dragged the book and established the three kings together, and the ministers angered Emperor Wanli

In November of the twentieth year of Wanli, the Wanli Emperor led the emperor's eldest son Zhu Changluo to ascend to the emperor's pole gate to the hundred officials, held the Ningxia victory celebration ceremony and the prisoner sacrifice ceremony, and ordered Bi Chengen, He Yingshi, Chen Lei, Bai Luan, Feng Jiwu, beheaded Bi Chengzhong, Bi Hongda, Wang Wende, and each showed the nine sides. And with the Ningxia victory sacrifice to the suburbs, the rebels will be leveled to the world.

Knowing that Li Rusong entered Beijing from Ningxia in triumph, Jinyiwei commanded Tongzhi Li Ruzhen to hold a banquet after the ceremony, Li Ruzhen raised a glass and congratulated: "Brother's long march is hard, and the younger brother can't accompany his brother to fight in the capital to kill the enemy, so he can only prepare a little wine and side dishes here to celebrate his brother's success!" Li Rusong said with a smile: "Third brother, you and my brother don't have to be polite, your thin wine and side dishes are not extraordinary, the eldest brother is ashamed, but it's a pity that the fourth brother Ruzhang stayed in Shaanxi, and I will drink this cup for him!" ”

Li Ruzhen deeply felt that this was a rare opportunity for the Li clan in Liaodong, and urgently reminded: "Brother, you are now the new commander-in-chief of the Pingwei Army, and you have to prepare for the Korean war immediately after the Ningxia Rebellion, which really makes the Liaodong Army extremely proud. Since my father was impeached and resigned from office to recuperate, although you and my brothers have their own important positions, we have always had warm and cold feelings. Although I live in Jinyiwei, the hundred officials have never looked at each other squarely, but they are just afraid of power. Among the brothers, it may be difficult to have people who enter the six departments and nine qing, but they can only make meritorious contributions to the battlefield and kill the enemy. If the Ping Wei wins this time, it will be powerful in the world, so not only the Liaodong soldiers will be able to do their best under the Li family, but the elite of the Ming Dynasty can gradually control it. Protecting the country for generations, it is not impossible to enter the phase at sunrise. ”

Li Rusong listened to it with relish, and governing the country and leveling the world was also his long-cherished wish since he was a teenager, and he couldn't help but get a little carried away with his wine: "That's right, this time I should bring the elite of Liaodong, and let the world know my reputation in Liaodong." I heard that the imperial court had difficulties in raising money and food, and it was necessary to solve it quickly. It is reported that the Japanese invaders captured the Korean royal capital within a month, and if I can also annihilate the Japanese and recover Korea within a month, what a feat it would be?! ”

Li Ruzhen reminded: "Brother can't be so careless, the combat power of the Japanese is by no means comparable to the rogue who attacked the southeast back then, and according to the report of the secret agent installed in North Korea by Jinyi Wei, Shangshu Shixing of the Ministry of War once sent a merchant Jia to pretend to be an envoy of the Ming Dynasty to pacify the North Korea and the Japanese invaders, in order to delay time. However, that person made a collegiate agreement with the Japanese Emperor without authorization, and it is not known what the emperor's decision will be in the future. According to the younger brother, it may not be easy to solve the Korean war quickly, and I ask the elder brother to be cautious at all times. Li Rusong will improvise after hearing this, and then the two brothers will talk freely about wine until late at night.

In December, the officials of the two provinces of Guizhou and Shu have asked for a decree to survey Banzhou to comfort Yang Yinglong, Banzhou Yang has been based in Banzhou since the Tang Dynasty, and has been guarding it for generations, spreading and educating, and receiving the favor of the emperors of the previous dynasties, and in the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty, it was famous for fighting against Mongolia and Banzhou did not fall from then on. In modern times, the Yang family often acted unscrupulously in Banzhou, which attracted the attention of Guizhou and Shu provinces. When Banzhou was administratively under Sichuan, and the military belonged to Guizhou, but Banzhou was vast, rich, and populous, and Guizhou desperately wanted to put Banzhou under its rule, so it repeatedly collected Banzhou's crimes, impeached and investigated, and finally achieved the goal of changing the land and returning it to Guizhou.

Since Yang Yinglong served as the ambassador of Banzhou, he has gone through several investigations, fortunately, Sichuan Libao and Yang Yinglong have offered gold and wood to the palace many times, and have also led his troops to make countless meritorious contributions to the conquest and suppression of rebellion and save the day. This time the Qianshu survey, Yang Yinglong was willing to go to Shu but not Guizhou, and the two provinces discussed the survey in Chongqing. During this investigation, although Sichuan officials also had many objections, and advocated appeasement on the grounds that Shu was adjacent to each other on three sides, the officials and the people were each other's in-laws, and the soldiers were brave, and they had meritorious service in several conscriptions, and cutting off was not the best policy, but they had no choice but to have frequent incriminating evidence in Guizhou, and most of them were involved in rebellion, which was gradually unfavorable to the Yang family.

