As April gradually passed, the imperial court was enveloped in an atmosphere of decadence, and the emperor was unable to effectively handle the affairs of the state. Fortunately, there were a number of important ministers in the court who allowed the state machinery to operate step by step.
One day, Zhang Ning was on duty in the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites. He suddenly heard the sound of bells coming from the direction of the imperial city. It was unusual for the bells to ring at this time. He immediately put down his brush and listened carefully. After a while, he saw
Almost all colleagues stopped working, and everyone was paying attention. Many people may have been speculating: The emperor died?
Because there had been rumors that the dragon's body was in bad condition since last month, and the bell rang just before noon, it was inevitable that people would have this suspicion. There was a lot of discussion in the yamen, but no one left their place. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, the ceremonial department came
I sent a personal message: "The emperor has passed away. Lu Butang ordered the officials above the sixth rank to go home and change their clothes, and then go to the Royal Gate (Fengtian Gate) to discuss matters."
After Zhang Ning got the news, he hurriedly called for his groom and asked him to rush back and ask his family to send Ma Xiao's clothes to the door of the Rites Department Yamen.
The sudden death of the emperor is a big event, but it is not Zhang Ning's turn to worry about it for the time being. Now is when the officials above are worried, so Zhang Ning does not need to panic, as long as he abides by the rules and deals with it. As for what happened already
The thing I'm worried about: Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji's attitude towards Jianwen's ministers after he ascended the throne. It's too early now, at least we have to wait until the smooth handover of imperial power is completed. Who has the mind to care about other things now?
In addition, Zhang Ning secretly felt that the King of Han in Yong'an had become a big problem again. Would that guy imitate his father Zhu Di and take advantage of the opportunity to raise troops to seize the throne? In the past, it seemed that the battle between him and Emperor Hong Xi was over; but
Now that Emperor Hongxi died too suddenly, the court was obviously not well prepared, and the prince could not ascend the throne immediately, creating another opportunity for the King of Han.
It can be seen that sometimes someone's seemingly settled situation may turn around by chance. Zhang Ning felt that the King of Han now had a great chance. No matter how the King of Han had suffered a complete defeat in the past, now he only had to find a way to bring Prince Zhu Zhanji to the throne.
If he is killed in advance, and with the three guards and horses he holds as the prince, he is fully qualified to compete for the throne and has a great chance of winning.
As a member of Yang Shiqi's camp, Zhang Ning and many others were of course not willing to see the King of Han rise. Putting aside righteousness, it would be harmful to their own interests. However, Zhang Ning probably knew history. In the Ming Dynasty, except for Zhu Di, there would be no successful rebellion.
No vassal king has ever succeeded, so it is historically destined that the King of Han will not be able to seize this opportunity; even if a butterfly effect is possible, it requires time and space conditions. Zhang Ning feels that so far he has not reached the level of affecting the historical process.
I have just become a fifth-grade official with an empty title. What energy affects the fate of the empire?
So Zhang Ning is not too worried, but Yang Shiqi and other ministers must be worried right now.
When the family members brought the clothes, Zhang Ning, wearing sackcloth and mourning, followed the officials of the Ministry of Rites into the imperial city and rushed to Fengtian Gate where ministers usually went to court.
Because Zhang Ning's rank is not enough to qualify for the usual morning court, and he has never participated in any grand ceremony in Beijing. In addition to visiting the Forbidden City in his previous life, this is really the first time he has come back to this place. The corridor outside Fengtian Gate is like a tunnel, and there is no light for most of the day.
Not so good; once you pass the corridor, you suddenly see a wide square, white marble roads and bridges, and a magnificent palace, which is really a bit shocking. Zhang Ning felt that the engineers who built the Forbidden City a few years ago must have done it on purpose.
A large group of officials wearing sackcloth and wearing filial piety walked to the Jinshui Bridge in front of the Taihe Gate. There were five bridges in total, and no one walked in the middle. Everyone walked on the four guest bridges on the left and right. There were loyal ministers and filial sons, but no one cried at this time, because there were still
When the time comes, you will have to cry even if you don't cry when some rituals are held... In fact, whether the ministers cry or not does not indicate emotional issues. Zhang Ning really doesn't believe how sad the emperor is dead. It can be said that 90% of them are crying.
Nine is just a pretense; it may be true that I am worried that the transfer of power will affect the stability of the country.
On the other hand, many of the concubines in the harem really cried, not for the emperor, but for themselves. Concubines who had no children were clearly required to be buried as sacrifices. It seems that when Yongle died, dozens of concubines "committed suicide."
Loyalty; now that Emperor Hongxi is dead, he played with women all day long during his lifetime. It is estimated that the number of women buried there is only a lot more than that of Emperor Yongle. Moreover, he has been emperor for less than a year, and some of his concubines will die soon after they were banned. It is really
I'm so scared, can I not cry?
Zhang Ning and his colleagues from the Ministry of Rites entered the Fengtian Gate and stood there waiting for a long time. Other officials arrived one after another and lined up in front of and behind the gate. There was a throne inside the Fengtian Gate, which was the place where the emperor "administered government affairs", but naturally there was no one on the throne now.
I went to sit down. I saw Yang Shiqi glanced at the throne above intentionally or unintentionally, with a somewhat melancholy look in his eyes.
At this time, some eunuchs and maids came from behind Fengtian Gate. Zhang Ning was surprised to find that his fellow countryman Wang Zhen was inside, followed by Wang Gouer.
Wang Gouer and others walked to Yang Shiqi, Lu Zhen, Xia Yuanji and other important ministers to greet him. Yang Shiqi asked directly: "When the emperor passed away, was the prince and father-in-law present?"
