Chapter 19 Section five
Xining eighteen years, January 6th.
After the snow, the weather will be cloudy or sunny for several days in a row, which makes people even more depressed.Shi Deyi's mood became moody just like the weather.In the early morning of this day, just because the scent of the lip balm was a little off, he suspected that the maidservant ordered the lip balm as a shoddy product, and became furious, punishing the maidservants to kneel for several hours.
Among the nobles in Bianjing, Shi Deyi's life is not very luxurious.The life style of the servants is determined by the emperor, queen mother, and empresses.If the emperor likes to be frugal, but the servants live very luxuriously, it is very dangerous.The servants will also form cliques. The relationship between the several eunuchs of the Xining Dynasty is actually not as close as it appears on the surface. If some handle falls into the hands of others, the consequences will be unimaginable——Shi Deyi can have Isn't his status today precisely because he has many handles in his hands?
However, in the dry winter, the lips are indeed prone to cracking, and it is only a necessity of life to apply flesh-colored lip balm to protect the lips.In the Song Dynasty, from the emperor to the scholar-officials, all had such living habits.In winter, liposuction is even rationed by the soldiers of the Imperial Army.On the surface, Shi Deyi can't live a too extravagant life, but in his heart he yearns for a luxurious and elegant life. Therefore, Shi Deyi is especially concerned about some of his own habits in these details of life.At that time, it was customary to add a variety of spice formulas to the lip balm, especially the lip balm used by women. There are various spice formulas, which is also a way for them to attract the opposite sex - literati like to use "scented lips" to describe The lips of women were not exaggerated or metaphors at the time, but purely realistic.Apply some lip balm formulated with precious spices, gently kiss on the arm, and the fragrance in the sleeve will even stay for a whole day.
But generally speaking, the lip balm used by men is not particularly particular about spices.The function of this spice is just to cover the peculiar smell in the mouth.If a man's lips are also described as "fragrant lips", it will inevitably make people suspect that he has unusual hobbies.
And Shi Deyi is particularly sensitive in this regard.He knows where the best lip balm in Bianjing is, and he can even smell the origin of spices mixed in it. All his lip balms are made by ordering the merchants to purchase specified raw materials according to the formula he personally drew up.Throughout the year, regardless of spring, summer, autumn and winter, every morning, Shi Deyi will seriously apply lip balm in front of the bronze mirror. As long as he smells the unique fragrance and feels the moisture of his lips, Shi Deyi can feel it A total pleasure.
However, recently, Shi Deyi suddenly felt that there was something wrong with the scent around his mouth, and he couldn't tell why!In the past, no matter what was wrong with the lip balm, he could easily identify it, but this time, he only felt the abnormal smell, but he couldn't figure out what impurities were mixed in it at all!He didn't have an attack right away, but endured it for a while, trying to smell out what caused it, but found nothing.This morning, he couldn't hold back anymore, and finally vented the anger in his heart.
Shi Deyi feels that everything is not normal recently, and this is not the only thing that makes people feel annoyed.
Shi Deyi is a self-aware person. He always knows who likes him, who doesn't like him, and who hates him... Empress Dowager Gao is the most important and troublesome one among those who don't like him.He had known for a long time that once the emperor died, Empress Dowager Gao would not give himself a good life.But Shi Deyi didn't expect the rumors to appear so quickly - many maids in the palace were whispering, saying that Empress Dowager Gao wanted Li Shunju to replace Shi Deyi and become the Secretary of the Imperial City.
Shi Deyi, who is very familiar with palace life, of course knows that rumors in the palace should not be taken lightly-behind every rumor, there must be a truth.What's more, although Li Shunju was not the most favored among the servants in the Xining Dynasty, he was one of the servants that Shi Deyi feared.Foreign ministers have long been dissatisfied with him, if Li Shunju were to replace him, Shi Deyi couldn't even think of anyone who would speak up for him!
As the saying goes, "One emperor, one courtier", especially the servants.But for a servant like Shi Deyi who has offended too many people, even going to the Daming Mansion to spend his old age in peace is sometimes a luxury.It is not without precedent for a servant to be relegated to a remote and remote area, held as a prisoner, and finally contracted malaria and died miserably.Because of the large number of relatives and friends, the literati and bureaucrats still have a hope of returning to the Central Plains, but it is extremely difficult for the servants to come back alive-how many people can have such a face, and they can count on the favored servants of the new dynasty to risk their lives? All kinds of risks speak well for a servant who was convicted by the previous dynasty?
