The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"Is there still a commotion over there?"

Seeing Captain Ding's return, Wei Guangde just pretended to be calm and asked.

"Yes, sir, that boy's family has received favor from Mr. Shen for some things, so..."

The captain of the servant explained in a low voice, "But it's not targeted at their family, but at the military households in Bao'an Prefecture. It's all about military service."

Military households do not only have to provide one soldier per household to complete the task of the military household. Having a regular soldier only exempts them from some taxes and duties. They usually have to complete some corvee tasks, such as repairing the side walls and castles.

Wei Guangde came from a military background, so he naturally knew this and just nodded silently.

These days, the life of the lower-class military families is really hard, so women with civilian citizenship are reluctant to marry into military families, because they don't want their children and grandchildren to suffer too.

Just hearing what the servant captain said next, Wei Guangde was touched again.

"That boy was kicked out of the house by his parents. He asked too many questions, and when the family members became suspicious, they questioned him. He couldn't hold back and told him the purpose of returning home, so he was kicked out and asked to come back to the adults for help. , and also said.”

"What else can you say?"

Wei Guangde was confused again at this time and asked casually.

"He also said that if he couldn't save anyone, he shouldn't come back. That's why the kid was so excited and lost his temper."

Captain Ding explained in a low voice that he was afraid that Wei Guangde would misunderstand and have a bad opinion of his men.

"Um?"

Unlike later generations, clan relations are still very important social relations these days, because it would be a big deal for an outsider to kick his son out of the house and disown him.

After Wei Guangde became an official, he also searched for the whereabouts of several branches of the Wei family in the Ministry of War documents according to his memory, but he was a little disappointed when he checked. For example, there was a branch of the Weizhou Guard, but when Wei Guangde checked the information of the Weizhou Guard But no information about the Wei family could be found.

Yuzhou is located to the east of Datong, next to Xuanfu. The Mongolian Tatars sacked Yuzhou many times after breaking down the border wall. The original Weizhou Guards have long been ruined, and most of the current Weizhou Guards were later replaced from other guards. of.

Come to think of it, that branch is probably in danger.

Regarding these matters, Wei Guangde was not very good at telling Father Wei when he returned to Jiujiang. He hesitated for a long time before talking about it, and the only thing he waited for was a long sigh from Father Wei.

It's good to stay in Jiangnan. At least there will be no military disasters and no need to bear the war on the border wall.

"No wonder he is like this."

Hearing this, Wei Guangde whispered.

"Everyone, please go out and leave me alone."

However, Wei Guangde didn't want to see anyone at the moment, so he immediately gave instructions.

Soon, everyone in the room left. Wei Guangde stood alone in the middle of the room. He wanted to sit down but couldn't, and he felt uncomfortable standing. He just answered the phrase "fidgeting".

To save or not to save?

Unknowingly, this was the only thought left in my chaotic thoughts.

If he is saved, he will break up with the Yan family in the future.

Even if I don’t help, I always feel uneasy about my conscience.

Wei Guangde couldn't help but recall the two people he had impeached before.

Liu Dazhang deserved to be dismissed from his official position. Who made him afraid of the enemy and timid to fight?

As for King Hui, he will be punished if he commits unjust acts. He found it himself. Can he ignore it after knowing it?

But I also know about this matter, can I just ignore it?

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde couldn't help but have a wry smile on his face. He was not yet qualified to serve as an official. When encountering problems, he did not first think about profit and loss, but the way ordinary people think, whether it is right or wrong, and his conscience has not been extinguished.

If you are an old official, you may calmly ask someone to make another pot of tea at this time, drink it leisurely, arrange for your subordinates to collect all the information that needs to be inquired, and then return to the capital to resume your duties.

Who would bother with someone who can't even hit him with eight sticks?

Wei Guangde thought for a long time and felt that he could no longer stay in Yongning. It was best to go to Baoan Prefecture to watch and rescue the people if possible, so as not to feel uneasy conscience every time he thought about it in the future.

"Zhang Ji, Zhang Ji."

Wei Guangde shouted twice to the door, and soon Zhang Ji opened the door and came in, bowing and standing by the side, waiting for Wei Guangde's instructions.

"Pass the word on. We'll set off tomorrow. Let's go to the security guard."

Wei Guangde still told him to go to the security guard tomorrow.

"Master, do you want to save the young master named Shen Xiang?"

Zhang Ji asked quietly from the side.

"Go and have a look."

Wei Guangde said casually.

"If I really want to save him, I might as well send someone to pretend to be a thief and rob him halfway. This way I can save him without exposing my identity, and I won't get into trouble with the officials in the Xuan Mansion."

Zhang Ji whispered.

"Um?"

Wei Guangde was surprised and asked, "He was not taken to the security guard?"