"Yes, the emperor just said that he wanted to see the ministers, and our family hurriedly sent someone out of the palace to deliver the message, but unexpectedly it was too late." Wang Gou'er said while wiping tears.
Yang Shiqi asked again: "Does the emperor have any posthumous edict?"
The two of them just asked and answered each other. After a while, Zhang Ning came to his senses: This is not a normal question and answer. It is clearly an extremely important link in the process of completing the transfer of power. Otherwise, what is the purpose of gathering so many officials here? Just to be justified.
Show who will be the legitimate emperor.
As long as Wang Gouer's brain is not broken, there is only one answer to Yang Shiqi's question. He said: "The emperor said that he would recall the prince to the capital to succeed him."
Regardless of whether Emperor Hong Xi had any last words before his death, it is correct to answer this at this time. After the prince ascends the throne, will he be held accountable for falsely passing on the imperial edict? Of course, if the King of Han ascends the throne, he will not care whether Emperor Hong Xi has any last words.
, Wang Gouer is convinced that this is a false inheritance.
Yang Shiqi's old face obviously had a slightly exhaled expression. Lu Zhen on the side immediately said: "The prince is still in Nanjing. We should immediately draft an edict according to the emperor's wishes, send someone to send it over, and then welcome the prince back to the capital to preside over state affairs."
."
"What Lu Gong said is absolutely true." Yang Shiqi nodded, "Before the prince returns to the capital, all major matters will be discussed in advance by the cabinet and the six ministers."
Now everyone is only thinking about the prince coming back as soon as possible, and other things are secondary.
Lu Zhen didn't wait for the other officials to speak, and asked anxiously: "Who is willing to go to Nanjing to deliver the edict?" Although the overall situation was at a critical moment, Lu Zhen still took his selfish interests into consideration: the purpose of sending people to Nanjing as discussed just now was actually to do two things.
, one is to pass on the imperial edict, and the other is to welcome the prince; and what he emphasizes is the matter of passing on the edict. Anyone can pass on the edict as long as he has the imperial edict.
When Lu Zhen said this, although he did not look at his son-in-law Zhang He, he was waiting for Zhang He to ask for help. Then as a member of the decision-making center, he immediately gave his approval. Most others would not get entangled at this juncture.
.
Unexpectedly, Zhang He was stunned and did not stand up immediately.
Zhang Ning also immediately came to his senses. He had never heard Yang Shiqi mention this matter. In the past, he was mostly focused on his life experience, and he never thought about it. But when things happened, he quickly understood
: For middle- and lower-level officials, this job is definitely a rare opportunity and a great achievement!
But the risk is also very high. It is a matter of fighting with your head high. On the surface, people don’t say much, but who can ignore the King of Han in their hearts right now? If you go to pick up the prince now, you may encounter something on the way.
The chance of losing one's life in an ambush by the King of Han is very high; and for middle- and lower-level officials who do not hold great power, whoever becomes the emperor is not an official. Doesn't it mean that the King of Han will kill all the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty when he becomes the emperor? No wonder that Zhang He
Slow reaction, this guy is afraid of death!
Zhang Ning, on the other hand, is not afraid. It's not that he is not afraid of death, but he knows that the King of Han will not succeed. For him, the psychological risk he bears is much smaller.
He came back to his senses and was about to step forward to ask for the tassel. As soon as he lifted his feet, he heard a voice saying: "I'm going to the official household department to pay attention to Yang Lin, who is in trouble. I would like to go there with the order."
Damn it! There was someone who reacted faster than me. It turned out to be Yang Sihai, a fellow countryman. He was a Jinshi in last year's high school and had been a household clerk for one year. Zhang Ning had a meal with him when he first came to Beijing. He rarely did it.
Coming and going.
Now that someone had taken the lead, Zhang Ning observed that Zhang He was about to make a move, and decided to calm down and wait for a "late strike" if he lost the opportunity.
As expected, Zhang He finally stood up and said, "Let me go."
Zhang Ning felt happy when he saw this, and it was good. The two of them asked for help, and now there was no arbitrary emperor. As Yang Shiqi said, "Everything should be discussed." Once the water becomes muddy, he will have the advantage of being a latecomer.
At this time, he calmly stood up and said: "As an official of the Ceremony Department of the Ministry of Etiquette, Zhang is responsible for welcoming the crown prince. How can he shirk his responsibilities to others?"
Yang Shiqi nodded, looked back at Lu Zhen, Yang Rong and other ministers, and said in a consultative tone: "Without further delay, how about asking Zhang Ning, the head of the Ministry of Rites, to go to Nanjing to greet the prince?"
When it comes to this, everyone is a dignified official and is not the unreasonable person, so they all agree. Yang Shiqi said eloquently: "The officials of the Hanlin Academy are going to draft the edict. Zhang Ning, you go back first and prepare the seal, horses, etc."
Please go to the Meridian Gate later to pick up the imperial edict and get on your way as soon as possible."
"I accept my order." Zhang Ning cupped his fists and bowed, and then made a slight salute to Yang Sihai, saying to himself: I admire your knowledge and speed of thinking, but it's a pity that there is no one above you, so I will lose here. Brother Sihai
I’m not convinced either. I wasn’t born with a background. Who can you blame if you don’t hug your thighs?
The worst one is Zhang He. Zhang Ning had a vague feeling from Lu Zhen's words and deeds that they might have discussed it earlier. In terms of taking the lead, Zhang He had the most opportunity and the background. It can be said that everything was ready, but he just...
A moment of hesitation will lead to missed opportunities, and opportunities are always fleeting.
{Piaotian Literature www.piaotian.net thanks all book friends for their support, your support is our greatest motivation}