:. After Zhu Changluo left Qixiang Palace, Concubine Zheng cried out to Emperor Wanli: "Your Majesty, if Pang Bao and Liu Cheng are handed over for trial, God knows how those foreign ministers will instigate the arrangement of concubines, and the concubine family will die without mercy.
It’s a burial place.”
Emperor Wanli said: "Who said that Pang and Liu should be handed over for trial?"
Concubine Zheng, with uneven hair and hair on her hair, and makeup on her face mixed with tears, asked doubtfully: "Didn't the Emperor promise me to ask Pang Bao and Liu Cheng?"
Emperor Wanli said: "I agreed, but I didn't say that I would send them to outside the palace for interrogation. I only asked the Sanfa Division to interrogate Pang and Liu in front of Wenhua Gate, and also ordered the Supervisor of Ceremonies to supervise. How can I allow it?
The foreign minister arranged for you."
Concubine Zheng felt relieved and thanked the emperor for his tolerance and grace.
On a summer day in June, the sun was scorching outside, but the spacious apse of Qixiang Palace was cool and refreshing. Emperor Wanli asked Concubine Zheng to sit down next to him, took a sip of Dragon Garden Primrose Tea, and said to Concubine Zheng:
"Axiu, you should be kinder to me in the future. My brother has no other merits, but kindness and filial piety are better."
Concubine Zheng argued: "When did I become unkind to my brother? Is the emperor still suspicious of me?"
Emperor Wanli smiled and said: "You are such a smart man, why would you send a half-crazy and half-foolish person to break into the East Palace?"
Although Emperor Wanli's words were to excuse Concubine Zheng, they sounded very harsh to Concubine Zheng, who said displeasedly: "What does the emperor mean by these words?"
Emperor Wanli said: "I have no other intention. I just want you to understand that no one can shake my brother's position as crown prince, otherwise there will be great chaos. Xun'er is also very good in Luoyang. I can be his blessed king safely. It doesn't take much time."
Worry, you have also seen that I am not very happy being the emperor. Fortunately, I met you——" As he said that, he gently stroked the back of Concubine Zheng's hand, and a gentle look appeared on her slightly swollen face.
Concubine Zheng sighed quietly. When Xun'er was born, the emperor had promised her to make Xun'er the prince. However, the ministers of the foreign court noticed the signs and requested that the emperor's eldest son be appointed as the prince. Memorials came like snow flakes. Emperor Cisheng
The Queen Mother also supported the establishment of Zhu Changluo. The emperor tried his best to delay it for more than ten years, but in the end he could not withstand the pressure from both the Queen Mother and foreign ministers. He had to make Zhu Changluo the crown prince, and Xun'er had to vassal Luoyang——
The situation was like this, and it was impossible to save money easily. Concubine Zheng finally gave up. She said, "How could I not know that the emperor is so kind to me? It's just that Xun'er left Beijing the year before last. Mother and son have not seen each other for more than two years."
You see, I miss you day and night, and often shed tears."
Emperor Wanli explained generously: "Back then, my mother also missed my brother King Lu very much. But she couldn't see him just when he wanted. This is the ancestral system."
The sun was shining brightly in the courtyard outside Xinuan Pavilion. Emperor Wanli and Concubine Zheng, who had been in love for more than thirty years, sat under the long window in the pavilion, looking at the thick shade spread by the two ancient cypresses beside the courtyard. They remained silent for a long time.
The most powerful and noble couple in the court are no different from ordinary old couples who are worried about their children.
…
On the sixth day of June, Beijing custom calls this day Tiankuang Festival. On this day, people draw water from wells to make sauce and vinegar, soak melons and eggplants, and expose their clothes to the hot sun. As the saying goes, "On June 6th, chickens will be cooked in the sun."
The sun was the brightest on this day, and the imperial palace also spread the records of dynasties and imperial collections of dynasties under the scorching sun——
The Hanlin Academy was also drying books that day. Several young Hanlin officials, Zhang Yuan and Zhou Tingru, were accompanying Guo Hui, a bachelor at the time, to help sort out the books for drying. Around the same time, a chamberlain suddenly came to deliver the order. The emperor wanted to summon the cabinet at Ciqing Palace.