"Master, I'm afraid you misunderstood. You said we were almost at the security guard. I asked that person before when I went out, and he said that he had passed Juyongguan, so he should have passed Yanqing, and he might be near Huailai County now. "

Zhang Ji whispered.

"It's too late. Security will be here in a few days."

Wei Guangde calculated the time silently. If they rushed to Baoan Prefecture, they would have already been sent to the city and there would be no time.

"General Ma's people should have already arrived there. Send someone to ride over quickly and be able to rob the person outside Baoan City."

Zhang Ji came up with an idea.

"No, this will not only harm Ma Fang, but it will also do no good to Shen Xiang. From now on, he can only be a person without identity. The imperial examination is completely abolished, and Shen Lian's case cannot be overturned."

Wei Guangde shook his head.

Zhang Ji did have a bad idea. If Shen Xiang was in prison, he would be able to come out if Shen Lian reversed the case. But if he was kidnapped, he would be charged with being a bandit. Shen Lian's identity as a White Lotus cultist is probably going to change. Therefore, it was confirmed.

Although he didn't understand it very well, Zhang Ji still kept his mouth shut knowingly. Even if the master said no, it definitely wouldn't work.

Sitting back down, Wei Guangde picked up the already cold tea on the table and took a big sip of it. Only then did he feel his restless heart calm down a little.

Shen Lian's affairs are still unclear, and of course Ma Fang cannot find out. Although he is already the deputy commander-in-chief, he is the governor-general of Xuanda, a person who is close in rank but has several levels of power.

To save Shen Xiang, it was necessary to accuse Yang Shun, the governor of Xuanda, but the impeachment memorial was sent to the General Affairs Department, and finally the cabinet fell into the hands of Yan Shoufu, although Yan Song would not directly accuse this The memorial is withheld, but I will definitely be prepared.

Let’s play now. What should we play?

What channel should be used to deliver it to Emperor Jiajing?

Wei Guangde knew in his heart that as soon as the memorial was published, he and the Yan family would be completely separated. There would be no chance of getting help from Yan Song, and he would even be suppressed for it. Can he bear it?

Wei Guangde has certainly thought of something that can be played, and that is what can be confirmed. The border army's killing of good people and taking credit was not something that happened after Yang Shun came. From what the refugees said, it had already happened a long time ago. .

What the emperor was concerned about was whether Shen Lian was a White Lotus cultist. In fact, he already had an idea in his mind. He had preconceived notions, and it didn't seem to matter whether he found out or not.

As for how to hand it over to the Yellow Emperor, it would definitely not work through the Chief Secretary. There are only two other channels left. One is the Jin Yiwei, and it is handed over through Lu Bing.

But here comes the problem. With this performance, the subtle connection between him and Lu Bing was exposed to the eyes of Emperor Jiajing.

Wei Guangde didn't want Emperor Jiajing to know that he had some private contact with his intelligence chief. Jin Yiwei's position was too special, so it was better to have less contact.

Then for the rest, it seems that it would be good to follow Chen Ju's path. Emperor Jiajing asked Chen Ju to pass on a secret edict to him. Although it was just a note, it could still be regarded as an edict. Although it was not stamped, strictly speaking, it could not be counted. will.

But it was officials from Yan Song's group who were involved. Officials from Yan Song's group in North Korea, Central Africa and Africa still account for the majority. They are still relatively hostile to officials from Yan Song's group. They should not think that he is at fault. The cabinet often receives Emperor Jiajing's note, follow the note.

In fact, Emperor Jiajing's little note had the effect of hitting the mark in a sense.

The ministers of the Ming Dynasty generally did not take the Zhongzhi seriously. Of course, the prerequisite is that the content of the Zhongzhi conflicts with their ideas. If there is no conflict, they are still happy to act according to the order. At least this represents you as a person. There was an impression on the emperor.

There is an impression in the emperor's mind, which means that when an official position becomes available, he may think of you.

As for offending the Lord Chief Assistant, there is nothing you can do about it. If you want to live up to your conscience and earn a reputation as a strong-willed person in the court who is not afraid of the powerful, you still have to make sacrifices.

Wei Guangde still remembers Chen Ju's reminder to him, stay away from the Yan family and don't get too close. What does this mean?

Emperor Jiajing may still have some affection for Yan Song, but he is also a little wary of the Yan family's influence in the court, but it is not the time to take action yet.

Forget it, just offend if you offend.

At the beginning, Wei Guangde did not intend to become hostile to the Yan family at this time. He also thought about reporting the situation of Xuanda University when he returned to the capital, but now it seemed that he had no choice but to take action.

Wei Guangde asked Zhang Ji to sharpen ink for him. Zhang Ji also studied with Wei Guangde at Master Sun, so he naturally knew how to do it.

