Zhu Youtang kept all the memorials submitted by the officials and did not publish them. Anyway, the establishment of the new Yamen was already a certainty, so there was no need to talk nonsense to these old immortals.
At first, the civil servant group headed by Wan'an was full of confidence. With their decades of political experience and skills in trolling, they did not believe that the emperor could be stopped from the brink. They all made it clear that if the emperor did not change his mind, they would kill him.
In Zhu Youtang's view, these tricks are like clowns jumping off the rails. Any suggestion of admonition to the death and willingness to win over loyal ministers are all bullshit! These so-called Qingliu people were very afraid of death. They thought that when King Li Chuang conquered the Forbidden City, those who were willing to fight to the death were actually eunuchs and some nobles. Instead, these Qingliu people secretly opened the city gate and lured thieves in.
Zhu Youtang was a little irritated after reading the memorial today. There was nothing new, just some remonstrances.
Being an emperor is really boring. No wonder the emperors of the Ming Dynasty started some side jobs. For example, Hongwu would kill a few people to cheer up. Mr. Yongle would lead 500,000 soldiers and horses to the northern grasslands for a walk to relax. Emperor Xuande loved playing with crickets, Emperor Jiajing liked to make elixirs and practice Taoism, and Emperor Tianqi liked carpentry.
Why not go hunting in Nanhaizi?
Nanhaizi was called Feifangmo in the Yuan Dynasty, because the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty trained Haidongqing to catch flying birds and small animals in this area full of rivers and lakes. An eagle-drying platform was specially built to allow the sea turtles to rest and dry their feathers that have been wetted by sweat, frost, and dew. When Mr. Yongle moved the capital to Peiping, he also expanded the hunting grounds of the Yuan Dynasty dozens of times. Emperor Xuande also built palaces and walls, and set up government offices to guard them.
After making up his mind, Zhu Youtang called: "He Ding, I'm bored in the Qianqing Palace. You go to the Royal Horse Supervisor to prepare the bow and horse, and take a few followers with me to go hunting in Nanhaizi."
When He Ding saw that Long Live Master was going to take him out for a ride, he bowed with great joy and said, "I'll go get ready now."
Zhu Youtang put on his military uniform in Dongnuan Pavilion. He looked at He Ding who ran in and asked, "How do I look like?"
He Ding gave a thumbs up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is so handsome in what he wears!"
Zhu Youtang laughed heartily, and Long Yan was delighted.
When he arrived at Nanhaizi, Zhu Youtang found that the Nanhaizi garrison sergeants had made preparations in advance. There was a post at every ten steps and a sentry at every five steps. They were heavily guarded. It turns out that He Ding had informed the guards of Nanhaizi in advance that Long Live Lord was coming to make them smarter.
Zhu Youtang was greatly pleased when he saw the neat appearance of the Nanhaizi guards and went up to have a chat. As the magistrate of a poverty alleviation county in later generations, Zhu Youtang was quite good at giving speeches. Soon the soldiers were aroused and had the urge to sacrifice their lives and blood for the emperor.
While Zhu Youtang was getting familiar with the bow and horse, news came from the palace.
"Your Majesty, there is news from the palace. The ministers have gathered outside Wuying Hall and asked to see you." He Ding said carefully. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Zhu Youtang was in high spirits.
Zhu Youtang frowned and said with a serious expression: "What are you doing to see me? Why can't you remonstrate with me? Are you coming to force me to go to the palace? Who are the ministers outside Wuying Palace who want to see me?"
"The first assistant of the cabinet is Wan An, and the second assistants are Liu Ji and Yin Zhi. Yin Yan, the Minister of Personnel, and Peng Hua, the Minister of Rites, were all transferred to Hao Zhong... They said there were more than 80 ministers in total, and more than 200 people were like ministers. .”
This means that you, the Emperor, decide what to do. More than 200 of us are against it. If you don't listen to us anymore, we will drown you in our mouths.
