Capital.
After Gao Gong stopped lecturing to King Yu, he took up the post of Minister of Taichang Temple and was in charge of the Imperial Academy's ritual and drinking affairs. His life was even more embarrassing than when he was lecturing to King Yu.
The salary set by Emperor Hongwu and the regular salary of the Minister of Taichang Temple can only satisfy his needs in the capital, not to mention the construction of three major halls this year. Even the officials of the capital have been in arrears for a long time.
In the past, when giving lectures to King Yu, King Yu would give some money and gifts every now and then. Now Gao Gong is no longer King Yu's lecturer and can no longer accept rewards from King Yu.
It was a taboo for the emperor for a foreign minister to make friends with the prince.
Gao Gong gave lectures to King Yu for nine years, and the two sides had a deep relationship.
But for the sake of Prince Yu's future, Gao Gong refused to see anyone from Prince Yu's Mansion after he left office, and even refused to accept gifts from Prince Yu's Mansion during the New Year.
In addition, Gao Gong himself was an honest official and his family had little money, so he lived a tight life in the capital.
If Zhang Juzheng's family members who stayed in the capital hadn't often helped Gao Gong, he, the minister of Taichang Temple, would have gone hungry.
"I accept the order."
Watching the young eunuch leaving the house cursing, Gao Gong sat down in a daze. He had caused Prince Yu to be jealous of the emperor because of Tan Lun's memorial.
As a close minister of King Yu's party, he was demoted to Nanjing Imperial College to serve as a sacrificial wine by such an imperial edict.
Gao Gong didn't have the money to bribe the eunuchs who came to announce the decree, but he didn't care anymore. He had already been demoted from the capital, and he didn't care about these little eunuchs asking for bribes.
Turning back and walking into the house, Gao Gong sighed as he looked at the study room which was empty except for books and manuscripts.
At this time, suddenly the concierge said that someone was visiting. Gao Gong was a little confused. The news of his downfall must have spread throughout the court. Officials in the capital always worshiped those who were superior and disdained those who were inferior. Gao Gong had a straight temper in the officialdom and offended many people on weekdays. .
His only friend in the capital was Zhang Juzheng, and he was no longer in the capital. How could anyone visit him at this time?
When the concierge led the guest into Gao Gong's study, Gao Gong saw the visitor's appearance and immediately lost his voice: "Your Highness!"
Emperor Jiajing was a middle-aged son. Prince Yu was only twenty-five years old now, but his health was not good. The only prince who stayed in the capital was cautious and cautious because of his father's suspicion, and he seemed even worse than Gao Gong. Older.
Prince Yu was wearing warm clothes. Even though it was only September, Prince Yu felt cold and cold. After leaving the Nuan Pavilion in Prince Yu's Mansion, his hands had been huddled in the winter coat.
"Master Gao!"
"Your Highness, you should not have come."
Gao Gong sighed, it was no secret that the emperor liked to use Dongchang and Jinyiwei to monitor the court ministers.
As a prince, King Yu must be monitored even more closely.
The fact that he left the house incognito must have been hidden from the emperor. After this secret meeting, Prince Yu must have become even more suspicious of the emperor.
King Yu said calmly: "Master Gao was demoted from the capital, wasn't it because he was jealous of his father? He was already jealous whether he saw him or not."
Gao Gong let out a long sigh. King Yu could realize this, which meant that his power skills had finally improved a little.
Gao Gong also relaxed. He was demoted to Nanjing to serve as a wine minister in the Imperial Academy, and he was not sent to preside over Nanzhili as a feudal official. Even if he colluded with King Yu, he would not be able to accomplish anything big.
After nine years of teacher-student friendship, now we are separated and we don’t know when we will see each other again. Gao Gong simply said with a sigh of relief:
"Since His Highness is here, just ask if you have any questions."
King Yu clapped his hands, and a servant came into the study with wine and food. Gao Gong's old servant and his wife brought the table to the table and arranged a table of wine and food in the study.
After the two sat down, King Yu asked:
"Master Gao, how can we put down the rebellion of the Su thieves?"
Gao Gong said calmly: "Isn't there a way to calm the chaos that someone has already submitted a memorial for?"
King Yu quickly asked with joy: "Master Gao, which great talent did you submit the memorial? Even if I am jealous of my father, I will risk my life to recommend him to preside over the counter-rebellion!"
Gao Gong said calmly: "Tan Lun's memorial has made it very clear. To put down the Su thieves, these seven strategies are enough. Do you still want to recommend Tan Lun as an official?"
King Yu was silent, Gao Gong picked up the wine glass and finished the drink and said: "Your Highness knows the crux of the court, and all the court ministers know it, but whether it is clear or not is another matter."
"This Su Ze came to the capital to rescue Yu Dayou. I have met him once."
King Yu asked curiously: "What does Su Ze look like?"
Gao Gong sighed and said: "If this person can assist His Highness, he will be like Zhuge Wuhou!"
King Yu said in surprise: "Master Gao thinks so highly of Su Ze?"
