After the three people came to Beiyuan to ask for an audience, the eunuch sent out an order and ordered Jin Zhong and Yang Shiqi to wait outside Yitian Hall, while Jian Yi came to see them first.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I dare not sit down." Jian Yi refused.
"What's your crime? You call yourself a sinner?" Zhu Di asked.
"I was ordered to stay in the capital to assist the prince, but I failed to fulfill my duties and betrayed the trust of the emperor and the prince." Jian Yi kowtowed.
"Why did you betray me and the prince's trust?" Zhu Di was still laughing, but his laughter was already a little cold: "It's not your responsibility to wake the prince up, right?"
"That's not what I'm talking about..." Jian Yi said with a sad look on his face: "The month before last, Zhang He, the official in charge of Chao Shen's disobedience, the prince was lenient and didn't care about it. As the leading minister, I should impeach him, but he used Zhang He's father-in-law Lu Zhenzhi as the leader.
Therefore, I also forgive him. I am relying on kindness and perverting the law. Please punish me."
"Then kneel down." Zhu Di's smile faded, "The prince claims to be cautious, and you also claim to be cautious, but as soon as I left the capital, you were no longer cautious. It seems that the so-called 'prudence' is just a show.
I watched it." He said coldly: "I have entrusted you with the important task of supervising the country. Is this how you bend the law for your own personal gain?"
"I am ashamed. I did break the law, but it was not for selfishness." Jian Yi kowtowed and said, "The situation at that time was extremely critical. A large amount of military supplies were stationed in Taiyuan, but the White Lotus Rebellion blocked the way to Xuanfu. Your Highness the Crown Prince
The ministers and ministers were so worried that they had no time to take care of him. As the Minister of Rites, Lu Zhen was preparing for this year's autumn alone. The affairs were extremely complicated. If someone else suddenly replaced him, he would make mistakes in the busy schedule. Therefore, for the sake of the overall situation, the ministers advised the prince not to pursue it for now.
…”
It is much better to admit your mistake first and then defend it than to defend it right away...
"For the sake of the overall situation," Zhu Di's voice became like the cold wind of Sanjiu, and his eyes were as dark as a deep hole. "I dare to say that for the sake of the overall situation, if King Zhao hadn't snatched food from the people of Xuanda and transported grain and grass to the desert, I and my
The soldiers have long been reduced to bones, and they can’t wait for the prince’s food and grass.” As he spoke, he smiled up to the sky and said: “This is the prince’s overall situation, right?”
It was the first time that Jian Yi saw the emperor's eyes like this, and it was also the first time that he heard such a voice. He seemed to have fallen into a bottomless abyss, and felt that his heart was sinking. Finally, he thought of Yang Shiqi
On the way, he gritted his teeth and calmed down as he said, "I will die and then live." He looked up at the emperor and said: "I don't understand what the emperor is talking about. If you want to say that the prince did not transport the food and grass to Xuanda in the end,
This is a fact. But it is absolutely not true that the prince is disloyal. The ministers are ordered to assist the prince. In fact, they are also supervising the prince. If the prince does anything wrong, the ministers will report it to the emperor and will never protect him. However, the ministers and Jin
What the Ministry of War saw was that the prince worked hard to transport grain and had trouble sleeping and eating. Hearing that the grain route was blocked, the prince worked hard to replace eight grain transportation officers every day, and even the officials in Shanxi were replaced. As for the effect, the results were not good.
There are many reasons for this, but it is definitely not that the prince has a different intention. I ask the emperor to take a closer look. If I say anything false, I am willing to be punished by a thousand swords."
Although these words were still to clear the air for the prince, they were said very cleverly, showing that he was supervising the prince, rather than wearing the same pants with the prince. This made Zhu Di feel much better... After all, the minister's butt was still there
He didn't sit crookedly. The emperor's biggest worry was eliminated in this way.
But the expression on Zhu Di's face did not relax at all, and he still said in a cold voice: "I ask you, can grain and grass be transported from Beijing through the canal?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, since this spring, the Shandong Advocate has been continuously reporting that there are signs of trouble caused by the White Lotus Sect. Shandong is the home of the White Lotus Sect, and banditry is rampant. The ministers and others were worried that the canal transportation would be in danger, so they urged the prince to go to Shanxi instead."
Jian Yi said sadly: "Who would have thought? In the end, Shandong didn't make trouble, but Shanxi did...
This move is called Wu Shui Dongyin, and coupled with the previous "actively admitting mistakes," and stating his position, Jian Yi finished his combination of punches. As for the effect...
"White Lotus Sect" After a long while, Zhu Difang said bitterly: "It's really abominable." He waved his hand and said: "Go down first and let Yang Shiqi come in."
"Yes." Jian Yi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, only to realize that he was already sweating profusely. He stood up with support and bowed out of the hall.
When Jian Yi came out, he did not speak to Yang Shiqi, but gave him a reassuring look. The latter then made up his mind, straightened his clothes, and entered the Yitian Palace.
After Yang Shiqi saluted, Zhu Di changed his approach this time. Instead of asking him to get up, he immediately asked: "How did the prince behave when he was in charge of the country?"
This question seems simple, but in fact it contains a murderous intention. If Yang Shiqi answers that the prince is very active, takes care of everything, and has a high prestige among the officials, then the prince must be finished. Because in Zhu Di's view, the prince wants to seize power.
