Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Seizing the Door

The hysterical Zhu Qiyu finally won a peaceful life for himself with a stick, but this peaceful life only lasted for two years. The first month of the eighth year of Jingtai (1457). According to the rules, Zhu Qiyu should preside over the Jiaosi, but he is already seriously ill, and he is already unable to complete this task. What makes him even more disheartened is that instead of condolences to his body, the ministers took advantage of this opportunity The letter asked him to establish the prince early. Before the person dies, the coffin is prepared and the luggage is divided.Zhu Qiyu's anger couldn't be increased anymore, he was in a hurry and his condition worsened, there was nothing he could do, so he found someone and asked him to preside over the sacrifice for him.

This was a wrong decision, because the person he called was Shi Heng. At this time, Shi Heng has become the enemy of Yu Qian and Zhu Qiyu.After making great contributions in the defense of Beijing, he received the highest award and was conferred the title of Marquis, while Yu Qian, who contributed the most, only received the title of Shaobao. It's a courtesy. But he didn't expect that Yu Qian was not interested in this, and instead said something like this to Zhu Qiyu: "As a general, Shi Heng recommended a private person, so he should be punished!" What kind of tricks are you doing, recommending your son, not only ungrateful, but even going to sue!

Shi Heng can't understand Yu Qian's aboveboard behavior, and he doesn't want to understand it. He only knows that Yu Qian is a person who doesn't "go on the road" and a person who doesn't follow the rules of officialdom. It is impossible for such a person to be his friend. But Yu Qian is not easy to deal with. His backer is Zhu Qiyu. Shi Heng understands that in order to solve this opponent, Zhu Qiyu must be solved first. And when Zhu Qiyu summoned him dying and asked him to sacrifice on his behalf, he realized that the opportunity had come. This day was the eleventh day of the first lunar month, and the conspiracy began.

The night of the eleventh day of the first lunar month. Shi Heng found two co-conspirators for his plot, one named Cao Jixiang and the other Zhang Fu. These are two unusual people. Cao Jixiang is an eunuch who was originally Wang Zhen's accomplice, while Zhang Fu has a bigger background. He is Zhang Yu's son and Zhang Fu's younger brother.Shi Heng has a good relationship with them, so they get together to make a conspiracy at this time. But after talking for a while, they discovered a serious problem - where did this conspiracy start? You must know that conspiracy to rebel is not a dinner party, it has a high technical content, and among the three, Cao Jixiang is a eunuch with short knowledge, Zhang Fu is the son of a high-ranking cadre, with high eyesight and low abilities, and general Shi Heng is a rough man.If such three people talk about eating, drinking and having fun, they may still be useful, but what they want to discuss now is treason.With their IQ and political struggle level, if they want to engage in such a big project, they probably have to go back to school for a few more years.

Seeing that this matter was about to fall through, Shi Heng went to ask his old acquaintance, Taichang Temple Qing Xu Bin, for some basic knowledge of conspiracy. Xu Bin told him that he was old and was no longer suitable for such a high-risk job, but he could recommend someone to work with them, and then he told Shi Heng that as long as this person is willing to participate, great things will happen! The person he recommended was Xu Youzhen. Xu Youzhen finally waited for the opportunity of revenge. He had endured it for too long. He had a unique vision and was extremely talented, but he was spurned by everyone and received cold treatment because of saying a wrong sentence.Although he is now in a high position, the shame of that year is always on his mind, and he wants to seek justice that belongs to him.

Thus, the cabal ushered in a fourth member and the most important one. After all, people who have read books are good at conspiracies. Xu Youzhen pointed out right away when he attended the meeting that the most urgent task at present is to get in touch with Zhu Qizhen in Nangong, so that he can do it conveniently.After all, even if you kill Zhu Qiyu, you can't be the emperor yourself. The three rough people just woke up like a dream, and immediately sent someone to contact Zhu Qizhen. This day is the 13th day of the first lunar month, and the conspiracy group has confirmed that the plan will be officially implemented.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the court meeting. Zhu Qiyu was already seriously ill, but still insisted on attending the meeting.Because at this meeting the heir to the empire will be decided. At the beginning of the meeting, there was a one-sided situation. Most ministers advocated the restoration of Zhu Jianshen, because Zhu Qiyu himself had no son, and it seemed that there was no better choice. University scholars Wang Wen and Chen Xun are Zhu Qiyu's confidantes, so they naturally disagree with this point of view. They insist that even if they go outside to find a vassal king to be emperor, they should not restore Zhu Jianshen.

