novelonline Chapter 930 Thoughts
Chapter 930 Thoughts
Chapter 930 Thoughts
It was quiet and empty under the red palace wall, except for two figures slowly walking out from the city gate.
Xia Yan was ordered to escort Yang Yiqing out of the palace.
Looking down from the sky, the two figures in the magnificent palace complex are so small. To some extent, it is like people like Yang Yiqing facing the majestic imperial power, but even so, they still continue to come forward and never get tired of it.
Only after leaving the emperor did Yang Yiqing become aware of the people around him.
The emperor would not send a minor official here for no reason.
At this moment, Xia Yan was looking at Yang Yiqing's past.
But Yang Yiqing was looking at Xia Yan's future.
Xia Yan envied his prestige.
Yang Yiqing envied his youth.
Even though Xia Yan is already forty-five years old.
Yang Yiqing originally wanted to say something, but then he felt that the emperor had his own intentions and whatever he said would be wrong.
But at last Xia Yan spoke to him and said, "Mr. Ying Ning, please take care of yourself when you go."
Xia Yan bowed very formally.
"Thank you, Doctor Xia."
"When I was lucky enough to pass the imperial examination, Lord Yingning had already been exiled to the northwest. I was not able to see his spirit in person, which is a regret for my whole life. But it is ordinary. I often think of the time when Lord Yingning was alive, when the court was full of people. Thinking of it makes me yearn for it."
Although Yang Yiqing's eyes were cloudy, his heart was as clear as a mirror.
He didn't know this man's past, nor did he know what the emperor's attitude towards him was, but just based on his words, some things could be made clear.
"Is it appropriate for me to call you Gongjin?"
"Your words are too serious. Lord Ying Ning, please continue."
Yang Yiqing looked up at the palace with its upturned eaves and the red painted walls, and said, "Your Majesty said that the Ming Dynasty is like a young man who has recovered from an illness, and its momentum has risen. We must not put the country in a disadvantageous situation because of our own empty reputation. Listen to Gongjin's words, you must be upright as a person and loyal as a minister. But if there is a day in the future when the country and the people need your good reputation as a guide, Gongjin, are you willing to become the medicine with your body?"
After saying this, he left without waiting for an answer.
Only Xia Yan was left standing in the wind, silent for a long time.
But my heart was already shocked.
The question is very simple: for people like them who love to have a good reputation, which is more important, or the country and the people of the world?
They seem to be unified, but there will always be times when they conflict. What should we do then?
Xia Yan sighed.
As expected of him being the Prime Minister for ten years, just one sentence was enough to shake his mind.
But in fact, Yang Yiqing had a biased answer, which was that if the emperor doesn’t care, why would you still care?
However, this decision was not an easy one to make. He had lived for more than 40 years and could be said to have achieved nothing. His upright character and good reputation were the foundation of his life. How could it be so easily overturned?
Xia Yan did not dare to delay too long and turned back to the Qianqing Palace to report.
The emperor approved the memorial that he had missed before and then spoke to him, "Yang Yingning is gone?"
"Yes."
"Did he say anything to you?"
"I dare not deceive the emperor. He asked me, if there is a day in the future when the country and the people need my good name as a guide, I wonder if I am willing to use my body as medicine."
The emperor sitting behind the desk had a complicated expression when he heard this.
He looked out the window, "Back then, he chose no."
"Your Majesty, is this why he was banished to Xinjiang?"
"How dare you!" You Zhi suddenly jumped out and shouted angrily.
Zhu Houzhao was also a little frightened that this upright guy actually dared to ask such a question, but he immediately laughed again. It was precisely because he was brave enough to speak out for justice that he was Xia Yan.
"The reasons for demoting him to Xinjiang are complex, but fundamentally it was not his choice, but my choice."
Xia Yan frowned, not quite understanding what he heard.
Zhu Houzhao said: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand now, you will understand one day. Xia Yan, during the period of the grand court meeting, there are many things to do. You should work harder and take on the role of half an attendant in the attendant's room, doing some paperwork and data sorting work."
"Yes."
This is actually a training for him. Now Xia Yan is exposed to the most important things in this country. As long as a person is willing and insightful enough, he will definitely gain a lot from it.
As for the thing he didn't understand, it was actually due to the situation.
The kind of political situation the emperor wants to achieve determines the decisions he makes.
Considering this level, no matter what the ministers below do, they cannot determine their own destiny.
The ability to decide life and death for everyone is the cruelty of imperial power, but also its charm.
Just like what is happening in Nanjing at this moment.
Although Zai Yao has nothing to do with the current "mass petitions", since he was asked for his opinion, he still said: "Currency reform is the will of the emperor. Whether they are wronged or not, the result is like this. No one can change anything by doing anything. I know Mr. Yangming has great righteousness in mind, but stopping them is the real way to save them. Otherwise, if they make trouble in the capital, it will only result in 600 more heads."
Probably because he had been on the battlefield.
Zai Yao's tone when talking about the 600 heads was completely different from that of Zai Yao and Wang Shouren.
