After two major constructions in the Yongle and Zhengtong dynasties, Beijing now has nine gates: Desheng and Anding on the north wall; Xizhi and Fucheng on the west wall; Dongzhi and Chaoyang on the east wall; and Chaoyang on the south wall. Chongwen, Xuanwu, Zhengyang.
But at this time, the number of people living in the gates outside the Nine Gates actually exceeded those in the city.
Outside the Zhengyang Gate are the Temple of Heaven and Earth and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers. The escorting army surrounding Zhu Houcong set out from Liangxiang before dawn and finally arrived outside Xuanwu Gate at around 9 a.m. after more than two hours.
Here, the temporary palace built by the internal officials and the Ministry of Works faces north and south. The chief supervisor has already arranged the throne here, and a tent has been hung in the hall.
The personal guards of Shangzhi lined up from the Meridian Gate, Daming Gate, and Xuanwu Gate all the way to the temporary parking hall outside the palace. The emperor's highest-standard ceremonial guard, the Great Chariot, had just arrived here.
The "Emperor's Special Transport" surrounded by horses, walking chariots, Daliang walking chariots, large horse chariots, small horse chariots, jade chariots, large chariots, and even a small walking palace-like palace hall.
In the front and back, there are several honor guards holding various utensils, which are gorgeous and solemn. Not only that, there are also hundreds of civil and military officials and entourage wearing red, blue and green official uniforms.
The entire team size is nearly 2,000 people.
The people in the capital who were watching the excitement stayed far away.
It was even more impossible for them to know how fierce the debate would be in the palace later.
Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian and Mao Ji had already led the civil and military officials outside the palace. When they saw Gu Dayong standing at the door of the palace, Yang Tinghe sighed silently.
In the end, it was a failure.
After learning about the changes in Liangxiang, he knew that the dispute over succession was not a problem that could be solved in a day or two. I wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of the remaining traitors among the eunuchs, but I didn't expect that another thank you note came before the discussion was completed.
Since Sijun only raised the issue when he arrived here, he obviously made sure that the cabinet ministers would not be able to prevent him from ascending the throne.
If you don’t want to be a powerful traitor, do loyal ministers deserve to be manipulated like this?
Yang Tinghe felt more and more that these were all calculated, so he felt even sadder.
Why not follow the right path? Why don't you trust the ministers of the Central Government?
Who are the people around him making suggestions now? Was Liang Chu involved?
"Your Highness will take a rest for a while. He will meet with the ministers again after he ascends to the throne." Huang Jin came over and saluted Yang Tinghe and others, "Three ministers, Your Highness asked the ministers to ask whether the ministers should meet first or ascend to the throne." See you later?"
Yang Tinghe glanced at Jiang Mian and Mao Ji and replied solemnly: "In that case, I will meet with His Highness first."
"Please come this way, gentlemen."
Huang Jin led the way, and Yang Ting and the three of them walked to the palace first.
In the palace, Liang Chu and Mao Cheng were both there, accompanied by Xu Guangzuo, Zhang Heling and Cui Yuan on one side, and on the other side were the palace officials.
At this time, Zhu Houcong had not appeared here, and everyone in the palace greeted Yang Ting and the three of them.
Knowing that Zhu Houcong was changing inside, Yang Tinghe didn't think too much. He walked to Liang Chu and asked, "Uncle Hou, do you know that His Highness sent a thank you note to the palace last night?"
"What?" Liang Chu asked unexpectedly, "What did you say?"
Yang Tinghe took a deep look at him, and then relayed some of Xie Jianzhong's remarks. Liang Chu's expression changed after hearing this.
"I really don't know. After setting off from Liangxiang this morning, Xianqing and I persuaded him all the way." After Liang Chu looked at the screen of the palace with complicated eyes, "His Highness is so... decisive?"
"Your Highness is being rash in making such judgments about everything!" Mao Cheng was even more indignant.
In his opinion, the issues discussed by Xie Jianzhong are indeed sensitive.
Emperor Zhengde has passed away, and it is a very important follow-up task to finalize his coffin and decide on his posthumous title.
And how many sensitive issues did Xie Jianzhong touch on?
Evaluation of his predecessor: After Emperor Taizong, he had the broadest vision and the highest ambition.
Evaluation of the current national situation: Times have changed, foreign troubles continue, and internal worries arise again. He seems to be old and showing signs of aging.
