If someone else had advised Zhu Qizhen to demote his position, it might not have much effect.
But Wang Ji is different. His weight in Zhu Qizhen's heart is beyond comparison.
In the Zhengtong Dynasty, the most favored eunuch was Wang Zhen, and the most prestigious civil servant was Wang Ji.
Now even Wang Ji supports the arrangements made by the court, which makes Zhu Qizhen feel a little broken.
If you don't have the support of important ministers and have no righteousness, then what's the point of fighting with your brother.
Zhu Qizhen summarized the situation he was about to face. The good thing was that after he returned to Beijing, he could move freely in the imperial city, summon ministers and accept congratulations at will. You can even participate in political affairs.
The bad thing is that he had to issue an imperial edict to punish himself and then be demoted to Emperor Gongrang. From then on, his status was under that of his younger brother Zhu Qiyu.
The most disgusting part is that the conditions given by Zhu Qiyu are extremely uncomfortable, but they are not absolutely unacceptable.
This is completely close to the bottom line in Zhu Qizhen's heart, but he has not completely crossed the bottom line.
Both the Queen Mother and Wang Ji have chosen to accept the reality.
The most important thing is that the attitudes of the Queen Mother and Wang Ji can represent most people.
Zhu Qizhen now faces the same dilemma as Yexian: no one supports him.
Even the noble Supreme Emperor, the former Emperor of Heaven, if no one supports him, is just a decoration that can be solved by three or two eunuchs.
So Zhu Qizhen understood the deep meaning of Wang Ji's words just now: Now his life is completely in the hands of his younger brother. As long as Zhu Qiyu makes any hint, his life will be gone.
Now Zhu Qiyu can still provide generous treatment, which is entirely out of his personal conscience.
If I don't know how to praise him again, then the incident of Xiao Ming Wang Shen Jiang will happen again.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qizhen shuddered. He seemed to need to cross the Yellow River on his way back.
Wang Ji, Liang Yue, Fang Ying and others observed the changes in the face of the Supreme Emperor and did not dare to say anything.
Zhu Qizhen didn't bother with this topic anymore. It was a long way to go and it was still early to arrive in Beijing, so he asked Wang Ji: "Where is Chen Mao, Marquis of Ningyang? My brother promised before that he would send Aiqing and Marquis Ningyang to pick me up." Returning to Beijing."
Wang Ji replied: "The Marquis of Ningyang is now in Ganzhou to clean up the house for His Majesty. Our army set out from Ganzhou, and now we are returning to Ganzhou first.
Your Majesty, please rest in Ganzhou for a few days, and then we will return to Datong via Ningxia.
After that, the army stayed in Datong, and the Holy Council sent ten thousand guards in brocade robes to serve as a guard of honor for the Emperor to welcome His Majesty back to the capital. "
Zhu Qizhen nodded, this arrangement was quite reasonable.
But his younger brother was really cautious and ordered Wang Ji's army to stay in Datong, completely putting an end to his thoughts of rebellion and restoration.
If Wang Ji's army returns to the capital and suddenly launches an attack when Zhu Qiyu comes out of the city to greet him, there is a high chance that the mutiny will succeed.
But if the army stays in Datong, the mutiny will be meaningless. Zhu Qiyu had a total of nearly 200,000 direct troops in Beijing and Xuanfu. He also controlled the center of the imperial court and held great righteousness. If Wang Ji dared to rebel in Datong, his army would be defeated within a month.
After all, no soldier would openly rebel against the emperor when he was so full that he had nothing to do.
After realizing that all options had been blocked by Zhu Qiyu in advance, Zhu Qizhen chose to remain silent for the time being.
Zhu Qizhen decided to meet with Chen Mao first.
Jingyuan Bo Wang Ji, Ningyang Marquis Chen Mao, and Dingxi Marquis Jiang Gui were the most important Ming army commanders in the Zhengtong Dynasty. Now that Jiang Gui had died of illness the year before last, Wang Ji chose to compromise with the new king.
Now only Chen Mao is left. If Chen Mao also compromises, then it will be meaningless for him, the Supreme Emperor, to persist.
