Chapter 27 The twenty-sixth round of the imperial gate promulgating the decree and the powerful ministers cut their ancestry in the south of Beijing
The day after the three officials beat the Dengwen drum, that is, June 16, is the day of the regular court.
Every three, six, and nine dynasties, the emperor ascended to his seat on the golden platform of the Huangji Gate, and all officials of the fourth rank and above in the Beijing Normal University waited for the whip to be fired, kowtowed at the entrance, and then climbed the steps and walked along the corridor. The squad stands up and plays according to the steps.As for those lower-level officials, they can only wait outside the Meridian Gate, perform five prostrations and three knocks under the guidance of Honglu Temple officials, and then stand in the north to wait for the decree.The Yumen Judgment was originally made in the Chang Dynasty, but the atmosphere of today's Regular Dynasty is quite different.This is all because yesterday and one day, major events inside and outside the Forbidden City happened one after another.Feng Bao, who had been in office for six days, was impeached. This was like a thunderbolt, which added a lot of tension to the calm capital.There are at least a few thousand officials and subordinates in all the yamen in the capital, and there is no one who will not let this incident make them feel uneasy.Therefore, when Dongfang was just getting pale, many officials had already come outside the Meridian Gate.As soon as Yinshi arrived, only the three-way drum was heard, and the Meridian Gate opened immediately.The Banner School of the Forbidden Army had already lined up to protect the road with spears in hand. The armor and weapons were so dazzling that it was impossible to look at them. Just as the drums stopped, two court elephants in red and green were led out of the Meridian Gate by the servants of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, and stood on both sides of the gate. All right, let's stretch out our proboscis to form a bridge.At this time, the ban bell rang, and Su Yi, a high-level official, lined up under the Xiangbi Bridge and entered the Meridian Gate, while those who were not high enough stayed where they were.Time shifted, after the officials of the Ministry of Rites counted the number of officials in the regular dynasty, they reported in with the yellow book.After a while, the eunuch who delivered the decree came to the steps outside the Huangji Gate and shouted in a shrill voice:
"There is a decree - call the cabinet, the five governments, and the six ministries to come -"
Upon hearing this decree, all the officials present knew that the emperor wanted all the officials in Beijing to be there.This kind of situation will only happen when the emperor wants to announce something important.All the officials first looked at each other in blank dismay, and then couldn't help whispering and chattering.
As the head of the hundred officials, Gao Gong was located next to Jintai Yujiu in the early dynasty - only a stone's throw away from the emperor.At this moment, seeing that the royal tent was empty, and the warriors in brocade clothes who were holding up five huge golden umbrellas and four large round fans to protect Dan Bi had not entered the hall, Gao Gong felt a little uneasy.He spent the whole day yesterday in excitement and anxiety.After Cheng Wen, Luo Zun, and Lu Shude's three papers were sent to the palace, the emperor did not report any news.As the prime minister for so many years, even leaving aside Meng Chong, Gao Gong still has a few "eyes and ears" in the palace, but after the Dengwen drum sounded, there were a lot more guards in the Forbidden City palace than usual. times, access control is extremely strict.Except for a very few toothpai restaurants who had a close relationship with Feng Baoguo, who could enter and exit freely, ordinary people could neither enter nor exit.Therefore, the restless Gao Gong never closed his eyes all night.And in today's early court, the emperor has been reluctant to sit on the throne for a long time, what is the trick here?Although Gao Gong is confident that mobilizing the spokesperson to impeach Feng Bao is the right time, place and people and all three, but because he can't get accurate information, Gao Gong seems to feel a little troubled in his heart.A person wanted to talk when he was bored, but he moved to the east eaves pillar - this is the place where the Dajiu Qing Dynasty was established in order.Zhu Xixiao, Duke of Cheng, Zhang Benzhi, Minister of the Household Department, Yang Bo, Minister of the Ministry of War, Liu Ziqiang, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Zhu Heng, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Ge Shouli, the Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, all the first-class officials of the capital's yamen stood in order. Seeing Gao Gong approaching, they bowed to meet each other.
Among the nine princes, apart from Zhu Xixiao, who is a hereditary relative, Yang Bo and Ge Shouli have the highest qualifications among the officials recommended for the opening of the Jinshi. Both of them are from Shanxi, and they are both highly respected ministers Cheese.Gao Gong came over and greeted them first. He said to Yang Bo:
"Old Bo, I heard that you wrote "Poem on Cooking Porridge" a while ago, which was quite popular among scholars. I kept saying to look for it, but I haven't seen it yet."
Yang Bo smiled and replied: "I am seventy-three years old this year. I am already dying. I realized that eating porridge is the most important thing in life. "Porridge", which specializes in treating different diseases with different formulas of porridge. The "Poems on Cooking Porridge" mentioned by Shoufu just now is the preface poem written by the old man for "Porridge of Hundred Porridges."
Gao Gong originally wanted to find a way to make an opening remark, but Yang Bo couldn't get Yang Bo to give him a serious answer.He didn't want to stop the conversation, but he had to be perfunctory. After he glanced at the empty imperial tent, he forced a smile and said: "I heard that the "Poem on Cooking Porridge" is very charming."
"Where is it? It's just a few jingles."
