On the sea outside the Pearl River Estuary, a sentinel ship moored near a small island.
This is a large ship with a long stern and unfolded sails like a folding fan. It is the flagship of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Coast Guard.
It is made of ironwood, and is equipped with a total of six bowl-mouthed muskets, but they are generally not used. If there is a war, the main purpose is to ram and sink enemy ships or seize them from the side.
Guangdong Deputy Inspector Wang Hong walked to the side of the ship and asked loudly: "Can you see clearly?"
"You can't be wrong! I saw the flag of the Zhang family on the broken ship!"
"Guide the way!"
Wang Hong issued the order with a calm face, and the helmsman quickly maneuvered the boat to keep up with the light sentry ship. The open-hole rudder adjusted the direction in the sea with less resistance and sailed towards the island not far away.
"Taiwan, this is the seventh fleet robbery this year! With the Zhang family's fleet... no, with the strength of the Champaign Tribute Fleet, only Fu from Tuen Mun Island can handle this case.
Langji people.”
"Let's take a look first and then talk." Wang Hong didn't express any opinion on this, but just kept frowning.
After a while, the boat, escorted by three sentry boats, arrived at a small sandy bay on the edge of the island.
The siltation on the sandy bay can no longer be called a wrecked ship, and it seems that it is just a few pieces of plank that have not been completely burned.
"Have you done any searching on the island?" After changing the sentinel boat and getting off the boat near Sandy Bay, Wang Hong walked closer and checked before asking.
"My subordinates have already searched and found no living people or corpses. There are no wild beasts on the island."
Wang Hong felt the wind blowing from the sea, and walked towards the sentinel ship not far away: "Since Mr. Taitai has arranged something, now that we have found some traces, let's check it out carefully. If there is any fighting on the nearby sea,
, it is not far from here, so the wreckage of the ship that was not burned after the thieves killed people and stole goods was able to float here."
"Sir, look at the cracks on the ship's side..."
"I saw it." Wang Hong interrupted him with a frown, "Go back to Hong Kong first!"
His deputy hesitated to speak.
This time, after all, the Zhang family took advantage of His Majesty's first visit to Dabao to come as official tribute envoys to Champa. This was different from the previous six cases where the fleet was robbed.
It's just that they can't find any clues, and there's nothing they can do about it, but the Zhang family... they are Mr. Liang Ge's in-laws, and they are deeply rooted in Guangdong.
The group of people who had been drifting for more than a day returned to the Haiphong Road Water Village at the mouth of the Pearl River. Wang Hong was just about to report the case to his immediate superior, Guangdong Inspector Wang Ziyan, when he heard the servant who was already waiting here whisper to him: "
Sir, letters from Beijing! Mr. Liang Ge retired because of Yang Duan's case in the past."
Wang Hong was stunned for a moment and confirmed: "Because of that case?"
"It's true!" The servant looked a little nervous after receiving the butler's advice.
Wang Hong frowned, and then just said softly: "I know."
When he arrived at Shuizhai Pier, he casually ordered: "Go to the Si Yamen."
Now, Wang Ziyan should be able to breathe a sigh of relief and tell him that he didn't find it, right?
The dignified deputy envoy Si went to sea in person, and Wang Ziyan only sent him there to block the Zhang family's mouth.
Now, I am too lazy to block it for fear of being blocked.
Wang Hong looked to the southeast with a gloomy look: It's just that the Franji people there are getting more and more aggressive!
There was nothing he could do about it. He knew that in the city of Guangzhou at this moment, there was no one but the chief envoy, the municipal shipping department, the inspection envoy, the governor's office... everyone was involved!
The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. How far is Guangzhou from the capital?
…
Outside Chengtianmen, a sedan slowly stopped beside the street.
The sedan curtain was slowly lifted, revealing an old face.
Liang Chu looked up at the sky and asked, "I heard that the Chang Dynasty is getting shorter and shorter nowadays?"
"Sir, it's just that. The various government offices report matters, and the signatures of cabinet ministers are mostly approved. There are also national policy meetings on major matters. There are fewer and fewer things that can be reported to the court."
Liang Chu nodded, lowered the sedan curtain again, and continued waiting here.
His hand hidden in his sleeve gently held a small box and a folding book.
Should... we can see this for the last time, right?
Liang Chu believed in the emperor's wisdom.
Some words should go without saying.
After waiting for another two-quarters of an hour, voices finally began to be heard from Chengtianmen.
It's time to disperse.
"Get off the sedan."
Naturally, the sedan chair had already fallen down, and now it meant that he was going out.
So Liang Chu, who had already served as an official, appeared in front of the court officials. He was dressed in regular clothes, without a crown on his head. He just stood there with a smile, as if waiting for someone.