So Zhu Qizhen waved his hand helplessly, indicating that everyone should disperse.
Next, there was a rush march.
Wang Ji was eager to withdraw from the grassland and return to the interior to replenish supplies.
Zhu Qizhen was also eager to leave the grassland and return to the town to rest for a few days.
Therefore, the army moved very quickly and returned to Ganzhou City in twenty days.
On the morning of February 10th, Zhu Qizhen's driver, accompanied by Wang Ji, Fang Ying, and Yue Zheng, arrived at the gate of Ganzhou City.
Gansu's civil and military officials had already gone out of the city to welcome him, and lined up on both sides of the road to stand in line.
Zhu Qizhen got off the carriage and accepted the worship of civil and military officials.
After the salute was completed, everyone was ordered to stand up. Zhu Qizhen looked at them one by one.
On the left are civil servants and on the right are military officers. On the left are civil servants, and on the right are nobles and generals.
Standing at the head of the civil servants was Ma Ang, the right deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the counselor of Gansu Military Affairs.
The right deputy censor of the capital is a third-rank official, and is already a very respectable minister. Moreover, Ma Ang's counselor to Gansu Military Affairs was appointed by Zhu Qizhen when he was in power, so he naturally knew him.
Zhu Qizhen looked towards the general again, only to find that Ningyang Marquis Chen Mao was standing in second place. The one who ranks first among the generals is a young man in his early twenties, who is handsome and full of energy. He also looks very unfamiliar and has no impression at all.
Zhu Qizhen turned to look at Wang Ji and asked with his eyes.
Wang Ji quickly explained: "This is Cao Guogong Li Xuan, whose courtesy name is Huaiyi. He is the eldest grandson of Cao Guogong Li Jinglong."
Zhu Qizhen nodded. It's no wonder. There are records in history books that Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao State, was tall, with sparse eyebrows and a handsome look. Every dynasty meeting, proceeding and stopping at Yongrong Jindu, the number of Taizu belongs to it.
Looking at Li Xuan today, it is indeed the legacy of his ancestors.
Just two years ago, Li Xuan was still an unknown commoner. Now he has become the Duke of the country, ranking ahead of Ningyang Marquis Chen Mao at a young age. Zhu Qizhen had to admire his brother's boldness in hiring people.
Although Zhu Qizhen stared at him and looked him up and down, Li Xuan didn't show any embarrassment. After all, although he, a new and cutting-edge prince, appeared unexpectedly in the court, he was confident and upright.
His great-grandfather Li Wenzhong, King of Qiyang, ranked third among the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, and was also Taizu's nephew.
My great-grandfather was the hereditary Duke Cao Guogong who was directly consecrated by Taizu. As the eldest grandson of the Li family, it was only natural that he should succeed Cao Guogong. Therefore, no matter how you look at me, Your Majesty, I will not be embarrassed.
Not to mention, if his grandfather Li Jinglong hadn't spared his reputation and repeatedly betrayed him, would Taizong have been able to successfully quell the crisis? Can you sit on the throne?
As a result, after Taizong was firmly on the throne, he killed his donkey, deprived his grandfather of his title, ransacked his house, and placed him under house arrest for no reason.
It was the benevolence of the current emperor who not only restored order from chaos and restored the reputation of the Li family, but also returned the title.
So Li Xuan is not embarrassed, Zhu Qizhen is the one who is embarrassed.
Zhu Qizhen had to briefly exchange a few words with Li Xuan before looking at Chen Mao.
Chen Mao was completely different from Li Xuan. Dang even knelt on the ground, holding Zhu Qizhen's thigh and burst into tears. His behavior and attitude were exactly the same as when Wang Ji first met Zhu Qizhen.
The monarch and his ministers cried to each other again before returning to the city.
In the Shaanxi Xingdu Si Yamen, Zhu Qizhen was served by a beautiful woman, bathed and changed clothes, and had sumptuous meals.
After having enough wine and food, everyone was summoned to discuss matters.
This time Zhu Qizhen was eager to hear Chen Mao's opinion on the situation in the court. If Chen Mao also sided with the emperor, there would be no need to fight against the emperor.
(End of chapter)
