Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 443: Follow the steps and be as steady as a rock

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor." The emperor waved his hand, Luo Sigong got up from his seat and knelt down, kowtowed and took his leave together with Lu Wenzhao who was still kneeling on the ground.

After the two left, the hall returned to silence temporarily, and the three eunuchs withdrew their gazes and returned to their unfinished work.

"Liu Ruoyu." Zhu Changluo called.

"I'm here." Liu Ruoyu's nerves tensed up. He quickly put down the pen he had just picked up, stood up and saluted the emperor.

"Why are you so nervous? Sit down." Zhu Changluo waved his hand downwards.

"Yes." Liu Ruoyu sat back down. He looked at the emperor, but saw that the emperor was not looking at him.

"You are in charge of the reform of the inner court's salary system," Zhu Changluo asked, "Do you have any ideas about the Jinyiwei?" The major adjustments in the inner court have ended, but small adjustments and personnel changes are still ongoing.

"My Lord," Liu Ruoyu's eyes rolled back and forth. "I think Commander Luo is absolutely right. Salary reform is imperative, but Deputy Captain Lu also has a point."

"Hmph, so slick." Zhu Changluo rolled his eyes at him. "It's like you didn't say anything."

Liu Ruoyu cursed Luo Sigong softly in his heart. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Master, calm down. I'm not familiar with the affairs of the Jinyiwei. Reform is definitely necessary, but I really don't dare to rashly comment on the details of how to change it." Liu Ruoyu tried to shift the blame: "I think it would be better to ask Prime Minister Fang. Since he submitted that secret report, he should have a plan in mind."

"If you don't dare, forget it." Zhu Changluo didn't force him, and instead called out, "Wang An."

Liu Ruoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't completely devoid of ideas; he could have come up with a few simple ones. However, unlike Wei Zhongxian and Cui Wensheng, Liu Ruoyu had no desire to extend his influence beyond the palace walls. He sincerely wished not to get involved in the grand reforms of the outer court. He was content to do as little as possible, make as few mistakes as possible, and manage his small territory well.

"I'm here!" Wang An quickly pulled out his draft book and flipped it open. His movements were completely different from his usual quiet and cautious manner, as if he was afraid that others would not know that he was taking notes.

Zhu Changluo rolled his eyes at Wang An. "You two are truly disciples of the same master."

"Hehe." Wang An's thoughts were seen through, but he didn't think much about it and just laughed awkwardly twice.

"Just do as your junior brother said and write a letter back to Fang Congzhe. Tell him the opinions of the father-in-law and son-in-law, and ask him to come up with a detailed and reliable plan as soon as possible." While speaking, Zhu Changluo also stuffed the secret letter returned by Luo Sigong and the short piece of paper with his name on it back into the envelope.

Although these things would not be seen in public for the time being, they were not permanent secrets. After the emperor's death, the contents of the secret revelations and the emperor's replies would become materials for compiling the Veritable Records and would be sent to the History Museum for the Hanlin scholars to compile and excerpt.

"Yes." Wang An turned to a blank page and asked, "Master, do you want me to tell you by name?"

"No need to name it," Zhu Changluo said. "And don't send it directly to the cabinet. Let's hold this matter over for now and try not to leak it." Despite this, Zhu Changluo wasn't as cautious as he was regarding the matters of guardianship of Korea and the dethronement of the king.

"Yes." Wang An accepted the order, his eyes swept over the faces of the eunuchs around him, and he picked up the pen and wrote the words "some say. Some say" on the paper.

"Wang An," Zhu Changluo said, taking another memorial but not opening it immediately. "What do you think about sending Lu Wenzhao to Liaodong for some training?"

"Liaodong." Wang An's pen paused, and he stopped there. "Master, are you talking about what we agreed on yesterday?"

"Yeah." Zhu Changluo nodded.

"I think he is a little too young and may not be able to control the situation." Wang An said.

"He's young and needs to be sent out for training," Zhu Changluo said. "Besides, it's not necessarily a good thing for him to stay in Beijing."

Wang An nodded deeply, his lips curling up slightly. "I don't know where this kid got the good fortune to be so well-cared for by the Lord."

"Are you jealous?" Zhu Changluo teased.

"Indeed, there is a bit of that." Wang An also continued speaking along with the emperor's words.

Liu Ruoyu and Wei Chao didn't understand what the master and servant were talking about, nor did they dare to ask rashly. They could only look at each other and shake their heads silently.

