Chapter 746: One person does things and two people are responsible
It should be said that Hu Xi, a veteran in officialdom, quickly figured out Zhu Qiyu's intention to suppress the clan.
After all, for Zhu Qiyu, he had seen the heavy burden that the huge number of clans brought to the court in the late dynasty.
Therefore, it is imperative to reduce the clan's treatment and further control the clan's influence on the local area.
Indeed, Zhu Qiyu was moved for a moment when he first heard Hu Hui's method.
However, after thinking calmly, he gave up the idea.
One cannot be a lone husband!
At the beginning, Emperor Jianwen lost his throne because he treated the clan too harshly and tortured the vassal kings. Although today is different from the past, even if you want to reduce the vassals, you must do it slowly and not be too impatient.
Besides, most of the current clan princes are his elders. He pushed them into a hurry and went to Fengyang to cry in the mausoleum. He lost the face of the Tian family and the authority of the court.
Of course, the problem of the clan must be solved, but we cannot follow the old path of the past. Moreover, we must gradually tighten the constraints on the clan, which is just a way to treat the symptoms rather than the root cause.
To put it bluntly, we should not just suppress their treatment, but slowly improve the living conditions of the entire clan. This was also the biggest reason why he promoted Zongxue at that time.
Although the time is still short and there is no big effect, for the increasingly large clan system, giving them the ability to survive without the support of the court is the solution to the clan problem.
However, to solve this problem, we will inevitably face heavy resistance. This resistance not only comes from the kings and ordinary clans, but also from the government and the public, and even the ancestral system of etiquette and law. If it is to be changed, we must be fully prepared.
Especially under the current circumstances, the imperial court is about to reorganize the army and the border is already in danger of turmoil. If the kings are provoked to rebel and start a fire at both ends, they will only be seeking their own death.
Therefore, for the clan, at this stage, the main focus is on appeasement.
but……
After taking a look at Hu Hui below, and then scanning the pile of impeachment memorials on the eucalyptus, Zhu Qiyu felt a headache again.
This matter is indeed troublesome to deal with. It is said that it is difficult for an upright official to deal with household affairs, not to mention that the people involved are all members of the clan, and they are all royal elders.
To be honest, what Hu Hui said is actually to put it bluntly, it is to make peace with the mud. Since no one on both sides can do anything to the other, and it is not clear whether it is right or wrong to argue, they will simply drive them all back to the fiefdom. The two sides will never see each other, so naturally nothing will happen.
there is none left.
This is also the most common way to deal with conflicts between clans.
However, at present, Zhu Qiyu obviously does not want King Zhennan to leave the capital. You must know that when he asked King Min to stay in Beijing, he not only valued the seniority of the old King Min, but more importantly, he liked the all-roundedness of King Zhennan.
He Ji changed, otherwise, he would not have let Fan Guang's daughter marry Zhu Yinxi.
If King Zhennan left at this time, Zhu Yinqi would have no reason to stay in the capital, and all the previous arrangements would be meaningless.
Thinking like this, Zhu Qiyu sighed and made a decision in his heart.
If it really doesn't work, then he can only really end up going off the rails.
As the emperor holding a large gui, Zhu Qiyu is both the emperor and the head of the Zhu family. It is most appropriate for him to decide this matter.
Again, this kind of "household matter" is not clear to begin with. How to punish it depends on the specific situation.
If Zhu Qiyu was determined to indulge King Zhennan, King Xiang could only watch. After all, the emperor usually indulged the clan a lot.
If the trouble really gets bigger and the emperor does not talk about "love of relatives" in everything from now on, but only talks about "laws and regulations", then the other clans will not be able to scold him to death.
However, just when Zhu Qiyu was about to speak, Huaien took two steps forward and whispered.
"Your Majesty, we just received a report that the King of Zhennan and his son are outside seeking an audience!"
There is nothing unexpected about this. If such a big thing happened, as long as King Zhennan had some discernment, he would at least go to the palace to apologize.
Swallowing back the words that came to his lips, Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said.
"Xuan come in!"
Although Zhu Qiyu is ready to clean up this mess for King Zhennan, he still has to listen to what he has to say first.
What's more, Zhu Qiyu has always thought highly of his uncle. Maybe he can find a way to escape?
However, what surprised him was that Wynn, who had always been obedient, did not take the order and go out to call someone this time. Instead, he stood there with a look of embarrassment on his face. He obviously had something to say, but he
He didn't dare to say anything.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but frown and asked.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing that the emperor was displeased, Wynn immediately knelt down and said.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The King of Zhennan and the Crown Prince did not wait outside the palace to wait for the order. Instead, they knelt directly outside the palace gate. They said that their clans were fighting each other. They acted daringly. They have made a big mistake and committed a big crime.
