Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Afternoon.

Dark clouds over the city.

The thunderous sound of horse hooves trampled across the bluestone road, startling the feathered birds nesting among the broken tiles of the earthen walls, and flying into the sky.

Every door in Nanjing is closed, and the mouths of young children are covered by their parents. Only the very brave dare to peek through the gaps in doors and windows.

When Jianwen's traitor was arrested a few months ago, the same cavalry appeared everywhere, and then the fierce Yan soldiers broke in. Obviously, this left a deep shadow on the people in the city.

At the base of the palace wall, the fledgling cabinet also received the news.

"What did you say? The loyal guards have been dispatched?"

When Yang Rong came out for some fresh air, he happened to meet the assistant officer sent by Yingtian Mansion. After hearing the report, he hesitated to make a judgment.

While the cabinet was on duty, several other bachelors also came to look at it.

On duty today are Xie Jin, Jin Youzi, Hu Guang and Yang Rong.

In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, there was a saying that "the Imperial Academy was rich in water, and the imperial officials were half from Jiangxi." This was especially true in the Yongle Cabinet. Among the seven people, there were five Jiangxi old cousins. In other words, except for Huang Huai from Zhejiang and Yang Rong from Fujian, all of them were from Jiangxi. .

But although it is said that the soil and water support each person, it is true that everyone is different.

For example, they are all from Ji'an. Yang Shiqi is calm and good at planning, Xie Jin is proud of his talents, Hu Guangzhi values ​​his life, and Jin Youzi is a lonely minister.

And their personal characteristics are most vividly displayed at this time.

"What do you think? Is there a rebellion against the party?"

Yang Rong turned around and just finished asking, he felt that his voice was drowned in the Jiangxi accent.

Jin Youzi frowned and said: "Those are His Majesty's trusted troops! Once dispatched, it will be no small matter!"

"First ask what happened, and then report it to Your Majesty." Hu Guang was worried.

Not long after, news from all parties came together.

Emperor Yongle was not in the palace, but in the Zhongyi Guards. The Zhongyi Guards were dispatched not because of a rebellion by the remnants of Jianwen, but to search the whole city for a death row prisoner who had escaped from the imperial edict.

Emperor Yongle, Zhongyiwei, prisoner, and death row prisoner.

When the four major factors are taken together, isn't it true that the second prince Zhu Gaoxu escaped from prison and planned a mutiny with evil intentions, and was discovered by Emperor Yongle and hunted down by the whole city?

Several people in the cabinet looked at each other.

Since ancient times, there have been many factions in the imperial court, each with its own interests and demands.

Among the people currently in charge of the cabinet, Jin Youzi is a die-hard imperialist, Xie Jin and Yang Rong both support the eldest prince, and Hu Guang is the one who wins.

Conflicts always exist, and enemies and ourselves are not divided into black and white positions. I support you on this matter, and oppose you on that matter. This is also the norm in the cabinet.

Speaking of people, take Xie Jin for example. He was born in a high family, and his imperial examination was held by Jieyuan from Jiangxi.

As for other members of the cabinet, most of them were compiled by Hanlin. Although there is not much difference between Qingpao and Greenpao, the official level is the higher level.

Xie Jin believed that only people with both ability and political integrity like himself were qualified to be in charge of the cabinet.

Therefore, he has always wanted to turn the cabinet into his own private sphere. He only needs to inform himself about anything.

But reality is often cruel.

Because Xie Jin not only has no experience in governing, but also lacks the courage and skills to monopolize power and integrate party members.

Among the bachelors and editors in the cabinet, apart from Xie Jin, Jin Youzi, a late bloomer, was the most promising to take the top position in the cabinet.

It wasn't for any other reason, but that no matter who the prince was, Jin Youzi only recognized Zhu Di.

Jin Youzi is a military staff-type talent who is also good at criminal and prison litigation. He has strong professional ability and is very popular with Zhu Di.

Xie Jin didn't like Jin Youzi, and Jin Youzi also thought Xie Jin was an eyesore - since you have such ambitions, why do you have to quarrel with others in everything?

Although these thoughts were fleeting, Jin Youzi still turned his attention to Xie Jin and asked, "What do you think we should do, Xie Jin?"

Xie Jin is arrogant, but he is able to make up his mind at critical moments: "Go and inform His Highness the First Prince!"

After hearing this, Hu Guang was almost furious: "Go and inform the eldest prince? The eldest prince will know the news no later than us. Now we go to inform the eldest prince, what will your majesty think?"

Hu Guang, the wallflower, didn't finish what he said, that is, if it was really the second prince's rebellion, and Emperor Yongle personally led the loyal guards to arrest and suppress it, and at this time they reported to the eldest prince in vain, then would the eldest prince move? If he moved, Emperor Yongle would suspect that he would also seize power and usurp the throne. If he didn't move, the collective status of the cabinet would be awkward. Is this the cabinet of Emperor Yongle or the cabinet of the eldest prince?

"If Your Majesty has no arrangements, we will stay in the cabinet and cannot move!" Jin Youzi was categorical and also disagreed with the cabinet's arbitrary opinions.

However, Yang Rong expressed his objection in Hu Guang's shocked eyes.

"I will inform the eldest prince. If your Majesty asks you about it later, I will be responsible!"

"Brother Mianren!" Hu Guang didn't dare to say anything more, so he could only shout Yang Rong's words.

Yang Rong nodded slightly, and at the same time turned to Xie Jin and said, "Xie Jin, you are the oldest and highest-ranking person in the cabinet, and you should be in charge of the cabinet."

Then he said to Jin Youzi: "Brother Tui'an, the country is in trouble. Even if you can't help the building, it will collapse. As a cabinet, you have to do things. You are the only one among us who knows the military. You are also indispensable in the cabinet to coordinate the Ministry of War and the Fifth Army." Governor's Mansion, just let me go."

Jin Youzi had complicated eyes and finally nodded.

Yang Rong shook off his green robe and walked towards the eldest prince's residence. No one saw the smile on his face that could not be hidden.

But when Yang Rong was far away, Xie Jin suddenly became excited.

"Yang Rong! You thief! Steal my credit!"

Only then did Xie Jin remember why he and others had preemptively concluded that the second prince had evil intentions, and Emperor Yongle personally led his troops to search for him?

The second prince is not the only one of the most important death row prisoners in the prison!

"Jiang Xinghuo! It must be Jiang Xinghuo!"

Xie Jin was angry and jealous.

I was angry that I had always been known for my quick thinking, but now I didn't react. I was inadvertently robbed by Yang Rong of showing my loyalty to the eldest prince at the critical moment.

What he was jealous of was that damn Jiang Xinghuo had such a high status in Emperor Yongle's heart.

The Loyalty Guards were dispatched and searched all over the city!

Just to find a Jiang Xinghuo!

Not to mention that Jie Jin had his teeth shattered and was blinded by jealousy; nor did Yang Rong, who ran away in a trot, successfully came to the eldest prince Zhu Gaochi to express his loyalty. Zhu Gaochi planned to go to Emperor Yongle in person to see if he could see him. The legendary Jiang Xinghuo.

As for Jiang Xinghuo, something unexpected happened right now.

Jiang Xinghuo fell into the water from a bridge in a drunken dream last night. He floated all the way to the Qinhuai River and was fished out.

"Don't panic, Jiang Lang. As long as I'm here, no one in Nanjing will dare to touch you!"

On a huge painting boat, a handsome middle-aged man in a red robe held a wine glass and laughed, patted Jiang Xinghuo on the shoulder, and then said to the singer on the painting boat.

"Keep playing music, keep dancing!"