After hearing the report from the guiding eunuch, Jiajing frowned slightly and immediately spoke.
"This Li Chunfang, why do you come to see me so late?"
"That's all, let him in!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, the leading eunuch immediately looked stern and responded respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Shortly after guiding the eunuchs to leave, Li Chunfang stepped into the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart with an uneasy mood.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
As soon as Li Chunfang stepped into the Yangxin Hall, she knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
"Well, get up!"
After Jiajing looked Li Chunfang up and down, he nodded slightly and then gave instructions.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, Li Chunfang slowly stood up from the ground.
Immediately afterwards, Jiajing's inaudible voice sounded in Li Chunfang's ears.
"It's so late and you still come to see me. Do you have anything to report to me?"
Li Chunfang heard the words and after organizing the words in her mind, she responded carefully.
"Your Majesty, I have come here late at night to report something important indeed!"
When Li Chunfang said this, she paused for a moment, and after suppressing her inner panic, she spoke.
"Your Majesty, before this, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Li Ding, personally visited Wei Chen, hoping to have Wei Chen sign his name on the petition to Your Majesty!"
"Wei Chen felt that Li Ding must be harboring trouble in his heart. After he left, Wei Chen was tossing and turning and found it difficult to settle down. That's why he ignored the curfew and came to see His Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"
After Li Chunfang finished speaking, he bowed his head again.
After hearing what Li Chunfang said, Jiajing nodded slightly and immediately commented.
"Well, I am deeply pleased that Li Aiqing was able to take the risk and come to inform me of this news."
When Jiajing said this, the topic suddenly changed and he spoke immediately.
"Since you're here, come watch a show with me later!"
When Li Chunfang heard this, an ominous premonition flashed through her heart, but she still answered bravely.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
…
As a guard of the Imperial Army, Wang Lin has nothing else to do except daily patrols and training, so he is quite leisurely.
But not long ago, his superior suddenly summoned everyone and announced in public that soon there would be a group of officials with ulterior motives who opposed the imperial policy and wanted to attack the Forbidden City and take the opportunity to force the emperor into the palace, and asked them to prepare accordingly. Prepare for it, when the time comes, it won’t matter whether you live or die!
Wang Lin was quite shocked when he learned the news from the officer. On the one hand, he was shocked that the imperial court was able to learn the relevant information before the enemy took action.
On the other hand, they were shocked that there were officials who dared to openly oppose the court's policies and pressure the emperor for a palace!
In Wang Lin's view, the emperor is supreme and his words cannot be questioned!
Moreover, the unified payment of grain by the government and gentry is a policy that clearly considers the common people. However, these officials and gentry cannot even bear this small grievance.
Because of this, in Wang Lin's view, these officials who dare to oppose His Majesty's wise decision-making are all rebellious officials and traitors, and they must not be lenient.
Among the Forbidden Army, there are many people who have Wang Lin's thoughts.
After receiving the order from their superiors, these forbidden troops were already gearing up, waiting for the arrival of this group of "rebellious officials and traitors".
…
At this moment, there were three figures on the tower at the east gate of the Forbidden City, one sitting and two standing.
The person sitting was naturally Jiajing, and the other two figures were Lu Fang and Li Chunfang.
Although Li Chunfang had prepared his mind in advance, it was only when he followed Jiajing to the tower of the Forbidden City that he realized what was about to happen.
I don't know whether it was because of being too nervous or for some other reason, but Li Chunfang couldn't stop shaking from the moment she stepped onto the tower of the Forbidden City.
And this, of course, could not escape Jiajing's discernment. Jiajing turned his eyes to Li Chunfang and said displeasedly.
"Li Chunfang, what are you shaking there?"
"I let you see it, just give me a good look!"
When Li Chunfang heard this, a look of sincerity and fear appeared on her face. She knelt on the ground with a thud and tremblingly apologized to Jiajing.
"Wei... Weichen is so close to Your Majesty for the first time, so... I can't help but feel nervous, and... I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"
Seeing this situation, Jiajing took his eyes away from Li Chunfang and ordered.
