……

……

The period after the start of the southern tour was probably the most proud time in Huang Yourong's life.

Without the suppression of Emperor Deqing and Shoufu Zhou Shangjing above, without the constraints of Shen Changmao and Zhao Junchen beside him, and without the troubles of hostile faction officials below, Huang Yourong finally experienced the pleasure of "monopolizing power".

The only trouble is probably that the "princelings" have been biting people like mad dogs for a while, which has caused some turmoil in the situation in the imperial court.

However, after all, the crown prince Zhu and Yu lacked some experience, and most of the so-called "princelings" were also high-eyed and low-handed, although Huang Yourong's scheming, methods, and city government were far inferior to Zhou Shangjing and others, but they were still more than enough to deal with the prince Zhu and Yu and the "princelings".

At least, Huang Yourong thinks that although the current situation in the court is a bit chaotic, the overall situation is still under his control.

In fact, Huang Yourong has been targeting the prince Zhu and Yu everywhere during this period of time, not because of the "princelings" making trouble everywhere, but because Huang Yourong also heard the news that the prince Zhu and Yu planned to reform the commercial tax.

With Huang Yourong's vision, he naturally understands what "commercial tax reform" means!

The commercial tax system of the Ming Dynasty had loopholes, resulting in widespread smuggling and insufficient tax revenue, which is something that everyone knows, but local officials make profits through the commercial tax checkpoint, and merchants make money by smuggling and evading taxes, and a large part of the bribes received by Beijing officials on weekdays also come from this - it can be said that except for the imperial court, today's commercial tax system has benefited everyone!

Therefore, if the crown prince Zhu and Yu implement the "commercial tax reform plan", it will definitely cause chaos in the world. and aroused everyone's hostility, and Huang Yourong was the auxiliary minister. will inevitably be implicated, and even become the scapegoat of the crown prince Zhu and Yu...... Or rather. In order to stabilize the situation and keep the prince, Emperor Deqing will definitely let Huang Yourong carry the black pot at that time!

It is precisely because of this that Huang Yourong will target the crown prince Zhu and Yu everywhere, and will never let the prince Zhu and Yu Shun control the situation in the court!

However, Huang Yourong felt that this was not enough, and he had to shift the eyes of the crown prince Zhu and Yu to other directions!

*

On this day, at the same time, the main officials of the Shen and Huang factions gathered in Huang Yourong's mansion. We are discussing the next steps.

Huang Yourong sat on the main seat, still looking like a smiling tiger, with a gentle and harmless smile.

After taking a sip of fragrant tea, Huang Yourong said with a smile: "During this period of time, everyone has shown a good reputation, and the power of our two factions has also increased a lot, and the crown prince has not been allowed to control the situation in the court, but just like this, it is far from enough. If we don't divert the prince's attention. Perhaps the crown prince will take the risk and forcibly implement the 'commercial tax reform plan', and then all of you here will be in big trouble." ”

Speaking of this, Huang Yourong put the tea cup in his hand aside. He asked himself and replied, "But how do you divert the prince's attention?" The old man has a way here, let's discuss whether it is feasible. ”

Inside the lobby. The officials of the Shen and Huang factions replied one after another: "I will listen to the orders of the elder!" ”

Huang Yourong's smile remained unchanged, and he said slowly: "Speaking of which." Our Royal Highness the Crown Prince, although no one can get used to it. But if you want to say that the person he hates the most, it is undoubtedly Zhao Junchen! So if we want to divert the prince's attention, we still have to start with Zhao Junchen. ”

After a pause, Huang Yourong suddenly called, "Hmm...... Can Bear Adult? ”

"Xiaguan is here! Please ask the elder Huangge to command! ”

With Huang Yourong's summons, an official hurriedly got up and replied respectfully.

This person's name is Xiong Youbao, who was originally Shaoqing of Dali Temple, who was the best at investigating cases and reviewing accounts in his life, and was also a capable officer under Shen Changmao.

