Chapter 18 Seizing the title
Lin Naiqi, the Minister of Household Affairs, was glaring fiercely at Chen Zefang, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, without saying a word, while Chen Zefang had a grimace on his face and sighed repeatedly.
After a long while, Chen Zefang cautiously spoke again: "Mr. Lin, please think of another way no matter what! Even if it is 50%, no, 30% is fine! If this continues, the Ministry of Rites will really have no way to explain! Every day After a day, another hundred people would come forward, all from the clan. Several vassal kings were clamoring to go to Beijing to face the emperor to complain to the emperor. The scoldings were so unpleasant and unpleasant! If it weren't for the ancestral instructions, the vassal kings would not be able to leave the palace. Let alone go to Beijing, they have already eaten my bones alive!"
Lin Naiqi continued to stare at Chen Shilang without blinking, patting the thick account book and shouting: "Mounts cost money, rivers cost money, city repairs cost money, and disaster relief also costs money! Tian Fu collection is getting less and less every year, Expenses are increasing day by day! Your Majesty will reward you with 5,100,000 acres of farmland in Sancha. Can Mr. Lin be able to create mountains of gold and silver? You have the ability. Otherwise, please ask Your Majesty tomorrow. How about you come to the Ministry of Household Affairs? ? If you are willing, I will jointly sign a memorial with you!"
Chen Zefang was a little annoyed: "Mr. Lin, you know clearly that Xiaguan is from Songjiang, and the great ancestor clearly taught that people from Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Susong are not allowed to have official households. Please don't change the subject, okay?"
"The King of Jin is Zuo Zongzheng of the clan. You go to him and ask for the clan's salary!"
Chen Zefang was really anxious: "Mr. Lin, please stop deliberately embarrassing me! Grandpa Taizu set up the Zongren Mansion. When Grandpa Cheng changed hands, he only left the title of Zongzheng to Prince Jinzhi, and all matters were handed over to the Ministry of Rites. Weddings, funerals, births, and marriages are all matters of the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Husbandry is in charge of the world’s money and food, so if the subordinates don’t go to the Ministry of Husbandry for money, who else can they go to?”
"The Household Department has no money!" Lin Naiqi puffed his beard and slapped the pile of account books again, "The great ancestor had a good idea. It is the first time for him to be demoted to a prince below. The problem is that if he is demoted to the lowest level of Fengguo Lieutenant, he will never be seen again. Surrender! The clan's "nobles do not come to the people, and they do not manage affairs". They don't have to do anything. Everyone has food to eat, so why don't they work hard to have children? It's only been a few years, and there are already tens of thousands of people! Not to mention the prince's annual salary of 10,000 shi, which is the 200 shilumi of Lieutenant Feng Guo. Even if the weather is good, it will still require eighty farmers to provide for it! Last year, the grain supply was 4 million shi Youqi. The salary is twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and twenty-four, and the salary is eight and a half million dan! Do you understand? You and I don’t eat, all the officials drink the northwest wind, the soldiers in the Beijing camp eat dirt, and all the food in the country is eaten. After feeding the clan, it’s still half way! What do you want Lin to do? I’ve calculated that every thirty years, the clan’s population doubles! If this continues, in a few years, the clan will still be hundreds of thousands? In a hundred years, how many tens of millions will it be? Everyone will eat it with their mouths open. Let me see, in a few years, we in the Ming Dynasty will have to be eaten by people named Zhu..."
"Ahem, cough, cough." Zhang Hongxiang, the left minister of household affairs who was sitting next to him, hurriedly coughed to stop Lin Naiqi's growing anger.
Chen Zefang smiled bitterly and said: "Master Zhang, don't worry, we are all in the same boat. Master Lin is right, that's the truth! If this continues, no matter how much rice we have, it will only happen sooner or later."
Hearing what Chen Zefang said, Lin Naiqi's stern face finally relaxed a little, and he cupped his hands: "Mr. Chen, I really can't do anything. Please forgive me for any offence. However, it is not an option to continue like this. , the Ministry of Rites should think of a long-term plan."
