Everyone in Huguang was watching Zhu Xizhong, so what happened in Prince Min's Mansion naturally became known immediately.
Even though I was prepared, I was still shocked.
That's the prince!
He actually made his own decision and killed himself lightly!
It is simply audacious and unscrupulous!
Killing the prince without permission is a very serious crime.
Even if he acted cheaply in the name of a major treason case, he still stepped into a dangerous situation.
If you dare to kill the prince today, you will not dare to think of anything tomorrow!
Almost predictable.
The officials of the three divisions, the officials of the royal palace, the clan and vassal kings shouted for beatings and killings, and the memorials to impeach Zhu Xizhong flowed into the capital like rivers flowing into the sea.
…
On July 19th, it was the beginning of summer heat, and the handle of the Big Dipper pointed directly to the southwest.
It means that the hot and unbearable weather is only the last period left.
Huguang's memorial, when it reached the General Administration Department, it was like a mud cow drowning in the sea, without causing any waves.
Ordinarily, such a big event as the prince's execution would inevitably cause a wave of shock and quarrels in the court.
However, the emperor has other important matters recently and has no time to deal with them. Naturally, he has no time to discuss them with his subordinates and the court.
I had no choice but to thoughtfully take the memorial from the General Affairs Department to the Longevity Palace and prepare it for discussion later.
It's not that I'm lazy, but I really can't get away from it - the emperor recently took the final exam.
The emperor's autumn lectures will be held again on August 12th, and the examinations for the two capitals and one province will also start on August 12th.
Now we see that it is almost August. The so-called "what goes up and what follows" is to serve as an example and take the lead as a good emperor, and also to review the past and learn the new before the new class begins.
The emperor took the lead in conducting the academic examination, and the time was set for today.
For this reason, even the court meetings were stopped.
As for Wang Shizhen, the leader of the literary world, he was sitting in the Wenhua Hall with a look of relief on his face.
I was invited here as soon as I arrived in Beijing, and I was completely confused.
Why did the emperor still pass the exam in his studies?
That's it, if you want to act, just entertain yourself. Co-authoring Wang Shizhen to come to Beijing is to endorse this kind of thing?
The resistance in Wang Shizhen's heart inevitably became a little stronger.
He had received the emperor's edict to resurrect him earlier, and his mood was quite complicated.
In the past, he would have been overjoyed because of the emperor's appreciation, and would have wanted to achieve immortality through his achievements in gold and stone.
However, since his father Wang Yan was brutally executed by Emperor Sejong, Wang Shizhen's enthusiasm for making achievements suddenly dropped, and she would rather "sit in Taiyuan every day and deal with flowers and affairs."
Although Emperor Mu Zong rehabilitated his father and avenged his injustice, his youthful passion could never come back.
Therefore, after Ding You ended, Wang Shizhen had this perfunctory and repulsive mentality, lamenting that "in previous years, it was difficult for a gentleman to be the first, and he could not escape from death and escape easily" while slowly walking to Beijing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Fang entered the capital, the Chief of Ceremonies personally came to invite him, saying that the emperor had passed the academic examination today and invited him to come and watch the ceremony.
After entering the palace, as soon as he heard the eunuch tell the whole story, he was already pinned down on the seat in the Wenhua Hall and could not move easily.
The examination was held in the back hall of Wenhua Hall - the prince's main study place was in the East Side Hall, and the emperor's was in the back hall.
The so-called Chuigun Sutra Banquet, Xiaoyi Qinzheng Hall, the emperor dressed in Gong robes today and slowly entered the hall.
Officials from the two palaces, including banquet officials, Japanese lecturers, Hanlin bachelors, and even the specially invited literary master Wang Shizhen, gathered in the Wenhua Hall to witness the emperor's academic progress.
Wang Shizhen looked around and saw the empress dowagers of the two palaces at the top, clad in phoenix robes and gold medals, with calm faces.
Gao Yi, the official in charge of the banquet, is on the left, and Zhang Juzheng, the official in charge of the Japanese lectures, is on the right.
The two cabinet ministers were dressed in python robes, and the officials who followed were all wearing bright red woven gold robes, looking solemn and solemn.
Zheng Zongxue, a member of the Zhongshu family, and Shen Li, a bachelor of Hanlin, were sitting on the side, holding paper and pen. The cover clearly showed daily notes, and they were writing furiously at their desks.
Daily Note!?
Wang Shizhen was shocked and thought she was dazzled.