In recent days, under the operation of Huang Yourong, Zhan Shanchang, the original household servant, was removed from his official position, so there was a vacancy in the position of the household attendant, and then Huang Yourong handed over this fat shortage to Xiong Youbao, so Xiong Youbao became the new household waiter.

Xiong Youbao is naturally full of gratitude for Huang Yourong's decision, and he has become closer and closer to Huang Yourong during this time, and even gradually forgot about the faction he originally belonged to.

At this time, seeing Xiong Youbao's respectful appearance, a trace of pride flashed in Huang Yourong's eyes, and he felt that his good intentions were not in vain, but his expression was still gentle and calm, and he said slowly: "I asked you to take over the position of the household servant this time, just to use your ability to check accounts and make some noise in the household department!" The crown prince has always resented Zhao Junchen, as long as you check the accounts in the household department and put on a posture of looking for evidence of Zhao Junchen's crimes, the prince may divert his attention and also focus on Zhao Junchen...... Of course, if you can really find out the evidence of Zhao Junchen's crime, it will naturally be better...... Now, Zhao Junchen is accompanying the southern tour, and so is Ma Sen, another squire of the household department, the household department respects you, and you can also let it go! ”

Hearing Huang Yourong's order, a trace of embarrassment flashed on Xiong Youbao's face.

After serving as the head of the household department, he found that Zhao Junchen's control over the household department was so deep, although Zhao Junchen is currently accompanying the southern tour, and Xiong Youbao is the only in-service squire of the household department, but Xiong Youbao still can't interfere in the affairs of the household department. In addition, the bookkeeping method used by the household department is very novel and strange, which also makes Xiong Youbao a little unpredictable.

However, at this time, Xiong Youbao couldn't say anything bad about the scenery, and hurriedly promised: "Xiaguan must do his best, and please rest assured that Huang Ge Lao." ”

Huang Yourong smiled and nodded, and then turned his gaze to another official.

This official is Zhao Junchen's subordinate official - Chen Dongxiang, a waiter of the Ministry of Works!

At the beginning, Chen Dongxiang pretended to take refuge in Huang Yourong and handed over a piece of incriminating evidence of "Zhao Party" officials to Huang Yourong, and Huang Yourong also relied on this incriminating evidence to get rid of many "Zhao Party" officials!

It's a pity that this qiē is Zhao Junchen's plan, but Zhao Junchen used Huang Yourong's hands to get rid of some unbearable moths, so Zhao Junchen didn't have any fundamental losses!

At the same time, Huang Yourong's two right-hand men - Yan Pengfei, the squire of the Criminal Department, and Liu Quan'an, the inspector of the imperial history, were dismissed from office one after another under Zhao Junchen's calculations, and the "Yellow Party" forces also lost Yan Zòng!

So. Huang Yourong had already begun to doubt Chen Dongxiang's position, believing that Chen Dongxiang's defection was just Zhao Junchen's "anti-intrigue scheme". and gradually alienated Chen Dongxiang!

However, since the beginning of the Southern Tour. Chen Dongxiang used his own practical actions to win Huang Yourong's trust again!

During this period of time, whether it was Gu Quan, the imperial historian of the right capital, and Liu Changan, the servant of the ministry, who were removed from their official positions, or Zhan Shanchang, the servant of the household department, who was ordered to suspend his post for reflection, it was all because of the information provided by Chen Dongxiang!

Gu Quan, Liu Changan, Zhan Shanchang, these three are all Zhao Junchen's right-hand men and hardcore cronies, since Chen Dongxiang helped Huang Yourong bring these three down, so what reason does Huang Yourong have to continue to suspect Chen Dongxiang?

In fact, Huang Yourong has regarded Chen Dongxiang as his hardcore cronies and capable generals!

