Chapter 120 Zhao Wenhua's Trap
Emperor Jiajing had just woken up.
Eating a late 'breakfast'
Huang Jin was reading the memorial in a low voice beside him.
"...Japanese pirates frequently harassed the area, cutting off local commerce and travel, and making it difficult to collect taxes..."
This was a memorial to the emperor crying poor, begging the court to reduce taxes.
"My appetite has been ruined by this memorial." Emperor Jiajing put down his chopsticks. "It's bland and tasteless."
Huang Jin looked at the food and thought that these were all what Emperor Jiajing liked. Why was it not cooked well today?
Emperor Jiajing liked to keep things vague and leave people to guess.
Huang Jin had rarely made any mistakes in the past, but today he got stuck.
Emperor Jiajing said expressionlessly: "What... chili peppers? Qingzhi is young, how can he ruin his stomach and intestines for a long time? Go to the Jiang family and confiscate them."
Not copied... Huang Jin blinked, "Yes."
"By the way, leave him offspring." After all, Emperor Jiajing was not the kind of person who would drain the pond to catch all the fish.
The palace eunuchs rushed to the Jiang family and said, "Your Majesty has ordered the confiscation of the property."
Fu Cheng's body softened, and then the eunuch said, "That... chili pepper."
Damn it!
Fucheng almost cursed.
He tasted chili pepper once and thought it was the devil. Unexpectedly, Emperor Jiajing liked it.
But Jiang Qingzhi had already made a plan. He collected most of the peppers and hung the rest in the kitchen.
"Your Majesty said to leave some seeds." The eunuch said, "Your Majesty is kind."
"Yes." Fucheng thought that these peppers were fumigated every day in the kitchen, so how could they be planted?
The eunuch hurried back to the palace and happened to meet the princess who had entered the palace.
"I've met the princess."
Princess Xing'an knew that this person was close to Emperor Jiajing, so she softened her tone and said, "Are you going out of the palace to do some work? You've worked hard."
When the eunuch entered the palace, Princess Xing'an heard Emperor Jiajing say, "That idiot will definitely make a fuss when he comes back and finds something is missing. Remember, I am practicing Taoism today and I will not see anyone."
"Yes."
It seems like someone is laughing.
"Your Majesty, Princess Xing'an requests an audience."
Emperor Jiajing asked, "What's the matter?"
Outside the hall, Princess Xing'an was led in.
"His Majesty."
A large bundle was spread out on the table in front of Emperor Jiajing, and inside it was a pile of red things.
The pungent smell made Princess Xing'an want to sneeze.
She held back and said, "Your Majesty, today I met that Chang Wei Bo in the Huguo Temple, and he humiliated me."
The current Prince of Jin was a good man who never caused trouble for Emperor Jiajing, so the Taoist priest also looked up to him.
Because of the love for the woman, Princess Xing'an also benefited a lot.
So she felt that between the royal family and her maternal relatives, Emperor Jiajing would definitely favor her.
"Why the conflict?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
"Today, Prince Consort Cui and I went to the Huguo Temple to burn incense. When Chang Wei Bo saw Prince Consort Cui, he spoke rudely. Prince Consort Cui is an elder, and Chang Wei Bo was rude, so I tried to persuade him. Who would have thought..."
Princess Xing'an sobbed softly, but her ears perked up, waiting for Emperor Jiajing's reaction.
"Oh!"
Emperor Jiajing's voice was calm.
Then, the Taoist flicked his whisk and said, "Get out!"
Princess Xing'an raised her head and looked around.
No one!
Your Majesty, who are you scolding?
Emperor Jiajing said impatiently, "Get out!"
Could it be me? Princess Xing'an's expression changed drastically, "Your Majesty!"
Huang Jin came over, "Princess, please come in!"
Princess Xing'an looked at the Taoist priest in disbelief and said obediently, "Yes."
When Huang Jin came back, Emperor Jiajing sat cross-legged on the futon and suddenly asked, "Is there still no movement from Prince Jin?"
