Cabinet scholars Lu Tiaoyang and Zhang Siwei, the Minister of Personnel Zhang Han, the Minister of Rites Ma Ziqiang, the Minister of Hubu Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Punishments Wang Chonggu, the Minister of Works Guo Chaobin, and the Yushi of Zuodu Chen Zan, all of them were indeed ministers at this time. I had heard the news that there was an official in charge, so they all rushed over.
These people, together with Zhang Juzheng and Tan Lun, are the most prestigious and powerful civil servants in the Ming Empire today. Naturally, they all know what happened the last time Zuo Shunmen cried and remonstrated, and therefore no one dared to ignore what happened tonight. this matter.
"what happened?"
Lu Tiaoyang stopped the censor who was running out and asked.
The censor gasped and told Lu Tiaoyang and the other ministers who gathered around him the whole story.
Lu Tiaoyang and other ministers were shocked after hearing this.
At this moment, Zhang Siwei suddenly said with a horrified look: "There is no imperial staff! Those who are killed are not killed by the staff!"
"After all, this is not the time for a grand ceremony."
Lu Tiaoyang said something first, and then said: "But it is still unbelievable that Fu Que killed so many ministers. The emperor's reliance on his uncle is truly unparalleled."
"Didn't I say that Yuan Fu is already in front of the emperor, and Tan Lun is also there?"
Chen Zan asked calmly at this time.
Lu Tiaoyang nodded: "Perhaps it is precisely because he is in front of the emperor that there is no such thing as a stick or a stick."
"Then you can't take human life lightly!"
Chen Zan suddenly replied sharply and asked: "As Yuan Fu and a soldier, can't I stop His Majesty from inflicting severe punishment on my ministers?!"
Lu Tiaoyang couldn't say anything else.
On the contrary, Wang Guoguang sneered at this time and said: "Yuan Fu's remonstrance can stop Your Majesty, but can he remonstrate and stop the Queen Mother of the two palaces?"
"What do you mean? You still want to say that this is the meaning of the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces?"
Chen Zan asked Wang Guoguang.
Wang Guoguang hurriedly denied it: "I didn't say that, I was just talking about who Yuan Fu could stop."
"Stop arguing now! We'll find out when Shuda and Zili come out."
Zhang Siwei also said something calmly at this time, and looked in the direction of Huijimen.
Not long after, the ministers saw two carriages being carried out. You Qi and the slaves of the Tan family led the two carriages towards this side.
"I was given a shoulder carriage!"
Zhang Siwei said with a surprised look on his face.
"I don't know whether it was given by His Majesty, or whether the Queen Mother of the two palaces asked His Majesty to give it to him."
Wang Guoguang then said something.
“Just ask and you’ll find out!”
Chen Zan glanced at Wang Guoguang, then walked over, first stopped the carriages of Zhang Juzheng and Tan Lun, and asked: "Why did your husband suddenly take the carriage out of the palace?"
In the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli period, the six ministers basically referred to the cabinet ministers as ministers.
Of course, the "Xiangong" here does not mean the "Xianggong" as the students call it.
After Zhang Juzheng got off the throne, he asked You Qi to wait outside Donghua Gate, while he walked towards Chen Zan and other ministers and said, "This is the kindness your Majesty bestows on your servants and soldiers."
"Your Majesty has shown kindness to your father-in-law and my soldiers by giving them shoulder carriages to protect them from the wind and snow. Why don't you show any kindness to the fierce ministers of Fugu?"
Chen Zan asked at this time.
Zhang Juzheng was startled, and then asked coldly: "How come you are not kind? If you don't kill the rebellious minister with a stick, it is a kindness!"
"I was also present at the time, so I must have a clear understanding of the situation. Does this kindness come from Yuan Fu or from His Majesty?"
Chen Zan asked.
Zhang Juzheng had now sat back on the chair on the left side of the cabinet duty room, his face darkening.
When Tan Lun saw Chen Zan asking this question, he glanced at Zhang Juzheng, and then said: "It was Yuan Fu and I who advised His Majesty to do this. These people who are trying to conquer the emperor must be punished because they are already suspected of deceiving the emperor and forcing him into the palace!" "
After Tan Lun said this, all the ministers looked at Zhang Juzheng in surprise.
