What he liked was to achieve his goals step by step through careful planning.
But now that the situation has developed to this point, we have to "rush for quick success" again.
Before leaving, Eunuch Qin said to Xu Miaojing: "If anything happens to me, you must tell Qin Dewei. Don't even think about saving me, and you won't implicate him."
Xu Miaojing was very confused. She had never seen Eunuch Qin so confused.
You are all engaged in politics. How could you think that your brother-in-law would take risks to save you?
It is said that Eunuch Qin has behaved abnormally since he lost the support of the emperor. Is this true?
When Eunuch Qin walked out of the palace again, there was already a younger eunuch waiting at the foot of the stairs.
This person was none other than Chen Hong, the confidant eunuch sent by Queen Fang to work with Eunuch Qin.
Chen Hong has always been working as an errand for Queen Fang. Compared with those who are in charge of rituals and eunuchs, or the eunuchs who are in charge of Qianqing Palace, he can certainly be called "low-key". Even the eunuchs and young eunuchs in charge of various yamen are Not as good as that.
But if you ask Chen Hong how he feels recently, it is that his own moment has finally come.
At present, the emperor is unwilling to die, and Empress Fang has snatched the power of managing palace affairs from Empress Dowager Zhang.
Compared with Empress Dowager Zhang, who had the title of regent and had no influence on the government, Empress Fang, who was in charge of palace affairs, actually gained some real power in the inner palace.
As a close confidant of Empress Fang, and a eunuch who had made great contributions and proved himself, Chen Hong's status in the palace certainly increased.
And not only is it good now, but the future is also likely to be bright.
If the emperor dies, Empress Fang will become Queen Mother Fang, a legitimate regent. Her status will only be higher, and she will become the most noble woman in the world.
Even if the emperor wakes up, Queen Fang is still the queen and will not lose anything, not to mention that the queen can still save him.
Chen Hong thought to himself that many people must have seen this clearly, so they chose to bet on Queen Fang at the moment.
For example, didn't the once arrogant Eunuch Qin of Dongchang also come to Wanchun Palace today and show his obedience in front of Queen Fang?
Eunuch Qin looked up at the sky, and then said to Chen Hong: "It's already late today. Go to Dongchang tomorrow morning and discuss the plan together!"
Chen Hong replied: "I often have to serve in Wanchun Palace. It is inconvenient to be away for a long time. Lord Qin might as well come to Wanchun Palace. If there are any results, it is better to report to the empress."
Eunuch Qin just frowned slightly. Chen Hong seemed a little distracted, or was it intentional?
But he didn't show anything, he just said calmly: "My Majesty's will is for you to help me."
Chen Hong then agreed: "Then early tomorrow morning, I will go to Dongchang to meet Master Qin."
Eunuch Qin glanced at Chen Hong a few more times, his mind turned around and he didn't know what he was thinking about, but he said no more and left.
I don't know if Chen Hong just said that he would come to Wanchun Palace to find him tomorrow, whether it was a deliberate test or an unintentional move.
But no matter what, it is unacceptable. Eunuch Qin has never been very ambitious.
The next day, Chen Hong arrived as scheduled early in the morning and came to the Dongchang Yamen Office outside Dong'an Gate. After reporting his identity and purpose of visit, he was ushered into a side hall.
As he walked in, Chen Hong looked at the tight bureau of the Dongchang Yamen Office and the wolf-like guards on duty. Suddenly he felt envious, and he couldn't help but feel a little bit like "a man should be like this".
Admiral Dongchang was nominally the second-largest figure in the eunuch system, and was often the eunuch the emperor trusted the most, which shows the importance of Dongchang.
Although the imperial power declined during this period and Dongchang's status declined sharply, the imperial power could not decline forever.
As long as the imperial power in the palace is revived, Dongchang will still be a powerful tool to intimidate courtiers.
In the past, Chen Hong wouldn't have dared to think about the location of Dongchang, but now he feels that he is qualified to think about it.
If Empress Fang really became Empress Dowager Fang, and the new emperor was just a child, then he, a close eunuch of Empress Dowager Fang, should be the best candidate to supervise Dongchang.
I don't know how long he waited, but before Eunuch Qin came to meet and discuss with him alone, Chen Hong heard the order to ascend to the court.
Then Chen Hong was led to the lobby again, and under the statue of Guan Gong, which symbolized unparalleled loyalty and righteousness, Eunuch Qin held the eucalyptus with both hands, looking majestic.
Below is a pile of large and small stalls and books, as well as the Jinyiwei Official School, holding their breath and standing in awe with lowered hands.
Then I heard Eunuch Qin shouting to his subordinates: "Our factory guards seem to be looked down upon a lot these days. I guess you all feel that way.
Now we must once again prove to the world that Dongchang is still Dongchang!"
Eunuch Qin's words made all his subordinates feel the same, and they all said in unison: "Please give me your instructions, sir!"
Eunuch Qin then said loudly: "Empress Fang, who is in charge of palace affairs, has issued an order for us to knock down the sills of Ciqing Palace. You all must obey my orders!"
I heard that when a group of people went to Ciqing Palace to cause trouble, the few who smashed it up escaped from the palace.
These people are the biggest culprits, and the first priority is to track down the whereabouts of these people!"
A guard in uniform said in embarrassment: "It has been delayed until now for me to trace the whereabouts. It has been a while, so I am afraid it will be difficult to detect."
Eunuch Qin said unmoved: "So the time has come to test the factory guard's ability to do things. As the saying goes, it takes a thousand days to raise an army, but it takes only a moment to deploy it!"
The factory guards have been deployed in the capital for so many years. Last year, Tiqi was added. They immediately mobilized with all their strength and dug three feet into the ground to find someone!
