Faced with this situation, Zhu Houcong also had a difficulty: if he was the only one to refute it, he would be stubborn, self-willed, and unpopular.
Although the emperor claims to be a loner, how can he really be a loner if he wants to extend his power? No one is allowed to listen to you and do what you want?
If you take the lead in everything, where is your dignity? Where is the mystery?
Zhu Houcong had no other good ideas at this time, and it was impossible for Yuan Zonggao to defend these people.
This matter is not purely about reasoning, but about fighting for the right to speak.
He knew that the situation had evolved to the point where these people had flexible bottom lines, so he would not let the matter fall into Yang Tinghe's rhythm, and said: "No need to ask like this. The current situation is like this: you and me. You. , is the Queen Mother, civil and military officials, including my mother-in-law, and the officials of my palace; I am just me. Mr. Yang Ge, what you should ask is me, whether I am willing or not. There are only two results now: I ascend the throne , I will inherit the throne without heirs; I will not ascend the throne and go home."
Yang Tinghe suddenly froze there, his fingers trembling slightly.
He did not expect that the heir's attitude was so tough and he could ignore the attitude of the officials.
This is true disregard: you don’t agree, I don’t care. If you let me take the throne, just listen to me.
How self-centered?
Unexpectedly, Zhu Houcong then said: "I will not change my mind just because there are more or less people opposing me at the moment. This is not only because I do not want to inherit, but also because I do not want support and opposition due to this issue after I ascend the throne. The courtiers were divided into two groups."
Yang Tinghe said sadly and angrily: "Since Your Highness has such concerns, why do you insist on doing so even though you know that if you only inherit the throne without heirs, there will be a lot of discussion?"
"It's very simple. The ones who gave birth to me and raised me are my parents. Of course, this is a big matter. It is both a family matter and a state matter. I know there will be arguments. But this time is a special case. When it comes to arguments about this matter, everyone will have their own differences. The truth. What benefit does the country benefit from endless disputes?"
"In this case, Your Highness should focus on the overall situation..." Yang Tinghe became excited as he spoke, and with tears in his eyes, he explained how harmful it would be to inherit the throne without heirs.
Zhu Houcong frowned.
At the beginning, I felt a little emotional about the strength of Yang Tinghe and others, but the words were so clear. Although they clearly disagreed with their attitude, they were still able to use hard words to persuade them.
Zhu Houcong had a new understanding of the strictness of imperial authority that had been entrenched for so many dynasties.
"...Your Highness, those who sacrifice the near and seek the far will work in vain; those who sacrifice the far and seek the near will end up in vain. Even if the new king succeeds to the throne as a heir for many years, he still needs to grant amnesty to the world to win the hearts of the people and reward his merits for peace of mind. Your Majesty, how much more should this be a special case? It is indeed the right way to inherit the throne through heirs. However, Your Highness interpreted the imperial edict, sent a note of thanks, and found another way. In my opinion, it is to abandon the near and seek the far-off!"
After Yang Tinghe said this, he looked at him expectantly, but Zhu Houcong laughed. This was more or less an adult model that talked about pros and cons.
To put it bluntly, succession is the simplest and most effective way to eliminate hidden dangers, and it has a significant effect on national stability. As for the shortcomings, they were all carried by Zhu Houcong alone: he only recognized the high position but not the reputation of his biological parents. He was restrained by many concerns when he was just starting out, and his conservative tone was restrained by many concerns. He also recognized the more advanced strategies proposed by the cabinet ministers...
He curiously said: "Okay, just think that I am deliberately misinterpreting the imperial edict! Just think that I created this problem! For the existing problem, the solution you come up with is to make me give in? Yes, for the country , this is the easiest, it will end in peace, and the problem will be solved. But, is the problem really caused by my making trouble? Has the responsibility been thrown to me? "
Yang Tinghe's expression changed.
Zhu Houcong continued without waiting for him to speak: "The emperor did not give me an heir before his death, and the emperor did not give me an heir before his death. I was the crown prince first, and then the prince. At all times, my identity was Xiaomiao. Heir?"
"You didn't ask for my opinion before electing me. You just drafted a will for me to ascend the throne without a successor. The identity of my eldest son, King Xingxian, was clearly stated in the will! Now that I'm here, I raised the question. Well, you just want me to change my mind and pretend that all the above process and presentation problems don’t exist!”
"Yesterday and today, you said so much. Which one, which time, sincerely said that this matter was not done well or was done wrong?! They only focused on admonishing me, but one of them bowed his head and admitted his mistake?" Zhu Houcong looked at it He looked at Mao Cheng, looked at Liang Chu, and even looked at Yang Tinghe, "My Ming Dynasty has so many difficulties and so many hidden dangers, and your heart is always worried! But the courtiers have always thought of trying to force themselves out in the most worry-free and risk-free way. Do you want to smear it and pretend that nothing has happened and the world is at peace?"