Chen Zefang sighed: "Oh. Mr. Lin, to be honest, I have already used all the methods I can think of: Prince Chineda is having a baby, and even if we risk being scolded, we will find ways to find the Holy Emperor to ask for Taicang's internal funds to supplement it; the King of Changsha, Huainan The side branches of several princes and counties were tortured to death by the Ministry of Rites, and they were still not appointed to the rank. Without being given a title, they would have less money and food, right? A pair of Yuanzhi father and son who came from Prince Zhou's Mansion were about to starve. After death, I remembered that the "Da Ming Code" stipulated that the clan was not allowed to enter the court to remonstrate, and deliberately discussed the government affairs. The purpose was to go to jail and eat in prison! This incident caused a sensation. You don't know it. Can it be regarded as an ancient anecdote? You think, what else can our Rites Department do?"
Several people sighed with big eyes and small eyes. Zhang Hongxiang saw Xie Anning, the doctor of the Shaanxi Qing Dynasty who was accompanying him at the end of the seat, twisting a few times in his seat and looking like he was hesitant to speak, so he asked: "Zhiyuan (Xie An Ning's word), do you have any thoughts?"
The Ministry of Household Affairs, which is "in charge of the world's money and food", has jurisdiction over the Thirteen Clean Officials Division. In addition to being responsible for the money, grain, and taxes of their respective provinces, some matters that should be directly managed by the central government were also handed over to individual cleansing departments for unified planning. For example, the Shandong Purification Department is responsible for salt, the Guizhou Department is responsible for customs duties, and the Yunnan Department is responsible for water transportation. The salary of the noble clan is the division of the Shaanxi Qing Officials Department.
Of course Xie Anning knew in her heart that she was called over just because of her position. The second- and third-rank ministers and other officials in the hall were discussing official matters. Naturally, she, a fifth-rank minister, had no business interjecting herself. She was always respectful. Respectfully, I bowed half of my buttocks and sat with my head. However, after hearing this, I couldn't help but think of the news I received from my colleagues in the Sichuan Division last night. Fengyang Prefecture was under the jurisdiction of Nanzhili and Nanzhili Prefecture Health Offices, and was jointly led by the Sichuan Division (North Zhili was concurrently led by the Fujian Division) - so I had some ideas and some hesitation in my heart, which was noticed by Zhang Shilang .
So he hurriedly left his seat and bowed his hands to the big bosses and saluted: "I am so bold in my humble position, I hope you will forgive me. I am thinking about this humble position. The Ministry of Households is in charge of the world's money and food, and its main duties are to collect and spend money. The so-called enriching the country and strengthening the people. The only way is to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. This is true for both family and country. Our Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, but the land is limited after all. Since it is difficult to increase revenue, can we find some way out in terms of reducing expenditure? "
The three people at the top were all white-haired old foxes. They exchanged glances with each other, and Zhang Hongxiang encouraged: "That makes sense! Zhiyuan, keep talking."
Xie Anning bowed again: "Thank you, sir. It's a capital crime to be humble in one's position! There may be some taboos in those below who are humble in one's position..."
Lin Naiqi knew that it was time for him to express his position: "Zhiyuan is public-minded, but it doesn't matter. If there is a good way, I and Master Chen will not have time to thank you!"
Chen Zefang hurriedly made a gesture to get up: "Zhiyuan, please don't show off, please tell me quickly! Thank you in advance..."
Xie Anning hurriedly bowed again to stop Chen Zefang's behavior: "Master Chen has killed me! I am thinking, if the clan violates the imperial ban, can... can I seize the title?"
Chen Zifang thought for a while and suddenly said: "What a good idea! During the Zhengtong period of the Jin Dynasty, there was a case in which King Yonghe of the Jin Dynasty 'violated human relations, damaged morals, committed the ten evils, and was demoted to a common man'!"
Zhang Hongxiang's eyes lit up and he asked meaningfully: "Zhiyuan, how did you think of this level? Could it be that... you heard something?"
