After two major constructions in the Yongle Dynasty and the Zhengtong Dynasty, Beijing now has nine gates: Desheng and Anding on the north city wall; Xizhi (Fucheng) on the west city wall; Dongzhi (Chaoyang) on the east city wall;
Chongwen, Xuanwu, Zhengyang.
But at this time, the number of ordinary people living in the gates outside Jiumen actually exceeded that in the city.
Outside the Zhengyang Gate are the Temple of Heaven and Earth and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers. The escorting army surrounding Zhu Houcong set out from Liangxiang before dawn. After more than two hours, they finally arrived outside Xuanwu Gate at around nine o'clock in the morning.
Here, the temporary palace built by the internal officials and the Ministry of Works faces north and south. The chief supervisor has already arranged the throne here, and a tent is hung in the hall.
The personal guards of Shangzhi lined up from the Meridian Gate, Daming Gate, and Xuanwu Gate all the way to the temporary residence outside the palace. The emperor's highest-standard ceremonial vehicle, the Great Chariot, had just arrived here.
The "Emperor's Special Vehicles" surrounded by horses, walking chariots, Daliang walking chariots, large horse chariots, small horse chariots, jade chariots, large chariots, and even a small walking palace-like palace hall.
In front and behind, there are several honor guards holding various utensils, which are gorgeous and grand. Not only that, there are also hundreds of civil and military officials wearing red, green, and green official uniforms, and various entourages.
The entire team size is nearly 2,000 people.
The people in the capital who were watching the excitement stayed far away.
It was even more impossible for them to know how fierce a debate would break out in the palace later.
Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian and Mao Ji had already led the civil and military officials outside the palace. When they saw Gu Dayong standing at the door of the palace, Yang Tinghe sighed silently.
In the end, the success fell short.
After learning about the changes in Liangxiang, he knew that the dispute over succession was not a problem that could be solved in a day or two. He wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of the remaining traitors among the eunuchs, but he didn't expect that they would come again before the discussion was completed.
Then a note of thanks.
Since Sijun only raised the issue when he arrived here, he obviously made sure that the cabinet ministers could not prevent him from ascending the throne.
If you don’t want to be a powerful traitor, do loyal ministers deserve to be manipulated like this?
Yang Tinghe felt more and more that these were all calculated, so he felt even sadder.
Why don't you follow the right path? Why don't you trust the ministers of the Central Government?
Who are the people around him making suggestions now? Is Liang Chu involved?
"Your Highness will take a short rest and then meet with the ministers after he is promoted to the throne." Huang Jin came over and saluted Yang Tinghe and others, "Three ministers, Your Highness asked the ministers to ask whether the ministers should meet first or ascend to the throne."
See you later?"
Yang Tinghe glanced at Jiang Mian and Mao Ji and replied solemnly: "In that case, I will meet with His Highness first."
"Gentlemen, please come this way."
Huang Jin led the way, and Yang Ting and the three of them walked to the palace first.
In the palace, Liang Chu and Mao Cheng were both there, Xu Guangzuo, Zhang Heling, and Cui Yuan were accompanying them on one side, and on the other side were the palace officials.
At this time, Zhu Houcong had not yet appeared here, and everyone in the palace greeted Yang Ting and the three of them.
Knowing that Zhu Houcong was changing inside, Yang Tinghe didn't think too much. He walked to Liang Chu first and asked: "Uncle Hou, do you know that His Highness sent a thank you note to the palace last night?"
"What?" Liang Chu asked unexpectedly, "What did you say?"
Yang Tinghe took a deep look at him, and then relayed some of Xie Jianzhong's remarks. Liang Chu's expression changed after hearing this.
"I really don't know. After setting off from Liangxiang this morning, Xianqing and I persuaded him all the way." After Liang Chu looked at the screen of the palace with complicated eyes, "His Highness is so... decisive?"
"Your Highness is being rash in judging everything like this!" Mao Cheng was even more indignant.
In his opinion, the issues discussed by Xie Jianzhong are indeed sensitive.
Emperor Zhengde has passed away, and it is a very important follow-up task to finalize his coffin and decide on his posthumous title.
And how many sensitive issues did Xie Jianzhong touch on?
Evaluation of his predecessor: After Emperor Taizong, he had the broadest vision and the highest ambition.
Evaluation of the current national situation: Times have changed, foreign troubles continue, and internal worries arise again. It seems that it is getting old and its senility is beginning to show.