Auxiliary ministers, six ministers, five government officials, and Ke Dao officials. In addition to the officials of the Hanlin Academy, two more editors went there to prepare for the revision of books and history——
Guo Hui suddenly heard the edict and panicked. He had been in the Hanlin Academy for more than ten years. He had never been summoned by the emperor. He only knew from actual records that the last time the emperor summoned ministers Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Xu Guo, and Wang Jiaping was twenty-six years ago.
Zhang Yuan said at the side: "Xueshi Guo, the emperor must have summoned him to investigate the matter. Xueshi Guo, please go quickly."
Guo Hui hurriedly arranged his crown and belt, and asked Zhou Yanru and Zhang Yuan to go with him. Zhou Yanru was promoted to be a lecturer of the Hanlin Academy last year. He was also a compilation editor and was familiar with the Wenhan system. Guo Hui took the sedan chair, Zhang Yuan and Zhou Yanru.
Walking, we entered the imperial city from Dong'an Gate. After waiting for a while outside the Donghua Gate of the palace city, the officials from the six ministries and five palaces were basically present. Then a chamberlain came out to guide the officials into Donghua Gate and arrived at the gate of Ciqing Palace.
.
Ciqing Palace is now no longer unguarded as it was before the attack. Instead, it is heavily guarded. The first assistant of the cabinet, Fang Congzhe, the second assistant Wu Daonan, and other ministers have already arrived outside the Ciqing Palace first. The foreign ministers all looked excited.
, the emperor has not summoned the ministers for decades. The last ceremony was just a formality. This time he really summoned the civil and military ministers. It is really a grand event that has not happened in forty years, although all the officials know it.
The emperor's summons must be related to the siege case, and it is not a happy event. However, no matter what, it is a blessing for the people of the country that the emperor is willing to come out to see the court.
The officials lined up in separate classes, with Fang and Wu in front. They were guided by the eunuch in charge of rituals into the gate of Ciqing Palace. They passed through the second gate and reached the stairs leading through the palace.
Emperor Wanli in black clothes and yellow clothes is already sitting westward under the left doorpost of the palace. Crown Prince Zhu Changluo, wearing a Yishan crown and a red robe with a coiled collar and narrow sleeves, stands on the right side of Emperor Wanli. Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Youji, and Zhu Youjian,
The four imperial grandsons and granddaughters of Zhu Hui'an stood side by side at the left step. They were all wearing royal Yan Bian uniforms. They stood upright and motionless, looking a little nervous, especially the six-year-old Zhu Hui'an.
With her mouth tightened and her eyes wide open, she was almost scared to cry when she saw a group of officials approaching quickly. She was frightened by the assault case and fell ill that night. She got better in the past two days——
When the officials saw that the emperor was already there, they quickly knelt down in front of the steps and saluted. There was no red tape. Emperor Wanli said: "I have been in mourning since the death of Our Lady the year before last. Since this spring, my feet and knees have become weak and difficult to walk. I take pictures every day.
Recuperate. Yesterday, a crazy Zhang Cha suddenly broke into the East Palace and hurt people. There was a lot of gossip in the outer court. Now Zhang Cha has died in fear of being frightened. Only Pang Bao, Liu Cheng, Li Wanchang, and Li Ziqiang will be questioned. The rest are not allowed to affect innocent people.
Those of you, avoid harming Tianhe——"
After saying this, Emperor Wanli was a little out of breath, rested for a moment, and then said: "The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country. He is always known as benevolent and filial. He is thirty-five years old this year. How can I not love him when he has grown up like this? There are many emperors and grandsons.
, I am deeply pleased, but the foreign courts all suspect that I have other intentions for King Fu's country. I have traveled thousands of miles here, and I am not called to do so. How can I fly here?" After saying that, he took the hand of Prince Zhu Changluo and said to him.
The ministers kneeling in front of the steps said: "This son is very filial and I cherish him very much."
The sun was already shining brightly at this hour, and all the officials were sweating profusely as they knelt in the sunlight in front of the steps of the Ciqing Palace. They craned their necks to look at Emperor Wanli under the eaves of the palace, listening to the emperor's instructions. Zhang Yuan had a good hearing. There was no need to listen.
