At the end of November of the fifth year of Wanli, the investigation into the assassination of Zhang Wenming finally came to an end, and a total of 3,660 people were dealt with to varying degrees.
Because Dong Jianxiong was sold into the Dong family when he was a child, his relatives could not be traced. The Dong family had already been broken up and lived in Shoutian, Songjiang. They were convicted of "leading assassins and plotting evil", and the three tribes were barred.
Shen Jing, the famous dramatist who wrote a letter of introduction to Dong Jianxiong, was only twenty-four years old at this time, but he was elegant, refined, and studied music very well. He was like everyone else. Because he was implicated in this case, he himself was sentenced to death, and his family The whole family moved to the northeast.
There are dozens of families including the Gu family in Yingtian Prefecture, the Deng family in Jiangxi, and the Yao family in Nanzhili. Some of them held literary conferences to recommend Dong Jianxiong, and some made wild remarks to attack the New Deal on different occasions. The heads of the families were all sentenced to death, and members of the three families were exiled. Northeast, or flow to Yunnan, Hainan, from the home of bells and cauldrons, they were crushed into dust.
It is impossible to describe the misery of these ruined families. The pampered son-in-law, the charming young lady in the boudoir, and even the infants have all had their fates completely and ruthlessly changed. They lost their warm comfort homes and were thrown into the Working hard in a world of ice and snow or in a scourge-ridden wilderness "atones" for sins that have nothing to do with it.
The assassination of Zhang Wenming is one of the major political events in the history of this time and space. Although the murderer of Zhang Wenming was arrested, the background and instigators have become a real historical mystery. Many film and television works of later generations have been produced since then, and many mixed love stories have been written. A story of love and hatred, but the truth of the matter can never be reproduced.
At that time, the blood and tears of these unjust victims, together with the miserable cries of thousands of people, left only a short sentence in the "Records of the Holy Emperor": "Because of Zhang Wenming's assassination, the emperor was furious and destroyed dozens of houses in the south of the Yangtze River. Nanjing Imperial College offered wine to Yao Hongmo and hanged him."
...
In Nanjing in December, the wind was blowing fiercely. This golden land fell into silence in broad daylight due to the sleet and snow brought by the sudden cold wave.
On the stone road in Sanyuan Alley, Nanjing, there was first the sound of rapid horse hooves. Then Feng Bangning, who was stuck at home and lazy in the cold weather, heard a banging knock on the door from the front yard in the middle hall.
Immediately, the housekeeper came to report that someone from the capital was coming. He did not want to reveal his identity, but asked to see Feng Bao. Feng Bangning knew that only a few people in the world knew that Feng Bao lived in Sanyuan Lane, Nanjing, so he did not dare to neglect and went out to greet him in person.
Surrounded by several soldiers in brocade clothes was a fair-faced eunuch. When Feng Bangning came out to greet him, he was taking off his cloak and patting the snow water on it. Although the eunuch was wearing a sixth-grade uniform, his face was solemn. The two looked at each other. Feng Bangning That is to say, he is a first-class figure in the palace.
When the eunuch saw him trotting all the way to the camp, he put his cloak into the arms of the person next to him, raised his hand and saluted: "But in front of Feng Dong's family? A certain person is the deputy general manager of Qianqing Palace, surnamed Wei. I have something to ask to see Feng..." Eunuch Feng."
When Feng Bangning heard that the most favored eunuch of the emperor had arrived, he was surprised. He didn't show any emotion on his face and quickly greeted him with a big gift. Wei Chao bent his waist slightly and moved aside, not daring to accept his full attention. present.
Then he heard Wei Chao say: "Take me to see Eunuch Feng. Don't delay if anything happens."
Feng Bangning said with a smile: "Yes, yes. My uncle happened to be at home today, so Eunuch Wei invited me in." Wei Chao nodded, and the two guards in golden clothes beside him followed him and walked towards the inner courtyard with Feng Bangning.
