Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 66 Heavy Snow
Cao Huachun led Lu Wenzhao onto a carriage, which passed through West Chang'an Street, Xuanwumenli Street, and Fuchengmen Street before arriving at Xi'an Gate.

Beyond Xi'an Gate lies the Imperial City, starting from here. Without special permission, one must dismount from their sedan chair, horse, and carriage and proceed on foot. As they passed through Xi'an Gate, Lu Wenzhao began to faintly hear a chorus of voices. Suspicion welled up in his mind, but he didn't inquire further.

Cao Huachun led Lu Wenzhao south along the Forbidden City moat and soon arrived at Xihua Gate. Because Xihua Gate connected to the Shangshenjian, Yuyongjian, Tianshifang and other internal government offices closely related to daily life, its side gates were usually open during the day.

"Just wait here." Cao Huachun took Lu Wenzhao to the Liuke Corridor, just west of Riji Gate, where officials who were to meet the emperor would be summoned.

"Thank you, Admiral Cao." After Lu Wenzhao expressed his gratitude, he found a seat and sat down.

He waited for more than two hours. When Cao Huachun came back to pick him up, the Shangshenjian had already started lighting the stove to prepare dinner.

"The eunuch Cao Huachun, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, and Lu Wenzhao, the hereditary captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, request to see you." The eunuch with the common name sang loudly.

"Announce." Although the door of the South Study was open, Cao Huachun was not one of the eunuchs who could enter directly.

"Your servant Cao Huachun pays homage to the master, may he live long!" Cao Huachun gave Lu Wenzhao a wink.

"Your humble servant Lu Wenzhao pays homage to the Emperor, Long Live the Emperor!" Lu Wenzhao imitated Cao Huachun and reluctantly completed the five kowtows.

Zhu Changluo made a gesture to Cao Huachun, who immediately understood and stood up and walked out.

"Raise your head and stand up straight." Zhu Changluo ordered.

Lu Wenzhao tried his best to suppress the heavy breaths lingering in his chest, keeping his breathing at a steady pace. He finally managed to control the nervous stuttering. With a slightly trembling voice, he replied, "Your humble servant obeys."

"Are you Lu Wenzhao?" Zhu Changluo sat on a chair, looking down at Lu Wenzhao who was still kneeling on the ground across the wooden table in front of him.

"Your Majesty, yes." Lu Wenzhao stood up and looked up, seeing the emperor's holy face clearly.

After more than two months of recuperation, Zhu Changluo's complexion finally shed its "sallow, shriveled orange peel" complexion. However, since he couldn't exercise vigorously during the recuperation period, his weight increased instead of decreasing due to the various supplements and broths he consumed. This caused his skin to completely overshadow his bones, giving him a more plump appearance than ever before.

Zhu Changluo wasn't worried, however. As long as he was healthy, he could lose weight. The reform of the court meeting system was designed to provide ample time for morning exercises. Today, during his first court break, Zhu Changluo walked briskly around the Qianqing Palace several times, which exhausted him.

"Quite similar." Zhu Changluo had a blank expression on his face and scanned Lu Wenzhao's face several times.

“.” Lu Wenzhao didn’t know what the emperor was talking about, but since the emperor didn’t ask any questions, he didn’t say anything more.

"Have you been to Sarhu?" Zhu Changluo did not ask about the Book of Impermanence right away.

"Your Majesty, I once served as a temporary garrison commander under General Du Du." Lu Wenzhao's breath caught. The hall was clearly warm as springtime, scorched by the charcoal fire, but the emperor's question suddenly brought his thoughts back to that icy hell.

"How did you survive?" Zhu Changluo looked at Lu Wenzhao, his eyes filled with both scrutiny and compassion.

"Your Majesty, on the morning of the second day after crossing the Hun River, the sky was gloomy and difficult to see at a distance. The bandits attacked our unit by surprise. I fought hard, but the bandits' horses charged at me, knocking me unconscious. When I awoke, they had already tied me up and were about to behead me. Fortunately, Shen Lian, the general commander of the Jinyiwei, who was accompanying the army, killed an enemy and saved me, allowing me to survive." Lu Wenzhao's nose felt a little sore. The scene of corpses strewn across the ground and blood boiling into ice surfaced in his mind.

"Shen Lian?" Zhu Changluo caught the name.

"Your Majesty. It's Shen Lian, who has the same name as Shen Zhongmin and Shen Qingxia Shanren during the Jiajing period." Lu Wenzhao thought that the emperor was thinking of Shen Lian, a seventh-rank Jinyiwei who died unjustly in prison for impeaching the Yan Party during the Jiajing period.

"His name is Shen Lian, so what is your relationship with Lu Bing?" Shen Lian was a Jinshi, and was appreciated by Lu Bing, who was in charge of the guards, and joined the Jinyiwei.

"Your Majesty, I have nothing to do with Earl Zhongcheng. Earl Zhongcheng was born in Zhejiang, and I was born in Northern Zhili. We just happen to have the same surname." After hearing this, Lu Wenzhao also felt that the world was mysterious.

