Jiangsu Governor Ma Hu, Jiangsu Chief Envoy Mu Tianyan, and the very clever alternate county Chen Jian took Wang Yongkang with a broken leg into Suzhou City and arrived at the Humble Administrator's Garden where Wang Zhongxiao and Shi Lang were stationed. .
He didn't make things too difficult for the unfortunate Wang Yongkang. He didn't tie him up or put him in a cage. Instead, he had someone prepare a soft sedan and carry him into the Humble Administrator's Garden.
When their group arrived, Wang Zhongxiaozheng, Shi Lang, and Cao Yin led a group of stickmen from the stick office to search everywhere in the Humble Administrator's Garden for the ironclad evidence that Wang Yongkang was the third prince Zhu.
Of course there is irrefutable evidence!
However, it cannot be taken out casually. It must have a "ceremonial sense" and must be found with Cao Yin's participation. It is best to find it accidentally from a place that is not easy to find. It is best if Cao Yin finds it accidentally. So Wang Zhongxiao arranged for his most clever master Zhou Chang and Zhou Peigong to accompany Cao Yin to search everywhere in the Humble Administrator's Garden. In order not to disturb Cao Yin who was "hunting for treasure", Wang Zhongxiao did not call him when he learned that Ma Hu, Mu Tianyan, Chen Jian and others arrived, but only went out with Shi Lang to greet them.
After Wang Zhongxiao welcomed the people in, he first arranged for Wang Yongkang, who was looking a little collapsed, to wash up, change clothes, and feed him some food in a high-end cell specially prepared for him. Oh, he also arranged for Dr. Le Shen to treat him. leg. After the arrangements were made, Ma Hu, Mu Tianyan, Chen Jian and others were invited into the Lanxue Hall, the main hall in the east of the Humble Administrator's Garden.
After the guests and the host sat down separately, they exchanged a few casual greetings, and then Mu Tianyan got to the point in a roundabout way: "Wang Guard, has the emperor already suspected that Wang Yongkang is the third prince Zhu?"
"Yes," Wang Zhongxiao nodded, "The emperor is wise after all. With just a few calculations, he has already concluded that Wang Yongkang has a problem! It's a pity that we ministers are not efficient enough in doing things, which is why this time in Suzhou happened chaos."
There's drama!
When Ma Hu, Mu Tianyan and Chen Jian heard this, their eyes lit up.
"Wang Guard, do you also think Wang Yongkang is the third prince Zhu?" Chen Jian immediately asked.
"Yes!" Wang Zhongxiao said, "But there must be evidence for this!" He paused, "Mu Fantai, County Magistrate Chen, how did you know that Wang Yongkang is the third prince of Zhu?"
"Ah, we caught him on the battlefield!" Mu Tianyan said, "At that time, he and Ao Bai led troops to attack the Jiangsu Governor's Yamen. He led a group of troops to set up an array outside the main entrance of the Governor's Yamen. Ao Bai led a group The team detoured to the right side of the yamen and attacked. In addition, they had seven or eight cannons that could fire explosive shells, and they fired very accurately. They must be used by people from Pingxi Palace!
At that time, I led hundreds of people to guard the governor's Yamen. They could have held it, but they used explosive bombs to make people panic, and they were about to collapse. Therefore, I had no choice but to risk my life and led my troops to rush out of the main entrance of the Yamen and rush into the military formation of the third prince Zhu, that is, Wang Yongkang. Unexpectedly, those red scarf thieves wearing yellow robes and red scarves were scattered in a rush. When Wang Yongkang escaped, he panicked and ran into the spear formation of officers and soldiers on horseback, so he was beaten by us. Caught. "
"The king is captured first before the thief is captured!" Shi Lang said with a surprised look on his face, "The thief soldiers didn't disperse?"
"Shi Jun's question is good. Of course, half of the rebels have indeed been defeated," Mu Tianyan sighed, "Wang Yongkang's men have indeed been routed. But Obai's men have not been routed. They still have high fighting spirit. Taking advantage of the opportunity of my officer When he led his troops to attack, they broke into the governor's Yamen in one fell swoop, and set fire everywhere. The officers beat Wang Yongkang's men to exhaustion outside the main entrance of the Yamen. They really didn't have the energy to fight anymore, so they had to withdraw temporarily. But they didn't expect the governor's Yamen. As soon as it was lost, the whole city of Suzhou lost control, the officers and soldiers were in danger, and the mob took the opportunity to rise up."
Ma Hu took the topic at this time and said in a solemn tone: "If Wang Yongkang is really the third prince of Zhu, then Mu Fantai can offset his merits and demerits, and I can also give an explanation to the emperor. Otherwise, Guard Wang, you have to be careful Search the Humble Administrator's Garden, and if we can find irrefutable evidence, it will not only put the emperor at ease, but I and Mu Fantai will also thank you very much."
