Zhang Yanling entered the palace under the scorching sun. As soon as she entered the palace, Zhang Yanling felt that the atmosphere was unusual.
Although the palace is heavily guarded on weekdays, people are rarely seen. There are only a small number of people patrolling the palace and guarding the palace walls, and most of them are stationed on standby. But today is different. From the moment they enter the Daming Gate, they will stay until noon. In front of the gate, there are a large number of patrols on the long royal road into the palace. After entering the Meridian Gate, there are even more patrols at five steps and one sentry at ten steps. The patrol team keeps walking between the palaces.
It seems that the three thousand guards of the Han Dynasty General's camp have all been dispatched, without any reservation.
In front of the Qianqing Palace, Zhang Yanling strode forward and saw Mou Binzheng, several deputies of the general office and dozens of guards standing in front of the palace gate.
Seeing Zhang Yanling's arrival, Mou Bin showed a sneer on his face and watched Zhang Yanling climbing up the stairs condescendingly.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Yanling, has met Mr. Mou and all of you." Zhang Yanling bowed her hands on the steps and said.
Mou Bin nodded and said in a deep voice: "Master Hou, are you going to see the emperor?"
Zhang Yanling said: "The emperor summoned me, but I don't know what happened. Mr. Mou, there are many guards in the palace today, and Mr. Mou and other lords are also here. Could it be that something happened?"
Mou Bin laughed loudly, and beside him, Gao Xie, the commander of Jinyiwei General Office, Xiao Lang, the governor of Fusi Town in Beizhen, and others also laughed.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "What is so funny? How many adults are laughing so happily?"
Mou Bin smiled while stroking his beard, and then said for a long time: "Hey, Mr. Zhang, tell me what to say about you? Mr. Zhang is both wise and brave, and has a high status. He originally had a bright future. My position as the commander of the Jinyiwei is also extraordinary. You are the only one. It’s a pity that you don’t have a high level of knowledge and have gone astray. It’s a pity.”
Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "What do you mean, Mr. Mou?"
Mou Bin chuckled and said: "It's not interesting. Go and see the Emperor. You will know when you see the Emperor."
Zhang Yanling nodded, cupped his hands and walked into the hall.
In the back hall, the light was dim. Zhu Houzhao was sitting on a chair, while Liu Jin and others stood beside him with their hands down and weeping faces. No one spoke, and the air in the room seemed to be solid. The only sounds of everyone's breathing and Zhu Houzhao's sighs from time to time were heard.
When Zhang Yanling opened the curtain and came in, strong light illuminated everyone in the room. Everyone squinted as Zhang Yanling walked in, and Zhu Houzhao's eyes flashed brightly.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Yanling, bows to the Emperor." Zhang Yanling stepped forward and saluted.
Zhu Houzhao stood up and said: "Uncle is here, get up quickly, no need to be polite."
Zhang Yanling thanked her and stood up, turned around and glanced at Liu Jin and others. Seeing that Liu Jin and others had sad expressions on their faces, as if they were mourning their heirs, Zhang Yanling felt funny in his heart. Before entering the palace, Zhang Yanling knew the news of the three cabinet ministers in the outer court entering the palace. Guess The outer court has already launched an impeachment. So Liu Jin and others are probably frightened by what they see in front of them.
"What is the purpose of the emperor's summons to the palace?" Zhang Yanling asked.
Zhu Houzhao sighed and said in a deep voice: "Liu Jin, show the memorial to the Marquis."
Liu Jin promised in a low voice, took out the memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling reached out to take it and read it carefully.
Everyone stared at Zhang Yanling's face carefully. They all thought that Zhang Yanling must be shocked after reading this memorial, and then he would kneel down and cry to the emperor for permission. However, they were all disappointed.
Zhang Yanling calmly finished reading the memorial, closed it and said with a smile: "This memorial is written with quite a bit of literary talent. Sure enough, I am a Ming Dynasty scholar who is quite knowledgeable."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and looked at Zhang Yanling and said, "Uncle, have you finished reading this memorial? Do you understand what it says?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Of course I understand. Aren't it the three bachelors in the cabinet who want to impeach the eight father-in-laws around the emperor, plus my brothers from the Zhang family? They say that we are sycophants around the emperor, instigating and tempting the emperor to do what he did.
Do we need to be punished for things we shouldn’t have done?”
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "Now that uncle understands it, do you have anything to say?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "What does the emperor want my ministers to say? Although the words they said in this statement are a bit fierce, they are basically the truth, and there is nothing to refute. They did not frame us. At least I don't think they framed me.
.My brothers from the Zhang family did make some mistakes before. When my brother Changshou Ninghou
It is true that I behaved improperly after being drunk in the palace. As for me, I did not dissuade the emperor even though I knew that it was inappropriate for him to go on patrol. I even helped the emperor conceal the news and helped him to open the North City Gate and escape from the capital. The emperor was besieged by the Tatars.
, it is indeed a danger to the country, and they did not accuse me wrongly. What can I say?"
