Chapter 54 Section fifty-four

Yan also extended soon.When Ding Baozhen made this decision, the four-hundred-mile memorial had already been handed over to the capital.After reading the emperor's one-month memorial, he had already figured out the tricks, and had a better understanding of the situation in the provinces. Andehai went all the way south, first passing through Zhili, then passing through Shandong, and then entering Jiangsu.However, the waterway from Linqing to Zhangqiu was impassable, and he might take a detour through Henan, so the news about his whereabouts must have been reported by these four provinces, and at most one of the governor's yamen for water transport was added.In addition, the memorials of the provinces will never mention the word An Dehai.

Of course, according to the itinerary, the two governors of Shandong and Jiangsu and the governors of Liangjiang should pay the most attention, so he waited for the yellow box to be delivered by the internal affairs office every day, and first picked the memorials of these yamen. "Okay! It's finally here!" After reading Ding Baozhen's papers, the emperor thought to himself that he was not in a hurry when he could do the important things that had been going on for so many days.At this time, the urgent thing to do was to discuss with Xiao Li, but Xiao Li was not here. what to do?He was thinking, first of all, he should not let the Empress Dowager Cixi know. After thinking about it like this, he immediately realized what he should do.Turning around for a look, no eunuchs or maids were paying attention, the timing was just right, he hurriedly put the memorial into the pages of the book.For the queen mother, it was a stolen book, and she couldn't help beating her heart, and it took a long time to calm down.

In order to show his composure, he still sat upright and opened the memorial one by one to read, but after reading the first line, he would jump to the third and fourth lines. After reading for a long time, he didn't know what to say?I had no choice but to start from the beginning. This time, it was naturally slow.Fortunately, there were not many memorials for this day, so they barely dealt with it, so they asked someone to send the yellow box up, and secretly took out Ding Baozhen's memorial, hid it on his body, and sent an order back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. "Where's Xiao Li?" He asked on the soft sedan chair.

"In the study, I went to tidy up the desk for Lord Long Live." Zhang Wenliang replied. "Look for him quickly," the emperor said again, "don't go far when you turn around!" "Yes!" Zhang Wenliang looked at the emperor's face and asked, "Long Live Lord seems a little restless today? " The emperor ignored him.When he arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he stood on the porch and waited. When he arrived at Xiao Li, he immediately ordered: "Quickly find the sixth master, and bring the Minister of Internal Affairs into the palace."

"Cha!" Xiao Li was delighted in his heart, but there was no smile on his face, "I'm asking for orders, where can I summon you?" "It's right here!" The emperor pointed to the ground, which meant that it was the place where the queen mothers of the two palaces often visited. "Cha!" Xiao Li thought to himself: It's just a coincidence that he was with the emperor every day, but he left for a while today, and something happened, who made the memorial and how to explain it?When the emperor saw the memorial, did he tell the Empress Dowager Ci'an?All these situations need to be clarified before we can start, so he took two steps, bowed and asked: "I would like to ask for the order of the Long Live Lord, but will you summon the Sixth Lord together with the two empress dowagers?"

"Why are you so trivial?" The emperor asked impatiently, "Do you have to alarm the two empress dowagers for anything?" "Cha! Cha!" Xiao Li agreed repeatedly, "It's not appropriate to disturb the two empress dowagers." "You know it too! Why don't you go soon?" "The slave is going now." Xiao Li replied slowly: "The slave is going to ride a horse, first go to Mr. Ming's house in the House of Internal Affairs, and let him wait in Liu Ye's mansion, and then the slave will go to Liu Ye to pass the order and serve Liu Ye The son enters the palace. It will take at least an hour to go back and forth."

Xiao Li deliberately explained in detail, so as to teach the emperor to know what to do, and then he can deal with it calmly.What he is most afraid of is that at the moment when the Jiuzhuan Dan is completed, there will be rumors leaking to the Yikun Palace. As long as the Empress Dowager Cixi intervenes, it will be like pushing a Pai Gow, revealing a pair of "Supreme Treasures", which is truly a treasure. "One turn and two stares". Therefore, he added another sentence: "Long Live Lord, please go back and sit in the room, recite poems or something, don't worry! The servant will find Liu Ye as soon as possible."

"Understood!" the emperor scolded, "You bastard, are you trying to get angry with me or something? If you keep talking, I'll kick you." "Isn't that the way to go?" Xiao Li said hello quickly, turned around and left. As soon as he left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he still hesitated for a moment.If this matter is done properly, not only will he get rid of the thorn in his side, but he will have a comfortable life for the rest of his life no matter what he says in front of the emperor. Whether it is misfortune or blessing is at this moment, and it cannot be messed up.

