Chapter 1054 You are a little more loyal than a traitor
Capital City, Imperial Palace.
Court meeting.
In the Fengtian Hall, the monarchs and ministers gathered together. Below, Jin Xianmin, the Minister of War, was still describing the battle report from the northwest border. He read the memorial for nearly half an hour. Some of the ministers present were able to listen, but most of them were drowsy.
They all dozed off.
For most people, the military affairs in the northwest do not have an intuitive concept. Anyway, they know that the Ming Dynasty was on the defensive in the northwest, and the Tatars would attack and harass them when they had nothing to do, and then leave after looting.
Even if one or two relatively large battles occasionally occur in a given year, the number of casualties on both sides is less than twenty...
Because the purpose of the battle between the two sides is very strong, one is a bandit, and the bandits are here to plunder property, while the other side wants to drive away the bandits. As for the defending party losing something in the end, it seems that the officers and generals do not care very much, as long as
As long as the robbers can be driven away.
Fighting against the Tatars was not the first choice of civil servants and generals in the northwest.
Jin Xianmin was still immersed there, having finished most of the memorial, when the scene suddenly became noisy.
Jin Xianmin hadn't figured out what was going on. When he continued to talk, he found that the voices of the ministers had completely overwhelmed him. Then he raised his head blankly and found that the emperor was no longer on the throne, along with the eunuchs around the throne.
I don’t know where I went.
Fei Hong came over and patted Jin Xianmin on the shoulder, meaning that you worked hard and spoke well, but I will give you zero points.
"His Majesty……"
Jin Xianmin thought that he had not heard the emperor's announcement of his resignation, which was why he had made such a fuss, but when the people around him responded with regretful looks, he realized that the emperor really didn't like hearing these long speeches, and simply didn't even say hello.
He left, leaving Jin Xianmin there dumbly and continuing to talk, not even noticing when the emperor left.
…
…
The ministers left the Fengtian Palace. Wu Xun was fine and had basically no objections, but the civil servants were a bit intolerant.
Especially the censor Yan Guan.
It doesn't matter that we don't have a say in matters such as ceremonial meetings. Now the emperor even leaves the morning court without saying hello. If we don't pay attention to this matter, then can we still be considered loyal ministers?
A group of people were filled with indignation and clamored to jointly submit a memorial to the emperor for argument.
The four cabinet members returned to the duty room.
Liu Chun frowned and said: "It seems that His Majesty has begun to slack off about the morning court. The court suddenly seems to have returned to a few years ago."
This statement is quite disrespectful. It is comparing the current emperor with the previous Zhengde emperor. If the emperor does not go to court or is slack in government affairs, he can be classified as a faint emperor.
Fei Hong didn't say anything, but Yang Yiqing, who had just joined the cabinet, didn't say anything at all, which surprised Liu Chun and Jia Yong.
Jia Yong asked: "Guys, do you think we should go to court to advise His Majesty? After the Chinese New Year, His Majesty often absents himself from court. Sometimes he doesn't even give a reason, saying he is sick. But I heard that the palace didn't even invite an imperial doctor.
Your Majesty clearly has no intention of attending court."
Fei Hong asked helplessly: "What's the point of trying to persuade me?"
Jia Yong was speechless for a while.
You, the chief minister, allowed the emperor to run wild affairs in court, and you actually asked me what was the use of my persuasion? If it is useless, why don’t we stop admonishing? Aren’t we afraid that the emperor will lead Ming Dynasty into a ditch step by step?
Liu Chun sighed: "At least now His Majesty still appears in the court every now and then. I'm afraid that the future... it's hard to say..."
While speaking, he also looked at Yang Yiqing specifically. He really wanted to know what Yang Yiqing was thinking. After all, Yang Yiqing seemed to have the lowest status among the four cabinet members, but in fact, he had the highest reputation in the court.
If Yang Yiqing wants to perform in the cabinet, isn't this an opportunity?
But obviously Yang Yiqing himself did not regard this as an opportunity.
Fei Hong shook his head and said: "To persuade His Majesty, the right person must come forward... Do you think there is anyone in the government who can take on this important task?"
It is useless to persuade the emperor to be diligent in government affairs. It is useless to rely on the persuasion of ministers. Now these ministers have seen the stubbornness of this little emperor with their own eyes. He is simply a stubborn donkey and never compromises on the things he is determined to do.
If in the past, Zhu Hao was still the brake pad, and could occasionally hold the emperor back when he was overheated, but now that Zhu Hao has left the capital, it seems that no one can really restrain the emperor.
"Zhang Bingyong, what do you think?" Liu Chun put forward an opinion.
Zhang Cong!
Zhu Hao is gone. Now the person the emperor relies on the most is Zhang Cong. After all, Zhang Cong is a core member of the Yili Sect. His reputation among Yili Sect officials is even higher than Zhu Hao. Moreover, Zhang Cong
He returned to the Hanlin Academy as a Hanlin bachelor, and seemed to be Zhu Hao's replacement.
The things that Zhu Hao was responsible for before now always need someone to do them. If not you as a substitute, who will do it?
Fei Hong shook his head and did not express his position, but he obviously didn't think it was of any use.
As the second assistant, Liu Chun's words reflected the collective will of the cabinet when the first assistant did not express his opinion. He immediately said: "Then I will go see Zhang Bingyong later to see if he is willing to come forward. Only then will Ming Dynasty be stable.
The next few years will not be the same as those of the previous dynasty."
While talking, he glanced at Yang Yiqing again.
Probably Liu Chun very much hoped that Yang Yiqing would come forward at this time and say something bold like "I'll go", but from beginning to end Yang Yiqing remained silent as if watching a play.
