The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1480

[1480. Chapter 1405 Entering the Palace]

Early the next morning.

The sky is slightly bright.

It rains.

The drizzle was light and pattered down, lingering and tapping on the bluestone of the sidewalk in central Beijing.

At this time, people from the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division would appear in the streets and alleys and start cleaning.

After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince became the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, he took charge of the military and horse departments of the five cities and recruited a large number of cleaning personnel. Before Mao hour, he had to get up early to clean the city.

At first, people thought this was another waste of money, but slowly, when all the garbage and sewage flowing across the streets were cleared away, people realized the benefits of this cleaning.

This is how people are, when they get used to something better, they can never go back.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

This applies to every detail in life.

The dim light of the morning ushered in a new day. Li Dongyang didn’t sleep all night, and his face looked a little bad.

It’s called reading, but in fact, it shows worry.

The situation in the palace is really strange. Your Majesty has not summoned the ministers for many days.

Even Li Dongyang didn’t know how his majesty’s dragon body was now.

But since what was reported was consumption, then thinking about it, the situation was already very bad.

But now, His Majesty suddenly summoned the king and important ministers. What does this… mean?

Now everyone is speculating that His Majesty is critically ill and the worst case scenario has already occurred.

As a bachelor of the cabinet, Li Dongyang said that he was not worried, but that was a lie.

He stayed up all night, speculating on various possibilities.

At this time…it was dawn.

Seeing that the lights were still on in the study, his son Li Zhaofan hurriedly came in: “Father…” Li Dongyang

nodded to him. Seeing Li Zhaofan’s expression was different, he said, “Why, does he seem to be in bad spirits?”

“This…” Li Zhaofan looked at He glanced at Li Dongyang’s haggard face and said with a wry smile: “Didn’t my father not sleep all night? He is about to enter the palace. Can my father’s body bear it?”

Li Dongyang’s frowned brows couldn’t help but relax, and he said with a smile: ” No problem, you can take a nap in the car along the way.”

Li Zhaofan sighed: “Is my father worried about your majesty?”

“People are subject to birth, old age, illness and death. Your majesty is in power and has a loving support for me. His divine grace is as heavy as Mount Tai. , Alas…it’s a pity, it’s just…it’s not the time to worry about this. It’s the prince that I’m worried about.”

Li Zhaofan raised his eyebrows and said in surprise: “Prince?”

Li Dongyang doesn’t have any taboos in front of his son. He said bluntly: “If your Majesty really has an accident, the prince will ascend the throne, but the situation in Beijing recently is really weird.”

Li Zhaofan said: “Could it be that my father has also heard the news about the dissatisfaction of some clan members in Beijing? ?”

Li Dongyang smiled and said: “It seems that their actions are not very careful, and everyone in the capital knows it.”

Li Zhaofan also laughed: “Yes, if the king is not secretive, the minister will lose himself, and if the minister is not secretive, he will lose his identity. , But if you have evil intentions but don’t keep it secret, this is a way to get killed. It shows that these people can’t achieve great things.”

Li Dongyang restrained his smile and said meaningfully: “But if… they deliberately want to kill everyone. “You know?”

Li Zhaofan said in surprise: “Ah…”

“The news that has leaked out now is just the tip of the iceberg, but it is already scary.” Li Dongyang paused and then said with a smile: “Do you remember Dong Zhongshu?

” …This…everyone who has read the book knows this.”

Li Dongyang said: “Dong Zhongshu suggested that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only respected Confucianism, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted it. From then on, there were only Confucians in the world. It’s just that the world’s knowledge is unified, and its essence is that the books are the same, the carriages are the same, and even the knowledge is determined by one person, so that the emperor can hold the power, and no one else can covet the power.”

Li Zhaofan nodded, but he didn’t. I don’t understand what Li Dongyang means.

Li Dongyang immediately said: “That’s the problem. But if the emperor monopolizes power, there seems to be no one to check and balance. Therefore, Dong Zhongshu proposed the theory of induction between heaven and man, which not only added legitimacy to the emperor, but also created a problem , since everything comes from the original intention of God, and the emperor is the son of God, then if there is a vision from God, such as the collapse of the earth or a major disaster, then… how to explain it, these ministers who are well-read in poetry and books advocate it? He came up with a method. Calling a catastrophe is a warning from God to the emperor. Whenever there is a catastrophe, the emperor must be at fault. The emperor should reflect on his mistakes and correct his mistakes in governance. “

Li Zhaofan nodded thoughtfully, but. …still don’t understand its meaning.

When Li Dongyang said this, he couldn’t help but laugh: “These ministers who have read poetry and books think that this is perfect. The emperor has great power and is ordered by God. God also issues warnings at any time. But God is angry and sends out warnings.” “How to interpret the warning?”

Li Zhaofan thought for a while: “How to interpret it, of course, is in the hands of those who are well-read in poetry.”