"Mr. Bo, you don't have to be modest, your poem is just well written," Ge Shouli, who was standing beside him, interjected at this moment, "I only read it once and then remembered it. If the first assistant wants to appreciate it, I will read it to you, Lao Ge." .”
"I would like to hear the details." Gao Gong said.
Ge Shouli pounded the wat board with his hands, and began to chant in his strong Shanxi accent:
Cooking is better than cooking porridge. It is best to discuss it with your children.
One liter can be used as three liters, and two days can be used as six days of food.
If you have guests, you only need to add water and fire, and if you have no money, you don't need to ask for soup.
Mo Yan said that thinness has little taste, and thinness has long taste.
After singing, Ge Shouli brushed his long white beard, and asked Gao Gong meaningfully: "Shou Fu, what do you think of Bo Lao's poem?"
"Okay, okay." Gao Gong replied thoughtfully, "There is a long taste in the indifferent, well, in this poem by Mr. Bo, there should be no embrace."
Yang Bo looked at the two corridors and the officials standing on the royal road, nodded slightly and replied: "Don't dare to be a man, but I really feel that if you are an official, if you can maintain the mood of keeping food and porridge, There won't be a lot of smoke in the distance."
It was only then that Gao Gong realized that the two old ministers were "persuading" him in different ways, and he couldn't help but think that his fight with Feng Bao was a matter of principle that related to the general principles of the society, and they regarded it as a personal grievance for power and profit.Then look at the several ministers next to him, all listening to this conversation with their ears pricked up.Immediately, his originally unhappy mood suddenly exploded for no reason, and he replied coldly:
"Thank you, Mr. Bo, for your enlightenment, but from my point of view, eating porridge and being an official are not the same thing after all. The light taste can be compared to porridge, but it cannot be compared to an official. Take your own example, Mr. Bo, In the 40th year of Jiajing, when you led the governor of Jizhen with the right servant of the Ministry of War, I said that it was not your fault that you lost the battle at Gubeikou. Anger, I ordered you to be dismissed and ordered to return to your hometown to live idle. You have lived in this residence for five years, do you think it feels so indifferent?"
Gao Gong's words were mixed with a gun and a stick, sweeping Yang Bo's face red and white. Seeing that a dispute was about to erupt, Ge Shouli hurriedly stood up to smooth things over and said:
"Shou Fu misunderstood the meaning of Bo Lao. What he said was indifferent, referring to being a self-confident official, often chewing vegetable roots, and enjoying it. This should be the duty of a scholar. As for major matters such as the social order, governance, and education , as a minister who serves the emperor, it is unavoidable to be quiet and hang one's head and ears. "Records" says, "When serving the emperor, if you are far away and admonish, you will flatter; if you are close but not admonish, you will benefit." These principles , Which scholar doesn’t understand? Shoufu, it’s not me, Lao Ge, who is talking about you. Don’t pant when you hear someone coughing. Right and wrong, everyone has a steelyard in their hearts. She Gang Ji created good governance, and the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, except for a few people with crooked minds, who else can not support it!"
Ge Shouli had always spoken sharply and aboveboard, not to mention among the ministers, even when Emperor Longqing was alive, every court meeting, as long as Ge Shouli participated, seemed much more cautious than usual.Gao Gong was originally full of displeasure, but after eating his meal of "stealing white", which was obviously a criticism but a compliment, his mood suddenly changed for the better.He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, and slowly a little rosiness appeared on his ashen cheeks.He was about to strike up a conversation with Ge Shouli, but he caught a glimpse of Zhang Juzheng walking in from the steps.Gao Gong was taken aback for a moment, and immediately left Dongyan and returned to Yuji to stand still. After Zhang Juzheng fought with the Jiuqings, he also came to stand beside Gao Gong.
"Uncle, are you feeling better?" Gao Gong asked.
"The diarrhea has stopped, but my legs are still as soft as cotton," Zhang Juzheng replied in pain, "I was supposed to rest for two days, but Ma Maliang, a genius, urged me to go early three times in a row, so I had to come." what."
Gao Gong felt that Zhang Juzheng's illness was not as serious as he said. Seeing that he deliberately pretended to be weak, he felt unhappy, and said angrily: "I heard that you are sick and recuperating at home, but in fact you are also sick. I'm not idle, there are constant visitors at home all day long."
Gao Gong's attitude was already expected by Zhang Juzheng, he didn't want to get angry with the chief assistant beside Yu Wei, so he just replied in a low voice: "Since a person is sick, there will naturally be three friends and four friends coming to the door." Visiting, what's so strange about it? It's just that Wei Xue came to my house yesterday, and I didn't see him because I was too tired, so he left me a note and said nothing politely."
"What note did he send?" Gao Gong asked knowingly.
"It's not related to the impeachment of Feng Bao by the officials."
Gao Gong nodded grimly, and he glanced at the two eaves again. The west eaves column, which is symmetrical to the east eaves column erected by Da Jiuqing, is the place where the officials of the Six Sections Corridor stand in sequence.The official rank of the six divisions is only six ranks, but the salary and yamen are all treated as the fourth rank. When attending court, their status is only second to the second rank hall officials, and they can be ordered to serve as close servants.At this moment, in front of the west eaves pillar, more than 30 officials stood neatly, each with a serious expression, and they never seemed to be whispering to each other. This calmness was greatly appreciated by Gao Gong.He asked Zhang Juzheng again: "I asked the cabinet officer on duty to inform you in your mansion yesterday about the impeachment of Feng Bao by the three speech officials. Have you seen it?"
