Chapter 673 772 "Rise up in Rebellion"

Nanjing, Duke of Wei's Mansion.

The contemporary Duke of Wei, Xu Pengju, finally survived the hot summer. During that period, he lay in bed all day long because of his serious illness, and had to drink three bowls of medicine every day. Those days were hard to bear.

Sometimes he couldn't stand the heat and almost wanted to die.

As for why he didn't put an ice basin, according to the doctor, he couldn't stand the cold, otherwise it would aggravate his condition.

Now the weather is cooler, and his body has improved significantly. At least he can open the window to get some fresh air.

Today, he was lying on the couch for a nap. There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, which soon disappeared outside the door, followed by a rustling conversation, but he couldn't hear what was being said clearly.

Soon, the door was gently pushed open. A long-servant stretched his head to look at the bed. Seeing Xu Pengju looking at him, he hurriedly said, "My lord, the butler wants to see you for something."

"Let him in."

Xu Pengju actually had some guesses about the footsteps before. After all, he was somewhat familiar with the actions of the people around him, including the footsteps.

After the old butler entered the room, the door was quickly closed.

When the old butler stood in front of the couch to salute, Xu Pengju had already said, "You are an old man for many years. Don't be so pretentious. If you have anything to say, just say it directly."

The old butler was a family son of the Xu family. Several generations above had served the Xu family, so Xu Pengju trusted him very much and was very casual.

"My lord, the latest court report was sent from the capital just now. It said that His Majesty appointed Wei Guye as the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and the Minister of Personnel."

"What? He is joining the cabinet now?"

As soon as the old butler finished speaking, Xu Pengju was shocked and sat up straight, and the thin blanket drooping on his body also slipped to the ground.

The old housekeeper stepped forward and picked up the thin blanket under the bed to cover Xu Pengju, but Xu Pengju took it and threw it to the end of the bed.

"I didn't expect it to be so fast."

His son-in-law's promotion path can be said to be the standard way to enter the cabinet as a Hanlin, and with the experience of Prince Yu's Mansion, Xu Pengju never doubted that he could not enter the cabinet.

However, this is too fast.

Not only is he in the court for a short time.

In the past, it can even be said that when he was in Yu Ju, Wei Guangde was not really an official. In fact, he was still doing the work of secretary and lecturer because he had no real power.

It was not until he was in charge of copying the "Yongle Encyclopedia" and was named a minister that he really entered the officialdom.

After copying the book, he was promoted to the powerful minister of the Ministry of Personnel, then the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and finally entered the cabinet. It took only two years.

"It's really different if you follow the right person."

In fact, at this time, Xu Pengju was conflicted.

It is certain that the son-in-law of his family is capable. He handled the last Nanjing mutiny very well.

Although he was not rewarded for his merits, it cannot be reported, because it would make the officials in Nanjing look incompetent.

"Master, is the mansion..."

The old housekeeper certainly knew Xu Pengju's thoughts. He did not take a stand. Although he still favored Xu Bangrui in his heart, after all, the master was thinking about the youngest son. What could he, a servant, say?

However, now that the son-in-law has entered the cabinet, the mansion should send someone to the capital to congratulate him.

Xu Pengju was worried that Wei Guangde would climb too fast and affect his calculations. The old housekeeper knew it, so he reminded him at this time.

If this kind of thing is done, it is very rude and outsiders will laugh at it.

As for whether it is inappropriate for the father-in-law to give gifts to his son-in-law, this is actually the wrong idea.

Not only that, the Duke of Wei's mansion should also set up a banquet in Nanjing and invite the dignitaries in Nanjing to have a drink together.

After thinking for a while, Xu Pengju said, "Today, the palace will hold a banquet and invite officials and nobles in Nanjing to attend. Let Bangning host it."

"Master"

Just as the old housekeeper was about to speak, Xu Pengju waved his hand, interrupted him, and continued, "Let Bangrui go to the warehouse to choose gifts immediately. Tomorrow, go to the capital with Bangning."

"Yes, Master."

The old housekeeper hesitated, but finally said with a hard heart: "Both young masters go to the capital, this family."

"It's okay, my body is fine, and I can still hold on for a few years."

Xu Pengju seemed to know what the old housekeeper was thinking and shook his head.

Wei Guangde's entry into the cabinet means that he has more say in front of the emperor.

Undoubtedly, this will disrupt his previous arrangements.

But what can he do? Can he still make the emperor take back his order?

With the relationship between Wei Guangde and the palace, he is naturally closer to Xu Bangrui, and now he can only take a gamble.

"You go down to make arrangements, and find Bangning back. Ask him to come to me. I have something to say to him."