Xie Anning said: "Your Majesty, Sir Zhang. I heard about this from Qiu Pijiang, Sichuan Secretary last night, and an official document was sent from Fengyang Mansion in South Zhili..."
…
Emperor Daozong Zhu Yunji has not been in charge of politics for four or five years. He only attends court for two or three days every month. The rest of the time he spends the rest of his time in Xiyuan playing the game of cultivating immortals by himself.
The reason for this is that in addition to being born lazy, it is also an important reason to be unable to cope with the increasingly heavy expenses of the clan: I can't take care of it, and I don't want to take care of it. It's up to you. The sky won't fall anyway - even if it does, it will be smashed first. You, therefore, it’s up to you to make up your own mind! On this day, I received a memorial jointly signed by the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites. After reading it, I suddenly became interested.
After the court, Lin and Chen were specially called to Yingtai. When they heard Lin Naiqi say that "the food from Shanxi and Henan is not enough to provide half of the rice for the clans of the two provinces", he immediately made up his mind - and soon, a vigorous and vigorous battle took place. The operation to seize the title began quietly and thunderously in the two capitals and thirteen provinces.
When the third uncle, who was lying half-dead on the bed, was carried to the door to receive the order, he thought it was the Holy Emperor venting his anger on him, and was gnashing his teeth in joy. He didn't expect to see his great enemy Yang Mingzhen following the angel eunuchs in a big way, and he felt suddenly. Not good. When everyone fell to the ground to receive the order, a thunderbolt struck from the blue. They were dumbfounded when they heard "To despise the imperial court is the same as treason. I miss my relatives in the side branches and commit suicide with the blessings." The third cousin who was lying on the side just said He stood up and wanted to act up, but he still held the eunuch Laifu who deliberately opened the edict without closing it in his hand and drank: "Bold! The angel declares the edict as if the emperor is coming in person! How disrespectful! Come here, show us a beating!"
Laifu is the eunuch of Du Zhijian. Douzhijian is one of the twelve prisons of the Ming Dynasty (it was originally twenty-four prisons, but was later streamlined and will be discussed in detail later). It is responsible for the emperor's travels to show off his power and appearance. Each "prisoner" is managed by three leaders. At this time, the "eunuch" has an official position and is the fourth rank; the deputy is called "young eunuch" and is divided into left and right, all from the fourth rank. Calling all the father-in-law eunuchs was a flattering term later, and it took a long time for it to become a derogatory term. Because the purpose of this trip was to seize the title for the clan rather than to supervise military discipline at the bitter cold frontier, the Holy Emperor wanted to use this first example as an example, so he sent the eunuch, the boss of the governor of the capital, to go out in person.
After working in the palace for decades and reaching the top of the first prison, Lai Fu was very good at observing people's behavior, watching people's behavior, and making people trip. The eunuchs were the emperor's domestic slaves, and the clan members were the emperor's relatives. No matter how distant the relatives were, their status was much higher than that of the domestic slaves. Therefore, in normal times, in theory, Laifu would have to kowtow when meeting the clan. However, there is one exception: when the Holy Message is in hand. With the holy decree in hand, it’s like the emperor is coming in person! If the imperial edict was combined and given to the party receiving the edict, Laifu would immediately return to his status as a domestic slave, and his three cousins and uncles would not be able to hide even if they beat him. However, it is not easy for Laifu, who has been able to get along well in the undercurrent of Ouchi that never stops for a moment, to deal with a few country bumpkins who have never seen the world? If the other party is not fooled, Laifu has prepared another trick: swearing. The people in the capital are naturally the best in cursing, and the father-in-laws in the palace are even more superb, unparalleled in the world! Anyway, the Holy One has already told you to "admonish" him. There is no difference between scolding him once and scolding him for a whole day! As long as you kneel down and move your legs, the charge of disrespect will be waiting for you...
