"The Empress Mother is still wondering whether it was unnecessary to store the palace treasures outside the city before. It seems that everything is still unknown this time." After Empress Zhou came downstairs, Zhu Cixi held the railing and looked at her back with a solemn expression.
"After more than ten years of internal and external troubles, how can it be just put on a plaster and be cured?" Chang Yu smiled bitterly, stood up, and looked at the girl in the distance who looked back from time to time: "There is a long way to go, and we are alone!"
Zhu Cixiang turned to look at him when he heard this: "Did you read before entering the palace?"
"When I was a kid, I studied with a gentleman from the village for a few years." Chang Yu said casually and covered it up.
"You are not alone. I am by your side in the wind and rain." Zhu Cixi reached out and patted his shoulder: "Although our power in the court is small at this time, we still have people to speak to, and I believe that there will gradually be more and more people in the court."
The clearer and clearer!”
Chang Yu was startled: "Our people? You don't mean the newly appointed chief assistant Li Banghua, and the governor of Beijing Wang Jiayan, etc.?" He thought to himself that this kid is really childish and ridiculous!
"Yes, he was pushed by us behind the scenes," Zhu Cixiang said matter-of-factly.
Chang Yu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Prince, you think too simplistically. I heard that the chief minister was particularly dissatisfied with my trouble in finding honors in the court. He believed that honors are the foundation of the country. How could I be allowed to be so presumptuous? Even if Wei Zhongxian
Even when the power is overwhelming, one dare not move lightly. Therefore, the cabinet wrote a letter asking the emperor to issue an edict to punish himself. Isn't this true?"
Zhu Cixiang looked slightly embarrassed: "It's hard to explain what's going on here. It's reasonable for the chief minister to have complaints. It's just that you have been wronged. However, the chief minister is a loyal minister. This is what you said."
"Of course he is a loyal minister, and our family has taken the blame for this. I have no complaints. I just want to tell you that Chen Yan, Li Jiantai and other treacherous ministers were unloyal and unjust and deserved to die. The chief minister and the Wang family
Yan et al. are indeed first-class loyal ministers, but loyal ministers are not equal to capable ministers. If you simply think that having more loyal ministers in the court will make you clear, that is really naive. You see, the chief minister is a loyal minister now.
I am a loyal minister to my family, but you still insist on me. In other words, how are you any different from the others?"
Zhu Cihong was speechless for a moment, biting his lips and shaking his head: "You are so well-informed about court matters."
"You are also the leader of Dongchang. Although Dongchang has been in decline for many years, it is not difficult to ask some people in the court to criticize me." Chang Yu smiled bitterly.
No matter what, "It's better to be a loyal minister than a traitorous minister," Zhu Cixiang said, patting his head.
Chang Yu laughed: "That's true"
Zhu Cixiang said sternly: "Although the chief assistant and others criticized the matter between you and the nobles, they also affirmed your performance in the battle of Taiyuan. My father personally recounted your military exploits in the court hall.
The civil and military officials of the entire dynasty were all ashamed. If this matter came from hearsay or from Jin Yiwei, the ministers might not believe it completely. However, it was the secrets drawn by the cabinet itself. Most of these secrets were submitted by Cai Maode, Zhou Yuji and other Taiyuan officials.
The details are so detailed that I cannot allow the ministers to disbelieve me, and because of this, the people in the court scolded you a little less!"
"Man is doing what he is doing, and God is watching. Right and wrong are all in the heart of the people. The young people form cliques for selfish interests and are only interested in profit. But some sensible ministers know the truth in their hearts." Chang Yu smiled slightly.
Zhu Cixiang nodded: "So I plan to look for an opportunity in the afternoon to test the situation and see if I can get them to give my father some advice so that you can go to Henan to suppress the bandits!"
The prince is not allowed to participate in politics, but Chang Yu knows that Zhu Cixiang will not go directly to the cabinet to ask the ministers to report. Naturally, he will be a promoter behind the scenes to save the country. Although he cannot participate in politics, the officials in the East Palace are all courtiers, such as the left wing of the East Palace.
Zhongyun Li Mingrui was the first minister to suggest that Chongzhen should be moved south.
And the most important thing is that Li Mingrui's teacher and backer was Li Banghua, the chief assistant at this time. In fact, it was he who wanted Li Mingrui to test Chongzhen by saying he wanted to move south.
So Chang Yu believes that the prince can accomplish this!
"The sooner the better at this time. The intruders suffered heavy losses in Taiyuan. If they are unable to protect themselves, they will ravage the Central Plains. It is very likely that they will attack from the north all the way to Beijing. We don't have many troops in the Central Plains at this time. If he attacks
Who could have stopped me?"
Well, Zhu Cihong nodded solemnly: "I will go look for Li Mingrui in the afternoon."
"Why don't you see Consort Gong?" Chang Yu suddenly thought of Gong Yonggu. He must have known that the most loyal nobleman to Chongzhen at this time was none other than him, and he was the best friend with him and the prince. This time he returned to the capital Gong Yonggu.
Gu Li should have come over to meet him, but there was no trace.
Unexpectedly, when Zhu Cihong heard this, his expression changed. He looked at Chang Yu and said solemnly: "Do you know why I trust you so much, and why my father trusts me? It's all because of your dream!"
