Although Ma Wensheng and others were admonishing themselves out of public intentions for their own considerations, Zhu Houzhao was unwilling to choose compromise at this time.

It's not that Zhu Houzhao is really stubborn, but that he knows that if he wants to be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he can't compromise the civil official group in the slightest, even if the compromise is beneficial to himself.

The emperor cannot submit to his subordinates, otherwise there will be a second time and then a third time if there is the first time to submit to softness, and if this continues, the imperial power will naturally be greatly affected.

"Ma Wensheng, are they still kneeling?"

Seeing that the time was approaching, and the snow was falling again, Rao is Zhu Houzhao hugged the stove in the palace and felt the cold was pressing, so he couldn't help but ask Liu Jin.

"Back to the emperor, still kneeling", Liu Jin replied with a smile, and couldn't help but persuade: "Emperor, Ma Gefu is different from other Qingliu civil officials, their hearts are still towards the emperor, not to mention that they are old and it is so cold outside, why don't you let them in." ”

Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and said: "No need, don't think that I respect and favor them, they can use this to blackmail me, kneel if you want, kneel if you want to, kneel to death and replace people." ”

Zhu Houzhao said that he was about to warm up the pavilion to sleep, and then instructed Liu Jin: "Gu Dayong has news from there, wake me up immediately!" ”

Liu Jin hurriedly said yes.

In the second half of the night, when the north wind was blowing more and more urgently, Zhu Houzhao also woke up again, and couldn't help but walk outside to release the water in a big hat, and when he saw that Liu Jin was still outside, he asked, "Are they still kneeling?" ”

"Back to the emperor, they are still kneeling, and they have all become snowmen."

Liu Jin replied.

Zhu Houzhao smiled faintly, inevitably a little disappointed in his heart: "They are going to stalemate with me." ”

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao ordered: "Pass them in!" As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao instructed someone to prepare three pots of stoves and three layers of thick blankets.

At this time, Liu Jin also hurriedly sent the little eunuch to help Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang, and Xu Jin, who were about to lose consciousness, into the Qianqing Palace.

Ma Wensheng, who was a little numb from the cold, couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has changed his mind to release the civil officials?" ”

Zhu Houzhao yawned, took a cup of ginger tea from the palace maid and drank it, suddenly felt the spicy and pungent taste, and even the chill in his body was driven away, and pointed at Ma Wensheng, and ordered: "Give them three cups of ginger tea." ”

Marven thanked him and hurriedly took a drink.

Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao just smiled slightly: "I didn't say that I wanted to let it go, I only asked you, do you still want to kneel, and force me to compromise?" ”

"Your Majesty, the non-ministers are willing to persecute Your Majesty in this way, but it is for the sake of the stability of the Ming Dynasty and the safety of Your Majesty!"

Ma Wensheng said.

Jiao Fang and Xu Jin also nodded.

"Then kneel, kneel on this thick blanket, give the three of them a pot of fire, and kneel here!"

Zhu Houzhao said that he still went back to the house and continued to sleep.

Ma Wensheng glanced at Zhu Houzhao and was speechless, but he didn't know what to do, so he could only continue to kneel.

I don't know how long it took.

The sky finally dawned, Zhu Houzhao also opened his sleepy eyes, after being served by the palace maid to wash and change clothes, Zhu Houzhao came to the front hall again, came to Ma Wensheng and others, saw that they were still kneeling, and smiled: "The spirit is not bad!" ”

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao suddenly became serious:

"I can tell you by now that I didn't even think of compromising with you civilians! Don't ask me for the reason that the stability of the country and society is important, and don't cause chaos in the world!

Although I grew up in the deep palace, I am not afraid of chaos in the world, nor is I afraid of life and death, if you still want to persecute me, I will even withdraw or even kill you together!

If you really want to be for the sake of the world, stand up for me now, stand by my side, and work with me against all those who dare to challenge my dignity! I only give you two choices, either to be my enemy like the Qingliu civil officials, or to be my arm! ”

Ma Wensheng still didn't move, but his heart was mixed, he didn't expect his majesty to be so stubborn.

