Emperor Jiajing suffered from insomnia, and after torturing Qin Zhongtang for most of the night, he finally stopped. Then within two days, the courtiers all knew that the emperor's condition had worsened again.
Emperor Jiajing did not announce his illness to the public, and there was no gossip, but the courtiers who were already familiar with Emperor Jiajing's rhythm knew everything.
Emperor Jiajing was different from his grandson Emperor Wanli. Although the two emperors appeared to be corrupting on the surface in the middle and later periods, they were completely different on the inside. Emperor Wanli's way of corrupting the government was to neglect his administration. All the memorials he sent in were left unpublished and accumulated in a backlog.
No processing is done in hand.
Although Emperor Jiajing was addicted to cultivating immortals, he wanted to show off. However, the suspicious and jealous Emperor was afraid of losing power, so he remained "diligently responsible" and would read and approve all memorials sent to him.
Therefore, during the Jiaqing and Qing dynasties, there was basically no situation where memorials were left unpublished, and official documents were always flowing smoothly.
But in these two days, no imperial memorandum was issued from the Renshou Palace, and the official documents of the Ming Dynasty came to a sudden halt. When the courtiers saw this situation, they could make a judgment immediately without any gossip.
, the emperor's condition has worsened, otherwise with Emperor Jiajing's indignation, there would not have been no imperial wholesale shipments for two consecutive days.
In Zhan Shifu, the four major backbones, Luo Hongxian, Tang Shunzhi, Zhao Shichun and Xu Jie, got together to discuss the current plan.
Luo Hongxian was the first to speak: "Now the time has come. It is time for us and the officials of the East Palace to jointly submit a petition to the Prince to visit the Wenhua Hall on the winter solstice and accept the congratulations from all the officials!"
Then Luo Hongxian went on to say, "There are three reasons. First, the court ceremony cannot be neglected, and the prince of the East Palace can perform it on his behalf. Second, it can show to China and foreign countries that the current country is stable! Third, the prince is getting older, so that the prince can become familiar with the etiquette system!"
The three reasons are not self-reported motives, but rather they are given to courtiers outside the East Palace.
After all, even if the officials of the East Palace want to support the prince, they must try their best to win the support of the majority of courtiers. It is important to have a good reputation. Tang Shunzhi said, "My palace officials are still too weak and their momentum is not enough. It is best to get the support of the ruling party."
It refers to the person who is in power in the cabinet. Under normal circumstances, he is the first assistant by default, but it is obviously not suitable at the moment. Therefore, the person in power mentioned by Tang Shunzhi may be Yan Song, maybe Qin Desian, and certainly not the first assistant Zhai Luan. According to the original division of labor, Mr. Luo Hong
Responsible for lobbying Yan Song, while Tang Shunzhi was responsible for lobbying Qin Dewei. Tang Shunzhi didn't know the specifics of Luo Hongxian. Anyway, he was in trouble and couldn't handle Qin Dexian. Then he heard Luo Hongxian reply confidently, "Yan Ge always supports it."
Among the Yan family, the person who dealt directly with Luo Hongxian was Yan Shifan. Anyway, according to Luo Hongxian's understanding, the Yan family meant support. After hearing this, Zhao Shichun said, "That's fine."
Yan Song is the de facto chief assistant, one is worth a hundred. With Yan Song's support, there is nothing that can't be done, unless the emperor wants to change people again. Among the four major backbones, Xu Jie, who is usually quite active, is surprisingly active today.
Silent, didn't say much.
Others were not surprised by this. They all knew that Xia Yan, Xu Jie's biggest backer, had fallen. It was Xia Yan who directly recommended Xu Jie that he was able to be transferred back to the capital from other places and enter Zhan Shifu.
So it is strange that Xu Jie can be active at this stage. First, he is in the confused period when his backer disappears; second, he has to live with his tail between his legs. In fact, Xu Jie is not as sensitive and fragile as others think. The reason why he is silent today is because he has been
I am considering whether to withdraw temporarily and not participate in the joint signing of the East Palace officials and subordinates...
The reason is also very simple. A certain fellow named Feng from Songjiang Prefecture, who is good at using sticks, said in a letter that just look at what the person named Qin does. This is definitely a trend vane.
After Luo Hong glanced around, he slapped the table with great enthusiasm and said, "Since you have no objections, it can be settled. I have already drafted the memorial. I just want you to sign it."
Zhao Shichun also responded excitedly: "It's today to stabilize the country!" At this time, Xu Jie said: "Should I report it to He Tangshi first?" Zhan Shicai is the number one figure in Zhan Shifu, He Zhan
The problem was Qin Dexian's junior master, He Ao. When Qin Dewei resigned from Zhan, He Ao, a guest of the same rank as the prince, seamlessly took over Zhan Shi's position.