Everyone looked at Zhang Yanling blankly. They did not expect that Zhang Yanling would actually say such a thing. Liu Jin and others were even dumbfounded and looked at Zhang Yanling helplessly. They thought that the Marquis would help him think of something when he came, but he ended up lying flat on his back.
.
"Uncle, do you mean that I approved this memorial?" Zhu Houzhao frowned.
Zhang Yanling said softly: "The emperor is the lord of the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor should make his own decisions. The emperor only needs to make the decision you think is correct."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "Didn't uncle Shicai mean that I should be allowed to play it? Since you have admitted their impeachment, is there any reason not to play it?"
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said: "Since the emperor insists on asking the minister's attitude, I will tell you directly. Your Majesty, sometimes things in this world are not as simple as right or wrong. If this is the standard, then the world's affairs will also be
It’s too simple, and there’s no need for so much trouble. For example, killing someone
The simplest principle is that the murderer must pay for his life. However, what if the murderer did it to protect his family, what if it was for revenge, or killed the enemy on the battlefield? Then the iron law that the murderer must pay for his life does not apply.
Sometimes, not only does the murderer not deserve to die, but he actually gets merit."
Zhu Houzhao said: "Uncle, don't play riddles with me. Just explain it more clearly."
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "Your Majesty, don't blame me. I am indeed a bit verbose, but I am just trying to explain the truth clearly. What I mean is that admitting guilt and whether he should be punished are two different things. Your Majesty, this matter actually has something to do with Chen and Liu
Father-in-law, Father-in-law Zhang, whether their behavior is
It has nothing to do with whether we are guilty or not. This matter is obviously an action by the outer court to use this matter to eliminate dissidents and exclude opponents. They caught the mistakes of the ministers and others, and took the opportunity to impeach us and get rid of us. This is a battle between the same party and the opposite party.
.This is the essence of the matter."
Zhu Houzhao pondered: "I also vaguely understand their purpose, but since they have grasped the handle, how can I reject their memorial?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Your Majesty, I am not asking the Emperor to reject it. I just want to remind the Emperor that the Emperor must be cautious in making decisions. The Emperor must think about it later. Everyone in this room is loyal to the Emperor. The Emperor gives the order
Next, everyone in this room can risk their lives for the Emperor. Is the Emperor
Whether you are willing to sacrifice the people in this room in order to calm down the anger in the outer court, or let those who are loyal to the emperor be protected, that is the emperor's own choice. Some choices may seem to bring temporary peace, but in the future, the emperor will change
When you look around and find that you are surrounded by people who are holding you back, you will regret it."
Zhu Houzhao looked greatly refreshed and murmured: "Right or wrong is not important, what is important is my future. If I retreat today, I will have no way to retreat tomorrow. There will be no one around me who is willing to die for me loyally."
."
Liu Jin and others breathed a sigh of relief and cast admiring glances at Zhang Yanling. Liu Jin also said the same thing, but when Zhang Yanling said it, the emperor listened. This is Zhang Yanling's ability.
"But, I feel that they will not give up. Even if I reject the discount, they will continue to make trouble. Moreover, I am worried about more than that." Zhu Houzhao frowned again and said softly.
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, when Dushi City is besieged by tens of thousands of Tatars, is Your Majesty afraid?"
Zhu Houzhao said in surprise: "Why are you asking about this? Of course I am... afraid? There are so many Tatars. If I were caught by them, the consequences would be disastrous. But when I was in Dushi City, I was prepared to die in battle, but I felt calm in my heart.
."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Your Majesty is very brave. I think that although the situation in Dushi City was dangerous, it is not as dangerous as it is now. The Tatars in Dushi City are on the surface, and we know that they are enemies and what they will do. But now
In this situation, there seems to be no enemy on the surface, but there are enemies everywhere. Therefore, I think it is more dangerous than in the Monolithic City at this moment. I can understand the worry and fear in the emperor's heart better."
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and said: "You have spoken to my heart. They are not my enemies, but I am more worried than when I faced the Tatars. This is what I am afraid of. Do you think they will... do it?"
What happened to me?"
Zhang Yanling looked firmly into Zhu Houzhao's eyes, even though it was extremely rude to do so.
"Your Majesty! Remember, you are the Emperor and the Lord of the Ming Dynasty." Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhang Yanling blankly and said: "I am the emperor, and I am the master of the Ming Dynasty. Yes, in the land of the Ming Dynasty, in this capital, I am the master. How can a master be afraid of others in his own home?
My words are an imperial edict, and no matter who it is, he must abide by it, otherwise he will be resisting the edict and committing treason. Why am I afraid? I shouldn't be afraid."
Zhang Yanling said: "Yes, Your Majesty, you shouldn't be afraid. Just make the decision you should make. I will arrange the rest. The Emperor is not alone. Although the outer court is fierce, the Emperor has us and other loyal people."
The emperor's people and ministers will arrange it properly, as long as
The emperor needs to make a decision. I will protect the emperor just like he did in Dushi City. Your Majesty, there are some things that you have to do after all, and there are some hurdles that you have to overcome. Once you get through, the emperor will get rid of the shackles on his body and the top of his head.
The shadow above has truly become the master of my Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Houzhao nodded heavily and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, I understand, and I have decided."