Unofficial History of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty

Before the rain, Jiang Bin ordered people to clean up the bones, repair the house, straighten the streets, and wrote a letter to Zhang Zhong, contacting a party's civil officials to jointly write a letter, pleading for the allocation of food, salt, cotton, cloth and other supplies to welcome the coming cold winter.Emperor Zhengde originally had this intention, but he couldn't get away. After seeing the memorial, he quickly approved it, and the cabinet only made some calculations on the quantity. Then came the impeachment of the military general of the Xuanfu.

The winter solstice will be a few days later, and the people of the Xuan Mansion will rush to encoffin and leave the funeral households before the winter solstice. Those who have no funds for funerals will go to the commander of the capital to find the household room and the ceremony room to report.After Jiang Bin directed the households to check the distribution of supplies to the households, he then directed the workshops to repair houses for the common people and clean up the river.Jiang Bin, who is the governor of the left, does not need to direct these tasks in every detail, but as long as he rests for a while, Wang Ji's appearance before his death and the tragedy after his death will alternate in his mind, without stopping for a moment. This is a way to numb the resentment and resentment that cannot be vented in the heart.

"Captain Zuo, take a break!" Li Shichun, who had sneered at him when we first met him, also knew that he had misunderstood Jiang Bin in the past few days, and he felt a little guilty.

Jiang Bin's eyes were black and blue, he took the tea bowl handed over by Li Shichun, lifted the lid, blew on the heat, and took a sip: "I might as well not rest, but you, don't you go back and have a look?"

This time when the Xuan Mansion was attacked, Li Shichun learned that his wife and mother were safe, but he was just a little frightened, so he stayed with Jiang Bin all day long and did not go back to take a look.

"My mother-in-law will take care of her, so don't worry." Li Shichun trusted and proud of his bold and careful wife the most.

Jiang Bin smiled, suddenly a little envious, if there is always someone who guards for him like this, he won't be too depressed.Thinking of Jiang Ziqing who was still missing, Jiang Bin couldn't help sighing.At this time, someone came to report that the eunuch of Dongchang asked to see him.The letter from Emperor Zhengde said that he hoped that Jiang Bin would return to Beijing as soon as possible.In fact, Jiang Bin also knew that when he stayed in the Xuanfu for a few days, it was inevitable that he would give the officials the excuse that "if he is not in his position, he will not seek his own government". He has one more place to go.

Datong is only a day away from Xuanfu.Jiang Bin bid farewell to the commanders and envoys of Wanquandu and his grateful fathers and villagers, and took Wang Ji's ashes to Datong alone.Datong is the armor of the nine sides, controlling the fortifications and covering the capital, and it is comparable to the status of the Xuanfu, and it is also heavily guarded.However, when Jiang Bin arrived outside the city gate, a guard who knew him went to inform him. After a while, the eunuch Guo Jing brought a sedan chair to greet him.

After Xuande, eunuchs were set up wherever there was a general guarding the army, responsible for supervising the generals, assisting in military affairs, rectifying military discipline and border defense, and checking and balancing the status of the general army.It stands to reason that the relationship between the guarding eunuch and Wang Xun, the chief soldier of Datong, should be subtle, and there is no need to show favor to Jiang Bin. Jiang Bin wondered, maybe there is some relationship between this Guo Jing and Zhang Zhong.Guo Jing didn't ask any more questions, and took Jiang Bin straight to the General Military Mansion. Only then did Jiang Bin come to his senses. There was only one person who could guess the purpose of his visit to Datong and grant him the privilege of seeing Wang Xun who was under house arrest. .The world said that Emperor Zhengde was a foolish emperor who listened to his ministers, but Jiang Bin, who got along with Emperor Zhengde day and night, understood that the seemingly careless Emperor Zhengde never let anything out of his control, not even a tiny bit.

In order to cover up Jiang Bin's identity, the sedan chair was carried directly into the General Military Mansion, Jiang Bin got off the sedan chair, and Guo Jing asked his servants to go in and report.After a while the servant came out and led Jiang Bin to the courtyard.The servants I met along the way all hurried away with their heads down, not daring to look at Jiang Bin more than once, their silent demeanor was both ridiculous and pathetic.

Wang Xun sat in the bridge pavilion in the courtyard, staring at the lotus pond under the stone hole bridge.This lotus pond also existed in Wang Ji's mansion, but it has long since dried up, and a few withered and yellow branches withered and lifeless buried their heads in the mud.Jiang Bin stepped forward and carefully held the jade urn with both hands: "It's up to you to see him off for the last time, it's my own initiative."

But Wang Xun didn't answer, still looking at the bleak pool and said: "I have no face to see him."

