The Twelfth Rubbing

  "Troops point east to subdue the enemy, recover Liaoyang, and take Shenyang?"

  At noon, the news that the Crown Prince would perform martial arts and review troops in Shou Huang Hall had already spread far and wide. At least within the inner court, all qualified and concerned bigwigs had heard about it.

  "Yes, that's what I said... To be honest, it's really uplifting to hear! The master didn't see it, but those military officers were shouting loudly, their eyes were red, just like a pack of wolves..."

  Two eunuchs in red robes, one in front and one behind, the former puffed out his chest and abdomen, looking around with ease, while the latter was hunched over, bowing his head and following closely behind the former, like a cooked lobster.

  Behind them were dozens of eunuchs wearing green or blue robes, with long gowns and white boots, dressed in standard imperial attire.

  "Hmph, you're quite bold to say that, aren't you?"

  The eunuch in front walked slowly and said with a smile, "It's good that young people have ambition, but I really don't know what he can do with his current attitude."

  "Master, what's up?"

  "It's all because of the young master's own doing. As for rations, equipment, and armor, there aren't any. As for food, it should be taken care of by the Imperial Temple, we don't need to worry about it... just try to make do! As for clothing, fabric, bows, arrows, lacquer, glue, and ox sinew, these are all abundant in the warehouse, can't skimp on giving them out, otherwise the young master will get angry, and we'll have no excuse."

  "Yes, Master Zong's words are extremely right. Since it's like this, I've already given my instructions, and the foolish one will hurry to take care of it. Otherwise, if asked about it later, it would be really hard to explain."

  "En, you go and handle it then. By the way, have the foreign officials heard about it?"

  "It's said that it's just a rumor, but so far there hasn't been any news about it."

  "Hum, they won't let this matter go lightly. Just you wait and see, someone will definitely make a big deal out of it. But for now, don't bother with them, those despicable officials, our family looks down on them, and even if there's something important, we're too lazy to care about them."

  "In fact, as long as Master Zong says a word, Chen Yan would have no reason not to listen, even if he were the chief assistant of the Grand Council..."

  "Alas, what do you know? You're simply talking nonsense!" This was said by Wang Dehua, also known as the Master of Ceremonies and the Head Eunuch in charge of the Imperial Seal, who was currently the most powerful eunuch. There were only a few people who could rival his power, with the most notable being Wang Cheng'en and Cao Huachun. However, Cao Huachun was not currently serving as the Commander of the Eastern Depot, but rather was at home in retirement. Looking around the inner court, it seemed that only Wang Cheng'en had the qualifications to stand up straight against him.

  As for Wang Lian, Gao Qipu, Fang Zhenghua and others, they are even more inferior.

  As for Shi Chuan, the eunuch who followed Wang Dehua's body, he probably didn't even have the qualifications to leave his name in history books.

  Scolded by Wang Dehua's head-on rebuke, Ishikawa just smiled: "Of course, the lower fool is not as knowledgeable as Master Zong, so please forgive me."

  "Let it go, let it go." Wang Dehua waved his hand randomly and changed the subject. Then he looked at Ishikawa with a cold smile and said: "Just focus on doing your job well, don't try to curry favor, there's plenty of time for that."

  "This... Master Zong..."

  "Are you sizing me up, unsure of my intentions?" Wang Dehua's face turned even colder, saying only: "Observing the wind and colors, muddying the waters to catch fish, thinking of following me in this matter to make a comeback... I'm telling you, old turtle divination, your divination won't work!"

  As for the seniority in the inner court, Wang Dehua is considered old enough. Except for Cao Huachun and a few others, there are probably not many who can compare with him. Of course, this refers to those powerful eunuchs, while those who just muddle along until they die, even if they live to be eighty or ninety, are only considered useless relics who can barely breathe, and their seniority is not worth mentioning.

  In front of him, Shi Kuan was a veteran who came from the Nei Shu Tang, then served as the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, and later transferred to the Nei Guan. He seemed destined for greatness, but Wei Zhongxian ruined everything...

  This guy is an outer member of the Wei Party, but being an outer member is also a rebellious party. He was transferred from the inner official monitor and sent to the inner operation to guard the Wansui Mountain Shouhuang Temple. At night, even if he howled, there were only a few people who could hear it in this desolate place on duty. For an inner official, this life is almost over.

  Now at this moment, the young master is making such a big move, and it seems that the remnants of the previous dynasty have moved with some intention, measuring to take advantage of the situation... But Wang Dehua's cold words and phrases are enough to extinguish the small spark that has just emerged in the eunuch's heart.

  "Grandma... won't listen to you!"

  Ishikawa didn't even dare to fart in front of him, and only after Wang Dehua left did he stand still, facing the direction where the other person had gone, and viciously spat out a mouthful of saliva!

