Chapter 11 5.Chief Assistant Afraid of Taking Responsibility

The emperor sent more than a dozen eunuchs to supervise the army. This edict was immediately copied in the mansion, and the courtiers shook their heads after reading it. The emperor sent the supervising army because he was afraid that his subjects would not be dedicated, but this group of eunuchs came to the front, relying on their mouths to hold the constitution of heaven, defiant, ignorant, pretending to understand, causing trouble, not only interfering with the chief's affairs, but also taking bribes for personal gain, deceiving the superior and the inferior, as time goes by , Some of them were bribed by the targets of surveillance, and they lied about the military situation together, feigned defeat as victory, and together they withheld military pay and shared the benefits with each other.The emperor couldn't help it, so he sent more surveillance troops to catch the praying mantis and the oriole, but the cat didn't catch the mouse, so the master could do nothing. Sending more surveillance troops was just a vicious circle.Therefore, it was pointed out earlier that the emperor sent a supervisor to the army, not only did not play a supervisory role, but also added a person who withheld military pay.Be careful with your words, but the emperor never pays. Now the military pay is almost exhausted, and he sent people forward to deduct the military pay. Isn't this drawing blood from the sick?

But they also understand that the emperor has reached the point where a dead horse is treated as a living horse doctor. If you want him to take back his life, unless you can come up with a way to return to heaven, Zuo Zhongyun and Li Mingrui's proposal to move the capital is finally brought out at this time up. Last time Li Banghua said it in a secretive way, saying that he would invite the "royal conquest", but this time Li Mingrui said clearly: the emperor should stay in the capital for a while, or send the prince to supervise the country first. The emperor read the memorial in one breath, and his heart was pounding.It seems that the matter is urgent, and the courtiers are no longer willing to play riddles anymore. They openly said the word "moving the capital" clearly. There is no hope for the military. If you want soldiers and no soldiers, you need to pay and no pay. It is time to consider moving the capital. An order was issued to summon Li Mingrui to Qianqing Palace.

"The discussion of moving the capital is a big matter. When you write a manuscript, can you talk about it with others?" When the monarchs and ministers met, Chongzhen looked around and whispered about his doubts. Li Mingrui also understood the strength of this, and hurriedly said: "It's difficult and you should be cautious, and I know it well, but the bandits have already crossed the river, and our army has no one who dares to beat their vanguard. A big disaster is coming, and there is no emergency if we don't move south." "As you said." Chongzhen nodded again and again, but then looked up at the gray window and said, "I don't know what God's will is?"

Li Mingrui kowtowed heavily, and said: "It's hard to predict, my majesty alone will make the decision on this matter, otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to catch my navel." Chongzhen sighed, and finally revealed his true feelings: "I had this intention years ago, and it has been extended to this day because no one supports me. If you agree with me, I'm afraid that others will not agree with me. , Raising the turmoil, wouldn't it be troublesome instead." Li Mingrui thought to himself, the matter has come to this, why is the emperor still so timid and indecisive?So he repeatedly kowtowed and said: "The matter has come to this, the emperor should abandon his other thoughts and make a decision early, or send the prince to supervise the country, or Luan drives south to the capital. Otherwise, if the bandits cut off the road to the south, it will be too late to regret it. "

Chongzhen pondered for a while, but still couldn't make up his mind.Nai said: "Wait for me to think about it carefully. Don't say it, if you say it easily and disturb people's hearts, then I will punish you." Li Mingrui understood the weight of these words, so he sighed, kowtowed and withdrew. In fact, Emperor Chongzhen has been considering moving the capital ever since Li Banghua proposed the imperial conquest years ago. The mistake he made last time was that he didn’t make it clear. So Chen Yan, an old trickster, seized on the topic and said some sweet words to prevaricate. It is not suitable to go out lightly, the Lord should not be angry and promote the teacher, and the general should not be angry and fight; he also said that the children of Guanzhong, Yubo, are a trap for the rogues, etc., and they did not want the rogues to fall into the trap, but went straight to the Yellow River; If you are a capable minister, you can turn the tide and turn the tide. Can you, Chen Yan, be modest?

To move the capital, only by moving the capital can we gain time and room for maneuver.The emperor thought silently in his heart, and finally made up his mind, but when he turned around, his eyes were full of brilliance. The dragon towers, Phoenix pavilions, carved beams and painted buildings could not be taken away, and his heart softened again. In case someone mentions this matter in the future, the reputation of fleeing the enemy and losing the reputation of the imperial capital and the tomb of the ancestors is not good. After much deliberation, he remembered that Li Mingrui was only Zuo Zhongyun, only a sixth-rank official, he was soft-spoken, not a person who could take responsibility, and moving the capital was a big matter, so a person with equal prestige and status had to come forward to speak out. In this way, he Naturally, the chief assistant Chen Yan came to mind.

Chen Yan paid homage to the Grand Master of the Zhongji Palace as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials. I honored and honored him greatly, but he was stingy with money and goods. Confused, it really disappoints me, I can't let him slip past this time, he must be held accountable. Having made up his mind, he immediately summoned Chen Yan alone. These days, Chen Yan felt a little uneasy.In fact, years ago, the emperor signed up to donate, and it was not difficult to pass the test as long as he turned his head a little bit.You think, no matter what, the emperor would never force his ministers to go bankrupt, but he was confused for a while, lost his way, and was defeated by Wei Zaode, a little Balazi.When the emperor was happy, he asked Wei Zaode to be the Secretary of the Ministry of Households and the Secretary of the Ministry of Rites. For a while, the official amulet was like fire, and the scenery was infinite. Didn't he just pay a hundred taels of silver?Now the emperor summoned himself alone again, why is this?Along the way, I have been unable to find the answer, but I remind myself that I have to be careful when I get it right.