At this time, Yang Yinglong stood quietly to listen to the investigation, his eyes were slightly closed, and his expression was calm and a little arrogant. I only heard the officials of the survey say: "Yang Yinglong, the Yang family has been a consolation envoy for Banzhou for generations, and he should have protected the territory and the people, but several times he received reports that you have abused your power and bent the law in Banzhou, done many evils, slaughtered the people, bullied and mutilated the five divisions and seven surnames, failed the emperor's grace, and violated the training of the group, which is already the indignation of heaven and man." ”

"And the evidence of your rebellion such as supporting the army and respecting yourself, plundering the prefectures and counties, and concealing illegal materials is conclusive, and you should be beheaded in accordance with the law."

"Qianshu has been surveyed many times, but you have repeatedly made clever remarks and passed the test in confusion, and now Li Hualong, the governor of Sichuan, is also suspicious of you and wants to retreat, what else do you have to say now?"

Yang Yinglong knew that Li Hualong was not there, and he felt that it was not good for him, so he slowly spoke: "The crimes you say are inevitably exaggerated, biased listening and believing, and chasing after the wind. I, the Yang family, are deeply favored by the emperor and have no intention of rebellion, and the lower officials know that there is something inappropriate in governing Banzhou, so they must reflect on themselves. The lower officials will plead guilty, and please join the upper class. When the lower officials heard that the Japanese invaded and occupied Korea, the imperial court selected and dispatched the world's elite soldiers to help, and also asked the lower officials to donate 20,000 taels of gold, and personally led 5,000 elite soldiers from Banzhou to go to Korea to conquer the Japanese invaders, and make up for the merits. After that, the lower officials will wait for the will of the sinful state, and if the holy will does not allow it, the lower officials are willing to ambush them. Later, the imperial court allowed Yang Yinglong to be invited, and temporarily did not pursue his crimes, and immediately escorted the donation into Beijing, and the date of the Banzhou army going to the court needs to wait for the imperial court's will.

In the first month of the twenty-first year of Wanli, the Wanli Emperor listened to the government at the imperial gate, and hundreds of officials knelt and shouted long live. Wang Xijue, the first assistant of the cabinet, said: "The emperor is wise and powerful, the supervision and dispatch are well-organized, and the soldiers are loyal and brave, and finally the civil strife is calmed down and the people are safe." The people's livelihood is difficult, and local officials often take advantage of the national turmoil to urge taxes and food, and hide and do not report the situation of filling their private pockets. three times the cost of one cent; The emperor is the father of the world, and he loves the people like a son, how can he sit idly by. The ministers asked for mercy to the people, and strictly ordered the two capitals and 13 provinces to picket the offenders and calm the people's hearts. "Emperor Wanli is allowed to play.

Wang Xijue played: "Since Emperor Taizu Hongwu, Jiangnan tax A in the world, the burden of the people is extremely heavy, the harvest year can still be coped, in case of natural disasters and man-made disasters, the people will be poor and persecuted, difficult to make a living, recently Taicang, Jiading, Suzhou and other places have reported disasters, after verifying that it is correct and asking hundreds of officials to discuss together, the minister prayed to the court not to ask for financial management skills, do not have to rely on Jiangnan, please ask the emperor to forgive the disaster money and grain, stabilize the Jiangnan land. The ministers agreed, and the Wanli Emperor played it.

Wang Xijue said: "The Ming army aided Korea, and the courtiers still had objections to this, and the ministers asked the officials to think carefully. North Korea is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, and the world is blessed by heaven and is loyal. The Korean people are the people of the Ming Dynasty, and the vassal kingdom is in trouble and seeks help, and if the suzerain abandons it, it will laugh at the states and surrender its national prestige, and the future will be endless. This is one of them; Previously, the Japanese invaded the southeast, and the thief heart of the Ming Dynasty was not dead, and there were handwritten letters from the Japanese State Guan, Baiping Hideyoshi, Korean monarchs and ministers, and visiting reports to prove that this clever name to invade North Korea actually wanted to invade the Ming Dynasty. North Korea is our gateway, and to protect North Korea is to protect the safety of the Ming Dynasty, if the Japanese invade Liaodong, it will inevitably cause great changes, endanger the Beijing Division, and regret it. If the enemy is annihilated in Korea, our army can be deployed calmly, and the allied forces in Korea can also save the burden of war. The people of the southeast had suffered greatly from the Japanese rebellion, and when they heard that the imperial court edict had pacified the Japanese people, the military and the people of the world responded enthusiastically, which was caused by the will of the people, and the imperial court should conform to the will of the people. With these three points, it is incumbent upon me to rescue the DPRK. The ministers had no more objections.

