Update time: 2012-11-30

April gradually passed, and the court was shrouded in a decadent atmosphere. The emperor was unable to effectively handle the government affairs. Fortunately, a group of important officials were in court and allowed the state machinery to operate step by step.

One day, Zhang Ning was on duty at the ritual office and suddenly heard the bells coming from the direction of the imperial city. At this time, it was abnormal. He immediately put down his brush and listened carefully. After a while, almost all his colleagues stopped working and everyone was paying attention. There may have been many people speculating: The emperor has passed away?

Because there have been rumors since last month that the dragon body is not safe, and the bell rings near noon, people inevitably have this speculation. The yamen talked about it but did not leave their place. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, the ritual department came to send a personal message: "The emperor passed away. Lu Bu Tang ordered: The sixth rank and above Beijing officials went home to change their clothes, and then went to the Imperial Gate (Fengtian Gate) to discuss matters."

After Zhang Ning received the news, he hurriedly found his groom and asked him to rush back and ask his family to send Ma Xiao clothes to the door of the Ministry of Rites.

It is a big deal to die suddenly, but it is not the turn of Zhang Ning to worry about it for the time being. Now, just when the officials above are worried, Zhang Ning doesn’t have to panic, just follow the rules to deal with it. As for the thing that I had been worried about: the attitude of the prince Zhu Zhanji towards the remains of Jianwen after he ascended the throne. It is too early now. At least he has to wait for the successful handover of the imperial power. Who has the heart to take care of other things now?

In addition, Zhang Ning secretly felt that the King of Han in Yong'an had become a big problem again. Will that guy learn from his father Zhu Di to take the opportunity to raise an army to seize the throne? In the past, it seemed that the battle between him and Emperor Hong Xi was already desperate; but now Emperor Hong Xi died too suddenly, and it was obvious that the court was not prepared enough, and the prince could not ascend the throne immediately, so he created another opportunity for the King of Han.

It can be seen that sometimes someone's situation seems to be settled may turn around by chance. Zhang Ning feels that the King of Han is now very likely. No matter how the King of Han was defeated in the past, now he only needs to find a way to kill Prince Zhu Zhanji before ascending the throne. With the three guards he held as the prince, he is fully qualified to compete for the throne and has a great chance of winning.

As a person from Yang Shiqi's camp, Zhang Ning and many others certainly did not want to see the King of Han rise up. Putting aside the righteousness, it was harmful to his own interests. However, Zhang Ning roughly understood history. In the Ming Dynasty, there was no vassal king who had succeeded in rebellion. Therefore, the King of Han was destined to not seize this opportunity in history. Even if the butterfly effect may occur, it still required time and space conditions. Zhang Ning felt that so far, he had not reached the level of affecting the historical process. He had only become a fifth-rank official with a title. What energy had affected the fate of the empire?

So Zhang Ning was not very worried, but Yang Shiqi and other ministers must be worried at this moment.

When the family members brought their clothes, Zhang Ning dressed in mourning and followed the officials of the Ministry of Rites into the imperial city, rushing to Fengtian Gate where the ministers usually attend court.

Because Zhang Ning's grade is not qualified to be a morning court, and he has never attended any ceremony in Beijing. In addition to visiting the Forbidden City in his previous life, this place is really the first time to come back. The corridor outside Fengtian Gate is like a tunnel, and the light for most of the day is not very good. When you pass the corridor, a wide square, a white marble road and bridge, and a magnificent palace are suddenly appeared in front of you. Zhang Ning feels that the engineer who built the Forbidden City a few years ago must have done it on purpose.

A large group of officials wearing mourning clothes walked towards the Jinshui Bridge in front of Taihe Gate. There were five bridges in total, and no one walked in between. Everyone walked around the four Bin Bridges. There were loyal ministers and filial sons, but no one cried at this time, because it was not yet time, and you would have to cry even if you didn't cry when you held some etiquette... In fact, whether the ministers cried or not did not express the emotional problem, Zhang Ning really didn't believe how sad the emperor was when he died. It can be said that 90% of the crying were pretending; it may be true that they were worried that the transfer of power would affect national stability.

However, many of the concubines in the harem were really crying, not crying at the emperor, but crying themselves. The Ming Dynasty concubines who had no children were to be buried with them. At the time of Yongle's death, dozens of concubines seemed to have been "devoured" and loyal to them. Now Emperor Hongxi is dead. He played with women all day long during his lifetime. It is estimated that there are only a lot of women buried with them than Emperor Yongle. Moreover, he has been emperor for less than a year. Some concubines have to die with them soon after they were given titles. They are really in trouble. How can they not cry?

Zhang Ning and his colleagues from the Ministry of Rites entered Fengtian Gate and stood there for a long time. Other officials arrived one after another and stood in front and back. There was a throne inside Fengtian Gate, which was the place where the emperor "ruling the government", but naturally no one sat on the throne now. Yang Shiqi looked at the imperial throne intentionally or unintentionally, with a little melancholy in his eyes.

At this time, some eunuch palace maids came from the back of Fengtian Gate. Zhang Ning unexpectedly discovered that his fellow villager Wang Zhen was inside, following Wang Gou'er.

Wang Gou'er took the people to Yang Shiqi and Lu Zhen Xia Yuanji to greet the officials. Yang Shiqi asked bluntly: "When the emperor passed away, it was Eunuch Wang who was in front of him?"

