In Cheng Guogong's Mansion, the already old Zhu Xizhong was sitting on a velvet thick-cushioned lounge chair, taking advantage of the rare warm spring to bask in the sun.
My husband, who used to be inactive as he got older, has been worrying a lot lately. Physical fatigue is just a minor thing, but the key is mental fatigue. Now I know that my eldest grandson has been invited by Gao Pragmatic to go for an outing in Xiangshan, and I feel better.
Many people do this to bask in the sun.
Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of the country, is actually very average in terms of military ability, but he has been highly trusted for decades and has a pretty good reputation as a civil servant. Of course, he has his abilities.
His abilities, taken together, are twofold: resolutely obeying the emperor's instructions and vigorously making friends with civil servants as aid.
If some young and vigorous nobles were asked to evaluate him, they would definitely be called "the Duke of Licorice". If I had to make an analogy, I am afraid it would be Li Chunfang among the nobles.
It was not that Zhu Xizhong had never heard similar comments, but he didn't care, and even sneered in his heart: This is just a childish view.
Zhu Xizhong has been very agile since he was young. He is good at recruiting various high-ranking officials and celebrities. He can play both sides of the aisle without offending anyone. Therefore, he has a good reputation and a prosperous official career. He has successively taken charge of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies.
, the two palaces on the right, the Chief Shenji Camp, the Admiral's 12th Regiment Camp and the 5th Army Camp. In the original history, he served in three dynasties, went out of the city to worship heaven and earth 66 times on behalf of the emperor, and was rewarded with countless gold and silver treasures.
At the same time, Zhu Xizhong and Zhang Juzheng were still very good friends. This is clearly proved: after Zhu Xizhong died, Zhang Juzheng personally wrote an article to commemorate him, and his words were full of praise. It can be seen that the friendship between the two parties was deep and the relationship was profound.
Another clear evidence is that after Zhu Xizhong passed away in the first year of Wanli. At that time, his younger brother, Zhu Xixiao, who was serving as the governor of Jinyi, bribed Feng Bao with a large amount of money and asked to grant his brother Zhu Xizhong the title of king. At this time, Zhang Juzheng and Feng
Bao was a political alliance, and Feng Bao's opinion had to be taken seriously. In addition, Zhang Juzheng himself and Zhu Xizhong had a close personal relationship, so he planned to give Zhu Xizhong the title of king. At this time, minister Chen Younian firmly opposed it, and Shangshu said
: "According to the decree: When a meritorious official dies, he will be granted the title of king by the public, and he will be granted the title of the duke by the marquis. Those who are hereditary descendants will only enjoy the original title in life and death. Zhu Xizhong has no meritorious deeds against the enemy, so how can he be favored indiscriminately?"
However, Zhang Juzheng, who was a highly respected official and powerful man at the time, did not follow Chen Younian's advice and arranged to confer the title of "King Dingxiang" to Zhu Xizhong. This also led to his student Liu Tai later impeaching him for acting arbitrarily, violating the ancestral system, and acting recklessly.
The foreshadowing of the title of king was laid. Liu Tai's memorial stated that he was worried that if this was done, the duke's family would increase bribes in the future. Citing this example (referring to Zhu Xizhong's case of granting the king), he would go to Chen and beg endlessly.
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In the eleventh year of Wanli, due to the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng, the Duke of Chengguo's palace was affected, and Zhu Xizhong's prince was hunted down. In the fourteenth year of Wanli, the matter not only did not calm down, but intensified. The then Duke of Chengguo, Zhu Yingzhen, who was forced to have no choice but to do so, was angry.
When he committed suicide, Wanli was shocked and angry after hearing the news. He delayed the normal attack on the Duke of Cheng for fourteen years before allowing Zhu Dingchen to attack the Duke of Cheng.
The aftermath of a person's death can last for so long and have such a huge impact. Even if Zhang Juzheng is a big reason for this, it would be too much to say that Zhu Xizhong is just a waste with no ability and no influence.
