Western Garden, Wuyi Palace.
Yuan Wei sat contentedly in the Binfeng Pavilion with a cup of hot tea in his hand, squinting his eyes slightly, tapping his thighs lightly with his fingers, looking at the fallen leaves flying in the wind in the courtyard, feeling extremely refreshed.
I was filled with admiration in my heart. What fresh air, what beautiful scenery, and how comfortable I was... Without that annoying and obnoxious Zhu Ping'an, everything in the Wuyi Palace was so beautiful.
Haha, the poem I submitted the day before yesterday received another “excellent” comment from His Majesty.
Yesterday, Lord Yan praised me for my quick wit and said that I was a promising talent and that I could be entrusted with important tasks.
Today, I completed the task assigned by my superiors in less than an hour, while those stupid colleagues are still racking their brains to finish their work. Haha, not even one of them is worthy of being my opponent...
I can say that I have been sailing smoothly, but as for that annoying Zhu Ping'an, he was lucky and had a few moments of fame. He was also given titles such as the first top scholar in the Ming Dynasty, the master of Qingci, and the first god of the Ming Dynasty. However, the one who laughs last is the winner. Zhu Ping'an is not worthy of the title and the position. In the end, he was demoted to a small county in the south of the Yangtze River and became a seventh-rank official. He is probably eating dirt in the south of the Yangtze River now. Oh, by the way, I heard that the small county is poor, with bad mountains and waters and many unruly people. Seven county magistrates died in six years. Zhu Ping'an is afraid that he can't even eat dirt if he wants to. I'm afraid that the next time I hear about Zhu Ping'an, it will probably be to pay tribute to him.
Yuan Wei had a smile on his face. He took a sip of hot tea and crossed his legs leisurely, swinging them back and forth.
"Master Yuan."
Xiao Dezi walked into Wuyi Hall and saw Yuan Wei sitting contentedly in Binfeng Pavilion. He greeted him politely.
"Eunuch De."
When Yuan Wei saw Xiao Dezi, he quickly stood up, put down his teacup, straightened his clothes, and walked forward to greet him enthusiastically.
Yuan Wei often presented poems to Emperor Jiajing, dealt with these young eunuchs a lot, and usually tried to curry favor with these close ministers.
"Eunuch De, are you here to convey the emperor's will?" Yuan Wei asked, his eyes suddenly warming up. These days, the northern barbarians have been invading the border, and floods and droughts have occurred frequently. He privately thought that the emperor was going to fast and pray for blessings again, and felt that it was time for him, Yuan Wei, to show his ability.
"Lord Yuan is truly amazing as he can predict the future. I am here to convey the emperor's oral instructions." Xiao Dezi nodded.
"The emperor's business is urgent. Please, Eunuch De."
When Yuan Wei got a positive answer, his eyes became even warmer and he quickly made a gesture of invitation.
Hurry up and convey the emperor's oral order to the palace. My brush has been thirsty for a long time. Haha, I had expected this day to come. I had already conceived two poems yesterday and was just waiting for the emperor's oral order.
Yuan Wei was very excited.
Soon, the two came to the main hall of Wuyi Palace. Yuan Wei helped invite the officials on duty to the main hall. Xiao Dezi conveyed the emperor's oral order in front of everyone, and ordered the officials on duty to discuss a reward and punishment strategy based on the war report on the Japanese invasion in Taizhou.
"Report on the war against the Japanese invaders in Taizhou?"
Yuan Wei was slightly startled when he heard this, and felt a little disappointed. He was actually asked to draft a reward and punishment strategy. His talent was somewhat useless. But after a second, Yuan Wei couldn't help but get excited. Isn't Jingnan a county under Taizhou Prefecture? It's also on the coast. If Taizhou was attacked by Japanese pirates, wouldn't Jingnan County be the first to be affected? It's almost impossible for him to escape the disaster. Then Zhu Ping'an... As I thought just now, when I heard the news about Zhu Ping'an again, I really wanted to pay my respects.
