"Dong...dong...dong..."
When the morning bells and evening drums rang, indicating that the capital city's curfew was about to begin, everyone began to run home in a hurry.
The same is true for the common people, and the same is true for military households. Only soldiers on duty can openly patrol the streets with the troops.
As soon as the three hundred tong drums were over, the streets of Nanjing were already deserted. Only the Twelve Guards of Shangzhi and the Military and Horse Division of the Five Cities appeared from time to time, indicating to God that there were still living people in this largest capital city in the Middle Ages. Active.
Of course, these are only a small number of living people on the streets, but there are still a huge number of living people moving around in those houses.
Among them, they are divided into three, six or nine grades according to their status and income. Among them, those who are second only to the emperor and the clan are naturally those with official status.
Although the imperial court had been cracking down on parties during the Hongwu period, things like parties have been weeds that have grown up again and again since ancient times, and it is difficult to completely eliminate them.
Just like now, as the rich families in the world are registered, the voices of the rich families in the world are like a wave, hitting the people they support.
Whether it is Huaixi or Zhejiang, or Jiangyou or Jiangdong, all people with official status and voice have become the mouthpieces of local powerful people, trying to stop this turmoil.
However, few people could stop what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to do. Even though they worked hard for a long time, they still didn't see the court stop moving.
Faced with this situation, some people choose to retreat, while others choose to brave the difficulties...
"I have read the "Enriched People's Register" of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Seven of them are Han Chinese, and only three are Northerners."
In the pavilion, when such a discriminatory sentence came out from the private room, no one in the crowd of more than ten people in the private room refuted it. Instead, they nodded in agreement.
The more than ten people in this private room were all figures who had appeared in the five rows in front of the golden platform of the Chang Dynasty, that is, officials of the fifth rank and above.
As an official of rank 5 or above, he actually said such discriminatory words with a look of deep approval. He didn't know how indignant the people they called "Northern Barbarians" would be after hearing this.
Sitting at the head of the banquet, Liu Sanwu, an eighty-five-year-old Hanlin scholar, raised his wine glass and stroked his white beard with one hand:
"Yesterday, His Majesty appointed me to be the examiner of the examination, so I am here to entertain you all."
"Tan Weng spent a lot of money. If I had known this was the case, I should have invited Tan Weng together..."
"Exactly, Tan Weng is the third elder of the country and the leader of the scholar community. It will be fair for Tan Weng to take the exam!"
"Tan Weng..."
As soon as Liu Sanwu opened his mouth, everyone agreed.
In their words, Liu Sanwu is like a generous and open-minded person, but no one would have thought that such a person would actually call southerners Han people and northerners Northerners.
What's even more ironic is that everyone still thinks what he said is right, agrees with it, and pursues it.
Their admiration and support is justified, because Liu Sanwu is a great southern Confucian and is known as the "Three Elders" together with Wang Rui and Zhu Shan.
Because of his reputation, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, Zhu Yunwen and his grandson all respected him.
Because of this, he led his disciples and officials to formulate the regulations of the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination system.
In addition, he also wrote the preface to the criminal law "Da Gao" during the Hongwu period, and he also edited "Huanyu Tongzhi", which can be called an encyclopedia of the countries surrounding the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, the above-mentioned things are just the tip of the iceberg in his decades of official career. The thing that had the greatest impact on him should be that after Zhu Yuanzhang dismissed Mencius, he was personally responsible for the deletion of the book "Mencius".
In the twenty-seventh year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang was unhappy with some of the remarks in "Mencius", so he ordered Liu Sanwu to preside over the deletion of the remarks in "Mencius" that were not in line with "the king, the minister, the father, the son, the son".
In this way, Liu Sanwu, with the idea of doing everything for Zhu Yuanzhang's rule, made drastic changes to "Mencius", deleted nearly half of the content and compiled it into a book called "Mencius' Essays".
