After the emperor was angry, the atmosphere in Nanjing was indeed different. Soon Zhu Houzhao began to receive news. He didn't care what the background of those people was. When the matter reached this point, everyone involved had to be arrested.
You Zhi came to report that Xie Tizhong and others were outside asking for an audience.
Zhu Houzhao raised his eyes. Although he had not seen the real person, he could already predict what they would say.
"Xuan."
A total of three people came, headed by Xie Tizhong, as well as Luo Zhongyuan, the Minister of War and Shi Binxian, the Minister of Hubu in Nanjing.
They are all dozens of years old, but they should be living a good life as part-time workers here, and their health and bones are very good.
"I thank you, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing, for paying homage to the Emperor!"
The other two people saluted like him.
Zhu Houzhao did not ask them to get up immediately, but remained silent for several breaths.
They had all met in Beijing back then.
"The three dear friends have all aged a lot, and I have also grown up."
After thanking him, he bowed his head again and said, "Your Majesty, in his prime of youth, is not comparable to an old and decrepit person like me."
"Among the emperors of the past, I was relatively young when I succeeded to the throne. Even in a common people's home, the head of the family would not trust his teenage son to manage the family business. But I have no choice. I have to protect the country left by my ancestors. good.
Over the years, the court has not been peaceful. I have seen a lot of insidiousness, turmoil, and machinations. To this day, I can already see through people's hearts. "
The emperor smiled slightly and whispered into the three people's ears.
After saying these two sentences, he said: "Okay, everyone, please get up, don't kneel down and answer, tell me what's going on."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
When Xie Tizhong looked at the emperor's back again, he actually felt a sense of oppression.
This is Emperor Zhengde.
It is far beyond the comparison of Hongzhi and Chenghua before.
Hongzhi fully believed what they said, while Chenghua was less cunning than the current emperor.
What he said just now... made him somewhat confused about the holy meaning.
The emperor is only twenty years old, but he has a calm demeanor and a calm expression. Judging from what he has known in the past, almost all the general trends of the world are under his calculations.
This is actually an aura.
With Zhu Houzhao's current position of power, he can definitely do this.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
When Xie Tizhong was slightly absent-minded, Shi Binxian beside him was the first to speak out.
"explain."
"I dare you, my Majesty, to ask if you know that Jin Yiwei has raided the entire city recently and has captured no less than a hundred people in the city! I know that your Majesty had ordered to detain the twenty-seven people before, but now the actual number of people arrested has been five. It is twice as much as your Majesty requested. Moreover, I heard that there was a proposal for severe punishments, and I thought it was inappropriate."
"Why is it inappropriate?"
Shi Binxian raised his arms, faced the emperor directly, and said righteously: "Anyone who governs a country should first appease the people. If heavy punishments are used, the people will be frightened and uneasy. Over time, the people will become resentful, the society will be turbulent, and the country will be in danger." Furthermore, heavy punishments can easily alienate ministers. If ministers are alienated, loyal words will be hard to hear; if loyal words are hard to hear, it will be difficult for your majesty to clearly understand the country's conditions, and the country will be in danger. Therefore, I hope that your majesty will think deeply about it and not use excessive punishment. Lest people’s hearts become unstable.”
"I second the proposal." Luo Zhongyuan also followed up, "The rule of the Holy Lord should be based on benevolence and virtue first, and punishment as a supplement. If you use benevolence and virtue to transform people, the people will know and respect themselves; if you use punishment to govern people, the people will feel resentful. . I hope your Majesty will clearly understand this principle, eliminate the disadvantages of heavy punishments, and practice benevolent governance to make the country prosperous."
Zhu Houzhao turned to look at Xie Tizhong, "Xie Shangshu, what do you think?"
"Returning to your majesty, I also believe that in a prosperous era, punishments should be lenient to appease people's hearts."
"I...get it."
Xie Tizhong:? ?
Shi Binxian:? ? ?
"emperor……"
"I said, I understand." Zhu Houzhao repeated again.
Shi Binxian understood that the emperor allowed them to say whatever they wanted, but it basically went in one ear and out the other, and would not pay attention to them at all.
Indeed.
When Zhu Houzhao was still the prince, he would argue with his ministers, but this gradually decreased after he became the emperor.
