The cabinet chief Fan Jingwen coughed lightly, clasped his hands together and said to Chongzhen: "I think we should wait until Zu Dashou arrives in Beijing and ask him face to face, and then make a decision after hearing his answer!"
The level of this sentence is very high.
On the surface, it seemed to answer Chongzhen's question, but in fact it was just an answer to loneliness.
He didn't say whether Zu Dashou was guilty or not.
No word on how to deal with it.
He just said that he would make a decision after Zu Dashou came to Beijing.
Who will make the decision at that time? Who is qualified to make the decision?
Only the Ming Emperor Chongzhen.
Fan Jingwen was essentially throwing the problem back to Chongzhen.
Before Chongzhen could ask anyone else, several other ministers said very tactfully: "Lord Fan is absolutely right. This is what we mean as well."
Chongzhen laughed and said, "Are you all speaking from the heart?"
"I dare not lie in front of your majesty."
"Well then," Chongzhen said to all of them, "After Zu Dashou arrives in Beijing, I will summon him to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Each of you will be asked to question him and judge whether he is guilty based on his statement."
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty obeys your order." Several cabinet ministers answered helplessly.
Before noon, Zu Dashou arrived in the capital.
As soon as they entered the city gate, the convoy was stopped by a team of Jinyiwei.
The soldier in charge of escorting was about to open his mouth to scold loudly, but he immediately froze in place when he saw the other party's clothes.
The Imperial Guards in the capital are like gods.
When they stamped their feet, everyone from the common people to the kings and nobles would sway along.
Li Ruolian, the commander of the Jinyiwei, rode on his horse and asked loudly, "According to your order, where is His Royal Highness Prince Lu?"
The King of Lu, who was sleeping in the carriage, was awakened by someone. He hurried out of the carriage and knelt down to answer, "I am here."
Li Ruo Lian dismounted, stood up and said to Prince Lu: "Your Highness was taken captive to Liaodong and suffered a lot. His Majesty has specially ordered me to welcome Your Highness to the capital to recuperate in the capital!"
"I thank Your Majesty!" King Lu knelt down and kowtowed to Li Ruolian.
Li Ruolian helped Prince Lu up, exchanged some polite words, and then ordered his men to escort Prince Lu and his entourage into the city.
Turning around, Li Ruo Lian once again faced the convoy and asked loudly, "According to your order! Where is Zu Dashou, the former Left Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army Commander-in-Chief's Office, the Prince's Grand Tutor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Liao Frontier Expedition?"
Before surrendering to the Jiannu.
Left General of the Left Army General's Office and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince were Zu Dashou's honorary titles, and Commander-in-Chief of the Vanguard of the Liao Expedition was his official position.
Hearing what Li Ruolian said, not only Zu Dashou was stunned, but also the people watching at the city gate and the servants sent by the officials to inquire about the situation were stunned.
Zu Dashou has surrendered to the Jiannu.
Logically, he should be called a surrendered general, or a criminal.
He should no longer be referred to by his previous official title.
The Jinyiwei called him this, obviously with the instruction of Chongzhen.
So, the servants who were watching the scene sent the news to their master.
Zu Dashou, with his gray hair on his head, walked up to Li Ruolian and knelt down to salute: "I, the guilty Zu Dashou, kowtow to Your Majesty."
"Get up," Li Ruolian said expressionlessly.
After some polite words, Zu Dashou slowly stood up and began to ask Li Ruolian's name.
Zu Dashou spent most of his time in the Liaodong Army. Although he had been to Beijing, he had never met Li Ruolian.
The last time I came to Beijing was during the Ji Si Rebellion in the second year of Chongzhen.
At that time, as Yuan Chonghuan's confidant, he followed Yuan Chonghuan to Beijing to serve the emperor.
On November 24 of that year, Zu Dashou followed Yuan Chonghuan into the palace to meet the emperor.
A few days later, on the first day of December, Zu Dashou once again followed Yuan Chonghuan into the palace to meet the emperor.