It felt like I had killed six hundred animals.
In fact, Zai Yao was in a state of panic. "Third brother, I understand what you mean, but now that things have gotten to this point, it's only a matter of time before the news reaches Father's ears. Shao Dongru was wrongly killed, and it's a foregone conclusion. Given Father's temper, he will never ignore such an unjust case. No matter what, he will always ask me. How should I answer then?"
In fact, this matter seems complicated, but it is not difficult to solve.
Zai Yao thought of it, but he couldn't say it.
Only Wang Shouren can speak.
"According to the Third Prince, these people cannot be allowed to go to the capital. But to achieve this goal, there are two means: persuasion and forcible arrest. I think forcible arrest is not an option, and persuasion is the best approach.
In fact, the cause of this matter is nothing more than doing something wrong, and if you are wrong, you should admit it, but you can't let the emperor admit it. Since it is an unjust killing, then overturn the case, calm the public anger, and persuade those people to go back. If they still don't go back, then they are deliberately taking the opportunity to cause trouble, and the government will have a reason to take further action. In any case, it is better to overturn one case in Nanjing than to overturn 600 cases in the capital."
After hearing this, Zai Yao was amazed. This method seemed to be better than the one he had just thought of.
As expected, he is Mr. Yangming.
But the key to this decision is to admit your mistakes.
This thing is easier said than done.
In modern society, many people are afraid to admit their mistakes or losses, and try every possible means to conceal them. Not to mention the present, what if the emperor gets angry?
For Zai Yao, there was also a psychological burden, which was the delay in establishing a crown prince.
If there is anyone in the world who is least willing to admit his mistakes, he must be number one.
"Wang Zhongcheng, is this the only solution?"
"Mr. Yangming's method is already quite comprehensive. Do you want to treat these 600 people as traitors and rebels as well?" Zai Yao asked in return.
But Wang Shouren became anxious after hearing this. He glanced at Zai Yao suddenly, but the latter avoided him and did not look at him.
"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable! The current situation is already very tense. If it is as Your Highness said, wouldn't it make the situation even more chaotic and out of control? Besides, these 600 people are not traitors, but 600 lives! If the injustice is made bigger and the Emperor knows about it in the future, who can easily bear the wrath of the Emperor?!"
"I know, I know." Zai Yao was a little anxious, "Think about it again and come up with a better solution."
After saying this, he left in a hurry.
Who wouldn't be anxious when faced with such a mess?
However, the situation he is in today is also due to his carelessness when he made a speech in front of the emperor.
After arriving in the south of the Yangtze River, the situation became more complicated, and mistakes in handling and responding to the situation were probably inevitable results.
Return to your room,
Zai Yao was tortured by fear and worry about admitting his mistake, and then trembled with the urge to kill again.
But things are getting more serious.
At a certain moment, Zai Yao suddenly thought that there was actually a way to have the best of both worlds.
That is, to deal with these six hundred people, he doesn't necessarily have to do it personally, right?
Wouldn't it be good if he didn't get involved in anything and still got the job done?
……
……
On the other side,
Wang Shouren was somewhat worried.
The emperor had been reluctant to appoint a crown prince, and the several princes were gradually growing up. Under such circumstances, the conflict between the princes had already begun to show signs. He carefully recalled the words of the third prince, and his heart felt even colder.
"Your Majesty..."
Wang Shouren sighed to himself,
Soon after, the subordinates came to report, saying: "Zhongcheng, the imperial decree from the capital is an imperial edict issued by Ming."
Wang Shouren threw away his worries and asked, "What did the imperial edict say?"
"Here. Please read it. The emperor is going to hold another grand court meeting in March next year, and he will ask all the governors and governors-general to come to the capital at that time."
"Oh."
Wang Shouren stood up and walked towards the desk. They had to reply to the imperial edict. They couldn't just say "I've read it but I won't reply" to the emperor.
So he had to write a memorial to report the time and plan of his trip to Beijing.
At the same time, I was planning in my mind,
This time when I go to the capital, I should be able to meet the emperor. I can always talk about these things in person.
A day later, Zai Yao came to say goodbye to him, saying that he had to return to Beijing to report and could not stay here too long.
Because of his personal friendship with the Third Prince, Wang Shouren had been relatively polite before. However, as he had vaguely grasped something else, he still had greater concerns in his heart, and the personal friendship was nothing.
"I just heard that there will be another grand court meeting next year. When Mr. Yangming arrives in the capital, I must come to your house to have a chat. I still have many questions I want to ask you."
"You're welcome. Your Highness has been away from the capital for a long time, and the Emperor has always valued family ties, so it is only natural that he should return to the capital as soon as possible."
Zai Yao frowned, said nothing more, and left.
But when he got on the carriage heading north, he felt a little unhappy.
The meaning of Wang Shouren's last sentence is very clear. The emperor values family affection? The implication is that you, this guy, should not report your elder brother to the emperor after returning to Beijing.
But Zai Yao was somewhat indignant.
(End of this chapter)