"The duty officer went there in the afternoon, I saw you."
"What do you think the outcome of this matter will be?"
Zhang Juzheng replied vaguely: "We will know the emperor's attitude when the emperor ascends the seat later."
When Gao Gong heard Zhang Juzheng's hidden words, he knew that it was impossible for him to be in harmony with him, and he became even more angry in his heart.So he said angrily: "After the emperor ascends the seat later, if I ask about Cheng Wen, Luo Zun, and Lu Shude's acceptance of the papers yesterday, I will make a generous statement and speak of righteousness and righteousness." Having said this, Gao Gong After a pause, he continued, "It's just that what I want to say may be harsh to my ears. If I violate the holy will, I will bear the responsibility alone. Don't worry, there will never be a single word that will implicate you."
Since Xu Jue's secret visit to his mansion yesterday, although Zhang Juzheng has not heard any new news, he can roughly guess the general result, but this festival can only be kept secret.In order to calm Gao Gong's anger, he forced a smile and said, "Yuanfu doesn't need to worry too much about it. Although the emperor is young, he is smart and wise, and he can judge right from wrong."
"I hope so."
Just as Gao Gong answered, he suddenly heard three clear whips of "ba, ba, ba" in front of the palace gate, followed by a high-pitched shout:
"Holy—decree—to—"
The voice of the eunuch passing the decree has been specially trained, the three words seem to be roaring but not roaring, but they are melodiously transmitted outside the Meridian Gate.In an instant, from the square outside the Meridian Gate to both sides of the royal road in front of the Huangji Gate and between the eaves and pillars of the Jintai Royal Pavilion, nearly a thousand civil and military officials knelt down in unison. It was completely silent.The sun just rose at this time, and the glazed tiles covering the gate tower of Huangji Gate reflected a dazzling light.The kneeling officials didn't dare to raise their heads, they only heard footsteps of "Du, Du, Du" walking up to Danchi in front of the golden platform, and then someone said:
"Long Live Lord is late today, and ordered the servants to come and pass the decree."
Gao Gong, who was kneeling in front of him, looked up and recognized that the person speaking was Wang Zhen, the eunuch in charge of Huangji Palace.Gao Gong asked suspiciously:
"My lord, why doesn't your majesty stay in court?"
Wang Zhen glanced at Gao Gong, and said with a frosty face: "Mr. Gao, don't talk too much, this servant will announce the decree."
According to the rules, the decree was announced early, and the person who received the decree should be the chief assistant of the cabinet.Therefore, Gao Gong took a knee step forward in a habitual way, and said:
"Chen Gaogong led civil and military officials to receive the order."
Wang Zhen looked left and right, as if trying to trick her, she suddenly gritted her teeth and shouted with all her might:
"Mr. Zhang, please accept the order."
When Gao Gong heard this, he couldn't help trembling all over, and couldn't help turning his head to look at Zhang Juzheng.Zhang Juzheng also happened to raise his head to look at him at this time, his eyes met with indescribable astonishment.Seeing this scene, Wang Zhen flashed a sinister smile on her face, raised her finger to Zhang Juzheng, and shouted again:
"Mr. Zhang, hurry up and receive the order."
This time it was not only Gao Gong, but also the Jiuqing on the hatchback and the speaker who heard it clearly, and they all raised their heads one after another.Gao Gong is the first assistant, so he should be the one to receive the order, why bypass him and let the second assistant take the order?Everyone was puzzled, but they didn't dare to speak, they just asked each other with their eyes.At this moment, Gao Gong was blushing and moved his body backwards, while Zhang Juzheng walked forward on his knees, and said in his mouth:
"Minister Zhang Juzheng is receiving the order."
Wang Zhen looked at Zhang Juzheng, unfolded the imperial decree of the yellow silk scroll with both hands, and read aloud:
Queen's Edict, Imperial Concubine's Edict, Emperor's Edict:
Talking to the officials of the Cabinet, the Five Governments, and the Six Ministries, the Daxing Emperor Bin Tianxian called the three cabinet ministers in front of the imperial couch to accept the will with my mother and son.Said: Donggong is young and needs your help.Today, there is a university scholar Gao Gong who is in power and is good at governing. He has seized all the power and blessings of the court, and the emperor is not allowed to be a monopoly.I don't know what he wants?My mother and son were frightened and restless.Go back to your hometown with a high arch and live idle, and you are not allowed to stay.Each of your ministers receives the state's great favor, and you should try your best to repay the Lord with all your loyalty. Let's not investigate how you only attach yourself to the ministers and despise the young master.In the future, we must wash our hearts and minds, and work hard.If there are such others, they shall be punished.This is it.
After Wang Zhen finished reading the imperial decree, she walked down from Danchi and handed the scroll of yellow silk to Zhang Juzheng.With just this one action, all the officials present knew that Gao Gong had suddenly fallen from the pinnacle of power where one person was under one man and over ten thousand people, and Zhang Juzheng had replaced him.This change came so suddenly that all the officials were panicked and at a loss as to what to do.After completing the errand, Wang Zhen has returned to the palace, but inside and outside the Huangji Gate, there is still a deathly silence.
