"Prince, why does Your Majesty insist on taking the imperial examination? I thought..." Looking at the emperor's leaving figure, an old minister like Tang Mingren didn't even react for a moment.
After all, Liu Zhuguo really died in front of everyone.
He threatened the emperor with his life, but it still did not change the emperor's mind.
Just let the emperor agree to continue the recommendation system, and there is no longer the restriction that an official can only recommend one person.
However, the emperor still insisted on taking the imperial examination.
Tang Mingren didn't understand for a moment.
Chen Changfeng looked at Tang Mingren. Tang Mingren's impulsive gesture just now really shocked Chen Changfeng.
Tang Mingren actually wanted to risk his own life to fight against the second prince and the others to the end.
Fortunately, Yao Xiaoren had sharp eyesight and quick hands, otherwise Tang Mingren might have been in trouble.
"Mr. Tang must not be so impulsive again in the future. Even if they completely win today, I don't want to see anything happen to you."
"If I have to sacrifice any of your lives to win this battle, I would rather lose." Chen Changfeng looked at Tang Mingren with firm eyes.
Tang Mingren nodded and shook his head again.
He knew that these were Chen Changfeng's innermost thoughts, but if it really came to a critical moment, he couldn't care about anything else.
The third prince's hatred for Tang Mingren at this moment was no less than his hatred for Chen Changfeng.
He had clearly warned Tang Mingren not to help Chen Changfeng.
But what about Tang Mingren?
Not only did he agree to Chen Changfeng's appointment as Minister of Civil Affairs, he also proposed to take the imperial examination in the court.
Now he was threatening his life, making the emperor realize that Liu Zhuguo's death was arranged by himself, the third prince.
In order to force the emperor to cancel the imperial examination and obtain official positions and deal with Chen Changfeng, he, the third prince, personally forced to death his father-in-law, a hero of the Ming Empire.
The officials kneeling on the ground had already stood up and left.
They all also knew that the emperor had made the final decision.
The death of Liu Zhuguo had some effect. The emperor no longer restricted the recommendation to the official system, but in the same way, the imperial examination system continued to be implemented.
He also made the prince Chen Changfeng the examiner of the first imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty.
Neither side won today, and the third prince even lost to Liu Zhuguo and damaged his own reputation.
The second prince patted the third prince on the shoulder. Although it was not a big victory today, it was a good result for the second prince to force the emperor to lift the restriction on recommendation for officials.
At least there are no restrictions on being recommended as an official, and the second prince can still control the court.
As for the loss of the third prince, it has little to do with the second prince.
The second prince left, and the third prince glanced at Chen Changfeng and Tang Mingren, and then disappeared into the night.
Liu Zhuguo's body was carried away, and the ground was cleaned.
It seems like nothing happened.
Liu Zhuguo's death was so quiet.
…
After several days of silence, hundreds of officials crowded into the palace and tens of thousands of people guarded the entrance to the imperial city. The incident was quickly forgotten.
Military advisor Liu Shuwen once again handed over the note.
It said that Chu's southern army had advanced thirty miles to the border of Ming Dynasty, and it seemed that it was about to attack Ming Dynasty at any time.
Liu Shuwen had ordered the Ming army to set up camp on the border, ready to respond to the attack of the Chu army in the south at any time.
Today's Tai Chi Hall is eerily quiet.
The emperor had previously prepared to initiate war against Da Chu, but he did not expect that Da Chu would be the first to send troops to confront the Ming Dynasty on the border.
This is no longer a matter of face, but a major matter concerning the survival of the Ming Empire.
If the Ming Dynasty does not take any further action, when winter passes and spring comes, the Chu Dynasty will probably directly attack the Ming Dynasty.
At that time, Ming Dynasty fell into passivity and the situation took a turn for the worse.
Moreover, at this time, the Ming soldiers were still holding back their breath. If there was no more movement, when the breath dissipated, the morale of the Ming soldiers would definitely be low.
If you try to fight then, I'm afraid you'll definitely lose!
"I want to ask today, who can lead the army?" the emperor said, his eyes falling on the third prince.
Although the fact that the third prince forced Liu Zhuguo to death was a knot in the emperor's heart, the emperor still recognized the third prince's ability to lead the army.
Moreover, the third prince is the Minister of War, so he is naturally the first to bear the brunt of leading the army.
"Father, I have received news that the generals under the Ministry of War have learned that the generals will be dismissed. People have been in panic recently."
"If we go to fight now, I'm afraid they won't be willing." The third prince walked out of the queue with a worried look on his face.
After the news of the abolition of redundant officers and generals came out, many generals were worried.
This is a fact.
But the third prince also wanted to take this opportunity to ask the emperor not to dismiss the generals for the time being.
Moreover, the Chu Empire is now pressing harder and harder against the Ming Dynasty, and the elimination of generals will obviously reduce the combat effectiveness of the Ming Dynasty's army.
The third prince's suggestion was based on personal interests and concerns about the weakening of the Ming Dynasty's combat power.
"Unwilling?" The emperor sneered. He spent his own money to support them. Now when they are needed, are they unwilling?
"Lao San, please hand over to me the list of generals who are unwilling to go to war. Every one of them counts, and I will never tolerate it!" The emperor slammed the table, and all the officials in the Tai Chi Palace were startled.
The emperor has become increasingly irritable recently.
Especially after hundreds of officials forced the palace, Liu Xi could hear the emperor slamming the table almost every day.
"Father, please calm down and let me go and persuade them." The third prince knelt directly on the ground.
He just wanted the emperor to promise not to dismiss those generals for the time being, but he didn't expect the emperor to be so irritable.
"I don't care whether you advise or not, I want to know which of you can lead the army!" The emperor glanced at the courtiers in Tai Chi Hall and spoke in a stern tone.
The Chu Empire relied on its strong national power and did not pay attention to the Ming Dynasty at all.
The Ming envoy who had killed them before was now directly sending troops to watch at the border of the Ming Dynasty.
If he doesn't take action, the Ming Dynasty will wait to be annexed by the Chu Dynasty.
No one spoke, no sound at all.
The emperor felt that the anger in his heart was rising again. When he forced himself, he opened his mouth one after another.
What ancestral laws are immutable?
That was memorized, for fear that he, the emperor, would infringe on their interests.
What now?
When the Ming Empire needed them, one by one, it was as if someone had their mouths sewn shut with needle and thread.
I don't even dare to fart.
"Third brother, how about you, can you lead the army?" The emperor stood up and looked at the third prince.
"Father, I am willing to lead the army, but I was injured by the Great Chu Huaxiong last time, and the injury has not healed. I'm afraid..." The third prince looked embarrassed.
It's not that the third prince doesn't want to go, it's that he doesn't dare to go.
The commander of Da Chu's southern army was Li Fengxian, the divine general of Da Chu. No one could compete with him in terms of military prowess.
The third prince was afraid that he would be killed by Li Fengxian on the battlefield.
And the so-called injury by Hua Xiong, which has not healed yet, is just his excuse.
Seeing the third prince like this, the emperor could not understand what he was thinking. He glanced at everyone in front of him, but no one dared to look at him.
The emperor put his hands on the dragon chair with some dejection, his eyes full of disappointment.
In the huge Ming Dynasty, no one dared to lead the army on an expedition.
It’s really ridiculous!
"Father, since the third brother is not willing to lead the army, then let me go." Chen Changfeng's voice suddenly sounded in the crowd.