Thinking about it carefully, he had to stand firm first, and An Dehai made such a big mistake because he relied on his favor and did not act according to the rules.The lesson from the past is right in front of us, how can we see it but not see it? Therefore, he hurriedly found Zhang Wenliang, bowed his waist and said in a low voice: "Uncle Zhang, I have told you that Xiao Anzi is about to finish playing! Just now, Lord Long Live asked me to go up and ask Master Liu to enter the palace immediately. It was Lord Long Live who confessed to me face to face. You can always pretend to be confused. In case something happens, I will admit it. I am the only one who is unlucky, and there is absolutely nothing involved. However, Lord Long Live was raised by you. Today Long Live Lord has been thinking about this matter for many years, so just wait and see!"

Knowing what he was talking about, Zhang Wenliang was shocked, closed his mouth tightly, thought for a long time, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! Boy, you are a character. I have to follow! You go, the faster you go, the faster you go!" Alright, here I will maintain it." The so-called "maintenance" is to respond.With Zhang Wenliang's words, Xiao Li can rest assured, greeted him with a smile, and left the palace. Before leaving Shenwumen, he changed his mind again.It took a long time for a person to go to Mingshan's house first, and then to Prince Gong's mansion, so he arrested a reliable person and told him to go to Mingshan's house to inform him that there was a decree, so he quickly entered the palace and waited outside the Longzong gate, and then he found it himself. A horse went straight to Jianyuan in Daxiangfeng Hutong to meet Prince Gong.