"Okay." Zhu Changluo nodded, then gestured to Wang An.

Wang An understood, picked up the Book of Impermanence, and walked over to Lu Wenzhao. Lu Wenzhao raised his hands above his head, as if to receive the book. Wang An placed the Book of Impermanence in Lu Wenzhao's palms.

"This is your Impermanence Book. Luo Sigong can't understand it, and no one in the Imperial Household Department can understand it either," Zhu Changluo said. "Please translate it for me."

Now Lu Wenzhao finally understood why the emperor summoned him to the palace. But he had handed over the Book of Impermanence because he didn't know what the Portuguese were talking about.

Lu Wenzhao was silent for a moment. "Your Majesty, I don't know the Portuguese language either."

"Then can you use the contents of this notebook to recall the conversation at that time? That is, the punctuation." Zhu Changluo frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, yes." Lu Wenzhao breathed a sigh of relief. Although he could not understand foreign languages, he had a good memory.

Drawing on the contents of the Book of Impermanence, Lu Wenzhao began to mentally recreate the scene of that day. The layout of Zhaixing Tower, the placement of the tables and chairs: there were two main square tables, with Minister Xu sitting at the one on the outermost side, flanked by screens. The atmosphere was noisy, with many Portuguese chattering in a completely incomprehensible language. But because Minister Xu was also speaking, he could still make out the main target of surveillance.

Two Portuguese old men in their fifties were arguing. They started by speaking Portuguese, but then Minister Xu joined in the conversation, speaking Chinese, and after that most of the conversation was in Chinese.

The image in Lu Wenzhao's mind gradually became clear: Minister Xu could understand the Portuguese language, so why did he use Chinese? Why did Minister Xu say that?

"Everyone, this is the Ming Dynasty." This sentence is not recorded in the Book of Impermanence.

Minister Xu did it on purpose; he knew we were watching him! The placement of the tables and chairs, the seating arrangements, the placement of the screens, even the meal at Zhaixing Tower itself were all planned by Minister Xu. Minister Xu was trying to get a message to the Emperor through the Imperial Guards! Was this Minister Xu's own decision, or was it the Emperor's arrangement? Lu Wenzhao began to sweat.

He was distracted and secretly looked up, only to find the emperor resting with his eyes closed. Only the two eunuchs, Wang An and Wei Chao, were writing furiously.

"That's all?" After about two quarters of an hour, Lu Wenzhao completed the punctuation and, based on this, used language to recreate the scene of the dinner party at Zhaixing Tower.

"Your Majesty, there are no more," Lu Wenzhao replied, closing the Book of Death and looking up. In a split second, he made up his mind; he wanted to be 'familiar': "Your Majesty, I have something to report." "Anything?" Zhu Changluo chuckled. "Shouldn't it be reported to the higher-ups first, who would then compile and submit it to the Imperial Household Department?"

"Your humble servant. Your humble servant." Although the emperor was smiling, Lu Wenzhao seemed to see a sharp blade. He bent down and rested his head on the floor.

"Go ahead."

"Huh!" Lu Wenzhao let out a long sigh and said, "I think Xu Guangqi is deceiving the emperor!"

Wang An, who was sitting nearby, looked up at Lu Wenzhao in surprise: "Trying to climb up the ladder by impeaching Xu Guangqi? You're courting death."

Although the outer court was not fully aware of the situation, Wang An, the Emperor's trusted confidant and the official in charge of the Imperial Household Department, was fully aware of it. Xu Guangqi was not recommended by the Imperial Tutor, but was personally selected by the Emperor.

"Speak." Zhu Changluo smiled even more.

"I believe that what was said just now was not Xu Guangqi's true intention, but rather that Xu Guangqi, in collusion with the Portuguese, used me and other Jinyiwei to convey false information to the emperor." Lu Wenzhao thought about every word without pausing.

"reason."

"When Xu Guangqi brought the Portuguese to Zhaixing Tower for dinner, he sat on the edge as the host. He could have booked the second floor of Zhaixing Tower, but he allowed me and others to dine in the same hall. During the meal, he talked a lot and repeatedly asked the Portuguese to speak in Chinese, as if he was afraid that I and others could not understand Portuguese. Therefore, I believe that Xu Guangqi deliberately joined forces with the Portuguese and used the Jinyiwei to convey false information to the emperor, and he was suspected of deceiving the emperor." Lu Wenzhao's words were very beautiful, all based on speculation based on what he saw, without any additional false accusations.

So regardless of whether Xu Guangqi received the emperor's instructions or just had some kind of tacit understanding between the monarch and his subjects, his words were loyal advice to the monarch from the perspective of the Jinyiwei.

"I see." Zhu Changluo remained silent. Then he suddenly asked, "You have a junior sister named Ding Baiying, right?"