“Yes,” Li Dongyang said, “Whoever has read more books is in the right position.” The prime minister has the power to interpret the warnings of heaven, so he can use heaven’s reasons to point out the emperor’s faults. In this way, the king can rely on Confucianism to control all officials; the minister can rely on the induction of heaven and man. , and at the same time check and balance the emperor, those who can come up with this set of Confucian methods are really unpredictable.”

Li Zhaofan nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: “Dong Gong and other sages are indeed beyond the reach of future generations.”

Li Dongyang waved his hand and said calmly: “You and I, father and son, don’t have to say these nerdy words behind closed doors. Later, this set of checks and balances induced by heaven and man was broken by the emperor’s backhand. How to break it? , Yi Er, God is angry, a catastrophe occurred, the emperor made a mistake, then the emperor has to correct it, how to correct it…replace the prime minister!”

Li Zhaofan looked confused, thinking about it…it’s true.

Li Dongyang said: “When God gives a warning, he will be replaced. When God is angry, the emperor cannot be punished. However, the prime minister is the executor of the emperor’s administration. Since it is the emperor who is at fault for birth abnormalities, it is reasonable to replace the prime minister. Well, the emperor realized his mistake. In this way, the so-called communication between heaven and man has become a joke. The person who fears the anger of God the most is no longer the emperor, but these officials who are well-read in poetry and are the leaders of the ministers. Sir, from now on, no one will casually connect the innate vision with the emperor’s fault. If the prime minister writes a letter to confess the emperor’s fault, isn’t he asking for trouble for himself? If the minister below writes a letter, wouldn’t he? Can’t you get along with the Prime Minister?”

At this point, Li Dongyang smiled: “So, the key to the problem is this. As a father and a prime minister, I know that the emperor is the only one in the world, and the emperor’s happiness and anger are the foundation. So over the years, for My father worked diligently and planned for His Majesty. Fortunately, Your Majesty is still a wise man, and as a father, he has never made any mistakes. Now these clan members want to take advantage of the opportunity to make trouble, whether it is through the far-fetched theory of divine communication, or It’s a method of borrowing from the ancestors. For the emperor, it can only be broken in an instant. Their life and death, honor and disgrace, all depend on the emperor’s thoughts. Thinking about it, they understand this truth very well, but… why do they dare to do this? “

Li Dongyang asked himself and answered: “I think… they want to seize the moment when His Majesty is critically ill. At this moment, the emperor is most afraid of something happening. Anything that might happen is extremely terrifying. What is at stake is the father’s death.” The dead son…can’t afford to neglect him at all. The princes are making a dangerous move by launching an attack at this time.”

Li Zhaofan nodded, sighed, and said, “Yes, my father thinks that your majesty will give in.” “

The current emperor is very aware that even if he is seriously ill, he will not fulfill their wishes. As for His Royal Highness, although there are mixed praises and criticisms in the temple, among the people and in the streets, the common people have different opinions.” He was so grateful that my father didn’t worry about this… This was something that my father couldn’t figure out even if he thought about it. If these sect kings were serious, they should know that it would not be easy for them to succeed! Why are you taking risks?”

Li Zhaofan

seemed to be awakened by the words: “Could it be…father, could they have another move?”

What is the trump card behind this, and can it force His Majesty to make up his mind…”

Li Zhaofan couldn’t wait to ask, “Have you thought about it, father?”

“I have thought about it.” Li Dongyang stood up, it was already getting late, and he had to enter the palace as soon as possible: “After thinking about it, their only option is to cook raw rice and cooked rice.”

“Cooked rice and cooked rice?”

Li Dongyang glanced at Li Zhaofan and sighed: “Zhaofan, as a father, even though I have to serve as a prime minister in the cabinet, , but there is nothing left for you in this life, so I will leave something for you today. If you take care of it, you will be able to have enough food and clothing in this life, and will not bring shame to your ancestors.”

Li Zhaofan looked at Li Dongyang and blinked. Blinking, he said in confusion: “I don’t know what it is?”

“A favor, a favor given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Duke of Qi, they must owe you this favor. Then

, Li Dongyang smiled and said: “It’s getting late. Hurry up and go to Xishan Academy in person. Duke Qi is probably about to enter the palace at this time. You must at least stop him on the way and tell him to let him go.” He sent many guards to protect him. Not only that, Xishan Academy must also take precautions…otherwise, disaster is imminent. “

Li Dongyang said, squinting his eyes, a complex light flashed in his eyes, and said with deep meaning: “As a father, I am about to leave. Today… will be a long day. I hope… It would be nice to be safe and sound. “

Li Zhaofan remembered his father’s words with a serious look on his face. He did not dare to neglect and went out quickly.

He went all the way to Xishan. Halfway there, he saw Fang Jifan’s carriage and horses coming towards him.

He shouted: “Qi Guo Gong, Qi Guo Gong… …My surname is Li, my father is taboo about Dongyang, I have something important to tell you! ”

(End of chapter)