In the spacious Fengtian Hall, the Emperor's calm voice echoed and lingered for a long time.
These few simple words not only stunned Jiao Jing, but also the other ministers, who were confused for a while and wondered whether they heard it wrong.
They expected that the emperor would agree and they also expected that the emperor would refuse, but they did not expect that the emperor would say that he did not want to ask.
Asking or not asking is the result, but not wanting to ask is emotional.
You know, since the emperor ascended the throne, he has always been a strategist, calm and rational image in the minds of the courtiers.
No matter how complex the government affairs of the imperial court are, the emperor can handle them rationally.
It is almost unimaginable that such emotional and somewhat willful words were spoken by the Emperor.
The ministers looked at the emperor, but the emperor looked at Yuan Bin.
After a while, the emperor sighed softly and said with emotion.
"In the battle of Tumu, the army was destroyed, hundreds of officials were in trouble, the Holy Spirit drove north to hunt, the court situation was difficult and dangerous, and the country was in turmoil. In such a difficult situation, I was still in the capital, and I was able to get help from all my ministers to overcome the difficulties together."
"However, in the bitter cold land in the north, the Supreme Emperor was trapped alone in the prison camp, but he still could not change his original intention and serve the Holy Master, only Yuan Bin and Ha Ming."
"At that time, a pack of wolves were watching, and the situation of the captives was unpredictable. In order to protect the life of the Supreme Emperor, Yuan Bin came back from death several times, and every step was difficult. The dangers involved were so dangerous that even though I only reported it from the army, I still found it shocking."
"This is not a favor to the Supreme Emperor, but actually a favor to the Heavenly Family."
It's getting quieter down there.
Yuan Bin, who was being watched by the emperor, was still held down tightly and his mouth was tightly gagged, but his tiger eyes had already turned red.
As for the other ministers, because of these words, they remembered how everyone was in panic when the news of the civil war had just reached the capital.
I remember the tragic time when everyone was pressing forward step by step and holding on to the determination to live or die with the capital.
Together with their emotions, many people also looked quite emotional.
Immediately, the emperor seemed to get rid of his emotional emotions, his expression became calm again, he glanced at the ministers and said.
"Now that the case of the mission has been tried, the right and wrong have become clear. The three members of the mission leaked military information without authorization. Regardless of whether they followed the emperor's order or not, they are all guilty."
"Prince-in-law Jiao asked me to ask whether Yuan Bin was correcting the imperial edict, but from the perspective of a criminal case, the question is useless, because no matter how Yuan Bin answers, it is difficult to prove the authenticity of his words. Prince-in-law Jiao's request is not the truth, but
I just want the so-called peace of mind."
Jiao Jing suddenly froze on the spot. He did not expect that the emperor's speech would become so straightforward. At the same time, many ministers also fell into deep thought.
Indeed, under the current circumstances, Yuan Bin is as far as anyone can trace, and his testimony can prove whether the mission is guilty or not.
However, no one can corroborate the authenticity of his testimony.
For such a big thing as correcting the imperial edict, if Yuan Bin himself said it was yes, it would be wrong if he said it was no, right?
Where is the evidence? Who can corroborate him?
There is only one answer, and that is the Supreme Emperor!
Whether this edict is what the Supreme Emperor meant, only the old man himself knows best. However, the Supreme Emperor is in Yibei, who can go to him for confirmation?
Since it cannot be proven, it is really just as the emperor said, just for peace of mind.
What Jiao Jing made with this request was not the truth, but the truth in his heart. It was just that he needed to tell it through Yuan Bin's mouth.
When his eyes fell on Jiao Jing, the emperor's voice was a little colder and he said.
"The prison camp is surrounded by dangers and there are enemies everywhere. Yuan Bin is still able to deal with it and protect the Supreme Emperor. Now he is safely back in our court, but he is suspected of falsifying the imperial edict without authorization. If convicted of this crime, he will be punished by death."
"Therefore, I don't want to ask him. As a minister of the Supreme Emperor, he should be respected by the emperor, because if I ask, Yuan Bin will have to answer. If he says that this edict is true, he will be disrespectful to the Supreme Emperor.
Loyalty, if you deny it, you will be doomed."
"If I say anything, I will put these loyal and upright ministers into a dilemma. This is an act of repaying evil with kindness, which is not what the emperor should do, so I don't ask."
The emperor said this last sentence with absolute certainty.
Then, the emperor directly made a conclusion on Yuan Bin's matter and said.
"Whether this edict is true or not will be determined by ourselves after the Supreme Emperor comes back. Yuan Bin is a minister of the Supreme Emperor. Even if he is really guilty, he should be dealt with by the Supreme Emperor."
"Yuan Bin worked hard to protect the Supreme Emperor in Yibei. He was loyal to the country, which is the duty of a minister, but to the Zhu family, it was kindness."
"As the younger brother of the Supreme Emperor, I don't care about this person, and I will continue to commit this crime. I should only act as the emperor's younger brother, and on behalf of the emperor and the Tian family, thank Yuan Bin for his kindness in protecting my brother in Yibeiyi."
Jiao Jing was stunned for a moment by these words.
He never expected that the emperor would say this in the end.
What is the logic?
