The sixteenth day of the first lunar month is also the first court meeting after the Spring Festival in the Ming Dynasty.

After the hundred officials went to court, they found that the faces of Emperor Chongzhen and the cabinet ministers were very ugly. The folds reported by all ministries and divisions were all left by Emperor Chongzhen.

After the hundred officials did not propose, Emperor Chongzhen stood up from the dragon chair with a calm face, and said in a deep voice: "Zhuqing's invitation, I will talk about it after I have read it." After a while, the cabinet, the brocade guard, and the officials went to the Yangxin Palace to discuss matters. Well, let's come too. Let's disperse! ”

The emperor was in a bad mood, and suddenly made such a will, most of the officials were inexplicable, and only a few high-ranking officials vaguely guessed what was going on, and kept silent.

Half an hour later, Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, Wang Guoguang, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, Luo Yangxing, the governor of Jinyi and Weidu, and other ministers of the court and the central government all rushed to the Yangxin Palace.

Emperor Chongzhen sat on the dragon chair, his face gloomy, and the blue tendons on his forehead jumped suddenly. On Emperor Chongzhen's bookcase, there are dozens of letters piled up, in addition, there are several books that have been opened scattered on the ground of the Heart Cultivation Palace, looking at the appearance of falling to the ground, most of them were smashed out by Emperor Chongzhen with anger.

Several adults knew in their hearts why the emperor was so angry, but in the face of the emperor who was forcibly suppressing his anger, no one dared to speak first and bumped into Emperor Chongzhen's anger.

Emperor Chongzhen pointed to the recitals on the bookcase, and smiled angrily: "You all see, these dozens of letters on my bookcase are all written by Shaanxi officials to impeach the new Shaanxi governor Xu Liang. Not many days after Xu Liang took office, Shaanxi officialdom turned upside down! Seventeen officials of the Command Department were killed, and six officials of Chang'an Prefecture were killed. Even the dignified Jinyi Wei Qianhu died outside Chang'an City! What a Xu Liang, what a governor of Shaanxi! ”

"This is the official you recommended to me!!" Emperor Chongzhen asked angrily. Glaring at Shoufu Zhou Yanru, he asked, "Zhou Yanru." What kind of heart do you have for recommending such an official to me?! ”

Zhou Ge Lao was dumbfounded: In November of the third year of Chongzhen, it was the governor of Yansui, Hong Chengchou, who recommended Xu Liang to be the governor of Shaanxi, I also looked at the emperor You also belong to Xu Liang in your heart, so I pushed the boat down the river, why did something happen to Xu Liang, and everything was blamed on me?

However, although Zhou Ge Lao thought so in his heart, in the face of Emperor Chongzhen's questioning, Zhou Ge Lao could only knock out his front teeth and swallow it in his stomach. Plop. Kneeling on the ground, Zhou Ge Lao bowed his head and said, "The old minister is guilty!" ”

"Of course you're guilty!" Emperor Chongzhen was also angry, and scolded after Zhou Gelao's words: "Xu Liang, this wolf son is ambitious, bold, fatherless and kingless!" Treat the court law as if it were nothing! Such a person can also be the governor of a province? You, you're a gross derelict man!! ”

Zhou Ge Lao's shoulders shook and he fell to the ground.

The emperor was angry for a long time, and saw Zhou Ge Lao lying on the ground silent. The other officials all hung their heads and remained silent, unable to find a role to vent for a while, so they poured their anger on the General Administration.

"What does the General Administration Department do for food?! There has been such a big change in Shaanxi. Why didn't you report it sooner? The general government envoy doesn't have to do it anymore! Emperor Chongzhen glared at Wang Chengen, the eunuch of Bingbi on the side, and shouted: "Ming'er will draft a decree and send him to Fengyang to see the imperial tomb!" ”

Wang Chengen paused. Finally, he carefully explained: "Your Majesty...... There is a rule in the court that before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, all the members of the General Administration will be temporarily retained. Belch. The General Administration Department is also following the old routine to run errands......"

