Besides, Zhu Jinghong entered the palace gate, followed the royal road to the outside of the main hall of Qianqing Palace, and informed the eunuch on duty at the door of his purpose.
According to the current court system, even cabinet ministers do not come to see the emperor every day.
Normally, the emperor was reading the memorial at this time. Zhu Xianming would not receive officials unless important ministers came to visit or had a scheduled audience.
If Zhu Jinghong hadn't submitted the memorial on his behalf, they would have knelt outside the Qianqing Gate for a whole day, and they probably wouldn't have been summoned.
"Thirteenth Master, the Lord orders you to go in!"
After only waiting for more than ten seconds, he was able to enter the main hall smoothly. This is the treatment that only a legitimate prince can receive.
After tidying up his clothes and making sure there were no problems, Zhu Jinghong entered the hall.
Under the guidance of the eunuch, he came to the Xinuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace. At this moment, there were seven or eight ministers inside.
Looking around, they were all high-ranking military attachés, and their official ranks were at least second grade.
You must know that the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army Commander-in-Chief's Mansion is also a full-time military attaché of the third rank, who can command the first battalion of troops under the emperor's orders.
These generals in front of me are already above the third rank, and their actual positions are at least governor-general and commander-in-chief. They are already numerous bosses in the army.
Jia She, a first-grade military attache kneeling outside, had almost reached the peak of his military rank and should have been treated like a retired general.
He, Jia She, is only in his fifties now. He reached his current official rank ten years ago, which was a rare thing in the Ming Dynasty.
When Zhu Jinghong appeared outside Nuan Pavilion, all the generals standing on the left and right glanced over.
Of course, Zhu Xianming, who was sitting on the dragon chair directly in front, looked at Zhu Jinghong at this moment.
Stepping into the palace, Zhu Jinghong knelt down and paid homage: "My son, Zhu Jinghong, bow to my father!"
In this formal occasion, Zhu Jinghong would never dare to neglect the due etiquette.
What made him curious was why the emperor let him come in directly instead of waiting to discuss with the generals.
"Get up!" Zhu Xianming's tone was cold, and he couldn't tell whether he was in a good or bad mood.
"Thank you, father!" Zhu Jinghong stood up carefully.
"We were discussing just now that you killed the young master of the Japanese shogunate and let him go back alive to spread the word. The generals are very confused. Can you tell me what happened?"
The sudden questions had nothing to do with Zhu Jinghong's prepared remarks, which extremely tested his ability to respond on the spot.
"Ah... shouldn't such a person be killed?" Zhu Jinghong pretended not to understand, and his answer seemed irrelevant.
The bearded Military Attaché Hu on the side asked: "It is necessary to kill, but why...the Thirteenth Master wants to send someone back to deliver the message?"
Zhu Jinghong knew this man as Niu Jizong, a descendant of Zhen Guogong. He was currently the Left Governor of the Central Military Governor's Mansion and was a military attaché to the extreme.
"That bastard harmed the people and couldn't write down his evil deeds even after cutting down the bamboo trees in Yingtian. He should be killed openly and openly, and tell the Japanese that I, Ming Dynasty, am punishing Heaven!"
"I think it's too much to say!" Zhu Xianming said with an unhappy look on his face.
"Yes...it's too many to describe. These Japanese pirates deserve to die!"
At this time, someone else on the side said: "To punish God in a dignified manner, the Thirteenth Master said it well!"
This man is the father of Hou Jing, a descendant of Xiu Guogong, and Hou Xiaokang, the current governor of the former military governor's mansion.
This was a casual question, but Zhu Xianming had no intention of blaming him, so he didn't delve deeper.
"Okay, you go and wait outside!"
The emperor asked Zhu Jinghong to go out before he could do his business. He was really treating him as a tool.
There was no way, the emperor was the biggest, Zhu Jinghong had no choice but to go out and wait quietly outside the Nuan Pavilion.
But he didn't stand either, but listened carefully to the proceedings in the Nuan Pavilion.
