Chapter 047: Borrowing the topic to go crazy

Four days after the explosion...

Chen Cao originally wanted to leave the next day, but Beizhen Fusi was short of manpower, but he was temporarily arrested and took more than a dozen of his subordinates to participate in the rescue.

The Qianqing Palace collapsed, the beams of the Taihe Hall also fell, and the three major halls of the Forbidden City were basically all damaged.

Chen, a senior rescuer official, also participated in the report.

"Cabinet, what about the casualties this time? What about the losses? Zhu Youxiao spoke, apparently he had not recovered from the explosion a few days ago.

Ye Xianggao personally presided over the rescue, and then looked at the yamen of the Ministry of War.

Huang Kezan walked out of the queue and handed over: "Qiqi Shengshang, this explosion of Wang Gongchang has razed all the ground within four miles, and 27,641 people have died; 203,237 wounded; 4,610 missing; Countless people have been buried; In addition, the families of the two colleagues of He Qianshu and Pan Yunyi, the imperial historian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, were all buried, and there was little hope of survival; The minister has ordered the soldiers and horses of the five cities to go to various places to rescue, and informed the governor's office of the five armies, and the British Duke, the Chengguo Duke and the Baoguo Duke have led the various departments of the Beijing camp to the rescue. ”

Ye Xianggao bowed his hand to Zhu Youxiao: "Holy Lord, the minister has ordered the Ministry of Industry Yamen to explore the site, and it will take at least one to two years for the people's livelihood to recover." ”

"I ask you, why did such a big incident happen to Wang Gongchang? Do you know that I survived? Zhu Youxiao was furious.

Wei Zhongxian stood up and shouted: "Where is Zhong Yu, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry? ”

"The minister is here..."Zhong Yu was walking out of the queue, and immediately knelt down, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Wei Zhongxian said again: "Wang Gong's factory exploded, do you know?" ”

"The minister knows." Zhong Yu is bowing: "Your Majesty, it is the minister's dereliction of duty, and the minister is guilty..."

"Are you guilty?" Zhu Youxiao's eyes turned red immediately: "Are you guilty?" What sin do I have? The Metropolitan Procuratorate and other letters said that I had lost my heavenly virtues, and let me issue an edict against myself, and I... I..."

Zhu Youxiao was so confused that he couldn't even speak well, Wei Zhongxian quickly turned around the case and stroked Zhu Youxiao's back, and then ordered someone to bring tea.

"The Imperial Palace, the Left Capital, the Imperial History, Sun Wei has something to play." Sun Wei walked out of the queue: "Your Majesty, this explosion, there is no way to investigate, Wang Gong's factory in the firearms bureau personnel have all become meat sauce, this explosion, when it is a natural disaster, is a warning from God to the Ming Dynasty, the minister thinks, Your Majesty should be guilty of his own edict, the severity of this matter has reached an unimaginable level." ”

"You..." Zhu Youxiao was choked by Sun Wei and couldn't speak.

At this time, Li Yangchong, the imperial historian of the capital, also stood up in line and echoed: "The minister seconded the proposal, now there are disasters in all parts of my Ming Dynasty, Shaanxi and Shandong are the worst, such natural disasters, but they are warning me to the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty; Please lead by example..."

"Please lead by example..."

The two bigwigs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate spoke, and the remaining more than 200 imperial historians echoed one after another, not only that, but even many officials from the six ministries came out to echo it.

Chen Cao immediately figured out how much the king of the Ming Dynasty hated Yanguan Yushi, no wonder Emperor Wanli did not go to court for decades.

"You... You..."Zhu Youxiao was so young, he was so angry that he couldn't even speak, and he actually cried.

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly beat his chest and stroked his back, and then whispered in Zhu Youxiao's ear, Zhu Youxiao nodded to himself.

Wei Zhongxian stood up for the case again, and shouted: "You people, you are simply unsightly, look at what you have made the saint angry." ”

Zhao Nanxing saw that the emperor was crying, and immediately cried and knelt down, saying 'guilty', and then everyone who knelt began to cry, Chen Cao felt that these people seemed to be crying, so he stepped aside and covered his ears.

Turning his head, Tian Ergeng had already covered his ears and stood behind, and the two of them actually showed a smug smile at each other.

"That's enough..."Zhu Youxiao slapped the case hard: "Isn't it just a crime of oneself?" I have made an edict against myself. ”

"The ministers are guilty..."

The emperor said that he was guilty, how could he be a courtier.

Zhu Youxiao wiped his tears: "Big companion, you say..."

