"During the previous dynasty, several of your highnesses made some moves. After Mr. Lu returns to the capital, I'm afraid he won't be able to escape for a while." Xia Zhang's words contained a sense of gloating. Cao Yuan heard it, but didn't say anything.
Although the three major factories and Jinyiwei are directly under His Majesty, the relationship between the two parties has never been harmonious.
Back then, Lu Hanjiang led people to clean up the West Factory, and even the admiral Zou Ji was beheaded. Xia Zhang did not have a good relationship with Zou Ji, but the other party's slap was equivalent to hitting their three major factories.
Everyone's face.
Neither Cao Yuan nor Xia Zhang was relieved that Zou Ji's death was harmless, but Xichang's power had been completely eclipsed since then, which was a fact that both of them found difficult to accept.
Especially now that the West Factory has completely become Jin Yiwei's puppet, the original task of supervising the officials has to be assigned to the East Factory.
There were many things to do but little success. No one would be happy with this. But Cao Yuan spoke in person, and Xia Zhang had no choice but to hold his nose and admit it.
After all, the rise and fall of a force like theirs depends entirely on your Majesty's thoughts. Not to mention that the Jinyiwei has become a powerful force, but your Majesty has still trusted them for ten years, so Xia Zhang does not even dare to think of resisting. Zou Ji is a lesson learned from the past.
"Godfather, although the Jin Yiwei is directly under His Majesty, Lu Hanjiang is different from Meng Yuan. My son is worried that he may have other intentions and secretly join His Majesty. Who else in the capital can control them?"
Xia Zhang said with great worry. Seeing that Cao Yuan was indifferent, he gritted his teeth and whispered: "Godfather, son, do you think we should make some plans in advance? After all, His Majesty is old, and you can't tell when the day will come.
At once......"
"Shut up!"
Cao Yuan's expression changed, and he scolded in a low voice: "Who are you, and you can say this? Do you dare to have such thoughts?"
"My son deserves death!"
Xia Zhang hurriedly knelt down and begged for mercy, and at the same time cried sincerely: "Godfather, it's not that my son has a disobedient heart, it's just for your sake! My son, Lu Hanjiang, has never looked down upon us, and now His Majesty can still protect us.
We are here to protect you, but if that day comes, I’m afraid we will all end up dead!”
"You are such a shameless slave. Your Majesty is raising a bunch of white-eyed wolves like you. It is of no use at all. Now you want to find another family?" Cao Yuan said with a sneer.
Xia Zhang burst into tears, but did not dare to talk back, but did not admit his mistake. He kowtowed to Cao Yuan, while holding on to Cao Yuan's legs without saying a word.
Cao Yuan lowered his head and looked at his godson coldly. The anger on his face was just an illusion. The depth in his eyes was so unfathomable that one could not understand his inner thoughts at all.
After a while, Cao Yuan said: "Is this your idea alone, or do you all think this way?"
As the chief eunuch in the palace, Cao Yuan naturally had more than two godsons. Except for Zou Ji and Xia Zhang, every person in charge of the twelve eunuchs was his godson.
Although he is a rootless person, his descendants have already spread all over the court and inside and outside the court. These people are his influence and important informants for him to monitor the officials and the inner palace.
"When you talk back to your godfather, all the sons think so." Xia Zhang lowered his head and behaved as respectfully as ever, but his words sounded like coercion.
Xia Zhang respected Cao Yuan, not only because he was his godfather, but also because he was the most trusted by His Majesty among the eunuchs in the inner palace.
Although Xia Zhang, Zou Ji and others are each regarded as admirals of the same factory, their power all comes from His Majesty's words, and the only one who can make His Majesty say this is Cao Yuan.
Even though they are also in high positions and powerful positions, in front of His Majesty, they are all like wild children picked up from home, unable to say a word.
Cao Yuan took a deep look at Xia Zhang: "Get up."
"Thank you godfather!"
Xia Zhang looked happy, but after he got up, he saw that Cao Yuan had left leisurely, leaving behind a message: "Do things with sincerity, don't think nonsense."
"...Congratulations to your godfather."
Xia Zhang bent down to salute, but his lowered eyes were full of defiance and unwillingness. When Cao Yuan's figure disappeared from his sight, he immediately left with a flutter of sleeves.
Soon after, in the Dongchang Investigation Hall, the eunuchs of the twelve eunuchs gathered together. Xia Zhang arrived late, and several people stood up and saluted.
One person asked anxiously: "Eunuch Xia, what did your godfather say?"
Although these people each hold power in the palace, the most powerful one is Dongchang Admiral Xia Zhang. When they saw that he came in, everyone was worried.
Xia Zhang looked around at everyone, and Shen Rushui's expression suddenly relaxed. He smiled slightly and said, "My godfather wants us to do things easily."
"Easy thing to do?"
Everyone had different expressions, some were at a loss, some looked worried, and some were overjoyed. Xia Zhang took a panoramic view of their expressions, and then said: "Since the godfather has spoken, I think you all know what to do."
Sorry, there are still some matters in the East Factory that need to be dealt with urgently, I'm sorry."
Xia Zhang nodded to everyone, and then immediately served tea to see off the guests. Everyone knew that they couldn't ask anything more today, so they all returned the gifts and left.
After watching these people leave, Xia Zhang's expression suddenly changed, and he threw the tea cup in his hand to the ground angrily, and cursed in his mouth: "You old man! You are as timid as a rat! Bah!"
The little eunuch serving on the side was trembling with fear. He knelt down quickly and did not dare to speak. He only listened to Xia Zhang's anger in the air. The words in his mouth became more and more unpleasant.
After a long time, Xia Zhang, who was thirsty, stopped talking. He glanced at the little eunuch kneeling on the ground and kicked him: "I've blinded you! Didn't you see that I am thirsty?"
"This slave is short-sighted! Master, have mercy on me!" The little eunuch was kicked so hard that he didn't dare to fight back, so he could only kowtow and beg for mercy.
"roll!"
Xia Zhang drove the other party away, then sat in his seat and began to sulk. After a while, a smart-looking eunuch came to him with tea and said respectfully: "Master, please calm down, don't get so angry."
"You came."
Xia Zhang took a breath, took the tea offered by the other party, took a sip, and then said: "How is the situation outside?"
This eunuch is Xia Zhang's right-hand man, Xu Ping, the second stall owner of Dongchang.
After listening to Xia Zhang's question, Xu Ping replied: "As always, I heard that Mr. Lu will return to Beijing soon, and several of your highnesses have stopped. In the past few days, they have been unable to send gifts to the Lu Mansion, so they thought of leaving Lu Shangshu's house.
Luzi, it’s been very busy in front of Master Shangshu these days.”
Xia Zhang snorted coldly, but did not dare to comment on the actions of the Highnesses. He just said in a strange way: "Lu Shangshu is lucky. Huh, his nephew is so capable. He must have been secretly stealing these days."
Have fun."
Xu Ping shook his head and said: "I'm afraid not. Master Shangshu has many nephews. Unfortunately, only Master Lu seems to be the only one who is promising. The other one is a bit..."
"Oh? Another one?" Xia Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly said: "You mean Lu Hanjiang's biological brother? The governor remembers that he is only ten years old. By the way, what is his name?"