Even if it is out of politeness, someone will naturally greet you and say a few polite words.
"I have come to return the leisure seal to His Majesty and bid farewell."
He calmly answered why he was here.
After the news was spread back, people who had gone far away couldn't help but look back at him in astonishment: He hasn't returned that stamp yet? It's been a month, and His Majesty didn't send anyone to urge him to return it?
The cabinet ministers did not come out, but they actually knew about this: Liang Chu came in with a thank-you form.
"Mr. Ge... Gao Zhong went outside Chengtian Gate."
When Zhongshusheren came in and finished his report, the four people in Wenyuan Pavilion were silent.
No one said anything.
What is the plan of the outgoing cabinet minister to request to bid farewell to the emperor in person at this time in the name of returning the leisure seal?
Fei Hong glanced at Yang Tinghe calmly. If he had a plan, it must be related to Yang Tinghe.
I don't know why.
Not to be underestimated.
This is the end of a man's life. Who knows what he will say when he meets the emperor, and how it will affect the upcoming selection of cabinet ministers or the chief of the royal study?
The nominally high-status eunuch in charge of the Qianqing Palace, Gao Zhong, was actually a marginal figure.
If Huang Jin had not now been given the title of Chief of Ceremonies and Supervisor of the Imperial Study, Bingbi, Gao Zhong would not be involved in many matters related to foreign ministers.
Now, Gao Zhong stood in front of Liang Chu: "Liang Gong, your Majesty has summoned you."
"The common people thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
Liang Chu returned the gift skillfully, and then followed Gao Zhong inside.
He became an official because of a crime, and was not awarded any false title, so he is now a civilian.
Otherwise, there might be someone with the title of San Gong returning home?
Entering the Forbidden City after a long absence, Liang Chu couldn't help but cast his gaze in the direction of Wenyuan Pavilion.
I'm afraid the four bachelors are thinking about that familiar place now, right?
Let them continue to work hard.
With a faint smile on his lips, Liang Chu passed the Fengtian Gate and walked in.
The energy of the imperial guards seems to be a little stronger than in previous years.
Liang Chu didn't know if this was his imagination, or if he hadn't seen the solemn atmosphere in the forbidden palace for many days.
"In the Zhongyuan Hall?" Liang Chu asked Gao Zhong in surprise when he arrived at the gate of Qianqing Palace.
"Your Majesty has been in the Zhongyuan Hall before noon since your Majesty has left the court." Gao Zhong led the way obediently, "Please, Mr. Liang."
Arriving at the door of the Zhongyuan Hall, Liang Chuxian slowly knelt down outside the door: "Liang Chu, the sinner, kowtows to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"
"come in."
A slightly unfamiliar voice came, and after Liang Chu thanked him, he slowly stood up and stepped into the Central Round Hall.
He looked up and saw that the emperor not far away had already changed into court clothes. Looking at him, he pointed to the side: "Sit down."
He was referring to one of the eighteen top chairs. Liang Chu immediately knelt down again: "The guilty people dare not."
"When there is no national policy meeting, this is just an ordinary chair in the imperial study. Even if the national policy meeting is being held, if there is an empty seat, the sitting official will also sit on it." Zhu Houcong smiled, "At least you support and welcome the standing. My old minister, it doesn’t hurt to sit down for a while.”
Until this moment, Liang Chu actually relaxed a little about what he really cared about. He thanked him again before walking over.
Seeing Yan Song, Liu Long was sitting across from him. He bowed first, and then sat down halfway on a chair.
As soon as he touched the chair, he stood up again: "The guilty people are specially ordered to return your majesty's reward. The seal of the treasure your majesty rewarded is here."
Zhu Houcong looked at the leisure seal he bent down and held in his hand, but there was clearly a discount underneath.
"Is there another message for me?"
"Thanks to His Majesty's grace, the guilty people were exempted from the crime of being judged and the bones were returned to their hometown. The guilty people shed tears of gratitude."
Zhu Houcong nodded to Huang Jin. After Huang Jin took the things over, Zhu Houcong opened the folder.
It is no longer a memorial to the court officials. There are no items posted on the outside.
The Zhongyuan Hall fell silent, and Zhu Houcong quietly read what he wrote.
Yan Song was guessing, Liu Long was nervous, and Liang Chu was waiting quietly.
Zhu Houcong read the envelope without changing his expression, and after a long time he let out a long sigh.
Yan Song and Liu Long couldn't help but look at him.
What will be said next? This can also be recorded in the daily notes.
"If today's situation had not happened, would you have said these words to me?"
