Because Cao Yubian, the censor of Zuodu, asked to see Emperor Tianqi Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Youxiao granted Cao Yubian's request.
Of course, Zhu Youxiao, who already knew the situation of the Metropolitan Procuratorate from Dongchang, also knew the purpose of Cao Yubian's visit.
The reason why Zhu Youxiao was willing to meet Cao Yubian was also very simple, that is, he wanted to see how Cao Yubian would stop him.
Cao Yubian succeeded Zhang Wenda as the censor of Zuodu after Zhu Youxiao ordered him to commit suicide because Zhang Wenda, the former censor of Zuodu, was implicated in the corruption case of the Ministry of War.
Zhu Youxiao appointed Cao Yubian simply because Cao Yubian was the second most senior official of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, second only to Zhang Wenda.
It wasn't because he really trusted Cao Yubian and confirmed that Cao Yubian was an upright and honest person.
After all, Zhu Youxiao had only just ascended the throne and had not found anyone qualified enough to hold the post of Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
However, Zhu Youxiao did not expect that Cao Yubian would fall into this kind of court struggle so quickly and would have to stand up because of Li Sancai's matter.
This also forced Zhu Youxiao to admit that Li Sancai's energy was indeed great, and the affected officials in the DPRK and China had actually implicated ministers.
"I have met your Majesty!"
Cao Yubian met Zhu Youxiao and held a three-foot-long stack of letters jointly signed by scholars.
"Flat body."
Zhu Youxiao, who was sitting inside the curtain, replied.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Cao Yubian replied.
Zhu Youxiao asked: "Cao Aiqing saw that I came here for the scholars who were making trouble outside the Metropolitan Procuratorate?"
"Your Majesty is aware of this! These scholars are also determined to serve the country. I have brought their joint letter here and asked the emperor to preview it. In addition, each of them has a copy of the memorial in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and I also ask your Majesty to allow the Secretary of General Affairs to collect it. .”
Cao Yubian replied.
Zhu Youxiao smiled: "Since when can scholars directly interfere in political affairs? Is this the Metropolitan Procuratorate theirs or mine? What do you think, Cao Aiqing?!"
After hearing what Zhu Youxiao said, Cao Yubian was quite disappointed and said excitedly: "Your Majesty! They represent the people of the world! Although Li Sancai is a dismissed member, he is highly respected among our scholars, and his disciples and friends are all over the world. , have always been respected by the scholars! Now, they heard that Li Sancai was going to be executed by the three tribes for his evil plans, so they didn’t believe it, and they went out of their way to avenge him! I hope Your Majesty will understand their sincere heart!"
"Are you speaking for them?"
Zhu Youxiao asked with a cold tone.
Cao Yubian hurriedly knelt on the ground: "I am admonishing your majesty for the sake of your majesty and the country of Ming Dynasty! Please don't lose the hearts of the world!"
"Are you threatening me with them?"
Zhu Youxiao asked.
"I don't dare!"
Cao Yubian replied quickly.
"You've already said so, what else do you dare to do!"
Zhu Youxiao said with a smile again: "I just don't understand. When did a group of scholars represent the people of the world? Do the common people in the world know that they are represented by these people? Have you ever asked all the people in the world to ask them Do you want to be represented by these scholars?!"
As Zhu Youxiao spoke, he asked Wang Chengen, the personal chamberlain who served Zhu Youxiao in the Qianqing Palace and was responsible for the affairs of the Imperial Supervisor: "Wang Chengen, tell me, do the scholars outside represent you?"
Wang Chengen smiled humbly and said: "I am naturally different from them. I only know how to be loyal to the emperor!"
"Good answer!"
Zhu Youxiao suddenly said something, and then asked Wang Chengen: "Tell me what the people in the world care about. Do they really care about a corrupt official, as Cao Aiqing said, and a hypocritical and bold corrupt official?" The life and death of officials?!”
Wang Chengen hurriedly knelt on the ground and replied: "Your Majesty, calm down, the people of the world don't care about these things. What they care about is whether the world is peaceful and whether food and clothing are available."
Zhu Youxiao praised again: "Well said!"
Then, Zhu Youxiao said to Cao Yubian: "Cao Aiqing, when did you, a second-ranked Jinshi, become less knowledgeable than a single scholar?"
Cao Yubian was not willing to let it go, and hurriedly made a generous speech: "Your Majesty! No! I dare to say it bluntly, Li Shu is not for the people, but the world's scholars are for the people, Li Shu can't forgive the careless people, but the real people of the world This is the will of the world's scholars. Your Majesty governs the world with the scholar-bureaucrats, not with the people. The people are more important than the king, followed by the country. The saint's words also mean that the will of the scholars is more important than the king. With Sheji!"
Cao Yubian knew that if Li Sancai's family was really captured and exterminated, he would not be able to escape, so he made up his mind, glanced at Wang Chengen and said: "It is even more unworthy of an eunuch to be eunuch! But the slaves in your Majesty's family are like running dogs." Your Majesty only needs an edict to kill poultry! Please follow the will of the world and the hearts of the scholars of the world, forgive Li Sancai's death penalty, and do not raid his home!"
After Cao Yubian said this, he burst into tears.
Although Wang Chengen considered himself the emperor's slave in his heart, he could also hear that Cao Yubian's words just now meant that he despised him and did not treat him as a human being. This also hurt his self-esteem and made him feel a little dissatisfied. But he didn't dare to say anything, he just glanced at Zhu Youxiao.
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "But in my eyes, my domestic slaves are worthy, so I will not comply with the demands of you and the scholars outside."
"Then I will be killed here!"
Cao Yubian suddenly stood up and shouted, "I will die to remonstrate with you!"
Wang Chengen was shocked because of this. He glanced at Zhu Youxiao behind the curtain and said to himself: "I don't know how the emperor will respond. It's a pity that the emperor is only more than ten years old. How can this old man threaten the emperor like this!"
Because Zhu Youxiao values mystery, he will not easily let ministers see his face and expressions. Therefore, when he meets with ministers, he often sees them through a curtain or screen.
At this time, Cao Yubian did not see Zhu Youxiao's sneer, but only saw Wang Chengen's horrified look, so he felt proud and continued: "If your Majesty insists on refusing to obey the public opinion of the world, I will only be killed here. Qing Palace!"
"Then you'll be killed."
At this time, Zhu Youxiao replied with a very calm tone.
Cao Yubian was very surprised after hearing this. He couldn't believe that this came from the mouth of a teenage emperor.
"Wang Chengen, if he stains the floor and pillars after the collision, remember to ask his family to compensate."
Zhu Youxiao said something at this time.
"yes!"
Wang Chengen replied.
Cao Yubian couldn't help shouting again: "Your Majesty, I really want to remonstrate with you!"
Zhu Youxiao did not respond to him.
Seeing this, Cao Yubian could only say: "Your Majesty, I hope you will remember that if you don't follow my advice today, the Ming Dynasty will not be far away. The wishes of the world's scholars cannot be violated!"
With that said, Cao Yubian ran towards Jin Zhu.
But at this time, Cao Yubian suddenly stopped and turned around again and shouted: "Your Majesty, do you really not want to listen to my good advice? Do you really want to completely break with the world's scholars? Aren't you afraid of the world's chaos in the future? ?”
Seeing that Zhu Youxiao still didn't respond, Cao Yubian had no choice but to grit his teeth and run towards the golden pillar in the hall again, but suddenly stopped again.
Wang Chengen hurriedly asked at this time: "Mr. Cao, do you want to hit him or not?"
Cao Yubian glanced at Wang Chengen, feeling extremely depressed.
