Chongzhen asked, "Where is Zhu Xingan, the prefect of Runing, going?" ”

"It is said that I went to Luoyang to visit Fuwang Chitose." Gonggong Li replied.

"Luoyang! Fu Wang Zhu Changxun! Chongzhen muttered to himself. Zhu Changxun is Chongzhen's uncle, there are 20,000 grain fields in Luoyang, and he has the right to sell private salt.

If Yu Xiang implements a special law in Luoyang and touches the interests of King Fu, a battle is inevitable. King Fu is a prince and nobleman, if the two have a stalemate, how should it end?

In the next day, Emperor Chongzhen received Yu Xiang's request from the imperial court to punish Gou Zhixian and Zhu Xingan for the formal appointment of Chai Kewang, Cheng Guoxiang, Wen Zhi and others.

But the reaction of the various ministries was far beyond Chongzhen's expectations.

On the morning of the second day, the eunuch had just finished reading: "If there is something to start, there is nothing to retreat." The audience fell to their knees, and officials from the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Crime, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of Industry were among them, and they jointly played.

Only Yang Sichang, the secretary of the military department, and a few generals did not kneel.

Chongzhen opened the fold and saw that Yu Xiang's five unforgivable sins were listed above:

One of the major crimes is the crime of exceeding authority, and the "Daming Law" stipulates that all promotions and appointments to official positions must go through the imperial court, but Yu Xiang did not pass the imperial court and privately appointed and dismissed the imperial court officials.

The second major crime is to mess up one's name and dignity, causing serfs to abandon their masters and domestic slaves to flee privately.

The three major sins were to instigate the peasants to leave the land and to violate the law of "road guidance".

The four major sins were the unauthorized construction of firearms factories and steel mills, and the law stipulated that these things could only be carried out through the Ministry of Works.

The five major crimes are the execution of the death penalty without waiting for the "repeat" execution, and the disregard for human life.

Each of the five sins listed above is unquestionable and is clearly stipulated in the relevant laws.

Chongzhen looked at this twist and turn, it was extremely tricky, if this matter was not handled well, it might cause a great change, and even lead to the destruction of the country. Deal with Yu Xiang, the Central Plains will return to chaos, maybe Yu Xiang will be forced to rebel, if Yu Xiang is not disposed of, how can these ministers give up. As a result, the officialdom of the capital was shaken, and the political system was unstable.

Seeing Chongzhen's hesitant and embarrassed expression, Zhang Ying, the secretary of the Criminal Department, shouted: "Yu Xiang disregards the law, despises the imperial court, and his crimes are unforgivable. ”

The courtiers kneeling above the court shouted in unison:

"Long live think twice!"

"Long live think twice!"

"Long live think twice!"

Chongzhen didn't say anything, sitting on the dragon chair, his head quickly thinking of countermeasures. At this moment, a guard reported: "More than 100 soldiers outside the court knelt down to petition!" ”

Chongzhen angrily got down from the dragon chair, walked out of the main hall, and saw more than 100 students and scholars of the Guozijian kneeling neatly outside the court, and shouted in unison:

"Yu Xiang is arrogant, brutal and unreasonable, please long live the investigation!"

"Yu Xiang is arrogant, brutal and unreasonable, please long live the investigation!"

……

The ministers of the court forced the scholars to force the palace, Chongzhen knew the seriousness of this matter, and if it was not handled properly, it might cause chaos in the capital.

When Emperor Chongzhen returned to the main hall, those officials were still kneeling on the ground, shouting: "Long live, please think twice!" ”

Chongzhen sat back on the dragon chair, listening to the shouts of the ministers, his face was blushing, and he didn't say a word. As soon as these ministers saw Chongzhen's attitude, their shouts gradually weakened.

Liu Fengyuan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, shouted: "Yu Xiang scourges the Ming Dynasty, he can't deal with this person, and the people are angry, I am loyal to death, I am willing to do it, please think twice!" ”

After hearing Liu Fengyuan's words, Chongzhen said angrily: "You are waiting for Bigan, I am a businessman?" Liu Fengyuan, what are your intentions? ”

After that, Chongzhen stood up and walked away, leaving a full hall of civil and military, looking at each other, Liu Fengyuan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was so frightened that he sweated like rain.

Chongzhen came to the back hall, breathed a long sigh of relief, and finally found a reason to retreat from the court, and had a buffer time to think about countermeasures.

