Jingming

Chapter 8 How to fight for power?

Zhu Houcong has now studied the history and etiquette before the Ming Dynasty: "But since the founding of the country, there has been no precedent for listening to politics behind a curtain, and Yingzong's grandmother, Queen Mother Zhang, was only assisted by Sanyang."

"The current situation, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, can only be compared with Yingzong Beishou, and the danger is not too much to give up! Your Majesty only has a will, and now the will must be the result of the cabinet's efforts to stop the Queen Mother and compromise." Xie Changjie explained earnestly, "Lao Yang Ge recommends Your Highness to inherit the throne. From my point of view, it really means that His Highness will control the Empress Dowager. However, the lineage of King Xingxian is not prosperous and has no foundation in the court. Your Highness is only fifteen years old. How can I subdue the crowd?" Minister? When you arrive in the capital, His Highness is restrained at both ends, this emperor is hard to do!"

Jiang's face was pale, thinking of Empress Dowager Zhang who had occupied the palace for more than [-] years, she had already imagined the sound of knives, shadows and axes in the palace.

Even if the son recognizes her as his mother, as the only son in name, his safety is safe, but he will still live under her face every day.

If you have the name of an emperor but not the reality of an emperor, then you might as well be a peaceful prince.

The prince can still leave the palace, but he has no real power as an emperor, so if he enters the Forbidden City, he will be imprisoned!

Zhu Houcong listened to Xie Changjie's analysis of the situation, thinking quietly by himself.

Now I have a new understanding of Jiajing's "smartness": Since he has the title of heir, how can Jiajing lack brains?
Even a villain like Xie Changjie can have his own analysis and judgment on the situation.

The reason he is working so hard now is to make Zhu Houcong feel that the situation is difficult. Although Xie Changjie has moral flaws, he can come in handy, right?

It's right to think about it, the news of making Zhu Houzhao emperor could not have been hidden for so many days. Lao Qin never said that Zhu Houzhao would keep secrets after his death.

As long as you know the news, there are countless people like Zhang Jin who have rushed to announce the good news and ask for credit.

There are smart people everywhere, and everyone knows the rules of etiquette. It is such a big palace that Jiajing really found something wrong when he arrived in the capital?

I am afraid that the real backbone of the palace had already discussed with Jiajing.

Without fighting for real power, how will the merits of Conglong be implemented by the former officials in the hidden residence of the palace?
Seeing that both Jiang and Zhu Houcong had entered a state of thinking, Xie Changjie immediately struck while the iron was hot and continued: "The imperial edict has been established, and whether or not your highness accepts the imperial edict is in fact up to him. If your highness does not ascend the throne, he will have to abolish the imperial edict and establish another, and the world will be determined." Chaos, the empress dowager and the cabinet ministers cannot bear the burden. The court, Chinese, military officials, and even the safety of the empress dowager are all tied to your highness!"

Jiang Shi was really scared now: "Is it okay if the prince doesn't want to succeed to the throne?"

"How can it be so simple?" Xie Changjie smiled wryly, "Their wealth, life, power and reputation are all bet on the new king's successful enthronement. Besides, with the power of the palace, they can really unite with the queen mother and cabinet ministers." Do you want to compete with each other? Now that you can ascend the throne and proclaim yourself emperor according to their wishes, you may be safe for a while. That's why I tried so hard to advise you yesterday!"

By the way, he threw away yesterday's blame: Letting you succeed is for your safety, do you think you can ignore this will?

If the government is established, the result will be to abolish the imperial edict and elect a new plan that is difficult for all parties to compromise. The possibility of turmoil will increase exponentially.

The turmoil surrounding the throne was accompanied by the danger of life and the disaster of extermination.

These people have already discussed the distribution of benefits, future power, and the reputation of supporting the country's pillar ministers. How can you really not be enthroned?
Zhu Houcong looked at him and smiled: "According to Xie Changshi's opinion, what should we do?"

Seeing his smile, Xie Changjie felt a lot more at ease: "According to my minister's opinion, you should hibernate to protect your life and ascend the throne first. Your Highness has the status of the Great Commander, so you only need to be cautious, and ask the Queen Mother and the cabinet ministers to interrogate and deal with everything in advance. In this way, there is no danger of life. I am a Jinshi in the 18th year of Hongzhi, Yang Ge is always the chief examiner of that subject, and I am willing to help His Highness."

"His Royal Highness is only fifteen years old, but all the cabinet ministers are over sixty years old. With the old ministers of the hidden residence as the team, they will be promoted gradually, and then new recruits will be selected in the court. After ten years, His Highness will naturally be as stable as Mount Tai. At that time, no matter whether it is pursuit Whether to respect the former king or to respect the concubine can be decided with one word! At this time, the word of not succeeding must not be mentioned!"

Judging by the way he talks, he looks like an unparalleled military strategist.