Feng Bangning led them through the moon gate next to the central hall, walked into the aisle, turned right and opened a door, and then entered a sparse and bright courtyard. Wei Chao thought about it and knew that this courtyard was the house next to Feng Bangning's house.
Renovation of the back garden.
The courtyard has been transformed into the layout of a northern courtyard, without the flowers and rockeries found in Jiangnan houses. The floor is paved with square bricks, and a gravel-paved corridor in the middle looks empty.
The courtyard gate is opposite a house facing east and west. There are three steps in front of the door, and there are no carved beams or paintings. There are two railings under the eaves in front of the north and south side rooms to enclose the verandah, where several powerful men are sitting.
, looking at the visitor boredly.
When Wei Chao saw that the main room did not face north or south, he felt awkward at first. Then he saw those men holding swords, and some even carried walking bows that were not allowed for civilians to hold. He was beating a drum in his heart, and he couldn't help but look around and follow him in.
The two royal guards.
One of the Jinyi guards saw him looking at him and nodded to him with a smile. Wei Chao calmed down and followed Feng Bangning to the front of the main house. He cursed in his heart: "You are a pheasant that has lost its feathers. You have such a big air. You haven't done it yet."
Come out and greet our family!"
Feng Bangning was also a little embarrassed. He walked to the main room with a smile, knocked twice, and then pushed the door open. There was a large case in front of the door, and a wooden screen behind the case. Feng was wearing a cotton robe.
Bao, with his head lowered, placed a stack of manuscripts in his hand on the right side of the case.
Feng Bangning bent down and said: "Uncle, Eunuch Wei from Qianqing Palace has arrived." After the big case, Feng Bao said "hmm", without raising his head, he pointed to the chair on the south side in front of the big case and said, "Sit down first, and you can go pour it."
——" He looked up and said, "Here comes a bowl of tea."
At this time, the Wei Dynasty saw Feng Bao, the former internal minister of the empire. He saw his gray hair and wrinkles on his face as if carved by a knife. He murmured in his heart: "Why is he so old?" Thinking back to those days.
I could only take a look at this powerful "ancestor" from a distance, feeling mixed emotions and secretly fearful.
Although Feng Bao raised his head and saw Wei Chao, he did not speak and continued to sort out the manuscript slowly. Wei Chao felt angry and stood quietly, determined to compete with Feng Bao in endurance.
Feng Bao didn't hear the sound of people sitting down. He raised his head and glanced at him, with a slight smile on his face. He tilted his head and said, "Sit down. What are you doing standing there?"
Wei Chao was full of anger, but he didn't dare to show up. He forced a smile on his face and said to Feng Bao: "Don't sit down on the ground for now. Let's finish the emperor's business." Then he said to Feng Bangning and the Jinyi guards beside him: "You guys go out first.
.”
Then he pointed to one of the Jin Yiwei and said, "Give me that baggage." The Jin Yiwei handed him a small baggage that he had been carrying.
Feng Bao frowned, and the smile on his face became wider. He said: "But the secret words? Isn't it convenient for them to hear?" The two exchanged these few words. Wei Chao did not salute, and Feng Bao went straight and stood aside.
Feng Bangning looked confused.
Wei Chao nodded and said: "Yes, the Emperor has ordered that only you and I can be present." After hearing this, Feng Bangning quickly stepped back and went out, and the two Jin Yiwei followed him out.
Wei Chao saw no outsiders and was about to speak when Feng Bao raised his palms to stop him. Wei Chao was just wondering when Feng Bao struck each other with his palms. With a snap, two men in black clothes came out from behind the screen, which frightened Wei Chao.
One jump.
Feng Bao gave another high-five, and another one jumped down from the rafter. He obviously had kung fu on his body, and there was only a low "pop" sound when he landed. Wei Chao was stunned when he heard Feng Bao say: "This is Eunuch Wei from Qianqing Palace. He just You heard what I said."
The three people were speechless and bowed out of the room. Wei Chao's heart was beating wildly with fright, and his mouth was dry for a while. He finally calmed down and said: "Feng, the place where Eunuch Feng is in is so dangerous, it is necessary to do this." Tight protection?”
