The 19th Chapter Disputes over the Palace of Heaven and Purity
On the third day after the Dragon Boat Festival, Wei Dongting and Mingzhu entered the palace according to the imperial edict. As soon as they got off the sedan at the Meridian Gate, they saw Mu Zixu coming out to welcome him. He smiled and said: "Please hurry up, the emperor came early today. He has not yet arrived." Let’s have dinner, I’m afraid the meeting of ministers has already started.” Both of them were surprised: Why is the matter so urgent?
There were many people attending the court this time. Sitting on low tables along the wall were Jieshu, Ye Bilong, Suo'etu and Xiong Cilu. There were also more than twenty ministers sitting on wooden pedestals. There was a tea table, and everyone was sitting upright, staring at Kangxi without saying a word. Wei Dongting looked at each one one by one. Except for Zhu Guozhi, Fan Chengmo and Mi Hansi, the Minister of Revenue, the rest only had a nod of friendship. Mingzhu knew them all, only It was inconvenient to speak, so he stood nearby and greeted each one with his eyes. Kangxi was dressed neatly today, wearing a white silk tassel crown, a brown solid gauze gown, an azure blue gauze gown, and a gold inlay with three colors The ponytail tie was tightly tied around his waist, and he was pacing back and forth in front of the spacious throne room of the Qianqing Palace. His green satin soap boots made a scratching sound on the water-polished blue tiles. When he turned around and saw Mingzhu and Wei Dongting still standing there, he just He nodded and said "Sit down" and ignored him.
"Except for Ye Bilong and Mi Hansi, no one agrees with the withdrawal of the vassal state." Kangxi suddenly stopped and stared at Xiong Cilu with his bright eyes and asked, "You, Xiong Cilu, the academic leader, talk about the Three Cardinal Principles and the Five Constant Rules every day, do you Talk about it, if you treat the residual disease of carbuncle, in the future, bad diseases will occur, and swords and weapons will be everywhere, how can you use the method of 'the king serves as the guide for his ministers'?"
Xiong Cilu leaned forward uneasily and replied: "I am not saying that the San Francisco vassals should not be withdrawn, but it is one thing to withdraw, and it is another thing to be able to withdraw. The country has not recovered its vitality, so it suddenly issued an order to withdraw the vassals. , if unexpected changes occur, raising wages will be a huge problem, and there is a shortage of soldiers, how to deal with it? "
"Long live!" Suo'etu continued Xiong Cilu's words and said, "Although the San Francisco is now its own sect, there is no evidence of rebellion. At first, the imperial court made an oath with Wu Sangui to protect Yunnan for the rest of his life, but now he issued an edict to withdraw the vassal for no reason. , for fear of arousing criticism from the government and the public - if a person has no faith, he doesn’t know what he is... right!" He suddenly felt that what he said was a bit inappropriate, and he stammered and squeezed out the last two words.
"Huh?" Kangxi didn't care about Suo'etu's harsh words and asked with a sullen face: "Withdrawal of the vassal state for no reason - that's what you think? Tell me, Wu Sangui privately purchases 10,000 horses from Tibet every year and it's still not enough. He also secretly went to Inner Mongolia to recruit horses. What's the use of it? The weapons in his arsenal can equip 700,000 people, so why do they have to cast them day and night? No officials from the imperial court can be sent to the south, not to mention Jiangnan, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, How many officials in Anhui are ministries and commissions, and how many are officials selected from the West? The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Affairs can’t tell clearly just now. There are officials selected from the West everywhere! These people are doing whatever they want, and the court can’t control it! ‘In the whole world, is it the king? Soil; on the shore of the soil, could it be that he is a minister of the king? It is an empty talk!" At this point, Kangxi seemed very excited. He picked up a cup of herbal tea in front of the dragon table and drank it in one sip, and sneered: "I didn't expect that all the work of the ministers was in vain. The salary from the imperial court is not as insightful as that of a twelve-year-old singing girl, which really chills me!"
These words were spoken in a stern tone, and the hall suddenly became silent. A thin layer of sweat broke out on Suo'etu's head.
"Long live the Holy Ming!" Mingzhu saw Suo Etu's embarrassment and laughed secretly in her heart. She straightened her body and said loudly, "Now that Aobai's internal troubles have been eliminated, all the ministers and ministers inside and outside are looking up to the Lord to revive the power of heaven and achieve all the success with one drum. The people of the world hate the separatist regime and hope to withdraw the three vassals, just like looking at the clouds in the face of a severe drought. If we don't withdraw now, when will we wait? The will of heaven and the people is what I believe Wu Sangui will not dare to disobey."
