Amid the cheers of the people, Li Zhi led his troops all the way to the end of East Chang'an Street and in front of the Chengtian Gate of the Imperial City, and stopped the team. After hearing the order, the nine thousand soldiers of the Tiger Division stood quietly and stood motionless, and then
It aroused thunderous applause from the onlookers.
The emperor led six cabinet ministers, six ministers and Zuodu Yushi to stand on the Chengtian Gate and were watching Li Zhi's military parade. Li Zhi walked into the Chengtian Gate and kowtowed to the emperor.
Li Zhi knelt down in front of the emperor and sang: "Li Zhi, the commander-in-chief of Tianjin, has seen the emperor!"
"Love Qing's life!"
Zhu Youjian said: "I saw your troops and horses with my own eyes, and then I realized what a strong army is. It is as slow as a forest and as motionless as a mountain. It is really a strong army! No wonder you can defeat 30,000 people from Dongnu! Li Zhi, you have done a great job.
good!"
Hearing the emperor's praise, more than a dozen senior officials of the Ming Dynasty next to him showed envious expressions. It was really an honor for the emperor to think so highly of Li Zhi. Many of these officials had worked hard in official circles all their lives and had never received any praise.
The emperor praised him so enthusiastically. However, Li Zhi was indeed a fierce general who had defeated so many Tatars. He was indeed worthy of being favored by the emperor.
After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "Li Zhi, I will give you a BMW to enhance your reputation!"
Li Zhi turned around and looked under the city tower, only to find that two eunuchs were already waiting there leading a tall horse. The horse was blood red, tall, strong, and had shiny hair. It snorted in the cold wind.
It looks like a one-of-a-kind horse.
"This horse is named Taofeng, and he will help you make great achievements from now on!"
Li Zhi knelt down and sang: "I can't thank you enough!"
Governor Zhu You nodded and smiled without saying a word.
Li Zhi got up, looked up at Zhu Youjian, and said loudly: "I have something to report to the emperor!"
Zhu Youjian smiled and asked politely: "Ai Qing, what can I report to you?"
Li Zhi cupped his hands and said loudly: "The honor given to me by the Holy Emperor has reached the extreme, but the pension from Governor Lu Xiangsheng has not been paid yet. Governor Lu Xiangsheng devoted himself to the country, fought bravely to kill the enemy and died in Julujiazhuang. I asked the court to build a shrine for him."
Worship!"
Hearing Li Zhi's words, Zhu Youjian was stunned.
Lu Xiangsheng's death was due to Yang Sichang's division of troops to urge the battle. It can be said that Yang Sichang deliberately forced Lu Xiangsheng to death. But those imperial edicts were all issued by Zhu Youjian personally at Yang Sichang's suggestion. If Yang Sichang was forced to death
If Lu Xiangsheng was the planner, Zhu Youjian was the actual operator. Zhu Youjian was responsible for Lu Xiangsheng's death.
Because of this, it is very difficult for the imperial court to deal with Lu Xiangsheng's posthumous affairs these days. Lu Xiang was promoted to governor and minister of the Ministry of War. Everyone knows that he died heroically and devoted himself to serving the country. But if the posthumous affairs are too glorious, it seems to be a rebuke.
The emperor's responsibility. For this reason, the imperial pension has not been received.
What Li Zhi said about building an ancestral hall to worship is a very high standard. Generally, only famous ministers and generals who have made great contributions to the country can enjoy such treatment. If Lu Xiangsheng built an ancestral hall to worship, then the emperor Zhu Youjian, who issued an imperial edict to force Lu Xiangsheng to death, would
What?
When Li Zhi said these words, the expressions of the senior officials of the Ming Dynasty at Chengtian Gate changed. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Yang Sichang looked at Li Zhi who was talking, his expression a bit ugly. Li Zhi was slapping himself in the face by bringing up Lu Xiangsheng's matter at this time. Originally, Lu Xiangsheng's matter was passed over vaguely, and there was no posthumous title or memorial ceremony.
