Chapter 97
: Lyragon goes to prison
Yang Ling first went to the underground palace and deliberately disturbed them. As expected, he attracted the two adults who had a ghost in his heart. At this time, he said something to Ni Qian, deputy chief of the Imperial Heaven Supervision Commission, and Li Duo, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, suddenly looked like a mortal face, and he couldn't help but kneel down on the ground and beg for mercy.
Yang Ling was secretly surprised when he heard the two of them telling the truth about the water leaking in Jinjing and talking about the inauspicious statements in Feng Shui. Although he did not believe in Feng Shui, he knew very well how important this matter was in the hearts of those who believed in Feng Shui.
I remember when he was a child, he moved to his new home. The first thing my grandmother did was to put a small mirror on the back window, saying that she would drive the evil spirit out of the house. As a result, an old man living in the back building saw it, and thought that he would drive the evil spirit to his house. For this reason, the old lady and the old man had a few quarrels. Two old men chased each other and put a mirror on the window. Anyway, the windows above were densely packed with small mirrors, and I couldn't see any more from any house. This was very funny, so Yang Ling still remembers it until now.
Modern people are so superstitious, let alone the ancients? This imperial tomb was built by the late emperor. If Zhengde knew about this, it would not be as simple as a quarrel. This is a serious crime of beheading.
Yang Ling thought about this and immediately changed his color and said, "Two sirs, do you dare to deceive the emperor in such a major matter? Are you not afraid of extermination of the family and raiding the house? Sorry, Yang wants to rush back to the capital immediately to report this matter to the emperor and ask the emperor to issue an order to move to the tomb."
Ni Qian and Li Duo were shocked when they heard this. They covered up the matter because of their greed. In fact, they felt worried about gains and losses. However, this incident has aroused the suspicion of Li Jie, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Now that they want to repent and reveal the matter, the Minister Li, who wants to make great contributions, may not be willing to give up. If they report a copy of this matter, and if those envoys get involved, these people will not be able to end up being dismissed from office.
Thinking of the terrible consequences of the family scout and extermination, the two couldn't help but kneel on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, and their foreheads were covered with blood. Although Yang Ling couldn't bear it, even if Emperor Zhengde favored him, he wouldn't have heard that they would show mercy on the tomb of the late emperor. He was cruel and ignoring the two of them's begging, and then lifted his legs and wanted to go out.
Seeing that Yang Ling was unmoved, Li Duo hurriedly knelt forward two steps, hugged his thighs and howled, "Sir Yang, don't leave, Lord Yang, please stay. I'm just greedy and make a big mistake. It's not a pity to search the house and behead him, but this is not a good deed of Zehui people, Lord.
Lord Yang, I will only earn four million taels next year. The early investment of Tailing has reached 2.3 million taels. All the construction work will cost at least 3.8 million taels. Even if we find out, we will report that the emperor will choose a place to move the tomb. The money that has been invested cannot be collected. It is the annual ration for the people.
Sir, now there are constant floods in Henan and Hebei, and there has been a severe drought in Gansu and Shaanxi for three years. If the emperor moved to the land to build a tomb and there was no silver available, he would have to impose heavy taxes. Wouldn't millions of people make worse by then?
Adults, have you ever seen your biological parents exchange their children with their neighbors, slaughtering their youngest sons to cook for food to satisfy their hunger? Have you ever seen an 80-year-old woman who only has Guanyin soil to eat for three meals a day, and her belly is as big as a drum to death?
Yang Da, the sage said: 'The king is the least, the country is the most important.' Even if the adults do not care about the life and death of me, do you have the heart to watch the millions of unjust souls come from you? Do you want to ignore the people of the world for the sake of a future?"
Yang Ling was stunned when he heard this and stopped unconsciously. Ni Qian, the Imperial Heaven Supervisor, kowtowed and asked for advice. He tried his best to say that he would give Yang Ling the two beautiful concubines he had just taken. Yang Ling was still unmoved. Seeing that Li Duo's words seemed to touch Yang Ling, he couldn't help but feel happy. He quickly knelt forward and hugged Yang Ling's other leg and said: "
Lord Yang, it is common to dig the earth tomb very deeply, and seeping water is common. What should I do if I seep water in another place? By then, the people will be overwhelmed and will definitely suffer. For this underground palace, I am afraid that even the Golden Lunar will be shaken at that time.
