Zhang Xin impeached Li Banghua?
Chongzhen almost laughed like a pig!
There is a road to heaven but you don't take it, then you will end up in hell without a door.
He pushed Li Banghua to the position of prime minister not only to implement administrative orders, but the main reason was to use him to suppress the court.
This veteran of three dynasties, or more precisely, four dynasties, had an influence in the court beyond imagination. Since Emperor Guangzong Zhu Changluo of the Ming Dynasty was short-lived, his existence was often overlooked.
As expected, before Chongzhen could say anything, Zhang Xin was met with a counterattack from Li Banghua.
He said in a deep voice: "What do you mean by this, Minister Zhang? When have I ever alluded to the emperor?"
Zhang Xin said indignantly: "There have been two mutinies in Jizhou. The first one was in the 23rd year of Wanli, which was so long ago that I won't mention it. The most recent one was in the 2nd year of my reign, and it was Your Majesty who agreed to disband the new army. If you are not alluding to Your Majesty, who else can you be alluding to?"
Li Banghua stared at Zhang Xin coldly and asked, "On July 14th of the first year of our dynasty, Yuan Chonghuan said in his "Platform Memorial" that the new salary was short of 1.2 million taels. He, Yuan Chonghuan, could save 600,000 taels, and the Ministry of Revenue would only need to raise another 600,000 taels! Yuan Chonghuan also said that useless soldiers should be eliminated and the empty quota should be found out. This matter was handed over to the then Liaodong Governor Bi Zisu and Jizhou Governor Wang Yingzhi. As long as these two governors get the support of Your Majesty and Yuan Chonghuan, the disarmament will proceed smoothly and can be completed in half a month."
(The new salary here refers to the salary of new soldiers. New soldiers and old soldiers are not new and old in the traditional sense.
The Jizhen Old Soldiers were a defensive force, also known as the garrison. One of their main tasks was to provide early warning along the Great Wall, or to stand sentinel.
The new soldiers in Jizhen belong to the "practical troops in Liao". Although they are stationed in the Jizhen area, they do not undertake defense tasks. They are essentially the reserve forces of the Guanning Army, belonging to combat troops (field troops), and their treatment is higher than that of the garrison troops! And they are the reserve forces that only Yuan Chonghuan has the right to mobilize.)
"At that time, Your Majesty replied in the memorial: Should the new soldiers in Ji, Mi, Shuijin, Hengshan and other places be cut, and should the number of horses at the gates be reduced? He also asked the commander-in-chief Yuan Chonghuan and the governor-general's office to make appropriate considerations and report to the emperor."
"Yuan Chonghuan was the instigator of the disarmament, and Your Majesty was also deceived!"
"I was clearly referring to Yuan Chonghuan when I said man-made disaster. You said I was alluding to Your Majesty. Where is the evidence?"
"It's not me who is insinuating about Your Majesty. It's clearly you!"
Zhang Xin was stunned when he heard this.
He never expected that Li Banghua, at such an old age, could still remember the contents of Yuan Chonghuan's question book!
Where the hell is this going?
Seeing Zhang Xin hesitating and unable to speak, the Minister of Personnel Qiu Yu stood up and said, "Minister Zhang, Lord Li worked so hard for the country that he fell ill. It would have been fine if you didn't help him, but you turned the tables and slandered him. What crime should you be charged with?"
"It's fine to slander the elder, but to insinuate your majesty is a capital crime!"
Fan Jingwen, the Minister of Works and Minister of Rites, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister Li has devoted all his efforts to the country and is a pillar of the country! Zhang Xin, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, framed a loyal and honest person without any evidence. He deserves death!"
"I beg Your Majesty to punish him!"
"I second the motion!"
"I second this motion!"
Led by two important cabinet ministers, a group of paparazzi in the court began their performance.
Especially the Censorate.
Censor Shi Bangyao was the first to stand up. Li Banghua had just been promoted from Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate to Prime Minister of the Cabinet!
