Huangming

Chapter 71 The Use of the Pure Stream: Stealing Treasures from the Palace

Having said all that, Yang Lian knew that if he shirked the matter, he would truly be branded as someone who only knew how to talk but not how to do practical things.

He was now being pushed to the edge of a cliff by the emperor; if he took a step back, he would fall into an abyss. He had no other choice.

Hey ~
Fight!

He had always called himself Hai Gangfeng, but he had never actually lived up to that title.

Even if it means death, I will defend my reputation as Yang Lian!
Yang Lian bit his lip, shook his robes, and bowed deeply, his eyes almost bursting with rage. He said, "Your Majesty, how dare you treat me so lightly! In the past, Bi Gan cut out his heart not to seek fame, and Hai Rui carried his coffin not to escape punishment. Though I am foolish, I know that the integrity of the Censorate lies in the unity of knowledge and action."

Zhu Youxiao tapped his knuckles on the imperial desk, the sound soft, but the weight of his words immense: "The grain transport consumes two million shi of grain annually, with clerks and boatmen scavenging like rotten rats. Your memorial the other day claimed 'the clear and the turbid are naturally distinguishable, and water and land can be differentiated.' Now, I bestow upon you the Imperial Sword; dare you cut off this thousand-mile-long turbid flow?"

Can I say I dare not?
Now we have no choice but to dare!
Yang Lian gritted his teeth, his forehead striking the ground with a resounding clang, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty, I am willing to emulate Zhou Chen's method of secretly inspecting the granaries and Pan Jixun's strategy of confining water to flush away sand. If we cannot ensure that every grain of dregs is returned to the granaries and that corrupt officials have nowhere to hide, I beg to hang my head at the Linqing sluice gate to atone to the world!"

"it is good!"

Zhu Youxiao immediately stepped down from the throne and helped Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou up.

His eyes, like cold stars, swept over the two men, and he said, “Excellent! Minister Yang is upright and can shatter metal and stone, while Minister Zuo is calm and resolute enough to calm the waves. I hereby bestow upon Yang Lian the seal of Imperial Commissioner for the Grand Canal Transport, granting him control over the canal troops in Tongzhou and the authority to mobilize the Beijing garrison for the Grand Canal transport; I hereby grant Zuo Guangdou the seal of Grand Canal Commissioner, authorizing him to mobilize the troops stationed at the nine border regions.”

"Here comes the sword!"

Zhu Youxiao shouted.

Wei Chao stepped forward, holding two precious swords.

"This sword can be used to kill corrupt officials of the sixth rank or below without needing permission! But if a vassal king obstructs it..."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes were sharp as he said, "At that time, you may act as you see fit."

Yang Lian, holding his sword, bowed deeply to the ground: "Your subject shall emulate Yu Qian's governance of the canal by burning private documents, ensuring that not a single smuggled item is found along the thousand-mile canal!"

Zuo Guangdou also said, "If the Yellow River is dredged even an inch less than the required depth, please cut off my head and use it to fill the foundation of the dike!"

Zhu Youxiao clapped his hands and laughed, but his voice seemed to come from the depths of hell, sending chills down one's spine: "If there is even a single grain of grain missing from the winter grain rations, I will take it from your families to feed the starving people."

After speaking, he threw out two golden talismans, the four characters "As if I were personally present" on them appearing eerie and terrifying in the lamplight.

Holding the imperial sword in one hand and the golden talisman in the other, the two men felt no sense of honor, but rather a heavy heart.

What's the reason for this expedited promotion?
I'll risk my life for you!
Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou left, both deep in thought.

After the two left, Wei Chao stepped forward with some concern and said, "Your Majesty, Yang Lian knelt and remonstrated outside Zuoshun Gate earlier. He was clearly not a loyal minister. Is it wise of Your Majesty to entrust such a confidential matter to him?"

Zhu Youxiao chuckled and said, "Just do your job well."

Wei Zhongxian pressed on relentlessly, and the Wei dynasty began to feel the pressure.

He was eager to share the emperor's burdens, but Ma Kui's clumsy performance was still no match for Yu Zecheng's golden Buddha.

Zhu Youxiao had no shortage of eunuchs who fawned over him and only knew how to praise.

What he needs is a eunuch who can share his burdens.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao naturally dared not continue speaking.

Zhu Youxiao had already been preparing for how to use Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou.

Now he is giving Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, and other officials who speak out a chance to do something.

If someone is capable, he will naturally promote them highly; but if someone is not capable enough, they should not bark and howl in the court in the future.

As for loyalty, were the Donglin Party members disloyal?