Chang Yu was startled at first when he said this inexplicably, and then he was shocked: "Princess Yong'an died of illness?"
Zhu Cixiang nodded slightly: "Yes, just two days ago, the prince-in-law was heartbroken!"
Chang Yu was silent for a moment, looking up at the frozen lake surface of Taiye Pond, which was reflected by the sunlight like a mirror, and sighed deeply. Gong Yonggu and Princess Yongan were deeply in love, and the death of the princess was a fatal blow to him!
Seeing his heavy expression, Zhu Cixiang changed the subject: "Let me tell you something about the DPRK, it's quite disgusting."
Chang Yu smiled bitterly and nodded slightly. He knew that Zhu Cixiang could now listen to politics in the court and knew a lot about state affairs: "I want to pick up something that is not too disgusting. I don't want to be unable to eat lunch."
"There are no less disgusting ones, only more disgusting ones." Zhu Cixiang said with a look of hatred on his face: "Let's not talk about the evil ones, but let me tell you about the rebellious ministers who eat the emperor's salary and are disloyal to the emperor!"
"What's there to say? Most of the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty are like this now." Chang Yu looked sarcastic, and Zhu Cixiang became more hateful: "It's just civil servants. When the traitors came to the city, the generals who were supposed to kill the enemy and serve the country did so.
, it’s really hateful…”
Chang Yu finally understood. Before he left the capital, the bandit army was closing in on Taiyuan. Chongzhen, because of the prince's dream, knew that there was a danger of national subjugation in the future, so he ordered the soldiers and horses from all over the world to serve the king!
However, except for Tang Tong, who was ordered to march urgently, the others... Wu Sangui chirped for a while, and then played a memorial to make the emperor think twice. After all, Shanhaiguan is the north gate, and the Qing army was watching covetously outside. After a while, it was a serious matter to withdraw troops and calm the people.
It was heavy and impatient... In the end, no troops were sent. Fortunately, the battle in Taiyuan was over. When Chongzhen saw that the danger was over, he probably let him stay at Shanhaiguan again.
Although Wu Sangui was stained with ink, he at least acted well, and Shandong General Liu Zeqing directly said that his foot was injured. Zuo Liangyu was negotiating the price with Chongzhen because he was afraid of being beaten by Li Zicheng. Hearing that Li Zicheng changed his face, Huang Degong was also around
And take care of him.
Previously, Chongzhen was worried that they would serve the king, but Chen Yan and others in the cabinet did not draft an edict (the emperor's edict must be drafted by the cabinet) because they were afraid of taking responsibility. Fortunately, Chongzhen quickly removed Chen Yan, Wei Dezao and others and replaced them with Li Banghua. The edict ended with eight
Delivered urgently over a hundred miles.
Historically, Wu Sangui was so stubborn that the bandits broke through the city gate before he reached the capital. Liu Zeqing couldn't get up, so the emperor rewarded him with forty taels of silver to treat his foot injury, and even sent a count to win him over, but he still didn't come.
, Huang Degong was timid, and Zuo Liangyu, who was far away in Wuchang, changed his mind when he heard that the thieves were negotiating the price with Chongzhen. Unexpectedly, the Ming Dynasty fell before the price was negotiated!
At this moment, history is repeating itself. Except for Tang Tong who led eight thousand men and horses wandering around the outside of the capital, everyone else is as usual!
"Shanhaiguan is very important. Wu Sangui's delay is understandable. Zuo Liangyu is far away in Jiangxi and can be forgiven. However, Liu Zeqing and Huang Degong are right in front of them, but they refuse like this. It is actually hateful." Zhu Cixiang's eyes burst out with hatred.
"Huang Degong is currently fighting against the traitorous general Liu Chao. It's understandable that he can't be separated, but Liu Zeqing is really hateful." Chang Yu couldn't help but sigh to himself. The country is in crisis, and the storm is extremely precarious. In this world, there are soldiers in hand.
You are the one, these military generals are self-respecting and look on coldly, waiting for the price to sell. Even the emperor dares to be angry and dare not speak out, and they try to win over them in a lowly manner.
"As long as this guy falls into my hands, I will definitely kill him." Chang Yu sneered.
Zhu Cixiang raised his head and glanced at him: "Father, have you ever..." As he said this, he couldn't help but look around, and then muttered: "This guy has tens of thousands of troops. If I kill him, I'm afraid..."
"Of course it won't be like killing Jiang Quan." Chang Yu chuckled: "This is all for later. At the most urgent moment, I should quickly ask the emperor to allow me to leave the capital and go to Henan to suppress the bandits. The prince should take action on this matter immediately."
.
"As you should." Zhu Cixiang raised his head and looked at the sky: "It's already noon, and since my father hasn't summoned you yet, why not go back to the East Palace and let's get some food and drinks and chat while we eat."
Hearing this, Chang Yu looked at the sky and shook his head slightly: "The Director of Ceremonies has a banquet, can you go with him?"
Zhu Cixiang was startled, then he realized and laughed loudly: "How can it be appropriate for me, the noble prince, to have a banquet with you and a bunch of eunuchs?" He waved his hand and walked towards the stairs: "I'd better drink with Li Mingrui."
"Minors should not drink alcohol," Chang Yu said with a smile.
Zhu Cihong didn't look back, waved to him with his hand, and walked away with a long smile. (To be continued)