The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 394 Victim Alliance

July 22, early morning.

After all the ministers arrived at Fengtian Hall, Zhu Youtang did not come for a long time, and he didn't say the reason for stopping the court or delaying, but just let the ministers wait there.

Both civil servants and Wu Xun knew that there would be an unusual "competition" in the court today. After the earthquake, Zhu Youtang had a reason to punish the traditional civil servants. As for how far they would use the topic, they were still unclear.

It seems that the later the emperor came, the bigger the matter.

But in fact, Zhu Youtang was responsible for his two brothers-in-law in Qianqing Palace at this time. As the key figures in Zhu Houzhao's disappearance, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were "captured" by Jin Yiwei, and they were kneeling at the gate of Qianqing Palace, accepting Zhu Youtang's interrogation.

"...Your Majesty, it was all forced by the crown prince. The crown prince said that if you don't listen to him, he will smash the two ministers and brothers to death with bricks. He also said that he would tell the queen about the construction of the family temple..."

"What about building a family temple, second child, don't talk nonsense!"

"That's right, they just want to smash us to death."

Zhu Youtang rolled his eyes when he heard this.

How could this brother-in-law, who had no fart skills, help his son escape from the heavily guarded palace?Are you out of town?
Xiao Jing hurriedly asked: "You two uncles, just say, where is the prince now, finding someone is more important than anything else."

"I don't know." The Zhang brothers said almost in unison.

Zhu Youtang said angrily, "How dare you say you don't know when you take people out of the city?"

Zhang Heling said: "After leaving the city, the prince first drove the two ministers to the east. When they arrived at a place, the inner officials of the East Palace drove the car. The two ministers didn't even have a car. They walked to the capital on two legs. When they came back, it was a Exhausted... As for the prince... Yichen and his carriage should continue to go south, and he said he was going to see the Duke of Lai. Yichen guessed that this matter was probably instigated by the Duke of Lai."

Zhu Youtang's face was full of anger and said: "At this point, you still want to blame others? If you were not arrogant and domineering at ordinary times, how could the city gate officials not search your carriage shop? If you hadn't brought him Going out of the city, he has the ability to fly out?"

Just as he was talking, Yang Peng came up and said, "Your Majesty, we have found the carriages of Marquis Shouning and Uncle Jianchang in the farm thirty miles outside the city."

"Where are people?" Zhu Youtang asked sharply.

Yang Peng hesitated and said: "I didn't see anyone, but the money and silks were also taken away. I guess they were transferred to other ships. Maybe they went to Tongzhou and took a canal to the south."

Xiao Jing asked coldly: "Jin Yiwei's fast horse has been chasing eastward for so long, but it didn't catch anyone?"

Yang Peng said: "Around the farm, it is said that someone bought a carriage and went north."

"North?" Zhu Youtang's voice trembled when he heard it.

It’s not easy to have multiple younger sons, and now the elder son has run away... I have to lose one by one, and I’m still a "loss" in this deal, because it’s not easy to raise the elder son so big, after all, children are sick and cause disasters. It's easy not to grow up.

On the contrary, at Zhu Houzhao's age, it is unlikely that he would jump out of an accident alive and kicking.

Yang Peng looked anxious and said: "The servants checked carefully and found that there were not too many people in the carriage going north. They are already chasing them, and at the same time they are deploying people around Tongzhou."

Zhu Youtang sternly said, "What's the result of the interrogation of those people in the East Palace?"

Yang Peng said: "The interrogation has been completed, and the crown prince often asked about Xishan before leaving the palace..."

"Okay." Zhu Youtang said with annoyed expression, "This is a slap in the face, deliberately pretending to be in the opposite direction, and going north in a carriage... His goal is to go to the West Mountain, and going east is just a pretense. People go to the West Mountain?"

Yang Peng was stunned for a moment.

Let his mind never imagine that Zhu Houzhao, a brat, actually went to Xishan?
and many more……

Who said that the prince is going west?Why did he go to Xishan?Is that place fun?
Xiao Jing said with a scolding look on his face: "Why are you standing still? Why don't you send someone there soon?"

"Yes." Yang Peng also had one head and two big heads.

