In the chaos in the capital, the people who had nothing to do with it were more at ease. When they heard the cannon, they ran out in surprise and were chased back home by the Imperial Bodyguards who suddenly appeared in the streets and alleys like cats chasing dogs. After waiting for more than an hour and seeing no more movement, they took off their clothes and went to sleep.
But tonight, there was no night watchman. Without the sound of the night watchman to urge people to wake up early for court, there were not many officials who could sleep.
The Grand Secretary Liu Jian was sitting in the middle of the reception hall, wearing a hat and a belt. His official robe was neat and tidy. Behind him, the two gold-painted red candles were about to burn out. The dying wick was like an old man in his twilight years, flickering, as if it could be extinguished at any time in the copper lamps filled with candlelight.
After a long time, the closed door made a few knocks. Liu Jian suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, "Didn't I say not to disturb me? Is it the Imperial Bodyguards who have come to arrest me? Tell them to call me! "
Outside the door, the old housekeeper said timidly, "Master, the Imperial Bodyguards on the street have all been withdrawn. Now... it is time for court."
Liu Jian let out a long sigh and stood up in a daze. "The Imperial Bodyguards have been withdrawn? No one is arresting me? "
Last night, he had heard the cannon at Dongan Gate. Liu Jian was startled and went up to the pavilion of his home to look into the distance. Coincidentally, Feng Tang had fired the second round of cannon and two houses were on fire.
Liu Jian saw that something had happened at the Dongan Editing Factory and hurriedly ordered his family to go out to investigate. However, they were blocked by the Imperial Bodyguards. Liu Jian knew something was wrong. He dressed neatly and sat in the middle of the hall, waiting for the Emperor to arrest him. Unexpectedly, the Imperial Bodyguards had withdrawn at daybreak.
What was going on? Wasn't the Emperor angered by the remonstrations of the officials and wantonly arrested and killed loyal people?
Liu Jian was at a loss for a long time. His confidence gradually returned. "Although the Emperor is young, he knows the importance of the country. How could he be so reckless? Now that Dongchang was under fire, even if the Emperor wanted to arrest someone, he would definitely kill the chicken to warn the monkeys and use it to scare the officials.
As the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court and an important minister entrusted to me by the Former Emperor, how can I care about personal fame and fortune and ignore Ming Destiny's country? The Emperor can live without Dongchang, but he can't live without us. Otherwise, who will protect the country for him? He could deal with Dongchang with his power, but could he deal with the loyalty of all the officials in the court? I have to rush to the palace gate immediately and gather all the officials to admonish and eliminate the traitor. Victory or defeat, the fate of the country, and my career will all depend on this! "
Liu Jian puffed out his chest and regained his former dignity. He cleared his throat and shouted resolutely, "Bring me my ceremonial tablet and prepare the palanquin for the morning court!"
…
The jade staircase pill palace, the yellow tiles and vermillion eaves, the two dragons coiled around the white marble stone pillars, and the majestic dragon and phoenix engraved memorial archway displayed a mighty and dignified imperial watchtower. When the first ray of the morning sun shone on the magnificent Fengtian Hall, all the officials went to the morning court.
On the Golden Water Bridge, the three people at the front had their white hair fluttering in the wind. They wore loose robes with big sleeves and held jade tablets in their hands. In the second row were the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers who wore black gauze and square horns on their heads and dark red official robes. Behind them were the officials in green robes and blue robes. Row by row, they walked straight into the palace without looking sideways.
After a short exchange outside the Meridian Gate, the officials had gathered the news from all sides. They already knew the general details of what had happened in the palace and in Dongchang. Everyone knew that this naughty and mischievous young Emperor had made the first move.
The Emperor was angry, but so what? The Emperor had arrested the servants of the factory guards, but he still didn't dare to touch a hair on the officials' heads. The scholars were the foundation of the country. All the officials worked together. Today, they must admonish and fight hard in the morning court. They would not rest until the traitor was eliminated.
