Chapter 32 second quarter

In the afternoon of the next day, both Jia Zhen and Zhou Zupei took a car and entered Donghua Gate, and went to the Cabinet University Scholars Zhilu to rest, waiting to be summoned. The two court elders are both in their sixties, and they suffer from a lot of ailments. The servants accompanying them massage and beat their backs for a while, and pour in ointments for a while, they are very busy.Look at the time when the application was just handed in, the faint shadow of the sun was on the east wall, Prince Gong came in a hurry and brought new news, Zaiyuan, Duanhua and other Gu Ming ministers had already got word of it, and they were still at the military plane at the moment Sitting and not walking, there is a great appearance of watching changes quietly.

"Then you don't have to wait for 'calling'!" Zhou Zupei is most familiar with these rituals, "Anyway, the prince has already received Yi's order yesterday and led the audience, why not go up now?" "Yes! That's exactly what I mean." They all enjoyed the "Horse Riding in the Forbidden City". The horse changed its shoulders early, so the servant "passed the sedan chair" from the outer court to the inner court, and entered the Longzong Gate on the west side of the Qianqing Palace. The Military Aircraft Department and the South Study Room are here , close to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, has always been the emperor's close ministers, who must come every day, and it is a confidential area set out by the country's great government, so the weather is heavily guarded and the security is particularly tight.As soon as they arrived, Zaiyuan and Duanhua both walked out from the military plane, but although they were extremely nervous in their hearts, they did not lose their aristocratic airs on the surface, smiling, bowing to grace, and invited them to sit in Zhilu, the Minister of Military Aircraft. .

After meeting Li, Zaiyuan looked at them and asked, "Why are Uncle Liu, Jia, and Duke Zhou walking together? Do you have any advice?" "Nothing." Prince Gong replied casually, "The Empress Dowager summoned..." Before he could finish speaking, Zai Yuan immediately interrupted loudly: "So what happened?" Prince Gong smiled and didn't make a sound, secretly thinking about how to get out, when the idea just started, he heard a high-pitched, male and female voice outside shouting: "Preach the decree!" Zaiyuan and Duanhua were stunned for a moment, but Prince Gong stood up very quickly, stepped forward, opened the curtain, and looked back, so Jia Zhen and Zhou Zupei also followed.

The eunuch Ding Jin'an, the head of the respect room, came to pass the decree. He had already come out and was spying in the dark, waiting for the summoned people to arrive before appearing to deliver the decree.At this time, he stood at the top, faced Prince Gong, and said loudly: "I have a special order: to summon Prince Gong, the scholar Guiliang, Jia Zhen, Zhou Zupei, Minister of Military Aircraft Wen Xiang, and Prince Gong will lead you." At this time, Zaiyuan, Duanhua, Duhan, etc. also left the house. After hearing Ding Jinan's delivery of the decree, Zaiyuan became angrily, pointed at Ding Jinan and asked sharply: "What is the 'special decree'? Tell me! Isn't it Yizhi?"

"The empress dowager said it was a 'special decree'." Ding Jinan replied proudly, "Whether it is a decree or not, you can figure it out for yourself, my lord!" "Of course it is Yizhi." Zaiyuan looked at Prince Gong, his voice became louder, "The Empress Dowager should not summon foreign ministers! Otherwise, what is the difference with the curtain?" "That's right!" Prince Gong replied casually without compromising, "You should play this to the Queen Mother face to face tomorrow!" As he said that, he had already moved his steps, and the two elders also looked at the steps in all directions without turning their eyes, and calmly followed behind Prince Gong.Halfway there, Gui Liang and Wen Xiang also arrived, so they got together, led by Prince Gong, and went to the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the Queen Mother.

The empress dowagers of the two palaces and the little emperor were already waiting, and after the ceremony, the empress dowager Ci'an ordered: "Please get up and talk!" This was the first time that the empress dowagers of the two palaces met Gui Liang, Jia Zhen, Zhou Zupei, and Wen Xiang. Prince Gong introduced them one by one and briefly reported their experiences.The empress dowagers of the two palaces kept nodding, very modest. When this set of procedures was over, Prince Gong raised his head and said, "The two empress dowagers have something to say, please tell me."