In my lifetime, I can still see such respectful and retro things as daily life.
From Emperor Taizu to Emperor Xuanzong, there were also "notes by left and right historians" or "notes on Lantai notes".
But after Xuanzong, there was no trace of Shi Chen anymore.
That is what Liao Daonan said, "Since the declaration of virtue, the prime minister has been given more weight than the historian, and the daily life has been neglected."
During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, Lu Ji wrote a letter citing the ancient system, hoping that the emperor could restore the daily notes.
Xianzong promised on the surface that "the commander-in-chief will know the fate", but in the end he did not arrange official positions or allocate manpower. When asked by the Ministry of Rites, he said "delay".
Now he has resumed his daily life!?
He has written the history of the imperial examination system "Keshi Kao", the history of posthumous titles "Posthumous Law" and "Tongji of Posthumous Laws", the history of eunuchs "Zhongguan Kao", the history of the military system "Military System Kao", etc. He can be said to be an avid historian.
How can one be unmoved when seeing this situation - which wise minister respects etiquette and restores order to chaos!
This was a surprise for Wang Shizhen.
However, it was recorded when the emperor passed the exam... In this battle, the emperor was really not afraid of improper handling and embarrassment.
Or should I say that if something goes wrong, I will have to make corrections again?
Just as Wang Shizhen was thinking about it, she saw the emperor saluting the two concubines and the two gentlemen one after another, and then sat meticulously behind the desk in the middle of the examination room.
He nodded secretly, the emperor's demeanor was not bad at all.
I heard that the emperor meditated on the Tao of Yin and Yang in Xiyuan. He kept still and moved, doing exercises in the morning and meditating and fishing in the afternoon. I don't know whether it is true or not.
Just when Wang Shizhen was thinking about it randomly in his mind.
The eunuch on the court cracked his whip three times.
A Japanese lecturer laid out paper and polished ink for the emperor, while two banquet officials stepped forward, stood behind the emperor, and stared at his appearance.
The ceremonial officer patrolled back and forth.
when.
As soon as the yellow bell rang, three wisps of incense rose from the incense burner.
The emperor stood up, faced the two palaces, and his husband saluted again: "Queen mother, sir, please take the exam."
Thorough manners and precise manners.
Wang Shizhen and the Hanlin bachelor next to him glanced at each other in unison.
Queen Mother Chen took action first.
She looked at the emperor and went straight to the point: "Everything has its origin and its end, everything has its beginning and end. If you know the sequence, you will be shortcut. How can you explain it?"
Wang Shizhen stood in the specially given position and secretly lamented that the difficulty was indeed just a formality for the emperor.
Inviting so many people, the thunder is loud and the rain is small, and there is no fear that it will be written down in the manuscripts of these scholars afterwards.
What Empress Dowager Chen said is the opening sentence of "The Great Learning".
"The Great Learning" is a chapter in the "Book of Rites", but after Zhu Xi extracted it from the "Book of Rites", it gained a transcendent status and ranked first among the four books.
It is also a must-test classic of eight-legged essay.
It's not too difficult to solve, it's probably at the level of the sub-questions given in the provincial examination, and you just need to be able to memorize it.
The emperor pondered for a moment and replied loudly: "Things refer to virtue, for the new people; the foundation is the foundation; the end is the end."
"Only by bright virtue can new people be born. Ming virtue is the foundation and new people are the end, just like a tree has roots and tips."
"Things refer to knowing the end and being able to tell; the end means coming; the beginning means the beginning."
"Only when you know the stop can you achieve it. That is to say, knowing the stop is the beginning and being able to achieve it is the end. Just like everything has a beginning and an end."
"The beginning and the beginning are the most important things and should be done first; the end and the end are the second part of the work and should be done later."
"If a person can understand the sequence and follow the steps, then the path will be correct. Naturally, he will be able to enlighten the people with new virtues. He will be able to learn how to stop and gain. The path to the university will not be far away."
Wang Shizhen glanced at Zhang Juzheng, the leader of the class.
This solution should be regarded as Zhang Juzheng's approach, and it is considered to have no merit or fault.
However, when the emperor explained the classics, his demeanor and conversation were smooth and fluent, and he had the appearance of a scholar.
Empress Dowager Chen nodded when she heard this and spoke again: "Is it okay for a minister to kill his own king?"
"It is said that those who thieve benevolence are called thieves, and those who thieve righteousness are called rogues. Those who ruthlessly thieves thieves are called a husband. I have heard that Zhou killed a husband, but I have never heard of regicide."