The ministers held their own opinions, and no one was convinced, so they quarreled in the court. Zhu Qiyu, who was dying of illness, sat on the throne and looked sadly at the noisy people below. He knew very well that whether it was for him or against him, the fight was only for his own future interests. , for speculation. These sanctimonious so-called scholars are nothing more than pawns in a game—the game of power. I am also a member of the game, but my life seems to be coming to an end soon, the game should be over. But before the end, I must not lose! Zhu Qiyu firmly grasped the armrest of the throne, and told the ministers his only decree in the court meeting:

"I'm sick now, and the court will reconsider on the 17th." Then he added: "It is impossible to restore King Yi (Zhu Jianshen)!" (please do not allow) Speaking of this, the officials had no choice but to disperse separately, planning to come back three days later. Zhu Qiyu issued an edict and used his own authority to win another temporary victory, but he probably didn't expect that this would be his last court meeting, his last edict, and his last victory. On the night of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, at Shi Heng's home. Xu Youzhen: "Does Nangong (Zhu Qizhen) know?"

Shi Heng: "I already know, he agreed." Xu Youzhen smiled, as long as Zhu Qizhen agreed, the conspiracy would be half successful. Then he spoke of his plan, a plan that seemed almost flawless: The first step is to use the news of the police at the border to let Zhang Fu, who was then the governor, lead a thousand troops into the capital; The second step is to use the key of the palace gate kept by Shi Heng to open the gate of the inner city, and let these thousand people enter the city as a reserve army and a guard, in case Zhu Qiyu's army counterattacks; The third step is to go to Nangong to release Zhu Qizhen, and then take the Supreme Emperor into Dainai Palace City, and take advantage of Zhu Qiyu's serious illness to announce his restoration.

