Chapter 20 The nineteenth chapter explains the gatha in Bingzhu Mountain in the middle of the night.Say the mantra first

Zhang Juzheng shook open the post, and saw a five-character jingle written on it: There is someone in Tanabe stepping on stones to catch egrets The bird spreads its wings fly into the clouds After reading it several times, Zhang Juzheng didn't see any mystery in it, but felt that the handwriting seemed familiar, so he asked: Who wrote this post? He Xinyin replied: It's Chu Youjia, your chief friend. It's him?Zhang Juzheng was shocked again, and immediately asked, where is he now? He is far away in Wuchang. In Wuchang, what is he doing in Wuchang? Zhang Juzheng looked eager. Although he was in a high position, he still missed his commoner friends very much.Seeing this, He Xinyin couldn't help being moved, so she replied: Chu Youjia has converted to Buddhism for more than 20 years, and there is nothing to explain.Now he is the descendant of Linji School of Zen, and he is based in Baotong Temple on Xiaohong Mountain outside Wuchang Prefecture.

Baotong Temple?Zhang Juzheng went to Xiaohong Mountain when he went to Wuchang Township Examination that year, and he vaguely remembered that it was a small temple. Since Youjia is a descendant of Linji, he should live in a famous big temple. Brother Uncle's words were wrong, and He Xinyin replied, You Jia, who is now the famous Zen master Wu Wuda, once set up his ambition to build ten giant temples of Linji School of Zen in his life.This Baotong Temple is the fourth one. Since he became the abbot three years ago, disciples of the Linji Sect have come to join him, and benefactors from all directions have also donated money to help. Today's Baotong Temple is already a magnificent Zen Buddhist jungle.

ah!Zhang Juzheng was excited for a while, thinking that this life experience is really a large article that cannot be described in detail, he sighed again and again, and said, "You two, now, one is a great Zen master and the other is a university student. In Buddhist terms, both of you have cultivated to the right fruit." . Compared with Brother Shu, Zen Master Wuke and I can only be regarded as marginal figures. Brother Zhu Gan, why should he be so self-effacing. It's not self-effacing, I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart.He Xinyin said leisurely, whether it is a great Zen master or a university student, although it can be regarded as the career of a man of seven feet, but after all, it is of no benefit to the common people, and it cannot be regarded as a great career of the world.On the contrary, brother uncle, who is about to ascend to the position of chief assistant, this is the great cause of an iron-blooded man!

He Xinyin's voice was not loud, but due to the silence of the night, every word he said was like thunder.Although Zhang Juzheng knew that there was a long corridor outside the living room, there were no idle people around.But he was still worried that the wall had ears, so he quickly signaled He Xinyin not to continue, and said in a low voice: Brother Zhu Gan, you are a wild crane, you can speak with your heart, but I am not free in my official position, so you must not talk nonsense. He Xinyin shook his head disapprovingly, and said: Brother Uncle, I, He Xinyin, am a madman. I talk crazy every day, but I will never tell nonsense.

Zhang Juzheng didn't want to have a dispute with his old friend who had just reunited, so he changed the subject, pointed to the poster on the case table and asked: "What is the purpose of Zen Master Wuke writing these jingles?" It's for you.At the beginning of May, I went to Wuchang on a study tour, and I went to Baotong Temple to worship Buddha, and I met Wuke.He also said that he would come to the capital, and he might come to see you again, and asked him what he would say to you. After thinking about it, he wrote these four jingles. In this way, this is not a jingle, but it should be a gatha in the words of the Zen family.

It's a verse, and He Xinyin paid a little attention to the Jietie placed on the case table, and then said, when I first got it, I couldn't figure out what it meant, but when I got to the capital and saw the situation here, I gradually understood the mystery. . Zhang Juzheng became interested, and couldn't wait to say: Brother Zhu Gan, please explain quickly. He Xinyin pointed to Jietie and asked Zhang Juzheng: What radicals do you think the characters in these verses consist of?Without waiting for Zhang Juzheng to answer, he went on to say that among the twenty characters, there are ten characters for mouth, one character for stone, three characters for bird, and one character for corpse.

Zhang Juzheng picked up the sticker and looked at it again, and it really contained so many radicals, so he asked: What does this mean? He Xinyin smiled and said: "The mystery is here. There are ten mouths under the corpse, which are Zhang Juzheng's residence characters. Obviously, this gatha reveals the secret." Zhang Juzheng shook his head disapprovingly, and said: I don't see any secrets, moreover, if there is a residence but no authority, how can it be proved that it was written for me? This is the excellence of Zen Master Wuhe. He Xinyin's unfathomable eyes shone with wisdom, and he continued, "Although you have been in the cabinet for a long time, you have always been a secondary assistant and have not been awarded a full-time job. Go orthographic.

oh? Seeing Zhang Juzheng's surprised face, He Xinyin said: "Although the orthographic characters are hidden, the gatha still contains the orthographic characters."Wang Wei, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, said in a poem that "momo paddy fields fly egrets, and egrets live in paddy fields."I see that the egret catcher at the edge of the field is referring to you. Zhang Juzheng frowned and pondered for a while, then replied: If Wuke really thinks so, he has misinterpreted the embrace of his old friend. Brother Uncle, I know you have always been cautious, but in front of your old friends, you don't have to hide it.Twenty-six years ago, when you were only twenty-two years old, you wrote such a poem as General Huan Peixiang serving the forbidden house, and, since then, you have persevered year after year, relying on your tenacious will and extraordinary strength. His talents finally made it to the cabinet.Now, you are only one step away from the position of chief assistant, don't you really want to catch this egret?

