He Yi didn't want to jump into the trap and immediately replied: "Wan Sheng is just a handyman running errands for His Majesty. How can Wan Sheng have any room to interfere in military and national affairs?"
Wei Ji smiled and said, "Just say what you say. At such a young age, don't always think about being wise and protecting yourself. After all, I have been an official for decades, and I have some dignity. I can still turn around and sell you."
Seeing that he could not escape, He Yi could only reply: "Wansheng believes that there are three key points in this matter: First, if the emperor Gong Rang is in power, it will not be able to end the troubled times and revive the Ming Dynasty. As for the border strategy of bringing order to the chaos and rebuilding the Ming Dynasty, it is even more important Don't even think about it.
Second, in His Majesty's position, no one can do anything about it. In the battle for the throne, there is progress but no retreat. Your Majesty has done nothing, and the government and the opposition are already at each other's throats.
If the officials remain unrelenting and the conflicts intensify again, completely eroding His Majesty's filial piety, I am afraid that it will be a great hidden danger to the Emperor Gongrang and the Crown Prince themselves.
Third, to be a minister, one must be loyal to the king, and now His Majesty is the king. There are no two days in the sky, and there are no two masters in the country. The object of loyalty of all officials should be His Majesty, not the emperor. "
Wei Ji nodded, especially the third point, which spoke to his heart. 'There are no two days in the sky, and there are no two masters in the country', this is what the sage said. There is only one emperor in the Ming Dynasty, and that is the emperor today.
Although the title "Emperor Gongrang" still contains the word "Emperor", he is actually no longer an emperor in the true sense.
A group of ministers were not loyal to the emperor, but they were all making noises and making fun of their emperor and father. This was what Wei Ji could not stand the most.
The two of them discussed together and unknowingly arrived at the gate of Prince Qi's Mansion.
The main entrance of Prince Qi's Mansion opened wide, and the carriage drove in directly.
Wei Ji opened the curtain and took a closer look, and saw that the architectural layout of Prince Qi's Mansion was different from both the Forbidden City and other royal palaces. The city wall is made of green bricks and blue tiles. The pavilions, pavilions, palaces and pavilions are all made of white marble.
On the contrary, the landscape pattern and scenery layout have the charm of Jiangnan gardens.
Zhu Qiyu specifically gave instructions to allow the carriage to go all the way to the outside of the South Hall.
By coincidence, Wei Ji and He Yicai got off the carriage, and Zhu Wengui, the king of Soochow, arrived just in time.
Gao Yao helped King Dongwu get out of the carriage. Wei Ji and He Yi knelt on the ground and paid homage.
When one reached a position like Wei Ji's, there was no need to pay homage to the prince with great ceremony.
But Zhu Wengui is so special.
Especially for Wei Ji, who attaches great importance to etiquette and law, anyone who disrespects Zhu Wengui is simply a traitor who forgets his ancestors.
Wei Ji also admired Zhu Qiyu very much: releasing and respecting Zhu Wengui was a wonderful move. In the future, whoever dares to say that the emperor should still be in the same lineage of Zhengtong should let them pay homage to the King of Soochow.
Don’t you ministers demand that you remain in the orthodox position? Okay, the King of Soochow is the orthodox one, so you can go ahead. If I don’t pay you back, it’s just Ye Gong who loves dragons and fishes for fame and reputation.
Zhu Wengui helped Wei Ji up, and they entered the south hall together.
Everyone greeted each other and took their seats. After the concubines arranged the food and drinks, they all left.
There were only six people left in the hall: Zhu Qiyu, Wei Ji, King Min, King Dongwu, Duke Wei and Zhao Hui.
Then it’s time to get down to business.
Zhu Qiyu chose to do some household chores first and talk to Wei Ji and Xu Chengzong about old Nanjing events.
Wei Ji and Xu Chengzong were very energetic and responded with great respect.
Both of them knew that the emperor was going to get involved at some point.
Sure enough, while chatting about old things in Nanjing, Zhu Qiyu took advantage of the situation and asked: "Does Mr. Wei recognize the former Minister of Industry and Industry, Mr. Huang Ruxi?"
Wei Ji understood now that the emperor was waiting here, and it seemed that he had to start talking about Jiaozhi first.
Wei Ji sighed heavily: "Yang Shiqi and Yang Rongshi are rare treacherous ministers in the ages. Huang Gong served as Shangshu, Jiaozhi, and the two officials. He guarded them for 19 years. He managed the government and people, and the people returned to their hearts.
Renmiao succeeded to the throne, but was deceived and bewitched by three traitors and summoned Huang Gong to return to the court. In the first year of Xuande's reign, Ma Qi, the middle official in charge of the garrison, abused the people and provoked a popular uprising.
Chen Qia, the Minister of War in charge of Jiaozhi at that time, wrote a letter asking Xuanmiao to send Huang Gong back as governor. So Xuanmiao once again appointed Huang Gong as Minister of the Ministry of Industry, in charge of the administrative affairs and inspection of Jiaozhi.
