After being angered by the emperor's response, Han Wen, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Zeng Jian, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Zhang Sheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Min Gui, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, the left and right ministers of the various ministries, the Yushitai Yanguan, and the chief officials of the Jiuqing government arrived at the Palace of Qianqing. In addition, a second round of impeachment memorials were submitted.
With Wang Yue's permission, dozens of memorials were carried into the back hall by Xu Zhi, Li Rong and other eunuchs.
If the memorial jointly presented by the three cabinet ministers is just a clarion call to start, then these dozens of memorials from senior officials of the outer court are the main charge. These people are the backbone of the outer court and the entire Ming Dynasty. The core officials of the government affairs system. Their collective actions bring greater impact and pressure.
In front of the Qianqing Palace, under the setting sun, dozens of officials from the outer court knelt under the steps, waiting for news.
Time passed by, half an hour passed, and Zhu Houzhao did not give any response. This indifferent attitude was more irritating than rejection.
After a brief discussion, Liu Jian and others launched the third wave of actions. A group of hundreds of officials arrived in front of the Qianqing Palace. This was a new force prepared by the civil servants.
This is a wave of manpower that includes a large number of Nanjing officials and middle-level officials from various ministries. A few days ago, Liu Jian brought Nanjing officials to the capital in the name of reporting on their duties, in order to prepare for this wave of impeachment. of firepower.
Liu Jian had some considerations. Officials from Nanjing are equally important in terms of status and position. More importantly, officials from Nanjing hope to be recognized through this impeachment action and return to the ranks of mainstream officials in the Beijing court, so they Work harder. Liu Jian knew that their words and deeds would be more intense.
Sure enough, after this wave of officials arrived, the situation suddenly changed from calm waiting to shouting and shouting. After they submitted the documents and waited for half an hour without a response, they started shouting loudly.
"Please, Your Majesty, give top priority to the Ming Dynasty and the country, severely punish the traitors and sycophants, so as to rectify the atmosphere and calm the hearts of the subjects."
"I respectfully ask the emperor to face the remonstrance directly. In all dynasties, has there ever been a sage who was so speechless that he ignored the remonstrances of his ministers? Is the emperor going to be a coward?"
"The emperor is not allowed to play for a day and severely punishes the traitors and sycophants. I will not leave for a day. I will die and remonstrate to the end."
"Late Emperor, please take a look at the spirit of heaven. This is how the Emperor treats his ministers. He is in charge of the Ming Dynasty that you have worked so hard to leave behind. Emperor, can you feel at ease under the Nine Springs?"
…
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In front of the Qianqing Palace, the courtiers shouted loudly with indignation, bowed their heads and stamped their feet with tears streaming down their faces, raised their hands to the sky, or grabbed the ground with their heads. It was a chaotic mess in front of the Qianqing Palace. Who would have thought that this group of people in front of them was actually The most respectable group of high-ranking officials in the Ming Dynasty. Those who didn't know better thought they were a group of troublemaking commoners and shrews.
Of course, some of them sincerely think about the Ming Dynasty, but more people just want to be in the limelight and gain a position. In a quiet official career, some opportunities are needed. In their view, what happened today is obviously a kind of opportunity.
At this time, there were still more than 150 court officials gathered in front of the Qianqing Palace. From the cabinet ministers, the ministers of the six ministers, to the chief ministers of various yamen, such as Wai Lang Yushi and other middle and low-level officials, almost all the civil servants were included. The backbone. Everyone believed that such a massive impeachment operation could not fail, and that the emperor would not be able to violate the wishes of so many officials because of Liu Jin and others. The emperor would eventually compromise.
However, until it got dark, the emperor did not release a single word. Even though the officials were tossing around outside, there was no response. The memorials sent in were like mud and cattle, and there was no news.
The civil servants began to become more anxious and disappointed, and explosive emotions spread among the crowd. Finally, after two elderly officials fainted due to exhaustion, the officials' emotions reached the peak of the explosion.
"How can it be unreasonable? How can it be unreasonable? The emperor is completely indifferent to us and his ministers. Is this the behavior of a human king? Since the emperor will not come out, the ministers will go in and argue with the emperor face to face."
"You're right. Since the Emperor refuses to face him, it's useless for us to kneel here until we die. We might as well go into the palace and argue in person."
The civil servants were overwhelmed with anger and began to shout loudly.
Upon seeing this, Li Dongyang hurriedly said loudly: "My lords, please don't do this. We are just reporting for impeachment. We must not act irrationally. This goes against the duty of a minister. I believe that the emperor will definitely respond. We just
All you have to do is wait here. If you can't hold it any longer, you can rest aside and don't have to hold on."
"Grandmaster Li, what do you mean by saying this at this time? The emperor has no intention of responding at all, can't you tell?"
"What else can we expect from such a coward? We must reason face to face and question him face to face. Otherwise, no results will be achieved, and it will be in vain."
Li Dongyang frowned and was worried. Things were already going in the direction that he was most worried about. From the beginning, Li Dongyang had different opinions from Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others. What Li Dongyang was most worried about was that things were going in the wrong direction.
To develop in a controlled direction, that would go against his original intention.
Li Dongyang actually didn't agree with some of the methods proposed by Liu Jian and Xie Qian. But at that time, Li Dongyang couldn't pour cold water on his face and be a disruptor. But he had reservations in his heart. Now the angry official
They have already said such treacherous words that the emperor is a coward, and are even preparing to attack the Qianqing Palace. This is no longer a remonstrance, but a move to extremes.
"Master Liu, you have to stop them, and they must not get out of hand. Otherwise, we will be in great passivity. If it was originally an impeachment memorial, and it turns into an attack on the emperor's palace, that would be another matter.
." Li Dongyang quickly said to Liu Jian.
