When it was getting late, Chongzhen left from Wuying Hall and returned to the study of Qianqing Palace, Wang Chengen hurriedly walked in with a document in a sweaty manner.

He didn't care about wiping the sweat off his forehead, so he opened the file and said to Chongzhen: "Back to Your Majesty, a few days ago, Qian Longxi, a member of the Donglin Party who was reinstated, entered Beijing to serve as the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites and assist Zhan Shifu.

On the evening of three days ago, Han Xiangyun held a reception banquet for him in Luyunju Yicui Courtyard. More than 10 people participated in the banquet, including Liu Hongxun, Ni Yuanlu, Huang Daozhou, Xu Bengao, etc., all of whom were from Donglin in Beijing, and there were no other outsiders.

However, the minister checked the list of guests in Luyunju that night, and found that Jinyiwei commanded Tongzhi Huang Yuruo, and he also met guests in Luyunju Xiaoxiang Hall that night, but no one saw Huang Tongzhi's guests.

Huang Yuruo stayed in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion for nearly an hour, and finally left alone, but according to the servants who served in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. That night, Huang Tongzhi had three sets of cutlery set up and sent all of them out of the courtyard after letting his entourage guard the gate of the courtyard.

The minister inquired, Xiaoxiang Pavilion and Yicui Courtyard are adjacent, and there is a small door between the two courtyards. According to the memories of the daughter who served wine in Yicui Courtyard that day, Qian Longxi and Xu Bengao disappeared for a period of time in the middle of the banquet, about half an hour. ”

Zhu Youzhen leaned back in the chair, straightened his legs and rested on the brocade stool on the left side, and said to Wang Chengen with a smile on his face: "It's really surprising that our eldest son of Huang Shoufu actually got mixed up with the Donglin Party. What does he want to do? ”

Zhu Youzhen seemed to be very happy when he smiled, but Wang Chengen sounded a little chilled in his heart, and he quickly expelled this feeling in his heart and suggested to Chongzhen.

"Why don't you arrest Huang Yuruo first, punish him for colluding with the minister without authorization, and force Huang Ge Lao to resign as the first assistant?"

Zhu Youzhen put his hands behind his head as pillows, his eyes fixed on the dark ceiling, and said to Wang Chengen: "Let Huang Ge Lao step down, who should I let sit in this position of first assistant?" Although Huang Ge Lao has colluded with the Donglin Party, at least he will not betray me.

Although Mr. Xu is loyal to me, his political prestige is lower, and it may be difficult to convince the public if he is the first assistant.

As for the others, I can't guarantee what these people will do when they become the first assistant. What is the relationship between Qian Longxi and Liu Hongxun? ”

Listening to the emperor's comments on several members of the cabinet, Wang Chengen didn't know what to say. In the cabinet, although he has a good friendship with Huang Liji and Zhang Ruitu, he will not try to argue for them at this time.

Moreover, Wang Chengen's political ability is not outstanding, and he cannot provide Chongzhen with a feasible political plan, so he can only remain silent.

It wasn't until the emperor asked about the relationship between Qian Longxi and Liu Hongxun that he replied with relief: "The friendship between the two of them is quite deep, and they also cite each other in terms of political opinions. In addition, Qian Longxi, together with the Admiral of Jinyi Wei, the street manager, and Xu Bengao, the governor of Zuodu, are sons and daughters.

Xu Bengao is the eldest grandson of the late prime minister Xu Jie, whose family is illustrious and has a lot of friends in the court. The minister thought that this time Huang Ge Lao colluded privately with the Donglin Party, and this person must be the one who pulled the strings in the middle. ”

Zhu Youzhen was silent for a long time before he asked Lu Qi: "In the capital, is there any news about the Donglin Party members recently?" ”

Lu Qi, who was standing in the corner, was like a sculpture, and after hearing the emperor's question, he was suddenly resurrected.

Lu Qi took a small step and faced Chongzhen before he spoke: "The most lively thing in the recent Beijing sergeant is that the eldest son of Yuyao Huang Zunsu, now 18 years old, Huang Zongxi, traveled thousands of miles to Dumen to complain about grievances.

In the case of his father, he sued Wei Zhongxian, Cui Chengxiu, Tian Ergeng, Cao Qincheng, Li Shi, Xu Xianchun, Cui Yingyuan and others as eunuchs and rebellious ministers. And go to the imperial court, ask Your Majesty to burn the "Three Dynasties Classics", retry the Donglin case, and correct the names of the gentlemen of Donglin. ”

"Huang Zongxi? Why didn't I see this letter? Zhu Youzhen couldn't help frowning and asked.

For this person who later wrote, "The world is the master, and the king is the guest." However, it is the great harm of the world, and you are just the king. For the world, not for the king; For all the people, not for one surname. Mr. Lizhou, a great thinker in the late Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youzhen still deeply admired.

Lu Qi replied unhurriedly: "The remnants of the eunuch party identified by Huang Zongxi are all in important positions, and many of them are protégés of several cabinet elders.

In particular, the "Three Dynasties Classics" and the Donglin case were all related to the Huang Ge of the Cabinet, and the officials of the General Administration Department dared to take him up, but they only comforted him with kind words and forcibly pushed him out. ”

Zhu Youzhen straightened his sitting posture, put his hands on the table, and asked curiously: "Then how did Yuan Shangshu deal with his lawsuit in the Criminal Department?" ”

Lu Qi replied: "Huang Zongxi went to the criminal department for the first time, and Yuan Shangshu personally received him, and the two talked in the back hall for more than half an hour.

