Women's clothing in the Ming Dynasty

The outer city of Beijing, inside the Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Cong took a sip of milk tea comfortably. Thanks to the generals in the Northwest these years, he has tidied up the Mongolian side.The imperial court also changed its policy towards Mongolia, no longer blindly guarding against sanctions, but strengthening trade. In addition to important materials such as salt, iron and grain, some overseas handicrafts such as tea and silk were very popular among Mongolian nobles.On the other hand, Mongolia sent a large number of cattle and sheep to the Central Plains. With this set of carrots and sticks, the border finally stabilized.

In today's Beijing, besides the regular food of cattle and sheep, dairy products have also become indispensable.Although most Chinese people are lactose intolerant and unable to drink milk directly, various milk-based pastries and drinks have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Zhang Cong was already an extremely powerful minister, and the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty was under one person and above ten thousand, but he didn't like those big fish and meat, but he was addicted to sweets.But he was too old and had some physical problems. A few days ago, Jiajing sent an imperial physician to feel the pulse of the veteran, and the imperial physician repeatedly told him to stay away from sweets.Now the family is very strict and can only drink this cup of milk tea every day.

Just when Zhang Cong was intoxicated with the sweetness of milk tea, a servant came to report suddenly, and Lord Yan Songyan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, asked to see him.

"Hey," the originally good mood suddenly disappeared: "Just say that I am unwell, let him go back first." Zhang Cong said lightly.

The servant hesitated for a while, he also accepted the other party's benefits, so he said cautiously: "Master Yan said that he has something important to discuss..."

Zhang Cong snorted coldly: "What can be done, it's nothing more than establishing a reserve. The people who came to me these two days came to see me for this. Tell him, I don't see you." Just kidding, although Zhang Cong's political literacy is not very high, Anyway, he was also the chief assistant.The emperor's establishment of a crown prince can be mixed casually, not to mention that Yan Song and Gui E have a good relationship. He broke up with Gui E two years ago, and now he doesn't want to see the Gui party.

Helpless, the servant went out and said to Yan Song who was at the door: "Master Yan, it's not that I won't help you if you're a little one. The master has said it for a while, and no one has been seen."

"It doesn't matter." The old god Yan Song was there, and he took out a letter from his cuff, "Please pass this letter to the old man." The servant had no choice but to go because he was short-handed.

"What? He hasn't left yet?" Zhang Cong raised his eyebrows coldly, feeling really annoyed by Yan Weizhong, becoming more and more clueless.

The servant handed over the letter respectfully, and then explained to him what happened.Zhang Cong took the letter impatiently, and when he opened it, he rolled his eyes, and his face turned pale with shock.Forcibly holding down the tumbling thoughts, he first screened back left and right, and then asked someone to bring Yan Song in.

Yan Song bowed to Zhang Cong calmly, as if he had expected it to be so.

Although Zhang Cong was angry, he couldn't control that much. After the people around him walked away, he couldn't wait to slap the thing in his hand on the table, and said angrily, "Where did you get this thing?"

"Of course I have my origins, but I just dare to ask you, what do you think after seeing it?" Yan Song said with a smile.

Zhang Cong did not pretend to speak: "How do you feel? I will naturally go to Datian to let the emperor know that you are a rebellious thief!"

Ignoring his showmanship, Yan Song knew in his heart that if Shoufu was really as upright as he said, he would not have called him in, and what he did now was nothing more than defrauding himself.

So Yan Song continued: "Elder Ge was joking, but it's just some low-ranking officials' guesses, you can just watch for fun if it's true or not, don't be so alarmed."

"Hmph! Talking about the crown prince, spying on the palace! Lord Yan is relying on someone to back him up, and wants to cover the sky with one hand in the court!" Zhang Cong picked up the letter, and saw that there were impressively written on it the vassal princes who came to Beijing, and the list of candidates for adoption. There is even a long list of information such as motherhood, personality, and family background.

