As the decrees were issued one after another, the entire court became busy.
"Your Majesty, the Japanese army has just sent a military report. After several months of siege, the Japanese pirates at sea have gradually begun to sneak ashore. The commander-in-chief Zhang Fu divided his troops into multiple groups and lurked secretly. It was discovered that a local squire was secretly transporting supplies to assist the Japanese pirates. There are thirteen families in total. Now, the mansions of these thirteen gentry have been sealed, and their families have been taken into custody by the government. The Japanese pirates who came ashore beheaded eighty-two levels, and captured 213 people..."
In the morning, Wang Ao, the Minister of War, stood in the hall and read out word for word the military report he had just received.
As his voice sounded, the ministers below also began to whisper.
Counting the days, it has been three or four months since Yu Qian left the capital, and it has been almost half a year. This time is neither long nor short.
After such a long time, we only got this result...
"Your Majesty, it has been several months since the army went on the expedition. The imperial court has tried its best to provide food and military supplies. However, as the months have passed, the commander-in-chief Zhang Xi and the admiral Yu Qian have been unable to move forward. Although they have sent out troops now, they have only captured more than eighty heads. Level, this is really lagging and procrastinating. I ask your Majesty to issue an order to reprimand these two people and order them to exterminate the bandits as soon as possible."
Soon, Ye Sheng took the lead in standing up.
Immediately afterwards, several censors from the Metropolitan Procuratorate also came out one after another, saying.
"Your Majesty, such a delay for the army is in fact a waste of money. Nowadays, the government's finances are tight. There are still droughts in Henan, Shandong and other places. People have died of starvation, and civil unrest has also occurred. I sincerely ask your Majesty to take care of the people's livelihood and order the army to Return.”
The imperial court was not optimistic about this expedition. However, due to the emperor's authority, they held their noses and agreed.
Now that I have such an opportunity to use the topic to my advantage, I naturally hold on to it and make full use of it.
However, fortunately, there were not all voices of opposition in the court. Seeing so many people targeting Yu Qian, several officers from the Ministry of War immediately became unable to sit still.
You know, although Yu Qian has left Beijing, the Ministry of War is still his headquarters. Many officials in it were promoted by him. Naturally, these people cannot be allowed to impeach Yu Qian.
Hong Chang, the doctor of the Martial Arts Department, was the first to come out and spoke.
"Your Majesty has clearly learned that the Japanese pirates are cunning and accustomed to water. If the army takes the lead to attack in the vast sea, it will be in vain and only increase casualties. Yu Shaobao formulated a strategy of holding on, forcing the Japanese pirates to come ashore to fight with our troops. In fact, it’s a plan with the least loss.”
"What's more, the military report has already said that the Japanese pirates can no longer hold back and have begun to sneak ashore. If you order the army to change tactics at this moment, all your previous efforts will be wasted. Your Majesty, please think again."
However, these science and technology officials are not easy to mess with. Although Hong Chang's words are from a strategic perspective.
However, for these censors, they don't care about strategy or not. At that moment, someone spoke up and said it directly.
"It is better to waste all your efforts than to sit back and watch the victims starve to death. Isn't the safety of the people in the world more important than the suppression of Japanese pirates?"
"What's more, when a large army goes out to fight, it always wants a quick battle. If Yu Shaobao is so delayed, is he really worried that the Japanese pirates will be scattered and difficult to exterminate? Or is he afraid of the fierceness of the Japanese pirates and hesitates to send troops?"
If we really talk about talking nonsense, naturally speaking of science and education is the best.
Hong Chang talked to them about the situation, and they in turn added up the value, just like the army and the people, who could only choose one or the other.
Especially the last two sentences, I began to question the correctness of Yu Qian's stubborn strategy.
These words made all the officials of the Ministry of War very angry. The director of the arsenal, Zhong Fang Gao, also stood up and said.
"This statement is simply ridiculous!"
"Although the disasters in Henan and other places are serious, the Ministry of Household Affairs has already fully allocated disaster relief materials. The reasons why the victims are still starving to death are for various reasons. But what does it have to do with the army?"
"Even if there is no army to conquer Japan, the imperial court still has other purposes, not just disaster relief. What are your intentions in starving the victims to death and blaming the army for conquering Japan for local civil unrest?"
It should be said that there is nothing wrong with this statement. However, as soon as this statement came out, many people in the court were dissatisfied, especially the censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
You must know that local disaster relief is generally under the jurisdiction of the governor, and the government is responsible for it, and is supervised by the censor. Although there is nothing wrong with what Fang Gao said, he undoubtedly offended the officials responsible for disaster relief.