Thereupon. When looking at Chen Dongxiang, Huang Yourong's gaze was also extremely kind and gentle, and he said slowly: "Not only the household department must check the accounts, but the Ministry of Industry is also Zhao Junchen's sphere of influence, and it must also be audited!" On this point, I'm sorry for Lord Chen! ”

Chen Dongxiang hurriedly got up and replied, "Obey the orders of the elder pavilion!" The next official will definitely do it! ”

Huang Yourong said with a smile: "You do things, the old man is very relieved!" ”

However, Huang Yourong was proud. didn't notice the contempt that flashed in Chen Dongxiang's eyes.

*

This time, Chen Dongxiang is still pretending to take refuge in Huang Yourong, but in fact he is still doing things for Zhao Junchen!

Now, Gu Quan, Liu Changan, and Zhan Shanchang were certainly brought down by Huang Yourong. But their "crimes" all originated from Chen Dongxiang's intelligence, and these information are naturally fake! That is to say, as long as Zhao Junchen returns to the capital. The charges of Gu Quan, Liu Changan, and Zhan Shanchang will be overturned immediately, and they will soon be reinstated!

So. In this party struggle, there are some wall grasses that are not strong-willed and have bad hearts. Zhao Junchen will not lose anything at all.

And Huang Yourong will add a charge of "framing officials" and "evil rebellion" at that time!

In addition, Chen Dongxiang's "refuge" with Huang Yourong this time is also to infiltrate the "Yellow Party" forces and encircle the "Yellow Party" officials, and after Huang Yourong falls in the future, he will try his best to co-opt the "Yellow Party" forces for Zhao Junchen!

Although Zhao Junchen bought Huo Zhengyuan for this goal, Zhao Junchen would never put his eggs in one basket!

It can be said that Huang Yourong thinks he is in control of the capital, but in fact he is still being played by Zhao Junchen!

Seeing that Huang Yourong was being played with by Zhao Junchen in the palm of his hand, but he didn't notice it, Chen Dongxiang naturally had reason to despise Huang Yourong.

At the same time, Chen Dongxiang became more and more in awe of Zhao Junchen.

***

Big people have the troubles of big people, such as not being powerful enough, not having enough gold and silver, and not being beautiful enough for their wives and concubines......

And the little people also have the sorrows of the little people, such as eating, such as wives and children, such as survival......

These days, whether it is the crown prince Zhu Heyu or the elder Huang Yourong, they are all indulged in party disputes, and they can't help but ignore some other things, such as...... The palace has begun to recruit eunuchs and palace maids from the people again!

In the late Ming Dynasty, although the eunuch has no yang roots and no descendants, he will be looked down upon, but in a way, it is also a very promising profession, at least, there is an inner treasury to support, food and clothing, if you are lucky, you can gain a firm foothold in the inner court, but also have the right to have money, and you are majestic everywhere.

And in this way, there will naturally be many people who want to enter the palace and become eunuchs either because they are forced or lazy!

But what is quite cruel is that when the inner court of the Ming Dynasty selected new eunuchs, the selection range was "from the palace"!

In other words, those who want to enter the palace as eunuchs, just to participate in a selection, must first cut off their yang roots!

In this way, if they fail to be selected in the end, the tragic fate of these "self-palace people" is needless to mention.

In the Ming Dynasty, the inner palace would recruit eunuchs every three years, and each time the "self-palace people" were recruited as many as 1,000 people, which seemed to be a lot of people, but in fact there were more unsuccessful candidates, and these unsuccessful people gathered in the capital, and even became one of the more serious social problems in the capital.

And the place where these "self-palace people" gather is called "Eunuch Lane" by the world.

For the "self-palace people" in the "Eunuch Alley", this selection is related to their survival, but it is much more important than the "commercial tax reform" and "party dumping"!

They desperately want to be elected to the palace to become eunuchs, which is the greatest ambition in their lives!

And Yan Ru'an, who used to lift people and also became a eunuch under the mistakes of yin and yang, is also one of them!

……

PS: Well, today's second shift, there is another shift before zero o'clock!

…… (To be continued......)