This plan is indeed very good, with thorough consideration and clear division of labor. Shi Heng and Zhang Fu are very satisfied, but they also have doubts: "Is there any loophole?" Xu Youzhen replied confidently: "There will be no loopholes, this plan will definitely succeed!" Only then did Shi Heng and Zhang Fu feel relieved, they believed in Xu Youzhen's judgment. However, this plan does have loopholes! This fatal loophole is: Although Shi Heng manages the defense of the capital and the gates of the inner city, they don't have the keys to Nangong and Dainai Miyagi! Not to mention Nangong, this big inner palace city is really killing people. The so-called palace city in the Ming Dynasty was called the Forbidden City in the Qing Dynasty. It was the place where the emperor lived. Without the emperor's order, the gate of the palace city would never It's open.Even if those soldiers had the guts of a leopard, they would not dare to openly attack the emperor's residence, and as soon as they fought and made a noise, the guards and city defense troops would arrive immediately. What awaited Xu Youzhen and others could only be the fate of failure. I believe that with Xu Youzhen's intelligence, he should understand this, but he insisted on taking risks to realize this so-called perfect plan. The reason seems to be very simple. It's not that Xu Youzhen thinks life is too long, but because in his opinion, life is too short.It was so short that he didn't want to endure it any longer, and he didn't want to wait any longer. It's life or death, just bet on it! At this time, Zhu Qizhen in Nangong was also tossing and turning, sleepless at night. He already knew Shi Heng's plan, and he also knew that this plan had great risks. If something went wrong, it would be impossible to be a prisoner again. But he still agreed, and without hesitation. Because he has no choice. On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the plot was completed and the determination was made. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the world is peaceful. On this day, the ministers lived in peace and greeted each other. Zhu Qiyu was recuperating in the palace. The endless quarrels and intrigues seemed to have gone away from him. Everything seemed so peaceful, so peaceful that it was suffocating. This is the calm before the storm, and the undercurrent has become a terrible eddy, about to rush out for another day. On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. After careful deliberation, Yu Qian, Hu Wei, and Wang Zhi decided to recommend Zhu Jianshen to be the crown prince again. They found Shang Ren and asked him to draft a memorial to ask the emperor for approval at the court meeting the next day. This is an extremely important document. If this document is submitted, Xu Youzhen's conspiracy will be useless, because Zhu Qiyu is very likely to agree to this proposal when he is childless and dying. Qi Zhen could only fight for the throne with his own son. The number one scholar Shang Lu completed his masterpiece, Yu Qian and others were very satisfied after reading it, and they planned to propose this plan the next day. The next day was the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. On the night of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the last moment came. At Xu Youzhen's home, all the members of the conspiracy group have gathered at this moment. They all know that in a few hours, it will be dawn, the court meeting will be held, and a new crown prince will be elected. No matter who is elected as the crown prince, they will will not receive any benefit. There is not much time left for them. To do, or not to do? Shi Heng and the others, who were usually arrogant and domineering, also panicked at this moment, and they focused their eyes on Xu Youzhen.Because they know that this person is the real core and main messenger of the conspiracy. Facing everyone's anxious eyes, Xu Youzhen remained silent. He paced the room constantly, thinking about every detail and step, and calculating his chances of winning. Then he stopped, and calmly said to those anxious people: "I want to see the sky." Everyone was dumbfounded, what time is it, and what astronomical phenomenon they are looking at! ?But after all, it was this man who made up his mind, since he insisted on going, let him go. Xu Youzhen climbed onto the roof of her house, quietly raised her head, and looked at the star-studded sky. On that night nine years ago, he was also standing here, accurately predicting the failure of the civil fort. But this successful prediction did not bring him good luck, but made him suffer humiliation and ridicule, be squeezed out, and swallow his breath for many years. He is very clear that the so-called celestial phenomena are just a trick to fool people. If life's misfortunes and fortunes could be seen from the celestial phenomena, he would have been able to predict the future, and he would not have to suffer the hardships of the past few years. Now he has finally reached a crossroads again, but this time, what he predicts is not only the success or failure of the conspiracy, but also his own life and death.If you succeed, you will live, if you fail, you will die! The celestial phenomena can't help him at all, he must make independent judgments, and the only thing he can rely on is his own wisdom and courage. Changes in life are often only made at that moment. Xu Youzhen finally made his final choice. "A big event will happen tonight, don't miss this opportunity, do it!" When Shi Heng and others heard these murderous words, they couldn't help shivering, and the last moment finally came. Xu Youzhen's family already knew what was going to happen, they stood at the door and silently saw off the head of the family, their weeping was beyond words. Xu Youzhen did not have such sadness, he cast a last glance at his home by the moonlight outside the door, left a word, and left resolutely. "If you come back, you will be a human being, if you cannot come back, you will be a ghost!" The members of the cabal set out towards the inner city under the cover of night, and their first target was Chang'an Gate. The key to Chang'an Gate was held by Shi Heng. He put a thousand troops led by Zhang Fu into the inner city, and then closed the city gate. Shi Heng looked at the thousand soldiers who entered the city, and his heart was agitated, because the thousand people didn't know that they were here to rebel, and there was a possibility of mutiny at any time. If these soldiers were discovered, even if they hadn't acted yet, he would Can't escape the charge of treason. After thinking about it, this murderous general began to panic. Xu Youzhen looked coldly at Shi Heng, who was already