Chapter 38 The Eleventh Round of Sending Wind Gourds to Please the Emperor, Practicing Hidden Ninjutsu to Win Over Eunuchs
A few waiters carried the dining table out, and the Yuntai returned to calm.Empress Dowager Li's mood also stabilized.She looked at Zhu Yijun on the throne, this little emperor, as soon as the queen mother spoke, he immediately felt relieved, as if he had nothing to do with him.At this time, he was leaning on his side, with one leg bent and kicking on the armrest of the throne. Empress Dowager Li glared at him. When the note came, I picked one and read: "Mr. Zhang, what have you been up to these days?"
As soon as Zhang Juzheng heard this question, Gorden couldn't help thinking about it. He immediately thought that there might be two meanings here. He was specially summoned to verify the rumors.In any case, he heard a little dissatisfaction from the questioning—it was not so much dissatisfaction with the little emperor, as it was Empress Dowager Li.Therefore, he subconsciously glanced at the Empress Dowager Li, and replied: "Returning to the emperor, the minister is near, one is to consult with the yamen on duty on the matter of Beijing inspection, and listen to the suggestions and consultations of some ministers. , The second is to find ministers for the emperor." "Ah, are you looking for ministers for the emperor?"
Queen Mother Li raised her voice and asked.For the meeting this afternoon, she specially changed into an exquisitely made crimson brocade uniform of Jiufeng Xiangwu.The phoenix crown worn on the head is also swaying with pearls.The face is thinly applied with powder, which is even more charming.Zhang Juzheng glanced at her inadvertently, and suddenly felt that this young empress dowager, who was always stern and dignified, looked very charming today.Although he felt that Empress Dowager Li's red phoenix eyes were staring at him, he did not dare to look straight at him. He lowered his eyelids, coughed twice in disguise, and replied: "Two years ago, the minister suggested that the prince, who is today's emperor, come out of the cabinet to give lectures." , with the permission of the first emperor, the sutra banquet is held twice a year in the spring and autumn. In the spring of this year, the sutra banquet was suspended due to the late emperor's illness. Now that the emperor has ascended the throne, the palace and ministers are all working together to assist the Holy Lord to create a new era. Although there are occasional discordant sounds, it does not harm the etiquette, so I think about it, choose a date to play the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and resume this autumn sutra feast." "This suggestion is very good." Empress Dowager Li's eyes flashed, and asked again, "Have you found all the ministers who will participate in the sutra banquet?" "I have selected four, one is to talk about "Spring and Autumn", one is to talk about the ancient laws and regulations of the dynasty, and the other is to talk about the strategy of governing the country in the past dynasties. The lecturer, his character and knowledge are all admired by scholars. Wait for the memorial from the Ministry of Rites to come up, and ask the queen mother and the emperor to make a decision." "Mr. As for the banquet, I will let Mr. Zhang, the assistant manager of Mr. Feng, take care of it.""The minister obeys the order."
"The slave obeys the order."
Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao got up almost at the same time to answer. Seeing the humble attitude of the two ministers of the palace, Empress Dowager Li felt very comfortable.She couldn't help saying: "Both of you are ministers who took care of life in the late emperor's will. Although Jun'er is the emperor, he is only ten years old after all. Therefore, Eunuch Feng should think carefully about the affairs in the Forbidden City, and make the emperor's family Take care of it. As for state affairs and world affairs, Mr. Lao Zhang must plan with all his heart."
The Empress Dowager Li just finished speaking, Feng Bao leaned over and said in a high-pitched voice, "Slave obeys the order", but Zhang Juzheng put his hands on his knees, nodded and said: "I will report to the Empress Dowager, I will do my duty, and I dare not Do not slack in the slightest, and do the duties of the chief assistant well." The Empress Dowager Li felt that although Zhang Juzheng's words were sincere, they made people feel smug, so she said angrily: "Mr. Jun—the master of the emperor, don't forget, in the fourth year of Longqing, you will be promoted to the title of Prince Taifu!" "I dare not forget," Zhang Juzheng looked up at Zhu Yijun who was sitting on the throne, full of affection She said, "Today, I brought a small gift to the emperor." "Gift?" Empress Dowager Li was taken aback, "What gift?"