Chen Zan even asked Zhang Juzheng directly: "In that case, why didn't your Majesty please show mercy and spare his life? Why did you use such a severe decree to make our scholar-officials bleed in the forbidden court again!"
"Or is it that my husband also asked me to do this, but His Majesty refused and insisted on doing so?"
Chen Zan asked.
Zhang Juzheng said: "Of course not."
Chen Zan was stunned for a moment, then he sneered and said: "So, my husband is really what the disciples call the truth! He can lead his troops to force His Majesty to issue such a strict decree."
"Why does the General Constitution say that? Yuan Fu is Yuan Fu, and our Ming Dynasty does not have a prime minister!"
Zhang Siwei started talking excitedly at this time.
"Where is the lack of appearance?!"
"Without a prime minister, your majesty can issue strict orders, and your majesty can change the situation from death to death without mercy? You can even drive generals to be lackeys, and use cabinet ministers and ministers as staff. How can this not be a prime minister?"
Chen Zan spoke aggressively.
Zhang Juzheng said: "What do you say, Mr. Sui? I came back to the cabinet to announce the empress dowager's instructions to the two palaces."
After hearing this, Lu Tiaoyang, Zhang Siwei and others hurriedly knelt on the ground respectfully.
"The empress dowagers of the two palaces sent a kind edict: If you want to leave the palace and go to Changchun Temple to pay homage to the Buddha, you will stay temporarily. The emperor ordered the cabinet to prepare a decree on behalf of the two palaces and make it known to the world."
After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, everyone except Tan Lun, Lu Tiaoyang and others were shocked.
"Zhang Taiyue!"
At this time, Chen Zan even stood up and pointed at Zhang Juzheng and shouted. He no longer addressed Zhang Juzheng as a relative, but directly called him his surname and nickname, saying:
"The duke also said that he was not the prime minister. If he was not the prime minister, how could he do what Han Zhongxian Gong (Han Qi) and other prime ministers could do, and force the empress dowagers of the two palaces to move to a nunnery?!"
"Since the Duke has the power of prime minister, why can't he have the power of prime minister?!"
"Fu Que's civil servants are young and energetic, and they don't know how to be respectful. Why don't you tolerate his criticism and keep talented people for the country? You just want to implement harsh policies!"
"Do you know, sir, that it is because you are harsh and always punish minor offenses with heavy setbacks that your disciples impeach you! Now you teach the emperor with harshness, but only teach him the virtue of mercy and retaining the virtuous. How can you make the emperor For Yao and Shun?!"
"I'm not a phaser, I'm a photographer!"
Zhang Juzheng suddenly slapped down several cases, stood up, and roared at Chen Zan like a tiger roaring.
Chen Zan and the ministers present were stunned on the spot.
Ahem!
It was not Tan Lun who was coughing.
But Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Ju's face was flushed, his eyebrows were angry, and he was staring at Chen Zan.
Chen Zan stood there motionless.
"Yuan Fu calm down!"
Zhang Siwei reacted the fastest at this time. He stood up immediately, bowed to Zhang Juzheng, then turned around quickly, walked to the desk and said: "I will follow the Empress Dowager's decree!"
Lu Tiaoyang, Wang Guoguang and others looked at Zhang Siwei in surprise.
Chen Zan also looked at Zhang Siwei in surprise.
So in the end, except for Tan Lun, all the ministers left Wenyuan Pavilion silently.
They didn't dare to say anything more. After all, Zhang Juzheng said so, what else could they say.
You can't, like Zhao Pu, plan to give Zhang Juzheng a yellow robe; you can't, for the sake of Xiao Wanli, pledge your own nine tribes to "Qingjun side".
Soon after, Zhang Siwei handed the imperial edict to Zhang Juzheng with both hands: "Yuan Fu, please take a look."
"Ziwei's rhetoric has always been good. I won't read it anymore and just let him take it to the imperial palace."
Zhang Juzheng laughed and stood up and left the cabinet.
Tan Lun followed and said, "Uncle, why do you have to say that? The emperor may not have any grudges, but what about the two empress dowagers?"
