Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 162 I'm not dead yet, why should I issue a will?

Imperial University of Peking.

Zhu Houzhao was instructing Qiu Yue: "Keep a close watch on the situation around the Imperial University of Peking. Don't let anyone know that I'm here!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Qiu Yue said and left the court.

Then, Zhu Houzhao entered the classroom and said to a student, "I will continue to explain to you why the court has to implement the new policy, and if the new policy is not implemented, the possible fate of the Ming Dynasty. I believe that everyone is familiar with the fact that foreign races have destroyed our China, and the two Song dynasties are examples..."

When Zhu Houzhao was brainwashing the students of Imperial University in the classroom with vivid descriptions on the blackboard using the newly produced chalk of the Royal Industrial Company, Jinyiwei Guo Rong appeared outside.

Zhu Houzhao left the classroom again and asked, "What's the situation outside?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty! Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng and a group of civil officials broke into the palace and forced the cabinet to issue a will to abolish the new policy! Redress the unjust imprisonment! They said it was to restore order! To usher in a new dynasty!"

Guo Rong replied.

"Issuing a will? What a joke! Since I was blown to death, there is no will for me to issue. These civil servants only know how to play this game. Even if I issue a will, it is impossible for it to abolish any new policies. Wouldn't that be denying myself? Let's continue to observe and see if there are more snakes coming out of the hole. Let the officials who support the reform see what kind of situation they will face without me! In case Ma Wensheng and others really think that the civil servants don't hate them!"

Zhu Houzhao said this and continued to walk into the classroom to give a lecture.

……

At this time, the palace and the court were in chaos. Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng and others forced cabinet ministers Ma Wensheng and others to issue a will.

In fact, Ma Wensheng and others had no reason to refute, because the emperor was already dead and no one in the world supported them. If they did not issue a will, they would be killed by the gentry of the world, but if he issued a will, he could have a good end.

However, Liu Jin, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, knew that he would not have a good ending like Ma Wensheng and others who drafted a will. Moreover, seeing that Ma Wensheng and others were forced to write a will but Ma Wensheng and others had been unwilling to agree, he, who was determined to reform, did not want Zhu Houzhao's efforts to go to waste, so he walked over and said:

"Don't even think about succeeding! Even if their cabinet drafts a will, I, Liu Jin, will never approve it with my red seal! Without the emperor's order, I will never approve it with my red seal!"

"Liu Jin! Do you still think you are the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department?!"

At this time, the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng sneered and made way, while Zhang Yong brought the horse-raising soldiers from the Imperial Stables and rushed in, putting a knife directly on Liu Jin's neck.

"Zhang Yong! You traitor! His Majesty has treated you well, why did you betray him?"

Liu Jin started shouting. He really didn't expect Zhang Yong to appear suddenly, and he couldn't help but curse.

"Zhang Yong did not betray His Majesty! It's just that His Majesty has passed away now! Zhang Yong has to protect his own wealth and status. Does he have to treat you, Liu Jin, as his master?" Zhang Yong said with a smile.

At this time, Chu Ke, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, also came out and handed the emperor's seal to Zhang Yong: "Godfather, please keep it!"

Zhang Yong smiled faintly, then took the seal and said to the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng:

"Grandmaster, you can draft the decree now. Don't forget to add one more item: add Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng, Minister of Works Zeng Jian, and Left Vice Minister of Rites Du Long to the cabinet, and promote Zhang Yong to the position of Seal Master of the Imperial Household, while demoting Liu Jin to a menial job!"

"Don't worry, Minister!"

The Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng replied to Zhang Yong with a smile and directly called him the internal minister. Then he snatched the pen from Ma Wensheng and prepared to start writing the edict.

At this time, Jiao Fang could not help but curse: "You are really treasonous!" Xu Jin also slammed the table: "I am the Minister of War, are you bullying me because I have no soldiers?!"

At this time, there was another sound of armor, and Chengguo Duke Zhu Feng walked in with a group of officers and soldiers:
"Lord Xu, although you are the Minister of War, you can only mobilize the border troops. But is it too late now? Except for the imperial guards that can only be mobilized with the order of His Majesty, the Ming Dynasty's engineering troops are now controlled by this Duke. What else do you have to say?"

Zhu Feng then said to Zhang Sheng, the Minister of Rites, "Now, the Duke of this country will listen to the orders of His Majesty, and the orders of His Majesty will naturally be drafted by the elders."

Having said that, Zhu Feng ordered the officers and soldiers to arrest Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang, Xu Jin and others.

All of a sudden, the entire cabinet only had the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng left. It was clear that the entire Ming Dynasty now fell into the pocket of Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng.

Soon after, the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng began to draft an edict, deciding to abolish a series of new policies and even redistribute the shares of the Royal Bank!

Now Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang, Xu Jin and others can only watch themselves being detained and their shares being taken away: "You are plotting a rebellion, a rebellion!"

"His Majesty is no longer here, how can this be considered treason!" Zhang Yong said.

At this time, Du Long, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, said: "Ma Wensheng, Liu Jin and others still have many followers outside. If they refuse to admit their guilt, it will be bad if they cause trouble. It is better to execute them directly for treason!"

"It would be better to let the Empress Dowager issue an imperial decree on this matter!"

Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng said to Duke Cheng of Cheng, Zhu Feng, and Zhang Yong, "Let's go and ask the Empress Dowager for her imperial decree!"

……

In front of the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Zhang gritted her teeth, tears unconsciously sliding down her cheeks. At the same time, she hugged the queen to her side, wiped her tears, and shouted to the officials in front of her:
"You, what do you want to do? You civil officials forced the late emperor to death, and now you have killed Zhao'er. What else do you want to do? If you want to kill me or chop me up, just say so!"

"I dare not. I only ask the Empress Dowager to issue an order to execute the treacherous Ma Wensheng, Liu Jin, Jiao Fang, Xu Jin and others! I have drafted the order for the Empress Dowager, please review it and stamp it with your seal!"

After the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng returned, he gave the drafted imperial edict to the eunuch Chu Ke of the Imperial Household Department. Chu Ke then took the imperial edict and brought it to the Empress Dowager Zhang.

"The harem does not interfere in government affairs. I am not in a position to interfere in the affairs of the court. You all leave!"

Empress Dowager Zhang knew that these people were loyal to her son, so she naturally did not want to be the executioner. However, Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng and others were also unwilling to bear the sin of killing Ma Wensheng and others, so they continued to force Empress Dowager Zhang: "Now that His Majesty has passed away, you are the first person in the royal family, and you should execute the treacherous people!"

"Are you forcing me? I am not afraid of your forcing. The late emperor and Zhao'er are not afraid of death, and I am not afraid of death either!"

Empress Dowager Zhang replied firmly.

"You must not treat the Queen Mother like this! You are a bunch of traitors!"

Empress Xia suddenly stood up and rebuked Zhang Sheng and the others. At this time, Zhang Yong, who was standing below, drew his bow and said, "It seems that I really need to scare you guys!"

As he said that, Zhang Yong drew his bow and aimed at Queen Xia.

When Empress Dowager Zhang saw this, she shouted, "How dare you murder the queen! How outrageous!"

There is one more chapter to come, don't worry! I am working hard on typing

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(End of this chapter)