Every time Shi De thinks of this kind of ending, he will shudder.But as the emperor approached his death day by day, the fear became more and more real.He had long given up hope that he would be able to become an official in Bianjing, but originally he was still holding on to a sliver of luck, maybe in the future Empress Dowager Gao would not be exterminated and could allow him to spend his old age in Daming Mansion—even though it was already very bleak.But the rumors in the palace shattered Shi Deyi's last glimmer of hope.
Since the emperor was not dead yet, there were rumors that the queen mother wanted to deal with him, so after the emperor made a big move, one can imagine what would happen to him.He recalled the few young admonishers he met at the New Year's Day Grand Court Meeting. When those admonishers saw him, they squinted their eyes and gave a very disdainful "hum", ignoring him at all.In the past, no matter how much they hated themselves in their hearts, they would always hold their fists and respectfully call them "supervisor".Not only was the Taiwan remonstrance like this, but the attitude of the two governments also made Shi De restless. Every time he saw the chief executives of the two governments, he would either ignore him, or shout around, treating him like a slave.Although the Secretary of the Imperial City had already acted in a very low-key manner, the privy envoy Han Wei often found fault with his eggs, calling Shi Deyi to scold him every now and then.
Thinking of this, Shi Deyi knew that he had no way out.He holds the military power in his hand, if he helps King Yong succeed in the mutiny, no matter whether King Yong likes him from the bottom of his heart, as long as he is careful, King Yong will have nothing to do with him, let alone other people.
However, the actions of Empress Dowager Gao at the New Year's Day meeting made Shi De feel ominous all his life.He knew how much Empress Dowager Gao loved King Yong, but he was not as optimistic as King Yong.However, he did believe that Empress Dowager Gao could still use it.Shi Deyi believed that if he could gain the upper hand at that time, or even create an appearance of being in the upper hand, many people, including Empress Dowager Gao, would wait and see and waver.Shi De disapproved of the relationship between mother and child, but believed that Empress Dowager Gao would admit the fait accompli.Likewise, Ren Duo Bao Zhong is also among these people.
Shi Deyi didn't expect to be able to win over those Xixia people.In his opinion, as a person like Ren Duo Bao Zhong, it is absolutely impossible to win him over before the matter is accomplished, but he may wait and see when the matter happens, and if he is convinced that King Yong has the upper hand, he may defect to him .
Such a person is not worth wooing at all.Instead of spending your mind on him, you might as well think about how to firmly control all the officials in the imperial city.The Imperial City Division has several chief officials who are not affiliated with each other, and Shi Deyi is only one of the chief officials in name.It was just because of his great power that he was favored in front of the emperor, so he became the de facto director of the Imperial City Department.In today's Imperial City Department, besides Shi Deyi, there are two military officers and a servant serving as chief officials. Including Shi Deyi, all chief officials will have one or two consecutive terms, and one or two three-year rotations.Such a personnel layout may not be of much use in preventing a favored eunuch like Shi Deyi from acting arbitrarily.But once the imperial court wants to deal with Shi Deyi, or someone wants to use the Imperial City Secretary to plot against the Lord, it will be very effective.
Under Shi Deyi's rule, the Imperial City Division developed the fastest, with thousands of soldiers.But Shi Deyi can really control less than half of them, and even if he is fully prepared, it will not exceed 1,500 people.This force is a little less. If he can control all the soldiers of the imperial city, Shi Deyi will be more confident.But until now, there is no other way but to use means.
Therefore, Shi De looked down on the two masterminds of King Yong.Even Li Changji asked him to tell the emperor about the Khitan's invasion of the south, but he also obediently obeyed.
Most people who are used to being slaves, who are used to using the power of their master to pretend to be a tiger, let them deal with people other than the master, they may be very arrogant, do everything, and even secretly do things that are not good for the master and deceive the master ; but once they face their masters, their courage and wisdom are often thrown out of the sky. They will only feel that their knees are weak, and their mouths will involuntarily promise.This is the sad part of human nature.
Although Shi Deyi had made up his mind to conspire against him, it was after the death of the emperor.As long as the emperor is alive, even if he is paralyzed by a stroke and unable to speak, Shi Deyi will be afraid of this kind of thing that may kill the emperor.He has been a slave all his life and never dared to disobey Zhao Xu.All he did to Zhao Xu in his life was flattery, and that kind of obedience had been deeply rooted in his bones. Even if Zhao Xu ordered him to be executed, he would never dare to resist at all.As long as he thinks about this suspected murder of the lord, it will cause him to subconsciously resist.
