Looking at Hai Gangfeng who was already dead in a pool of blood, Wanli's first reaction was whether he could deny it, for example, he accidentally fell and got stabbed in the head by the halberd?
But what kind of person is Hai Rui? How could he let him take advantage of this loophole?
After a while, a eunuch came to report that the grand secretaries were asking for a meeting on the platform.
In addition, officials from the six ministries also gathered outside the Meridian Gate, anxiously waiting for Hai Gongfu to come out. They had already learned from Hai Zhongping that Hai Rui had been refused an audience today and had gone to Dengwen Drum Court to beat the drum.
Hai Zhongping even had a copy of Hai Rui's memorial in his hand, so all the officials already knew the reason why he entered the palace. No one would believe that it was an accident.
If Hai Rui had no injuries, he could still insist that it was caused by a sudden attack of his illness.
But now there is such a big wound on his chest and his whole body is covered in blood. How can he hide it?
Wanli thought again, why not delay it for a few days and let himself slowly think of a solution. So he asked Zhang Hong to go to the platform and tell him that Master Haigong had suddenly fallen ill, and the emperor had asked the imperial physician to treat him, and he would be sent out of the palace when Master Haigong woke up.
Shen Shixing was no pushover and insisted on entering the palace to visit Hai Rui. Zhang Hong naturally did not dare to be careless, so he made an excuse that outsiders were not allowed to enter the Forbidden Palace without permission, and then he quickly hid inside.
This made the grand secretaries even more uneasy, but the left rear door was already closed, so they had no choice but to return to Wenyuan Pavilion and wait for news all night.
The officials outside the palace also did not disperse, and stayed in the court rooms on both sides of the Meridian Gate all night long.
Everyone realized that something must have happened to Hai Gong.
~~
Wanli was also sleepless that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see the bloody scene of Hai Rui rushing towards the golden halberd, or the terrifying scene of himself being surrounded by Zhao Hao's army alone.
He was so scared that he sat up several times that night and changed his shorts three times.
He tossed and turned until it was dawn and finally fell into a daze. Just as he fell asleep, he was awakened by the sound of gongs, drums and suona.
"Who died in the palace?!" Wanli was furious, and he sat up and wanted to kill someone. "What are you blowing so loudly so early in the morning? Are you trying to make me mad?!"
"Your Majesty, it's on West Chang'an Street..." Zhang Hong said with dark circles under his eyes.
"Nonsense, can one drum produce an opera troupe?" Wanli said angrily.
"It's not just one drum, it's thousands of drums," Zhang Hong said stiffly, "Last night, the common people knew that Hai Rui had entered the palace and had not left, so they all went to beat the drums to announce his arrival. Zhang Jing had the drums hidden in advance, so they brought all the drums from the capital and beat them outside the right gate of Chang'an. They were probably afraid that the emperor still couldn't hear them, so they also prepared hundreds of broken gongs and suonas, and that's the sound..."
"What a damn thief!" Wanli was so angry that he turned on the Zuan mode again, spewing foul language incessantly.
"Both queens heard it and sent someone to ask what happened?" Zhang Hong asked during the break.
"Just reply that Hai Rui was killed by me, and a court meeting is being held for him outside!" Wanli said gritting his teeth.
"Hey...ah?" Zhang Hong was stunned. Hai Rui clearly committed suicide, so why did the emperor want to add to the excitement? Wasn't it exciting enough?
"That's what I said!" Wanli roared with a ferocious look on his face: "Change my crown and clothes!"
~~
As the first rays of light appeared, yesterday's snowflakes froze in the cold night and dyed the yellow tiles of the Forbidden City white, as if God was in mourning for Lord Hai.
The officials who gathered outside the Meridian Gate again suddenly heard the sound of bells and drums from the Five Phoenix Tower. According to the rules, this was the signal for the emperor to ascend the palace to hold a grand ceremony and summon all officials to court.
The officials were all excited, but then their hearts were in knots again. For two consecutive years, Emperor Wanli had not even bothered to hold the New Year's Day court. But today he summoned all the officials to court, which obviously meant something big had happened.
All the officials quickly lined up outside the left door. At this time, the palace gate slowly opened, and two rows of fully armed soldiers lined up and stood opposite each other in front of the left door.
Then a eunuch came out and sang in a long voice: "The emperor is in the Huangji Palace, summoning all officials to see him!"
Amid the sound of cracking whips, officials from the Honglu Temple lined up and slowly entered the Forbidden City, crossed the Inner Golden Water Bridge, passed through the deep Huangji Gate, and arrived at the main Huangji Hall, which was only used for grand courts.
Then he saw Emperor Wanli sitting on the nine-dragon gilded throne.
Moreover, today the emperor wore the most solemn crown and robes. He wore a twelve-tassel crown on his head, a twelve-chapter robe on his body, and a sword of the emperor hung from his waist. He sat under the blue-bottomed gold-lettered plaque with murderous intent, and stared at the ministers who filed in with fierce eyes.
After Shen Shixing led all the officials to kowtow to Emperor Wanli as per etiquette, Wanli did not ask them to stand up, but ordered Zhang Hong to read out the imperial edict:
"The imperial edict says: I have heard that the most important human relationship is that of father and son; the most important thing in the way of heaven is the relationship between the monarch and the minister! Now there is a great traitor Zhao Hao, who came from the cabinet and has received the grace of the country for generations, but not only does he not think of repaying his country, he is actually guilty of deception! He has formed a clique and corrupted the government. He has set up a private government and raised an army. He can be called the greatest traitor in history! I am worried day and night, fearing that the world will be in danger!'
