Chapter 717 Conditionally stick to one's own opinion
Beijing.
In Yang Mansion's study room, Yang Shen brought Yu Chengxun's handwritten letter and handed it to Yang Tinghe.
Yang Tinghe simply read it without commenting.
Yang Shen said: "Father, now that Mao Gong has been found out, your Majesty has sent Luo An, the governor of Fusi Town, North Town of Jinyiwei, who was the chief of ritual guards of Qianxing Prince's Mansion, to go to the south of the Yangtze River to meet some old ministers. This person even has some recruiters.
According to the wishes of the Duke of Wei... Maogong has followed your instructions and went to visit the Duke of Wei, but he did not see anyone."
"Um."
Yang Tinghe's face looked a little cold.
In fact, the content of Yu Chengxun's report was not surprising, but it was the purpose of Luo An's trip to the south. The emperor used Luo An as his special envoy to go to see Yang Yiqing and Xie Qian, which was all within Yang Tinghe's expectations.
Yang Shen seemed very positive. After all, to a certain extent, Yu Chengxun and Zhu Hao were both his people. Whether they could run their errands well in Nanjing was related to his face.
"Father, I see that the Duke of Wei has no intention of serving the imperial court, so he should be replaced as soon as possible. If Luo An really sees him and successfully recruits him, then it will be difficult for my father to intervene when His Majesty implements his decrees in Jiangnan and other places."
What Yang Shen meant was that the position of the Nanjing garrison minister was related to the stability of the entire southeastern region of the Ming Dynasty.
If the new emperor takes the military power in Nanjing, it means that Jiangnan has become the new emperor's territory. The new emperor will have great initiative in appointing officials in Nanjing, dispatching troops, collecting money and food, etc., and Yang Tinghe will completely lose Jiangnan.
Control of a rich land.
Anyone who conquers the world must first gain military power. Everyone understands this principle.
Yang Tinghe said: "But I don't know why Xu Pengju was so indifferent to the people sent by his father?"
When Yang Shen heard this, was he testing me?
"Father, I heard that there has been a rumor going around in the south of the Yangtze River recently that Duke Cheng Guo often visits you and discusses many things. He also said that his father intends to let Duke Cheng Guo return to the south to take charge of the garrison of Nanjing." Yang Shen said.
Yang Tinghe sneered: "This is simply nonsense. I haven't seen Cheng Guogong in person for many years."
If you haven't seen him in person, it actually means you have seen the envoy from Duke Chengguo's mansion.
Yang Shen said: "The people who spread this news have terrible intentions. Their intention may be to cause a rift between the contemporary Wei Guogong and his father. They went to Jiangnan to take advantage of their father's name and took his father's name card to visit, but they didn't succeed.
See."
"He took my name card?"
Yang Tinghe frowned.
Yang Shen said: "Father, I'm just here to meet you in your name. It shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"This Maogong, doesn't he have any idea when doing things? His Majesty's people are also in Nanjing now. Isn't he telling the other party that in fact, my father is also concerned about the garrison duty in Nanjing?"
Yang Tinghe was somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Chengxun's actions.
Yang Shen sighed: "Actually, even if Mao Gong does not go in your name, don't others know the purpose of his going? Besides, Wei Guogong has not seen anyone now. I am afraid that even Luo An, who was sent by His Majesty, has not seen him.
"
Yang Tinghe said coldly: "Then how do you know they have never met in private? If he doesn't see Mao Gong, doesn't it mean that his heart is not with us?"
"Well?"
Yang Shen heard this.
It turns out that in my father's mind, he has the idea that those who are not my partisans are also our enemies?
This is very dangerous!
While the two were talking, Yang Dun's voice came from outside: "Father, Mao Butang from the Ministry of Rites handed over the name card outside. Did you see it or not?"
Yang Shen felt a little bored when he heard his brother's voice.
Now his younger brother has not yet passed the Jinshi examination, but he does things for his father from time to time. Yang Shen has always had a thorn in his heart. He feels that his father does not help him much, and sometimes he does not even have much trust in him. Instead, he treats his younger brother who was born in Juren.
But he always trusted him, which made him feel very unbalanced.
"Yong Xiu, please go back first, and I will discuss it with you later."
Yang Tinghe tidied up a little and then went to meet with Mao Cheng... If he wanted to meet an official at the level of Minister of Rites, he couldn't do it in his own study. He had to go to the main hall, so that the etiquette would be sufficient.
........
...........
In the main hall of the Yang Mansion, Mao Cheng came to meet him with a serious face.
After sitting down to talk alone, Mao Cheng told Zhu Si what he had said in the palace: "... His Majesty reiterated the proposal of the gift and gave it to me in large sums of money, saying that he asked me to present the emperor in Yixing.
I have contributed a lot to the imperial examination."
Yang Tinghe frowned after hearing this.
You must know that the matter of the Great Ceremony was not mentioned again after it was finalized from the end of last year to the beginning of this year.
Everyone felt that after the young emperor confirmed King Xingxian as Emperor Xingxian, he stopped being demanding. At least he fought for the title of emperor for his father, but the word "huang" was missing, and he also fought for the title of "Xingxian" for his mother.
"Later" title.
Isn’t this enough?
At this juncture, you actually proposed to use Emperor Xingxian as the emperor?
Even add the title of Emperor?
Mao Cheng said: "Before the Holy Emperor came to the throne, I argued hard, but His Majesty's attitude was firm this time. He even asked Eunuch Zhang, the Chief of Ceremonies, to talk with me in detail for a long time. He mentioned to me that Your Majesty has often dreamed of being happy recently.
Xiandi proposed the method of benevolence, filial piety and etiquette, with sincerity and sincerity."