The emperor still has a very special status. He is always arguing with his ministers, and the impact will be very bad.
Now, he has been the king for ten years and naturally has no interest in doing these things again, unless someone really does not know what is good and what is evil.
Besides, he already knew the tempers of these people, so why waste his emotions here? His people were doing it outside anyway.
However, Xie Tizhong and the three of them did not want to gain anything from their trip today.
Xie Tizhong suddenly knelt down and said: "Good medicine is bitter in the mouth and good for the disease, and loyal words are irritating to the ears and good for deeds. I know that your Majesty does not want to listen to the irritating words of others, but I care about the country deeply..."
"Thank you, Minister."
"His Majesty!"
"Do you really think that I am some stupid monarch?"
"I don't dare, old minister."
"You, the Minister of Industry, are responsible for the maintenance of Nanjing's imperial mausoleum and palace city. Do you know?"
"Old minister knows."
"But this time I come, the Nanjing Palace City is not without damage. Can you do this little thing first, and then teach me how to govern the country?"
In an instant, the palace was so quiet that one could hear needles dropping.
It's not that he can't argue the truth, it's just that it's really boring.
To put it bluntly, this is dereliction of duty.
Xie Tizhong, who was so old, was suddenly said to have no face at all. Such people have extremely strong self-esteem, so they immediately said: "I have a shallow talent and weak virtues. I have failed to fulfill the divine grace. I feel ashamed. Please remove me from my post." Cure the sins of ministers and serve as a warning to others.”
"Luo Shangshu?"
Luo Zhongyuan, Minister of War, has not yet spoken.
"I'm here."
"The Minister of War in Nanjing is also responsible for training the soldiers and horses of the Southern Zhili Guards. But who are the weaker and stronger soldiers in the inland guards and the border troops I ordered to train?"
You can't talk nonsense like this.
"Of course the frontier army is strong."
Zhu Houzhao didn't bother to challenge him, and continued to ask Shi Binxian, "Shi Shangshu, the maintenance of Nanjing Palace City has not stopped since the time of Renxuan. The imperial court has a corresponding amount of silver for this every year. Where is the money?"
Naturally, Shi Binxian found it difficult to argue.
Zhu Houzhao rolled his eyes, then sighed, not bothering to look at them, "Can you all think about your own business? Or is your business just to cause trouble for me?"
"Your Majesty, calm down, I don't dare!"
"Oh, don't you dare? I know it myself. As for getting angry, there's nothing to be angry about. How can I not guess what you are going to say?"
Compared to when he was the prince, he is now more able to deal with these people.
Of course, being able to cope and wanting to cope are two different things. No one wants to quarrel with others every day.
The emperor's words were unpleasant, and the three veterans were speechless for a moment, which made Zhu Houzhao very surprised, "Aren't you leaving yet? What else do you want to hear me say?"
"Yes... I am waiting, please leave."
Zhu Houzhao suddenly thought of something again, walked down with his waist in hand, walked up to Shi Binxian, and said in a faint tone: "You just said that heavy punishments can easily make ministers alienate. If ministers alienate, loyalty will be unpleasant; loyalty will be unpleasant. , then it is difficult for me to clearly understand the national situation. Why do you say that? What do you mean?"
Shi Binxian lowered his head, "What I mean is that Your Majesty should be lenient to open up a way for speech."
"So... you mean that loyal ministers will keep silent because of my punishment." Zhu Houzhao made a circle gesture with his hand, and then laughed. At the end of the laugh, his expression changed, "Which one really Are loyal ministers afraid of the emperor's wrath and do not speak out loyal ministers? Are you like you, a loyal minister? Ah, I understand. If I scold you a few words today, you will not dare to tell the truth, right? You are Such a person."
Shi Binxian's heart suddenly sank. He did not dare to wear this hat.
"Your Majesty! I..."
As soon as he opened his mouth to argue, Zhu Houzhao immediately turned around and walked inside, "You Zhi, send them out of the palace!"
He is the emperor, and he always takes the initiative. When he is willing to let you speak, everything will be fine, but he also has ways to prevent you from saying anything.
"Yes, I obey your order."
Shi Binxian was still shouting, "Your Majesty!"
But all that was left of him was his back.
Having no other choice, You Zhi helped him up, "Shi Shangshu, why do you think you need to do this?"
(End of chapter)
