For the people in the capital, the most difficult thing to endure is not winter, but early spring.
The yellow sand in Zhangjiakou was carried by the northwest wind and rushed over overwhelmingly. It didn't care about the majesty of the emperor and vowed to make the emperor disgraced.
The red clouds were like blood, and the ghostly wind was like violence, and it seemed as if the huge capital city had been completely swallowed up.
The Jinyiwei Yamen looms in the wind and sand, even more like a ghost, which makes people hesitate.
But on this day, several groups of people rushed into Jinyiwei like bereaved dogs.
Han Chuan sat as dry as a bell with a dull expression.
Although he knew a lot, the news from the spies sent to Shandong still made him feel scared.
Something big has happened.
It's like the sky is falling and the earth is falling.
He stretched out his hand, but in the dim light he could clearly see that his hand was shaking uncontrollably.
A tea cup used to be as light as nothing, and he wouldn't even look at it.
But today, it took him dozens of breaths to bring this tea cup to his mouth.
The bitter tea entered his throat, forcing him to finally calm down.
He got up and ran out of the office to find Wu Mengming.
"really?"
Like him, after reading the information, Wu Mengming's face turned pale and he even peed his pants.
But Wu Mengming had no time to care about his own image.
If you don't do it right, your head will be gone now. What's important about your image?
"They dare not lie about military information."
Han Chuan also wanted to say that the information was false, but unfortunately, he knew that everything was true.
Wu Mengming sat down on the floor with a thump, his eyes blank.
"Two vassal princes fell in succession. This is a catastrophe that has never happened in the Ming Dynasty. How should I explain it to Your Majesty and the court?"
Han Chuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said in a deep voice: "We are just guards, we only need to explain the matter. As for how to deal with it, we are not qualified to comment."
Even so, Wu Mengming still didn't get better at all.
For such a big thing, who knows if he would be treated as a scapegoat if he brought it up?
Looking at his virtue, Han Chuan knew that he could not count on him.
"That being the case, the Governor will sit down peacefully and his subordinates will go to pay homage to His Majesty."
"Han Tongzhi..."
Wu Mengming had tears in his eyes, and this shout was so sincere.
He never thought that when the storm was approaching, Han Chuan would actually stand in front of him.
Who doesn't know that going to see Chongzhen at this time is equivalent to having your head stuck in your belt?
But Jin Yiwei is responsible for the matter, so Jin Yiwei can only present it to His Majesty.
If he goes, he may be the one who dies.
Going to Han Chuan would be equivalent to dying for him.
Wu Mengming felt regretful in his heart, struggled to stand up, and grabbed Han Chuan's hands.
"In the past, the governor was so greedy that he made unreasonable speculations about Han Tongzhi. Today we found out that Han Tongzhi is actually a brother who broke up with him. After this, if nothing happens, I will make progress and retreat together with Han Tongzhi, share honor and disgrace, and stay together. abandoned."
Believe it or not.
Han Chuan already knew who Wu Mengming was, but he didn't believe a word of these seemingly sincere words.
Chongzhen fainted again.
No way, it's too exciting.
Two consecutive vassal kings were lost to the rebels, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty and the royal family.
Especially for him, the Mingzhu of Zhongxing.
He wanted to revive the Ming Dynasty, but as a result, the country was in decline, and even the vassal king was not saved.
The tall palace walls can block wind and rain, but they cannot block the news.
News of Chongzhen's collapse quickly spread throughout official circles.
The cabinet, the Sixth Ministry, the Sixth Section, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Fifth Military Governor's Office, and the relatives, all those who were qualified rushed outside the Meridian Gate, regardless of the howling weather, just waiting for news from the palace.
"What happened to Your Majesty?"
Zhou Yanru was pushed out and grabbed the Han general and questioned him repeatedly.
The Han general was very worried, but did he dare to reveal the situation in the palace?
"What's your conspiracy to control the palace and isolate the inside and outside?"