Emperor Wanli praised: "The first assistant is old and thoughtful, and can be called a good minister of the auxiliary country." The cabinet has a great responsibility, coordinating the affairs of hundreds of officials, and it is the time of January when a new policy is enacted, and I ask you how you are prepared for this? ”

Wang Xijue played: "The minister has a political system to invite the emperor to take a look, and the disadvantages of what the minister has heard recently often do not ask about what he says, but first think about what he says, so the court often argues and contradicts each other, and in the long run, political affairs will also be absurd." The ministers thought that the emperor should first rule with a keen will, be diligent and lenient, and work together with the courtiers. Secondly, the ministers asked to strengthen the power of the cabinet center in order to clear government affairs. ”

Sun Yan, the secretary of the ministry, overheard that Wang Xijue wanted to strengthen the power of the cabinet, and became hostile, and asked: "The six ministries have their own details, the cabinet deliberates and proposes, and the department supervises the words, why does the cabinet elder still strengthen the power of the cabinet?" Suppressing hundreds of officials is not the way to govern. The former minister of power Zhang Juzheng acted arbitrarily, and the power of the cabinet was unprecedented since the founding of the country. ”

Wang Xijue replied: "Da Situ, you have misunderstood, it seems that they have done their duty for ten years, but in fact, there is constant suspicion among the courtiers, and they are impeached when they hear the news. Fortunately, the emperor is wise in heaven, and our courtiers have not been lost in the struggle for fame and fortune, and there is still a lot to be done in state affairs. Although Zhang Juzheng was arbitrary, by the tenth year of Wanli, the treasury was full, the four seas were peaceful, and the rule of officials was also quite improved. In recent years, the courtiers have been fighting, and state affairs have been lax from time to time, so we must not learn from Zhang Juzheng's shortcomings, nor can we forget Zhang Juzheng's achievements. The cabinet and the ministries should subdivide the boundaries of power and responsibility, and everything should be verified and then reported, and the cabinet should mediate the ministries, and if the cabinet is wrong, it can ask the emperor to make a judgment, so that the courtiers can coordinate and work together, fulfill their duties, and supervise the localities. Then you can clean up the rule of officials, clean up the political style, presumably this is also your wish, we can also do our best to share the worries of the emperor, the world is governed, and then welcome the prosperous world. ”

Gu Xiancheng decided that Wang Xijue wanted to cover up for the sake of arbitrariness, so he asked: "May I ask the elder, since Chengzu established the cabinet, the cabinet power has only increased for more than 100 years, and even formed a trend of cabinet power dominance. Taizu abolished the prime minister and divided the power into six ministries, and then Chengzu added a cabinet to supervise each other. In the past ten years of Wanli, the cabinet power no longer oppresses the ministries, and it is precisely because of this that the courtiers can fulfill their duties, express their opinions, be loyal and filial piety, and dedicate themselves to state affairs. How could court officials be impeached if they were law-abiding and reasonable? How can it be difficult to welcome the prosperous world? If the cabinet elders insist on strengthening the power of the cabinet, they are afraid that it will be difficult for future generations to check and balance the cabinet power, and it will eventually lead to the affairs of the ministers in charge of the country. ”

Wang Xijue replied: "I do not insist on strengthening the power of the cabinet, if the emperor does not allow it to be dismissed. The act of the cabinet should be clearly stipulated by its own law, and the courtiers should supervise and make holy judgments. If there is a traitor and a minister of power is also the cause of the current situation, it is not possible to generalize. Secondly, strengthening the power of the cabinet can not only benefit from what we have just mentioned, but also curb the interference of concubines, relatives, and eunuchs. The cabinet leads hundreds of officials to assist the emperor, and then the emperor leads hundreds of officials to supervise the cabinet, no matter how the power of the country is expanded, it is really not in the hands of the cabinet but in the emperor. The ministers are just doing their best to govern the monarch and the ministers together, and to protect the Ming Dynasty forever. The ministers also whispered a lot for a while, but they didn't ask any more questions. Emperor Wanli allowed the performance and ordered the six cabinets to draw up a detailed plan. Subsequently, Emperor Wanli listened carefully to the government affairs of various ministries, replied one by one, and dispersed the dynasty on time.