Therefore, a censor immediately stood up and retorted.
"This is what Fang Langzhong said. The reason why the victims are rioting is simply because they did not receive relief in time. If the court had sufficient food, why would the victims cause trouble?"
"As a court official, you don't distinguish between public and private affairs, and you only want to protect Yu Qian. You are really evil!"
These words were extremely explicit. They had reached the level of personal attacks that censors are most familiar with. They made Fang Gao and others very angry. Seeing this situation, the two of them were about to refute, but unexpectedly there was a soft voice from their superiors. drink……
"enough!"
Everyone looked up and saw the emperor frowning slightly, with a thin layer of anger covering his face, and said coldly.
"It's a good thing that the army has gained something, so why bother!"
Seeing that the emperor was angry, all the ministers fell to the ground and said.
"Your Majesty, forgive me."
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu shook his head and said.
"Now that the army has set off, let's not talk about the withdrawal. The commander-in-chief and the admiral will decide how the battle situation is on the front line. As for the disaster relief, what the two ministers from the Ministry of War said is reasonable. The Ministry of Household's disaster relief food funds have already been sufficient. Even if the amount is allocated, there is still trouble, and it is natural that the disaster relief officials are not doing their job well."
"The Metropolitan Procuratorate..."
"I'm here!"
Although Chen Yi's official memorial was rejected, the old man was still ill at home and did not go to court.
Therefore, Wang Hong was still the temporary deputy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. At this moment, when he heard the emperor speak, Wang Hong also stood up, but his expression was not very good-looking.
Zhu Qiyu didn't care about this. It was impossible to say that today's matter had nothing to do with Wang Hong. After all, he did not support sending troops from the beginning. These officials who are speaking out now would not have the courage without his support. It won't be that big.
However, to be fair, although these remarks were somewhat biased, they were not unreasonable. After the last conversation with Chen Yi, he was able to treat Ke Dao's remarks more calmly.
It is not a good thing to have only one voice in the court, so he does not intend to punish these officials, but...
"From now on, five more censors will be sent as imperial envoys to inspect the disaster-stricken areas. They are responsible for investigating illegal things during the disaster relief process. Anyone who embezzles food funds for disaster relief, deceives the superiors and conceals the disaster, or causes trouble among the people due to ineffective disaster relief. Once found, officials below the magistrate and sitting officials will be removed from their posts on the spot if they are involved in the incident. If an official is involved in the incident, they will be reviewed by the imperial envoy and the sitting officials and then reported to the Ming court. If the sitting official is dismissed because of the incident, the imperial envoy and censor will be temporarily responsible for the disaster relief. If the matter involves officials above the prefecture level, they will be reported to the court immediately and severe punishment will not be spared."
"In addition, the imperial censor can receive complaints from the people and investigate the lawlessness. Any country squire's family who abuses the people wantonly, takes advantage of the disaster to annex land, maliciously raises prices, especially grain prices, will be detained immediately and sent to the governor's office. After personal review, if a civil uprising has been triggered, we will definitely act expediently, and everything will be done to ensure the stability of the place!"
"I accept the decree..."
Wang Hong was a little surprised when he said this, but he still accepted the instruction.
In comparison, the reactions of the ministers below were different.
None of them expected that originally they were talking about the Ministry of War, but in the end, they ended up talking about disaster relief.
The emperor's will is not simple.
You must know that, generally speaking, the prefect is a fourth-rank official. In this decree, officials below the prefect and sitting officials can be removed from their posts on the spot if they are involved in matters. The censor can take charge of the affairs on his behalf. The second official will be involved in the matter, and the censor will supervise the review. In fact, The emperor gave these imperial censors the power to deal with officials below the fourth rank.
Moreover, in the last sentence, the emperor also specifically emphasized that if there is a civil unrest, he must act expeditiously. This act of expediency has a wide meaning.
With this decree in hand, it is conceivable that the power of the five censors who are about to be dispatched is not only far beyond that of ordinary censors, but can almost be said to be close to that of a feudal official.
If we put aside the decree itself and take a closer look, this should be the first time that the emperor has expressed such reliance on the officials of Kedao after the previous reform of Kedao.
Is it possible that the trend in the court is about to change?
The morning court came to an end, and the courtiers left Wuying Palace in twos and threes. However, as soon as Zhu Qiyu returned to Qianqing Palace, before he had rested long, a chamberlain came forward to report.
"Your Majesty, Minister Shen of the Ministry of Revenue would like to see you..."
Sighing, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said.
"Call."
In recent times, if you want to say who comes to the palace the most frequently, it is none other than the old man Shen Yi.