At noon the next day, a group of Ti cavalry with bright swords and spears staggered out of Xuanwumen with an old ox cart.The car was piled up in a mess with suitcases and luggage.Sitting on the front of the car was a pair of weng women who described themselves as haggard, but at first glance they turned out to be a distressed Gao Gong couple.
After Huangji Gate announced the decree yesterday, the Jinyi Wei Ti cavalry stepped forward to escort Gao Gong who was kneeling on the ground home, and immediately put the alley where Gao Mansion lived under martial law.All idlers are not allowed to enter, this is also the preventive measure Li Guifei took after listening to Feng Baozhi's words.Considering that Gao Gong has been in charge of the country for many years as the prime minister, he has cultivated many party members, and he already has the influence of calling the wind and the rain.Now that he has resorted to thunderous tactics and stripped him of his official position, he can no longer give him a chance to breathe and let him provoke and make trouble, so he sent a team of Ti cavalry to guard Gao Gong as a "criminal minister".Ti cavalry is under the jurisdiction of Jinyiwei, and they are responsible for arresting and escorting prisoners, and they are usually domineering and arrogant.Now that he has obeyed the imperial decree, he is blowing his beard and staring at his eyes.The people in the Gao Mansion are also used to holding their heads high and bossing around on weekdays.Now suddenly being scolded by people with supercilious looks, they all became like sparrows in the snow for a while.There are even some servants who are ignorant of their conscience, taking advantage of the chaos to steal the master's thin soft axes and scattered them as birds and beasts, only to suffer from the loyal Gao Fu, who can take care of one side but not the other, who can take care of one but not the other. Like a headless fly, scurrying in and out of the house, not knowing what to do.At dawn today, the Ti cavalry slammed the gate so loudly that Gao Gong hurriedly set off back to his hometown in Xinzheng, Henan.In a hurry, Gao Fu hired an ox cart, packed some luggage indiscriminately, helped his master Gao Gong and his wife into the cart, and set off on the road in such a hurry.
Although the bullock cart tried to choose a secluded road, many people came to watch along the way.Most of these curious people are ordinary people in the capital.Seeing that the officials of the country who had worked hard to plan strategies and participate in the emperor's career ended up like this, the viewers were all sighed with emotion.
Ever since he got on the bullock cart, Gao Gong had been dozing off with his eyes closed.In fact, he didn't feel drowsy at all, he just didn't want to open his eyes to see this Beijing teacher who was a man.When he heard the imperial decree for the first time yesterday, he was so dazed that he prostrated himself on the ground and lost consciousness.It wasn't until the cavalrymen picked him up from the ground and walked down the royal road that he suddenly woke up and realized that he had completely failed in this palace battle.Although this is unexpected, it is within reason.He was about to walk out of the Meridian Gate, and he knew that once he walked out of this gate, he would never have a chance to walk in again in this life.So he angrily broke free from the captivity of the Ti cavalry, turned around to look at the Huangji Gate with double eaves and flying corners and the layers of palace bans with red walls and green tiles, he straightened his clothes, and bowed to the Huangji Gate.At this time, the civil and military officials had not yet left the stage, and they all clearly saw Gao Gong who was the chief assistant just now but now became a "sinner", and the two sharp eyes were full of affection and resentment.In order not to lose his composure in front of the former subordinates, Gao Gong tried his best to maintain his aloofness and composure, but once he returned home, he could no longer control his emotions, and the turbid tears flowed down his wrinkled face .Sitting on the bullock cart now, Gao Gong was in a state of turmoil. After thinking about it, two figures were revolving in his mind: one was Feng Bao, and the other was Zhang Juzheng.In his opinion, it was the internal and external collusion between these two people that made him end up where he is today.
Once out of Zhengyangmen, there are uneven dirt roads. It hasn’t rained for many days. The road surface is harder than copper. In addition to the scorching hot sun, the corn leaves in the field beside the road were all white.Gao Gong felt like his whole body was on fire.Although he felt overwhelmed, he still insisted on keeping silent in order to maintain his dignity.It's just that his wife has suffered so much. She has lived in a deep house all her life, how many times has she ever suffered such torture?Not far from Zhengyangmen, he almost passed out.Fortunately, Gao Fu found an oil-paper umbrella to support her head, and often twisted a sweat towel soaked in well water to cover her forehead, so as not to suffer from heat stroke.
At about noon, the ox cart came to a place called Vacuum Temple five miles outside Xuanwu Gate. This is a small market town with twenty or thirty shops on Jialu Street, and there is really a Vacuum Temple .If you walk from here, you will leave Gyeonggi and embark on the official road leading directly to Henan.After walking for half a day, everyone's mouths were dry and their stomachs were rumbling. Gao Fu was about to go forward and have a discussion with the leader of this group of ti cavalry, a small school with an overbearing attitude and an extremely difficult attitude. Have lunch in the small town and rest for a while, and then go on the road after the sun is westward.But he found a person standing on the street. Looking carefully, he turned out to be Gao Gong's in-law, Cao Jin, the servant of the Ministry of Punishment.Gao Gong had only one daughter, who was married to Cao Jin's second son.
