Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 153

Jiajing: "I have read the guide Hai Rui gave me no less than a hundred times. He once said that his guide could not be understood by all officials, and no one could understand it. This is true. What Hai Rui meant was I think the Ming Dynasty was based on the people and ruled by the monarch and his ministers. For 45 years, I have always ruled by one person. You are too weak and have no such ability. Let the cabinet and the six ministries and nine ministers take more burdens, and use virtuous ministers as the chief assistant .”

King Yu: "Father, who are the real virtuous ministers in my Ming Dynasty? Please teach me, Father."

Jiajing: "There are no real virtuous ministers. Sometimes virtuous and unvirtuous are not up to them. See clearly, use when you are virtuous, and dismiss when you are not virtuous. I have already arranged for you. You can read the third decree."

King Yu hurriedly took away the second decree and revealed the third decree, but was startled.

There are no words on the cover of this decree.

Jiajing: "Open it."

King Yu opened the cover, only to see that there were only three names written on it: Xu Jie Gaogong Zhang Juzheng!
Jiajing: "I have appointed these three people as your masters long ago. Just use them in order of their names."

King Yu couldn't bear it any longer, holding the list and crying, he asked, "I beg your father's will, who will be the future of these three people?"

Jiajing was also at a loss, and turned to look at the top of the bed with dazed eyes, with the kind of expression that wanted to look up at the sky through the top of the bed: "Then only God knows..."

Yu Wang lay on the edge of the bed and burst into tears.

Even though two large pots of charcoal fire were produced, Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, Zhang Juzheng, Shen Shixing, and the officials from the six divisions and nine ministers sitting around the charcoal fire still felt cold, and all of them sat there in frontal robes. , all of them looked tired.Ever since Jiajing became seriously ill, the sky collapsed and the earth collapsed in an instant. They have been waiting here, apparently for quite some time.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't bear it anymore, he stood up and walked to the door and opened the thick cotton curtain.

A gust of cold wind immediately blew a lot of snowflakes in.

All the ministers were shaken by the blow, looking at the heavy snow outside the dimly lit door.

Zhang Juzheng: "It's been two hours since Xu Ge got old, let's all go outside the hall and wait."

Zhao Zhenji answered: "Ge Lao said that if something serious happens, he will call us immediately, so let's wait here."

Zhang Juzheng slowly lowered the door curtain, and slowly walked towards his seat by the brazier, just after taking two steps, he was suddenly shocked!
In the distance, Jingyang bells sounded from the howling north wind!

Everyone stood up suddenly!
The Jingyang bell sounded desolately!

"Your Majesty!" Many people cried out at the same time.

Zhang Juzheng turned around abruptly, opened the door curtain and was the first to rush out.

All the ministers rushed to the door in a swarm.

The Jingyang bell is getting louder and louder!
It was already time for the card, and Hai Rui was still sitting at the table flipping through a copy of "University Yanyi Bu" by candlelight.

Hai Rui has not combed his beard and hair for two months since Jiajing issued a secret order in October of the lunar calendar. He only wears a cloth belt on the top of his head, and any long hair is draped behind his back. His face is full of thoughts, except for his eyes. And the bridge of the nose, the face is covered by beard.Fortunately, the quilt on the bed and the clothes on his body are often taken out by Qi Dazhu for his wife to wash. Even in winter, the ground is often washed spotless. clean.

The sound of footsteps came from the passage outside the prison door, walking faster and heavier than usual.

Hai Rui put down the book, slowly looked out the door, his heart moved slightly.

——Qi Dazhu had a white cloth mourning belt tied around his waist in front of the lantern outside the prison door, and was holding a big food basket in his hand, with a miserable face.

Looking at the filial piety on Qi Dazhu's body, he understood that tonight was his limit, so he slowly stood up.

The door was unlocked, and Qi Dazhu walked in silently. He didn't salute himself and say thank you, he just lowered his head, lifted the lid of the food basket, brought out a jug of wine and several bowls of vegetables and put them on the table. .

