Jingming

Chapter 23 Who agrees?
The city of Beijing has undergone two large-scale constructions during the Yongle Dynasty and the Zhengtong Dynasty. Today, there are nine gates in the capital: Desheng and Anding on the north city wall; Xizhi and Fucheng on the west city wall; Dongzhi and Chaoyang on the east city wall; Chongwen, Xuanwu, Zhengyang.

But at this time, the number of ordinary people living in the Guanxiang outside the nine gates has actually exceeded that in the city.

Outside the Zhengyang Gate was the Temple of Heaven and Earth, and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers. The escorting army surrounded by Zhu Houcong set off from Liangxiang before dawn, and finally arrived outside the Xuanwu Gate at [-] o'clock in the morning after more than two hours.

Here, the hall temporarily built by the internal officials and the Ministry of Industry faces south. The supervisor has already arranged the throne here, and the tent is hung in the hall.

The Shangzhi personal guards lined up from the Meridian Gate, Daming Gate, and Xuanwu Gate all the way to the outside of the hall where they temporarily stopped. When the emperor traveled, the highest standard guard of honor had just arrived here.

Surrounded by the "emperor's special means of transportation", there are horses, walking chariots, large chariots, big horse chariots, small horse chariots, jade chariots, large chariots, and even a walking small palace-like palace.

In the front and back, there are various utensils held by several guards of honor, which are gorgeous and grand.Not only that, but also civil and military officials and attendants of various colors in red, blue, and green official uniforms.

The size of the entire team is nearly 2000 people.

The people in the capital who watched the excitement stayed far away.

It is even more impossible for them to know how fierce the debate will be in the hall later.

Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, and Mao Ji had already led all the civil and military officials to the outside of the Xingdian. Seeing Gu Dayong standing at the entrance of the Xingdian, Yang Tinghe sighed silently.

After all, it was a failure.

After knowing the changes in Liangxiang, he knew that the succession dispute was not something that could be resolved in a day or two.I wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of the remaining traitors among the eunuchs, but I didn't expect that another letter of thanks came before the discussion was completed.

Since the heijun made the attack here, it was obvious that the cabinet ministers could not prevent him from ascending the throne.

If you don't want to be a power traitor, do loyal ministers deserve to be manipulated like this?

Yang Tinghe felt more and more that these were calculated, so his heart became even sadder.

Why not be righteous?Why don't you trust the ministers in the court?

Who are the people around him now making plans?Did Liang Chu participate?

"Your Highness will rest for a while, and I will meet with you ministers after you are promoted." Huang Jin walked over and saluted Yang Tinghe and the others, "Three elders, Your Highness asked the ministers to ask whether the elders should have an audience first, or should they be promoted?" See you later?"

Yang Tinghe glanced at Jiang Mian and Mao Ji and replied in a deep voice: "In that case, I will meet Your Highness first."

"Guys, please come here."

Huang Jin led the way, Yang Ting and the three went to the hall first.

In the hall, Liang Chu and Mao Cheng were there, Xu Guangzuo, Zhang Heling, and Cui Yuan were on one side, and on the other side were the officials of the palace.

At this time, Zhu Houcong hadn't appeared here, and everyone in the hall greeted Yang Ting and the three of them.

Knowing that Zhu Houcong was changing clothes inside, Yang Tinghe didn't think too much about it, so he walked up to Liang Chu and asked, "Uncle Hou, do you know that Your 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 remarks in the Xie Jian, Liang Chu's face changed again and again.

"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, "Your Highness is so...resolute?"

"Your Highness is being rash in making such judgments on all matters!" Mao Cheng was even more indignant.

In his opinion, the issues mentioned in the Xie Note are really sensitive.

Emperor Zhengde has passed away, and it is a very important follow-up task to conclude his coffin and agree on his posthumous title.

And how many sensitive issues were mentioned in Xie Jian?

Evaluation of his predecessor: After Emperor Taizong, he has the broadest vision and the highest ambition.

Evaluation of the current national situation: the weather has changed, foreign troubles continue, and internal troubles have arisen again.It seems to be old and showing signs of aging.

Evaluation of the current tendency of courtiers to assist the government: blindly follow the old ways.

