The next day, that is, just after the fifth watch in the morning, the eunuch Wang Tiqian, dozens of eunuchs and palace maids came to the outside of the Qianqing Palace, waiting for the emperor to get up, wash, change clothes, and then drive to the Huangji Palace, that is, the later Taihe Hall to participate in the early dynasty, which is the so-called imperial gate to listen to the government. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Usually at this time the sky is not yet bright, the summer is fine, in the winter, it is more difficult to get up, after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, several emperors, are reluctant to call the big up to the court, because it is too hard, early in the morning, sleep just right, you call him up to the court, listen to the ministers say some big and inappropriate saliva, no one is happy.

The emperor didn't want to get up, and the eunuchs didn't dare to scream, so the early dynasty gradually fell into disuse.

If you think about it, even the emperor feels hard, and those Beijing officials and ministers who need to go to the court are even harder.

The emperor started on the fifth watch, and the ministers who lived farther away had to rise on the third watch. Of course, the emperor did not go to the court every day, because it was really too tiring, and the Wanli Emperor had not been to the court for decades, and the court was still running the same.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse also wanted to cheer up at first, but he gave up after holding on for a long time, and then simply broke the jar and broke it, and handed everything over to Wei Zhongxian to deal with, and he hid in the deep palace to do carpenter work.

After Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he was determined to be strong, changed the style of the previous dynasty, insisted on going to the court every day, met with ministers, and handled government affairs, and then fell ill just three months later.

For Zhu Daming, this is an opportunity, an opportunity to change the system of listening to the government of the early dynasty.

Although he was already determined to get rid of Wei Zhongxian's comrades and their disciples and grandchildren, Zhu Daming still had nothing to do on the surface, and under the guidance of Wang Tiqian, the eunuch who was in charge of the seal of the celebrant and the eunuch Wei Zhongxian, accompanied by Li Yongzhen, Cao Huachun, Wang Chengen and other public eunuchs, he came to the Imperial Palace.

Huangji Hall is the first of the three major halls of the Forbidden City in Beijing in the Ming Dynasty, the most majestic and magnificent, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di encountered thunder and lightning not long after the completion of the construction, the fire was destroyed, and then experienced several fires, the most recent reconstruction was the reign of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

Therefore, the Imperial Palace that Zhu Daming is coming to now, compared with the main halls of the inner courtyard of other palaces, is completely new.

The ministers of the cabinet, the officials of the four grades or more in Beijing, the officials of various departments and Taoism, and those who have important positions in the nobles of the capital, add up to hundreds of people, all waiting at the foot of the steps of the Imperial Palace.

Zhu Daming, under the guidance of the eunuch's chamberlain, came from the direction of the Zhongji Hall and sat down directly on the dragon chair in the middle of the Huangji Palace.

Under the guidance of Wang Tiqian and the imperial history in the palace, the ministers who entered the main hall and waited in the square outside the main hall completed a complete set of procedures such as three kneeling, nine knocking and three shouting long live, and the early morning sun could basically illuminate the golden glazed tiles of the imperial palace.

Zhu Daming looked down at the important ministers of the court standing in the main hall, but he remembered in his heart what Emperor Chongzhen said before committing suicide in history.

Zhu Daming glanced at Wang Tiqian, who was standing on the left side of the dragon chair, and Wang Tiqian immediately walked to the middle and shouted at His Highness's ministers: "If there is something to do, play early, and if there is nothing to retreat from." ”

The celebrant eunuchs standing outside the main hall repeated this sentence one after another and shouted it to the square outside the Imperial Palace.