He Xinyin's generous speech made Zhang Juzheng's heart flutter. He sighed and replied: Back then, he was young and energetic, and he didn't know the depth of the world, so he was prone to lying. After so many years, he realized that the great cause is not human. reach. Brother Uncle's remark was wrong again, He Xinyin was quick to speak, and immediately refuted, the ancients said that heaven rewards hard work, and there are endless articles to be done with just this word "diligence". Yeah?Zhang Juzheng smiled wryly, and said, even if I was the one who wanted to catch egrets, in the end it would be nothing.

how do I say this? Didn’t Chan Master Wuke’s gatha explain it already? The egret didn’t catch it and flew into the white clouds. He Xinyin laughed, and teased kindly: I think the uncle and elder brother have confused the right and wrong in the officialdom.Let me ask you, what is another name for Wuchang Fucheng? It was called Jiangxia in ancient times. That's historically known, and there is another one? Zhang Juzheng shook his head. He Xinyin asked again: Have you ever climbed the Yellow Crane Tower? boarded. After climbing the Yellow Crane Tower, you should remember the poem by Cui Hao. Among them, there are two lines of "Yellow Crane Never Returning, Baiyun Thousands of Years Empty".

After such a little dialing, Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized, and quickly replied: I remember, there is another saying in Wuchang Mansion, it is called the land of white clouds and yellow cranes. now it's right.He Xinyin slapped his thigh and said excitedly: Didn't the egret fly into the white clouds and fly to your hometown?This first and auxiliary position should be firmly in your hands. Hearing He Xinyin's explanation, Zhang Juzheng liked it very much, but he said: This is Youjia, ah no, this is a play on words by Zen Master Wuhe, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously. He Xinyin saw through Zhang Juzheng's thoughts and didn't argue. After thinking for a while, he asked: "Brother Uncle, it has been two hundred years since Emperor Hongwu established Damingxia, during which time there have been nine emperors.In your opinion, which of these nine emperors can enjoy the reputation of the Taiping Emperor? Zhang Juzheng replied: It should be Emperor Yongle. Yes, it is Emperor Yongle!He Xinyin replied in a tone of admiration, and went on to say that during the Hongwu period, Emperor Yongle was still the King of Yan, and the residence of King Longqian lived in the Yanwang Mansion in Beijing.I heard that there was a physiognomist named Yuan Gong who was exquisite in physiognomy, but lived in seclusion in the mountains and refused to walk around the rivers and lakes.The King of Yan sent a special envoy to respectfully invite Yuan Gong to meet him in the mansion of King Yan.After Yuan Gong bathed and fasted, he traveled day and night to Beijing, and chose an auspicious day to come to Yan Wang's mansion to meet Yan Wang.When the King of Yan saw Yuan Gong, he was like a master, and he was already in awe of Yuan Gong before he could talk.This Yuan Gong also stepped forward respectfully, circled around the king of Yan, then faced the holy face, leaned left and right, and saw the face of the king of Yan thoroughly with a few eyes.After reading it, Yuan Gong first knelt down and kowtowed to the King of Yan, and then sat up and said: King Yan is the appearance of the Taiping Emperor, with the shape of a dragon and the posture of a phoenix. Elbows are like flesh seals, dragons walk like tigers, and the sound is as loud as a bell, it is really the Lord of the world.Zhu Mingjiangshan, the emperor's career, Wenzhiwugong, should be carried forward in your body, this is exactly what the Taiping Emperor did.When you are forty years old and a beard grows beyond your navel, that is when you will ascend to the throne.What he said made Yan Wang doubtful.It should be noted that when Yuan Gong said this, Zhu Yuanzhang had already passed on the throne to his eldest grandson Zhu Yunqi, who was known as Emperor Jianwen in history.Perhaps it was Yuan Gong's words that played a role, prompting Zhu Di to send his troops south to snatch the emperor's throne from his nephew.On the 17th day of the sixth month in the 35th year of Hongwu, the 40th birthday of King Yan, he was entrusted with the destiny and heir to the Great Treasure.Only the Taiping Emperor, who has made great achievements for hundreds of generations, believed what Yuan Gong said, and it was not bad at all. He Xinyin's vivid description did not arouse Zhang Juzheng's interest.He loves reading, and although he pays attention to the knowledge of economics and economics on weekdays, his works such as "Taiqing Shenjian", "Luoluzi's Three Fate News Fu", "Li Xuzhong's Fate Book", "The Taoist in Linen Yizheng Changes His Heart", etc. "Fa" and other numerology books, I have read dozens of books in my spare time.With this foundation, and the unofficial history that He Xinyin talked about, he was familiar with it, so it didn't sound exciting.After He Xinyin finished speaking, he just replied perfunctorily: Emperor Yongle was not confused at forty, he knew that he was a powerful dragon and was in love with the world. The fate of the dragon species, the national artifact, was originally a heavenly secret, but it happened to be heard by Yuan Gong. Not a coincidence, but a word!He Xinyin heard Zhang Juzheng's contemptuous tone, so