I could hear it clearly even when I was calm, and I thought to myself: "The emperor is showing off the deep love between father and son." He squinted his eyes and took a closer look at Emperor Wanli's family on the steps:
Emperor Zhu Yijun has big ears, and he has a pampered imperial power when he sits there. Prince Zhu Changluo stands aside respectfully, Zhu Changluo is also fat, and the appearance of father and son is quite similar. The eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Youxiaoqing, is standing first on the left step.
Thin and thin, his eyes wandered at this time, and he didn't know where to go when he was here. If he was in class, this would be called being distracted or deserting. Zhu Youji next to Zhu Youxiao looked sick and sick. Zhu Youji seemed to have died before he was a minor, otherwise
It was not Zhu Youjian's turn to succeed his brother Zhu Youxiao to the throne. Let's look at the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian. He was seven or eight years old. He was also thin, but his eyes were bright and his expression was very focused. He was listening carefully to his grandfather's words.
, the name of the little girl standing at the very edge is unknown. She probably doesn’t have the title of princess yet. This future little princess’s face is pale. She is shaking slightly as she stands there——
Zhang Yuan thought again: "Wang An and others don't know how they found Zhang Cha. Zhang Cha was a lonely man. His firewood was burned by Er Li and he could not file a complaint. His grievances were so difficult to redress that he went crazy thinking of filing a lawsuit in the capital. He died the day before yesterday.
It is a prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Zhang Cha will suffer less pain if he dies like this. Otherwise, even if he is not guilty of breaking into the palace and hurting others, he will still have to--"
"The Emperor is so kind and loving, and the Crown Prince is so kind and filial. People all over the world admire him!"
Suddenly someone among the officials kneeling in front of the steps shouted such a praise, interrupting Zhang Yuan's train of thought. When he turned around to look, the person speaking was Liu Guangfu, the censor of Henan Province. The gray-haired Liu Guangfu saw that the emperor and the prince were so fatherly and filial.
, was so moved that tears filled his eyes, and he couldn't help but praise loudly.
Emperor Wanli was old and sick. In the past two years, he was often dizzy and his hearing was not as good as before. Although Liu Guangfu's voice of praise was not quiet, Emperor Wanli did not hear it clearly. He turned sideways and asked Wei Jinzhong, the eunuch of the East Palace standing next to him: "Then
What do people say?”
Wei Jinzhong recognized that the person speaking was Liu Guangfu, the imperial censor. Liu Guangfu had previously gone to Shu to stop the palace market. The palace market was run by eunuchs, who were fat men. Wei Jinzhong was in charge of Jia Ziku, the ten largest warehouses in the inner palace. When he stopped the palace market, the palace market was cut off.
Wei Jinzhong naturally hated Liu Guangfu because of the wealth of these eunuchs. Then he had an idea and replied: "Long live my Lord, this man said that he hopes the emperor will be kind to the crown prince."
Literally, these words are similar to what Liu Guangfu said, but with the addition of the word "wish", the meaning is completely different. Liu Guangfu praised the emperor and the crown prince for their fatherly kindness and son's filial piety. Wei Jinzhong's paraphrase became Liu Guangfu's request to the emperor.
To be kind to the crown prince, isn't this an accusation that the emperor is not kind enough to the crown prince? Emperor Wanli breathlessly talked a lot, then took Zhu Changluo's hand and said, "This son is very filial, and I love him very much." He performed well in front of the ministers.
So fully, but was "accused" by Liu Guangfu in public, wouldn't he be furious and reprimanded: "The inner court is kind and filial, but the outer court is wantonly suspicious and involved in dissension!"
Zhang Yuan knew that Liu Guangfu was a county magistrate in Zhuji County, Shaoxing Prefecture ten years ago. He managed floods and had great political achievements. After Liu Guangfu left office, the people of Zhuji built a temple to commemorate Liu Gongfu, but this man was quite stubborn.
He was pedantic, and at this time Liu Guangfu was wondering, why did the emperor angrily accuse him of making unreasonable suspicions when they were clearly words of praise? He was not convinced. Loyal ministers must dare to speak out. He argued loudly. Emperor Wanli tried to stop him several times, but he turned a deaf ear.
