Although both the Donglin Party and Zheng Zhilong faced the situation of death if they did not rebel.
But if they don't see any chance of winning, they still won't rebel.
After all, if you don't rebel, the worst that can happen is that your family will be destroyed.
If the rebellion fails, the whole clan will be exterminated.
As the planner, Chongzhen had to take this into consideration.
Therefore, Chongzhen’s solution was to continue to show weakness and help the Donglin Party in Nanjing at the critical moment.
August 28, the 26th year of Chongzhen.
Qian Qianyi hid in the room and drank tea alone.
Like many Donglin Party members, Qian Qianyi already had rebellious intentions in his heart.
But it's just an intention, not an action.
Because the prince had no intention of rebelling.
He was a key figure in the rebellion.
If the prince does not rebel, there is no chance of success in this matter.
While he was drinking, a servant came to report: "Master, Marquis Funing wants to see you."
"Hmm?" Qian Qianyi frowned: "Why is he here at this time?"
"In reply to the master, he didn't say anything, and I didn't dare to ask."
"Let him in."
"yes."
Soon, Zhu Guobi, dressed in casual clothes, walked in.
Before the door was closed, Zhu Guobi couldn't wait to ask, "Mr. Qian, how is the prince doing?"
"What?"
"Of course it's a matter of rebellion. If he doesn't rebel, we won't be able to rebel at all."
Qian Qianyi sighed, "Alas! The prince is still ill. Although he is pretending to be ill, it seems that he has no intention of rebelling."
"That won't work. We have to find a way to force him to rebel."
Qian Qianyi gave a helpless smile: "Unless His Majesty explicitly wants to change the crown prince, even then, the crown prince may not necessarily rebel!"
Zhu Guobi said in despair: "Then...what should we do?"
"Wait."
"Waiting for what?"
"When your Majesty's health gets better, or... gets worse!"
......
On September 15th, Chongzhen suddenly remembered something.
He asked Wang Chengen beside him: "Where is Fang Guangchen?"
"Fang Guangchen?" Wang Chengen blinked and asked, "I only know one Fang Guangchen. He was Wu Sangui's adviser. When he fled to the interior of the country, he was captured by Liu Zhaoji. He was later sent to the capital and is currently being held in the Zhenfu Prison."
Chongzhen looked up at the ceiling of the hall and said: "I intend to grant amnesty to the whole nation and release him and other prisoners."
Wang Chengen was very surprised: "Release?"
"Yes." Chongzhen nodded.
Wang Chengen quickly realized that Chongzhen had something else in mind.
If it was just a general amnesty, Chongzhen would not have asked about Fang Guangchen's whereabouts.
This move obviously has other purposes.
evening.
Wang Chengen changed into the clothes of a young eunuch and went to the imperial prison under the cover of night.
When he arrived at the door and was about to go in, Wang Zhong, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, walked out.
Wang Zhong didn't take it seriously at first, thinking it was just a little eunuch delivering a letter.
But when he raised the lantern and saw the eunuch's appearance clearly, he stood up straight at once.
Without waiting for his greeting.
Wang Chengen stepped forward and covered Wang Zhong's mouth, whispering in his ear, "Don't make a sound."
Wang Zhong nodded.
Wang Chengen let go of his hand and continued in a low voice: "You came out just in time. I have something to ask you."
"Excuse me, Eunuch Wang."
"How many prisoners are held in the Beizhen Prefecture Prison?"
"If I remember correctly, it should be three hundred and ninety-six people."
"Tell Li Ruo Lian to hand over the list of prisoners to the Imperial Household Department tomorrow. His Majesty is preparing to grant amnesty."
"amnesty?"
"right."
"Why is that?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Zhong nodded quickly.
"Also," Wang Chengen took out a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to Wang Zhong, "Although these prisoners have committed serious crimes, God has mercy on them, and Your Majesty has compassion. When these people return to their hometowns, the local Jinyiwei must keep a close eye on them and not let them cause trouble for the court again."
Wang Zhong took the paper and clasped his hands together: "I understand."
The next morning, Li Ruolian handed over the list of prisoners in the imperial prison to the Imperial Household Department.
Two days later, the Imperial Household Department issued an edict that the Ming Emperor Chongzhen pardoned the prisoners in the imperial prison.
This news caused quite a stir in the capital.
No one understood why Chongzhen suddenly issued an amnesty.
Moreover, he pardoned the serious criminals in the imperial prison.
But they soon understood the purpose of Chongzhen's move.
Because late at night on the day the prisoner was pardoned, the inner court once again urgently summoned the imperial physician into the palace.
The imperial physician entered the palace in the middle of the night and stayed there until dawn without leaving.
When it was getting dark, the imperial physician returned to the Imperial Hospital with a sullen face.
The ministers of the court had been waiting here for a long time.
The cabinet chief, Xie Sanbin, was the first to ask, "Excuse me, two imperial doctors, who was sick last night? Why did you urgently summon you to the palace?"
"The inner court has ordered that we are not allowed to talk about it."
Xie Sanbin rolled his eyes and changed the topic, "Excuse me, which palace did you two go to last night?"
The two doctors looked at each other, unsure if they could answer the question.
"You two!" Xie Sanbin said threateningly with a sullen face, "Who issued the order to the inner court? Was it your Majesty? Was it the Queen? Or was it a concubine?"
"If it's neither of them, then it means that the eunuch issued the order. If the two of you have delayed the important affairs of the court because of the eunuch's order, I'm afraid you will be held responsible if we investigate."
Seeing Xie Sanbin's sinister look, an imperial physician whispered in Xie Sanbin's ear, "We went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity last night. It's inconvenient to say more about the rest."
Xie Sanbin did not feel as scared as last time.
Because he realized that Chongzhen might be pretending to be sick.
As for why he pretended to be sick, Xie Sanbin guessed it almost right.
Since Chongzhen wanted to continue pretending, there was no need for him to point it out.
Thinking of this, Xie Sanbin waved his hands at the crowd and said, "Everyone, please go away. The people from the Imperial Hospital refuse to say anything."
Just when most of the smart people in the capital thought that Chongzhen was pretending to be sick.
Chongzhen used his trump card.
On the afternoon of September 20th, Wang Chengen suddenly ran from the Imperial Household Department to the Cabinet.
It was freezing cold outside, but Wang Chengen was sweating profusely.
The official on duty in the cabinet was the Minister of Rites Shi Kefa.
He stood up and asked, "What's wrong, Eunuch Wang?"
Wang Chengen swallowed his saliva and panted, "Master Shi, please draft an order quickly."
"Draft an edict? What is your majesty's will?"
Wang Chengen gasped again and said breathlessly, "Your Majesty has ordered to urgently summon Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong who is in the Liaodong army to come to the capital."
"What?" Shi Kefa was stunned for a moment, "What happened to your Majesty? Why did you suddenly summon Prince Ding to the capital?"
"Your Majesty is fine, he just wants to be king."
"No," Shi Kefa quickly ran to Wang Chengen's side and asked, "If His Majesty is fine, why would he urgently summon Prince Ding to the capital?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
