Just when Pang Gang was secretly proud of his two beautiful and capable daughters-in-law, a girl walked in quickly and reported: "Master Qi, a father-in-law and several guards came outside, saying they were here to announce the decree.
Yeah, I'm waiting in the lobby of the outer courtyard right now."
"Oh! Eunuch Ma must be here!" Pang Gang was overjoyed and smiled at his wives: "It seems that my father-in-law's business has been settled."
Ruolan smiled and said: "It really means that Cao Cao has arrived. Sister Man Ting, congratulations to you."
Man Ting just smiled and said modestly: "Congratulations for what, success or failure is still a matter of opinion."
Pang Gang, who was on the sidelines, smiled and said, "We'll find out if it works out or not. Just wait here for the good news about your husband." After saying that, Pang Gang picked up his coat from the chair and hurried out.
Got out.
When Pang Gang came to the lobby of the outer courtyard, he saw the weathered Eunuch Ma and several Jin Yiwei sitting in the lobby with a cup of hot tea each, surrounding a pot of charcoal fire to keep warm.
As soon as Pang walked into the lobby, he smiled and said: "Eunuch Ma has come all the way, and Pang didn't go far to greet him. It's really disrespectful."
Pang Gang walked to Eunuch Ma as he spoke, but he saw that all of them had sunken eye sockets and a grayish look on their faces. The faces of the Jin Yiwei were unshaven. Apparently they had been rushing very hard these days.
Hard.
Eunuch Ma forced a smile after seeing Pang Gang, "Master Pang, our family has finally arrived. Now let's find a place to talk."
"Okay, of course it's no problem." Pang Gang reached out and summoned a soldier, and told him to take these royal guards to eat quickly, and then arrange a place for them to rest. Then he led Eunuch Ma to his outer hall.
Small study room for office.
After the two of them sat down one after another, Eunuch Ma did not make any circles and said very simply: "Master Pang, you know the purpose of our visit very well, so we will not make any circles. The emperor has agreed to your request in principle. There is just one thing.
The silver the emperor needs must be shipped to the capital immediately. And it must arrive in the capital before the tenth day of the first lunar month, can you do it?"
Pang Gang asked in surprise: "Isn't it so urgent? Doesn't the emperor even let people live in peace for a year?"
Mr. Ma's face turned red, he picked up the tea and drank it all in one gulp: "I can't help it, we won't hide it from you. Now there are rats running around in the bank of the Ministry of Household Affairs, but the coupons for payment in Liaodong come one piece a day."
When I sent it, the emperor was almost furious with anxiety, otherwise our family wouldn't be in such a mess."
"That's right. Eunuch Ma has worked hard all the way here." Pang Gang nodded in agreement. Then he changed the topic and said, "But there is something that Pang needs to explain clearly to Eunuch Ma. As the saying goes, words can't stand.
The emperor asked Pang to transport the money immediately, but what Pang Gang wanted was not given to Pang."
Eunuch Ma helplessly pointed at Pang Gang and said with a wry smile: "We knew you would say that. Now that the imperial edict has been issued, I can trouble you to hand it over to Magistrate Wei." As he spoke, Eunuch Ma took out a bright yellow coin from his sleeve.
The scroll wrapped in silk was handed to Pang Gang.
Pang Gang took the scroll and opened it. Sure enough, it was an imperial edict. The content was very simple. There was only one sentence: "According to the imperial edict of Emperor Chengyun, Wei Tong, the prefect of Qingzhou, was diligent in his work and was quite capable. Zi appointed him as the governor of Shandong.
, took office before the 20th day of the first lunar month of the tenth year of Chongzhen. I hereby express my gratitude!" Looking at the lower left corner, there are also the seals of the emperor and the cabinet household department.
Seeing Pang Gang's careful look, Eunuch Ma smiled bitterly and said: "Don't worry, Pang Pang, this imperial edict was written by the emperor himself. Our family has seen it with our own eyes, and there will be no falsehood."
Pang Gang laughed, "It makes Eunuch Ma laugh. How could Pang doubt Eunuch Ma? But in this way, Eunuch Ma will be hurt and he won't even be able to spend a peaceful New Year."
"There is nothing we can do. Who told us that this is the fate of our family." Eunuch Ma shook his head, stood up and stretched, "Master Pang, our family is not polite to you anymore. Please hurry up and get some food for our family.
If we can sleep a little longer, we have to go back tomorrow?"
Pang Gang smiled slightly: "Don't be anxious, Eunuch Ma. I still have something I need to report to the emperor."
Ma Eunuch Qiang raised his spirits and asked: "Master Da Da, please tell me. If it is something important, our family will definitely report it to the Emperor." The implication is that Ma Eunuch, I am tired and hungry now, so don't say anything if it is some trivial matter.
,.
Pang Gang smiled slightly: "Of course I won't disturb Eunuch Ma for a long time. Pang only needs to say a few words." After that, Pang Gang began to tell the story of the battle with the Zheng family's fleet a few days ago.
Finally he said: "Eunuch Ma, I think the Zheng family is a pirate. They have always been robbing merchants and passers-by. Now they have sent troops to Qingzhou. This clearly does not take the emperor and the court seriously. If not
If you punish them severely, where is the dignity of the court? Where is the dignity of the emperor!"
Eunuch Ma smiled bitterly in his heart when he heard this. If you pick up people who don't take the emperor and the court seriously, no one like you, the general of Dingguo, would dare to say that you are the first. However, even though he thinks so in his heart, some words still remain.
Gotta say.
Eunuch Ma thought for a while and then said: "What do you mean by Yi Pang? Is it possible for the emperor to issue an edict to reprimand Zheng Zhilong?"
Upon hearing this, Pang Gang sneered and said: "Eunuch Ma, do you think it is useful to issue an order to reprimand Zheng Zhilong now?"
Eunuch Ma was speechless after hearing this. Although he was just a eunuch, he had followed Chongzhen for so many years, but he also knew that Zheng Zhilong, a coastal defense guerrilla with a background of pirates, dared to send hundreds of warships to attack Qingzhou, and he had already failed to control the court and the emperor.
From my perspective, if the court sends someone to reprimand him at this time, it will be all in vain. If he is forced to panic and he abandons Fujian and goes to Taiwan or a small island in Southeast Asia, what else can the court do to him?
?
Looking at the silent Eunuch Ma, Pang Gang said coldly: "Eunuch Ma, let Pang tell you the truth today. I cannot swallow this tone. Since the court is unwilling to uphold justice, then I
You can always seek justice for yourself, right?"
Eunuch Ma felt helpless for a while. It seemed that the Pang Pang man in front of him was deliberately preventing him from sleeping peacefully. He smiled bitterly and said: "Pang Pang Man, such military and state affairs are not something that a slave in our family can decide. This matter should wait until later.
Let’s talk about it after we return to Beijing and report to Emperor Ming.”
"Of course." Pang Gang also smiled and said: "Pang has been waiting for news from the court for a long time. Well, you must be tired after coming all the way. Go have a meal first and then rest."
"Okay, let's go back and rest first."
After seeing off Eunuch Ma, Pang Gang also returned to the inner courtyard and happily reported the good news to Wei Manting... (To be continued)