Zhang Juzheng waved to the door, and immediately, the dental eunuch who led the way just now came in with a brocade box, handed it to Zhang Juzheng, and then backed out.Zhang Juzheng opened the brocade box and took out a wooden gourd-like thing from it. "What is this?" Zhu Yijun asked curiously with wide-eyed eyes.
"Empty clock." Zhang Juzheng answered.
Feng Bao stretched his neck to look at it, sneered, and said, "Isn't this the wind gourd? In the capital, children all over the street play with it." , naturally recognize this object.She didn't understand why Zhang Juzheng gave this "low thing" to the emperor, she couldn't help but her face sank, and she asked: "Mr. Zhang, is this your gift to the emperor?" Zhang Juzheng could hear Queen Mother Li's displeasure, but he Not alarmed, he replied calmly: "I report to the Empress Dowager, I know this gift is too light, I sent someone to buy it at the Caodianzi market for two copper coins, but I think the emperor will like it." Zhu Yijun has never seen such a thing since he was born. At this time, he was itching to see something strange, so he didn't care about his mother's face, and yelled at Zhang Juzheng: "Mr. Zhang, this wind , the wind..."
"Wind gourd." Feng Bao added a sentence.
"Yes, wind gourd, wind gourd," Zhu Yijun clapped his little hands, and asked eagerly, "How to play?" "Your Majesty, don't worry, I'll show you how to play."
As Zhang Juzheng said, he got up from his seat, walked to the middle of the room, faced Zhu Yijun who was sitting on the throne, threw the wind gourd into the air, pulled the rope skillfully, and the wind gourd flew up and down following his gestures .There is a reason why Zhang Juzheng sent this "low thing" to the emperor.But it was said that on Yunxiu's birthday, there was an unhappiness at home because of playing with the wind gourd.After listening to his wife's advice, Zhang Juzheng finally realized the truth that "a child is a child after all".And his youngest son, Yunxiu, associated him with the emperor who was the same age as him.So every day after work, he always squeezed in some time to play with Yunxiu for a while, this toy Zhang Juzheng also played with when he was a child, but his skills were old and unfamiliar.It took him a few times to recover, but his body was stiff and his wrists were not flexible. It was difficult to play like he was when he was a child. After seeing Yunxiu play the wind gourd, he not only did not tire of learning, but Energetic and thoughtful, he decided to buy one as a gift to the emperor. But when Zhang Juzheng was concentrating on playing the wind gourd, the three people in the hall had different mentalities.Empress Dowager Li looked at this long-bearded minister dressed in a crane men's suit, so devotedly playing with a wind gourd, she was both moved and found it funny; Feng Bao never thought that Zhang Juzheng would come up with such a unique trick to please the emperor. While admiring Zhang Juzheng's cunning and scheming, he felt sour in his heart.Zhu Yijun's big watery eyes never left the flying gourd, and his whole expression seemed extremely excited.Once, seeing that the wind gourd was about to fall to the ground, he screamed in fright, stood up from the throne, and wished he could jump off the golden step stool to rescue the wind gourd.In a short while, Zhang Ju shook his hand slightly, and the wind gourd flew up close to the ground again.The little emperor clapped his hands and laughed happily again.Empress Dowager Li was extremely surprised when she heard this crisp laughter like a silver bell from the heart—for many years (maybe it has never appeared before), she has never heard her son's laughter so sweet! After playing for a while, Zhang Juzheng put away the rope and held the wind gourd in his hand.At this moment, I saw that his forehead was dripping with sweat.Feng Bao ordered the person on duty to bring the twisted wet wipes, Zhang Juzheng did not wipe his sweat in a hurry, but turned to Empress Dowager Li and said: "Empress Dowager, I want to present this gift to the emperor."
