The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"I am the heir to the great rule of our ancestors. I got this by chance six years ago. I am so ill that I can't get up. I have the responsibility of the late emperor to entrust me to the East Palace. I am now entrusting you to your ministers and other three ministers. I should work together to help abide by the ancestral system and protect the emperor's plans and ministers." The country will never be lost forever.

Emperor Longqing gave Gao Gong and the other three instructions intermittently. This was actually his last words to them.

Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi finally couldn't hold it anymore at this moment, and they all fell to the ground and cried bitterly.

When it comes to feelings for Emperor Longqing, Gao Gong naturally has the deepest feelings for the emperor. After all, they have been together through thick and thin for more than ten years, and this was the period when Emperor Longqing was at his most unstable as King Yu.

Naturally, neither Zhang Juzheng nor Gao Gong was as deep as Gao Gong. At this moment, Gao Gong's face was covered with tears and snot, and he completely lost the dignity of the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty.

When the three of them were crying, Queen Chen couldn't help but sob. After all, her man was dying.

Although she had hated him in every possible way, at this moment, she couldn't help but shed tears for him.

Everyone in the room reacted like this, and the sensitive Feng Bao immediately raised his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes with his sleeves. Anyway, he could no longer stand quietly aside at this time, and he had to show his inner pain.

Emperor Longqing seemed to have no strength to stop their crying, but continued:

"The imperial edict and the crown prince. I am not hesitant. Emperor, you have your own part to perform the etiquette. Please do it according to the instructions. You must follow the guidance of the assistant ministers and the supervisor of rites to study and cultivate virtue, use the virtuous, and ensure that there is no idleness. Protect the emperor. Industry."

Naturally, Emperor Longqing said this to Empress Chen, asking her to tell Prince Zhu Yijun later.

"I accept the decree, woo woo woo."

Queen Chen agreed and finally couldn't help crying.

At this point, Emperor Longqing finally made arrangements for his posthumous affairs.

"Go ahead and do what you need to do. The queen and I still have something to say."

At this time, Emperor Longqing's speaking strength weakened by three points, and he waved his hand feebly.

After wiping away his tears, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Yi stood up, and then slowly walked out of the Qianqing Palace.

When they came out, there were still people standing outside the palace, but they had all been replaced by red-robed eunuchs from the palace, including Meng Chong, Zhang Hong, Chen Hong and others.

After the three of them walked out of the hall, everyone looked at them eagerly.

Suddenly, there was a sound of mourning in the palace, and there was already a commotion outside the palace.

They were all from the palace, so they naturally knew what it meant, so they were all nervous for a while. However, they did not see Feng Bao come out to announce the emperor's grand visit, so no one dared to rush in at this time and could only stay outside anxiously.

Seeing the three pavilion elders coming out, Meng Chong and others couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the emperor was fine for the time being.

It can only be temporary. The emperor has summoned the prince, queen, and cabinet ministers, which actually means it is ominous.

"Uncle, send someone to urge Pan Sheng and Zhu Heng to enter the palace immediately to discuss matters without delay."

Ignoring the others, Gao Gong just glanced at Chen Hong and said nothing.

Emperor Longqing had already arranged the prince's affairs, and he chose Feng Bao to protect the prince.

But now, what the cabinet needs to prepare urgently is the funeral of Emperor Longqing, which seems to be urgent.

"yes."

Zhang Juzheng agreed, but there was not much etiquette at this time. He quickly passed Gao Gong and walked towards the gate of Qianqing Palace.

Feng Bao followed him out of the palace door, holding a bright imperial edict in his hand.

He stood on the side of the high arch and waved, and several eunuchs nearby immediately gathered around.

Feng Bao quickly ordered one of them: "Go to the Governor's Mansion immediately and give the decree to Duke Cheng Guo Zhu Xizhong."

After the man ran away quickly, Feng Bao whispered to the other people, and then they ran towards the palace gate.

In the cabinet, Gao Gong was on duty. Pan Sheng, the Minister of Rites, and Zhu Heng, the Minister of Industry, hurriedly arrived here. When they entered the door, they saw the three cabinet ministers already sitting in the room. Before he could salute, Gao Gong anxiously asked Zhu Heng: "Your Majesty. How is the mausoleum project going?"

Zhu Heng did not expect to find him in such an emergency. The first thing Gao Gong asked was actually about the mausoleum project of Emperor Longqing. He was stunned for a moment when he suddenly heard the sound of a bell.

Zhu Heng was no longer in the mood to answer, but opened his mouth wide and looked back outside the house in disbelief, which was in the direction of Qianqing Palace.

At the same time, the high-arched figure that had been sitting upright before suddenly collapsed, leaning on the back of the chair, looking at the door with dull eyes.

Just like six years ago, the big bell rang in the palace. After ninety-nine and eighty-one rings, the bells of temples and Taoists throughout the capital never stopped ringing.

This is thirty thousand pestles.

The next day, all the officials in the capital gathered outside Chengtian Gate to prepare their orders. Zhang Juzheng issued the imperial edict of Emperor Longqing on behalf of the cabinet.

