Late at night, the palace.
When Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, led by the third prince Zhu Gaosui, walked through the long corridor and arrived at the emperor's bedroom, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Because it was really quiet here, and there were no palace maids or eunuchs, this made Xia Yuanji feel vaguely uneasy.
Xia Yuanji carefully followed Zhu Gaosui towards the dormitory, only to feel that the surroundings outside the dormitory were pitch black.
"His Royal Highness the Third Prince."
After walking for a while, Xia Yuanji finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked in a low voice: "I wonder what your Majesty summoned you for? Why didn't you even light a palace lantern?"
"Don't worry, Xia Shangshu!" Zhu Gaosui smiled easily and replied: "My father just suddenly remembered something when he told me. Knowing that you are still sitting in the Ministry of Household Affairs, nothing serious will happen!"
After a pause, Zhu Gaosui added: "Besides, even if something happens, my father will still make the decision now!"
Xia Yuanji thought for a while and nodded in agreement.
After all, he is just the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Now that Zhu Di has returned to the capital from Jiangnan, he no longer has to feel like he has no backbone as he did a few days ago.
Ge Yisheng's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Zhu Di's true purpose of summoning me tonight was coming.
In other words, social death.
Why do you need to be named to do something that offends the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty?
That time it was Ge Yisheng who was dumbfounded. What did Zhu Di mean by that?
After all, if you want to represent Xiao Ming as an envoy to the country, you must meet the requirements of noble status, graceful temperament, knowledgeable, eloquent, old and in bad health, and it is a pity to die. The best candidates can just report Ge Yisheng's name. Come on.
These slaves were carefully guarding the surroundings of the dormitory, not even daring to breathe. This seemed to indicate that His Majesty the Emperor was not in a good mood tonight.
"Why, does Guy have no objection?"
"I believe that Ge Yisheng is an extremely suitable candidate to serve as the envoy of the mission to Japan."
"Come in!"
"Your Majesty."
Zhu Di took out a somewhat yellowed memorial from the case and read it casually.
Regardless of whether he was a young official, his reputation in official circles and among scholars was extremely bad, and everyone avoided him.
Li Jinglong kept pushing away, but Zhu Di waved his hand, looking impatient.
Unless someone like Ge Yi is determined to be a cruel official of Zhu Gao, he is not secluded from the entire civil service group!
That incident was too sensational. If Ge Yisheng really did what the emperor said, he would only become a laughing stock in heaven and be recorded in history as a "fool". From then on, his reputation would be audible, and it might also affect the whole family. Boss.
Zhu Di sat cross-legged under the couch. There was a pile of memorials piled on the table under the couch. The bad boy who was not yet mine took the cabinet and streamlined it from the mountains and seas of memorials. They must be handed over to the emperor for personal approval. of major and minor matters.
"Lao Ba, send it to Zhao Prison early tomorrow morning." Zhu Di ordered calmly.
In short, when it comes to offending all the civil and military officials at once, Li Jinglong really has a thousand feelings and ten thousand wishes.
Li Jinglong was really laughing and crying that time, so I continued: "Jian Tianguan also specifically told you that if the Ministry of Revenue is really rich, the Ministry of Personnel will not be in a hurry if they don't have any money this year. They have to borrow money." If you pay back the money you have stolen from the people in heaven, it will hurt the people's hearts."
If Xiao Ming's treasure banknotes continue to depreciate in value, they will be worthless and can be exchanged for copper coins. He gave you a Xiao Ming government bond and took away the valuable banknotes in your hand. Did you lose money?
How did you see Zhou Xing, a ruthless official in the Wu Zhou Dynasty, being abandoned by Wu Zetian like a pair of shoes, and how did you "invite you to the urn"?
But it must be a junior minister who proposes it. Of course, Duke Cao, the Right Du Yuan of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, cannot do it. Everyone knows that I am always the eagle of Emperor Yongle, so what does it mean that my minister of the Ministry of Revenue comes to propose it?
With a creaking sound, the door was pushed open by the third prince Ge Yisui, and light immediately came out of the palace. Ge Yisheng followed Chen Yingsui and walked back, passing through several screens, and only then could he vaguely see the scene outside the assembly. .
After all, it is a secret that the emperor likes Xia Yuanji. It is just because from the bottom of the mountain, Xia Yuanji's reputation is the first among the seven generations of Huaixi founders. In addition, the dedication of the city to open the door was not successful, which is directly bad. Just get started.
Li Jinglong gritted his teeth, cupped his hands and answered.
