Kill them all?
Zhu Biao was somewhat opposed to this result. Song Lian and other teachers taught that a ruler should be benevolent and should not add likes and dislikes to punishment. Although the "Da Ming Code" has not been compiled, there are still "Laws and Orders" to rely on.
According to the provisions of the law, he should be killed when he should be killed, and he should be released when he should be released. He should be sentenced according to the severity of his crime. The sentence should not be arbitrarily determined based on emotion. Otherwise, what is the use of the law?
What's more, there are too many people involved in the private coin coining case and the Yin-Yang Files case, and some people are not guilty enough to die, such as some jailers and subordinate officials in Jurong County. They are indeed related to the Yin-Yang Files case, but they are coercive followers. According to the law, one should not die.
Seeing that Zhu Biao wanted to stand up and refute, Empress Ma took a step forward, picked up the letter on the desk, and said softly: "Chongba, look at these arrows and boxes, they are so novel, and they can explain such a complicated case. It is clear as day, even the trend of the case, the investigation time, and the people involved are clearly marked. I think I can learn from this method."
Seeing that Empress Ma was very interested, Zhu Yuanzhang looked aside and said with a straight face: "Don't tell me, this thing looks more comfortable than a memorial, and the whole story is clear at a glance. It's just that we don't need this technique."
Queen Ma shook her head and pointed at the paper: "Don't look at the content of the case, just look at these boxes and arrows, and you can also fill in other things. After a while, if Biao'er is not going to Fengyang to worship his ancestors, he can fill it in here. Wherever he goes every day, His Majesty can also use these to record his arrangements at different times of the day, such as visiting the court, meeting with ministers, handling memorials, resting, eating, and inspecting the people..."
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the brush and wrote down the plan on a blank piece of paper, and then wrapped it in a box or diamond shape, with arrows pointing to the next step and the next time plan, and nodded repeatedly: "This is a good idea. With this method, we can There’s no need to carry notes in your sleeves every day.”
Empress Ma smiled: "No, you are the only emperor who has stuffed his sleeves with notes since ancient times. The notes are fragile and easy to lose. It is better to use this method, record them one by one on a long piece of paper, and hang them in the room every night. Save yourself the time to think about it, and just put the brush through it when you're done."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed: "This solves my problem. This Gu Zhengchen has endless novel methods."
Empress Ma politely persuaded: "Although I have never seen this person, I have heard about him many times. When he was in Teng County, he offered up plundered children. After he came to Jinling, he even made impressive remarks about governing the country by eating. Now, In Jurong, the ancestral land of the Zhu family, he works day and night to eliminate the evils and rectify the source, and he can be called a capable minister. At present, the number of officials in the imperial court is declining, and it is the right time for your Majesty to employ talents. I would like to ask your Majesty to take good care of the talents, pay more attention to their intentions, and make good use of them."
Zhu Yuanzhang stretched out his hand to grab the big cake, took a big bite, and looked at Zhu Biao: "Do you think it is wrong for me to kill people?"
Zhu Biao's eyes moved from side to side, and he stepped forward and knelt down: "Father, I think that in the Jurong case, the main culprit should be killed, and not killing him is not enough punishment. However, some people who were coerced and involved in the case are not guilty enough to die. , if we kill them all together, it may not be in compliance with the law. I thought, instead of killing them, it would be better to send them to the North Guard Station to cultivate wasteland and get an extra stone of food."
Seeing this, Mu Ying knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the northern border area is currently on the defensive. Reclaiming wasteland, accumulating food, and supplying military supplies are top priorities. I think what the prince said is reasonable. If you have one more person to farm, one more stone of food, the court can use less resources. Some civilian power is of great benefit to the people, the army and the border areas."
The popularity of the north has not recovered, and many fields remain barren.
Under this situation, the army is still stationed along the Great Wall in the north. More than 70% of the food consumed by these armies comes from the south. Under the defensive strategy, in order to save military expenses and recuperate, expanding the military garrison is an inevitable choice.
The expansion of military camps will inevitably require the establishment of additional guard posts and the expansion of troop sources.
There are four sources for the sources of sergeants in the Ming Guard:
One is to conquer.
That is, the old troops and the old team during the uprising.
Second, surrender.
That is to say, he conquered the world, defeated all the heroes, and conquered the Yuan Dynasty by annexing and surrendering soldiers.
Third, Duoji.
Duoji means conscription, that is, people are recruited according to population. If there are five, three, or two ding in a household, one person will be selected to serve as an army.
Fourth, relegation.
Banished soldiers are also called Enjun. They were sent to the army for committing crimes.
What Zhu Biao and Mu Ying were considering was to relegate those who had been coerced in Jurong's major case to the border areas and join the army.
The two did not discuss the Gu Zhengchen and Jurong cases, nor did they directly oppose Zhu Yuanzhang. Instead, they changed their perspective and used the method of guarding military camps to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang to kill fewer people and distribute more grain.
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the document sent by Gu Zhengchen, threw it on the desk, and said in a deep voice: "Send a message to Gu Zhengchen, saying that I will avoid past mistakes and let him make judgments in accordance with the law, and report it to Yingtian Mansion and the Ministry of Punishment."
Zhu Biao and Mu Ying were delighted.
Mu Ying quickly asked: "What about the tigers and prisoners outside the city?"