Theoretically, these four backbones are all subordinates of He Ao, but Ci ministers pay more attention to the rules of their predecessors, not so much about respect for superiors and inferiors. The same is true for the Hanlin Academy.
Therefore, the four backbones of Luo, Tang, Zhao, and Xu worked together to "do their own thing" and did not have much communication with He Ao. But when it came time to go to Liuzhou, it was best to inform Zhan.
Xu Jie's purpose of bringing up He Tang's affairs was just to delay time. He did not want to sign on the spot in this atmosphere. Originally, the four major backbones were equal, but Luo Hongxian took over the "Yan family", so he implicitly regarded Luo Hongxian as
He was the leader. So Luo Hongxian volunteered and said, "I'll go and report the matter to He Zhan."
A report is a report, not a request for instructions. No matter what happened in the Tang Dynasty or what their attitude was, their epoch-making memorial has determined it, and they have a heavy sense of historical responsibility on their shoulders.
Then Luo Hongxian arranged for "Tang Jingchuan to be responsible for writing the memorial, and Zhao Jungu to inform other colleagues."
When they arrived at He Tangshi's place, just as Luo Hongxian expected, He Zhanshi, like an old bureaucrat, did not express his position directly, but only asked a few details.
In Luo Hongxian's eyes, He Zhanshi, who has reached middle age, has lost his passion and vigor, and is no longer the Master He who served in the two dynasties. Of course, Luo Hongxian does not need He Zhanshi to express his position. Their four major backbones plus
The other dozen or so officials of Zhan Shifu were enough to represent the East Palace. Based on his instinct, He Ao felt that this would be a big event. He suddenly understood why Qin Dewei was unwilling to be this Zhan Shifu. He probably just didn't want to mess with these things.
matter.
At the same time, He Ao remembered that Qin Dexian was not willing to let him be an official in the East Palace, but he insisted on being a guest of the prince. Thinking of this, Teacher He could not sit still and immediately set off to the Qin Mansion in Wugong Alley. Although Qin Dewei was at this time
He works in Wenyuan Pavilion, but Teacher He doesn't mind waiting for a few more hours in the Qin Mansion. Anyway, in front of several Qin Dewei's disciples, Teacher He is a grandfather, and he is quite comfortable being served. Fortunately, winter affairs are relatively easy.
Young Master, Qin Zhongtang returned home near evening.
Teacher He took the initiative to ask and said, "I didn't know that there was such a joint petition in Zhan Shi's mansion before. I really can't figure out the consequences. I would like some guidance on the so-called consequences. What I really mean is what is the emperor's attitude and what should be done."
Follow speculation or avoid it. Qin Decian only said: "Teacher, look, I have never wanted to be a Zhan, and I still can't see clearly."
The smart man said so much, but He Ao created difficulties again. If it was really as bad as Qin Dewei suggested, then how should he be removed...
A group of middle and low-level officials were messing around, and if the emperor investigated it, Zhan Shi of the Tang Dynasty Mansion would certainly not escape punishment.
Qin Desian replied: "What else can be done? As long as you inform the emperor about this in advance and remind the emperor to pay attention, the emperor will naturally think that you are loyal to the emperor, so how can he punish you?" He Ao asked again, "What should I do?"
Inform the Emperor”
Qin Dewei replied, "First of all, teacher, you cannot report through any public memorial.
After all, teacher, you are Zhan Shi, the head of the official family of the East Palace, and it is natural justice for Zhan Shifu officials to support the prince. If the teacher makes a public report, it will be morally unacceptable and he will easily be criticized by public opinion.'
Teacher He continued to ask expectantly, "Then what should I do?" Qin Dewei replied without thinking, "It's very simple, just don't be known by public opinion. There are roughly two ways.
The first way is to go directly to Renshou Palace to ask for an audience with the emperor, and tell the emperor face to face what he knows. If the Dharma is not spread to the six ears, it should be difficult to spread it. The second way is to write an anonymous secret and stamp it with a silver seal.
It can be sent to the emperor as soon as possible! In this way, others will not know what is written in the secret book, and they will not know who wrote the secret book. 'He Aodi. It is inevitable."
I beg you, these two methods proposed by Qin Deshan are completely useless.
If He Ao had the political status to seek an audience with Renshou Palace, or had the privilege of writing secrets, would he still use it to consult Qin Dewei?
Qin Dewei sighed and said, "There is nothing you can do. If you want to get away, teacher, you can only find a way to secretly report to the emperor to show your loyalty. Then wait for Luo Hongxian and the others to jointly submit a memorial to support the prince and see the court to prove that what you said is true."
And if, teacher, you publicly report the report first, and then Luo Hongxian and others find out that something is wrong and do not take action, wouldn’t that mean that teacher, you are conspiring to slander Luo Hongxian and them?”