In fact, since ancient times, seven or eight out of ten water seeped in the imperial tombs. If Ni didn't know the matter, how could he know how to block the water with wood and dust? Then, if the water seeped place is blocked, there will be no major problems. Just wait for the coffin of the late emperor to be buried and the underground palace is closed, and there will be no risk. He also asks the Lord to give mercy and save us. This is a kindness to both of us, but it is a kind act to the people of the world. Not only are we grateful, but the people of the world will bear your kindness.”
After Yang Ling entered the capital, he also heard about how much the Ming Dynasty earned every year. When he heard that the imperial tomb was actually a tax for the whole country for one year, he couldn't help but hesitate.
I remember when I was a master in Jiming County, I heard that many people were poor in their families and had accumulated taxes for many years. There were frequent wars there, but few natural disasters were rare, so they were not the poorest place. The places mentioned by Li Duo were even more painful than Jiming. I really wanted to build a tomb for the dead and put thousands of people in the water and fire?
Yang Ling couldn't make a choice for a while, so he raised his head and thought to himself: Emperor Hongzhi, you are a good emperor who loves the people as much as his son. If you have a spirit in heaven, do you want to build a magnificent and beautiful cemetery for yourself, or do you hope that thousands of people can live without any harsh donations?
Alas! Yang Ling pondered for a long time, and his heart was filled with sorrow. The people were not covered with food or clothing. If they reported this to the emperor, it would be necessary to say that these ministers would be beheaded. If he made such a great contribution, it would be certain that he would be promoted.
But what would the people in the world think when the imperial court collects heavy taxes? In more than a year, will the young lady leave herself and stay in this world and will she bear the scolding of the people in the world for herself?
Yang Ling gritted his teeth, turned around suddenly, stared at Ni Qian and asked, "Mr. Ni, I look at the Jinjing and can touch the wooden handle with my fingers. If I use the lamp to shine, there will be no escape immediately. Is the only way to block the seepage of Jinjing?
Ni Qian and Li Duo heard that Yang Ling's tone was loose and they couldn't help but be ecstatic. Ni Qian thought carefully and said cautiously: "Of course there is more than this method, but the fastest way is this method. That day, the official in the morning is afraid that he will be known, so he used this method. What do you mean by the emperor?"
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "When the wood thorn is inserted in the middle, the wood thorn will overflow over time. Even if I can hide it from the emperor at that time, I am also uneasy. Is there any way you can do it so that people can't see the flaws, and at the same time, it can really close those leaks?"
Ni Qian said happily: "Thank you for saving me! As long as you help me, there is a more appropriate way to do it. You just need to pour gravel into the leak, ramm it with soil, and then pour it with yellow mud and cover it with a certain proportion of glutinous rice juice. It can be safe. And it seems that it is natural. Unless you dig it open to test the soil, even if you are a god, you will not see any flaws. It just takes some time to do this method."
Yang Ling nodded and said, "Okay, for the sake of the people of the world, I believe that the Emperor of Daxing will agree with me. Today, I will find an excuse to call out the officers and soldiers guarding the Jinjing in the Left Palace, and the adults will draw out the wooden thorns and block them. Is three days enough?"
Ni Qian said ecstaticly: "Enough is enough, time is enough. It takes only two days to make it perfect!"
Eight days have passed, and Yang Ling quietly inspected this unparalleled underground palace. The interior of the underground palace has begun to take shape. The huge underground palace does not use beams and pillars, but is all made of vaults. The five gorgeous halls in front, middle, back, left and right are completely made of pure stone, looking magnificent.
Even if such a huge project is in modern times, it is very expensive. Moreover, the productivity was low at that time. Just digging, cutting, and transporting a flat rock from thousands of miles away, the cost was already shocking. It seems that the decision from the original is still worth it. Instead of throwing it out of millions of taels of silver here, how can you give the people some benefits?
