Zhu Houcong has now done some research on the history and etiquette before the Ming Dynasty: "But since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there has been no precedent for listening to politics behind the curtain, and the Yingzong grandmother, Queen Mother Zhang, was only assisted by Sanyang."
"The current situation since the founding of the Ming Dynasty has only been comparable to that of Yingzong's Northern Hunting. The dangers are no less dangerous! Your Majesty only has a legacy, and the current legacy must be the result of the cabinet's compromise to stop the Queen Mother." Xie Changjie explained eagerly,
"Yang Ge Lao recommended His Highness to succeed the throne. In my opinion, he actually meant to use His Highness to control the Queen Mother. However, my lineage, King Xingxian, is not prosperous and has no foundation in the court. His Highness is only fifteen years old. How can I conquer the people?
Sir? When you arrive in the capital, Your Highness will be restrained from both sides. It is difficult to be an emperor!"
Jiang's face turned pale, thinking that Empress Dowager Zhang had been in the palace for more than thirty years, and she had already imagined the sound of knives and axes in the palace.
Even if the son recognized her as his mother, he would be safe as the only son in name, but he would still live under her expression every day.
If you have the name of an emperor but not the reality of an emperor, you might as well just be a peaceful prince.
The prince can still leave the palace, but as the emperor he has no real power. If he enters the Forbidden City, he will be imprisoned!
Zhu Houcong listened to Xie Changjie analyze the situation and thought quietly by himself.
Now I have a new understanding of Jiajing's "smartness and prowess": Since he has the title of heir, why is there a lack of thinkers around Jiajing?
Even a villain like Jie Changjie can make his own analysis and judgment on the situation.
He is working so hard now just to make Zhu Houcong feel that the situation is difficult. He understands that although Changjie has moral flaws, he can be useful, right?
It makes sense when you think about it. The news of Zhu Houzhao's appointment as emperor could not have been kept secret for so many days. Lao Qin never said that after Zhu Houzhao's death, there would be no secrets and no mourning.
As soon as the news was known, there were countless people like Zhang Jin who came desperately to report the good news and take credit.
Smart people are everywhere, and everyone knows the rules of etiquette. In such a huge palace, Jiajing really didn't realize anything was wrong until he arrived in the capital?
I'm afraid the real backbone of the palace and Jiajing have already discussed this.
Without fighting for real power, how can the old ministers of the palace be able to achieve their old-age merits?
Seeing that both Jiang and Zhu Houcong were in a state of thinking, Xie Changjie immediately struck while the iron was hot and continued: "The edict has been established, and whether His Highness will obey it or not is actually up to him. If Your Highness does not ascend the throne, he will have to abolish the edict and establish someone else. The world will be determined.
The Queen Mother and her cabinet ministers cannot bear the heavy burden of chaos. The safety of all the civil and military officials in the court, and even the Queen Mother, is entirely dependent on Your Highness!"
Jiang was really scared now: "Isn't it okay even if Wang Er doesn't want to succeed?"
"How can it be so simple?" Xie Changjie smiled bitterly, "Their wealth, life, power and reputation are all bet on the smooth accession of the new king to the throne. Besides, with the power of the palace, they can really unite with the queen mother and cabinet ministers.
Do you want to compete with them? Now that they are enthroned and proclaimed emperor according to their wishes, they may be safe for a while. Because of this, I took great pains to advise you yesterday!"
He threw away yesterday's blame by the way: Letting you inherit is for the sake of your safety. Do you think you can ignore this edict?
If you are appointed, the imperial edict will be abolished and a new plan will be chosen that is difficult for all parties to compromise. The possibility of unrest will increase exponentially.
The turmoil surrounding the throne is accompanied by danger of life and genocide.
These people have already negotiated the distribution of interests, their future authority, and their reputation as ministers to the country. How can they accommodate you if you really don’t want to ascend the throne?
Zhu Houcong looked at him and smiled: "According to Chang Shi's opinion, what should we do?"
Seeing his smile, Xie Changjie felt a lot more at ease: "In accordance with my opinion, I should stay in hibernation to protect myself and ascend the throne according to the imperial edict. Now that Your Highness has the title of unification, you only need to be cautious and ask the Queen Mother and cabinet ministers to review everything beforehand.
There is no need to worry about my life. I am a Jinshi in the 18th year of Hongzhi, and Yang Ge is always the examiner of that subject. I am willing to deal with it for Your Highness."
"His Highness is only fifteen years old, but all the cabinet ministers are already over sixty years old. With the old ministers of Qiandi as his team, he will be promoted slowly, and then new ones will be selected in the court. After ten years, His Highness will naturally be as stable as Mount Tai. When the time comes, no matter whether he is chasing
Whether to honor the late king or to honor the princess can be decided with one word! At this time, the word of non-heirs must not be mentioned!"
Judging from the way he talks, he looks like a wise and resourceful strategist.
Zhu Houcong nodded: "I understand the advice of Jie Changshi, don't you try your luck? After all, you are the Changshi of the palace. The welcome group will arrive in a few days. Please go and have a look at the wound on your forehead. You will have to wait for it by then."