After the book was completed, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a decree, stipulating that this book be distributed to all states and counties across the country as the standard textbook for the imperial examination. In the future, if the subject of the imperial examination involves "Mencius", only the "Mencius Jiewen" is allowed to be found. , as for the eighty-five deleted articles, academic examinations are not based on propositions, and imperial examinations are not based on selecting candidates.
It can be said that this is equivalent to filtering out Mencius' unflattering words through the imperial examination in disguise.
As a typical southern literati, Liu Sanwu admired Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and opposed many "positive theories" in "Mencius". Therefore, he was extremely careful in deleting "Mencius".
Under his deletions and revisions, the book "Mencius" became beyond recognition, and this was what he considered his greatest achievement in his life.
Not only that, last year, Liu Sanwu improved the "Da Ming Code" at Zhu Yunwen's request, and took the initiative to revise the "Da Ming Code" based on his favorite "Book of Rites".
In the eyes of southern scholars, these books written by Liu Sanwu were very consistent with their academic philosophy, so they were highly praised.
On the contrary, northern literati were filled with indignation at the many articles that had been revised beyond recognition, and they attacked Liu Sanwu a lot.
These attacks were all recorded by Liu Sanwu, and as the examiner this time, he naturally wanted to show some shame to the northerners.
Of course, if it was just personal emotion, it would not be enough to push him to do this. However, as the wealthy families in the south were forcibly moved to the capital by Zhu Yuanzhang, such resentment began to form a sense of crisis.
This sense of crisis gradually turned into planning and explosion after news of Zhu Yuanzhang's poor health came out in the Forbidden City after winter.
"In this examination, I will definitely use the classic meanings of the sages to test the world's scholars' understanding of the classics, so as to screen out the real Qianliju for the imperial court!"
Liu Sanwu's words were very cryptic, but everyone here was not an idiot. Based on Liu Sanwu's experience, everyone naturally understood the meaning of his words.
Thinking of this, everyone discussed ancient and modern classics with Liu Sanwu, and secretly took note of Liu Sanwu's tendencies.
In the imperial examinations in the early Ming Dynasty, although the "eight-legged essay" known to later generations had not yet appeared, there were already strict requirements for the content and format of the examination essays, and it was absolutely impossible to miss the questions.
A proposition is just a question. If you really want to answer it correctly, you have to see whether what you think and write is consistent with the answer in the examiner's mind.
In layman's terms, it is difficult to limit the answers to the questions. If you want to pass the exam, it is best to answer from the examiner's thoughts and perspective when he asked the questions.
Only by understanding what school of thought Liu Sanwu admired and what political methods the emperor liked, can we slowly write articles that please them based on these.
Talking about the past and the present with Liu Sanwu is not about the past and present, but the present...
They talked loudly, but they didn't know that all the news had reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears, but Zhu Yuanzhang's current situation was not good...
"Forehead……"
The groans of illness and the smell of medicine filled the Qianqing Palace. Lying on the Babu bed in the Yangxin Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang's face had a sickly sallow look.
His body was much thinner than before winter. The former supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty was now no different from an ordinary patient.
"Grandpa Huang..."
Zhu Yunwen's voice sounded. He knelt in front of Babu's bed, holding a bowl of soup in his hand and carefully feeding Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang's consciousness was blurred by the pain. Facing the medicine spoon handed to him, he turned his head and did not want to drink.
Zhu Yunwen was so talkative that he finally turned his head and took a sip.
During the break, Song Zhong, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, walked into the Yangxin Hall and quietly waited for the summons.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang at the moment can no longer see his face clearly.
"Who is coming..."
Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was weak. After hearing this, Zhu Yunwen looked back, turned around and replied in a low voice: "It's Song Zhong, the commander of the Jinyi Guards."
"Tell him... to come forward." Zhu Yuanzhang weakly ordered. After hearing this, Zhu Yunwen looked worried: "But your body..."
"Call……"
"Yes." Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang say this, Zhu Yunwen did not dare to disobey. Instead, he turned around and summoned Song Zhong: "Come up."
"I accept my orders..." Song Zhong was a man of good appearance and well-proportioned figure. He was promoted to his current position by Zhu Yuanzhang because he was unsmiling and did not seek wealth.