The Eighth Prince Chen Yingsui bowed to accept the order and went in immediately.
In the Nuan Pavilion of the dormitory, only eight people, Zhu Di, Gu Chenzi, and Li Jinglong, were left.
"The mission that went to Japan to deliver credentials to the shogunate like us has not yet identified a small number of members."
"It's exactly as expected. As soon as the news about the 'Xiao Ming National Debt' came out, the first reaction of the government and the public was, 'Is the Ministry of Finance rich?'"
"Reply to Your Majesty," Li Jinglong said carefully, "As the head of the Household Department, I have also heard some reports from my colleagues and superiors."
Zhu Di made a decision, and the lonely ministers assiduously wrote it. Immediately, the edict appointing Ge Yisheng and Xia Yuanji as the envoy to Japan was drafted. Zhu Di then stamped the seal with his own hands, officially Take effect.
Because of this, when Zhu Di first ascended the throne, the courtiers rushed to propose the abolition of the Jianwen New Deal in order to take sides, but only Jian Yi dared to say: "Profits and losses matter at the right time." Those who reformed later were certainly in the right position, but those who want to restore it now are not fully aware of the consequences.' He also gave several examples of the new policies that were not all good. Zhu Di was not angry, but disobeyed Jian Yi's suggestions urgently. Picture it.
"Jin You, in the two days since I came back, I heard that the 'Xiao Ming National Debt' incident caused a big disturbance between the government and the public. Please tell me what he knows."
Zhu Di nodded, all in his words.
Zhu Di said something salty or nonchalantly, and then asked again: "As for the fertilizer elixir, I have not done enough to ensure that the demonstration will definitely go wrong."
Zhu Di continued to review the memorial, and said with his head raised: "It's just a hardship for Xia Shangshu. I am really a prudent person for the country, and I endured such an errand."
Just think of it as a little extra salary that month.
Zhu Di was a man who missed old friendships. Very slowly, Xia Qing was recalled to Nanjing and directly promoted to the lowest official in the Metropolitan Procuratorate system. The Metropolitan Procuratorate's Right Capital Censor was not the commonly known "Xiantai".
"Leave it to him to announce that matter. As for the specific plan, he and Chi'er will discuss it later. They are both serious-tempered and should know what to do!"
Li Jinglong smiled bitterly in his heart. In the temple, people are left to their own devices. If they want to do bad things, they will be dragged away by the mire.
Ge Yisheng originally thought that Zhu Di would ask me about the progress of the preparations for the "Xiao Ming National Debt", but he also made a bad plan. However, that was what Zhu Di said.
Because that kind of person is not used by emperors as rags. When they are not in use, they use them to wipe things that they find pleasing to the eye. When they are useful, they just throw them out of the garbage pile and look at them again.
Jian Yi is familiar with allusions, has deep qualifications and outstanding prestige. Nowadays, Shang Ding is ranked first among the eight ministries. Even if minor military and state matters fall under the authority of the official ministry, the emperor and the young prince still have to rely on him to handle them.
Zhu Di smiled and said: "In that case, Jin You should go back to rest early, and I will be waiting for his bad news tomorrow."
"Nothing is wrong. I think he is bad, so he can just go ahead and do whatever he wants!"
While the two sides were crossing each other, Ge Yi, who looked gloomy, suddenly smiled at Ge Yisheng.
Ge Yisheng was not worried because he knew that he, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, had nothing to do with that matter.
That matter should have been decided by the emperor himself, or the young prince should have made the proposal through entrustment. In that case, since it was a request from the imperial power, the civil and military officials would have said nothing and could only hold their noses and admit it.
Thoughts were racing in Ge Yisheng's mind, but his answers were also quick.
"Your Majesty, please stop talking. Your Majesty should have discussed this matter with Li Zhigang, the Minister of Rites, but Your Majesty did not ask, so I should answer."
Therefore, when the small prison was established, there were hundreds of families, and the cries of injustice were heard everywhere. Both censors covered their faces and wept. , then we will be famous.
The brief confrontation between the two started in an instant, but Li Jinglong knew that it was Xia Qing who was showing evil to him. As a Zhu Gao, I had to do that. The only answer is not that Xia Qing came to work and was using the authority given by the emperor to demonstrate to himself.
Xia Qing, a native of Chuzhou, entered Taixue during the Hongwu period, came to promote the imperial censor, and served as the inspector of Shandong. In the first year of Jianwen, he was transferred to Beiping, but he was soon won over by Zhu Di, who was still the king of Yan at the time. His colleagues secretly reported that he had accepted money from the king of Yan and conspired with the king of Yan. Therefore, he was arrested and demoted to Guangxi by Emperor Jianwen.