The truth is that the key is not how difficult Zhu Houzhao's moves are to guess, but that the emperor also stepped in, saying that the prince is going west?Wouldn't it be necessary to divide the manpower to chase westward?Even though Dongchang and Jinyiwei have a lot of people, but if they really want to chase someone, the other party still wants to hide. It's really like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Zhu Youtang said angrily: "A living person can actually let him escape under your noses? Are you trying to piss me off? No one can worry..."

These words were probably scolded together with Yu Chaoshang, who was waiting for him to go to court.

Yang Peng was obedient and dared not refute.

Xiao Jingdao: "The purpose of the prince going out of the city is probably to go to Yingtian Mansion to find the Duke of Lai. The prince doesn't know anyone outside."

Zhu Youtang glanced at him and said, "Then do you know which way he is going? Or you are the roundworm in his stomach, and you know where his mind is?"

Xiao Jing quickly lowered his head and stopped responding.

"Take these two back, and they are not allowed to leave the house for three months, and no one intercede!" Zhu Youtang finally turned his anger on the Zhang brothers, "If the prince encounters something wrong outside Good thing, I will ask you again!"

"Your minister is wronged." Zhang Heling was still shouting at the back of Zhu Youtang who fled away, "It's all Zhang Bingkuan's fault. He was the one who tricked the prince out of the city. The two brothers and sisters are also victims..."

……

……

"You two, please."

After Zhu Youtang took Xiao Jing and other eunuchs to Fengtian Palace, Yang Peng said cautiously to the Zhang family brothers.

Zhang Heling got angry at Yang Peng: "Well, you are Yang, and you haven't found the crown prince until now, what are your intentions?"

Zhang Yanling said: "Brother, didn't we take him out? He couldn't find it, which just proves that we took him out well."

"Second brother, your head was kicked by a donkey? You have to learn how to throw the blame away! The blame is on others, so we can be safe." Zhang Heling finished teaching his younger brother loudly, and then got angry at Yang Peng, "It must be going east, That kid also asked about Tongzhou, but you didn't find it?"

Yang Peng said helplessly: "I have checked all the carriages along the way, but there is no one there."

"Who said he must go in a carriage? And he might not take the official route. You see, that kid has five people and six people, but he is a thief and a thief. He is a ghost along the way..." Zhang Heling mentioned Zhu Houzhao, I hate it so much that my teeth itch.

It was only calculated by Zhang Zhouzhou before, but now Zhu Houzhao is added?In addition to the more than 6000 taels of silver that was cheated before, this is the second time that I have suffered a big loss.

Yang Peng reminded: "The two uncles are talking about the prince's long-term follower, right? Be careful what you say."

On the left is the evaluation of "that kid" and another evaluation of "five people and six people". You Shou Ninghou are afraid that others will not know that you are disrespectful to the prince, right?

Zhang Heling said angrily: "Who do you know in your heart, I don't believe it, he went out to bring a few big living people, can he still run away? You Dongchang and Jinyiwei both eat dry food?"

Yang Peng said: "Marquis Shouning, Jinyiwei does not need you to mention things. You should take care of your own affairs. Don't leave the house for the last three months. Dongchang is watched by someone in front of your house. Once you find out ...you still have to report it truthfully."

"You dare to threaten me?" Zhang Heling said angrily.

"Don't dare, our family is just on business. Come here, please invite the two uncles back to the house, and Haosheng will take care of you on the way, but you must not be hijacked by someone again. The safety of the two uncles is important. It is not enough for people to want the convenience of a carriage."

Yang Peng is now riding a tiger.

The prince hasn't been found yet, if the Zhang family brothers come up with something else, then this matter will be really lively.

……

……

Inside Fengtian Temple.

Many ministers thought that Zhu Youtang was afraid that there would be aftershocks before the earthquake was over, so they dared not hold court meetings in the hall.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Youtang knew about the earthquake just once since Zhang Zhouna, and it passed by. He didn't panic at all, and he still showed up in Fengtian Palace with the three eunuchs from the Rites Supervisor.

Judging from the embarrassment on Zhu Youtang's face when he came, the emperor was still angry...

Seeing the emperor's expression, the ministers probably knew that there was going to be a bloody storm in the court today, but they didn't know that Zhu Youtang was annoyed that his son was lost, and it has been a day and two nights without any news.

"Gentlemen, you all experienced yesterday's earthquake, what else do you need me to say?" Zhu Youtang made the opening remarks after the court ceremony.

Liu Jian came out and said: "There is a disaster. It is because Naichen and others did not help the country properly. The old minister begged the old to return to the field. I hope your Majesty will grant you."