This sentence comes from "Mencius" and is slightly more difficult than the previous sentence.
The banquet official held a ruler in his hand and straightened the emperor's waist.
The Japanese lecturer spread out his pen and paper and wrote down the question from Empress Dowager Chen's mouth in front of the emperor.
Yiying, a Hanlin bachelor, subconsciously stretched his neck to hear more clearly.
Wang Shizhen looked at the emperor curiously.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then immediately raised his head and replied: "Those who are cruel thieves have lost their destiny and their hearts. They are just a single man and cannot be the common masters of the world."
"That's why it is said in the "Shu Jing" that there was only one husband, Zhou. The one who built Zhou was extinct from heaven, so Heaven ordered King Wu to kill him to eliminate the remaining thieves from the world. I have heard that Zhou was killed by one man, but I have never heard that he was regicide."
"Looking at King Wu, Tang's attack on Jie was just like this. "Book of Changes" said that the Tang-Wu revolution should be in accordance with heaven and in compliance with people."
"That's exactly what it means."
Wang Shizhen secretly praised.
Just from this explanation, we know that the emperor read the books thoroughly, was full of Confucianism, and was well taught by Jingyan officials.
Afterwards, Empress Dowager Chen once again asked several questions, including the Four Books, about how to be a person, deal with things, and govern the country.
The emperor answered calmly, without hesitation, grandly, and without losing his original insights.
Immediately afterwards, Empress Dowager Li asked "Shangshu", "Spring and Autumn", and "Book of Rites" about the meaning of the scriptures.
At this time Wang Shizhen finally reacted.
Is this, using the provincial examination paper to pass the exam for the emperor?
No wonder so many people were invited to watch the ceremony!
In particular, Ying Hanlin, a bachelor, also looked surprised, obviously not knowing about it beforehand.
Wang Shizhen listened to the rustling sound of people writing in the middle of the room behind the screen, and a sense of curiosity arose in her heart.
Emperor, is he so brilliant?
He looked at the emperor from top to bottom with great interest, thoughtfully.
After the examination of the two palaces, they were led out of the procession by Gao Yi, the head of the banquet officer class.
With a solemn look on his face, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please break the 'Chinese one, and join the next section'."
Wang Shizhen was refreshed.
It’s really difficult for the emperor!
This sentence comes from "The Doctrine of the Mean". The "Zhongye" in the previous sentence is the finishing touch of the Doctrine of the Mean - "The "Zhongye" is the foundation of the world, referring to the essence of the heart."
The last sentence, "joining the lower section", refers to conforming to the lower section. As for what section it is, the emperor has to decide.
This is a major issue of staying true to one’s true nature and cultivating virtue and consolidating the Tao!
I have almost reached the threshold of being able to take a test.
Moreover, this kind of discussion has a strong personal color, and it is almost impossible for outsiders to answer for others - those who were born in the Jinshi family have early interpretations of the classics, and they can know whose style it is when they speak a sentence.
In other words, even if you are prepared in advance, the answer must be given by the emperor himself, otherwise cheating will be a source of laughter for thousands of years.
Has the emperor's attainments in Confucian classics reached this level?
Wang Shizhen looked at the silent emperor, looking forward to his answer more and more.
The emperor did not answer easily this time, but sat down at his desk to write, as if he was drafting and considering his words.
After a while.
The emperor finally put down his pen.
He looked calm and said loudly: "The Doctrine of the Mean talks about the body and function of Tao, and because of the transformation of body and Tao into functions, the harmony between the husband and the body and the body and function of Tao are combined."
"A gentleman achieves perfection in his work, and the wonder of transformation does not depend on position and education. Moreover, it is the perfection of Tao, and its use is used for creation. The body is based on one mind, and the body and Tao of a gentleman are fundamentally based on one mind.
, and connected with creation.
"My joy, anger, sorrow, and joy exist without being biased. It is said to be in the middle. This is the middle. It is the virtue of nature. It is not tired at all. It is silently opened to the door of all wonderful things, and the deep spring comes out from time to time. It is really peaceful than the movement of the crowd.
The secret is that the essentials are already based before they are revealed. The body that has been developed but is useless is not the body.
"Although the foreign things are flowing without stopping, how can they condense the whole of the Tao and praise its transformation and education? Although the excellent things are sufficient and have not stopped, how can they understand the wonderful functions of the Tao and perform its rituals?"