Wei Zhongxian bowed, and then said loudly: "Where is Jinyiwei?" ”

"The minister Xu Xianchun is here..."

"How did the Wang Gong factory explode?" Wei Zhongxian said again.

Xu Xianchun knelt down and said: "Qiqi Shengshang, after careful investigation by our company, the explosion point of Wang Gong's factory is in the center of the gunpowder magazine, and there are 2.4 million catties of gunpowder in stock. ”

Oh, my God...

The officials outside the Fengtian Gate heard it sincerely, and Chen Cao was no wonder how much gunpowder was able to raze a radius of four miles to the ground.

Xu Xianchun continued: "After investigation, there were 14 officials and 67 craftsmen on duty in the powder magazine that night, and a general flag department guarding the soldiers. ”

Wei Zhongxian nodded, waved his hand to signal Xu Xianchun to retreat, and then said loudly: "Where is Qin Tianjian?" ”

"Chen Qin Tianjian is Huang Shaoming..."

"What was the weather like last night?"

Huang Shaoming was about to talk, Gao Panlong next to him turned his head and glared at him, this detail Chen Cao saw in his eyes, Huang Shaoming thought about it, and said: "Last night, the wind was high and the moon was full, and because it was summer, I am afraid it is easy to go to the water." ”

"What kind of faction is this Huang Shaoming?" Chen Cao lowered his head and asked Tian Ergeng, he didn't want to be caught by the touring imperial history like last time.

Tian Ergeng said softly: "Donglin Party." ”

No wonder...

"Wang Wenyan, the secretary of the minister's cabinet, has something to do." A middle-aged green-robed officer came out to salute.

"Speak..."

"The minister yesterday received a letter from an anonymous minister to the Cabinet, in which he said that the ambassador of the Firearms Bureau of the Ministry of Industry had evidence of corruption and perversion of the law." As he spoke, Wang Wenyan took out the letter in his arms and handed it to a little eunuch.

"Nonsense," Ye Xianggao was anxious at the moment: "Wang Wenyan, when no one reports it, and when something big happens, someone will report it, not to mention, who can submit the report letter to you?" Or report a firearms ambassador from the eighth grade? ”

Zhao Nanxing found that Ye Xianggao was in a hurry, so he immediately understood, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Wang Wenyan can't believe this, he is the secretary of the cabinet, who will hand over the report letter to him?" This letter is not true. ”

Gao Panlong also saluted and agreed, and now a large group of Donglin Party members agreed.

Wei Zhongxian retreated to Zhu Youxiao's side and said: "Emperor, see it, these Donglin Party members have the final say in everything in the court, today they are just bullying the emperor, maybe there are any other moths another day?" The emperor has to think about what happened to Emperor Shenzong. ”

Zhu Youxiao was excited, Wei Zhongxian's words stimulated him, the reason why Emperor Wanli didn't go to court was because he was forced by the party struggle, and now this situation is like his grandfather at that time, so he made up his mind to suppress these people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this incident has happened, and I am also deeply saddened, and the decree is issued, and the cabinet intends to condemn the guilt, and after the celebrant uses the seal, it will be issued to the world through the general political secretary."

The emperor admitted his mistake, and the ministers couldn't hold on tightly, so a large group of people said in unison, 'The minister is guilty...'

This is a cutscene, and it is also a rule

But Zhu Youxiao was really shocked today, and after waiting for the ministers to finish saying 'guilty', he said vigorously about the matter: "I am guilty, but I can't blame the natural disaster, there is a reason for that; ”

The ministers were shocked, and they didn't know what the little emperor was going to do, so they listened to Zhu Youxiao continue: "Decree, Zhao Duan, the ambassador of the Firearms Bureau of the Ministry of Industry, bears an unshirkable responsibility, Jinyiwei, arrest him and take him to prison; Shangshu Zhong Yuzheng, the supervision is not effective, and he will be dismissed from the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, Zhong Aiqing, you are also old, go home to retire. ”

"Your Majesty can't..."Zhao Nanxing stopped: "Your Majesty, Lord Zhong is not directly at fault in this matter, Your Majesty can't remove him from his official position, Your Majesty will attract infamy if you do this..."

"Your Majesty, please think twice...", nearly a hundred people said in unison.

"You..." Zhu Youxiao was angry again: "I am the son of tomorrow, when I am the emperor of the dynasty, I can't even do personal appointments and dismissals, so this emperor will let you be good." ”

"Your Majesty, please think twice..."

Zhu Youxiao thought that learning from Emperor Wuzong would work, but he didn't know if there were any upright ministers like Li Dongyang and Xie Qian in the current dynasty.