If you can’t find it in the capital, expand to the surrounding areas, and if that doesn’t work, go out to neighboring provinces!”
The stall owners and the royal guards looked at each other in confusion. It was already very difficult to find people in the capital. Do you want to expand to surrounding areas or even neighboring provinces?
What's the difference between that and finding a needle in a haystack? You always have to pay attention to the probability of success when doing things, right?
Eunuch Qin added: "Dongchang is offering a reward of 10,000 taels of silver to find someone to spread the news! I believe that with the big reward, some people will be tempted!"
Everyone was shocked at first. Is it worth paying a huge sum of 10,000 taels to find these people? This is equivalent to the income of an ordinary person in the capital from hundreds to a thousand years!
Immediately, everyone understood that after such shocking news spread, someone with knowledge of the matter might really be interested, and the probability of finding the person would be greatly increased.
Even if he escapes to another province, after the news of the 10,000 tael reward spreads, he might be able to find some clues.
If this is the case, Duke Qin is not completely out of his wits if he wants to find a needle in a haystack, but the cost is a bit high.
Chen Hong was dazzled by what he saw on the sidelines, but he once again had the idea of "this is what a man should do".
With a shout from the hall, a hundred promises from the hall, and with a wave of the hand, the capital can be dug up three feet into the ground, and a reward of 10,000 taels can be thrown away at a glance.
With such style and power, how can one not be moved?
But then Chen Hong shook his head and woke up from his intoxication. He came with a mission, and what Eunuch Qin did was wrong!
In a hurry, Chen Hong raised his hand and shouted: "Wait! Wait!"
Eunuch Qin looked at Chen Hong pretending to be puzzled and asked, "What do you have to say?"
Chen Hong quickly replied: "Master Qin is just doing this, why do you need to make such a big fuss?
Except for a few people who made trouble with the old lady in Ciqing Palace that day, the rest are still in the palace.
If it's just for the purpose of carrying out the affair, it's enough to find those who are still in the palace, why bother bothering the capital or even the surrounding areas, making life difficult inside and outside?"
What Chen Hong means is that you, Eunuch Qin, are doing this just to show your presence in the palace and re-establish your prestige.
Empress Fang decided to do this because she wanted to "finalize" the matter and hit Zhang Zuo by the way.
So it's not for seeking any "truth", it's just for the sake of getting things done. Why do you, Eunuch Qin, have to be so serious!
He knew his own affairs well, and those people who were beating up with sticks were arranged by Chen Hong in order to destroy the face of Empress Dowager Zhang.
Then let these people escape from the palace and hide among the people according to the pre-planned plan.
If we go all out to track down these people, if we find any clues and implicate ourselves, wouldn't we be doing our own thing?
Moreover, only those who participated in the riot and stayed in the palace later could possibly find clues to Zhang Zuo, the chief seal of the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
Therefore, pursuing the investigation in the palace is the correct direction of investigation. If the investigation is carried out with great fanfare outside the palace, even if it is found, it is "one of our own". What impact will it have on Zhang Zuoneng?
Eunuch Qin heard Chen Hong's words and responded: "There were a group of people who made trouble at that time, but those who started smashing things up are serious offenders. It is unjustifiable not to investigate."
Chen Hong didn't know whether Eunuch Qin was really stupid or pretending to be stupid. According to rumors, Eunuch Qin was very smart and capable, but why did he feel like he was not worthy of his reputation today?
If such a person can securely serve as the admiral of Dongchang, then Chen Hong can do the same, and he can do even better!
Chen Hong slandered and advised Eunuch Qin: "You can get twice the result with half the effort by pursuing the investigation in the palace. Raising troops and mobilizing people outside the palace will only waste people and money. It is completely unnecessary."
Eunuch Qin said displeasedly: "Your Majesty, I just asked you to help me with my affairs. What does assistance mean? You can make suggestions, but you are not commanding. This is the East Factory!"
Being contradicted by Eunuch Qin, Chen Hong was also a little angry, "I don't want to command Mr. Qin, I just propose the correct approach. Please listen to Mr. Qin."
Eunuch Qin asked: "Is what you said correct?"
"It must be correct!" Chen Hong replied with certainty, "Only by doing what I do can you satisfy your empress!"
Eunuch Qin said coldly: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Chen Hong was immediately choked. Does Eunuch Qin have any clues? Has he understood the current situation?
Now he, Chen Hong, is the trusted eunuch beside Queen Fang and the person who represents Queen Fang!
Although you, Eunuch Qin, are a high-ranking governor of the East Factory, you are a newcomer to Empress Fang!
This is how a newcomer with an unstable footing talks to an old man? Do you still want to gain the trust of Queen Fang?
Thinking of Empress Fang, Chen Hong stopped wasting words with Eunuch Qin in the East Factory and said goodbye: "I will truthfully report today's situation to the empress."
Eunuch Qin waved his sleeves and said, "Let's go, I won't send you off!"
This attitude made Chen Hong so angry that his teeth itched. Did you, Eunuch Qin, still think that this was the time when Dongchang was most powerful?
Do you know that if the emperor is unconscious, you have lost power?
And now everyone theoretically works for Queen Fang and can barely be considered one of our own!
Are you, Eunuch Qin, sick? He doesn't dare to show his teeth to outsiders, but he only knows how to show off to his own people!
Immediately, Chen Hong left Dongchang, returned to Wanchun Palace in Renshou Palace in Xiyuan, and reported everything he saw in Dongchang to Queen Fang.
Queen Fang was also puzzled. There were many rumors about Eunuch Qin, but none of them ever said that he was stupid. What on earth did he want to do?