Jiajing Chengming

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Then, Prime Minister Yang Yiqing said this sentence with difficulty, his face as solemn as a piece of iron.

However, Zhang Cong's eyes were red as the charcoal fire still burning in the room, with tears rolling down his cheeks, and he couldn't help but look back at Gui E.

Gui E was also giving him a bright smile.

Zhao Huang lowered his face in surprise, then raised his head again, half opened his mouth, and wanted to say something, but suddenly swallowed the four words "Your Majesty is wise" and just stood there like a sculpture.

At this time, light projected into the imperial study from the deep blue sky, casting a faint yellow light on the documents piled on the desk, and also illuminating the dark area where Zhu Houcong was staying.

Zhu Houcong withdrew his inquiring gaze from the four ministers of the Imperial Study, picked up a red book from the table and began to flip through it.

For Zhu Houcong, when he said that only he could save the world, he was not really arrogant, but he had his own reasons.

Firstly, he knew that in this era when absolute monarchy was still the consensus of the world, only he, the emperor, could save the world with justification.

Secondly, this is an era of family rule, so he has more responsibility and motivation to save the world than anyone else.

Because he is the emperor, only by saving the world can he protect himself and obtain the greatest power.

After all, power comes from both above and below. If he wants the majority of people to support him, he must take saving the world as his mission and always put the interests of the majority first.

In other words, he must always take the world for all as his criterion.

Third, because he came from the future, he knew clearly the direction of eliminating the landlord class and changing the production relations.

As for the scholars, there are certainly some who have nobler character than him, and there are also some who are more intelligent than him.

However, these people, limited by their unclear understanding of the future, superstition about ancient experiences, and the limitations of their own class, could not compare to the role he played in this era as an emperor and time traveler.

That’s why Zhu Houcong said this.

He also knew that on his way to saving the world, those who obstructed his reforms were often not really evil people, but could be people with higher morals than him and more outstanding achievements.

Because of their different positions, conflicts in concepts, and the tenacious spirit to express their attitudes, these people would be more daring to confront the emperor than despicable villains, and they would be difficult to scare. However, Zhu Houcong would often have to physically eliminate them.

The Minister of Punishments Hu Shining was a member of the ritual advocates faction who supported him at the grand ceremony. He was also the first meritorious official who dared to expose Prince Ning's rebellious intentions when Prince Ning rebelled.

However, Hu Shining could not accept Zhu Houcong's strong attitude towards ministers, so he finally chose to confront the emperor directly because of Liang Cai's incident.

Zhu Houcong did not choose to compromise when Liang Cai issued the threat just because Hu Shining was a meritorious and loyal minister. Instead, he would rather kill Hu Shining again than forgive Liang Cai.

This was naturally extremely shocking and unexpected for the court officials.

Because the ruthlessness and severity shown by the emperor now once again exceeded their expectations.

Even Liang Cai, who was waiting to die in prison, was shocked after learning about this, and for the first time ever, he took the initiative to shout to Shi Bao, who was in charge of the Northern Pacification Office, who appeared in front of him:
"General Shi Ti, please tell His Majesty that although I can die, Lord Hu cannot be put to death!"

"He is a loyal minister!"

"He is more worthy of your Majesty's retention than Yan Song, or even me! Your Majesty, please follow the magnanimity of Emperor Taizong of Tang and tolerate this loyal and righteous minister! To preserve the integrity of our Ming officials!"

After Liang Cai said this, he slammed the prison door pillar violently and began to sob.

"This is not something I can interfere with. We, the Jinyiwei, only believe that Your Majesty is a wise and powerful ruler who will not kill people indiscriminately. Let alone killing ministers, even if you let us die, we will not say anything!"

Shi Bao replied indifferently.

Liang Cai sat back down on the moldy straw pile in a dejected manner.

Not long after, Hu Shining was also taken to the cell here. The cell where Hu Shining was located was next to the beams, and it was also so dark that one could not see his face clearly. Only the oil lamp that was never extinguished could illuminate his face roughly.

"Hu Jing'an, why are you doing this?"

After seeing that it was Hu Shining, Liang Cai turned around and asked loudly with a bitter face to Hu Shining who was sitting peacefully and comfortably in the darkness.

Hu Shi Ning ignored the rats roaming in front of him, used his hand as a pillow, and lay on the straw pile that smelled moldy and damp, then smiled and said, "I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for myself, so you don't have to feel too guilty."

"For yourself?"

Liang Cai asked.

Hu Shi Ning nodded: "Yes, I have long wanted to leave this hopeless world!"

