Before nightfall on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
A new batch of memorials were sent to the cabinet from the General Affairs Department.
The most important ones among them have been specially marked, and some of them involve direct reporting to the emperor. Yuan Shouzhi, the general affairs envoy, did not dare to neglect. It seems that the general administration secretary also knew that there must be a disturbance in the court the next day. The top Two copies, naturally related to the Xinye earthquake in Henan.
After receiving these memorials, Xie Qian picked out the first two copies in advance according to the instructions of the visitor.
Among them, there were two copies of the memorial from Xinye, Henan Province. One copy was sent directly to the Secretary of Ceremony to Datian for listening, and the other was passed to the cabinet through the Secretary of General Affairs.
"Mr. Liu Ge, I am still right."
Liu Jian didn't have to stay on duty that night and was about to leave. After hearing the news, he hung the coat back on the hanger.
Li Dongyang also came closer.
A memorial written by the Xinye District, describing the contents of the earthquake, was displayed in front of the three people.
"At the end of the Wuxu Day in December, in Xinye, Henan, the ground shook like a mountain, the sound was like thunder, and houses collapsed, causing disasters that stretched for fifty miles in the county. Although Gongse had received the order, more than 60 houses of the people in the city collapsed, leaving no one alive. People and animals were injured, but the situation outside the city was particularly serious, and the villagers may not have taken precautions because they did not believe the rumors..."
Roughly speaking.
After Xinye received the emperor's special edict, some precautions were taken in Xinye County, which at least prevented the residents of the city from having any trouble.
But when the news was sent to Xinye, it only took about three days until the earthquake occurred. There was no time to spread it to every part of the county. In addition, many people did not believe this. The farmhouses outside the city were built more loosely and were more likely to collapse. The damage outside the city will be heavier.
Now the local government is also busy with rescue operations.
It is estimated that more detailed information will be reported to the capital in the next few days.
After reading it, Liu Jian exhaled a breath, with a helpless sadness on his face.
There was no joy at all because of the early warning from the imperial court. Instead, it gave rise to an indescribable worry.
"Is the local report accurate?" Li Dongyang asked.
Xie Qian immediately took out the second copy.
It was reported by the local supervisory censor in Henan, which forms a kind of evidence. Although the supervisory censor's report is not as detailed as the local county government report, it is true in major matters. They all mentioned the occurrence of this earthquake, and it also shows that this earthquake happened. When an earthquake occurs, the sound is like thunder.
In addition to the earthquake, there are also some bad omens, which are equivalent to warnings from heaven these days.
Liu Jian sighed quietly: "I don't know how to deal with it in court tomorrow. Let's prepare a resignation letter first."
Apart from anything else, since once a disaster occurs, the court will definitely feel that it is a punishment from heaven, then the three cabinet members have no shirking responsibility and will all bear the responsibility.
Although even the cabinet itself knows that they are not jointly and severally responsible for this kind of thing.
But that's the rule.
Whether you believe it or not, the main thing is that people all over the world believe in this thing.
If the emperor doesn't want to take the blame and be scolded, then let the ministers take the blame.
Even after the fire in Qingning Palace, these ministers had to repent and resign because of this. This earthquake happened so inappropriately. It happened when someone warned them but they didn't believe it.
This involves another issue.
The emperor's trust.
If they don't express themselves in court, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the emperor to rely on the cabinet or even the civil servants in the future.
…
…
That night.
Zhu Youtang took the silver mirror given to him by his son to Kunning Palace and gave it to his wife like a flower to the Buddha.
By the way, Zhu Youtang also mentioned to Queen Zhang that Zhang Zhou accurately predicted the earthquake in Xinye, Henan.
Empress Zhang had great resistance to Zhang Zhou, and Zhu Youtang knew this well.
So when he came to tell his wife this time, he just wanted to tell her: Don't think that Bingkuan is a nonsense talker like Li Guang. Bingkuan has real abilities.
I believe in him, not just because he listens to others, but because he really has the "knowledge of people".
Whether you believe what I say or not, I believe it myself.
Am I the kind of foolish king who likes to employ treacherous villains?
Queen Zhang was shocked when she heard this: "Your Majesty, are you saying that the earthquake was calculated by someone? Then...has anyone calculated it before?"
When it comes to earthquakes, even Empress Zhang is a little nervous, because in the past, whenever any disaster happened, Yan Guan would always blame the source of the disaster on her, Empress Zhang, which was a bit like putting the blame on her.
It is said that just because the emperor only married one queen and had no concubines, God would give warnings one after another.
So Queen Zhang was also very afraid that these things would happen one after another.
Zhu Youtang sighed: "Since ancient times, official history has recorded that no one has such ability. Even if some unofficial records have been recorded, they are all based on facts. People like Bingkuan who can accurately predict the time and location of earthquakes in advance, No one ever."
Empress Zhang was a little worried and said: "Then...could it be caused by him?"
Although Empress Zhang was favored by the emperor and thought she had her husband under her control, she was not the kind of woman with too much scheming or too many palaces, and she even had very little knowledge.
She was worried.
That Zhang Bingkuan won't sense the hostility of this queen towards him, and will he try some sorcery to kill me?
Compare your heart to your heart.