bewildered, and said a word to him: "Is the door locked? Give me the key." Shi Heng was full of suspicion and didn't know what Xu Youzhen wanted to do, but he still handed over the key to him. Xu Youzhen took the key, but did something that Shi Heng never dreamed of—he threw the key into the gutter. Shi Heng was stunned. He rushed up, grabbed Xu Youzhen's clothes, and asked sharply, "Xu Youzhen, are you crazy? What the hell are you trying to do?!" Under the bright moonlight, Shi Heng saw Xu Youzhen's face and his ruthless and resolute eyes clearly, a chill suddenly rushed into his heart, making him shudder. Xu Youzhen stared at Shi Heng, and spit out a voice that seemed to come from hell: "There is no retreat, there is life but no death!" Shi Heng was frightened, and only then did he recognize the true face of the man in front of him: not a sheep, but a hungry wolf. There was no way out, and several people had no choice but to set off towards Nangong under the leadership of Xu Youzhen.But at this moment, the night sky, which was originally full of stars and moon, suddenly became dark and dull!They couldn't see their fingers around them, and the road ahead was also dark. Shi Heng and Zhang Fu panicked. What they were doing was a shady business. Seeing this situation, they suddenly felt that something was wrong. Could it be that God didn't want to do it themselves? They stopped. Xu Youzhen was unmoved, he looked at the flustered Zhang Fu calmly, and asked coldly: "Why don't you go?" Zhang Fu whispered timidly: "Will the matter be successful (Shijiwu)?" Xu Youzhen walked slowly in front of Zhang Fu, and suddenly shouted in a low voice: "It will definitely succeed (Biji)!" Military general Shi Heng has been beheaded countless times on the battlefield. He is known as the number one orthodox brave general, but he is flustered and at a loss. His so-called bravery is just the courage of ordinary people. In this dangerous game, Xu Youzhen, who has no strength to restrain a chicken, is the well-deserved brave. This is not surprising, because only inner fortitude and tenacity are true bravery. Under the coercion and encouragement of Xu Youzhen, a weak scholar (although it is a bit funny, it is true), Shi Heng and his party came to their first target - Nangong. As expected, the palace gate was closed tightly, and no one answered the door. This was the first loophole in the plan to seize the gate, but Xu Youzhen was confident and solved the problem with one sentence: "Don't call the door, just knock the wall open!" So the sergeant stepped forward and knocked down the palace wall with wooden stakes (destroying the wall to enter), and the prisoner who had been imprisoned for seven years finally came out. He saw clearly these people who came late at night, and also saw everything in their hearts—desires, speculations, anger, and ambitions.In any case, he was left with only one option. "Let's go, let's go to Donghuamen." Donghua Gate is the gate of Miyagi City. As long as you enter Donghua Gate, ring the bells and drums at Fengtian Hall, and summon all the officials, the world will once again be in the hands of this prisoner. However, when they arrived at Donghua Gate, they discovered the biggest loophole in the plan—they couldn't get in. The Donghua Gate guards would not open the door, and they did not have a key.Without the door key of Nangong, you can break open the wall, but this is because Nangong is remote, even if you take it down, no one will complain to you, but Donghuamen is an important place in the inner city, and it is guarded by special personnel. It will attract guards, and these night wandering gods will immediately become Huangquan ghosts. The frowning Shi Heng looked at Xu Youzhen, he had nothing to do but waited for the elder brother to speak. But this time Xu Youzhen also remained silent. Although he was smart, he was not Ali Baba. Even if he shouted "Open Sesame" ten thousand times at the door, the door would not open. The members of the cabal fell into a predicament. They didn't fight or make trouble. They said good things through the door, but the gatekeepers ignored them.Seeing that the sky is about to dawn, if you can't get in again, everyone will die together! At this most critical moment, the prisoner suddenly shouted: "I am the Supreme Emperor (I am also the Supreme Emperor), open the door!" Seven years of humiliation, fear and waiting finally paid off with this roar. Everyone including the gatekeeper was shocked by this roar, the Donghua Gate was opened, and the road to the Supreme Throne was opened. Zhu Qiyu, I'm back, come to take back everything that belongs to me! He walked towards the Fengtian Hall, rang the bell and drum for the court, and the gates of the palace city opened one after another, ready to welcome the worship of the officials. Xu Youzhen finally succeeded. With a tired body and a smug smile, he stood alone in front of the gate, blocking the way to the hall. The cabinet ministers who heard the news looked at this little man who had never been seen before in amazement, and were about to reprimand him to leave immediately. However, Xu Youzhen quickly stated the reason why he dared to block the way so arrogantly: "The Supreme Emperor has been reset, everyone should hurry up and congratulate!" After all, I succeeded, and my time has finally arrived. At this time, Zhu Qiyu was lying dying in his bedroom, but he still heard the sound of bells and drums in his confusion. He knew very well that he did not send the signal to go up.So he called the left and right, and asked who was beating the bell and drum. The left and right people already knew the truth, and those who served Zhu Qiyu were very worried, fearing that the dying emperor would die in a fit of rage when he heard the news.But now, it is impossible not to say anything, so they told Zhu Qiyu anxiously: It is the prisoner who was imprisoned by him, and his brother is calling the group of officials. But what the dying emperor did next was beyond their wildest dreams. Hearing this news, Zhu Qiyu was silent for a while, then he raised his head and smiled. He smiled calmly, and finally spit out three words: "Good, good, good!" Brother, return the throne to you. Although I have imprisoned you and taken away everything from you, I have not been happy. For the past eight years, I have been living in fear and loneliness. I'm tired of it. Zhu Qizhen sat on the long-lost throne. Eight years ago, he left here and became a captive of a foreign race. Seven years in prison. Now he has finally returned to the starting point of the year, a new path has opened before his eyes, and he will once again rule this huge empire. Many things are about to start, and the fate of many people is about to change.