he retorted dissatisfiedly, "Uncle and brother, you and I are both learning, and it's okay to criticize the ancients, but it's not to ridicule the full bucket of water with half a bucket of water, let alone criticize knowledge with ignorance. Zhang Juzheng's face turned red and then pale in embarrassment.Fortunately, he has cultivated self-cultivation after a long time in the officialdom, and it was the first time that an old friend met, so he swallowed down the extreme unhappiness, forced a smile and said: Brother Zhu Gan, I was just joking, but you are serious. I haven't seen you for so many years. I didn't expect you to have so much knowledge. As soon as he got angry, He Xinyin felt regretful, but once he said it, he would never admit his mistake. Seeing that Zhang Juzheng took the initiative to make up for his smile, he took advantage of the situation and went down the steps, saying: I have a strong temper, I'm afraid I won't be able to change it until I die, and I still look forward to my uncle and brother Haihan.I just mentioned the section on Yuan Gong, but there is actually more to it.The Taiping Emperor is the Yongle Emperor who was born in Yanwang, and there is no objection to this.However, the chief assistant of the cabinet in this dynasty is equivalent to the position of prime minister in the previous dynasty. From Xie Jin in Hongwu to Gao Gong, there are more than forty people who have served as chief assistant, but none of them It can be called the prime minister of peace.From the "Tui Bei Tu" written by Li Chunfeng, it can be inferred that after Gao Gong, there must be a Taiping Prime Minister.Brother Uncle, in my opinion, the Prime Minister of Taiping is none other than the Lord. Zhang Juzheng looked at his old friend who spoke eloquently like a teenager in front of him, and asked: Brother Zhu Gan, what kind of person do you think can win the reputation of Prime Minister of Taiping? He Xinyin replied almost without hesitation: Follow what you do, follow the Lord's law, wait for orders with an open mind, and never speak privately.Let the common people of the world, those who cherish the will get the will, those who cherish the land will get the land, there will be no tyranny, no cruel officials, the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe, and the territory will be permanent.If the country has this sign of ZTE, it must be the act of the Prime Minister of Taiping. Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly, and then replied with a wry smile: According to your high opinion, the Prime Minister of Taiping may be a mirror image, he has never had success in the past, and he will never appear in the future. Yes, being the Prime Minister of Taiping is something that can be met but not sought after.But, brother uncle, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has already appeared in front of you. How do you see it? The tenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty had ascended the throne yesterday. He was a ten-year-old young emperor. There were ten verses in the unrequited gatha, which just hinted at this matter.What does such a young gentleman know, to govern the country and the people, not rely on the chief assistant?Therefore, this appointment as chief assistant should be used to guide the country as much as possible, abolish the turbid and promote the clean, and create a peaceful and prosperous world. What He Xinyin said was exactly what Zhang Juzheng was thinking.He felt that although his old friend's habit of being arrogant and eloquent had not changed, he was indeed worthy of being a well-known scholar, so he said with a smile: "Brother Zhu Gan, what you said tonight seems to be not Mr. Yangming's mind. This is called imperialism.He Xinyin became more and more enthusiastic, and said ostentatiously, Mr. Yangming is the patriarch of my learning, and the science of mind he founded is the category of knowledge, while the study of emperors is based on practicality. Zhang Juzheng said: The combination of knowledge and action is the foundation of Mr. Yangming's knowledge. From this point of view, you are the authentic heir of the study of mind.I think, if you were born in the Warring States period, Su Qin and Zhang Yi, who practiced the art of combining vertical and horizontal, must be inferior to you. Brother Uncle has won the award. Although He Xinyin is humble on the surface, he still has an indelible conceit in his bones. For Brother Shu, the knowledge of helping the world is useful and good. For me, He Xinyin, it is knowledge. If the two of us Unity is the unity of knowledge and action. What, you changed your mind to be an official again?Zhang Juzheng asked in surprise. He Xinyin smiled, straightened her goatee, which had been blown to pieces by the draft, and said: Brother Uncle misunderstood what I meant.As the saying goes, there are three stakes for a fence, and three gangs for a hero. You will be the prime minister of peace, and I will show my ingenuity and play a little role as a helper.Don't talk about being an official, I don't even want to be your aide, I just give you advice when you feel the need. He came all the way to Tianshou Mountain to see me, so he wanted to be a national teacher.Zhang Juzheng thought in his heart, so he became more vigilant and said: You keep saying that I am the Prime Minister of Taiping, as if I have now been crowned as the chief assistant. This is a matter of time.He Xinyin's tone