Jiao Fang was hesitating, he looked at Xu Jin, and also at Ma Wensheng, he knew that this was an ultimatum given to him by His Majesty, and following His Majesty would naturally be an enemy of the entire civil official group, and continuing to kneel and persecute His Majesty was equivalent to being an enemy of His Majesty.

Xu Jin clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and suddenly stood up: "Since Your Majesty wants to make a desperate bet, the ministers will follow Your Majesty's desperate gamble, and justice is in the hearts of the people!" ”

Xu Jin stood up, and Jiao Fang also stood up: "Since Your Majesty has made such a choice, since the minister is a minister, he can only listen to it!" ”

Zhu Houzhao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, secretly thinking that he had supported them and killed a few civil officials yesterday, at least Xu Jin and Jiao Fang were still willing to follow him.

But Zhu Houzhao still looked at Ma Wensheng, whose prestige could compete with Li Dongyang and Wang Shu among the courtiers.

If Ma Wensheng also compromises with himself, Zhu Houzhao will naturally be more confident to change things.

Jiao Fang and Xu Jin also looked at Ma Wensheng, and they naturally hoped that an old minister would stand on their side and stand on His Majesty's side.

Even Liu Jin looked at Ma Wensheng with burning eyes.

Ma Wensheng knelt on the ground for a long time, and sighed slightly: "First Emperor! Immediately, Ma Wensheng bowed to Zhu Houzhao again: "The minister implores Your Majesty to give you a pair of four treasures in the study!" ”

"Accurate!"

Zhu Houzhao didn't know why Ma Wensheng suddenly asked for the four treasures of the study, so he didn't hesitate, and hurriedly gave Liu Jin a look.

Liu Jin personally held the four treasures of the study, put them in front of Ma Wensheng, and personally studied the ink for Ma Wensheng: "Pavilion assistant, please!" ”

Ma Wensheng didn't respond, but still knelt on the ground, spread out the paper, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

Zhu Houzhao didn't know what Ma Wensheng was going to do.

But then, Zhu Houzhao saw Ma Wensheng writing on the paper, "Please disobey the party", and then immediately began to write about the world...... Therefore, please ask Your Majesty to kill Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and other rebels against the party, and the minister Ma Wensheng is respectful, hoping that His Majesty will accept it, and if he does not rebel against the party, it is the misfortune of the country, and it is the great fortune of the country to disobey the party. ”

After Ma Wensheng finished writing, he stamped his seal and handed it to Zhu Houzhao tremblingly: "Since Your Majesty wants to go your own way, then let the old minister bear the infamy in this world!" ”

Frankly speaking, Zhu Houzhao was very moved, he didn't expect that Ma Wensheng's final decision was not only to obey his wishes, but also to turn this matter into his own instigation, so as to take the matter of offending the heavenly officials on himself.

If Chongzhen has such a good minister, why would he go to the coal mountain and hang himself!

Zhu Houzhao personally helped Ma Wensheng up: "The duke is a loyal minister!" Spread the decree, Jiama Wen was promoted to the rank of Taishi, and transferred three hundred brocade clothes to guard the Ma Mansion! ”

After speaking, Gao Feng ran in: "Your Majesty, the big thing is not good, and there are many ministers kneeling outside the palace, from the officials of various ministries to the governors in Beijing, please Your Majesty will not mess with the law and politics, and do not build a big prison!" ”

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly came to the palace gate, but saw a large group of civil officials kneeling outside, which was obviously much larger than yesterday's, and was almost out of sight, so he couldn't help laughing: "Very good, very good!" ”

At this time, Ma Yongcheng and Wang Yangming also suddenly appeared outside the palace on horseback, and shouted: "Your Majesty, the ministers have been ordered to escort Zhang Yu and others into Beijing and temporarily detain them in the Imperial Prison!" I would like to return to Your Majesty! ”