  ……

  ……

  At the same time that Wang Dehua was kneading Shi Chuan, in front of the Eastern Palace, there were also two lecturers wearing black hats, round-collared robes and jade belts, looking elegant and refined, standing at the gate waiting for the Crown Prince to return.

  One of them was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a pale complexion, long whiskers and elegant eyebrows, whose eyes also showed a refined and dignified air, making it clear at first glance that he was a great Confucian scholar who had read extensively.

  Another one, however, was around thirty years old, with a pale complexion, eyebrows that didn't reach his eyes, delicate features, and only a short mustache on his lower lip. The whole person looked weak and unimpressive, but in the blink of an eye, the sharpness in his eyes revealed an extraordinary brilliance, which made people know at once that this man's literary talent would not be inferior to that middle-aged man.

  Wang Zong, around fifty years old with a big beard, was a fourth-rank official, while the young and weak Wu Weiye was a fifth-rank official.

  Both were the most famous young talents and poets at that time. Wang Duo passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty and became a Hanlin scholar, going to Jiangnan as the chief examiner, which was an unprecedented honor at that time, because Jiangnan was the literary base of the Ming Dynasty, and almost all the famous literary ministers came from Jiangnan, especially in the mid-to-late Ming period, when literature flourished, and almost every county had produced a Grand Secretary or a university scholar.

  Wang Duo, a Henan native, went to Jiangnan as an examiner and eventually earned the reputation of "Talent Suppressing Jiangnan". With this fame, Wang Duo rose rapidly and was favored by Chongzhen, becoming a lecturer in the Eastern Palace.

  Shu Jishi was originally the Minister of War, and the lecturers of the Eastern Palace were looking to the future. It's not unexpected that Wang Dang would enter the cabinet, it's a done deal.

  As for Wu Weiye, he was a standard Jiangnan talented scholar, a native of Kunshan, from a family of scholars, and wrote excellent poetry. After serving as a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, he worked very hard and conscientiously, so Chongzhen greatly appreciated him. Wu Weiye's official career progressed rapidly, and within a few years, he rose from being a successful candidate in the imperial examination to becoming a fifth-rank gentleman, which would have been impossible without the emperor's recognition and trust.

  At this time, both of their eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and their faces were also filled with anxiety.

  The Crown Prince is still in Shou Huang Hall, but today's words have already spread throughout the nine cities.

  After all, as the crown prince, it is indeed very special to say that one person is under him, but he has no real power in his hands, and everything must be done according to the emperor's face. Recently, the crown prince's words and deeds not only violated the sacred taboo, but also more seriously, may fall into the mouths of foreign officials.

  Others may not know, but as members of this group, two civil officials knew the enormity and terror of this group's power. By now, their patience and reverence for imperial authority had gradually worn out. The imperial authority of the Ming Dynasty had been greatly weakened since the Chongzhen period, which could be seen from the eunuchs attached to the imperial court. When the emperor was strong, the eunuchs were strong; when the emperor was weak, the eunuchs were weak. In the early years of Chongzhen, Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren still had to rely on the eunuchs to become prime ministers, but now the scholars in the cabinet no longer took the eunuchs seriously. Over the past decade or so, the emperor had killed nine governors, eleven provincial governors, countless prime ministers, ministers, and local officials, but the more people he killed, the more imperial authority was eroded. Now, except for the unruly generals who gradually disobeyed orders, even civil officials were disheartened and had already become estranged from this dynasty.

  To be honest, everyone is secretly waiting for a change of dynasty!

  "We've got this young master......" Wu Weiye, being younger and more impulsive, couldn't help but speak out, looking in the direction of the East Palace gate, throwing up his hands in a bitter smile: "Isn't this just asking for trouble? When things get messy, it'll be a huge headache, and even the Emperor won't be able to protect him. In the end, let's see if he'll still want to provoke Shi Yanran!"

  "But... " Wu Weiye suddenly smiled and said to Wang Deng, "However, the student admires the prince's courage on one hand, and his thoughts on the other. What's regrettable is that this matter has nothing to do with the lecturers, but rather it's his own idea."

  "I also think so." Wang Zuo smiled slightly and said, "The Eastern Barbarians are a great enemy of our dynasty. The Crown Prince has such thoughts, which is really heartbreaking. However, he is young and impulsive, speaking hastily and easily falling into other people's traps. Moreover, things depend on how they are done, not how they are said. It's still a bit early for us to praise him now."

  As for this, Wang Gong's face was also gloomy. As the lecturer of the Eastern Palace, his life's honor and shame were actually tied to the Crown Prince. Thinking about national affairs and current events, even if he wanted to force a smile, it would be difficult to pretend to be happy.

  "Here he comes!" Seeing the crown prince's procession approaching, both officials' eyes lit up and they took two steps forward together. Wang Duo restrained himself and stopped, as a lecturer, he had to maintain his own dignity; only Wu Weiye was young and straightforward, still rushing forward without regard.