Before dawn, something was going on in Fengtian Hall.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the throne, listened to the reports from all the officials, analyzed the pros and cons, inquired about important matters, and made decisions fluently.
Liu Shaoxian, the Minister of Rites, knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the number of monks, nuns and Taoist priests in the world has been determined, totaling 96,320 people. Nowadays, Buddhism and Laojiao worship too much, and the number of disciples is increasing day by day, sitting down and eating. It is a waste of people's money and should be strictly controlled. Especially the number of monks and monasteries has been increasing rapidly year by year. In one county, there are only 50,000 people, but there are already five monks and monasteries..."
Hu Weiyong glanced at Liu Shaoxian, why didn't this guy understand? After all, the emperor once worked in Huangjue Temple and hit the bell. If it weren't for the torn robes issued by Huangjue Temple, the emperor doesn't know if he would have survived to participate in the Red Scarf. military.
If you ask the emperor to govern the monks and monasteries, isn't it the same as making the emperor ungrateful?
really.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened and he said slowly: "I know this, Liu Qing, please step back."
Liu Shaoxian sighed secretly, got up and stood back.
It seems that Your Majesty has not realized the dangers of Buddhism and Lao Er Cult. If you allow them to grow, they will only be able to feed a group of idle people.
Besides knocking wooden fish during the day and prying open the merit boxes at night, what else can a monk do?
Besides being a priest during the day and meditating at night, what else can a Taoist priest do?
This group of people could not bring any property or wealth to the Ming Dynasty. What they ate and drank were provided by the people, and what they wasted was the people's money. But when these people had money, they occupied the people's land and robbed the people of their money. Grains were given to the people at high interest rates.
There are nearly 100,000 monks and monks, but we don’t care!
Liu Shaoxian was unwilling to give in, but he also knew that offending Zhu Yuanzhang would not end well, so he simply looked for another opportunity to report again.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that no one was doing anything, he looked at Hu Weiyong and asked, "Is there any news about the salt disciples in Huai'an Prefecture?"
Hu Weiyong left his job and knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, Huai'an Magistrate Ren Guangzu acted vigorously and interrogated Zhang Sanxiu to no avail. He arranged a trap with the River Guards and the Inspection Department to lure the salt disciples into action. Twenty-seven salt disciples were captured successively. After interrogation, one more person was captured. One hundred and seventy-two people. Now the traffic to the north of Huai'an Mansion is unobstructed, and there is no trace of the salt disciples."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said majestically: "Salt gangsters, thieves, and vagrants have been causing trouble to the place and harming the people since the founding of the country. All prefectures and counties should be ordered to conduct more inspections and deal with them strictly. There are many inspection departments along the canal. The flow of business and people must not be hindered.”
"I accept the decree."
Hu Weiyong raised his voice.
Zhu Yuanzhang patted his belly, smiled rarely, and said to the officials: "Yesterday on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, there was a banquet in the East Palace, where we talked about how to govern the country. I heard someone said that the outline of governing the country should be eating. What do you think? look?"
"Have a meal?"
All the officials looked at each other.
Who among the guests in the East Palace and Yu De is so vulgar that he actually uses food as an outline for governing the country? It is really a big joke in the world.
Chen Ning, who has been promoted to the right censor, laughed out loud.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it intently and asked, "Chen Ning, tell me what you think."
Knowing that he was being disrespectful, Chen Ning hurriedly came out and knelt down. He first asked for forgiveness. Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang did not blame him, he said bluntly: "Governing the country is complicated, and it is difficult to handle it properly despite all the hard work. How can the myriad of issues be settled over eating. I think that eating is the only way to govern the country. The outline is really vulgar remarks.”
"Oh. Yu Pu, you are in charge of the household department. What do you think?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Yu Pu.
Yu Pu walked out a little uneasily. He had been in the Governor's Palace last month and had just become the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Many things were still unclear. He carefully thought about Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts and carefully replied: "Your Majesty, I think that eating is the way to govern the country." The outline, I think, is not about eating. What it says is that if all the people can have enough to eat, then all the people will be safe and the world will be at peace. This statement has merit."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled calmly and glanced at everyone: "Anyone who thinks that eating can be used as an outline for governing the country should stand up and let me see."
Wen and Wu were stunned and didn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking.
Seeing that no one dared to move, Mu Ying walked out and said, "I think this statement is correct."
Someone took the lead, and other officials also breathed a sigh of relief. More than 20 people including the six ministers, ministers, and censors walked out.
Hu Weiyong observed for a moment and finally stood up at the end.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the civil and military officials who had not moved, stood up and said: "Since you don't think eating is the key to governing the country, then don't eat today. I want to see how you manage government affairs if your stomach problem cannot be solved!"
"Retreat!"
When the chamberlain saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was gone, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Chen Ning and others secretly complained.
Huagai Palace.
Not long after Zhu Yuanzhang sat down, Zhu Biao entered the palace to ask for an audience.
"Send a message to Guanglu Temple. The prince and I will have lunch here."
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered his chamberlain.
The chamberlain takes orders to make arrangements.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao who seemed different from yesterday and asked, "What do you think of what Gu Zhengchen said?"
Zhu Biao said sternly: "Father, I think the outline of governing the country is the word "eating". Although the wording is a bit crude, it is very simple and clear and hits the point. Looking at everything in the world, all people and people, only eating is the most important. If the court can pay attention Solve the problem of people having enough food, and the people will return to their hearts, and the country will be prosperous for generations to come."
