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

After Zhang Shikang finished speaking, he didn't even dare to raise his head.

He was mentally prepared for Brother Chongzhen to be furious.

However, the first person to react was the civil official next to him. Zhang Shikang even heard the sound of someone slurping down some cold noodles.

All the court officials turned their heads and saluted him, and many of them whispered to each other.

This news was too sudden for them. Before this, most of them had written memorials to the emperor, hoping that he would take back the military power.

Of course, without exception, all their memorials fell into oblivion.

But what they never expected was that Zhang Shikang actually took the initiative to hand over military power. Many people frowned and couldn't understand it.

If we put ourselves in their shoes, if this power were in their hands, how many of them would really be willing to let it go?

This can probably be divided into two types of people. One type is those who do not want to hand over military power. The reason is self-evident, so they think that Zhang Shikang must be acting.

The specific reason is unknown, but it is definitely not a real intention to hand over military power.

The other type of people, perhaps the minority, truly take the country and the people as their own responsibility and will really hand over military power for the long-term stability of the court.

The sages taught them that rulers should be rulers, subjects should be subjects, fathers should be fathers, and sons should be sons, and they put it into practice.

But this does not mean that this group of people can empathize with Zhang Shikang.

Who is Zhang Shikang?

He was once the most dissolute playboy in the capital, the most ruthless gangster in the Imperial College who could make even the best-tempered instructor so angry that he cursed his mother. He could not even read the teachings of the sages or even the children's books like the Analects of Confucius.

It is said that even letters he wrote were filled with typos, so ugly that they were unbearable to read.

They also have a bad reputation for killing innocent people and being unreasonable and tyrannical. Not to mention what happened far away, just what happened outside the Meridian Gate just now is the best proof of this.

How could such a person have the same awareness as them?

Therefore, Zhang Shikang's resignation was not sincere at all, and there must be something fishy going on!

All the civil servants who could stand in the court were full of suspicion. Under the game of these two kinds of thinking, the civil servants in the court actually chose to remain silent collectively.

In a word.

You continue to act and we will watch quietly.

Apart from the initial panic, no one in the court said a word for a long time.

Zhang Shikang felt a little confused, thinking why didn't they play by the rules?

According to common sense, it should not have been the case that all the civil officials seconded the motion. Chongzhen was furious and firmly disagreed. Then he took the initiative to list his own crimes, saying that in order to prevent generals at all levels from having the opportunity to wear his robe, and for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, he took the initiative to ask for punishment and hand over his military power.

Brother Chongzhen would definitely still disagree, and then the civil officials would make another collective death petition. With the help of a traitor like me, Brother Chongzhen would probably be helpless.

If it really doesn't work, he still has a trick up his sleeve. He can bring up the promise made by his brother Chongzhen back then. No matter what, the advantage is on my side.

But, something was wrong from the beginning.

Zhang Shikang quietly raised his head and glanced at Brother Chongzhen, only to feel his whole body shudder, because he found that Brother Chongzhen was also staring at him closely, that expression was very interesting, but it was definitely not anger.

This made Zhang Shikang even more confused.

After three breaths of time, someone finally couldn't stand anymore. Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen was the first to stand up.

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty has been plagued by constant wars and disasters over the years. Fortunately, His Royal Highness Prince Wuying has turned the tide and brought us to the current situation.

However, the peace did not last long after all. The people could not get enough food and clothing. The Jiannu still existed, and the Zheng family was still causing unrest in the southeast.

If the military power is withdrawn at this time, corruption may rise, the Jiannu may find a way out, and the Zheng family may become more arrogant. It may even be seen as a case of abandoning the donkey after it has served its purpose, which may lead to public criticism and be detrimental to the country and the reputation of the court.

I dare to ask Your Majesty to reconsider this."

Duke Dingguo's words were sharp and comprehensive. Even Zhang Shikang felt that what his uncle said made a lot of sense.

But he always felt something was wrong. Damn it, how could this old uncle say he was a donkey?

This is too much. The court is not a production team, and he is not a mill grinder. Xu Wenyuan is the donkey, and your whole family is donkeys!

As Zhang Shikang's father, Duke Yingguo Zhang Zhiji was naturally not in a position to speak on such a sensitive matter. Duke Dingguo took the lead, and the other nobles immediately knelt down and seconded him.

It must be said that the camp of nobles and relatives is now surprisingly united.

Zhang Shikang was not surprised at this point. He had long known that these uncles and cousins ​​would go against him.

After all, the nobles and relatives had suffered from the civil officials for a long time. Finally, a capable person emerged among them. They could finally hold their heads high in front of the civil officials and would not agree to Zhang Shikang giving up his advantage.

What made Zhang Shikang unhappy was that even Sun Weifan and the brothers in the Second Son Group actually agreed with Xu Yunzhen.

This is a bit too much. I thought to myself, I am so nice to you guys, but you actually want to go against me. You are really not a human being.

But none of this matters. The only thing that makes him feel something is wrong is still his brother Chongzhen.

Just as I was wondering, I heard Emperor Chongzhen say:

"My dear ministers, please stand up first."

The voice is gentle and the expression is calm.

Something is wrong.

This is too un-Chongzhen!

"Your Majesty, I am serious," Zhang Shikang added.

“Although I have made great contributions, I am still young and not steady enough. Lately, I have always felt that there is a great power in my chest that I have no place to vent.

This achievement is so great that it is easy to become arrogant and conceited because of the favor, and it is also easy to be conceited because of talent. Recently, I can't help showing off my achievements.

What is this behavior?

To put it mildly, this is treason.

To put it in a broader sense, I cannot control myself and want to go a step further. This is tantamount to rebellion, Your Majesty!

I think this is too dangerous!

Therefore, for the safety of my Zhang family and for the sake of our country, I ask Your Majesty to allow me to resign from the position of Grand Marshal."

After saying this, Zhang Shikang took off the marshal's seal and the monk's sword, knelt on the ground and raised them above his head, appearing very solemn.

What he said seemed funny, but it was not inconsistent with his personality. Some civil servants even nodded in agreement.

Because Zhang Shikang's words answered the biggest question of some civil servants. This guy still has some sense and stopped himself before making a big mistake.

Zhang Shikang still felt uneasy. Seeing that Brother Chongzhen still didn't reply, he turned his head to look at Hai Zhongzhong, grinned and whispered:

"Master Hai, don't you always impeach me?

Now that I have resigned, what's the matter with you? Why don't you say something?"

After he finished speaking, he did not forget to wink at Li Banghua and several other cabinet ministers. Compared with the arrogance Zhang Shikang showed before the morning court, he was arrogant at first and respectful later, which is laughable to think about.

But Zhang Shikang was so thick-skinned that he didn't care what these officials thought of him.

In short, the burden of the two capitals and thirteen provinces is too heavy, his shoulders hurt, and he must unload it.

He Liansheng's merchant ships are ready to set sail.

Goodbye, brother, I'm going to be the Pirate King!

Even Jesus couldn't stop him, he said.

Li Banghua and Hai Zhongqi exchanged a glance, and Hai Zhongqi nodded at Li Banghua, seemingly having made a decision.

Li Banghua immediately took a step forward and said:

"Your Majesty, I feel that..."

However, before Li Banghua could finish his words, Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand to stop him.

I don’t want you to feel, I want me to feel.

How could Emperor Chongzhen not understand what Li Banghua wanted to say? After glancing at Li Banghua, he turned his gaze to Zhang Shikang again.

“Let’s not talk about resigning for now.

Wuji, please explain to me the matter of Yongping Prefecture first."

……