In the last court meeting in the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on the dragon's throne, with hundreds of civil and military officials below him, while Zhu Biao stood in the middle and read the military situation in the north. This has happened often these days.
Zhu Biao not only had to read the report, but also come up with certain policies and insights to discuss with the civil and military officials. Now Lao Zhu would no longer speak easily. Once he spoke, he would make a solid statement and there would be no room for anyone to refute.
Hu Weiyong silently raised his head and glanced at the superior Zhu Yuanzhang, feeling more and more that his intentions were lofty and unfathomable. Three years ago, he could still clearly see the emperor's intentions, but now he can't understand them more and more.
In fact, it is not only Hu Weiyong who feels this way, but also everyone up and down the court. The ones who feel it most are the noble generals. Back then they were all brothers who ate meat, drank, killed enemies and talked about everything together. But now they just answer questions to their superiors. Every word I spoke made me tremble with fear, and I couldn't recover for several days after returning home.
I often think about whether that sentence is correct, whether it will violate the holy taboo...
After Zhu Biao coordinated the border affairs with the officials of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Metropolitan Governor's Office, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly spoke to the Minister of Rites and said: "The emperor is entrusted to heaven to rule over the people. He should do his best to serve the heaven. In previous generations, there were sacrifices every three years or every year. No, my dynasty is adhering to the orthodoxy. We should worship Yuanqiu during the winter solstice and worship Fangqiu during the summer solstice to follow the ancient rituals to repay the great virtues of the emperor. !”
Officials were sent to worship Confucius just a few days ago. Why did the Holy One want to offer sacrifices to Haotian again? The civil and military officials were a little confused, but they still paused and said: "The Holy One is respectful to heaven and diligent to the people. This is unprecedented in ancient times. I, the ministers, will obey the Holy Will!"
Then he whipped his whip and retreated. The civil and military officials sent off the Emperor respectfully and then the Crown Prince. Thanks to the Crown Prince's kindness, everyone can finally have a good New Year. You must know that in previous years, there was only one day of annual leave...
After all the civil and military officials had withdrawn from Fengtian Gate, Zhu Yuanzhang led Zhu Biao out of the gate of Fengtian Palace. What he saw was a vast expanse of white snow, and in the distance there were many eunuchs in heavy robes sweeping the main road.
Zhu Biao exhaled a breath of thick white mist and said: "This year is indeed colder than this time two years ago. I don't know what the situation is like in the affected state capitals in the north."
Lao Zhu put his hands behind his back and said: "According to the report, it is too deep for an ordinary person's chest and abdomen. Even the grain trucks for disaster relief cannot get in. The road that has just been cleared will be covered with heavy snow in a moment...
Zhu Biao sighed and obeyed fate. The times limited many methods. In the face of natural disasters, the manpower was pitifully small, and there was not much the court could do.
However, there are disadvantages and advantages. Under the heavy snow, the grassland was even more severely affected. According to reports, their offensive has also slowed down. I don't know whether it is because the logistics cannot keep up or the excess population has been exhausted.
Zhu Biao estimated that this war, which was of no benefit to both sides, would be over in another half month. Yesu Die'er did not win, but neither did Ming. In the final analysis, Ming still lost.
The grassland at least eliminated the excess population and concentrated the survival materials into the hands of a small number of people, which was enough for them to survive the White Disaster until the beginning of spring. However, the Ming Dynasty did not get any benefits and suffered many casualties for no reason.
The two men were both covered in bright red ponchos, embroidered with dancing dragons, and walked down the steps surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, strolling in the vast palace.
"Yesterday, I received the envoy Samayacha Jiaer'ou sent by King Bonad of Zoli. He traveled across mountains and rivers to bring tribute horses with gold leaves, four pieces of blue cloth, two pieces of red cotton cloth, and a tree. Four pieces of lining cloth, four pieces of white bridle cloth, a necklace of beads, and a painting of the land, mountains and rivers."
"Then the envoy would like to see you in person. I wonder if my father would like to see you?"
Lao Zhu was a little speechless when he heard this. He went through all the trouble to deliver this little thing. How many pieces of cloth do we still need from you? But there's nothing you can do about it, that's how it is in a barbarian land. Maybe this is already an extremely precious gift in their eyes.
"Let's wait until the New Year is over and make arrangements for that envoy. It's hard to count how many years he has traveled across the sea. No matter how many tributes he pays, our Ming Dynasty will be thick and thin."
Zhu Biao nodded in agreement. According to his understanding, Zuoli Kingdom is a small country on the Nanyang Islands. It can't be any smaller. He sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty to join in the fun and see the world. After all, Annan occupied the same city as the Ming Dynasty. News of the exchange must have spread throughout Nanyang.