Liang Chu left his seat and knelt down: "Sinners only regret that they were born at the wrong time, and their blood gradually ran cold, so that their lives were wasted."
"Right or wrong, true or false... whatever, I don't need to care about it." Zhu Houcong was silent for a moment and suddenly said, "For the sake of these words, even though it's only been more than a month, we can finally treat each other as a king and a minister. This leisure seal
It’s better to keep it as a souvenir.”
When Liang Chu raised his head, he burst into tears: "The guilty people thank Your Majesty for your grace. They shed tears of gratitude and have nothing to repay."
"Let's go back to our hometown now. Even Mao Chengzhen ordered people to send him back to his hometown with gifts. You, the minister who supports and welcomes Li, should be less tired of traveling and traveling."
So with another thanksgiving, Liang Chu bid farewell to the emperor.
Liu Long:???
But Liang Chu still left behind the idle seal. If other people knew about it, Yan Song and Liu Long would be the prime suspects!
Liu Long immediately immersed himself in sorting out today's memorial.
Saw nothing, heard nothing.
There is only one word "Liang Chucibi" on the daily note.
The capital city was still calm. In the afternoon of that day, Jin Yiwei arranged for two captains to go south with the Liang family.
On this day, the decree from Beijing also arrived in Wuzhou.
This is the seat of the Guangdong and Guangxi garrison eunuchs and the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi.
Guangdong and Guangxi are the borders of the empire. The situation here is complicated. After many years, it has become different from other provinces. The chief envoys all command the envoys. Above the envoys, there are three departments: the chief eunuch and the chief military officer.
, Governor.
The purpose was to expel the Franji people from Tuen Mun Island, seize the Franji Kong mission that had been sent from Beijing, and send them to Beijing.
Fulun, the eunuch of the general town of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhu Qi, the chief military officer of Funing, and Zhang Zhen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, exchanged glances with each other after receiving the order.
"Let Wang Ziyan do it." Zhu Qi suggested.
Zhang Nian nodded.
There was just one thing that made them puzzled: This matter... was obviously not serious, why did it need to be sent to the Guangdong, Guangxi and Three Halls?
Isn’t it possible to send it directly to Guangdong Sansi?
In the summer, they couldn't feel the biting cold wind blowing from the north. The confrontation between hot and cold meant that a big storm was bound to brew on the coast of the South China Sea.
At this moment, in the capital, after court recommendation, four candidate lists of cabinet ministers were presented to Zhu Houcong.
One is the official and the other is the companion. As long as he checks the box, the two of them will reach the highest peak of civil servants.
The process of releasing this list was naturally the result on the spot, and Zhu Houcong also knew some of the subsequent wrestling and exchanges.
Those who are qualified to attend the court election and express their opinions include, in addition to the cabinet bachelors and the six ministers, there are also ministers of various ministries, censors of the capital, ministers of Dali Temple, general political envoys, and imperial wine ministers.
In the end, the two principals were Shi Yun and Sun Jiao, and the two companions were Zhang Zilin and Jia Yong.
Zhu Houcong smiled, and with a stroke of his ink pen, the candidate was decided.
The structure of the court has been decided, and who the candidate is is actually not that important.
Even if Wang Shouren can break through the crowd of Confucian scholars who have entered Beijing, it is not that important.
The strong wind is coming from the south.
The day after Shi Yun and Sun Jiao entered the cabinet, three consecutive imperial edicts caused a sensation in the capital.
The imperial edict was passed through six subjects first. Xia Yan was preparing to go to Wulou to attend the meeting to implement the national policy of abolishing fraud and re-establishing the three major camps, when he heard his colleagues talking about it.
"If you have a successful plan, can you reach the sky in one step?"
"Be given the title of Imperial Attendant, promoted to the Ministry of Household Affairs, Guangdong Qing Dynasty Officials Division, and also serve as a staff member in the study?"
Xia Yan couldn't help but ask: "Who is it?"
The rank of a sixth-rank imperial minister, the rank of fifth-rank household doctor, these are nothing.
But isn’t it the first time next month for the Imperial Study Room Walk to identify people with quick wits who can be selected as candidates for the Imperial Study Room Chief? Only those who are not selected will get the job of the Imperial Study Room Walk.
Someone from the Bingke Branch heard Xia Yan's voice and replied respectfully: "Xinke Tanhualang, Zhang Fujing from the Guanzheng Household Department."
The imperial edict has been sent to the Ministry of Household Affairs. Under the shocked eyes of the household officials and other colleagues, Zhang Fujing fell to the ground with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty, Zhang Fujing! Accept the edict! Thank you! Long live your Majesty!"
He held three imperial edicts in his hand, which were so bright that others found them dazzling.