Yangling stopped in the left hall. The ground here was a process, and the process was extremely complicated. The "gold bricks" that ordinary craftsmen could hardly burn. The gold bricks were flat like mirrors. At the end, the tall and flat stone wall was a sarcophagus bed with white marble edges, and the golden well was in the center.
Looking at the golden well, Yang Ling couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Ni Qian was really skillful. After he blocked it, Yang Ling re-checked it. He pulled out the wood plug under the cave and applied it with earth, stone, and rice juice. The water no longer leaked slowly inside. Now, unless the soil was dug out and tested, it would be hard to see the slightest flaw by touching it with both hands.
The Minister of Works Li Jie often used the excuse of the inspection project to enter the underground palace, but he was always blocked by Ni Qian and a few others, or accompanied him into the tomb, making it difficult for him to check. However, if he blindly concealed this, it would be suspicious, so after Ni Qian blocked the golden well, Yang Ling deliberately let him enter the underground palace alone.
Yang Ling was secretly observing, and seeing that he did not see any flaws, and there were fewer things in the past two days, he slowly let go of his heart.
Yang Ling was wandering around the tomb for a while and was about to turn around and go out, Yang Yiqing suddenly came over and said with a burning look on his face: "Sir, someone in Shenji Camp is missing."
Yang Ling was stunned and asked anxiously: "Missing? Are there any soldiers who do not uphold military discipline secretly going to the tomb? How could they disappear here?"
Yang Yiqing shook his head and said, "There is no people everywhere here, and the soldiers will not go down the mountain secretly. Moreover, the missing person is Lu Enlu, the leader who said he had seen the Jinjing leaking water a few days ago."
Yang Ling's heart was thrilled when he heard this, and he hurriedly said, "Send someone to find him immediately. Be sure to find him. You must see someone alive and die with the corpse!"
Yang Yiqing nodded and said, "Yes, Bei Zhi has been looking for it, but I have asked many people that the soldiers in the army have not seen him for half a day. What's more coincidental is that early this morning, Lord Li of the Ministry of Works suddenly returned to Beijing on an excuse. Bei Zhi has seen Lord Li's footprints of the sedan chairman. The sedan chair seemed to be quite heavy."
Yang Ling regretted it: "Li Jie wanted to go to the tomb to check every day, but he was only concerned about the Jinjing. Why did he forget that there were also evidence in addition to physical evidence?"
He thought anxiously and said, "The seven soldiers who witnessed this incident in the tomb that day were transferred out immediately and sneaked into the army in front of the tomb. At the same time, he secretly instructed the officials of the office to take care of each other and not to lose one more person, as for the head of the tomb."
Yang Yiqing intercepted, "Sir, I have already returned to Beijing to ask the brothers of the Fushi Department to investigate this matter." He took a step forward and lowered his voice, "Sir, those seven people are seven living evidence that cannot be shaken off and hidden. Do you think you want it?" Yang Yiqing said, slashing his right hand down, and said with a cold smile on his face: "If there are our people on the mausoleum, please rest assured, and make sure you do it clean and neatly."
Yang Ling was shocked when he heard this, and looked at Yang Yiqing in surprise. Yang Yiqing smiled faintly and said, "Sir, the viper stubbornly stubbornly, and the hero can relieve his wrists. Whether it is fame, wealth or severe torture, for those little men, it is a hurdle that cannot be overcome. You must not be kind to a woman."
Yang Ling knew that he was telling the truth, but he was really hard to adapt to this cold-blooded politician argument. He was confused for a while and didn't know what to do. He hesitated and struggled for a while, and he fought for a long time, and finally gave up his murderous intent.
He sighed dejectedly, and he patted Yang Yiqing on the shoulder with a wry smile and said, "Yiqing, you are also my subordinate. If one day you threaten my safety, how should I treat you? Forget it, there is no basis for empty words. Even if they say the lotus flowers, it may not prove anything. Besides, Lu Enlu has already left, and this matter cannot be covered, so don't mention it again."
Yang Yiqing looked at Yang Ling's departure back and sighed softly. This adult is good at everything, but unfortunately he is not decisive enough in his work. As the saying goes, "No poison is not a husband." If one witness is missing, one less danger will be reduced. It's so furious that he can't make a decision without making any decisions right away?"