This time, Xu Pengju's idea was to let Xu Bangning go to the capital as well, and try his best to build a good relationship with Wei Guangde. As long as he could remain neutral at the critical moment, he would be considered a victory.

As for the others, Xu Bangning was already the spokesperson of the Duke of Wei's Mansion in Nanjing. Although some people in the city had some complaints, Xu Bangning now still had a righteous reputation. As long as Zheng was still the wife of the Duke of Wei, Xu Bangning was the legitimate son.

But he also knew that his son was becoming less and less motivated, and he didn't know where he was playing with those bad friends at this time, so he ordered the housekeeper like this.

In a study room in the backyard, Xu Bangrui was looking at the court report copied by his entourage, and then laughed out loud.

He admired Wei Guangde a little. As the son of a hundred households, he could actually get so far in the capital, and in such a short time.

But he admired himself more.

When I first knew this person, he was just a scholar. Who would have thought that in more than ten years, he would become a big man with great influence in the Ming Dynasty.

A cabinet minister is of course a big man. Even though he has seen that Wei Guangde ranks last in the cabinet, he is still a cabinet minister, a place that countless civil servants are eager to enter.

The game between him and his father has actually been decided in front of this court report.

"Dongdong."

There was a knock on the wooden door.

"What's the matter? Come in and talk."

Xu Bangrui said.

"Master, the butler is here."

The long attendant at the door said.

"Please ask him to come in quickly."

One day later, Jiujiang Prefecture.

The same court report has been delivered, one to the Jiujiang Prefecture government office, and one to the Jiujiang Guard.

At this time, Wu Zhankui was holding this court report in his hand, and he was shaking all over.

Of course, he was not cold, but excited.

His nephew has become the head of the cabinet, and he is already a figure that can be counted in the court. In a word, the whole Jiujiang Prefecture, and even the whole Jiangxi, will be shaken by him.

He has not been promoted in Jiujiang Wei for these years, but he has firmly controlled the entire Wei, relying on Wei Guangde's influence in the capital.

Whether it is Jiangxi or Nanjing, which official dares not to give him face.

A few days ago, the governor of Jiangxi came to Jiujiang for inspection. He was also very polite to him at the banquet, and said that he was his nephew's colleague and had a close relationship.

"Come on, call Wei Meng back to Jiujiang City, and notify him that there will be a big banquet in the Wei today. Our Jiujiang Wei has produced a great figure, hahaha."

Wu Zhankui stood up and ordered the personal soldiers around him.

The personal soldiers trotted out, and he also wanted to go to the Wei family to sit and tell his sister the good news.

He had to act faster. If he was delayed, the Jiujiang prefect might run ahead.

The court report had been copied several times in the prefectural yamen, and it had to be sent to the counties below. However, a large-character poster had been posted outside the prefectural yamen, and soon, a copied court report was also posted outside the Dehua County Yamen.

However, the prefect of Jiujiang was naturally the first to know the news. He had already arrived at the signing room when the court report was still being copied. After confirming that it was correct, he immediately sent someone to prepare a sedan chair.

For the people of Jiujiang Prefecture, most people certainly did not know Wei Guangde, but they also knew that there was an official who had great power in the capital, and he was the Minister of Rites, who could often see the emperor.

This was not the news released by the Wei family, but the business people in Jiujiang Prefecture, who went to the capital, would inevitably establish contact with the Wei Mansion.

On weekdays, merchant ships traveled back and forth, and they also had to help these Jiujiang compatriots who were serving as officials outside to establish connections between their hometowns and local government offices, which was also a link for them to get protection from their compatriots in various places.

The capital, at the foot of the emperor, is the best place in the country, and it is even more prosperous and rich. Any merchant going north must go to the capital.

The news that Wei Guangde was in the capital was naturally spread from the homes of these Jiujiang merchants.

At least, in the capital, as long as they put up the Jiujiang Prefecture sign, it would still be very useful in the officialdom. The government offices in the capital would give Wei Guangde face and would not embarrass them.

When the news of Wei Guangde's entry into the cabinet spread, the big families in Jiujiang City reacted and prepared generous gifts to celebrate. The already prosperous streets were even more lively, and merchants kept setting off firecrackers to celebrate.

The ground of the street where the Wei family was located was already covered with a layer of red debris from firecrackers, and the sedan chairs were still swarming in, and would soon be covered with another layer of debris from the newly set off firecrackers.

There were many cabinet ministers in Jiangxi, but there was only one in Jiujiang.

However, just as Jiujiang Prefecture was in a "city carnival", the atmosphere in Huguang Jiangling Prefecture was extremely strange.