Therefore, as soon as these words came out, Yang Lian, the imperial envoy of Zuo Yidu, knelt forward and said: "Your Majesty, the sage once said that those who are monarchs should be cautious and clear, and Your Majesty is the descendant of Emperor Shenzong, so don't waste the wisdom of Emperor Shenzong." ”

"Bastard..."Wei Zhongxian scolded: "You are calling your courtiers in vain, persecuting the lord like this, is it what you should do as a courtier?" ”

"Wei Zhongxian, this is the place where the court deliberates, and all those present are the pillars of the Ming Dynasty, how can you interject? You are a thief, others are afraid of you, I, Yang Lian, am not afraid, Emperor Taizu Iron Plate Emperor clearly ordered eunuchs not to interfere in politics, what, do you want to learn from Wang Zhen, Liu Jin and other eunuchs? ”

Zuo Guangdou also took the opportunity to interject: "Your Majesty, what Lord Yang said is very true, we have read poetry and books, but we have been insulted by such eunuchs, if Your Majesty connives, it will be a trampling on the way of the saint, please Your Majesty severely punish Wei Gelding..."

"Please Your Majesty severely punish Wei Gelding...", hundreds of people said in unison.

"You..." Wei Zhongxian was scolded by Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou and couldn't speak, and then turned around and knelt down to Zhu Youxiao and cried: "Emperor, old slave... The old slave didn't interfere in the government, the old slave just saw the emperor crying when he was bullied by them, and he couldn't bear to stand up for the emperor... The old slave is the emperor's house slave, and when we are house slaves and see our masters humiliated, how can we live as house slaves? ”

Wei Zhongxian stood up as he spoke, turned around and stared at Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou viciously: "You two old thieves, our family didn't recruit you to provoke you, but you forced each other to frame our family, and our family fought with you for this innocence..."

As soon as Wei Zhongxian finished speaking, he lifted the hem of his robe and went straight towards Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou who were kneeling, the momentum was like a rainbow, and the three of them scuffled into a ball within a moment.

"Brother Chen, can this help?" Tian Ergeng said that he was going to act.

Chen Cao stopped him: "You rammer, Lord Xu didn't move, you moved?" Father-in-law Wei just said that he is His Majesty's house slave, and his identity at the moment is to protect his master, if we Jinyiwei help, won't we confirm the evidence of Gonggong Wei's collusion? ”

Tian Ergeng suddenly realized: "Reasonable, reasonable... If Brother Chen is really here, I am much more relieved to be a little brother. ”

Therefore, there was a strange scene in front of Fengtian Gate, all the officials and the Han generals on duty did not move, even Zhu Youxiao sat behind the desk and did not speak, and then watched the hand-to-hand combat of the three together.

Wei Zhongxian is more than fifty years old, where is the opponent of Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou, the two of them knocked Wei Zhongxian to the ground from time to time, and hammered Wei Zhongxian with their hands and feet.

The old guy did not show weakness, although he was knocked to the ground by the two, he also took out the limelight of the palm print of the celebrant supervisor, and swirled his hands and feet in place, making the two unable to get close.

Seeing that the stalemate continued, Ye Xianggao couldn't help it, so he said, "Hurry up and pull them away, and become a unit in front of Your Majesty?" ”

Zhu Youxiao also spoke: "General Han, pull them away." ”

Xu Xianchun stood closest and hurriedly stepped forward to help Wei Zhongxian up.

Gu Bingqian, the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, came out and said: "Lord Yang, Lord Zuo, Gonggong Wei is also speaking for the sake of the saint, why did he meddle in the government affairs?" How can you behave in such a way today that you are worthy of the books of the sages that you read? ”

Cui Chengxiu, the superintendent of Guangdong Province, also got up and echoed: "Fair and private, the lower officials think that the two adults are inappropriate." ”

Now it has become a war of words between the eunuch party and the Donglin party, and it is not lively for you to come and go.

Chen Cao stayed out of the matter, just to watch the excitement, how did he know that Tian Ergeng came over with his ears: "Let's go together tonight to vent our anger to the Duke, the Dugong will definitely appreciate it, do you believe it or not?" ”

Chen Cao also felt that Zuo Guangdou and Yang Lian were too bullying, so he nodded: "I have some plans, I have a good show to watch tonight." ”

Tian Ergeng and Chen Cao all showed a treacherous smile on their faces.