Xiao Li also knew that Prince Gong had always been honest with the eunuchs, and he might not be able to see him if he asked for an audience, so he had already made up his mind, got off his horse at the gate of Jianyuan, and explained to the guards of the palace that he would pass on the secret decree. To see Prince Gong in person. This move is very effective. Prince Gong is making an appointment with Wenxiang, Baojun, and officials from the Prime Minister's Office of International Affairs to discuss the matter of Russian merchant ships berthing at the mouth of the Hulan River and requesting trade with the interior of Jilin and Heilongjiang.Hearing that it was a secret decree, he went out alone.After Xiao Li greeted him, he stood up and asked, "What's the matter?" It was inconvenient for Xiao Li to put on a show of decree, so he bowed his waist and said, "Sixth Master, please sit down. I have a few words to return to Sixth Master." "Oh!" Prince Gong sat down, waved his hand to block the girl who came to hold tea, "tell me, there is no one here." "Yes!" Xiao Li said softly, "I don't know where there is a note, it's about Xiao Anzi, Long Live Lord asked Liu Ye to bring the Minister of Internal Affairs and enter the palace immediately." Prince Gong Qu Ran raised his eyes, thought for a while and asked, "Where do we meet?" "The Palace of Mental Cultivation." Xiao Li said again, I was afraid of wasting time, so I asked someone else to inform Master Ming to go directly to the palace and wait for the sixth master in the court room. " "I'll go." Prince Gong got up and asked again: "You two empress dowagers, do you know about this?" "What if the east side doesn't know? The west side probably doesn't know yet." Prince Gong's face sank: "Don't talk like this next time! What's east or west?" "Yes!" Xiao Li sincerely agreed. "come!" As soon as Prince Gong called out, a young servant in a very crisp navy blue cloth gown came in and naturally stood by his side, waiting for orders. "Reward him with twenty taels of silver." So Xiao Li asked An to thank him again, and said at the same time: "I will serve the sixth master to enter the palace?" "No need!" Prince Gong thought for a while and then said: "You should play back to the emperor first, and ask the emperor to summon the military plane as well." "Yes! I'll go back and talk right away." As soon as Xiao Li left, Prince Gong immediately invited Wen Xiang and Bao Jun over, and said quietly: "Xiao Anzi is almost finished! It must be that Zhihuang has a note, and I will meet you immediately. When I come down, there may still be military planes." Together', you go with me first, and I will send someone to notify Lan Sun and Jing Sheng." Wen Xiang was very calm, while Bao Jun slapped his thigh and said a word loudly: "Okay!" "Look," Prince Gong asked again, "Who still needs to be notified?" "The Ministry of Internal Affairs!" Bao Jun quickly said. "It has been notified." "I think, let's inform Rong Zhonghua to make preparations before the wind leaks out!" Wen Xiang said slowly. Prince Gong understood what he meant, An Dehai would definitely be accused of ransacking the house, the so-called preparation meant sending infantry to lead Rong Lu, the left-wing general of the Yamen, and sending troops to guard An's house first.This is a very necessary treatment, not only to prevent Anjia from getting news and concealing property, but also to prevent them from annihilating criminal evidence.Others can still do it, but to punish An Dehai for his crime, there must be clear evidence of the crime. "Your thoughtfulness is thorough!" Prince Gong nodded his approval, "Well, it's just you working hard, and then go to the palace as soon as you're done. Peiheng and I will go first." So Prince Gong changed his official uniform, passed the sedan chair and Bao Yun into the palace, Ming Shan had already waited at the military plane, rushed forward as soon as they met, and said in a low voice: "The superior has urged you several times. Master Liu, what's the matter? " "Xiao Anzi's matter was committed!" Prince Gong replied in a low voice, "You don't need to talk later." "Yes!" Mingshan took the opportunity to say hello, "Sixth Master, you can't hide anything from you, you always have to speak for the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Before King Gong could answer, Xiao Li came running out of breath, saluting and saluting, and said in a relieved voice: "The sixth master is here! Please go up, you are losing your temper!" Upon hearing this, Prince Gong didn't care much, but Ming Shan murmured fiercely in his heart.But at this time, it is inconvenient to ask Xiao Li more questions, just thinking all the way, what will the emperor say, and how should I answer?It's easy to deal with the emperor's temper, but there is no way to hinder the Empress Dowager Cixi.It seems that to please the emperor will offend the "superior", and there is a stake in it, so there must be a choice. The decision has not yet been made, and the person has already arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the place where the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces of the East Nuan Pavilion usually sits, and the emperor is already sitting on the yellow chair in front of the imperial case.After Prince Gong and Ming Shan had performed their salutes, he first asked Ming Shan: "Xiao Anzi left Beijing privately, do you know?" Ming Shan thought to himself that Lai cannot be relied on, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer: "I have a little rumor about it." "What do you mean by 'slightly rumored'? The first thing you say is that you want to shirk responsibility." Hitting a snag head-on, Ming Shan really felt vigilant and fearful. The emperor is not young anymore, so he can no longer be regarded as his "child".Young people like to speak frankly, so he replied honestly and wittily: "My servant knows." "Since you know, why don't you stop him?" Isn't this asking knowingly?The emperor knew about An Dehai leaving Beijing, so why didn't he stop him?Thinking about it this way, Mingshan understands that the emperor deliberately sang a show in order to explain something in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi, so he should answer in his tone. "It's the slave's fault." He replied, "Because An Dehai told people that he was leaving Beijing under Yi's order, and the slave didn't dare to stop him." "He is a false pass, don't you