As soon as the voice outside the main hall fell, a person flashed out of the ranks of Wenchen, knelt down at Zhu Daming on the dragon chair, and then said: "Yang Weiyuan, the imperial history of the Imperial Inspectorate, has something to play Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Daming said in his heart, looked at Yang Weiyuan coldly, and said lightly: "Flat, play." ”

The ministers did not react, and they all looked at Yang Weiyuan quietly. Yang Weiyuan got up, bowed his head and said: "The minister hears that the gentleman is the foundation, and the person who is filial to the younger brother is the foundation of benevolence." Today, there are ministers of the dynasty, who love the power of the stack, and the mother dies without abiding by the system, which violates filial piety and betrays morality. The minister asks His Majesty to dismiss his official and punish him. ”

Zhu Daming saw him finish speaking and asked, "Who is Aiqing talking about?" ”

Yang Weiyuan turned around and pointed and said, "The minister is the secretary of the military department, Cui Chengxiu. Please Emperor Mingjian. ”

Zhu Daming didn't know which of the bunch of people standing below was Cui Chengxiu, but it didn't matter, as soon as Yang Weiyuan finished speaking, a burly and dignified minister in a red robe came out of the ranks of Wenchen, and saw this person kneel down in the main hall, take off the black gauze official hat by himself, and then kowtow and said: "Minister Cui Chengxiu is guilty." The ministers begged to return to their hometowns to guard the system, and hoped that His Majesty would grant permission. After saying that, he knelt on the ground and did not move.

This result was a bit unexpected by Zhu Daming, who thought that Cui Chengxiu would defend himself, but he didn't expect that one was willing to fight and the other was willing to suffer. It seems that there has indeed been communication and agreement in advance, otherwise it is a matter of personal career and fate, how can it be so easy to comply.

The ball was kicked to the emperor to test the emperor's attitude, but Zhu Daming had already prepared for this, and did not answer Cui Chengxiu's words, but turned his gaze to the first place in the ranks of the civil ministers, the current first assistant Huang Liji, kicked the ball to the first high-ranking official of the eunuch party, and asked: "Huang Aiqing is the first assistant of the Yuanfu, and this matter will be agreed between Huang Aiqing and the cabinet ministers, and then played with me." ”

His Royal Highness's ministers finally reacted, some were peeking at Huang Liji, some raised their eyes to peek at Zhu Daming, and some of them began to talk to each other.

At this time, the eunuch Wang Tiqian, who was in charge of the seal of the celebrant and shouted: "Silence! Your Majesty face to face, hand over to ear, what kind of system! ”

The hall fell silent.

Suddenly, Yang Weiyuan took a step forward and said: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty rules the world with filial piety, and the mother's funeral system is the law of the ancestors, so why should the cabinet discuss." Please let Your Majesty make your own decision. ”

Yang Weiyuan kicked the ball to Zhu Daming again, Zhu Daming looked at Yang Weiyuan, and then looked at Huang Liji without speaking.

Huang Liji saw that it was not a way, and went out to salute, and then said: "What Yang Yushi said is right, the mother is worried about Ding and the system for three years, it is the law of the ancestors, and the ministers ask the emperor to make an arbitrary decision. ”

As soon as Huang Liji spoke, several people came out of the Wenchen behind him one after another, stepped forward and saluted and said, "Minister Shi Feng is here to second." ”

"Minister Zhang Ruitu seconded."

"Minister Li Guoyi seconded the proposal."

Then several more people in the Wenchen train knelt down and said: "Li Kuilong, the deputy capital of the minister, and the deputy capital, and others seconded the proposal, asking Your Majesty to make a decision." ”

It stands to reason that what these people who were promoted by Wei Zhongxian in the past advocated to do, the protégés of the dead Donglin bigwigs, would definitely oppose it and stir it up.

But this time, the disciples and grandchildren of the Donglin Party remained silent.

Some people can't see the situation in front of them clearly, and they are a little confused when they see the eunuchs fighting dogs and dogs among their own people.

Some are happy to see it happen, hoping that Cui Chengxiu will be dismissed from office and thrown out of the court, so they all shut up and don't speak, nor do they second, just sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight.

