False eunuch in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 63
"The minister has his own play. Wei Zhongxian has been a disaster inside and outside the court for more than dozens of years. In order to cheer up the hearts of our Ming people, he should be held accountable for the crimes he committed these years. Wei Zhongxian built a shrine when he was born. This is an act of no king and no father. Frame Zhongliang." Lai Zongdao said.

Wei Zhongxian was only in power, and now the patriarch flattered and flattered him. Now that Wei Zhongxian has fallen, he immediately became the vanguard to overthrow Wei.However, there are several main reasons for him to do this. One is to completely draw a line with Wei Zhongxian.The second is to take the opportunity to remove obstacles to his ascension. In history, Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu were repeatedly impeached as eunuchs and resigned.Lai Zongdao and Yang Jingchen took the opportunity to join the cabinet.But the good times didn't last long, and after half a year, he was also dismissed.

Sure enough, Yang Jingchen also hurriedly said: "Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu have worked together for tigers over the years, and have done many things to frame Zhongliang. Now they are still embarrassed to stay in the cabinet. Such people are not qualified to enter the Ming cabinet."

Zhu Youjian was sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, not in a hurry to speak, and looked at the civil and military officials in the court: "Do you have anything to say?"

Qian Qianyi is old and cunning, even though he knew that Wei Zhongxian had fallen, he was not in a hurry to add insult to injury.why?Because the emperor has not expressed his position yet, even Wei Zhongxian is just telling the old man.The emperor agreed, but the emperor didn't seem to have any plans to investigate Wei Zhongxian.These people are eager to put Wei Zhongxian to death, but they will make the emperor dissatisfied.

"Since no one has anything to say, I want to ask Lai Aiqing. Can you give specific examples of Wei Zhongxian's perverse actions?" Zhu Youjian asked.

"There are many examples." Lai Zongdao opened his mouth and said, but when he was about to count these examples in detail, he found that there were really no examples.There are many examples, but none of them can be said.For example, the incident during the reign of Tianqi, if it is used as an example at this time, it will be a big problem. At that time, what Wei Zhongxian did was approved by Zhu Youxiao. If there is a problem with Wei Zhongxian, then Zhu Youxiao is a fool.After Zhu Youjian came to power, Wei Zhongxian really didn't do anything particularly rebellious.

Let's talk about some court officials dealt with by Wei Zhongxian, which ones are clean?Although Wei Zhongxian was selfish and had bad motives when he arrested people, he really did not catch people wrong.The case was also settled.It is also very difficult to reverse the case now.Of course, in history, Zhu Youjian wanted to win over the Donglin Party, but in the end Cao Huachun overturned the verdict.He is the emperor, if he says yes, he is right, if he says no, he is no.It's not that these people who were tortured to death by Wei Zhongxian were really loyal, it was really a strange injustice through the ages.In fact, the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty killed any one at random, and then went to examine them carefully. The result must show that the killing was not wronged.

On the issue, today's Zhu Youjian is a bit different from the one in history. Zhu Youjian, who was awakened by Cao Qing, knew that neither Wei Zhongxian's eunuch party nor the gentry represented by these Donglin halls could be the last thing he could rely on.What you can rely on is the right in your own hands.If you make good use of the imperial power in your hands, you can hope to control Daming.If it is not used well, it will be controlled by others.Zhu Youjian is a good young man with ideals and ambitions, so he is naturally unwilling to be someone else's puppet.

Lai Zongdao originally thought that the time had come, but found that he had misunderstood the situation.

Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu and others are not easy to save fuel. They know that at this time, the only person they can rely on is Zhu Youjian, so they are ready to show their loyalty.

Of course, now is not the time to talk. They are going to report their thoughts to Zhu Youjian alone after they retire.The meaning of thought report is naturally to show loyalty.

Zhu Youjian seemed to have seen through the thoughts of Shi Fenglai and others.

"Come to Aiqing, Yang Aiqing, I think you are also loyal, so I will not hold you accountable for making wild guesses and discussing the government affairs. Since you have nothing to do, you should retreat. The cabinet's love ministers will stay, and I will There are still some things to discuss with you." Zhu Youjian left the cabinet.The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty peeped at each other, not knowing what Zhu Youjian wanted to do.Originally, according to their thinking, after Zhu Youjian pushed Wei Zhongxian down, he naturally wanted to take the opportunity to eliminate all Wei Zhongxian's influence.De-Wei Zhongxian was carried out on Daming.But the emperor's wisdom seemed somewhat beyond their expectations.

The four cabinet ministers, Huang Liji, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, and Li Guopu originally thought that their careers had come to an end, but now they suddenly saw the dawn of hope.They can have the current status, so naturally they still have this awareness.

Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu glanced at each other, and they could see the joy in each other's heart from each other's eyes.

"Let's set up the imperial study. I have something to discuss with the four ministers." After Zhu Youjian and other civil and military officials left, his attitude towards the four cabinet ministers seemed to have cooled down.The four old foxes were a little confused.

When he arrived at the imperial study room, Zhu Youjian did not give the four old foxes a seat.Instead, he looked at the four of them coldly.After a while, he said: "Four lovers, are you guilty?"

The four old foxes were completely panicked, their legs softened and they immediately knelt down on the ground.