There was a bit of sadness in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he sighed: "Since I came to the throne, I have established systems, punished corrupt officials, and repaired water conservancy. What is it for? It is to ensure that officials govern the Qingming Dynasty and that the people can afford food. Among the four peoples, scholars, farmers, industry, and merchants, Farming is the most laborious. The imperial court takes very little money from the people, and the people still have no money left in their families. It is difficult for them to live with enough food all year round. If there is a slight drought, flood, or insect disaster, every family will be short of food, and the people will sell their cattle!"
"Why don't I want to solve this food problem? Gu Zhengchen is right, only when they can afford food can the people be peaceful and obedient! Those thieves and salt gangsters who caused chaos were initially desperate, unable to eat, and unable to survive, so they took risks ? Biao'er, you have to remember that the biggest thing in running a country is to solve the people's food problem. From now on, you must think about these two words every time you eat."
Zhu Biao solemnly agreed: "My son, I would like to be taught, and I will reflect on every meal."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded happily: "Gu Zhengchen is a talented person. He can summarize such an important matter of governing the country in two words. Although this is different from Lao Tzu's saying that governing a big country is like cooking small delicacies, it is also similar."
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood, Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "Father, I think that Gu Zhengchen has some talents. He said frankly that if you want to keep the people full, you cannot stick to the rules and propose that we should adapt to local conditions and develop local industries..."
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and patted the table: "Why can't you stick to the rules? He wants to break the rules! When you are an official in the court, you should pay attention to the rules. If you can't even do this, everyone will overstep their bounds, and what will happen to the court? Looks like this? This guy is also a naughty guy, he knows how to go around the corner and ask me for permission. Biao'er, tell me, can I give him this permission?"
Zhu Biao's heart tightened. He knew that his father had always attached great importance to rules and was not allowed to violate the etiquette he had set. If Gu Zhengchen was given permission, who knew how far he would go?
Now my father is asking himself, making it clear that he should carry it.
Perhaps there is another meaning, that is, if Gu Zhengchen has a problem in the future, it will be his own problem, and it is up to him to decide whether to stand up and protect him.
After all, as his Majesty, my father could not excuse a seventh-grade county magistrate, but as a prince, he could excuse officials without the officials blaming him too much.
Zhu Biao thought about it for a while, calmed down and made up his mind: "Father, Gu Zhengchen is young and determined to be innovative. There are many strange ideas and methods in his speech, whether it is the method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the weird exercise." None of the physical skills are found in the classics. If he has a plan in his mind to feed the people of Jurong, I think he can report it first, and then my father will approve it, and then he will implement the plan."
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, looked at the thoughtful Zhu Biao, and said with a smile: "This is the right thing. I can allow him to implement new policies, but I cannot allow him to act without any instructions. In the big world, the rules cannot be broken, but the method of doing things can still be discussed. Let's do this, you tell Gu Zhengchen that if there is any business, send two copies of the report, one to Zhongshu Province and one to the East Palace."
"Father..."
Zhu Biao was a little surprised.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Don't think too much, I'm just thinking that even if Gu Zhengchen's memorial is sent to Zhongshu Province, I'm afraid it will be detained by Hu Youxiang. Since you appreciate this person, I will give him one." The right to make trouble in the East Palace. If this person is just talking and talking on paper and cannot make Jurong prosperous, I might as well give you a warning."
"Back then, Confucius lamented, "At first I was like people, listening to their words and believing in their deeds; now I am like people, listening to their words and observing their deeds. You must keep this in mind. Officials are good at deceiving people. Don't just listen to them." In other words, when it comes to governing a country, one still needs to see what he does whether he is a good official or a villain."
"My son, please remember this."
Zhu Biao was very excited.
Officials reported to the East Palace. This seemed ordinary, but in fact it was very unusual.
This is the first time that his father has allowed himself to participate in government affairs, even though it only concerns one person and one county!
But this is a sign, a beginning!
From this moment on, the prince himself has taken a step towards the court.
No, just a toe...
Even so, Zhu Biao is very happy. He spends the whole day either listening to lectures or reading history books, etiquette or rules. Now, he can have a touch of government affairs, which means that he can take less classes and read less books...
Yushitai.
Chen Ning, the imperial censor, was so hungry that he secretly gritted his teeth and couldn't help complaining: "Who among the guests in the East Palace and Yu De is so blind that he actually said that eating is the outline of governing the country, leaving us with no food to eat!"
No one dared to respond.
Although the supervisory censor Dalu and Quan supported this statement, they did not dare to eat.
The censor is hungry. As a supervisory censor, how can he go to eat? Doesn't this make the officer look bad?
Chen Shiju, the supervisory censor, saw that Chen Ning was angry and took the initiative to inquire about the news. He also brought back some cakes and said to Chen Ning: "Censor Chen, I have found out clearly that the person who proposed that eating is the outline of governing the country is a famous scholar named Gu Zhengchen. , the Ministry of Civil Affairs has appointed Jurong County Magistrate, but he has not yet taken up his post..."
"Why should a scholar go to the East Palace?"
Chen Ning didn't believe that this person had no background.
Chen Shiju said in a low voice: "I heard that he has a close relationship with Mu Ying, the governor and Tongzhi, and now he lives in Mu Mansion."
Chen Ning's eyes lit up, and he looked at Chen Shiju with a ferocious smile: "A person who was promoted from the imperial court, but did not go to the post of county magistrate, actually got so close to the military generals of the imperial court. There must be something fishy in this, you don't think so? Seventh grade county magistrate, Jurong , Haha, it’s too close, let him get away.”
