Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 185 The emperor’s conspiracy can only be backstabbed!
After Fei Hong knelt down, the Prime Minister Liang Chu and the Grand Secretary Mao Ji also knelt down and shouted that the emperor was wise.

Followed by.

The Minister of Revenue Sun Jiao, the Minister of Rites Wang Zan, the Minister of War Wang Yangming and other nine ministers from the six ministries all knelt down and followed suit, shouting that the emperor was wise.

Grand Secretary Jiang Mian even said at this time: "Your Majesty, I have observed the celestial phenomena recently and found that Wenquxing has appeared more in the north and southwest recently. I think it is just in time for today. Your Majesty's words are obviously in line with the will of heaven!"

"The deputy assistant can actually observe the stars?"

Zhu Houcong suddenly asked with a smile.

The Ming Dynasty did not strictly prohibit the public from studying astronomy, and even issued an imperial decree to find people who were good at astronomy among the public.

In particular, there will be no strict control over the scholar-officials' research on astronomy.

However, Zhu Houcong did not expect that Jiang Mian would have this hobby.

This made him curious and think more.

Jiang Mian replied: "Your Majesty, this is just a momentary interest of mine."

Zhu Houcong nodded and said nothing more.

Liu Jian couldn't help but close his eyes and sigh.

The cabinet ministers and nine officials successively echoed the emperor.

Grand Secretary Jiang Mian even used astrology to support his argument.

This naturally made Liu Jian realize that these people were afraid that he would stop the emperor from doing so, and they were putting pressure on him, letting him know that if he dissuaded the emperor at this time and spoke for the Nanzhi gentry, he would offend all of their cabinet ministers and nine officials.

Liu Jian couldn't help but glance at his grandson Liu Chengxue behind him.

Liu Chengxue was looking at him eagerly.

Liu Jian sighed slightly.

Thinking about how his grandson had failed the imperial examination many times, and how the Liu family still needed his grandson to continue the prosperity, if ten more places were given to Henan this time, he should not refuse such a great favor.

He had to admit that the emperor really aimed at his vital point and gave him grace.

If he refuses, he will only incur the resentment of his family, clan, and even fellow villagers!

But he thought that if he just obeyed like that, it would mean completely supporting the emperor's large-scale persecution of the Jiangnan gentry, completely supporting the emperor's ability to control the world's financial power in the future, and completely disappointing the literati who wanted him to stop this.

This will undoubtedly greatly damage his image of being "upright and selfless".

Liu Jian didn't know what to do now, so he could only say: "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well, and I request to leave the banquet early to rest!"

"You are an old man, how can I refuse your permission?"

"You are still allowed to ride in a carriage out of the palace."

Zhu Houcong said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Liu Jian stood up tremblingly with the help of his grandson Liu Chengxue.

Liu Chengxue looked disappointed.

But he did not show it, and quietly helped his grandfather out of the hall.

Zhao Huang and others also looked disappointed.

Seeing this, Zhu Houcong also said: "Since Lord Huian is not feeling well, let's cancel the banquet in advance, and the ministers should go back first!"

"Yes!"

"Your Majesty, please leave!"

Liu Jian did not agree to this plan, which made Zhao Huang and other cabinet ministers feel uneasy. They were afraid that Liu Jian would still choose to firmly oppose it, just as he was determined to demand that Zhengde must kill the "Eight Tigers" back then, and might even threaten the emperor with death to agree to his original proposal.

After all, since Liu Jian has come to Beijing, it means that he has the possibility of interfering in state affairs and the emperor's will.

Zhao Huang and other cabinet ministers had never been as worried as they were now that Liu Jian would interfere in state affairs and the emperor.

and so.

Liu Jian had just returned to his residence in the capital.

Zhao Huang and other cabinet ministers came to visit soon after.

Liu Jian originally wanted to refuse, but when he thought that he might die at any time and his only grandson would have to rely on these ministers for support, he decided to meet these people.

"Mr. Huian, what do you think?"

"Do you agree or disagree with what the emperor said at the banquet?"

Zhao Huang asked first.

Liu Jian was even more annoyed when he saw that it was Zhao Huang who asked first, so he asked, "Aren't you the one who supports me the most in trying to dissuade the emperor from wantonly punishing the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River?"

"Did I?"

Zhao Huang asked back.

"you!"

Liu Jian started coughing excitedly.

"Lord Huian, calm down!"

