Chapter 260: Monarch and Minister

It is Zhu Di who is a young soldier who is a soldier, Zhu Di who knows people well, Zhu Di who is brave and fierce, Zhu Di who treats heroes well, and Zhu Di who is cruel and murderous. Since the Yongle Dynasty, the meritorious military generals have occasionally seen the crime and degraded, at least a few days and a few months, and at most three or five years will definitely be restored, but if the civil officials are offended, they will be imprisoned by the Jinyi Guard, and they will be directly executed. And Zhu Di often praises a minister today, but tomorrow he turns his face and denies people, and over time, the face saint is often regarded as a daunting path.

This is no longer just a thought of honor and disgrace, but a real thought of life and death.

Although it was not the first time that Zhang Yue came to the West Palace, it was the first time that the Liang Palace came back. This hall is located in the north of the Fengtian Temple, there are lush bamboo trees everywhere, there is a pool behind the hall, and all around are the general of the Jinyi Wei Han who is stuck there motionless like nails, majestic and majestic. It is said that there is also a fan powered by water in the hall, which is the coolest in summer.

The summoned lieutenant led Zhang Yue to the white marble steps in front of the Liang Palace, instructed him to kneel and wait, and then trotted into the hall to resume his life. At this time, it was a scorching midsummer afternoon, although the cool hall was much cooler than the other palaces in the West Palace, the ground was still scorched by the scorching sun, and Zhang Yue sweated profusely after only a short while. Just as he was faint from the scorching sun, there was a sudden movement in front of him, but a eunuch walked down the stairs and said in that high-pitched and sharp male duck voice:

"The emperor has a decree to pass on Zhang Yue's audience!"

Zhang Yue hurriedly stood up, and immediately felt beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead and breaking into several petals on the ground. At this time, there were people all around, and he couldn't wipe his sleeves, so he had to follow the eunuch up the steps in a hurry. When he arrived at the door of the cool hall, he felt a chill in his face, and the heat on his body suddenly dissipated a lot.

"Lord Xiao Zhang, look at your sweaty appearance, wipe your sweat before you go in, so that you don't look good when you see the emperor."

Seeing that the eunuch handed over a pine-colored sweat towel, Zhang Yue was stunned for a moment, and then quickly took it and wiped it on his face. After wiping the sweat, he handed the sweat towel back, but it was not good to wrap something in it in front of everyone, so he just thanked him. The young eunuch was the first to cross the threshold, and when Zhang Yue followed in, he whispered again: "Master Da Shen is now in the palace, the emperor's temperament is a little bad, you must be careful." ”

"Thank you father-in-law for reminding me."

The eunuch smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed: "The younger one is Gonggong Zhang's apprentice, and the little Lord Zhang will be able to thank Gonggong Zhang when the time comes." ”

Entering the main hall, Zhang Yue stepped into the door, and at a glance saw Zhu Di, who was dressed in a bright yellow robe, standing behind several cases on the side, and there was a person standing beside him, who happened to be Shen Du, who was known as the Great Shen Bachelor at the time. Shen Du didn't raise his head at this time, and was waving his hand at the end of his hand. Although he didn't hear Zhu Di speak, just looking at this posture, he could also understand that Shen Du must be preparing a decree for Zhu Di.

He took a deep breath and took two steps forward and bowed to the ground: "The criminal minister Zhang Yue knocked to see the emperor." ”

Zhu Di glanced at Shen Du's holy decree that had already been written for more than half of it, and glanced at Zhang Yue casually, but he smiled: "Did I say that you are guilty?" You are from a martial arts family, don't learn from those Taoist masters who will sin and die at every turn! You went to the Dusi Yamen to transfer troops, and personally went to exterminate the stockade, and then screened the internal response and the bandits, the ones who should be closed, and the ones that should be released, why didn't you know that you were honestly afraid at that time? Privately transfer troops, privately arson prisoners, you are so bold! ”

In addition to following the Daliu Face Saint, Zhang Yue had also seen Zhu Di several times in private, and knew that the Yongle Emperor turned his face very quickly, so this last fierce question did not scare him. Leaning over and bowing, he straightened up and replied loudly: "The people in the countryside don't know what the royal Taoism is, but they are convinced of the White Lotus Sect, and it is nothing more than because of their magic and small favors. If it is suppressed, it should naturally be uprooted with the momentum of thunder, but after the suppression, if it is generalized, it will not be able to show the benevolence and righteousness of the court, let alone make the common people grateful. The ministers all follow the law and do not feel sincere and fearful. ”

Zhu Di stared at Zhang Yue for a long time, and suddenly remembered Zhu Zhanji's evaluation of Zhang Yue - an honest wonderful person? In his opinion, this kid is clearly an honest stunned young man!

At that moment, he couldn't help but sneer in annoyance: "Show the benevolence and righteousness of the imperial court? I see that you are a benevolent person, so let's change a good name for yourself! You have only been in office in Shandong for more than half a year, and now your reputation as a little Zhang is not small. Tuntian reclamation mutual assistance, those households are rave reviews; I heard that people still rumor that you are Lei Gong? Let me ask you, when you borrowed troops to exterminate the unloading stone shed, didn't you think that your teacher Du Yishan would support you in Qingzhou? ”

I have seen Zhu Di's words and smiles, I have seen Zhu Di's thunderous anger and ruthlessness, and I have seen Zhu Di being unreasonable and difficult, but now this kind of ridicule and sarcasm is the first time Zhang Yue has seen it. And when he heard this last question, he couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart - Du Zhen's attitude of public is public and private, where is it like a teacher who supports students?