The content of the discussion was mainly about the situation in the northwest.
After the military rations and ordnance were replenished, the Junggar Khanate was obviously more at ease. The current discussion is whether to increase troops.
Zhu Xianming was also very hesitant about this matter, mainly because of financial pressure and because it was too expensive to send troops everywhere.
This also illustrates the truth that all problems are ultimately economic problems.
This discussion lasted for half an hour before the result was finally agreed upon.
The previous plan to add a battalion of troops was overturned and changed to sending an additional cavalry guard northward, with subsequent adjustments based on the situation.
The generals gradually left, and Zhu Xianming ordered someone to summon the cabinet ministers, and then summoned Zhu Jinghong.
In the Nuan Pavilion, Zhu Xianming was drinking tea. He glanced at Zhu Jinghong and asked, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
"My son is here to confess his sins!" Zhu Jinghong knelt on the ground with a very respectful expression.
However, Zhu Xianming did not respond, which made Zhu Jinghong nervous.
"My son was so bold that he deceived his father in the memorial. Now he knows he was wrong!"
"This matter was planned by my son, who coerced the foreign officials and guards into a conspiracy. The son alone is responsible. I hope my father will punish me severely!"
Having said this, Zhu Jinghong kowtowed again and waited for the emperor to express his stance.
"You are more loyal..."
This is not a nice thing to say, and I don’t know what else the old man wants... Zhu Jinghong thought to himself.
"You are the only one to blame, how brave you are!"
These words made Zhu Jinghong feel even more stressed. At this moment, he seemed to be waiting to be beheaded, but the butcher's knife did not fall.
"The father will beat or kill him, but the son will never complain!"
Having the courage to reply, Zhu Jinghong planned to take the initiative and let the matter go completely.
"only……"
Zhu Jinghong hesitated, and as expected, the emperor asked: "Just what?"
"It's just that my son has some merits after all. If my father punishes me too much, I'm afraid it will make everyone in the government think..."
Before Zhu Jinghong could finish his words, Zhu Xianming took over the topic: "You think I am stupid and unethical because I don't distinguish between rewards and punishments?"
"That's pretty much what it means!"
Hearing this, Zhu Xianming sneered and said goodbye: "So, I still have to thank you!"
Zhu Jinghong quickly replied: "My son is at fault after all. It's okay for his father not to punish him. He never dares to think about rewards!"
Just now it was said that if someone is guilty, he will be punished, but now it has become that if he is guilty, he will not be punished.
Zhu Jinghong's words really made Zhu Xianming laugh.
"Your father and I are not stingy. Since you said you won't reward me, then I won't reward you, but you still have to be punished!"
Zhu Jinghong suddenly felt something bad. Could it be that the old man wanted to reward himself?
If you think about it carefully, this is not impossible. After all, it was Zhu Jinghong who cleaned up the mess in Jinling.
Since then, it has saved the imperial court a lot of manpower and material resources, and I don't know how much money it can be converted into. Such a contribution should be rewarded by the emperor.
However, because of what he just said, the reward that should have been his has truly disappeared.
"Looking at you like this, you have recovered. You can go back to Wenhua Hall to study tomorrow!"
"In a few days, when I have some free time, I will personally test your knowledge!"
Speaking of this, Zhu Xianming said in a stern tone: "If it's still unsightly, don't blame me for being rude. When the time comes, the old and new accounts will be settled together!"
"Did you hear that clearly?"
"My son, I heard clearly, thank you father for your kindness!" Zhu Jinghong was about to cry but had no tears.
"get out!"
"My son, please retire!"
Zhu Jinghong stood up and exited the Nuan Pavilion. After he disappeared, Zhu Xianming smiled. He finally had something that made him happy today.
However, before he had smiled enough, he saw Zhu Jinghong turning back again, forcing him to immediately stop smiling.
What makes the old man so happy? Is it because of convulsions? Zhu Jinghong thought to himself outside the door.
"What are you doing here again?" Zhu Xianming looked unkind.
(End of chapter)