Therefore, the Empress Dowager Ci'an said what had been discussed in advance: "You are all veterans of the three dynasties, the pillars of the country, loyal, and we sisters have known it for a long time, and we are looking forward to meeting you today." , I want you to be masters." Zhou Zupei quickly replied: "Don't dare, dare not!" The rest of the people also bowed in unison. "This is not a polite word." Empress Dowager Ci'an pointed to the little emperor and said, "The emperor is only six years old, and our sisters are young, orphans and widows, we are being bullied outside!"

Before the end of the speech, there was a sudden cry, and the Empress Dowager Cixi burst into tears. The tears of the Empress Dowager Ci'an were already swaying in her eyes, and the tears naturally followed, scaring the little emperor into a panic. Look at this , Look at that, the small mouth deflated, and the throat was also opened, crying loudly. The cries of the three mothers shook the entire Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the veteran officials had no way of persuading them, so they had to accompany Xuan Ti.The monarch and his ministers cried to each other, as if they were in a great funeral, which affected each other's emotions, and suddenly aroused grief, anger and passion.

The empress dowagers of the two palaces cried and complained, Sushun's arrogance and arrogance had left a deep impression on everyone's minds, so what they said, especially Empress Dowager Cixi, easily moved people's hearts.When it came to disputes and refute Dong Yuanchun's draft, when the little emperor was terrified and drowned, Zhou Zupei suddenly protested: "Why doesn't the Queen Mother punish their crimes?" This sound was shocking, and the cry immediately subsided. In the remaining sobs, Empress Dowager Cixi asked: "Can Minister Gu Ming also punish the crime?"

"Why not?" Zhou Zupei replied decisively: "Please decree first to remove them from their posts, and they will be punished naturally!" "Okay!" Empress Dowager Cixi nodded, said three "good" words in a row, and then said: "Let's issue an order now!" So the Empress Dowager Ci'an turned her back, untied the buttons of her clothes, took out the secret decree hidden next to her body, and handed it to Prince Gong: "Master Liu, please read it to everyone!" It was originally a secret decree, but now it has become a "Mingfa". Cao Yuying also wrote it in the format of Zhaoming's edict, six lines per page, with large and many characters, so this decree has been hidden on the Empress Dowager Ci'an for many days, and she never leaves it. It is still there, and it seems that the decree that Xiangze heard slightly is as long as a small hand scroll.This made Zhou Zupei and others very surprised. They didn't know how the queen mother could have this document, let alone what the long speech was about.