"With my cool deeds, I have been entrusted to Pi for the next six years. I have been working hard day and night to understand the principles, for fear of being entrusted by my late emperor. But now I am suffering from severe illness and I am almost unable to prosper. My husband is destined to die. There is a night like a painting. Since ancient times, saints and sages, who can avoid it, but only maintain the body and win the person, and the divine weapon has the owner. Even if I abandon the world, there will be no regrets!

The Crown Prince Tan Ming is benevolent and filial, and his virtues are perfect, so he is suitable to inherit the throne of the emperor. He abides by the constitution of his ancestors, lectures on relatives, virtuous people, and loving people. He uses the principle of Mianzong Society to have no power, and the civil and military officials at home and abroad work together to help protect the elders. I have completed my ambition. The funeral ceremony followed the legacy of the late emperor, with the day changing to the month, the funeral ceremony taking place on the 27th, and no music or weddings being allowed.

The princes of the clan are sent to the feudal lords and cannot leave the country. The governors, generals, and other officers in charge of the various places, as well as the officials of the three divisions of the Dubu Bureau, strictly enforced the border, appeased the soldiers and civilians, and were not allowed to perform their duties improperly. On the day of hearing the funeral, they cried in their own offices day and night for three days, and sent incense and sent officials to do it on their behalf. Guangdong, East, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and all yamen below the seventh rank of Chief Secretary are exempted from offering incense.

The imperial edict was heard by Chinese and foreign envoys. "

Emperor Longqing is dead. This man who is considered by many to be generous, thrifty and caring for the people, paying attention to border affairs and handling everything appropriately, who can be called a wise master, is dead.

In fact, Longqing's achievements in opening the sea were not as impressive as those later generations praised.

Although he tore a gap in the Ming Dynasty's forbidden sea, the restrictions were very strict due to various reasons, and the Ming Dynasty's forbidden sea was still not completely opened.

In the maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty, due to the implementation of total control on the construction and operation of ships going to sea, huge maritime trade transactions still existed in the form of maritime smuggling.

After Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, there have been constant battles in the court, which was far less stable than during the Jiajing Dynasty, and this continued into the Wanli Dynasty and even the subsequent Tianqi and Chongzhen periods.

A few days later, Crown Prince Zhu Yijun, accompanied by Queen Chen and Concubine Li, walked into the Huangji Hall, which represented the highest imperial power of the Ming Dynasty, and sat on the emperor's throne.

"Hua Hua Hua"

A post boat held its sails and its paddles continuously paddled back and forth, quickly approaching the small dock outside Bengshan Fort.

"Slow down, we're about to hit the dock, slow down."

When the soldiers on duty at the pier saw the post boat approaching quickly, they stood on the shore and jumped to their feet and shouted.

The post boat was less than ten feet away from the dock, and the oars began to paddle in the opposite direction. Only then could they stop the boat from hitting the dock.

The boatmen couldn't help but wipe their hands with cold sweat at this time. They were forced to do so by a few eunuchs and royal guards on the ship, so they took this dangerous move and docked.

It was really the Shangguan who urged me too hastily.

Before the boatman could throw down the mooring rope for the soldiers on shore to fasten it, the eunuch who had been standing on the bow of the boat had already shouted in a drake voice to the boatman to put the pedals on the boat ashore and he wanted to get off the boat.

The soldiers of Bengshan Fort also heard the voice. They were surprised at first, and then were shocked when they saw what the man was wearing.

Eunuch in the palace.

Look at the people next to the eunuch. Two of them are in flying fish suits and have short knives on their waists. The other people behind him are also wearing blue armor that they have never seen before. How can they not understand the identity of the person coming?

This is the Jin Yiwei who can stop children from crying at night, the man whom all the officials are afraid of when they see him.

In an instant, the soldier tying the cable sped up by three points. Others came up to help set up the pedals. The eunuch and a team of royal guards got off the post ship in a hurry.

"Is Mr. Wei Ge in the castle?"

Still speaking with a drake voice, he grabbed the nearest soldier, and the eunuch asked loudly.

"Hey brother? Who is hey brother? Yes, we are Bengshan Castle here, but there is no hey brother."

The soldier didn't react for a moment, and was still wondering what feeding brother meant, when he heard the sound of the drake's throat again.

"I'm asking Mr. Wei Guangde, now you understand."

"Mr. Wei, you are here."

The eunuch reported Wei Guangde's name, and the soldier immediately realized what the brother was, it should be Master Wei's official position.

"Take me to him quickly, quickly."

The eunuch grabbed the soldier and refused to let go, constantly urging him to lead the way.

"Father-in-law, sir, you come with me."

Not daring to neglect, the soldier had no choice but to lead a few people and run towards Bengshan Fort.

The group of people naturally alarmed the people in the fort, but seeing their costumes, most people chose to hide on both sides of the street and let the way out.

Without being hindered, the group arrived in front of the Wei family mansion located in the center of the fort.

It used to be that this was a residence for hundreds of households, but now it is no longer. Naturally, the guards in front of the gate are no longer the soldiers of Bengshan Fort, but the servants of the Wei family. They all followed Wei Guangde back from the capital.