"Not necessarily!" Xiong Cilu said coldly. Mingzhu's words were exactly the same as what Mi Hansi said during today's meeting. Xiong Cilu hated this kind of empty discussion, so he said loudly: "Mingzhu flatters me now, this is
The behavior of a villain! Today, everything is in ruins, and the vitality has not been restored! Since ancient times, one man started chaos, thousands of people suffered, and the country suffered disaster. There are countless stories in the history. Can we ignore the king and father and make a desperate move? "
"Mingzhu's statement is not unreasonable. It cannot be said to be flattery." Yi Bilong winked and coughed dryly and said, "Removing the vassal state is indeed what the people want. If this vassal state is not removed, the people will not be in peace and the country will not be able to govern.
!" He suddenly remembered that he met the prefect who was neglecting river workers in Gu'an the year before when transporting grain by water. Thinking that this was not the time to talk about it, he swallowed it back.
"I think what Xiong Cilu said is right, and we still have to convince people with virtue." Suddenly someone said loudly. When the pearl was looked at, it was Wei Xiangshu, the minister of Dali Temple, who was speaking, "Wu Sangui's future in the Ming Dynasty was just a general town, and it is in danger.
He was granted the title of earl at the critical moment. I have treated him with such kindness as the ocean, how can I not want to repay him?" Mingzhu was about to retort when Wei Dongting next to him said: "Wei Xiangshu must judge the heart of a villain with a gentleman's heart. How can you protect him?
Will Wu Sangui resist?"
"If you want to evacuate, you must have a complete strategy!" Xiong Cilu stepped forward with a blushing face, "The Book of Changes says that if the king does not keep secrets, he will lose his country, and if the ministers do not keep secrets, they will lose themselves! If anything goes wrong, build an ancestral temple.
Where is the country's grain? At present, the food can only last for two years, and there is not enough money left..."
"Master Xiong!" Mi Hansi didn't wait for Xiong Cilu to finish speaking, and rushed to intercept him. "My household department has money to buy food, which can be used for five years! Besides, the Lord did not say that the vassal will be withdrawn today, but
We must immediately prepare to withdraw from the feudal clan. If I have another two years, I can save another year of military pay!"
As soon as these words came out, the ministers in the palace couldn't help but talk among themselves. Kangxi couldn't help being shocked, and turned to ask Mi Hansi: "Last year, there was an earthquake to repair the palace. Didn't you say you had no money?"
"Long live the words!" Mi Hansi stood up, bowed and sat down again, and replied loudly, "Long live now, I am talking about building the palace, but I still have no money!" Suo'etu also stood up and said, "Long live, please, Mi Hansi deceives the king."
sin!"
Zhu Guozhi and Fan Chengmo were both foreign officials who came to Beijing to report on their duties. This was the first time they attended such an imperial meeting. Seeing the ministers quarreling with each other and speaking sharply, they were so shocked that sweat broke out on their backs. For Mi Hansi to be so strong, it was just right.
He was worried that Kangxi would be furious, but Kangxi suddenly laughed loudly: "The country has such a good minister, what should I worry about? Zhang Wanqiang, let the Ministry of Internal Affairs record it, and Mi Hansi will wear a yellow mantle and give him a pair of flower feathers!"
A yellow mantle is nothing, but having peacock feathers with both eyes was an extremely rare honor in the early Qing Dynasty. General Ulia Sutai was promoted to a marquis for his meritorious service. He would rather not give up the title. Please give him peacock feathers with both eyes. It will be included in the ministry meeting. However, the court meeting did not give it.
With this kind of reputation, Mihansi now has no great merit. He only accumulated a few years of military pay and was so favored. The ministers couldn't help but let out a burst of admiration. Mihansi was so excited that his face flushed, and he kowtowed heavily on the ground and said: "Long live grace."
, I feel ashamed for receiving it. If I can’t raise another year’s military pay within two years, I would rather accept the long live reward!”
"I also understand what Xiong Cilu said just now, 'There are no dangers'. Have you, Xiong Cilu, read Mencius? The country is more important than the king! My decision to remove the feudal vassal is for the sake of the country and the country, regardless of life and death. Only the world
Great power is exercised by one person and cannot be left to others. The vassal vassal is going to be withdrawn, and I have made up my mind." Kangxi spoke eloquently. He solemnly sat back on the throne and said according to his revised "strategy for withdrawing the vassal vassal", "Ministers
From now on, everything must be done according to this purpose. Before the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion in the Western Han Dynasty, there were controversies similar to today's. You and I have different opinions on the important matters of the country and the country. No matter whether you are right or wrong, I will not punish you. I will not charge you.
