The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

If you don't take action in 19 and 29, you can walk on the ice in 39 and 49.

After the winter solstice, the capital city grew even colder, shrouded in a blizzard. Inside a warm and cozy room, the atmosphere seemed like a completely different world from the icy landscape outside.

Several elderly men dressed in Taoist robes were gathered around a stove, brewing tea.

"What's wrong with His Majesty lately?" The one who spoke was none other than Han Kuang, the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty.

The people standing nearby all shook their heads, expressing their confusion.

"Could someone have spread rumors about him? The Emperor used to hate the eunuch faction, but suddenly he changed his mind. Not only did he stop investigating the eunuch faction, but it seems... it seems he even sided with them," Qian Longxi speculated.

At this moment, another person spoke up; it was Liu Zongzhou, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

Liu Zongzhou was always outspoken, and he said, "It's not just a feeling, the Emperor has sided with the eunuch faction! After his trip to Tianshou Mountain, the Emperor was like a completely different person..."

"Brother Zongzhou, be careful what you say!"

The speaker was Qian Qianyi.

Qian Qianyi was born in Changshu, Southern Zhili. His poetry and prose were extremely famous at the time, and he was regarded as the "Literary Master" and the leader of the "Yushan Poetry School" in the southeast. He was currently serving as the Vice Minister of Rites in the imperial court.

Qian Qianyi interrupted Liu Zongzhou, saying, "The Emperor is the Emperor; how can you say he's a completely different person? If this gets out, it could be interpreted in any way!"

"snort!"

In response to Qian Qianyi's reminder, Liu Zongzhou simply scoffed, "You, Qian Qianyi, may be afraid, but I, Liu Zongzhou, am not!"

"Who said I'm scared?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Qianyi immediately became agitated. He hated it most when people said he was afraid or timid.

Liu Zongzhou said, "Alright, if you're not afraid, then tomorrow you can carry my coffin and go to plead with me. Brother Qian, do you dare?"

"I……"

Qian Qianyi's face turned red with anger: "Liu Zongzhou, you are truly a stubborn old fool! It's not that I'm afraid, but what's the use of carrying a coffin to remonstrate? Tell me! People might even accuse you of forming a faction to force the emperor to abdicate!"

At this moment, Han Kuang quickly waved his hand to stop the two: "Alright, alright, stop arguing! Weren't you done arguing all day in court the other day? Why are you arguing here now!"

"Qianyi is right. If we were to carry a coffin together to offer our advice, we might actually be accused of something!"

Han Kuang thought for a moment and then said, "What Brother Zongzhou said may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is true that the Emperor's mind has changed since returning from the visit to the mausoleum at Tianshou Mountain. I don't know what has bewitched him, but he has actually started to help the eunuch faction."

The people in the side room nodded silently.

During this period, the Emperor's words and actions have indeed been unusual. He used to be such a promising and wise ruler, but now he seems to have become somewhat similar to his incompetent elder brother.

I really can't figure it out.

After a moment of silence, Qian Longxi spoke up and asked, "Then, what does Grand Secretary Han think we should do?"

Han Kuang had clearly thought about this issue and replied, "I think we don't need to get involved. If we get involved too much, the Emperor will really think we've formed a faction to force the Emperor to abdicate, and then he'll become even more distant from us."

The others nodded in agreement with these words.

The Emperor has already used the term "forced abdication" in court, which is a phrase that can lead to the execution of nine generations of one's family. If we were to stage a coffin-carrying remonstrance or a collective remonstrance now, we might really anger the Emperor.

"If we don't step forward, then who will?" Qian Longxi pressed, while the others also showed curious expressions, their eyes fixed on Han Kuang.

Han Kuang replied, "Six gentlemen."

This answer surprised everyone present.

They certainly knew who the Six Gentlemen were: the Six Gentlemen of Donglin, the pride of their Donglin Party.

During the Tianqi era, the eunuch faction led by Wei Zhongxian wreaked havoc on the country. Six Donglin Party officials, including Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Yuan Huazhong, Wei Dazhong, Zhou Chaorui, and Gu Dazhang, made great efforts to overthrow the eunuch faction, impeaching them one after another, which made them the people Wei Zhongxian hated the most.

Some of them had already retired, while others were still in office, but they were all imprisoned by Wei Zhongxian one after another, where they suffered all kinds of cruel tortures and were eventually killed. However, they never bowed down to the eunuch faction. They were not only role models for a generation of literati, but also the pride of their Donglin Party, and their story was passed down as a legend among the people.

Now that Han Kuang has brought up the Six Gentlemen again, the others have roughly guessed what Han Kuang meant.

Han Kuang said, "To be precise, they are the descendants of the Six Gentlemen. The Six Gentlemen were unjustly killed at the hands of the eunuch faction. Now that the eunuch faction has been executed, as the descendants of the Six Gentlemen, they have the right to demand a thorough investigation of the eunuch faction and to exonerate the Six Gentlemen!"

The others nodded in agreement.

Han Kuang continued, "Regardless of the Emperor's intentions in favoring the eunuch faction, as long as he doesn't exonerate the Six Gentlemen, we'll have something to say then, don't you agree?"

Han Kuang's words were once again accepted by everyone.

"Excellent idea! The descendants of the Six Gentlemen are already filled with resentment; if we let them petition, they certainly won't refuse!"

"It's not just that they don't refuse; they wish they could exterminate the eunuch faction and grind their bones to dust!"

"We'll see how the Emperor reacts then. If he doesn't exonerate me, I'll truly have to bring my coffin to plead my case!"

Inside the warm pavilion, the atmosphere began to become more harmonious...

……

Back in the palace, Chongzhen was in high spirits.

So far, everything has gone relatively smoothly, especially after successfully persuading Sun Chengzong to come out of retirement and having a long talk with him all night, which gave him even more confidence.

From initial confusion to a trip to the bookstore, and now, he has finally sensed a change.

The changes are small, just a little bit, but it's much better than the initial confusion.

In the beginning, in his impotent rage, he simply cut down the crooked locust tree so he wouldn't hang himself from it anymore. At that time, even though he knew the fate of the Ming Dynasty, he still didn't know which way to go.

Now, at least he has some direction.

As he expected, the Qianqing Palace was once again piled high with memorials.

In the past, he would have devoted himself to reviewing these memorials, for every bit of effort he put in brought more hope to the Ming Dynasty. But now, with his Grand Council and a new direction, he even wanted to avoid these old people and things, so he began to lose interest.

He had to deal with these memorials, otherwise they would only pile up.

Emperor Chongzhen had no choice but to muster his strength and begin reviewing the memorials.

Sudden.

"ah--"

Emperor Chongzhen exclaimed in surprise and subconsciously dropped the memorial in his hand.

He was just given a big fright.

The memorial he had just read was a letter written in blood. The crimson bloodstains were shocking, and the stench of blood was overwhelming. Caught off guard, he was genuinely startled.

Who is so bold as to write a memorial in blood?

This horrified Emperor Chongzhen, and then enraged him...