In front of Qianqing Palace, it's already three o'clock at night.
Liu Jian and others were anxiously waiting for the news from Fan Heng. As long as Fan Heng sent news that Zhang Yanling had been captured, the palace could proceed with the next step of trapping the Eight Tigers and others.
However, two hours passed, and there was no news about Fan Heng. Wang Yue sent Li Rong to the Dongchang Yamen outside Dong'anmen to check, but Li Rong also left without news.
The officials in front of the palace gate were already hot, tired and exhausted. They were originally shouting and shouting with excitement, but gradually became quiet as their physical strength was exhausted. The weather at night was muggy and hot, so many people gathered together. , which is even more unbearable. Many older officials, who are used to being pampered, are exhausted, half sitting and half lying on the ground, their eyes are empty and dull, and they are extremely tired.
Morale is rapidly declining, and there are already voices of complaint and retreat among officials.
Liu Jian knew that he could not wait any longer. Regardless of whether Fan Heng caught Zhang Yanling or not, matters in the palace were still going on. If he continued like this, it would waste the energy and morale of the officials in the outer court in vain, and the energy they had built up would dissipate.
Li Dongyang has obviously withdrawn from this operation, and internal differences have arisen in the outer court. If it continues, the differences will be greater and the cracks will become more obvious. Therefore, we cannot wait any longer.
"Eunuch Wang, please go see the emperor and convey our opinions." Liu Jian said in a deep voice.
Wang Yue nodded, and he and Xu Zhi went up the steps and entered the Qianqing Palace.
Liu Jian turned to Xie Qian and said: "Old Xie, success or failure depends on this. After killing the Eight Tigers, I will submit a memorial to plead guilty. I have taken over all responsibilities. From now on, it will be up to you."
Xie Qian was shocked and said in a deep voice: "Why did you say this? Why do you want to apologize?"
Liu Jian sighed softly: "When things have reached this point, do you think that killing Liu Jin and others will calm things down? We have already gone too far. If no one comes out to stop this, the emperor will regard us as For the sake of rebellion, the consequences will be disastrous. If I stand up and accept the punishment, no one will say anything else. You can put all the blame on me."
Xie Qian shouted: "How can that happen? If you want to take the blame, I will take the blame with you."
Liu Jian frowned and said: "Why bother to spare one more person? I am the chief assistant, and I am enough. To rise in the outer court, it will take a huge effort. The burden on your shoulders is still very heavy, so there is no need to pay an unnecessary price. Eight Once the tiger is eliminated, Wang Yue and the others will have a close relationship with the outer court. From now on, things in the court will be much easier to handle. From now on, with the abilities of you and Dongyang, our outer court will gradually control the situation, and our Ming Dynasty will not go astray .I hope you will work well with Dongyang in the future, and I believe in your abilities."
Xie Qian said angrily: "Li Dongyang? That coward, I will work with him? We are here to charge forward, but he is hiding behind and being a coward. I used to respect him very much, but now I only despise him."
Liu Jian sighed: "Old Xie, you don't understand Dongyang. Dongyang is right to do this, he is leaving a way out for the outer court. We are acting so radically, and he is obviously worried that this matter will cause a huge The disaster caused our outer court to be completely defeated. So he chose to retreat. That was to ensure that the outer court did not collapse and that there were still people who could sustain the situation. It was actually a wise move for him to do so."
Xie Qian was stunned and said: "That's what he planned? How do you know? Did he tell you?"
Liu Jian said in a deep voice: "We have worked together for many years, do you still need him to say it? You say he is a coward? I'm afraid you have forgotten that when the late emperor was still alive and the Zhang brothers were at their peak, that incident in the palace
The case was that Dongyang took the lead in impeaching the Zhang brothers. That incident not only involved the Zhang brothers, but also Queen Zhang. At that time, who dared to impeach the Zhang brothers? He was the only one. If he was a coward,
How could you do this?"
Xie Qian remained silent and nodded slightly.
"Dongyang is a smart man. The reason why he has been unwilling to take it too seriously this time and even tried to dissuade us is because he may have seen that the current emperor and the previous emperor are completely different. The former emperor was kind and forgiving, and the current emperor
...Hey! I'm afraid he might have expected tonight's situation." Liu Jian sighed deeply.
Xie Qian said: "Old Liu, don't be so pessimistic. Except for the Eight Tigers, it may not be necessary to come out to take the blame. Maybe this move will please people's hearts and everyone will praise it. Even if the emperor is dissatisfied, he can not only agree but also agree.
How?"
Liu Jian turned to look at Xie Qian and said in a deep voice: "Old Xie, you and I are both ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and this status cannot be changed. Although all our actions are for the outer court, they are basically for the Ming Dynasty.
Our purpose in controlling the imperial court is to ensure that the imperial court will not go astray just because of the emperor’s preferences. What I have discussed with you is one of the imperial court’s decisions.
Power should not and cannot be concentrated on the emperor alone. He is too easily influenced and makes mistakes. Throughout the ages, many dynasties have declined because of an arbitrary monarch who made many absurd decisions.
This leads to disunity and disintegration between the upper and lower levels. We, the Ming Dynasty, cannot take that path, and we must change this cycle."
Xie Qian said in a deep voice: "Yes, that is exactly our purpose."
