It's more than abnormal, it's simply insane.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an labeled Chen Hong a "perverted psychopath" without hesitation.
Maybe there is some water in Xiao Xizi's words, but there is still some truth to it, because Chen Hong was also poorly evaluated in history. There are sporadic records about Chen Hong in "Ming History·Biographies 193·Eunuchs 2": "The eunuchs in charge of ceremonies, Teng Xiang, Meng Chong, and Chen Hong were in favor. They competed with each other to show off their strange skills and tricks to please the emperor. They made Aoshan Lanterns and led the emperor to drink all night long..." There is indeed some shadow of Gong Chengshu in him.
"Master Xiao Zhu, do you know who the second person that old dog Chen Hong admires most is?" Xiao Xizi asked again.
Who is the second person you admire most
Zhu Ping'an thought about it and decided that according to the pattern of his first idol, his second idol must also be a eunuch.
"Zhao Gao?" Zhu Ping'an replied uncertainly.
Xiao Xizi shook his head.
"Gao Lishi? Eunuch Zheng He? Wang Zhen?" Zhu Ping'an thought for a while and gave a few more names.
"Master Xiao Zhu, none of them." Xiao Xizi shook his head and revealed the answer directly, "The second person that old dog Chen Hong admires most is Qiu Xuanqing."
"Qiu Xuanqing?" Zhu Ping'an was confused again when he heard this. What's going on? I am considered a well-informed and knowledgeable person in modern times, so how come two historical celebrities who I have never heard of appeared today
"I have heard of Qiu Chuji, but have never heard of Qiu Xuanqing. I would like to ask for your advice, Eunuch Xi." Zhu Ping'an bowed.
"Master Xiao Zhu, you are too polite. Qiu Xuanqing is a Taoist master from the early Ming Dynasty. He is related to the immortal Qiu Chuji. The immortal Qiu Chuji is the famous 'Seven Sons of Quanzhen' and the fifth head of Quanzhen Taoism. Qiu Xuanqing is also from Quanzhen, but he was born more than a hundred years later than the immortal Qiu Chuji."
Xiao Xizi bowed and explained.
Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He was just talking casually, but he didn't expect that Qiu Xuanqing was really related to Qiu Chuji and was Qiu Chuji's Nth generation disciple.
"Qiu Xuanqing was fortunate to meet the Taoist master Zhang Sanfeng in Wudang Mountain, and was recommended by the old immortal Zhang Sanfeng to be the abbot of the Five Dragons Palace. In the early Ming Dynasty, the court sent officials to search for hermits and talented people in the mountains. In the 14th year of Hongwu, after being selected and recommended by officials, Qiu Xuanqing was promoted to an official in the court and appointed as the Supervisory Censor. Whenever there was a great sacrifice to heaven and earth, Taizu would live in the Zhai Palace and ask Qiu Xuanqing about the weather. Every time Xuanqing answered, it would come true soon. He was soon promoted to the Minister of the Taichang Temple, and three generations of his ancestors were blessed..."
Xiao Xizi said slowly.
Zhu Ping'an became more confused as he listened. This was a Taoist priest. How could Chen Hong, a eunuch, worship a Taoist priest
The two people have nothing in common.
Or is it that the current emperor worships Taoism and likes to make elixirs and practice Taoism, so Chen Hong deliberately said that his idol is Qiu Xuanqing, deliberately trying to get closer to the emperor's interests? Although it is a bit far-fetched, it seems to make sense. For example, some modern leaders like to play table tennis, so there must be many subordinates who like and are good at playing table tennis.
"Master Zhu, do you know Yan Jiujie?" Xiao Xizi asked meaningfully when he saw Zhu Ping'an's confused look.
"I know. The 19th day of the first lunar month is the Yanjiu Festival, also known as the Yanqiu Festival." Zhu Ping'an nodded. The Yanjiu Festival was very popular in the Ming Dynasty. It was the most popular festival besides the Spring Festival, New Year's Eve, and Lantern Festival. On this day, people went to the temple to have fun, and it was very lively. Zhu Ping'an also participated in it twice when he was in Xiahe Village.