Regarding his possible policy and strategy after succeeding to the throne: he didn't say it clearly, but he praised Emperor Zhengde.

Prepare yourself to say these things: neck-and-neck.

He is the heir named in the will, and he is only one enthronement ceremony away from the real emperor status.

At such a time, how dare you criticize the courtiers for their achievements in assisting the government in the past?
Compared with the issue of succession, it is more important for how the government will go in the future, and it makes courtiers unable to back down!
Seeing that the shock of Liang Chu and Mao Cheng did not seem to be fake, Yang Tinghe thought again.

At this time, Zhu Houcong finally came out from inside.

He and his first team of important ministers after he ascended the throne finally faced each other.

Yang Tinghe raised his eyes and felt that the young heir's eyes were clear and energetic.

Needless to say, the appearance is dignified, and Liang Chu, Mao Cheng and the others have praised a lot of calmness and composure along the way back to Beijing.

Zhu Houcong was also looking at the three of them, and came over to say hello and match number first, with an easy-going and cordial attitude.

Yang Tinghe's impression of Zhu Houcong became more three-dimensional. Thinking of what happened yesterday and the words in the Xie Jian, he felt that the heir was deeply scheming.

After Zhu Houcong sat down, he also looked at the old minister with bloodshot eyes and a tired expression.

Looks like I didn't sleep well last night.

"The elders have worked hard." Zhu Houcong said, "I thought today would be a scene of persuasion from all the officials. Since the elders arrived alone, everyone here knows the situation. The decision of the queen mother and the elders is directly Well, it’s not good to keep the ministers waiting outside.”

Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, and Mao Ji had initially experienced his speaking style. Apart from Jiang Mian, the other two couldn't help frowning.

Yang Tinghe concentrated his attention, stepped forward and saluted and said: "Your Highness, the ceremonial notes submitted by the Ministry of Rites yesterday are in line with the ceremonial regulations. I implore Your Highness to enter the palace according to the etiquette, and then be persuaded by all officials."

Zhu Houcong was silent.

The hall is small and cannot stand so many people.Waiting to formally meet with the officials, not many are qualified to come in.

So the number of people in front of them now seems to be the most common situation in the future: many important matters are actually just discussed with a few important ministers.

Zhu Yuanzhang’s system of grand court meetings, Shuowang court meetings, and daily court meetings has actually been abandoned until now: except for Zhu Yuanzhang himself, none of the subsequent emperors could withstand this high-intensity and low-efficiency form.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bear it himself. After abolishing the prime minister, he set up Hanlin bachelors as the "secretary team", and then gradually evolved into the current cabinet.

When Emperor Xuanzong arrived, Neishutang was set up to teach the eunuchs to read, and the ceremonial supervisor gradually rose. Now the center of the empire has become such a structure.

Yingzong was only nine years old when he succeeded to the throne, and his grandmother, Empress Dowager Zhang, did not listen to the government behind the curtain. How could something be decided during the court meeting?There is also concern about the growth and development of the emperor, so the cabinet has set a limit of eight matters to be played every day at the court meeting, and these eight matters are written by the cabinet ministers in advance to the emperor, so that the young emperor can "decision-making" when playing at the court meeting .

In this way, the bill system was formed, and the cabinet gradually eroded the authority 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 advise" on the six ministries' opinions on handling various matters.

It is only a matter of further directing the Sixth Department.

Zhu Houcong was feeling these things in his mind, but there was silence created in the hall, so he slowly suppressed it.

After regaining consciousness, Zhu Houcong shook his head: "Is this the final decision? I still said yesterday: I am not willing to enter the palace as a crown prince and enthroned."

Yang Tinghe's expression was calm. After all, he had already expected this to happen. He said again: "His Royal Highness, this old minister dares to ask, if His Highness wants to only inherit the lineage but not an heir, what do you agree with?"

Zhu Houcong narrowed his eyes slightly.

Is this the prestige of his chief minister?Want people to stand in line directly?

There is no doubt that those who stand up and agree at this moment are the villains who cater to the king's will, and they will face violent refutation next, and many hats can be worn.

(End of this chapter)