Chapter 5, Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi
However, at this moment, Zhu Youjiao suddenly said: "Have the Jinyiwei monitor the Fang residence and see who goes there!"
Zhao Yu was imprisoned by Wei Dazhong, and the discussion led to his death
... ...
Wang An raised his eyes slightly after listening, staring at Fang Congzhe for a moment. He truly did not expect Fang Congzhe to be so ruthless.
Xu Guangqi said: "I will not go! Your Majesty is intelligent and will not willingly become a puppet of Fang Congzhe. Lord Yang and Lord Wei will be fine; I have no need to speak well of Fang Congzhe!"
Then Zuo Guangzhong continued to ask, "How could this be?"
What does this statement mean
After all, he has already understood the political stance of Wang An, the eunuch of the Grand Council, and naturally, he must also understand the attitude of Fang Congzhe
We must not allow His Majesty to succeed! Yan Song has brought disaster to the country for over 20 years, resulting in the northern chaos caused by Altan Khan and the southern turmoil instigated by the Japanese pirates. The ambitions of the bandits are far less than those of Yan Song, and once he becomes like Yan Song, the calamity will be even greater. Moreover, our Great Ming already has the Eastern Lurkers as enemies
The villainous scoundrel! We were deceived by him, thinking he was merely an incompetent person, but we never expected him to be so malicious! He is usurping power and causing chaos in the country, harming the loyal and virtuous!
Zixian, do you know that Wei He, the official in charge of the personnel department, is about to be sentenced to death! An imperial edict is about to be issued for his imprisonment!
As soon as Sun Chengzong saw Xu Guangqi, he began to speak to him
Xu Guangqi, styled Zixian, and Sun Chengzong were both successful candidates in the imperial examination of the thirty-second year of the Wanli era, which is why their relationship has always been quite good
Xu Guangqi smiled slightly and said, "Brother Zhisheng, do not be anxious. I am already aware of this matter. However, in my view, this issue is not without resolution. After all, it is Yuan Fu who intends to kill the officials who speak out, not His Majesty who truly wishes to do so."
Zhu Youjiao was also taken aback, pausing for a moment. Then he glanced at Wang An and Wei Chao before nodding and saying: "Agreed"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Guangdou immediately placed the tea cup he had just picked up back on the table and then stood up
... ...
Sun Chengzong nodded and said: "It was Yi Zhi (Zuo Guangdou) who informed me that the current Yuanfu truly lacks the capacity to tolerate others, and actually wants His Majesty to execute the censors!"
Let us go meet him
Indeed, the only course of action at present is to impeach the traitor, expose the crimes of the traitor, and take advantage of the fact that the emperor has only recently ascended the throne, the power of the traitor is not yet substantial, and there are still many just individuals in the court. It is imperative to expel the traitor from the cabinet and from the court as soon as possible
Saying this, Xu Guangqi heavily slapped the table: "This Fang Congzhe is truly a treacherous figure disguised as loyal! On the surface, he appears neutral, but in reality, he is a member of the Qi faction. Just like in the past, when he vehemently opposed sending envoys to supervise Korea, he only thinks of his own interests, without considering the benefits to the state!"
It is ! ''
Xu Guangqi sighed and said: "Unfortunately, Fang Congzhe, in order to preserve his position as the Chief Minister, clearly intends to take this opportunity to suppress your Donglin Party!"
During this time, Wei Chao took the opportunity to make a few remarks, subtly implying that Fang Congzhe might be a treacherous minister like Yan Song, while also testing Zhu Youjiao's attitude towards Fang Congzhe
... ...
Sun Chengzong also nodded: "I naturally understand, but Wei Dazhong cannot be killed. Although this person is from the Donglin Party, he is not a treacherous minister or a wicked official, how can he be sentenced to death"
Zhu Youjiao also understood what Wei Chao was trying to express, but he deliberately did not allow Wei Chao to grasp his intentions. He merely stated: "Fang Congzhe is not Yan Song, and I am not the late Emperor Jiajing. Although Yan Song is considered a treacherous minister, he still had some ability in assisting the emperor."
