Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 31

Zhang Shande raised the curtain of the south study room high, and pouted quietly inside.The ministers immediately put down their pens and got up, bowed their heads and went out.They lined up on two sides in the open space outside the eaves, Mingzhu and Chen Tingjing stood on the north side, Zhang Ying and Gao Shiqi stood on the south side.

It was midsummer, and the sun was so hot that the gold bricks on the ground sprayed sparks.Chen Tingjing saw that Gao Shiqi glanced at the Qianqing Palace to the north, lowered his head even lower, and knew that the emperor had come out.The imperial guards walked swiftly into the south study.The two father-in-laws trotted over and stood still outside the eaves of the South Study Room.

The four ministers quickly knelt down and watched the shadow of the emperor's canopy move past their eyes.They looked down at the quietly passing boots and shoes, and knew that there were several guards and eunuchs accompanying the emperor.Chen Tingjing happened to see ants moving on the ground, as if there were thousands of troops, it was really lively.The emperor didn't speak, he felt all kinds of silence, but Chen Tingjing seemed to be able to hear the noise of the ants.

The Prime Minister's South Study Room is Zhang Ying, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and Gao Shiqi is in charge of copying documents because of his good calligraphy.Both of them are on duty in the South Study every day.Mingzhu and Chen Tingjing first went to Qianqingmen to make an early court every day, and then went back to the ministry to handle errands, and then went to the South Study Room to read the excerpts.The papers from all directions are first sent to the South Study Room by the Minister of General Affairs; what the South Study Room has to do every day is to read the papers and draft drafts; most of the drafts in the South Study Room are approved by the emperor; It is supposed to be the will of the Holy One.

The emperor entered the south study room, Zhang Shande turned his head and pouted, and the four ministers stood up.They were already dripping with sweat, and they wiped their faces with their sleeves.Not long after, Zhang Shande came out to pass the decree, saying that the emperor told you not to stay under the sun, but wait in the shade.

The ministers thanked them, and all went to the shade under the eaves.In front of the door stood three imperial guards facing east and west. They each stepped back a few steps to make room for the ministers.The ministers nodded slightly to the guards to thank them, but they still stood with their heads bowed, thinking of their own things.

Mingzhu always smiled at everyone, but Chen Tingjing knew that he was always on guard against himself.It turns out that Mingzhu and Suo'etu, the minister of the guards, have been fighting for power for many years.People on Mingzhu's side are called Ming Party, and people on Suo'etu's side are called Suo Party.Many princes and ministers are either Ming Party or Suo Party.Both Mingzhu and Suo'etu wanted to pull Chen Tingjing by his side, but he didn't want to get involved in any circles, he bowed to everyone, and he was perfunctory to everyone.In the end, Mingzhu thought Chen Tingjing was Suo Dang, and Suo Etu regarded him as Ming Dang.Both sides were offended.Chen Tingjing held his breath, as if nothing happened.Back then, he learned two words from Lord Wei and his father-in-law: wait and endure.Over the past ten years, Chen Tingjing himself realized one word, that is stability.If you stick to this word of stability, you may suffer some losses for a while, but you will not suffer bad luck.Mingzhu can be regarded as his benefactor, but after more than ten years of vicissitudes, the two have long been inseparable.He might as well just sit on his own bench and not move, no matter how others change doors.Chen Tingjing wrote a short essay on these three characters, tolerance and stability, but it was just a treasure box hidden away and kept secret from others.

When Suo'etu was going to be unlucky, the whole court was making trouble, and many minions of the Suo Party turned their backs one after another, but Chen Tingjing didn't say a word of good or bad.Mingzhu became more and more uncertain about what Chen Tingjing was thinking.Gao Shiqi usually flattered Mingzhu in front of him, but everyone in the court knew that he was from Suo'etu.Although Gao Shiqi got the title of supervisor and entered the Imperial Academy, he was still half short in the eyes of those Jinshi.Gao Shiqi was filled with anger, he always disliked Chen Tingjing who was born as a Jinshi.Chen Tingjing and Gao Shiqi already had feuds when they were serving the emperor to study in the Hongde Palace in the early years, and they would inevitably clash secretly in the future, but they kept everything to themselves.Chen Tingjing would not argue with Gao Shiqi until it was critical.Chen Tingjing knew that Zhang Ying was the only one who was an old man, but the two of them didn't say a few words about themselves.

Suddenly the curtain of the door rang, Zhang Shande came out quietly and said: "The emperor invites all the ministers to come in and talk."

The ministers nodded and bowed in.The emperor was sitting by the yellow table on the kang reading the book, and the fool was standing in front of the emperor holding a knife.The Huang case was placed temporarily when the emperor arrived, and it had to be withdrawn when the emperor left.The ministers knelt down to pay their respects, and the emperor looked up at them and told them to get up and talk.Mingzhu thanked her, and stood with her head slightly lowered, waiting for the emperor's instructions.