"Yes, the emperor just said he wanted to see the minister, so our family hurriedly sent someone out of the palace to deliver an order, but unexpectedly it was too late." Wang Gou'er said as she wiped her tears.

Yang Shiqi asked again: "Does the emperor have a will?"

The two of them asked questions and answered them one by one, and it took a moment to recall: This is not a general question and answer, it is clearly an extremely important part of the process of power alternation. Otherwise, what would you do to gather so many officials? It is to justify who will be the legitimate emperor.

As long as Wang Gou'er's mind is not bad, he will only have one answer to Yang Shiqi's question. He said: "The emperor said he would recall the prince to the capital to succeed the throne."

Regardless of whether Emperor Hongxi had any last will before his death, he was right at this time. Will the prince still hold him to falsely pass the imperial edict after he ascended the throne? Of course, if the King of Han ascended the throne, he would not care whether Emperor Hongxi had last words. Wang Gou'er confirmed that it would be a false edict.

There was a clear expression on Yang Shiqi's old face that he let out a breath. Lu Zhen, who was beside him, immediately said: "The prince is still in Nanjing. He should immediately draw an edict according to the emperor's wishes, send someone to send it over, and then welcome the prince back to the capital to preside over the state affairs."

"What Mr. Lu said is very true." Yang Shiqi nodded, "Before the prince returns to the capital, all major issues will be discussed by the cabinet and the six ministers."

Now everyone is thinking about the prince coming back quickly, and everything else is secondary.

Without waiting for other officials to speak, Lu Zhen said anxiously: "Who is willing to go to Nanjing to preach an imperial edict?" Although the overall situation is at a critical moment, Lu Zhen still takes into account his selfishness: As discussed just now, sending people to Nanjing is actually to do two things, one is to pass on the imperial edict, and the other is to welcome the prince; and he emphasized the issue of preaching an edict, and anyone can do it as long as he receives the imperial edict.

When Lu Zhen said this, although he didn't look at his son-in-law Zhang He, he was waiting for Zhang He to volunteer. Then, as a member of the decision-making center, he immediately agreed. Most other people would not be entangled at such a moment.

Unexpectedly, Zhang He was stunned and did not stand up immediately.

Zhang Ning immediately recalled that he had never heard Yang Shiqi mention this matter. In the past, his attention was mostly about his life experience, and he did not expect it. However, when the matter came, he quickly understood: for middle and lower-level officials, this job is definitely an opportunity that is rare in every generation, and it is a merit of support!

But the risk is also very high. It is a matter of hard work in front of you. People don’t say much on the surface, but who can ignore the King of Han in his heart? Now when you go to pick up the prince, you may be ambushed by the King of Han on the road, and the possibility of losing your life is very high. For middle and lower-level officials who do not have the power, who is the emperor himself is not an official, can the King of Han kill all the civil and military officials in the court be the emperor? No wonder Zhang He is slow to react and this guy is afraid of death!

Zhang Ning was not afraid, not because he was not afraid of death, but because he knew that the King of Han would not succeed. For him, the psychological risks he suffered were much smaller.

He came back and was about to come forward to volunteer, as soon as he raised his feet, he heard a voice saying, "Yang Lin, the chief minister of the official office, is willing to receive the order."

Damn! Someone actually reacted faster than himself. It turned out that it was Yang Sihai, a fellow villager who passed the Jinshi last year and became a household registration department for one year. Zhang Ning had a meal with him when he first came to Beijing and rarely had any contact with him.

Since someone had already taken the lead, Zhang Ning observed that Zhang He was ready to move, so he decided to calm down first and wait for "taking action later" if he lost the opportunity.

As expected, Zhang He finally stood up: "Let the officials go."

Zhang Ning was happy to see this, now he was fine. The two of them volunteered, but now there is no arbitrary emperor. As Yang Shiqi said, "All things are discussed." Once the water is in a mess, he will have the advantage of being a latecomer.

At this time, he stood up calmly and said: "As an official of the Ministry of Rites and Etiquette Department, Zhang, who is in charge of the prince's duties, how can he shirk his responsibilities to others?"

Yang Shiqi nodded, looked back at the ministers such as Lu Zhen and Yang Rong, and said in a controversial tone: "Why not delay, let Zhang Ning, the head of the Ministry of Rites, go to Nanjing to welcome the prince?"

Speaking of this, everyone was a identifiable official who was not the unreasonable person, so they all agreed. Yang Shiqi said skillfully: "The officials of the Hanlin Academy will draw up the will. Zhang Ning, you go back first to prepare the seal, horses and other items. When you go to the Meridian Gate to get the will, you can get the way as soon as possible."

"The official is the one who takes the order." Zhang Ning bowed his fists and bowed slightly to Yang Sihai, and said to himself: I admire your knowledge and thinking speed, but unfortunately, there is no one above you, so if you lose, you will lose here. Brother Sihai is not convinced, I am not born with a background, who can you blame if you don't hold your thighs?

The worst one is Zhang He. Zhang Ning vaguely felt from Lu Zhen’s words and deeds that they might have discussed it earlier. Zhang He had the best opportunity and background, and he had everything, but he missed the opportunity in the moment of hesitation, and opportunities were always fleeting.

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