Wu Zongda, a scholar of Dongge University, is old and powerful, and he actually wants to break the palace ban.
While there was a lot of commotion here, the palace door slowly opened, and it was Wang Chengen who came out in person.
Seeing the boss of the inner court, the officials couldn't help but become quiet.
Interested people noticed that Wang Chengen seemed to be much older.
"Your Majesty has ordered that the Minister of the Cabinet, the Minister of the Six Ministries, Uncle Xiangcheng, and Lord Zhang of the Metropolitan Procuratorate should come to see you."
The ministers were in awe, understanding that something big must have happened.
Could it be...
Only Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren had some idea, and it was estimated that the matter in Shandong had been investigated clearly.
Thinking that Chongzhen fainted again, I'm afraid the situation is not very optimistic.
Several important ministers did not dare to delay and followed Wang Chengen all the way inside and went straight to the harem.
This situation made the important ministers even more anxious.
This shows that Chongzhen can no longer govern properly.
When they arrived at Qianqing Palace, Queen Zhou took the harem out of the way and gave up the place to the emperor and his ministers.
Yesterday, Chongzhen went to court to discuss politics, but in just one day, his appearance completely changed.
His thin body was hanging on the edge of the bed. If it weren't for the support of two young eunuchs, he couldn't even sit still.
In addition to Chongzhen, there are also Gao Qiqian, Wu Mengming and Han Chuan in the room.
Wu Mengming finally came.
But it was clear that Chongzhen no longer had the energy to blame others.
The moment he saw the ministers, this usually stubborn emperor's eyes were filled with tears.
"Since I have been in the imperial court, I have been working hard and sleeping hard at night. I have lived in tight clothing and food, and I have asked myself that I am worthy of Heaven. Is it true that Heaven wants to destroy my Ming Dynasty?"
The ministers were shocked, fell down one after another, and kept saying words of praise.
Frankly speaking, the young emperor in front of him, besides being headstrong and willing to blame others, was actually the most diligent after the Yongle Dynasty in terms of diligence.
Regarding the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, there were many discussions and opinions in the imperial court, but there were still some puzzlements.
Chongzhen was no longer willing to listen to the flattery of his ministers and said to Han Chuan: "Tell me about the situation in Shandong."
Han Chuan accepted the order and spoke eloquently.
There was silence in the inner hall, and the expressions on the faces of the ministers became more and more exciting.
Even Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren, who had known better, could not help but tremble.
Although I had a premonition that the situation in Shandong was not good, I never expected that the crisis would reach such a critical level.
"Then...then Zuo Mengeng really has any objections?"
Originally, after Dongjiang Town defeated Guan Ning's army, the court was at a loss as to how to put down the rebels.
At this time, when they heard that the last soldiers and horses in Shandong were about to rebel, everyone finally understood why Chongzhen was so desperate.
In comparison, although the news that Heng Fan and De Fan were sentenced to military execution was shocking enough, it was really nothing.
Han Chuan said solemnly: "Jinyiwei has been investigating for many days and has learned the details. Although Zuo Menggeng is a general, he already has tens of thousands of people under his command. From Linqing in the west to Denglai in the east, they are all in his hands. .”
All the ministers were astonished, as if they had heard a book from heaven.
A general raised tens of thousands of troops behind the back of the imperial court, but the imperial court knew nothing about it.
Whose fault is this?
emperor?
After all, the emperor controls the world.
cabinet?
After all, the cabinet oversees government affairs.
Six?
After all, the six parts are linked together.
Metropolitan Procuratorate?
After all, the censor patrolled and monitored various places.
Jinyiwei?
After all, Jin Yiwei is the eyes and ears of the court.
But within an instant, all ministers reached an agreement without any discussion.
Wen Tiren scolded: "What are people in Shandong doing? It's right under their noses, so why don't they know anything about it?"
Whoever is not present is the best scapegoat.