Burial, the funeral was hastily handled and passed over. But when Li Zhi made a request to build a temple for worship, the specifications were completely different.
If the emperor agrees to Li Zhi's request and treats Lu Xiangsheng as a famous minister, then all the officials will investigate who forced Lu Xiangsheng to death, and the final responsibility will fall on the emperor who issued the imperial edict. If the emperor assumes this responsibility, he will be criticized by all officials
, then in the end the emperor would definitely find Yang Sichang who encouraged him to issue the imperial edict.
The emperor trusted Yang Sichang because he was talented and capable in doing things. But now because Li Zhi was winning one battle after another, the emperor had even doubted the ability of Yang Sichang, who had advocated peace. If the emperor was again held responsible for Lu Xiangsheng's death, the emperor would
We need to re-examine our trust in Yang Sichang.
Yang Sichang looked at Li Zhi, who was asking for help for Lu Xiangsheng, and his face was a little pale.
At this time, Li Zhi was leading a parade and was recognized as a great hero by the imperial court. At this time, Li Zhi asked for a higher-level funeral for Lu Xiang. The timing was just right.
Zhu Youjian stood in front of Li Zhi, his face a little red. But the redness soon subsided, and his face was very embarrassed. Zhu Youjian stood there in silence for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said:
"The governor devoted himself to serving the country, wearing filial piety and killing slaves, chasing the enemy in the mountains and ridges, and dying on the battlefield. He really has the demeanor of a famous minister!"
"I am responsible for the death of the governor! Tomorrow, I will issue an edict to punish myself and announce it to the world!"
The emperor wants to issue an edict of sin for Lu Xiangsheng’s death!
The officials did not expect that things would develop to this point. Li Zhi's words actually forced the emperor, who had never taken responsibility, to issue an edict to blame himself. Although the emperor had issued edicts to blame himself twice in ten years in Chongzhen,
But those were general edicts on the world's situation, which were more of a gesture than a crime. But this time the edict on Lu Xiangsheng's death was different. This matter can be verified in detail, and it was the emperor who faced himself directly.
He made a mistake and admitted that he forced Lu Xiangsheng to death.
After hearing Zhu Youjian's words, all the senior officials were silent, no one dared to speak.
"The general is right, Lu Xiangsheng has a high moral character and is indeed worthy of building a temple to worship him!" Zhu Youjian looked at Li Zhi and said lightly: "I posthumously rewarded Lu Xiangsheng as the crown prince and tutor, granted him sacrifices and burials, built a temple to worship him, and conferred him a royal title.
My wife, Mrs. Wang, is a first-class lady."
Li Zhi cupped his hands and said, "The Son of Heaven is the Holy Ming!"
When the ministers heard Li Zhi's words, they seemed to react suddenly. They all raised their hands and said: "The Emperor is a wise man!"
"The Holy One is wise!"
Yang Sichang also sang a line. But at this time, his face was very pale, and he no longer had the charm of the past. The emperor solemnly paid Lu Xiangsheng a pension, so who was he, the person who encouraged the emperor to force Lu Xiangsheng to death? Wouldn't he become the target of thousands of people?
sinner?
Lu Xiangsheng died as a lonely minister, and no one dared to attack the emperor for trusting Yang Sichang. Unexpectedly, Li Zhi jumped out to speak for Lu Xiangsheng. This Li Zhi had outstanding military exploits and was favored by the saints. The emperor would rather punish himself by issuing an edict.
Don't go against him. His words put Yang Sichang's position in jeopardy.
Zhu Youjian took a deep breath and seemed a little out of breath. He looked at Li Zhi for a long time and then said slowly: "Lu Xiangsheng is a loyal minister, and Li Zhi is also a loyal minister!"
He glanced at the ministers again and saw Yang Sichang in the crowd, with a hint of anger in his eyes.
Yang Sichang saw the emperor's eyes and was shocked.
Zhu Youjian had no intention of watching Li Zhi's parade anymore, so the ceremonial guard cleared the way and went back to Qianqing Palace.