"That's enough..."Zhu Youxiao slapped the case angrily: "A group of people are messing around... passed the decree, Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou were punished for three months, and Wei Zhongxian was punished for half a year; ”

Saying that, he said coldly: "As I said, remove Zhong Yu from the post of secretary of the Ministry of Works, vacate the position, cabinet, who will be recommended by the court to fill the vacancy after you vote, and get a good report to me." Retreat. ”

...

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high and the night was murderous...

The next day...

The location of the small court meeting was changed to the square of the Taihe Palace, and the number of people was much smaller than before.

"Your Majesty, the minister wants to impeach Dongchang and Jinyiwei."

"Your Majesty, the minister also wants to impeach the factory guard."

Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou came out together, and the two of them looked indignant, as if something big had happened.

That's right, both of them have dark circles under their eyes, Zhu Youxiao was angry yesterday, if it weren't for the soothing of the nurse Keshi last night, he must not have been able to ease his senses today: "What's wrong with you, two Aiqing?" ”

"Your Majesty, around midnight last night, a large number of people from Dongchang and Jinyiwei broke into the minister's house and set fire to some of the minister's houses.

Zuo Guangdou also knelt down and said the same experience as Yang Lian: "Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian is holding a grudge against yesterday and deliberately retaliating..."

Zhu Youxiao stared at Wu Chun, the eunuch on duty: "Go and call Wei Zhongxian to me, and ask me in person if this is the case?" ”

"The slave obeys..."

Wu Chun left, and Zhu Youxiao stared at the square and said, "Where are the people from Fusi in Beizhen?" ”

Xu Xianchun touched Tian Ergeng, Tian Ergeng trotted for a while, and ran to the front of the royal gate to salute: "The last general of Beizhen Fusi Zhen Fu envoy Tian Ergeng has seen the saint." ”

"I ask you, but you brocade guards broke into the homes of two adults last night and burned down their houses?"

Tian Ergeng hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty Mingjian, the last general will be wronged..."

"Wronged? You don't have to talk about it," Yang Lian scolded angrily: "Who was you and that last night?" That's it..."

Yang Lian was so confused that he even forgot his name, so Zuo Guangdou reminded: "Chen Cao." ”

"Oh yes... That's Chen Cao," Yang Lian said loudly: "You and Chen Cao and that guy broke into my house and set fire to Lord Zuo's house, and hundreds of pairs of eyes watched it." ”

Tian Ergeng said with a look of grievance: "Your Majesty Mingjian, you are really wronged..."

"Come on..."Zhu Youxiao spoke.

Tian Ergeng said with a sad face: "After yesterday's next dynasty, Beizhili Tiqi reported that the demons of the Shandong White Lotus Sect were holding a secret meeting in the Xiangtang of the Beijing Division, and the last general notified Sun Yunhe, the commander of the Dongchang Thousand Households, and asked the experienced Nanzhen Fusi in Nanzhili to command the same knowledge Chen Cao Chen to arrest together, who knew that those demons were quite capable, not only escaped, but also injured many brothers of the factory guards, so we pursued, how do we know that they happened to go to the homes of Lord Yang and Lord Zuo, and Lord Chen and I can only pursue separately, The fire really wasn't set by us, it was put by the demons of the White Lotus Sect, the purpose was to block our steps, if Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can ask the two adults, will we help you put out the fire when we arrive? ”

Tian Ergeng didn't mention it, and Yang Lian became even more angry when he mentioned the firefighting: "You are embarrassed to say that a big man can't even be a soldier in the Soldiers and Horses Division to fight the fire, and my house has burned down before you get water, you are deliberate." ”

Tian Ergeng said aggrieved again: "Your Majesty, the last general wants to pursue the White Lotus Sect demons, and he has to fight the fire, this is indeed beyond his strength, please Your Majesty Mingjian." ”

Zuo Guangdou interjected: "You guys are clearly deliberate, a group of people take a water that is slow... The action is not as good as that of a eunuch. ”

Coincidentally, as soon as Zuo Guangdou finished speaking, Wei Zhongxian arrived, but he only heard the second half of the sentence, and he was anxious at the moment: "What's wrong with our eunuch?" The eunuch was also born and raised by his father, and you old horseman insulted our family here again, and fought with you..."

Wei Zhongxian wanted to move but was stopped by Zhu Youxiao, Wu Chun also had a heart, and called Chen Cao with him, Yang Lian saw Chen Cao and said: "Chen Cao, you have read the book of sages in vain, but you don't know how to behave, say, how did this official recruit you?" Just because the official is not a eunuch, he deliberately retaliates against the official? ”

Chen Cao's eyes widened and he shook his hand tightly and said, "No, no, Lord Yang, you misunderstood..."