If it were Zhu Youtang in history, he might have admitted his mistake obediently, but as the soul of future generations, this matter would not make any waves in his eyes.
"What a good minister of the Ming Dynasty. Don't pay attention to them. Just tell them that I am hunting in Nanhaizi and let them disperse on their own."
Seeing that Zhu Youtang could not wait, a group of ministers outside Wuying Palace began to whisper that they no longer wanted to wait. A new Yamen has been set up, and yesterday Wu Ying started collecting fees one by one from the shops in the east of the capital.
"Everyone, don't be discouraged if you wait any longer! As long as we all are united, His Majesty will definitely change his mind!"
"Yes, when the late Emperor was here, we cried bitterly and fought hard at the Wenhua Gate for the funeral ceremony of the Empress Dowager Ciyi, and Your Majesty had no choice but to obey. Things today are not as good as before, so why should we be afraid!"
"When we receive a national salary, we are willing to make suggestions for the country. Your Majesty is young, and we, as ministers, should give you our best advice. The worst we can do is to die for your advice!"
In the evening, Zhu Youtang rode back to Qianqing Palace. Hearing that the ministers were still kneeling in Wuying Palace, he ordered several eunuchs and eunuchs to convey the message.
The ministers had been kneeling all day, and their backs and backs were sore at this time. Some officials had secretly dozed off in the background, but they were still trying to hold on to each other to see who would give in first!
A sharp-eyed minister saw a few young eunuchs coming and thought that the emperor had given up and was about to compromise with them. He shouted excitedly: "Chief Minister, someone is here! Everyone is awake, Your Majesty wants to see us!"
Upon hearing this, all the ministers immediately became energetic and lost their previous dejection. At this moment, they all stretched their necks to wait for the emperor's oral instructions.
The emperor orally ordered: "My ministers and servants, I understand what you mean, and I will handle it. You go back first!"
Zhu Youtang's words were simple and clear. Most of the imperial edicts of the Ming Dynasty emperors were very plain. This was due to the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, so the meaning of edicts passed by subsequent emperors was simple and clear, without any red tape.
After listening to the oral instructions delivered by the eunuch, the eunuch in charge of rituals, all the ministers were dumbfounded. The emperor still won't surrender to us?
"If I don't see Your Majesty today, I will not dare to retreat until I die!"
Seeing that they could not persuade these adults, the eunuchs and eunuchs of the Bureau of Ceremony had to go back and reply to Zhu Youtang's order.
"Like to kneel? Then let them kneel! I am not used to them. In two hours, I will inform them of the morning court tomorrow. Anyone who dares to be late will be killed!" Zhu Youtang was lying on the dragon couch in Xinan Pavilion eating. Putao, those Qingliu scholars like to do whatever they want. If they can, they will kneel down all night.
Two hours later, when the young eunuch of the Supervisor of Ceremonies informed the ministers outside Wuying Hall that they would attend the morning court tomorrow, the ministers were all complaining. This emperor doesn't play by the rules and has only gone to court once since he ascended the throne. Why is he suddenly having an early meeting again? At this moment, according to the second morning meeting, it was only three hours old.
In order to ensure that the ministers of the Ming Dynasty went to court on time, they had to get up at midnight, and after getting dressed, they had to gather at the Meridian Gate, which was around three o'clock in the morning in later generations.
In the cabinet, Yin Zhi, the second assistant, suggested that the ministers should disperse first, go back and rest for a while, and prepare to go to court. You can also advise your majesty in the court.
At Yin Shi, the three drums on Chengtian Gate were completed, and the official and military flag schools were already arranged. All civil and military officials held memorials and lined them up in order in Yemen in advance.
After ringing the bell, the Bell and Drum Division opened two gates first. The Meridian Gate is the main gate of the Forbidden City. There is an imperial passage in the middle, which is not open on weekdays. The two gates on the left and right are for the generals on duty, the guards and the flag masters. In and out. When officials go to court and enter the palace, they can only go through the left and right gates.