Although he has no talents, he is very obedient and can do things ordered by Zhu Yuanzhang in an orderly manner.
Because of this, after he was promoted to the commander of the Jinyi Guards this time, as Zhu Yuanzhang expected, officials who opposed the relocation of the world's rich families were punished one by one.
In return of the gift, Song Zhong walked to Babu's bed and knelt behind Zhu Yunwen.
The distance between him and Zhu Yuanzhang was only two or three steps, but even so, Zhu Yuanzhang still couldn't see his facial features clearly, so he stretched out his hand and waved: "Come forward more..."
Hearing this, Song Zhong quickly knelt and took a few steps forward until Zhu Yuanzhang could see him clearly.
"Tell me..." As if he sensed something was wrong with him, Zhu Yuanzhang no longer avoided Zhu Yunwen this time, and this move also made Zhu Yunwen feel happy, and he held the medicine spoon in his hand with more strength.
"Your Majesty, Grandson, Liu Rushun, a Hanlin scholar, has hosted a banquet at home for many ministers in the court."
Liu Rushun is Liu Sanwu's real name, and Sanwu is his cousin.
Zhu Yuanzhang still liked to use Liu Sanwu's cultural white glove. After all, Liu Sanwu deleted and revised "Mencius" for him, and also formulated many principles and articles about "the king, the minister, the father, the son, the son".
Because of this, he asked Liu Sanwu to serve as the examiner for this spring boudoir examination.
"What did he say?" Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be awake for a moment, but Song Zhong shook his head after hearing the words: "He discussed articles with ministers and explained the meaning of scriptures."
"..." After hearing Song Zhong's words, Zhu Yunwen looked at his imperial grandfather.
His eyes were closed tightly, as if he was thinking, and then he seemed to be asleep.
"Yunwen, what do you think..."
Just when Zhu Yunwen thought Zhu Yuanzhang was asleep, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked him, and he carefully replied: "The examiner should avoid suspicion before the examination, but Liu Sanwu is still too high-profile."
Although Liu Sanwu was from the East Palace, Zhu Yunwen still criticized him.
He originally thought that Zhu Yuanzhang would use this to depose Liu Sanwu from his position as the examiner, but Zhu Yuanzhang said tiredly: "It's okay if you don't reveal the examination questions... How are things going for the rich people in the world..."
Zhu Yuanzhang ignored Liu Sanwu's matter, not because Liu Sanwu's matter was not important, but because he did not have the energy to take care of it at the moment.
What he is concerned about is the registration of the rich people of the world.
In response to this, Song Zhong also cautiously replied: "Over at the Ministry of Household Affairs, half of the registration of the Enriched People's Register has been completed. Now it has compiled the Enriched People in the four provinces of Zhili, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangxi, and Huguang. book."
"In the four provinces of the Eighteen Prefectures, there are 7,597 wealthy households with more than seven hectares of land, and the names of all households have been recorded."
"How many acres are involved..." Zhu Yuanzhang still looked groggy, but he was able to wake up and ask the questions he wanted to know.
"Total..." Song Zhong hesitated for a while, and then said with difficulty: "Three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, nine hundred and seventy-two hectares..."
Song Zhong's words shocked Zhu Yunwen. He did not expect that wealthy households in the Eighteen Prefectures of Zhili and the four provinces actually controlled so many fields.
"Yunwen, how much farmland is there in the Eighteen Prefectures and four provinces of Zhili."
Before Zhu Yunwen could get over his surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice rang in his ears, and he quickly replied: "About less than two million hectares..."
"How many households are there..." Zhu Yuanzhang asked again, and Zhu Yunwen answered truthfully: "About 5.1 million households..."
Zhu Yunwen finished his answer, but Zhu Yuanzhang stopped talking, which made Zhu Yunwen understand what his grandfather wanted to say.
Less than 7,600 households control nearly one-fifth of the local arable land, while the remaining five million households share the remaining four-fifths.
As long as the wealthy households with so much wealth unite, they can completely defeat the officials appointed by the imperial court.