Clang
Brother Zhi Sheng, I will speak frankly. Currently, you and the members of the Donglin faction are monopolizing the discourse, which is in stark opposition to important ministers like Fang Congzhe. This has even led the Emperor to issue an edict summoning Ye Xianggao, who is supported by the Donglin faction, to the capital to join the cabinet, indicating a strong intention to replace the Chief Minister. The struggle between the censors and the six ministries of the cabinet is becoming increasingly intense. It seems that Your Majesty is quite a wise person and should have noticed this phenomenon. Therefore, he does not wish for the Donglin faction to become too entrenched in conflict with Fang Congzhe and his associates. The imprisonment of Minister Yang was indeed due to his momentary lapse in remembering the proprieties between sovereign and minister, but it is likely that Your Majesty also intended to remind the Donglin faction not to forget that the Ming Dynasty is ultimately under Your Majesty's command, while also assessing how many officials belong to the Donglin party. Additionally, it serves to see whether Fang Congzhe will set aside personal grievances for the greater good and plead for Minister Yang.
Zuo Guangdou pointed out: "Lord Sun and Zuo are very close friends, and he and Lord Xu are of the same age. Zuo is going to see him! Please ask him to find a way to save Lord Wei and Lord Yang, and to impeach Fang Congzhe.
Xu Guangqi appeared very calm, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Is that so? Who told you that?"
Although Zhu Youjiao did not expect Fang Congzhe to actually have Wei Dazhong imprisoned and sentenced to death
After hearing this, the Wei Dynasty was greatly pleased, thinking that His Majesty still did not completely trust Fang Congzhe.
Because the memorial submitted by Minister Wei was drafted by the bandits.
Wang Wenyang nodded slightly, his expression serious as he looked at Zuo Guangdou and Wei Dazhong: "The matter is certain, it has already been drafted!"
Wei Chao, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Horse Monitoring Office and the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, immediately responded.
At this moment, Wei Dazhong gritted his teeth and spoke up
Sun Chengzong nodded: "You are right. Regardless, to save Lord Yang and Lord Wei now, we must rely on Fang Congzhe, as he is indeed a key advisor of three dynasties"
At the same time, a cup of tea was directly thrown onto the carpet, and Wei Dazhong's hand was scalded red by the spilled tea, yet he showed no reaction, merely sitting there in a daze, for he truly did not expect to be condemned to death.
Zuo Guangzhong said
Xu Guangqi smiled and said: "Your Majesty's decision to send Yang Lian to the prison instead of executing him directly indicates that Your Majesty did not have the intention to kill him. Moreover, Your Majesty has been waiting for someone to plead for Yang Lian, so that you could show that person some favor by releasing Yang Lian, and that person should be Yuan Fu."
Wang Wenyang replied
Your Majesty is correct
However, Zhu Youjiao's decision to have Fang Congzhe handle the matter concerning Wei Dazhong also reflects his intention to gauge Fang Congzhe's attitude
Wei Chao smiled and said a sentence, yet did not know how to continue the conversation. He pondered what His Majesty truly meant and decided to relay the original words to the ancestor later.
Wei Chao looked at Wang An in surprise after hearing this
Sun Chengzong proactively proposed
Sun Chengzong hurriedly came to find Xu Guangqi late at night
In the Wei Dynasty, after mentioning the report from the Jinyiwei regarding Fang Congzhe's son, Fang Shihong, spending the night with a courtesan in front of Zhu Youjiao, Zhu Youjiao then inquired about the case from the forty-sixth year of the Wanli era, in which Fang Shihong was suspected of having killed a prostitute.
Wang Wenyang further stated: "According to news from the inner court, among the officials pleading for Yang Lian this time, there are the minor Grand Secretary Xu Guangqi and the Left Zhongyun Sun Chengzong, who are interceding for Yang Lian. These two are masters of the Eastern Palace and have a teacher-student relationship with the Emperor. In my opinion, to eliminate the traitor Fang, it would be best to persuade these two to submit a memorial to impeach Fang Congzhe, which might be effective. Even if His Majesty does not heed it, he would not execute his own master"
Wang Wenyandao said: "Your Majesty has great trust in the traitor Fang, and there is a significant intention to allow Fang to become the second Yan Song!"
Therefore, as soon as Sun Chengzong learned about Wei Dazhong's matter, he came to find Xu Guangqi
The residence of Xu Guangqi
Wei Dazhong pressed his lips tightly together
Sun Chengzong inquired
The Emperor stated that, according to reports from the Jinyiwei, Yuan Fu's son, Fang Shihong, is indeed a disappointment. However, this is not surprising, as Yuan Fu is preoccupied with the affairs of the state and naturally cannot attend to his own son. In previous dynasties, regardless of whether Yuan Fu was virtuous or not, there have always been unworthy offspring.
Zuo Guangzhong slammed his hand on the table with a face full of anger