Gu kept chattering on and on, making Emperor Wanli's face distorted with anger, and he shouted angrily: "Where are the Jin Yiwei? Where are the Jin Yiwei? Where are the Jin Yiwei!"
But the emperor summoned all the officials today, but no Jin Yiwei came to serve. Therefore, Emperor Wanli called several times but no one from the Jin Yiwei agreed, so he ordered his servants to tie up Liu Guangfu and escort him to the court room to wait for the decree.
Wu Daonan was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Wanli. He had met Emperor Wanli several times. He had never seen the emperor so angry. He was very frightened. Because he had been kneeling for a long time, he felt dizzy. He fell to the ground and struggled to get up.
, Guo Hui, Zhang Yuan, and Zhou Yanru knelt behind Wu Daonan. Guo Hui, Zhou Yanru hesitated to move, but Zhang Yuan had already stood up to help him, and the first assistant Fang Congzhe also gave him a hand from the side.
, nodded to Zhang Yuan——
The furious Emperor Wanli, who was sitting by the left doorpost under the eaves, saw that his second assistant was frightened, so he reluctantly calmed down and ordered his servants to help Mr. Wu Ge to rest outside the second gate. The ones who came to help Wu Daonan were Wei Jinzhong and another Donggong man.
Eunuch, Zhang Yuan only then saw Zhong Benhua standing at the right foot of the stairs with a group of servants to wait on him. His right arm was no longer splinted, so his injury must have been almost healed.
Fang Congzhe knelt down again and pleaded for Liu Guangfu: "I am ignorant and talk nonsense. I only hope for the power of Ji Tian."
Emperor Wanli was still angry. He took the hand of Crown Prince Zhu Changluo and asked the ministers: "Have you all seen it? It is said that I don't care for such a son. For example, if you have a son who has grown up like this, how can you not care for him?"
The chamberlain led the four grandsons and granddaughters of the emperor from the left staircase to the staircase. They stood beside him and motioned to the ministers to take a closer look at his grandsons and granddaughters. Who would have the heart to destroy this family happiness?
Zhang Yuan noticed that there was a stain of water on the stone steps where the little princess was standing. It was obviously because the little princess had to urinate urgently. The royal rules were too strict. The little princess did not dare to go away when she was in urgent need of urination. She was nervous and scared, so she just peeed.
Come out. As you walk up the stairs, there are small wet footprints every step of the way. Fortunately, most people were attracted by Wanli's anger and did not pay attention to the footsteps of a little girl——
Emperor Wanli said again: "I and the crown prince are very close by nature. We have learned from our ancestors and grandmothers. I am a treacherous minister who makes arbitrary remarks and alienates my father and son. I am really a treacherous minister!"
The ministers kneeling below were also puzzled. How could Liu Guangfu become a treacherous minister who alienated the emperor's father and son when he was clearly praising him? It is expected that the emperor used the topic to vent his grievances against foreign ministers. This is really unpredictable. Praising the emperor
Words can also cause trouble, so it’s better to shut up——
Other officials did not have to speak, but Fang Congzhe, the chief assistant, could not let the emperor speak alone. He kowtowed and said, "How dare you, ministers, do this."
Seeing that the ministers were shocked, Emperor Wanli returned to the subject and said: "The crazy traitor Zhang Cha broke into the East Palace and injured the internal officials. Now Zhang Cha has died in fear of crime, and only Pang Bao, Liu Cheng and Jizhou unruly people Li Ziqiang and Li Wancang were killed.
Just ask, and the rest are not allowed to be affected." He turned to the crown prince Zhu Changluo and said, "If you have anything to say, tell all the ministers and don't hide it."
Zhu Changluo knew that his father wanted him to express his stance on the fencing case. He said: "Just deal with this crazy person. There is no need to implicate him." He also felt that these words were not weighty enough, and he was afraid that his father would be dissatisfied, so he continued: "I
Father and son are so dear. There are many discussions in the outer court. Would you rather make me an unfilial son?"
Emperor Wanli nodded imperceptibly and asked the ministers: "Did you all hear what the Crown Prince said just now?" He signaled Fang Congzhe with his eyes -
Fang Congzhe hurriedly replied: "The holy edict has been made clear and people's hearts have been determined. I hope the emperor will not worry about it."