--------

"Eunuch Shi, please go back. There's no need to see you off." Inside the Meridian Gate, near the Inner House, Luo Sigong stopped and said to Shi Fangyi who was following him.

"Commander Luo, Deputy Captain Lu," Shi Fangyi bowed to Luo Sigong and Lu Wenzhao again. "I'm truly sorry for what happened today. It was my carelessness that caused you to wait outside the palace for so long in vain."

"Oh!" Luo Sigong stepped forward and took Shi Fangyi's arm, smiling and saying, "Eunuch Shi, you really don't have to take this matter to heart. If you must say it, it was my father-in-law and son-in-law who didn't follow the usual path that caused you to be scolded by Chief Steward Shi. If you continue to be so polite, I will feel really bad."

Shi Fangyi wanted to bow to Luo Sigong, but Luo Sigong still held his arm, so Shi Fangyi couldn't do it. "Thank you, Luo Weishuai, for speaking up for me in front of my godfather. Otherwise, I would have been beaten with a stick today."

Not long ago, the father-in-law and son-in-law left the Southern Study and were about to leave the palace. As they entered the Qianqing Gate, they were stopped by Shi Fuming. Shi Fuming had specifically brought Shi Fangyi to apologize to Luo Sigong, and even wanted Shi Fangyi to kowtow to him. But given Luo Sigong's intelligence, how could he easily accept such an apology?

In the end, Luo Sigong not only did not ask Shi Fangyi to kowtow to him, but also said a lot of good things for him, and even did not leave until Shi Fuming promised that he would not punish Shi Fangyi again. Shi Fuming also returned the favor and asked Shi Fangyi to escort the father-in-law and son-in-law to the Meridian Gate as a token of apology.

"Oh. What's there to thank me for?" Luo Sigong patted Shi Fangyi's shoulder gently, smiling as kindly as an old grandfather coaxing a child. "It's my own fault for not following the ordinary path that I harmed you, Eunuch Shi."

"General Wei," Shi Fangyi was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. "You are truly the best person I have ever met."

Shi Fuming treated his godsons very well, but he was also extremely strict. Shi Fangyi's mistake, at best, was keeping Luo Sigong waiting in vain; at worst, it was keeping his master, His Majesty, waiting for an extended period. If it were really too serious, a slap on the wrist would be the least of his trouble. So when he heard that Shi Fuming had personally gone to Xihuamen to pick up Luo Sigong, Shi Fangyi's heart skipped a beat.

"How can Eunuch Shi say that? Shouldn't the best person be Steward Shi?" Luo Sigong said with a smile.

"Hello, godfather, and hello to you too." Shi Fangyi said quickly.

"Okay, Eunuch Shi, I really have to go back to do my job." Luo Sigong let go of Shi Fangyi.

"Then..." Shi Fangyi stubbornly saluted Luo Sigong. There was a hint of reluctance in his tone. "Goodbye, Marshal Luo, and also, Deputy Captain Lu." "Goodbye." Luo Sigong's smile faded as he turned around, a change so swift that it startled Lu Wenzhao.

"Luo Zhangwei" Lu Wenzhao's heart began to beat fast. Or rather, from the moment he decided to oppose Luo Sigong's proposal, his heartbeat never slowed down.

"This isn't the place to talk," Luo Sigong rolled his eyes at him and quickened his pace towards the Meridian Gate. "Let's talk outside."

"Yes." Lu Wenzhao hurriedly followed.

As soon as he left the palace, Lu Wenzhao spoke again. "Guard Luo, I was previously in a low position."

"My dear son-in-law," Luo Sigong interrupted him again. "There's no need to ask for forgiveness."

"Are you going to forgive me?" Hearing the word "good son-in-law", Lu Wenzhao felt a little relieved and forced a flattering smile on his face.

Luo Sigong kept an eye on his surroundings and made sure that no one would approach him suddenly in the short term before he said, "My dear son-in-law, it's too early for you to climb up by stepping on my shoulders."

"This..." Lu Wenzhao's smile froze.

"An old man like me is meant to be stepped on, but don't be impatient." Luo Sigong waved his hand to stop him. "You are too young. Even if you can step me down, you can't get up. It's better for you if I, an old man, sit in that seat. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"My son-in-law doesn't have such thoughts." Lu Wenzhao quickly defended himself.

"Really?" Luo Sigong stopped in a hurry, turned around and looked at Lu Wenzhao intently.

Lu Wenzhao's heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and his blood rushed to his head, giving him a little more courage. He didn't answer Luo Sigong's question, but whispered back, "Could it be that what my son-in-law said is wrong?"