"He's still reasonable?!" Chongzhen roared angrily: "According to him, at the beginning of the first month, the Jin soldiers attacked the city of Beijing. Can the Department of Communications also not need to be reported? ”

Wang Chengen knew Chongzhen's anger, so he stopped his mouth and stopped explaining.

Emperor Chongzhen was angry, not so much because he was angry that the cabinet was not properly appointed, but because he was angry that the emperor himself had mistaken people. When Xu Liang was the secretary of Guanglu Temple in the court, how well-behaved and obedient he was! Not only is the errand of Guanglu Temple beautiful, but he can also be a person, and he has a good relationship with many adults in the court. What's even more rare is that Xu Liang didn't forget to pull Emperor Chongzhen into business, and gave the emperor a dividend!

How could such a loyal young man become ferocious as soon as he arrived in Shaanxi?!

Emperor Chongzhen calmed down a little, then looked at the ministers, slowed down his tone, and said, "Let's talk about it, how to deal with the affairs of Shaanxi?" ”

The ministers didn't speak, and looked at Zhou Yanru, the first assistant who was kneeling on the ground.

Emperor Chongzhen said angrily: "Lord Shoufu, hurry up, right?" I'm waiting for you to hear back! ”

Zhou Yanru got up tremblingly, and Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University next to him, stepped forward to help.

Zhou Shoufu arched his hand and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that although dozens of officials have impeached Xu Liang in the matter of Shaanxi, Xu Liang himself has also made several arguments at the same time. And the statements of the two sides are very different and different. What is the truth, the old minister thinks that he should send someone to investigate before he can make a conclusion. Besides," Zhou Shoufu glanced at Luo Yangxing, the governor of Jinyiwei, and said: "There has been such a big change in Shaanxi, and Jinyiwei has not started to investigate from beginning to end, and the old minister really can't figure it out." ”

Pulling Jinyiwei into the water in a good manner, Luo Yangxing glanced at Zhou Shoufu with hatred, and said: "Your Majesty, the thousand households of Jinyi Wei Xi'an Hong Gang himself and the three hundred household officials have all died!" Now the Xi'an Institute has no leader, and no one has organized the investigation. ”

"Hey, Luo Dudu is wrong about this." Zhou Shoufu seemed to be determined to pull Jin Yiwei along, and immediately interjected: "Hong Qianhu is dead, isn't there still Duan Zhigang, the deputy Qianhu!" Besides, the entire Xi'an Institute will not be dead, right? ”

"You!" What Zhou Shoufu said was too unpleasant, Luo Yangxing was also angry, and suddenly his voice became cold, and he said: "It seems that Lord Shoufu knows more about the affairs of Shaanxi than Jinyiwei!" ”

"I'm ......" Zhou Shoufu was stunned when he heard this.

Chongzhen interrupted: "Don't make any noise!" I'm asking you how to deal with the affairs of Shaanxi, not to see your quarrels! ”

Zhou Shoufu listened to it and said in a deep voice: "The old minister thinks that he should first find out the reason and then make a decision." ”

Zhen Zhen looked at the other ministers. "What about you?" he asked. ”

Several ministers looked at each other, and Zhou Yanru said so. Then who would dare to risk offending the head of the cabinet to go against the grain?

The Ministry of Shangshu Wang Guoguang said: "Your Majesty, Xu Liang has been the governor of Shaanxi for less than two months. If there is no definite evidence of the crime, it is reasonable to deal with it, and it is unreasonable. ”

Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, frowned and said: "It is said that Xu Liang is in Shaanxi, and he has recruited forty or fifty thousand troops in just two months, and now he has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, even if he wants to deal with Xu Liang, he has to act carefully." ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't help but feel unhappy in his heart: listen to what these people mean. It's all the same as Shoufu Zhou Yanru. His eyes fell on Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, thinking that this person had always been fair, so he asked gently, "What does Elder Sun Ge think?" ”

Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University and the governor of Jiliao, originally did not want to enter Beijing, but the court owed the Liaodong Army two months' military salaries, and Sun Ge was helpless, so he rushed back to the capital before the first court meeting in Chongzhen's four years. I haven't seen him for a few months, and the gray hair on Old Man Sun Ge's head has increased a lot, and he has become a lot haggard.