In the Golden Imperial Hall, facing the empty dragon throne, all the officials stood solemnly with high morale, waiting for the young Emperor to ascend the court …
The sun was high in the sky. The officials who had been suppressing their anger and waiting in silence were already exhausted. They were no longer in line. Many people quietly changed their standing posture to relieve the pain in their heels. Their vigor had already quietly dissipated.
The crowd began to stir. Xie Qian impatiently said to the eunuch on duty, "It's time for morning court. Please urge the Emperor to ascend the hall quickly!"
The eunuch on duty, Eunuch Tian, seemed to have been waiting for the officials to impatiently urge him. He responded and walked out from the back of the hall. He slowly ascended the Golden Imperial Hall. With a wave of his horsetail whisk, he slowly swept his eyes over the hundreds of officials in the hall and said loudly, "The Emperor ascends the hall. All officials receive him!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! " Long live the Emperor! "The voices of the officials shook the roof tiles of the hall. They seemed to sincerely want to show the Emperor his power.
In one night, Emperor Zhengde, who originally did not know how to deal with the powerful forces in his heart, was greatly reassured. He believed even more in Yang Ling's advice and judgment before he left. Such a powerful roar not only failed to intimidate him, but also aroused his arrogance.
A man must be beautiful and dressed in a suit of soap. Today, all the officials had arrived. However, Emperor Zhengde wore a black dragon robe. It contrasted with his red lips, white teeth, and jade-like face.
He walked out lightly and calmly ascended the Golden Imperial Hall under the secret gazes of the officials. He looked at the officials in the hall who were bowing and kowtowing. For the first time, he felt that he was really standing in front of them. He did not need to be afraid of their sharp tongues.
Emperor Zhengde walked to the dragon desk and slowly sat down. His bright eyes slowly swept around. He raised his nose at Eunuch Tian and a smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
Eunuch Tian understood and stepped forward. He raised his voice and said: "All the officials, please rise. Imperial Censorate, Dali Monastery, and Office of Transmission, please come forward to hear the edict!"
The officials stood up. The officials of the three departments of the nine ministers were startled. They walked forward in confusion, lifted their robes, and knelt down again. They said: "I accept the edict!"
Eunuch Tian said: "Imperial edict, Director of Rites Wang Yue and the chief eunuchs were jealous of the virtuous and capable. As the Advisor and Revenue Supervisor, they spread rumors and slandered the officials. After Dongchang Fan Ting's secret was leaked, they conspired against the law. The Emperor has ordered the West Factory, the Inner Factory, and the Imperial Horse Supervisor to quell the rebellion. The criminals are now handed over to the three departments for interrogation. The West Factory and the Inner Factory will supervise the trial.
Thus is the order! "Hearing this, the officials broke into an uproar. Eunuch Tian glanced at them coldly and shouted:" Silence! Those who make any more noise and are rude will be expelled from the palace by the warriors in front of the hall! "
The officials of the Imperial Censorate and the other three departments looked at each other. The Emperor had been caught off guard and ordered them to investigate the case. They could not discuss it with the officials in the Golden Hall. They could only brace themselves and say: "We accept the edict!"
Eunuch Tian continued: "Imperial edict, Eunuch Liu Jin, Gu Daeyong, and the others reported the rebellion and did meritorious service. Namely, Liu Jin is in charge of the Department of Rites and the commander-in-chief of the Regimental Camp, Gao Feng is the eunuch in charge of the seal, Luo Xiang is the eunuch with the pen, Qiu Ju and Wei Bin are the eunuchs accompanying the court, Zhang Yong is in charge of the capital camp, Gu Daeyong is in charge of the East Editing Factory, and Ma Yongcheng is in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I hereby inform the officials. "
When Li Dongyang heard this, his heart involuntarily sank. The Emperor had caught all the officials of the internal court in one fell swoop. Other than slandering and framing the officials of the court, he had also added the crime of failure and rebellion, forcibly isolating them from the execution of Yang Ling and the Eight Tigers. Even if someone wanted to plead for them, they would have to weigh the weight of this.
Even more worrisome was that the commander-in-chief of the Department of Rites and the four chief eunuchs had all been replaced by people from the Eight Tigers. The capital camp and the Regimental Camp were also in their hands. The Department of Rites was in charge of all etiquette within the Royal Palace, the names of punishments, and the security of the gates.