When they came over, the two servants in front of the door had already judged the visitor's clothes.

One person was still guarding the door, while another servant had already ran into the house to look for Zhang Ji.

After all, following Wei Guangde around the capital will give you more insight than someone who has stayed here all his life.

"Steward Zhang, a eunuch and a team of royal guards have come outside."

"Where?"

After hearing what the servant said, Zhang Ji felt a sudden change in his heart and asked subconsciously.

"He's coming from the castle gate. He looks fierce. It seems he's coming to us."

The servant hurriedly answered.

"You go to the back to find the master, I'll go take a look first."

Zhang Ji believed it and immediately ran to the gate. It sounded too scary.

Jin Yiwei came to the door, either to deliver orders or to arrest people. Zhang Ji had to go and find out first.

If someone is arrested, they should be dragged away first so that Wei Guangde can run away first, although he doesn't know whether his master is guilty or not.

But as long as his master is here and goes to the capital, based on his friendship with the emperor, he will usually not commit any serious crime.

Zhang Ji knew that his master was going to deal with Gao Gong, the chief minister of the dynasty, so naturally he couldn't fall into Gao Gong's hands.

As long as you can see the emperor, any crime can be washed away.

The emperor at that time had a soft ear, and Zhang Ji often heard Wei Guangde talk about this.

Even a small matter can be resolved by begging for mercy.

It's a big deal. With a little trouble, you can turn it into a disaster with some tricks.

When Zhang Ji arrived at the gate, he had already seen the eunuch rushing in and a group of imperial guards behind him.

"You guys don't dare to break in."

Zhang Ji felt cold. He thought he was sent by Gao Gong to find trouble. After all, he had never seen an eunuch break into the house directly.

In the capital, those high eunuchs who came to the Wei Mansion were not polite, but they would not do so either.

The reason why Zhang Ji thought of the worst before encountering him was because Wei Guangde taught him to make plans before taking action. The main reason was that Wei Guangde had a lot of contacts with people in the capital during this period, so he couldn't help but worry about whether he would get involved in something.

"Wei Ge is at home and has an agenda."

The eunuch ignored Zhang Ji and spoke directly.

Hearing that it was a decree, Zhang Ji was just stunned for a moment, and immediately smiled and said: "Angel, wait a moment, I will have someone notify the master right now, and prepare the incense table."

"I don't have the time to do this. I just announced it directly. Mr. Wei Ge will follow me back to the capital soon. Hurry up and take me to see Mr. Ge."

The eunuch received the letter as soon as he came out of the palace and delivered the imperial edict as quickly as possible. He also wanted to take Wei Guangde back to the capital without any delay.

Feng Bao arranged for his own people, but when he gave the order in front of his face, one day's delay was ten minutes.

Others came out under orders to show off their power, and when they came to him, they had to rush to deliver letters. In fact, the eunuch was also suffering in his heart.

Zhang Ji felt relieved when he saw that the visitor was in such a hurry, and it didn't look like something bad was happening, and he hurriedly led the person to the backyard.

"What's up?"

At the door of the backyard, I met Wei Guangde who came out.

This eunuch was someone close to Feng Bao. He couldn't name him, but Wei Guangde still felt a little familiar, so he asked.

"Mr. Wei Ge."

The eunuch recognized Wei Guangde at a glance, and immediately raised his hand and said: "Mr. Wei Ge, there is an order from the palace, please accept it immediately."

After speaking, the eunuch turned around and stretched out his hand.

A captain behind him immediately took action, and with the help of his companions, he put down the cloth bag tied behind him, opened it carefully, and a scroll of imperial edict appeared in front of everyone.

"Zhang Ji, right away"

Just as Wei Guangde was about to instruct Zhang Ji to prepare the incense table and incense burner to receive the edict, he saw that the eunuch had already received the edict, opened it and was about to read it out.

Wei Guangde had no choice but to kneel down here to receive the order.

"Feng, the emperor of heaven"

When Wei Guangde knelt down, the eunuch immediately began to read out the decree, and only then did everyone in the Wei Mansion kneel down one after another. Even the soldier who was leading the way and followed him also knelt down when he saw this scene.

This special purchase is an imperial edict.

Xiao Bing still sighed in his heart, it turned out that this is how the imperial edict was received. In addition to the labor and management, there were several people who received the imperial edict in this Bengshan Fort.

".Don't waste a moment. I appreciate this."

As the eunuch finished reciting the decree, Wei Guangde fell to the ground and shouted: "I accept the decree, long live long live, long live long live."

After the ceremony was completed, Wei Guangde raised his head and stretched out his hands to receive the decree. Then he stood up and asked, "How is your Majesty's health? Why are you so eager for me to return to the capital?"

"Mr. Wei Ge, the Za family doesn't know. My godfather only said that it's urgent and wants Mr. Wei Ge to return to Beijing as soon as possible."

The eunuch flattered him and said, "The godfather of the Za family is Feng Baofeng, Eunuch Feng, and He Ge is always an acquaintance."