In the Dongjishi Factory, under the portrait of Yue Fei, who represents loyalty to the country, sits the smiling Dongjishi Factory, the chief ceremonial officer and the eunuch Lin Shangli.
He was holding a bowl of tea in his hand and the lid of the bowl in his right hand. Although there were no more tea leaves floating on the water, he was still slowly plucking the tea leaves at the mouth of the bowl, and then plucking them again.
Xiao Lizi stood beside him, leaning on his left arm to dust the whisk, clasping his hands together, slightly bowing his body, looking at the bluestone floor.
"Little Lizi, I heard that according to the seniority in the village, you are still called Uncle Xiao Chen, right?" Lin Shangli said as if he remembered something.
"The factory owner is right. Although he is one year younger than me, it is true that I call him uncle." Looking back from the floor, Xiao Lizi looked at Lin Shangli and said softly.
"You and Wang San grew up together in the same village and have a deep relationship. This time, if it weren't for Wang San's death, Xiao Chen's anger would not have been aroused. So far, even the third-grade military attache of the imperial court has fallen.
In terms of merit, Wang San should also be commended by the court."
Mentioning Wang San, a trace of sadness appeared on Xiao Lizi's face. But the man is dead, let alone a reward, what's the use of giving him a golden mountain?
"The prince upheld his duties. Although he lost his life, he died accidentally while doing business for the court. I thought that in the heart of the prince, even if he sacrificed his life for the court, he would die without regrets. What's more, Dongchang also held a ceremony for him.
After the funeral, his body was placed in the Zhongyi Hall in Dongchang."
Xiao Lizi bowed and said.
"That's different. As people from Dongchang, we sacrifice our lives for our country, and that's what Dongchang should do. If the court can reward us for this, it can be regarded as an encouragement to us people from Dongchang to continue to work hard."
"What the factory owner said makes sense." Glancing at Lin Shangli, Xiao Lizi hurriedly followed the trend.
"Are you all orphans?"
"Yes, we have been wandering in the village since we were young. We relied on the charity of the villagers and picking up leftovers from the roadside to eat, and we survived until the day we entered the palace."
Xiao Lizi bowed his body, and when he mentioned the bitter experience of that year, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Putting the tea bowl in his hand on the table, Lin Shangli overlapped his hands and placed them on his thighs, looking at the dead branches and leaves swaying in the cold wind outside the door.
"Without those villagers, you wouldn't be where you are today, and there wouldn't be the loyal and courageous people who have done their duty to our Dongchang. I want to apply to the emperor to exempt your village from taxes for ten years."
"Really? If they can be exempted from taxes for ten years, it will give them the opportunity to live a prosperous life." Xiao Lizi said the words in a moment of excitement.
He grew up eating food from hundreds of families, but had nothing to repay. If he could really be exempted from taxes for ten years, it would be Brother Wang who took the first step and repaid the kindness of those kind-hearted villagers.
"Huh?" Lin Shangli's face darkened, and he turned to look at Xiao Lizi, "How do you say that? Do you mean that by imposing taxes, the court deprives the villagers of the opportunity to become rich?"
Hearing this, Xiao Lizi's face turned pale, and he knelt down with a "pop" in front of Lin Shangli, trembling all over.
"The little one was excited for a moment and spoke uncontrollably. The little one deserves to die, the little one deserves to die."
"We are from Dongchang, and we are also from the palace. Externally, we must maintain the image of the court, and internally, we must figure out other people's thoughts. As for what you just said, if it is heard in the ears of the emperor, don't say it is
You, Xiao Chen, and me will all be beheaded."
There was a trace of anger on Lin Shangli's face, and he also looked like he hated iron.
"Damn it, little one, for forgetting the earnest teachings of the factory father. Little one can slap his own mouth." As he said that, he raised his right hand and slapped his own mouth hard.
Looking at Xiao Lizi who was punishing himself, Lin Shangli sighed and did not stop him.
Compared with decapitation, a few slaps are nothing. As long as it can make you remember longer, it doesn't hurt to slap a few more slaps.
"You are still too scheming. However, it is because of your simplicity that I keep you with me. We are eunuchs, and people outside despise us as eunuchs. What is eunuchs? That is used on animals.
The words we use on ourselves are used by others on us.”
"Although this word doesn't sound good, they are right. We are so humble that we can only live like animals and use our servility to get a little life in this world."
Lin Shangli's face was full of helplessness.
"One word, one sentence, may make you happy and reward you with something that others look up to. Or maybe, next time, I will give you a foot of white silk and hang yourself from a beam. Okay, stop talking and get up. Today, that is,
I'm in Dongchang now. If you enter the palace from now on, you will have to consider every word before you speak it."
Hearing Lin Shangli's words, Xiao Lizi stopped slapping his mouth and slowly stood up.
The entire mouth was swollen, and a trace of blood oozed from the corners of the mouth.
Tears flashed in his eyes, feeling aggrieved like a child.
Looking up at him, Lin Shangli took out a white silk handkerchief from his waist and handed it over.
"We are eunuchs, but we are also fundamentally men. Men should bleed but not shed tears. Take it and wipe away the tears."
Taking the silk handkerchief, Xiao Lizi quickly wiped away the tears in his eyes and wiped away the bloodshot eyes one by one.
"What's the name of your village?"
"My lord, my name is Changliuzhuang." Xiao Lizi said tremblingly.
Lin Shangli turned around: "You can't be more specific. The Ming Dynasty is so vast. Does the imperial court know which Changliuzhuang it is?"
"Go to the study and write down this address. I will report it to the emperor later."