More importantly, they were in charge of internal and external memorials, as well as the examination of the Imperial Palace. They were "approved" according to the votes of the cabinet. Their real power was even greater than that of the Premier of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was impossible to impeach them now.
When did the Emperor's methods become so ruthless? Could the Eight Tigers come up with this idea with those few pieces of material? Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, and Liu Jian quietly looked at each other and thought of the same person.
The Eight Tigers could not be eliminated. Now they could only avoid the sharp edge and attack one point. As long as they could create an opening, there was still hope. Liu Jian made a prompt decision. He didn't have time to discuss it with Xie Qian and Li Dongyang. He immediately wrote a memorial: "Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial.
Yang Ling of the Inner Palace received an imperial order to patrol the south. He privately stored goods on official ships and resold them for profit. He also wantonly accepted bribes. In order to cover up his crimes, he made up lies and was lascivious. He was suspected of murdering a high-ranking official of the court. Since he has returned to the capital, Your Majesty, please send Yang Ling to the three departments for punishment. "
Emperor Zhengde pursed his lips and thought: "These people really don't give up." He was quiet for a while, then slowly said: "Great Scholar Liu, Yang Ling was on the way to help the Ministry of Internal Affairs transport some goods for the royal family. This matter has already been reported to me. How could he privately store goods and resold them for profit? As for accepting bribes, it was to confuse the criminal officials. These things have already been reported to the Inner Palace.
Don't you know that Yang Qing cleverly exposed Mo Qinghe and Yuan Xiong, the two guarding eunuchs who corrupt the court and commit the most heinous crimes? As the First Minister of the Cabinet, the Great Scholar must have real evidence. "
Liu Jian was speechless when he heard this. Yang Ling's three ships were truly massive. Just one ship had been transported into the capital, and there were already large carts and small carts. He knew very well whose residences they were sent to, but they were all members of the Emperor's family and officials who had rendered meritorious service. How could he possibly list them out? As for the things that Yang Ling brought, if the Emperor covered it up for him, how could he investigate it clearly?
Xie Qian immediately said: "Your Majesty, I heard that Jinling Ministry of Rites Official Wang had a dispute with Yang Ling and was murdered that night. Yang Ling is a major suspect. He should be immediately arrested and questioned to find out the truth."
Emperor Zhengde had a faint smile on his face. He sighed softly: "Heard? Another rumor! I have real evidence here. In order to frame Yang Qing, a group of servants from the Department of Rites plotted to kill Official Wang and frame Yang Qing. This matter has the testimony of Department of Rites Director Dai Yi and the letters found from Dongchang Fan Ting. I want the three departments to investigate this case together. If Xie Qian is interested, there is no harm in listening to the trial. "
It was another heavy blow. Xie Qian was also stunned with his mouth agape. He had originally suspected that it was a vicious scheme of the East Faction to win over more officials, but due to the situation, he had no choice but to make the best of his mistake.
With a preconceived opinion in his heart, he naturally believed Zhengde's words. For a moment, Xie Qian did not know whether he should ignore his conscience and sacrifice Wang Qiong to continue framing Yang Ling for the sake of righteousness, or avenge his colleague who died in vain for the sake of personal friendship.
The hundreds of officials in the palace exploded. They could no longer care about losing face in front of the emperor. Their former ally turned out to be the real culprit who plotted to frame Official Wang. Could it be that the series of rumors were really Dongchang's scheme? Some of the officials began to waver. Their resolute determination to get rid of the traitor had disappeared.
