Xie Ming

The Li and Ma families faced each other at the top of the palace, their presence shrouded in smoke and fumes, making it impossible for them to quarrel.

Qiu Weizhen, having reached his limit, saw an opportunity and seized the chance to take the initiative.

He was well-versed in the ways of being an official and managing subordinates.

He then took charge, seemingly trying to mediate and persuade, but in reality, he was seizing power. He wanted to silence the Northern faction and had a plan to take advantage of the situation and regain control.

"Cough, cough, cough."

“Er He, you always say you’re from the Northern faction, but we are all from the Southern faction.”

"Yes, the current situation is dire. The late emperor has suddenly passed away, and the infant emperor is crying. It is a matter of life and death."

"What partisan strife, what North-South debate?"

"Let's put everything aside for now." This statement expressed loyalty to the country.

"National affairs are of utmost importance; the fate of the nation and its people is paramount."

"We have received the Emperor's favor and are honored to hold high positions in the Cabinet."

"The most urgent task at hand is to ensure the survival of the imperial court."

"Gentlemen, I'm begging you."

"Let's seek common ground while reserving differences, and work together with one heart, okay?!"

"A crisis is looming, and the survival of the nation depends entirely on the concerted efforts of all of you."

"To protect our great Ming Dynasty and prevent evil people from taking advantage of our weaknesses and causing our country to perish."

"Going forward, all such quarrels and sophistry that are detrimental to unity, undermining each other, and attacking each other are unacceptable."

"From now on, all members of this cabinet should only have one thought in their minds."

"That is to protect the country and the ruler!"

dong dong dong-

His words followed the sound of his cane striking the blue bricks, adding to his imposing presence and emphasizing his strength.

"Well, our Great Ming Dynasty, from the founding emperor to the present, has lasted for nearly three hundred years, with eighteen emperors."

"Such situations, where the throne is passed down and the ruler is young and the country is in turmoil, are not uncommon."

"There are ancestral rules in place." It's an old saying.

"Even though the situation is urgent, people are suspicious of this and doubt that."

"But I believe in the destiny of my Great Ming Dynasty."

"Things can always be resolved, no matter the method; it's just a temporary measure."

As he slowly recited his lines, he suddenly turned his gaze towards Ma Shiying, then turned to respectfully greet Empress Chen Wanxuan.

"Just now, some of the things Yaocao said were somewhat radical."

"However, in my opinion, the proposal from Shaoxing is... well, it's not that it's unacceptable."

"Your Majesty is concerned that the Crown Prince is suffering from the hardships of travel."

"Then let's be more careful along the way and travel slower."

"Given the risk of war and chaos, and the potential danger in Hangzhou, moving the capital is indeed the right thing to do."

"What does Your Majesty think?"

By using slow and steady tactics, and going through a long and roundabout way, Qiu Weizhen was ultimately a member of Ma Shiying's faction.

The interests of the Southern Court are involved, and many powerful clans and gentry are well aware of this.

The disagreements between him and Ma Shiying were minor internal matters.

However, when faced with common interests, Qiu Weizhen, though old in age, was not senile; though his eyesight was failing, his mind was clear.

The primary enemy remains the Northern Army under the command of the Duke of Jingguo.

Therefore, haste makes waste. No matter how eloquently you put it, in the end, it still sounds the same old story.

Upon hearing this, Empress Chen Wanxuan was greatly disappointed. Unable to think of any other way to refuse, she simply kept quiet for the time being and did not rush to accept the reply.

Judging by his keen observation and shrewdness, Qiu Weizhen clearly saw the estrangement and concerns among those in power.

So, he just managed to change the subject again and threw out another big gift.

"Uh, haha."

"No rush, ah, no rush."

"Of course, besides that, there is another important matter that needs to be decided in tonight's discussion."

"Well, in my opinion, General Zheng Zhilong of Fujian will be able to come soon."

"Then, the strategy for balancing military strength can be completed."

"When the new emperor ascends the throne, ah, it must be put on the agenda immediately."