I have no face to see His Majesty, but I am willing to surrender myself to the throne and take my son to the high wall of Fengyang to be imprisoned in order to atone for his sins."
"What?"
He did not lower his voice deliberately, so even Hu Hui heard clearly. For a moment, even Mr. Hu, who had been in officialdom for a long time, couldn't help showing a look of surprise.
Zhu Qiyu immediately frowned, his expression darkened, and he said.
"Nonsense!"
As he spoke, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but stand up from the throne, but quickly sat down again, thought for a while, and continued.
"Uncle Zong, what King Zhennan is doing is really outrageous. Since Huaien can't summon him, I'll ask you to go and bring them in for me!"
Hu Hui looked at the emperor's dark expression, blinked his eyes, was stunned for a moment, then hesitated for a moment, but didn't say anything, just cupped his hands.
"Old minister accepts the order."
So, Huaien walked down the imperial steps and led Hu Hui outside the palace. After the two of them left the palace, Zhu Qiyu's originally slightly angry look suddenly calmed down and he looked up in the direction outside the palace.
, not only was there no trace of anger on his face, but instead there was an inexplicable hint of a playful smile.
"King Zhennan..."
…………
Outside the palace gate, the sun was blazing in the sky.
In the square where the courtiers usually wait before going to court, there is a circle of people standing in a distance, wearing official robes of various colors. From the third-rank officials in scarlet robes to the seventh-rank censors in blue robes, more and more people are gathering together.
In the middle of the square, near the palace gate, Zhennan King Zhu Huixuan and the Crown Prince Zhu Yincheng were wearing heavy court clothes and not mourning clothes. They only had a circle of white cloth tied around their arms and were kneeling upright outside the palace gate.
What they did made all the guards guarding the palace gate complain incessantly, and they involuntarily leaned towards the palace gate.
You must know that the man in front of you is a dignified prince. In the whole court, except the emperor, who dares to bow to him?
More and more people gathered outside the palace gate. Not only the officials, but also the servants sent by various noble houses in the capital to inquire about the news, and the new scholars who were watching the government, all rushed over and gathered in the distance to discuss in low voices.
.
Not long after, a group of people hurriedly walked out of the Zuoshun Gate. The leader, with scarlet robe and white hair, was none other than Hu Hui, the Minister of Rites.
Hu Dazongbo followed Huaien out of the palace gate. As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw a group of people in the distance. Looking into the distance, he even saw a few familiar figures walking this way, and his face suddenly changed.
A wry smile appeared.
After scanning the field, he quickly found the rather conspicuous Prince Zhennan and his son. He strode towards the field and came to stand beside them. Hu Xi cupped his hands and said sincerely.
"My lord, what are you doing?"
"Your Majesty has not punished you for what happened outside Prince Min's palace. Besides, I have seen what happened at that time, and I will try my best to rectify the situation for you in front of Your Majesty. Why do you need to do this?"
"Now His Majesty is furious and has ordered me to come in person to declare your presence in the palace. Get up quickly and follow me into the palace."
Now that the day is warm and it is noon, the fat King Zhennan, wrapped in thick court clothes, has faint beads of sweat on his forehead.
However, in the face of Hu Hui's persuasion, the fat prince did not have any special reaction. He still knelt on the ground motionless and said.
"Uncle Da Zong came here in person. I am rude. However, what happened outside Prince Min's palace was indeed caused by me being impulsive and beating the vassal king. This is a serious crime. I deeply feel that I have betrayed His Majesty's holy grace, so I brought unfaithful Ziyin with me today.
Come and apologize."
"I sincerely ask the eldest uncle to tell your majesty that I have beaten my relatives, ignored my family ties, and committed a serious crime. I really have no face to see your majesty. I ask your majesty to punish you according to the law. I am willing to deprive myself of the title of king and imprisoned in the high wall of Fengyang."
Within, please give your Majesty’s permission.”
These words were not lowered, and there were only a few of them in the square. Therefore, the officials who were relatively close heard these words more clearly.
As for those who were further away, although I couldn't hear clearly what was said, it seemed that there was a conflict between King Zhennan and the great uncle of the Ministry of Rites.
Especially at this moment, after King Zhennan raised his hand and took off the beam crown on his head, the crowd in the distance became even more uproar.
