Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 446
"The speech officials quarreled. Some said that negotiating peace was an act of resting the army to support the people, and some said that negotiating peace was tantamount to selling the north to slavery and being a traitor to the country."

The eunuch Lu Jiude, the supervisor of ceremonies, handed over the memorial to Zhu Youjian, and he had already divided it up: "These are in favor of the peace negotiation, and these are against the peace negotiation."

Zhu Youjian clicked his tongue speechlessly.

According to the current political system of the Ming Dynasty, all political affairs in the world are presided over by the cabinet, but when the cabinet is presided over, the officials all have the right to know and discuss power, and the right to reject cabinet resolutions and ask the emperor to make a decision.

Therefore, when the envoys from the Manchu and Qing Dynasties came, and the cabinet had not yet made a decision, the officials began to speak out.

Seeing that there are more officials who are in favor of peace talks than those who are against peace talks, Zhu Youjian has already seen that most of the officials in the country still hope to negotiate peace.

Although everyone shouted loudly to recover the northern capital verbally, they felt in their hearts that the recovery of the northern capital by the Northern Expedition had nothing to do with them, and would even make the military attache group further expand through the Northern Expedition.

Zhu You looked at the memorials of the speech officials and felt that he was a bit overwhelmed. Each of them spoke fiercely.

"Lu Jiude, what's your opinion on Jianlu seeking peace?"

Zhu Youjian questioned Lu Jiude.

The fact that the 24 yamen was filled by female internal officials, and the empress' unhappiness were nothing compared to the current incident.

Only the sudden peace proposal from the Manchu Qing in front of him made Zhu Youjian feel a big headache. The main reason was that he didn't expect that Ji Erhalang would play like this, so that these Manchu envoys suddenly appeared in the territory of Ming Dynasty. The trouble was known all over the court, which made Zhu Youjian unprepared.

He asked Lu Jiude now because he wanted to see the inner thoughts of eunuchs like himself.

As the emperor, he could naturally be arbitrary, and he would not negotiate a peace if he said no, and the officials naturally did not dare to object.

But Zhu Youjian still wants to hear the opinions of all parties before making a decision.

Lu Jiude, the supervisor of ceremonies, did not expect Zhu Youjian, Emperor Chongzhen, to ask him this way. He couldn't help looking at Zhu Youjian, hoping to see some answers from Zhu Youjian's eyes.

Zhu Youjian turned his head too far.

Even if he is with Zhu Youjian these days, he can’t see what Zhu Youjian’s idea is now, so he can only reply boldly according to his own heart: "I think maybe it’s not a bad thing to negotiate a peace, at least it can let the people rest and recuperate for a while." Years, it will not be too late to start the Northern Expedition when the army has enough grain and food."

"I forgot that you are from Yangzhou."

After hearing Lu Jiude's words, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but smile, and hurried back to Qianqing Palace:
"Concubine Yuan, close the door! No one is allowed to come near!"

Chen Yuanyuan followed Zhu Youjian's words. At that time, the whole room was like a black hole, and there was only a loud explosion:
"You bastard! Such a Jierharang, who wants to mess with my heart, I'm not Song Gaozong!"

Suddenly, Zhu Youjian revealed half of his face from the darkness, looked at Chen Yuanyuan, and handed out a letter: "From now on, I will say that I am sick, and after a few days, this letter will be handed over to the Chief of Rites to seal it." Wang Chengen, order him to act according to his will!"

Chen Yuanyuan nodded and went out.

Soon the news of Zhu Youjian's illness became known throughout the court, and the quarrel among ministers became more intense. There were even ministers who disapproved of the Northern Expedition and directly exaggerated the power of the Manchu Qing to influence public opinion.

"What disease is your Majesty suffering from, and when will you be able to come to court?"

Gao Hongtu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, couldn't help but sighed, but he could only start to preside over the cabinet meeting according to the procedure.