At this moment, Cao Jin was still wearing a third-rank official uniform.The black boots school saw an official blocking the way, so he quickly got off his horse.Normally, such a low-ranking officer would have avoided the side of the road and stood with his hands down when he saw a third-rank official in the court. , The imperial mission is a big deal.So instead of avoiding the road, the little school went up to meet him, cupped his hands and asked:
"Which yamen does your lord belong to?"
Cao Jin knew that Gao Gong was returning home today, so he came here ahead of time to wait, and now he didn't dare to ignore the junior officer's unreasonableness, and replied with a smirk: "I am Cao Jin, the right servant of the Ministry of Punishment."
"Ah, it's from the Ministry of Punishment." When the principal heard that the yamen had something to do with his job, he put on a smile and asked, "What's Mr. Cao doing?"
"Come on, let's take a step to talk." Cao Jin led the little school to the shelter, slapped a silver ingot in his palm, and said, "The twenty taels of silver is my brother Cao's consolation. "
The small school suddenly got such a big fortune, he was happy but also surprised, and asked, "Why did Master Cao do this?"
Cao Jin looked at the ox cart resting under the sun, and the exhausted Gao Gong and his wife, and said, "To be honest, Gao Gong on the ox cart is my in-law."
"Ah, so that's how it is." The little principal suddenly restrained his smile, stared at Cao Jin and asked, "What does Mr. Cao want?"
"Look, the sun is so poisonous, let the ox cart rest, have lunch here before going on the road, what do you think?"
The small school was also hungry and thirsty and wanted to rest and eat, but he wanted to take the opportunity to blackmail Cao Jin, so he deliberately said, "Master Cao, I'm afraid this won't work. When I left the capital, my superiors repeatedly told me to hurry Push Gao Gong out of the ground of the capital, let alone allow him to contact any officials. In order to avoid delaying lunch, I arranged for the brothers to bring pancakes with them before departure."
Cao Jin thought to himself that this was a tiger falling into Pingyang being bullied by a dog, and felt unlucky in his heart, but he had to apologize and said with a smile: "Master, you should be accommodating anyway."
The little principal replied: "It's not that I'm not willing to accommodate. It's just that once I stop, I have to bear the responsibility for any incidents. I can't lose my family and life for a mere twenty taels of silver."
When Cao Jin heard this, he knew that the little school was thinking that there was too little silver and took the opportunity to rip off. Although his teeth were itching with hatred, he still called his family, took another twenty taels of grain silver and handed it to the little school, saying: "Just After lunch, if anything happens, I, Mr. Cao, will take care of it, what do you think, Master?"
"Since Mr. Cao said so, I have no choice but to sell this favor."
The Xiaoxiao said that he was going to arrange for the two ingots of Wenyin to be put away, when he suddenly heard a rush of horseshoes coming from the direction of Xuanwumen.In a short time, a school guard came to the bullock cart, rolled his whip and dismounted, and asked loudly:
"Who's in charge here?"
"I," the principal greeted him, saw that the school official was dressed brightly, although the official rank was the same, but the pattern of the waist badge was different, it was the uniform worn by the servants in the Meridian Gate, so he put on a smiley face and asked, "What's the matter, please. "
The school official replied: "This is the head of the guards of the new chief assistant Mr. Zhang Juzheng, named Li Ke. Mr. Zhang is going to see Mr. Gao off here. I am afraid that your party will pass by, so I sent the younger ones to report. "
The farewell banquet prepared by Zhang Juzheng for Gao Gong was prepared in Jingnan Post, which is only separated from the Vacuum Temple by a wall.Cao Jinben prepared a table in a restaurant on the street, but when he heard that Zhang Juzheng came to see him off in person, he had to keep it for his own use.This news also surprised Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng's move was something he never expected.But he was in a fit of rage, and he had neither the face nor the mood to sit at the table with his "enemy" and pass on a meal.Therefore, he didn't even want to stay in the Vacuum Temple, so he urged the bullock cart to hit the road.Cao Jin kept trying to persuade Gao Gong, but Gao Gong couldn't bear to go on the road immediately when he saw that his wife was dying, so he went down the steps and muttered: "Okay, I'll stay and see how Zhang Juzheng will set a table for the old man." The 'Hongmen Banquet'!"
Jingnan Station is an official station, where the courtyard is shaded, the windows in the lobby are bright and clean, and the breeze is blowing.Gao Gong's old couple rested in the side room for more than half an hour before Zhang Juzheng's horse sedan chair arrived.Now that he is the new chief assistant, the guards of honor and retinue who go out are different in style, with a hundred and ten people cheering and hugging, and six golden melon guards have been added in front of the horse sedan chair.Inside and outside the Jingnan Station, there was a loud noise for a while.Zhang Juzheng got off the sedan chair and only coughed dryly, the yard was immediately silent.
"Where is Mr. Gao?" Zhang Juzheng asked Yicheng who was kneeling to welcome him.
Without Yicheng's answer, Gao Gong had already walked out of the side room with his hands folded behind his back.The straight blue linen jacket he wore when he went out in the morning was soaked in sweat and dusty.After entering Beijing Nanyi, he changed into a half-worn brocade gown, which looked like an old school teacher in the country.Seeing him like this at first, Zhang Juzheng felt very uncomfortable, and a pang of sadness naturally surged in his heart.