After Zhu Ping'an was demoted to Jingnan, Yuan Wei deliberately read Jingnan's information and knew a lot about it, so when he heard Taizhou, Yuan Wei thought of Zhu Ping'an. As expected, I am the favored child of heaven, and even heaven is helping me to make my wishes come true.
Among the officials on duty in Wuyi Palace, only a few who had handled the war report on the Japanese invasion in Taizhou knew about this war report. As soon as it was handled, it was submitted to the on-duty Lord Yan and Lord Xu, and then it was forwarded to Emperor Jiajing for his review. Therefore, most of the officials on duty in Wuyi Palace, like Yuan Wei, did not know about this war report on the Japanese invasion in Taizhou.
However, although the original was presented to His Majesty for his review, they kept a copy for archiving and record keeping.
Soon, a copy of the Taizhou Japanese invasion war report was circulated in Wuyi Palace.
"What? This, this... This reward and punishment strategy is a bit difficult to come up with."
The official on duty couldn't help scratching his head after reading the battle report.
Yuan Wei thought he was quick-witted and didn't rush to read the battle report. When he heard everyone's embarrassed voices, his eyes lit up and he couldn't help but imagine, could it be that the Japanese invasion in Taizhou was worse than expected? ! Haha, then Zhu Ping'an would be in big trouble... ...
"The Japanese invasion in Taizhou is so serious. Zhu Ping'an is too... Isn't he deliberately causing trouble for us?"
Another official on duty, who had circulated the report on the Japanese invasion in Taizhou, shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Hearing this, hearing Zhu Ping'an's name, and hearing the word "trouble", Yuan Wei's eyes brightened.
"Ahem, let me see."
Just at this moment, the battle report was circulated nearby, and Yuan Wei no longer remained reserved and grabbed the report.
"A civilian official has made such a great military achievement. Isn't Zhu Ping'an deliberately trying to cause trouble for us?!"
"That's right. You said conferring a title. Since the two-level titles of son and man were abolished, only the three high-level titles of duke, marquis and earl are left. Zhu Ping'an's military merit is not enough to be an earl. But you can promote him. According to the reward, how many levels should he be promoted?!"
Yuan Wei was about to open the battle report with great excitement when he heard the officials around him who had read the battle report talking about it. In an instant, Yuan Wei felt as if a basin of ice water was poured over his head, and his spine began to shiver.
A civilian official, Zhu Ping'an, achieved such a great military feat? !
What the hell are you talking about?!
How could Zhu Ping'an possibly achieve military merit? !
I don't believe it!
I don't believe it!
Yuan Wei opened the battle report with shaking hands and flipped through the first page, the second page... The more Yuan Wei read, the more his hands shook. This battle report must be fake... Yuan Wei simply couldn't believe his eyes. This so-called Taizhou Japanese invasion report was more of Zhu Ping'an's personal merit book than a Taizhou Japanese invasion report. Zhu Ping'an's deeds occupied most of the Taizhou battle report. The black and white words on the battle report clearly recorded Zhu Ping'an's great achievements. Facing 3,000 Japanese pirates attacking the city, Zhu Ping'an, with only 100 weak soldiers, not only defended the county but also beheaded 824 Japanese pirates and recovered the neighboring Taiping County... How is this possible? This is impossible. Is this battle report fabricated? !
"Is this battle report true? It's too unbelievable, isn't it?!" someone on duty questioned.
When Yuan Wei heard this question, he immediately perked up from his depression. Mr. Liu said it well! The question is good! I used to call you a blockhead in private, but now I apologize to you and take back what I said! You are a smart person, a very smart person!
"The battle report is absolutely true. The Jinyiwei in Zhejiang and Taizhou have just passed on the news, confirming the Taizhou Prefecture's report on the Japanese invasion." One of the officials on duty, who was responsible for receiving news from the factory guards, nodded vigorously.
What?!
It's actually true?! Did Zhu Ping'an really accomplish such a great feat?!
The battle report in Yuan Wei's hand fell to the ground...