The soldiers quickly carried the body away, washed away the blood on the ground, and then lined up strictly on the street outside the four gates of the imperial city.
When everything was ready, the four gates of the imperial city slowly opened at the same time.
The nobles came out of Dong'anmen, which was one of the two main attack directions. No fewer people died than at Bei'anmen. After the washout, mottled blood stains could still be seen on the ground, and some unknown bits of skin and flesh were scattered on the ground.
The cracks in the bricks along the road are shocking!
What makes the nobles even more frightened is the look of hatred on the faces of the officers and soldiers on both sides of the road. They were their junior soldiers! Now they are looking at them like enemies, which makes the nobles clearly feel that the last reliance in their hearts is on them.
collapse……
Fear, boundless fear; helplessness, extreme helplessness, spread in the hearts of every honorable noble. Now there is no generous and fearless heroic spirit, even if it is just a pretended heroic spirit, they look like people who have been beaten by water.
The quails were all crestfallen and pale, not daring to make eye contact with others. They just wanted to finish this road of shame and have their wounds healed in a deserted place.
However, it was extremely difficult for the honorable nobles to walk on the wet and slippery stone road wearing powder-soled boots. Someone walked a little faster and stumbled to the ground, and their brand new python robes were stained with sewage and blood.
Dirty. He got up from the ground in a hurry, and there were oval mud marks on his buttocks. He was as embarrassed as he was.
Amid the laughter of the officers and soldiers, the nobles supported each other and escaped from this sad road that caused them to lose face...
Zhu Zhanji did not leave the palace with the nobles, but quietly returned to Qianqing Palace and asked to see His Majesty the Emperor. The eunuch told him that the Emperor was discussing important matters with Duke Zhenguo, and asked His Highness to go back first.
However, Zhu Zhanji did not leave. Under the shocked eyes of the eunuch, he took off his gauze crown and python robe. He only wore a white midriff and knelt under the steps.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in charge of Zhu Gaochi, was also the former general manager of the East Palace. He was an honest and kind man. Seeing His Highness Taisun's actions, he hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him: "You can't help it, get up quickly..."
"Eunuch Zhang, please leave me alone." Zhu Zhanji's face was full of sadness, and he shook his head sadly: "This will make me feel better..."
"Alas..." Although Zhang Cheng was honest, he knew everything. He sighed and stopped persuading.
In the palace, Zhu Gaochi and Wang Xian were having a serious conversation. After returning from Bei'anmen, both monarch and minister realized that they had to talk openly and honestly.
At this time, Zhang Cheng came in and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Grand Sun is outside, taking off his crown and robe, and kneels down to apologize."
After Zhu Gaochi heard this, he frowned and said, "Just let him kneel down. Don't disturb me from talking to Duke Zhen."
"Yes..." Zhang Cheng bowed and retreated.
Even so, Zhu Gaochi's mood was obviously affected. After wandering for a moment, Fang Youyou said: "Zhongde, what do you think I did wrong? Why am I in such a mess?"
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, all those who reform the overall situation have been bruised and bruised, without exception." Wang Xian said softly.
"Yes, there are always some people who turn a blind eye to the crisis in the country. Or even if they see it, as soon as their interests are touched, they will immediately become furious and fight you desperately!" Zhu Gaochi said with deep feeling: "I
Zeng naively thought that everyone was in the same boat, and those people should also know very well that if the boat sank, they would drown together. Even if they don't help me rescue me, they shouldn't stab me in the back, right?"
Wang Xian listened to the emperor's words silently and was not in a hurry to agree.
"I did ask them to throw some luggage into the water, but because their luggage was too much, it was almost sinking the boat..." Zhu Gaochi looked sad, but there was anger in his eyes: "Not to mention the remaining luggage.
, is enough to guarantee their prosperity and wealth, why are they not satisfied?!"
"Your Majesty, there will only be too few people, never too many. What they had in the past has been taken for granted. If you want to redistribute it, of course they will be unhappy." Wang Xian said softly.
"It's not up to them. The structure of the previous dynasty must be completely changed before the Ming Dynasty can usher in a new life!" Zhu Gaochi said firmly, and sighed after speaking: "Actually, I also know that we should suppress them first and then implement them.
Reform. But, you know the real body, I’m afraid you don’t have that much time..."
Wang Xian nodded solemnly. "I can understand the emperor's concerns. Your Majesty, please rest assured that from now on, your honor will not become an obstacle to the reform..." After a pause, Wang Xian said slowly: "It's just that...
Please don’t overdo it, Your Majesty. Civilians can govern the country but cannot strengthen the army. If the Ming Dynasty wants to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Song Dynasty, it must cultivate both civil and military skills and cannot be partial!"
"I know." Zhu Gaochi nodded, looked at Wang Xiandao: "So I leave all military matters to you."
Zhu Gaochi's words are an understatement, but they are of great weight. This is to hand over all the military power of the Ming Dynasty to Wang Xian!
"I dare not accept the order." Wang Xian shook his head and sighed: "This power is too great, and I cannot bear it."
