Prisons are undoubtedly daunting places.
Many people will escape death if they fall into it.
But there are exceptions.
This is the case with Zhang Pu.
His cell was clean and comfortable, and the south-facing windows even let in warm sunlight.
A desk, chair, paper and pen were placed in the room for him to write.
For those who didn’t know, they thought this was his quiet room.
The sound of footsteps approached, and a eunuch's voice reached Zhang Pu's ears.
"Mr. Xi Ming, His Majesty has a decree and orders you to appear in court."
Zhang Pu didn't react at all, he still lowered his head and wrote. After writing the last word, he put the document away, got up and walked out of the cell.
"Mr. Ximing, the place for bathing and changing has been prepared."
Zhang Pu looked sideways.
"Why do you need to take a shower? Why do you need to change clothes?"
The eunuch was speechless.
"When I meet His Majesty, I naturally have to take a shower and change clothes."
Zhang Pu did not obey.
"Life is a journey, death is a journey, and this prison is also a journey. All this. Zhang has experienced it all. I dare not deceive you."
The eunuch was angry, but there was nothing he could do.
Zhang Pu could only be allowed to walk out of the prison in plain clothes.
When the door of the prison of the Ministry of Punishments opened, Zhang Pu stopped in his tracks at the sight of a sea of people outside.
"How could Zhang be so virtuous that he should bother the people of the capital to treat him like this?"
The eunuch looked strange.
"Mr. Ximing misunderstood. These people came to see the traitor Mao Chenglu being cut to pieces."
Zhang Pu was stunned and made a rare blush.
But walking out like this, facing countless probing eyes, made him quite uncomfortable, and he even had trouble walking.
They had just walked out not far when a roaring roar of curses suddenly erupted behind them.
Zhang Pu looked back and saw a prison car slowly walking out of the prison.
There was an unkempt man in the wooden railing of the prison car.
Although there was a large group of royal guards on the left and right to look after them, the angry people in the capital still rushed forward, and the attacking carriage was crumbling.
Countless things were thrown at the people in the car, and the scene was completely chaotic almost instantly.
Zhang Pu looked at it from a distance and sighed.
"Is this the Dongjiang rebel Mao Chenglu?"
The eunuch's eyes flashed with hatred.
"It's exactly this animal. Your Majesty has decreed that it will be cut into pieces today. I'm afraid it won't be able to eliminate the hatred of the people in the world."
Zhang Pu was silent, but a thought flashed through his mind.
"If you kill Mao Chenglu, will the world be at peace?"
"Zhang Pu, do you know your guilt?"
In the Yangxin Hall, Chongzhen's questioning did not make Zhang Pu feel any nervous.
"Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. Although the students are far away from the world, they still worry about their king. All they do is to safeguard the Ming Dynasty forever. I don't know what the crime is?"
Chongzhen sneered.
"Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. This is what the Shandong rebels say, right? You use it smoothly. People say that you, Zhang Ximing, and Shandong are at odds with each other. In my opinion, that may not be the case."
Zhang Pu said bluntly.
"Your Majesty, is Shandong really a traitor? In that case, please issue an edict to the world and summon the world's knowledgeable people to put down the rebellion as the top priority."
Chongzhen felt extremely uncomfortable at this time, and his anger came up on the spot.
"The major affairs of the country and the dynasty are complicated. If you make a mistake, you will lose everything. But you kidnapped public opinion and caused chaos in the court, causing public opinions and confusion. The situation is urgent and cannot be planned. Do you still know your mistake to this day?"
Zhang Pu responded generously.
"The student is neither an important official in the court nor a general in the army. The only place where he can fulfill his loyalty and filial piety to the Ming Dynasty is with paper and pen. If His Majesty is ordered not to speak, the student will immediately seal up his pen and return to the mountain to become a man of grass and trees."
Chongzhen snorted: "You have resentment in your heart. You blame me for not using you more."
Zhang Pu quickly kowtowed and grabbed the ground.
"Students don't dare."
"The imperial court has always been concise, selecting talents, and supplementing them with moral character. If you want me to reuse you, you need to show your true ability."
Zhang Pu was extremely excited.
"The dynasty has been raising scholars for two hundred years, and the students have been deeply favored and devoted themselves to death. The fame, fortune and fame are just like floating clouds to the students."
Chongzhen chuckled, asking God to be sarcastic, but at least he didn't say it on the spot.
"I have learned about your controversy with Shandong. Today, you are the only one who can unite people's hearts and bring order to chaos. You have read this article, do you have any countermeasures?"
Chongzhen handed "The Process of History" to Zhang Pu and revealed his purpose.
This article has been circulated all over the country, and people are talking about it. Many people agree with the views contained in it.
Chongzhen was horrified when he saw it, and finally understood the horror of Shandong.
But now the imperial court lacks military force and is surrounded by enemies on all sides, so there is no way to suppress it militarily.
This is why Chongzhen thought of Zhang Pu.
When Shandong's ideas spread wildly, Zhang Pu was the only one who kept tit-for-tat and refused to give in.
If Chongzhen wanted to maintain the orthodoxy, he would naturally use Zhang Pu's influence.
Hearing Chongzhen's words, Zhang Pu really burst into tears.
He worked hard, wrote books and neglected food and sleep to argue with Shandong. Why?
Not for this day.
"Your Majesty, the student has read this article to perfection. Everyone on the road knows what happened in Shandong. The student has been studying it with great concentration for many days, but there are still many things that he does not understand."
Seeing Chongzhen listening attentively, Zhang Pu expressed his thoughts.
"Shandong's theory is novel and strange. It is completely different from the ancient and modern sages and has its own system. The students feel that instead of watching the fire from the other side and seeing the flowers in the mist, it is better to go deep into the tiger's den to get a glimpse of the true face."
Chongzhen was startled.
"You want to go to Shandong?"
Zhang Pu was impassioned.
"Although students may not have the power to tie a chicken with their hands, their determination to protect our holy religion and the country of the Ming Dynasty can be learned from heaven and earth. Although Shandong is a tiger's den, students still regard death as home."
I have to say that Zhang Pu's statement moved Chongzhen.
The affairs in Shandong have reached this point, and the whole court is in a state of panic.
However, no one has ever dared to stand up and go deep into Shandong to find out what happened.
The information that Jinyiwei can pass back is basically from the general public.
The court knew it, and so did the people.
But as for the real situation in Shandong, the court still couldn't see the truth.
Zhang Pu and Shandong had become mortal enemies for a long time, and they actually dared to put themselves in danger.
Apart from anything else, this fearless spirit alone is enough to overwhelm both the government and the opposition.
"What if the Shandong rebels are against you?"
Zhang Pu told him frankly.
"From the student's point of view, although Shandong is rebellious, they are not cruel, easy-going, and misbehaving people. When students came to Beijing, they occasionally saw it. Although the Shandong section of the canal was controlled by rebels, it passed smoothly without disturbing them. Come to think of it, People in Shandong will not be guilty of what they say. If a student dies because of this, it will be considered a well-deserved death if it can awaken the wise people in the world to work together."
Chongzhen remained silent, but actually he was a little unhappy inside.
He could tell that Zhang Pu seemed to have a high opinion of Shandong.
If Shandong is really good, what will happen to the imperial court?
But now that the matter has come to this, he also agrees with Zhang Pu's point of view.
No matter what, we have to go to Shandong and take a closer look to find a way to deal with Shandong.
Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle.