Speaking of the capital, the news of the petition of the ministers and the eunuchs of the country spread far and wide, and some people posted notices about Yu Xiang in the streets and alleys of the capital, and within a day's work, Yu Xiang's various "evil deeds" were well known in the capital, from the previous great hero, to a pampered and arrogant tyrant who was cruel and willful, and those who had been to Dongshuanghe Town, under the instructions of the masters, did everything possible to slander the new village, and turned what they saw and heard upside down. The original supply of Xincun steel knives and Xincun coins became unwanted, and some merchants who hoarded goods complained bitterly.

Yu Xiang became a headline in the capital, and some people even used Yu Xiang's name to intimidate crying children: "If you cry again, bring Yu Xiang to you, and take you away and eat it raw." The children were so frightened that they stopped crying.

Besides, Xue Shao returned to the capital, nested a belly of fire, wanted to go out to the fire, but did not expect to attract a belly of bad luck, spent 10,000 gold to buy back the sandalwood box simply became a chicken rib, originally thought that he would be noble in front of people, show off his might, but never thought that he had not had time to show off, and now there is a trend of criticism of Yu Xiang, these teas bought back at a high price dare not be put on the surface, and what is even worse is that he still hides these things from the old man, if the old man knows, I don't know what the reaction will be.

Xue Shaocheng was worried all day long, his anger was even greater, everything was not going well, everyone was not pleasing to the eye, and he punched and kicked his subordinates from time to time.

No, he was sulking at home, and someone cautiously came to report: "Master! Master Yang invites you to have a drink, you-"

Xue Shao interrupted his subordinates, beckoned to his subordinates, and said, "Come, come, come!" I'm here to tell you to go or not to go. ”

The subordinate was extremely frightened, knowing that he was going to be beaten again, but he didn't dare to disobey, so he had to lean sideways, protect his stomach and vital parts, and carefully rub forward. When he was about to get closer, the subordinate asked tremblingly, "Old, sir, what do you command?" ”

Xue Shao kicked out suddenly, where did the subordinate dare to hide, turned around, kicked him with his buttocks, and was kicked forward by Xue Shao and fell to the ground, Xue Shao stepped forward and kicked the subordinate's ass violently, and said in his mouth: "Let you see Lao Tzu's jokes, let you see Lao Tzu's jokes!" …”

The subordinates were kicked and wailed, and the screams were incessant. It wasn't until Xue Shao kicked that he lost his strength that he stopped, and called a servant again: "Go and tell the messenger that the master is not feeling well today and will not go." ”

Before the words fell, someone took over the conversation: "Shout, isn't this good, what's uncomfortable?" Wasn't it still very energetic to beat people just now? ”

This is Yang Shao's voice, I saw that Yang Shao with a few Yanei, has stepped into the courtyard, holding a folding fan, and he is angry!

When Xue Shao saw these people, he was discouraged, and he couldn't afford to provoke any of them, so he had to put a smile on his face and said: "I'll say a few, how can you have the leisure to come to the cold house, if you miss the distance, look at the sea and forgive your sins!" ”

Yang Shao laughed and said, "Idle? We're here to see what the sandalwood box looks like? ”

The few people in the back followed and coaxed: "The tea of ten thousand gold, will it blind our eyes!" Ha! Ha! Ha! ”

In the courtyard, I remembered bursts of laughter. Xue Shao couldn't wait to find a crack in the ground to get into.

At this moment, someone ran in in a panic and said in a panic: "Old, master! There were a lot of officials outside. ”

When Xue Shao heard this, his legs weakened with fright, and he asked, "Is it from the Criminal Department?" ”

The subordinate reported: "No, it seems to be someone from the palace." ”

Before the words fell, I saw the eunuch Gonggong Li enter the courtyard surrounded by Jinyi Wei. As soon as these brocade-clothed guards entered the courtyard, they immediately scattered in all directions to be on guard, and they all pressed their swords in their hands and stared at them.

Yang Shao and the others held the corners of their mouths, waiting to see the joke, Xue Shao was so frightened that his legs and stomach only turned and his mind was dizzy.

At this time, Gonggong Li shouted sharply: "Xue Li takes the order-"

Xue Shaozheng couldn't stand still, and when he heard this, he fell to his knees and replied tremblingly: "Micro-minister-minister-order!" ”

Li Gonggong said: "Long live the oracle, Xue Li is not far away, buy fragrant tea, I am very happy, I specially invite Xue Li into the palace to taste tea, admire this!" ”

Xue Shaoru fell into the clouds, and after kowtowing to thank him, he hurriedly took out the sandalwood box from the house and followed Gonggong Li to the palace.