Thank you very much?
Wang Zhongxiao already understood what Ma Hu and Mu Tianyan meant!
Since they insisted on thanking them, Wang Zhongxiao accepted it reluctantly. However, since he was an upright official and a minor official compared to Ma Hu and Mu Tianyan, he naturally could not ask for bribes from them.
Thinking of this, Wang Zhongxiao asked: "Ma Futai, Mu Fantai, are there many local officials in Suzhou who are not involved in the king's affairs this time?"
Ma Hu breathed a sigh of relief, and then gave Mu Tianyan a look.
"Yes," Mu Tianyan sighed, "not counting military attachés, but speaking of civil servants, there are the magistrates of Changzhou, Kunshan, and Changshu counties, and there is also an official from Suzhou Prefecture who is no longer in the king's business! In addition, , there is also a magistrate of Shanghai County in Songjiang Prefecture who is waiting to take office."
Ma Hu frowned and said: "So many officials are gone. Especially the three counties and one promotion official in Suzhou Prefecture must find someone to replace them immediately! Guard Wang, I heard that you brought five Jiangsu candidates this time. Come here from the county.”
Be particular!
Wang Zhongxiao sighed and praised Ma Hu and Mu Tianyan in his heart - these two must have guessed that he had five "officials" to arrange! Therefore, five fat positions were selected for Wang Zhongxiao from among the positions left by a large number of officials who were killed.
However, Wang Zhongxiao could not admit that the five "official Bai Lao" who came to Jiangsu with him were helping him make money. Thinking of this, he smiled and said: "Ma Futai, those five people are the ones that King Yu asked me to What they brought here is that they all owe a huge debt to King Yu's Ruixin Tang, so they can only pay it back slowly while working as officials in Jiangnan."
Ma Hu nodded: "That's just in time!"
Wang Zhongxiao smiled and cupped his hands and said: "Then I will thank Ma Futai for the prince! But the five of them are not able to take office yet."
"Why?" Ma Hu was stunned.
"Because they are thoroughly searching the Humble Administrator's Garden with Guard Cao. When will they find the irrefutable evidence that Wang Yongkang is the third prince of Zhu, and when will he be able to take office!"
"Okay!" Ma Hu clapped her hands, "Wang Guard, you really know how to do things!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the voice of Divine Doctor Le came from outside Lan Xuetang: "Mafutai, Mufantai, Shi Junmen, Wang Shiwei, that Prince Zhu San has been cured and will not die for the time being!"
Wang Zhongxiao smiled and said: "Since he can't die, please come and ask!"
The Humble Administrator's Garden was once the home of Wang Yongkang and his wife. When he was carried into Lanxue Hall, the brief but happy time suddenly appeared in his mind.
Wang Yongkang, who had been comforted by Dr. Le for a while and finally stabilized his emotions, suddenly collapsed again. He called his wife's name and burst into tears. It was really pitiful to watch!
Wang Zhongxiao seemed to sympathize with his plight. When he saw him crying non-stop, he comforted him and said, "Your Highness, Prince Ding, the deceased has passed away, but the living are like this. Please show your condolences and take the opportunity to express your condolences!"
Wang Yongkang cried even harder when he heard what he said: "I am not the third prince Zhu. I really am not the third prince Zhu."
"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Zhongxiao nodded repeatedly, "I know you are not the third prince Zhu. You are His Highness Prince Ding, the third son of Emperor Sizong of the Ming Dynasty. The title of third prince is simply nonsense. There was only one prince in the Chongzhen Dynasty. , there is no third prince at all."
Shi Lang on the side also joined in: "Yes, yes, Nezha is called the third prince. You are King Ding, how can you be the third prince? This is all nonsense made by a group of ignorant people."
Mu Tianyan also looked like he suddenly realized, "Your Highness Prince Ding, it's my fault. I have been forcing you to admit that you are the third prince these days, but you are not at all. You are Prince Ding of the Ming Dynasty!"
"I, I'm not, I really am not." How could Wang Yongkang admit that he was Zhu Cijiong? Still denying it.
Chen Jian, who personally helped Wang Yongkang into Lan Xuetang, seemed to understand Wang Yongkang's thoughts, smiled and comforted him: "Your Highness Prince Ding, you really don't need to deny it. Because my late Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty said it when he was six or seven years old. We should treat the children of Emperor Chongzhen favorably, and I am the most filial son, and I have always followed the teachings of the late emperor. Therefore, I will definitely treat you with courtesy. If you go to Beijing, it is possible for you to be crowned a king! "
"Yes, yes," Wang Zhongxiao also said, "Your Majesty Renyi, when you go to Beijing, not only will you not endure hardship, but you will also be treated as a prince. What do you have to be afraid of? Don't you still believe that the emperor is here?"