Their local connections, wealth and power will only grow.
What's even more fatal is that only seven years have passed since Zhu Yuanzhang last moved to the world to enrich the people. In other words, these 7,600 households of wealthy people were not considered wealthy at all seven years ago, and it only took them seven years. , it annexed nearly one-fifth of the land in the eighteen prefectures of Zhili and four provinces.
This situation made Zhu Yuanzhang even more determined to relocate wealthy households.
The purpose of relocating wealthy households is to end the local situation in which these wealthy households expand their power and wealth, and to leave a path for the common people to rise.
"Grandpa, my grandson doesn't need to know what you mean."
Zhu Yunwen answered cautiously. After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke again: "Remember, you always pay attention to these wealthy households. If they can't lose their tails, they will be moved to the capital or Zhongdu to teach them who the master of the world is. .”
"My grandson, please remember..." Zhu Yunwen wrote down Zhu Yuanzhang's words, and Zhu Yuanzhang heard the words and said slowly:
"North... Wuliangha was hit hard. This is an opportunity..."
"You issue an order on my behalf to transfer grain to warehouses in Jinan, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Beiping, Taiyuan, and Changping, and transport 700,000 shi to Kaiping, 300,000 shi to Daning, and 200,000 shi to Jilin."
"I order your fourth uncle to control the troops and horses of the three capital divisions and patrol the Onan River in the north."
"I will order your Seventeenth Uncle to lead the three bodyguards of the headquarters, and Gao Xu to lead the bodyguards of the headquarters, to patrol the ground of Wuliangha in the north to contain Harawu..."
As expected, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the northern patrol again, and Zhu Yunwen breathed a sigh of relief.
This incident was expected by Qi Tai, which means that once this incident is over, his grandfather will probably remove Zhu Di from controlling the military power of Sandusi.
After heaving a sigh of relief, Zhu Yunwen asked worriedly: "Grandpa, when is the time to send out troops?"
Zhu Yunwen's question made Zhu Yuanzhang feel very tired, but he still managed to speak:
"Before July, all the food will be shipped. Your fourth uncle will review and arrange the time for dispatching troops..."
"Don't worry, grandson." After hearing that Zhu Yuanzhang had arranged everything, Zhu Yunwen also relaxed a little.
He continued to give the medicine until Zhu Yuanzhang drank all the bitter medicine, then stood up, bowed and left.
Seeing this, Song Zhong got up and followed him away.
On the bed, Zhu Yuanzhang also fell asleep after arranging everything.
After walking out of the Qianqing Palace Gate, Zhu Yunwen did not leave, but stopped and waited for Song Zhong.
Seeing Song Zhong come out, he said: "Commander Song, I want to know something. I wonder if you can tell the truth."
"When the grandson asks, I will tell you everything I know..." Song Zhong is not a fool. Since Zhu Yuanzhang has asked Zhu Yunwen to stay and listen to the matter just now, it means that Zhu Yuanzhang has handed over the power to Zhu Yunwen.
For this kind of matter, he, the commander of the Imperial Guards, would naturally tell the future emperor all kinds of information.
"Beiping Sandu Division, how many soldiers are available?"
Zhu Yunwen asked about the number of soldiers in Sandu Division. Song Zhong, who heard this, replied without hesitation: "According to last year's yamen document, not counting the guards of King Yan, King Ning, King Liao and King Bohai, the number of soldiers in Sandu Division is There are more than 56,000 soldiers in the 14th Guards in Peiping, more than 32,000 soldiers in Daning, more than 42,000 soldiers in Liaodong, and a total of 130,000 soldiers in the Sandu Division, 226,000. I am named a garrison soldier."
"Is that so..." Zhu Yunwen pondered, and then asked: "Where is Shanxi Dusi?"
"The Shanxi Nine Guards and Five Guards are small in number, but there are more than 63,000 soldiers." Song Zhong answered without thinking.
"Okay, I understand." Zhu Yunwen smiled and nodded, and then said to Song Zhong:
"The movements of soldiers and horses in Shanxi, Beiping, Daning, Liaodong and other provinces must be monitored by the Song commander."