know? Don't you think about it, the two empress dowagers are so wise, and everything is done according to the law of the ancestors, would there be such a disorderly life?" Prince Gong nodded secretly. The emperor's words were very good, and he raised the big hat of "ancestral family law". It's easier to do things. Seeing that Ming Shan bowed his head and didn't answer, Prince Gong said, "I don't know what's going on yet? Please tell the emperor clearly why, and I will discuss the method before I invite the Holy Judge." "You see!" Prince Gong took the memorial, and in order for Mingshan to understand it, he read it aloud, and then handed in the memorial. "You said, in the past two hundred and forty years of this dynasty, has there ever been such an eunuch who acted so recklessly and was a jerk to the extreme?" "Please appease your majesty." Prince Gong advised, "How to deal with this matter must be properly accounted for." "What else is there to calculate? If people like this are not killed, who should be killed?" Mingshan had heard countless times that the emperor wanted to kill An Dehai, but now that he heard it clearly from him, he felt different, and couldn't help shivering. "What's the matter?" The emperor saw it with sharp eyes, pointed at Ming Shan angrily and asked, "Shouldn't Xiao Anzi be killed?" "The servant dare not disobey the order. But..." He didn't say any more, but knelt down. "What?" the emperor asked, "Are you pleading for Xiao Anzi?" "I don't dare. But Xiao Anzi is the person in charge of the Palace of the Holy Mother, please be extra merciful, Your Majesty." The emperor was so angry that he almost wanted to kick him!He obviously wanted to kill An Dehai in his heart, but he spoke hypocrisy and hypocrisy. When these words reached the ears of Empress Dowager Cixi, wouldn't it appear that he was not filial? Thinking of this, the emperor was furious. He leaned down and almost pointed his finger at Mingshan's nose: "Since you know the person who is under the empress dowager's throne, why didn't you persuade Xiao Anzi to stop messing around? Why didn't you stop him? Teach him to break the law? Aren’t the eunuchs under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? What are you in charge of?” At this point, he turned to Prince Gong and said, “Uncle Six! Deal with An Dehai first, and then the minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!” This thunderous anger frightened Mingshan into bumping into each other again and again.The emperor sneered and ignored him, and Prince Gong hated him for talking too much, so he pretended not to see it, and just replied: "An Dehai violated the regulations and left Beijing, so naturally he must be dealt with strictly. I don't know much about the laws and regulations in this regard. Please ask for an order." , can I summon the military aircraft and ask everyone what they mean?" "Now," the emperor hesitated, "Is it too late to find them now?" "It's too late!" Prince Gong replied, "I have informed them to enter the palace to wait for the order, and they will probably be here by now." "That's good. Let them in!" The emperor turned his head and said, "Mingshan! Go down. I don't need you here! " "Yes!" Ming Shan knelt down and exited.Although he encountered a big setback, he felt very comfortable in his heart, An Dehai would die without a doubt, while Empress Dowager Cixi was acquitted, both inside and outside were occupied.As for the emperor's displeasure, you might as well find a way to coax him later. When the four ministers of military aircraft came to visit, King Gong first explained the process, and then the emperor named them one by one for consultation.Both Bao Jun and Shen Guifen said that they "handle it according to the order", while Wen Xiang and Li Hongzao have other Chen Zou, one thinks it can clean up the bureaucracy, and the other laments the scourge of the eunuchs of the previous generation, both of which support the emperor's intention.Naturally, no one mentioned Empress Dowager Cixi. "Master," the emperor asked Li Hongzao, "what does 'three-legged crow' mean?" Li Hongzao knew that the emperor was asking the question knowingly, because he clearly remembered the allusion of "the envoy of the blue bird". Weng Tonghe once told the emperor. Your Majesty, there is no need to pursue this further." The emperor nodded, and after listening to his master's persuasion, he sneered again: "Xiao Anzi usually pretends to pass on the decree, and he doesn't know how much money he has given away! There must be some prohibited things in his house. Before the outside world knows it, copy it first." his home!" "Yes!" Prince Gong replied, "I will do it immediately." "Where's Anzi?" Prince Gong didn't want to say a word to kill An Dehai from his own mouth, so he turned his face and said: "Peiheng, you play back with the emperor." Bao Yun thought about it for a while and said: "There are three ways here. First, take the question to Beijing; second, interrogate him on the spot; third, rectify the law on the spot, so there is no need to ask him, lest he talk nonsense." "By the way, what else do you ask?" The emperor decided decisively: "The third method is to use it, and send an order to Ding Baozhen immediately." So on the one hand, Wenxiang notified Ronglu to copy An Dehai's home that night; Governor. When the manuscript was presented, the emperor felt excited and heavy.This is the first time he has ruled on "state affairs", and it is entirely out of his own considerations, his thoughts are turned into words, and words are turned into words on paper. Sincerely.This kind of taste was something he had never experienced before, and only after experiencing it now did he know that this taste was irreplaceable. Because of this, he read the manuscript with special attention, and after reading it once, he was sure that he could break it down, and then he read it softly: "The words of the Minister of Military Aircraft are sent to the governors of Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces and governors of water transportation: The decree, according to Ding Baozhen's play: "For the eunuch who claimed to be sent by order, ostentatiously incited, the authenticity is not discernible, and now it will be investigated and dealt with, and it will be heard by the postman". Two Taiping boats and several small boats sailed into the territory of Shandong Province. They were well-known and well-known, and they claimed to be