Of course Shi Deyi would not admit that it was because he was afraid.The reason he used to deceive himself and others was the so-called relationship between monarch and minister, master and servant.He even had an illusion - he was still loyal to the emperor, and his rebellion was only after the death of the emperor, as a last resort.It is difficult for human beings to transcend the moral concepts of the times. Even if Shi Deyi is just a eunuch, deep down in his heart, he will feel that what he has done is outrageous and contrary to human relations.But Li Changji's strategy unexpectedly gave Shi Deyi a chance to balance his mind.
Those who say that one cannot live in deception are naive and ignorant.
One of the things that humans are best at is deceiving themselves and others!
"How is Zhu Dacheng?" Shi De asked with narrowed eyes when he saw his adopted son Shi Congrong come in.
"He has no choice." Shi Congrong said relaxedly, "Zhu Dacheng has always been afraid of the inside. He raised a singing girl outside and gave birth to a son. If his wife knew about this, he would not have a good life. What's more What's more, he has a debt of more than 10,000 yuan for Guanpu and betting on horses. My son also found out that the surname Zhu may be related to a murder case, and Weiwei Temple is investigating him."
It is really amazing that people would take such risks for such trivial things, and do things that may lead to the extinction of the family.Shi Deyi sighed in his heart, but he warned in his mouth: "You still have to be careful. Send someone to keep an eye on him. This is a matter for the whole family to exterminate the clan. There can be no mistakes."
"My son understands it." Shi Congrong nodded and said, "It's just that my son thinks that people from King Yong's side can't be counted on..."
"I don't count on them either." Shi Deyi didn't care, "King Yong is just a banner for us to fight. The key to the mutiny is to isolate China and foreign countries. From today onwards, I may not go out of the palace anymore, and you also have to live in the imperial city Secretary. After the official visit, I will immediately send someone to inform you and King Yong. At that time, in my name, you will invite those three who acted as imperial city officials to discuss matters, ambush your cronies, and falsely spread the Queen Mother's order to kill them. Yes, seize their military power and lead the troops to surround the two mansions. As long as you act in the name of the queen mother, those squadrons and imperial troops will not be able to understand the situation for a while, they will just wait and see, and will definitely not resist desperately. I don’t know when the time comes Whoever is on duty in the two mansions, others are especially good. If Shi Yue is here, he must be decisive. If he cannot be subdued, he must be killed immediately. He has a lot of internal support in the palace. Because he calmed Xixia, many guards or He is a subordinate, or he is very convinced of him. If this person stays for a while, it is a confidant's trouble - but Shi Yue and Sima Guang will probably stay in the Palace of Funing at that time. In short, after you control the two mansions, don't linger, lead the army immediately Go to Funing Hall and Baoci Palace. If the commanders and envoys of the classes that King Yong has won over take turns, they will respond to you. If they are not there, you must not mess up and use the order of the Empress Dowager to quell the chaos. In name, just encircle the two palaces. There is no need to act rashly, whether it is Shi Yue or Old Sima, as long as they are trapped in Funing Palace, they will not be successful."
"Son understands." Shi Congrong replied, and said luckily, "Fortunately, old man Guo has gone out, otherwise he is a veteran general, and he would be even more difficult to deal with than Shi Yue."
"This is God's will." Shi De said with a smile, "At that time, I will personally control the gates of the imperial city. When there is a big change, the Chinese envoy will definitely go to call the prime ministers into the palace. Detain them all, and then welcome King Yong into the palace. Xu Jiwei led people to control the Kaifeng mansion. Han Zhongyan was cowardly and incompetent, and he was nothing to be afraid of. Zhu Dacheng's class guards only monitored the East Palace. Sixth brother goes to Funing Palace or Baoci Palace. Zhu is by no means an opponent of Yang Shifang and Tian Liewu, but he can delay it for a while, and it is a short time. As long as King Yong arrives at Funing Palace before sixth brother, the Queen Mother will have to accept what has been done At that time, Ren Yang Shifang will have three heads and six arms, and he will have no power to return to heaven."
"The most important thing is Daddy's place. As long as the traffic between China and foreign countries is cut off, all the prime ministers will be detained. The outsiders don't know what happened in the palace. Even if there is an accident in the palace, it will not affect the overall situation."
Shi Deyi nodded slightly, and said with a smile: "The niubi surnamed Li has no other skills, but this mutiny plan is very well thought out. But your place is also the most important point - in the case of Kaifeng Mansion, the ban is the middle To control the communication between the imperial city and the outside is to isolate China and the outside world; but in terms of the Forbidden City, the Funing Hall, Baoci Palace, and the two mansions are the four most important places. In a group, no one can know what happened, and at this time when a little carelessness is a crime of genocide, no one dares to act rashly."