It must be known that although the earliest outline was decided by the cabinet of the Ministry of Rites, the specific content of the actual adoption was personally discussed by the Clan Mansion and Jiajing, and the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty were kept in the dark.As for the emperor Jiajing, uh... everyone can only say that the king's heart is unpredictable, who knows what he chooses the prince based on.

And with this list, you can bet in advance to ensure that you are not allowed to be a dragon.I didn't look at Lord Mao Chengmao who welcomed the emperor to the capital back then, because of this friendship, even after offending Jiajing many times later, he still entered the cabinet safely and securely.

Everyone knew this matter well, Yan Song simply made the words clear and said: "The old man's words are wrong. The Tian family has no personal affairs. We will know about the prince in advance. It is nothing more than wanting to relieve the country's worries earlier. As the head of the cabinet Fu, you should be more prepared, don't let the villain take advantage of the loopholes."

Zhang Cong remained unmoved: "Since you know that I am the chief assistant, as long as you are dedicated to the country, what are you afraid of! What's more, your majesty is in the prime of life, even if you establish a crown prince, there are still two or thirty years to go. I'm in no hurry."

"Ge Lao's achievements over the years are obvious to all, but we have struggled for the rest of our lives, after all, we must think about future generations. My son is incompetent, and he is disabled. Otherwise, Yang Ting and Yang Ge will be a lesson from the past!"

What he said reached Zhang Cong's heart. Yang Tinghe's son, Yang Shen, is an upright champion with first-class appearance, knowledge and knowledge, but he offended the emperor and is still an official in Hainan.I heard people say that he couldn't even eat enough in Hainan, and he looked haggard.If there are several sons in my family, including the son-in-law and the family members, if they can't go further, I'm afraid that when he retreats, the hostile forces in the court and China will be liquidated, and it will not be good.

Yan Song strikes while the iron is hot and said: "What's more, it is for the good of Ming Dynasty. You must know that many legal systems are advocated by you, Mr. Ge. If the prince learns from others in the future, then your hard work over the years will not be in vain."

Speaking of this, Zhang Cong felt a little guilty. To be honest, those reforms were proposed by the emperor, but it is really not his own credit to say it through his mouth.But at this moment, he was already a little moved, and hesitantly asked: "If His Majesty knows about this matter..."

"Please rest assured, Mr. Ge, all the contacts of the subordinate officials are used, even if something happens, it will not be counted on your head."

Zhang Cong gritted his teeth: "What are you going to do?"

Yan Song smiled, his heart finally came to fruition.

Of course Yan Song's family wasn't the only one planning the adoption, Lu Bing was so annoyed by the people who came to inquire, and finally found some free time, he immediately invited Li Chengfeng to have a drink at the newly opened restaurant.

At the dinner table, Lu Bing vomited bitterness to Li Chengfeng: "One or two people came to ask me, my surname is Zhu? What do I know! Sure enough, people made money and birds died for food. I saw Jin Yiwei before. Dare to breathe, now they are all blocked at my door, I guess I think the law does not blame the public, I can't do anything to them. If anyone reads my copy to the emperor, saying that I make friends with foreign ministers, I'm afraid it will be bad!"

Li Chengfeng nodded as he listened, but he knew in his heart that Lu Bing was just talking. He and Zhu Houcong had been in love with each other since childhood, and they were highly valued. No one could suspect him.

After spitting out the black mud, Lu Bing felt refreshed.Somewhat embarrassed, he poured wine for Li Chengfeng: "The emperor was able to find it last time thanks to Brother Li, otherwise our Jinyiwei would not be able to eat well, plus some things before, I have to toast you."

Li Chengfeng picked up the wine and drank it down: "Didn't you agree not to mention it again? Your Majesty and Your Majesty didn't pursue it for the big mistake I made back then. It's our duty to share the emperor's worries."

"What a matter of duty!" Lu Bing clapped the case, with an angry look on his face: "It's a pity that some people just don't understand, what's the use of busy chattering, it's better to be loyal and on duty!"