is beyond doubt. Zhang Juzheng smiled, and teased: Brother Zhu Gan is not a roundworm in the stomach of the emperor, how can you be so sure? He Xinyin replied: This is the lice on the monk's head, it's obvious.Think about it, the young emperor who ascended to the throne yesterday, when he was appointed as the crown prince four years ago, you made great contributions, brother uncle, and now the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, besides you, there is Gao Yi, but Gao Yi is a terminally ill person.The new emperor's chief companion is Feng Bao, and he has issued a decree to let Feng Bao replace Meng Chong as the chief inspector of ceremonies, and the next step will definitely be you to replace Gao Gong as the head of the cabinet. Zhang Juzheng admitted in his heart that He Xinyin's analysis made sense, and he also hoped for such an ending.But on the surface, he seemed indifferent to this matter, so he replied in a reminding tone: Brother Zhu Gan, it should not be the work of a minister to speculate on the holy will. If you don't try to figure out the holy will, how can the way of being a minister be manifested?He Xinyin tactfully asked a question, and then said, now let's talk about the third level of meaning in Chan Master Wuke's verse. I just said that in these twenty words, there is a stone and three birds. Three birds with one stone, Zhang Juzheng immediately said, what kind of secret is there to get such an idiom in it? I don't know the meaning of "killing three birds with one stone", but according to my guess, it should refer to the three things that the uncle should do after he becomes the chief assistant. which three things? Of course, it is to clarify politics and create a new style. Please be specific. When it comes to politics, Zhang Juzheng has the domineering tone in the officialdom. He Xinyin is not used to it, but since what he is going to talk about next is the grand plan of governing the country that has been haunting him for many years, he can't care about his attitude, so he sips He took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said calmly: The first thing to do is to recruit talents and use talents, and eliminate crony politics.As the ancients said, officials are the foundation of governing a country.Hundreds of officials win people, and they use benevolence to caress the world, and the grass and trees.On the contrary, the lives will be ruined, and the country will have no peace.Throughout the past two hundred years of this dynasty, among the three lords and nine ministers with high ranks, few were willing to serve the court and seek the well-being of the people.Why?It is because many sages are not in court.Let’s not talk about it, let’s talk about Yan Song, the chief assistant of Emperor Jiajing, who was the biggest traitor since the Ming Dynasty. Most of the people he used were the same year, students, fellowship, and relatives.Clique politics has reached its peak in his hands.More recently, Gao Gong, who is still in the position of chief assistant, has half of the officials from the Xiantai of the state capitals in the world, and the major yamen in the two capitals.In all fairness, Gao Gong is a rare capable minister, but he also fell into the quagmire of crony politics and couldn't extricate himself He Xinyin started talking, but couldn't hold back the momentum.But Zhang Juzheng had a deeper experience of what he told.He knew that if he continued to discuss like this, he would not be able to finish talking for three days and three nights, so he interrupted He Xinyin and said: Brother Zhu Gan, there is no need to cite examples. Clique politics is actually a cancer in the officialdom. It is impossible to solve this problem overnight. It is easy to talk about recruiting and employing talents, but it is not easy to do in practice.Someone is indeed a virtuous minister with a great reputation, but if he is asked to do specific things, it will either be bad or fail. This is the second thing I'm going to say next, you should use more Xunli and less Qingliu. Uh, Zhang Juzheng said with a glint in his eyes, this is something new, I would like to hear about it later. Encouraged, He Xinyin spoke with joy and eloquence: the term "Xunli" was originally created by Tai Shigong, and it refers to those officials who are diligent in governing and benefiting the people, upright and selfless in law enforcement.And Qingliu people refer to those bug-like characters who don't talk about flexibility when they encounter problems, and blindly search for chapters and sentences. These people pay attention to integrity and dare to resist the villains in the officialdom. This is a good side.But they have a good name but no reality, and lack the heroic spirit of generosity.All young scholars, who have just entered the official career, are willing to be officials and want to do a great job.But as they get more involved in the world, they inevitably become polarized. Some of them are infected with the corrupt atmosphere of the officialdom and gradually degenerate, while the other part of them clean their lives and return to the Qingliu sect.Those who really stick to the original intention and persist in following the official path are rare, and there are very few of them. Well said, Zhang Juzheng's excitement this time came from the bottom of his heart, he got up and walked a few steps back and forth in the hall, stopped in front of He Xinyin, and said