So he could only give a secret report. He Ao then thought about it. Although he did not have the political privilege of giving a secret report or meeting alone, the student Qin Dewei did. As long as he was willing to write a post exposing Luo Hongxian and others, and let Qin Dewei submit it to the emperor on his behalf, or
Wouldn't it be over after meeting the emperor to report to him? Teacher He originally thought it was a matter of course, but unexpectedly, Qin Dewei quickly shook his head, "No, no, still no." Then Qin Dexian explained, "The emperor hates the clique among ministers, and everyone in the world hates it."
Know your relationship with me
I originally had nothing to do with the affairs of Zhan Shifu, but I took your teacher's revelations and reported them to the emperor. In the eyes of the emperor, wouldn't it mean that you and I have formed a clique for personal gain?"
He Ao was a little unconvinced and said, "There are still few people in the DPRK and China who are forming cliques."
Qin Dewei further explained: "It's okay to form cliques in private. The emperor can never catch them all and can only turn a blind eye. But if you openly express cliques in front of the emperor, it is tantamount to provoking the emperor.
It's unwise. I will definitely suffer retribution from the emperor." He Ao was a little annoyed, "This won't work, and that won't work either. How can I avoid punishment?" Qin Dewei was also speechless. He had opposed Teacher He at the beginning.
Going to the East Palace to be a guest of the prince has always been said to be a big trap. But Teacher He is so obsessed with his ambitions and wants to be noble that he insists on going to the East Palace. Who will come?
Qin Dewei made another suggestion: "Otherwise, teacher, you go find Yan Song. Anyway, you have a good relationship with Yan Song and can talk to him. Then you tell Yan Song about the actions of the officials of Zhan Shifu and ask Yan Song to report to the emperor secretly."
Teacher He didn't know what to say anymore. From what Luo Hongxian said, Yan Song supported them...
If this is true, if he went to Yan Song to expose Luo Hongxian and the others, wouldn't it be a waste of time and throw himself into a trap? Besides, if Yan Song had the intention to expose in advance, he could have written the secret book on his own, so why would he pass it on to He Ao?
In fact, Qin Dewei is also very helpless. For someone like Teacher He, he would have been regarded as an abandoned son in the Tang Dynasty Mansion, and he would not care about his life or death. But Teacher He is his junior master. If he does not take good care of him,
Or if you just sit back and ignore it, and if it is spread, it will greatly damage your reputation. The king of heaven and earth is the master, and the master is also in ethics. The temple is not only about killing, but also about the world.
After thinking about it, Qin Dewei could only sigh and said, "That's all. I'll go for the teacher and ask to see the emperor to explain the situation in Zhan Shifu." At this time, Teacher He began to worry about Qin Dewei's situation again, and asked, "How about this?"
"?"
Qin Dewei is not only a student, but also a thigh. If he loses his thigh in order to jump out of the pit, the gain will outweigh the loss. Qin Dexian considered it and said, "It doesn't matter, I have my own plans. I will go to Xiyuan early tomorrow morning. If I can see the emperor, I will adapt to the situation."
." After finally sending away Teacher He, Xu Miaojing came to visit again. Qin Desian could only cheer up to receive him. Xu Miaojing said: "Brother-in-law! The factory owner can't hold it anymore! If there is nothing left, he will take action on his own."
Qin Dewei smiled and said, "How did Eunuch Qin become the admiral of the East Factory with such a lack of determination?"
Xu Miaojing replied: "It's not that the factory manager has no determination, but that Lu Bing's Tiqi is desperately poaching people from Dongchang. Recently, Dongchang has lost dozens of people! Many people are complaining that the factory manager is too timid and afraid of getting into trouble. In this way, the factory manager
Still saying nothing, which is very disappointing."
Qin Desian then replied, "Then you go and tell him. You can do it now and be ready at all times or go to Xiyuan tomorrow." On the same night, Yan Songyange returned home from vacation, and was invited by his son to the study for a secret talk.
Yan Shifan hurriedly said: "Father, don't take a vacation tomorrow. Go to Xiyuan as soon as possible! I also wrote a secret letter and threw it into Renshou Palace. I don't know when the emperor will see it, so I might as well ask to see the emperor directly."
Mr. Yan Ge didn't react for a while, "What are you talking about?"
Yan Shifan explained, "Luo Hongxian and the others have decided to go to court, and it will be tomorrow if possible soon."
Mr. Yan Ge had to deal with too many things all day long, and he didn't have enough energy, so he brought certain things out of the corner of his memory.
Yan Shifan urged again: "Father, you must warn the emperor about this before they go to court, so that you can gain the emperor's trust, otherwise it will be meaningless."
"I know," Yan Songyan replied concisely.
His goal is also very simple, to use the emperor's hand to clear out this group of people and replace them with his own people.
It's a pity that I have such a day off, so I can only get up as early as possible tomorrow, and then go to the palace to ask for an audience as soon as possible.