Liu Jian said coldly: "Dongyang, you can be angry but not vented. How can you be discouraged at this time? Besides, the emperor is unwilling to face it, so we can't just waste it like this."
Li Dongyang frowned and said: "But once we attack the Qianqing Palace, things will change. That would be... a treasonous act."
Liu Jian said softly: "Perhaps, shedding some blood will make the emperor more awake. Since it is a death remonstrance, maybe someone should die."
Li Dongyang was horrified and shocked, looking at Liu Jian blankly with a look of astonishment on his face.
"Dongyang, you don't need to worry about this matter. The cabinet needs people to stay there. You can go back to the cabinet office. I and Lao Xie are responsible for things here, so you don't have to worry about it." Liu Jian said solemnly.
Li Dongyang opened his mouth and wanted to say something else, but Liu Jian turned around and walked to the side. There, Xie Qian was standing under the shadow of the tree, discussing something with several figures.
Li Dongyang pondered for a moment and walked towards the outside of the palace.
Under the shadow of the flower trees on the side, Xie Qianzheng and Wang Yuefan Heng were talking in low voices.
"Eunuch Wang, what did the Emperor say?"
"Thank you, Sir. The Emperor insists that you withdraw from the palace before we can discuss this matter again. Otherwise, you should withdraw from the palace. If the trouble continues like this, if the officials really rush into the palace, the nature of it will be completely different.
There must be a bottom line when it comes to making trouble." Wang Yue said solemnly.
"Quiting? Absolutely impossible!" said an old voice from the side.
Everyone turned to look, but Liu Jian was coming. Everyone hurriedly bowed their hands and saluted. Wang Yue said: "Master Liu, this is not an option. The officials are so excited. What if they rush in?"
Liu Jian said in a deep voice: "My lord, please report the situation outside to the emperor again, saying that although we tried our best to dissuade them, the officials' emotions were extremely intense and they were worried that they would not be able to stop them from rushing in and causing bloodshed.
Um... In this case, please tell the emperor if Liu Jin and others can come out to apologize to the officials and calm their emotions. Maybe after they apologize, we can persuade the officials to withdraw from the palace."
Wang Yue whispered: "Liu Shoufu wants to..."
Liu Jian said in a deep voice: "As soon as Liu Jin and the others came out, they were captured immediately and beheaded. They made a decisive decision and killed them all. Afterward, they said that Liu Jin and others knew they had offended the public, so they jumped over the wall and held the emperor hostage. The emperor was controlled by them.
In the palace. Therefore, drastic measures have to be taken..."
Wang Yue trembled and whispered: "Is this... feasible? Who will do it? Are you sure? If it fails, Liu Jin and the others may take risks. There are also some guards in the palace."
Liu Jian raised his eyes and looked at the top of the steps of Qianqing Palace. There, Mou Bin and several Jinyiweiyamen officials were standing outside the palace gate. Wang Yue immediately understood that Liu Jian had already communicated with Mou Bin. Mou Bin ordered to take action. That was
It couldn't be more appropriate.
The Han general of Jin Yiwei escorted him and captured Liu Jin and others who were holding the emperor hostage. The other party resisted and killed them on the spot without any problem.
"Okay, we will go see the emperor right now." Wang Yue nodded.
"Wait a minute, since we have to take action, Zhang Yanling must be arrested immediately. Otherwise, if he learns the news, he may cause chaos. He has soldiers and horses from Nanzhen Fusi. Damn it, he left the palace through Xihua Gate not long ago.
I'm just worried about being kidnapped in the palace. This guy is very cunning, I'm worried that he smelled something unusual." Liu Jian frowned.
"That's right. The most troublesome thing is that if he informs the regiment soldiers and horses, it will be difficult to deal with. That Zhang Yanling is Xu Guangzuo's son-in-law, will Xu Guangzuo save him? If a large number of soldiers and horses are mobilized to arrest him, and a fight breaks out, then
It’s amazing. Outside the palace is not fully aware of the current situation inside the palace. Our family feels that we have to take action quietly. We must take Zhang Yanling first, and then the palace can take action." Wang Yue said in a deep voice.
Liu Jian nodded and said: "Yes, but how to do it quietly? Once Mou Bin mobilizes the Jin Yiwei, he will be noticed. I can mobilize some troops and horses in the regiment, but isn't that just to alert the enemy?"
Everyone fell into silence.
"Master Liu, have you forgotten my Dongchang?" Fan Heng, the admiral of the Dongchang, suddenly asked from the side.
Wang Yue frowned and said, "Eunuch Fan, how can Dongchang do things so well?"
Fan Heng said: "I am good at doing things quietly in Dongchang. I will definitely catch you."
Liu Jian's eyes flashed and he said: "I am so confused that I actually forgot about Governor Fan's factory. Working quietly is what you are good at. Then let Governor Fan take care of it and let us know as soon as he succeeds."
Fan Heng said with a smile: "Okay, we will go back and lead people to do it. My people will act without anyone noticing, and not even a dog will be disturbed."
Liu Jian smiled and said, "Thank you, Governor Fan."
Fan Heng turned around and left. Wang Yue followed closely, stopped Fan Heng at the corner of the square and said: "Eunuch Fan, you are troublesome, and our family can't stop you. But remember, you can only take people, not hurt them."
Man. That Zhang Yanling is the emperor’s uncle, Duke Dingguo.
Son-in-law. His wife is the princess of Dingguo Palace, so be careful. Otherwise, you will be asking for trouble. Don't expose your identity and take the person and hand it over to them directly in the outer court. We are already too involved in this matter.
No, no lives can be spared on our hands."
Fan Heng smiled and said: "Don't worry, Eunuch Wang, I have my own sense of discretion. By the way, Eunuch Wang is scared now, isn't it too late?"