solemnly, brother Zhu Gan's discussion was heartfelt and hit the mark. Father, like son.Now, let's talk about the third item. As for the third thing, He Xinyin watched Zhang Juzheng return to his seat, and said slowly, it might be more difficult to do than the previous two things. Yeah?Zhang Juzheng asked casually. He Xinyin nodded, and said word by word: The third thing you should do is: clean up the wealthy family and benefit the common people. After He Xinyin finished speaking, she looked intently at Zhang Juzheng's expression, only to see that his brows were furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time.At this time, the moon is as bright as water outside the Thanksgiving Hall, and the pine waves are rustling.Where the mountain wind passes by, the heat of the day has been blown away.Zhang Juzheng got up and walked to the window, looked at the black peaks that were close at hand, took a long breath, and then said: Mencius said that it is not difficult to govern, and you should not offend the wealthy family, but you want me to clean up the wealthy family. Isn't this digging your own grave? Uncle and elder brother, the history books are clear, and the records are very detailed. All the disasters and changes in the society in the past dynasties were all done by wealthy families.Therefore, a generation of Ming lords like Tang Taizong demoted all the rich families in Jiangyou to common people at the beginning of his ascension to the throne.Zhu Hongwu, the founding emperor of this dynasty, feared that there would be chaos in the rich family after his death, so he did everything possible to cut it off. Not to mention, Zhang Juzheng, who was still standing in front of the window, didn't even turn his head, just waved his hand to stop He Xinyin from continuing, Brother Zhugan, since you have come to teach me from thousands of miles, of course you will find many examples to illustrate the greatness. Harm of the room.I just ask you, what is a rich family? Zhang Juzheng turned around abruptly, two sharp eyes shot towards He Xinyin, a shudder suddenly passed through He Xinyin's heart, he paused, and replied: "The rich family, as the name suggests, should be the relatives of the emperor, the family of prominent eunuchs, Only this group of people can coerce the emperor to order the princes, steal and plunder, and fish the common people. Zhang Juzheng smiled coldly, and his tone of voice was reprimanded: Brother Zhu Gan, according to what you say, don't you intend to make me oppose the emperor? However, doing so is also in the interests of the court. You are a bookish person, forget it, let’s not talk about emperor studies, let’s talk about Yangming’s theory of mind that you have studied for many years. He Xinyin was originally a high-spirited person, when he heard Zhang Juzheng's tone that he didn't want to talk any more, he sighed and said: "Brother Uncle, I traveled to study in the capital and came to see you with a passion, but I was thrown into cold water by you."Come on, let's leave it at that.After all, He Xinyin got up and bowed, and was about to go out. Brother Zhu Gan, wait a minute! When Zhang Juzheng shouted, He Xinyin who had already reached the door stopped again. It's so late, where are you going?Zhang Juzheng asked. Back to the capital.He Xin replied angrily. Let's go back together tomorrow, Zhang Juzheng was obviously a little sorry, so he put away all his indifference and replaced it with a smiling face and said, we have been separated for twenty-six years, and the moonlight is so beautiful tonight, we should warm a pot of wine for Jingxi Talk about the feelings of farewell. Originally, He Xinyin still had a hope, thinking that Zhang Juzheng would change his mind and ask him to come back and discuss the state affairs together.Seeing Zhang Juzheng's statement like this now, he no longer has any hope, so he cupped his hands again, and said resolutely: "Brother Uncle, I've said everything I need to say, let's just leave it at that."As soon as the voice fell, the person had already stepped out. Brother Zhu Gan wait a minute, I'll send someone to see you off. No need, outside the mountain gate, there is still a little donkey that I rode. While Zhang Juzheng was talking with He Xinyin at Tianshou Mountain by candlelight, Feng Bao came to Meng Chong's home in Dingxiang Hutong in a blue blanket sedan chair carried by four people.At that time, Meng Chong invited an eminent monk from Daciren Temple in the north of Lvshi Hutong Street to explain Buddhism to him. However, after the death of Emperor Longqing, Meng Chong knew that his situation was over, so he made up his mind to give up his seat to Feng Bao.Two days before the new emperor ascended the throne, Meng Chong almost cleaned up all the things in his room.He also sent someone to find Feng Bao, and said respectfully: Mr. Feng, I should not have been allowed to take the top spot in the hands of the supervisor of ceremonies. In terms of qualifications and reputation, it should be you.It's just that he, the tall beard, recommended me. There's nothing I can do about it. After two years of random work, I blocked your way for two years.Now, I return this chair to you.Look, I've packed up this value house, and you can move in anytime.Feng Bao smiled and said: "Eunuch Meng is also an old man in the palace, how can you say such unruly words? Your palm print eunuch was appointed by the late emperor, and it is not a private