Evaluation of the current tendency of courtiers to assist the government: blindly following the old ways.
Regarding his policies and strategies after he might succeed to the throne: He didn’t say it clearly, but he praised Emperor Zhengde.
Mentally prepare yourself to say these things: lead yourself to the point of being slaughtered.
He was the heir named in the imperial edict, and he was only one step away from his true status as emperor.
At this time, how dare you suddenly accuse the courtiers of their past achievements in government affairs?
Compared with the issue of succession, it is more important for the future direction of the government, and it makes the courtiers unable to give in!
Seeing that Liang Chu and Mao Cheng's shock didn't seem to be fake, Yang Tinghe thought again.
At this time, Zhu Houcong finally walked out from inside.
He and his first group of important ministers after ascending to the throne finally came face to face.
Yang Tinghe raised his eyes and felt that the young Sijun's eyes were clear and he was full of energy.
Not to mention his dignified appearance, Liang Chu, Mao Cheng and others praised him a lot for his composure and composure when he was sent back to the capital.
Zhu Houcong was also looking at the three of them. He came over to say hello first, and after receiving the number, his attitude was easy-going and cordial.
Yang Tinghe's impression of Zhu Houcong became more three-dimensional. Thinking of what happened yesterday and Xie Jianzhong's words, he felt that this heir had a deep scheming mind.
After Zhu Houcong sat down, he also looked at the old minister, whose eyes were bloodshot and looked tired.
It seems that I didn't sleep well last night.
"Thank you for your hard work, elders." Zhu Houcong said, "I thought today would be a scene of admonishment by hundreds of officials. Since the elders arrived alone first, everyone here knows the situation. The decision of the Queen Mother and the elders is directly communicated to them.
Well, it's not good to keep the ministers waiting outside."
Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, and Mao Ji initially understood his speaking style. Apart from Jiang Mian, the other two could not help but frown.
Yang Tinghe concentrated his attention, stepped forward and saluted, and said: "Your Highness, the etiquette submitted by the Ministry of Rites yesterday is in line with the etiquette. I kindly ask Your Highness to enter the palace according to the etiquette, and then be persuaded by the officials to enter."
Zhu Houcong was silent.
The palace is small and cannot accommodate so many people. When I formally meet with the officials later, not many are qualified to enter.
Therefore, the number of people in front of us now seems to be the most common scene in the future: many important matters are actually just discussed with a few important ministers.
The Dachaohui, Shuowangchaohui, and daily dynasty systems formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang have actually been abandoned now: except for Zhu Yuanzhang himself, subsequent emperors have not been able to withstand this high-intensity and inefficient form.
In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang himself could not bear it. After deposing the prime minister, he established Hanlin bachelors as the "secretary team", and then gradually evolved into the current cabinet.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the inner library was opened to teach eunuchs to study, and the eunuchs gradually rose to prominence. Today, the center of the empire has such a structure.
Yingzong was only nine years old when he succeeded to the throne, and his grandmother, the Queen Mother Zhang, did not listen to politics behind the curtain. How could she decide something during the court meeting? There were also concerns about the emperor's growth and development, so the cabinet set a limit of eight things to be reported during the court meeting every day, and these eight
The cabinet ministers would write their opinions on how to deal with the matter in advance to the emperor, so that the young emperor could make "fluent decisions" when the matter was presented at the court meeting.
The voting system was thus formed, and the cabinet gradually eroded the powers of the six ministries.
Now, although the cabinet still does not have the power to dictate to the six ministries legally, it is actually the superior because it has the "right to recommend" to the six ministries to submit opinions on how to deal with various matters.
All we have to do is give direct instructions to the Sixth Department on what to do.
Zhu Houcong was lamenting these things in his mind, but silence was created in the palace, so he gradually became depressed.
After coming back to his senses, Zhu Houcong shook his head: "Is this the final decision? I still said what I said yesterday: I am not willing to enter the palace and ascend the throne with the etiquette of a crown prince."
Yang Tinghe's expression was calm. After all, he had expected this to happen. He said again: "Your Highness, I dare to ask, I would like to ask you, Your Highness, to inherit the throne but not the heir. At this moment, do everyone in the palace agree?"
Zhu Houcong narrowed his eyes slightly.
Is this the power of the chief minister of his cabinet? Directly asking people to take sides?
There is no doubt that those who stand up and agree at this moment are the villains who cater to the emperor's wishes. Next, they will face a storm of refutation, and many hats can be worn.