Outside the Zuoshun Gate, which was supposed to be a quiet place for the imperial guards of the palace, at this moment, there was a crowd of people wearing scarlet clothes, and low voices of discussion arose one after another.
A group of old men gathered together, with their sleeves folded up, looking eagerly into the palace, occasionally looking at each other with sad faces.
Not far away from them, Langguan from various ministries, as well as officials from Liu Ke and Feng Xian Ke Dao, lowered their voices in twos and threes, not knowing what they were talking about.
Finally, the palace door opened, and Huaien, the eunuch in charge of Qianqing Palace, came out and said.
"His Majesty has issued a decree to summon all of you to the Wuying Palace to see you!"
As a result, everyone cheered up and followed Wynn into the palace gate step by step.
In the Wuying Hall, Zhu Qiyu had already changed out of his black twelve-chapter robe and was wearing a bright yellow plain robe with dragon patterns, sitting on the throne.
"I will see you, Your Majesty!"
A large group of people cheered and bowed, and Zhu Qiyu glanced down.
As expected, many people came.
The Six Ministries of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Cabinet Hanlin Academy, the Fifth Military Governor's Office, and even a few relatives. Except for Yu Qian and Yang Hong who were not in the capital, all the famous civil and military ministers in the court were basically present.
"Get on your own, all the ministers gathered outside the palace gate to ask for an audience. What's the important matter?"
Zhu Qiyu certainly knew why they came, but he still asked.
The ministers below were also very surprised by the emperor's straightforwardness, but they quickly came to their senses, so Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, said.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War just sent an official document to the palace. I wonder if your Majesty has seen it?"
This is the reason why Zhu Qizhen picked Yu Qian to "pass the message" in Tumubao.
For such a big matter, Yu Qian must report it to the capital through official channels as soon as possible, and in this way, the officials in the capital will definitely get the news.
There is nothing to avoid, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said.
"If what Grand Uncle Zong is talking about is the document Yu Shangshu reported to the Emperor's visit to Tumu Fort to pay homage to the dead officers and soldiers, I have already read it."
so what?
The elders were eagerly waiting for the next step, but the emperor's words stopped abruptly and had no intention of continuing.
Therefore, Mr. Hu had no choice but to bite the bullet again and said.
"The Supreme Emperor returned to the court, passed by Tumu, and came to pay homage in person. Your Majesty, while living in the palace, also fasted and bathed, burned incense and vegetarian food, and thought about accompanying the sacrifices. The officers and soldiers of the Tumu Fortress could receive such courtesy from Your Majesty and the Supreme Emperor. They should be able to rest in peace."
"We know that the Emperor and Your Majesty are deeply saddened by the civil war. But now that the tiles have receded and all industries are safe, the Emperor, out of shame, patrolled the Xuanfu Palace and refused to return to the capital. This matter needs to be resolved by Your Majesty. idea."
For the courtiers, they neither wanted the Supreme Emperor to compete for power with the emperor after returning to the court and affect the stability of the court. At the same time, they did not want the Supreme Emperor to stay in the Xuan Mansion because of his anger.
You know, they all know the contents of that official document through various channels.
Hu Ying's current statement is a more decent statement.
However, anyone who knows the contents of the official document can't help but feel the deep resentment and the hidden mockery and threat in it.
Your Majesty, you are really in a hurry this time!
The majestic Emperor, like a child, is stuck in Xuan Mansion and refuses to return to Beijing. What does it look like? If this continues, won't the world laugh at the royal discord?
Not to mention, the emperor's words are always "the emperor's wise brother issues an edict". How can there be any reason in this world for a younger brother to convict his elder brother?
This is obviously to trap the emperor in a situation of injustice and disobedience.
Therefore, whether it was for the sake of the stability of the court or to maintain the authority of the emperor, the elders and elders all rushed to the palace as soon as they heard the news, fearing that they and others would be too late and the emperor would act like a child. If there is really an edict, things will get into trouble.
Seeing the sincere looks of the ministers below, Zhu Qiyu sighed and said.
"The ministers want me to make a decision, but how should I make a decision?"
"In the battle of Tumu, there were 200,000 officers and soldiers, with heroic spirits on top, and the battlefield was stained with blood. Although the king exercised power, it was normal for the emperor to feel uneasy after such a defeat in such a battle."
"I have sent several envoys to Wala to welcome the return, Datong, Xuanfu, Juyongguan and other places, and there are also ministers of the imperial court to greet them. If there are other matters, I still have a way to deal with it, but the Supreme Emperor himself has a knot in his mind. How should I take this idea? ?”
Didn’t Zhu Qizhen pretend to be a saint? Then let him be the one!
The exhausting taste of fame is not so pleasant.
As soon as he opened his mouth, Zhu Qiyu praised the Supreme Emperor very highly, but his meaning was clear. The Supreme Emperor himself was unwilling to come back. As a younger brother, how could I force him to come back?
