Chapter 853 The mastermind behind 942
“Are you sure that this guy named Minister Wang just wants to enter the palace and steal things?”
Feng Bao looked at the confession in his hand with a look on his face. Liu Shouyou, the commander of Jinyiwei, asked in disbelief.
"Eunuch Feng, this is the result of the interrogation. He said that he was from the south of the Yangtze River. He was transferred to the north with the Zhejiang soldiers. He was not accustomed to the climate in the north and committed trouble in the military camp. He was worried about being dismissed. He became a deserter after being punished by the general.
He stole the clothes of the eunuch from Fulong Temple. He sneaked into the palace with the eunuch who was on a business trip in the morning. He wanted to find an empty palace to steal something, but he didn't want to go to Qianqing Palace. He happened to meet His Majesty was caught as he was leaving the palace. "
This matter is not trivial, so Liu Shouyou stared at the torture veteran and used severe torture to extract a confession. It is said that there is nothing wrong.
Feng Bao was silent after hearing what he said. I knew what he was thinking at this time.
After a while, he said: "Tell your people to come out first, and I will ask the people from Dongchang to scare him again to prevent him from making up lies and deceiving me.
This matter is not a trivial matter. The emperor was frightened, and the empress in the palace was still waiting for news. ”
After Feng Bao finished speaking, he waved to the fanzi beside him to enter the execution room to continue the interrogation.
Liu Shouyou saw Feng Bao’s insistence and didn’t say much. He just recalled the torture experts from Jinyiwei and asked them to wait outside. When he left, he also issued a gag order and kept the results of the previous interrogation strictly confidential. .
"Commander Liu, please go and do your work first. Jinyiwei has a lot of work to do. After I finish asking questions here, he will go back to the palace and return to his duties."
Feng Bao looked at the people waiting aside. Liu Shouyou opened his mouth and said.
“Uh”
Feng Bao drove people away, but Liu Shouyou was just surprised and immediately clasped his fists and said, "I'd like to thank you, Eunuch Feng. If you have any errands, please send someone to notify me."
The commander of Jinyiwei has a high status, but no matter how high he is, It is not as high as the people around the emperor.
Liu Shouyou joined the Jinyi Guards because of his cuteness, and he wanted to achieve some results, so he worked hard and worked hard after joining the Jinyi Guards. He was gradually promoted to the commander of the guards based on his merits.
He was not in charge of the Beizhen Fusi. He was just Zhu Xixiao's deputy. However, recently the Duke of Chengguo, Zhu Xizhong, was seriously ill and seemed to be about to suffer. Therefore, his brother Zhu Xixiao requested an order to return to the government to take care of and manage the affairs. He was responsible for the affairs of the Duke's Mansion, so Beizhen Fusi was temporarily replaced by him.
The Duke of Cheng, Zhu Xizhong, was already a veteran of three dynasties. He was born in the 11th year of Zhengde, and became Duke of Duke in the 15th year of Jiajing. He was the admiral of the 12th Regiment Camp and the 5th Army Camp.
In the 17th year of Jiajing's reign, Emperor Jiajing's biological mother, the Empress Dowager Chiang, passed away. Jiajing decided to return to Chengtianfu in Huguang, where she had been away for many years, to pay homage to the mausoleum, and at the same time consider the burial of his parents.
On February 16, the 18th year of Jiajing's reign, Jiajing led hundreds of civil and military officials and an escort of eight thousand soldiers to leave the capital in a mighty manner. Zhu Xizhong was the commander of the escort.
This southern tour was not smooth. First, two palaces caught fire in Zhaozhou and Linming Town, Hebei Province. Fortunately, the fire started after we started driving, so there was no danger.
On February 28, the car arrived at Weihui.
According to the "Ming Dynasty Chronicles", after entering Weihui, suddenly there was a strange celestial phenomenon, and a whirlwind surrounded the holy driver.
Jiajing was surprised and asked Tao Zhongwen, the accompanying Taoist priest, what the sign was.