Yang Yiqing touched his chin and thought about it secretly. He was not a hereditary Jinyiwei, nor did he have the good luck like Yang Ling. It was difficult to improve in his life, but after being Yang Ling's kind of companion, he saw that he had a bright future at a young age, and his future was his own future. The interests of the two were closely linked. How could he not consider Yang Ling?
Besides, Yang Ling is a rare boss who treats others kindly and is not authoritative. The Nanzhen Fufu Department presented the official documents to the capital. Yang Ling, who can act cheaply, will be safe and handed over to him. Moreover, most of the senior officials of the Jinyiwei are promoted by bloody promotions, racking their brains all day long to harm others and cheat money. A boss like Yang Ling can be said to be an alien among the Jinyiwei. If he is punished, where will he find such a superior?
Yang Yiqing gritted his teeth and quietly flashed out of the underground palace
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The civil and military officials in the Golden Palace were evacuated, with an angry expression.
It seemed that it had been half an hour since I was in court, and the eunuch had entered the inner palace three times, but the dragon throne above was still empty. This was something that had never happened before when Emperor Hongzhi was Emperor, but this was the fourth time in Zhengde Dynasty.
The officials were whispering to each other, and a small eunuch hurriedly flashed from behind the flank screen, dragging a long voice and shouting: "The emperor is here, all civil and military officials are taking over!"
When the civil and military officials heard this, they couldn't even make time for the queue. They knelt down quickly and saw the driver. Someone secretly looked up and saw Emperor Zhengde wearing a winged crown and a ball of dragon robe. He yawned out from behind the screen with his head tilted to his head.
The little emperor walked up the steps and sat on the dragon chaise, with annoyance on his face. He glanced at the ministers and then outside the hall gate. At this time, the light was clear and the sun had not come out. Zhengde lowered his eyelids angrily and said, "You all have a flat body, come early!"
The three major ministers in the cabinet were also full of anger at this time. When they urged the eunuch to ask the emperor to ascend to the palace, they heard that the emperor had abolished the attendants of Shangwen Palace and Wenshu's study room yesterday. This is a great deal? In this way, no one will watch the emperor going to bed at night and going back to court to study. Wouldn't there be chaos in the world?
The three great scholars were eager to give a direct advice. As soon as Emperor Zhengde finished speaking, Xie Qian immediately went out to start the report. The old minister was indeed worthy of the name of "knowing" and spoke continuously: "Emperor, in recent days, the emperor has regarded the court as too late. Sometimes he has been promoted to the palace before he has arrived. The guards and servants in the court have been tired for a long time and are also rude. Moreover, the officials who came to Jin and the envoys who paid tribute to foreign countries have been waiting for a long time. Not only are they sleepy, but they are also depressed.
It should be noted that the early court is the first priority of the king, and the world is viewed, and it is a link to this. A king is bound by the whole world, and he is afraid of being afraid of being too careful to cultivate and conservative. If the king is lazy and his ministers are deserted, how can the peace rule be achieved? I am worried that the holy heart will be different and prevent it from being wrong, so I risk my life to come to the court. Please think twice!"
Zhengde raised one eyelid and looked at him, and said mutely: "I understand."
When Liu Jian saw that Emperor Zhengde was not convinced at all, he was very angry. He immediately went out to speak loudly and said, "Emperor, since ancient times, there has been no one who has not been promising with worries and diligence, and is arrogant and despicable. I heard that the emperor abolished the attendants of Shang'an Palace and Wenshu. I thought this matter was very inappropriate. The ancient saying says, "I am not wandering in the world, and I am not licentious in the world, and the opportunity to abolish and prosper is in this way. The emperor should immediately restore the old system and court on time and morning!"
After Liu Jian said that, he stepped back, and Li Dongyang immediately flashed out on his left hand. Emperor Zhengde couldn't help but panic when he saw this. He hurriedly said, "I understand, I will definitely correct it. Uh, I will discuss this matter later. Do you have any other chapters?"
Xu Guan winked at Li Jie, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Li Jie understood and immediately cheered up his spirits and responded. His energy penetrated his dantian and said, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial!"
Emperor Zhengde was relieved and hurriedly said, "Your dear, please tell me quickly." Seeing this, Li Dongyang smiled slightly and retreated.
