Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 42 Anyone who breaks into the palace will be killed!

Liang Chu knew that the emperor before him was a wise young ruler with deep scheming. It was very likely that he had already learned how to use the Eastern Depot's Embroidered Uniform Guard to monitor all officials without any instruction.

After all, this is an old tradition of the Zhu emperors.

Any smart emperor would use the imperial guards to check and balance the officials, and even build the West Factory and the Inner Factory in addition to the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Therefore, Liang Chu relayed Yang Tinghe's words that Mao Cheng relayed to him to Zhu Houcong without reservation, and sold out Yang Tinghe without hesitation.

In this way, even if Zhu Houcong knew Yang Tinghe's purpose through the factory guards, he would not suspect him of disloyalty.

of course.

Liang Chu also believed that given the emperor's intelligence, he would not rush to do anything to Yang Tinghe just because he reported the truth so truthfully.

Moreover, in Liang Chu's view, even if Zhu Houcong was still furious and was eager to deal with Yang Tinghe without considering the overall situation, it would be easier for him to persuade Zhu Houcong because he knew his loyalty.

Zhu Houcong was very calm at this time and didn't say anything.

Liang Chu was quite impressed by this, and secretly admired his Majesty. Although he was a young emperor, he was indeed mature and prudent, like an emperor who had seen wind and rain. Even though he knew that Yang Tinghe was remotely controlling and interfering in state affairs, he did not really get angry and lose his temper, but remained calm and silent.

This made Liang Chu wonder, could it be that the emperor had already seen through Yang Tinghe, or had already seen through all the civil and military officials in the court?

in this way.

What a terrible young hero this is!

Liang Chu shuddered with fear, and at the same time secretly felt fortunate that he did not choose to lie in front of the Holy Lord.

"Since the Grand Tutor is interested in the affairs of state and is helping Your Majesty, I ask Your Majesty to issue an order to invite the Grand Tutor back to the Cabinet. I am willing to give up the position of Prime Minister."

Liang Chu then continued to speak and knelt down on his own initiative, begging.

Zhu Houcong glanced at Liang Chu lying on the ground.

Please invite Yang Tinghe back?

How can it be!

What Zhu Houcong is most satisfied with now is that Yang Tinghe does not have the courage like Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng in later generations. He dares not confront the emperor directly, but chooses to retreat in order to advance, and takes the initiative to claim illness to give up the power to govern the country.

That's why.

Zhu Houcong was so generous that he allowed Yang Tinghe to be conferred the title of Grand Tutor during his lifetime.

But Zhu Houcong would not allow a veteran who had been conferred the title of Grand Tutor and was enough to challenge his position to become the Prime Minister.

Moreover, since he gave the position of Taifu to someone else, he couldn't give it away for free. He could only make sure that the person who got the position of Taifu would never be able to hold real power in the future, and could only use this honor to enjoy his retirement or do some idle things.

"Don't doubt people who are suspicious of you, don't doubt those who are employed."

"I will not frequently change my Prime Minister at the beginning of my reign!"

"Otherwise, how will people in the world view me?"

"They will only think that I am arrogant, not calm enough, and not capable of shouldering the great responsibility of the world!"

"Besides, there has never been such a thing as a prime minister in the mountains in our Ming Dynasty. There can't be one now, and there won't be one in the future!"

Zhu Houcong spoke sternly at this time.

After that.

Zhu Houcong looked at Liang Chu again and said, "So, you will still be in charge of the cabinet in the future. Right now, it is important to do a good job of clearing the fields. I don't want to watch the people who followed me to the capital really think that I brought them to the capital and didn't care about them, and then watch them all being bought by wealthy families as slaves!"

Liang Chu hurriedly responded, not daring to raise any issue of etiquette, and only said: "I also know that at present, it is most important to preserve the benevolence of the emperor and father and to help the people."

"The Prime Minister is a wise man and knows my heart."

Zhu Houcong said with a smile.

Liang Chu then took out another secret document that he had prepared long ago, and suddenly said in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, I have something else to report."

"speak!"

"Your Majesty, please replace Mao Rui, the commander of the Jinyiwei guarding Donghua Gate, with Luo An as the deputy commander of the Jinyiwei guarding Donghua Gate. Because Mao Rui coughed against the wall while on duty today, which is not in accordance with etiquette, I request that he be transferred to the general of Huguang, waiting for promotion after he has made meritorious service."

Donghuamen is the palace gate that cabinet ministers must pass through when entering and leaving the cabinet, and it has the important function of isolating the cabinet from outer court officials.

Therefore, the cabinet was essentially regarded as the emperor's close minister, and was often also regarded as an inner court institution.

Zhu Houcong knew that Mao Rui, the military general currently guarding Donghua Gate, was a disciple of the former Minister of War Lu Wan, and Lu Wan was a disciple of Yang Tinghe. Relying on this relationship, he became the military officer on duty at Donghua Gate.

It can be said that the key to this palace gate was controlled by Yang Tinghe.

This had made Zhu Houcong feel somewhat uneasy.