"Yes, the women of King Jin are all still."
The Prince of Jin has no son. This is the biggest problem and suspense for the Jin vassal state.
"This woman is standing up for Cui Yuan, just to find help for her nephew...what's his name, Zhu Shenjing."
Emperor Jiajing casually revealed the real reason for the conflict between Princess Xing'an and Jiang Qingzhi, and then sighed: "This woman is so stupid."
Yes, Prince of Jin had no son, but if Emperor Jiajing spread the word that Zhu Shenjing was unworthy, then even if he was Prince of Jin’s biological son, he would have no chance of inheriting the title of Prince of Jin.
Huang Jin glanced outside the hall and mourned for the princess in his heart for a moment.
Why did you offend Jiang Qingzhi when you could offend anyone else?
Self-inflicted sin, do not live!
……
The Zhu family had too many troubles. Emperor Taizu had countless descendants and grandchildren, and they consumed a large amount of taxes every year.
"The local officials have also learned to be smart. Is there another baby in your family? We have no money, no food, but we have a life. Do you want it, my nobleman?"
Xia Yan mentioned these as if they were all his own treasures.
The old man said he was bored today and came to Jiang Qingzhi to drink. But he had nothing in his hands. Sun Chonglou questioned the old man for coming to eat for free. Xia Yan laughed and took out a penny to ask him if he wanted it.
Jiang Qingzhi casually mentioned Prince Jin.
"He is a good man. To be honest, if he were an emperor, he would also be known as a benevolent ruler." Xia Yan became more and more carefree and sighed, "The increasing population of the royal family is a troublesome matter."
"Emperor Taizu probably couldn't have imagined it back then!" Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile.
The population of the Zhu family grew exponentially, and by the end of the Ming Dynasty, except for a few direct descendants, the royal family members were actually little more than beggars.
"There are too many rules. You are not allowed to do this or that." Jiang Qingzhi said, "This is meant to be a constraint. Mr. Xia, do you know what this reminds me of?"
"what?"
"Raising pigs."
"You!" Xia Yan pointed at him, "But it's quite fitting. By the way, I just heard some news. I don't know whether it's good or bad for you."
"what news?"
"Chen Pin, the envoy of Altan Khan, has surrendered." "What?"
Jiang Qingzhi found it incredible, "How is it possible?"
"Why not?" Xia Yan said with a smile, "The two victories in Datong completely crushed Altan's arrogance. As an envoy, Chen Pin also bowed his head. If he goes back, he will die. If he doesn't go back... we have no interest in killing him, nor in keeping him alive."
So Chen Pin surrendered.
"For so many years, even though the remnants of the Mongols are on the decline, their envoys still hold on to their orthodox reserve, which is annoying. Altan Khan's envoys have been famous for their calm death over the years. In the past few years, it's not that no one has thought of persuading the envoys to surrender in order to undermine Altan Khan's morale. But those envoys are ready to die..."
In Wuyi Hall, the voices of the officials from the Ministry of Rites were very excited.
"Your Majesty, this is a case of one thing gaining while the other loses, and it is also the result of your Majesty's virtue!"
Zhao Wenhua glanced at his adoptive father Yan Song, who coughed dryly. Zhao Wenhua understood what he meant and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should publicize it with great fanfare."
Cui Yuan laughed and said, "If the news gets out of the Great Wall, I'm afraid Altan will be furious."
"Besides being furious, he also felt uneasy." A certain military hero said, "After all, there are many uneasy people within the Altan clan."
Yan Song said, "Your Majesty, I think we should make a big show of it."
Emperor Jiajing's attitude towards foreign races was unusually tough, but the pride of the Central Empire made him more interested in making them bow down.
"Can!"
After Yan Song returned, he immediately ordered Zhao Wenhua to take charge of the matter.
"The emperor is happy to have people from all over the world come to pay homage. The first time that Altan's envoys ask for surrender, it just hits the spot for your Majesty and many officials. If this matter is handled well, it will be of great benefit to your future promotion."
