When the emperor consults his cabinet ministers, he usually starts with the chief minister and then goes down one by one.
But today was unusual. The emperor first asked Wang Jiaping, the last fourth assistant, and then asked Xu Guo and Wang Xijue after Wang Jiaping made his position clear.
Finally, through the attitudes of the other three cabinet ministers, the chief minister was forced to apply for Shixing.
At this time, Emperor Wanli said to Shen Shoufu: "I also know that Lin Tailai was born in the Shen family before he won the first prize, so Mr. Shen may not be able to speak well.
If Mr. Shen wants to avoid suspicion, it is human nature and I can understand it."
Shen Shixing was silent for a moment, feeling that he had made the most difficult decision in his life.
Now the emperor's intention was obvious, using concessions on national issues as bait to induce the cabinet to collectively give up their protection of Lin Tailai.
Under normal circumstances, no matter what the relationship with Lin Tailai is, as a civil servant at this time, he must support Lin Tailai.
The reason is very simple. If you don't support Lin Tailai this time, you may be the one who encounters a group fight after entering the palace next time.
But if you give up Lin Tailai, you can get the emperor to make concessions on national issues, which would be very attractive.
To the public, the issue of national origin has been controversial for four years and is a concern for civil servants.
The cabinet, caught between the ministers and the emperor, was even more annoyed by this.
It feels like there is a sharp sword hanging over the head. Who doesn't want to solve the problem completely as soon as possible?
Privately speaking, if any academician can promote the solution of national issues, even at the expense of Lin Tailai, his prestige among officials will be greatly increased, even surpassing that of the chief minister.
After all, the first assistant has a special relationship with Lin Tailai, and he is inherently weak when it comes to Lin Tailai's issue, unless the first assistant treats Lin Tailai more harshly than others.
What's more, if you already have a grudge against Lin Tailai, it will kill two birds with one stone.
It can be said that the emperor's entry point is very clever, and it is definitely the crystallization of the wisdom of the eunuchs in charge of rituals.
At this time, everyone was looking at Shen Shoufu, waiting for the Shoufu's statement.
In the end, Shen Shoufu sighed secretly and replied to Emperor Wanli: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. I should avoid suspicion when it comes to matters involving Lin Tailai."
Let Shen Shixing add insult to injury to Lin Tailai, but he can't do it.
First, his character is not that ruthless, and second, the interests of the Shen family and Lin Tailai are too deeply bound, and the consequences of falling out with Lin Tailai will be huge.
But it would be unrealistic and irrational to try our best to defend Lin Tailai.
This is because this cannot save the situation, and it is possible to suddenly lose the first and second position when you are not prepared, causing more serious consequences.
In addition, Shen Shoufu always felt in his heart that the emperor would not give in so easily, and the seemingly sweet bait might also be a trap.
So I can only use the saying of "avoiding suspicion" and stay out of the matter.
After finishing speaking, Shen Shixing glanced at Lin Tailai specifically, but found that Lin Tailai's expression was still very calm, but his eyebrows were slightly frowned, as if he was thinking about something.
This statement of the first assistant was expected by many people. After all, the first assistant's usual style and habits of dealing with others are indeed like this.
At the same time, Chief Assistant's statement also disappointed many people. Why doesn't Chief Executive Shen support Lin Tailai?
When Emperor Wanli saw this, he did not force Shen Shixing to do anything. Instead, he shouted sharply at Lin Tailai, the ultimate target:
"Lin Tailai! All gentlemen have concluded that you are guilty of a serious crime! Are you willing to plead guilty and face the law?"
As a client, Lin Tailai is more sensitive than others.
From the emperor's words, I could vaguely feel that the emperor's attitude towards him did not seem to be as malicious as it seemed.
If the emperor, who was supreme and took possession of life and death, really wanted to convict people, he could just take it down.
I won't say nonsense like "Are you willing to plead guilty and submit to the law?" If the emperor wants to punish a crime, he still needs to talk about the law? Does he also need to confess his crime?
When you are in front of the emperor, unless the emperor calls you by name or asks questions, you should generally not take the initiative to speak casually. Otherwise, it will be a breach of etiquette before the emperor and you will be disrespectful to the emperor.
Therefore, when the emperor took turns questioning the academicians just now, Lin Tailai could only hold back no matter how much he said.
Finally, after waiting until this moment, Lin Tailai could speak and said to the emperor:
"I have betrayed the divine grace and sinned so much that I cannot defend myself. However, I have something to ask the elders, and I sincerely ask your Majesty for your permission!"
Emperor Wanli weighed it in his mind and said: "That's right!"
I feel that this should be a good thing for promoting a break between Lin Tailai and his ministers and even the civil service.
Lin Tailai turned to Xu Guo and Xu Cifu and said: "A year ago, it was you, teacher, who selected me so that I could enter the court.
You can also say, teacher, you are my passerby in the court."