…
…
When Liu Chun went to see Zhang Cong, he also met Gui E.
Anyway, they are both in the Hanlin Academy, and both of them are Hanlin bachelors. Liu Chun has been in the Hanlin Academy for many years and is very familiar with it. He just happened to come back to see his old friends.
Zhang Cong has given Liu Chun enough face. Since Liu Chun said it, you, Zhang Bingyong, should take on the responsibilities after Zhu Hao leaves the court. Zhang Cong felt that he should show off, and then he and Gui E wrote a letter to persuade the emperor.
Memorials to be diligent in government affairs will be submitted on the same day.
Then……
A stone sinks into the sea.
The emperor may not even be willing to give Zhu Hao face now. Who do you Zhang Cong and Gui E think? Do you dare to hold me to your standards?
When Zhang Zuo mentioned this matter to Zhu Si, Zhu Si almost wanted to demote Zhang Cong from the capital again, but this time he did not act impulsively because he felt that Zhang Cong's behavior was not unforgivable.
No matter how you look at it, Zhang Cong seems to be teaching him a lesson from the standpoint of a civil servant.
"This person really has no idea."
Zhu Si ridiculed, "I appreciate and promote him, but he always wants to hold me to the standards of a saint. Does he really think that he is sitting in his current position because the ministers of the court recognized him?"
Zhu Si's face was full of disdain.
In other words, Zhu Si could not tolerate those ministers in his eyes. He would feel that the ministers must revolve around him. Without him as the backbone, the Ming Dynasty would be over.
This level of arrogance is related to his character, as well as the fact that he lost his father when he was young and was suppressed by Yang Tinghe for two years.
Zhang Zuodao: "Your Majesty, perhaps Academician Zhang does not have the intention to radically dissuade?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Zhu Si said coldly, "Can you say that he is doing this for my own good? What should I do? Should I listen to him? Recently, all the work in the Hanlin Academy has been cancelled, making him nervous...about the imperial edict.
Put it aside for now, or find someone else to do it, and then I won’t go to court!”
Zhu Si wanted to teach Zhang Cong a painful lesson, which was not to demote him but to neglect him.
Let Zhang Cong know his position clearly and stand firmly with me at all times. Whatever I want to do, you must act according to my wishes. It is best for me to act recklessly. While applauding me, you must also encourage those who
The civil servants applauded me and gave me various high-sounding reasons for my misdeeds.
This is what you should do.
"This guy doesn't know how to behave!"
Zhu Si got up and went to the inner hall, leaving another cold sentence in the air.
Zhang Zuo shook his head and smiled bitterly, but could only watch the emperor leave.
…
…
Zhang Cong petitioned, but there was no result at all. In the following days, the emperor did not even hold a court meeting, and the Hanlin Academy was also ignored by the emperor. Originally, there were only two Hanlin bachelors, Zhang Cong and Gui E, left in the Hanlin Academy. They had nothing to do.
, which is equivalent to saying that the Hanlin Academy has become a dispensable yamen in the eyes of the emperor.
Originally, the Hanlin Academy was just a place for writing books, and it didn't matter whether it was taken care of by the emperor. However, Zhang Cong had great ambitions and felt that as long as he was there, the Hanlin Academy should become the most visible place in the court.
He couldn't accept the current situation.
So he still chose to communicate with the internal minister Zhang Zuo. Although he also knew that as a Hanlin scholar, he would easily be criticized if he casually met with internal officials, but he had to do so.
"...Scholar Zhang, there are some things that we can't tell you, so you can weigh it yourself."
Zhang Cong took advantage of Zhang Zuo's visit to the Ministry of Rites and went to block the door. Xi Shu went through the process and gave Zhang Cong and Zhang Zuo a chance to meet alone.
"Eunuch Zhang, I am stupid, I hope you can give me some advice."
Zhang Cong said sincerely.
Zhang Zuo smiled and shook his head: "Don't you know exactly why?"
Zhang Cong said: "But because I am going to persuade your Majesty to be diligent in court affairs? In fact... this is not what a minister should do?"
"hehe."
Zhang Zuopi smiled but still didn't give an explanation.
Zhang Cong further asked: "If that scholar Zhu were in power, would he do the same thing?"
"yes."
Zhang Zuo was no longer polite now, and nodded generously and admitted, "Scholar Zhu will definitely give advice, but your majesty will listen to him if he comes forward, but others... your majesty just won't listen. Don't you know?"
Zhang Zuo was actually a little annoyed.
You Zhang Cong always want to compare yourself with Zhu Hao, who gave you the courage?
Putting aside the friendship between the emperor and Zhu Hao who grew up together, just talking about the ability to do things, how do you compare with the hero who helped the emperor fight with the courtiers in the past few years, and finally helped the emperor win?
It is true that there is no fate for Zhu Jingdao, but there is Zhu Jingdao's ambition.
Can't understand the current situation clearly.
Zhang Cong said: "If this is what Master Zhu persuades, will Your Majesty listen?"
"Different."
Zhang Zuo said helplessly, "Sister Zhang, just do your own job well, and you should stay less involved in other things. It's not that His Majesty doesn't trust you, but... the way you do things is wrong. I think of Mr. Zhu when he was in power.
, when have you ever seen him give fierce advice? Even during the Zuo Shunmen incident, have you ever seen him speak for those civil servants? "
"this……"
Zhang Cong's eyes suddenly widened and he suddenly realized.
Zhu Hao, this kid, pretended to be innocent and indifferent, but in fact he was the biggest traitor in the Ming Dynasty.