Laifu had received the decree, especially with the hints from the Holy Emperor and several pavilion elders. The group had been prepared for such a situation. Two Feiyu (Jin Yiwei) stepped forward, one held the third cousin's arms from behind, the other rounded his arms and slapped her hard with a big mouth... Jin Yiwei is the emperor's personal soldier. , the people sent on this trip are all carefully selected talents. After the advice of the admiral factory owner and Laifu's insinuations along the way, they already have a clear idea of what they should do.
Seeing that his third cousin was also beaten to the point of being half-breathed, Lai Fu coughed lightly to stop the flying fish, closed the imperial edict, resumed his original identity as a eunuch, and said with a smile: "The emperor's life is on my side, Lai Fu Please forgive me, auntie." He stuffed the imperial edict into her arms and said, "Put it away and don't drop it - that's even more disrespectful! No matter how good this villain is, I can't protect you anymore..." Almost The third cousin, who was beaten to death, used her remaining mind to ponder: Does this big-mouthed person really have intentions? Are you really protecting me? Why is something wrong? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. I tilted my head and passed out.
Eunuch Laifu turned to the frightened Third Aunt and bared his teeth in amusement: "Laifu will help Third Aunt choose a blessed place for you." He stretched out his hand and pointed to the main hall, "This is a good place for our family." He pursed his lips. , the two flying fish took out a piece of light yellow silk from their arms and threw it over the beam, quickly pulled the buckle, dragged a chair, pulled the third uncle up and put the noose around his neck .
The third uncle, who had been lying down all the time, got the strength from nowhere, and actually stood firmly. His toothless mouth muttered "have mercy" incomprehensibly. Laifu looked up and sighed: "You guys are the best." Help me!" Without saying a word, a flying fish kicked over the chair. The group of people raised their heads and watched with interest as the third uncle gradually stopped kicking his legs and hung there leisurely.
At the same time, officials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces received an explicit order from the Holy Emperor: "I will abide by the teachings of my ancestors and pastor the world with virtue... I will do whatever is illegal for the clan members in the local area, and those who cheat will be severely punished." .
On the official road, there is an endless stream of post horses galloping from south to north, east to west. After receiving the order, officials from various places invariably missed their elders who were far away in the capital, and sent greetings and blessings to their disciples one after another. Of course, at the end, I will mention in a roundabout way that I have encountered some confusion recently and ask my mentors and elders for advice. As for what the confusion was, no one mentioned it. The adults in the capital, while replying to the letter, once again earnestly taught their disciples and nephews that no matter what kind of confusion they encounter, they must remember: care about the common people, not be afraid of the powerful, share the worries of the Holy Emperor, and benefit the Ming Dynasty!
Soon, memorials like snowflakes poured into the capital.
The Holy Emperor was "furious", well, it looked like he was really angry.
"The king of Huining County in the Qin Mansion leaves the house and lives in Fengxiang" - the county king is given to commit suicide! His father, the general of the auxiliary country, Gong Nai, removed half of the rice!
"Prince Zhongling of Jiangning Prefecture, Jin Zhui, indulged in sexual desires, bullied his concubines, Chen Min refused to remonstrate his father's evil, and had an affair with the palace people" - he was seized of the title and demoted to a commoner!
"King Jing saw that Xun had violated the precepts of his ancestors and destroyed the laws of nature" - he seized the title, deposed him as a commoner, and imprisoned him in the west!
"Zhong Shao, the king of Ninghua in the Jin Dynasty, and his younger brother Zhen Guo, the general Zhong Tao, were incompatible with each other. Zhong Tao did all kinds of illegal things against Zhong Tao, and Zhong Tao also criticized Zhong Tao for his unfilial piety." - Zhong Tao Ge removes the crown and brings Lumi, Zhong Tao removes Lumi of two!
"Zhong Kai, the auxiliary general of the Prince of Ninghua, often went to the house of a prostitute in the evening, or entered the palace and stayed there for several years." - Ge Suilu 3-2!
…
Yang Mingzhen, who was just starting out and was not afraid of the powerful, rose to fame in the Ming Dynasty officialdom and received personal praise from the Holy Emperor! Soon, he was transferred back to the capital by order and joined the Supervisory Council as the Supervisory Censor.