You can't lose your dignity by leading the palace officials to entertain you. Take the things you brought back with you. Hasn't Jie Changshi accomplished the matter of Xiao Wang's attack on the nobles? Don't be so frightened."
Xie Changjie was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, but now he was just pretending: "Your Highness is so generous, and I am inexplicably grateful for it. It is a special favor of the Queen Mother, and I dare not take credit for it. The reception team worked tirelessly, and Your Highness also needs to be rewarded. I dare to
Not effective?"
"If Jie Changshi is willing, then I won't refuse anymore." Zhu Houcong smiled and comforted him, and then warned him: "In yesterday's discussion, I asked Jie Changshi to restrain other subordinate officials. The edict has not yet arrived, so there should not be more.
Discuss. Just as Jie Changshi said, he first ascended the throne according to the imperial edict."
Xie Changjie immediately assured that this was related to whether Zhu Houcong could successfully ascend the throne, and his authority would be established from this "restraint".
In the end, he left behind those things: a total of three thousand taels of silver notes, and the deed to the eight hundred acres of paddy field he had bought in Anlu Prefecture.
He had only been in Anlu for less than two years, so what he had brought out must not be everything.
Zhu Houcong seemed to imply that he could get some benefits as long as he could get things done. How could Xie Changjie be reluctant to part with the benefits that he had already obtained? After all that, he was suggesting that Zhu Houcong would use former officials like him as his team and gradually promote him.
Can you reach a high position and hold imperial power?
He said that Yang Tinghe was his mentor and he was willing to deal with them. Apart from being a cabinet minister, how could he be qualified to deal with Yang Tinghe and them?
At that time, there were more than 800 acres of fertile land and 3,000 taels of silver?
After Xie Changjie left, Mrs. Jiang couldn't help asking sadly: "Prince, do you really don't want your mother anymore?"
"How could it be possible, concubine?" Zhu Houcong consoled him, "My son has already made a plan in his mind. Let's wait until the edict arrives."
Then on the way to see Zhou Zhao, Zhang Zuo suggested again: "The chief officials in the palace may be able to rely on you! Now Eunuch Gu and others are trusted by Emperor Daxing, but they have always been at odds with the courtiers. If Your Highness protects them, If you die successfully, then there will be no worries in the palace."
Zhu Houcong was noncommittal. After meeting Zhou Zhao, he first explained the suggestions of Xie Changjie and Zhang Zuo.
"No!" Zhou Zhao immediately retorted, "By using ministers more seriously, even if His Highness can gain some power, he will still be separated from the ministers of the court!"
Zhu Houcong saw this, and even Zhou Zhao, an official in the palace, was extremely wary of eunuchs like Zhang Zuo.
If someone rises to power with the help of eunuchs and alienates his courtiers, wouldn't that be called a "foolish king"?
Close ministers like civil servants and eunuchs seemed to be naturally at odds with each other.
"Your Highness." Zhou Zhao saluted again and said earnestly, "Xie Changjie's character is despicable, and his words are the opinions of a scholar. I know that Your Highness is smart, diligent, and ambitious. If His Highness really wants to shoulder the burden of the country, he must adhere to filial piety. , taking a more dangerous path! If we don’t fight for this right at the beginning, it will become increasingly difficult to fight for it later!”
Zhu Houcong trusted him more. Hearing this, he immediately asked for advice: "How to do it?"
Zhou Zhao solemnly saluted: "To understand Changjie's words, the only truth is that 'the imperial edict cannot be revoked'! How to fight, I have no plan. I only know that if Your Highness adheres to filial piety and expresses his unwillingness to inherit, he can use this to argue with the Queen Mother." , the courtiers are negotiating! But if this happens, Your Highness will be enemies with the Queen Mother and the courtiers on both sides, so I say it is more dangerous! I am too stupid and old to be used. Your Highness should write to Zhongde Gong as soon as possible and announce that he is here to welcome and protect us to discuss the big plan!"
He said Yuan Zonggao's name, and Zhu Houcong's eyes suddenly lit up.
An already blurry face appeared in his mind. Zhu Houcong was only nine years old when Yuan Zonggao left the palace.
Later, he had become a local official, and it was inconvenient for him to meet and interact with King Xing.
Now Yuan Zonggao is already a third-rank official and has the qualifications of a provincial envoy. After succeeding to the throne, he is closer to the cabinet than anyone else.
The important thing is that King Xingxian was kind to him, and Yuan Zonggao's character was understood by Jiang, Zhou Zhao and Zhu Houcong himself.
"Okay, I'll write to Master Yuan right now." Zhu Houcong naturally wanted the people around him to be as strong as possible. "Master Yuan also taught me when I was enlightened. With the status of the emperor's master, it is only natural for Mr. Yuan to join the cabinet!"
At this time, Xie Changjie was dreaming of "changing his mind" and returning to the imperial court with the power of the dragon. I wonder if he would be frightened or surprised when he saw Yuan Zonggao.