"Long live, Qianlong sent someone to deliver a letter saying that we occupied half of their Yunnan province, violated the peace treaty signed the year before last, and asked us to return the Yunnan land to them. This is the letter." In the newly built palace, the shadow guard Commander Hong Hu was reporting the important information received to Zhang Rui alone.
"Oh, Qianlong has such a big hair in his mouth, I thought he would at least have some face. It seems that I still overestimated him." Zhang Rui took the letter from Hong Hu and threw it aside. corner of.
"What do you mean we occupied their Yunnan? When did Yunnan belong to them? I don't admit it."
"Besides, they have already shamelessly ceded Yunnan's land to little Myanmar. Why didn't they tell Myanmar that Yunnan belonged to them? We took back our territory from Myanmar, so why did they lock them up with the Qing Dynasty? What happened?" Zhang Rui couldn't help but get angry.
"It's still half a province. Doesn't he know that Yunnan is almost in our hands? It seems that he is really not very well-informed."
"Qianlong, the old thief, spent all his money to build the Old Summer Palace. How could he spare the money to collect information? Naturally, he can't compete with Long Live." Hong Hu complimented with a smile.
"You don't have to offend him about this. You can ask someone to write a letter to warn him later and ask him to take care of his officials and not be so unscrupulous in Sichuan and Guizhou. Otherwise, I don't mind taking back those two pieces of land now." Zhang Rui said with a wave of his hand.
"yes."
"How is the military penetration in Henan and Shandong?" Zhang Rui asked again.
"Basically there is no problem. Most of the relationships have been established. They will switch sides and join us just waiting for our army to go on the Northern Expedition." Hong Hu replied.
"Well, after the imperial court has sorted out the basic basics of people's livelihood, it's time to schedule the Northern Expedition." Zhang Rui said.
"When I think about it, I really envy an emperor who can drive and conquer personally. It's a pity that my son is still young. Otherwise, I would also like to be a hands-off emperor and imitate other people's methods of driving and conquering to kill the Manchus."
"Long live as the Lord of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, it's better for the ministers to go to the battlefield! Otherwise, what use are we?" Hearing this, Hong Hu didn't know how to answer Zhang Rui, so he could only say, "Everyone performs his duties." Come to persuade.
"I'm just jealous. Now the court's main concern is people's livelihood issues." Zhang Rui responded casually.
…
"Qiang Qiang Qiang..."
Outside the door, there were several knocks on the door. I went out with the eunuch to inquire and learned that it was time to go to court.
The court time of the Yi Dynasty was different from that of the Qing Dynasty.
The court time in the Qing Dynasty was Mao Shi (i.e. from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.). Ministers usually have to start preparing at Yin Shi (three to five o'clock in the morning) and then wait outside the Meridian Gate.
If you live far away, you have to get up earlier.
It was after Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty that the time of going to court was changed to every ten days.
At this time, in order to show that he was a "sage and wise monarch", Qianlong went to court every day. Of course, if the weather is bad, you won’t be able to go.
In addition to Zhang Rui going to court every day when he needed to formulate a large number of national policies in the early stage, now he directly customizes the meeting to go to court every ten days. Normally, there is nothing particularly important. Zhang Rui always asks several cabinet ministers and university officials to go to court every day. Just come and discuss it with the gentlemen.
Except for the approval of major matters and matters that were really undecided, Zhang Rui was consulted privately. The court basically operated according to relevant procedures and performed its duties.
Of course, it was impossible for the cabinet to bypass Zhang Rui and fool the imperial power. After all, Zhang Rui still holds organizations such as Shadow Guard and Shadow Guard in his hands, so he doesn't know everything about the outside world.
The imperial power supervises all officials of the court at all times.
If Zhang Rui's setting of the morning dynasty as ten days aroused criticism, then changing the time of the dynasty from Mao hour to Si hour (that is, from nine to eleven o'clock) caused complaints from many Confucian scholars.