What Tu, Xiong Cilu and others said also has merit: before withdrawing the vassal state, careful preparations must be made and no rash actions can be taken. If the country does not have the power to suppress rebellion, it cannot easily issue an edict to withdraw the vassal state."
"Long live!" Xiong Cilu was greatly shocked after hearing Kangxi's words. He stood up and kowtowed to the ground and said, "The day before yesterday, Wu Sangui petitioned to resign from the post of general manager of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Why didn't the Lord accept his petition?
Let’s do some testing first.”
"Well, good!" Kangxi was very satisfied with Xiong Cilu's magnanimity. Although he didn't agree with each other, he was able to work together to do things. He nodded with a smile and said, "I agree to your suggestion, and the edict will be issued today." He said loudly.
He said to the officials who knelt down to resign one after another, "As agreed today, Zhu Guozhi will go to Yunnan as governor, and Fan Chengmo will be transferred to Fujian governor. He will leave immediately after his resignation. The other ministries and offices will each prepare their own affairs after they retire from the court.
Here comes the memorial, please kneel down and pay your respects!"
The people in the palace had retreated, and it seemed empty. The slanting shadow of the sun shone into the palace from the open door. Kangxi suddenly felt a little lonely, and suddenly remembered that he had eaten snacks at the queen's place in the morning and had not eaten yet. He had not eaten yet.
Unconsciously, he was secretly amused. He stretched out comfortably under the warm sunshine at the door and moved his legs and feet. From a distance, he saw the head of the household department, He Guizhu, holding a large stack of documents in his hands and about to send them to the clerk's room. He shouted with a smile.
: "He Guizhu, come here!"
"Hey!" He Guizhu was walking with his head lowered. Unexpectedly, someone called him. He looked up and saw Kangxi coming over with a smile. "It's the master calling the slave. The slave is getting worse and worse!" He hurriedly sent the document to the case.
He turned around and hit Qian'er again and kowtowed, "I'm afraid I haven't paid my respects to my master for half a year! My master's body is quite strong, but his eye sockets are a bit gouged? Even if he's busy with work, he still has to cherish it.
.”
Kangxi looked at the Yuepeng store owner who had an extraordinary situation - although his hair was half white, he was much fatter than before, his face was rosy, and he was wearing a new sixth-grade uniform, and he looked quite energetic - while listening to his chatter
While smiling, he said: "Now that I have become an official, can I still maintain my previous skills? When I came back to your shop nine years ago, you were preparing wine for your Mr. Wu to send him to the palace. I have tasted your steamed rice.
Can you still make turtles?" He Guizhu was startled after hearing this, and then smiled hurriedly and said: "Long live Lord, I am convinced by this note! I have been doing food all my life, and how can I lose my life? Long live Lord, I thought well.
, I will have another party right now!" After Kangxi heard this, he turned to Mu Zixu, who was standing in front of the throne, and smiled: "You have been standing here since morning, and you are tired. Come down and relax - send someone to call for help.
Hai Di Paizi came in, I have something to tell you." Then he smiled and said to He Guizhu: "I will reward all the guards of the Qing Palace to have a royal meal together today. You will direct the kitchen and use your methods. Don't let those evil cooks use warm fire meals to deal with it.
, I’ll send you to come when I’m done!”
He Guizhu agreed with a smile and walked away. Kangxi was half lying on the imperial couch with his eyes closed and meditating. Mingzhu, Mu Zixu, Lang Ding, Jianluzi and Su Lun and other new guards were in Danqi.
They went down to the big golden vat to move their hands and feet and talk casually. Only Wei Dongting did not join the group and stood guard by the hall like a nail.
"Minion Tuhai is here to meet you!" Kangxi was about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard someone shouting loudly outside the palace. When he opened his eyes, Tuhai was wearing a flowered coral peacock feather top and a nine-python and five-clawed robe.
, wearing a golden pheasant patching up his clothes, he walked into the hall, flicked his horse hoof sleeves and knelt down, "I respectfully wish you the Holy Annunciation!" Kangxi hurriedly sat up and said with a smile: "Get up - I was waiting for a meal, but I fell asleep." Picture
When Hai was about to ask what the summons was about, He Guizhu barged in. Da Qian'er smiled and said, "The imperial meal has been prepared and placed in the east chamber. The guards are waiting outside the hall for the Long Live Lord!"
"Your Majesty hasn't eaten yet," Tu Hai quickly stood aside and said, "I'll just wait here."
