Chapter 411 Undercurrent in Nanjing

The cold wind in the twelfth lunar month.

After all, it could never blow into the inner hall of Wanshou Palace again.

same.

People outside also did not know what specific things the emperor said in that towering palace to Gu Huan, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, who was in charge of 100,000 troops in the Beijing camp, that violated the ancestral laws of the Ming Dynasty.

It was just estimated that after an hour.

When Gu Huan walked out of the hall, his expression was extremely solemn.

But there was no sadness or worry in this solemnity.

Lieutenant General Guo Yuchuang of the Beijing Camp was guarding outside the palace gate. When he saw the governor walking out of the hall with a serious expression on his face, he immediately stepped forward.

"Taibao!"

In March of the 41st year of the Jiajing reign, the emperor conferred the title of Prince Taibao on Gu Huan.

Gu Huan nodded, stopped and looked at the Lieutenant General of the Beijing Camp who had been leading the troops to guard the Western Garden.

Guo Yuchuang looked back at the Wanshou Palace, and then whispered, "I heard that Guest Yan will be heading south after the New Year?"

Gu Huan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He was somewhat surprised that Guo Yuchuang would ask this question.

"After the Lantern Festival, Guest Yan will set off to the south."

Gu Huan replied, looking at the officers and soldiers from the Beijing camp who were guarding outside the Wanshou Palace.

Guo Yuchuang's expression changed for a moment, and then he lowered his voice with expectation and said, "Grandmaster, will there be some changes in the court when Guest Yan goes south this time?"

Gu Huan immediately glanced at Guo Yuchuang and snorted twice: "Are you bored staying in the West Garden? If so, I will discuss with the emperor and transfer you back to the camp."

Guo Yuchuang immediately stepped back with his head down, shaking his head and waving his hands: "I'm just asking, don't take it seriously."

In the past few years, the Beijing Camp has been abandoned.

It was only after Gu Huan retired from the position of Governor of the Grain Transport and took over the Beijing Camp that the Beijing Camp gradually began to change.

But the same thing.

Gu Huan was also ruthless when training troops in the Beijing camp.

If I really go back to the Beijing camp now, I'm afraid I'll have to face special training from the Prince's Guardian.

Gu Huan hummed twice with a smile on his face.

Then he spoke softly.

"If you stay in Xiyuan honestly and keep the emperor safe, that will be your greatest contribution."

Done.

Gu Huan had already taken a few steps forward and said, "After the Lantern Festival, guest Yan will go south. The Jinyiwei will send someone to accompany him, and the Beijing camp will also send a team of guards. We will select a general flag from you, and then make up for it from the Beijing camp."

Hear this.

Guo Yucheng's eyes jumped and he hurried forward to get close to Gu Huan.

There was an expression of disbelief on his face: "Taibao...you mean..."

Gu Huan simply explained: "Guest Yan is of noble status and has great responsibilities. His responsibilities are related to the country. The Jinyiwei sent people to do errands for him. We in the Beijing camp only have one order."

Guo Yuchuang's eyes flashed: "I swear to protect the safety of guest Yan to the death!"

Gu Huan showed appreciation and nodded: "I understand."

Guo Yuchuang immediately patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, Taibao, I will pick out the person today. By then, even if something terrible happens, our brothers will protect Yan Binke from getting into trouble!"

Gu Huan didn't say much about Guo Yuchuang's assurance.

Since the emperor is going to do something that goes against the ancestral laws, the Beijing troops will naturally be the first to bear the brunt, and everything is subject to the emperor's will.

obviously.

The emperor attached great importance to Yan Shaoting.

Letting the 3,000 men under Guo Yuchuang, who are now known as the emperor's close troops, provide close protection can also be regarded as a signal to those people in the south.

At least when Yan Shaoting went to Nanjing, if an unsolvable conflict really occurred, those people would be more cautious and fearful.

As the emperor began to make his moves, Gu Huan, the governor of the Beijing camp, also began to take corresponding measures.

The news of Yan Shaoting's promotion to prime minister of the six southeastern provinces also spread quickly to Jiangnan.

Different from the icy and snowy north.

Even in this cold winter, we can still cross the Qinling Mountains, the Huai River and the Yangtze River.

Winter in the south of the Yangtze River is nothing more than patches of white snow amidst the endless green.

In the uninhabited mountains, the dense forests are filled with snow in the twelfth lunar month. But if you spread it out, the mountains and forests gradually become empty, and the trees are cut down by the people, turning into charcoal in winter, and the traces of snow on the ground become less and less.

Wait until we get to a populated area.

Apart from the ice on the Jishuitan, you can rarely see the appearance of winter.

At the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, traces of human activities have been found since seven thousand years ago.

There is a stone city that was the capital of six dynasties, a thousand-year-old city, and the literary center of the world.

In this winter day.

But it seems particularly hot.

It was the capital of the empire at its founding and the secondary capital for 200 years.

The city of Nanjing has its own glory.