thing. You can give it away as you like."Meng Chong replied: Now that the first emperor Bintian and the new emperor are about to ascend the throne, it is only natural to change generals.You are the great companion of the new emperor, and it will be a matter of time before you can sit in this room. I, Meng Chong, sitting in this seat is like playing with a lion while wearing a mortar. Let me give it to you, I will go to the Qianqing Palace to kneel and play to the prince.Feng Bao was surprised by Meng Chong's initiative. Although he was happy in his heart, he still pretended to dissuade Meng Chong on the surface.Yesterday, before the new emperor's appointment of Feng Bao as the chief inspector of ceremonies was issued, Meng Chong had already gone through the formalities of handing over to Feng Bao, and then returned to Dingxiang Hutong slumped.This private house was rewarded to him by Emperor Longqing. He usually works in the palace and rarely comes back to live here. Even if he occasionally comes to stay overnight, he rushes back to the palace in a hurry before dawn.This morning, he slept in for the first time.In fact, he still woke up after beating the fourth watch, sat up with a grunt, and was about to call the boy to help him get dressed, when he remembered that he was unemployed now.I couldn't help having a sore nose, with two tears in my mouth, and then lay down lazily, curled up on the kang mat, thinking about my thoughts.Thinking about my own ups and downs, I feel that life is like a dream, and I can't figure it out, so I thought of inviting the eminent monk from Zhaoning Temple. Hearing that Feng Bao came to visit, Meng Chong, who was quietly listening to the Dharma, was startled. Not knowing whether it was a disaster or a blessing, he left the eminent monk in the study and walked into the living room. Eunuch Feng, what wind brought you here?As soon as Meng Chong sat down, he exchanged pleasantries with a flattering face. Feng Bao smiled and said: Eunuch Meng blamed me for saying that. Where, where, I mean, you, Eunuch Feng, are very busy now, why do you still have time to come to my deserted house. I said I came to see you last night, but because I was busy with the enthronement of the new emperor, I couldn't leave.So it was delayed until today.When Feng Bao said this, he looked up and looked around, then sized up Meng Chong again, and then said, "Your complexion is not bad." Meng Chong's real words: I was still feeling bored this morning, so I invited an eminent monk to my house to preach the Dharma to me. The stone that was blocking my chest was finally removed. Meng Chong started to laugh as he said that, although Feng Bao also laughed along with him, but he had an extra thought and asked, "Where did the eminent monk come from?" Zhaoning Temple. From Zhaoning Temple?Feng Bao shrugged his nose, and a sandalwood scent wafted from the study.Feng Bao stretched out his head and glanced at the study room connected to the living room, and asked, just now when I got off the sedan chair at the door, I heard the sound of a wooden fish, was it you or someone else? It was knocked by the eminent monk who taught me to recite sutras.Meng Chong replied that he wanted to brush off the matter, so he changed the subject and said, where are the people brought by Eunuch Feng? They all rested in the sedan hall. Ah, what a neglect.Old Yang!Meng Chong shouted for the butler at the top of his voice, and ordered, go get some food and wine, and serve Eunuch Feng's off-duty staff well.Don't forget, before leaving, everyone seals a few feet of silver. Lao Yang stepped back and went to work.Feng Bao was noncommittal, still looking at the study, and asked Meng Chong: "Eunuch Meng, is that eminent monk still in there?" Ah yes.Meng Chong replied. Can you please come out and meet me, I also want to listen to the Dharma. Knowing that Feng Bao was suspicious, Meng Chong was afraid that there was someone right and wrong hiding inside, so he quickly got up and went back to the study, and brought out an old monk who was about sixty years old and wearing a black cassock. The old monk obviously knew about Mr. Feng's background, and when he entered the living room, he clasped his hands together and bowed to Feng Bao, saying: "The poor monk is like a buddhist karma with Mr. Feng, so we can meet here." Feng Bao also got up and saluted, sat down and said: You are just like a master!I have been admiring for a long time.I heard that you opened an altar to teach the "Miaofa Lotus Sutra" in Zhaoning Temple, and the faithful men and women in the capital flocked to it, crowding the entire Zhaoning Temple, which shows that you are as profound as your master. Yiru replied: Amitabha, it is the subtlety of the Dharma that has attracted donors from the ten directions, not the poor monk's credit. Feng Bao turned his head and asked Meng Chong who was sitting across from Yiru: Mr. Meng, what do you ask Master Yiru for today? Just like the master taught me the "Heart Sutra". "Heart Sutra"?Whoa, how much talk? After talking for almost three hours, before he spoke the first sentence, Meng Chong scratched the back of his head, thought for a while, and stammered, saying, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, practiced the deep prajna paramita for a long time.Seeing that the five aggregates are all empty, just this sentence. May I ask which five aggregates?Feng Bao asked a question, and seeing that Monk Yiru was about