But it was said that after Gao Gong was led out of the Meridian Gate yesterday by the Ti cavalry, the ministers of Jiuqing, headed by Ge Shouli and Yang Bo, surrounded Zhang Juzheng, hoping that he would show off his mask and intercede for Gao Gong.Zhang Juzheng knew that the holy will had been decided, and there was absolutely no room for change.But in order to appease the emotions of the ministers and to avoid suspicion, Zhang Juzheng didn't care to go home to recuperate, but went straight to the cabinet, borrowed pens and paper, and carefully wrote a memorial to the emperor in defense of Gao Gong:
... The minister is overwhelmed with fear and fear.The ministers and others have seen that Gao Gong has lived in three dynasties for more than 30 years, and he has never been cautious.Although his arguments are straightforward and his appearance is majestic, Zhongshi is too cautious.Be cautious about things, as if you are afraid of victory.Yesterday, Emperor Bintian of Daxing called all three cabinet ministers to the couch to accept the will in person, and Gong and the ministers waited to the cabinet.Every time the late emperor entrusted him with great care, and the country was in trouble, he trembled day and night.But fear of not being able to bear the burden, how dare you have the heart of authoritarianism! Zhang Juzheng really moved a little bit when the article was written here, and the next thing is the statement, which sincerely hopes that the empress dowager, the empress dowager, and the emperor can take it back. Fate, keep Gao Gong.After finishing writing the memorandum, Zhang Juzheng ordered Feima to report to Gao Yi who was seriously ill at home, and after obtaining his consent, they were sent to the palace in the name of the two.That afternoon, the emperor's imperial decree was passed on to the cabinet: "Your Majesty and others must not be party members to protect the country!"
All the above incidents have been recorded in the residence newspapers sent to various yamen this morning.Zhang Juzheng issued this issue of the residence newspaper originally with the intention of clearing his name and exonerating his responsibility.This was still not enough, so he went to the cabinet in the morning to deal with urgent matters, and then came straight to Xuanwumen in a sedan chair—he was determined to see Gao Gong off when he returned home in a hurry.
Facing Gao Gong standing in the corridor at this moment, Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment, then hurried up to meet him, and said apologetically, "Old man, the servant is late, which made you wait so long."
Seeing that Zhang Juzheng was wearing a first-grade official uniform made of cloud silk, there was no trace of sweat.Gao Gong resentfully said: "You are the new chief assistant, you should have a lot of things to do every day, but you came to see me off as a person who is waiting for crimes. It's really a blow with a hammer-it's unbearable."
Zhang Juzheng couldn't answer in front of everyone, he just pretended not to hear, and asked Yi Cheng: "Is the banquet ready?"
"Go back to my lord, everything is ready."
"At Madam Gao's place, send a table alone, and the accompanying family will also be entertained with food and drinks. Elder Yuan, I heard that your in-law Cao Shilang is also here, why don't you see him?"
"I heard that you came, but he has already avoided it."
"Since this is the case, Cao Shilang will also send a table over."
After Zhang Juzheng finished his orders, he entered the banquet hall hand in hand with Gao Gong.This is a hall with three couplets connected to the flower hall. Outside the window, there are shadows of trees and women's robes, and cicadas are singing endlessly.In a short while, the food and wine were served, and the table was full, and the Yicheng was busy and retreated, leaving only Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong sitting at the banquet.The hall was empty, but it looked a little desolate.Zhang Juzheng held the pot himself, poured wine for Gao Gong and said:
"Old man, I thought it would be nice to invite a few more people to see you farewell, but then I changed my mind after thinking about it. It is more appropriate for us to have a heart-to-heart chat. Come, let's have a drink first."
When the two clinked glasses, they both drank in one gulp.While Zhang Juzheng was pouring the wine, Gao Gong said coldly, "Aren't you afraid of being accused of 'protecting the party and the country' by doing this?"
Zhang Juzheng smiled wryly, and said: "So, the elders already know about the Emperor's decree yesterday."
"You published it in the Dibao so soon, you just want me to know?" Gao Gong gave Zhang Juzheng a hard look, and said angrily, "Uncle, I swear to God, why did I, Gao, treat you badly? How could you do this?" Take it upon me."
"Old man, don't get me wrong..."
"I didn't misunderstand," Gao Gong interrupted Zhang Juzheng roughly, and said, "You are allied with the eunuch party, and you must want to replace me. Although you do things secretly, after all, you still leave clues for others to see."
Zhang Juzheng really deserves to be a prime minister, Gao Gong pointed at him and scolded him, but he was still not angry.He took a mouthful of food, chewed and swallowed it slowly, took another sip of wine, and then replied slowly:
"Old man, I can understand your state of mind right now. But you said that the alliance between the servant and the eunuch party is pure nonsense. What's more, the position of prime minister is the most important tool in the country, and it is not easy to get. Yesterday Huang Ji The change in the door, you and I are suddenly promoted and demoted, advanced and retreated, promoted and declined, it should be said that it was not our intention, I came here today to see you off, originally to show you my heart..."
Speaking of this, Zhang Juzheng paused for a while, and was about to continue, when he heard a commotion from outside.Both of them turned their heads to look for a while, and saw that a woman in plain clothes had broken into the flower hall, and wanted to enter the banquet hall, but was stopped by Gao Fu who was waiting there.The two were torn apart, when Gao Gong immediately recognized that the woman was Yuniang, he shouted loudly:
"Gao Fu, let Yuniang come in."