On this day, Gao Hongtu, Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, Hua Yuncheng from the Ministry of Officials, Liu Wanchun from the Ministry of Households, Wang Siren from the Ministry of Rites, Ruan Dayue from the Ministry of War, and Song Yingxing from the Ministry of Industry all arrived at Wenhua Hall as scheduled.

"The envoys of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties have arrived in the capital. As for whether to negotiate peace, our cabinet still has to make a decision, which will be deliberated by the Six Sections and then handed over to the Supervisor of Rituals and His Majesty. Now tell me whether our cabinet agrees to the peace negotiation or not. peace talks."

Gao Hongtu is from Shandong, and Shandong is now in the territory of Daming.

Therefore, as the chief assistant of the cabinet, he actually didn't have much interest in the Northern Expedition in his heart. The reason why he wanted to preside over the cabinet meeting immediately was to exert influence on Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian through the resolution of the cabinet, hoping that Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian would be able to Agree to negotiate.

Of course, as the chief assistant of the cabinet, he cannot express his attitude too easily and clearly.

"Negotiating peace or not discussing peace is nothing more than a relationship between people's livelihood and war. The opinions of the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of War are the most important. Naturally, the Ministry of Officials has no special opinions."

Hua Yuncheng spoke first. Although he was from Southern Zhili, he did not clearly express that he was in favor of peace talks, and directly threw the ball to the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of War.

Liu Wanchun from the household department secretly scolded Hua Yuncheng as an old fox, but he knew that he was from Southern Zhili just like Hua Yuncheng, and he hoped to negotiate a peace in his heart. He thought that Hua Yuncheng would take the lead first, and then he would agree, but he Unexpectedly, Hua Yuncheng pushed it to himself first.

Liu Wanchun and Ruan Dayue are not on the same side, he doesn't know what Ruan Dayue thinks, but at this moment he can only express his position first:
"Although the national treasury is full now, there are still many important things to do in the next year. Drought has been reported in southern Jiangxi, and floods have also occurred in Denglai, Shandong. According to Liu, it is better to negotiate a peace. First rest with the people and wait for the war in the southwest. After it's over, it's not too late to rest for a few years before the Northern Expedition, so we can have a five-year peace negotiation with the Manchus."

"Although the country cannot be abandoned, Mr. Liu Ge is right. Since Wanli, the people of our Ming Dynasty have never stopped fighting for years. Now that the Manchu Qing Dynasty intends to seek peace, our Ming Dynasty has always treated the world with courtesy. You might as well negotiate a peace first. Another conquest, or four or five years later, it is also possible that Jiannu will ask to be surrendered to the imperial court."

Wang Siren, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, was a native of Zhejiang. He was a well-known child prodigy in Shanyin.

Even Gao Hongtu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, couldn't help laughing, and Ruan Dayue, Minister of the Ministry of War, couldn't help but spit out a sip of tea:

"Old Wang Ge, how much benefit has Fu Yijian given you? You don't have to make excuses like this if you want to help them. After five years of being a slave, will you ask yourself to join Daming? Hehe, go out and ask any three-year-old child, you Think they'll believe it?"

"Old Ruan Ge, you! Why are you mocking Wang? Forget it, I'm too lazy to waste my time with a treacherous official like you. Chief Assistant, I request to resign from the post of Minister of Rites. If Ruan Dayue is in the cabinet for one day, I, Wang, will resign without any hesitation. Do it for a day!"

Wang Siren stood up angrily, and was about to walk away.

"Your Majesty is still ill, how do you resign, don't forget how your last Minister of Rites died, sit down first!"

Wang Siren's predecessor was Guan Shaoning, who was directly hacked to death by Ruan Dayue under Zhu Youjian's order, so what Gao Hongtu said was like reminding Wang Siren not to be willful and careful, Ruan Dayue was going forward under his majesty and hacked Wang Siren to death.

When Gao Hongtu said this, Wang Siren naturally had no choice but to sit down.

(End of this chapter)