Zhu Yijun had long stretched out his small hand to take the wind gourd, but when he saw Queen Mother Li was silent, he withdrew his hands timidly and cast a begging look at the queen mother. At this moment, Empress Dowager Li was in a complicated mood. She felt Zhang Juzheng's sincerity towards the little emperor—it was not only the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers, but could even be compared to the love between father and son.But she was also afraid that the former prince and Taifu would mislead the emperor and make the child lose his mind. From then on, he would not be specialized in studying and would not want to make progress... When she was in a dilemma and unable to express her position, Zhang Juzheng said again: "Queen, my minister A few days ago, when I was talking with ministers, I carefully asked them whether they played with toys such as wind gourds when they were young, besides studying, and almost all the people who were asked answered that they had played.""Ah? Empress Dowager Li raised her face slightly, and asked in a hesitant tone, "You mean, playthings won't lose their spirits?" Zhang Juzheng took the wet towel from the little fireman, wiped his sweat, and still Going back to the chair and sitting down, he replied politely: "Playing things must be depressing, but this thing is not the other thing. This wind gourd can relax the tendons and activate the collaterals, and rejuvenate the childlike innocence. Occasionally playing with it is beneficial but nothing One disadvantage, Yunxiu, the minister's dog, is also ten years old this year, the same age as the emperor. After playing the wind gourd, he seems to be a different person. He always looks sick in the past. But otherwise, he is full of vigor all day long, and he talks very diligently when he asks and answers questions with the tutor, and the dog turns from being bored to learning, all because of the power of the wind gourd." "Listening to what Mr. Zhang said, this wind gourd is still a cure for children's greed. A panacea for playing?”“Back to the Queen Mother, I think the wind gourd has this effect.”
"It's rare that Mr. Zhang thinks so thoroughly. He not only finds ministers for the emperor, but also sends wind gourds. The late emperor chose you to be the Minister of Guming. It can be said that you have unique eyesight." .”
At this time, Feng Bao had already taken the wind gourd from Zhang Juzheng, and presented it to Zhu Yijun respectfully.The little emperor couldn't put it down after playing it, and really wanted to jump off the throne to try it out, but seeing the serious conversation between his mother and Zhang Juzheng, he had to force himself to restrain himself.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager Li's admiration for Zhang Juzheng was beyond words, Feng Bao thought to himself: "A woman is a woman after all."
He bite the bullet, cut in and said:
"Report to the Empress Dowager, don't you still have something to ask Mr. Zhang.""Ah, that's right," Empress Dowager Li smiled lightly.At this time, the westward sun shone on the scarf on her shoulders, making it look extraordinarily dazzling. She glanced at Feng Bao and asked Zhang Juzheng, "Mr. Zhang, I heard that there is some disturbance in the capital about the loss of salary of pepper and sumac?"
"It seems that the queen mother and the emperor summoned today for this purpose." Zhang Juzheng muttered in his heart, and then replied: "There are some false rumors, but it does not affect the overall situation." "Why Didn’t you see the booklet report this matter?”
"It's the minister who suppressed it."
"Ah," Empress Dowager Li was startled, she did not expect Zhang Juzheng to be so frank, and asked, "Why do you want to suppress it?"
Zhang Juzheng put it lightly.Empress Dowager Li felt that he was both unfathomable and clear.So he didn't go around the bush, and asked directly: "How should Zhang Dalang beat Wang Song to death?"
When this question came to the fore, Zhang Juzheng was most troubled by this matter, but he did not show his face, and replied in a retreat: "The minister asked the Ministry of Punishment to investigate this matter, but the result has not yet come out."Still rubbing Zhu Yijun, who was holding the gourd, suddenly interrupted and asked: "Do you know what background Zhang Dalang has?" "My minister knows that he is the nephew of Qiu Deyong, the steward of the Qianqing Palace." Now that he has made it clear, Li The queen mother simply broke the casserole and asked to the end: "Mr. Zhang, is this relationship hindered by your delay in dealing with Zhang Dalang?" "Back to the queen mother, I really have the intention of throwing a mouse."