This is a good thing. Even if we don’t mention the coming of all nations to North Korea, it is also a good opportunity to promote exchanges and trade. There is no other country in Nanyang. Grain, seafood, and precious timber crops are all needed by the Ming Dynasty.
All they need is porcelain, cloth and other items. There is not much else in the Ming Dynasty. They only need these two items, and they can be as exquisite as they want.
As early as the second year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao ordered people to set up imperial kilns in Jingdezhen. Now there are forty-three official kilns. White smoke covers the sky during the day, and red flames burn the sky at night.
Due to Lao Zhu's preference for red, there are fewer blue and white porcelains made in imperial kilns. In recent years, there have been more red-glazed porcelains, which have their own characteristics.
Not to mention silk cloth, there are Wensi Institute and Weaving and Dyeing Institute under the Ministry of Industry, as well as the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau and the Needlework Bureau under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, etc. all over the country.
However, these have not yet been exerted, and Zhu Biao also deliberately suppressed them. After all, if trade had not been opened, the Ming Dynasty would not be able to digest it. There were still too many people struggling between hunger and poverty, and they were simply unable to afford expenses other than daily necessities. .
After wandering for a while, the father and son returned to the palace respectively. Lao Zhu probably went to Kunning Palace to meet Queen Ma for a few drinks. It was rare for him to have free time, so he naturally wanted to take a good rest.
Zhu Biao naturally wanted to go back to the East Palace. After Zhu Biao's persuasion, Lao Zhu finally relented and took a seven-day holiday before Yuan Chen. It can't be said to be a holiday, but he just skipped the morning court for these seven days, which is what all civil and military officials should do. Things still need to be done, and only three days before the New Year can we rest at home and celebrate the New Year.
In other dynasties, this would have started a long time ago, but in the Hongwu Dynasty, it made all the civil and military officials burst into tears of gratitude. You must know that in the past few years, unless one's family died in high school, there were only three pitiful days off a year...
Speaking of which, this year is really a good year. At the suggestion of His Royal Highness, the salary was increased and the annual leave was increased. Even after winter, the court specially distributed coal according to grade.
After Zhu Biao returned to the East Palace, he first went to see his two sons. Although he thought they were ugly when they were born, and they would give him headaches in the future, they were a bit irritating. But after all, they are human cubs. After the full moon, It becomes more and more cute after watching it for a long time, and it will be remembered in my heart.
In the hothouse as warm as summer, Lin'an Princess Zhu Jingjing was talking to her sister-in-law. Beside the bed, Zhu Biao's sister Ningguo Princess Zhu Lu was teasing her two nephews and laughing non-stop.
After Zhu Biao walked in, Chang Luohua and Zhu Jingjing hurriedly stood up to greet them: "My concubine (my sister) welcomes you..."
Zhu Biao, who was still a little cold, stood at the door and said with a smile: "We are all one family. There is no need to be more polite from now on. You two can sit down."
In fact, neither Chang Luohua nor Zhu Jingjing would be polite, but when the sister-in-law was together, no one would be rude. As for Zhu Lu, she pointed her delicate back at her eldest brother and ignored him.
Zhu Biao has always loved this younger sister the most. After all, they are truly flesh and blood relatives, and he can probably guess why this little guy is having trouble. Zhu Lu is only six or seven years old this year, and she is still a childish little princess. .
It's okay that my eldest brother has a child. He hasn't visited her for a long time. Naturally, he feels that the favor he has received has been taken away from her, so he is waiting for him to coax her.
"What's going on? Could it be that Lu'er's little front teeth haven't grown out yet? Don't worry, big brother will definitely not laugh out loud this time."
When Zhu Lu heard this, she quickly turned around and pouted her rosy mouth and said, "My teeth have grown out a long time ago. Big brother is bad!"
The maid on the side helped His Highness take off his heavy robe. Zhu Biao suddenly felt relaxed. Then he walked slowly to the bed and hugged Zhu Lu and said, "I don't believe it unless you open your mouth and let me see it."
In fact, he had just lowered his head and saw that the front teeth had just grown halfway. Zhu Lu quickly turned around and covered her mouth and said, "I won't show it to you, huh."
Zhu Biao happily rubbed the little one on her head and said, "Are these two fun? Why don't you take them away."
Hearing this, Zhu Lu looked at the two little nephews who struggled for a long time before saying, "It's fun, let's leave it here. I'll come find them when I want to play with them."
The three people on the side suddenly laughed out loud. The childlike words were the cutest. Zhu Lu was raised by Queen Ma to be white and fat, and her big innocent eyes were extremely endearing.
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