"As important ministers of the imperial court and cabinet, you are willing to be the slaves of Wei's thieves, working for tigers, and deceiving your superiors and subordinates. Are you guilty?" Zhu Youjian said coldly.

"Damn it!" the four old foxes said in unison.

"Originally, I also wanted to dismiss you and investigate. But now when I am employing people, I plan to give you a chance. Let you take the blame and make meritorious deeds. Are you willing?" Zhu Youjian said.

"Yes, yes." The four nodded like hens pecking at rice.What other options do they have now?Not agreeing is a dead end.Zhu Youjian didn't have to do it himself.Now the court does not know how many pairs of eyes are staring at the positions of the four of them.As long as Zhu Youjian gave them up, the four of them would immediately have no way out.Of course, there may still be ways to survive, but in the future, wealth and honor will be out of their reach.Without wealth, for them, doesn't it mean killing them?
"From now on, do things for me well. If I am satisfied, I will keep your status unchanged. But if you mess up my affairs, I will settle the old and new accounts with you." Zhu Youjian Said.This is throwing a jujube on one side and a slap on the other, which really made the four old foxes feel like they were on fire.But they were still very happy inside.They know their position is preserved.Their lives are saved, as long as they are united with the emperor in the future, no one can shake their status.

This little emperor is not simple, not easy to fool, but they feel more at ease.If the emperor is fatuous, their lives are in danger.

Zhu Youjian played a beautiful trick of power, and made the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty so desperate that he felt very fulfilled in his heart.His steps were a little light, and he didn't know what happened, but he ran to Ciqing Palace.

"The emperor is here!" Wang Chengen yelled at the gate of Ciqing Palace in a small voice.

Ciqing Palace was a little flustered all of a sudden.

Zhang Yan has been sleeping a little unsteadily for the past two days, with dark circles around her eyes, but now she is a widow anyway, and no one comes to the door, so she doesn't really care.In my heart, I hated that little eunuch surnamed Cao.

Suddenly, I heard a word from outside that the emperor was coming.Zhang Yan didn't quite understand why this little uncle, who usually never came to the door, came here today when he was free.Quickly touch up makeup, but there is no way to cover up the dark circles.

But when the emperor came, he couldn't let them go home.I am in this palace, and now I am also under the eaves of others.How much depends on the look of others.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has been waiting at the door for a long time." Xiao Cui came to urge Zhang Yan, who was still a bit distracted.

"Get ready. Let's go out to meet Shengjia." Zhang Yan said.

Although Zhang Yan is an audition queen, she is also from a family of officials, and she has been practicing etiquette since she was a child.After several years of nurturing by the court, every move is very elegant.

"The survivor welcomes the holy driver." Zhang Yan personally greeted the door and saluted the uncle.

"Emperor's sister-in-law is free of courtesy. I will visit her in the future in a few days, and I ask her to forgive me." Zhu Youjian said.

Zhang Yan's expression was very calm, and his tone didn't change at all: "The widow is a widow, so it's better for the emperor not to come here to be affected by bad luck."

"Sister-in-law's words are wrong. You are my sister-in-law. If it hadn't been for the sister-in-law's efforts to turn the tide when I succeeded to the throne, I'm afraid I won't be able to sit in this position. The Zhu family is in danger. The contribution of the sister-in-law is not insignificant." " Zhu Youjian said.

Zhang Yan welcomed Zhu Youjian into the palace, let Zhu Youjian sit on the main seat, and stood aside by herself.

"Sister-in-law, this is my own family. If you are standing, how dare I sit here?"

After Zhu Youjian said this, Zhang Yan sat down.

"Your Majesty is wise, I have got rid of the old thief Wei Zhongxian, and I am relieved now. When the former Emperor left, he said that the Emperor will not be the Lord of Yao and Shun in the future. Now it seems that it is indeed the case." Zhang Yan said.

"Actually, this matter is thanks to a talent beside me." Zhu Youjian said.

"Who?" Zhang Yan asked in surprise.

"Cao Qing, this man is Cao Huachun's adopted son. He is indeed a rare talent." Zhu Youjian didn't have any precautions against Zhang Yan, and told about Cao Qing's affairs one by one.

As soon as Zhang Yan heard Cao Qing's name, she became interested, and her ears turned sideways, for fear that she might miss a word.

"It turns out that there is such a strange person. It is a great blessing to be so capable at such a young age." Zhang Yan followed Zhu Youjian's words.

Zhu Youjian asked some more concerned words, and then asked Wang Chengen to increase the supply of Ciqing Palace several times.

"Your Majesty, originally I wanted to ask His Majesty for permission. Now that His Majesty is here today, I happened to ask His Majesty. I always wanted to go to Tantuo Temple to pray for the late Emperor, but I never made it. Now that His Majesty has calmed down the inner palace, I also Don't worry, I just went to live in Longquan Temple for a while. It's not very good for me, a widow, to live in the palace all the time. I'll be with Qingdeng in the future." Zhang Yan said.

"How can this be done. If the emperor's sister-in-law leaves the imperial city alone, if something happens, how can I explain to my deceased brother?" Zhu Youjian was not willing.

But Zhang Yan is a very assertive person, otherwise he would not be able to turn the tide and help Zhu Youjian to take over.

(End of this chapter)