Empress Dowager Li subconsciously glanced at Feng Bao, the chief executive, who was also looking at her.The four eyes met in tacit agreement, and Feng Bao seemed to hide such a sentence in his eyes: "How about it, Queen Mother, Mr. Zhang's thoughts, the servant guessed right?" Queen Li suddenly frowned, and said in a stern tone: "Why does Mr. Zhang want to use the mouse? You must be fair and decisive. Otherwise, the gang of tongue-twisting officials in the Sixth Section Corridor will have a pretext to attack us." I can't make it, so I delay for a while, thinking about how to answer.Feng Bao acted according to circumstances, and took the opportunity to ask: "Mr. Zhang, in your post to the emperor last time, you said that Wang Song's death was caused by Zhang Dalang's accidental injury. Is that true?" Quickly asked: "Eunuch Feng, what is the conclusion of Dongchang's investigation on this matter?" As a result of the investigation, if it was only an accidental injury, Zhang Dalang was not guilty of death, and he cannot escape the crime of living." Zhang Juzheng was speaking to Feng Bao in the open, but he was speaking in private to the Empress Dowager Li.He skillfully stated the scale of punishment for Zhang Dalang, to see how Queen Mother Li would react. Empress Dowager Li still said proudly: "Mr. Zhang must be impartial, and you must not leave gossip to others."Zhu Yijun asked with wide-eyed eyes full of childishness: "Mother, who is so bold? Dare to gossip about you?" "Yes," Empress Dowager Li heaved a sigh of relief, and said angrily, "Doesn't every speaker in the Sixth Section Gallery have a copy of "Women's Admonitions"?"
"Mr. Zhang, this time the Beijing inspection will dismiss all these people."Zhu Yijun stomped his foot, and his expression became the supreme being in the world again.Zhang Juzheng did not "lead the edict", but changed the topic at the right time, and said to the Queen Mother: "Just now the Queen Mother mentioned "The Commandments for Women", and I have a suggestion.""Speak."
"The 1,000 copies of "Women's Admonitions" published by Zhulinfang in Beijing must have been instigated by others. The speech officials are as if they have found a treasure, and their feelings are self-evident...""This is accusing the Queen Mother of interfering in politics, and That Wu Ke, talking nonsense about a man changing into a woman, saying that this is a sign of the prosperity of yin and the decline of yang, is really barking at the sun!" Feng Bao interrupted Zhang Juzheng's words and said angrily.Zhang Juzheng waited for him to finish, and then continued: "The Empress Dowager is the mother of the world. She has a deep and broad love for her son, but she never has the slightest intention to interfere in politics. Therefore, I take the liberty to suggest that those who harbor evil intentions are not How about using "The Commandments for Women" as an article? Simply, the Empress Dowager, in her own name, issued an order to the Neijing Factory to print 5,000 copies of "The Commandments for Women", and gave them to the government offices of the two capitals and all the prefectures and counties in the world, and see what they have to say." "This... Eunuch Feng, what do you think?"
Because of saving Zhang Dalang's life, Feng Baowen fell into the favor of Qiu Deyong, so he was in a very happy mood at the moment. Seeing Queen Mother Li asking for advice, he hurriedly replied: "Mr. Zhang's idea is really good. If the Queen Mother Write a preface at the beginning of the book of "Women's Admonitions", and the world's right and wrong mouths will be completely filled at once." After this point, Empress Dowager Li suddenly became enlightened, she cast a grateful glance at Zhang Juzheng, and said: "Mr. Zhang, please make a preface for us."
"The minister obeys the order."
Zhang Juzheng did not leave Yuntai until Ouchi missed the room and reported Youshi.At this time, the sun was setting, and the high corners of the eaves of the Jianji Hall hung with brilliant afterglow.The Yapai eunuch who led the way led Zhang Juzheng up the long corridor leading to Huiji Gate.About halfway through, I suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Sir, please stop."
Only hearing the sound, Zhang Juzheng knew it was Feng Bao. When he turned around, he saw Feng Baozheng walking towards him in a hurry. "Eunuch Feng, do you have anything else to do?" Zhang Juzheng asked.
"The emperor still has something to explain."
Feng Bao hurried a few steps, talking out of breath.The place where they were standing was the left side of Zhongji Hall.Feng Bao looked left and right, and told the tooth eunuch who led the way:
"You go and explain to the steward of the Zhongji Hall and open a side room. We want to talk to Mr. Zhang."The tooth brand eunuch ran away like a melon.After a while, the sound of the door opening was heard, and Feng Bao led Zhang Juzheng to move over.Divided by region, the Forbidden City should be divided into three parts.The first block is between the Meridian Gate and the Huiji Gate, where the cabinet and the six department corridors work; the second block is from the Huiji Gate to.