After hearing this, Liang Cai understood what Hu Shining meant.

"Yes!"

"It is inevitable that the emperor will rule alone. The so-called clean stream and public opinion cannot influence the power and fortune of the emperor." "Who would like such a world except people like Zhang Fujing and Gui E?"

Then Liang Cai looked at the dark roof with a sense of loss and began to speak.

Hu Shining sighed at this time.

Then, Hu Shi Ning smiled again and said, "This is good. Being sentenced to death by a wise and holy ruler like Your Majesty is better than dying of old age or illness!"

"It is conceivable that, thousands of years from now, whenever people in the world mention Your Majesty, they will think of me, Hu Jing'an. Whether they say that I, Hu Jing'an, am pedantic and stubborn, or that I, Hu Jing'an, am ignorant of current affairs, it is not important. What is important is that I, Hu Jing'an, died gloriously under the white silk given by the emperor!"

After Hu Shi Ning said this, Liang Cai said with a look of disappointment: "But when I think about it, it's not the despicable and cunning people like Zhang Fujing, Gui E, and Yan Song who died, but upright people like you, and they will continue to hold high positions and have great power, it's hard not to feel resentful!"

"You can't look at it that way."

"They are certainly cunning and may have despicable intentions."

"But they are different from you and me. They have never had the ambition to let the power of the nobles control the power of the emperor."

"So, they are suitable for being employed by His Majesty, and there are indeed reasons why they can stay in the court and hold high positions of power."

"On the contrary, people like us cannot allow ourselves to be controlled by the emperor, but are unwilling to lose power, so it is natural that we will easily end up dead."

Hu Shining said with a smile.

Liang Cai said at this time with a sense of loss: "I thought that the co-governance of the monarch and his ministers during the Xiao Temple was just the beginning, but I didn't expect it to be a flash in the pan."

talking.

Liang Cai started banging his head against the wall, each time hitting harder than the last.

dong dong!

"what are you doing!"

Hu Shining couldn't help but ask at this time.

Liang Cai pulled his head back and said, "Just like you, I want to die! I don't want to live any longer, but I find it difficult to die by crashing into someone."

Hu Shi Ning smiled and began to comfort Liang Cai:

"There is no need to be too desperate. As long as the emperor in the future does not truly care for the people like the current emperor and has the ambition to revive the country, but only wants to use the world for his own benefit, or only wants to live in peace and enjoyment, he will still need to treat the upright officials well and need them to check and balance the upright officials!"

"More importantly, in that case, we scholars can unite the four classes of people in the name of serving the country and the people to resist the unjust actions of the emperor, and form an alliance between the power of scholars and the power of the people."

"In this case, any wise king will know that he cannot be overbearing and strong, otherwise the situation of co-governance between the king and his subjects will reappear!"

"The reason why the emperor now rules alone is because he has soldiers and food, and truly serves the public."

"In short, we will be executed one by one, but we will not be destroyed, never!"

After a while, Liang Cai nodded: "That makes sense! Your Majesty can kill us today because I have done something wrong to the court and violated the principle of serving the emperor with sincerity!"

Speaking of it.

Liang Cai stood up and bowed to Hu Shi Ning: "Mr. Hu, in the final analysis, it is Liang who is sorry for you! I have implicated you!"

"I told you, this is my own choice. You can't blame me, Liang Jian'an."

Hu Shining responded directly with this sentence.

Liang Cai shouted again at this time: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die, but there is no need to let Hu Jing'an die! He has no intention of being disloyal or disrespectful!"

Hu Shining just smiled, and the next day, he hanged himself under the supervision of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Liang Cai was also sentenced to hanging by the Sanfashi Court shortly afterwards and was subsequently executed.

Zhu Houcong only issued an order to give Hu Shining a grand funeral, ordered the Ministry of Rites to discuss posthumous title for him, and announced that he would suspend court for one day.

"I sentenced Hu Shi Ning to death because he relied on his merits to threaten me and used his death to protect his disobedience! I can only help him! But I will still recognize his merits and virtues, so I ordered a grand funeral and stopped court!"

"When a strong wind blows down a phoenix tree, there will always be people who will judge its merits. I am not afraid that in the future, some people will wonder why a man who was given a posthumous title and a lavish burial was given death!"

"I only hope that you will take this as a warning and not become arrogant because of your achievements. Otherwise, you will be disloyal and unfilial!"

Zhu Houcong also mentioned Hu Shi Ning at the court meeting that day. (End of this chapter)