After grinding the ink, Wei Guangde laid out the paper and started writing.

"Wei Guangde and Chen Xuanfu's border affairs

I heard that since Yang Shun took charge of Xuanda, he has requested more than 300,000 taels of silver from the treasury. However, the town's military supply became increasingly empty, the bandit force became more and more rampant, and the castle was completely destroyed. Yang Shun was still unable to make a great contribution, losing his body and prestige, and was willing to be insulted by the enemy. Lu Kai accepted a bribe of seven thousand taels and kept it secret. Last winter, the invaders entered Yingzhou and slaughtered seventy people. Three thousand men and women were killed. When he was ordered to conduct reconnaissance and restoration, Lu Kaize all blamed the towns, patrols, prefectures, roads, prefectures, and counties, and passed off the border residents he killed as Yang Shun's military exploits. Xu's comments are similar and echoed, and there is no painting at all. These three people are all in the same boat, so why should they share your Majesty's worries? Please dismiss these three people urgently, and don't choose loyal ministers to serve as them, so as to save the people in trouble. "

Yang Shun must be involved. He is the mastermind of this matter. If he hadn't started it, Shen Lian would not have been killed.

Lu Kai was the patrol censor, and he was supposed to be checking the case, but according to the news from Ma Fang, Yang Shun gave Lu Kai a sum of money. I don’t know the exact amount, and if you think about it, you should understand that Mr. Yan will It must be someone from his side who arranged for him to come to Xuanfu.

As for Xu Lun, Minister of the Ministry of War, Wei Guangde was unhappy that he had forced him to join the Ministry of War last time, and the killing of Shen Lian was indeed the last one signed and approved by Xu Lun. At the very least, he was responsible for the oversight. Wei Guangde was also blamed Count as one of the accomplices.

In this memorial, Wei Guangde mainly mixed up the news heard by Ma Fang and Baoan Prefecture. It didn't matter whether it was true or not. As long as he got approval and asked himself to check, it didn't matter whether it was true or false, because at that time Yang Shun and Lu Kai have to step aside.

After writing the memorial, Wei Guangde took a closer look at it and deliberated it over and over again in his mind. He sealed the memorial after dinner and planned to arrange for Li San to rush back to the capital.

He wrote another letter detailing the news the guards heard from Baoan Prefecture, including that Shen Lian's wife and youngest son were exiled to Jibian, Shen Lian's second and third sons were killed with a stick during interrogation in prison, and now Shen Lian Lian's eldest son was also stripped of his rank and taken to the Xuan Mansion, with his life in danger.

This letter was also given to Chen Ju. Whether Chen Ju was to be handed over to Emperor Jiajing was beyond Wei Guangde's control.

"Go and ask Li San to come over."

Wei Guangde ordered Zhang Jidao.

"This thing must be handed over to Eunuch Chen personally. There can be no deviation. We must hurry up. You take two horses back and take turns to ride them."

When Zhang Ji called Li San, Wei Guangde handed over the things and still did not forget to give his instructions.

After following Wei Guangde for a long time, Chen Ju often went to Wei Guangde's house to drink. Li San also knew Chen Ju and was quite familiar with him.

"I understand, sir, please rest assured."

Li San quickly assured that although he didn't know what the letter in his hand was about, he knew from Wei Guangde's solemnity that it must be very important.

"After handing the things to Eunuch Chen, you go home and wait for news. Send them over as soon as there is a letter, and go directly to Baoan Prefecture. We will leave here tomorrow."

Wei Guangde said to him again.

"Yes, sir."

Li San can be regarded as someone who has followed Wei Guangde for a long time. When he went to Beijing to take the exam as a coachman and bodyguard, he also followed him into the battle of Xuan Mansion. Wei Guangde was still at ease with him.

Early the next morning, Li San rode on a horse, put the reins of another horse on the saddle and ran towards the capital. Wei Guangde got into the carriage and set off for Baoan Prefecture under the protection of everyone.

Wei Guangde cannot guarantee Shen Xiang's life with his current status. He did not follow the orders of the Xuanfu. As a censor, his words have no weight, and he will be impeached by Yang Shun and Lu Kai. After all, his reputation is not justified.

Wei Guangde now has the censor's skin, which means he can impeach others.

However, in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, because most officials had dirty butts, the use of impeachment was still very deterrent.

Especially for local officials, there is a big gap between Beijing officials and local officials.

The income of Beijing officials is definitely not as good as that of local officials, but their power is another matter.

If it were applied to those censors in the past, they only needed to go to Baoan Prefecture and get a sum of money without asking anything, but now Wei Guangde did not dare to do this, after all, Emperor Jiajing was watching from behind.

The group left Yongning City and walked slowly towards Baoan Prefecture.