"Your Majesty, yes." Lu Wenzhao believed his handling of the matter was flawless. "Ding Baiying was also at Zhaixing Tower that day, dining with the people from Longhu Mountain. Although the Yingtan incident was not my responsibility, I still sent Shen Lian and a lieutenant to monitor it."

"Hmm" Zhu Changluo's facial muscles twitched slightly. He didn't mean that at all. After a pause, Zhu Changluo said, "Okay, this is how the Jinyiwei should do things."

Lu Wenzhao felt that he had won the emperor's favor. He was secretly delighted and replied, "This is the job of the Jinyiwei."

"Liaodong." Zhu Changluo glanced at the memorial on the table and asked, "Are you willing to return to Liaodong?"

"Your Majesty, I am loyal to the emperor and I receive his salary. I follow his orders and I carry them out. This is the law of nature and there is no question of whether I am willing or not." Lu Wenzhao bowed again.

"Very good, you may go now." Zhu Changluo nodded and finally said, "I think the trial for the centurion position is almost over. When you return, take over your father's position first."

"Your Majesty, I bow my head to thank you for your grace." Lu Wenzhao kowtowed in thanks.

After exiting the southern study, Lu Wenzhao suddenly felt a bit cold. He looked up at the sky and found that the clear sky for many days was suddenly covered with dark clouds that blocked out the sun.

"Is it finally going to snow?" Lu Wenzhao found that his back was wet, but he subconsciously reached out to touch it, but he could not feel the sweat because of the cotton jacket covering it.

From a distance, Lu Wenzhao saw a vigorous old man in a bright red cloak walking towards the South Study.

This person must be at least a second-rank official. Lu Wenzhao slowed down his pace slightly, waited for the old man to come closer, bowed and said, "Greetings, sir."

Fang Congzhe was old and his eyesight was not very good, so he initially thought this was just a minor eunuch. After being saluted, Fang Congzhe paused, stood up straight, bowed slightly, and then continued on his way. He didn't have time to guess why this low-ranking official had entered the palace.

Let’s go back in time a little.

"Everyone, when the note from the palace was delivered to the cabinet, it was almost time for the session to end. So the cabinet was unable to come to any conclusion." At that time, Ye Xianggao used the sound of the bell to give the two factions a way out.

"Yes, let's go back to the yamen and work. If you have anything to say, please submit a memorial to the emperor. It's not a good idea to stay here." Shi Jikai also came over to join in. However, he was also suggesting that the censors should warn the emperor by submitting a collective memorial.

A close look would have revealed a rather odd arrangement among the officials: the military officers and relatives of the nobility had practically all left, leaving the clamoring only to come from the civil service. The ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries and the various yamen remained, but stood at a distance, not intervening to question the cabinet ministers.

The cabinet ministers were surrounded in the middle, but were vaguely divided into three groups. Shen Zhao looked at the fainted Fang Congzhe, Liu Yirong and Han Yu huddled together and standing beside the second assistant Ye Xianggao. Only Shi Jixie was alone facing the censors.

Shi Jikai persuaded all the officials, and the six cabinet ministers entered the duty room through the Meridian Gate as usual.

After entering the palace, Fang Congzhe's complexion gradually improved. When he arrived at the cabinet, he turned back into the vigorous old man. Liu Yirong was stunned by this. He thought to himself: Is this not even a pretense?
But after yesterday's lesson, Liu Yirong stopped making sarcastic remarks. After all, Fang Congzhe was the Prime Minister. As long as he didn't act recklessly, he would be the first to be hit if the sky fell.

"The sky soon fell down." When it was almost lunchtime, the eunuch Cao Huachun, the chief of the Imperial Household Department, came to the cabinet and asked Fang Congzhe to go to the Southern Study immediately.

Fang Congzhe arrived at the door of the Southern Study. The eunuch with the common name announced: "The Chief Minister Fang Congzhe is here to see you!"

At this time, Zhu Changluo was still writing notes, which would be polished by the Imperial Household Department or the Cabinet and then become official decrees or secret letters.

After the arrest of all the senior officials, the East Factory was paralyzed. Therefore, Zhu Changluo ordered the West Factory to take over the task of confiscating Zheng's house under the pretext of "temporarily handling the affairs of the East Factory."

The system of one factory under three direct administrations, coupled with reasonable and timely salaries and subsidies, ensured that the West Factory personnel maintained a high degree of integrity. Only a few low-level executives dared to take bribes, and they were apprehended and punished by Mi Mengshang, who also served as the Director of the Internal Audit Department. Their embezzlement was modest, but the punishment was severe. They would be executed on the first day of November, along with the East Factory officials.

The house raids, which had dragged on since mid-August, were finally coming to a close. The next step was to convert the stolen funds into military pay, which would then be sent to the front lines. It was foreseeable that many would try to get a piece of the action.

"Xuan." After Zhu Changluo finished writing the last stroke, he placed the tip of the pen on the edge of the inkstone and scraped it. After all the ink on it had entered the inkstone, he placed the pen on the pen holder.

(End of this chapter)