A court meeting involving the emperor's grand ceremonial meeting and the fierce opposition from his ministers started in the early morning of this day with advance warning.
The emperor made an opening statement first, and the eunuch Zhang Zuo, the eunuch of the ceremonial department, made his decision known to the public. It was nothing more than to regard Zhu Youhang as the emperor and not to admit that his small clan adopted the larger clan, that is, he insisted on "succession without heir". in principle.
No surprises.
First, Wang Jun, the Minister of Rites, came forward to argue with the emperor. Citing the precedents of dynasty changes in ancient times, he pointed out to Zhu Si that there was no precedent in ancient times for the emperor to say that the small clan only inherited the throne and not the big clan.
The person who came forward to defend the emperor was Huang Zan, a Hanlin scholar. Huang Zan quoted a commonplace argument, that is, when Zhu Si was the heir to the Xing Palace, he was not appointed as the crown prince one day, and he upheld the principle of "brothers will end in brotherhood." The principle of Zhu Youhang was not more clearly reflected in Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Si. They also proposed that Zhu Youhang only had one son, Zhu Si, and the eldest son could not succeed...
Both sides argued vigorously.
But in the final analysis, the leader of the court was Zhu Si.
After hearing the quarrel below, Zhu Si said as if he had made a decision: "I have made up my mind. I will send an edict to the Hanlin Academy and issue an imperial edict in ten days to make a memorial to heaven and earth!"
The ministers actually expected such a violent reaction. After all, the emperor came to them yesterday to give them a warning.
At this time, Jiang Mian, the chief minister of the cabinet, came out. As the head of civil servants, he knelt down and asked Emperor Jiajing on the throne to take back his order.
The matter was dragged on until noon, and the two sides were still in a stalemate.
In the Hanlin Academy, everyone kept asking about the news in the palace. But even though the ministers were all in the palace at this time, there was still a lot of news coming out. The emperor wanted to find someone to release it.
As the new lecturer, Yang Shen was also the core figure in the previous great ceremony. At this time, most people in the Hanlin Academy still followed him. After all, these ordinary Hanlin people also knew that they had to go against the emperor and create a big public opinion effect. It is impossible for an official like Yang Shen, who has strong appeal among middle- and lower-class literati, to come forward.
If the emperor breaks up with the top civil servants, then the Ming Dynasty will be in trouble. But if it is just a group of middle- and lower-level officials who fight, the emperor will be under pressure, and the conflict between the emperor and his ministers will not worsen to the point of being uncontrollable.
"Yongxiu, although the situation in the palace is unclear, it seems that His Majesty is serious about it this time. At this time, maybe we should take the final step!"
Yu Chengxun, Ye Guizhang and others went to ask Fengxi about the situation in the palace. Fengxi did not enter the palace to participate in the court meeting that day. When they returned, Yu Chengxun directly gave Yang Shen suggestions.
They had already discussed it, and they would go to the palace to kneel down and remonstrate.
In the past, Yang Shen would have lured people away without hesitation, but because of his experience of secretly colluding with the emperor's faction, Yang Shen had some concerns this time.
Yang Shen said: "Since you all know that the situation is still unclear, if we take that step at this time, we cannot look back! Let's see the outcome of the debate in the palace first!"
Although some people think that Yang Shen is a bit too conservative, at least his starting point is to take into account the overall situation. In addition, Yang Shen has not changed the direction of the ceremony, so others can't say anything.
At this time, in the palace, a resignation event initiated by Sun Jiao, the Minister of Household Affairs, officially began.
Sun Jiao also waited until the fire was almost fermented before he came out and handed the resignation letter he had prepared long ago over his head: "Your Majesty, I am old and frail. I want to return to my hometown to take care of myself. Please give me your permission."
Sun Jiao's appearance was quite surprising to many people. Many ministers felt that if the emperor really wanted to force out some civil servants in the court in this way, then Sun Jiao must be a vested interest. It can even be said that Sun Jiao could A comprehensive victory was achieved. Some people thought that Sun Jiao was being pretentious.
It is the time when the emperor is employing people. If Jiang Mian and others resign, the emperor will definitely think highly of you. Even if your resignation is sincere, the emperor will not take your resignation seriously.
Zhu Si sat on the dragon chair.
He has been confronting the ministers all morning, and they have no intention of giving in.
It's also because there is no way to retreat this time.
Last time, Zhu Hao came forward and suggested that Emperor Xingxian be posthumously conferred the title of "Bensheng Emperor". Now that this move is not feasible, what else should Zhu Youhang be posthumously consecrated to?
Yafu?
Or are Zhu Youhang and Zhu Youtang both taking exams for the emperor? One son with two fathers?
Even if someone had such thoughts, they would not speak out under tremendous pressure like Zhu Hao did.
The two sides had no way out and could only remain in a stalemate for the time being. Sun Jiao resigned, and he was the only person to say something "mediating" in the confrontation between the two sides.
Zhu Si frowned and asked: "Sun Qing's family, you have been resigning since you returned to the court. Now you have resigned more than ten times, right?"
Sun Jiao replied: "Yes."
"Is it because I am not polite enough? Or do you think I owe you something? I hope that some veterans from the previous dynasty can stand up and serve the country, bring order to the chaos, and put the court on the right track. Did I do something wrong?"
Zhu Si spoke in such a tone, probably still disagreeing with Sun Jiao becoming an official.
Sun Jiao said: "I am old and frail, and I really can't hold on." "That's it..."
