Xing'an became anxious when he heard this, and quickly advised: "Your Majesty, it is not easy to gather people's hearts, and this opportunity is rare.
If we don't take this opportunity to turn things around in one fell swoop, people's hearts will be scattered.
Once the people's hearts are dissipated, the general trend will disappear, and the emperor is afraid that it will be difficult for him to recover. "
Zhu Qizhen laughed at himself: "With my current situation, can I still be restored?"
Xing'an advised firmly: "The battle for the throne is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. If the emperor does not fight, he will be restrained and passive.
It can be as fast as three to five years, or as slow as ten or fifteen years. Once the emperor's son grows up, he will inevitably become a prince in the future. By then the imperial lineage will have been completely transferred. "
"Brother wants to change his position as crown prince? Do you have any evidence?"
Xing'an helplessly replied: "Why do we need evidence? The crown prince was appointed by the Empress Dowager and was not the emperor's wish. Now that the emperor intends to fundamentally deny the empress dowager's status, he is preparing to depose the prince. This is the bottom line. Plan."
Zhu Qizhen was shocked when he heard this.
That being said, it's true. By denying the Empress Dowager, not only will the legitimacy of the Crown Prince be completely shaken, but even he, the former orthodox emperor, will face legal issues.
Then if I still follow the rumors about the 'Queen Mother Thief' to get to the bottom of it, wouldn't I be cheating myself? Once he proves that he is not the Queen Mother's biological child, what else is there to do? There is no need for restoration, and there is no need for the Crown Prince to continue to be king.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qizhen wanted to slap himself hard.
After a long while, Zhu Qizhen asked as if he was talking to himself: "Who was leading me to trace my life experience before?"
Xing'an quickly replied: "It was Chen Xiang who, when reporting the political trends to the emperor, used those memorials to guide the emperor's thoughts step by step astray."
Zhu Qizhen nodded: "It seems so. But that's not right. Yesterday, it was Chen Xiang who was the first to kneel down and persuade me that the Nangong rumors were deliberately spread by people with malicious intentions to alienate the relationship between me and the Queen Mother. Treat me well. When there was a rift between him and the Queen Mother, he broke it down one by one.
If Chen Xiang is deliberately misleading me, then why would he say these things? Isn't it just a thief crying to catch a thief? "
Xing'an smiled and said: "That's right, if a thief shouts "Catch a thief", then the average person will naturally be deceived and instinctively conclude that the thief is not a thief.
However, the emperor, Sheng Ming Zhu Zhao, would naturally not be fooled by Xiao Xiao. "
Zhu Qizhen nodded approvingly: "I will handle Chen Xiang's matter. Can you tell me what to do with the ministers outside first? If I really agree to choose a concubine and establish a queen, then I will be put on the fire. I won't do anything about it in the future. Success leads to success and there is no turning back.”
Xing'an persuaded with a confident face: "The emperor rules over the world, the queen and mother care for the world, and the yin and yang are harmonious and each performs their duties, so that the country can be peaceful and the people are safe.
After the emperor was established, it was natural and right.
When today's emperor refuses to establish a queen, it is an act of humility and retreat. It is intended to show the world that it does not dare to steal the artifact.
However, the emperor meditated and gave way to the emperor.
Now you come forward to advocate for the emperor to establish a queen, which is a continuation of the abdication. Both civil and military officials, as well as the government and the public, would only praise the emperor's virtue.
Even if the emperor recovers, he can only accept your kindness. "
Zhu Qizhen nodded again.
Xing'an added: "The emperor should also take the opportunity to summon the vassal king to Beijing to discuss state affairs. If the emperor can still act, he must return to the city to meet the vassal king.
When the time comes, the emperor takes the opportunity to detain the emperor and declare restoration, which is not an option. "
"I can't mobilize the army, how can I detain the emperor?"
Cao Jixiang replied: "I have been in the army for a long time and know the hearts of the soldiers. Although the emperor controls a part of the pro-army, most of the middle and lower-level soldiers in the Beijing camp still love the emperor.
The servants have also recruited some servants and servants over the years, plus the Sun family and other relatives, Gongshun Hou and other noble servants, it will not be a problem to gather three to five thousand dead men.
For some reason, the emperor suddenly transferred more than 20,000 personal troops to Shanxi recently, and now the city is empty. Five thousand people are enough to control the imperial city.
When the time comes, the vassal king, nobles, relatives, cabinet ministers, ministers, and civil and military officials are all under control, and the emperor can declare restoration and take the initiative in one fell swoop.
Then with the jade seal and military talisman in hand, and an imperial edict issued, the emperor's troops in the western suburbs will inevitably fall apart without a fight, and the matter will be settled. "
Zhu Qizhen asked: "Cao Jixiang, how many servants do you have?"