As soon as these words came out of his mouth, Yang Tinghe's expression suddenly changed.
Cui Yuan has been watching silently.
With the level of Xu Guangzuo and Zhang Heling, perhaps they can only try their best to follow and think about the meaning expressed by Sijun and Yang Tinghe's words.
But Cui Yuan knew very well that this first meeting between the two would determine the tone of the next few years and even the new king's reign.
Yang Tinghe's sincere words and the fact that the heir has arrived outside the city gate all prove one thing: the heir cannot be deposed and his ascension to the throne is inevitable.
Because he is the king, Yang Tinghe can only persuade.
Yang Tinghe wanted to use the attitude of the officials to persuade him, but Sijun didn't accept the suggestion at all: This matter has to be done even if you don't support it.
He wants a voice.
Bowing your head is true surrender.
If you admit your mistake, how can you still be qualified to speak?
Even if succession is indeed a safer way for the country, the poster's accusation is too heartbreaking.
The murderous intention behind these words is simply terrifying.
Cui Yuan felt that he didn't say everything clearly, and it would be terrible if he said it thoroughly.
In this matter, what is the source of the problem? Is this really Sijun’s interpretation of the song?
No, it is the lack of the succession process, the expression of the edict, and the formulation of etiquette from welcome to palace.
When Xiaomiao died, the heir was not yet born; when Emperor Zhengde died, the heir was still a prince registered in the clan; when the edict came, he was the prince who had inherited the title of Xingxian; when he arrived in Liangxiang, he saw Before entering the palace, he was the heir.
But suddenly there was an additional identity of a crown prince, without going through the procedures of succession and without canonization!
Why didn’t many people think it was wrong before?
Only the cabinet ministers and the people in the reception group knew the news; in order to ensure a safe transition, there was only one edict issued to the world.
How do the officials and people know whether the heir has completed the procedures at the Ministry of Rites and the Zongren Mansion? How do they know whether he is the crown prince?
At this moment, isn't this momentous controversy being kept under control and only known to a few people?
So here comes the question. Now it’s Sijun asking: Why are you turning a blind eye when there are so many problems? Why doesn't anyone admit their mistake? Why can we only come up with a solution that makes Sijun submit?
Let’s be honest: Was this just a mistake made by the cabinet suddenly and unintentionally due to the incident, or was it deliberate from the beginning to the end?
Even if the edict was drafted in a hurry and without thorough thought, during the more than 30 days that the fengying group went to Anlu and returned to the capital, no one thought that there was something wrong with the process?
To be more pointed: at this moment, when faced with the questioning of Si Jun, the consequences of the cabinet not admitting its mistakes would be too serious. At a shallower level, it is incompetence and dereliction of duty, and mistakes are added up, which solidifies the reputation of the paper framer; at a deeper level, it is deliberate and evil intentions.
By the way, Yang Tinghe's words are useless.
The king is the king, and the minister is the minister. If the king is worried and the ministers cannot resolve it, what use are they to the ministers?
Because the harm and hidden dangers that may arise from succession without heirs are what the cabinet should make up for and resolve after making so many mistakes. How can the responsibility be passed on to Sijun?
Just when Cui Yuan was thinking about this, Yang Tinghe took the lead and knelt down again, and said with a trembling voice: "I am old and foolish, and I am unworthy of the great trust of Emperor Daxing. Although I did not ask for Yi's order first, I stayed in the palace first. The Wenhua Palace is precisely to complete the ceremony of succession..."
Zhu Houcong interrupted him: "It's too late. Now that I'm here, I should enter the palace and ascend the throne as the heir. Yang Ge asked everyone who is in favor, but I don't have to ask who is against. I only ask one thing: Your Majesty My brother’s legacy is that the Queen Mother and her ministers will review important matters. Now that the ministers are all here, I will come to the capital as the eldest son of King Xingxian to succeed to the throne. Do you still recognize the legacy you drafted?"
The four cabinet ministers were all kneeling on the ground. Yang Tinghe raised his head with tears in his eyes: "Your Highness, if you succeed without heirs, the disaster will be endless! Why does Your Highness insist on going your own way? Even if the ministers have made mistakes, Your Highness can punish them how they want, but how can the people deserve it? Does Your Highness really want to see the Ming Dynasty bring disaster to Xiao Qiang, destroy the country's power and destroy all living beings, and ignore the Ming Dynasty?"