Jiang Bin held it like that: "Do I have a clear conscience?"

Wang Xun was silent for a moment, finally took his brother's urn and hugged it in his arms, then turned to the lotus pond without saying a word.Jiang Bin also sat down to be in a daze with Wang Xun.The two had fought for three rounds when they first met, but at the moment they were as peaceful as old friends in their twilight years.As the sun sets, the tired birds return to their nests.I don't know that after dust returns to dust, there will be a day when we meet again.

"Bring wine." Wang Xun suddenly said to the servants beside him.

The wine is still the lamb wine that Wang Xun brought back last time, but Jiang Bin was fooled by Emperor Zhengde at that time, so he left without drinking.Made of millet, mutton, fresh fruit, and medicinal materials, the amber wine is mixed with aromas of meat, almonds, and traditional Chinese medicine. It is mellow and sweet with a long aftertaste.

The two of them drank a jar of sullenly, but they only felt that their mouths were full of bitterness.This bitterness seeps into the blood from the taste buds, and the more you drink, the more painful you become clear.Taking off the second clay seal, the red-eyed Wang Xun put it on for Jiang Bin again: "This time I was reckless, please ask Zuo Dudu to bring a message..."

Jiang Bin looked at Guiyue reflected in an amber lamp: "But it doesn't matter."

Wang Xun put down his wine note and said: "I will petition to be dismissed and return to the farmland. After burying my brother and offering sacrifices to my ancestors, I will visit some old friends."

Jiang Bin nodded.Although the report was ordered by Emperor Zhengde, those who wanted to win over or impeach Wang Xun were all staring at it, and it was not so easy to end it.This is a compromise method, which will not hurt the face of civil servants and Emperor Zhengde, and can also temporarily preserve Wang Xun's power.

The two drank another jar, and Wang Xun, who was drunk and shameless, finally lost his tongue: "The two jars that I agreed to give you last time, he must be buried in the wine cellar... thinking about waiting for you to come back." ..." Wang Xun closed his eyes, "If you remember... next time bring an altar with me... I will... I will..." Before he finished speaking, he fell asleep a little bit.

Jiang Bin yelled a few times but failed to wake him up, so he and his servants helped Wang Xun back to the room.

The next day, before Wang Xun got up, Jiang Bin bid farewell to Guo Jing and rushed to the capital without stopping.When I returned to the Leopard Room, it was the winter solstice, and Emperor Zhengde had not yet returned from offering sacrifices in the countryside. The laughter of the girls who were rehearsing a new song was so ear-piercing at this moment.

Jiang Bin returned to his own house - the adopted son's mansion bestowed by Emperor Zhengde.Jiang Bin didn't sit in the sedan chair, and it started to drizzle halfway through the sky.The rain seeped into Jiang Bin's heart with the bleak memories. It was so damp that it couldn't be drained, but there was no way to vent it.Jiang Bin had never felt so powerless.On that day, Wang Ji, whose boots were full of dust, was still holding his hand excitedly and said, "If this is really possible", but now, this hand is already cold, and he has been put into the fire by himself, and it is really frustrating...

Walking to the front of the house in a daze, the gatekeeper saw that his expression was not good, and opened the door for him eagerly.The door knocker with the animal head bared its teeth at Jiang Bin, and it didn't feel like home at all.The home in Xuanfu Town was not robbed this time, but the family members were gone, and what was left was just an empty shell.

Uncle Wu, the manager, heard that Jiang Bin had returned, so he hurried out to deliver an umbrella.The courtyard was kept very clean by the old servant. It was clearly late autumn, but there were only a few fallen leaves from the rain.In Jiang Bin's eyes, this cleanliness is like the upright face of those civil servants who are full of benevolence and morality but hide Wang Ji's inscription for their own selfishness.

"It's okay, let's all go down, I'll rest for a while..." Jiang Bin said to the two maids who were going to wait for her to dry off.The two maids glanced at each other, obediently withdrew and closed the door behind them.Jiang Bin dried himself off, put on his smoked tunic, and lay down on the pear wood bed that Emperor Zhengde liked so much.

Exhausted for many days, Jiang Bin fell asleep in a daze.In the dream, I saw Wang Ji again. He held Jiang Bin's hand and said something repeatedly, but Jiang Bin was surrounded by a layer of fog, making it difficult to hear clearly.Gradually, the voice faded away, and Wang Ji's face was reflected in the glass of amber lamb wine.A drop of rain fell into the cup, and Wang Xun, whose eyes were bloodshot, said, why don't you drink it?

Jiang Bin held the glass of wine and said, "Bitter..."

Mouth full of bitterness, heart full of astringency...