Qi Dazhu filled Hai Rui's wine and filled it up for himself, holding it up with both hands.

Hai Rui also picked up his glass: "You have worked hard these past few months, and your wife has worked even harder. I will toast her with this glass of wine first, and you drink it for her." After speaking, he drank the wine in the glass.

Qi Dazhu still didn't say anything, just drank the wine silently.

Hai Rui picked up the jug by himself and poured it for Qi Dazhu first, then filled it up for himself, and held it up with both hands: "Also, Lord Qi, and your brothers from Zhen Fusi have treated me well, Hai Rui, I respect them for this glass of wine .” He took another sip.

Qi Dazhu still silently drank the wine with him.

Hai Rui wanted to pour wine again, but Qi Dazhu covered the jug, "Grandfather, let's have some food."

Hai Rui: "Alright."

In Hai Rui's family style, eating food is always done with rice, so he picked up the bowl of "broken head rice" in front of him and ate it.A big mouthful of rice, a little chopsticks, unexpectedly, the wind swept away, and he quickly ate the bowl of rice, put down the bowl, and went to get the flagon.

This time Qi Dazhu didn't stop him, and let him fill up the two wine glasses.

Hai Rui picked up the wine glass again: "Da Zhu, I saved you, you need to do something for me."

Qi Dazhu looked straight at him.

Hai Rui: "I have a letter here for Mr. Wang Yongji. You try your best to deliver it to him as soon as possible. My mother, Zhuo Jing and my young son will all be entrusted to him from now on." He took out a thick letter from his pocket and handed it over.

Qi Dazhu suddenly fell to his knees on the ground, crying loudly.

Hai Rui laughed instead: "A man who has killed Japanese pirates and experienced many battles is still so blind to life and death. Get up, don't let your subordinates make fun of you."

Qi Dazhu raised his head: "I lied to benefactor, I'm sorry benefactor."

Hai Rui had a premonition: "Tell me now, don't make me regret it for the rest of my life."

Qi Dazhu: "Because we were worried about benefactor's sadness, we kept telling him that the wife gave birth to a son. In fact, the wife passed away in Leizhou in July this year, and the son couldn't keep it..."

Hai Rui was stunned, and stood there for a long time, tears slowly welling up in his eyes, then he grabbed the wine jug on the table and drank it to his mouth.

Qi Dazhu hurriedly stood up, watching him finish the pot of wine.

Hai Rui wiped away his tears: "I'm not filial. You should send that letter to Mr. Wang as soon as possible for me. My mother can only rely on him to send her to the old man." Having said this, he sat down on the chair and thought again. After waiting for a while, he turned to look at Qi Dazhu: "Is there any more wine?"

Qi Dazhu: "Not anymore."

Hai Rui: "When is the execution? Can you bring me a jug of wine?"

At this moment, Qi Dazhu shed tears again, and said slowly: "Grandfather, there is a decree, the emperor has pardoned you, and Dazhu is here to pick you up tonight."

Like a thunder, Hai Rui was startled, and looked at the mourning belt on Qi Dazhu's waist, "Who are you wearing mourning for?"

Qi Dazhu slowly took out another filial belt from his skirt and held it to Hai Rui with both hands: "The emperor, the emperor's funeral!"

Hai Rui's eyes straightened, and his face immediately turned pale. Then his body trembled, his hands covered his chest, and he slowly bent down.

"Benege!" Qi Dazhu took a step forward to help him.

Hai Rui stretched out his hand and pushed Qi Dazhu away, his waist was still bent, his body was shaking constantly, and finally let out a howl, and then vomited out the wine, rice and vegetables that he had just eaten!

Qi Dazhu had no choice but to stand aside and cry.

Suddenly, Hai Rui stopped vomiting, but fell to the ground like dry wood.

——Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houcong died on December 45, [-]th year of Ming Dynasty. "History of Ming Dynasty: Biography of Hai Rui" records that "Hai Rui was greatly mourned when he heard the news, and he vomited out all his food and drink, and died on the ground."

The national obituary of the late emperor's death notified the officials of various ministries in Beijing overnight.