Evaluation of the current tendency of courtiers to assist the government: blindly follow the old ways.
Regarding his policies and strategies after he might succeed to the throne: He didn't say it clearly, but he praised Emperor Zhengde.
Mentally prepare yourself for saying these things: you will be beaten to death.
He was the heir named in the imperial edict, and he was only one step away from his true status as emperor.
At this time, how dare you suddenly accuse the courtiers of their past achievements?
Compared with the issue of succession, it is more important for the future direction of the government, and it is even more important for the courtiers to not give in!
Seeing that Liang Chu and Mao Cheng's shock didn't seem to be fake, Yang Tinghe thought again.
At this time, Zhu Houcong finally walked out of it.
He and his first group of important ministers after taking the throne finally came face to face.
Yang Tinghe raised his eyes and felt that this young Sijun's eyes were clear and full of energy.
Not to mention his dignified appearance, I also saw his calmness and composure that Liang Chu and Mao Cheng praised a lot when they were sent back to the capital.
Zhu Houcong was also looking at the three of them. He came over to say hello and exchange numbers. His attitude was easy-going and cordial.
Yang Tinghe's impression of Zhu Houcong became more three-dimensional. Thinking of what happened yesterday and Xie Jianzhong's words, he felt that this heir was deeply scheming.
After Zhu Houcong sat down, he also looked at the old minister, whose eyes were bloodshot and looked tired.
It seems that I didn't sleep well last night.
"Thank you for your hard work, elders." Zhu Houcong said, "I thought today would be a scene of admonitions from hundreds of officials. Since the elders arrived alone first, everyone here knows the situation. The decision of the Queen Mother and the elders is directly stated Well, it’s not good to keep the ministers waiting outside.”
Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, and Mao Ji initially understood his speaking style. Apart from Jiang Mian, the other two could not help but frown.
Yang Tinghe concentrated his attention, stepped forward and saluted, and said: "Your Highness, the etiquette submitted by the Ministry of Rites yesterday is in line with the etiquette. I kindly ask Your Highness to enter the palace according to the etiquette, and then be persuaded by the officials to enter."
Zhu Houcong was silent.
The palace is small and cannot accommodate so many people. I will formally meet with the officials later, and not many are qualified to come in.
Therefore, the number of people in front of us now seems like the most common scenario in the future: many major matters are actually just discussed with a few important ministers.
The system of great dynasties, lunar new dynasties, and daily dynasties formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang has actually become obsolete: except for Zhu Yuanzhang himself, subsequent emperors have not been able to withstand this high-intensity and inefficient form.
In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang himself could not bear it. After deposing the prime minister, he established Hanlin bachelors as the "secretary team", and then gradually evolved into the current cabinet.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, an internal study hall was opened to teach eunuchs to study, and the eunuchs gradually rose to prominence. Today, the center of the empire has such a structure.
Yingzong was only nine years old when he succeeded to the throne, and his grandmother, the Queen Mother Zhang, did not listen to politics from behind the curtain. How could she decide something during the court meeting? There are also concerns about the growth and development of the emperor, so the cabinet has decided to limit the report to eight matters during the court meeting every day, and the cabinet ministers will write opinions on how to deal with these eight matters in advance to the emperor, so that the young emperor can make "fluent decisions" when the report is played at the court meeting. .
The voting system was thus formed, and the cabinet gradually eroded the powers of the six ministries.
Now, although the cabinet still does not have the power to dictate to the six ministries legally, it is actually the superior because it has the "right to recommend" to the six ministries to submit opinions on how to deal with various matters.
The only thing left is to directly instruct the Sixth Department what to do.
Zhu Houcong was lamenting these things in his mind, but silence was created in the palace, so he gradually became depressed.
After coming back to his senses, Zhu Houcong shook his head: "Is this the final decision? I still said what I said yesterday: I am not willing to enter the palace and ascend the throne with the etiquette of a crown prince."
Yang Tinghe's expression was calm. After all, he had expected this to happen. He said again: "Your Highness, I dare to ask, I would like to ask you, Your Highness, to inherit the throne but not the heir. At this moment, do everyone in the palace agree?"
Zhu Houcong's eyes narrowed slightly.
Is this the power of his cabinet minister? Are you going to directly ask people to take sides?
There is no doubt that those who stand up and agree at this moment are the villains who cater to the emperor's wishes. Next, they will face a storm of refutation, and many hats can be worn.