"I remember clearly that he said so."

"He even said he would die for his remonstrance!"

Fei Hong hurriedly comforted Liu Jian, fearing that Liu Jian would really be angered to death by Zhao Huang on the eve of the emperor's wedding.

Zhao Huang also hurriedly apologized: "Lord Huian, please calm down!"

"Although I am younger than you, I am not as good at remembering things as you are. I forget some things after I've said them!"

"I supported you the most at that time, but I didn't expect the emperor to be so smart!"

"But the emperor was able to come up with such a perfect plan, which not only ensured that the rules and regulations could be maintained, but also avoided affecting the talent selection ceremony, and also showed favor to the candidates from other provinces, so that their benevolence would not be damaged by the strict law. It can be said that it achieved three goals with one stone!"

"We are so lucky to have such a holy king in our country!"

"I am ashamed that we are honored as the Nine Ministers, but our talents and wisdom are not as good as your Majesty's!"

"And precisely because of this three-pronged strategy, there is naturally no need for me to continue to make a last-ditch appeal, otherwise I would be just trying to gain a reputation for being upright!"

"Isn't it right for us, as ministers, to deceive the emperor?"

Zhao Huang laughed awkwardly after he said this.

"Stop talking!"

"Besides, Lord Huian is really going to die!"

"Are you saying that if Lord Huian continues to dissuade His Majesty, it will be for the sake of gaining a reputation for being upright?"

Liang Chu quickly scolded Zhao Huang and pointed at Liu Jian, whose breathing was becoming more and more rapid.

Zhao Huang quickly covered his mouth.

Liang Chu also came over and bowed deeply to Liu Jian: "Please calm down, if not for anything else, please consider your grandson. If you get angry and get sick when His Majesty is about to get married, what will His Majesty think and how will he view the Liu family?"

Liu Jian then hurriedly said: "Give me the medicine!"

Liu Chengxue hurriedly opened the brocade box and took out the pills wrapped in paper.

Zhao Huang hurriedly made a cup of tea.

Liu Jian glared at Zhao Huang and said, "I don't want your tea!" Zhao Huang was stunned for a moment.

"Let me do it!"

Fei Hongze took the tea and handed it to Liu Chengxue.

Liu Chengxue helped Liu Jian take the medicine.

After taking the medicine, Liu Jian closed his eyes and rested for about half a quarter of an hour, and then he felt better.

But when he saw that these ministers and officials had not left, he could not help but sigh:

"You guys really won't give up until you achieve your goal!"

"How can we rest assured until you are out of danger?"

Liang Chu replied with a smile.

Liu Jian laughed: "You are not concerned about me, but whether I will stop the Holy Will, right?"

"Look at what you said."

"We don't want to leave because we care about your health! As for the Holy Spirit, whether you stop it or not is up to you."

Liang Chu replied with a smile.

Liu Jian raised his finger and pointed at Liang Chu, saying with a smile: "You, Liang Shunde, are still so good at coaxing people!"

talking.

Liu Jian smiled faintly: "Do you really want me to support your majesty in sacrificing Nanzhi to fulfill your holy wish?"

"This is not a sacrifice. It was the Nanzhi nobles who broke the rules first."

"Besides, you have seen the current situation. Do we scholars really have the ability to restrain the Holy Heart?"

"I'm going to say something you don't want to hear. If Sacred Heart really insists on having his own way, neither you nor I can stop him!"

"The emperor of today is kind and wise, so he has left us all some dignity. If we really force it, the discord between the emperor and his subjects will lead to chaos in the world!"

"From the beginning, I felt that it was impossible to sacrifice the emperor for the benefit of the world. The emperor is not just one person. If he wants to be a saint, everyone must be willing for him to be a saint."

Liang Chu said.

"What Yuanfu said is correct."

"To destroy human desires and preserve the principles of heaven is not the true doctrine of Taoism, because this theory will always make people destroy the small desires of others and regard their own great desires as the principles of heaven!"

Wang Yangming then started to speak, but Liu Jian held out his hand to stop him: "Don't preach your philosophy to me!"

Wang Yangming had no choice but to shut up.

"Mao Laizhou, Sun Zhongxiang, and Lin Putian."

Liu Jian then called out the names of three ministers who had been his disciples.

Grand Secretary Mao Ji, Minister of Revenue Sun Jiao, and Minister of Punishment Lin Jun stood up and said, "Enfu!"