"The hidden heart is very small, but the scattered use is very vast, and it is the foundation of the world. And since the happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy have arisen, they are all in harmony. It is called harmony, and it is harmony.
, the virtue of love..."
Lang Lang spoke eloquently.
The ministers in the two cabinets were solemn and relieved, the lecturers were stroking their beards happily, the two palaces were confused and ignorant, and the people in the middle school were concentrating on recording notes about daily life.
Only Hanlin bachelors, Wang Shizhen and other literary elites looked shocked and whispered among themselves.
The eyes in the hall instantly intertwined, and the brilliance in the eyes could not be concealed.
Many old Hanlins who were awarded Jinshi in their fifties could hardly help but hide their faces.
Just for this question, even if the emperor prepared the answer in advance, the answer can be said to be that of the superiors.
At this level, there is only one layer of shackles left between being a Jinshi!
Although I am not very qualified, as long as I take two or three exams and polish my skills, I will be qualified to be a Jinshi!
Is this really the emperor!?
Instead of preparing for next year's exam?
Wang Shizhen's eyes were full of brilliance. He passed the national examination at the age of fifteen and became a Jinshi at the age of twenty-two.
The emperor's level is almost the same as when he was twelve years old!
Is the graceful beauty of the divine writings really a gift from heaven?
…
The exam lasted all morning.
Even though it was a well-prepared show, Zhu Yijun was very tired.
Fortunately, no mistakes were made, the show was completed, and then all we had to do was wait for today's events to be published as news, written as headlines, and slowly fermented.
As a scholar of Hanlin Academy and a leading figure in the literary world, his reaction was not bad, so the problem should not be too big - the problem he had prepared in advance was not in vain.
After it was over, Zhu Yijun gave a banquet to all the ministers - in fact, it was just a casual meal in the Wenhua Hall.
Of course, he, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi only showed up once and then ran away.
Firstly, it saves the people below from being uncomfortable and has a good meal. Secondly, of course, there are still business matters to discuss.
The sun was scorching, and Zhu Yijun was too embarrassed to call the two gentlemen to Xiyuan, so he simply found a side hall in Huangji Hall to have some food.
On the way, Zhu Yijun listened to Gao Yi taking advantage of every opportunity: "Your Majesty, the rural examination is right in front of you. Please ask your Majesty to appoint the official official and Shuntianfu rural examination."
The examination will be held in the spring next year and will be a national unified examination.
The provincial examinations are arranged by each province. In the August examination, because the status of the chief official at the feet of the emperor of Shuntian Prefecture is slightly higher, it is decided by the emperor himself.
Zhu Yijun thought for a while: "Let Zuo Zhongyun of Zuo Chunfang concurrently edit Fan Yingqi of the Imperial Academy, and let Zuo Zhongyun of You Chunfang concurrently edit He Luowen of the Hanlin Academy, and Dianshun Tianfu Township Examination."
Around Chunfang, the old East Palace belongs to the officials.
After all, he is someone close to the Japanese official, so it’s time to brush up on his qualifications.
Zhang Juzheng handed over a memorial: "Your Majesty, I beg you to be dismissed."
Zhu Yijun picked it up easily and handed it over to Zhang Hong who was standing aside.
He said casually: "Well, I understand. If you don't agree to your request, let's just talk about business."
Not to mention the two parties involved, Zhang Hong and Gao Yi were used to this scene.
Perhaps it is approaching the day when he will be admitted as a law inspector, and there are quite a lot of memorials to impeach Zhang Juzheng recently.
It is an act of deceiving the emperor and overstepping the imperial authority.
After a while, Zhang Juzheng formed a clique again. According to Article 18 of the Ming Dynasty Code "Official Code", if he associates with cronies and disrupts the government, he should be put to death.
Although they are all nonsense, there is no other way. Impeachment will require removal from office.
Only then did the scene where the emperor and his chief minister go through the motions happened repeatedly.
Zhang Juzheng is also used to it.
After he handed the memorial to the emperor, he got down to business: "Your Majesty, the examination for becoming a law inspector is approaching, and there are many people who have failed to perform their duties."
"The vacant position can be filled, but it only delays the official business, but it is irreversible."
"Please hold me accountable."
Zhu Yijun couldn't help but sneer.
Inviting you to become an official? Why don't you just give up your post?
These insects have been devoured during their term of office, and now they still want to retain their retirement benefits?
What kind of money bag can be allowed to be emptied by these insects?