Unfortunately, when Huang Gong returned to Jiaozhi, the situation was already out of control. Anyuan Hou Liu Sheng was defeated and died, and Huang Gong was captured. "
At this point, Wei Ji became even more excited: "Huang Gong was possessed by thieves and wanted to commit suicide. The soldiers and people of Jiaozhi bowed down and wept, saying: "My lord, you are the parents of the people. If you don't go, I, Cao, will not come here."
Li Li heard about it and said: China sent officials to govern Jiaozhi and made everyone like Huang Shangshu. How could I do anything wrong?
Then he sent people to guard him, presented him with platinum and grain, and sent him out of the country on a carriage.
The three great traitors, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu, were so wicked. Huang Gong managed Jiaozhi in an orderly manner. Nothing happened, and the people of Jiaozhi had no intention of rebelling.
It was the three traitors who thought the Ming Dynasty was too peaceful and insisted on instigating Renmiao to transfer Huang Gong back to Nanjing. As a result, it only took more than a year for Jiaozhi to disappear.
Whenever I think about this, I wish I could eat its flesh raw. "
Zhu Qiyu also sighed heavily: "If what I expected is correct, after the loss of Jiaozhi, Sanyang must have placed all the responsibility on Huang Gong and Chengshan Hou."
Wei Ji nodded angrily: "Until now, Mr. Huang has not received any official title or posthumous title."
"Among this year's Jinshi class, there is a man named Chen Jie, ranked ninth among the top two, and his grandfather is Chen Qia, Minister of War.
When Chen Qia was defeated in Jiaozhi, his left and right officials wanted to help him escape. Chen Shangshu Zhang Mu scolded him and said: "I have been a minister of the country and have lived in poverty for forty years. Serving the country is today, and my righteousness is unswerving."
Then he killed several thieves with a knife and committed suicide.
Every time I think about this, I sigh deeply.
It is a pity that many great Ming loyalists were buried in Jiaozhi because of Sanyang Yi's selfish desires. "
Wei Ji sighed heavily: "Poor Chen Shangshu, he was posthumously awarded Shaobao and given the posthumous title Jieyin. Even though he died for his country loyally, he still got such a posthumous title that he didn't know what to call."
Zhu Qiyu and Wei Ji Junchen sighed for a long time, each one more angry than the other.
After a long while, Zhu Qiyu just gave the order: "The time has come to bring order to the chaos. What I mean is that Mr. Wei will posthumously posthumously make Huang Gong the Taibao and give him the posthumous title of Wenxiang. Posthumously make Chen Gong the Taibao and change the posthumous title to Wenzhong."
What does Mr. Wei think? "
When Wei Ji heard this, he shed tears and insisted on kneeling down and kowtow to thank the emperor for Huang Fu and Chen Qia.
Zhu Qiyu personally helped Wei Ji up, and the two reached a consensus on their attitude towards Sanyang. The next step is the most critical issue:
Sanyang colluded with the inner court and deposed his direct wife.
Will Wei Ji accept this charge?
At this point, Zhu Qiyu stopped beating around the bush and put forward his request directly.
Accept it or not, just make a deal and give it a happy word.
Although Wei Ji was upright, he was not completely unsophisticated. He still pushed back and insisted on letting the other four royal relatives express their stance first.
King Min was the first to express his approval. The two siblings, King Min and Princess Yongjia, have been completely tied to Zhu Qiyu's chariot, and there is no room for maneuver for a long time.
Prince Soochow was the second to express his approval. First of all, according to the experience of the King of Soochow, he must be the person who hates the heir the most. Therefore, Sun's "killing his wife with his concubine" is deeply abhorred.
Secondly, the current status, wealth, and freedom of the Soochow King were all given by Zhu Qiyu. Do you still need to consider how to take sides?
Zhao Hui, the consort of Princess Baoqing, was more troubled. As far as Zhao Hui's identity was concerned, he really didn't want to offend Sun and Zhu Qizhen to death.
If he does not express his position, the emperor will not be able to pass this test.
If you express your stance, there will be no turning back.
In the end, Zhao Hui said he needed to think about it seriously.
Zhu Qiyu did not dare to force Taizu's only living son-in-law. He was really desperate. Zhao Hui lay on the ground on the spot. If he accidentally passed by, the matter would be a big deal.
Needless to say, the Duke of Wei, Xu Chengzong, and the two Dukes of the Xu family have all clearly aligned themselves with Zhu Qiyu.
So in a very short period of time, he went around in a circle and came back. Wei Ji couldn't help but express his position.
Before making a choice, Wei Ji still gave his last thought to Zhu Qizhen, the former emperor's father. Wei Ji asked with a serious face:
"I dare to ask Your Majesty, once San Yang is found guilty, what will happen to the emperor in the future? What about the empress dowager? What about the crown prince?"
(End of chapter)