"Chen Cao," Zhu Youxiao said, "Tell me more about what happened last night." ”

Chen Cao saluted to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty Mingjian, last night it was reported that the White Lotus Sect demons had a secret meeting, Beizhen Fusi went to arrest him, and notified Dongchang, Tian Zhenfu invited the last general to come together, how do you know that the thief escaped, ran to Lord Yang's house, in order to block us, he set fire to Lord Yang's house, Your Majesty, although the last general is a martial artist, but also knows the teachings of the sage, although the princes of the court and the central government especially look down on our factory guards, but the ministers can't see death without saving, so they and Tian Zhenfu and Sun Qianhu and others helped them put out the fire. ”

Wei Zhongxian bowed towards Zhu Youxiao: "The old slave was on duty in Dongchang after he got off duty yesterday, but a brocade guard came to report that there was a demon from the White Lotus Sect, so he sent Sun Yunhe to assist. But they didn't know that the demon had set fire to the houses of the two adults. ”

Zuo Guangdou was unhappy yesterday, and the house was burned down at night, everyone knew that it was deliberate, although now their statements are very evidence-based, but they can't hide those civil officials: "Eunuch, know that you are deliberately retaliating, you are still a man in this behavior?" Do you know that His Majesty is the Monarch of the Holy Ming today, not the Emperor of the Faint," Zuo Guangdou said and bowed his hand to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, please ask Your Majesty to call the shots." ”

"Your Majesty, please." Yang Lian also saluted: "Lord Zuo said carefully, where is that eunuch a man?" ”

"You... We're fighting with you..."

The eunuch is most afraid of others exposing his shortcomings, especially about the question of whether a man is a man or not, this is a thorn in the heart, no one can say it, Wei Zhongxian was so provoked by the two of them, he was furious at the moment, lifted the hem of his robe again, and swung his fist towards the nearest Zuo Guangdou.

Zuo Guangdou suffered a small loss yesterday, today he learned smartly, and when he saw Wei Zhongxian making a move, he took the initiative to wave his fist to meet him, just passing by Chen Cao, Chen Cao only stretched his right foot slightly, and Zuo Guangdou, who was running, flew out, and also crossed Wei Zhongxian.

Chen Cao's movements were very slight, no one could see it, and Zuo Guangdou, who had fallen into a dog eating, got up with a sigh, pointed at Chen Cao's side and scolded: "Which of you is the official who stumbled under the thief?" Is there still morality? ”

Many civil officials couldn't help laughing, Wei Zhongxian lost a lot of anger when he saw this, stared at Chen Cao and nodded with satisfaction, and then pretended to be angry and complained to Zhu Youxiao.

"Okay..."Zhu Youxiao interrupted Zuo Guangdou and Yang Lian's words: "You are all members of the imperial court, my humerus, how can you make these small contradictions when you have nothing to do?" Have you forgotten the principle of the unity of kings and ministers? The decree is that the loss of the two adults this time will be compensated by your Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and the house of the two adults must be repaired. ”

Wei Zhongxian and Xu Xianchun saluted together: "Old slave (minister).... Command..."

"Hmph..."Zuo Guangdou glared and exhaled as he passed by Chen Cao, and he was very unhappy.

...

"Brother Chen, the Governor is very satisfied with our performance," Outside the Zhengyang Gate, Tian Ergeng was seeing off Chen Cao: "Brother, I told the Governor that it was all your credit, and the Governor said that he would send the document appointing you as the commander of the Nanzhen Fusi to Jinling when he turned around, congratulations to the elder brother." ”

"Hey," Chen Cao waved his hand: "Brother, you're polite, when I return to Nanjing, I'll send you some good things, if there is anything in the capital, please send me a message in time." ”

"That's for sure, brother, you're good to go..."

...

Chen Cao only returned to Nanjing on May 20, and as soon as he arrived at the Longjiang ferry, Zhao Xin waited at the ferry, and when he saw Chen Cao, he hurriedly said: "My lord, there is something..."

Chen Cao frowned: "What's the matter?" ”

"Qi Boyu is afraid that he knows about the theft of the sea chart, and the day before yesterday, he took a group of military officials to the Longjiang Shipyard to see our sea ship construction map, and then left angrily, and," Zhao Xin stared at Chen Cao and whispered: "Zhang Yanzong is afraid that Zhang Yanzong clarified himself from Qi Boyu about the storytelling of the flyover, and according to the report, Qi Boyu was very angry in private, and I am afraid that something will happen." ”

"Let's talk about it when we go back..."