"Thank you, godfather." Zhao Wenhua shed tears of gratitude.
……
"The civil and military officials in the court are all fucking drunk, looking tipsy!"
Zhu Xizhong came to Jiang's house and had a hotpot meal. He was immediately amazed by the food and wanted to take some chili peppers back.
"The peppers are gone." Jiang Qingzhi spread his hands.
"Who has finished eating?" Zhu Xizhong was angry.
"It was copied by His Majesty."
"forget it."
When Zhu Xizhong heard that the chili peppers were gone, he ran away, and when he got outside the door, he turned back and said, "By the way, Zhao Wenhua is in charge of this matter, be careful that he might use this to cause trouble."
What did Jiang Qing do in his previous life?
"I'm the only one who digs holes and buries people."
……
When they were still one day away from the capital, Chen Pin and others checked into the post station.
Take a shower first to wash away your fatigue, then have your meal.
The food was so good that Chen Pin was stunned.
The postmaster smiled and said, "Someone has told us to entertain Mr. Chen and his party."
"Thank you very much." Chen Pin nodded.
After dinner, guests arrived.
"Mr. Chen is obviously a talented person."
The visitor smiled and said, "Mr. Chen is very righteous this time, which makes the court very happy. However, some people are quite dissatisfied."
Chen Pin was startled, "May I ask..."
The man took out a piece of paper and showed it to Chen Pin.
When Chen Pin saw the signature, he was shocked, "Tongzhengshi Zhao!"
"Don't ask, be careful not to bring disaster upon yourself." The visitor said calmly, "Living in the capital is not easy. As a surrendered person, if you want to stay in the capital, you should know where to stand."
Chen Pin looked conflicted. After a long while, he stood up and saluted. "Tell that noble man that I, Chen Pin, am willing to be his disciple."
This means dependence.
The visitor nodded with satisfaction, "That man's name is Jiang Qingzhi."
"Jiang Qingzhi!" A fierce look flashed in Chen Pin's eyes.
"As expected, you hate this person to the core." The visitor said with a smile.
"This person humiliated me in public." Chen Pin said coldly.
"If you don't seek revenge, you are not a gentleman." The man stared at Chen Pin.
Chen Pin thought about what was written on the paper and took a deep breath. "Jiang Qingzhi once forced me to trade with the grassland privately."
The visitor nodded with satisfaction, "That's it. Remember, you must expose Jiang Qingzhi's true face in public."
Chen Pin nodded.
After Zhao Wenhua received the report, he threw away the memorial in his hand and said viciously: "This boy has become a big problem. If he succeeds this time, I want to see how he escapes."
……
The next day, Chen Pin arrived in the capital.
Chen Pin was received by officials from the Ministry of Rites. He was so grateful that he burst into tears. He got drunk during the banquet and said that when he was in Datong, a powerful official asked him about his smuggling in the grassland.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites did not dare to neglect and reported it to Yan Song.
“This matter… oh!”
Yan Song hesitated again and again in the duty room, "Forget it, I will report the truth."
It just so happens that today is a big day, and Emperor Jiajing will meet with his ministers in Wuyi Palace.
During a conversation between the emperor and his ministers, someone mentioned this matter.
"Your Majesty, the envoy of Altan Khan, Chen Pin, surrendered and mentioned after getting drunk that a powerful person in Datong asked how to smuggle into the grasslands and promised a huge profit."
The exploratory offensive was initiated by an imperial censor on the periphery of Yan's party named Jiang Yuan.
"smuggling?"
For many years, Altan Khan had been seeking to trade with the Ming Dynasty, but Emperor Jiajing refused and repeatedly executed Altan Khan's envoys.
But someone actually wanted to smuggle the Altan tribe. Isn't this a slap in the face of Emperor Jiajing?
When everyone saw Emperor Jiajing’s face turn pale, they all knew that something serious had happened.
"Who?"
There was thunder and anger in Dao Ye's voice.
"It is said that... Chang Wei Bo, Jiang Qingzhi."
(End of this chapter)