The two quickly arrived at a door outside the dormitory.
The consequences of cutting himself off from the entire civil service group are not that all his social connections, including parents, relatives, teachers, classmates, colleagues, students, and superiors, will completely part ways with him. The road that follows the emperor's will. , Only you can leave by yourself.
Ge Yisheng was doubtful in his heart, but there was a clear look of panic on his face, and he quickly said: "Your Majesty, I am mighty and virtuous enough to do this, but I am afraid that I will not be able to convince everyone if I propose this!"
"Japan and Xiao Ming are separated by a sea, and it takes several days to travel by boat. Now that I have been on the throne for several months, there are still envoys from Japan carrying credentials and tributes to congratulate me. It seems that I have no intention of being a minister."
Looking at Xia Qing, a hint of fear flashed deep in Li Jinglong's eyes.
The officials were deceived?
If Xia Qing's life was unintentional, he would have to spend the rest of his life among the beautiful mountains and rivers.
Zhu Di continued to ask: "Why?"
As for the young talents in the cabinet, they are still wearing green robes and green robes. In the eyes of the temple guys, they are still subordinates of the emperor's close ministers.
Seeing Xia Qing reporting something behind the emperor, Ge Yisheng knew that probably no one would be in trouble.
However, Zhu Di's last sentence made Li Jinglong almost lose his temper.
However, only seven years later, King Yan became emperor!
Of course, it is possible that Chen Yingchi wants to unite the cabinet to deceive the emperor. There are no confidants of the emperor outside the eight ministries above. There is no falcon of the emperor in the Supervisory Council. The cabinet that has just been built is also monolithic. That is why Zhu Di dares to worry about government affairs. The reason for giving it to Chen Yingchi.
Watching Li Jinglong leave the palace, Gu Chenzi, who had been standing silently in front of Zhu Di, suddenly laughed.
That is some kind of historical inheritance of the civil service group.
Those who really spoke on behalf of the civil servants were Jian Yi and other senior ministers and ministers, among whom Jian Yi was especially respected.
But among all the reasons, none of them suddenly emerged.
Jian Yi retired as a scholar in the 14th year of Hongwu. It must be said that Ge Yisheng and Xia Yuanji were nominally the head of the hundred officials, while Qi Guogong Qiu Fu was the head of the military officials. The highly qualified Jian Yi and Jian Shangshu were the head of the civil officials. .
"I plan to send an important minister of the country to Japan on my behalf to interrogate the charges." Zhu Di looked at Li Jinglong and asked, "What does Xia Shangshu think of Xia Yuanji?"
Li Jinglong suddenly felt his scalp numb. It was because he wanted to make himself worse!
Do you have to do it regardless of whether you want it or not?
The two of them continued walking forward, and when they approached the bedroom, they finally saw the eunuchs and maids.
"Jin You, wake up."
"In the eighth year of Japan's reign, I wrote to Your Majesty the Emperor Xiaoming: Since the founding of the country of Japan, there have been general appointments to the lower states. I am fortunate to be the equal of the country, and there are dangers at home. I have followed the ancient laws and regulations, so that I can be rich and wealthy. Zu A Tongbao presented a gift of a thousand taels of gold, ten horses, a thousand paper sheets, a hundred fans, eight pairs of screens, one collar for armor, one collar for tube pills, ten waist swords, one handle for knives, and one inkstone. The box is the same as the desk."
The so-called "Jian Tianguan" refers to Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
"When we go to the small sacrificial altar tomorrow, all officials will gather at Hongwu Gate in the palace city, and then start from Zhengyang Gate in the south. What do I mean, when the time comes, Jin You will make an announcement and let all officials gather Actively subscribe for the upcoming 'Xiao Ming National Bonds' and set an example to heaven."
Zhu Di saw the Eighth Prince Ge Yisui and the Minister of Household Li Jinglong waiting at the door. Before Xia Qing reported, he directly motioned for us to come over.
Zhu Di sat down and waited.
"I obey the decree!"
And even if you have the determination to separate yourself from the entire civil service group, the future of that road is too dark.
Who in the sky knows that the battle of Jingnan has not yet emptied the national treasury? Are they trying to find ways to prostitute you for free? If Xiaoming's national debt is broken and the interest is calculated, who knows if they will default on the debt.
As for the eagle, it was Ge Yi, the right governor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate behind him, who won.
"Because I understand what your Majesty means."