Cao Jixiang replied truthfully: "I have more than a thousand servants in the capital and more than a thousand in my hometown. If these servants contact their old friends again, it will not be a problem to gather three thousand dead soldiers who have experienced hundreds of battles."
Three thousand dead soldiers? Why does Zhu Qizhen feel a little familiar?
One eunuch could raise three thousand dead soldiers, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in Zhu Qizhen's eyes. Such a dangerous person must be dealt with quickly after taking advantage of him, otherwise he will definitely be a hidden danger.
But this is all a matter for later. The most important thing at the moment is how to deal with the ministers' requests for orders.
Zhu Qizhen would not be so stupid as to just listen to the eunuch and act randomly. It is a pity that Zhu Qizhen no longer has ministers as think tanks. Wang Zhi and Hu Hui were gone, as well as Tumubao, and a large number of close civil servants died.
Suddenly, Zhu Qizhen remembered a person and asked Xing'an: "Among these people from outside, is there Yang Shan?"
Xing'an replied: "Yes, Yang Shan has been demoted by the emperor to the position of the censor of the Ducha Yuan Youqiandu. Among the censors of the Duchayuan who have come to Fugu to see him now, except for Kou Shen, the censor of the Youdu, Yang Shan has the highest official rank."
Zhu Qizhen nodded, this is normal. Now that the Metropolitan Procuratorate is under Wang Wen's control, it is good to have a Youdu Censor and a Youqian Censor.
"Xuan Yangshan comes to see you."
Xing'an knew that his prince had been persuaded, so he quickly took the order and went out to announce the call.
So the ministers waited outside Yongtai Gate for half a day, and finally there was movement. Xing'an summoned Yang Shan to see him. Everyone was encouraged and looked at Yang Shan expectantly.
When Emperor Gongjang was hunting in the north, Yang Shan served as an envoy and went to Oara many times, so it was very reasonable for Emperor Gongjang to summon Yang Shan first.
Yang Shan bowed his hands in salute to everyone, and then stepped into the Nangong resolutely.
Yang Shan's reputation was completely ruined by Zhu Qiyu before, but now Yang Shan is eager to make a great contribution to restore his image and reputation in the court.
When Yang Shan saw Emperor Gongrang, after saluting, he did not mention the old story of Beishou at all, but bowed down and waited for Emperor Gongrang's inquiries.
Zhu Qizhen was very satisfied with this and asked directly: "Yang Aiqing, what do you think I should do about today's matter?"
Yang Shan replied: "What matters now is the right time, favorable location, and harmony. Your Majesty comes forward and agrees to choose a concubine and establish a queen. Firstly, he can win the hearts of all officials and regain popularity; secondly, he can comply with the destiny and urge the emperor to move to the Forbidden City. Show His Majesty's courtesy and benevolence to all people.
Thirdly, the emperor and the empress moved into the Kunning Palace. From then on, the brothers lived next to each other and had a close relationship. This was a geographical advantage. "
Zhu Qizhen nodded. What Yang Shan meant was very different from Xing'an.
Yang Shan also had some very obscure meanings, which translated into plain language is: The emperor has no foundation in the inner court, so he only needs to be deceived into the Forbidden City, and paired with a carefully selected queen and several carefully selected concubines. In this way, with the right time, favorable location, and friendly people, major events can be decided within a few years.
Zhu Qizhen understood all these words.
Before hunting in the north, Zhu Qizhen may not have known much about the inner court. But after returning, there was nothing serious to do, so Zhu Qizhen's focus shifted to matters such as the inner court.
Coupled with Xing'an's guidance, Zhu Qizhen's knowledge of palace fighting has improved rapidly.
But there are also negative effects. After learning too many conspiracies, Zhu Qizhen's trust in Xing'an and Cao Jixiang was greatly reduced.
On the contrary, Chen Xiang was honest and kind to others, which made him more favored by Zhu Qizhen.
Zhu Qizhen did not believe Xing'an's slander against Chen Xiang just now. Even though Zhu Qizhen was nodding his head, he had other plans in mind.
Xing'an never dreamed that the inner court was now in chaos, and everyone had a small calculation in their mind. Secretly, everyone moves the beads so loudly that they don't reveal anything publicly.
The result was that no one, including the Queen Mother, the Emperor, Emperor Gongrang, and the two empresses, could fully control the inner court.
This is a later story, but it is said that Zhu Qizhen made up his mind after listening to Yang Shan's words: anyway, it is only natural and right to establish a concubine for the emperor, occupying the righteousness of etiquette and law, even if he suffered a counterattack from his younger brother, he really couldn't stand it anymore Just step back and treat it as a test for your younger brother.
So Zhu Qizhen waved his hand: "Aiqing and Xing'an go together and call the officials in. I will meet them in the square in front of the Chonghua Hall."
(End of chapter)