When the person delivering the decree stood up, the rest of the officials immediately knelt down.Prince Gong started with "the sea and territory were not calm last year" and read "Inside and outside the capital, peace is as usual", and read the second paragraph in a different tone, saying that Zaiyuan, Duanhua, and Sushun were "friends who were traitors" and tried their best to prevent Huiluan , because of the "extremely cold outside the mouth", the "holy body violated harmony" and collapsed. This is to attribute the death of Emperor Daxing to those three people. Therefore, the decree said: "At the beginning of the imperial court, I wanted to punish his crimes again, but Si Yi and others were ministers who took care of his fate, so I temporarily pardoned them to see the effect." It's over, in the tone of the emperor, he thinks that the three major events Dong Yuanchun presented are "deeply in line with my wishes". Can you stick to the rules? This is what is called a matter of authority, so I have to send an edict to Zaiyuan and others in person, and deliver the decree as requested." When the article came to a critical juncture, King Gong deliberately raised his voice, and read without hesitation: "When the king's ministers played it right, they argued with each other. It is no longer the courtesy of a minister; How sincere is it to promulgate it as my decree?" The four words "sincerity and heart" are epigrams to refute Dong Yuanchun, and it is also the most painful accusation of King Gong. Cao Yuying retaliated in his own way, and it is very clever to use it here. When King Gong read this, his heart was so happy that he stopped for a moment, looked down, and saw Zhou Zupei, who was prostrate on the ground, nodding his head slightly. It can be seen that these four words are indeed powerful, so he became more energetic , reciting aloud: "Also Zaiyuan and others always use the phrase not daring to be good at being good at it. Isn't this a real example of good at being good at it? Because of my age, the empress dowager can't fully understand state affairs, let Yi and others deceive me, can I deceive the world as much as possible?This is all Yi waits to live up to the deep kindness of Huang Kao. If he is troubled by Gurong again, why should he look up to the spirit in heaven?How can we obey the public opinion of the world?Zaiyuan, Duanhua and Sushun were dismissed immediately.Jing Shou, Mu Yin, Kuang Yuan, Du Han, Jiao Youying all quit the Military Aircraft Department.Prince Pai Gong, together with the Six Departments of the Grand Scholars, Jiuqing, Han, Zhan, Ke, and Dao, differentiated the severity of the blame that Yi and others deserved, and played it according to the law.As for how the empress dowager should hang the curtains, they will play together in a meeting.Special order. " After the decree was announced, the Empress Dowager Cixi immediately said: "If you have any opinions, just say so, and we will discuss it together." Zhou Zupei has opinions, but he doesn't know how to express them.He felt that this enlightenment, well-worded and powerful enough to correct the crimes of Zai Yuan and others, but it was not easy to follow the decree, "the body of no one subject" is disrespectful, and "rewriting without authorization" the decree is hypocrisy. In addition to the crimes of threatening and deceiving, obstructing the return, and domineering and domineering, as long as one of them is established, it will be a capital crime, and these people are only dismissed at present, and the power of activities still exists.In this way, in the future, there will be a very serious dispute if the six ministries, nine ministers, and Han Zhan Ke Dao are convicted at the meeting. While he was hesitating like this, King Gong had already spoken first, "Inform the two empress dowagers," he said, "I have been sent to deliver the decree, and I have a heavy responsibility. There is a saying that you must first ask the two empress dowagers for instructions. If Zaiyuan and Duanhua , Sushun and others who do not follow the edict, what should be done?" When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard this, she opened her eyes wide and asked menacingly, "Do they dare to stay here?" "Just now when the ministers were summoned, Zaiyuan wanted to stop him, saying 'the queen mother should not summon foreign ministers'." "Isn't this a rebellion?" The Empress Dowager Cixi instructed decisively: "If this is the case, you must be dismissed and questioned." Grasping this sentence, Zhou Zupei hurriedly replied, "The empress dowager is wise!" This was an expression of agreement with the Empress Dowager's proposition, and the Empress Dowager Cixi immediately said to Prince Gong: "Then draw up another edict! Is Cao Yuying here? Write an edict right away." "Cao Yuying didn't dare to enter the palace without being summoned, let Wenxiang write the decree." King Gong then said: "Sushun followed Zigong, has passed Qingshiliang, and is about to arrive in Miyun. I ask the two empress dowagers to issue an decree." , Prince Renshou of Pai Rui, and Prince Chunjun Yilin captured Sushun and escorted him to Beijing." "Okay. Let's write an edict together!" So Wen Xiang withdrew from the East Nuan Pavilion, borrowed a pair of pens and inkstones from the eunuch in the corridor