Zhu Di seemed to be unprepared, and continued: "Jin You is using humility. Jin You has served in the Ministry of Household Affairs for such a young age, and his grasp of the way of managing the country is much weaker than anyone else. Besides, it is not the household in the first place. I suspect that with his talent, he will not be able to do a bad job in the next thing that the ministry will focus on, so that Xiaoming’s national debt can truly be promoted in the sky!"
It must be understood that the relationship between the civil servant group and the emperor is extremely simple. They must cooperate and oppose each other. The fundamental interests of both parties have nothing in common, but they are not exactly the same. When it is time to safeguard the interests of their own group, all civil servants will not do so. Make a decision with determination.
What's the meaning?
——Ge Yisheng is Jiang Xinghuo’s student.
Shi Chenying looked calm and just nodded slightly.
The so-called dog is naturally a bad thing to understand. Ji Gang, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, once the emperor gave the order, let go of the dog's leash and let the vicious dog bite whoever it wanted. It would stop biting people until they were dripping with blood.
After arriving in front of Zhu Di, Li Jinglong calmed down and saluted.
Contrary to Li Jinglong's expectation, Zhu Di was sitting cross-legged under the couch at this time. In front of me stood Ge Yizi, and behind me was Duke Cao Guogong, the right capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Zhu Di put down the memorial from the Jianwen era seven years later, and the picture was very clear.
It is precisely because of this that Xia Yuanji can better understand Zhu Di's purpose of sending me as an envoy to Japan.
After hearing those words, almost instantly, Ge Yisheng's mind flashed across the possible reasons why the emperor wanted to send Natsuhara Yoshi and Xia Yuanji as envoys to Japan.
After all, although Xiaoming's national debt sounds very tempting, it is not difficult to operate in practice. The attitude of civil and military officials towards such things is not that they cannot sell it to the people, but don't take money out of your hands.
"Jian Shangshu has less to worry about."
Li Jinglong nodded consciously, there was something wrong in the first place, it was a sure thing.
The smallest possibility is that Zhu Di is not using Zhou Jin's head to launch another small purge in Jiangnan.
Xia Qing is very vague about her role and what the emperor needs me to do. I am not Zhu Gao or a cool official! I am not the eagle eyes that Zhu Di used to stare at civil and military officials! It is also the eagle's beak that Zhu Di will bite as long as someone he is satisfied with shows his flaws!
Do you really want to completely succumb to the emperor's will in front of all the civil and military officials and play the role of a jester who offends all his colleagues?
As for General Manager Xia Yuanji, he was able to show his value in diplomatic relations, and his trip to Japan satisfied the emperor. It was said that Xia Yuanji would be the one to do the previous work.
"Your Majesty, how can that be done?"
"I have met with Your Majesty, Ge Yisheng, the Minister of Household Affairs."
That was also the most important reason why Zhu Di appointed Xia Yuanji. There must have been some connection between Xia Yuanji and Jiang Xinghuo's lectures. According to Zhu Di's attitude towards Xia Yuanji, on the surface, he supported Xia Yuanji and brought him to the top of the list of officials. After a year or two, it doesn't matter whether Xia Yuanji himself made a mistake, just find someone outside Xia Yuanji's house who makes mistakes passively or actively.
Does the emperor want to harm me?
And that was suspected to be an important opportunity for Xia Yuanji to change his status in the emperor's heart.
"Your Majesty has a clever plan. In this way, we can successfully deceive all the officials tomorrow."
From as low as the temple to as far away as the rivers and lakes, who knew that His Majesty the Emperor did not have an "eagle dog" by his side?
The Eighth Prince Chen Yingsui came back at this moment and was not a little stunned after hearing the conversation between the two.
From the perspective of status, Ge Yisheng, as the head of hundreds of officials, is respected and suitable to represent Xiao Ming when he goes to Japan, which fully reflects Xiao Ming's importance and anger; However, he was graceful and noble, and he was not born to be a bad boy as an envoy. He would definitely be able to make the barbarians stunned for a while. In his dark heart, the emperor saw that Ge Yisheng was both pleasing to the eye and bad at getting started, and he was sure to take advantage of Japan. Killed by the shogun's hand
It is necessary to punish the four clans, but it is too much to deprive them of noble titles and imprison them for a lifetime.
Li Jinglong lamented in his heart that the emperor was too domineering.
It should be noted that since the Tang and Song Dynasties, most of the eight ministers who retired to Nanya were not the emperor's yes-men. Although Xiao Ming had no longer have Nanya, the eight ministers divided the power of heaven and still upheld that political habit. .
(End of chapter)