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and said solemnly: "The criminals were transferred to the Ministry of Punishment and sent a message to Wu Yun, Sun Keyi, Feng Mian and others, the ministers of the Ministry of Punishment, asking them to interrogate the Guo family, thoroughly investigate the case of limestone trading in the Jinling city wall, and arrest Ying Tianfu. Recommending officer Ban Xiu, please ask Ban Yongji whether he is involved in the case! As for the tiger, it is useless to keep it, so just leave it to the prince to deal with it. It is good to eat some tiger meat to replenish it. "
"ah?"
Zhu Biao was stunned. Why leave it to me? I don't need it. I am in good health. I will go back to the Crown Princess to discuss the principles of life!
Mu Ying wanted to laugh, but was afraid that Zhu Biao would hit someone, so she had to hold it in and said quietly: "It's almost winter, so it would be good to make a tiger skin quilt. I heard that the tiger is very big, enough to cover two people... …”
"you!"
Zhu Biao glared at Mu Ying hatefully.
Mu Ying saluted Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma, turned around and left.
Zhu Biao was the prince and could not lose his composure, so he had to bow and bow out of the hall with a blush. When he left the hall, he saw Mu Ying running out of the middle left door...
Queen Ma looked at the two people leaving, with unconcealed relief in her eyes, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still angry, "This is a difficult problem for Gu Zhengchen."
There are only four words to learn from past mistakes and avoid future ones. How to operate it depends entirely on speculation.
If Gu Zhengchen's handling is not strict, it may not be in line with Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts. If his handling is too strict, it may not be in line with Zhu Biao's philosophy.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Queen Ma, and a hearty smile appeared on his originally angry face: "Gu Zhengchen may not think it is a problem, sister, but the two children, Biao'er and Mu Ying, are starting to learn how to attack the east and the west."
Empress Ma covered her mouth and shook her head: "Sure enough, they still can't hide this from you."
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, with a murderous look in his eyes: "I also know that the way to govern a country should not be too harsh, and torture is unpopular with the people. However, some people are corrupt and abuse the people. Without torture, it is difficult to quell the anger in my heart! It's not that I don't want to The next decree is to chop off those heads and hang them directly from Jurong to Jinling to tell the people of the world that whoever dares to commit another crime will end up like this!"
Queen Ma looked at the murderous Zhu Yuanzhang and knew what he was thinking. She must have considered this before, and asked softly: "Then why did your Majesty change his mind again?"
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back: "We are not afraid of chilling Gu Xiaozi's heart and not taking things seriously in the future. He is a person who pays attention to rules and propriety in doing things. In these documents, he quoted no less than forty provisions of laws and regulations. The purpose is to convince me that it is okay to kill people in accordance with the laws. If you do not follow the laws, you must first amend the laws and then the world will act accordingly."
Queen Ma's eyes lit up and she said, "He is trying to conquer you."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in approval: "Yes, this guy has laid out all the laws and regulations. It's hard for me to start, let alone the three of you lobbying here, what can I say. The Jurong case was solved, Gu Zhengchen has made a contribution, and he has returned the favor to the local people." The common people are fair and have severely beaten the local big family, he has done a good job, even if I don't say anything, he will handle it properly."
Empress Ma saw that Zhu Yuanzhang admired Gu Zhengchen very much, and said: "With such a talent, it would be a bit unfair to stay in Jurong as a county magistrate. Why not transfer him back to Jinling? I see how talented he is, and the prince and Mu Ying think highly of him, so I can't say it's okay." Do more to relieve the imperial court's worries."
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "It would be better for him not to come to Jinling at this time. A person with no foundation and no qualifications will not be able to grow up. It will take him a few years of experience. If he is not pursuing the pursuit of eating and ruling the country, if he continues to The people of Jurong can’t even find their jobs, haha, I won’t spare him.”
Empress Ma looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's open and closed hands, as if she wanted to bully him, and said seriously: "The problem of people having enough food has not been solved since ancient times. If he could really solve the problem of people having food in Jurong, not to mention all, he would be able to live with 70% of the people." , that’s also a great talent.”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Queen Ma who was packing the food box, stepped forward and took out the half-packed cake: "Nowadays, there are too few talented people."
Although Liu Bowen and Li Shanchang are still alive, it is better for these two people to stay at home. They are both sick and taking a good rest is the right way to go.
Apart from these two people, among the civil servants of the Manchu Dynasty, Hu Weiyong was the only one with some ability. But behind this man stood a bunch of fellow Huaixi fellows, which was really disturbing.
My ideal assistant minister is someone who has no background but is capable, can coordinate officials at all levels, and is not clique-y.
But the reality is that those with background are threatening, while those without background are incapable and cannot even stand in Jinling, let alone coordinate the interests of all parties and reconcile all parties.
However, just because it’s not available at this time doesn’t mean it won’t be available in the future.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a bite of the big cake and said solemnly: "Ever since Gu Zhengchen said the words of eating to govern the country, I think of this person every time I eat, and think of the people's problem of eating. The country is so big, how difficult it is for the people to eat!"
Empress Ma saluted: "Your Majesty is concerned about all the people in the world, and it is a blessing to all people."
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.
Blessings for all people?
Maybe they didn't feel it.
The real blessing for all people should be implemented in a practical way and solve their food problem.
If the warehouse is solid, you will know etiquette; if you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace.
The ancients have made it very clear that only by providing food and clothing, can people know etiquette, honor and disgrace, be obedient, and be obedient!
Gu Zhengchen, I want to see a person who understands etiquette and honor and disgrace. Can you do it?