Li Dongyang lowered his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Dongchang is thousands of miles away. How did they know in advance that Official Wang would invite Yang Ling to a banquet? How did they know that the two sides would become enemies at the banquet? This matter is too strange. There are many suspicious details. Can you summon Sir Yang to the palace for questioning? "
Emperor Zhengde's sword-like brows furrowed. A glimmer of anger appeared on his handsome face. In a loud voice, he said, "There are many suspicious details? Why did the Imperial Bodyguard Zhang Xiu set up an ambush in the Tianjin Garrison? Why did Dongchang send more than 20,000 foreigners to stop them on the road to the capital? They have repeatedly stopped Sir Yang from returning to the capital. It is clear that they have ulterior motives and are afraid that their evil deeds will be exposed! "
He slammed the table and said angrily, "Sir Yang is still on the way back to the capital. I have just ordered Liu Jin to lead the Shenji Battalion to receive him. If anything happens to Sir Yang, I will have that group of servants pay with their lives!"
"Yang Ling still hasn't returned to the capital?" Li Dongyang was shocked to hear this. Capturing important members of the Bureau of Rites and the internal court, secretly mobilizing troops to annihilate Dongchang, and suppressing the Jiucheng Jing Camp — was this series of steady and ruthless actions all the current Emperor's idea?
The original plan of the Bureau of Rites and them was for the officials to admonish Yang Ling the moment he returned to the capital and then execute Yang Ling for resisting arrest. Did Dongchang suddenly change their plans and do everything in their power to stop Yang Ling from returning to the capital? Did they really have ulterior motives?
Li Dongyang was Emperor Zhengde's grand tutor and knew the young Emperor well. The young Emperor was intelligent and brave, but he definitely did not have such schemes and could not use such tactics.
If Yang Ling still hadn't entered the capital, then yesterday's actions must have been incited by the Eight Tigers. Were these eight eunuchs, who only knew how to seduce the Emperor, playing the pig to eat the tiger? First, they purposely aroused the anger of the officials and then led Dongchang to shift the blame to Yang Ling, diverting the attention of the officials. At the same time, they forced Yang Ling onto their boat. Finally, when everyone had overlooked their role, they suddenly acted to seize power?
Li Dongyang was good at scheming for the country but bad at scheming for himself. How could he clearly see through this kind of intricate plot? The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was reasonable.
The ones who benefited the most from this incident were the Eight Tigers. Not only did Yang Ling not receive any benefit, it was hard to say if he would be able to return alive after being chased and intercepted by twenty thousand troops. Could it be that Yang Ling and we have become chess pieces on someone else's chessboard and have been used by someone else?
As Zhengde spoke, it seemed that his anger had not yet subsided. Panting with rage, he stood up and said, "Yesterday, the Bureau of Rites caused chaos in the palace. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were also frightened. I am going to the rear palace to visit them. If the officials have any important matters, please leave a memorial for me to read. Court is dismissed!"
Emperor Zhengde did not wait for the officials to kowtow. He walked down the imperial platform and disappeared behind the screen.
Liu Jian turned around in shock. He saw hundreds of gazes focused on him, waiting for him to make a decision. He was the leader of the officials. If he let the matter of impeachment rest like this, his reputation would plummet and his reputation in the officialdom would be swept to the ground.
The internal court had been flattened in the name of rebellion. It had nothing to do with their impeachment of Yang Ling and the Eight Tigers. They still had to continue on this path of "eliminating the traitors."
But now, the Eight Tigers were in power. Without the cooperation of the internal court, could they still be impeached?
From the eyes of many officials, he saw a strange feeling. It was no longer the trust that followed him without hesitation. Many people had already wavered in their opinion of Yang Ling.
It seemed difficult to denounce Yang Ling in the right. Denouncing the Eight Tigers, who were in power and were responsible for suppressing the rebellion and protecting the Emperor, and who were currently in the limelight, was a very stupid political decision. What should he do?
A bitter smile appeared on the corners of Liu Jian's mouth. Power was a double-edged sword. If it could not hurt others, it had to hurt oneself. He had relied on his character and virtue to gain the trust of the officials. If he wanted to protect this character and virtue, he could not retreat in the face of difficulties and make a move to protect himself.
The power that had once given him the power to summon wind and rain was now pushing him to a political cliff without hesitation.
Danger lurked by the Wine River. There was no way forward and no way back.
※ ※ ※
Yang Ling, Cheng Qiyun, and Gao Wenxin were on their way back to the capital.