After blowing the whip, the ministers crossed the bridge one by one and arrived at Fengtianmen Danqi. They stood facing each other on both sides of the imperial road and waited. Among them, the civilian officials were on the left class and the military attachés were on the right class. This is called "living". During this period, the censor responsible for picketing was also supervising. Anyone who coughed, spitted, was crowded or behaved improperly would be recorded and awaiting reporting for processing.
As hundreds of officials lined up to arrive at the Imperial Palace, an official from Honglu Temple walked slowly to the stairs outside the hall and shouted to the officials below:
"Enter the class!"
After hearing the shouting, civil and military officials began to move forward in unison.
The civil servants were led by Wan An, the chief minister of the cabinet, and marched "from north to west", while the military attachés were led by British Duke Zhang Mao and "went north to east", and then began to perform mountain salutes.
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
Looking at the scene in front of him, Zhu Youtang was completely shocked. This is the Ming Empire!
At this time, the first person on the left came out with a memorial: "Chen Wan'an impeached Wu Ying, the governor of the new Yamen, for six major crimes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several censors and officials also jumped out and shouted that they wanted to impeach Wu Ying.
The impeachment of Wu Ying is false, but the warning to myself is true. Zhu Youtang sat on it and looked around, and saw that several people in the left column were already ready to make a move.
It was obvious that these people were looking to Wan An as their leader. Most of the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty are already members of Wan'an. If I don't take some extraordinary measures today, I'm afraid it will be difficult to control it in the future.
At this time, an old man with a white beard slowly came out from behind and coughed a few times, "Your Majesty Xu Pu impeaches the Chief Minister Wan'an!"
As soon as these words came out, there was an explosion in the court.
Wan An was also stunned and looked back at Yin Yan. In the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Yin Yan was at the ministerial level and Xu Pu was at the deputy ministerial level. A deputy minister went to impeach his ministerial-level boss. Yin Yan was very embarrassed. Looking at Wan An's cold eyes, if he didn't come out to solve the problem, he was afraid that the ministers would beat him to death.
Yin Yan immediately came out and shouted back: "Xu Pu, have you impeached the wrong person? The chief minister has done his duty for the country these years, and all the officials and His Majesty have seen it. Are you an accomplice of Wu Ying?"
Zhu Youtang didn't speak, and snorted in his heart: "This Yin Yan is indeed Wan'an's minion. This flattery to the boss is really timely."
Xu Pu looked at Yin Yan coldly and continued to say seriously: "Wan An has committed nine crimes:
"Crime One: The crime of treason.
Sin 2: The crime of deception.
Sin three: the crime of transgression.
Sin 4: The sin of mad disobedience.
Sin 5: The crime of specialization.
Sin 6: The sin of taboo.
Sin 7: The crime of cruelty.
Sin 8: The crime of corruption.
Sin 9: Sin of erosion.
Each of the nine deadly sins was written in detail in the memorial. Your Majesty, please take a closer look. "
Wan An broke out in a cold sweat. This damn old man Xu didn't just want the emperor to be dismissed from office. He listed these nine major sins from nowhere. Any one of them could make him die without a burial place.
"Xu Pu, you are slanderous. You must provide evidence in everything. I have fulfilled my duties for the country these years. Your Majesty, please trust me!"
After looking at Yin Yan's impeachment letter and then carefully looking at Xu Pu's memorial, Zhu Youtang suddenly became furious and threw the two memorials at Wan'an's feet. He shouted: "Don't be the chief minister of Wan'an for now. Go home and have a good rest. I will give you a long vacation. Don't worry, I will send someone to check it carefully and I won't blame you wrongly. But if one of the memorials is true, you Don’t even think about complaining and returning home, just bury him in the capital!”
Wan An was suspended from his post, and the whole court was in an uproar.