Zhu Daming saw this situation, and if he didn't exert his authority, he would be bullied as a rookie in the court, so he looked around at the ministers in the palace, and then said: "Since the cabinet ministers and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty are all in favor of my decision to come to the cadre program, then I can't let the officials down." Cui Chengxiu served the emperor meritoriously, and last year was eventful, his mother was mourned, and the emperor was in the middle of the will, which seems to be excusable. Now that it has caused criticism, Cui Qing himself is bent on returning to the system, and there is no reason for me to allow it, and the cabinet can draw up a decree to allow Cui Qing to return to his hometown to guard the system. ”

Hearing the emperor say this, Cui Chengxiu's expression was gloomy, and he trembled and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen." ”

Huang Liji came out and replied: "The emperor is sage, and the ministers obey the order." ”

Then the voice of "Emperor Shengming" sounded again in the main hall, and the people kneeling in the hall got up and lined up.

This matter, Zhu Daming was hungry in his stomach, and his interest in such an early dynasty decreased sharply, and he wanted to retreat from the dynasty, but another person jumped out of the Wenchen train, and this person stepped forward and knelt down and played: "Your Majesty, the minister Shi Luo Yuanbin has a play." ”

Zhu Daming noticed that Luo Yuanbin didn't seconded the proposal with everyone just now, so he also wanted to know what he was going to say, so he said: "Luo Aiqing is flat and plays."

Luo Yuanbin stood up and bowed down and said: "The minister impeached the cabinet ministers Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu as cabinet ministers and corpse vegetarian meals, and befriended the inner servants and the eunuch temple. ”

Zhu Daming was dumbfounded when he heard this, how did such a stunned Qingyu Shi survive the political struggle.

Zhu Daming was about to speak, but saw Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu come out of the ranks, knelt down in front, and then said: "The first emperor and His Majesty are not dull as ministers, and the ministers are on the table, and the ministers are impeached by the imperial history today, and I am deeply ashamed of the kindness to the emperor and His Majesty, and I ask Your Majesty to allow the ministers and others to return home to participate." ”

After speaking, the two took off the black yarn and put it down beside them, kowtowing.

Zhu Daming was a little surprised for a while, he didn't look down on any of these cabinet ministers, in his mind the most suitable person to be the first assistant was Sun Chengzong, and the people who could enter the cabinet at least had to be talented or disciplined people like Xu Guangqi, Li Banghua, and Yuan Chonghuan, and he didn't want them either, but now was not the time to clean them up.

Thinking of this, Zhu Daming said: "Shi Aiqing and Zhang Aiqing are flat, the two of you have to be trusted by the emperor first, and they are both important ministers of the imperial court. ”

Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu had no intention of resigning and going home, but just acted as usual, so they listened to the emperor's words, said "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen", and then got up and went back.

But Zhu Daming wanted to take this opportunity to knock on the imperial historian.

He looked at Luo Yuanbin, who was still standing in the main hall, and said slowly: "Luo Aiqing, according to the law of the ancestors, as the imperial historian, you have the power to impeach hundreds of officials, but do you have real evidence for the impeachment of Shi Aiqing and Zhang Aiqing?" ”

Seeing Luo Yuanbin's expression of wanting to speak and stopping, Zhu Daming didn't give him a chance to speak, and said directly: "The Imperial History Official, originally set up to investigate and correct the gains and losses of the government, although he has the power to impeach hundreds of officials, but he cannot abuse it.

"Just now, the ministers asked me to make an arbitrary decision, and I have also established a law today, from now on, the imperial historian must have real evidence to hear about the matter, if there is no evidence, then he will be charged with impeaching others. Yushi Luo Yuanbin, today's impeachment of Shi Aiqing and Zhang Aiqing will not be pursued. Keep it in mind. ”

After speaking, he glanced at Wang Tiqian, who saw that the emperor was quite impatient, and immediately stepped forward and shouted "retreat from the dynasty".

As the sound of retreat was far away, Zhu Daming got up and left, leaving a group of ministers stunned in the main hall.