"Okay, get up, I don't mean to blame you!"
When Li Chunfang heard this, she felt as if she had been granted amnesty. She immediately stood up from the ground and looked at the scenery in the distance.
Not long after, I saw a crowd holding torches marching to the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.
Seeing this, Jiajing immediately stretched out his index finger, pointed at the leading official, and said with a half-smile.
"Is this Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites?"
Li Chunfang looked in the direction Jiajing pointed and quickly gave the answer.
"Your Majesty, that person is Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. I am a humble minister, but I hope your Majesty will forgive me!"
After listening to Li Chunfang's explanation, Jiajing frowned slightly and then spoke.
"I don't mean to blame you, but I am very curious as to why he dares to stand up against me in public. Who gave him the courage?"
Jiajing's question was destined to be answered by no one. Immediately afterwards, silence fell on the tower at the east gate of the Forbidden City.
Li Ding looked at the east gate of the Forbidden City, which was very close at hand, swallowed secretly, and suppressed the excitement in his heart.
Before this, he never thought that things would go so smoothly!
Along the way, the crowd encountered no obstruction. Not only that, many students filled with indignation also joined the team halfway.
"This is God's will!"
After saying this, Li Ding turned his eyes to his colleagues aside, and then spoke.
"Everyone, success or failure depends on this!"
"If this happens, we will be a role model for scholars all over the world, and we will surely go down in history and be famous for generations to come!"
Li Ding's words undoubtedly gave everyone present a shot in the arm, giving them the courage to face whatever might happen next!
Soon, the crowd marched to the east gate of the Forbidden City, and then they all knelt on the ground.
Seeing this situation, Lu Fang couldn't help but come forward to ask Jiajing's opinion.
"Your Majesty, would you like to..."
Jiajing shook his head imperceptibly and gave instructions softly.
"Don't worry yet, listen to what he has to say."
Li Ding and several other higher-ranking officials knelt at the front of the team. Afterwards, after exchanging glances with the other officials, Li Ding took out the memorial signed by many officials from his arms and cried. road.
"The humble minister is Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. I have come here to implore Your Majesty to take back his orders and stop implementing the policy of integrating government officials and gentry to receive grain!"
"The ancients said that the purpose of ruling the world is with the scholar-bureaucrats, not with the common people!"
"Now, your majesty has been deceived by traitorous ministers, and the idea of integrating the government and gentry into paying grains is really putting the cart before the horse. If this continues, our country, the Ming Dynasty, will be ruined, and the people will not be able to get the rights they deserve!"
"The ancestral laws are there, there is no need to make them more public and lose people's hearts!"
"Your Majesty, if you insist on going your own way, you will probably chill the hearts of scholars all over the world!"
"My loyalty to Your Majesty can be seen from the sun and the moon. If there is an untrue word, may the sky strike with five thunders!"
At this moment, Li Ding has already entered the role.
He had already put himself into the role of a virtuous minister who was willing to die to remonstrate for the king, and he could not extricate himself. Even after that, he stretched out his index finger and pointed to the sky with extra force.
At this moment, after listening to Li Ding's heartfelt words, Jiajing immediately gave his evaluation.
"It's such nonsense, it doesn't make any sense!"
"A person like this only has his own interests in his eyes. The people are like pigs and dogs in his heart. How can he have the nerve to mention the word "people" to me? Damn it!"
As Jiajing finished speaking, large dark clouds suddenly gathered in the originally clear night sky. If one looked closely, one could still see looming thunder spreading among them.
Gradually, more and more dark clouds gathered, and a vague sense of pressure enveloped everyone present.
Seeing this situation, Li Ding suddenly panicked. He didn't expect that thunder would actually appear in the sky just by casually saying it.
At the same time, the officials on the side seemed to have thought of something, their faces were full of horror, and they hid far away for fear of being affected.
Li Ding saw more and more dark clouds gathering in the air, and he suddenly panicked. Just when he wanted to stand up and run away, he saw thunderbolts as thick as his arms falling from the air, blocking his way.
"God has shown his spirit, God has shown his spirit!"