"This is just a matter of humble duty." Song Zhong bowed in return, then turned and left.
Looking at his back, Zhu Yunwen touched the jade on his waist with his hands, then got on the elephant chariot and left for the East Palace.
In the following days, he presided over the morning and afternoon court every day, processed memorials in Wuying Hall in the afternoon, and served Zhu Yuanzhang in the evening to take medicine.
During this period, Zhu Jixi also expressed his desire to serve Zhu Yuanzhang, but he was rejected by Zhu Yunwen because "the emperor doesn't want too many people to enter the Qianqing Palace".
Zhu Gaochi watched the two competing for favor, but did not join in. He just finished the memorials assigned to him by Zhu Yunwen honestly.
While everyone was watching Zhu Yuanzhang's body, Zhu Yuanzhang also bravely withstood the cold and gradually recovered from his illness.
On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month, after Zhu Yuanzhang recovered from his illness, he still handed over Wuying Palace to Zhu Yunwen, and he only participated in the morning and afternoon dynasties.
However, just when everyone thought there was nothing wrong, on the third day after Zhu Yuanzhang recovered from his illness, news came from the northwest that shocked the five governments and six ministries...
"You mean, Hei Erhuozi did marry a woman to Timur."
On the last day of the first lunar month, in front of the Fengtian Hall at noon, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on the golden platform, his face still a little sallow.
In front of him, the officials from the five government departments, six ministries and the Metropolitan Procuratorate held their breaths, waiting for the man kneeling on the ground to answer.
Wang Meng, an official of the Ministry of Rites, was the chief official sent by the Ministry of Rites to the Western Regions and was responsible for investigating the situation of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate and the Timur Kingdom.
This matter started in July last year and has not been resolved until today.
Kneeling on the ground, Wang Meng replied with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, that Hei Erhuo did indeed ask his eldest son to discuss the matter of marrying a daughter with Timur, and when I secretly returned to Suzhou, I heard Hei Huo on the way. The news of Erhuo’s marriage to his niece and Timur.”
Got it right again...
When Wang Meng finished what he said, the civil and military officials from the five governments and six ministries all thought of what Zhu Gaoxu said in the Wuying Palace.
He detained the envoys of the country, and also tried his best to make marriage alliances, and sent troops to invade Hexi of the Ming Dynasty.
Two of the above three things mentioned by Zhu Gaoxu have been realized. So, the last thing is probably...
Thinking of this, the officials looked vaguely at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the golden platform and had just recovered from illness.
Standing next to Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yunwen was also very uneasy.
He used to think Zhu Gaoxu was making up nonsense, but he didn't expect that what he said was now coming true one by one.
If this is true, doesn't it mean that Timur will really invade eastward?
Zhu Yunwen was still worried, but Zhu Yuanzhang still sat firmly on the Diaoyutai: "Wang Meng, based on what you saw when you went to Yilibaili, can Yilibaoli supply food and grass for an army of hundreds of thousands?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was a little hoarse, and it was obvious that he had not recovered from the cold.
In response to his inquiry, Wang Meng pondered for a moment, thinking of Yilibaoli, where the yellow sand filled the sky, and said solemnly: "In my opinion, Yilibaoli cannot provide food and grass for an army of hundreds of thousands."
Wang Meng first gave the answer and then explained in detail: "I left Suzhou and headed west. Along the way, I passed through Shazhou, Hami, Huozhou, Turpan, Verumu, Qamdo La, Paola, Lali Mali and arrived at the capital of the country, Yili. Handle it."
"The cities we passed along the way were mostly made of earth or stone. There were tens of thousands of people, and a few thousand. The only ones that could be called densely populated were the ones with the power to draw horses and the horses."
"But even so, the country's capital Yilibaili only has a population of tens of thousands, and half of the country's population lives in the river valley where Yilibaili is located."
