A group of officials came out of Qianqing Palace and divided into several groups in twos and threes.
Liang Tingdong, Minister of War, and Li Biao, Second Assistant to the Cabinet, came together for the first time.
Zhou Yanru, the Minister of Rites, Cheng Jiming, the cabinet scholar, and Wang Yongguang, the Minister of Household Affairs, walked behind, looking at Li Biao and Liang Tingdong who were walking in front.
From time to time, he glanced at Han Xu, who was walking in front of several people.
They have been struggling in the officialdom for many years. In the Qianqing Palace, they all felt that Chongzhen intended to replace the first assistant. Once the first assistant changed hands, the first candidate to take over as the first assistant was the second assistant Li Biao.
As for Liang Tingdong and Li Biao coming together, it is easier to understand.
Liang Tingdong, the Minister of War, took office not long ago and his foundation is unstable. If Li Biao, the next chief assistant, can take care of him, his position as Minister of War will be secure.
Of course, when Han Xu leaves the cabinet, all of them will benefit together.
Han Xu, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped.
He turned around and looked at Li Biao and Liang Tingdong, saying: "You two should not support His Majesty's idea of attacking Guan Ningjun, especially you."
As he spoke, his eyes fell on Liang Tingdong, Minister of War.
Liang Tingdong frowned subconsciously when he saw this.
Han Xu didn't wait for Liang Tingdong to speak, and continued: "As the Minister of the Ministry of War, don't you know that the harm of abandoning the Ningjin line of defense is far greater than the benefits of Guan Ning's army entering the pass."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with giving up the Ningjin line of defense." Li Biao naturally couldn't watch Han Xu suppress the Minister of War who had just surrendered to him, and immediately retorted, "The harm of tiger thieves is already greater than that of slave thieves. If left alone, The tiger thieves captured Shandong, where will the chief assistant put His Majesty, and where will the Ming Dynasty be placed."
Han Xu turned slightly and said to Li Biao: "Your Majesty will be fine. Even if the tiger thieves occupy Shandong, there is still Nanjing to defend. Your Majesty can abandon the capital and move the capital to Nanjing, leaving the tiger thieves and the slave thieves to fight. I am Ming Dynasty Just reap the benefits of being a fisherman."
After saying that, he turned around and left without looking back.
Li Biao was stunned when he heard these words.
Not only him, but also Liang Tingdong on the side was in a similar situation.
No one expected that Han Xu would pay attention to moving the capital again.
"What nonsense? How can the imperial court move the capital so easily?" Li Biao, who had come back to his senses, waved his sleeves and robe at Han Xu's retreating back, making an angry look.
Liang Tingdong on the side comforted him: "Calm down, Mr. Ge. He is like a rabbit whose tail can't grow anymore. He's starting to break jars. There's no need to get angry with him. When Sun Chuanting fails to suppress thieves, he will leave the cabinet." time."
While in Qianqing Palace, everyone felt that Chongzhen was beginning to be disappointed with Han Xu.
Even if Chongzhen didn't say it explicitly, everyone could see that whether Sun Chuanting could successfully deal with the Tiger Banner army invading Shandong would determine whether Han Xu could continue to stay in the cabinet.
"You're right. There's no need for me to be angry with him." Li Biao suppressed the anger in his heart. There was no need to be angry with someone who was about to leave.
Cheng Jiming and others who followed them also heard what Han Xu said to Li Biao.
No one thought that Han Xu was so bold and wanted to move the capital to Nanjing.
This is easy to say, but not so easy to do.
Moving the capital to Nanjing is tantamount to giving up the capital and the north of the Ming Dynasty. Anyone who dares to propose this suggestion will definitely be scolded by the scholars.
Even if relocating the capital is a solution to the current predicament, no one dares to propose it in front of all the ministers in the court. Unless it is the emperor himself, whoever proposes it will bear the infamy.
Shortly after Han Xu and other ministers left, a young eunuch walked in quickly from outside.
He came to Wang Chengen's ear and whispered something.
After hearing this, Wang Chengen's face showed a look of surprise, and he raised his hand to signal the little eunuch who reported the news to leave.
"What happened?" Chongzhen noticed the change on Wang Chengen's face and smelled it immediately.
He is suspicious by nature, and he wants to understand any changes in the people around him, otherwise he will not be able to sleep peacefully.
After hearing this, Wang Chengen stepped forward, knelt on the ground, put his forehead on the ground, and said, "I dare not say this."
"Say, I forgive your innocence. If you don't tell, I can still find out by asking others." Chongzhen sat up from the couch, becoming extremely interested in what Wang Chengen did not dare to say.
Wang Chengen slowly raised his head and said to Chongzhen: "Returning to the emperor, the people on duty outside Qianqing Palace heard what the chief minister said before leaving, which made all the ministers dare not speak."
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"What are you talking about?" Chongzhen asked curiously.
Wang Chengen hesitated for a moment and said: "The chief assistant told Mr. Li Ge that his majesty should move the capital to Nanjing."
After saying that, he quickly lowered his head and stared at the ground.
However, after a long time, before Chongzhen became angry, he slowly raised his head again and looked at Chongzhen secretly.
Sure enough, he didn't see the slightest hint of anger on Chongzhen's face.
At this time, an idea arose in his mind.
"Daban, do you think the first assistant really meant what he said?" Chongzhen asked thoughtfully.
How could Wang Chengen dare to answer such a thing? He hurriedly knelt down and lowered his head and said, "I don't know."
"Are you really ignorant? Or are you unwilling to tell me?" Chongzhen's eyes fell on Wang Chengen.
Wang Chengen leaned down again and said: "I really don't know. I only know that what Your Majesty thinks is good is good. What Your Majesty doesn't agree with is definitely not good."
When he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, as if he was afraid.
However, it fell into Chongzhen's ears, but Chongzhen was very satisfied with Wang Chengen's performance.
"Okay, get up. I don't blame you for anything." Chongzhen signaled to Wang Chengen that he could get up.
After hearing this, Wang Chengen breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got up from the ground.
Chongzhen said again: "What the first assistant said is indeed a method, but I won't do it. Does the senior companion know why?"
"I don't know." Wang Chengen shook his head slightly.
Chongzhen was not dissatisfied because Wang Chengen didn't know what he said. Instead, he continued: "I really want to listen to Han Xu and move the capital. It will be equivalent to giving up a large area of foundation in the north. In doing so, I will be sorry for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, so I If the capital is not moved to Nanjing, even if I die, I will die in the Forbidden City in the capital."
"This slave is your Majesty's servant in life, and your Majesty's ghost in death. No matter whether you live or die, you will always be at your Majesty's side." Wang Chengen knelt down on the ground again.
Hearing this, Chongzhen showed a smile and said: "Big companion, get up quickly. You have been with me since you wrote to the palace. I believe you."
Although he didn't like eunuchs, he was still very satisfied with Wang Chengen's loyalty.
