Yang Shenben was still waiting for Huang Zan and Zhang Cong to show up and have a good debate with them about the Great Ceremony. He had already assembled an entire Hanlin team, surpassing Huang and Zhang both in terms of momentum and sound.
, but there has been no news that the two appeared at the debate.
First, I heard that the two went to the back tent, which is the tent where ordinary scholars hold meetings, and then they heard that something was going on there. "Why did you do it?"
When Yang Shen heard the news, he immediately took people there.
Yu Chengxun came over to deliver the news and grabbed Yang Shen: "Yong Xiu, the situation is chaotic right now. You may not know what the outcome will be, so it's better not to get involved."
Yang Shen raised his eyebrows: "Why, are you afraid of being beaten?"
Yu Chengxun sighed: "It is precisely because you are not afraid that great things may happen." Yang Shen was startled.
Then he roughly understood what Yu Chengxun meant.
In terms of the Great Ceremony, the number of people who hold the mainstream view of "succession to the throne" far exceeds that of the other side. Needless to say, the fight that occurs here will be one-sided in terms of the number of people on both sides. At this time, Huang Huang and Zhang Cong happened to be
At the scene...if the two of them were beaten by ordinary scholars...
That would not end well.
It was reasonable at first, and the public opinion was very supportive, but when the opponent was injured, what was reasonable became unreasonable. Bystanders who did not know what was going on would naturally side with the "victim".
And if Yang Shen goes, he will be held responsible later... This is almost inevitable. The emperor will definitely order a thorough investigation. When Yang Shen gets involved, will he be beaten up?
Is he in charge of human affairs? After all, he mobilized many young Hanlin officials, supervisors and scholars, and they have become opinion leaders.
Just as he was talking, Fengxi, a scholar of Hanlin Academy, came over. When he saw Yang Shen, he immediately gave him a wink.
Yang Shen followed Fengxi to the side knowingly. When Fengxi saw no one around, he whispered: "Your Majesty has returned to the city!" Yang Shen said: "Your Majesty knows about the fight?"
Fengxi said: "Yong Xiu, you are a smart person, you should understand why this dispute arises, right?"
Yang Shen was quite annoyed. What was supposed to be a place for reasoning, and a public debate, turned into beating people after only half a day? "If your Majesty's purpose was this from the beginning, is it too sinister to do so?"
Yang Shen criticized without mercy.
Fengxi frowned. In his opinion, Yang Shen was getting more and more outrageous. You actually scolded the emperor directly? I am a Hanlin scholar. It doesn't matter if you slander the king. Just don't get involved with me, okay?
"Yongxiu, please don't come forward again today. This is for your own good. Now everyone knows that you have gathered too many people here, and among the scholars who attacked people before, some of them were recruited by you yourself.
Or it may be inextricably linked to you, I have prepared a carriage for you, you can go back to the city immediately."
Fengxi looked like he wanted to protect Yang Shen.
Yang Shen waved his hand and said, "I know how to behave and will not mess around. I don't need to worry about Bachelor Feng's return to the city." He rejected Feng Xi's kindness in person.
The whole thing is that Yang Shen felt that Fengxi also belonged to the compromising faction. When he saw the other party's timid appearance, he knew that Fengxi would not stand firmly on his side in major matters. He felt a sense of contempt in his heart, and his tone naturally became a little aggressive.
The fight between the scholars didn't last long, and they were quickly suppressed by the Jin Yiwei who maintained order. Then the injuries on both sides were counted, but it was the "Successor" side who was more seriously injured.
Because the other side is obviously prepared.
Moreover, those who took the lead in beating people had certain martial arts background, such as Jiang Rong, Sun Ru, etc. Although they took the lead in making trouble and were quickly evacuated protectively by the Jin Yiwei, their "heroic appearance" at the scene was still captured by some people.
.
Luan Jia, who was returning to the city, stopped after entering Desheng Gate.
Zhao Jian, the new Minister of Punishment, boarded Luan Jia and reported to Zhu Si about the fight outside the city.
Zhu Si's face was full of displeasure, and he frowned and asked: "I just let the scholars participate in the ceremony, why did I take action? Can the culprit be caught?"
Zhao Jian was very embarrassed because at that time a group of humble scholars were discussing politics in a tent, and the officials did not
Among them, who knows how the conflict started? The aftermath was so chaotic, and he did not go to the scene to investigate in person. He only got some sporadic information and hurriedly reported it to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, due to the chaos, it is impossible to find out who made the first move." Zhao Jianming said.
This kind of fight due to disagreement is relatively common among scholars.
It's just a lack of preparedness. Who knew that those scholars finally had the opportunity to discuss politics, but they dared to do it in front of the members of the Imperial Guard? They really weren't afraid of death.
Zhu Si shouted coldly: "Strict investigation!" "Yes."
Zhao Jian was very embarrassed.
As the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, I came to tell the emperor that this was an official matter. The emperor said "strict investigation", which is easy to say, but how to investigate specifically? More importantly, who should investigate?
Zhu Sidao: "Who should the Ministry of Punishment send to investigate the case now? Let Zhu Jingdao do it." The emperor's question and answer made Zhao Jian startled.
Zhao Jian asked: "Your Majesty, is Zhu Hao who has been serving as a temporary doctor in the Ministry of Punishment but has not been awarded a real job?" "That's him!"
Zhu Sidao said, "There seems to be no one else to appoint except Zhu Jingdao... He knows everyone on both sides, so let him go and find out for me within a time limit. Zhao Qing's family, don't you think it's impossible?"