They are all people who hang out in the court. Who wouldn’t know what this action means?
However, we usually see ministers doing this kind of thing, and the dignified prince actually took off his crown. This was really the first time in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, several important civil and military ministers finally rushed over, not only the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, the censor of Zuodu, but also the relatives of Zhennan King, Jing'an Bo Fan Guang, Feng Guo Gong Li
Xian, and several nobles also arrived.
Although this matter essentially has nothing to do with them, who wouldn't want to join in the excitement?
Unlike the ordinary officials who only dared to stand around at a distance, these elders walked forward without much hesitation when they arrived at the scene and came to the side of King Zhennan.
As soon as they came over, they saw Hu Bi with a helpless look on his face, and they had no choice but to ask.
"Uncle Zong, what on earth is going on here?"
So, Hu Hui had no choice but to retell the conversation between herself and King Zhennan exactly as it was. After listening to it, everyone present couldn't help but look at each other in shock, wondering what the madness of King Zhennan was.
Although it was the fault of King Zhennan to do this, King Xiang was not without his faults. After all, there was nothing wrong with what he said outside the palace. However,
Everyone can understand the meaning behind the words.
Therefore, they all felt that when this matter came to an end, there was a high probability that they would each have a fifty-fifty fight, but who would have thought that King Zhennan would actually cause such a fuss.
"Well, I won't tell you anymore. Your Majesty ordered me to come to summon the King of Zhennan to see you. It's my fault that I failed to fulfill the decree. I have to go to the palace to repeat the decree to your Majesty."
As he spoke, Mr. Hu sighed, but without giving others a chance to speak, he turned around and entered the palace gate again.
As a result, all the elders outside the palace looked at each other, and they all felt troubled.
In full view of everyone, the King of Zhennan didn't even listen to the emperor's edict. It seemed that he was determined to make the matter bigger. But the question is, what good would it do to him if the matter made a big deal?
No, does he really want to go to Fengyang Gaoqiang?
Glancing at the chattering crowd in the distance, the elders subconsciously felt that something was wrong, so they all began to persuade King Zhennan not to continue kneeling here.
However, even in the face of so many important ministers present, this fat prince who has always been "kind to others" did not even raise his eyelids. He knelt on the spot and said nothing, as if the people around him were not important civil and military ministers.
It's like a swarm of buzzing bees.
In desperation, these ministers tried to persuade them for a while, but seeing that it had no effect, they could only retreat to a distance and wait and see what happened.
At the same time, Hu Hui and Huaien returned to the palace and described the situation outside the palace. After hearing this, Zhu Qiyu suddenly became "thunderingly furious" and snorted coldly.
"He's so impudent that he doesn't even listen to what I say. Is there anything else that he doesn't dare to do?"
"Since he wants to kneel, let him kneel. If I tell you, let the two of them kneel outside the palace gate. No one is allowed to come near without my will. I want to see if they can kneel.
Until when!"
Ah this...
Huaien trembled, obviously not expecting that the emperor would be so angry. For a moment, he looked at Hu Hui hesitantly, thinking that the eldest uncle could give the emperor some advice.
However, who would have expected that Mr. Hu, this time, seemed to have heard nothing and stood silently without saying a word.
In the current scene, Wynn naturally did not dare to delay for too long. After waiting for a while, he saw that Hu Hui still had no response, so he had to hold his hand in front of him and hurried out to deliver the order.
He led the people out of the palace gate and passed on the words bravely. After thinking about it, Wynn persuaded him.
"Your Majesty, we shouldn't say anything. At this moment, please don't make His Majesty unhappy anymore. This matter wasn't originally so serious. If you make such a fuss, alas... Just give in to His Majesty. It won't be a big deal."
, it’s better than kneeling here all the time..."
The sweat on King Zhennan's forehead had begun to drip to the ground at this moment, slowly forming a small puddle of water on his chest. It was obvious that he had consumed a lot of energy.
However, even so, after hearing Wynn's words, he still raised his head, cupped his hands and said.
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Huai'en. However, it will be whatever it is. Today's matter is my own choice. Please rest assured, Eunuch, I...have my own sense of proportion."
For some reason, after listening to these words, Wynn always felt that the Zhennan King's emotions were a bit complicated at the moment.
However, he couldn't understand what it meant. In the end, he had no choice but to stop thinking about it. He cupped his hands and ordered a few people to watch carefully on both sides and report any situation at any time. Then Wynn sighed.
, turned around and returned to serve in front of the emperor...