Zhu Si pondered for a while and then said, "Sun Qing's family, don't say that I am inconsiderate. It was indeed difficult for you to let you return to the court in the first place. You are so old and you have to work day and night for the court's big and small affairs. , I am grateful for your contribution to the imperial court, so I agree to your return to your hometown. I will give you the title of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and you will retire in the future."
Many people present were confused. Sun Jiao resigned, is it so accurate?
Although adding the title of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel sounds like a compliment to Sun Jiao, allowing Sun Jiao to retire as he wished shows that the emperor was still dissatisfied with Sun Jiao.
You, Old Man Sun, always like to sit on the fence when everything is fine, are you at a disadvantage now? We don't want to see you, and the emperor doesn't treat you as one of his own!
Originally, if you survived today, you might be able to become a real official minister, but now you jumped out to find a sense of existence, and finally failed, right?
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Sun Jiao got his wish, he was greatly relieved, and a smile appeared on his face. Zhu Si turned to glare at Wang Jun, the Minister of Rites, and asked: "Minister of Rites, you are unwilling to carry out my decree and you want to go against me, are you? As a person, you are unwilling to carry out my decree. Minister of Rites, don’t you take me seriously?"
Wang Jun seemed to understand something when he saw this posture.
In fact, not only did he understand, but the top civil servants who took the lead, such as Jiang Mian, Mao Ji and Qiao Yu, also understood. Sun Jiao's resignation was successful because he was setting an example for them. The emperor rebuked Wang this time. Jun's words, don't they just mean that the emperor wants Wang Jun to resign and get out?
Wang Jun said: "I can't do anything. Please ask your majesty to ask Gao Ming!" After saying that, Wang Jun also took out the resignation letter he had prepared. Everyone had already discussed this. Almost all the civil servants present had a copy, but Sun Jiao took it out first. .
Zhang Zuo hurried down and handed Wang Jun's resignation letter to Zhu Si. Zhu Si took it over and read it, and said coldly: "Wang Shangshu devoted his whole life to the court and contributed a lot to the discussion of etiquette, but he didn't understand my intention.
You always want to make some different choices with me... Well, I won't embarrass you, you can go back to your hometown to live your life."
This time the emperor was different from agreeing to Sun Jiao's resignation. His attitude towards Wang Jun was clearly to ask Wang Jun to resign on his own initiative, without mercy. It could even be said that he drove Wang Jun out of the court. "Your Majesty, please think twice before doing so.
OK."
Although Jiang Mian knew that resigning was a means of blackmail, but now that Wang Jun's resignation was actually accepted by the emperor, he still had to quickly come forward to fight for Wang Jun.
If the Minister of Rites can no longer do his job, then who will stop the emperor's process of discussing rituals?
Zhu Sidao: "Wang Shangshu took the initiative to resign. Am I going to offend him? Or do you think that the stalemate between me and the Qing family should continue like this?"
"I put my words here. I insist on advancing the discussion of great rites. This is no longer a matter for me alone, but a matter that everyone in the Ming Dynasty should be concerned about. If the Minister of Rites cannot discuss it, then change it
A minister from the Ministry of Rites has come up. Do you have any opinions?"
The emperor had just driven Wang Jun away, meaning that he was still not satisfied and wanted to continue treating them like this.
Some veterans took action.
How aggrieved were Jiang Mian and others, who devoted themselves to serving the Ming Dynasty, but ended up being rejected by the emperor?
The civil servants could not understand the emperor's thoughts, and the emperor would not make the same considerations as the civil servants. Both sides stood on their own positions, and it seemed that they could only break up.
Zhu Si shouted sternly: "Gentlemen, please put aside the discussion of etiquette now. Can you tell me who will serve as the Minister of Rites and can promote my proposal? Let's recommend it now!"
The tea has already cooled before Wang Junren left. In front of Wang Jun, the emperor is going to ask the ministers present to recommend a new candidate for the Minister of Rites?
Huang Zan walked out unceremoniously and said, "Xi Shu, the right minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War, is worthy of this post!"
"Ah?" The civil servants present were in an uproar.
The emperor had just said that he wanted to be promoted to court, so you, Huang Zan, were so eager to transfer Xi Shu, one of the core figures of the Yili Sect, to the capital to be the Minister of Rites?
Is there still kingly law? Is there still heavenly law?
Zhu Sidao: "Xishu? That's Xi Shu, the former governor of Huguang? I have read his ideas. He can not only draw on the old scriptures of the previous dynasty, but also have new ideas. It is most appropriate for him to be the Minister of Rites. What do you think?
"
Jiang Mian refused unceremoniously: "Your Majesty, no!" Zhu Si shouted coldly: "Mr. Jiang Ge, if there is a better candidate, just say it. What does it mean to just say no?"
There is a strong smell of gunpowder between the monarch and his ministers.
Jiang Mian knew that he could no longer persuade him, and the emperor would certainly not agree to recommend someone who criticized the etiquette sect. At this time, he could only take the "last step". He raised his resignation note and said: "Your Majesty, I would like to resign, old minister!"
"
"No!"
Unlike before, when the two resigned and were approved on the spot, Zhu Si rejected Jiang Mian's request to resign without even thinking about it this time.
Even Huang Zan didn't understand this for a while.
Zhu Sidao: "I agree to change the Minister of Rites to ask you to renegotiate the law of great gifts. If they are all people like Mao Shangshu and Wang Shangshu before, wouldn't there be only one final result? Every time it is different from my appeal? Now
I only use my position as Minister of Rites in exchange for you to stay in the court with peace of mind. Do you want to all resign to put pressure on me? "