The predecessor of Jiangling was the capital of Chu State, Ying. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, 34 emperors successively built their capitals here, which lasted for 515 years. Since the Han Dynasty, Jiangling City has long existed as the seat of Jingzhou, so Jiangling is often referred to as "Jingzhou".

As the central city of the Jianghan Plain, Jiangling controls Bashu in the west, Xianghan in the north, and is connected to Jianghu and Wuyue. It is the key point for the Central Plains to communicate with Lingnan, and is known as the "Southeast Important Town".

However, just today, the imperial envoy sent by the court, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Hong Chaoxuan, and the Jinyiwei Commander Cheng Yaoxiang, arrived in Jiangling. When they learned about the current situation, they were immediately scared to death.

It turned out that the news that Liao Wang Zhu Xian was impeached by the censor Chen Sheng and the censor Gao Guangxian was no longer a secret, and the news that the imperial envoy sent by the capital to investigate had long been widely circulated.

In fact, for the prince, this was not a big deal.

Because for the relative living in the Forbidden City, as long as he is not involved in treason, he will generally not worry about his life.

Even if it is so irritating that the gods are angry and the people are resentful, the kingship will be revoked at most. Most of the relatives who were exiled to Fengyang were dissatisfied with the emperor and complained, which made the emperor ignore the family affection and directly lock them up.

What were the charges that Chen Sheng and Gao Guangxian impeached Zhu Xian for?

Thirteen major crimes, including falsely requesting a title, committing adultery with his aunt, beating Yibin to death, imprisoning a county lady, and extorting clan members.

In fact, the mansions of various kings and nobles were more or less involved in these things, so if they were really checked out, they would not be dead, but they would be punished.

However, the Liao King had something on his mind. He knew that the things he had done before must be related, but he was most worried and afraid of the one who walked out of Jiangling City.

Zhang Juzheng was a young man who passed the imperial examination, but the King of Liao still had a grudge against him because of his youth. The King of Liao had someone pour wine for his grandfather. Even though Zhang Zhen said he couldn't continue drinking, he still persuaded him to drink as the King of Liao.

Zhang Zhen had to drink the wine even if he didn't want to.

He just wanted to vent his anger, but he didn't expect Zhang Zhen to be so useless and die directly after getting drunk.

The Zhang family knew what happened that night, but it was just a toast, so they naturally couldn't say anything about it. He was a prince of the current dynasty, what could you use to fight him?

The quarrel was just because Zhang Zhen himself was ill, and he was surprised and drank too much.

No matter what, the Zhang family had no reason to make a fuss about what happened that night, so the King of Liao was not afraid.

But it's different now. People from the capital came, and who knows if Zhang Juzheng was involved.

The more he thought about it, the more certain he was. In the end, he was even more convinced that Zhang Juzheng used the identity of Yu Ju's old friend to join Chen Sheng and Gao Guang to sue him first.

At this time, he still didn't think he had done anything wrong, because his Zhu family could afford those charges.

This actually shows that Zhu Di's strategy of raising pigs has been working well for so many years.

Zhu Xian, the King of Liao, was such a useless person. Before Hong Chaoxuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, who investigated him, arrived in Jingzhou, he was anxious in the palace.

He didn't realize that he was a vassal king and his surname was Zhu. As long as no one died, he would live the same life. At most, he would be warned and reprimanded by the court.

Even if he bullied Hong Chaoxuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, who came to investigate, Hong Chaohong couldn't do anything to him.

When civil officials and vassal kings had conflicts, the court often gave each of them fifty slaps.

Such punishment actually had no deterrence for the vassal kings, who still did their own thing, and for officials, it would affect their promotion, which was a huge loss.

However, there is a premise here, that is, no big fights and no deaths.

The lives here generally do not include the lives of the lower-class people, because in the eyes of the rulers, they can be compensated with money.

The death of Zhang Zhen was different. The Zhang family had no good reason to make a fuss, so they could only swallow their anger. But if the King of Liao openly ordered the killing, he would be severely punished.

Because although the princes were royal relatives, the court was controlled by civil officials, and civil officials evolved from scholars. If the King of Liao dared to take action against Zhang Juzheng, the civil officials would definitely not let him go.

After all, if he was let go, countless scholars would be oppressed by the princes in the future, and the dignity of scholars would be gone.

This is actually a very delicate balance.

However, the King of Liao knew only a little about this, so in a hurry he actually hung a flag on the roof of the palace, with four big characters "Sue Yu Zhi Zi" written on it.

He wanted to express that he was persecuted by Zhang Juzheng and was wronged.

But he was educated, and at this time he forgot that there was actually another interpretation of the outside world for hanging this flag: rising up.