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In the early morning of the next day, after Emperor Deqing got up and had just finished washing and dressing, Zhang De, the eunuch next to him, couldn't wait to report: "Your Majesty, the chief minister came to the Humble Administrator's Garden before midnight today, and has been there all the time. Kneeling outside, claiming to be here to apologize. [No pop-up novel website]"
Upon hearing Zhang De's report, Emperor Deqing's brows subconsciously raised slightly.
After the civil uprising in Canglang Pavilion and the impeachment of hundreds of officials, Emperor Deqing knew that Zhou Shangjing would definitely take action, but he did not expect that Zhou Shangjing would assume such a low profile and actually knelt down to wait for him for most of an hour. And claimed to be guilty.
"But I don't know, does Zhou Shangjing really want to plead guilty? Or is he launching a counterattack in the name of pleading guilty?"
While thinking to himself, Emperor Deqing looked a little serious. He straightened his appearance and gave instructions: "Zhou Shangjing is the chief minister of the dynasty and he is old. How can we keep him kneeling all the time? Let him wait in the temporary imperial study room. Follow me, I will go to see him right away... However, as of now, even if he doesn't take the initiative to ask for a meeting, I still have to ask him about some things, so he takes the initiative to see me, which saves a lot of trouble. "
After saying that, Emperor Deqing turned around and walked towards the temporary imperial study.
If an ordinary official were to be impeached by hundreds of officials unanimously, and there was irrefutable evidence, Emperor Deqing did not need to do anything at all. As long as an imperial edict was issued, he could be convicted and dismissed from office.
But Zhou Shangjing is different after all. He is not only the current chief minister and a veteran of three dynasties, but also has followers all over the world and has huge influence. Therefore, Emperor Deqing must give Zhou Shangjing a chance to defend himself before confirming Zhou Shangjing's charges. Only in this way can he Convince the public.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing simply summoned Zhou Shangjing.
This meeting was also the prelude to the final battle between Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing.
…
When Emperor Deqing arrived at the temporary imperial study, he found that Zhou Shangjing had been kneeling and waiting for a long time.
Although the eunuchs prepared a stool for Zhou Shangjing, Zhou Shangjing had no intention of sitting down. He just knelt quietly in the temporary imperial study, his old body slightly rickety, which made people look pitiful.
Of course, seeing Zhou Shangjing's appearance. Emperor Deqing didn't feel pity, but he had some doubts in his heart - could it be that Zhou Shangjing really wanted to surrender and confess his crime?
This is definitely not Zhou Shangjing’s style! Zhou Shangjing must be playing some trick!
After secretly reminding himself, Emperor Deqing was alert, but his face remained calm. He just came to Zhou Shangjing, looked down at Zhou Shangjing, and then said slowly: "You are almost seventy years old. If you keep kneeling, I'm afraid your body won't be able to bear it. You'd better get up and talk."
Zhou Shangjing was still kneeling, bowed his head and said, "I am asking to see Your Majesty this time to plead guilty! The guilty minister should naturally look like a guilty minister, but he did not dare to get up."
"Please forgive me? What crime?" Emperor Deqing snorted and said, "Is it the crime of deceiving the emperor? The crime of shielding? The crime of forming a party? Or the crime of provoking a popular uprising?"
Finished. Emperor Deqing continued to look down at Zhou Shangjing's expression, but Zhou Shangjing still bowed his head, making Emperor Deqing unable to see what was going on.
Seeing that Zhou Shangjing was silent, Emperor Deqing raised his voice and said angrily: "Just last night, in just two or three hours, I received one hundred and seventeen memorials! All of them were to impeach you Zhou Shangjing. ! They said that you formed a party for personal gain, deceived the emperor, shielded the tribe, provoked civil unrest, etc. The total number of charges was dozens of times! Ha! This is the first time in the decades since I have been on the throne that I have seen such a big person. I have learned a lot about the scene. If these charges are true, there is no need for you to plead guilty! I will naturally punish you! As the current chief minister and a veteran of three dynasties, you know the law, break the law, and have a bad influence. What's more, you have to be punished. Wait!"
then. Emperor Deqing's tone softened a little, and then said: "However, you are an old minister after all. You have assisted the imperial court for decades, and you have worked hard without any credit. I can't beat you to death with a stick. I have to give you an explanation. Opportunity! Tell me, do you have anything to clarify about the impeachment of officials? "
Emperor Deqing's words seemed to give Zhou Shangjing a chance, but in fact they were just to test Zhou Shangjing's trump card.
However, Emperor Deqing's expectations were disappointed.