The imperial saber Xiaoshenfeng on the yellow case was carried by the fool on weekdays, and the emperor took it with him wherever he went.The idiot's name is Dahata, his body is thick and black, he looks simple and dull, but he has quick eyesight and quick hands, which is very popular with the emperor.The emperor was happy one day, and said in front of everyone, don't look at Dahata as a fool, he is very clever, I think his kung fu is the best in the university!From then on, others only called him a fool when they saw him, but forgot his name.Because the name of a fool is bestowed by the emperor, he is naturally comfortable listening to it.

The emperor put down the booklet in his hand, took a long breath, and said: "It has been 17 years since I became the throne, and the days go by so fast. These years are really not easy! I almost sleep with my eyes half open! Oboi is in power, The San Francisco is in chaos, and the four sides are constantly fighting. Now the overall situation is settled, and the country is gradually strengthening. Only Wu Sangui is still struggling in Yunnan, and it is only a matter of time before he can be surrendered."

The emperor said that he sat alone for a long time this morning, doing self-reflection, and he was deeply moved by the past events.The four ministers listened attentively, nodding from time to time, but all lowered their eyes.As the emperor spoke, he shifted his gaze to Chen Tingjing and said, "Chen Tingjing, you did a great job in cutting off Oboi back then!"

Chen Tingjing hurriedly cupped his hands to thank him, and said: "I am a scholar, I am so ashamed that I have no strength to restrain a chicken! It is the emperor's wisdom and wisdom, Suo'etu's iron arm assists. The first achievement should be Suo'etu!"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and no one expected that Chen Tingjing would talk about Suo'etu.Gao Shiqi glanced at Mingzhu, but Mingzhu bowed her head and remained silent.Gao Shiqi knelt down and said: "I report to the emperor that Suo'etu formed a clique for personal gain, was greedy, and was rude. He was just reprimanded by the emperor, but Chen Tingjing actually set up a good evaluation for him. I don't know what his intentions are!"

Chen Tingjing also looked at Mingzhu, but Mingzhu still lowered her head, pretending to be deaf and dumb.Gao Shiqi wanted to put aside his relationship with Suo'etu in front of everyone.Chen Tingjing could understand Gao Shiqi's thoughts, but he was in the way of a minister, so he could only speak to the emperor if he had something to say.

Chen Tingjing knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, when you talk about people and things, your merits and demerits are clear!"

Gao Shiqi saw that the emperor was silent, and said: "Show the emperor, although Suo'etu has dismissed, but the rest of the party is still there. I think that Suo'etu has been in power for many years, and there are many people who follow him closely. Some are hidden from the outside. The evil should be eliminated, and no future troubles will be left!"

Gao Shiqi seemed to want to imply to the emperor that Chen Tingjing might be Suo Dang secretly.The emperor remained silent, and the chirping of cicadas outside made people panic.It was very hot in the room, and the emperor didn't use a fan, so everyone could only endure the heat, not daring to wipe the sweat off his face.

Gao Shiqi wanted to know the emperor's face, but he didn't dare to raise his head.He couldn't help raising his eyes and glanced up, just seeing the emperor's knee, he quickly lowered his head in fright.But since he said it, he didn't want to stop there, and said: "Although there are complicated connections in the court, as long as you investigate carefully, you will see your innocence and discern your loyalty and traitors."

The emperor suddenly said: "Chen Tingjing, tell me."

Chen Tingjing was still kneeling, leaning slightly forward, and bowed his head to echo: "When Suo'etu was in power, the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty had a bottom line in their hearts. Most of them were just afraid of his lustful power. Submit. The emperor is generous and loves his loved ones. In those days, officials like Oboi, who committed the most crimes, could still pardon their death crimes with the virtue of good life, let alone others? Therefore, the minister thought that the Suo forehead pattern was broken here, and there was no need to branch out. What is most needed is to work together from top to bottom and work hard!"

The emperor nodded and smiled: "Okay! What Chen Tingjing said is in line with my wishes! The case of Suo'etu, let it go. Ting Jing, in the eyes of the world, Suo'etu is the one who got rid of Oboi, but I thought it was you Chen Tingjing! When I was only ten years old, you told me the story of Wang Mang's usurping the Han. I was shocked to hear it! Since then, I have been angry day and night, and I dare not slack off for a moment! I made a vow secretly at that time , must be in power at the age of 14! Ting Jing, Shi Qi, get up."

Chen Tingjing said: "The emperor is a man of gods descended from heaven. He is truly a blessing to the country and the people!"

The emperor looked at Chen Tingjing and nodded for a moment, his eyes were very gentle, and said: "Chen Tingjing has participated in the compilation of "Records of the Emperor Shizu of Qing Dynasty", "Hades of Emperor Taizu of Qing Dynasty" and "Hades of Emperor Taizong of Qing Dynasty". For the executive officers of "Records of Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty", "Huangyu Biao" and "History of Ming Dynasty", select some scholars with outstanding talents to compile these classics!"

Chen Tingjing hurriedly got up and knelt down: "I obey the order!"

(End of this chapter)