Tao Zhongwen recited silently and replied: "The main fire."
Hearing that there was another fire, Jiajing couldn't help but panic, so he ordered Tao Zhongwen to use Taoist magic to dispel the fire.
But Tao Zhongwen did not do what he was asked to do. He said: "Fire is inevitable, so be careful to protect the saints."
This means that even if there is a fire, it is inevitable, so All we can do is carefully protect the emperor's dragon body and health.
Legend has it that the conversation between Emperor Jiajing and Tao Zhongwen was overheard by Lu Bing, the commander of the Jinyi Guard who was escorting him in the car. He secretly paid attention to it and was always ready to protect the emperor.
Lu Bing had a close relationship with Emperor Jiajing. His grandfather followed King Xing to join Anlu, and his father took up the post of ceremonial guard. His mother was the nanny of Emperor Jiajing. Lu Bing was the same age as the emperor, and they grew up together. When he grew up, Jiajing succeeded him to the throne, and he also followed him to Beijing.
In the afternoon, the car stopped at Wei Hui Palace.
"Records of Emperor Shizong": "Your king welcomes you in the suburbs and goes to the palace. I have issued an order to please the king and give you a banquet as expected. I have sent the prince consort Wu Jinghe and the minister of the Ministry of Rites. Yan Song sent the king back to the country. He wrote a letter to the king, adding that the annual salary of Jialumi is five hundred stones. "
After Emperor Jiajing hosted a banquet in honor of King Ru who came to pick him up, he went to bed early.
However, at the fourth watch of the night, the palace suddenly caught fire. The temporary palace built with wood, reed mats and felt tents was instantly filled with thick smoke and a sea of fire.
The guards and eunuchs on the left and right woke up from their sleep and were in a mess. In a hurry, they lost their minds and didn't know where the emperor was.
At this time, Jin Yiwei commanded Lu Bing to rush into the palace and carry the emperor out alone.
In a fire, many people were killed and injured in the harem and the chamberlain, and most of the artifacts and treasures were burned. After the incident, Jiajing ordered Wang Tingxiang, the censor of Youdu, to "inspect the disaster site" and thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire.
After that, Lu Bing was rewarded based on his merits and personally rescued Emperor Jiajing. He was quickly promoted to the commander of the Jinyiwei and took over the power of the Jinyiwei soon after.
However, Duke Zhu Xizhong was successful in arranging soldiers to rescue and extinguish the fire, and he also gained the favor of Emperor Jiajing.
Zhu Xizhong is dying now, which actually means that the Cheng Guogong line, which was once prominent in the Ming Dynasty, will temporarily withdraw from the ranks of the top nobles in the court.
Although the title is still noble, who knows who Emperor Wanli will like to use?
In the capital, in addition to Cheng Guogong and his family, there are also wealthy and distinguished families such as Ying Gong and Ding Guogong.
When Liu Shouyou left the prison, he just looked back. He didn't know what Feng Bao was going to do, but he knew that these matters were not something that he, the commander of the Jin Yiwei, could intervene in.
At this time, Feng Bao was still thinking about the interrogation record signed by Minister Wang in his hand.
After a long time, I finally made up my mind.
As long as the person is in his hands, such interrogation records are not free to do whatever he wants.
The man is inside, and as long as he is punished, there is no fear that he will not give a confession according to his requirements.
At this moment, Xu Jue, the executioner of Dongchang, had returned and quietly told Feng Bao the results of the interrogation just now. The confession was exactly the same as that of the Jin Yiwei trial.
Of course, this was what Feng Bao didn't want. He didn't even take the confession handed over by Xu Jue, but tore up the confession that Jin Yiwei had summoned from his hand.
Seeing Feng Bao's movements, Xu Jue's eyes twitched.
Being familiar with Feng Bao, he understood that his boss wanted to use this to cause trouble, otherwise it would not be like this.
"Qi Jiguang is a member of Wei Guangde and Tan Lun, and he is a famous general of this dynasty. He now holds heavy troops and defends the country. He must not be implicated in this matter."
