I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 217: The Welcome Gift from Zhenwu Camp to Zhang Gelao

In a side hall of the Kunning Palace in the Forbidden City, Chen sat in the upper seat and Zhu Yijun sat in the lower seat, talking while having dinner.

Chen put down the bowl of soup, wiped her mouth, and asked, "Jun'er, will the emperor hold a big celebration for New Year's Day and Lantern Festival this year?"

"Mother, I asked about this when I came to pay my respects to my father this morning. My father said he didn't care. I wonder what your opinion is?"

"Of course he doesn't care. The Forbidden City is so big, it's enough for him to play there from the beginning of the year to the end of the year." Chen couldn't help but nag, "Now, he even goes to Li less often."

Of course, while he was taking care of military and state affairs in Xiyuan, his father, without any worries, was having a great time in the Forbidden City.

He also instructed Huang Jin and Wanfu to select more beauties to fill the harem. His father was so happy that he didn't want to leave. He was like an industrious bee, flying from east to west and from south to north in the Forbidden City.

What he meant by "clothes are not as good as new and people are not as good as old ones" was just my father's momentary feeling.

No matter how beautiful Li is, she is not as fresh and delicious as the new beauties.

However, there is one advantage that his father has. As long as he is provided with plenty of fine wine, different kinds of delicious food every day, and has beautiful women around him, he can transform himself into a Ming Dynasty version of a senior otaku.

There is no need to build palaces on a large scale, no need to pray for blessings, or practice Taoism to worship heaven. The cost is much less than that of the emperor.

When you pass away, I must give you a better posthumous title than Mu Miao.

Zhu Yijun said nothing and waited for Chen's words.

"Jun'er, we women live deep in the palace, and it's lonely and desolate all year round, which is very miserable. We finally look forward to the New Year's Day and the Lantern Festival. There must be a few lively days in a year, whether it's to relax or to get rid of bad luck, there is always something to look forward to."

"Mother, there is a great mourning in the family, and there will be no celebrations for three years. If we make a big fuss about it, what will the people of the world think? But what the Queen Mother said is not without reason.

When I was talking with Mr. Fengzhou, the lecturer of the Eastern Palace, he mentioned that in the southeastern Kunshan area, there is a Shuimo Opera, which is very beautiful and melodious, and the scripts are also wonderful and interesting. I asked Yang Jinshui to find three opera troupes in the southeast and hired them to go north. The latest urgent news is that they will arrive in Tongzhou tomorrow.

At that time, the three troupes will be combined into one, and all roles will be played by women. They will then be asked to perform at the Chongqing Hall by the Beihai Lake in the Western Garden. There is a high platform and a corridor around it, which can be used as a stage with a little modification. I am asking them to start the construction, and it will be completed in three days.

When the time comes, my mother will lead all the concubines, empresses, princesses and princes in the harem to watch the show there first. If it is good to the eyes, we can make further plans. "

Chen was delighted, "Jun'er is filial and thoughtful. I have heard the ladies of the outer court talk about Kunshan Shuimo Opera. They said it is popular among the families of officials in the inner court of the southeast. It sounds very nice.

Jun'er was able to hire a group of people and complete the ceremony of guarding the palace. For the people in the harem, it is indeed a great blessing. "

"If your Majesty Queen Mother agrees, I will ask someone to do it as soon as possible. Well, then let Lu Yong take care of this matter."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Chen agreed without hesitation.

After leaving the Forbidden City, Zhu Yijun returned to the Western Garden on a sedan chair and plunged headfirst into the endless pile of official documents.

Zhang Juzheng, the imperial envoy who came to pay homage to the Xiaoling Mausoleum, took a boat along the canal, heading south in the biting cold wind.

Because the imperial edict indicated that the sacrifice would be held this year, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory chose the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month as an auspicious day.

Zhang Juzheng hurried as fast as he could, trying to arrive before the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

It is a big deal to worship at the Xiaoling Mausoleum in accordance with the imperial edict.

Once you arrive in Nanjing, you need to make various preparations, including bathing and fasting. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you can prepare.

On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Juzheng rushed to Jiangdu City and had a quick meeting with Hai Rui, Wang Yi'e and Xu Yangzheng.

"Lord Zhang, Qu Wenshou refused to confess, and the co-governor and deputy envoy also refused to confess. However, the judge of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner's Office, the experience officer of the Experience Office, the judges of the three divisions of Taizhou, Huai'an, and Tongzhou, the salt warehouse ambassador, and the governor of the Salt Tax Office all confessed. Qu Wenshou and others only knew how to spend their days in debauchery and did not care about the real things. I am guessing that it is not that they do not want to confess, but they do not know what to confess.