The rest of Yang Shao and his party were dumbfounded, with mixed feelings in their hearts!

Gonggong Li took Xue Shao to the Imperial Garden, and was surprised to see his father Xue Zunxian and the emperor sitting opposite each other drinking tea, and a palace maid was making tea for them.

Gonggong Li stepped forward to report: "Long live, Xue Gongzi is here." ”

Xue Zunxian looked at it, Xue Li was holding a delicate wooden box with both hands, and his face was surprised.

Chongzhen was very easy-going, and when he saw Xue Li, he said, "Xue Aiqing, come to drink tea, why did you bring a gift?" ”

Xue Li now had to bite the bullet, took a few steps forward, knelt down in front of Chongzhen, and said loudly: "Weichen bought a box of new tea from Henan and offered long live." ”

Chongzhen nodded slightly, and Gonggong Li stepped forward and accepted the tea.

Chongzhen got up, walked to Xue Shao, helped Xue Shao up with both hands and said, "Xue Aiqing, please get up, please get up!" Come, give a seat. ”

Xue Li was treated by Emperor Chongzhen with this courtesy, and Xue Zunxian sighed in his heart when he saw this: This son of evil made him low-key and low-key, and finally caused trouble.

How dare Xue Li sit on an equal footing with the emperor and his father, although he was given a seat, he only sat on the chair with his buttocks, and did not dare to sit steadily.

Chongzhen said: "Xue Li, what is the difference between the tea you taste and the tea you bought?" ”

Xue Li took a sip and praised busily: "The difference given by Long Live is rich in aroma, how can it be the tea that we can drink, the two are really very different, Long Live the tea is in the sky, and the tea of Weichen is in the ground." ”

Chongzhen said: "Oh? I heard that the tea you bought is the best of the tea, and it is worth 10,000 gold. ”

After that, he didn't say any more and looked at Xue Zunxian.

Xue Zunxian was frightened, and quickly knelt down and said: "Weichen is not strict in discipline, and the dogs are extravagant and wasteful, praying for long live mercy." ”

Chongzhen said with a smile: "Xue Aiqing, my words are serious, Xue Li knows what I like, and I should be rewarded for buying tea." Get up! ”

Xue Zunxian trembled at this time, but he didn't dare to sit down, Xue Li saw his father standing, and then he also stood up.

Chongzhen saw that knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger played a role, but Xue Zunxian had not yet expressed his position on Yu Xiang's matter, so he continued: "Come on, open this box and watch the tea!" ”

Gonggong Li came forward, opened the box layer by layer, Chongzhen took out the Su embroidery inside, handed it to Xue Zunxian, and took out the cloisonné enamel craft porcelain jar, played with it, and said: "This Yu Xiang, everywhere novelty, rescue the victims, but also use the power of the victims, build water conservancy projects, dig coal mines, just like this cloisonné enamel porcelain jar, the idea is peculiar, extremely exquisite, however, a bit of a suspicion of selling pearls." After speaking, he glanced at Xue Zunxian's tattered official uniform and said, "The Su Xiuyunpa in your hand is only afraid that it will be worth the official uniform you are wearing." Xue Aiqing, this Yu Xiang, although he acts flamboyantly, everyone can see the real price clearly, unlike some people in the DPRK, who seem to be low-key, but in private, he is very high-profile, do you say yes or no? ”

Dense beads of sweat appeared on Xue Zunxian's forehead, and he was frantically calculating the gains and losses in his heart, should he continue to insist on the offensive and defensive alliance to bring down Yu Xiang? However, Chongzhen's attitude is clear, if he continues to disobey Chongzhen's intentions, I am afraid that it will be difficult to get out of this imperial garden.

He sighed in his heart: Son, such a high-profile and flamboyant finally put him on the road of no return. But he said: "Long live Mingjian, the minister thought that Yu Xiang was still high-profile, building water conservancy projects, digging coal and mining, it seems to be high-profile, but it is actually forced by the situation, Weichen thinks that Yu Xiang is not only without fault, but also has made great contributions, and he should be regarded as an example of loyalty to the country, and be rewarded, and the minister is willing to ask for credit for Yu Xiang." ”

Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Okay, Xue Aiqing has a very good intention, I remember that your family is loyal to the country, and I specially appointed Xue Li as the right senator of the General Political Department, with the official title of five grades." ”

When the Xue father and son heard this, they were overjoyed, and they hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to thank him. At this point, Xue Zunxian had to stand in the same trench as Yu Xiang and form a community of destiny with Yu Xiang by mistake.