As soon as Gao Fu let go, Yu Niang took advantage of the situation and rushed into the banquet hall, looked at Gao Gong and yelled "Master", tears rolled down her eyes, and she knelt down on the ground.
This sudden encounter surprised Zhang Juzheng.He fixed his eyes on the young woman kneeling in front of the banquet, and saw that she was naturally beautiful and had a delicate face. Although her face was stained with tears and her light makeup was stained, it could arouse people's sympathy and pity.
"Old man, who is this woman?" Zhang Juzheng asked half-spokenly.
Gao Gong was also very surprised.After Gao Fu sent Yuniang away that night, he no longer remembered her in his heart.But I didn't expect Yuniang to appear here and now.
"Yu Niang, why are you here?" Gao Gong asked.
Yu Niang choked up and replied: "Last night, the slave family heard about the master's affairs, so they wanted to visit the mansion, but the soldiers stopped the slave family from entering. This morning, the slave family went again, saying that the master had left for his hometown in Henan. The slave family also hired a mule cart and chased after him."
Gao Gong was greatly moved by Yuniang's mourning.In the world of ice blades and frost swords, it is rare to have such a passionate woman.He got up from the banquet and went up to help Yuniang up, let her sit on the banquet, pointed to Zhang Juzheng and said to her: "Yuniang, this is Mr. Zhang."
Yuniang stood up and said a thousand blessings, then asked shyly, "Master, which Mr. Zhang is this?"
"Mr. Zhang Juzheng." Gao Gong replied.
"Zhang Juzheng?" Yuniang's cheeks flushed immediately, her almond eyes widened, and she asked Gao Gong angrily, "Master, isn't he the one who robbed you of your position as chief assistant?"
"What do girls know!" Gao Gongming reprimanded secretly but said happily, and then said to Zhang Juzheng, "This girl is called Yuniang. Someone introduced her to the old man and asked her to take care of my daily life. The old man thought to himself Xing couldn't bear such beautiful blessings, so he sent her to the temple cruelly."
"You are reckless!" Zhang Juzheng wanted to tease Gao Gong, but he swallowed the words again.In all honesty, Zhang Juzheng also saw quite a few famous beauties in the capital at the private gatherings of his colleagues and officials.But it is extremely rare to see someone as gentle and refined as the Yuniang in front of me who is so lovable.Although Yu Niang's attitude towards him was not friendly, he didn't care.Seeing Yuniang's deep affection for Gao Gong, he couldn't help but feel jealous of Gao Gong in his heart: This old guy, on the surface, is serious, but unexpectedly, he hides his beauty in a golden house, and even lied to me that he would send him to a temple.
The two men who looked like fighting cocks just now became amiable because of Yuniang's arrival.Gao Gong could probably guess Zhang Juzheng's state of mind at the moment, and asked with a smile: "Uncle, it seems that you don't speak a word, it seems that you don't believe what the old man just said?"
"Exactly," Zhang Juzheng did not hide it, and replied bluntly, "Yu Niang is also a strange woman. The old man returned to the south and traveled thousands of miles. With Yuniang accompanying him, he will not be lonely anymore."
"The servant came here just to accompany the master home." Yuniang temporarily hid her grief, and took the opportunity to interject.
"Okay, okay." Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yuniang covetously, and said enviously, "With a peerless beauty to accompany you, the country can be abandoned. Come, old man, for your love affair, let us make a confession again."
"Yeah, I have a beauty, you have a country, we are even." Gao Gong raised his beard and laughed, but careful people could hear that the laughter was forced.After the two clinked glasses, Gao Gong said to Yuniang, "Did your guy bring it?"
"What guy?" Yuniang asked with a blushing face.
"It's for singing."
"Ah, what the master said was the pipa. I brought it here, in the carriage."
"Gao Fu, go to the mule cart and get Yuniang's pipa." Gao Gong called out to the door, Gao Fu responded, and after a while fetched the pipa, Gao Gong said, "Yu Niang, today This scene can be regarded as a farewell at Changting, so please sing us a song."
"I will take care of you."
After Yuniang had answered, she moved the stool she was sitting on a little, and concentrated her eyebrows for a moment, only to see that she flicked her slender jade fingers on the four silk strings, and the music of Cong Cong immediately flowed out, accompanying it. With the provocative sound of silk strings, Yu Niang sang:
The summer grass is luxuriant and the spring flowers have fallen,
The cicadas sing and fall in the shadow of the sun.
The two ministers sat in the hall,
Listen to the slave family singing a Mulan song:
Yuniang sang these few lines first, her voice was neither too fast nor too slow, but it was three parts sad and two parts bleak.Zhang Juzheng's heart sank, he no longer thought of it as a joke, but listened carefully to her playing and singing:
Things in the world are half absurd and half sinister,
The imperial city is full of intrigues,
The iron horse in the yamen is Jinge.
羽扇纶巾，说是些大儒大雅，
却为何我揪着你，你撕着我，
制陷阱、使绊子，
一个比一个更利索。
Alas!今日里拳头上跑马抖威风，
到明日败走麦城，
只落得形影相吊英雄泪滂沱。
只可叹，荣辱兴衰转瞬间。
天涯孤旅，古道悲风。
都在唱那一个字：
wrong!wrong! !wrong! ! !