Since his beloved disciple Yuan Chonghuan was ordered by the court to cut with a thousand knives, Sun Gelao's mentality has slowly changed. Now he is a scholar of Wuyingdian University. But his eyes are only staring at this place in Liaodong, as for other aspects of the Ming Dynasty, Sun Ge is not interested, not to mention the rotten northwest!

Thereupon. Under the eyes of everyone, Sun Ge arched his hand towards Emperor Chongzhen, and said without saltiness: "Shengming has no emperor." All respectfully ask for the Holy Judge, the old minister has no opinion! ”

Emperor Chongzhen was so angry that he almost vomited blood. Staring at Sun Ge Lao's eyes, he was very dissatisfied.

As if inspired by Sun Ge Lao, the other ministers immediately echoed in a loud voice: "The ministers respectfully ask for the Holy Judgment!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen was furious in his heart: If you do anything, please ask for a holy judgment. What do I want you to do! I was about to have an attack when I heard an excited shout outside the Heart Cultivation Palace: "The old minister Wen Tiren asks to face the saint!" ”

Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, raised his hand and said, "Spread quickly!" ”

Several ministers in the Heart Cultivation Hall turned their heads to look at the outside of the Heart Cultivation Hall in surprise, and said secretly: Didn't this Wen Tiren say that he couldn't afford to be sick and had been lying in bed for more than a month? Why did this come to the palace? Immediately, everyone couldn't help but think of the grievances and grievances between Wen Tiren and Xu Liang, the hatred of losing a son is not shared, hehe, there is a lot of excitement now!

As Wen Ge Lao, who was pale and looked like he was about to fall at the sight of the wind, walked into the Heart Cultivation Palace, the eyes of several ministers and the emperor collectively fell on Wen Ge Lao.

When Emperor Chongzhen saw Wen Ge Lao's sick look, he couldn't help but tone his voice lightly, and Wen Sheng asked, "Is Wen Ge Lao feeling better?" Hurry up and give a seat to Elder Wenge. ”

The eunuch moved to Jindun, Wen Ge thanked him, sat down gently, then looked at Chongzhen, and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, the old minister heard that the emperor is discussing the matter of Xu Liang with all the lords, and the old minister has something to say." ”

Chongzhen finally waited for someone who was willing to speak, and couldn't help leaning forward and shouted, "Elder Wen Ge, please speak." ”

Wen Ge's old face showed a fierce look, and he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Xu Liang is a wolf with ambitions, and as soon as he took office, he recruited troops and horses, expanded the army, and killed ministers without permission!" What this person has done has long gone beyond the way of the minister, and Xu Liang's heart has been revealed! ”

Wen Ge's eyes were like knives, and he said sharply: "Your Majesty, such a chaotic minister and thief, the court should quickly take it, so as not to connive at his power, cause chaos to the court, and shake the country!" ”

The old Wen Pavilion was murderous, and all the ministers in the Heart Cultivation Hall were sideways. When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he was stunned, and said hesitantly: "Elder Wen Ge, although there have been several major incidents in Shaanxi, but the Shaanxi magistrate and Xu Liang himself have seen it, and the two statements are very different.......

Old Wen Ge interrupted Emperor Chongzhen's words in a ruthless voice, and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that it doesn't matter whether there is evidence or not in the court for the successive events in Shaanxi. It is always a fact that he allowed Liang to recruit troops and expand the army privately! This crime alone is enough to punish the nine clans! Your Majesty, the old minister is willing to ask the emperor to issue an immediate decree to arrest Xu Liang and correct the law on the spot to prevent future troubles! ”

"This ......" Chongzhen was also taken aback by Wen Ge Lao's fierceness, and looked at Wen Ge Lao in shock, hesitating.

Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, listened to Wen Ge Lao's light words, so he kindly reminded: "Wen Ge Lao, at the moment, Xu Liang has tens of thousands of troops in his hands, if the court arrests Xu Liang, one mistake is not careful, and a mutiny is provoked, then the situation will be out of control......

Elder Wen Ge sneered: "Lord Liang's words are wrong! The people of the northwest joined the army in order to quell the turmoil and serve the court! In just two months, how could they be bought by Xu Liang so easily? Lao Chen believes that as long as the emperor's decree arrives, arresting Xu Liang will be a matter of hand! ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he was also moved. He suddenly remembered that Xu Liangman had only been in Shaanxi for less than three months. With some stragglers he hastily recruited, they must be some rabble, and their loyalty must be frighteningly low, speaking of tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, it is estimated that less than one percent is really willing to work for Xu Liang.

"Do you have any other opinions?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully ask for the Holy Judgment!" In the Heart Cultivation Palace, several ministers vied with each other.

Emperor Chongzhen's face darkened a little, and he pondered for a long time, and finally made up his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, intends to rebel, and his crime should be punished!" Ordered to remove all official positions, and returned to Beijing by Jinyi Wei! ”

Everybody, you are silent. Zhou Yanru thought for a while and added: "Your Majesty, although Xu Liang's soldiers and horses are a rabble, just in case, the military department has to deploy troops around Shaanxi in case of accidents. ”

"Well, what Elder Zhou Ge said is very true." Chongzhen nodded.

Wen Ge Lao's face turned red, obviously he was excited when he heard that Emperor Chongzhen had finally made up his mind to take down Xu Liang. He rolled his eyes, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the old minister heard that Xu Liang himself rushed to Shaanxi to take office, but the wife of the main room, Feng, still stayed in the Dongjiang Courtyard in the capital. The old minister suggested that the Dongjiang Courtyard should be sealed immediately, the Feng family should be detained, and Xu Liang would be beheaded after being escorted into Beijing! ”

Jinyi Guard Governor Du Luo Yangxing was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly said: "No! Xu Liang has many eyes and ears in Beijing, and the seizure of the Dongjiang Courtyard at this time will definitely startle the snake. Your Majesty, it's not too late to arrest Xu Liang before seizing it. ”

Emperor Chongzhen listened to it and said approvingly: "Luo Aiqing is thoughtful! Elder Wen Ge, you are too anxious! Before Xu Liang was escorted to Beijing, Jinyiwei secretly sent people to monitor every move of the Dongjiang Annex. Before Xu Liang is brought to justice, don't startle the snake! ”

Jinyi Wei Du Du Luo Yang said yes. Then Emperor Chongzhen decided to strike while the iron was hot, and discussed the matter of transferring troops to defend Shaanxi. The result was not optimistic: most of the court's troops were deployed to Jiubian and Liaodong, in addition to the 100,000 soldiers and horses of the Beijing battalion in the capital. The soldiers and horses of the Nine Frontier Defense Line and Liaodong are absolutely not allowed to be mobilized in large quantities, and the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp have the responsibility of defending the important places in the capital and cannot be used easily. Emperor Chongzhen discussed with several ministers, but sadly found that it was almost impossible to transfer troops to defend Shaanxi! Xu Liang has tens of thousands of troops, and the soldiers sent are at least 30,000 or 40,000, and if 30,000 or 40,000 people are transferred at once, the border defense forces will inevitably be empty, and the Tartars in the north are very likely to take advantage of the weakness to break through the nine border defense lines, and once again stage the tragedy of the Houjin soldiers coming to Beijing in the second year of Chongzhen! (To be continued.) )