Liu Jiandao: "So, you must never forget your identity as a minister of the Ming Dynasty. What happened today, we have gone beyond the duties of a minister. The emperor did not issue an order. If we are not the Eight Tigers, we are already treasonous. Let alone think about it.
What to do to the emperor? Then have we become the treacherous ministers we hate? Therefore, when things have reached this point, I
I have to stand up and take the blame. You don’t have to persuade me. In fact, I have been prepared for this from the beginning. I, Liu Jian, am seventy-two this year. People are rare in the seventies. I have worked hard all my life. Is it possible?
Will I end up being called a treasonous person in the end? I plead guilty not only for the sake of the current situation, but also for my own inner peace. Do you understand?"
Xie Qian looked at Liu Jian in confusion. Suddenly, he felt that he knew very little about Liu Jian. He had worked with Liu Jian for so many years and thought he knew him very well. In fact, he knew him far better.
Not enough. Compared with Liu Jian, his position is too small, and his courage is even worse. This may be the reason why Liu Jian can be the chief assistant of the cabinet, but he cannot sit in that position.
Not only Liu Jian, but he and Li Dongyang were also far apart. Regardless of his knowledge, cultivation and courage, he was inferior to Liu Jian and Li Dongyang. He had to admit this reality.
"Old Liu, it turns out that you have been prepared for a long time. But... even if the Eight Tigers are eradicated, my outer court is without you, isn't it worth the loss? Is it worth it for us to do this?" Xie Qian said softly.
"You are wrong. If the Eight Tigers are not eliminated, the harm will be huge. The Emperor will be completely bewitched by them. Once the Eight Tigers take control of the power in the inner court, they will have to rely on them for everything. By then, the outer court will be a piece of sand. Look at this now The reason why the outer court is so united is because that time has not yet come. Even now, can't you see that there are many people within us who do not agree with us? Liu Daxia, Ma Wensheng, have they shown their heads? In exchange for my defeat, The demise of the Eight Tigers is absolutely worth it."
"But, Old Liu, isn't this unfair to you?" Xie Qian said in a deep voice.
Liu Jian smiled slightly and said in a deep voice: "I'm not afraid of being shattered into pieces. I want to leave my innocence in this world. Mr. Xie, do you understand my heart?"
…
On the steps in front of the Qianqing Palace, lanterns were swaying. The ministers who were languishing at the steps saw a group of figures walking out of the palace gate, and some people immediately recognized who they were.
"It's Liu Jin and the others!"
"The dogs are finally willing to come out."
The ministers immediately stood up and looked at Liu Jin and others who were walking out of the palace with angry eyes. At this moment, they already regarded Liu Jin as their enemy.
Liu Jian and Xie Qian walked slowly to the bottom of the steps and looked at each other from afar with Liu Jin and others standing above the steps.
Although the lights were dim, the expression on Liu Jin's fat face could still be seen clearly. Liu Jin was smiling, without any fear, worry or guilt on his face, and even looked at him condescendingly with a kind of indifference.
"Liu Shoufu, Grand Bachelor Xie. My lords, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? Aren't you tired after a day of noisy? Go home and have a good sleep. You will be no more exhausted than you are after all the fussing here. Is it better to try your best?" Liu Jin's sharp voice sounded slowly.
The ministers at the foot of the steps heard the ridicule and sarcasm in his words and shouted loudly. Some even cursed.
Liu Jian waved his hand, and the surrounding area became quiet.
"Liu Jin, you and the others have deceived the Emperor and committed many misdeeds. The entire imperial court has had enough patience with you, so we are impeaching you. If you have the slightest remorse, you should plead guilty and accept punishment. Repent of your sins." ." Liu Jian said in a deep voice.
Liu Jin smiled and said: "Master Chief Assistant, it is not up to you to decide whether our family is guilty or not. If the emperor punishes our family, we should bow down and plead guilty. But if you impeach our family, our family will not admit it. You are only doing it for yourself. , just trying to blackmail the Emperor by excluding dissidents. I advise you to stop as soon as possible before it is too late. Do you know that your behavior is suspected of treason and threatening the Emperor. The Emperor is kind and has tolerated you all this time. I hope you will be self-aware."
Liu Jian frowned and said that Liu Jin and others came out to apologize, but they were still so arrogant. But it didn't matter. When they came out, their goal was achieved, so there was no need to care about their non-pending.
"Hahaha, Liu Jin, is this what you said to beguile the emperor with your clever words? I give you the last chance to reflect and plead guilty immediately, maybe there will be a way to survive. Otherwise, with today's situation, do you think you can still get away with it? Huh?" Liu Jian stroked his beard and laughed.
Liu Jin also laughed.
"Liu Shoufu, you want our family to reflect, and we advise you to reflect. If this is the case, we don't need to reflect. When you leave the palace, we will pretend that nothing happened and everyone will be happy. Isn't it good? It will save you noisy disputes. No end. You said our family has no chance of survival, how can you still kill our family?"
Liu Jian nodded and said loudly: "It seems that we have nothing to say. My lords, I, Liu Jian, will risk my life today to get rid of Liu Jin and other treacherous people. I, Liu Jian, will be responsible for everything today."
Guilty. Mr. Mou, please take these eight traitors, thank you for your work."
Mou Bin appeared from the side of the palace door and shouted in a deep voice: "Come here, arrest Liu Jin and Zhang Yong as thieves. If they dare to resist, they will be punished on the spot."