In the early morning of December 45th in the 24th year of Jiajing, there was heavy snowfall. The Meridian Gate, which has been silent for [-] years since moving away from the Forbidden City in the year of Jiajing Renyin, was full of Beijing officials wearing filial piety of the seventh rank or above, wailing on the snow!
At the exact hour of the hour, the left door opened, and Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Chen Yiqin, Gao Gong, and Zhao Zhenji came out wearing mourning.

The right door opened, and Chen Hong came out leading the chief eunuch Dai Xiao, the chief inspector of ceremonies.

A party from the cabinet and a party from the inspector of ceremonies walked from the two gates to the Meridian Gate. One line stood respectfully on the left side of the Zhengwu Gate, and the other line stood respectfully on the right side of the Zhengnoon Gate. They all stood in two rows with tears in their eyes.Obviously, this is waiting for the Meridian Gate to open, waiting for the new emperor to issue the will.

The heavy snow that had been drifting all night stopped just at this time, and the wind also stopped. The officials all looked at the Meridian Gate that was about to open, and the cries became louder!
With a wave of Chen Hong's hand, the two eunuchs, the chief inspectors and eunuchs, walked to the front of the Meridian Gate each carrying a whip that was more than one zhang long. With a shake of their hands, the two long whips lay straight on the snow.

Chen Hong waved his hand again, and the two eunuchs swung the whips swiftly, and the two long whips swung into two circles in the air, followed by a crisp sound!
The crying stopped abruptly.

The long whip swung two more circles, and there was a crisp sound!
The long whip swung two circles at the end, and there was a crisp sound!
Three whips sounded, and the Meridian Gate slowly opened to both sides.

Countless pairs of tearful eyes looked at the gradually opening Meridian Gate.

Inside the deep doorway is a deeper inner palace, but it is empty and silent, and the new king they are looking forward to does not appear.

Such silence lasted for a moment, Xu Jie led the cabinet members and suddenly knelt facing the Meridian Gate, and Chen Hong led the Si Li Supervisor and several eunuchs also knelt facing the Meridian Gate.

Soon all the officials heard the sound of wheels grinding the snow on the snowy road behind them, and heard the sound of orderly and heavy steps stepping on the snow.

"Hundreds of officials welcome the new monarch!" Xu Jie's kneeling voice was so resonant!

Only then did the officials who had been kneeling facing the Meridian Gate realize that King Yu was coming!
Soon, all the people kneeled and moved 180 degrees on the spot, and fell down facing the aisle.

The imperial chariot with the filial cloth on it, under the escort of Zhu Qi, Qi Dazhu and other Jinyiwei and the imperial forest army, slowly rolled in front of the officials, and stopped after a long distance from the Meridian Gate.

Zhu Qi was on the left, and Qi Dazhu opened the door of the imperial chariot on the right. King Yu, who valued filial piety, came out of the door. Zhu Qi quickly reached out to hold King Yu's arm, and a Jinyi guard placed the step stool on the left side of the door in time. , Yu Wang stepped on the step stool and got out of the car.

"Long live! Long live! Long live!" At this time, the ministers did not need anyone to lead the call, and almost simultaneously issued a mountain cry!
King Yu still stood beside the imperial chariot, motionless.

All the officials raised their heads, and all their eyes showed surprise!

A person came out from the imperial chariot, and Qi Dazhu stepped on the step stool to get out of the car.

That person was Hai Rui!

Under the astonished eyes of all the officials, King Yu took Hai Rui's hand and walked slowly towards the Meridian Gate through the snow on the sidewalk.

——In 1566 A.D., on December 45th in the 16th year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty, Zhu Zaihou, king of Yu, succeeded to the throne and changed it to Yuanlongqing.According to the last edict of Emperor Sejong: "The survivors are summoned, and the deceased are recorded. Those who see the prison will be released and reinstated first." Hai Rui, as the representative, pardoned all the ministers who advised him.From this moment on, it opened the prelude to the [-]-year-long reform of Longwan.

(End of this chapter)