Li Jie said proudly: "Emperor, I am ordered to supervise the construction of the Emperor's Mausoleum. I feel deeply responsible. Therefore, I am trembling with fear, as if I am on the abyss, walking on thin ice, and I dare not slackew."
Li Jie spoke for a long time, and Zhengde was bored and said nothing, not saying anything at all. Li Jie didn't wait for the emperor's praise, and felt a little disappointed, so he had to turn around the topic: "I heard a few days ago that the earth of the imperial tomb was not upright, the cave was ruthless, and the golden well of the Xuan Palace was actually surging. This is an unlucky sign. However, Ni Qian, the Imperial Heaven Supervisor, Li Duo, the Minister of Rites, Dai Yi, and Yang Ling, the Shenji Camp, had concealed and refused to report it."
When he said this, there was a loud bang in the court, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day. All officials immediately started to make noise. The case was brought into five yamen at once, which was the largest case in the Zhengde Dynasty. Once it was found out, I wonder how many people wanted the heads to fall to the ground. How could they not be surprised?
Liu Jian, Xie Qian and Li Dongyang were also very shocked, and they showed their eyes to each other, shaking their heads slightly to show their ignorance. Xie Qian glanced at Li Jie and moved his eyes to Xu Guan, the Minister of Works. Seeing that the smug look in his eyes flashed, he immediately understood and couldn't help but snorted secretly.
Liu Jian was also a little unhappy. As the chief minister of the cabinet, the Ministry of Works did not tell him about such a big thing in advance, but he actually bypassed him and reported to Emperor Da directly. Xu Guan's desire to compete for favor was too obvious.
The Ministry of Rites was also one of the yamen to be involved, but Wang Qiong looked calm and did not panic. Xu Guan had asked him for a secret discussion in advance. Wang Qiong believed in his heart that the emperor did not obey etiquette and was now lazy in the government. It must be because Yang Ling and Liu Jin and other internal supervisors instigated and tempted them, and regarded them as a major trouble for the court. Therefore, he immediately made up his mind to take Yang Ling even if he gave up Li Duo.
As soon as Li Jie finished speaking, he left his squad and knelt down and said, "Emperor, several imperial envoys who were ordered to be trusted by the emperor, so they were able to entrust such an important task. Unexpectedly, they were so bold and reckless that their crimes were unforgivable! As the Minister of Rites, my subordinate officials also participated in it. I have a crime that I know that people are not clear, but I am really frightened. Please give up the crime."
Xu Guan floated out and reported to Emperor Zhengde: "Emperor, when he was surveying the site of the imperial tombs a year ago, Shangshu Wang was in the capital to prepare for the spring examination. Even if he had an unaware of the crime, it was understandable.
However, the ministers who were ordered by the tomb, even the dragon vein was damaged and the national fortune would dare to deceive the emperor and not report it. They should ask questions immediately and make the justice and punishment to comfort the spirit of the late emperor in heaven."
Emperor Zhengde was already very angry when he heard that something happened in his father's cemetery. When he heard that the dragon vein was damaged and the national fortune was in trouble, he felt even more uneasy. The little sleepiness suddenly disappeared. He jumped up in anger, but after thinking about it, he was a little confused and couldn't help but ask, "Is this matter serious? Do you have any real evidence?"
Li Jie immediately said firmly: "I have evidence. Lu Enlu, the chief of the Shenji Camp who is responsible for the underground palace project in the tomb, once witnessed the Jinjing Yongquan with his own eyes. This witness has been brought back to Beijing!"
Zhengde was really angry when he heard this. He slapped the imperial case and shouted: "He is punishable! Immediately escort these people into Beijing and handed them to the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Three Departments of Dali Temple for trial. If it is found out, it is true."
He thought of Yang Ling in his heart, hesitated for a moment, and then he thought that he trusted him more, but even he cheated on his own and deceived himself for the sake of profit. He felt sad and angry in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "If they really deceived the emperor, behead him!"
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Since he learned that the leader of the Shenji Camp Lu Enlu was missing, Yang Ling was frightened and did not sleep well overnight. He was not so naive that he thought that the official Zuo of the Beijing Camp was a deserter or was eaten by wild animals on the mountain. Li Jie did not come back for a day and night, and he had already guessed that something was wrong.