"I, I, of course I believe in the emperor, but"
"Stop bragging, admit it!" Mu Tianyan continued to enlighten, "If you admit it, you will have glory and wealth! The emperor is a benevolent king, and we, the Qing Dynasty, give preferential treatment to people of Ming Dynasty, and will never harm you. .”
Ma Hu also said: "Not only will I not do any harm, I will also grant you the title of king and marquis. When the time comes, you will be rewarded!"
Shi Lang also nodded repeatedly: "What a great thing, why not?"
"But I..." Wang Yongkang seemed to have something, but after thinking about it, he still shook his head and said, "I am really not King Ding!"
Wang Zhongxiao said: "If I were you, I would admit it! Because if you don't admit it, it will be an unpardonable crime!"
"What sin? Me, what sin do I have?"
"Rebel!" Wang Zhongxiao said sternly.
"Rebellion? I didn't!"
"You have!" Chen Jian pointed at Wang Yongkang and shouted, "How many people saw the day when you led the mob on horseback to charge at the gate of the governor's office? Do you still want to refuse? And while you were rushing back, you shouted, 'Prince Zhu San is here. ! Oboi is here!'. How many people have seen and heard it! Why are you not the third prince Zhu? If you are not the real third prince Zhu, then you are the fake third prince Zhu! The real third prince Zhu can be sealed Wang Fenghou, if it is fake, he will be executed in Lingchi! Whether it is true or false, you can choose for yourself!"
"I, I, I" Wang Yongkang was really at a loss for words now.
Just when Wang Yongkang didn't know how to explain, Cao Yin and Zhou Chang suddenly rushed into Lan Xuetang one after another. Cao Yin was holding a hard-covered gold envelope with bright yellow satin in his hand, shouting loudly. Said: "Found it, found it"
"What did you find?" Ma Hu asked loudly.
"Ma Futai, I have found the ironclad proof that Wang Yongkang is the third prince of Zhu!" Cao Yin waved the fold in his hand, "This is the jade certificate of Zhu Cijiong, the king of the Ming Dynasty! I found it with Master Zhou!"
Ma Hu was overjoyed: "Okay! Bodhisattva bless you!"
Mu Tianyan also cried with joy: "Now the merits and demerits are equal to each other!"
"No, no, it's impossible, this is not true!" Wang Yongkang denied it repeatedly.
Wang Zhongxiao said in a deep voice: "Can we really tell that this kind of jade certificate is made in several copies? There should be a backup hidden in the palace in Beijing. As long as we find a pair, it will be completely clear!"
Then he said to Ma Hu: "Ma Futai, please arrange for an eight hundred-mile courier to send our booklet and this evidence to Beijing for the emperor's inspection!"
"Okay, okay, I'll make arrangements right away!"
Forbidden City, South Study.
When the cabinet bachelors Jin Batai, Suo'etu, Mingzhu, Duikana, Li Fei, Wei Yijie, and Doo Lide, and the two Hanlin bachelors Xiong Cilu and Chen Tingjing were all called to the South Study, they saw Emperor Kangxi's pockmarked face, which had been dull for many days, finally showed a smile of relief.
These bachelors and Hanlin bachelors all exhaled in unison.
Ever since the news of the "Suzhou Rebellion" came to Beijing via eight-hundred-mile flight, Kangxi's pockmarked face had remained calm. Although he did not get angry in front of everyone, everyone could feel the anger of the little emperor. Even if the "good news" came yesterday that Suzhou City had been completely recovered, Kangxi did not show a good face - what was the use of Suzhou being recovered? Obai still ran away!
Moreover, with Prince Zhu making such a fuss, the reputation of righteousness and reputation as a traitor that originally bound Wu Sangui have changed - it's not that Wu Sangui no longer has a bad reputation, but that the boss of the rebellion has changed from Wu Sangui to Prince Zhu!
But today, why is this little emperor smiling? Could it be that Wang Yongkang is really the Third Prince Zhu?
Seven bachelors and two Hanlin bachelors were kneeling on the ground and thinking about it. Emperor Kangxi had already smiled and said: "Now it is basically certain that Wang Yongkang is the third prince Zhu, oh, or he is Zhu Cijiong, the Dingwang of the Ming Dynasty! "
As he spoke, Emperor Kangxi picked up a hard-covered gold booklet with bright yellow satin from his Anji, and waved it: "This is Zhu Cijiong's jade certificate. It was found from the Humble Administrator's Garden where Wang Yongkang lived. !