After that, the two drank for a long time, and both were a little drunk.Li Chengfeng was also surprised. His drinking capacity was tempered in the military camp. Lu Bing was able to compete with him. It seems that the child has really grown up...

In fact, Lu Bing was a little drunk, but he blushed, and most people couldn't tell.After Jiu Jiner, Lu Bing smiled and said: "Brother Li! In my life, I will obey no one, but you! To be able to hide the truth from the eyes of the world, with just one word - cow!"

"Damn! Don't mention it, there have been several times. My brother had a hard time in the past few years! Just talking about taking a bath and peeing is an old crime!" Li Chengfeng was also a little delirious.

The two talked nonsense again, and they didn't go downstairs until the sun was setting, planning to go home.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked out of the box, he saw a mess downstairs. It seemed that two groups of people had a dispute, but because the restaurant was located in a downtown area, there was so much noise that Li Chengfeng and Lu Bing didn't hear it.

Originally, they were too lazy to care about these things, but after drinking wine today, they felt a little dizzy, so they all wanted to go up to see what happened.

I saw a few young men dressed as Confucian scholars surrounded by a group of burly men. Not only were their clothes messy, but some of them also had scratches on their faces. They looked quite embarrassed.

And at the very front, a young man dressed in fancy clothes said triumphantly: "Why continue to scold me! Wasn't it crazy just now!"

Li Chengfeng took a closer look, and was half sober in an instant, and couldn't help but sigh that the Creator is really amazing.The young man in Chinese clothes was extremely fat, but his skin was as white as snow, and his neck was extremely short. His head seemed to grow directly on his shoulders, and it looked like a sphere from a distance.That's all, but one eye of that person is huge, and the other eye is distorted unnaturally, only the white of the eye can be seen, and the hairs are about to stand up when stared at by him, and the people around him don't realize it averted eyes.

Lu Bing next to him suddenly laughed out loud: "Isn't this the one-eyed son of Yan Song and Yan Shangshu's family? I remember his name... Yan Shifan?"

"Oh? You know him?" Li Chengfeng kept his expression on the face, but he was shocked in his heart, thinking that although Mr. Yan was a first-class treacherous minister in later generations, anyone who saw him would have to praise him, he was so handsome. !Thinking of the other party's slender and straight figure, I couldn't help but wonder, this is like a steamed bun made from bamboo, so what does Mrs. Yan look like?

Lu Bing replied casually: "Not really, but at that time someone in Jinyiwei suggested that this kid be taken in. He was born to be tortured when he grew up like this. But later, he felt that he was too troublesome, so he let it go."

The two were chatting, and the situation ahead changed again. The leading scholars pointed at Yan Shifan's nose and cursed, which completely angered Yan Shifan.He squinted his one eye, and said to the thugs, "Take off their clothes and throw them on the street. I want to see if they are tough with their mouths or with my fists!"

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng was not calm anymore. Occasional friction and collisions, small fights are normal, but stripping clothes is a bit insulting.Nowadays, one or two of the Daming students have thin skins, and in the end they can no longer end up, so they have to go to stop them.

"Hey——" Lu Bing held him down, "I don't bother Brother Li to take care of such a trivial matter. Wait for me to step forward and make these boys submissive."

Considering the identity of the other party, the second in command of Jin Yiwei was indeed more intimidating than the principal of his school, so he made a gesture of invitation.

Lu Bing was proud of himself, and wanted to show off in front of Li Chengfeng, so he walked over and said to Yan Shifan: "Young master, you have to forgive others and forgive others, just teach them a lesson, they are all scholars, don't worry about it." humiliation."

Yan Shifan glanced at him twice: "Where is the big fool, what's the matter with you, go away!"

Lu Bing's face turned black all of a sudden.

"..." Li Chengfeng also turned his head in embarrassment. This is probably the so-called failure of pretending.