If it wasn't for the sake of maintaining an image in front of the emperor, the irritable Xu Cifu would definitely have yelled, "You and I are not familiar with each other, you guide!"
Seeing Lin Tailai again, he continued: "Today I have suffered a great disaster because I offended the Zheng family. Can the teacher really have the heart to abandon the relationship between teacher and student and sit back and watch me be sanctioned?"
Hearing Lin Tailai's words, he wanted to be angry, but Xu Cifu suppressed his anger and reasoned: "The ethics of heaven and earth are in harmony, and the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers is greater than the righteousness of teachers and students.
Nowadays, the fundamental issue of the country is the righteousness between the king and his subjects. In order to fulfill the righteousness between the king and his subjects, I can only abandon the righteousness between teachers and students. From now on, we will never have any ties of friendship!"
Lin Tailai then turned to his third assistant, Wang Xijue, and pleaded: "The younger generation and the elder Ge came from the same place in Suzhou, so we have a close friendship with each other. Moreover, the younger generation and your son were classmates in Suzhou for several months.
Is it possible that the elder Ge also wants to abandon his hometown friendship and sit back and watch the younger people from his hometown suffer because he offended the Zheng family?"
Wang Xijue replied very openly: "The way of a minister is to put public affairs first and then private affairs. Friendship between hometowns is a personal relationship, how can it affect official affairs."
Lin Tailai then said to Wang Jiaping, the fourth assistant: "Others say that you are the most fair in dealing with things and are never partial or selfish.
But today I was convicted because of the Zheng family, but you took the initiative to punish me, where is the justice?"
Wang Jiaping responded: "Confucius said it was about benevolence, Mencius said about pursuing righteousness. Giving up the small way and taking the big way is the real justice!
Between the country and you, which one is more important, which one is greater, which one is greater, is self-evident!"
These are indeed the top figures among civil servants. Everyone can achieve self-consistency in logic, and can justify themselves even if they betray others.
"Hahahaha!" Lin Tailai suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, "I, Lin Tailai, only regret that I might as well keep Zhang Jing until today, or collude with the Zheng family early, so as not to have to look at the faces of the three pavilion elders!
"
Most people were baffled and didn't know why Lin Tailai suddenly mentioned the original factory owner Zhang Jing and the Zheng family here.
In fact, Lin Tailai had no other intention. He just pulled out Yongdou Zhang Jing and the Zheng family as his backdrop to express his anger at being betrayed.
Lin Tailai then said to Emperor Wanli: "Justice lies in the heart of the people. If I confess my guilt to Your Majesty, I will be afraid of committing injustice to Your Majesty!"
Therefore, I dare not plead guilty to Your Majesty! It is better to ask the three ministers to convene and convene to convict me!"
This proposal was very in line with Emperor Wanli's thoughts. His original intention was to use civil servants to rectify civil servants.
Then as the emperor, he would show favor to Lin Tailai and win over Lin Tailai.
So Emperor Wanli issued an order to Xu Er, Wang San, and Wang Si: "You and other three will now go to Lin Tailai to discuss the crime, and then report it!"
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The three elders stood together, and after discussing for a while, Mr. Wang Sige, who advocated righteousness, gave the final lecture:
"Lin Tailai acted cruelly and hurt people in the palace, disturbed the holy master, and disobeyed the etiquette of no one. He should be dismissed from all official positions and stripped of his clothes!"
Lin Tailai laughed again at the side, "Do you know that a courageous person has a guilty conscience? Why don't you punish me severely! Don't you dare to hit me with a royal stick?"
All the pavilion elders collectively let out a "poof" in their hearts. You, Lin Tailai, can't even think of cheating the imperial staff! No way!
Emperor Wanli was quite satisfied with this and said "yes" softly to show his agreement.
It's good to be dismissed from office, but it's also good to be stripped of your clothes and clothes. The road to civil service is blocked, so don't you have to take the road to military attache?
When Lin Tailai lost everything and fell into despair, and then issued a decree to reward a high-ranking official of Jinyiwei, Lin Tailai would not be able to shed tears of gratitude?
From now on, it will be a sharp knife in my hand!
At this time, Mr. Wang Sige hurriedly asked again: "Has your Majesty made a final decision on the matter of the foundation of the country?"
This is the issue he is most concerned about. As long as he solves the national issues of great significance, he can enjoy the cheers and praises of officials all over the world!
Just now the emperor hinted that as long as he sold Lin Tailai, he could make concessions on the country's national issues.
This was a "deal" reached between the emperor and his ministers. Now that their ministers had sold Lin Tailai, it was up to the emperor to fulfill his promise.
After Emperor Wanli pondered for a moment, he agreed: "Elder brother is weak, so I hesitate and will observe him for another year.
If there are no problems by next autumn and winter, we will register the ceremony!"
The elders of all the pavilions came together and shouted: "Your Majesty, you are a wise man! This country will be strong and peaceful for tens of thousands of years!"
National issues have been tormenting everyone for four years!
To be continued...