Zhou Shangjing was still bowing his head and said slowly: "I dare not defend myself! My crime is really unforgivable. In order to protect my grandson Zhou Suhai, I actually united with officials from the DPRK and the Central Government to conceal the story of the Suzhou Japanese pirates from Your Majesty." The chaos happened, and eventually it triggered a civil uprising! All these things are indefensible, and I ask your Majesty to punish him!"
Emperor Deqing was stunned for a moment, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he asked in a solemn voice: "So, you are not going to defend yourself against the various charges that the officials have impeached you for, and you are just pleading guilty?"
There was some bitterness in Zhou Shangjing's voice, and he said: "The reason why I asked to see Your Majesty this time is to plead guilty! All the charges are proven to be irrefutable, so naturally I don't dare to defend myself! No matter how Your Majesty deals with me, I will be convinced." !”
Upon hearing Zhou Shangjing's answer, Emperor Deqing felt like he had punched cotton. None of the backup tactics he had painstakingly prepared were used.
In addition, looking at Zhou Shangjing bowing his head and confessing his crime, Emperor Deqing's eyes flashed with a complicated look, both happy and disappointed.
Speaking of which, Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing have been fighting openly and secretly for decades. Although Emperor Deqing is the emperor, he has repeatedly been unable to do anything to Zhou Shangjing! Now that Zhou Shangjing has admitted the crime simply and neatly, he is now at the mercy of Emperor Deqing, which means that Emperor Deqing finally defeated Zhou Shangjing once and achieved his long-cherished wish! As a result, Emperor Deqing naturally felt happy!
However, winning was too easy, not as fierce and tense as expected. Rather than saying that Emperor Deqing won Zhou Shangjing, it would be better to say that Zhou Shangjing surrendered on his own initiative, which also made Emperor Deqing feel a little bit lost.
Originally, according to Emperor Deqing's expectations, Zhou Shangjing should have fiercely resisted at this time, but his various methods were resolved one by one by Emperor Deqing, who was well prepared. In the end, Zhou Shangjing tried his best, but still couldn't. To get rid of Emperor Deqing's scheme, he had no choice but to bow his head and plead guilty - only in this way will Emperor Deqing feel a sense of accomplishment after defeating Zhou Shangjing.
But today's situation is very different from what he expected, and Emperor Deqing can't help but feel a little disappointed.
For a moment, Emperor Deqing looked at Zhou Shangjing blankly, not knowing what to say.
Fortunately, eunuch Zhang De's report resolved Emperor Deqing's embarrassment.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Shen Changmao, Mr. Shen Ge, Young Master Zhang Cheng, Mr. Zhao, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Zuo, the Minister of the Ministry of Works, Mr. Lin, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Mr. Su, the Governor of Southern Zhili, Mr. Tang, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel of Nanjing, Mr. Wang, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs of Nanjing... Let’s ask to see His Majesty together.”
Zhang De reported a long list of names, more than twenty of them, and now all the second-rank and above court officials in Suzhou appeared.
However, this is a matter of course. Whether it is the hidden story of the Japanese pirate rebellion in Suzhou, the popular uprising in Canglang Pavilion, or the impeachment of Zhou Shangjing by hundreds of officials, these are all major events that can shock the world, and no one dares to neglect them.
Therefore, it is also the proper meaning of the title that the important officials of the imperial court came to Emperor Deqing to discuss countermeasures at this time!
After Emperor Deqing and his ministers reached consensus on the outcome of their discussions, he would then convene officials and announce it to the world, so that there would be no chaos.
After hearing Zhang De's report, Emperor Deqing glanced at Zhou Shangjing subconsciously!
Among these important officials in the court, Zhao Junchen's faction has tightly embraced Emperor Deqing's lap and is in step with Emperor Deqing; Shen Changmao's faction has been fighting openly and covertly with Zhou Shangjing for many years and is Zhou Shangjing's political enemy in the court; as for the Nanjing officials Shangshu Wang Baoren, Nanjing Hubu Shangshu Tang Zhen and others are even more deadly enemies of Zhou Shangjing!
It can be said that these important officials in the court are all hostile to Zhou Shangjing, and no one will ever intercede for Zhou Shangjing!
In addition, Zhou Shangjing himself had admitted the crime straightforwardly, so after Emperor Deqing discussed with the court officials, Zhou Shangjing's downfall was a certainty and there would never be any obstacles!
It can be said that by now, the game between Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing has been decided and settled.
At least, that's what it seems!
If nothing unexpected happens!
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…(To be continued.)