He left the capital overnight, but he could not keep up with the speed of the news of Dongchang's destruction that came from the capital the next morning. The Dongchang foreigners who heard the news were panic-stricken and at a loss. They, who had been swaggering and insufferably arrogant when they left the capital, rushed back to the capital with their tails between their legs.
The Jianghu people who had always been recruited began to secretly disperse halfway and re-blend into the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to make a living.
When Yang Ling found them, there were only 26 guards left out of the 40, and more than half of them were injured. The originally very sturdy and luxurious carriage was creaking and swaying, almost falling apart. There were some eagle feather arrows scattered around the carriage. It could be imagined how many cruel battles they had experienced.
Yang Ling's heart was in his throat when he saw it. He hurriedly jumped off the horse and rushed to the carriage. After riding for a night and a day, he staggered and had no strength to walk. When he saw that Gao Wenxin, who had rushed out of the carriage, was safe and sound, he almost collapsed and knelt on the ground.
Gawain took two steps forward anxiously, no longer caring that there were so many people surrounding them. She leaped into Yang Ling's embrace, unable to hold back her tears. She was not afraid of dying for Yang Ling, but she was crying tears of joy at being able to see him alive.
Cheng Qiyun also rushed forward a few steps before smiling and stopping. She pursed her lips and a faint, gentle smile appeared on her face. The feeling of reuniting after death was so touching.
Their plan was very thorough, but they had forgotten one thing, and that was the carriage.
Dai Lou Er and Gao Wen Xin didn't know how to ride a horse, and it would be safer for them to sit in a sturdy carriage. However, a sturdy carriage was pulled by eight horses, and it had to travel in the wilderness without any roads all day long. How long could it last?
Because of this small mistake, they almost lost their lives. The wheels could move slowly, but when it was galloping, the wheels could not move fast enough. The carriage was like being dragged by eight horses in the mud. In two miles, the whole carriage would fall apart.
Dai Lou'er had already ordered a retreat into the Shijiazhuang Guard Station, but they had to stop halfway. Several groups of foreigners had gathered and caught up with them, and they began to fight each other.
They fought and retreated at the same time. When they were still five miles away from the Guard Station, they suddenly heard the sound of horses galloping in the distance. They thought that a large group of Dongchang foreigners were chasing them, but when they saw that it was Yang Ling's men, they could not help but be wild with joy.
Yang Ling was also very tired. He could only get into the carriage that swayed left and right like a Yangko. He planned to change to another carriage when they reached the town ahead.
The twenty-six Imperial Bodyguards were exhausted and more or less had some injuries on their bodies, but this was the best condition to show people when they returned to the capital. Yang Ling had no choice but to take them with him, and when they reached the capital, they could recuperate and rest.
For the past few days and nights, even though Cheng Qiyun and Gao Wenxin had temporarily escaped from the enemy, they did not have a good rest in the wilderness. Their eyes were red from exhaustion. Yang Ling could not bear to see them like this. He put his arm around Gao Wenxin's shoulder and said softly, "Wen Xin, lean on my shoulder and rest. When we reach the town ahead and change to another carriage, you can have a good rest."
Gao Wenxin was so close to him, and he was so gentle and considerate. She couldn't help but be filled with joy. She felt that all the hard work was worth it. At first, she only rested on Yang Ling's shoulder, but gradually, she was rocked back and forth by the carriage. Drowsiness rose, and she slowly fell into his embrace. She really did fall into a sweet sleep.
Cheng Qiyun sat on the other side of Yang Ling. Seeing him carefully hold Gao Wenxin in his arms with the utmost care, she couldn't help but reveal a trace of envy in her eyes. When Yang Ling turned his head, her expression suddenly recovered its calm.
Yang Ling smiled at her and said, "Second Gear should also rest for a while. There is a town three li ahead. When we get there, we can talk in detail."
Being addressed by an official was originally such a pleasant thing, but Cheng Qiyun now felt that it was somewhat ear-piercing. She felt slightly disappointed. She forced a smile and thought that since Yang Ling had rushed over, the situation in the capital must have been settled. Her utilitarian heart had once again gained the upper hand.
She pulled herself together and said, "Sir, has the situation in the capital been settled?"