玉娘唱得如泣如诉，不知不觉投入了整个身心，待把那三个“错”字唱完，已是荡气回肠，泪下如雨。在场的两个男人听了，也都肃然动容，嗟叹不已。半晌，高拱才如梦初醒般从嘴里蹦出两个字来：
"It's over?"
玉娘强忍泪水，答道：“奴家唱得不好，如有冒犯处，还望老爷原谅。”
高拱没说什么，只端起杯子来频频饮酒，张居正却开口问道：“请问玉娘，方才这《木兰歌》，词是谁撰的？”
玉娘答：“我寄居的尼姑庵对门，住着个卖画为生的老头儿，这词儿是他替奴家填的。”
高拱摇头一笑，半是自嘲半是挑衅地说：“叔大，这首《木兰歌》词，倒像是专为咱们两个写的。”
张居正不置可否，只低头喝了一杯闷酒。玉娘并不顾及张居正的存在，只眉目传情地望着高拱，凄然说道：
“老爷，奴家此番追来，就打算和您一起回河南老家。”
“那怎么成？”高拱头摇得拨浪鼓似的。
“怎么不成？”玉娘追问。
高拱沉默不语，此时他打心眼里有点喜欢玉娘了。但他不愿意在张居正面前显露儿女情长的落魄之态。权衡一番，他横下心来答道：
“老夫这一回去，已是雨中黄叶树，灯下白头人，桑榆晚景已经没有几年了，哪还敢奢望有什么红颜知己。”
“奴家才疏艺浅，不敢当老爷的红颜知己，但暮鼓晨钟之时，做红袖添香之人，奴家还是胜任的。”
玉娘愈是恳求，高拱愈是心硬。他不想这么没完没了地纠缠下去让张居正看笑话，于是一咬牙，竟说出了伤人的话：“玉娘，女子以三从四德为本，哪能像你这样，缠住人家不放。”
一个守身如玉的女孩儿家，哪经得这般羞辱？玉娘顿时脸色臊红，她怨恨地看了高拱一眼，哭诉道：“老爷如此说话，奴家还有何面目见人。今天，奴家就死在你面前了。”说罢，不等高拱反应过来玉娘已站起身来，一头向堂中楹柱撞去，只听得一声闷响，玉娘顿时倒在楹柱之下。
两位男人猝不及防，眼看躺在地上的玉娘头上已是血流如注，慌得高拱连声大叫：“来人！快来人！”
高福立刻冲了进来，同时还有四五个皂隶跟在他后头，大家七手八脚，抬起玉娘就往外跑。
“要救活她！”
高拱朝急速离去的高福的背影喊了一句，听得杂沓的脚步声远去，他颓然若失坐回到椅子上，神情沮丧一言不发。
张居正因不知道高拱与玉娘这件事的前因后果，也不便贸然相劝，暗地里却在为玉娘叹息。看看时候不早，张居正还要急着赶回京城，便开始说收场的话：
“元老，仆已乞恩请旨，为您办好了勘合，您可以驰驿回籍了。”
所谓驰驿，就是动用官方的驿站，一站接一站派员用骡马接送。高拱用上驰驿，等于就去了“罪臣”的身分，而成了正常致仕的回籍官员。这份勘合的确是张居正为高拱争取到的。但高拱此时心情坏透了，不但不领张居正这个人情，反而大声吼道：
“行则行矣，要它驰驿做甚？”
张居正依然好声好气回答：“牛车过于颠簸，元老年事已高，哪经得起这番折腾。”
“你不要又做师婆又做鬼，把老夫赶下台，今日又跑来这里卖乖。这勘合，我说不要就不要！”
高拱隐忍了多时的怒气终于歇斯底里爆发，一下子从椅子上跳起来，像头狮子在屋子里旋转咆哮。张居正脸色铁青，看得出他也是强抑怒火。他起身踱步到窗前，看看寂寂无人的花厅庭院，长叹一口气说：
“元老，仆若有心把你挤出内阁，又何用拖至今天。”
高拱一听话中有话，没有即刻反驳，但依旧是两眼凶狠地盯着张居正。张居正缓缓地从袖口中掏出几张纸来，一声不吭地递给高拱。
高拱接过一看，不禁倒吸一口凉气。这几张纸中，有两张是李延为他购置田地的契约。还有一张纸上，密密麻麻誉写着上百位官员的名字，都是接受了李延的贿赂，数额多少，何时接受都写得一清二楚。这件事高拱自以为是神不知鬼不觉地处理得干干净净不留一点后遗症，却没想到实实在在的证据都捏在张居正手上。这几张纸若是一交给皇上那里，他高拱的下场就不仅仅是回籍闲居了，而且他留在京城各大衙门的门生故旧，恐怕也就会一网打尽。
“好哇，证据都捏在手上了，你想要怎样？”高拱色厉内荏地问。
“并不想怎样，原物奉还而已。”
说罢，张居正已是闪身出门，高拱追到门口，喊道：“叔大，你等等，你……”
张居正回转身来一揖，说道：“元老，我俩就此别过，惟愿你旅途保重，早日平安抵家。”
听着张居正噔噔噔脚步走远，余恨未消的高拱狠狠啐了一口，把那三张纸撕得粉碎。