I have had someone check it, and the material, handwriting, and content of this jade certificate are exactly the same as the jade certificate of Zhu Cijiong left behind by the previous dynasty hidden in the palace! So there is no doubt that Wang Yongkang is Zhu Cijiong! "
This jade certificate is originally true! According to the system of the Ming Dynasty, there were always three copies of the jade certificate used to prove the identity of the prince; one was hidden in the palace, one was collected by the Jin Yiwei, and the third was handed over to the prince himself for collection.
The jade ultimatum found from the Humble Administrator's Garden was the one collected by Jin Yiwei... This jade ultimatum fell into the hands of Yang Qilong's father, Yang Jinzhong.
Later, Yang Jinzhong obtained the jade certificate from Jin Yuhuan that belonged to Zhu Cijiong himself.
Chen Yonghua and Chang Mingyue came to Yang Qilong just to get back Zhu Cijiong's jade certificate. In this way, it will be easier for them to support this real Zhu third prince to cause trouble in the southeast.
Kangxi didn't know the reason. At this moment, he didn't know that he had been tricked. He said proudly: "Although I didn't catch Obai this time, it's not a loss if I caught Zhu Cijiong. In addition, Wu Sangui My conspiracy was also exposed!
If the governor of Jiangsu hadn't alerted the enemy and forced Prince Zhu San and Obai to take action in advance, but had waited until Wu Sangui raised his troops in Yunnan to join forces, I would have been truly passive. "
This is true!
If Wu Sangui and Prince Zhu took action together and cooperated with each other, Kangxi would be in trouble.
Seven bachelors and two Hanlin bachelors shouted in response to the situation: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, may your Majesty be filled with great blessings!"
Kangxi's face was full of joy, and he asked with a smile: "Tell me, how should I treat this third prince Zhu?"
"Of course it's preferential treatment!" Jin Batai, the great scholar of Zhonghe Palace, replied, "Your Majesty, preferential treatment to Chongzhen Miao people is a rule set by the late emperor, and it is to win the hearts of the world. Now Wu Sangui is busy sharpening his sword, and the people of Jiangnan are unstable. It's just right I will take advantage of the opportunity of giving preferential treatment to the Third Prince Zhu to let the Han people in the world know the broadmindedness and magnanimity of my Holy Master of the Qing Dynasty."
Kangxi nodded, thinking: I am a filial son, so I have to listen to Amma. But how did my monk Ama punish Prince Chongzhen back then?
Li Fei, the academician of Baohe Palace, was the leader of the Han academicians. Of course, he had to express his position at this time: "Your Majesty, I thought you might as well tell the world, so I said that I had found the third son of Emperor Chongzhen, and now I want to take him to Beijing. Make him a marquis and let him be hereditary. In this way, the Han people in the world will know your kindness and they will no longer think about rebelling against the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty."
Oh, it turns out that the Han people all over the world are thinking about rebelling against the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty! Kangxi said in his heart: Prince Zhu, this thief, must not be allowed to stay!
Kangxi smiled and nodded, and then turned his attention to the other two Han bachelors present.
"Your Majesty," Wei Yijie, who is also a bachelor of the Baohe Hall like Li Fei, also immediately expressed his position, "I think it's better to make Prince Zhu the third prince a king, raise a flag, and then surround him in the city of Beijing to let him eat and drink. I will have fun for a lifetime so that the Han people in the world will know about my Qing Dynasty’s holy virtues.”
Du Lide, a Jinshi in the Chongzhen year of the Ming Dynasty and the "Second Scholar", was the most cautious among the three Han academicians. He had been secretly watching Kangxi's expression just now, and noticed that the child emperor was smiling and smiling, and he also felt that he was giving Zhu San preferential treatment. The prince's method is quite good. So he reported: "Your Majesty, I think that the third prince Zhenzhu is a memorial arch that demonstrates the saintliness of the Qing Dynasty. As long as the memorial arch is erected, Wu Sangui will no longer have the right to rebel. Just by killing the puppet emperor Yongli, The Han people in the world will not follow him unless he can carry the brand of Prince Zhu. But if this brand is in the hands of the emperor, what else can he carry?"
Kangxi nodded and said with a smile: "That makes sense. I have to build an archway. Only with the archway can people in the world know my benevolence. I'll make Zhu Cijiong the Prince of Cheng'en County! Du Lide, you are from the Chongzhen Dynasty." A Jinshi. A Jinshi is a disciple of the Emperor! Just go to Suzhou and be the imperial envoy, responsible for welcoming Zhu Cijiong to the court to be crowned king! Mingzhu, you also have to work hard and be a deputy envoy."
Are there any monthly passes? Please give me a monthly ticket!
(End of chapter)