The elders suddenly felt a little headache, afraid of what would happen. As expected, the emperor also got angry. These two brothers were really...
After hesitating for a moment, Mr. Hu turned his attention to Wang Wen, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
Now that Yu Qian is not in the capital, the first choice for the person who can persuade the emperor is Wang Wen.
Although this old guy has a bad temper and a tough temper, he can't see the situation clearly.
At present, the longer the Emperor stays in Xuan Mansion, the more unfavorable public opinion will be for the Emperor.
Sure enough, after a moment of silence, Wang Wen also spoke.
"Your Majesty, having said that, it is indeed not a long-term solution for the Supreme Emperor to stay in Zhixuan Mansion. It is only right to welcome him back as soon as possible, perform the ceremony, and send him to Nangong."
This is actually a more objective choice.
Just like what Cheng Jing wanted to ask but didn't before summoning the ministers, if purely from the perspective of interests, he could welcome the Supreme Emperor back to the capital as soon as possible, and then urge him to issue an edict to punish himself and completely establish the power of the great government. That's the most important thing.
In the face of this, everything else can give in a little.
Therefore, even if the Supreme Emperor insisted on using those Mongolian guards outside Datong City, everyone in the court and the court pretended to be deaf and dumb, and no one said anything.
Things have priorities and cannot be weighed unclearly.
The Emperor's expression was obviously displeased, but he did still care about Wang Wen's face.
So, after pondering for a moment, the emperor asked.
"In this case, how do you think we should persuade the Supreme Emperor to return to the capital as soon as possible?"
The emperor finally turned this corner, and the elders heaved a sigh of relief.
Immediately, Hu Ying spoke again and said.
"Your Majesty, the reason for the Emperor's reluctance to visit the Xuan Mansion is simply because he made a sacrifice in Tumu Fort, which touched his heart and made him feel guilty. In this case, you might as well write a letter each to Your Majesty and the Holy Mother, and order the ministers to send it to the Central Government to give some enlightenment to the Emperor. Maybe, it can relieve the depression in the Supreme Emperor's heart."
Of course this is nonsense!
Although Yu Qian's words were unclear, none of the ministers present had dealt with the Supreme Emperor for many years.
Do you expect this master to refuse to return to Beijing because he feels guilty?
hehe……
After contacting Shu Liang, the eunuch of Dongchang, who hurriedly left some time ago and rushed to Xuan Mansion, they still couldn't guess what was going on with this civil ceremony.
I also knew that the Emperor's temperament would definitely not give up after being so angry.
Therefore, at this time, what the old man needs is just a step down.
This step was given to the emperor and the Queen Mother in the palace.
Since the Supreme Emperor expressed his guilt and asked the emperor to remove his imperial title and punish him by guarding the mausoleum, then naturally, the steps should be taken from the perspective of family friendship and filial piety.
The Holy Mother is still in the palace, and the Supreme Emperor has been relegated to the ancestral mausoleum. Isn't it unfilial?
The emperor's younger brother sent envoys several times, and they were very much looking forward to it. If he refused to return because of the guilt in his heart, wouldn't he be disloyal?
The elders all knew in their hearts that the Supreme Emperor had a good reputation.
Sending these two "letters from home" was enough to give him face. As long as the Supreme Emperor was not determined and really wanted to go back to the Fengyang Ancestral Tomb, he should have taken this step.
The only thing to worry about is...
Is the emperor willing to make such a concession?
The elders looked at the emperor eagerly again, but saw the emperor pondering for a moment and said.
"There is no harm in repairing a book, but who should be sent there?"
Seeing the serious look on the emperor's face, the elders were quite uncomfortable. They had already thought about how to persuade the emperor sincerely, but they never thought that the emperor actually agreed like this.
There was silence in the hall for a moment, and then Ning Yuan Hou Renli stood up and said.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"
It should be said that since Zhang Fu's death, the British government has indeed become more peaceful.
Although Zhang Shi was also transferred from the Imperial Guard Command to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army, he not only did not cause any conflict with Ren Li, but instead tried his best to help Ren Li control the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army.
With his help, Ren Li's prestige in the military mansion is getting better and better day by day. The nobles who were originally close to the British Duke's Palace also move around frequently with the Ningyuan Marquis Palace.
Therefore, Ren Li is now completely tied to the British government's ship.
At the same time that Shu Liang and Yu Qian's documents were sent to the capital, Tao Jin's secret letter was naturally sent to the British government.
Therefore, Ren Li naturally learned about everything that happened in Xuanfu City.
After reading it, they felt like they were in a cold sweat.
They could fully imagine Shu Liang's scene at that time. Once Shu Liang's mind was unclear and he did something drastic, it would be difficult to guarantee the safety of the Supreme Emperor.
On Tao Jin's side, Geng Jiuchou was constrained and it was impossible to mobilize large-scale officers and soldiers. It was really difficult to reassure people with the escort of the mission alone.