Among the people who came to petition, I don’t know who shouted such a sentence.
Everyone was impressed by the miracle before them and kept kowtowing on the ground to pray for God to forgive themselves.
Seeing this situation, Li Ding gritted his teeth and looked like he was ready to fight, and wanted to leave the place from the side.
'Boom boom! '
As soon as the blow fell, the thunder in mid-air began to brew again, and this time, everyone present felt a strong sense of crisis. As the person involved, Li Ding smelled the breath of death.
A moment later, five thunderbolts as thick as thighs were seen, striking straight down from mid-air, chopping Li Ding to a crisp before he could escape. Li Ding only had time to scream, and then he completely lost his voice.
After Li Ding died, all the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky dissipated without leaving any trace.
This situation caused everyone at the scene to fall into a daze. What they didn't expect was that Li Ding, the person involved, would actually be struck to death by five thunderbolts!
And this also means that none of the words he said before are true, otherwise, God would not rain down thunder to kill him.
Soon, those who came to petition realized that they had been deceived. After understanding this, they kept kowtowing on the ground to pray for the emperor's forgiveness!
On the tower of the Forbidden City, Jiajing had already had a panoramic view of the scene.
Immediately, Jiajing turned his gaze to the side, and Lu Fang and Li Chunfang, who had already fallen into a daze, gave instructions.
"Lu Fang, why are you still standing there? Send out the imperial army and arrest all these people!"
Jiajing's words brought Lu Fang, who was still dazed, back to reality. Lu Fang suddenly came back to reality and said respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang responded, she turned around and whispered a few instructions to the officer behind her.
Soon, the Imperial Guard was dispatched and controlled everyone who participated in the petition!
During the whole process, the Forbidden Army did not encounter the slightest resistance. Those people were heartbroken and seemed to have accepted their fate. However, despite this, many people were killed and injured by the angry Forbidden Army.
Immediately, Jiajing turned his gaze to Li Chunfang, who was still dazed, and spoke unhurriedly.
"There is a god who is three feet above your head. There are some things you should not say nonsense!"
Hearing this, Li Chunfang responded with a look of reverence on her face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your teaching!"
At this moment, Jiajing's status in Li Chunfang's heart was like a god.
"These rebellious officials and traitors are really ignorant of life and death. They actually tried to oppose the policies proposed by His Majesty. They have really been punished by God."
"You really deserve to die!"
Li Chunfang gritted her teeth as she looked at the charred corpse under the Forbidden City.
…
One night passed in the blink of an eye, and with the help of thoughtful people the next day, everything that happened in the Forbidden City last night was intuitively presented to everyone.
"Did you hear that Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, who went to the Forbidden City to petition last night, was punished by God?"
"Ah, why is this happening?"
"It is said that Li Chunfang, the Minister of Rites, was also present at the time. He saw with his own eyes that after Li Ding swore an oath to the sky, five thunderbolts rained down from the sky and killed him on the spot!"
"Hiss~ Is it possible that the unified payment of grain by officials and gentry proposed by His Majesty really has God's help?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, you're going to die!"
Next, the rumors in the capital became more and more outrageous. There were even rumors that the emperor personally lowered the thunder and killed Li Ding at the east gate of the Forbidden City. Those who heard this rumor laughed it off.
But no matter how the rumors spread, the only thing that can be confirmed is that the emperor has now taken the absolute initiative, and those who previously opposed the integration of government and gentry into paying grains have all stopped and do not dare to make any more moves.
What, you want to continue to object?
You are clearly going against God, and His Majesty is the Son of Heaven! Do you want to offend God and be struck by five thunders?
In this way, before Jiajing had any guidance on public opinion in the capital, the attitude of those officials made a 180-degree turn, and they even began to vigorously advocate the benefits of the integration of officials and gentry.
At the same time, even the reputations of Yan Song and Xu Jie, which had hit rock bottom, are on the rise again.
"Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge are indeed far-sighted and have anticipated this situation a long time ago!"
"Nonsense, otherwise how could I be the first minister of the cabinet and the second minister of the cabinet?"
(End of chapter)