Yang Tinghe looked at Mao Cheng and asked, "What do you mean?"
Mao Cheng smiled bitterly and said: "I have absolutely no intention of being partial. The etiquette of the Heavenly Family has been decided for a long time. It's just that... Your Majesty is so entangled that he is afraid that if he raises this matter again in the court, it will cause a huge disturbance."
.Sigh! But I don’t know why Your Majesty insists on doing so?”
Yang Tinghe said: "At this juncture, Your Majesty has chosen the right time."
"oh?"
Mao Cheng looked at Yang Tinghe and wondered why Yang Tinghe made such a conclusion.
Yang Tinghe did not say that due to the urgent military affairs in the northwest, it was the time when the court needed to be united. At this time, the emperor proposed to reconsider the ceremony, which was obviously used to blackmail the civil officials and make them compromise.
But this was obviously a gamble on the national destiny of the Ming Dynasty. In Yang Tinghe's view, the emperor was very willful and reckless, and did not have the demeanor of a wise king at all.
"By the way, Your Majesty also mentioned to me that Tang Bohu, who went to the Inner Three Passes as the censor of Youjindu, transferred a group of people from Xishan to accompany the army, and brought with him a lot of newly cast artillery, muskets and
New ordnance... I heard that a large ordnance factory was built over there in Xishan, but because it was all funded by the internal government, it is difficult for outsiders to ask about it," Mao Cheng said.
Yang Tinghe frowned: "Why does your Majesty say this to you?"
Mao Cheng looked helpless: "How do I know? In short, His Majesty has said it...or maybe His Majesty thinks that Tang Bohu can achieve some great military exploits in the northwest, so that Tang Bohu can gain a firm foothold in the army, and thus gain a foothold in the army."
To gain military and political power in the northwest? Use this to...coerce and induce?"
Mao Cheng was actually very confused. What was the little emperor doing?
He just discussed the gift with me alone and told me about Tang Bohu, as if he was afraid that others wouldn't know. Did he think that I would be like Sun Zhi and Old Man Sun who kept silent when things happened?
Even if there are some misunderstandings between Yang Jiefu and I, if something happens, I will still tell Yang Jiefu as soon as possible.
Yang Tinghe thought about it for a while, and suddenly a cold snort came out of his nose and said, "Your Majesty, you feel that your wings are stiff."
"ah?"
Mao Cheng was even more puzzled.
You Yang Jiefu thought for a long time and came to such a conclusion based on these things?
Yang Tinghe said: "Your Majesty feels that he can control the capital, the northwest, and even Nanjing. He has nothing to worry about anymore and wants to negotiate terms with the veterans of the court... This is not a matter of discussing a big gift with you.
, but an ultimatum to the entire court!"
Mao Cheng took a breath of cold air and said, "Jiefu, don't always think about things in the worst possible way. I think your Majesty may not have this intention."
Although Mao Cheng was still speaking for the little emperor, he knew that once Yang Tinghe had such an idea, it would be difficult to change anything with his own ability.
In fact, Yang Tinghe's analysis is logical and makes sense.
"By the way, Jiefu, you are talking about the capital and northwest, I can understand, this Nanjing thing..." Mao
Cheng suddenly realized that there seemed to be some ambiguity in Yang Tinghe's words.
Good luck, why did you mention the emperor's statement that he had Nanjing in his hands?
"Xianqing, I know you are under a lot of pressure when it comes to discussing etiquette, but you must persevere. Everyone in this court can relax, but you can't. No matter what His Majesty says, you just have to persevere to the end.
That's it. As for other matters, I will deal with them as appropriate." Yang Tinghe used words to appease Mao Cheng.
Mao Cheng stood up and nodded in agreement, but there was still a thorn in his heart.
You Yang Jiefu actually told me that I am responsible for my own affairs and you don’t want me to get involved in other matters? You can’t even tell me?
That's it, you still want me to confide in you?
Yang Tinghe said: "If His Majesty raises the matter of discussing etiquette again in the court, you can just find someone to argue with him. You don't need to worry too much. If there is nothing else to do recently, you don't need to come to see me. You have to avoid suspicion."
.”
He also reminded Mao Cheng that whenever something comes up about the Great Rites Conference, you come to me and tell me, making it seem as if I, Yang, am solely responsible for the Great Rites Conference.
As the Minister of Rites, as long as you stick to your principles and remain unwavering, you can have your own "opinion", even though this opinion is given to you by me.
Mao Cheng said: "I hope you can appease His Majesty, or speak to His Majesty alone. The discussion of etiquette cannot be reopened."
.........
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After Yang Tinghe met Mao Cheng, he had a clear idea.
No matter what the new emperor thought, at least Yang Tinghe concluded that now the little emperor felt that he could take charge of his own affairs, and began to skip Yang Tinghe in doing things. In the past, the emperor and his subjects had only minor conflicts, which had not developed into a fierce fight. I am afraid that this face-to-face confrontation
The fight is about to begin.
Yang Tinghe felt that the emperor was a little hasty in meeting Mao Cheng, so Yang Tinghe knew the news in advance and could make preparations in advance.
During the court meeting the next day, Yang Tinghe took the initiative to raise the issue of Nanjing's defense.
It is important to mention that Wei Guogong Xu Pengju did not fulfill his duties when he was in Nanjing garrison. He wanted to strengthen control over him because of his young age. Although he did not explicitly say that he would be replaced, what he said actually revealed that
That’s what it means.
Yang Tinghe did not intentionally push Xu Pengju to side with the new emperor's forces.
In fact, he just wanted Xu Pengju to know that the person who could really control the situation in Jiangnan was Yang Tinghe, not a fledgling little emperor.
In times of trouble, the little emperor could not keep his garrison position in Nanjing.