Huangming

Chapter 9: The Commander of the Eastern Depot, Traveling in the Dark in Brocade Robes

The carrot and stick approach is the true way to manage subordinates.

After giving Wang Tiqian a warning, Zhu Youxiao calmly said, "Go and take charge of the Seal and Seal Office."

The Directorate of Imperial Seals?
Wang Tiqian was stunned for a moment, then a look of joy appeared on his face.

The power of the Directorate of Imperial Seals is much greater than that of the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine.

It's also more oily and juicy.

With tears streaming down his face, he kowtowed three times and said, "This servant thanks Your Highness. In the future, whether it is going through fire or water, as long as you need this servant, this servant will never say no."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Do your job well, and I will remember your kindness. If you have any disloyal intentions, then prepare to go and feed the turtles in the Jinshui River."

He had already witnessed the methods of the successor.

Wang Tiqian kowtowed frantically, daring not to have any disloyal thoughts.

After carefully serving Zhu Youxiao his dinner, Wang Tiqian withdrew with a heart full of joy.

The power of the Directorate of Imperial Seals was naturally greater than that of the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine.

However, for Zhu Youxiao, the Imperial Kitchen was even more important than the Imperial Seal Office.

After all, even though he was the emperor, he was still a human being and needed to eat.

Now that he is so powerful in the outer court, it is inevitable that some people will take risks.

Although the probability is very low, it is not impossible.

Even if they dare not administer a potent drug that can kill on the spot, administering a slow-acting poison would still be fatal.

Such a crucial position, which can determine life and death, naturally needs to be held in the hands of absolute confidants.

Wang Tiqian is merely a usable tool; his loyalty still needs time to be tested.

now.

Outside Cining Palace, the night was as dark as ink, gradually deepening.

A crescent moon hung quietly high in the deep sky, casting a silvery glow that gilded the roof ornaments of the Cining Palace with a cold silver hue.

The autumn wind, carrying a hint of coolness, gently swept across the palace walls and through the treetops, making a rustling sound.

It's already late at night, and Wang An still hasn't returned?

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered. Just then, a young eunuch came to announce, "Your Highness, the Duke of Yingguo and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have come to pay their respects."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Let them in."

Soon, two middle-aged men walked in from outside the hall. The one in the lead was Zhang Weixian, the Duke of Yingguo, while the one half a step shorter than Zhang Weixian was Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Your subject Zhang Weixian (Luo Sigong) pays respects to His Majesty."

With a warm smile on his face, Zhu Youxiao immediately stepped forward to help the two up. This gentle and welcoming feeling made people feel close to him.

"You two are pillars of our Great Ming Dynasty, and my right and left hands. There is no need for such formalities."

A trusted advisor and a right-hand man filled Luo Sigong's heart with warmth.

He immediately replied, "I am but a mere Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. How dare I claim to be Your Highness's right-hand man, let alone a trusted minister?"

Zhu Youxiao patted Luo Sigong on the shoulder and said, "If I say you can bear the responsibility, then you can bear it."

Luo Sigong was a hereditary official in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His father, Luo Bingliang, was the nephew of Luo An, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard during the Jiajing reign.

By Luo Sigong's generation, the family's finances had fallen into a rather difficult situation, and he sought a path to advancement through the Beijing Martial Arts Association.

He rose through the ranks to become Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Junior Tutor and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Junior Guardian and Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince, and Left Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Commandery, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom.

Furthermore, this person spearheaded the investigation into the "Clubbing Case" and protected the status of Zhu Changluo, who had once been the crown prince. As a result, Zhu Changluo has enjoyed the emperor's favor since ascending the throne.

After reviewing Luo Sigong's life in his mind, Zhu Youxiao said to the palace servants, "Please take a seat!"

Seeing that the two only dared to sit on half of their buttocks, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh at the allure of power.

"I only mentioned it briefly, I didn't expect the Duke to actually bring the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with him."

