One day in early August, the bodies of Gu Dayong and his party were found downstream of the Fen River.
Gu Dayong and others have been missing for many days. It is said that they caught up with a flash flood on their way back to the capital from Ningxia, and the boat capsized on the Fenshui River, and all the people accompanying them fell into the water. Now their bodies have finally been found.
Zhu Houzhao sighed for a long time after hearing the news, and ordered Liu Jin to send someone to bury Gu Da with their bones and transport them back to the capital for burial. He gave some commendations and gifts but gave up. After all, he was just a slave, and he died when he died.
Both the government and the public were a little tired from what had happened in the past six months, and they all wanted to be clean. This incident shocked people for a few days, but no one had the intention to doubt it. After all, everyone wanted to be clean.
Indeed, there have been several major events in the past six months, each of which was earth-shaking and really exhausting.
Beginning at the beginning of the year, the chaos in Ningxia Town lasted for two months. The whole court was in panic. Zhang Yanling and Yang Yiqing finally succeeded in quelling the rebellion. As a result, another major flood occurred in the Jianghuai River. Li Dongyang, the chief minister of the cabinet, went to provide relief work, but suddenly fell ill due to overwork.
And passed away. That incident was not something that shook the earth and made people anxious.
In half a year, so many changes have happened, which makes people overwhelmed and exhausted.
Now that it has finally subsided, it seems that no one is willing to hear any bad things anymore. Even Liu Jin and others, who were frustrated in the selection of the chief minister of the cabinet, did not take any counterattacks. It was so quiet that it was incredible.
.
In fact, this is not surprising. Liu Jin felt the pressure from Zhu Houzhao. He needed time to confirm Zhu Houzhao's true intentions. At this time, he needed to watch his words and wait for a while instead of making trouble again. He was not that bad.
wise.
Liu Jin also warned the extremely angry Jiao Fang, Zhang Cai, Liu Yu and other party members, and sternly warned them to be patient. No one was allowed to cause trouble at this time, otherwise Liu Jin would have to diagnose and treat him personally.
Jiao Fang, Zhang Cai and others could only suppress their anger in their hearts. Instead, they became more cautious and humble in their words and deeds. On the contrary, they got along well with the foreign court Yang Tinghe and the new cabinet scholar Liang Chu. They were also active in government affairs.
Work together and be thoughtful and thoughtful.
Yang Tinghe also seemed to have tempered his temper. Being appointed as the chief minister of the cabinet was something he found incredible. He didn't know why the emperor trusted him so much. All he could do was to act cautiously and stay as humble as possible for the time being.
Don't do wrong things or offend others, so as not to be targeted by others.
In the past, Li Dongyang was like a wall in front of him to protect him from the wind and rain. Now that the wall is gone, he is exposed to the wind and rain. He needs to adapt to this status, accumulate his own prestige, unite with foreign court officials, and make himself a suitable
A person in his position.
Privately, Yang Tinghe also thought about the causes and consequences of this incident. He believed that his ability to become the chief assistant was probably the result of his mentor's prayer to the emperor before his death. Otherwise, he could not find any reason.
But in any case, this is an unexpected and effortless victory. Although it cannot be accepted calmly, it is also an unexpected joy. The cabinet was not captured by the eunuchs, which shows that justice is clear and has its own justice. This makes Yang Tinghe optimistic about the future.
More confident.
Compared with the tranquility of the court, the people were not at all peaceful. Everything that happened in the past six months caused the people of the Ming Dynasty to talk a lot. There were rumors quietly spreading in the streets and alleys inside and outside the capital.
Some people say that troubles have occurred every year in the Ming Dynasty since the new emperor came to the throne. This inevitably makes people think that the current emperor's playful and reckless behavior has offended God and the gods. Some say that if there are traitors in the court, God will send signs to punish the Ming Dynasty. Traitors
If it is not eliminated, the country will be in trouble.
Rumors spread like a plague, and the common people believed most of the words of these strange powers and gods. Because they could not change the status quo, they could only express their opinions through these rumors and random conjectures.