"Why is being so lazy not a sign of the Lord of Saints..."
"Why shouldn't we imitate the emperors of the Ming Dynasty and do whatever they want..."
…
Unable to resist this, Zhang Rui also changed the way in which the ministers who went to court had to stand and wait at the Meridian Gate with the Manchus to sit in the newly built Great Hall to go to court.
This also makes many old scholars feel that "this is contrary to the Confucian concept of heaven and earth, king, relative, teacher" and is not worthy of respect.
If the monarch does not allow his ministers to kneel down, it violates the principle of "the emperor is the minister's post".
Of course, the old scholars just wanted to shout a few words to attract attention. When they really want to go to court, they will say, "It smells so good."
Speech in the Yi Dynasty was relatively free, and there was no particular problem. Even if you cursed the emperor a few times, you would not necessarily be punished. This is also the reason why those old scholars dare to rely on their old skills and sell their old skills.
In fact, many ministers were uneasy and prepared to die after criticizing the emperor because of their excessive remarks. As a result, I found that except for being scolded a few times by the emperor, nothing happened. It was like normal.
Although the Han ministers in the Manchu Qing Dynasty kept talking about how lazy Zhang Rui was, they secretly envied the ministers of the Yi Dynasty.
Although the ministers in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties seemed to be very aloof, in fact, only they really understood what it means to "accompany the emperor like a tiger", and they could only live cautiously all day long. I'm afraid that one day, because of one word, I will be pigtailed by Qianlong, be sentenced to death, beheaded, or be exiled to Ninggu Pagoda.
After all, Qianlong did not do these things just once.
Moreover, for the same crime, those who can be called "slaves" may only be suspended from their posts, while those who are called "minions" may lose their heads.
This is the difference between people who are our own people and people who are not our own people. It's a pity that many people who call themselves "subjects" want to be called "slaves", but in exchange they can only be beaten mercilessly.
Now that there is finally a monarch who everyone can call "minister", it's no wonder they are envious.
Qianlong went to court every day for whatever he wanted to be called "sage". Many times, the ministers didn't know what they could say when they went to court every day.
The most obvious among them are those Hanchen.
For example, Ji Xiaolan, who was a bachelor, made Qianlong unhappy just because he put forward some opinions. Qianlong pointed at his nose and scolded him: raising him is like raising an advocate, so he should not take himself seriously.
As for "iron teeth and bronze teeth", that's a joke.
If being able to go to court was not a status symbol, most of the Han officials would rather not go to court.
Going to court is no different from standing there like Kuai Muo. You don't say anything if you can, so as not to get punished if you say something wrong.
…
"Hong Aiqing, let's go together!" Zhang Rui slightly adjusted his clothes with his hands and said to Hong Hu.
"I obey the order." Hong Hu responded and followed Zhang Rui.
…
The Great Hall is not very big, and can only hold about 200 people.
The throne is located in a high and prominent position in the center, and other seats are semi-surrounded by the central throne in a C-shape.
The seats are divided into six rows and six rows, corresponding to the six seats. There is less in the front and more in the back, and the processes are fan-shaped.
"Go to court..." After Zhang Rui sat on the throne, the eunuch accompanying him shouted loudly.
"Long live my emperor, long live the emperor." The officials who were already standing on the side bowed their heads and said.
Except for major festivals, such as worshiping heaven, canonizing ceremonies, etc., the officials of the Yi Dynasty did not need to kneel down and bow down, and they would bow down instead. At the same time, the ritual of kneeling between superior and subordinate officials was also abolished.
Of course, the same goes for civilians.
It's not that Zhang Rui wanted to radically change the rules of the times, he just wanted the people to regain their national self-confidence that had been destroyed by the Qing Dynasty as quickly as possible. Zhang Rui had to do it.
In the future, as long as the Yi Dynasty can survive for more than ten years, even if it fails due to something, it will not be easy for the Manchus to take back the south and continue their misdeeds.