Zhang Weixian smiled awkwardly and said, "Your Highness has something you wish for, and I will keep it in mind. I'm just afraid that I've been too presumptuous. I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

Today at Cining Palace, Zhu Youxiao only mentioned the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Zhang Weixian, but unexpectedly, Zhang Weixian brought the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with him that very day. Zhu Youxiao realized that Zhang Weixian was too eager for advancement.

"How could I blame you? I was originally going to summon Commander Luo, and your presence tonight has just fulfilled my wish."

"If Your Highness has any instructions, I will risk my life to complete the task!" Luo Sigong immediately declared.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was also created by relying on imperial power. Hereditary Embroidered Uniform Guards like Luo Sigong knew very well who their power came from.

In fact, even without Zhang Weixian coming to find him, he would have stepped forward to pledge his loyalty.

Moreover, witnessing the heir apparent display his divine might in the Wenhua Hall today has made it even less necessary to merely observe.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard only becomes powerful under a strong monarch.

The heir apparent before them was exactly what all the Embroidered Uniform Guards wanted.

In that case, how could Luo Sigong not die for his cause?
"There's no need to risk your life. What I want to ask is how many of your men are from the Eastern Depot and how many are from Wang An."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was an appendage of imperial power, and at one time it made all the court officials feel insecure.

However, after the rise of the Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard gradually came under the control of the eunuchs and became a vassal.

Wang An held the authority of the Eastern Depot, which likely exerted considerable influence over the Embroidered Uniform Guard as well.

Luo Sigong's face showed joy, but he quickly suppressed it.

"There are indeed some members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who obey the Eastern Depot, but as long as Your Highness gives the order, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will definitely do as Your Highness wishes. Any impurities will be wiped out in an instant."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had been suppressed by the Eastern Depot for many years, and the new emperor wanted to get rid of Wang An.

Now Luo Sigong sees an opportunity to turn things around.

after all
The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot were originally competitors.

Who would willingly kneel before a eunuch every day?
"very good."

Both eunuchs and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were appendages of imperial power, and Zhu Youxiao naturally wanted to bring them under his control.

Without mastering these two weapons, even if he were the emperor, accomplishing anything would not be so simple.

It's easy to go from being single-minded to being stuck in both directions.

"I have a task for you to do." Zhu Youxiao looked intently at Luo Sigong.

The latter immediately knelt down and accepted the order.

"Please give your orders, Your Highness."

"I've heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has the ability to monitor the entire country, is that true?"

Luo Sigong immediately replied, "The skills bestowed upon us by the founding emperor have not been lost by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"These are turbulent times. You must thoroughly investigate both internal and external situations and report back daily, especially regarding these few individuals."

Zhu Youxiao picked up a brush, wrote down a few names, and handed them to Luo Sigong.

The latter glanced at it, felt a chill in his heart, and immediately nodded.

"Your subject understands."

"The safety of the Forbidden City is of paramount importance. I hereby order you to establish twelve additional 'night watch' teams, with three shifts each night to guard all the gates of the Forbidden City and strictly prevent any malicious individuals from harboring ill intentions. We must not allow incidents like today, where Liu Yizhu, Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, and others suddenly appeared outside the Qianqing Palace without the Emperor's order, to happen again."

Luo Sigong's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately replied, "Yes, sir!"

"Another 800 'Great Han Generals' will be mobilized to serve as ceremonial guards and protect the left and right sides of Cining Palace. In addition, 3,000 elite cavalry will be deployed to control the nine gates of the capital. Any mobilization of more than 30 soldiers must be reported, and all officials of the sixth rank and above must be registered and recorded at all times."

The 'Great Han General' with eight hundred men controlled the palace.

Three thousand elite cavalrymen controlled the capital.

Records of officials of the sixth rank and above entering and leaving the premises must be kept.

It seems that the entire capital is under the control of the successor.

However.
Would the defeated Donglin Party members, and Wang An, who knew he was no longer favored by the emperor, really surrender without resistance?
……

PS:
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(End of this chapter)