Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 167 I want to be different from others, but this is what I want!
Zhang Juzheng was also an old hand in the cabinet. He had served as cabinet minister, vice-prime minister, and prime minister. At this moment, he felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet to his forehead.

Your Majesty, you are suspicious of the cabinet.

But to all conscience, his discussions with Hu Zongxian were all based on the perspective of the Ming Dynasty.

Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou were appointed because they were familiar to each other and they were known to be loyal to the emperor, so they were recommended to the emperor regardless of their personal relationship.

It is true that Li Chengliang was promoted by Zhang Juzheng.

However, this "cutting off the source of trouble" against the Huizhou merchants, which led to the mobilization of Xie Chaoen, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong Town, to the court and his replacement by deputy commander-in-chief Li Chengliang, was also a coincidence.

As for Wang Chonggu, the governor of Xuanda who guarded Xuanfu Town and Datong Town, his friendship with Zhang Juzheng had a long history and it was by no means a sudden or long-planned attempt to steal power.

Among the nine borders and nine towns, the cabinet could influence five towns. It can only be said that Zhang Juzheng was a coincidence, too much of a coincidence.

It was such a coincidence that Zhang Juzheng lowered his head.

However, Hu Zongxian's manners and expression remained unchanged. Even when the dragon's eyes were cast at him, his gaze was full of calmness.

"hope so."

Zhu Houcong nodded and said with a smile: "I have approved everything the cabinet has reported. Zhang Juzheng, I hope you will not disappoint the emperor."

"I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's expectations!" Zhang Juzheng said respectfully.

Hu Zongxian followed suit and bowed.

Zhu Houcong waved his hand, and Zhang Juzheng and Hu Zongxian understood and left the palace.

Just as he turned and walked through the palace gate, Zhang Juzheng whispered to Hu Zongxian: "Ruzhen, help me up."

Hu Zongxian was startled and took two steps faster, half supporting Zhang Juzheng. If you didn't look carefully, you would think that the two ministers were walking side by side.

"Huang Jin." Zhu Houcong called.

"The servant is here."

"Tell me, does my Prime Minister have any selfish motives?"

"Your Majesty, I don't know."

"You don't know, or you don't dare to say?"

"I don't know." Huang Jin replied again.

Normally when he was on duty, he just did his job and never thought about these things. But when he heard the Emperor's question today, he didn't dare to think about it, nor did he want to think about it.

Zhu Houcong said, "I don't want to do this, but I have to. Now you should understand why I want to put Lü Fang in prison, right?"

Huang Jin still looked at His Majesty blankly: "I, I don't understand..."

"If it weren't for the emperor, the people in the Imperial Household Department would be nothing more than a bunch of eunuch leaders, eunuchs without any roots. With the arrogance of civil officials and the bloodiness of military generals, how could they be respectful to eunuchs?"

Zhu Houcong stood up from the mat and walked to the outside of the palace. He looked at the backs of Zhang Juzheng and Hu Zongxian and said slowly, "The power of the Imperial Household Department is an extension of the imperial power. There are at least 80,000 eunuchs and palace maids in the 24 government offices in the two capitals and 13 provinces, inside and outside the palace, and in the garrison. Lü Fang has been the ancestor of the inner court for so many years that he thinks he knows me. Perhaps, in his heart, he also regards himself as the emperor."

Huang Jin knelt down and defended Lu Fang, "Your Majesty, I will guarantee your life for you, and you have absolutely no intention of coveting the throne."

"I didn't say that Lü Fang had the intention of treason, I just said that Lü Fang's heart was somewhat lost, and Lü Fang himself might not even realize it." Zhu Houcong waved his sleeves and said, "Just like this cabinet, if it weren't for the imperial power, it would just be a group of fifth-rank officials. Because it is close to the imperial power, the cabinet has become the pinnacle of human officials, holding the power of the two capitals and thirteen provinces in its hands.

Before Emperor Taizu abolished the Secretariat, this was called the power of the prime minister.

I know that in the officialdom, among scholars, and among the people, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong are known as Zhang Xiang and Gao Xiang. "

At this point, Zhu Houcong sneered and said, "In the past one or two hundred years, the Ming Dynasty has not established prime ministers and chancellors. I don't know where these titles came from, but Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong still enjoy them.

I did not provoke Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong because I knew that they had no intention of rebelling.

But like Lu Fang, not having the intention to rebel does not mean that he did not take actions to encroach on the imperial power.

Unlike Lu Fang, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong pursued unlimited power that could rival the imperial power and be like the grand power of the Song court, where the holy emperor ruled the country without any effort.

I don't know if Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong are aware of this, but this is beyond the power of the prime minister, the power of the "regent" in the name of "regent".

The court is full of fierce ministers.

Even the wise emperor Zhu Houcong was astonished.

However, Huang Jin could not understand these things, so he could only answer from the most simple perspective: "Since Your Majesty is worried, I will send someone to arrest Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong."

"I am not uneasy."

Zhu Houcong shook his head and said, "The ones who are uneasy are Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, and the cabinet.

As long as I am here, Zhang Juzheng's cabinet will be restless, suppressing their desire for the power of regent and prime minister, and testing me little by little, fearing that they will anger me one day and have their claws chopped off. "

In the past forty years, Zhu Houcong has been practicing Taoism and has a gloomy personality. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he should have been the most masculine and strong, but he became the Taiyin of the Yin-Yang fish in the Tai Chi diagram.

During his two lifetimes, Zhu Houcong gradually created the most masculine and powerful sun with the blood of countless officials, scholars, and businessmen.

Yin and Yang complement each other.

When Zhu Houcong looked at Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, and the cabinet again, he did not feel the slightest fear. He had no other emotion except the desire to laugh at those little actions and little plans behind the scenes.

Zhang Juzheng, who felt the same way, was shocked. When the emperor suspected him, he felt so guilty that he couldn't even walk steadily.

Seeing Huang Jin was confused, Zhu Houcong stopped talking and suddenly asked, "How is Lv Fang?"

Huang Jin lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, it's not good. The prison is dark and there is no sunlight. There are countless evil spirits. I have been to see him several times, and he is getting weaker each time."

"Do you feel wronged?" Zhu Houcong looked in the direction of the Northern Pacification Office and said with complexity.

"Your Majesty, I am not speaking for my godfather. I have been imprisoned several times, and the first thing my godfather asked about was Your Majesty's health. Then he asked about the seasons of heaven and earth. Finally, he told me how to serve Your Majesty in each season. I have not made any mistakes in the past six months, and it is all thanks to my godfather." As Huang Jin spoke, she felt more and more sad in her heart and she actually started to cry.

"Why are you crying? Are you blaming me?"

Huang Jin slowly stopped talking, choking with sobs as she replied, "I dare not blame Your Majesty, and Godfather will not blame Your Majesty either. I feel sorry for Godfather, and Godfather may die in the Imperial Prison in this life, and he will never forget Your Majesty in his next reincarnation.

Unlike some people, who spend all day in the palace of His Majesty, but do not have His Majesty in their hearts. "

Zhu Houcong looked at him, his eyes showing both loneliness and comfort, and said, "Look at your silly look, let Lu Fang come back to the palace!"

(End of this chapter)