At first, the court didn't pay too much attention. After all, they encountered major events one after another, and the people were dissatisfied and confused, so it was no big deal to say some stupid things in secret. Liu Jin ordered Shi Wenyi to send Jin Yiwei to catch some people who spread rumors and punish them severely.
However, the rumors in the capital were also suppressed.
However, a piece of news came from outside Beijing, which shocked everyone in the imperial court.
It turned out that after the flood, when the Huaihe River embankment was being renovated in Fengyang Prefecture, someone dug out a stone-carved deer from the river mud, with words engraved on it.
The stone deer was engraved with ancient seal characters. Some local scholars recognized the words, and it actually said something like "The sun and moon have no light, and the deer will be lost. The whole world will chase it away, and the virtuous will gain it."
This suddenly caused a stir. Anyone who understands knows what this means. The stone deer dug out and the words carved on the deer have obvious meanings. They are inciting the people to rebel.
When Han Shantong Liu Futong, the leader of the White Lotus Sect, rebelled, he took advantage of the floods in the Yellow River to bury a one-eyed stone man and let the people dig it out. On the back of the stone man were engraved the words "Mo Dao Stone Man with One Eye, Provoke the Yellow River to Rebellion"
, used to confuse people's hearts and make people follow them in rebellion.
It was their rebellion that ignited the flames of anti-Yuan uprisings all over the country. Emperor Gao and Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty then waited for an opportunity to rise up and take over the country of the Ming Dynasty.
It’s the same process of digging a river, and it’s the same thing. This time it’s even more naked. What’s the sun and the moon without light? Aren’t the sun and the moon the word ‘ming’? This is an allusion to the Ming Dynasty, when the rivers are declining. Doesn’t it mean the Ming Dynasty will lose its deer?
Is the dynasty going to lose its country? The saying that Qin lost its deer and the whole world chased it away is the idea of advocating that heroes from all over the world will rise up and seize the country of Ming Dynasty.
This is naked reactionary incitement, naked advocacy of rebellion. What’s even more disgusting is that it was actually dug out of the river in Fengyang Prefecture.
Fengyang Mansion is the place of Longxing in the Ming Dynasty and the hometown of Emperor Taizu Gao. How rebellious and arrogant this is.
Li Yu, the prefect of Fengyang Prefecture, was horrified when he learned about this incident. He did not dare to hide it and immediately reported the incident. This shocked the court, and the courtiers expressed that this matter could never be tolerated and must be investigated severely.
Zhu Houzhao was also extremely angry, and immediately ordered Zhu Fu, the governor of the Nanjing Central Military Governor's Mansion, Cheng Guogong, to lead his troops to arrest and torture more than 2,000 people who were digging rivers and dams in Fengyang Mansion. Liu Jin even ordered Shi Wenyi to lead the Jinyi Guards to investigate.
The originator of the figurines.
This caused chaos in the court, which was originally calm.
Zhang Yanling has been living comfortably for the past month. The court has calmed down, and he is happily enjoying the happiness of his family.
Except for the affairs of Zhenwei Camp, Zhang Yanling did not interfere at all in matters in the regiment camp. He made up his mind that although he had real power as deputy governor of the regiment camp, he would definitely not take care of the affairs.
Zhang Lun once mentioned to Zhang Yanling on behalf of the British Duke Zhang Mao that Zhang Yanling should be in charge of the military affairs of several battalions. He said that this was the responsibility of the deputy governor of his regiment and camp. Zhang Yanling refused.
"I can't take care of the affairs of Zhenwei Camp myself, so why should I take care of the affairs of other camps? Please forgive me. I can't take care of it. The one who can do it will do more work, so your young father-in-law should take care of it.
"
A few days later, Zhang Lun came to talk to Zhang Yanling again and asked Zhang Yanling to take charge of the logistics affairs of the regiment camp and the food, pay and equipment. Zhang Yanling once again refused.
"I can't take care of it. I'm most afraid of trivial things. If you treat me as a brother, don't ask me to do things. It's better for you to take care of these things and teach me how to relax."