imperial envoys. There was no pass card inspection, suspicious behavior, and secret visits were sent. It is said that they are eunuchs with the surname An. Or they are fake envoys, or It is an excuse for private use, and the authenticity cannot be distinguished. It is now under the jurisdiction of Chana, and the provincial interrogation, please follow the order' and other words, read the play, and the eunuch is shocked. Severely punished, why suspend officials and ban them as an example? Ding Baozhen quickly sent officials to the place where he belonged to, and the eunuch with the surname of Lan Ling'an was strictly investigated. He ordered the followers to testify that the evidence was true, and there was no need for interrogation, and he was executed on the spot. If the eunuch hears the news and turns back to Zhijing, or sneaks to Henan, Jiangsu and other places, he will follow Zeng Guofan and others to strictly enforce the law. His entourage, etc., have traces of those who are close to bandits, and Take it strictly, punish it separately, and there is no need to ask for an order. Let this be known from the decree of each of the six hundred miles. Here it is!" The emperor nodded old-fashionedly: "The writing is quite good. But I have to add one sentence." "Yes!" Prince Gong agreed, while watching Bao Yun pouted at the case. Bao Yun understood, bent his body, took a vermilion pen from the imperial case, and offered it with both hands. "You should write it," the emperor ordered: "add this sentence:'If there is negligence, only the governor should ask.'" "Yes!" Bao Jun repeated: "'If there is negligence, only the governor should be Ask.'" The courtiers were not allowed to touch the imperial pen, so Bao Yun put the vermilion pen back on the imperial case, then took the manuscript, went back to the porch, added that sentence, went back into the hall, and presented it to the imperial court. It's not a draft, but a "court post". "When can I go to Shandong?" the emperor asked, pointing to the Tingji in his hand. Prince Gong had never been out of the province of Zhili, so Wen Xiang replied: "Tomorrow night, I will definitely be able to reach Jinan." "Okay!" The emperor specially urged: "Tell the Ministry of War that it must be delivered tomorrow night." "Yes!" Prince Gong agreed, hesitating to speak. "Uncle Six!" the emperor asked with concern, "What else do you have to say?" "Your Majesty, I'm going to pay my respects to the Holy Mother and Empress Dowager right now, and report this incident in a tactful manner." These words reminded the emperor, and he couldn't help frowning slightly.Killing An Dehai would be a pleasure, but going to hear about it with Empress Dowager Cixi is a big problem. Think about it, it is inconvenient to discuss matters like this with Prince Gong, so he said: "Understood. If there is nothing else, you can go down and do business!" As soon as Prince Gong left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the emperor immediately consulted Xiao Li about how to deal with the problem. As soon as he saw the emperor, Xiao Li smiled and kowtowed first.The former imperial eunuch, familiar with informality, usually just greets you, and only kowtows when it is more solemn, like the emperor recovering from a minor illness, then you have to kowtow to greet you.Therefore, Xiao Li kowtowed to congratulate the emperor. "Where have you gone?" asked the emperor. "The slave is outside asking for news." The one who inquired was of course An Dehai's news, and the emperor asked again: "Xiao Anzi's house, have you copied it?" "I've been copying it for a long time." Xiao Li replied, "I heard that Liu Ye and Wen Shangshu had already made preparations. Before entering the palace, they sent someone to guard his house. Even a mouse can't escape!" The emperor felt very happy and praised him greatly: "Good! He is very good at handling things." Then he asked: "Who did you send?" "General Rong." The emperor knew that he was talking about Rong Lu.So a very vivid image immediately appeared in his mind, from manner, clothing to speech, everything was beautiful.Although Rong Lu didn't have the errand of "walking in the inner court", he "pressed" a horse for the emperor once, and at that time, the emperor deeply imprinted this person in his mind. "Xiao Li," the emperor's smile faded, "the matter has been settled, and there must be an explanation to the superior. Look, how should I say this!" When asked about this level, Xiao Li replied vigorously: "Long Live Lord, don't worry, the slave has already made plans for Long Live Lord, and I guarantee that the Queen Mother will not be angry with Long Live Lord." "That's good!" the emperor said happily, "Speak quickly!" "Long Live Lord, stay calm, ignore this trouble for now, and wait for the Queen Mother to ask, just play back like this..." Xiao Li had already gone to the House of Internal Affairs to ask for advice from an expert. At that time, he leaned over and whispered secretly in the ear of the emperor.The emperor relieved his sorrow, nodded and said, "Okay! Let's do it like this! After the matter is over, I have a reward." So Xiao Li knelt down again, "Long Live Lord wants to reward the slave, and the slave should thank you first." After kowtowing, he continued: "Long Live Lord doesn't need to reward anything else, but reward the slave with some of Xiao Anzi's fun things." "Okay!" said the emperor, "Let's pass on the meal! I have a big appetite today, so I'll go to Yuzi to see if there's anything delicious, and I'll ask for two." Xiao Li agreed to go to the small kitchen of the Changchun Palace, and ordered two dishes that the emperor liked to eat. After serving the meal, while drinking tea, the Empress Dowager Cixi sent someone to summon the emperor. Xiao Li was vigilant, and led the eunuch who came to convey Yi's decree to a secluded place, and asked quietly. Sure enough, Empress Dowager Cixi had received the news that An Dehai's house had been ransacked, so she specially summoned the emperor to ask about it. "Go up!" Xiao Li strongly encouraged the emperor, "The empress dowager loses her temper, it's just like a thunderstorm in spring, it will pass in a flash." "Hmm, um!" The emperor was really afraid of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but until now, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and do what Xiao Li said, so he encouraged himself, raised his chest, held his head up, and acted righteously.