.
Of course, looking back, the incident of Zhu Xizhong being crowned king cannot be said to be completely unreasonable: when Emperor Jiajing returned to Chengtian Mansion after the grand ceremony, when he passed Wei Hui, the palace caught fire and was in great danger. It was Zhu Xizhong and Lu Bing.
He rushed into the fire and rescued Emperor Jiajing. With such an unusual ability to save the emperor, and because he was the head of the nobility, Zhang Juzheng pretended to be Wanli and posthumously conferred the title of king on him, which still made sense.
:I am thanking his imperial grandfather for saving my life back then. This is what a pure and filial king should do!
However, since Jiajing's death, Zhu Xizhong's health has become worse and worse. It stands to reason that he is only fifty-four years old this year, three years younger than Gao Gong. However, Gao Gong is currently in good health and energetic, and there is no trace of Zhu Xizhong's behavior.
Coming of age.
At this moment, he was lying on the recliner with his eyes closed and concentrating. The maids and slaves beside him were all holding their breath subconsciously, for fear of disturbing the quiet old man.
However, at this moment, a voice came from outside: "Little Zheng Wu, on the orders of Young Master Zhen, I have something urgent to report to my father-in-law!"
A maid servant was so frightened that she quickly looked towards Zhu Xizhong. Zhu Xizhong suddenly opened his eyes. His usually old and cloudy eyes showed a fleeting light, but they immediately calmed down and turned into half-squinted eyes.
With an old look, he said feebly: "Let him come in."
Everyone secretly thought: "The eldest young master has never been in good health. My heart is all about young master Ying Zhen. When I heard that he sent someone to report urgently, he actually saw him immediately."
The eldest young master here is of course not talking about Zhu Yingzhen's brother - Zhu Yingzhen is the eldest grandson and has no brothers. This eldest young master is talking about Zhu Xizhong's eldest son, Zhu Yingzhen's father Zhu Shitai.
Zheng Wu was a tall man in his mid-thirties, with a tough aura, but his rules were not bad at all. After entering the back garden, he bowed down from afar and said, "Young Zheng Wu, I have met my husband."
Zhu Xizhong glanced at him lightly and said feebly: "Get up, what's wrong with Ying Zhen that makes you so anxious to send you back to report?" He was secretly worried that his grandson didn't know how to restrain himself, or that Gao Shidu was relying on his uncle's prestige.
If you are too arrogant and a disagreement arises between the two of you, or it may escalate into a violent conflict, then a good thing will turn into a bad thing, and you will be in big trouble.
In fact, he was not very afraid of Gao Gong. After all, his identity was here, and the political influence of Duke Cheng was here. Even if Gao Gong wanted to touch him, the emperor would not follow Gao Gong even in such a thing.
The temperament comes.
But he was very afraid of trouble, especially since he always adhered to the concept of serving as a minister and an official, that is, peace is the most important thing in everything. For Gao Gong, the emperor's master and minister, it was too late for him to befriend him, so why would he be willing to conflict with him?
But the matter may be really serious now, because Zheng Wu did not stand up, but said decisively: "Young Master Ying Zhen explained: This matter is of great importance, please step aside first."
Zhu Xizhong was not afraid that Zheng Wu would be unfavorable to him, but after hearing these words, he felt even more worried. He subconsciously changed from lying down to sitting up, and waved to the people around him with a serious face: "You guys stand down."
After everyone retreated, Zhu Xizhong pretended to be calm and said: "Can we talk now?"
"I'm sorry, sir." Zheng Wu replied: "Young Master Yingzhen said: Gao Jingshi's soap dedicated to Long Live is extremely effective. Now it has been approved by Long Live, allowing him to produce it exclusively and sell it to the public. Gao Jingshi made it clear just now,
We are willing to accept shares from all the distinguished families in Beijing, including me, and at the same time... there are some discounts."
***The author has something to say***
It’s really embarrassing for me...I was so sleepy that my eyelids were fighting, but I managed to finish writing.