Between the gate of Qianqing, there are three magnificent halls of Huiji (later renamed Huangji), Zhongji, and Taiji. Inside the Qing gate, this is the private sleeping place of the emperor and concubines.Now, Feng Bao led Zhang Juzheng into the side room of Zhongji Hall, which is not allowed according to the rules.In order to avoid collusion between inside and outside to threaten the imperial power, the eunuch of the inner palace and the chief assistant of the outer court are never allowed to meet alone.The emperor has a decree to the cabinet, and there is a special eunuch to deliver the decree, and the emperor wants to meet the ministers, and there is a special guide.Although these various full-time servants are all under the jurisdiction of the Palm Printing Eunuch, the Palm Printing Eunuch himself is not as free as people imagine, in fact, his actions are subject to many restrictions everywhere.However, these prohibitions enacted by Ming Taizu Emperor Hongwu have been gradually relaxed after more than a hundred years and several generations of emperors.The biggest manifestation of Tsunaji's corruption is that there is no limit.The cooperation between the two "power ministers" inside and outside the eunuch and the chief assistant often becomes a barometer of whether the political situation is turbulent. There are too many examples in this regard.However, although the "two phases" of the former dynasty and the inside and outside, although secretly ventilating and expressing solidarity with each other, on the surface they still have to hide their eyes and ears from communicating with each other.Therefore, when Feng Bao invited Zhang Juzheng to sit in the side room of Zhongji Hall, Zhang Juzheng hesitated, and as soon as he sat down, he asked: "Eunuch Feng, is there something wrong with you and me sitting here?" "What's wrong, the queen mother and the emperor asked us to come."
"Ah?"
Zhang Juzheng was slightly taken aback.Feng Bao saw through Zhang Juzheng's thoughts, and said with a smile on the corner of his mouth: "Mr. Zhang, according to the rules set by Emperor Taizu, when the emperor receives the chief assistant, we, the supervisor of ceremonies, should not be present, do you think so?" Zhang Juzheng stroked his long beard lightly, but did not answer.Feng Bao went on to say: "Also, the Empress Dowager directly meets with the ministers and discusses state affairs. This is even more contrary to the ancestral precepts, don't you think so?"
Zhang Juzheng hesitated to speak.A vicious smile appeared on Feng Bao's face again, and he forced him to ask: "Mr. Zhang, if someone wants to chew their tongues and say something about the queen mother, how would you answer?" "What's so difficult? The current emperor Shengling You Chong, as a mother, the Empress Dowager has the responsibility of supervision." "That's it," Feng Bao slapped his thigh, and said excitedly, "Are you still worried that we will be gossiped when we meet? You know , in the last emperor's will, we were ordered by Gu together with the three cabinet ministers. Now that Gao Huzi lost his status and Gao Yi died of illness, there are only you and me left. For the sake of the emperor and to avoid the worry of the queen mother, can you and I not meet?" Zhang Juzheng admitted that Feng Bao's words were reasonable, but he felt that the old man might have held back for too long, and once he gained power, he would be a little unscrupulous. "As ministers, for the sake of the emperor, it's nothing to take the blame for it, but we must be cautious in everything, and be careful not to lose people."
Hearing this, Feng Bao felt a little disappointed. He believed in the principle that "you can't do great things if you are timid", but then thought about it, maybe Zhang Juzheng deliberately kept a low profile, and sighed: "Some courtiers, A grasshopper as big as a broad bean thinks the road is narrow, but you, Mr. Zhang, have passed through the water with a heavy layer of skin, and not even a single hair is wet. You are a master." "Eunuch Feng has won the prize." Zhang Juzheng didn't want to gossip like this, so he went Straightforwardly, he asked, "Excuse me, Eunuch Feng, what is the emperor's intention?" Feng Bao immediately wiped away the bitterness on his face, and changed into a Maitreya face and replied: "You walk with the front foot, and the emperor will jump off with the back foot. Throne, pull the rope and play with the wind gourd, but it can’t fly no matter what, he wants us to ask you how to make the wind gourd fly.”