Because it was impossible to ask the cabinet ministers to draft this edict, the Imperial Household Department had to write it. As soon as the ministers heard it, they knew that it was a rewrite of the secret edict in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
But the crude copy did not affect the explosive effect of this edict at all.
With a loud bang, the Huangji Palace was in an uproar. All the officials stood up straight and looked at each other in disbelief and shock!
Shen Shixing felt dizzy and murmured unconsciously: "It's over, it's all over..."
But the more shocking thing was yet to come. Zhang Hong continued to read:
"Hai Rui is a senior member of the state. I relied on him as my right hand, but he joined the traitors and betrayed his loyalty. I have executed him on the spot..."
As the decree was announced, four guards were seen walking out from behind a large pillar carrying a door panel.
The corpse on the door panel, wearing the uniform of a first-rank official, with eyes wide open and covered in blood, who else could it be but Hai Rui?!
"Hai Gong!"
"Master Gong!"
"Brother Gangfeng..."
The officials no longer cared about the etiquette in front of the king. They all stood up with screams and surrounded him with red eyes.
The Huangji Palace was immediately in chaos, and there was no censor to maintain order. Because the censors were also in a mess...
Wanli sat motionless on the dragon throne, only the blueness of his palms, which were tightly gripping the hilt of the sword, revealed his inner panic.
But he stayed up all night last night and had thought it through.
Hai Rui’s death cannot be concealed!
So instead of explaining pitifully that he committed suicide, it would be better to say that he killed himself!
The reason is simple. How desperate must Hai Rui be about himself to choose to commit suicide in front of the king?
Anyway, the label of a tyrant is enough for Zhao Hao to raise the flag!
So it’s better to take the blame on yourself. It’s better to be a tyrant than to be regarded as a tyrant!
When the emperor is angry, millions of people will die and blood will flow for thousands of miles!
Only by beating, beating, beating, killing, killing, killing like my grandfather and great grandfather did.
Strike first and gain the upper hand! Use iron-blooded means to suppress those rebels. I don't believe that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, with millions of soldiers, would be as vulnerable as Hai Rui said!
"Kill millions of soldiers in Jiangnan, the sword on your waist is bloody! Fight to the death, Zhao Hao!" Wanli gritted his teeth and encouraged himself, and said to Zhang Hong in a cold voice: "Keep reading!"
"Well... I hope that all the officials will remember the difficulties that the Emperor went through in starting his business, gather the loyal and righteous martyrs, wipe out the treacherous party, restore the country to safety, and eliminate violence before it starts. This will be a blessing to our ancestors! Please do not let us down! I decree this!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The fully armed Jing soldiers shouted in response and rushed into the Golden Palace. Zhang Jing also wore a helmet and armor, and with the help of several guards, he limped into the palace and shouted: "Your subjects are ordered to suppress the rebellion!"
"Catch the traitors here first!" Wanli became more confident and said with a wave of his hand.
"Uh, Your Majesty, who are the people to be arrested?" Zhang Jing was a little stuck. He had just arrived and had not yet reviewed his words with the emperor.
"Idiot, you are the factory manager, but you can't even tell the difference!" Wanli rolled his eyes at him, and then shouted loudly to the officials who were surrounding Hai Rui and crying below the stairs:
"Now I want to see who is the rebel and who is the loyal minister! Don't say I killed you without teaching! Now I will give you a chance. Those who consider themselves loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and those who have had ties with Zhao Hao's party before and are willing to turn back and wake up, all of you can stand on the left! I promise to forgive the past!"
After a pause, he swept his cold eyes over all the officials and said, "Those who are determined to follow Zhao Hao to the end, stand on the right. I also respect you as heroes and will give you a quick death!"
All the officials were a little confused by Wanli and didn't know how to react for a while.
Zhao Jin, Yu Shenxing and the others exchanged glances quickly. They certainly were not afraid of the emperor's power, but if they all stood up at this time, wouldn't that be exactly what Wanli wanted? Wouldn't he catch them all in one fell swoop?
"Your Majesty, please explain the murder of Hai Gongfu first!" At this time, Xu Guo suddenly asked loudly, "How could Hai Rui, the most loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, the Prince's tutor and the Minister of Justice who is respected by all the people, be labeled a traitor with just one word? Even if Your Majesty has evidence in hand, why don't you hold a trial and let his crimes be exposed to the world?!"
"Yes!" Wang Jiaping also said loudly: "When Emperor Yingzong killed Shao Bao, he had to let the Ministry of Justice impeach him first, and then he was tried by the three judicial departments. He was convicted of treason before being sentenced to death! Even then, the world felt it was unjust! Now, Your Majesty has taken the life of Hai Gong Fu so lightly, aren't you afraid of the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people?!"
"That's right. If people like Lord Hai are labeled as traitors, then we will have no face to be loyal subjects!" Liu Dongxing waved his sleeves and took the lead to stand on the right.
"Yes, we are whatever Lord Hai is! Today we are all traitors!" The ministers also rushed to the right, carrying Hai Rui's body.
If it really comes to a battle of wits and courage, what can Wanli, a second-generation rich man, use to compete with a top-notch university scholar?
With just a few words, several university scholars instantly resolved the killing move that Wanli had been thinking about all night, and reversed the righteousness in an instant!
Now, even those ministers who were loyal to Wanli could no longer stand to the left... that would cut them off from the civil service group and completely offend the Jiangnan group.
In a blink of an eye, only Shen Shixing was left motionless.
As the Prime Minister, Shen Shixing should have been quick to smooth things over. But Wanli did not inform him in advance, which meant that he had already been included in the blacklist of untrustworthy people. Why did he have to humiliate himself?
He looked at Wanli helplessly, shook his head and sighed, and also stood on the right...
ps. Keep writing.