Today is the day when the imperial court holds a major meeting. Different from the usual cabinet meetings that Jiajing attends, this meeting is attended by the six ministries and all officials who have returned to Beijing to report on their duties.
Jiajing has not been to the court for more than 20 years, so naturally he will not participate in major court discussions. Therefore, in the past, major court discussions were presided over by the cabinet elders. After the results of the deliberations were concluded, they were then submitted to the emperor for review. .
Today, what made the ministers present feel a little incongruous was that the cabinet elders actually had no intention of stepping forward to preside over the court meeting, but stood directly in the front row with solemn expressions.
"Your Majesty is here!"
While the ministers were whispering and speculating in private, a high-pitched voice sounded. Jiajing, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, appeared at the scene of the court meeting, and Lu Fang followed Jiajing.
"What? Your Majesty is here to attend the court meeting!"
"Your Majesty has not been in court for more than 20 years, so why did he suddenly participate in the court meeting?"
"Your Majesty has regained his original intention. It is really our great fortune for the Ming Dynasty!"
With various thoughts, countless ministers present knelt down.
"My lord, please see your Majesty!"
"Everyone, get up." Jiajing looked at the many ministers kneeling on the ground, sat on the dragon chair, and waved his hands.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After hearing Jiajing's words, the officials stood up from the ground one by one.
"Today's court meeting, there are three main things to discuss!"
"The first is the Southern Japanese and Northern Tartars, the second is the rectification of the official system, and the third is the severe drought in Gansu." A eunuch with an unusually loud voice said loudly.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has this report!" Zhang Juzheng took the lead and raised the wat (hu) board in his hand.
"Yes." Jiajing turned his eyes to Zhang Juzheng and said calmly.
"The strategy previously formulated by the imperial court was to go first from the south to the north, that is, after eliminating the Japanese troubles in the south, the Tatars in the north will be slowly attacked! Not long ago, Qi Jiguang, the general under Hu Zongxian, the governor of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang, was in Fenghua He exterminated a large number of Japanese pirates in Ninghai and other places, and later rushed to the aid of Quanzhou City and helped Yang Zongtai, the magistrate of Quanzhou Prefecture, defend the city."
After Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, he continued: "After these two battles, the Japanese pirates' power in the southeastern coastal area has been greatly weakened! However, their strongholds are still erratic and cannot be completely eradicated. At present, the Municipal Shipping Department has built five warships capable of going to sea to fight. There are more than ten ships, and the soldiers have been trained and their combat power has been formed. Please send them out to fight at sea."
After Zhang Juzheng finished his report, he returned to his queue. Jiajing turned his attention to Xu Jie Gaogong and asked, "What did your Ministry of Revenue say?"
"Your Majesty, it is estimated that the money and food spent by our Ming Navy to go out to sea is around 800,000 taels. Firstly, it can repel the enemy, and secondly, it can enhance its combat effectiveness. This strategy is feasible."
"In that case, it's OK. After the court meeting is over, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate the money and food." Jiajing waved his hand and agreed to the proposal.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xu Jie bowed slightly and responded.
After Zhang Juzheng finished his report, Yan Shifan came out holding the wat board: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works have this report!"
"allow."
After Jiajing agreed, Yan Shifan looked around and said: "Your Majesty, regarding the rectification of the civil service system, the Ministry of Civil Service dismissed a total of fifty-eight unqualified officials last year! Some of them were greedy for money, and some were in collusion with officials and businessmen. , What’s more, he doesn’t do anything after he takes office, even asking someone to do his duty, and only drinks and has fun all day long.”
"When an official from our staff department came to inquire, he even said boldly that merits and demerits always go hand in hand. I don't ask for merits. If there are no faults, it is merit!"
"Just imagine, if all the officials of the Ming Dynasty were like him, how would the court's policies be implemented? How would the people's lives be protected? Therefore, I request your majesty to increase the intensity of the assessment and refer to the Supervisory Censor Zhao Zhenji's book! That's exactly what happened! Their supervision was not in place, which is why these officials were placed in high positions."