"Minister and other crimes." Many people stepped forward, as if they wanted to take responsibility for yesterday's earthquake.

Zhu Youtang saw that many people wanted to resign with the crowd, and felt that this group of people was using a special way to put pressure on him, and then raised his hand and said: "I have already said that disasters and accidents are all due to accidents. It’s a different matter if the heavens punish you, if there is some kind of disaster and someone has to bear the responsibility for it, then this person should be me.”

"Your Majesty." Liu Jian wanted to say something, but Zhu Youtang stretched out his hand to stop him.

Zhu Youtang said: "Because Bingkuan predicted in advance that there would be an earthquake, the people around the capital were on guard, and up to now no one has reported any injuries. Shuntian Mansion!"

"Your servant is here." Zhang Xian, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, came out and held up the wat board, "The range of this earthquake is only [-] miles around the capital, and Tongzhou, [-] miles away, did not feel the earthquake. People and animals were not damaged, only the houses outside the city. Some collapsed, but there were no people or animals inside, Shuntian Prefecture and its subordinate county government have patrolled around to ensure that the people are safe."

"very good."

Zhu Youtang nodded in satisfaction, which probably meant that the credit for the disaster prevention should be attributed to Zhang Zhou.

"Bingkuan has made great contributions." Zhu Youtang made a conclusion.

The following ministers who jointly participated in the impeachment of Zhang Zhou were very angry, but the problem is... Even the earthquake was corrected by Zhang Zhou. As a result, he also said that the disaster was caused by heaven... The emperor probably would repeat the same trick and send him directly to prison.

Those who talk about disasters and strange things, then don't blame me for punishing you directly with disasters and strange things!
I said it all, this is a natural phenomenon, you have to think about it... But do you have any evidence that it has something to do with Zhang Zhou?Since there is no evidence...then what I say is evidence, whoever comes out to make trouble will have trouble himself.

Zhu Youtang said: "I have read the memorial of Tu Qing's resignation, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials. He is old and sick, and he has asked me to resign many times. I have already approved it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding." Tu Yu knew that his political career was over.

It had been expected for a long time, but I just didn’t expect it to end in such a way. After I left, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials would be related to his nomination and the people supported by traditional civil servants, and it belonged to him People from the faction behind can get the greatest benefit from this fluctuation.

Among the at least six servants, there can be several.

But now it seems... Even if those people are still servants, most of them will be transferred to Nanjing.

Zhu Youtang said: "Who was the one who succeeded the Minister of the Ministry of Officials in the previous court meeting?"

Liu Jian looked in Tu Yu's direction, and then came out and said, "It's Ni Yue, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of War in Nanjing."

Ni Yue was a "tragic figure" in Daming. Originally, he was the Minister of the Ministry of Rites well, just to make way for Xu Qiong, a foreign relative party, who was sent to Nanjing as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and later moved to the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing... In Nanjing, the Ministry of War Because Shangshu has the responsibility to hold Nanjing's military power in check, he belongs to the real power faction just like the Nanhubu Shangshu, and his status is higher than that of Nanjing's Ministry of Officials.

This time Xu Qiong retired, and the ministers felt that Ni Yue had been treated unfairly at the beginning, and they all wanted to use his qualifications to come back as an official secretary.

Zhu Youtang said: "Ni Yue does have this ability. He left behind the position of Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing. I nominate Zhang Zhou, Duke of Lai. Do you have any objections?"

Nominate directly.

I just won't play that game with you, Ni Yue, I agree to follow your orders, but I want to give up the military power in Nanjing so that it will be convenient for my Bingkuan to do things for me in Nanjing.

Liu Jian said: "Your Majesty, Duke Lai's qualifications are still relatively young, and he has only been an official for less than three years. I'm afraid it is... difficult to bear such a heavy burden."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Then Bingkuan used troops in Northwest China and Liaodong several times. I think he is very calm every time he does things. It is said that he used troops to take risks, but when he settled Jurchen in Liaodong, he survived steadily and was not in a hurry or rash. , all border towns have very good reviews of him, and even Ma Zhongxi, the governor of Datong who once had a lot of opinions on him, recently proposed to let Bingkuan replace him... Can you say that Bingkuan has no qualifications?"

Li Dongyang came out and said: "But he already has a military title."