"I'm still a little worried." Kangxi said thoughtfully, "Have you arranged all the arrangements? What did Zhou Peigong say?" Tu Hai bowed and replied: "Zhou Peigong asked for leave the day before yesterday and said he went to Lanmian Hutong to do something, but he didn't talk to him
He made a plan - a total of more than 5,400 people were assigned to the twelve mosques in Kinki, the capital, to capture the Niujie Mosque first and set it on fire. The remaining 11 places would use the fire as a signal to attack together. Tonight, the rebellion could be brought back to the masses.
Swing it all away!"
He Guizhu was not paying much attention at first, but when he heard the two men speaking so seriously, he saw Tu Hai's face full of murderous intent and his muscles twitching, and his heart suddenly jumped with fright.
"Very good," Kangxi said calmly, "It's just that I don't feel at ease at all. I just heard some rumors about the rebellion of the Hui people, but there is insufficient evidence! They have been together at night and in the morning for more than ten days. Aren't they afraid of the imperial court's awareness?
"
"Long live Hui!" Tu Hai was not tall, but he spoke like a bell. "The imperial court has repeatedly issued decrees that people are not allowed to gather for business. The Hui people should know it. Based on this, it is not too much to kill them.
What's more, they are like this every night -" Before he could finish his words, He Guizhu suddenly exclaimed: "Oh my God! What did Master Master and Master Tu say - the Hui people are worshiping!" His face turned pale with fright.
"Get out!" Kangxi was startled by him unexpectedly. Seeing that it was a sixth-grade official who interrupted state affairs in surprise, he couldn't help but change his color. "Is there something you said here?" Wei Dongting heard Kangxi getting angry at the entrance of the palace.
, hurriedly came in, pushed He Guizhu and walked out.
"Come back!" Kangxi suddenly thought thoughtfully, waved his hand and ordered sternly. He Guizhu had seen Kangxi every day a few years ago, but he didn't know that Kangxi's temper was so scary. He was so frightened that he turned around and knelt down.
, said with a mournful face: "Slave...slave should...die!" Seeing that he was frightened, Kangxi slowly said after he calmed down: "I forgive you this time - how did you know they were worshiping?"
"The slave's mother is a Muslim." He Guizhu's soul finally returned to his senses and he spoke more fluently, "The slave used to go to the mosque with me when I was a child. The master just said, 'We gather at night and disperse in the morning'. That is the rule in their religion.
It’s been more than ten days, so it must be the month of Ramadhan!”
"What is Ramadan?" Kangxi and Tuhai were both startled and looked at each other. Kangxi said again: "Don't just kowtow."
He Guizhu raised his head, his forehead was already covered in black and blue, and he said with a bitter smile: "There are so many rules there that I can't even remember them. To put it bluntly, it's just like our Chinese New Year."
It turns out that the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar is called Ramadhan, which is most likely to arouse suspicion from outsiders. Once the month of Ramadan begins, the Hui people use the morning star as the standard, fast during the day, and do not eat or pray until the sun goes down in the evening. The Hui people only worship
Believing in Muhammad is not like the Han people who worship God when they see it. They ask God for whatever they want. Even if they cannot go to the mosque, they have to do the "Huofu Tan" evening prayer at home every day and pray to Muhammad ten times. During Ramadan, you must pray every night.
I went to the mosque to listen to sermons and prayed "God's return prayer" and "Travehan". The number of prayers increased from ten to twenty-four, and I didn't go home until late at night for dinner. People outside didn't know what was going on and saw that they were so sneaky in what they did.
, who is not suspicious? He Guizhu talked and gestured for a long time before he finally came up with a rough idea: "...Now that Long live the Lord wants to arrest these people, isn't it a huge injustice? On the twenty-eighth night of the twelfth lunar month in the Muharram, it is
On the day when Muhammad ascends to heaven, there will be an additional 100 rakahs in addition to the twenty-four rakahs. There are people who are in poor health and even pray to death!" He talked incoherently for a long time and wiped the foam around his mouth with his hand.
, staring at the dumbfounded Kangxi.
"Long live Lord, please make a decision!" Tu Hai was also a little flustered. The soldiers and horses had already set off. As soon as the fire broke out, they would attack together. If there were any changes at this time, they would need to notify them one by one. Otherwise, if there is a fire accidentally, tens of thousands of people will be killed.
Heads on the ground!
"Even if He Guizhu is telling the truth." Kangxi felt deeply that the matter was of great importance, and he patted his forehead and asked, "I have been in Beijing for so many years, how come I haven't heard of this matter? Whether it is Ramadan or the New Year, Kangxi is here
It’s been ten years since I heard about it, it’s really strange!”