Emperor Wanli's Tianyan was now in full bloom, with a smile on his face. He asked his attendants to tell the palace guards and eunuchs guarding the gate of Cining Palace to allow the late officials to pass without hindrance. Dozens of Taoist officials got up and knelt behind to see Tianyan. Emperor Wanli performed another show of affection between father and son in public to dispel the rumors outside the palace. Finally, he asked the crown prince to help him stand up. The father and son stood side by side. Emperor Wanli asked the ministers: "Are you all here? "
All the officials bowed down and praised him, and Emperor Wanli said again: "For the Crown Prince to come out to give lectures again, the cabinet, together with the Supervisor of Rites, the Ministry of Rites, the Hanlin Academy, and the James Mansion, will discuss it and select a date to hold it."
All the officials were very happy and the mountains shouted long live.
Li En, the eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department, signaled all the officials to resign and summoned Fang Congzhe to the imperial court. Emperor Wanli ordered: "Come quickly and make sure the wholesale is accurate." This was to end the case of the attack in a hurry.
Fang Congzhe returned to the cabinet. Wu Daonan had been sent back to his apartment to recuperate, and he was the only one in the cabinet. Fortunately, the emperor had already characterized the attack case, so it was not difficult to draft a decree. He immediately followed what the emperor had just said and drafted a protocol for handling the attack case. The eunuch who was in charge of rituals was waiting in front of the cabinet hall. He hurriedly sent the edict to the Hongde Hall of Qianqing Palace. Emperor Wanli slightly changed the number, then stamped it and issued it. At the same time, he issued an edict: "Yu Shi Liu Guangfu He barked loudly in front of Ciqing Palace to drive a wedge between my father and my son, and he was sent to the Ministry of Punishment by a guard in royal robes to be punished with a heavy punishment."
Liu Guangfu really didn't know where the disaster started. At that time, no one else around Emperor Wanli noticed that Wei Jinzhong used the word "wish" to bring disaster to Liu Guangfu. Although other officials were confused, this kind of thing could no longer be done. To inquire and verify, Wei Jinzhong's skills were extremely good, killing people without blood. Only Zhang Yuan guessed that the messenger Wei Jinzhong might have added something to it, otherwise the emperor would be so angry suddenly, because only Zhang Yuan knew how powerful Wei Jinzhong was. Later generations once evaluated Wei Zhongxian, who grew up as a nine-thousand-year-old gangster, as "majestic in appearance and sly in speech". "Singly in speech" means that Wei Jinzhong is good at rhetoric and sharp. Zhang Yuan was very fond of this future leader. Jiu Qiansui remains vigilant and will decisively help Zhong Benhua when necessary——
On the seventh day of the sixth lunar month, the Ministry of Punishment planned to punish Liu Guangfu with a cane and dismissal from office. Emperor Wanli also thought that the sentence was too light and wanted to put Liu Guangfu to death. After making irresponsible remarks about the crime, Fang Congzhe and other officials submitted a petition to rescue him. However, the case was re-tried by the Ministry of Punishment and the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
On the ninth day of the sixth lunar month, the three judges and the chief ceremonial officer interrogated Pang Bao and Liu Cheng in front of the Wenhua Gate. Now that Zhang Cha was dead, Pang and Liu of course denied that they had instigated Zhang Cha to break into the palace. They only said that Zhang Cha was crazy. False accusation, they are not guilty——
Li Ziqiang and Li Wanchang from Jizhou have also been transferred to the capital. They were tried at the Ministry of Punishment and did not admit that they were instigated by Pang and Liu. They recommended Zhang Chai to break into the palace. Under torture, they admitted that they had oppressed Zhang Chai a lot and burned them. Zhang Cha was given firewood and beaten, and at the same time under torture. Er Li also confessed many evil things about bullying men and women in Huanghuashan, Jizhou. The two internal officials, Pang Bao and Liu Cheng, had many feelings for Er Li. shelter--
Zhang Wenda, the official of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, was close to Donglin. Shangshu argued that Zhang Cha was dead, and it was easy for Pang and Liu to deny it, and Wenhuamen was a dignified place where it was inconvenient to use torture instruments and it was difficult to find out the truth. I hope The emperor agreed to move Pang and Liu to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.