There was a snowstorm in Fengyang at the beginning of the year, and the drought in Henan just ended. Now that the disaster has not subsided, new disasters have occurred. It is really not easy for him, the Minister of Household Affairs, to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Yes, a new disaster has occurred!
If nothing else, Shen Yi came here this time probably for...
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has just received a report that there are eight states in Southern Zhili, Shandong, Henan and other places. It has been raining for months. I am afraid..."
As expected, after entering the palace and saluting, Chen Yi sighed heavily, took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it over.
The situation this year is really strange. After the snowstorm, there is a drought, and after the drought, there is a continuous rainy season.
It has been more than half a year, and there is no time to calm down.
Zhu Qiyu took the memorial and glanced at it. His face was a little gloomy. Although he had expected it, when he actually saw it, he was still quite depressed.
Although the snowstorm in Fengyang looks serious, in fact, the impact is not big. Firstly, the affected area is not too big. Secondly, after all, there is still a chance to save it before the summer grain collection. To this day , the disaster situation in Fengyang has basically subsided. The summer grain cannot catch up, but the autumn grain should not be a serious problem.
But now is the time of summer harvest in June, and with this heavy rain, the summer grain in several states may be ruined.
After reading the memorial with a frown, Zhu Qiyu's face looked a little ugly. He put down the memorial in his hand, looked up at Shen Yi and said.
"What's going on in Dengzhou and Qingzhou? Didn't I give an order two months ago to let them harvest food in advance?"
Since Zhu Qiyu had known about this disaster for a long time, he naturally would not sit still and wait for death, because this heavy rain covered mostly Henan, Shandong and other places.
Let's not talk about Henan. It has just experienced a few months of drought. There was no harvest in the first place and there is a famine. Therefore, Zhu Qiyu just issued an edict and asked the disaster relief officials to appease the people. There is no need to rush to resume farming. After all, it will be soon. If it rains heavily, even if the seeds are sown, there will be no harvest.
But Shandong is different. This drought mainly affected Henan and Huguang, while Shandong was only slightly affected.
Therefore, Zhu Qiyu had already issued an order to all government offices in Shandong, asking them to always pay attention to the weather. Once it started to rain, they would immediately start harvesting and not take any chances.
Logically speaking, crops in Shandong and other places should mature from late May to early June, and the rainy season begins around this time.
If the harvest is carried out when the rainy season has just arrived, even if there are some losses, it will not be a loss.
However, according to the situation reported in this memorial, the disaster situation in various places is not light, and the production is basically reduced by more than half. In Dengzhou and Qingzhou, nearly 90% was lost!
"Your Majesty, it started to rain in Dengzhou and Qingzhou on May 29th. Until now, it has been twenty-five days and the heavy rain has not stopped. Almost all the crops have been soaked by water, so... …”
Seeing the emperor's expression change, Chen Yi's heart sank, but he still had the courage to explain.
There was a "bang" that made Shen Shangshu stop talking. He looked up and saw that the emperor's hand had been slapped heavily on the table, obviously he was really angry.
Immediately afterwards, the emperor's cold voice sounded, saying.
"Seriously affected?"
"The situation in Laizhou is equally serious. In fact, the rainy season is one day earlier than in Dengzhou. Why can Laizhou receive nearly 50% of the summer grain? On the contrary, Dengzhou and Qingzhou have harvested nothing?"
"Have the magistrates of these two states taken my imperial decree to heart?"
"Your Majesty, calm down!"
Seeing this situation, Chen Yi did not dare to argue any more and immediately fell to his knees.
Zhu Qiyu's eyes were sharp, and his heart was indeed full of anger.
The claims that the disaster was serious are actually all excuses. The real situation is definitely that the chief officials of these two states did not take the court's warning to heart at all, thinking that nothing serious would happen, which led to the current situation.
Just because they were careless for a moment, the people in the two states were deprived of food and clothing. How could he not be angry?
After taking a long breath, Zhu Qiyu suppressed the anger in his heart and said.
"Since the rainy season has lasted for nearly a month, it will not end in a short time. The imperial court must not take any chances. The Ministry of Household Affairs immediately arranged disaster relief matters. Summer grain supplies were provided to all affected areas. This disaster relief , the household department must be fully prepared and plan to be able to not sow autumn grain."
"As for the magistrates of these two states, they were immediately dismissed from their posts and investigated. The governor of Shandong was ordered to rush to these two states immediately and personally preside over disaster relief matters. The Ministry of Civil Affairs immediately selected capable ministers to take over. We must ensure the food and clothing of the people in these two states, and we must not cause trouble again. Any trouble!"