When he was still young, he received an extra 200 yuan in the morning, so he skipped his lunch break at the office of the joint meeting on wages, subsidy and subsidy work. There was an emergency meeting, and the 200 yuan was given back to him in the afternoon.
Now that he, as the number one accountant of the Ming Dynasty, can make these people so comfortable, it is all in vain.
Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Let Shen Shixing report it, and I will approve it for you."
Zhang Juzheng handed over his hand to thank him.
I have to say that the little emperor in front of me is really willing to delegate power.
Now, both in terms of prestige and team, he has the capital to be pro-government, but as always, he has never interfered with many decisions of the cabinet.
Even though Shen Shixing favored fellow countrymen many times and was vaguely promoted, the little emperor still believed in him unabated.
He only said, "I have no doubts about the people recommended by Yuan Fu."
Zhang Juzheng was really moved.
The three of them talked about political affairs together.
If you find a silver coin every year, 60,000 taels will be sent to Yansui Town to prepare food and grass for urgent expenditure.
Promoted Guizhou Inspector Liu Kan to Fujian Right Chief Envoy.
The warm weather freed up the number of criminals, a total of 351.
Female Zhiyi people paid tribute, congratulated the emperor on his birthday, etc.
After a while, the group of people came to Huangji Hall.
The emperor sat on the royal steps and gave his assistant ministers seats.
Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi looked at each other.
The former built up his momentum and felt as if he was launching an army to hold the people accountable. He said, "Your Majesty, why did the Secretary of General Affairs send the memorial to the capital from Huguang recently to the palace instead of sending it to the cabinet?"
"He Yongqing isolates himself from the inside and outside again and again. He is actually a great traitor to the country. Your Majesty, please tell me clearly!"
If you talk about the General Affairs Department openly, you are actually complaining to the emperor.
I won’t go into detail about eroding the authority of the cabinet - you can’t lose the cabinet’s face just because you have a good relationship.
And Zhang Juzheng was born in Huguang after all. Not to mention intervening from a distance, he must have the right to know anyway. Why didn't he even read the memorial?
When Zhu Yijun heard this, he looked astonished.
Clearing his throat, he responded: "Don't worry, Yuanfu, I'm about to discuss this matter with the cabinet."
There was no expression on his face, but he was thinking in his heart that if he kept doing this, General Affairs Minister He Yongqing might not be able to continue his job this time.
Who should I choose to be the next General Secretary?
Gao Yi also asked: "Your Majesty, what is the current situation in Huguang? Please don't cover it up."
There had been quite a big fuss in Huguang before, but now that the emperor has kept it secret, it is obvious that something big has happened.
He was afraid that the emperor would be too confident and would not allow the cabinet to intervene, insisting on going his own way and worsening the situation.
When Zhu Yijun saw the first assistant and the second assistant, he spoke sincerely and was a little impatient, and no longer wanted to show off.
He summoned his assistant ministers today, and he had no intention of hiding it from the two of them.
Zhu Yijun waved his hand, and Zhang Hong understood immediately.
The latter, in a flash of movement, delivered the memorial from Huguang Liuzhong to the two imperial bachelors.
Zhang Juzheng didn't give in, took it directly into his hand, and began to read through it.
Gao Yi apologized and picked up a copy of the memorial to read.
Zhu Yijun waited for them to read the memorial, and sighed: "The Zhang Chucheng case is shrouded in clouds and fog, but now the truth has been roughly revealed."
"The clan, the Chasi, the Commanding Division, the local government offices, large and small, many people are involved."
"According to the Inspector Du Si, the Inspector General, the Commander-in-Chief Mao Ruxian, and the Yuezhou Magistrate Zhong Chongwen escorted him to Beijing."
"Some of the lowest officials will be rectified on the spot."
Before he could speak, Gao Yi interrupted the emperor. He raised his head solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, one prince and six county princes are also insignificant low-level officials?"
Zhu Yijun hesitated to speak, thinking over his words again and again.
Zhang Juzheng also finished reading the memorial and didn't know what he was thinking about.
As if he had a flash of inspiration, he suddenly said: "Have you waited for the memorial that Your Majesty was waiting for?"
Gao Yi slowed down for a moment, showing doubts.
Seeing the emperor's reaction again, he suddenly realized it and said in astonishment: "Your Majesty has kept the memorial for several days without publishing it, because he is waiting for the news of Duke Cheng's death!?"
Zhu Yijun sighed.
He took out another memorandum from his sleeve: "Gong Cheng, a serious illness that is difficult to treat, has died for his country."
Chapter completed!