On the same day, Yuan Chonghuan was arrested and imprisoned.
Zu Dashou showed fear on his face, and on the third day after returning to the camp, he led his troops eastward to the outside of the Great Wall.
Although he had several experiences of serving the king since then, he never set foot in the capital again.
After learning about Li Ruolian's identity, Zu Dashou's heart suddenly became complicated.
The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty actually sent the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to welcome him.
Is this a show of concern? Or is it a deterrent?
He doesn't know.
After talking for a few more words, Zu Dashou took the carriage of the Pacification Office and entered the city.
Soon, the carriage arrived outside the imperial city.
Zu Dashou got off the car and walked into the imperial city.
Looking at the magnificent palace, Zu Dashou sighed.
The last time he came here, he was a hero who served the king.
This time he was a surrendered criminal.
The last person to enter the palace with him was Yuan Chonghuan, the Governor of Ji and Liao.
This time it was Li Ruolian, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
When they were still some distance away from the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the two stopped and began to wait.
What are you waiting for?
Wait for Chongzhen to finish lunch and for the cabinet members to arrive.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, a young eunuch came with the news: "The King Seonjo is coming to see the Emperor on his birthday."
Zu Dashou stood up and walked towards the Qianqing Palace with heavy steps.
Entering the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Zu Dashou did not dare to look up at Chongzhen, but knelt down and saluted: "Your Majesty, I, Zu Dashou, kowtow to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor..."
"Considering your advanced age, I will not let you kneel. Stand up!" Chongzhen said slowly.
"I am a guilty person and have no face to face Your Majesty. Please allow me to kneel." Zu Dashou said in a humble and frightened tone.
Is he afraid of death?
Everyone is afraid of death, but those who seem not afraid of death are not really afraid of death.
But to be able to face death calmly.
Zu Dashou's realm is not enough.
"No!" Chongzhen answered neatly.
Zu Dashou had no choice but to stand up with difficulty.
As soon as he stood up, Gao Shiming, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, said loudly, "Zu Dashou! During the Jisi Rebellion, you ignored the safety of the capital and led your troops to flee eastward; you surrendered to the Jiannu at Dalinghe; you worked but did not contribute during the Wuyin Rebellion; and you surrendered to the Jiannu again after the Battle of Songjin!"
"Do you know your guilt?"
These are all facts.
So facing Gao Shiming's accusation, Zu Dashou was unable to refute and could only lower his head and say, "I know my guilt."
"Since you admit your guilt," Gao Shiming turned to Chongzhen, "according to the law you should be beheaded!"
When these words were spoken, all the cabinet members present were stunned.
This was completely different from the news they had received before.
Everything that happened when Zu Dashou entered the city was seen by their servants.
Before coming to the Ganqing Palace to discuss matters, they had already learned about the situation from the servants.
The Jinyiwei were Chongzhen’s men.
They directly called out Zu Dashou's official position before his surrender, which clearly showed that Chongzhen wanted to protect Zu Dashou.
And now...
Gao Shi, the chief of the Imperial Household Department, explicitly stated that Zu Dashou should be executed.
Who does Gao Shiming belong to?
He was also Chongzhen's man.
From his words, it can be seen that Chongzhen wanted to kill Zu Dashou.
Both the previous and the next groups were Chongzhen's people.
The attitude is completely opposite.
It's unbelievable!
Chongzhen nodded towards Gao Shiming and looked at the cabinet chief Fan Jingwen: "Lord Fan, tell me what you think."
"This..." The usually sophisticated Fan Jingwen was also confused by Chongzhen. He frowned and thought for a while: "Your Majesty, please allow me to ask Zu Dashou a few questions."
"Okay."
Fan Jingwen adjusted his breathing and asked slowly, "Zu Dashou, why didn't you sacrifice your life for your country after the Battle of Songjin? Instead, you surrendered to the Jian Nu and survived until now?"
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