"Civil and military can't be both?" Zhu Youzhang said, "I didn't let him serve as an honored minister of Nanjing's defense. Besides, Nanjing still has a garrison officer and a coordinated garrison. Or do you think Bingkuan went to Nanjing for the purpose of using troops?"

The emperor's attitude was very firm.

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang just came out to object "following the rules" to show their attitude, not because they thought they could really make the emperor take back his order.

Wouldn't it be good for Zhang Zhou to be Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing?In fact, from the perspective of Liu Jian and other top civil servants, this is a good thing.

Since there is no way to stop Zhang Zhou from becoming a minister, it is better to let him be the minister of the Six Departments of Nanjing, at least out of sight.

"Mingui, the Zuodu censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, I have sent people to investigate, and there is nothing wrong with corruption, but he is too old and stupid, so it is really difficult for him to take up a big job, so he returned to his hometown...The Ministry of officials has elected a new leftist in the past few days. Candidates for the imperial censor, as for others... I will consider it at my own discretion in the past few days, and I don't want to replace too many courtiers at once, and everything is based on stability."

……

……

The court meeting is over.

The emperor did not get angry in the court, and it seemed that everything was still under control, but the impeachment of Zhang Zhou... seemed to be suppressed abruptly by a hailstorm and an earthquake.

The ministers were united in their determination to let Zhang Zhou go on, but when things came to an end, they found that "God's will cannot be violated". When Zhang Zhou's mouth was repeatedly blessed with disasters, the ministers still wanted to use "disasters" to attack Zhang Zhou. If it goes on, the emperor will feel that the minister is deliberately targeting.

After leaving Fengtian Hall, the ministers became much more reticent.

Tu Yu's official appointment means that the vanguard who opposed Zhang Zhou ended his political career in this way. It seems that Ni Yue was transferred to Beijing, but because of the long distance from Nanjing to Beijing, it will take at least more than a month for Ni Yue to take office. .

The errands of the official department are basically in charge of the Korean language of the right servant, and it is likely that the left servant will be responsible.

The remaining yamen of the six ministries seem to have no transfers for the time being, but the emperor also made it clear that he did not want to change too many at once, but he would not be polite about the recent replacement.

"What should I do?"

Bai Ang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, looked sideways at Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others.

He is very clear.

After Tu Yu retired, he was the next one. Because the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry had a lot of unfinished business, Zhou Jing and Xu Guan had to postpone their official appointments, while it was relatively easier for the Ministry of Punishment to take over.

Moreover, Min Gui has a close relationship with Bai Ang, and they belong to one of the family members of the Sanfa Department. Now Dali Temple Minister Wang Shi is not qualified to be a minister. When Min Gui became an official, Bai Ang felt that the succession sequence of the prison system on his side was completely disrupted.

"Please ask again." Li Dongyang said calmly.

These words seemed ambiguous, which made Bai Ang feel that the cabinet seemed to be unable to protect the San Judicial Department.

It's also because Min Gui fought too fiercely with Zhang Zhou before. After Zhang Zhou entered the court, Min Gui would come out to oppose any matter involving Zhang Zhou in the court. To become an official seems to be regarded as "extraordinarily gracious" by the emperor.

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang walked in front.

All the ministers also dispersed one after another. Only Xie Qian took a few steps back and went to Bai Ang and said, "Take a walk with the people in Nanjing and ask about things over there. There may be another person at the Hanlin Academy." Will be transferred back to Beijing."

"Who is it?" Bai Ang didn't quite understand why Xie Qian suddenly came to tell him about the Hanlin Academy?Does this have something to do with who will succeed Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice?
Xie Qian sighed: "Who else can it be? The one who was in the prison before."

There's no need to say who it is, Bai Ang instantly understands that it's Cheng Minzheng.

When the previous six volumes were considering candidates to replace Shangshu, Cheng Minzheng, who was in charge of Nanlin Imperial Academy in Nanjing, was not included at all, or he was ignored.

But after experiencing the earthquake in the capital, the emperor clearly wanted to use someone close to Zhang Zhou. Cheng Minzheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, had qualifications whether he entered the cabinet or served as a minister.

The emperor is likely to start with Cheng Minzheng, and cooperate with Lin Han after entering the court. Those who move closer to Zhang Zhou, or the Zhang faction, are equivalent to having two ministers.

(End of this chapter)