Gao Gong sighed again and said: "Looking at the current situation in Fujian and Zhejiang, Su Ze knows everything about politics, military affairs, classics, and economics. The opera "Three Dreams" he wrote is still the most famous piece in the capital, and its literary reputation has surpassed that of Wang Shizhen. .Isn’t such a person a talented person like Zaifu?”
King Yu was silent.
Gao Gong continued: "Tan Lun's "Seven Strategies for Combating Thieves" is an upright approach and is not used by the court. Now everyone in the court is placing their hope on the border troops going south to quell the rebellion."
King Yu quickly asked: "Isn't it possible?"
Gao Gong said: "Of course it's OK. Su Ze has the talent to govern, but Fujian and Zhejiang still have too few people. Su Ze's foundation is still shallow. If we can interrupt Su Ze's expansion with a military victory, , then the imperial court can rely on wider land and manpower to overwhelm them."
King Yu didn't know whether it was due to drinking or hearing the good news. He said with rosy cheeks:
"Doesn't that mean that as long as the border troops move south next year, the Soviet Union Rebellion will be put down?"
Gao Gong put down his wine glass and said: "Your Highness, all the princes in the court are saying that it would be great if the border army goes south, as if the border army going south will solve all problems."
"I say this is a victory. If the border troops go south and fail in battle, the imperial court will collapse even faster!"
King Yu's face suddenly turned pale.
Gao Gong continued: "The Su thieves have only occupied two provinces and two prefectures now. If you use Tan Lun's prescription, it will be like having sores on your body. The best way is to take medicine and slowly nurse yourself back to health, and take care of your body diligently. Once you make up for the shortfall, things will be fine."
"But now waiting for the border troops to go south is like giving a strong dose of medicine. Either the medicine will cure the disease, or the strong medicine will be ineffective and the sores will spread instead, and then it will be difficult to cure."
King Yu had studied medical science himself because of his poor health. He immediately understood the metaphor of Gao Gong.
Although Fujian and Zhejiang are relatively developed areas in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, they are only a small part of the Ming Dynasty.
If he followed Tan Lun's method to become stronger, then with Ming's size he would definitely be able to overwhelm Su Ze.
But the court did not use the most upright and peaceful prescription for victory. Now everyone from the emperor to the ministers placed their hope on the powerful medicine of "the border troops going south". It seemed that as long as the border troops went south, everything would be fine.
Gao Gong's words shattered King Yu's illusions. Although the frontier army was capable of fighting, who said they would definitely win?
In the matter of fighting, even if the military god in history leads the troops, the outcome of the war is still unknown.
If more people would definitely win, then Fu Jian would definitely protest that he was fighting a fake war.
King Yu's face looked ugly.
"Master Gao, what can you teach me?"
Gao Gong picked up the dishes and said, "For His Highness personally, you just need to be careful in your words and deeds, and don't get involved in court disputes."
"King Jing has resigned from the vassal, Yan Song and his son have fallen, and the court has finally stabilized. As long as His Highness does not make a big mistake, Your Majesty will never recall King Jing."
King Yu clenched his fists and said, "Master Gao still wants King Gu to endure it?"
Gao Gong nodded and said: "For Your Highness, tolerance is naturally the best choice."
King Yu raised his head and said, "What about Yu Guo?"
Gao Gong stood up and said, "Yu Guo, does your Highness really want to do this?"
King Yu nodded and said: "The ancestors are in the country, if I don't do something, how can I have the dignity to go underground to meet my ancestors!"
Gao Gong looked at King Yu and said, "In the state of Yu, there are ready-made examples to learn from."
"example?"
"Su Ze."
Gao Gong said: "What did Su Ze do before the rebellion? Has Your Highness ever thought about why the Fujian and Zhejiang rebels are so powerful?"
This was beyond the scope of King Yu's brain to think about, and he looked at Gao Gong dully.
Gao Gong sighed, his disciple could be regarded as a middle-aged man at best, and compared with the emperor on the dragon throne, he was even more "stupid".
King Yu's only advantage is probably that he can listen to advice.
Gao Gong said: "Promoting industry, this is what Su Ze did before the rebellion."
"If Your Highness participates too much in important affairs of the imperial court, His Majesty will be afraid of you. You can learn from Su Ze and start by using the techniques of managing the world."
"Su Ze opened sea trade in Fuzhou, and the imperial court could also open sea trade in Dengzhou, as well as trade in the border market of Datong. It is said that most of the military expenses Su Ze spent on training the new army were earned through sea trade."
"In addition, the various workshops in "Tiangong Kaiwu" are also the techniques of enriching the country."
King Yu was overjoyed after hearing Gao Gong's words. He immediately said:
"Princess Yu's family is good at this. I can let Princess Yu's family take care of these things!"
Gao Gong opened his mouth, but finally closed it.
His original intention was to persuade King Yu to support industry and commerce, but he did not expect that King Yu's first thought was to make Princess Yu's natal family rich.
Gao Gong's will even weakened. Did King Yu really not understand what he meant, or was he just pretending to be confused?