And now, Liang Chu proposed to replace Mao Rui, obviously wanting to cut off the connection between Yang Tinghe and the cabinet, to avoid being humiliated when leaving the palace like Wang Anshi, who presided over the reforms for Song Shenzong in history, and then had to give up the reforms for his own safety. At the same time, he also tried to please Zhu Houcong by letting Luo An, an old man from the palace, replace Mao Rui and be responsible for guarding Dong'an Gate.

Zhu Houcong was naturally pleased to follow this and said, "I heard that when Mao Rui led the army to fight against Liu Liu and Liu Qi, he lost his army but was not punished, and only took credit for killing the captured civilians?"

"It's true."

Liang Chu replied.

Zhu Houcong asked: "Why didn't you charge him with any crime?"

"It was because the Grand Marshal Ma insisted that it was not possible at that time." Liang Chu replied.

Zhu Houcong said: "A merit cannot be denied because it is too late to promote it. Similarly, a crime cannot be denied because it is too late to promote it, or even condoned!"

"This Mao Rui has been stripped of his title, demoted three ranks, and transferred to Guizhou! His crime is still due to his violation of etiquette and rules, so I won't mention anything else. I will give Mao Rui some dignity, and I hope he will learn from his shame and then be brave. I will also grant your request and transfer Luo An to guard the Donghua Gate and report to the secret again."

Liang Chu bowed in agreement, secretly sighing that His Majesty should not be underestimated. He actually knew Mao Rui's background better than he thought, and must know Yang Tinghe better. Fortunately, he was the Prime Minister and had more opportunities to report matters alone in front of the emperor. Otherwise, he was afraid that he would still think that His Majesty was only a 15-year-old emperor, and no matter how smart he was, he only knew what was in the books.

Soon.

Mao Rui received an imperial decree that he would be demoted three levels and sent to Guizhou to serve as the deputy commander.

"Your Majesty, I am wronged!"

"I never coughed against the wall while guarding Donghua Gate, not even once!"

When Mao Rui received a secret document approved by the Imperial Household Department from Luo An, he immediately turned around, knelt inside the palace, kowtowed and started shouting.

Luo An said: "Can the Prime Minister wrongly accuse you?"

Mao Rui was in tears at this time, but he thanked the emperor and accepted the order. He handed over the defense of Donghua Gate to Luo An, and immediately came to Yang Tinghe in plain clothes that night.

……

Let’s talk.

Yang Tinghe's face had already darkened because Mao Cheng came to him again and relayed Liang Chu's words to him.

Yang Shen was also standing by, his hands on his hips, laughing coldly, "The tea has gone cold before they even leave the capital. It's ok that Liang is trying to protect himself and doesn't dare to make a clear statement, but why are Jiang Quanzhou and Mao Laizhou also pretending to be deaf and dumb?!"

"Well, Yang Shen, go ask the cabinet."

Although Yang Tinghe was very disappointed, he still did not show much anger. He only gave this instruction and then said with a smile: "Some things can be discussed."

Mao Cheng also smiled and said, "What the Grand Master said is true. Although our hometowns are divided into north, south, east and west, we are all descendants of the sage. After the grand ceremony is agreed upon, we can still discuss how to adjust the rent and tax exemption."

Yang Shen bowed and agreed, then walked towards the cabinet.

However, as soon as Yang Shen arrived at Donghua Gate, before he entered the cabinet, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard led his troops to stop him.

"Step aside!"

Yang Shen shouted loudly.

Naturally, he was rude to these low-level military officers and vented the anger in his heart.

"What are you drinking? This is the palace gate. Except for the ministers and the like who carry badges, you have to announce your name before entering, right?"

The Jinyiwei captain asked a question.

Yang Shen laughed: "You can't even recognize me?"

"How can I recognize you?"

The Jinyiwei captain replied.

Yang Shen then realized something was wrong and asked, "Who is your general on duty?"

"I am the commander of the Jinyiwei, and I am on duty at Donghua Gate under the order of the emperor."

At this time, Luo An walked out of the direct room.

Yang Shen asked, "Where is Mao Rui?"

Luo An did not answer.

"I am Yang Shen, the editor. I want to go in and see the elders!"

Yang Shen replied.

Luo An asked, "What's the matter?"

"My father left a document in the cabinet, but he forgot to take it."

Yang Shen replied.

Luo An said: "You can say it's some kind of document, and I'll ask the cabinet to bring it out for you, but you can't come in!"

"Why can't I get in?!"

Yang Shen replied.

Luo An said: "If you are not a minister or an official, you are not allowed to enter without permission!"

Yang Shen gritted his teeth and then forced his way in. He didn't believe that Luo An would really dare to stop him, the eldest son of a Taifu and the top scholar in the Ming Dynasty.

But this time.

Luo An drew his knife and said to Yang Shen, "Anyone who breaks into the palace will be killed without mercy!"

Don’t doubt Yang Shen’s courage. In history, this young master was bolder than Yan Shifan. He was the one who dared to call on the upright civil officials to make a scene at Zuoshunmen and shouted the famous line: "A real man should die for his integrity and righteousness, today is the day!" Perhaps it was because of his good family background and his own fame, as he was the number one scholar at the age of 23, so he was proud of himself. His father Yang Tinghe also had a proud trait, because his father passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, became a Jinshi at the age of nineteen, and entered the Hanlin Academy. At that time, this was something to be proud of.

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(End of this chapter)