Yang Ling nodded and said, "Yes, all those who can fight have their hands cut off. As for those who can talk, there is nothing to worry about. After returning to the capital, we can slowly amuse ourselves."
Cheng Qiyun listened to Yang Ling's witty words and couldn't help but smile. She raised her jade-like fingers to take off her official hat. She tied up the messy hair on her temples that had fallen during the running and then stuffed it back into the official hat.
Although she had just experienced a bloody battle of life and death, and her body was exhausted, her long white and tender jade neck was still very elegant. Her ten fingers were also moving like orchids. She straightened her official hat and saw that Yang Ling was watching her movements.
She adjusted her official hat and saw that Yang Ling was watching her movements. She couldn't help but blush a little. She hurriedly concealed a smile and said, "Your Excellency, the Director of Rites has the power to 'approve'. Mo Qinghe used to envy the official position of the Director of Rites every time he thought of it. This is a high position that is enough to confront the outer court. It is also the most important position left vacant in this operation. When you returned to the capital, you didn't decide on these candidates.
Yang Ling said, "When the Emperor was the Crown Prince, he served by his side. His name is Liu Jin. When I left the palace, the Emperor and I had already decided on this matter. Once Dongchang is destroyed, he will take over this position."
Cheng Qiyun said happily, "Oh? When the Emperor was the Crown Prince, he served by his side? That is a capable person. If we have such a person by the Emperor's side, it will be much more convenient to do things in the future. "
Yang Ling thought about it and shook his head, saying, "This person … may not be one of our people."
Hearing this, Cheng Qiyun became anxious and blurted out, "What? How can this be? Once power is in our hands, what if he is ambitious and fights with us for power? Daren should have the Department of Rites in your hands. "
Yang Ling rolled his eyes and said, "That is unless I immediately castrate myself."
Although Cheng Qiyun was cold and unafraid, she was a bit embarrassed after hearing this. She said with a red face, "This lowly official is saying … Daren should give the Department of Rites to someone who is willing to listen to you."
Yang Ling sighed and said with a smile, "Do I still not understand this logic? But I don't know many people in the Department of Rites. If I just randomly pick someone, do you think the Emperor will be willing to let him hold such an important position? If there is a gap in power, the Emperor's close attendants must be filled in. Rather than fighting for power and profit and letting them know that I am guarding against them, it is better to pretend to be generous. "
Cheng Qiyun was silent. After a while, she said, "After Daren entered the capital, you seem to have thought it over carefully and made some changes to the plan. What about the Regimental Camp and the Capital Camp? Are they also not in the hands of people that Daren can absolutely control? "
Yang Ling heard the slight anger in her voice and couldn't help but say, "At the very least, these people will not make things difficult for us at the moment. In the future, they might be of great use. It is not that I do not want to control them, but there is no suitable person to recommend."
He sighed softly and slowly said, "When this official and the Emperor were discussing these candidates, I suddenly realized that I do not have that many people to use. I have been promoted too quickly, like a tree that grows very quickly.
In such a short time, I do not have the time to establish my own network. My roots are too shallow and cannot grasp the soil. My branches are also too thin and cannot withstand the wind and waves. If I hold all the power in my hands, the limitless glory of today will become a steel knife on my neck in a few days. "
His eyes flashed and he softly said, "The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Only by raising these people to form a forest can we safely hide in it and slowly grow stronger. "
When Yang Ling finished, he saw that Dai Lou 'er was not saying anything. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at her. He saw that she was looking at him with interest and couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking at?"
Dai Lou 'er smiled sweetly and said in a sweet voice, "Daren is right. You will only be crowned after the New Year. The days are still long. This lowly official … … should not be so impatient."
Yang Ling hadn't heard her speak in such a sweet tone for a long time and didn't understand what she was talking about.
He twisted his body uncomfortably and suddenly thought of the one year period that he was still unclear about. He couldn't help but sigh again.
Just as Yang Ling sighed, Dai Lou 'er's head was already on his shoulder. She yawned and softly said, "Daren, this lowly official is also very tired. Let me borrow your shoulder."
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