Just because Yuan Bin protected the Supreme Emperor in Yibei, he was afraid that he would be guilty, so he stopped asking questions? Do you want to wait until the Supreme Emperor comes back to try again?
Please, Your Majesty, we are reviewing a case now, are we still being reasonable?
Jiao Jing wanted to open his mouth to say something else, but suddenly felt that something was not right in the atmosphere in the palace.
Turning his head and taking a look, he saw that many ministers, especially the civil servants, had rather complicated expressions.
Even some elderly ministers could not stop wiping away tears.
Before he could react, someone among the civil servants stood up and prostrated themselves in the tunnel.
"Your Majesty's virtue and kindness are truly a blessing to the heavenly family and a blessing to all people."
"The ancestors and clans above me, Your Majesty's heart of filial piety and brotherhood moves heaven and earth, and I am respected by all my ministers."
"Your Majesty is a saint, and his virtues are as clear as this. This is actually the blessing of our ancestors."
More and more ministers appeared, with red eyes, praising the emperor for his benevolence, filial piety, and wise king. Within half a moment, the palace was filled with people kneeling in darkness.
Jiao Jing suddenly felt cold in his hands and feet, and he finally realized what the emperor was doing.
From Jiao Jing's point of view, he didn't care about the truth, he only cared about whether the reputation of the Supreme Emperor could be preserved.
However, from the perspective of civil servants, do they care about the truth?
Whether or not Yuan Bin is asked, what can be asked is completely irrelevant to the courtiers.
As the emperor said, since the case has been tried so far, no matter whether the edict is true or false, the mission's guilt has already been unavoidable.
Even if it can change the situation, how can it be compared with the filial piety, loyalty and respect for relatives shown by the emperor at this moment?
A benevolent, filial and loving holy emperor is more important than anything else in the eyes of the courtiers.
Therefore, even if Yuan Bin is in court, even if he can't put any effort into interrogating him once, after the emperor's words, Yuan Bin can't interrogate him again!
This reason is so upright that no one can refute it, unless someone wants to be the enemy of Confucianism as a whole.
At this moment, Jiao Jing finally realized that this case was hopeless.
If Yuan Bin is not tried, then all the evidence and confessions point to the fact that the Supreme Emperor ignored the people on the border and, in order to protect his own safety, ordered the envoy to leak military information, gain Ye Xian's trust, and ambushed Xi Ning.
Even if this is not the conclusion in the end, who can fail to see the evidence and trial details once they are made public?
So, among the excited expressions of the ministers, Zhu Qiyu continued to speak.
"Someone, please untie Yuan Bin."
"Yuan Bin, the captain of the Royal Guards in Jinyi, served at the side of the Supreme Emperor in the prisoner camp in the land of the north, and worked hard to protect the Supreme Emperor. He was commendable for his loyalty and courage. He was awarded the hereditary command of Qianshi and was awarded the title of General Guangwei.
, and also given a residence.”
"I have been appointed as an envoy. After the peace talks, I will still return to Wala to accompany the Supreme Emperor."
The ministers were a little surprised. Although they had thought that the emperor would not just pay lip service to Yuan Bin when he said he wanted to reward him, they did not expect to be so generous.
In the Ming Dynasty, there were only three levels of titles: duke, marquis and uncle. Non-communist military merits were not awarded. However, under the titles, there were nine levels of officials, which could also be passed on to descendants.
The hereditary commander is a fourth-grade official, second only to the commander and commander. If he passes the selection of the Ministry of War, he may even have the opportunity to be directly converted into a fourth-grade actual military attaché. His weight is indeed not light.
What's more, the emperor also awarded General Guangwei. This General Guangwei is a casual rank, but this casual rank usually matches the actual position.
Yuan Bin turned out to be just a lieutenant with no rank, so to receive such a promotion was truly a great favor.
Moreover, this is only temporary. Once the Supreme Emperor returns to the court, Yuan Bin's official rank may be raised again.
Amidst various looks of envy or doubt, Yuan Bin was loosened and the cloth stuffed in his mouth was removed.
On the imperial steps, the emperor looked at him with a gentle expression and said.
"After returning to Wala, serve the Supreme Emperor well. I am in the capital. I hope that you can take good care of the Supreme Emperor and return to the court together as soon as possible."
Although he has been unable to speak, Yuan Bin's eyes were all filled with the sentiments expressed by the emperor and the emperor just now.
After experiencing all this, Yuan Bin had a variety of emotions and was extremely complicated.
Countless words rolled down his throat, but in the end they were just words.
"Your Majesty, Yuan Bin, thank you for your kindness. I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust."
Zhu Qiyu nodded and waved for him to step aside. Then his eyes fell on the three members of the envoy, and he became solemn and said.
"The case of the mission has been concluded. Xu Bin, Xiao Weizhen, and Zhang Fu, as envoys of the imperial court, leaked military information without authorization. After returning to Beijing, they deceived the imperial court and resisted. The crime cannot be pardoned. They are all sentenced to death and will be executed on a selected day!
"
"In addition, we have issued an order to the border generals and the court's civil and military ministers that from now on, before the Emperor returns to the capital, they must not comply with any royal objects or sacred orders without having to distinguish whether they are true or false, and beware of deception by captors."
Having said that, before the ministers could react, Zhu Qiyu waved his hand.