"This, just talking about it is not clear, I have to demonstrate." Zhang Juzheng thought for a while, and then said, "The emperor has two servants by his side, let them go out of the palace, find two masters to learn, and then go back to teach To the emperor." "Okay, it's settled," Feng Bao said, seeing that Zhang Juzheng was about to get up and leave, he quickly gestured for him to sit down, and then said, "Mr. Zhang, there are two small matters. I hope you pay attention.""What's the matter?"
Zhang Juzheng, who had gotten up, sat down again.Feng Bao glanced out the window, and suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Do you know whose idea it is to summon you today?" "I don't know." Zhang Juzheng had no intention of guessing.
"It's the queen mother," Feng Bao blinked, with a smirk on his face, "The queen mother has long known that Zhang Dalang is Eunuch Qiu's nephew, and she wanted to protect him, but she couldn't say it. You used ' The word "injury" is really wonderful." "What's so wonderful about this?"
"If the queen mother has a harsh tone and doesn't care about human feelings, she will be punished severely if she accidentally injures someone's life. If you want to save someone's life, there is so much to do in this word 'mistake'." At this point, Feng Bao turned his body Get closer, and say like an old friend talking, "Mr. Zhang, we know how the Queen Mother feels. She just wants to save Zhang Dalang's life.""What else?"
"And... there are other articles, it's up to you, Mr. Zhang. You, Mr. Zhang, have the ability to beat tofu with a kitchen knife. You, Mr. Zhang, are capable of this." To tell the truth, Zhang Juzheng doesn't like Feng Bao's yin and yang. Temperament, but he knows that he has the old tricks of turning his hands into clouds and turning his hands into the rainy season, so he has to be in love with him.After taking Feng Bao's words, he replied: "Eunuch Feng, the servant is the chief assistant, and many things have not been considered carefully. What are the empress dowagers and the emperor thinking about? I hope that the father-in-law can communicate with you." "Hey, you As soon as you say this, you will treat me as an outsider." Feng Bao seemed to be about to laugh, but he suppressed it, shrugged his shoulders, pointed in the direction of Qianqing Palace, and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhang, the people in the palace We'll take care of it." "Thank you so much."
Zhang Juzheng clasped his fist at Feng Bao, said goodbye and went out.After this sitting, half an hour passed without realizing it, and the rippling red sunset glow cast on the solemn glazed tiles of the palace, reflecting a soft orange light.Zhang Juzheng had just passed through the long corridor on the left side of Zhongji Hall, when Feng Bao came up from behind and said, "Mr. Zhang, there is one more trivial matter that I almost forgot." Zhang Juzheng stopped in his tracks and said with a smile: " It’s not too late.” Feng Bao looked at no one around, and asked in a low voice, “I heard that Shi Yuanyang, the Lianghuai salt transport envoy, has expired in four years, does the chief assistant plan to replace him?”
"I don't know about this yet," Zhang Juzheng replied.He is not pretending to be sloppy, but he really does not know that there are so many yamen in the country, if he has to do everything himself, how can he take care of it.But since Feng Bao specifically asked this question, he couldn't evade it, so he asked, "Eunuch Feng must have been recommended by someone when he asked this question." Feng Bao smiled and said unnaturally: "I want to recommend someone .”“Who?”
"Hu Zigao, now the director of Nanjing Ministry of Industry."
"Hu Zigao? Isn't this the man who was rumored to have bought a string of fake Buddhist beads for 30,000 taels of silver and gave it to Eunuch Feng?" Zhang Juzheng was startled, feeling disgusted in his heart, but he still had a pleasant smile on his face. Asked softly: "Eunuch Feng intends to recommend him?" "If Mr. Zhang is convenient, then..." Feng Bao looked at the unpredictable smile on Zhang Juzheng's face, suddenly felt a little embarrassed, paused, and then said, "However, The old man just mentioned in passing, if Mr. Zhang is in trouble, forget it." Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, still smiling and said: "What's the trouble? "Ah!"
Feng Bao exclaimed, he didn't expect that the chief minister, who was sincere and dedicated, would agree so readily.