This is indeed the truth. He Guizhu stared hard for a long time and couldn't understand it, so he kowtowed and replied: "Everything I said is true. It's just that I don't know why Ramadan has not been celebrated in these years but this year."
"I'm hungry." Kangxi took out his pocket watch and looked at it. It was already the time to apply for the license. He stood up and said to Tuhai: "Cheng Yaojin came out halfway! Ask Xiao Weizi to send someone to pass the order: all roads
The soldiers and horses who entered and suppressed the mosque must wait for orders before moving again. The original signal will be canceled if there is a fire! After dinner, I want to visit the Niujie Mosque in person. Tuhai will also go with me."
Because of something else, the imperial meal that had been prepared happily was served in a hurry. Tu Hai and Wei Dongting tried their best to dissuade Kangxi from going to Niujie, but Kangxi just laughed. Finally, he stood up and patted He Guizhu on the shoulder and said: "
If what you said is true, you will have done a lot of good deeds today!" After saying that, he ordered to change into a gray silk robe and a green felt hat on his head. He took off his betel nut purse from his waist and threw it to He Guizhu.
He said, "Here's a reward for you!" Then he turned to Tu Hai and smiled, "Ask Wei Dongting to dress you up so that you can go to the mosque with such a brilliant feather. Tomorrow there will be news in Beijing again."
On an early summer night, the scent of flowers is intoxicating. People on Niu Street are bustling with people selling dumplings, wontons, Beijing snacks, roast duck, roast chicken, scones, and beef and mutton soup.
The chasing and playing, hide-and-seek laughter presented a peaceful scene, and no one realized that there was any danger in it. But Tu Hai and Wei Dongting were murmuring in their hearts, even though there were dozens of Mu Zixu behind them.
The guards pretended to be common people and followed them. Who can imagine what it would be like when thousands of Hui people rioted, and how to ensure that this stubborn young emperor could escape safely? Wei Dongting was responsible for guarding Kangxi, and the more he thought about it, the more he became afraid. A warm breeze
When it blew, Kangxi praised loudly: "Good wind!" Wei Dongting shuddered.
"Old man, do you want to go to the temple to worship?" Tuhai and Wei Dongting were thinking about something when they suddenly heard Kangxi ask. When they looked up, they saw a vigorous old man with a silver beard and white hair, wearing a white cloth often worn by Hui elders.
He was wearing only a half-length white shirt and was walking with his hands behind his back. Kangxi had already struck up a conversation with him.
"Yes!" The old man nodded and said with a smile, "The children were impatient and couldn't wait, so they went out at dawn. I am getting older and I can't compare with them."
"How many people are there in my uncle's family?"
"Me?" The old man chuckled, stretched out his hand, flashed it, and turned it over twice, "Fifteen! They are all in a hurry. Why don't you go to Good Morning Health early and worry about the little oil at home? You little kid?
Sir, are you ready for the festival?"
"Almost..." Kangxi hesitated for a moment and agreed vaguely.
"It's not easy!" The old man sighed as he looked up at the big arch of the mosque that was getting closer and closer. "I finally have a festival this year... It has been almost thirty years since Emperor Shunzhi came to Beijing. In the past few years, there was a war famine.
, the next few years were not successful, and Aozhongtang kept enclosing the land. It was really evil, and I didn't even have a single day of peace! I finally got through it - if I keep struggling for a few more years, a big boy like you would be afraid
I don’t even know how to celebrate Eid al-Fitr! This is really a blessing from Allah and Emperor Kangxi!”
So that’s it! Kangxi was stunned for a moment. Wei Dongting and Tu Hai also felt enlightened and looked at each other with some shame. Just as they were about to persuade Kangxi not to enter the mosque again, Kangxi suddenly turned around and grabbed Wei Dongting’s arm.
, exclaimed in a low voice: "Huchen, look who is coming over there!" The voice was actually trembling with panic!
Wei Dongting looked in the direction of Kangxi's gaze and was surprised - six or seven people walking across the street were chatting and walking. Among them were Yang Qilong who was guessing the riddle with Li Guangdi and Chen Menglei in the Gu'an County inn. He gave the answer to the riddle.
It is "It is better for the Yi and Di to have a king than for the Xia to perish." Therefore, Kangxi had a particularly deep impression on Yang Qilong, and he can still recall his strange and sinister look at that time. Yang Qilong was dressed in very bright clothes, and surrounded by a group of people, he was paying homage to Yang Qilong.