The actual affairs were handled by judges, experiencers, ambassadors and governors. These people confessed, and the case soon became clear. According to preliminary estimates, the Lianghuai Salt Administration had been involved in various frauds and the private distribution of regular and private salt since the 35th year of Jiajing, with the value of the money being as much as 27 million taels of silver. There were thousands of people involved in the case.

Now I will issue the book cards, Prince Jian will arrest people and confiscate their homes, and Xu Mengquan will check and supervise, each doing his own job."

Hai Rui reported the situation with a smile. He felt very happy and proud that he had been able to eliminate so many parasites in Lianghuai and get rid of a great harm to the people.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but be shocked.

Twenty-seven million taels of silver is the biggest corruption case in the country. I don't know how many heads will be cut off. And this is just the beginning. I believe that as the case goes deeper, it will get deeper and deeper, and more and more silver and people will be involved.

"Thank you for your hard work in investigating the Lianghuai Salt Administration case, Lord Gangfeng, Lord Mengquan, and Zijian. When I was leaving the capital, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to pass on a message to you three: While investigating the case is important, you must also pay attention to safety and be careful of some villains who are desperate."

"We thank Your Highness for your concern."

Hai Rui and the other two quickly stood up and bowed towards the north.

After the three of them sat down, Zhang Juzheng said, "Mr. Gangfeng, Mr. Mengquan, and Zijian, we all know that Yangzhou City is just a facade, and the real critical point is Nanjing City.

Some time ago, in the case of dereliction of duty by Admiral Caojiang's Censor Wu Shilai, you reported that Wu Shilai was deceived and misled by his subordinates, which led to a serious mistake.

I wonder if anyone has found out who is the mastermind behind the deception and deception?"

Xu Yang was keeping his head down and not saying anything. Hai Rui glanced at Wang Yi'e.

Wang Yi'e replied calmly, "Lord Zhang, we have found out that it was Xu Bangrui, the eldest son of the Duke of Wei in Nanjing, who was the master of the palace. The three people involved in the case, including the guerrilla officer in charge of the river and the patrol officer, all have signed confessions and the silver they had been bribed with. There are witnesses and evidence."

"Has Xu Bangrui been arrested?"

"No. This case involves the Duke of Wei's mansion. According to the rules, it needs to be reported to the Imperial Household Department and a petition is filed to send the Imperial Guards to arrest the suspect."

The four of them talked for an hour, and Hai Rui and Xu Yangzheng left first.

Wang Yi'e chatted with Zhang Juzheng for another half an hour and introduced the two men to him.

"These two have made great contributions this time. The judge of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner's Office, the experience officer of the Experience Office, the judges of the three divisions of Taizhou, Huai'an, and Tongzhou, the salt warehouse ambassador, and the governor of the Salt Tax Office who confessed were all persuaded by these two.

They are also very familiar with the situation in Nanjing. The situation is complicated when Mr. Zhang goes to Nanjing. The two of them should be able to bring some help to the old man. "

Zhang Juzheng glanced at the two of them. He didn't care much in his heart, but he still had to do it for Wang Yi'e's sake.

This person is his junior fellow student, a key member of the prince's party, and so young. Everyone thinks he might take over from Hu Zongxian and take charge of military affairs for His Royal Highness the prince.

"Okay, Zijian has spoken highly of you two, so I think you must have some outstanding qualities. I will go to Nanjing this time, so I would like to ask for your guidance."

The two men hurriedly bowed and said, "I dare not say that I can give you any advice, but I will do my best to serve you."

Early the next morning, Zhang Juzheng and his entourage's official ship sailed out of Jiangdu City and had just arrived in Guazhou, where they transferred to the navy's Wusong ship. Before they set off, a speedboat came hurriedly with news.

"Report! Last night, the Zhenwu Camp in Nanjing City was rioting for pay. Thousands of soldiers besieged the Nanjing Garrison and Nanjing Military Department to demand the pay they owed. The city was in chaos, and some lawless people took the opportunity to loot shops.
The Nanjing garrison commander, Duke of Wei, Master Xu, is mobilizing troops from the outer city guards to enter the city to suppress the rebellion, and has also sent a small speedboat to report to the Jiangdu Imperial Envoy's headquarters."

Zhang Juzheng was shocked and angry: "It's the Zhenwu Camp again!"

(End of this chapter)