That day and night, Emperor Wanli secretly summoned Wang Xijue into the palace to meet, and Emperor Wanli took Wang Xijue's hand and said: "The sky has not yet warmed, and the elder of the pavilion should take care of his body." Wang Xijue also asked the emperor to take care of the dragon's body, Wanli ordered someone to move a warm stool for Wang Xijue to sit down, and invited Wang Xijue to taste the latest pastries made in the imperial dining room, Wang Xijue was flattered. Emperor Wanli said: "I often think of the time when Ge Lao was in the court before, he was fair and selfless, loyal to the monarch and courteous, even if he corrected my mistakes, he could always speak to my heart." I haven't felt this way in a long time. ”

Wang Xijue thanked: "The emperor has a reputation, the minister is just doing his duty as a courtier, and the minister only knows how to assist the emperor in governing the world wholeheartedly, realize the emperor's concept of governing the country, and live up to the ancestors of the past dynasties." Wanli said: "This is very good, I just want this duty, too many ministers will only fight for fame and fortune for themselves in the name of loyalty, and even wantonly bully my strength, once it comes to national affairs, they will show their mediocrity and incompetence!" ”

Wang Xijue immediately fell to the ground and persuaded: "The emperor must not insult his courtiers like this, according to the ministers, many officials are mediocre in politics, but in terms of loyalty, they must be people who swear to serve to the death. Please calm the emperor's anger and take care of the dragon's body. ”

Emperor Wanli looked at Wang Xijue, got up in his heart, and hurriedly helped him up: "What are you doing, old man, get up quickly and take a seat." I'm just a momentary thought. Previously, I had promised the hundred officials to hold a ceremony for the canonization of the crown prince in the spring of this year. In the opinion of the elder of the cabinet, is it appropriate to hold the canonization at this time? Wang Xijue didn't know what he meant, and after a little hesitation, he asked Wanli to make his own decisions.

Emperor Wanli said: "I still hesitate, this prince's position is related to the country, and it is reasonable for the ministers to care so much, I know this reason." That's why I'm always thinking about it. The middle palace has not yet given birth to a child, and I am also a young dragon, is it too early to make a prince? I had thought that when the middle palace gave birth to a son-in-law, it would naturally be the choice of the crown prince. But if the middle palace can't give birth, won't it delay the big event. For this reason, I want to investigate the prince, choose the merit, first the eldest son, the third son, the fourth son of the emperor and the three kings, and then elect the prince in the future, what does the elder think? ”

Wang Xijue was shocked that Emperor Wanli wanted to delay the canonization again, so he skillfully persuaded: "The minister thinks that the emperor chooses the virtuous and stands up for the long-term of the Ming Dynasty, but although the eldest son of the emperor is still young, he also has the virtue of courtesy and courtesy. Since the emperor is so worried, the minister has a law, so that the eldest son of the emperor can follow the example of the ancients and take the middle palace as his mother, so that he can become a concubine, and the matter of canonizing the prince is justified. ”

Emperor Wanli did not allow: "Pavilion Elder, I have thought twice, it is still the safest for the three kings to be sealed, please ask the Pavilion Elder to read out the decree for me the next day, the Pavilion Elder has always been deeply aware of my intentions, and I must know that my move is really well-intentioned." Today's court meeting has not been so smooth for a long time, and the old man of Wangge can also persuade me to persuade hundreds of officials the next day to determine the country's foundation early. "Wang Xijue commanded.

After Wang Xijue returned to the palace, he always felt uneasy, not only afraid of offending the Wanli Emperor, but also worried that he would be attacked by hundreds of officials as soon as the will came out. After thinking about it, he decided to immediately go to the sparse and then persuade Wanli to ask the emperor's eldest son to take the middle palace as his mother and choose a day to be canonized. In this way, it will be much more beneficial for the officials in Beijing to know that he will also give advice. On the same day, Wanli immediately rejected Wang Xijue's request and made him unable to resist the decree. Wang Xijue reluctantly accepted.

The next day, Emperor Wanli first said: "I have said that the canonization ceremony will be held in the spring of the twenty-first year of Wanli, and I think that the ministers are also looking forward to it. The ministers said yes. Wanli continued: "I have also thought about this matter carefully, and I have discussed it with Wang Xijue, Wang Ge Lao, you can read it." ”

Wang Xijue had to put the emperor's eldest son Zhu Changluo, the third son of the emperor Zhu Changxun, the fourth son of the emperor Zhu Changhao, the three kings and the decree read out in public, Wang Xijue read it, the ministers were in an uproar, and they all objected, and the Wanli Emperor saw that the crowd was excited, his brows were tight but he was still silent, only to see that many courtiers had pointed the finger at Wang Xijue.