Feng Bao smiled slightly and did not answer his question. He just said to Wei Chao: "You can talk now, there are only two of us now."
Wei Chao looked around the house suspiciously and then at the beams. Feng Bao did not stop him and waited quietly.
When Wei Chao saw that there was nothing unusual in the room, he took out a sealed letter from his arms and handed it to Feng Bao. Feng Bao was stunned and asked in a low voice: "The emperor just asked you to deliver the letter?"
Wei Chaodao: "Yes. The emperor asked you to see this first."
Feng Bao walked out from behind the big case, washed his hands in the copper basin on the wooden stand next to him, and picked up the white cloth on the stand to dry them. When he walked to Wei Chao, he asked in a low voice: "Is this an edict? ?" As he asked, his knees bent down.
Wei Chao shook his head and said, "Your Majesty's original words were: 'Give this letter to Feng Bao.' So this is a letter." After hearing this, Feng Bao smiled again on his face and straightened his body.
Wei Chao was very close to him, and when he saw the expression on his face, he felt that the meaning was difficult to understand. He felt as if he was feeling the pressure of Mount Tai, and his smile was almost a bitter smile.
He didn't know why, so he handed over the letter in his hand. Feng Bao took the envelope and returned to the big desk. When he put the letter on the desk, he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed five times and three times at the letter.
Wei Chao was startled again by his neurotic behavior, and his heart went crazy. He didn't know what kind of illness Feng Bao had.
After Feng Bao stood up, he picked up the paper knife on the desk and neatly cut the envelope. After taking out the letter and scanning it, his expression changed drastically. Then his body began to shake and big beads of sweat appeared on his face. Wei Chao felt Something was wrong with the situation today, so I couldn't help but take a few steps back, getting closer to the door.
Feng Bao turned his back to the door and put down the letter. He said hoarsely: "Your Majesty also asked you to bring my silver medal secret box. Where is it?"
Wei Chao stammered: "In this baggage, give it...to you."
Feng Bao turned around, with an expression on his face that seemed to be crying or smiling. Wei Chao overcame the fear in his heart and took two more steps to hand over the small bundle. He still stuttered: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty told me. After the matter was done, Feng Bao whispered: "You can't leave." Wei Chao was completely frightened and exclaimed: "Why?"
Feng Baodao: "Your Majesty asked you to stay here." After Wei Chao heard this, half of his three souls and seven souls were lost, his voice was no longer his own, and he was speechless. Feng Bao then said: "Wait for me for two quarters of an hour. , you can leave."
Wei Chao let out a long breath and felt that Feng Bao today was full of evil. He initially thought that the emperor's letter to Feng Bao told him to stay in Nanjing and never return to the palace, so he was almost scared. At this time, he heard Feng Bao only stayed with him for a while, then he breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest.
After Feng Bao returned to the big case, he picked up the emperor's letter and read it again. Then he took out a pen and paper and wrote quickly - Wei Chao guessed that he was writing a reply. In less than a quarter of an hour, Feng Bao wrote three pages. paper, and after stopping writing, put the paper filled with words aside to dry.
Under the gaze of Wei Chao, Feng Bao took out a strange-shaped key from his arms, opened the baggage, and took out the silver medal secret box inside. Wei Chao clearly saw that he was writing in a careless manner when writing the letter.
My hands were trembling a little at this time.
Feng Bao finally inserted the key into the small lock and opened the box. What he took out was not the memorial that the emperor had approved on the secret memorial. Instead, he took out a small paper package. He opened the paper package gently and said to Wei Chao: "You know
What is this?"
Wei Chao glanced at the white powder in the paper bag, his heart seemed to jump out of his chest, and he said hoarsely: "This, is this arsenic?"
Tears finally rolled down Feng Bao's face and he whispered: "Yes, this is arsenic. Your Majesty asked you to watch here, and asked me to eat this bag of arsenic in front of you."