"Well, what we all think is that we hope the two empresses can also take on the duties of assisting in government and listening to the emperor's opinions." After saying this, Qiu Weizhen deliberately paused, his old eyes fixed on the two empresses on the couch, watching for any changes in their attitude and appearance.

As expected, this offer was very enticing.

Empress Chen Wanxuan tried her best to conceal her feelings, but after all, she had limited shrewdness. When she heard of such a good opportunity, how could she not feel excited?

In the blink of an eye, Qiu Weizhen, the Grand Secretary, saw it clearly.

In contrast, Consort Hui, who was holding the Crown Prince in her arms, was somewhat aloof by nature, but upon hearing these words, her emotions were actually slightly shaken.

Seeing the momentum, Qiu Weizhen pressed on, seemingly confident of victory, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hehe, after all, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day."

"There are too many feudal lords outside."

"In order to set the record straight, we must make immediate arrangements here."

"Only when we ourselves stay calm and focused can we silence the noise from the outside."

"It's chaotic enough, it's already chaotic enough."

"If things drag on like this, who knows what kind of opportunity will arise outside, with a few people claiming to be emperors and others claiming to be kings?"

"Oh, Your Majesty the Empress, Consort Hui."

"This matter is the joint advice of all our ministers. You two must not refuse."

Qiu Weizhen was a man of firm convictions and was adept at influencing people's hearts; he was worldly-wise and shrewd.

After careful consideration, Chen Wanxuan realized that the powerful Chen family was behind her and she needed to weigh the pros and cons. Hearing these words, her mind was already in turmoil.

So his lips were sealed with honey, and he could no longer utter a word of dissent.

With victory assured, Grand Secretary Qiu's old eyes suddenly became sharp. Seeing that his words had taken effect, he struck while the iron was hot and suddenly turned his attention to Li Shichun.

"Hehe, Erhe, am I right or wrong with what I said?" The question was directed straight at Minister Li.

Upon hearing this, Li Shichun gritted his teeth, held his breath, and quickly devised a clever plan.

"Uh, Your Excellency's insight is brilliant, Your Excellency's insight is brilliant."

"How much of a mature and insightful statement about governing the country would you be?" Zhuan Feng retorted.

"If that's the case, then I'll be frank and honest about it."

"Actually, Vice Minister Ni, Vice Minister Lin, and I did travel south from the capital with Xiao Jingchuan."

“But he is him, and I, Li Shichun, am Li Shichun.”

"Furthermore, we have not formed any Northern Party."

"The talk of a Southern Party versus a Northern Party is utter nonsense, mere speculation, and not worth discussing."

"In the end, we are nothing more than old officials from when the late emperor was still a prince."

A silent thunderclap, a powerful force revealing its true worth amidst weakness.

"The reason why I disagreed with Minister Ma earlier was actually because we were both acting in the best interests of the people."

"What I mean is, if you're afraid that Xiao is plotting a rebellion, then deal with it openly and honestly."

"The idea of ​​secretly wooing Fujian troops to cause trouble—no one discussed this with Li beforehand, and I didn't agree to it either."

"This is the path to chaos!"

"Humph!"

"The worst thing is that Zheng Zhilong might actually arrive by then."

"It's easy for you to invite a Buddha, but difficult to send him away!"

Li Shichun cleverly deflected the blame unintentionally thrown at him by his enemy, while also sticking to his own opinion on the matter of calling for reinforcements. His words were highly cautionary and showed his clear-headedness.

Upon hearing and observing, Qiu was speechless for a moment and did not immediately retort.

Ma Shiying, who was standing nearby, glanced at the appearance of the seated attendant, then stood up against the wind and took over the baton.

"Li Erhe, all you do is make sarcastic remarks, huh?"

"What do you mean by inviting Buddha and sending Buddha away?"

"I think you're just talking without understanding the situation."

What happened to the Fujian soldiers?

"If the Xiao family army in Nanjing really rebels, how will you control them if you don't have their troops?"

"You fat, bloated bastard, do you really think you can repel a rebellious army with your three-inch tongue? Huh?!"

"Empty talk harms the country!"

"Your Excellency, why are you wasting your breath talking to this kind of person?!"

(End of this chapter)