Zhao Jian thought to himself, "Don't let me check. This is a good relationship."
But which onion is Zhu Hao?
Why does the emperor seem to remember such a person first when everything happens? "Yes."
Zhao Jian agreed first.
Because it is not a matter of reporting the case in court, Zhao Jian will not argue with the emperor on grounds of impromptu investigation. If he wants to argue, he will wait until the next court meeting. Anyway, the fault of this matter is not his fault, he is just a person.
You can't let him take the main responsibility as the messenger, right?
·····
As soon as Yang Shen entered the city, he heard that the Jin Yiwei had captured hundreds of scholars. "Yong Xiu, first go to the nearest secluded place to speak."
The one who came to deliver the news this time was Ye Guizhang, now Yang Shen's right-hand man.
Ye Guizhang invited Yang Shen and Yu Chengxun to a restaurant on the street, in the corner of the first floor. Ye Guizhang explained in detail the incident of Jin Yiwei taking people away: "...There are people from us, and there are people from the other side who are making trouble.
Yes, but I heard that there are also scholars from Anlu who are involved, and it is said that they are related to the number one scholar in Anlu."
"Anlu Zhuangyuan Gong?"
Yang Shen was startled. What he was thinking was, how could Zhu Hao get involved in such a thing?
Yu Chengxun smiled bitterly and said, "That's right, right? Jingdao always protects himself and doesn't ask anything about anything he doesn't do. It's hard to call him here today. How could he be involved?"
Ye Guizhang said: "It seems that someone he knows well is causing trouble."
Yu Chengxun was relieved and sighed: "It's because he was also born in Anlu and his stance is different from others. I'm afraid someone deliberately involved him in this matter."
However, Yang Shen heard some signs that something was not right and asked: "Why do some people think that Jingdao is related to this matter?"
Ye Guizhang said: "There was a man named Sun Ru, who was said to be a direct disciple of Zhu Jingdao. He was seen walking with Yutian Bo's son. The two appeared at the ceremony, and then they made provocations, which eventually led to a melee.
"
"Sun Ru?" Yang Shen frowned.
Regarding the people and things behind Zhu Hao, Yang Shen thought he knew everything, but in fact, he is still confused until now.
While they were talking, another person came in from the outside, but it was Shu Fen, the editor of the Imperial Academy. He said, "Are you here? There has just been news that Zhu Jingdao, a doctor from the Ministry of Punishment, came to investigate the fight among the scholars over the ceremony."
"What?" Several people stood up at the same time.
Following Shu Fen, many people from the Hanlin Academy came in, including historians and editors Yao Lai and Zhang Yanqing, as well as editors Wang Yuanzheng, Xu Chengming, Wang Xiang, Ying Liang and others. These were all initiated by Yang Shen to participate in the ceremony.
He was also the main participant in the Zuo Shunmen Incident in history.
Ye Guizhang said: "It seems that Jingdao is quite involved in this matter."
Yu Chengxun smiled bitterly and said: "The Ministry of Punishment asked him to investigate the case, so they said he was deeply involved? This may be unfair to him, right? Besides, with his official position and status in the court, what can he do about such a thing?
?」
Everyone looked at the sponsor Yang Shen.
Yang Shen had a stern look on his face, because he had not thought in advance how much Zhu Hao might have to do with this matter, so he had not been careful and had no intention of embarrassing Zhu Hao. He was bent on pulling Zhu Hao to his side.
As they were talking, a messenger from outside came over and said, "Are these the Hanlin masters from the Imperial Academy of the Ming Dynasty? Mr. Zhu from the Ministry of Punishment, please invite some of you to come over, especially Mr. Yang Shen and Yang."
Ye Guizhang was about to step forward to ask, but was blocked by Yang Shen.
"Where is he?" Yang Shen asked the messenger. He could tell at a glance that the man was extraordinary. He spoke modestly, but he was majestic and full of energy. He looked like a soldier.
"It's in the teahouse two shops across the street," the visitor said.
Yu Chengxun laughed and said: "What kind of tricks does this kid Jingdao do? Why did he come to Deshengmen?"
Yang Shen said: "Maogong, you come with me to see me. The rest of the people are waiting here first. Don't act rashly. Even if someone is arrested by the Jin Yiwei for fighting, it is his own fault. What he did today was all done with his words.
Instead of taking action, whoever causes trouble will be responsible for it."
Although Yang Shen's words were suspected of shirking responsibility, what he said was still more in line with the thoughts of those present.
A group of scholars with no status want to make the backbone of the Great Ceremony Conference fall into disarray because of fights and troubles? How is that possible!
Yang Shen took Yu Chengxun to see Zhu Hao.
At this time, Zhu Hao booked the entire teahouse and entertained Yang Shen and his party alone.
Yang Shen came upstairs and saw Zhu Hao's carefree appearance. He stepped forward and asked with a reproachful look: "Jingdao, why don't you go out of the city today?" Zhu Hao said: "What are you going to do out of the city? Fight with others or fight with others.
People fight? I also just learned the news that His Majesty has entrusted me with the task of investigating the fights between scholars...Hey, it seems that any bad job can be pinned on me."
Yang Shen couldn't help but ask: "I heard that one of your students actually walked with the prince of Yutian Bo? And he went to participate in the ceremony together? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "I don't have to tell you everything... Uncle Yutian's son, Jiang Rong, is also my student. Today I asked him to go with Sun Ru to see the world. Who knows?
I feel so ashamed that I got involved in the dispute..."