Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

What Wu Erxi meant was that Zhang Shikang was jealous, jealous of General Yang's great contribution in suppressing the bandits, and that such a person was not worthy of the emperor's favor.

His words actually contained a hint of resentment. As a eunuch with a meager salary, it was not easy to get an errand outside the palace. Which official would not express his resentment?

Zhang Shikang's indifference was a humiliation to him.

But putting aside personal grudges, what he said was what was in his heart. He felt that Zhang Shikang was narrow-minded and jealous of Yang Sichang.

After Wu Erxi finished speaking, he waited for Emperor Chongzhen to get angry. Although he was only recently promoted to a eunuch by the emperor, he had already heard about the emperor's temper.

In his opinion, what the emperor could not tolerate most was being deceived, and the second most was being suspected.

Now the emperor has already issued an edict to reward Yang Sichang and others. What you, Zhang Shikang, said are just doubts about the emperor's ability to judge people, right?

Wu Erxi carefully raised his eyes and glanced at Emperor Chongzhen. He found that Emperor Chongzhen was indeed very unhappy and showed signs of being angry. He couldn't help but feel happy.

Zhang Shikang, ah, Zhang Shikang, if you had followed the rules, why would we say those things? This is all your own fault!

"Wu Erxi! How dare you sow discord between me and my important ministers?" Emperor Chongzhen stared at Wu Erxi with a terribly cold face.

Emperor Chongzhen naturally knew what kind of person Zhang Shikang was. This guy was truly the laziest and most trouble-fearing person he had ever met.

Such people are the most indifferent, so how could they be jealous of others?

People with narrow minds are most afraid of being inferior to others. They have a strong desire for comparison and naturally a strong desire for power.

What about Zhang Shikang? Emperor Chongzhen remembered that this guy wanted to say that he was useless in order to avoid taking on the task.

Now you tell me that Zhang Shikang is jealous of others?

This is clearly an attempt to sow discord! Wu Erxi guessed both points correctly. Emperor Chongzhen really hated being deceived and was really angry.

But it wasn’t because of Zhang Shikang.

Seeing Emperor Chongzhen looking at him with a murderous look, Wu Erxi's mind was stunned and cold sweat broke out on his forehead instantly.

"Your Majesty, what I said just now was just my guess. I did not dare to lie and had no other intention. Your Majesty, please calm down!" Wu Erxi kowtowed while begging for mercy.

He was really shocked. In his opinion, this was not a big deal. He didn't know why the emperor was so angry.

"Humph! I hate people like you the most. Gao Qiqian has disappointed me. You don't have to be a eunuch anymore. Take twenty strokes of the cane and go to the laundry department."

Emperor Chongzhen didn't even bother to look at Wu Erxi. He then ordered his men to drag Wu Erxi out and torture him.

The Silijian ranked first among the twelve academies of the Ming Dynasty palace. Those who could work in the Silijian were either favored by the emperor or recommended by eunuchs favored by the emperor.

Wu Erxi was recommended by Gao Qiquan from the Imperial Stables. Gao Qiquan had been serving as a military supervisor in Xuanfu and Datong. Emperor Chongzhen was originally quite satisfied with him.

But Wu Erxi actually dared to sow discord. The most important thing was that he was the one who sowed discord among Zhang Shikang. Emperor Chongzhen also became dissatisfied with Gao Qiquan.

The laundry bureau is a place for washing clothes. Going from the Suitang of the Silijian to the laundry bureau, which is the most despised by the eunuchs, is like going from heaven to hell, which is almost the same as being banished to the cold palace or exiled.

Ten days later, Yang Sichang arrived at Baoding Prefecture with hundreds of captured bandits.

Baoding prefect Chen Yinglong led officials of all ranks to welcome him ten miles outside the city. Countless people, whether spontaneously or under instructions, gathered on the road where Yang Sichang entered the city, lining the streets to welcome him.

Although Chen Yinglong was the prefect, he looked very humble at this time, and from time to time he complimented a eunuch beside him, but the eunuch did not respond much.

In the Ming Dynasty, the prefect was a fourth-rank official and should not have been so humble. However, the person who came was Gao Shiming, the eunuch who held the seal of the Imperial Household Department.

The eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department is actually the head of the Imperial Household Department. Although his official rank is the same as that of the prefect, which is a fourth-rank official, one is a close minister serving the emperor, and the other is a local official. There is a huge difference between them.

Gao Shiming's face was serious, and his brows even showed his displeasure at Chen Yinglong's flattery, but he didn't say anything.

