Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Zhang Shikang's words stunned all the brothers.

After all, they are young, and most of them don't quite understand it. They think that an emperor should be well-educated, cultured and refined, which fits the image of a sage monarch.

Zhang Shikang didn't care whether these brothers understood or not. He frowned and asked Liu Jiawei again:

"Who teaches the prince's classes on weekdays?"

"Brother, your Highness was taught the classics, history, philosophy and literature by four masters. They were Lord Liu and Lord Wang from the Ministry of Rites, Lord Chen from the Censorate, and Lord Yuan from the Eastern Palace." Liu Jiawei said truthfully.

Zhang Shikang laughed when he heard this. Although he had been leading the troops, he knew about most of the court officials for more than half a year.

The group of people mentioned by Liu Jiawei are all closely related to the Donglin Party.

This group has gradually covered the entire court, and even the two capitals and thirteen provinces. Since they failed to conquer Brother Chongzhen, they are now starting to conquer the crown prince!

Who knows, once my brother falls into the water one day, the so-called grand scene of all the righteous people in the court will happen again.

This is really perfect!

However, as long as Zhang Shikang is around, he will never allow this group of bird people to flutter around.

"Brothers, remember that a kind man is often bullied, and a kind horse is often ridden.

This principle applies to the common people, and it also applies to the current emperor or the crown prince.

If you don’t believe me, think about it. Among the emperors in history who have made great achievements in expanding territory, is there any one with a good temper?

Who has a better temper, the First Emperor of Qin or Emperor Gaozu of Han?

Does our Emperor Taizu Gao have a good temper? "

Everyone's heads were shaking like rattles. If Emperor Gao had a good temper, the ministers would not have to write their wills before going to court.

"Living in troubled times, it is absolutely not okay to be like a dough.

Maybe I should go to the palace sometime to see what's going on with the little prince," Zhang Shikang decided.

The administrative efficiency of an absolute monarchy is indeed high, but it has a fatal flaw, which is the issue of succession.

If the successor is qualified, the empire will naturally improve under the autocratic and centralized system.

But if the successor is a fool, holding such great power would be a fatal blow to an empire.

How many empires were once in their prime, but were ultimately destroyed by one or two fools.

The Ming Dynasty was in tatters, and Zhang Shikang patched it up.

He absolutely did not want the situation that he and his brother Chongzhen had worked so hard to change to be ruined in just a few years by a fool-proof prince.

That's too grassy.

After Zhang Shikang's explanation, everyone thought about it and roughly understood it.

But none of this matters. After a tour of the battlefield, they now firmly believe in Zhang Shikang's words.

Everyone was about to come up with a plan when a group of palace strongmen suddenly came in.

"My lord, the emperor has summoned you." Fang Zhenghua, the chief steward of the Imperial Stables, bowed to Zhang Shikang with a smile.

"Damn! What's going on?" Zhang Shikang frowned.

Fang Zhenghua had a hot-tempered personality. If he had seen someone being so rude in the past, he would have gotten angry.

But Fang Zhenghua didn't lose his temper at all at this time, and replied very gently:

"I don't know, but Your Majesty was once furious because of the impeachment of court officials." Fang Zhenghua didn't dare to speak directly and only stated the facts.

"Impeachment? Impeach whom? Could it be me?" Zhang Shikang said speechlessly.

He had just given himself three days off and had only taken a day and a half off.

God have mercy on me. I’ve been working overtime for more than half a year. How can there be a boss who exploits his employees like this?

Fang Zhenghua did not answer, but just laughed. However, it was self-evident that the person who was impeached was indeed Zhang Shikang.

"No! I'm on vacation." Zhang Shikang was not at all flustered, but spoke righteously.

You think it's a big deal. Brother Chongzhen is the same. He can't even tell the priorities.

What is the most important thing at the moment? Is it the court?

No, of course it's his vacation!

He has made plans for tomorrow: sword practice in the morning, boxing in the afternoon, and massage in the evening.

This really stunned Fang Zhenghua. It was the first time he had seen a court official disobey an imperial order in person.

But he was still not angry, because he knew that the emperor now placed all the responsibility of the world on the shoulders of the Marquis of Guanjun in front of him.

If it were before, he would never let the emperor make such a decision even if he risked his life.

But after several changes, Fang Zhenghua had already changed his opinion of Guanjun Hou.

Although he is naughty, he has great talent.

"Of course I dare not disturb the Marquis's vacation, but strolling around the palace won't waste much time, right?" Fang Zhenghua said with a smile.

Seeing that Zhang Shikang's expression had finally eased, Fang Zhenghua continued to persuade him earnestly:

"Recently, Guangdong and Guangxi have presented a lot of exotic fruits, one of which is called Liulian, which is said to be the fruit that the eunuch Sanbao praised highly when he went to the West.

Not only that, a new chef has recently arrived in the palace, and he cooks delicious dishes. His Majesty likes him very much, and he even said yesterday that he wanted you, the Marquis, to come and try his food."

After all, Fang Zhenghua was knowledgeable and knew how to please Zhang Shikang. Zhang Shikang's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Durian? How rare!"

This tropical fruit is limited to tropical regions or supplied exclusively to the royal family due to the inconvenience of transportation, even if it is available.

Zhang Shikang loved eating durian in later life, but the price of this thing was driven up to a very high level, so Zhang Shikang basically just smelled it.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

Zhang Shikang immediately left a group of brothers behind and went to the palace without looking back.

Of course, as the ancient Greek god of gossip, Zhang Shikang's mouth is rarely idle.

Along the way, I was asking about things that I was curious about.

Including but not limited to how to pee without a penis, whether you will have wet dreams, and whether it is the barrel or the shell that is cut off.

Of course, Zhang Shikang also felt that this was a bit rude, so he tried to be respectful when speaking, saying that he was just curious and had no other intentions.

These gossips were nothing short of humiliation for a eunuch, but Fang Zhenghua remained calm. Not only that, he answered every question, which made Zhang Shikang respect him.

Sometimes, broad-mindedness has nothing to do with one's status, but is closely related to one's ambitions and ideals. There are some people who can give up everything, including their dignity, for the sake of their masters.

When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was alone, staring at a pile of memorials.

Below the imperial desk in front of him, there were five large boxes lined up in a row, each containing piles of memorials.

"Your Majesty, I heard that there is durian to eat?" There was no outsider in the hall. Zhang Shikang sniffed as soon as he entered, but did not smell the familiar stinky fragrance.

Emperor Chongzhen glared at Zhang Shikang, very dissatisfied with his work attitude, and pointed at the five large boxes and said:

"These are all memorials impeaching you."

"Oh, there are two more boxes than last time. That's an improvement. But Your Majesty, where are the durians?"

"What durian? It's urgent!

Those court officials are now pretending to obey me but actually disobeying my orders, firmly opposing them and refusing to carry them out.

Let me dismiss you from your position as the Marshal of the Army!"

Emperor Chongzhen was furious. In his twelve years in power, he had never been so angry with his court officials.

Rebellion! Rebellion! Everyone is going to rebel!

"I see. If your majesty finds it difficult, then I will resign."

As Zhang Shikang spoke, his eyes were still searching for durian in the hall.

……