Emperor Wanli did not agree to move Pang and Liu outside the palace for trial, and ordered the crown prince Zhu Changluo to send a message to the officials of the Three Laws Hall, saying that the innocent should not be credulously trusted. However, the Ministry of Punishment learned that Pang and Liu were interrogated during the interrogation of Li.
In Jizhou, under the pretext of building the iron tile palace for Concubine Zheng, he committed a lot of evil deeds to amass money and disturb the people. He insisted on sending Pang and Liu outside the palace for interrogation. This stalemate lasted for several days. On June 13, he was released from the palace.
News came out that prisoners Pang and Liu had died due to the hot weather and could not survive the torture. Immediately, Emperor Wanli sent an edict clarifying the news——
Now the assault case cannot be retried. There are rumors in Beijing that Pang and Liu are not dead, but were protected by Concubine Zheng, and have been secretly sent somewhere. However, many people still believe that Pang and Liu are dead, because this
The two of them were not important people. There was no need for Concubine Zheng to take risks to protect these two servants, so she executed them cleanly. It was also an explanation for the prince.
On June 15, two cabinet elders, Fang Congzhe and Wu Daonan, sent a message to the officials of the Three Laws Hall, saying that they should put the prince out of the cabinet to give lectures as a priority and resolve the assault case as soon as possible. So the next day, the Ministry of Punishment submitted its opinions on the handling to the emperor.
Zhang Cha was convicted of being "actually insane and entered the palace by mistake", and Li Ziqiang and Li Wanchang were sentenced to exile for abusing the villagers and committing evil crimes——
On June 18, Emperor Wanli approved the Ministry of Punishment's memorial on the fencing case and agreed with the Ministry of Punishment's handling opinions. At the same time, he demoted Liu Tingyuan, the censor, to judge of Dengzhou, Hu Shixiang, a doctor in the Ministry of Punishment, to magistrate of Dengzhou, and Zou Shaoguang, the head of the Ministry of Punishment, to Lingzhou.
Bi County magistrate, Wang Zhicai, the head of the Criminal Department, was demoted to Quanjiao County magistrate, He Shijin, who was in charge of engineering affairs, was promoted to Zhejiang Qianshi, and Liu Guang, the censor who was barking at Ciqing Palace, was demoted to the people -
Three members of the Zhejiang Party and two members of the Donglin Party were demoted from the capital. It seemed that each party had a strong fight, but Liu Tingyuan was the leader of the Zhejiang Party. When Yao Zongwen's reputation was damaged, Liu Tingyuan was demoted again, and the Zhejiang Party suffered great losses.
Yu Donglin, this attack case can be said to have ended with the victory of Donggong and Donglin.
On June 25, Wang Zhicai left Beijing to take up a post in Quanjiao County, Chuzhou, South Zhili. Wang An, the eunuch of the East Palace, saw him off quietly. Wang An felt very sorry for Wang Zhicai's demotion. Wang Zhicai smiled and said: "But
With the East Palace in peace, Wang would not regret even dying, and being demoted to the county magistrate is already a great favor from the emperor."
Wang An said in a low voice: "Brother Xinyi, don't worry, sooner or later you will return to Beijing and put him in a new position." Wang Zhicai, also known as Xinyi.
Wang Zhicai said sternly: "Resigning to an official position is not a plan for future glory and wealth."
Wang An hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, I am loyal to my brother, and Wang An respects me."
Wang Zhicai smiled slightly and lowered his voice and said: "The attack case is finally over. Your father-in-law's plan is brilliant. The one I really admire is your father-in-law."
Wang Andao: "The Za family also has expert guidance."
Wang Zhicai was startled and asked quickly: "Who is it?"
Wang Andao: "He is also an internal official. His name will not be disclosed for the time being. He is very loyal to the East Palace."
Wang Zhicai sighed and said: "There are many people with outstanding talents and profound wisdom in the world. It depends on whether their talents are used for good or evil." After that, he bowed to Wang An and said: "Farewell, father-in-law." Unmoored and sailed.
Go south.
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The 6,000-word update has arrived, the siege case has ended, and Jiezi’s days as a lecturer have begun. I am asking for a recommendation vote from my book friends.
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