However, doesn't this festival originate from the birthday of the head of Quanzhen Taoism, Qiu Chuji? Qiu Chuji was born on the 19th day of the first lunar month, and Yanjiu Festival is also on this day. Back then, Qiu Chuji persuaded Genghis Khan to kill fewer people, thus saving the lives of many people in the world. This is the famous "one word to stop killing" in history. In order to thank Qiu Chuji for his great kindness, people specially set his birthday as a festival to commemorate him. It is said that on this day, Qiu Chuji will also come down to the world and meet people with whom he is destined. If people meet him by chance, they can pray for cure of diseases and longevity.
So? This festival was created because of Qiu Chuji? What does it have to do with Qiu Xuanqing?!
"Master Xiao Zhu? Although it is the same day? But I am talking about Jian Jiujie, the eunuch's Jian, not Yan Jiujie."
Xiao Xizi shook his head slightly.
"Castrate the nine sections?" Zhu Ping'an was confused again.
"Master Xiao Zhu, please listen to my detailed story. Once during the Spring Festival, Qiu Xuanqing made great contributions in sacrifice, and Taizu specially rewarded him with two palace maids. Because it was a gift from Taizu, Qiu Xuanqing could not disobey the order and return them. However, in order to avoid suspicion and to concentrate on his practice, Qiu Xuanqing castrated himself on the 19th day of the first lunar month. Gradually, this day became the Nineteenth Day of the Castration Festival, which was quite popular in our inner court. Every year on this day, people would worship and pray for blessings. Moreover, this festival is also very famous among the people in the capital. On this day, people would look for boys with pretty faces like girls near Baiyun Temple in the early morning, pointing to them as the reincarnation of Qiu Xuanqing." Xiao Xizi explained.
Oh, so that's how it is... Zhu Ping'an finally understood.
"That old dog Chen Hong admires Qiu Xuanqing because he castrated himself in order to concentrate on his practice. He also often said that real scholars should learn from Qiu Xuanqing and castrate themselves in order to concentrate on their studies. Only in this way can they be pure-hearted, concentrate on their work, and not be distracted by women..."
Xiao Xizi added.
Zhu Pingan couldn't help but twitch his lips when he heard this. If Chen Hong was really as Xiao Xizi said, he was really a pervert among perverts, and his whole body was twisted. If he met Chen Hong in the future, he would have to be ten million times more careful.
After talking for a while, when Liu Mu, Liu Dadao and others finished moving the bowl-mouth cannon, muskets and lead bullets, Zhu Ping'an bowed and said goodbye.
After leaving Eunuch He's place and unloading the goods at the Censorate's Office, Zhu Ping'an and his party set off again for the naval camp of Marquis Linhuai.
Linhuai Hou promised to give him a hundred horses yesterday. Zhu Ping'an prepared to go and receive them, but he would not take them away immediately. Instead, he would leave them in the navy camp first. When everything is ready, he would take them away when he goes to the militia camp. They can be used as a means of transportation.
When they arrived at the naval camp, Linhuai Hou gave Zhu Pingan another surprise. In addition to a hundred horses, Linhuai Hou also gave Zhu Pingan an extra five hundred kilograms of cotton to help Zhu Pingan train in the winter to keep warm.
After learning about it, Zhu Ping'an realized that the suggestion he made to Linhuai Hou last time was to "appoint a general commander to take charge of Huaihai, supervise coastal defense, and govern the prefectures of Suzhou and Songshan". After Linhuai Hou adopted the suggestion, news came from the capital today. Although the emperor has not approved it yet, he has already ordered the cabinet to discuss it.
This means there is hope.
Linhuai Hou was so happy that he gave himself an additional 500 kilograms of cotton and said that he would reward himself generously in the future.