If Zhu Houzhao was an emperor like Song Renzong or his father Ming Xiaozong, then the three-person cabinet of Liu, Li, and Xie would actually be very suitable and there would be no problem.
But he was not. Then he sat on the dragon chair and suddenly realized that these old men were all highly respected veterans of the third and fourth dynasties. It's hard to convince such a person, but if you keep fighting with him, it doesn't look good to the court, so you will unconsciously feel aggrieved.
At the same time, he himself is no longer the child he was when Hongzhi was ten years old. The gradual increase in power in his hands has made him more and more swollen. Things he could tolerate a few years ago no longer want to tolerate. The choices he could compromise a few years ago cannot be tolerated now. Be willing to compromise.
This is how people are. As an emperor, while he affects the environment, he himself is also affected by the environment.
After seeing off these ministers, the note in the attendant's room still had the name of Zhang Tianrui, the Imperial College's sacrificial wine.
Zhu Houzhao pinched his eyes with his fingers, suppressed some emotions in his heart, and ordered: "Explain it."
Liu Jin cautiously said, "Your Majesty, would you like to take a rest?"
"No need, just let him in. He's probably been waiting for a long time."
Zhang Tianrui is timid, so he always comes early. He is worried about what if the emperor's agenda ends early and the emperor is asked to wait.
After entering, he bowed to the courtiers and then raised his hands to present the memorial.
"This is the situation in the academy that His Majesty ordered me to report to you the day before yesterday. I have been working hard for a few days since I returned home, and now I am already at it."
Liu Jin went to get it. The emperor took it in his hand and opened it immediately without any hurry.
"How is Gwu Academy?"
Zhang Tianrui lowered his head and reported back: "According to your Majesty's instructions, I am teaching arithmetic and physics, and have produced some results, but I feel that they are of no practical use."
Zhu Houzhao sneered, "Of course you think it's useless after you have read it all your life. However, if you are so aimless, the results will probably be very slow. You still have to be problem-oriented and make progress in the process of solving problems. Another thing is to pay attention to talents, those who are particularly curious and willing to delve into, you have to keep them.”
"What about the others?"
"Give us a way out. Gu Shilang of the Ministry of Finance has gone to Zhejiang, and he should return to Beijing in a while. When the time comes, remember to remind me that there must be a connection between the Academy and the Shaofu, and you are not willing to study those boring issues. , they can do some arithmetic anyway, so let them manage the account books. Now is the time for the court to hire people. Those who are willing to stay, that is the hope. Are you doing well now?"
Zhang Tianrui didn't dare to say no, even if he made it up, he would have to make up a name, otherwise what would the work report be called? Fortunately, he has someone in mind, "There is a man named Shi Chengqi. He answered the question of why stones sink in water and wood floats in water. Later, he continued to study based on the mechanics mentioned by His Majesty. Now he is like a madman."
"I hope he can really succeed."
"When His Majesty the Holy King is in court, everything will be protected by God and ancestors."
"The Academy is a place I care about no matter what. The lectures that unite knowledge and practice, the training of doctors who can help the world, and everything is good governance that benefits the country and the people. If one day, I want to find someone who knows how to control water, please report I want to find a famous doctor in the world, and you can also tell me the name... Three hundred and sixty, the number one scholar in the field, our Ming Dynasty is full of talents, then you, Zhang Tianrui, are amazing, I want a heavy reward you."
….
Zhang Tianrui was overjoyed after hearing this and quickly knelt down to thank him.
Liu Jin who was standing beside him seemed to sense the emperor's affection, so he took two steps forward and whispered, "Your Majesty may not have visited the academy for a long time. Do you want to go there again?"
Zhu Houzhao liked that place, not because it was so fun, but mainly because when you face those cabinet ministers every day and feel breathless and suffocated, you will naturally like it there.
The emperor did not reject it immediately, but first asked Zhang Tianrui, "What do you think about offering wine?"
That is to say, the emperor wants to leave the palace.
Zhang Tianrui didn't dare to answer these words, but the majesty of the emperor was no longer that of the prince back then. He didn't dare to say anything bad, so he uttered a sweet sentence.
He said, "Whatever your Majesty wants me to do, all I need is a decree, and I will do my best."
A trace of disdain flashed across Liu Jin's side, but the scholar just kept it up, not only wanting the emperor's appreciation, but also not wanting to be obedient. Even a pig could tell from the situation in front of him that the emperor's heart was moved.
But Zhu Houzhao didn't care about this with him. He was an honest man and would do whatever he was told.
"Liu Jin, please make arrangements."
"My slave obeys the order."
…
…
After Li Dongyang got off duty, he dragged his old body back to the house. He was already fifty-nine, a pure old age. He had served several emperors and reached his current high position, but it seemed that he could not escape that fate.
The emperor's dissatisfaction with the cabinet was about to overflow, so he had to deal with this matter today. Not long after returning home, he asked his servants to carry a sedan to find Mr. Liu Ge.
They could clearly see what was happening in Qianqing Palace today, Liu Jian just didn't say anything about it.
Liu's servants led him to the study with special respect.
