Xie Sanbin is under a lot of pressure.
The prince raised an army to support the king and purge the court of corrupt officials.
He had to mobilize troops and find suitable people to lead them to quell the rebellion.
It is easy to mobilize soldiers, but it is difficult to find people to lead them.
Because that man can neither win nor lose a battle.
This is as difficult as pacifying Liao!
After thinking about it, Xie Sanbin thought of Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong.
Zhu Cixiong was both the son of Chongzhen and the younger brother of the crown prince.
It doesn't matter whether the prince is dead or alive.
Strictly speaking, these are all Chongzhen's family affairs.
Even if there is accountability, Zhu Cixiong will be the one taking the blame, and it will not be someone else's turn to take the blame.
But Zhu Cijiong was a vassal prince, and the court's rule was that vassal princes could not command the military.
in addition...
As the chief minister of the cabinet, Xie Sanbin has already begun to think about what to do after the rebellion is quelled.
In his eyes, Chongzhen had long intended to change the crown prince.
Due to the obstruction of court officials, it never succeeded.
Now the crown prince has started a rebellion, and after the rebellion is put down, the crown prince can be replaced with justification.
Who to establish?
According to the order, Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong should be made the crown prince.
This move seems to be no problem, but it is extremely fatal to these civil servants.
They had finally taken the military power from the emperor, but it was easily taken back by Zhu Cijiong.
What is military power?
During the Ming Dynasty, military power was divided into two.
They are the power to command troops and the power to mobilize troops.
In theory.
The power to command troops still belongs to the Five Military Commanderies, but the power to mobilize troops lies with the Ministry of War.
The emperor had no military power.
Want to mobilize troops.
There must be an official document from the Ministry of War approving the troop deployment.
but...
If the emperor had experience in leading troops in battle, this rule would be in name only.
You have to know that the emperor once fought with them on the battlefield.
The official documents of the Ministry of War are worthless in the face of a life-long friendship.
As long as the emperor raised his hand, they would respond even at the risk of their lives.
Since then.
In this way, the so-called military power will return to the emperor.
Xie Sanbin shook his head vigorously and decided not to let this situation happen during his tenure.
But after searching again, there was still no general willing to lead the troops into battle.
As the rebels got closer and closer to Xuzhou, Xie Sanbin's principles began to waver.
He cannot lose, because that would be a horrible death.
So he can only win.
No matter what method is used, as long as we can win the battle, it's fine.
to this end.
He decided to agree to let Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong lead the troops to fight.
In order to relieve the pressure in the court, Xie Sanbin planned to unify the opinions of the cabinet.
As soon as he said the words "let Zhu Cijiong lead the troops", he was unanimously opposed by other members of the cabinet.
The Minister of War, Wang Jiayan, spoke the loudest: "This is not possible. It is absolutely not possible. The rule that vassal kings do not command the army has been in effect for two hundred years and it must not be changed."
Xie Sanbin advised earnestly: "Rules are dead, but people are alive! Moreover, we are facing a powerful enemy, so what's the harm in being flexible?"
Wang Jiayan shook his head vigorously: "No compromise."
Xie Sanbin frowned and asked, "Why?"
Wang Jiayan replied: "You and I both know that His Royal Highness Prince Ding has been with the Crown Prince for seven or eight years, and their relationship is extraordinary. No one can guarantee whether they have contacted each other privately or joined forces to rebel. If Prince Ding takes control of the military power and counterattacks the capital, how will we respond then?"
"This..." Xie Sanbin was speechless for a moment.
He also didn't dare to guarantee that Prince Ding and the Crown Prince were not in the same group.
Minister of Rites Shi Kefa also disagreed. He explained: "Your Majesty originally intended to make Prince Ding the Crown Prince. Once Prince Ding was given military power, and after the rebellion was quelled, Prince Ding was made the Crown Prince. I don't need to say more about what would happen to the military power then, right?"
With Wang Jiayan and Shi Kefa taking the lead, other cabinet ministers also expressed their opposition.
Although Xie Sanbin, as the chief minister of the cabinet, had two votes, the other party had five votes.
He could not achieve his goal by expressing his opinion.
But the rebels were getting closer and closer, and he had to think of a way.
For his own life and for the fate of the entire clan.
Xie Sanbin slammed the table heavily with his right hand.
Under the gaze of the crowd, he slowly said: "Everyone, the situation is urgent! There are so many people in the capital, but no one is willing to lead the troops to fight. I proposed that His Royal Highness Prince Ding lead the troops, but you disagreed!"
"How about this? It's Wang Chengen and I who are responsible for clearing the court of evil. Tomorrow morning, Wang Chengen and I will tie our arms and ride south to plead guilty to the Crown Prince. That way, the Crown Prince will have no reason to come to his aid."
"What do you think?"
Although the others agreed in their hearts, they did not say it out loud.
Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back.
Even if he really went, the prince would not stop serving the king.
Without Xie Sanbin, the capital would soon face the problem of an empty treasury.
This move was not only not conducive to suppressing the rebellion, but also aided and abetted the tyrant in his evil deeds.
Seeing that no one said a word, Xie Sanbin was a little upset: "You guys should say something, you can't lead the rebels to attack the capital, right?"
"Thank you, sir," Minister of Rites Shi Kefa suddenly asked, "The person who leads the army does not necessarily have to be a military general or a noble, right? There are many examples of literati serving as governors."
"Oh?" Xie Sanbin looked at Shi Kefa: "Master Shi wants to volunteer?"
Shi Kefa had a resolute expression and a firm tone: "Since no one in the capital is willing to lead troops south to quell the rebellion, I have no choice but to recommend myself!"
Wang Jiayan reminded in a low voice: "Master Shi, why are you doing this?"
"Yes," Qiu Yu also reminded softly: "Why do you have to get involved?"
Shi Kefa waved his hand gently: "You two don't need to say more. Only by getting involved can we break the situation and stand firm!"
Xie Sanbin did not agree immediately, but looked at other people present.
Minister of War Wang Jiayan thought about it and nodded slightly.
The Minister of Personnel Qiu Yu also nodded.
......
After everyone expressed their agreement, Xie Sanbin said leisurely: "Everyone, let me say something unpleasant. If Lord Shi is defeated and there is still no one available, I will transfer Wang Jinjing."
Wang Jiayan still objected: "No, a vassal king cannot command the army."
"Master Wang said it well," Xie Sanbin clapped his hands softly, "If Master Shi is defeated, then Master Wang will take over Master Shi's position and lead the troops to quell the rebellion."
"Me?" Wang Jiayan took a half step back. "I'm the Minister of Personnel. How can I lead the army if I can't fight?"
Xie Sanbin roared: "Then you go find someone who can lead the troops. If you can't find one, then follow my method."
Wang Jiayan snorted coldly but did not object.
After Xie Sanbin used the same method on other people, the matter was finally settled.
That evening, the cabinet drafted an edict and sent it to the Imperial Household Department.
The Imperial Household Department approved it overnight.
The next morning, Shi Kefa transformed himself from the Minister of Rites to the Governor-General of the Rebellion Suppression.
The border troops in Shaanxi are still on the way because they are too far away from the capital.
Shi Kefa had no choice but to lead Shandong's anti-Japanese troops and soldiers from nearby prefectures, counties and cities to the south of Xuzhou to prepare for defense.
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