"Your Majesty, I have been wronged!"
Seeing that the emperor did not respect martial ethics and wanted to label himself a traitor to the Japanese, all the ministers rushed to kneel on the ground and cried.
"The military is a major event for the country. It is the place of life and death, and the path to survival. We must pay attention to it! Your Majesty, please be careful." After the ministers said this, they bowed again.
"You don't need to persuade me anymore, I have made up my mind." Jiajing looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground and said coldly, his words full of undoubted meaning.
"Zhang Juzheng, I will leave it to you to build the second navy of the Ming Dynasty. How much money and people are needed? Just make a report when the time comes and submit it to the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Jiajing turned his eyes to Zhang Juzheng and said.
"I obey my orders!" Zhang Juzheng responded, suppressing his inner ecstasy.
Seeing that the emperor had announced the appointment, the remaining people no longer protested and returned to their seats.
"Okay, we've finished discussing the first matter, it's time to discuss the second matter." Jiajing picked up the teacup on the side and took a sip.
Hearing the emperor's words, the hearts of the ministers suddenly rose to their throats.
After Jiajing drank the tea in his cup, he poured himself another cup: "The second thing is the selection of examiners for this year's imperial examination."
After hearing the emperor's words, all the ministers breathed a sigh of relief, and then they became sad. How should the candidates for the chief examiner of the imperial examination be decided?
"Dear ladies, do you have any suitable candidates that you can recommend to me?" Jiajing glanced at everyone and spoke calmly.
"This... this..." The adults looked at me, and I looked at you, unable to make up their minds for a moment.
Jiajing had no intention of urging them. He just rubbed the dragon head carved on the dragon chair and waited for the result.
"Your Majesty, the examiner for the imperial examination cannot be decided at the moment." In the end, Yan Song was the first to stand up and said.
"Yes, yes, after something like this happened, who would dare to be the examiner in this civil and military dynasty now!" Xu Jie on the side also followed up and said in support.
"Your Majesty, I think this matter should be discussed in the long run!" Yan Shifan on the side said immediately.
Yan Shifan's speech successfully diverted Jiajing's attention to him.
Jiajing said calmly: "Yan Shifan, how about you be the examiner?"
Hearing the emperor's words, Yan Shifan was instantly shocked and refused: "Your Majesty, I am a humble minister with few talents and little knowledge. I am afraid that it will be difficult for him to take on such an important responsibility. Please choose someone else!"
"I think you are quite suitable. Aren't there rumors that you have a photographic memory and can recite the entire Ming Dynasty law by heart?"
"It's decided that you will be the examiner of the imperial examination!"
The more Jiajing thought about it, the more he thought it was feasible. His eyes lit up and he ordered.
Seeing that the emperor had given the order and the matter was irreversible, Yan Shifan had no choice but to bow and say: "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"
"Okay, since all the matters discussed today have been discussed, let's do that." Seeing that the matter was perfectly resolved, Jiajing was in a good mood, and immediately walked out of the cabinet with Lu Fang.
"I will respectfully send you off to Your Majesty!"
Behind Jiajing were the ministers who were kneeling on the ground and speaking in unison.
…
On the way back to Yangxin Palace, Jiajing suddenly remembered that he had not seen Shen for a long time, and immediately drove to Ganlu Palace.
Along the way, all the eunuchs and maids I encountered knelt down respectfully.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty is here!" Just as Mrs. Shen was admiring the scenery outside the window, she suddenly heard her personal maid coming to announce.
"How's it going? Is there anything wrong with my makeup? Is there any wrinkles in my skirt? Please help me fix it." After hearing the news from her maid, Shen immediately stood up, came to the bronze mirror, and repeated Confirm your makeup.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, your makeup is very good." The maid on the side saw Shen's nervous look and comforted her.
At this moment, the room where Shen was located was pushed open, and Jiajing slowly walked in.
"I have met Your Majesty." Just when Shen wanted to salute Jiajing subconsciously, Jiajing stopped her.
"Didn't I say it before? You don't need to salute me when you see me from now on."
Jiajing helped Shen up and said with a reproachful look on his face.
Upon seeing this, the maid on the side quickly left the room quietly, closing the door at the same time.
After the maid left, the two looked at each other in silence.
"Have you received the news I asked Lu Fang to inform you earlier?" Jiajing spoke first, breaking the silence.
"I already know that the important affairs of the country are between worshiping and Rong. I will go wherever I say." After saying this, Mrs. Shen gently took her hand out of Jiajing's hand, picked up the teapot, and poured some for Jiajing and herself. Have a cup of tea.
"I just happened to pass by here after attending the cabinet meeting and came to see you." After Jiajing finished speaking, he found a seat to sit down.
"Pfft!"
Hearing what Jiajing said, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but laughed.
"What's wrong? Is there anything wrong with what I said?" Jiajing tilted his head when he saw Mr. Shen smiling so happily, his face full of confusion.
"No, I just thought of something very funny."
Shen made excuses. Although Jiajing said that he was just along the way, Shen knew that Ganquan Palace, the Cabinet, and Yangxin Palace were not on the way at all. What Jiajing said just now was obviously just an excuse.
"How are you feeling recently? Is there anything uncomfortable? If you feel uncomfortable, go directly to the Taiyuan Hospital!" Jiajing then turned his attention to Shen's belly and asked softly.
"Your Majesty, everything is fine with me, my concubine." Mrs. Shen sat down next to Jiajing and said softly.
"In recent days, I have been busy with my affairs and have neglected you. I hope you don't blame me..."
Before Jiajing finished speaking, Shen's lips were blocked with her fingers.
"Your Majesty should be diligent in state affairs. It doesn't matter if I feel a little wronged by my concubine, as long as your Majesty has me in your heart."
Shen rested her head on Jiajing's shoulder and said softly.
…
After getting off duty that day, Xu Jie summoned everyone to Prince Yu's Mansion to discuss the next countermeasures.
In the study, Xu Jie was the first to speak: "I don't know what happened to Tan Lun recently. None of the letters sent to him by our people were answered!"
"Could it be because Tan Lun has just taken office and has a lot of affairs?" Gao Gong on the side took over and raised such a possibility.
"Well, wait a little longer and we'll talk about it later." Xu Jie glanced at Gao Gong and nodded, reluctantly agreeing with Gao Gong's view.
"Right now, the Yan Party is sending the left deputy censor Yan Maoqing to collect the salt tax. To this end, Yan Song also issued a military order to His Majesty, saying that if the salt tax collected by then is insufficient, he will leave it to his Majesty's disposal. !" Xu Jie skipped the topic of Tan Lun and spoke instead.
"Does Mr. Xu Ge mean that we can do something about this?" Zhang Juzheng, who was standing by, understood the meaning of Xu Jie's words and asked.
"Yes, we can prevent Yan Maoqing from collecting enough salt tax, and then we can also use this to suppress Yan Song a little." Xu Jie nodded and said solemnly.
"It's just that the salt tax is very important to His Majesty. What should I do if I offend His Majesty?" After hearing what Xu Jie said, Gao Gong couldn't help but feel worried.
"Don't worry, maybe someone will take care of this for us without our instructions!" Xu Jie glanced at Gao Gong and explained aloud.
(End of chapter)