Feng Bao spoke. He said to Xu Jue, "What do you think of this person?"
Xu Jue didn't know what Feng Bao was thinking yet, so he just said according to his own judgment: "This person is timid, a weakling, and a little bit stupid."
"A bit stupid, haha. A bit stupid. Okay, what you say is so convincing.”
Feng Bao. He chuckled and said, "Dongchang is in charge of this place. No one from Jinyiwei is allowed to come near now. You are guarding here."
After Feng Bao ordered Xu Jue, he went straight out of Jinyiwei's prison, but he didn't Instead of returning to the palace to repeat the order, he sent his servants back to the palace to recruit his confidant eunuchs.
After some explanation, the eunuch went directly to Fusi Prison in Beizhen.
Under Xu Jue's arrangement, I met the somewhat naive Minister Wang alone.
"Master Xu, the Zajia family is lost, why are they here."
The eunuch came out of the cell and just smiled at Xu Jue.
"I asked how did Eunuch Zhang get here? I will take Eunuch out." Xu Jue didn't know what was going on yet, but this person was Feng Bao's man in the palace, so he still knew. So he took him out of the prison with a smile.
After leaving Beizhen Fusi, the eunuch said to Xu Jue: "Master Xu, Eunuch Feng asked me to inform you that the confession of the imperial convict Minister Wang is very problematic, and you have to continue the interrogation.
When the results are available, we will notify you immediately "Eunuch Feng."
"I understand." , it must be a good confession.
But I am from Eunuch Feng’s side, so I can just do whatever he wants. This is how I have done things in the past.
Back in the prison, Xu Jue ordered Fanzi to interrogate Minister Wang.
The people just put it on the torture instrument, and Minister Wang poured the beans into the bamboo tube and began to explain, as before, without them using the torture.
He was explaining things here, and someone was recording them over there, but Xu Jue's heart trembled when he heard the words.
Now he finally knows what his factory owner wants to do, and he actually wants to use Minister Wang’s case to kill Gao Gong.
Think about it, when Gao Gong was involved in his own factory, he seemed to be desperate, just to let Chen Hong take his place.
By the time Minister Wang postponed the confession, the entire case had transformed from a theft case into a major case of paid murder to assassinate the emperor.
According to Minister Wang’s new confession, the former chief minister Gao Gong was dissatisfied with the emperor and assigned his family members to contact him alone to help him sneak into the palace to assassinate the emperor, promising to give him as much gold and silver as possible after the incident was completed.
With the new confession in hand, Xu Jue immediately sent someone out to inform Eunuch Feng.
Feng Bao came to Fusi Prison in Beizhen again, holding this confession in his hand, and then nodded with satisfaction.
"Watch this person carefully. No one is allowed to approach him without my order."
Feng Bao ordered again.
“Yes, father-in-law.”
Xu Jue immediately bowed his head and obeyed.
After receiving the confession, Feng Bao left the prison. Now he found Liu Shouyou in the lobby and asked him to gather Tiqi immediately and be on standby.
“Eunuch Feng, do you have the palace’s intention to send out Tiqi?”
Liu Shouyou bowed to Feng Baodao.
"The Zajia will return to the palace to resume his duties. After interrogation, Minister Wang has confessed that he was instructed by others to enter the palace and do evil things."
"Who?"
< br>Hearing what Feng Bao said, Liu Shouyou's eyes jumped wildly and he asked unconsciously.
“This matter is sensitive. I have to go back to the palace to report to the empress and the emperor first. I will receive orders later.
What you have to do now is to prepare the cavalry and dispatch it as soon as the order comes. "
Feng Bao glanced at Liu Shouyou with disdain and gave instructions casually.
If the commander of the Jinyi Guards was Lu Bing of the Jiajing Dynasty, Feng Bao would certainly not dare to say this with this attitude. But other people, if it is Zhu Xi As for Xiao, it can't be like this.
As for Liu Shouyou, he doesn't exist.