of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, wrote the decree of Nawen Zaiyuan and others, re-entered the palace, and presented the draft. After reading it, the Empress Dowager Cixi stamped the stamp of "Tongdaotang" at the end of the paper, and while explaining the decree to the Empress Dowager Ci'an, she took the stamp of "Imperial Reward" from her and stamped it on it.After completing this most important procedure, it was handed over to Prince Gong. When Kneeling An retreated, King Gong held three decrees in his hand, and returned to the military aircraft. Zaiyuan and Duanhua had already heard the news that the queen mothers of the two palaces were crying when they summoned the ministers. They guessed that there must be decrees, but they didn't know what the content was ?When I was in doubt and fidgeting, I heard the sound of boots, looked out the window, and happened to see the document in Prince Gong's hand. Duanhua couldn't hold his breath, and wanted to greet him first to ask what happened, but Zaiyuan grabbed him and winked, which meant he wanted to pretend he didn't know and just wait and see. So Duanhua sat down again, just as he took out the snuff bottle, he heard Prince Gong asking loudly outside: "Where are the guards at the Qianqing Gate?" This was originally arranged, just after a shout, a group of guards came in from the Longzong Gate, greeted Prince Gong together, and stood in silence with their hands down. He took a decree from his hand and raised it: "Listen carefully, here is the decree: Zaiyuan, Duanhua, and Sushunge will be deposed from their titles and handed over to the clan's mansion. If Zaiyuan, Duanhua and others dare not By order, you take it for me!" This is to imply that Zaiyuan and Duanhua should not make fun of themselves, but they are the first to steal the show. When Duanhua heard that Prince Zheng's title was revoked and lost his amulet, he was sent to the clan's mansion for interrogation and punishment, but he suffered a lot!Thinking of this, my guts were torn apart, and with a bang, a green jadeite snuff bottle bought for 8,000 taels of silver slipped from her hand and smashed to the ground. At that time, a guard came in with the curtain lifted and said loudly: "My lords and lords, please go out of the house! There is a decree." Zaiyuan hesitated for a moment, but finally walked out. As soon as he left, Duanhua and others naturally followed to the corridor.I saw Prince Gong said with a solemn expression: "by order: Jing Shou, Mu Yin, Kuang Yuan, Du Han, Jiao Youying withdraw from the military plane. To deserve the blame, send Prince Gong to join the University Scholars, Six Departments and Nine Ministers, Han Zhan Kedao , Differentiate the severity, and play according to the law and impartiality." When the name was mentioned, the five people knelt down, and when the decree was announced, all of them were ashen-colored.It was Mu Yin who was calmer and said: "I obey the order." Then everyone kowtowed, stood up, and retreated into the room dejectedly. Zaiyuan opened his mouth suddenly, and he said something in a hurry: "We didn't make the decree in front of the emperor, where did the decree come from?" "Hmph!" Prince Gong sneered, turned around and said to Zhou Zupei, "Look, they still say this to this day." "Just ask them, whether to obey the edict or not!" This sentence is very powerful, Zaiyuan dare not make a sound, but Duanhua shouted first: "This is a random fate..." Before finishing a sentence, Prince Gong shouted loudly: "Get it for me!" Speaking of the word "take", the guards rushed up, grabbed Zaiyuan and Duanhua in a hurry, and took off their warm hats from their heads at the same time. "How unreasonable! You bastard! How dare you treat ministers like this?" Zaiyuan cursed loudly. "Send off to the clan mansion!" Prince Gong said this, and walked out first. As soon as they got out of the Longzong gate, they saw a mess in the distance like chickens flying and dogs jumping. The servants who ordered the minister to enter the court were all dispersed by the guards guarding the palace gate. On this side, Zaiyuan and Duanhua were still shouting. Shouting: "Where's the sedan chair? The sedan chair!" The guards at the Qianqing Gate didn't answer, but pushed and dragged them to the clan mansion. Prince Gong is not in the mood to worry about these things. What he has to deal with now is how to pass the decree to arrest Sushun?According to the plan they agreed upon, this should be handled by Wen Xiang. For the sake of solemnity, knowing that Wen Xiang is a very proper person, he still pulled him aside and asked Sushun, Prince Renshou and Prince Chun, When the decree was handed over, he specially warned: "Su Liu follows Zi Gong, don't stir up trouble! We won't be able to explain it. I'm afraid Lao Qi won't be able to handle this big event." "Qi Ye can't even handle this one," Wen Xiang replied calmly, "Wait for me to make plans." "Yes. But, you have to be quick." Prince Gong said again, "I'll accompany them to the cabinet to talk, and then I'll go back to Xiangfeng Hutong. As soon as your work here is over, I'll come right away." So Prince Gong accompanied Guiliang and the others to the Grand Scholars Zhilu next to the Gate of Supreme Harmony, while Wen Xiang returned to the military plane.The dismissed ministers