"You really hope that I won't stop His Majesty?"

Liu Jian then asked about his three students.

Mao Ji replied: "The situation is like this. As long as Your Majesty uses the large amount of silver in the right places after obtaining it, it will be a blessing for the country and the people!"

Sun Jiao followed up and said, "Yes, since those aristocrats in Jiangnan rebelled, we should save the world at their expense. It was they who failed to eliminate human desires first and became thieves!"

Lin Jun also said at this time: "Enfu, as long as we can save the world, anyone can be sacrificed, and it is not necessary to wrong the emperor. Moreover, from the perspective of the relationship between the monarch and his subjects, we can wrong anyone but not the monarch and father!"

Although Mao Ji and others spoke very tactfully and their arguments seemed to be correct, Liu Jian knew that they had been bribed by the emperor's idea.

"Even you have selfish motives!"

Liu Jian couldn't help but say this.

The three of them couldn't help but look embarrassed, and at the same time, they felt a little ashamed.

In fact, Liu Jian himself had already planned to compromise in his heart, but he did not want to attribute the reason to himself, so he naturally began to follow Liang Chu's wishes and blame Mao Ji and others.

But Mao Ji and others were tactful enough not to argue.

After blaming him, Liu Jian began to take advantage of the situation and said, "Well, I promise you, I will come to you tomorrow to express my gratitude when the imperial edict comes down!"

The ministers of the cabinet were overjoyed to hear this and left one after another.

After these cabinet ministers and nine officials left, Liu Jian was still somewhat hesitant.

There is a reason why he is so indecisive.

After all, he came to Beijing this time to carry the expectations of scholars and officials all over the world.

Whether he can successfully prevent the emperor from obtaining a large amount of silver by confiscating the rebellious nobles in the south of the Yangtze River is also related to the future status of the nobles.

Therefore, he knew that if he failed to achieve the purpose of his trip to Beijing this time, he would become a huge joke and receive a lot of criticism.

He did not want his lifelong prestige in the scholar community to be easily shattered by the current emperor.

This would make him too embarrassed to face people again.

But the cabinet ministers and nine officials had already been bribed by the emperor and began to threaten him. The emperor also gave him a great temptation. For the sake of his grandson and his own reputation, he did not dare to refuse.

At this time, Liu Jian asked his grandson Liu Chengxue: "Chengxue, do you think your grandfather will agree?"

Liu Chengxue knelt down and said, "Grandfather! This time the emperor has given Henan an extra ten places. Adding the fixed places allocated to Henan, I will definitely pass this time, because there are no more than ten candidates from Henan who are more talented than me, except for those who passed the special examination in the fifteenth year of Zhengde and last year!"

"Grandfather understands."

Liu Jian closed his eyes and two tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

then.

Liu Jian said, "Then follow your grandfather's instructions and write two letters, one to express gratitude and the other to scold the scholars and officials of the world!"

"Scold the scholars and officials of the world?"

Liu Chengxue was greatly surprised.

Liu Jian said, "That's right. We must let the world know that I didn't succeed in dissuading the emperor. It's not because I didn't work hard, but because there are many hypocritical and selfish scholars in the world. They gave Your Majesty a plan to let the cabinet ministers and nine officials force you to agree. As a result, you realized that it was meaningless to stick to it, and it would be better to support the emperor to rule alone!"

"That's right, Grandfather changed his mind and supported the emperor's rule because he was extremely disappointed with the scholars and officials in the world!"

"My grandfather hoped that the emperor would enforce strict laws. He believed that the emperor should concentrate all power and kill all the hypocrites in the world! Kill all the traitorous nobles who do not abide by the way of loyalty to the emperor!"

"Otherwise, there will be no peace in this world!"

"Let the emperor make reforms as he pleases! From now on, I, Liu Jian, will change my mind!"

Liu Jian's face flushed as he spoke.

Liu Chengxue was more and more astonished: "Is Grandfather really going to write like this?"

“Just write it like this!”

"Grandfather is tired! He only wants to serve his grandson, not others!"

"The letter of thanks will be submitted when the imperial edict comes down, and the letter of scolding the scholars and officials will be submitted when you need to ask for an imperial decree to mourn for your father."

Liu Jiandao.

Liu Chengxue was stunned: "Dingyou!"

"Don't you want to mourn for your grandfather?"

(End of this chapter)