After Jiajing listened to what Yan Shifan said, he turned to the side and said calmly: "Zhao Zhenji, what do you say? Mr. Xiao Ge said that your supervision was not adequate."
After Jiajing's words fell, Zhao Zhenji, the supervisory censor, knelt down and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the humble ministers also have difficulties! Although I am the supervisory censor, I only have a few dozen people under my command. I have so many people in the Ming Dynasty. There are so many officials, how can we supervise them?"
Zhao Zhenji said with a sad expression: "Those reports were stopped halfway. There is no way to know the specific situation. How can we talk about supervision?"
Seeing Zhao Zhenji's behavior, Yan Shifan said coldly: "Master Zhao, what do you mean by this?"
Zhao Zhenji was not frightened at all, and replied: "I think Mr. Xiao Ge knows very well what I mean."
"you!"
"Okay, okay, stop arguing, this is a court meeting!" Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Jiajing stopped them.
"Is what Mr. Xiaoge said just now true?" Jiajing turned his gaze to Zhao Zhenji and asked.
"Your Majesty, this is indeed the case." Zhao Zhenji did not dare to hide it and responded quickly.
"In that case, this is also the reason why you did not do a good job in supervision. As for the difficulties you mentioned, I will consider them as appropriate and fine you half a year."
"My lord, thank you for your grace!" Seeing the emperor speak, Zhao Zhenji had no choice but to accept the order and return to the line.
"The next thing that the court will discuss is the severe drought in Gansu, and Wang Jien, the governor of Gansu, is here to pay an audience!" Seeing that the first two matters had been discussed, the eunuch with a loud voice shouted again.
I saw Wang Jien, the governor of Gansu, fell to his knees on the ground with a plop, crying bitterly: "My lord, Wang Jien is here to see your majesty!"
Since Wang Jien received the letter from the imperial court asking him to return to Beijing to report on his duties, he has been uneasy all day long. He can't eat well or sleep well. Even if he uses the contacts he has accumulated over the years, he can't get any news. He becomes increasingly panicked. After the instructions, After his subordinates stopped talking nonsense and unified their message, Wang Jien rushed to the capital.
"Get up, don't be nervous! I'm asking you to return to Beijing to report on your work this time, just because I want to hear what you say about the drought situation in Gansu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Jien felt a little relieved after hearing the emperor's words.
"Your Majesty, Gansu has suffered from severe drought every year in recent years, and this year is especially serious! It has not had a drop of rain for three consecutive months. The fields have become cracked due to lack of water, and most of the crops planted by the people have died from drought! The water in the river has also dried up, exposing the bare river bed. Even if our government sends people to dig wells everywhere to find water sources, it will be of no avail."
"Many people immediately lost their livelihood and had to sell their land at low prices in order to survive, or work as tenant farmers in the homes of powerful landlords! The government has begun to provide relief and opened warehouses to distribute grain, but it is only a drop in the bucket. The Gansu government cannot support it for long. At present, Gansu government warehouses The food stored in the store is only enough to feed the victims for a week. I sincerely ask your Majesty to allocate funds to save the people of Gansu!"
After Wang Jien finished speaking, he knocked his head heavily on the ground, his expression could not help but move people.
After hearing what Wang Jien said, Jiajing seemed to be touched by it. Then he looked at Xu Jie and asked, "How much money can your household department provide?"
"Your Majesty, the treasury is currently empty, and the Ministry of Revenue can currently provide up to 700,000 taels of silver." After hearing Jiajing's words, Xu Jie thought for a moment and then said.
"What? It's only 700,000 taels of silver! This is far from enough. How should the people of Gansu live?"
Seeing that the amount of the payment had changed from the original 1,320,000 taels to 700,000 taels, Wang Jien gritted his teeth, then put on a look of indignation and spoke.
