Although Ma Wensheng and others were advising themselves out of public concern for themselves, Zhu Houzhao was unwilling to choose to compromise at this time.

It’s not that Zhu Houzhao is really stubborn, but that he knows that if he wants to be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he cannot compromise the civil service group at all, even if the compromise is beneficial to him.

The emperor cannot surrender to his subordinates, otherwise there will be a second time when he surrenders for the first time, followed by a third time. If this continues, the imperial power will naturally be greatly affected.

"Are Ma Wensheng and the others still kneeling?"

As the hour was approaching, the snow fell down again. Even Zhu Houzhao was holding the stove in the palace and felt the coldness was so hot that he couldn't help but ask Liu Jin.

"Go back to the emperor, he is still kneeling." Liu Jin replied with a smile, and couldn't help but persuade: "Good Master, Ma Gefu and others are different from other Qingliu civil servants. Their hearts are still on the emperor, let alone they are old and so cold outside, so why don't they come in?"

Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and said, "No, don't think that I respect and favor them. They can use this to threaten me. If you want to kneel down, just kneel down. If you kneel to death, you will be replaced."

Zhu Houzhao said that, and was about to go back to the warm room to sleep, and then instructed Liu Jin: "When Gu Dayong comes, you will wake me up immediately!"

Liu Jin hurriedly said yes.

When the north wind was getting harder and harder, Zhu Houzhao woke up again and couldn't help but walk outside wearing a cloak to release water. Seeing that Liu Jin was still outside, he asked, "Are they still kneeling?"

"When I go back to the emperor, I'm still kneeling and have turned into snowmen."

Liu Jin replied.

Zhu Houzhao smiled faintly, and couldn't help feeling a little disappointed: "They are going to be in a stalemate with me."

As he said that, Zhu Houzhao ordered, "Transfer them in!" As he said that, Zhu Houzhao ordered people to prepare three basins and three thick blankets.

At this time, Liu Jin hurriedly sent the little private servant to help Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang and Xu Jin, who were about to lose consciousness, into the Qianqing Palace.

Ma Wensheng, who was a little numb to the point of being frozen, couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, have you changed your mind and let the Qingliu civil servants go?"

Zhu Houzhao yawned and took a cup of ginger tea from the palace maid to drink it. She suddenly felt spicy and pungent, and the chill in her body was driven away. She pointed at Ma Wensheng and ordered: "Give them three cups of ginger tea."

Ma Wensheng waited for thanking him and hurriedly drank a drink.

Zhu Houzhao saw this and just smiled slightly: "I didn't say I wanted to let go. I just asked you if you still have to kneel down and force me to compromise?"

"Your Majesty, I am not willing to force Your Majesty with this, but I am actually thinking about the stability of the Ming Dynasty and the safety of Your Majesty!"

Ma Wensheng said.

Jiao Fang and Xu Jin also nodded.

"Then let's kneel, kneel on this thick blanket, and give the three of them a basin of fire, and kneel here!"

Zhu Houzhao said as she still went back to the house and continued to sleep.

Ma Wensheng and others looked at Zhu Houzhao, feeling speechless, but they didn't know what to do, so they could only continue to kneel down.

I don't know how long it took.

It was finally dawn, and Zhu Houzhao opened his sleepy eyes. After the palace maids were serving to wash and change clothes, Zhu Houzhao came to the front hall again and came to Ma Wensheng and others. Seeing that they were still kneeling, he smiled and said, "I'm in good spirits!"

As he said that, Zhu Houzhao suddenly became serious:

"I can tell you now that I have never thought of compromising with you civil servants! Don't take the country and the country first, and don't ask me for the reason of causing chaos in the world!

Although I am good at the deep palace, I am not afraid of chaos in the world, nor life and death. If you still force me, I will retreat and even kill you!

If you really do it for the whole country, stand up for me now, stand by my side, and work with me to deal with all those who dare to challenge my dignity! I only give you two choices, either be my enemies like the Qingliu civil servants or be my arms!"

Ma Wensheng was still motionless, but he felt mixed feelings in his heart. He didn't expect that his Majesty was so stubborn.

Jiao Fang was hesitating. He looked at Xu Jin and Ma Wensheng. He knew that this was the ultimatum given to him by His Majesty three times. Following His Majesty naturally wanted to be enemies with the entire civil service group, and continuing to kneel down and force His Majesty was equivalent to being enemies with His Majesty.

Xu Jin clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and suddenly stood up: "Since Your Majesty wants to make a bet, I will follow Your Majesty's bets, and justice is in the hearts of the people!"

When Xu Jin stopped, Jiao Fang also stood up: "Since Your Majesty makes such a decision, since I am a minister, I can only listen to it!"

Zhu Houzhao felt relieved and thought that yesterday he had supported them and killed several civil servants, but at least Xu Jin and Jiao Fang were still willing to follow him.

But Zhu Houzhao still looked at Ma Wensheng, who was invincible among the court officials, who could compete with Li Dongyang, Wang Shu and others.

If Ma Wensheng also compromised with him, Zhu Houzhao would naturally be more confident to change the world.

Jiao Fang and Xu Jin also looked at Ma Wensheng, and they naturally hoped that an old minister would stand on his side and stand on His Majesty's side.

Even Liu Jin looked at Ma Wensheng with bright eyes.

Ma Wensheng knelt on the ground for a long time, and sighed slightly, "Last Emperor!" Then, Ma Wensheng bowed to Zhu Houzhao again, "I beg your Majesty to give you a pair of four treasures in the study!"

"allow!"

Zhu Houzhao didn't know why Ma Wensheng suddenly wanted the four treasures of the study, so she didn't hesitate and hurriedly gave Liu Jin a wink.

Liu Jin personally brought the four treasures of the study and placed them in front of Ma Wensheng. He personally studied ink for Ma Wensheng: "Please invite him!"

Ma Wensheng did not respond, but still knelt on the ground, spread out the paper, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

Zhu Houzhao didn't know what Ma Wensheng was going to do.

But immediately, Zhu Houzhao saw Ma Wensheng writing on the paper, "Submit a memorial to punish the rebels", and then began to write that I heard about the world... Therefore, I asked Your Majesty to kill Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and other rebels. Ma Wensheng was very proud of me, and I hope that Your Majesty would accept it. If you do not kill the rebels, it will be a misfortune of the country. If you kill the rebels, it will be a great blessing for the country."

After Ma Wensheng finished writing, he stamped his own seal and handed it to Zhu Houzhao tremblingly: "Since Your Majesty is going to do his own thing, then let the old minister bear the blame for this infamy in the world!"

To be honest, Zhu Houzhao was very moved. He did not expect that Ma Wensheng's final decision was to not only obey his own wishes, but also to turn this matter into what he instigated himself to do so, so as to take on the matter of offending civil servants all over the world on himself.

If Chongzhen had such a good minister, why would he hang himself to the coal mountain?

Zhu Houzhao personally helped Ma Wensheng up: "You are a loyal minister! I sent an order to increase Ma Wensheng's title and transfer three hundred Jinyi Guards to guard the Ma Mansion!"

After saying that, Gao Feng ran in: "Your Majesty, the big thing is not good. Many ministers knelt outside the palace. From officials from various departments to governors in Beijing, they all asked Your Majesty not to disrupt the law and do not to promote a large prison!"

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly came outside the palace gate, but saw a large group of civil servants kneeling outside, which was significantly larger than yesterday, and was almost out of sight. He couldn't help but laugh: "Very good, very good!"
Chapter completed!