of military affairs have all gone home and are waiting behind closed doors. In the entire court, only Wen Xiang is left to maintain the political system. Because of this recognition, he suddenly feels heavy on his shoulders, as if he feels overwhelmed.At the same time, thinking of the powerful princes and ministers, the judgment of honor and disgrace is far more than a world in a moment?The turbulent waves in the officialdom are really daunting. Just as he was full of emotions, Zhu Xueqin had already greeted him. He stayed here with the qualification of Zhang Jing, a military plane on duty.At this moment, people are in good spirits on happy occasions, with a reserved smile on their faces, but when they see Wen Xiang's serious face, for some reason, his smile fades away, and he just quietly follows him into the back room. "Alas!" Wen Xiang sighed, "If I knew today, why bother?" Zhu Xueqin didn't know who he was lamenting for?It is inconvenient to answer, so I just ask: "Who will be sent to Miyun to deliver the decree?" Wen Xiang thought for a while and said, "Excuse me, is Yang Da here?" Yang Da was an assistant leader of the infantry commander's yamen. Wen Xiang picked him to be a servant. He was loyal and alert. Zhu Xueqin felt that he was a very suitable person for the mission in Miyun, so he went to Longzongmen himself. Go outside and find him. "Uncle Xiu, in the name of Prince Gong, you wrote a letter to King Chun, briefly describing what happened today. Together with this edict, you sealed it and sent it." Zhu Xueqin did as he asked, and took another seal from the Military Aircraft Office, put it outside, and sent it in together. Wen Xiang checked it and handed it to Yang Da. "From here to Miyun, when is the fastest time?" "If the horse is good, we can arrive at midnight." "You rode my 'Chrysanthemum Green'. You will definitely get it at midnight." Wen Xiang asked again, "Are you familiar with Miyun?" "I've been there a few times, so I'm not unfamiliar." "Okay! The Seventh Prince lives in the old Renyi store on the East Street. As soon as you arrive in Miyun, go to the door of the Seventh Prince's room and deliver this letter face to face. At dawn, you can go see the Seventh Prince again. If he has anything to say, what do you want?" Bring it back. At noon tomorrow, I'll wait for your reply." "Cha!" Yang Da agreed loudly. "Let me tell you again," Wen Xiang, who had always been amiable, now had a chilling Qiushuang on his face: "This trip is not difficult, if you fail, come see me with your head up! Remember, be cautious. Keep it secret!" Yang Da said yes with a smug expression, and in front of Wen Xiang, he sealed the big thick seal against his chest and hid it, asking An to resign.Hurrying back to the Yamen of the Infantry Commander in the East City, he pulled out Wenxiang's "chrysanthemum green" from the trough that was presented by the Mongolian prince, and picked up four strong soldiers and four good horses with very strong legs. On the copy, he received the issued by the Ministry of War, kept the spare fire card, got on his horse and headed north, all the way out of Deshengmen. At this time, it was not yet dark, and five angry horses were galloping like flying. It happened to be the third watch, and they arrived at the south gate of Miyun County, a hundred miles away from the capital.The Zi Palace of the Daxing Emperor was just coming here, the city and the countryside were heavily guarded, Yang Da opened the city gate, inspected the fire sign, and drove straight in. When he reached the crossroads, he turned right and found the East Street. The inn where the king lived. The door of the inn is not closed all night, and now there are relatives and ministers guarding the mansion, and there are even guards on shifts. When Yang Da just dismounted and was about to enter the inn, someone shouted: "Stop!" So Yang Da stopped, and waited for the Lanling bodyguard to arrive in front of him with two guards carrying white wax poles, then he said out of breath, "There are six hundred miles of urgent 'Tingji' at the post of the Ministry of War. Hand it over to the Seventh Prince!" "It will take a while for the Seventh Prince to get up, just wait!" The guard pouted inside, "There are sauerkraut and white meat, fire, hot millet porridge, and burning knives in the room, let's make a meal first." !" "Thank you very much!" Yang Da slapped the Lanling bodyguard, and said with a smile: "The superior will tell you that you must wake up the Seventh Prince as soon as you arrive, and I will give you an official business, please, please give me a reply! " "All right!" Lan Ling's bodyguard turned and entered the store, and after a cup of tea, he rushed out, beckoned to take Yang Da to the Xikua courtyard, and saw that King Chun was wearing a black cotton robe, unbuttoned, with only his With a belt tied around his waist, he stood on the edge of the steps in the westerly wind and waited. Yang Da took two steps forward, went to the place where the lights were bright to salute, and signed up by himself: "Yang Da, the commander of the infantry and the left wing commander of the yamen, pays respects to the Seventh Prince." King Chun knew that it was a special messenger sent by Wenxiang, so he said, "Come in!" He then said to Lan Ling's guard, "Go and invite Master Rui."