Jiang Bin woke up with a frown, and what caught his eyes was the tassels that looked like hair on the tent in the darkness, coupled with the knot with beads on it, it looked like a palm-sized head...Jiang Bin sat up abruptly, Until the warmth is sucked down to nothing but long loneliness.

The rain seems to have stopped, and occasionally a few drops of water on the eaves cast dripping shadows on the window paper.It must be a red sky outside, and the thick night buried the bright moon.

Jiang Bin, who was not used to being served by others, got out of bed with his clothes on, and felt very thirsty only after lighting the lamp.He poured out a glass of cold water and drank it with his head up, the coldness slipped down his throat and into his stomach, and his stomach began to ache.Jiang Bin's stomach problem happened when he was in charge of the affairs, and he kept busy, and no one took care of him.A few days ago, after eating the prescription prescribed by Wu Jie, I got better, but when I got hungry, I felt severe pain.Jiang Bin wanted to get up and go to the kitchen to see if there was anything to fill his stomach. When he closed the door with his hand, he heard footsteps from far to near.Jiang Bin opened the door and met the person carrying the food box.The man let out a "Yo", held the food box firmly, then looked at Jiang Bin and said, "Are you awake?"

Jiang Bin looked at the Emperor Zhengde who was still wearing the sacrificial uniform and stood there blankly, not knowing how to react.Emperor Zhengde didn't care, walked into his room a few steps, put the food box on the table, and took out the dishes one by one.Sesame sesame oil pancakes, steamed buns stuffed with sand, mutton, steamed chicken, goose with pepper and vinegar, roast pork... are all light food, but they are delicately cooked.

"It's a coincidence that you woke up, let's eat some together!"

Jiang Bin was pressed to the table inexplicably, was stuffed with bowls and chopsticks inexplicably, and looked at a hill piled up in the bowl inexplicably.Emperor Zhengde, who called his maid to warm the wine, chewed the sesame seed cake and asked him, "Why don't you eat it?"

Emperor Zhengde's clothes were still stained with water, and two strands of hair were hanging on his forehead. It was obvious that he came here in a hurry.

"Why doesn't the emperor return to the palace?"

"Why don't you worship your ancestors?"

Jiang Bin stroked his wine glass and said, "My parents died of cholera, my father is an abandoned child, and I don't know my ancestral home."

Emperor Zhengde said "Oh", then stood up and walked around to Jiang Bin, holding him in his arms: "Isn't there still a foster father?"

Jiang Bin stiffened and pushed, "Zongbing Wang asked me to bring something."

After listening to Jiang Bin's report, Emperor Zhengde just nodded, then let go of his hand and continued to drink at the table.After drinking a pot, Jiang Bin's body warmed up a lot. Emperor Zhengde complained of a headache, took off his clothes and rolled on Jiang Bin's bed, then showed his head and waved: "Come here!"

Jiang Bin had no choice but to turn off the lights and lie down beside Emperor Zhengde with his clothes on.There were two men crowded on the bed, and every movement made a "creaking" sound.Emperor Zhengde obviously didn't want to hear "bed cries", and Jiang Bin was pulled into his arms when he turned sideways.The body temperature coming through the fabric is strange and seductive.Emperor Zhengde stretched out his hand and untied Jiang Bin's bun, and the tense nerves seemed to relax along with the hair, and it fell loose behind him.But Emperor Zhengde, who was full of alcohol, didn't move any further. He just put his thumb on Jiang Bin's temple and rubbed it gently.With scorching hot breath on his face, Jiang Bin looked at Emperor Zhengde who was close at hand with confusion in the dark.

"Tomorrow, I will ask Wang Xun to hand in the official seal, and I will go back to bury Wang Ji."

Jiang Bin nodded.

"These days are hard for you."

Jiang Bin didn't say a word, he knew that Emperor Zhengde often defended him from the sniping arrows of the officials in order to satisfy his selfish desire of overreaching.

Emperor Zhengde stroked his hair distressedly, and after a while, he sighed again: "Dragon can't escape from the abyss, and people can't escape from power...I'm finally one step too late."

Jiang Bin raised his head and looked at Emperor Zhengde whose face was hidden in the shadow under the moonlight. His tone was full of tiredness, and a burst of sadness surged up. Jiang Bin never pushed away the person who came up to him. hand.

"If the emperor can really rule the world like this, what's the harm in letting the minister down like a dead dog?"

Emperor Zhengde fiddled with the belt under Jiang Bin's ribs: "Why do rabbits and dogs cook?"

Knowing that Emperor Zhengde was still waiting for his reply, Jiang Bin closed his eyes and fell asleep in peace.Emperor Zhengde leaned over helplessly, pulled up his hair and gnawed a tooth mark on that neck.