Zhu Houcong nodded: "I understand Xie Changshi's suggestion, right? After all, you are the chief history of the palace, and the welcome team will arrive in a few days. Hurry up and take a look at the wound on your forehead. Then you will have to take care of yourself." You can’t lose your face by leading the officials of the palace to entertain you. Take the things you brought back, isn’t Xie Changshi the little king’s attack on the prince? Don’t be so frightened.”

Xie Changjie was overjoyed and kowtowed again and again, but now he just put on a show: "Your Highness is lenient, and I am inexplicably grateful. Xiejue is a special kindness of the Queen Mother, and I dare not take credit for it. The welcome team has worked hard, and Your Highness also needs rewards. Dare I Doesn't work?"

"Xie Changshi has a heart, so I won't refuse anymore." Zhu Houcong smiled and comforted him, and then said: "I asked Xie Changshi to restrain other officials in yesterday's discussion. Before the edict came, there shouldn't be more Discussion. As Xie Changshi said, first follow the imperial edict to ascend the throne."

Xie Changjie immediately assured that this was related to Zhu Houcong's success in ascension to the throne, and his authority would also be established from this "constraint".

In the end, he still kept those things: a total of 3000 taels of silver notes, and the land deed for the [-] mu of paddy fields he had bought in Anlu Prefecture.

It has only been less than two years since he arrived in Anlu, so what he showed must not be all.

Zhu Houcong seems to imply that as long as he can get things done, he can get some benefits. How can Xie Changjie not be willing to give up the benefits that he has already obtained?After all he said, didn't he just suggest that Zhu Houcong should use an old minister like him as his team in the future, and gradually promote to a high position to grasp the imperial power?
He said that Yang Tinghe was his teacher, and he was willing to deal with them. Apart from being a cabinet minister, how could he have the right to deal with Yang Tinghe and them?
At that time, it was more than 3000 mu of fertile land and [-] taels of silver?

After Xie Changjie left, Mrs. Jiang couldn't help asking sadly: "My lord, do you really want your mother?"

"How could it be, mother concubine?" Zhu Houcong comforted, "The son has already made up his mind, so let's wait until the edict arrives."

Then on the way to see Zhou Zhao, Zhang Zuo suggested again: "Maybe the officials and leaders in the palace can be relied on! Now Eunuch Gu and others are trusted by the Emperor Daxing, but they have always been at odds with the courtiers. If Your Highness protects them, If you must die, the palace will be safe and secure.”

Zhu Houcong was noncommittal, and after seeing Zhou Zhao, he first talked about Xie Changjie and Zhang Zuo's suggestions.

"Impossible!" Zhou Zhao retorted immediately, "Even if your highness can gain some power by using the ministers again, he will still be divorced from the courtiers!"

Zhu Houcong saw it, and even Zhou Zhao, one of the officials in the palace, was extremely wary of eunuchs like Zhang Zuo.

Aren't those who take advantage of the power of the eunuch to ascend to the throne and alienate the courtiers as "faint emperors"?
Close ministers like civil servants and eunuchs seem to be at odds with each other naturally.

"Your Highness." Zhou Zhao saluted again, and said earnestly, "Xie Changjie's character is humble, and his words are the opinions of scholars. I know that Your Highness is smart, hardworking, and ambitious. If His Highness really wants to shoulder the burden of the country, he must stick to filial piety." , take a more dangerous path! If this right is not contested at the beginning, it will become more and more difficult to contest later!"

Zhu Houcong trusted him more, and immediately asked for advice: "How to do it?"

Zhou Zhao saluted solemnly: "Xie Changjie's words, the only one that is 'inviolable' is the right one! How to fight, I have no final plan. I only know that if your highness insists on filial piety, first of all, if you don't want to be an heir, you can use this to fight with the Queen Mother. Negotiations with the courtiers! Only in this way, His Royal Highness will face the empress dowager and the courtiers head-on, so the ministers say it is even more dangerous! I am too old and dull, Your Highness should go to Zhong Degong as soon as possible, and come to meet and discuss the grand plan!"

He said Yuan Zonggao's name, and Zhu Houcong's eyes lit up immediately.

A somewhat blurred face appeared in his mind. When Yuan Zonggao left the palace, Zhu Houcong was only nine years old.

Later, he had become a local official, so it was inconvenient for him to meet and communicate with King Xing.

Now Yuan Zonggao is a member of the third rank, and has the qualifications of a provincial inspector. After succeeding to the throne, the distance from the cabinet is shorter than everyone else.

The important thing is that King Xingxian was kind to him, and Jiang, Zhou Zhao, and Zhu Houcong all knew Yuan Zonggao's character.

"Okay, I'll write to Master Yuan right now." Zhu Houcong naturally wished that the people around him were as strong as possible. "When I was enlightened, Master Yuan also taught me. With the status of the emperor's teacher, Yuan Gong's entry into the cabinet is justified!"

At this time, Xie Changjie was dreaming of "renewing his mind" and returning to the court with the merits of the dragon. He wondered if he would be shocked or surprised when he saw Yuan Zonggao.

(End of this chapter)