She turned her hostility towards Zhang Zhou into fear of Zhang Zhou.
Zhu Youtang said: "Bingkuan is just a man who can predict the secrets of heaven. As a mortal, do you think he has the ability to draw fire from the sky and shake the earth? If so, what kind of minister would he be? I'm afraid that by then I will Everyone will bow down to him when they see him!"
The emperor really didn't regard Zhang Zhou as a threat to the Ming Dynasty.
"Besides, queen, please don't forget that your daughter Xiurong and the emperor's grandmother were all rescued by Bingkuan. As a member of the royal family, you cannot be ungrateful."
The emperor made it very clear that Zhang Zhou was a minister of the Ming Dynasty and should be rewarded for his meritorious services.
If it's like you, after a disaster occurs, you follow Zhang Zhou's prophecy and go directly to guard against Zhang Zhou... Are you sick?
Empress Zhang was obviously a little restless. With a woman's mind, she felt that Zhang Zhou was too scary.
In other words, his potential opponents are too scary.
I feel like I don’t dare to fight anymore.
"How will your Majesty reward him?" Queen Zhang asked nervously.
Zhu Youtang also felt strange.
I have good news for you. An earthquake was predicted by Bingkuan, and some precautions were taken in advance to reduce the damage to humans and animals.
Why is the Queen not only not happy for me, but also seems to be very worried?
Zhu Youtang said: "I don't plan to reward him just for this one thing. I will use him in many places in the future. Besides, he is busy preparing for the national examination. I hope he will pass the Jinshi examination as soon as possible. In the future, after he enters the court, , it’s much more convenient for me to use him.”
"Over there at Qintian Prison..."
Empress Zhang wanted to remind her, or arrange an errand for him in the Qintian Prison.
This was considered as her taking the initiative to lower her status and speak for Zhang Zhou.
This thing really scared her.
I am not fighting with others. In the past, I could fight with those palace maids, eunuchs, and even ministers. Now, how can I fight with someone who is not a human being?
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Even if I give him a position as a supervisor in the Qintian Prison, I feel that I have insulted him. He has very high ambitions and wants to be admitted to the Jinshi Examination. Besides, he is already the Jie Yuan in the Jiangnan Provincial Examination, and he has learned so much Okay, why bother just guarding Qin Tianjian from now on? Queen, don’t think too much, having such ministers in the Ming Dynasty is really a blessing from God."
With that said, Zhu Youtang took his wife into his arms.
Suddenly I found that my wife was much more well-behaved than usual.
Although the emperor didn't know what happened, Zhu Youtang still had a manly pride.
Thinking about the future... I feel even more comfortable.
Finally I can show off in front of the minister again.
…
…
The next day is the Great Dynasty.
Inside Fengtian Hall.
Civil servants were listed in the East Class, while Wu Xun and Ji Luguan were listed in the West Class.
The ministers held their breaths because they all knew about the earthquake in Xinye, Henan. Although judging from the reports, the damage caused by this earthquake was not very large, but it was the first earthquake in China since ancient times that was accurately predicted in advance. The court also made detailed of defense.
Originally, the emperor might have issued another edict to blame others because of this.
But because someone warned, the blame turned into credit.
The court could even publicize it loudly, showing that the emperor was favored by God, and that God sent people to help the king save the common people...
Scholars don't believe this, but ordinary people believe it.
In order to maintain the rule of the Ming Dynasty, the court sometimes had to cooperate in talking about unreliable metaphysical things.
The meeting begins.
Naturally, it was an earthquake.
But the emperor did not say that he was very proud, nor did he pursue Liu Jian's previous criticism, or even mention the previous unhappiness in the court.
"...Your Majesty, several memorials were urgently sent to the capital last night. Disaster relief in Xinye is still continuing. Houses have collapsed inside and outside the city. The people are also praised for the precautions issued by the imperial court. There is currently no population. Report of injury..."
Dai Yi, on behalf of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, reported local reports and announced them to the ministers present.
All the ministers also knew that there was really a capable person beside the emperor.
That ability...can't be built.
Zhu Youtang said: "Let the Chief Envoy of Henan send people to assist the good places in disaster relief."
"Yes." Dai Yi responded.
The ministers sounded awkward.
The emperor did not publicly declare victory, but what he said was no different from showing off his power.
No place reported it as a major disaster, which means that this earthquake was not that serious.
Your Majesty is so concerned that you even ordered the Henan Fantai Yamen to send people to provide disaster relief. Is that necessary?
Don't you just want to tell us that you are very concerned about this disaster, but you are actually very proud of it?
At this moment, the British Duke Zhang Mao came out and said: "Your Majesty, since there is someone in the court who can accurately report the time of the earthquake, this person should be rewarded to show your Majesty's care for all people."
All the civil servants were staring at Zhang Mao.
Old man Zhang, what's the matter with you here?
Come to attend a big court meeting, you have to get up, right?
"No need!" Zhu Youtang refused simply, "There is no need for reward for such things. As I said before, this is to nip problems in the bud. I just want you to remember that if there is such a warning in the future, it comes from the same person. With your mouth, you can just keep it in your heart."
It’s Hong Guoguo showing off his power again.
The ministers' stomachs were about to burst with anger.
(End of chapter)