to answer, he quickly waved his hand to stop him, and said with a smile, I am asking Eunuch Meng. Five aggregates, which five aggregates?I still remembered just now, Meng Chong couldn't remember for a while, he patted his head and rubbed his hands, mocking himself, look at my lumpy head, pick it up on the left side, throw it away on the right side, I just can't remember everything, I just remember that the first aggregate is a word for sex. Yes, form, thought, feeling, action, and consciousness are the five aggregates. I don’t know if I’m right, just like the master? Benefactor Feng spoke verbatim. I would like to ask you, Master, that the five aggregates are all empty, what does this empty mean? Feng Bao looked at Monk Yiru intently, as if he came here specially to ask for Buddhist teachings tonight.Just as the master closed his eyes slightly, he replied leisurely: "Heart Sutra" has clearly answered that form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Gao Zi has a saying, food, sex, and sex. Ask your master for advice. Are the sex mentioned by Gao Zi and the sex mentioned in the "Heart Sutra" the same thing, or are they two different things? It is one thing and two things.Just as the master opened his eyes and took a look at Feng Bao, then slowly replied: The color of Gaozi is female sex, and the color of "Heart Sutra" is all things in the world.There is also the meaning of quality.What the eyes see, what the ears hear, what the nose smells, what the tongue says, and what the body touches are all form. The color of "Heart Sutra" includes the color of Gaozi, so it is one thing and two things. So why is form empty? Although Feng Bao's tone of questioning was respectful, careful people could still hear the meaning of questioning.But just as the master didn't care about it, he sat cross-legged on a chair and calmly replied: Among the five aggregates, there are still two methods.The first aggregate is materiality, and the remaining four aggregates are mentality.Form refers to all kinds of objects in the world, and mind is the way to realize the essence of all living beings.The sentence that the five aggregates are all empty is the key to the entire "Heart Sutra".You need to know that there are all kinds of things in the world, and none of them is the same. For example, Feng Shizhu, you, the appearance of your childhood, can no longer be recalled. Before entering the palace and after entering the palace, you are also very different. The you of yesterday are also very different from the you of today. , May I ask when was Eunuch Feng the real me?If you think that the Eunuch Feng sitting here is the real me, isn’t the Eunuch Feng of all the past times fake?Therefore, the physical body created by parents is always changing. This is called impermanence, and impermanence produces false views.Often what we think is true is actually false.In the physical body, you cannot find the true nature, so the physical body is emptiness. Just as the monk vaguely felt that Feng Bao's heart was burning, so he tactfully used the opportunity of explaining the "Heart Sutra" to persuade him. Feng Bao has always been careful, how could he fail to understand the mystery in Yiru's words.As soon as the words fell, he said: Talking to you is better than reading ten years of books.Hearing Master Ru's explanation, I, Feng, also understood a lot of truths. Yiru smiled slightly and said: Donor Feng is also a person with Mahayana roots. If not, he would not be so familiar with the Heart Sutra. Just like the master, this is a compliment, I picked this little thing from the master.Feng Bao said, looking at Meng Chong who was sitting on the side, and then said, Eunuch Meng should also know that the current emperor's biological mother, the imperial concubine, is called the reincarnation of Guanyin in the palace. When she wakes up every morning, she must burn incense Wash your hands, and copy the "Heart Sutra" respectfully. Now, the scriptures she has copied may take up half the room. Ah, to be so reverent to the Buddha must be a blessing to the common people in the country, so good, so good!As sincerely admire. Feng Bao went on to say: A few days ago, the imperial concubine even sent me to say that she wanted to find a substitute for the emperor to be ordained and become a monk, and she entrusted me to handle this matter.I am going to spend the past few days busy and invite all the eminent monks from the major temples in the capital to carry out this matter together. When the time comes, I hope that Master Ruyi will be able to participate. Amitabha, the poor monk is willing to bow to his prosperity.Just like the answer, he felt that Feng Baoye must have something to do with Meng Chong, and it was inconvenient for him to stay here, so he got up and left.Meng Chong still wanted to persuade him to stay, but Feng Bao said: "Eunuch Meng has a heart for Buddha, it's not just a matter of a day or two. Tonight, let someone send Master Yiru back to Zhaoning Temple to rest."Whenever you want to learn, you can go there in a sedan chair, or take Master Yiru over again, it's not too short of time. Meng Chong was afraid that Feng Bao would sit here for a long time, so he wanted to keep Yiru as a restraint.Seeing that Feng Bao chased away the guests so tactfully, there was nothing he could do, so he arranged for someone to send Yiru back to Zhaoning Temple. As soon as he left the living room, Feng Bao heard the sound of Dudu's