Yuan Shangshu seemed reluctant to accept his case, and persuaded him for a long time, but he didn't seem to convince him. In the past two days, Huang Zongxi wore plain clothes and carried a straw mat to meditate at the entrance of the criminal department, but Yuan Shangshu neither accepted his complaint nor allowed the servants to drive him away. ”

Zhu Youzhen began to tap lightly on the table, and after a while, he continued to ask: "Didn't you react to this matter when you took the exam in Beijing?" ”

Lu Qi lowered his head and replied: "It seems that someone in the court has warned these scholars not to support Huang Zongxi, and the Donglin Party is also trying their best to appease. ”

"So, how did you do last time you guided these scholars in the capital to discuss the debate of benevolence and filial piety?" Zhu Youzhen asked thoughtfully.

Originally, it was quite intense, but since the incident of Huang Zongxi, the voice of discussing benevolence and filial piety has slowly disappeared. The minister thought that there seemed to be someone guiding public opinion among the scholars, and now even the call for the imperial court to restore the ancestral system has become smaller. Lu Qi replied clearly.

Zhu Youzhen suddenly turned his head to Wang Chengen and asked, "I heard Yuan Shangshu say that Liu Hongxun is a brave and responsible person. Is that really the case? ”

Wang Chengen only recalled it slightly, and then said: "It is not so much that he has the courage to do things, but that he prefers to seize power, and it is more appropriate to rejoice in his achievements." ”

Zhu Youzhen took Yuan Keli's Shangshu and read it again, and then said to Wang Chengen: "Draw up an edict for me, appoint Liu Hongxun as the squire of the Criminal Department, and preside over the Central Court; Yang Suoxiu was appointed as the squire of the Criminal Department and was in charge of the procuratorate. ”

Zhu Youzhen paused for a long time before continuing: "Appoint Tian Ergeng as the director of the patrol police department, let him protect Huang Zongxi, and no one is allowed to touch him in the next period of time."

Lu Qi, let the people in the scholars make some movement to come out and support Huang Zongxi to sue for his father. The movement of solidarity should be as big as possible, and it will be chosen on the day when Liu Hongxun takes office. ”

Zhu Youzhen's words made Wang Chengen and Lu Qi a little unable to react, Wang Chengen subconsciously said: "Your Majesty, aren't we doing this to help those Donglin Party people dig their own corners?" ”

Zhu Youzhen said meaningfully: "Before this, I want to see how deep the friendship between Huang Shoufu and these Donglin Party members is. If Huang Shoufu can't recognize his location, it will be difficult for me to do it next.

In addition, I sent back the personnel adjustment plan submitted by the cabinet today, saying that I think there is something wrong with this plan and ask the cabinet to rediscuss it..."

Almost at the same time, the fleet of Roh Jiu-deok and Heo Shin-su returning from Japan was anchored in the port of Udodo on the north side of Jeju Island. Prepare for another night's rest and continue west along the peninsula's coastline tomorrow.

Ushijima Port is a small fishing port located on the small island of Ushijima, and in the afternoon when a fleet of five or six large ships came from the east, the fishermen near the port hid in fear, thinking that Japan was going to invade Korea again.

In the end, it was Lu Jiude who wore his official uniform and went to the island to shout in person, and these fishermen who saw Lu Jiude wearing the official uniform of the Ming Dynasty had the courage to come out of the hiding place on the island.

After Xu Xinsu ordered to take out more than a dozen pieces of cloth that had been soaked in the sea and had not been sold and distributed to these poorly clothed fishermen, these fishermen finally cheered happily at the angels of the Ming Kingdom.

Jeju Island and Udo Island do not lack food and seafood, but they do lack daily necessities such as cloth, porcelain, and tea.

North Korea's shipbuilding technology is on par with Japan's, and sailing to Jeju Island is riskier than crossing the Tsushima Strait.

In addition, Jeju Island is now a place of exile for criminals in North Korea, and there are no special products in itself, and the only thing that is famous is seafood. But North Korea is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and there is no shortage of seafood.

As a result, North Korean merchants rarely travel to and from Jeju Island, and even if they do come once, the goods they bring are too expensive.

In Xu Xinsu's opinion, a few horses of woolen green cloth that had been soaked in sea water and could no longer be sold for a price were a large amount of valuable property in the eyes of these fishermen.

They immediately brought out the best food in the village and used it to entertain these angels of God, with crabs, prawns, abalone and other seafood, as well as some honey.

Looking at these fresh seafood, Lu Jiude couldn't help but move his index finger, but he looked at the inferior rock salt taken out by the fishermen, and immediately stopped them.

After Lu Jiude's inquiry, he learned that although Jeju Island is surrounded by the sea, it lacks the technology to make salt, and there are no mudflats where salt can be dried. As a result, good salt had to be brought in from the peninsula, while poor fishermen had to eat rock salt of poor quality.

Lu Jiude instructed his entourage to go to the ship to fetch salt, and asked the sailors who knew Korean to say to the fishermen: "The miscellaneous family will leave you some salt in a while, and in the future, my Ming merchant ship will also bring you some daily necessities when it passes by, but if my Ming merchant ship is shipwrecked nearby, you must also help." ”

The head of this fishing village immediately swore that if they saw the ships of the Ming Kingdom in distress nearby, they would do their best to save them.