Similarly, it also has its own operating mode.

The Ming Dynasty's rule along the Yangtze River was almost entirely dependent on the six ministries and five temples in Nanjing City, as well as the garrison officials and eunuchs in the garrison.

Not to mention, the Nanjing Ministry of War and the garrison officers were in charge of dozens of garrisons and hundreds of thousands of troops in the south of the Yangtze River.

In addition, the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel evaluated the performance of officials in the provincial governments of Jiangnan, and the Ministry of Works was in charge of all construction projects in Jiangnan.

And in all government offices.

The most powerful one was the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing.

In addition to the well-known Nanjing Ministry of Revenue in charge of the collection of money, grain and taxes in Jiangnan, it also controls the grain transport and salt permits throughout the country, as well as the management of the Yellow Book, which seems unimportant but is related to the foundation of the country.

therefore.

Even as people often say, being an official in Nanjing is tantamount to being exiled.

But in the eyes of officials within the court, Nanjing was just a place of transition and temporary dormancy.

Especially in recent years when the imperial court has attached more and more importance to financial and taxation issues, the city of Nanjing, which controls the financial and taxation center of Jiangnan, has become increasingly important.

It is true that Gao Yao was the Minister of Revenue.

But if the Minister of Finance in Nanjing really asked to suspend the summer and autumn taxes, grain transport, and salt administration in Jiangnan for a few days, Gao Yao would have a headache and would not be able to sleep.

It is because the city of Nanjing is more important than what others see.

Therefore, people in Nanjing city are particularly sensitive to the developments and news inside and outside the court.

These days.

Outside the city, there are official ships and merchant ships constantly coming from the north to the Longwan Wharf.

Although the canal has been closed at this time, it is still possible to travel if you want.

What's more, there are official roads and post roads for people to choose from.

That’s how news from Beijing reached Nanjing.

Nanjing Garrison Office.

It is located in the southwest corner of the imperial city, alongside the former Nanjing East Factory and West Factory.

Several palace maids dressed in the clothes of eunuchs lowered their heads and walked quickly from Xi'an Gate to the garrison government office. They took off their straw raincoats, and then the young eunuchs entered the government office.

In the Yamen.

Smokeless charcoal was burning in the copper stove.

A eunuch in a red robe was leaning sideways in an armchair, patting the armrest with his hand, his eyes sideways at the actor who was dancing and singing in front of him in a light gauze dress.

Several members of the musicians hid in a side room.

People can only hear the voice but not see the person.

It’s all about elegance.

Several young eunuchs stopped at the corridor, and one of them walked lightly into the house.

Bypass the actors who were dancing and singing.

The young eunuch came to the side of the red-robed eunuch, bowed with a fawning smile on his face.

"Godfather, my son is back."

Chen Hong shook his head and uttered a sharp "hmm" sound. The young eunuch glanced at the actor with a very good figure from the corner of his eye, thinking that this actor must be lucky enough to serve his godfather tonight.

Chen Hong, the eunuch guarding Nanjing, reached out and patted the young eunuch on the head.

"nice?"

The young eunuch nodded subconsciously.

Chen Hong smiled coldly: "Then ask her to sleep with you tonight?"

The young eunuch immediately knelt on the ground with a plop, trembling all over.

"Godfather, please spare my life. I dare not."

Chen Hong snorted coldly, narrowed his eyes, and waved towards the house.

The music next to him stopped immediately, and a figure was seen moving in the side room, then quickly disappeared.

The actor who was dancing and singing had already left the house as if floating.

Chen Hong then lowered his head and looked at the young eunuch kneeling at his feet.

"What we need in life is courage."

"If you lose your eggs, you also lose your courage?"

The young eunuch knelt on the ground with his head lowered, not daring to look up and meet Chen Hong's gaze.

In Nanjing city.

At least in this imperial city, the eunuch Chen Hong is the king's law!

Seeing that the young eunuch did not dare to speak.

Chen Hong then waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, and squinted his eyes: "Tell me, what happened outside?"

The young eunuch knelt on the ground and immediately crawled forward twice upon hearing this: "To answer godfather, there is news from the capital, saying that Yan Shaoting will be in charge of the money and grain storage of the six provinces in the south of the Yangtze River after the Lantern Festival. He will be stationed in Nanjing, supervising military affairs and inspecting the local areas."

Hearing this, Chen Hong, who was still thinking about how to continue enjoying himself today, immediately sat up straight.

He lowered his head to look at the young eunuch and said in a deep voice, "Is there any other news in the capital? What did the ancestor say?"

The young eunuch shook his head. "News from the capital has just arrived. We may have to wait for more news. The old ancestor hasn't said anything yet, but I heard that the army from the Beijing camp around His Majesty will send a general flagman to escort Yan Shaoting together with the Jinyiwei."

Chen Hong immediately narrowed his eyes, a look of scrutiny and consideration appearing on his face.

After a long time.