The old leader is in trouble. If we don’t help him now, when will we help him?
Besides, he has a very good personal relationship with Li Banghua, so he should help even more.
You Du Yushi Fang Kezhuang was originally on good terms with Zhang Xin, but after seeing Zhang Xin being besieged by the ministers, he involuntarily chose to side with Li Banghua.
For a time, the court was filled with voices condemning Zhang Xin.
Zhang Xin herself was almost scared to death.
He never imagined that Li Banghua had such great power in the court!
I shouldn't have impeached him if I had known.
Even if they want to impeach someone, they should let the people of the Metropolitan Censorate do it. After all, the censors can impeach others at will without being convicted!
"Zhang Xin... do you know your crime?" Chongzhen asked slowly after the ministers had calmed down.
Zhang Xin's mind was blank at this moment.
Is he guilty?
Theoretically, yes, but it is not a felony.
After all, under the circumstances at that time, it was hard not to be confused by Li Banghua's words.
If someone pleads for mercy, the matter will most likely be left unresolved.
The bad thing is that no one in the court, civil or military, came to plead for mercy!
Zhang Xin knelt on the ground with his head down, not daring to speak.
"Let's discuss this matter later. The most urgent matter is the garrison in Jizhou and the recruitment of new soldiers." Chongzhen glanced at the ministers and brought the topic back.
"I think it's feasible!" Liu Wenyao, who had been silent, spoke up.
As a military commander, in his eyes, if he wanted to defend the capital, Jizhou was the best place to station troops, no doubt about it.
It is a strategic location that can be used for both attack and defense! Otherwise, the imperial court would not have chosen this place as one of the nine important towns!
The other generals also nodded in agreement.
Seeing that everyone agreed, Chongzhen made a decision: "Let's do as Li Gelao said! Now the bandits have retreated to Xuanfu, and the gate of Juyongguan is wide open. I mean to continue to let Dingxi Bo guard Juyongguan. As for the vacancy of Jizhou's general, who do you think is more suitable?"
As soon as Chongzhen raised this question, everyone looked at Wang Yongji.
Wang Yongji was originally the governor of Ji-Liao. Although Liao is gone now, Ji still exists, so he is the most suitable person to serve as the general of Jizhou.
However...the power of the governor is greater than that of the general. Wang Yongji has made great contributions to the emperor, so it is impossible for him to be demoted from governor to general. The best solution is to continue to let him serve as governor and concurrently serve as general.
Chongzhen glanced at Li Banghua and said nothing.
Li Banghua certainly knew what Chongzhen was thinking, but he didn't say anything.
When the others saw that the emperor and the prime minister were silent, they instantly understood what was going on, so they all shifted their gaze away from Wang Yongji and looked in other directions.
It was no secret that Wu Sangui had a large army and was very powerful in the court. Wang Yongji, the Governor-General of Ji and Liao, was ostensibly in charge of the affairs of Jizhou and Liaodong, but in reality he was used to contain Wu Sangui.
Regardless of the effectiveness of the containment, Wang Yongji must be kept by Wu Sangui's side.
Minister of Personnel Qiu Yu thought for a while and said tentatively: "Your Majesty, I think Li Shouheng (heng, pronounced twice) or Wang Aoyong (pronounced twice) can be competent. The soldiers of Changping and Tongzhou have long been transferred to the capital, and they have no soldiers left. It would be better to transfer them to Jizhou and serve as the general."
"Wu Sangui and the Guanning Army have retreated to Shanhaiguan. Gao Di, the general of Shanhaiguan, currently has 10,000 soldiers under his command. It would be most appropriate for him to guard Jizhou!"
"Does anyone else have any recommendations?"
Everyone was silent at the same time.
Both Shanhaiguan and Jizhou are very important to the imperial court, and the selection of the general must be done carefully.
If you are not careful, you will be doomed.
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