"Although Yili's envoys say that the country controls millions of men, from what I have seen, Yili's envoys may not even have 300,000 men. It is really difficult to support an army of more than 100,000 to cross the Western Regions. …”
Wang Meng explained what he had seen along the way. After hearing his words, many ministers in the Five Governments and Six Ministries who did not know the Western Regions breathed a sigh of relief.
But facing their ease, Zhu Yuanzhang set his sights on the unsmiling Li Jinglong.
"Cao Guogong, how are the troops and fields in Shaanxi Xingdu Division?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, and Li Jinglong seemed to have been prepared for it. He bowed and responded: "Your Majesty, the day before yesterday, the commander of the capital of Shaanxi Province, the commander of the capital of Sidu, Chen Hui, came to Shu and said that Liangzhou and other eleven guards had 18,000 soldiers. Six hundred people, 33,536 troops, and a total of 18,372 hectares of farmland were opened."
"Liangzhou, Xining, Yongchang, Suzhou, Zhuanglang and other guard fields have matured over time. Every year, the military salary is eight cents for the officials and two cents are exported to the soldiers."
"The land of Ganzhou, Shandan and other six provinces is cold, and the snow can only be cultivated in April every year. Therefore, it is more difficult to cultivate than Liangzhou and other provinces. They can only achieve an official score of four points and a loss of six points."
"After all, the 52,136 military households of the 11th Guards can achieve seven points of self-sufficiency and need to export three points."
"However, the number of troops stationed in Shaanxi Province has increased, and the commander of the Shaanxi Provincial Government has insufficient troops and horses to prepare for the border. Therefore, your Majesty asks your Majesty to move the people to Suzhou, Xining, Ganzhou and other places to guard..."
After being appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang last year, Li Jinglong began to preside over the farming affairs in Hexi. The 11th Guards of Shaanxi Xingdu Division had the habit of farming before. After Li Jinglong discussed with the Ministry of Household Affairs to relocate the population and distribute cattle, the local 11th Guards successfully reclaimed 2,000 farmlands last year. The remaining hectares of cultivated land are converted into 200,000 acres.
With the supply of 1.83 million acres of local military farmland, more than 50,000 military households can already achieve 70% self-sufficiency.
However, the increase in garrison troops also led to a decline in the garrison strength of Shaanxi Xingdu Division, so Li Jinglong hoped to continue to relocate the population and train garrison troops to achieve the goal of Hexi's self-sufficiency in soldiers and horses.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally could not refuse this. After all, in his view, organizing the people into the army to enrich the frontier fortress was an important reason for him to adopt the guard system. Therefore, facing Li Jinglong's words, Zhu Yuanzhang also said in his hoarse voice:
"The Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Right Army Governor's Mansion compiled three thousand civilian households in Sichuan and Huguang and moved them to Gansu, Suzhou, and Xining."
"I will take your orders..."
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, Yu Xin and others bowed in response.
Seeing that no one was disobedient, Zhu Yuanzhang also stood up slowly, and finally explained: "There have been changes in the southwest, northwest, and north recently. I have ordered the Duke of Wei to guard the land to guard against thieves and not to move lightly."
"Then King Yan was ordered to control the three capitals of Beiping, Liaodong and Daning, and to send troops to patrol the north before and after the Great Heat. King Ning and King Bohai each led their own guards to patrol Wuliangha."
Perhaps the words were too long and Zhu Yuanzhang was a little out of breath, but he still managed to continue:
"The bride is about to be born, and the selection of candidates for the examination must be based on consideration of the world, and no favoritism is allowed!"
"I will take your orders..."
Zhu Yuanzhang's words made the officials of the Five Governments and Six Ministries feel nervous. Liu Sanwu, who was appointed as the examiner of the joint examination in Fengtian Palace Square, also felt guilty.
All the ministers sang salutes one after another, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not continue speaking, but got off the golden platform and walked to the chariot.
Zhu Yunwen followed him, and the minister of Honglu Temple also began to sing rites to disperse the court.
Perhaps in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, he had already reminded him very clearly.
But he doesn't know that now he is like a candle in front of the wind, and everyone wants to test his temperature...
(End of chapter)