"Back to the emperor, Lord Du didn't know about his arrival in Qingzhou. But whether the minister knew it or not, at that time, the arrow had to be sent, and even if there was no prisoner robbery, the minister could not let the bandits occupy the mountains and forests to become bigger. It must be known that the villagers are ignorant, and the head of the White Lotus Sect has only occupied the cottage for ten days, and the number of people under his command has doubled sharply compared to the beginning. The minister still remembers that when he met Mr. Du in Jinan Mansion that day, Mr. Du said that teachers and students are teachers and students, and the top and bottom are up and down. As for reputation, if it can ensure the peace of one party, whether it is a cool official or a capable official, the ministers are willing to do it. ”

The gentleman in front of him asked and answered, and Shen Du, who was struggling to write, couldn't help but stop his pen, quietly glanced up, and sweated for Zhang Yue in his heart. Although there are many courtiers of the draft edict, he is the most popular with Zhu Di, and even has the name of the golden version of the jade book, even so, he still does not dare to intercede for Du Zhen in vain, lest it be self-defeating and harm the lives of his friends. At this time, Zhang Yue stiffened his neck and Zhu Di stiffened, so he was not afraid that the emperor would be angry and involve two people?

However, to Shen Du's surprise, he actually heard the emperor next to him suddenly laugh. Although he didn't dare to turn his head to see what kind of smile it was, the laughter sounded rather pleasant. Thinking of the edict he drafted at this time, he gradually breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly continued to write at the desk and did not dare to be distracted.

"Rebels against the people are hateful, not killing is not enough to deter the world, if I send you back to Shandong to supervise and kill the rebels, do you dare to go?"

Zhang Yue felt bitter at this time, secretly thinking that Zhu Di was really murderous like Emperor Ma. However, he also knew that although he had saved some people, the White Lotus Sect was originally a cult that was strictly banned, not to mention that those people in the stone sheds were openly robbing prisoners and occupying the cottage in an attempt to misbehave, and it was almost impossible to escape the death penalty, and it was normal to be beheaded without waiting for the autumn. Although he had no interest in such a fatal errand, how could he say a word?

If he dares to say no, Zhu Di will definitely smash up with another hard sentence - he doesn't even dare to do this kind of thing, do you dare to say that he is not buying the hearts of the people?

He had to grit his teeth and say, "Of course the minister dares to go." ”

As the emperor, Zhu Di has no preference for truth and falsehood, he just wants to hear what he wants to hear, and he is quite satisfied with Zhang Yue's answer. Looking down at Shen Du, and seeing that he had already drafted the holy decree, he picked it up casually and looked at the handwriting like an iron hook and silver stroke with appreciation. Immediately after, he looked at Zhang Yue and said in a deep voice: "When I first saw me, you still called yourself a criminal minister, how do you look like you know that you are guilty, and you are clearly justified!" Get up, if it weren't for the fact that you are the son and nephew of the Duke of England, I would have punished you for kneeling outside the noon gate for three days to reflect on your mistakes! ”

There was a bit of banter in these words, and when Zhang Yue stood up, he couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. At this time, he saw that Shen Du had retreated behind Zhu Di, but he nodded to him with a smile on his face. Seeing that the people looked like this, he knew that even if the edict drafted this time was not beneficial, at least it was not a punishment for commutation, and he was immediately more determined.

"Of course, the Han king is arrogant, but as a magistrate, the vassal king should go to the court if he has it, how can he act recklessly? I used to think that Du Yishan was a cautious person, but I didn't want him to be so reckless in doing things! In a hurry, he almost uprooted the White Lotus cult in Shandong this time, which can be regarded as a small achievement. However, Jin Yiwei sent him the news, and he actually dared to do it directly, although he had the courage to do it, and the responsibility was not bad. Having said that, standard weapons were found on several granges of the King of Han, and there were even White Lotus anti-party hiding in them, could he have recognized that the people in the Han Wang's Mansion really had something to do with these anti-parties? ”

No one dares to answer this question. Shen Du looked at his nose and nose, let the oil and sweat on his forehead roll down, and closed his mouth without saying a word. Zhang Yue also wanted to pretend to be dumb again, who knew that Zhu Di wrung his brows, and suddenly swept his gaze, he couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, and he was inevitably a little apprehensive.

"This edict is a decree of the court, Xia Yuanji, Yi and Yang Rong have discussed, and the main purpose is the salt strip that you and Ling Hua sent together. You are very good at being able to practice with your heart at a young age, at least better than those who take the trouble to figure out the holy will! You don't have to worry about Du Yishan's affairs, public is public and private, and I have my own decision. I heard that your grandmother was sick, and you should serve for a few days, and then go back to Qingzhou with your will to prepare for a great punishment and murder! When you come back after killing people, I have something else to tell you. ”

Seeing Zhang Yue withdraw, Zhu Di turned his head to look at Shen Du, and saw that his face was still full of surprise that he couldn't hide, and he couldn't help but smile in his heart - since he is a descendant of the Zhang family, he should treat killing people as a common thing, and only when he sees blood can he really grind this kid's heart!