Therefore, as soon as they received the news, Ren Li, Jiao Jing and others made plans to rush to the Xuan Mansion in person to at least ensure the safety of the Supreme Emperor.
After all, it is really disturbing to have a mad dog like Shu Liang wandering around Xuan Mansion.
After Ren Li finished speaking, several nobles who followed him also said.
"Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor is currently in a deep state of mind. It is time for ministers with sufficient weight to go and be effective. Renhou has outstanding military exploits and is dedicated to serving the country. He is the right candidate."
This is why Ren Li brought them here, to support the show!
Although many nobles were punished for rescuing Zhang Fu last time, the so-called intricate connections are not just words.
The nobles of the British government are deeply involved. In-law relationships, father-generation friendships, and children's futures are all entangled together. It is impossible to escape.
Therefore, if the British government spoke again this time, they would have no choice but to follow.
Seeing this situation, Li Xian, Duke of Feng Kingdom, who came with him, adhered to the principle that if his opponent agreed with him, he would oppose it. He was about to speak and fight for his side, but saw the emperor glance at him, and he was about to arrive. The words on his lips were swallowed again.
Then, I heard the emperor speak.
"Yes, if Marquis Ren goes alone, it is difficult to represent the civil and military ministers. We need to send another civil servant to go together. I wonder if any of you are willing to go?"
All the ministers looked at each other, but they didn't expect the emperor to agree so quickly.
However, if you want to count the "prudent" civil servants, it is none other than...
Under the attention of all the ministers, Hu Ying sighed, then cheered up, stepped forward and cupped her hands.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"
So, the final word was made, the emperor said.
"Okay, in that case, let's order Ning Yuanhou Ren Li and Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, to go to the Xuan Mansion to welcome the Supreme Emperor with the family letters from me and the Holy Mother."
Until all the ministers walked out of Wuying Hall, they all had a strong sense of unreality.
Did this matter really go so smoothly?
He said that the emperor should write a letter, so the emperor wrote it. He said that the emperor should submit to compromise, but the emperor really didn't pursue it any further. He said that the emperor should let Ning Yuanhou go to welcome Fu, so he really let Ningyuan Hou go, without even saying a word. .
Is this really the emperor they know?
However, no matter what, since the emperor had given in to such an extent, the ministers could no longer have any objections and could only go their separate ways.
Over in the palace, Jiao Jing and others went to negotiate.
In fact, from the Queen Mother Sun's point of view, she hoped that her son could come back soon, so there would be no obstacles at all.
Even Jiao Jing and Ren Li went to the palace and brought back not only letters from Empress Dowager Sun, but also letters from Empress Qian.
Empress Duanjing, who had almost no sense of presence in the harem, when she learned that her husband had arrived at Xuanfu but refused to return to the capital, she stepped out of the palace for the first time and hurriedly wrote her The letters and the newly sewn clothes and hats in recent days were sent to Cining Palace, and he repeatedly told Ren Li and others to bring the Supreme Emperor back.
Therefore, full of the expectations of everyone in the court, Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, and Ning Yuanhou Renli, the governor of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion, left the capital together on the second day.
That evening, the cabinet.
As always, Wang Ao pasted the memorials on small receipts and sent them to the ceremonial supervisor. He took a look at the sky outside, rubbed his sore neck, and sighed in his heart.
The capital city is really not peaceful lately.
The Supreme Emperor was about to return, and the entire court was filled with the atmosphere of an approaching storm. Even the emperor's cooperative attitude this time did not alleviate it in the slightest.
The storm is brewing, but I don’t know where it will break out first...
There was a rush of footsteps outside the window, which brought Wang Ao back to his senses.
This voice was very familiar to him. It was Yu Shiyue.
This newly promoted second assistant is always full of energy and seems to have endless energy.
Every time he sees him, Wang Ao can't help but sigh...
It’s great to be young!
Straightening his body, Wang Ao stood up at the right moment when Yu Shiyue entered the door, showed a smile and said.
"Shichao is here, what can I do?"
Yu Shiyue walked into the public room, but instead of greeting Wang Ao as usual, he walked straight to the case and spoke cautiously.
"Chief Assistant, something happened!"
As he spoke, he took out a memorandum from his sleeve without opening it, but just reading the title made Wang Ao's pupils suddenly shrink, and his mind, which had been slightly relaxed, suddenly became tense.
It says……
"Invite the prince to come out of the cabinet"!
Wang Ao opened the memorial, looked past all the contents, and focused on the final signature.
Shen Jing, the doctor in charge of the Vehicle and Driving Department of the Ministry of War!
His official position is not high, but he has a special status.
This Shen Jing had been an aide to Wang Wen, Minister of Civil Affairs, in his early years. Later, after Wang Wen was promoted, he was transferred to the Ministry of War as chief.
So, it is clear who meant this memorial...