"Son will not let daddy down." Shi Congrong laughed again, "Now the two governments are focusing on the Khitan's invasion of the south, but no one really cares what we do. The day before yesterday, Shi Yue met with Han Tuogulie. A soft nail."
"Could it be rumors?" Shi Deyi said suspiciously.In the past few days, he has been focusing on planning the mutiny, and he is often distracted, so he doesn't pay attention to these things.
"It's not a rumor." Shi Congrong said with a smile, "The day before yesterday, Shi Yue summoned Han Tuogulie and asked him about the gathering of the army. The surnamed Han not only flatly denied it, but repeatedly said that Song and Liao are brothers. Liao will never be without reason. He also asked Shi Yue, saying that Gaoli was originally a slave of the Liao State, and the covenant between Song and Li should have been informed to the Liao State, so he asked for a copy of the documents negotiated in Hangzhou. This is not over, after Han Tuogulie left Shangshu Province , and went to the Academy to say that the Liao Kingdom would not violate the boundary, and asked them to report to the emperor on their behalf. This caused Shi Yue to be overwhelmed. The surname Han was even more proud, and instead threatened to go to Taixue and Baishuitan, and repeatedly explained to the Song and Liao brothers that the Liao Kingdom would not invade the Song Dynasty. Shi Yue had to slap himself in front of all Hanlin scholars and Han, He said that the Liao Kingdom was just an ordinary military transfer, and he asked just in case."
"This Han Tuo Gulie is really not simple, I have never seen Shi Yue suffer from such a big loss of being dumb." Shi Deyi smiled gloatingly, "He expected the court to be afraid of panic, so he yelled loudly, forcing Shi Yue to slap himself. If the Khitan really invades in the future, Shi Yue's words will definitely become an excuse. The Taiwan admonishment will definitely settle this old account, and it can also disturb the court from within and undermine the confidence of the court and the public in Shi Yue. The two governments will hide such a big matter from the academy. Hugh said that Hanlin scholars will be dissatisfied, and even Taiwan's admonishment will be dissatisfied."
"He made a fuss like this, but he actually saw the effect yesterday." Shi Congrong also smiled indifferently, he admired Han Tuogulie completely, "Old man Guo went to Daming yesterday to review the drills and exercises of the Hebei Forbidden Army The matter was all lightly packed, rushed away early in the morning, and sneaked away. The Privy Council mobilized more than 100,000 forbidden troops, and held exercises on Hebei and Hedong roads, and it was also quietly ordered. The transfer of the forbidden troops in the capital is only a routine practice……"
"Let the ministers and political participants worry about these important matters." Shi Deyi stood up and said with a smile, "It's time for me to enter the palace."
As soon as he stepped into the range of the palace city, Shi Deyi immediately lowered his eyebrows and looked down, with a slightly sad look on his face, to show that he was very worried about the emperor's condition.On this day, in order to avoid encountering the prime ministers of the two mansions and causing unfavorable luck, Shi Deyi deliberately entered the palace through Zuoyemen, but unexpectedly entered the Hengjie from Zuoyintaimen, but met Roujia.
Shi Deyi groaned secretly in his heart, but at the same time he had no choice but to go forward to pay his respects.But Rou Jia asked, "Did you chew your tongue in front of the officials?"
Shi Deyi thought that Roujia was here to stand up for the crown prince, so he couldn't help being startled, he quickly put on an apologetic smile, and tentatively said: "Master, this old slave can't understand..."
"You slippery slave, don't pretend to be confused!" Rou Jia poked Shi Deyi's forehead vigorously with a whip, and scolded, "The official's illness obviously improved yesterday, if it wasn't for you to tell the truth, how could it suddenly deteriorate again? "
"What did the county lord say?!" Shi Deyi's voice trembled.
"I asked the imperial physician, and the imperial physician said that the officials were suddenly emotional today, and all previous efforts would be wasted!" Although Rou Jia glared at Shi Deyi viciously, her eyes were glistening, but tears were about to come out.
"Even if this old slave has ten thousand guts, he doesn't dare to say anything nonsense in front of the officials at this moment. This old slave dare not say anything else, but he is absolutely loyal to the officials. County lord, how are the officials doing now? "
Roujia stared fiercely at Shi Deyi, and after a while, she slowly put down the whip, and said bitterly, "Don't let me know that you are the one who tells the truth, or I will cut you to pieces!" Throwing down Shi Deyi, he turned and left in the direction of Shang Yao Bureau.
Shi Deyi looked at Roujia's back, secretly wondering, who is that person?What did you say in front of the emperor that made the emperor so excited?Could it be...