Seeing Lu Bingchu standing still, Yan Shifan pointed to the servants beside him: "Throw this kid out!"

"Bold!" Lu Bing was completely angry, and with a bit of drunkenness, he didn't care about the three sevens and twenty ones, so he followed suit.

Li Chengfeng sighed softly and joined the battle.

Although there were many people on the opposite side, Li and Lu were both hard-working and hard-working. Their skills were good enough even if they were in the rivers and lakes. Soon Yan Shifan was defeated.

He also had a bit of brains, and sent someone to notify Shuntian Mansion as early as Lu Bing's attack.So soon a large number of yamen servants rushed over, and because Yan Shifan's father, Yan Song, was a minister of the Ministry of Rites and had a high position and authority, in order to show that he valued him, he came here as an official.

Li Chengfeng laughed when he saw the person coming, isn't this the general judge Wu Ling who was in charge of the false son-in-law Chen Zhao's case before.

Wu Ling saw Li Chengfeng's whole body trembling, and unconsciously revealed a trace of embarrassment: "Master Li." Last time he thought he was right, he was severely taught by Shangguan Fuyin, and now he is terrified when he sees Li Chengfeng.

Li Chengfeng waved his hand: "Wu Tong judged you at the right time. This Mr. Yan is bullying others in the capital, looking for opportunities to cause trouble. My friend and I were almost injured by them."

Wu Ling glanced at the thugs who were wailing all over the ground, and complained wildly in his heart, who hurt who!But when he inadvertently saw the people around Li Chengfeng, he broke out in a cold sweat, and the word "Jin Yiwei" was cursed by the officials of the Ming Dynasty. How did the young master of the Yan family provoke this evil star!

Lu Bing stood there without saying a word, but only glanced coldly at Wu Ling. Wu Ling felt his calves tremble, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Lu Bing said impatiently: "Stop talking nonsense, you can figure it out yourself."

It's still a matter of choice, offending Mr. Yan is at most losing his official position, and Jin Yiwei's side is terrible.So under Yan Shifan's unbelievable eyes, they were pressed back to the prison in Shuntian Mansion.

After such a commotion, Li Chengfeng was almost sober from the wine, seeing that it was getting late, he packed up and had to go back home.

"Wait a minute, benefactor!" The students who were besieged before stopped them and thanked them collectively. The leader wanted to salute Li Chengfeng.

"Student Gao Gong, thank you two benefactors for saving me."

Li Chengfeng, who originally planned to deal with a few sentences and go home directly, was slightly stunned when he heard the name "Gao Gong", recalled the rumors about this person in later generations, turned around and said seriously: "I heard that your accent is not local, it must be from the You have to take the exam in Beijing. You must know that Beijing is no better than your hometown. Although Yan Shifan is wrong today, you are not without dishonesty. I hope you will guard against arrogance and impetuosity in the future and serve the country as soon as possible."

He spoke with sincerity, and Gao Gong also felt it, and he responded repeatedly, and Li Chengfeng returned home.

Leaving aside how the Yan family reacted, within a few days, the imperial court issued an order, "The sons of Prince Yi, Prince Duan, and Prince Hui are invited to bring their sons to the palace for an audience."

All of a sudden, there was a turmoil in Beijing.

The author has something to say: You may not be very familiar with Gao Gong, so let’s briefly sort out the food chain of the Ming Dynasty’s first ministers during the Jiajing and Longqing periods.

Zhang Juzheng→Gao Gong→Xu Jie→Yan Song→Xia Yan→Zhang Cong

None of the chief assistants in this period retired by themselves, and they were all overthrown by their successors...Gao Gongdou overthrew Xu Jie, and was finally driven out of the ruling and opposition parties by Zhang Juzheng.

In fact, he is also very talented, but it is recorded in historical records that "he has an urgent nature, can't accommodate things, and can't store things and needs to be patient. If he disobeys and touches him, he will be broken. Every time he glares, the evil sound follows."

Simply sum it up in four words——Irritable Brother