At this point, Yang Ling could only rely on the particularity of Jinjing. Jinjing is a heavy dragon vein in Feng Shui, so it cannot be moved easily. Moreover, Ni Qian blocked it very cleverly. Unless he dug the well and checked the soil, he could not see that water had been leaked. Even if there were human evidence in the court, there would be no physical evidence to deal with so many ministers.
When Ni Qian and Li Duo heard that the whipped chief was missing and Li Jie, the Minister of Works, returned to Beijing, were frightened and at a loss. He and Dai Yi had come to Yang Ling in a panic to discuss countermeasures.
Dai Yi is one of the four major leaders of the Sili Supervisor. He is the confidant of Wang Yue, the eunuch in charge of the seal. He has always had a close relationship with Fan Ting of the East Factory. Seeing that everyone could not come up with a solution, he couldn't help but have a fierce look in his eyes and said with a grim smile: "Our family will return to Beijing immediately. Apart from that pawn, I see what tricks Xu Guan and Li Jie can do!"
Yang Ling hurriedly blocked and said, "No, if Lu Shichang was indeed bribed and taken away by him, he would have to be very strict in protection. Xu Guan and Li Jie are not stupid people. What if he uses him as bait to lure us into the hook? Don't be fooled."
Li Duo rubbed his hands and said in a panic: "What should I do? What should I do? Are we just waiting to die?"
Yang Ling thought to himself: Since everyone is superstitious about Feng Shui, now there is only Feng Shui to use Feng Shui to make Feng Shui. Yang Ling was about to ask if Ni Qian, the Imperial Heaven Supervisor, could he do something about Feng Shui, but suddenly the door was knocked open. Peng Jizu rushed in in a panic and shouted in a rough voice: "Sir, something happened. The white jade bridge behind Yizimen Gate suddenly collapsed, and the earth on both sides also collapsed. The dozen brothers who were transferred to dig the river were buried alive."
"What?" Yang Ling stood up in shock, and then he thought that the seven soldiers who were transferred out of the underground palace yesterday were sent to dig under the bridge. Why is it so coincidental that something happened to where they went?
Yang Ling felt suspicious and immediately turned his head to look at Yang Yiqing. Yang Yiqing met his eyes, his eyes immediately flashed and moved away, his expression a little unnatural. Yang Ling suddenly realized in his heart that he had made trouble. He knew that Yang Yiqing was for his own good, but this action not only killed the seven innocent soldiers, but also implicated other people. Yang Ling could not tell what it felt like in his heart for a while.
He understood that if he was decisive and ruthless enough to successfully survive in this officialdom, he had to learn to make a decision immediately. All interests were the first priority, and those who should be removed had to be removed mercilessly, and the stumbling blocks that blocked him had to be kicked away. However, emotionally, he really couldn't accept becoming a cold-blooded politician.
Yang Ling stomped his feet and had to say to Peng Jizu: "Go, go and take a look in front of the tomb and organize people to rescue him!" He led a group of people to rush out of the door when he saw dozens of yamen runners under the Ministry of Justice and red hats rushed over with their waist knives. Someone in the crowd shouted loudly: "The imperial edict has arrived, and the ministers who supervised the imperial edict to kneel down to receive the imperial edict!"
Yang Ling and others were shocked when they heard this. They immediately knelt on the ground like cutting onions with a quick knife. They saw a crowd of people. A burly old man with a red face and a white beard floated in his sleeves. He walked forward quickly and immediately launched the imperial edict and shouted in a loud Shandong accent: "The Emperor Fengtian Chengyun, the imperial edict said: Ni Qian, the imperial chief of the imperial tomb, Li Duo, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, Dai Yi, the chief eunuch of the rank of the Shenji Camp, and Yang Ling, the general of the Shenji Camp, was suspected of fraudulent projects and deceived the emperor. He immediately arrested and brought him to Beijing. The three officials will investigate the crimes, and I will be here!"
After the blushing old man said that, he waved his hand and shouted: "The suspects reported their own names and took them down for me!"
Chapter completed!