There is no shortage of anything in the palace, including the stove for heating.
In the imperial study room, the temperature is moderate, neither hot nor cold, making people feel comfortable like spring.
After hearing what Ming Chengzu told him to get up because he was afraid that the ground would be too cold, Hong Tianren felt happy and slowly stood up.
For the emperor to be so considerate to himself must be because he did not pay too much attention to what he said just now. In other words, he knew that he was thinking about the court and did not want to embarrass himself too much.
Chen E, who was on the side, secretly sweated in his heart when he saw Ming Chengzu's uncharacteristic smile and gentle tone.
"Tianren, you have been an official in the court for a long time. You have been with me day and night, and I still don't know how old you are. Look at me, the emperor, who is not qualified at all." Looking out the window, Ming Ming
Chengzu smiled and chatted with the two about family matters.
Hong Tianren was flattered. When did the emperor ask the minister's age? This question made Hong Tianren so moved that he didn't know why.
"Back to the emperor, I am sixty-three this year." Hong Tianren replied quickly and respectfully.
"Already sixty-three? You are two years older than me. Recently, I don't know whether it is because I am too busy with government affairs, or because I am older and always feel weak, or because time is not forgiving and I cannot accept old age.
No." Ming Chengzu said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, you have so many things to do, but you still have to put the dragon body first." Chen E, who was standing next to him, answered hurriedly.
The emperor had never said this kind of disobedient words before, but today he suddenly mentioned it, and Chen E could smell a bad feeling.
"Now that I have become the emperor, these memorials must be reviewed. The emperor is actually just a position, and he also has his own responsibilities. You cannot slack off your responsibilities because of your physical condition. The prince is growing up day by day, I
Recently, I have been thinking about whether it is time to pass the throne to him." Ming Chengzu looked out the window with such deep eyes that no one could tell what he was thinking.
Today, the idea of passing on the throne to the crown prince was suddenly proposed. Both Hong Tianren and Chen E were stunned for a moment.
There is a big question mark in my mind. What does the emperor want to say today?
Although there are endless questions in my heart, I have to say these flattering words.
"The emperor is in his prime, and the prince is still growing up. When the emperor feels that the prince can shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country, it will not be too late to consider passing on the throne." Chen E hurriedly replied.
"Yes, Mr. Chen is right. Your Majesty is at the peak of your power now. It would be better for you to train the prince for a while before considering inheriting the throne." Hong Tianren rolled his eyes and followed suit.
"That's the truth, but old age means old age. This fact cannot be changed by you with a few compliments." Ming Chengzu chuckled, "Tianren, are you still alive?"
"Back to the emperor, only my old mother is still alive at home." When the emperor asked about his family affairs, Hong Tianren hurriedly replied with tears of gratitude.
"Well, in the past few years, there have been continuous wars in the imperial court, and the Ministry of War has also been busy. You have worked really hard. I have been able to return triumphantly from several northern expeditions, and the Ministry of War deserves the greatest credit. At this moment, you are already sixty-three years old.
He also dedicated his whole life to the imperial court." Ming Chengzu nodded, affirming Hong Tianren's various achievements since he became the Minister of the Ministry of War.
"As an important minister of the imperial court, you should serve the imperial court." Hong Tianren raised his arms with ambition, straightened his back, and replied loudly.
"How could I not understand your loyalty? It's just that I am two years younger than you, and I feel physically and mentally exhausted, and I have the intention of abdicating, but I still want you to continue to work hard for the country at the age of sixty-three. How can I bear it?
?" Ming Chengzu said calmly.
This sentence finally woke up the confused Chen E next to him.
It turned out that the emperor was not indifferent to Hong Tianren's accusation that Xiao Chen forced Cangcheng, the Minister of Rites, to death, but he was very concerned and dissatisfied.
After going around in such a big circle, it seemed that he was caring and caring for Hong Tianren, but in fact he was just hinting to him that he should abdicate to save his own life.
Moreover, the emperor's way of speaking today is very similar to the way Xiao Chen spoke to Cang Cheng on the execution platform. They were both using the most tactful way, doing the coldest things, and making the other party burst into tears of gratitude.
Chen E finally understood that Xiao Chen was just an ordinary captain in Dongchang. Even if he had extraordinary abilities, he had absolutely nothing to do with Ming Ziyi.
The emperor did not hesitate to give him the only unicorn purple garment in the Ming Dynasty. Perhaps he thought that this Xiao Chen was another younger version of himself. His abundant energy could just make up for his lack of physical strength and help him jointly govern the Ming Dynasty.
If the emperor really regards Xiao Chen as another person, let alone killing a minister of the Ministry of Rites, or replacing him with the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, so what?
Thinking of this, Chen E's back felt cold.
Thanks to myself for seeing the emperor's attitude in advance, otherwise, I would have been persuaded to retreat by the emperor at this moment.
As a senior official in the court, how could Hong Tianren fail to hear the hidden meaning behind the emperor's words?
The accusation he had just made against Xiao Chen had completely angered the emperor. The emperor chose to do this because he wanted to save some face for himself, and at the same time, he also wanted future generations to say that he was a benevolent king.
The emperor did not hesitate to go around in such a long circle. If he did not know how to advance or retreat, let alone the head on his neck, the entire family would be in danger.
He originally thought that he would go to the palace to ask the emperor to punish Xiao Chen, but unexpectedly he lost his own Wu Sha. Hong Tianren felt extremely unwilling.
But so what if you don't give in? What you are facing is the emperor, the most powerful person in the Ming Dynasty.
Hong Tianren clasped his hands in his fists: "Actually, in recent years, I have also been deeply troubled by lack of physical strength. Especially in the Ministry of War, I have to be mentally prepared for war at all times, and it is obvious that I am a little unable to do what I want. Today, I boldly make a request to the emperor.
Resigning from the post of Minister of War is not because I don’t want to take on this important responsibility anymore, but because I really can’t bear it anymore.”
Ming Chengzu was stunned: "Hong Aiqing, I really can't accept your sudden resignation. Although you are older, I should agree to let you go home and live for a thousand years, but after getting along for a long time, I still can't accept it."
A little bit sad."
Ming Chengzu put his hands behind his back and walked back and forth, as if he was engaged in an ideological struggle with different opinions.
After a long time, he stopped and looked at Hong Tianren: "Otherwise, you want to go back and completely hand over the affairs in your hands. How about waiting for the entire military department to operate normally before going home to retire?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your permission." Hong Tianren hurriedly knelt on the ground to thank him.
The imperial study room is filled with sandalwood and is extremely warm.