"Whether you're right or not is another matter," Luo Sigong said, noting that this was not a good place to talk while standing, and that someone had already noticed them. But Luo Sigong lowered his voice and pressed on, growling, "I'm asking if you have such thoughts?"

"." In just a moment, Lu Wenzhao's suddenly rising courage was shattered by Luo Sigong.

"Yes or no!" Luo Sigong raised his voice and continued to ask.

"Maybe." Lu Wenzhao turned his face away. "Maybe a little."

"Hahaha. Still a real man." Luo Sigong smiled and patted Lu Wenzhao's face. His movements were gentle and his expression was kind, like a father caressing his son. "With your limited skills, who can you hide this from? If I can't even see through you, I don't have to be the head guard."

"Keep up." Luo Sigong took another step.

"Yes."

"Come closer!"

"Yes." Lu Wenzhao did as he was told.

"I'll tell you clearly," although it was past the busiest hour for the six departments, there were still people coming and going near the main room from time to time. Luo Sigong's first-rank military officer uniform was so eye-catching that it constantly attracted people to stop and salute. Luo Sigong responded with a smile and a bow, while also taking the time to talk to Lu Wenzhao: "If you were not the son-in-law of my Luo family, I would have thrown you out of town this time. If possible, I would also find a way to kill you. Get rid of you, this hidden danger that is jumping around." Whether far or near, Luo Sigong showed completely two different faces.

As the two of them walked out of the Duanmen Gate, the crowd gradually thinned out, and Luo Sigong's two faces gradually merged. "Since you call me Taishan, I will take the trouble to teach you some officialdom on behalf of Lu Zhi, so that you won't be splattered with blood when you die."

"Yes." Lu Wenzhao responded in a mosquito-like voice.

"Even if what you said is right," Luo Sigong said quietly, "but can you please tell me alone after you come out? Do you really have to slap me in the face in front of the emperor?"

"I" Lu Wenzhao couldn't respond to this.

"Do you know what this is called?"

"Please give me some advice, Taishan." Luo Sigong said hurriedly.

"You're talking nonsense." Luo Sigong continued, "Is the reform right or wrong? How can you, a deputy captain of the East Office, directly tell the emperor about such a major issue? And even if I don't bear a grudge against you, and even willingly give you a shoulder to step on, what about others? I've already dragged Liu Bingbi out in the palace, and you're embarrassing him by slapping my face. He's sitting in the South Study, and where are you sitting? Don't look at him as delicate as a delicate skin, but he can beat you to death by pulling out a hair. Fortunately, you still had some brains in the end and knew to talk about the two things separately. Find a chance, I'll scold you in front of him, or even slap you twice in front of him."

"Well, then you..." Lu Wenzhao wanted to ask a question, but he didn't know if the question that came to his mouth would offend Luo Sigong.

"Now you know to think before you speak." Luo Sigong smiled and returned the greeting to the Chengtian Gate guard who came forward to greet him. After crossing the Jinshui Bridge, Luo Sigong took the initiative to continue the conversation: "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't shout at the top of your lungs."

"My son-in-law wants to ask, why do you want to involve Liu Bingbi?" Lu Wenzhao asked.

Luo Sigong thought for a moment and then asked in a guiding manner, "Re-establish the West Factory, restructure the East Factory, and lay off and reorganize the inner court. Do you know what this means?"

"My son-in-law doesn't know."

“This is by the book.”

"Follow the procedures?" Lu Wenzhao was puzzled.

Luo Sigong explained, "The Emperor ascended the throne last August, and it's only been six months now. If you simply piece together the events of the past six months, you'll find that the Emperor has been systematically carrying out a major reform from the inside out, from top to bottom. Now, the overall restructuring of the Inner Court has been completed, and our Jinyiwei, a dual-government agency affiliated with the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of War, is the first step in this reform's expansion beyond the Inner Court."

"I see." Lu Wenzhao was a little stunned.

"Boy, you are indeed a little clever, but you are still a little dull when it comes to big things. Even if the emperor listens to your words, it is nothing more than changing to a relatively milder method. But no matter what method it is, as long as it is changed, it will definitely hurt someone. If someone is hurt, someone will resist, and if someone resists, we must suppress it. So I need Liu Bingbi, a target with arrows already hanging on it, to help me share the possible arrows. Even if this will offend him." Luo Sigong pointed at himself and finally said, "I am different from you. As long as I don't offend the emperor, I will be as stable as Mount Tai."

(End of this chapter)