HLnovel Chapter 272 Making Things Convenient for Others
Chapter 272 Making Things Convenient for Others
Chapter 272 Making Things Convenient for Others
Zhu Youjian began, “This matter is of great importance. Ministers, please continue your discussion. If we cannot reach a conclusion, the court will not adjourn today. I caught a cold yesterday and am still feeling slightly unwell. You were the one who brought up the peace talks with Wang Wenzhou, so you will preside over the court session on my behalf today.”
"Your humble servant accepts the decree and expresses his gratitude." Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly to himself. Chongzhen did not want to be the bad guy, so he was the only one who could play the bad guy.
Wang Wenzhou said embarrassedly, "Your Majesty, I am of low rank and insignificant, it is not feasible for me to take charge! Just now, a group of people beat me up, and I was almost beaten to death. What if they beat me again after you leave?"
"Pfft..." The civil officials were furious. Wang Wenzhou, you are shameless! Who started the fight? Although you nobles are few in number, you are all skilled fighters. If we fight you, we will be the ones who suffer!
Zhu Youjian suppressed a laugh and said, "Wang Wenzhou, you acted quite well!"
Zhu Youjian spoke, "Wang Wenzhou, I bestow upon you the Imperial Sword. Whoever dares to offend you again, you may execute. Furthermore, the peace talks are confidential. If the enemy learns of them, the losses will be too great. Therefore, without my decree, no one is allowed to leave this place until a conclusion is reached. If anyone dares to leave, you may execute them!"
Wen Tiren and the other old foxes looked at each other, completely baffled as to what the Emperor and Wang Wenzhou were up to, and what their intentions were.
"Your humble servant accepts the decree and expresses his gratitude. Long live the Emperor!" After receiving the decree, Wang Wenzhou took the imperial sword.
Zhu Youjian beckoned to Wang Wenzhou, who quickly jogged forward.
Zhu Youjian said softly, "Wang Wenzhou, I'm entrusting this place to you today! Don't worry, no matter what happens, I'll take care of it for you!"
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Brother Zhu, from today onwards, I am the enemy of all the officials. No matter which faction they belong to, they will try every means to kill me!"
Zhu Youjian patted Wang Wenzhou on the shoulder and comforted him, "My dear brother! I understand you! With the country in peril, only you have stepped forward to share my burdens, and I am deeply gratified. I still stand by what I said: If the emperor does not betray me, I will not betray him! I entrust this matter to you! You must make them agree to peace talks!"
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother Zhu, don't worry. If I can't handle them today, I'll continue to torment them tomorrow. As long as I torture them to the point of wishing they were dead, I guarantee no one will dare to object."
"Very well! I will return to the palace and await your good news." Zhu Youjian said, then returned to the palace.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd and said, cursing, "My fellow colleagues, listen up, all of you. From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave here! This is the Emperor's decree!"
"Swish!" Wang Wenzhou drew his imperial sword, brandished it a few times, and threatened, "Anyone who dares to disobey the imperial decree, don't blame me for chopping off their dog's head!"
"The villain succeeds!"
"Wang Wenzhou, don't go too far!"
"Wang Wenzhou, you little brat! How dare you insult the officials in the imperial court!"
The officials were immediately alarmed. Wang Wenzhou was going too far. The emperor had just left, and he was already using his position to hurl insults and abuse.
"Who's insulting me? Was it you who just insulted me, Kong Zhenyun?" Wang Wenzhou asked fiercely, pointing his sword at the spot.
Kong Zhenyun quickly shook his head and said mournfully, "It wasn't me!"
Wang Wenzhou said loudly, "You all continue your discussion. Those who agree to peace talks, come over here. Each of you should write a memorial to the Emperor, explaining the benefits of peace talks."
More than twenty nobles swaggered over. There were also three civil officials who agreed to the peace talks: Wei Jingyuan, Censor of Henan Circuit; Ni Yuanlu, Chancellor of the Imperial Academy; and Meng Zhaoxiang, Vice Minister of Justice.
In the timeline where Wang Wenzhou lived, Wei Jingyuan committed suicide after the fall of Beijing, leaving behind the moving words, "My mother is over eighty years old and should make her own plans. As a minister of the state, I cannot live without dying." Ni Yuanlu and Meng Zhaoxiang both committed suicide with their entire families.
Qian Qianyi, that shameless old fox, not only surrendered to the Manchu Qing dynasty but also served as an official there.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands in greeting to Cao Huachun and said, "Please have someone bring some tables, chairs, and benches so that you may write your memorials."
Cao Huachun was also aware of Wang Wenzhou's plan with Zhu Youjian. Eunuchs have always been vilified in history, yet they were often the most loyal to the emperor. The reason for this vilification is simple: eunuchs were pawns used by emperors to counter civil officials.
Cao Huachun immediately instructed the young eunuch to handle the matter.
Wang Wenzhou then said, "Quickly send guards to surround this place. No one is allowed to leave without His Majesty's decree."
Cao Huachun nodded and said, "I'll take care of it right away."
In no time, the eunuchs brought over tables, chairs, and benches.
Wang Wenzhou sat down with those who agreed to the peace talks, drinking tea and chatting.
The officials were furious, but they were powerless to do anything about it; no one dared to disobey the emperor's decree. Yet, even fewer went to "seek refuge" with Wang Wenzhou.
Everyone understood that whoever agreed to peace talks would be condemned as a traitor and sellout if the people found out. Civil officials cherished their reputations and no one wanted to be remembered with eternal infamy.
Zhang Fengyi walked up to Wen Tiren and asked softly, "Lord Wen, what should we do?"
Wen Tiren shook his head with a wry smile and said helplessly, "What else can we do? Let's just wait it out. In a few days, the Emperor will give in. All the officials in the court are here, and the six ministries are not working. If this goes on for too long, the Emperor will naturally get anxious."
Zhang Fengyi nodded; there was no other way.
Wang Wenzhou was confident that since everyone had drunk so much water, someone would definitely need to urinate soon.
An hour later, Liang Tingdong, the Vice Minister of War, could no longer hold back. He approached Wang Wenzhou with a wry smile and said, "Lord Wang, I would like to ask for leave."
"Taking leave?" Wang Wenzhou frowned and asked, "Who is this Old Zhang?"
Zhang Zhiji introduced, "This is Liang Tingdong, the Vice Minister of War."
"Oh!" Wang Wenzhou nodded and said, "Xiao Liang, where are you going on leave? Don't you know the Emperor's decree? If you dare to disobey the decree, don't blame me for being ruthless with my sword!"
Liang Tingdong said with a wry smile, "Lord Wang, I will only be gone for a short while. I will return immediately after I have relieved myself!"
Wang Wenzhou shook his head and said seriously, "Xiao Liang, it's not that I don't want to make things convenient for you, but the key is that if you leave, it will be disobeying the imperial decree. Besides, if you go to the restroom, who can guarantee that you won't contact the Tartar spies? If word gets out, the Emperor will definitely blame me. Xiao Liang, just bear with it! If you really can't stand it, you can come and write a memorial agreeing to peace talks. Then I will inform the Emperor and make things convenient for you. Helping others makes things convenient for yourself!"
"Don't even think about it!" Liang Tingdong flicked his sleeve and turned away.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed loudly, "Little Liang, don't wet your pants!"
"Hmph!" Liang Tingdong sneered. Shameless and immoral Wang Wenzhou! Even if you use such despicable methods, don't think you can force us to submit! We are all well-versed in the classics, and we still have the integrity of scholars!