footsteps, and turned back to ask Meng Chong: Didn't Eunuch Meng believe in Taoism? Why did he convert to Buddhism? As soon as Meng Chong heard something, his ears immediately perked up, and he said nervously: "Eunuch Feng really knows how to joke, I don't believe in Taoism." Feng Bao smiled coldly, and sneered, "Since you have never believed in Taoism at all, why did you recommend that demon king Jiusi to the late emperor?" this Meng Chong was at a loss for words for a while, he secretly glanced at Feng Bao, and his heart beat even more suddenly.In front of Yiru just now, Feng Baochun was very humble.Although it is still a smiling face now, but there is a knife hidden in the smile, Meng Chong suddenly has an ominous omen. Eunuch Feng, you know, we are all the emperor's servants, and we can't shirk what the emperor wants to do. Although this is the reason, you have to think about the consequences in everything.Feng Bao rubbed his bare chin, and deliberately said in a tone, "Eunuch Meng, I came here today mainly to give you a letter. Is there any trouble?Meng Chong's heart rose to his throat. Whether it is a disaster or not, I will tell you, Eunuch Meng, you can figure it out for yourself.Feng Bao blinked cunningly, and then said, what do we say, when the late emperor was around, you, the inspector of ceremonies, did satisfy the late emperor, but you accidentally hurt someone. who? Li Guifei. she?Meng Chong gasped, and asked nervously, Eunuch Feng, what did the imperial concubine say? She brought me to Qianqing Palace today, and accused you of four major crimes.First, you brought Nuer Huahua into the palace, fascinating the late emperor; second, you secretly led the late emperor out of the palace in disguise, went to Lianzi alley to find a child prostitute, and made the late emperor have bayberry sores; third. , you brought four little prostitutes into the palace disguised as little eunuchs, and the crown prince, who is now the emperor, saw it, and you ordered the bell and drum division to kill people, killing that Wang Fengchi; It is unforgivable that you introduced that demon king Jiusi to the first emperor, and you also made a farce of recruiting a hundred pairs of virgins and virgins to prepare the Yin-Yang Great Tonic Pill.The first emperor died young because of your series of bad ideas. Feng Bao was eloquent without anger, but every word he said was like a thunderbolt to Meng Chong's ears.After Feng Bao finished speaking, Meng Chong was already like a wooden man. The only proof that he was alive was the bead-sized sweat bead densely oozing from his forehead.Seeing him like this, Feng Bao felt a kind of pleasure in his heart.He leaned back in his chair and said in a loud voice: Eunuch Meng, why don't you answer? Ah, Meng Chong woke up like a dream, calmed himself down, and then said with a mournful face, Eunuch Feng, don't make detours, did the new emperor ask you to pass the decree? What purpose?Feng Bao was taken aback. 賜死呀，孟沖撩起袖子往臉上連汗帶淚胡亂揩了一把，哽咽道，先帝賓天之日我就想到了，會有這麼一天。 看孟沖這副德性，馮保差一點沒笑出聲來，但他忍住了。想了想，說道：皇上昨日剛登基，還顧不上下這道旨，但我聽李貴妃的口氣，倒真恨不能立刻就把你孟沖打入十八層地獄。 孟沖噙著淚花說道：事到如今，我也無需辯冤了。不過，馮公公你也清楚，你數落的那四條罪狀，條條款款，都是奉先帝旨意辦的。 孟公公，你若這麼說，只會惹怒李貴妃，真的招來殺身之禍。而且，把四件事全都推在先帝身上，亦與事實不符。 有何不符？ 沒有你從中攛掇，先帝怎麼會知道那個王九思？ 孟沖勾頭不語，馮保又說：王九思現就拘押在東廠，幾次受刑下來，他把什麼都交待了。 啊，他說了些什麼？孟沖一臉驚慌。 他說的太多了，馮保欲擒故縱，兜著圈子說，若把他的口供交到三法司，孟公公，你恐怕十個腦袋也保不住啊。 孟沖再也坐不住，起身走進內院抱出一個紅木匣子來，雙手把匣子遞給馮保，失魂落魄地說道：馮公公，王九思讓我把他引薦給先帝，答應事成後送我十萬兩銀子，後來又給我送過兩張銀票，總共十五萬兩銀票，都在這匣子裡了，我現在全都交給你。 馮保打開匣子一看，果然躺了三張銀票，他仔細看了看，都是京城頭號錢莊豐隆號見票即兌的一等一銀票。頓時心中一陣狂喜，他今夜前來，要詐取的就是這個。其實，王九思在東廠大牢裡屁事也沒交待，馮保憑直覺就斷定孟沖在王九思身上吃了不少好處，就想詐他一詐，沒想到這個憨頭，一詐就靈。銀票到手，抬頭再看孟沖一副待剮的狗熊樣兒，頓時又動了惻隱之心。 孟公公畢竟是老實人，馮保假惺惺地歎口氣說，但總該記得古訓，君子愛財，取之有道。 孟沖心裡頭酸楚，咕噥著說：古訓太多了，我記得還有一條，成者為王，敗者為寇。我現在是寇了，說是寇，這是我孟沖抬舉自己，其實我是被綁到案板上的豬，等著被剝皮。 馮保噗哧一笑，打趣說：誰敢剝孟公公的皮，我馮保不依。 you?孟沖聽出話中有縫兒。 老孟啊，馮保改了一個親切的稱呼，動情地說，我們兩個，差不多同時進宮，都四十多年了，平常雖然鍋裡不碰碗裡碰，鬧些小彆扭。但真正碰到較勁兒的大事，立時間，那份感情就塞滿心窩子。你想想，你眼下這個處境，我馮某能見死不救嗎？ 孟沖深知馮保的秉性：哪怕明天就要動你的刀子，今天看見你還是一個哈哈三個笑，絕不讓你看出任何蛛絲馬跡來。現在見馮保的態度突然來了個一百八十度的大轉彎，他根本不敢相信。但他畢竟是出了名的憨頭，言語上兜不了彎子，這時忍不住直通通地問： 馮公公此話當真？ 我馮某什麼時候說過假話？馮保信誓旦旦，我如果想加害於你，今夜裡就不會專門到你府上來通報。 那你說，如何能夠救我？ 只要你按我說的去做，我就保你平安無事。 好，那就請講。 第一，對任何人不得講你曾受賄王九思十五萬兩銀子。 這個我一定做到。 第二，不要同閒雜人來往，在眼下這非常時期，最好不要出門。若悶得慌了，就去把一如師傅請來講講佛法，這個做得到吧？ 這不是把我軟禁在家嗎？孟沖心裡忖道，嘴上卻回答乾脆：做得到。從現在起，凡不三不四沒有來歷的人，不讓他踏進我家門檻。 就是有來歷的人，更要提防。說到這裡，馮保加重了語氣，老孟啊，你我都是宮中的老人，宮裡的事知道不少。如果你萬一在什麼人面前說漏了嘴，到時候我想幫你也幫不成啊。 馮公公的意思我明白，怕我孟沖離開司禮監不服氣，人前人後發牢騷。這你就多心了。讓我孟沖把一頭羊拆零打散，做出幾十道菜來，哪樣該燴，哪樣該爆，哪樣該鹵，哪樣該燉，我眼到手到，保證不出一點差錯。可是自從到了司禮監，每天見到那成堆的奏摺，就像見到一堆爛白菜，別提心裡頭多膩味，偏內庭外庭為了這些摺子，每天扯死扯活的，雞眼瞪成驢眼。想起來也真是沒啥意思。老實說了吧，司禮監的那顆印，在我看來，真的不如尚膳監的一把鍋鏟。溜一道菜出來，你還能喝二兩老酒。一顆印蓋下去，卻不知要遭多少人忌恨，這是何苦呢？因此，我早就想離開司禮監，只是先帝在時，我不敢開這個口，這回新皇上頒一個中旨，倒真是遂了我多年的心願，馮公公你說得對，我從此可以享清福了。 孟沖說著倒也真動了情，說完了自個兒發起呆來。馮保覺得他的話有誇張的成分，但基本真實可信。但話既已說到這個地步，索性就說得更通透些。 老孟，馮保聲音更顯溫和，你的這種心情，我馮某能理解。實不相瞞，你的這顆腦袋，還在掉與不掉兩可之間。現在外頭都在傳，高拱對新皇上不恭，可能有些動作。他若找到你，你可要小心啊！ 這個請馮公公放一百二十個心，孟沖拍著胸脯說道，他高鬍子真是來了，我雖不敢推他出去，但我可以當個紮嘴葫蘆。 看到孟沖強著脖子發狠，馮保忍不住又是噗哧一笑。便故意逗他：高鬍子如果真的來了，你怎麼辦？ 殺豬殺屁股，各有各的套路，孟沖也學著賣關子，你馮公公猜猜，我會怎麼對他。 閉門不見。 不敢，人家是首輔。 裝病。 好端端的，為啥要裝病？ 那馮保搖搖頭，表示猜不出來。孟沖說：我會滿臉堆笑地把高鬍子迎進門，然後讓管家陪他聊天下棋，我則親自下廚，把他平素喜歡吃的糟鳳翅、大蔥爆牛心、紅棗燉驢尾等幾樣家常菜做一桌出來，陪他喝酒。 美酒佳餚，不正好說話麼？ 不會的，酒不過三巡，高鬍子就會主動告辭。 Why? 十年陳滷水，毒性勝砒霜，這句話你該聽說過吧。我會在大蔥爆牛心的那道菜裡頭，微微加點陳鹵。你放心，劑量小死不了人，但吃下去發作得快。不消片刻功夫，屁股底下便像是有條蛇在竄，高鬍子還不會趁早告退？ 馮保忍俊不住，又一次大笑出聲。指著孟沖一面喘氣一面說道：這等主意，只有你孟沖想得出。 只在這時，孟沖才找回一點自信，湊趣地說：這叫滷水點豆腐，一物降一物。 孟公公，今後有空兒，我還會經常來看你，馮保眼看時候不早，拿起那隻紅木匣子起身告辭，走到院子裡又站住對孟沖說，你現在閒居在家，不比當差時各方面都有照應。一應用度肯定吃緊。我已同內宮監打過招呼，從現在起每月給你這裡送十擔米，另外，明天就過來十個小火者在你這裡聽差。 這孟沖一時語塞了。 明朝祖制，凡宦官私宅閒居，一切用度自行開銷，內宮概不負責。馮保這麼處置，實在是前無先例。孟沖既心存感激，又有些惶惶不安。