Gu Xiancheng took the lead in reproaching: "The emperor has already promised the hundred officials to establish the crown prince in the spring of this year. After talking to your Wang Ge Lao, but the matter of the three kings being sealed together, it must be the policy of the Ge Lao. Ranking the group and following the will is not the so-called responsibility. As the head of the Yuan Fu, he made the monarch's father bear the infamy, the Son of Heaven is ashamed, and the first assistant is also to blame! ”

Wang Xijue was angry after hearing this, and was about to fight back, and the general envoy pointed out that Wang Xijue had been on the edict yesterday to establish the emperor's eldest son, only to listen to Gu Xiancheng's analysis of this: "This is the key, the three kings and the seal are only the first assistant and the emperor to discuss alone, and have not gone through the cabinet ministers and officials, the second assistant Zhao Zhigao, the cabinet minister Zhang Wei, and the ministers of the various ministries do not know, and the ministers Luo Wanhua, the ministers Zhang Zhenguan, and the ministers have not been able to meet each other in the palace. So that people talk about it, why don't they dare to see each other? must be worried that the plan will be exposed, and the later supplement is only to block the mouth of Youyou, but he still fantasizes about making a desperate bet with the help of the edict in the court, which is really done by traitorous ministers! Emperor! The crown prince is the foundation of the world, and the establishment of the prince is the solid foundation. Therefore, there is a grandson, no grandson, and the Ming Dynasty has been so far, so far, it has been peaceful for a long time. The middle palace is not out, and it can also be the mother of the emperor's eldest son. National turmoil is often due to the abolition of the long and the young, and the reason for the abolition of the long and the young is often the selection of the meritocrats. Please don't listen to Wang Xijue's words that he is a misleader for the country, and ask the emperor to take back his order. ”

Guanglu Cheng Zhu Weijing scolded: "Since the elder of the pavilion does not agree with the merger of the three kings, even if the admonition is fruitless, he should burn the edict like Li Yuan!" Or like Li Mi, he bent his mouth and pleaded repeatedly with the emperor to change his mind. However, the elder of the pavilion has neither the heart of death nor the wisdom of persuasion, so it is difficult to convince everyone. ”

Gao Panlong also scolded: "The elder of the pavilion is bent on doing his own thing, and his words and deeds are like two people who are known to the elder of the pavilion, and there is more than enough vino, but there is not enough bones." Please resign from the cabinet so as not to mislead all beings in the world. Zhang Wei wanted to speak but was grabbed by Zhao Zhigao, and his eyes signaled that Zhang Wei should not come out rashly, and then the voices of hundreds of officials criticized one after another, endlessly. Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei were silent when they saw this situation, and Wang Xijue was speechless for a while, and he also asked the emperor to resign several times in court.

Emperor Wanli saw that the court would be in such a situation, even the three cabinet ministers were coerced to dare not say more, thinking that the ministers only knew how to pretend to be loyal, and hated it very much, and listened to the accusations of the hundred officials and gradually became angry, the Wanli Emperor finally shouted wildly, Longxiao Palace, Jinyi Guard, and the palace guards rushed into the palace gate to escort the car when they heard the sound, and the ministers were shocked, only to hear the Wanli Emperor shout: "I have known the meaning of the hundred officials, I will reconsider this matter, and before I make another will, all the officials in Beijing can no longer go up to the palace to advise!" If there is a repetition of this matter, cut it! Retreat! ”

Emperor Wanli went straight to find Zheng Guifei after dispersing, Zheng Guifei saw Wanli angry and hurriedly asked, Wanli Emperor was angry, screaming and scolding in the air, Zheng Guifei rarely saw Wanli so angry, hugged Wanli into her arms and comforted, Wanli was angry for a while, and turned to tears and hazy eyes, crying bitterly. Zhu Changxun, the third son of the emperor, also came to comfort Wanli, Wanli was delighted, and even praised the third son of the emperor for having such filial piety at a young age. Overheard the report to the cabinet, the first assistant Wang Xijue, waiting to be summoned.

Wanli immediately summoned him and asked if he was okay, and Wang Xijue replied: "The minister has nothing to do, although the minister has been blamed by the ministers, but it is just a call for the ministers." And the three kings did not violate the group training program, and the reputation of the ministers only needed to arrange a few famous Confucian and Taoist officials in Beijing to say a few words for the ministers. However, these three kings were sealed, and the ministers thought that the time had not come, and asked the emperor to judge the situation and temporarily withdraw his fate. Emperor Wanli agreed, and after that, he no longer mentioned the three kings and sealed them.