About a quarter of an hour later, Yang Sichang's convoy finally arrived in Baoding City, and Gao Shiming finally smiled.

"Why is Eunuch Gao here? Is there something important in the palace?" Yang Sichang said with a slight smile on his face and bowed.

As the eunuch in charge of the imperial seal, Gao Shiming normally did not leave the palace. Yang Sichang did not expect that it was Gao Shiming who came, and thought it was for some other matter.

"What else could it be, Minister Yang, the emperor was extremely happy when he heard the news. For such a great achievement, the emperor specially ordered us to come here to announce the decree.

We can talk about the greetings after we enter the city. Minister Yang, let's read out the imperial edict first." Gao Shiming also bowed and smiled.

When the news of the suppression of the bandits reached the palace, Gao Shiming was very happy. Yang Sichang had made such a great contribution. Not to mention that the emperor had ordered him to do this, he himself was also willing to do this task.

As he spoke, a eunuch came over with an exquisite mahogany box, and Gao Shiming took out the imperial edict very respectfully.

Yang Sichang immediately straightened his clothes and his expression instantly became solemn.

"Yang Sichang received the order."

As he spoke, Yang Sichang knelt down on the ground. Thousands of soldiers behind him, including officials of all ranks in Baoding Prefecture, and the surrounding ordinary people all knelt down on the ground one after another.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

Since I ascended the throne, the enemy has invaded from all sides and the invasion has lasted for eleven years. My teachers and students have been exposed, the common people have been suffering, the national treasury is depleted, and yet the conscription has not stopped. I think about it in the middle of the night and feel overwhelmed with shame and anger.

The people are being tormented by the bandits and cannot bear their harassment. The bandits are indeed a great worry for the imperial court. I have been unable to sleep at night for a long time because of the bandits.

The commander-in-chief Sichang, with the virtue of Jing Jiang and the learning of Ban Zhao, mobilized his bravery and strategy, made outstanding military achievements, and prevented the bandits from running rampant.

Today, you have destroyed Li Zicheng, pacified Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai, and eliminated a great threat to the court. I could not help but be happy to hear this, and everyone in the court is grateful for your merits.

I am very pleased with your great contribution, sir, and I confer the title of Grand Tutor on you, promote you to the rank of Left Pillar of the State, and give you three hundred taels of gold.

The bandits have been eliminated, which is a blessing for all the innocent people in the world.

Therefore, announce it to the world so that everyone can hear it.

Admire this. "

The imperial edict contained a lot of words, which expressed the long-cherished wish of Emperor Chongzhen and the entire court because of the bandits, but more importantly, it praised Yang Sichang.

Emperor Chongzhen was generous with his praises for Yang Sichang, praising him in every detail, showing his trust and respect for him.

Generally speaking, unless there is a particularly important matter, the emperor would not use "zhao" when issuing an edict, but would use "zhi" or "chi" instead.

The most important thing about the imperial edict that is different from other types of imperial decrees is that it is announced to the world. Once an imperial edict is issued, it will not only be sent to Yang Sichang, but will also be sent to all prefectures, cities and counties in the country so that people all over the world will know about it.

Of course, wiping out the bandits was a big deal, and Yang Sichang was naturally very proud of receiving this honor, but he did not show it on his face.

"Your Majesty, Yang Sichang, accepts your order and expresses your gratitude!" Yang Sichang took the imperial edict respectfully.

At this moment, it seemed as if all the doubts I had received before became so insignificant.

In order to wipe out the bandits, Yang Sichang had not been so happy for several years, although the process was very difficult and Li Chuang almost escaped from the encirclement several times.

Whether it was levying three additional taxes or collecting grain locally, they were actually risky moves by Yang Sichang.

He admitted that there was an element of gambling on his part, but he gambled right.

Thinking of the grievances he had suffered in the past few years, Yang Sichang sneered in his heart, thinking of those who had once slandered him and secretly tripped him up.

There are also those who disobey his orders or pay perfunctory attention to his military orders.

When he sees the emperor, all accounts will be settled.

With his current merits, the emperor will certainly leave him alone, and none of those people will have an easy life!

There was also that ruffian named Zhang Shikang. In the past, he was wary of the Donglin Party and didn't want to make enemies with them. But now that the bandits have been defeated, it's time for him to make a break with Zhang Shikang and even the Donglin Party.

Thinking of this, Yang Sichang just stood up, but heard Gao Shiming ask:

"Military Yang Ge, is Li Zicheng among the prisoners being transported?"

……