Liu Shouyou didn't dare to say anything about Feng Bao's attitude. Nod and agree.
Now that the emperor is young, the two empress dowagers are actually the ones who call the shots in the palace. It is difficult for him, a foreign minister, to see them now. They all deliver their respective documents to the palace through eunuchs. Naturally, they cannot offend Feng Bao.
Even if it was such a big matter as assassinating the king and killing the driver, he, the temporary commander of the Jin Yiwei, did not know the so-called mastermind behind the scenes, and he really had no shame to tell it.
Feng Bao hurried back to the palace, but did not see Emperor Wanli in Qianqing Palace. When he asked, he found out that the young emperor Zhu Yijun had been taken back to Ciqing Palace by the Queen Mother, so he hurried over again and handed over Confession after Dongchang’s interrogation.
"Mother, according to the confession of the Assassin Minister Wang, he was bribed by Gao Gong's family to do such a shocking thing. The prisoner Gao Gong should be arrested and handed over to the factory guards for strict interrogation."
Feng Bao knelt in front of the two empress dowagers and Emperor Wanli and said.
"This"
When Empress Dowager Chen of Rensheng heard that Gao Gong was responsible for this incident, she was immediately horrified and also had many concerns. After all, Gao Gong was once the chief minister and an important minister entrusted by the late emperor.
If this charge is confirmed, the reputation of the late emperor will be damaged, that is, he does not know people well.
During the hesitation, Empress Dowager Cisheng Li’s eyebrows were raised, showing her anger at the moment.
She would not be merciful if she dared to kill her son, so she ordered the factory guards to arrest him. Just when she was on the verge of breaking out, Mrs. Chen pinched her wrist.
"This matter is not trivial. It is better to summon the cabinet ministers to ask how to decide."
The Queen Mother Chen said cautiously: 'If this matter is really done by Gao Gong, the foreign court will definitely be involved. I don’t know, it will be difficult to deal with later. ’
“Okay, listen to my sister, please quickly invite three cabinet ministers to come here to discuss the matter.”
Ms. Zhang suppressed the anger in her heart and said to the eunuch beside her.
After Zhang Juzheng, Wei Guangde and others came to Ciqing Palace to meet the Queen Mother and the Emperor, Minister Wang's confession was immediately handed over to Zhang Juzheng, and then circulated among Wei Guangde and Lu Tiaoyang.
After reading Minister Wang's confession, Wei Guangde raised his head and glanced at Feng Bao, who was standing next to Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun.
Dongchang’s interrogation confession, this thing.
Thinking of this, the corner of Wei Guangde’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
After Lu Tiaoyang was dumbfounded after reading the confession and handing it back, he heard the Queen Mother Chen say: "This minister Wang committed a heinous crime in assassinating the emperor, but the person behind the scenes he confessed is very troublesome, so the Aijia asked you to Come here to see what should be done."
"My dear, I think we should send Tiqi south to Xinzheng, capture Gao Gong and return to the capital to ask."
Feng Bao jumped out immediately.
After reading the confession, the three cabinet ministers all almost made one move, which was to look at him. Feng Bao knew that the three of them must have guessed what he was thinking.
Fortunately, although Lu Tiaoyang did not have a deep relationship with him, his status was low and he did not have much say. Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde, who had the most say in the cabinet, had a good relationship with him. They had not read the confession since It can be seen from their words that they have some scruples.
Well, this evil guy should do it by himself. Anyway, he and Gao Gong are not the same people.
Yes, Feng Bao looked down on Lu Tiaoyang, thinking that he was just a cabinet minister, but he was the minister of Gu Ming appointed by the late emperor, so his words should carry more weight than Lu Tiaoyang.
"No."
However, Lu Tiaoyang, the cabinet minister he looked down upon the most, was the first to speak: "Mother, even if Gao Gong is the mastermind behind this matter, he should make sure to contact Minister Wang before taking someone. Who is the servant of the Gao family?
But it is only a confession from the assassin, so it is difficult to confirm that Gao Gong instigated this matter."
(End of this chapter)