Pushing the wooden door gently, the wind outside the house made the candlelight sway, just like these old people in the whirlpool of the court. Liu Jian's health was fine, but Li Dongyang already had to stoop slightly when walking.
Normally I wouldn't think so, but considering the background of the court at this time, Liu Jian couldn't help but sigh, "I have been loyal to the country for forty years, and now you and I are already old."
"Should Mr. Liu Ge know that I will come?"
"I know. But you don't have to come. Because it doesn't matter whether you come or not. Confucius said that you should do something if you know it is impossible. There are some things that your Majesty has no choice and neither do you or I."
Liu Jian usually did not say these words in the cabinet duty room, but as soon as he said them, Li Dongyang knew that Liu Ge, an old official who had been ups and downs for more than forty years, had long been as clear as a mirror in his heart.
"Mr. Ge, Your Majesty is not that kind of monarch. Didn't Mr. Ge also say that you and I are lucky to have such a monarch? Now that we are retreating like this, doesn't it feel a little pity in Mr. Ge's heart?"
"I was born before you were born, and I was already old when you were born. Maybe this is fate. I know you want to mediate, but if you can mediate with me, can you mediate with Your Majesty?"
Of course Liu Jian feels it is a pity that his ideal has not yet become a reality. Meeting a reliable monarch is the greatest guarantee for him to realize his ideals.
However, after the new king came to the throne, the conflict with the cabinet became so intense. Not to mention that Zhu Houzhao did not expect this, even he, an old and mature man, did not expect it before.
….
Because the two parties usually cooperate very well. After all, they still have a common goal of 'strengthening the country and enriching the people'.
Li Dongyang didn't want to leave. He had no children and only a little faith and morality from his youth were left in his heart. If these were let go and no longer important, then he would no longer exist.
"If I can mediate, I can't. The boss wants me to give it a try. I don't think His Majesty is ready. Everything can still turn around."
"Jinyiwei went to Nanzhili, did you know?"
Li Dongyang didn't understand why Liu Jian suddenly mentioned this. He frowned and shook his head, "So what?"
"Your Majesty did not believe Ding Zuping's memorial and believed that there must be food in Nanzhili, but Ding Zuping was unwilling to borrow it, so he was dismissed from his post. But Ding Zuping sent me a letter, saying that there is indeed no food in Nanzhili." Liu Jian stretched out his old certificate. He tapped his yellowed fingers on the table, "He is a bit lacking in ability, but why doesn't he do something that can please his superiors? This is contrary to common sense."
Li Dongyang suddenly felt that there was something going on, "That's wrong. With His Majesty's wisdom, he would not have been unaware of Ding Zuping's behavior that went against common sense. But why did Your Majesty still insist that Ding Zuping was unwilling to borrow it?"
"From your Majesty's point of view, it may not be possible to tell whether Ding Zuping is acting in an overt and treacherous manner, because some ministers are indeed bold. This is a possibility. In this case, it is not wrong to dismiss him. The second possibility, Your Majesty will think If Ding Zuping is indeed telling the truth, then he will also be punished, and at the same time, Nanzhili will be investigated. Because Nanzhili should not
There must be no food. In the sixth and ninth years of Hongzhi, the imperial court sent important ministers to manage the Susong River. Taxes there were heavy, but there was no food. What does it mean? "
A cold air suddenly rose behind Li Dongyang. This is why Jin Yiwei went to Nanzhili!
Although Emperor Xiaozong and these old men have many flaws, they are indeed running the country seriously. There are also a group of officials who are doing their work. At least they are not messing around. After eighteen years of peace and stability, how could there be no food in that place?
Liu Jian said with sadness: "Your Majesty believed that Ding Zuping was unwilling to borrow food and did not alert the snake. However, after the court meeting, he sent Jin Yiwei to South Zhili. With your Majesty's scheming and skill, South Zhili rarely said anything. It’s a big deal. And His Majesty’s new and weird ideas are emerging one after another. These are big things. Why do you want me to stay? What does this have to do with His Majesty’s unpreparedness?”
Li Dongyang stopped talking. Liu Jian is a man with political wisdom. He can see that in the future it will not only be about sending troops, but there will be many things. Under this situation, he can retreat once or twice. If he retreats every time, he will You have to think about your reputation.
Now he is still a cabinet minister and a pillar of the imperial court. Maybe in a few years, he will be almost the same as the "Long Live Pavilion Elder" when Emperor Xianzong was emperor. Wansui Ge Lao refers to Wan An during the reign of Emperor Xianzong. One day the emperor summoned him and asked him a few questions. When Wan An couldn't answer, he kowtowed and said long live, so he was jokingly called Long Live Ge Lao.
For Liu Jian, this may be the future. The emperor needs to be smart and powerful. Just like this time when he sent out troops, he paid for it himself. Everything in the future will be done according to the emperor's wishes. Then he will have to rely on it. At that time, if you didn't kowtow and say long live when something happened, what else could you do?
"What is the name of writing articles? Officials should retire due to old age and illness. What is the flutter like a gull in the sky and the earth? When the tide comes, how can manpower stop it?"
royal hired cat