Gao Gong was already a little drunk, and he was too lazy to delve into King Yu's state of mind.
It was obvious that he had only had two drinks. Although Gao Gong was not a good drinker, he was not that bad?
"Your Highness, is this fine wine a gift from the palace?"
King Yu said: "This is the most popular jade pot spring in the capital. It was sent to the house by Concubine Li's brother."
"Yuhuchun? Which time-honored wine brand in the capital is this?"
King Yu was stunned for a moment and said: "It seems to be wine from Zhejiang, sold to the capital by southern merchants."
Zhejiang?
Gao Gong and King Yu looked at each other and put down the wine bowls in their hands. Gao Gong suddenly felt that the whole table of food and wine was boring.
The imperial court gave Gao Gong very little time to take up his post. The next day, Gao Gong left the capital in a carriage. Except for his own manuscripts, Gao Gong left all his books to King Yu.
King Yu also acted immediately and invited Li Guozhang, the father of his concubine Li, to the palace.
Concubine Li's family was poor, and Li Guozhang was originally just a mason. It was only after his daughter gave birth to an imperial grandson that he gradually became prosperous and started some royal grain business.
Concubine Li is a smart person, and she keeps a low profile in Prince Yu's palace, but no matter how low-key Li Guozhang is, he is also a relative of the emperor. Although the relatives of the Ming Dynasty are far less powerful than the previous Xuanhe, Li Guozhang is not satisfied with being a rich man.
Li Guozhang's eyes lit up when he heard what his son-in-law, King Yu, said.
King Yu was a little undecided and said, "Master Gao asked me to cultivate and develop industries, but what kind of industry can we do in the capital now?"
Li Guozhang rolled his eyes and said immediately: "Your Highness! I often hear that the most profitable business nowadays is cotton weaving!"
"The fields of Xu Ge's hometown in Songjiang Prefecture have all been converted into weaving and tailoring workshops. Now the entire Jiubian winter clothes are provided by the Xu family!"
"I heard that Mr. Xu Ge is known as Banhuating in Songjiang Mansion! Half of the weavers in Huating are working for his family!"
Prince Yu frowned. Xu Jie had a good official reputation in the capital, but he didn't expect to have such a big property in Songjiang Mansion.
Wait, wasn't the Songjiang Mansion occupied by the Su thieves? Why is Xuge's hometown's property still in Songjiang Mansion?
Xu Ge's hometown in Songjiang Prefecture sent winter clothes to the border troops, and next year they would send the border troops south to attack Songjiang Prefecture. King Yu suddenly felt a little dizzy.
Li Guozhang saw his son-in-law's expression and immediately said: "I don't understand those important military matters, but I also feel that such a big thing as the winter clothes of the border army, how can it be left to the Xu family?"
"And why is spinning and weaving difficult? I heard that it was written in "Tiangong Kaiwu"? Just find some weavers who are good at weaving in the capital and build a loom according to the drawings."
"If the clothes are woven in the capital, it would be closer to send them to Jiubian."
King Yu's eyes lit up, and he immediately said to Li Guozhang: "Then I will trouble my father-in-law more! I will report it to my father right now!"
The next day, King Yu reported that the Jiubian winter clothes were purchased in Songjiang Prefecture. He was suspected of supporting the enemy and asked the court to purchase the winter clothes of the Jiubian soldiers near the capital.
The emperor immediately approved the memorial, and Xu Jie, the chief minister of the cabinet, immediately submitted a memorial of apology, stating that the Xu family's properties would be withdrawn from Songjiang Mansion immediately.
Naturally, the emperor would not change the chief minister of the cabinet at this time. The memorial of apology was left unpublished, and the emperor issued an order to comfort Mr. Xu Ge.
The next day, relying on newspaper news, news of Tan Lun's escape from Nanjing reached the capital, and the emperor was furious.
Lu Fengyi, the official who had relied on the impeachment of Hu Zongxian to gain power, once again submitted a letter. The target of this attack was Dengzhou and the opening of Hong Kong.
Lu Fengyi said that the Su thief was hiding in the capital. After getting the news in the capital, he immediately sent it to Jiangnan by Dengzhou Clippers, which led to the escape of Tan Lun and other prisoners.
Lu Fengyi reported that because of the famine in Jiubian, the imperial court opened Dengzhou Port to transport military supplies. Now that the famine in Jiubian has been resolved, Dengzhou Port should be closed to sea again according to the old Hongwu system.
Lu Fengyi also said that because the imperial court opened a port in Songjiang, Fuzhou, the people were in turmoil, and they finally followed the Su thieves. She also said that Dengzhou is an important town in the north, and the old things like Fusong cannot be repeated again.
As expected, Lu Fengyi's memorial was approved by the emperor. Lu Fengyi was promoted to Zuo Qiandu Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and was promoted two levels again.
Just when all the officials in the capital were holding back their memorials at home, they were preparing to "admonish the king and make the world known".
Su Ze is visiting the iron-making blast furnace near Fuzhou with Eunuch Tao.
(End of chapter)