Meaning - I'm still here, why are you working so hard? Can't wait?
But we can't answer that the prince ignores political affairs all day long, alienates the ministers, has no opinions of his own, and leaves everything to the people below... Then the prince will be finished. The emperor will think, how can I pass the country to such a waste?
?
This is the sadness of His Highness the Crown Prince. It is difficult to be a Crown Prince, and it is even more difficult to be the Crown Prince of an emperor for eternity. You cannot do it if you are active, and you cannot do it if you are passive. It is simply forcing people to death.
Fortunately, this question was asked by Yang Shiqi. He was smart enough to guess the emperor's thoughts, so he said without thinking: "The prince was very diligent in handling political affairs during his supervision of the country. Every major event must be reported to the emperor first. If there is an emergency, it will be too late to report."
, he will convene the auxiliary ministers to brainstorm and listen to the reasonable opinions of the ministers, but he will never agree to the incorrect opinions casually. He will refute and criticize the inappropriate requests of his close ministers in person, and his overall performance is impeccable.
"
Although this answer was plain and honest, it took care of both the emperor's emotions... You are worried about the prince seizing power, and you are worried about the prince being incompetent. Then I will tell you that the prince is diligent but not arbitrary, modest but not blindly obedient, strict with himself, and responsible for his duties.
What else are you dissatisfied with such a son?
After hearing this, Zhu Di's expression softened a lot. Although this time the attack was not as fierce as Jian Yi's before, it was more subtle and dangerous, but Yang Shiqi was able to perfectly resolve it, which undoubtedly helped the prince on the edge of the cliff again...
"The prince is so cautious, how can he fail to catch up with the enemy?" Zhu Di asked in a stern voice: "Stop putting gold on his face."
"The prince has always been respectful and filial to you. What happened this time is really unbelievable. I kindly ask the emperor to investigate carefully. I am afraid there is something hidden in it." Yang Shiqi said solemnly.
"Then there's a secret behind why the army rations can't be transported to the Xuan Mansion?" Zhu Di mocked.
"Yes." Yang Shiqi nodded and said: "Shanxi's officialdom was almost out of control, and the prince's decree was not clear, which led to the subsequent results."
"Why did Shanxi's officialdom get out of control?" Zhu Di asked in a deep voice.
"This requires strict investigation," Yang Shiqi said firmly.
"Who should be sent to investigate?" Zhu Di asked sharply: "Is it the prince's people or the Han king's people?"
"There is no one in the court who is worthy of his Majesty's service." Yang Shiqi said with emotion.
"Having said that, it's a pity that everyone has their own calculations and they are all facing their own masters." Zhu Di said coldly: "I can't tell who is thinking what."
"The emperor has seen clearly that those who are loyal to the country do not care about personal gain, while those who are selfish and speculative have no public heart." Yang Shiqi replied.
"That's easy to say..." Zhu Di snorted and said, "You go down first."
"Yes." Yang Shiqi saluted and left.
When it was Jin Zhong's turn, Zhu Di switched back to a gentle look, pulled him up personally, sat down with him and said: "You are different from others. You are an old minister of my dormitory. I was able to make up my mind to raise the army in the first place, thanks to Jin Zhong."
The hexagram you calculated for me."
"Your Majesty's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. I wish that I could only serve as a shogunate with no merit, but I could serve as a minister for more than ten years. Your grace is like a sea, and I can only repay it with all my heart and soul." Jin Zhongman said with tears.
Said affectionately.
"Clothes are not as good as new, and people are not as good as old. This is absolutely true." Zhu Di was also very emotional, holding his hand and saying, "I just trust you old brothers."
"I will never dare to betray the Emperor," Jin Zhong said hurriedly.
"Well, I feel very relieved after hearing what you said." Zhu Di nodded and said, "Tell me what it was like during the period when the prince was in charge of the country... You must tell the truth. I was raped by several traitors.
I am so confused that I really need to hear the truth."
"I must tell the truth..." Jin Zhong told the emperor one by one about the prince's deeds when he was supervising the country.
In fact, the prince was not that kind. He took advantage of the opportunity of supervising the country to replace a group of Hanwang's people and replaced them with his own people. But if he dared to plot evil and wanted to starve hundreds of thousands of troops to death on the grassland, then
It's absolutely impossible
After hearing Jin Zhong's assurance that the prince had absolutely no intention of falling in love with him, Zhu Di looked less pretty and said coldly: "I didn't expect that you would also like the prince now."
"I only have the Emperor in my heart." Jin Zhong hurriedly knelt down and said, "That's why I can't see the Emperor wrongly blaming the Crown Prince and not saying anything. He only cares about his own safety and ignores the Emperor's holy name." He kowtowed heavily and said: "
Your Majesty, you and the Crown Prince are biological father and son. How vicious must he be to murder his biological father?"
"..." Under the series of attacks by three trusted ministers, Zhu Di's attitude finally relaxed a little. He stared at Jin Zhong with complicated eyes and asked quietly: "So, the prince has no plans?"
"The prince has no plans. I am willing to sit down together to protect the prince." Jin Zhong took off the black gauze and kowtowed heavily.
"Well," Zhu Di said coldly: "Since you have provided guarantee, I have to give you face. But if it is found that the prince has done anything wrong, even though you are an honorary, you will inevitably be executed."