Hearing Zhu Gaojie's words, all the ministers in the palace were shocked!
Is the prince going on a killing spree?
He actually killed the generals of the guard first, and then planned to behead all the Confucian scholars in public?
This move was tantamount to a thunder that struck directly on the heads of all the officials in the palace! The expressions of many ministers changed!
There was sudden silence in the court hall.
After a long time, Wang Zhi, the Minister of Civil Service, came to his senses. He suppressed the panic in his heart and said righteously:
"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
"Confucian scholars are students who have read the books of sages and sages, and they are the foundation of our future scholars. How can we deal with them so easily?"
At this time, several important ministers on the side also came out to persuade:
"Confucian scholars are only interested in state affairs and want to communicate with students in the liberal arts academy. How can they be punished for this?"
"Exactly, Your Highness, please think twice, don't want to chill the hearts of scholars all over the world!"
snort!
At this time, Yang Rong, the chief minister of the cabinet who had been silent, snorted coldly, glanced around the queue, and said in a deep voice:
"Everyone, the Confucian scholars openly attacked the imperial court and injured important officials of the imperial court. His Highness the Crown Prince has already made a decision."
"The cabinet also supports the decision made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and corresponding measures will be issued after the court meeting."
"Are you dissatisfied with the decision made by His Highness the Crown Prince and the cabinet?"
He stared at the ministers with sharp eyes like an eagle, as if anyone who dared to speak dissatisfied words would be dealt with immediately on the spot!
At this time, many ministers discovered that there seemed to be many more guards in the palace, all of them holding staffs and armor, showing their sharpness.
A cold sweat broke out on Wang Zhi's back, as he looked for help at the cabinet bachelors. During the secret discussion, everyone had already agreed!
However, at this time, these bachelors all avoided Wang Zhi's look for help. They all lowered their heads and said nothing, or looked up at the sky, as if they were wandering in the sky.
Are you kidding me? His Highness the Crown Prince had already sent people to show them how powerful they were before the court meeting. If these bachelors could climb to their current position, who would dare to go against His Highness the Crown Prince?
Do you really think that His Highness the Prince, who looks kind and peaceful, won't cut off people's heads?
For their own position, it is better for them to be honest and do their duty. Anyway, the competition between the prince and the civil servants will not normally involve them, the bachelors, and they also have Yang Rong, the head of the cabinet. I'm holding on to the auxiliary pressure...
Wang Zhi didn't get a response from these bachelors, and his heart suddenly went cold. Then he continued to look at the ministers around him, and found that there was a bit of panic and confusion in their eyes. He knew that something was wrong.
It seems that if you want to attack His Highness the Crown Prince in the court today, you may not be able to do anything.
Maybe we can only give in for now...
However, when he thought about it again, he couldn't help but sneer in his heart, he didn't believe that the prince dared to behead all so many Confucian scholars!
The Confucian scholars are not like the generals of the guards. The warriors have little foundation and support, but the scholars are not like that!
If the prince really dares to go his own way, it will inevitably lead to anger among the people. He just happens to unite with the big families, and then rely on the power of Yan Shenggong to give the prince a big embarrassment!
At that time, the court will not be shaken, and even the matter of the throne will still be unknown...
In the blink of an eye, countless dark thoughts appeared in Wang Zhi's mind. He hesitated for a moment, and just as he was about to step forward to speak, he heard Zhu Gaojie speak again:
"This time the Confucian scholars are causing trouble, in Gu's opinion, it means disrespecting learning, disrespecting etiquette, and disrespecting the law!"
He looked at the many ministers of His Highness and said indifferently:
"To attack the liberal arts academy is to disrespect learning."
"To make noise and cause trouble is to show disrespect for etiquette."
"Beating an important official of the imperial court is disrespecting the law of the country!"
"They must be held accountable for their actions!"
Zhu Gaojie used sharp eyes
Staring at everyone, after a long time, he slowly said:
"Therefore, I have agreed with the cabinet that all the Confucian scholars who caused trouble this time will have their honors removed and will never be elected again."
boom!
Zhu Gaojie's words were like a huge stone smashing into the water of Chaochi Pool, causing huge waves!
The civil and military officials in the court were suddenly shocked, their expressions changed, and they all began to whisper.
You must know that the status of Confucian scholars was quite high in the Ming Dynasty, and most of them had the support of aristocratic families.
Removing the title and never being hired is tantamount to destroying that family's career hope!
It may even be difficult to live a stable life in the future!
Wang Zhi, the Minister of Rites and others quietly looked at each other, then looked in the direction of several cabinet bachelors, and found that they were all old gods, and they had obviously known about this matter for a long time.
The Minister of Rites had no choice but to go out and say:
"Your Highness, I'm afraid this move is a little inappropriate..."
Zhu Gaojie interrupted him directly and said calmly:
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
"The leading ones among them were interrogated by Jin Yiwei and it was revealed that although they were instigators, they played a leading role at the time and injured Mr. Xia. Their crimes were unpardonable and they must be beheaded in public."
"The remaining people will be exempted from death, but will not escape from living punishment."
"In addition to being deprived of their honors, they will be scattered and exiled to various places. They will be under the custody of local officials and will not be allowed to return without pardon."
"As for the homes of these Confucian scholars, huh."
Zhu Gaojie snorted coldly and continued:
"Starting from them, three generations will not be allowed to take the exam."
All the ministers in the palace were shocked!
This is obviously going to dig up the foundation of those Confucian scholars!
Moreover, this move will definitely have a huge impact on the aristocratic families!
For three consecutive generations, they were not allowed to obtain fame or embark on an official career. An ordinary small family simply could not withstand such an impact. It could be declared to have disappeared and be directly knocked out of the highest class of "shi"!
"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
A minister of the Ministry of Rites jumped up immediately. Among the Confucian scholars who were imprisoned, there were also descendants of his family!
"oh?"
When Zhu Gaojie saw that he dared to come out to oppose him, he immediately looked at him with a half-smile:
"Are you trying to disobey the order and be disrespectful?"
The Minister of Rites' face suddenly turned red, and after holding it in for a long time, he roared angrily:
"Prince, you are messing with your life..."
"Asshole!"
Before Zhu Gaojie's face turned cold, Yang Rong, a cabinet scholar on the side, stood up directly, pointed at him and scolded loudly:
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's decree has been unanimously approved by the cabinet, and you actually oppose it? Do you dare to say that this is an indiscriminate decision?"
"Come here, capture this person quickly and take him to the prison!"
"It's just nonsense and crazy!"
The guards on the side immediately stepped into the scene, pinched the man in the middle, blocked his mouth, and dragged him out like a chicken!
Suddenly everyone in the audience was shocked!