Zhang Lun smiled and said: "You are also the deputy governor of the regiment, so you have to take care of something. You can't let go."
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said: "Then let me take care of the internal affairs. I can still inspect the internal affairs of each battalion once a month."
Zhang Lun was speechless. What does internal affairs count? Folding quilts, wearing clothes and armor, and whether swords, guns, and armor are torn or wiped are also considered matters? Zhang Yanling wants to take care of these things. Isn't this something that a deputy governor of a regiment and camp has to take care of? This matter
Even if he wants to take care of it, he can't let him take care of it, otherwise others will gossip.
Zhang Lun went back and told Zhang Mao about the matter. Zhang Mao nodded slightly and told Zhang Lun: "The Marquis of Jianchang is a smart man. He is telling us that he has no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the regiment and has no intention of competing with us for the power of the regiment. This
Boy, extremely shrewd."
Zhang Lun naturally understood this and asked: "Then what should we do? Let him throw us away? If word spreads, won't it mean that we bully him? It won't look good to Duke Ding."
Zhang Mao said with a smile: "He will definitely refuse to let him take care of important military affairs. If he takes care of logistics, he is afraid of taking up our financial resources. Well, let him supervise military discipline, which can be regarded as real power."
Zhang Lun said in astonishment: "Inspecting military affairs? Isn't that something that offends people?"
Zhang Mao scolded: "Is it possible that I let him be the governor? You have offended many people by supervising military affairs, which is not good for you. Zhang Yanling has the means, just let him do it. In this way, we have arranged for him and let you
There is no need to offend anyone. Grandpa is getting old, and soon you will have to be on your own, but don’t offend the nobles, you have to have a good relationship with them."
Zhang Lun knew that what his grandfather said was right, so he went to discuss with Zhang Yanling. He thought that Zhang Yanling would be unhappy and refused to accept the position. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yanling agreed immediately and said that Zhang Lun had visited the thatched cottage three times and that he really didn't want it.
I had the nerve to sit back and take care of some things.
What kind of person is Zhang Yanling? He knows the taboos of the British grandfather and grandson, so of course he will not arouse their suspicion.
Although his status among the nobles is already very important and he already has the right to participate in decision-making. However, it is not necessary to use this power. He only needs to have this qualification. He does not want to have these ordinary military affairs with the British grandfather and grandson.
The upper echelons of the Xungui Group will never allow suspicion and division.
Zhang Yanling took the incident of digging out a stone deer as a joke.
This is obviously more like a farce, or a trap carefully designed by someone. From Zhang Yanling's point of view, there is no need to pay attention to it at all, let alone such an effort.
If the city is filled with uproar and the people who dug rivers, dredged silt and built dams were questioned too harshly or even tortured unjustly, it will actually stir up trouble.
So Zhang Yanling went to the palace to express his opinion to Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Houzhao refused to give up. This incident obviously touched his sensitive nerves, and he thought it must be taken seriously. Zhang Yanling tried to persuade Zhu Houzhao a few words, but Zhu Houzhao refused to listen, so he refused.
I had no choice but to give up. Zhang Yanling didn't want Zhu Houzhao to have an opinion about herself because of this kind of thing.
On August 27th, Zhang Yanling's son was one month old, and dozens of banquets were held to entertain him. On the same day, Empress Dowager Zhang came out of the palace to drink and congratulate her. Zhu Houzhao also ordered someone to seal the infant son.
The boy named Zhang Yi was rewarded by the official Yunqiwei with gold locks, jade bracelets and other things. It was a great honor.
After drinking the full moon wine, Zhang Yanling couldn't stay at home any longer. There was one thing he had always wanted to do but hadn't done yet. That was to go to Guangdong and bring back a Franco machine gun.
The artillery workshop on the north side of Xishan Wild Dog Ridge has been under construction in the past two months. My promise to Xu Gao to build a Folan machine should be fulfilled. Autumn has arrived, so I don’t want to leave now.
Isn't it possible to wait until the weather is freezing and heavy snow blocks the road?