In fact, they still strictly adhered to Confucian ethics, such as the proper relationship between ruler and subject.

Otherwise, where did those martyred officials come from after Li Zicheng captured Beijing?

For these people, death is not so terrible if they can gain fame.

"Your Majesty, it's time for lunch."

Huang Hua, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen, bowed and stepped forward to request an imperial decree.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Let's have a meal!" He had gotten up early this morning but hadn't eaten much for breakfast, so he was indeed quite hungry now.

Upon hearing this, Huang Hua, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen, bowed and withdrew from the hall. He then clapped his hands three times, and more than twenty eunuchs in blue robes who had been waiting in the corridor filed in, carrying vermilion food boxes.

The group, wearing soft-soled palace boots, moved lightly and silently, forming two rows from the palace gate to the imperial desk, unfolding in formation like geese.

The head eunuch in charge of the imperial kitchen carried a silver needle poison test token on a yellow silk cloth and walked to the emperor's front to set up a golden nanmu wood dining table inlaid with mother-of-pearl. At the same time, four other eunuchs unfolded four pieces of plain silk to form a wind barrier around the four sides.

Upon opening the food box, one first sees cherry meat served on a jade lotus leaf plate, the amber-colored meat chunks drizzled with freshly made caramelized sugar, still steaming hot; following closely behind is a celadon lotus petal bowl containing chicken marrow and bamboo shoots, the tender yellow bamboo shoot tips immersed in milky white broth, with two goji berries floating on top like vermilion dots.

The eunuch serving the meal announced in a melodious and rhythmic voice: "A Longquan kiln pale blue vase with pierced handles is presented with Yutian rouge rice."

Before the words were finished, the young eunuch holding the ewer with the peony pattern knelt down and presented the rose dew. The white mist that floated from the spout was like gauze in the sunlight filtering through the palace pillars.

Huang Hua personally used ebony-wrapped silver chopsticks to pick up a small amount from each dish and place it on a silver dish for testing for poison. Only after confirming that it was not poisonous did he present it to the emperor.

After the mourning period ended, the emperor's meals finally improved.

Zhu Youxiao had a great appetite, but he ate the same amount of each dish without showing any preference.

Being an emperor is certainly enjoyable, but it's not an easy job.

Even when eating, one must be extremely careful to avoid being poisoned.

Zhu Youxiao sighed, "Even food must be tested for poison; who is trying to harm me?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs serving in the Imperial Kitchen and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were all too timid to speak, and simply knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Get up. I don't mean to blame you."

With power gradually in his grasp, the inner court needs to be cleaned up.

The next day.

It was just dawn.

Zhu Youxiao had just returned to the East Warm Pavilion after attending the imperial lectures when a serving eunuch approached him and said:

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian requests an audience!"

Zhu Youxiao was taken aback.

Normally, Wei Zhongxian would only come when summoned by him. Why is it that Wei Zhongxian came even though he wasn't summoned this time?
There must be something important going on!

Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment, then said, "Let him in."

Wei Zhongxian stepped into the hall, appearing humble and cautious, but a hint of tyranny flashed in his eyes. He tightly clutched a stack of blood-stained confessions in his arms.

Yesterday, after hearing his servants report what the emperor had said, he immediately deduced the emperor's thoughts.

Is His Majesty planning to clean up the inner court?
Then he would give the Emperor a reason!
snort!
If we don't teach that old man Wei Chao a lesson this time, he's not Wei Zhongxian!
Wei Zhongxian knelt down abruptly three steps before the emperor, his forehead pounding against the gold bricks with a loud thud: "This humble servant has dared to disturb Your Majesty, for the Northern Garrison Command captured a traitor who stole treasures at the Chengyun Treasury last night!"

After speaking, he raised both hands above his head and presented a yellowed account book.

"This is the confession of Wang Jixiang, the eunuch in charge of the imperial storehouse. It contains all the Xuande incense burners and Chenghua doucai porcelain pieces lost from the palace since the Wanli era!"

This eunuch in charge of the treasury, Wang Jixiang, was previously recommended by the Wei Dynasty.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Zhongxian, realizing the eunuch's scheme.

At this moment, Wei Zhongxian crawled two steps on his knees and shook out a jade pendant with a dragon design from his sleeve: "When the thief confessed, he bit into a wax pill. This item was taken from Wang Jixiang's intestines."

The heated floor in the warm room was burning extremely brightly, and Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up.

Isn't it because they can't find a pretext to clean up the inner court?
Now this opportunity has actually come knocking on our door.

Wei Zhongxian!

You are indeed incredibly loyal!

(End of this chapter)