"Yes." Xiao Lizi bowed and retreated.
In fact, Lin Shangli also had his own private thoughts on this matter.
It is said that it is to commend Wang San, but it is just a way to pave the way for the commendation of Xiao Chen.
According to Xiao Chen's character, he was unmoved by the supreme authority of Dongchang and punished thousands of households, and a commendation from the court was even more unmoved.
The reason why Xiao Chen tried his best to detect the case was basically just to avenge Wang San.
In his heart, his feelings for Wang San were higher than anything external.
Only by commending Wang San and pushing him to the point of sacrificing his life for the country will Xiao Chen feel better.
And next, Xiao Chen could no longer find any reason to refuse his own commendation.
Lifting up the tea bowl on the table, Lin Shangli took a sip with a smile on his face.
When he thought of Xiao Chen, he couldn't help but feel lucky in his heart. It was also thanks to Xiao Lizi's recommendation that he recruited him to Dongchang together with a group of people from the Thirteenth Battle.
The East Police Factory had been established for some time. The Emperor summoned him to the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year, saying it was just for a casual chat, but in fact he just wanted to urge the Dong Factory to take action.
If it were, without Xiao Chen investigating this case, I really don't know what to explain to the emperor.
If he were to do nothing, I am afraid that the title of Dongchang Changgong would be replaced by someone else.
Even if you are dismissed from the position of factory official and continue to live well in the ceremonial department, it will not matter.
But the profound meaning contained in the emperor's last words made people feel chills running down their backs and frightened their hearts.
"If I don't like something, I won't like it no matter where I move it."
If you come down from the position of the factory owner, I am afraid that what is waiting for you is really the one-foot-long white silk.
Putting down the tea bowl in his hand, Lin Shangli stood up, turned around, took a step back, and looked up at the portrait of Yue Fei on the wall.
As the first boss of Dongchang, the emperor has given himself supreme rights. This is a kind of trust and an expectation.
The Battle of Jingnan and the unjust ascension to the throne were all a nightmare in the heart of the emperor.
But looking at the world, since the emperor ascended the throne, both the national strength and the lives of ordinary people have greatly improved compared to the past.
Since it is for the benefit of the people, of course it should be occupied by those who are capable. Why should we care about everything in the past?
The establishment of Dongchang was also to assist the emperor in governing the world.
Thinking of this, Lin Shangli straightened his back hard.
When I originally chose this portrait of Yue Fei, I wanted to show the world Dongchang's devotion to serving the country.
And which loyal and courageous person would bend his back for mere fame and fortune?
However, the habit of living in the palace for a long time, accompanying the emperor, and trying to figure out other people's thoughts also made Lin Shangli quite troubled.
This Xiao Chen has absolute strength, and his thinking is clear and meticulous when handling cases. Will his habitual and ingratiating behavior arouse his resentment?
If this person is used well, he will be an invincible weapon to defeat the enemy. If he is not used properly, he may really hurt others and himself.
"Mr. Factory Master, I have already written the address, please take a look." There was a sound of light footsteps, and Xiao Lizi walked to Lin Shangli holding a piece of paper in his hands.
After taking the paper letter, Lin Shangli looked at it carefully, then put it away and tucked it into his waist.
"Xiao Lizi, did you blame me for making a fuss out of a molehill just now?" Lin Shangli smiled slightly, looked at the other person and said.
"How could it be so? What Mr. Factory Master said is the essence of life. If you didn't value me, you would never care what I say." He bowed his body and said sincerely.
"I wish you could understand my painstaking efforts." Lin Shangli reached out and patted his shoulder. Lin Shangli slowly walked past Xiao Lizi and sat on the chair next to the tea bowl.
"Our Dongchang has been established not long ago, and the affairs are not very busy yet. After it is fully rolled out, the number of visits to the palace to report to the emperor will increase. I have to deal with this big deal, it is not a very important matter. I
I want to send you to report to the Emperor. One is to train you, and the other is to make you look familiar in front of the Emperor. You, in the future, you must not make the same mistake again."
"You must keep the teachings of Mr. Factory Master in mind." Xiao Lizi hurriedly handed over his hands and thanked him again.
"Oh, I have good intentions. Seeing you slapping yourself, I warned myself not to stop. Only after experiencing a lot of pain can I remember it in my heart. After a while, I will put some trauma on my mouth.
Take the medicine and look at how the lips are swollen." Lin Shangli said, making a fist with his right hand and gently tapping his thigh.
"This is just a skin injury, no medicine is needed. The lips are swollen, so I can remind the little one to always remember his mistakes and avoid making similar mistakes again." There was a smile on little Lizi's face, but it was just that he was
Her thick lips, like those stung by a bee, looked particularly funny.
"That's fine, just think of it as a reminder to yourself. By the way, is there any news from Xiao Chen?" Lin Shangli raised his head and asked.
"Last night, after the troops from the Seventh and Ninth Battles escorted Yanqing Guard Commander Huang Anliang back, they said that Xiao Chen took the men from the Thirteenth Battle to arrest the other four Qianhu." Xiao Lizi replied hurriedly.
road.
"I know this. They already reported it when they came back last night. Did Xiao Chen send any news back after that?"
Xiao Lizi shook his head: "No."
"This boy, we are arresting thousands of households in front of the army, so we must not let anything happen to him." Lin Shangli frowned, feeling a little worried.
"Mr. Factory Master, Xiao Chen has returned with two criminals. See you outside the door now."
While he was talking, a young eunuch walked quickly into the lobby, raised his hands and said.
"Just let me in, don't report anything else." Lin Shangli stood up with a smile on his face, his right hand on the table.