"Mr. Chen, the state affairs have come to this point, so what can we do?" After Chen Yan kowtowed to pay his respects in the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the emperor once again condescended to give Chen Yan a seat, and once again called him "Sir". Chen Yan was flattered, and Xie En sat down without thinking. The emperor immediately raised this difficult topic.After muttering for a long time, I thought to myself that the world wears thousands of clothes, and flattery is not enough, so I pulled out a big hat: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I think that my great ancestor, Emperor Gao, won the world by expelling the Tartars. No one has achieved the righteousness of the country in all dynasties than the Great Ming. Moreover, the imperial examinations of the past dynasties have been deeply benevolent and generous. They respond to the destiny above and the hearts of the people below. But clowns, ants and rats, as long as our monarch and ministers are of the same mind, and the government is simple and the punishment is clear, then the bandits can rest on their own."

Half a year ago, when the emperor was still dreaming, he really liked to listen to people bragging about sugar people, but Li Zicheng's rapid march had awakened his nightmare. Hearing this today, it was like listening to a lunatic telling a story. He really couldn't laugh anymore, seeing Chen Yan was arguing with himself again, he couldn't help but frowned, and said in a reproachful tone: "Come on, to this day, Mr. Chen still talks about these things, maybe he doesn't feel empty?" Chen Yan was taken aback, and he also felt that his words were really meaningless, so he didn't feel panic.Calling the right one alone, there is no excuse, the emperor's piercing eyes have been staring at him, there is no room for hesitation, let's say it, but I really can't say anything, remembering how I was nominated for the two rankings back then, and the Golden Palace's countermeasures. Calm, why are you speechless today?In a hurry, it took only a moment to sweat profusely.

The emperor saw Chen Yan's embarrassment in his eyes, and he could see through his internal organs. Fortunately, he didn't expect to save the country from him, so he didn't care. Seeing that he really had nothing to say, he said: "At present, the rogues have crossed the Yellow River, and Pingyang will bear the brunt. Once the Three Jin Dynasty is not guarded, the rogues can go straight to the capital. I have two shortages of soldiers and salaries. Some of the nobles advocate moving south. Do you think so?" When Chen Yan heard it, it seemed that the monkey grandson trapped in the Flame Mountain had obtained a plantain fan, and hurriedly kowtowed while playing loudly: "The matter of moving the capital, I have actually been thinking about it for a long time, but it is a big matter, and I dare not act rashly." Play."

Chongzhen was very pleased with this sentence, thinking that you were also thinking of moving the capital, which is a good thing, so he nodded again and again, encouraging him and said: "Mr. is my arm, relying on trust like my left and right hands. Right now I am struggling and helpless. Mr. has a good plan, why didn't you say it earlier?" As he said that, he was not allowed to speak any more, so he waved his hand to let Chen Yan kneel down and quit, and went home to write the memorial to the south to stay in the capital, and wrote the memorial early. At first, Chen Yan only wanted to get away, but when he saw someone's suggestion, he agreed to it. He didn't expect the emperor to say such a thing.I thought to myself, isn't this what makes me feel bad? Some people advocated withdrawing the soldiers from Ningyuan to defend the capital. Yan.Right now the bandits have only crossed the Yellow River, and they are still thousands of miles away from the capital. If they move the capital and abandon their ancestors' tombs, wouldn't it be even more disloyal and unfilial?It seems that the emperor is already thinking of running away, but he just wants to ask the minister to take the blame. If I get involved in this story, I will be scolded by the world if it is spread out, and maybe I will be held accountable in the future; I am a person who will retire a long time ago , before retiring, why bother to find a bad name?But at the beginning, I have already said the words, and it is not easy to take them back. I have no choice but to play: "Your Majesty, please don't rush to make a decision. This minister has already said something beforehand—this is a big matter, and you have to think it over carefully." Chongzhen immediately said: "Sir, what worries do you have? Don't you hear that you should be interrupted, and you will be disturbed by it. If you don't take advantage of the fact that there are no bandits along the way in Shandong, and you leave early, it will be too late for regret." Chongzhen forgot his identity when he said this, as if Chen Yan was not the one who made the final decision.The old and cunning Chen Yan paused, and blurted out a sentence: "Since the emperor has this thought, why bother to seek help from humble ministers, he only needs to issue an edict to all his subordinates, and arrange it calmly." When Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't help but get angry. After talking for a long time, it was tantamount to playing the piano to a cow.It seems that this old guy is going to step on the watermelon rind and slip all the way to the bottom, so he "hummed" and said in a rather uncomfortable tone: "Didn't Mr. say that this is a big matter? Just because this is a big matter, there must be two or three important ministers to give an account, so that I can give an account to the subjects of the world. Right now, who is my important minister but Mr.? Therefore, today's It is necessary to borrow Mr. Zhong's pen like rafters." After this, Chen Yan could no longer pretend to be confused, so he got down from his seat, knelt down in front of the throne, kowtowed like pounding garlic, and sobbed and played: "The emperor's responsibility is extremely serious. The proposal to move the capital must be made by two or three important ministers. The minister is old, and what he said may not be in line with the purpose. If he plays it rashly, it will lose the truth and cause a big mistake. Therefore, the minister was ordered to draw up the decree. If the emperor insists on moving the capital, it is better to discuss it with the honorable ministers and relatives first, and then gather the six ministries and nine ministers to quickly determine the overall situation." Hearing what he said, Chongzhen was so angry that his hands shook, knowing that all his thoughts were wasted, so he waved his hand to make Chen Yan kneel and retreat.