Chen Hong then stood up with a smile on his face: "The master and the ancestors asked us to come to Nanjing so that we can protect Nanjing for the master. Now that the new year has begun, tell the people below to concentrate and put their hands and feet away. If they get into trouble, don't say that grandpa didn't speak for them!"

The young eunuch nodded immediately and said in a low voice: "It's just those people in the city..."

Chen Hong's eyebrows immediately raised: "We came from the palace! We obeyed the master's orders! We did what the master told us to do!"

The young eunuch's shoulders trembled and his head lowered even more.

"My son understands."

"Son, I'll tell you now."

Chen Hong nodded, but did not sit down again. He just watched the young eunuch quickly leave, and his eyes gradually became lingering.

Until there was no one outside.

Chen Hong then snorted coldly.

"Prime Minister's six provinces' grain storage?"

"Let's see if some people will panic first..."

The words were accompanied by a burst of expectant sneers.

same moment.

The garrison office in Nanjing city.

Several military scouts in armor, with their swords held low at their waists, walked quickly into the garrison office of the Liushou Division.

Since Chengzu moved north, he left a complete court team in Nanjing as a secondary capital.

The Nanjing Garrison Office became the highest office in charge of Nanjing’s military forces, commanding the Five Military Governor’s Office in Nanjing City and controlling all the garrisons.

Entered the yamen.

The officers and soldiers found the government office next to the court with familiarity.

Took a look inside.

The guards immediately bowed and clasped their fists and said, "My Lord, Lord Earl, urgent news from the capital."

inside the house.

There are two people sitting there at the moment.

They are Li Tingzhu, Marquis of Linhuai, and Cao Wenbing, Earl of Fengrun.

Both of them were assistant officials of the Nanjing Garrison Office, and each held other official positions in the Nanjing Five Military Governor's Office.

See the officers and soldiers come to report.

Linhuai Marquis Li Tingzhu asked, "What's the news from the capital?"

The officer replied, "The emperor held a meeting in the capital a few years ago and appointed the prince's guest Yan Shaoting to be the director of the six provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, the commander of the military affairs in Nanjing, and the inspector of the local areas. He will set off to Nanjing after the Lantern Festival."

As soon as these words came out.

Inside the room, the only sound was the boiling sound of the pot of tea.

Li Tingzhu and Cao Wenbing looked at each other.

Both of them saw the surprise and shock in each other's eyes.

Cao Wenbing said directly: "This matter needs to be known to the Lord."

Li Tingzhu also nodded.

"The Lord should be informed of this matter as soon as possible!"

The two quickly reached a consensus.

The duke they are talking about is none other than Xu Pengju, the current Nanjing garrison commander and Duke of Wei of the Ming Dynasty.

The Duke's Mansion of the State of Wei.

It can be said that this is the most meritorious family in Nanjing at that time.

The Xu family was almost the only choice for the garrison of Nanjing in all dynasties. The imperial court had always used the Duke of Wei's Mansion to guard Nanjing together with the eunuchs sent from the capital.

Just today.

Xu Pengju was not in the garrison office.

The two men sent the soldiers away and sent someone to look for Xu Pengju, Duke of Wei. Then they closed the door of the government office.

Cao Wenbing's face was tense, and he couldn't help but worry: "The court suddenly appointed this person at this time, I'm afraid he has bad intentions."

Li Tingzhu nodded, but did not rush to speak.

The Fengrun Marquis Cao Wenbing in front of him was the son of the former Fengrun Marquis Cao Song, but Cao Song had died a few years ago, so the title was inherited by Cao Wenbing.

Talk about it.

Cao Song was also the former garrison commander of Nanjing.

Even though I only worked there for a year.

Duke of Wei Xu Pengju has been in charge of the Nanjing Garrison Office for the third time since he took office as the Nanjing Garrison Commander in the 16th year of Zhengde.

Hear what Cao Wenbing said.

After a while, Li Tingzhu finally hummed, "Yan Shaoting is quite good at economics, but His Majesty has asked him to supervise the military affairs in Nanjing, which is a bit confusing."

Cao Wenbing curled his lips: "If it's just to boost momentum, it's fine. At most, we can cooperate and speak for him. But if he really takes the position of admiral of Nanjing military affairs and interferes with our land, then..."

Cao Wenbing did not say what would happen next.

But Li Tingzhu understood and nodded.

Nanjing.

It is the Nanjing of the Ming Dynasty, but it is more importantly the Nanjing City of these meritorious officials who stayed in the south!
Although Nanjing City has all the necessary departments and offices, it regards itself as a secondary capital and is in charge of all affairs in the south.

Don't forget it.

Where did the Ming Dynasty originate?

We should not forget how far the meritorious officials who stayed in the south have come over the years.

After a while.

Li Tingzhu said with a smile on his face: "Since Mr. Yan is in charge of Nanjing's military affairs, let the people below start training recently. Then let Mr. Yan see the bravery of our southern soldiers!"

…………

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(End of this chapter)