"I have carefully considered this and have no other choice." Zhu Gaochi said solemnly: "The military power of our nobles must be taken back. The army cannot cause any more trouble. No one can do it except you.
And I only believe in you..."
After Zhu Gaochi finished speaking, he stared deeply at Wang Xian, and Wang Xian also looked at the emperor. Everyone knew that this conversation was not frank, and both parties had many meanings that they did not express.
For example, Zhu Gaochi could not tell Wang Xian that he hoped that when my reform was successful, you would take the initiative to hand over military power.
Wang Xian couldn't tell the emperor, can you guarantee that your successor will not operate on me in the future?
Both parties are very clear that they both need this result at present, but no one can guarantee how things will develop in the future. They have entangled the interests of too many people, and many times, their own will is insignificant...
But the two still tried their best to give each other some promises to make the other person feel better...
"Then I can only do my best." Wang Xian said with an increasingly serious expression: "I promise to the emperor that as long as I am in office, the Ming army will always be loyal to the emperor."
"I also promise you that as long as I am in power for a day, I will never doubt you." Zhu Gaochi also said solemnly. After a pause, he slowly said: "If one day I am no longer here, I will...
"Zhu Gaochi still wanted to promise the future, but found that he could not give any guarantee. Just as he could overthrow everything the former emperor did, his successor would naturally be able to overthrow everything he did.
All fathers hope that their sons can follow their own path, but sons may not think so...
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about it. Let's discuss future matters in the future..." Wang Xian smiled slightly.
"Yes." Zhu Gaochi nodded and looked at Wang Xiandao with complicated eyes: "Go, there are still a lot of things waiting for you..."
"Yes, I will take my leave." Wang Xian stood up, saluted, and exited the palace.
When Wang Xian's figure disappeared behind the curtain, Emperor Hong Xi heard a heavy sigh from deep in the palace...
After Wang Xian left, Zhu Gaochi still did not summon Zhu Zhanji and kept him in the dark until dark.
When it got dark, it started to rain in the capital. The rain was fast and icy, and mixed with small hailstones. Zhu Zhanji was soaked to the skin, and his face and hands were covered with purple spots. It was extremely miserable. But he didn't move at all, standing upright.
Kneeling in the freezing rain.
Zhang Cheng quickly asked someone to hold an umbrella for His Highness Taisun, but Zhu Zhanji refused. The two sides argued, and His Highness Taisun roared angrily: "Get out of here, do you want to kill me?!"
The eunuchs stopped insisting, put away their umbrellas, and accompanied him in the rain.
Zhang Cheng had no choice but to run into the palace again and plead with the emperor: "Your Majesty, it's raining heavily outside and there's hail. His Highness Taisun has been kneeling all day. If he kneels again, it will kill him!"
After all, Zhu Gaochi was not as cruel as Zhu Di, so he asked Zhang Cheng to call Zhu Zhanji in with a dark face.
When Zhang Cheng went to invite Zhu Zhanji into the palace, His Highness Taisun could no longer stand up. Zhang Cheng hurriedly and another eunuch, one on the left and one on the right, carefully lifted the Grandson up and helped him into the palace with great difficulty.
"Quickly, dry your Highness and change your clothes!" As soon as he entered the palace, Zhang Cheng hurriedly gave instructions, but His Highness Taisun refused again.
"Eunuch Zhang, thank you for your kindness. It's really not necessary." Zhu Zhanji's face was pale, his lips were blue, and his teeth were chattering: "Hurry and help me in, don't keep father waiting."
"Your Highness..." Zhang Cheng stamped his feet and said. He knew that the grandson wanted to use a bitter trick on the emperor. You see that I am in such a miserable state, do you still have the nerve to punish me to death?
"Eunuch Zhang, please let me beg you..." Zhu Zhanji looked at Zhang Cheng with a pleading face, which reminded the old eunuch of the little grandson who tugged on his sleeves and twisted around asking for sweets twenty years ago.
, couldn't help but feel soft, and sighed: "Okay."
"Thank you, Eunuch Zhang. I know you love me the most..." Zhu Zhanji gave Zhang Cheng a grateful glance.
"Alas..." Zhang Cheng shook his head helplessly and whispered to his grandson: "Don't contradict the emperor later, you will be the only one who suffers."
"Thank you for reminding me, father-in-law. How can I dare to contradict my father?" Zhu Zhanji smiled bitterly and said, "If I can pass the test this time, I will never dare to make my father angry again..."
"That's good, that's good." Zhang Cheng nodded happily. As he was about to enter the dormitory, he suddenly whispered: "I will also say a few good words for His Highness one after another."
"Thank you so much, father-in-law. Your kindness will never be forgotten." Zhu Zhanji smiled gratefully.
Entering the dormitory, everyone fell silent. Zhang Cheng and the eunuch helped Zhu Zhanji kneel down on the carpet. Although the thick Persian carpet was as soft as fur, Zhu Zhanji's knees were still as soft as tens of thousands when he knelt on it.
A steel needle pricked him, and he couldn't help but groan in pain.
This sound detonated Emperor Hongxi who had been silent all this time. Zhu Gaochi snorted coldly and said angrily: "Who do you want to show this ghost look to?!"