"cry!"
In front of the Qianqing Palace, Xiao Linzi raised his fly whisk, his sharp voice filled with sadness.
"Your Majesty...!"
The ministers were all wearing sackcloth and wearing filial piety, weeping and grieving.
The wailing sound is a continuous one, which makes people's ear drums buzz. The crying sound is like the cry of cuckoo and the cry of blood ape, which makes those who hear it sad and those who listen to it cry.
Li Qing was also in the mourning procession. He was used to it, and many of them walked away crying.
"Stop~"
The wails turned into sobs, like gentle breeze and drizzle, and the words came softly.
After a while, Xiao Linzi sang again: "Cry~!"
"My emperor...!"
The ministers once again burst out in grief and burst into tears.
Inside the palace.
The three brothers knelt in front of the coffin wearing sackcloth and mourning, with red eyes and sad expressions.
Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Zhanqi, Zhu Zhanan...all the grandchildren knelt behind the three of them, all of them with serious and sad expressions.
The entire palace was deserted and shrouded in an atmosphere of sadness.
…
Li Qing was in a daze, and he didn't know how long it took, until he seemed to hear Xiao Linzi shouting: "The ceremony is over." He came back to his senses.
Seeing that all the officials were getting up and preparing to go home for dinner, he also left the palace with the team.
People are all going to die, and the fourth child is good enough... Li Qing thought to himself, feeling a little better about the loss in his heart.
"Li Shangshu." A voice sounded from behind.
Li Qing turned around and saw Yu Qian with tears on his face, and was a little surprised, "When did you come back?"
"I just rushed back last night, but I didn't expect that the emperor..." He looked sad and then advised, "Li Shangshu should also take care of himself!"
"Yes, I know." Li Qing stopped. In fact, he was not uncomfortable, but he was a little disappointed, which was different from Yu Qian's sad mood.
When Yu Qian walked up to him, Li Qing continued to walk out, "How is the matter in Jiangnan?"
"Not very good." Yu Qian looked solemn, "The benefits of maritime trade are too great. A casual trip to the sea can make more than what you have worked hard for a whole year. The wealthy gentry in Jiangnan are flocking to it.
Not only wealthy gentry, but also local officials, nobles, and even vassal kings participated, forming a huge interest group;
Because the benefits at sea are great, the conditions they offer are also extremely generous, and poor people are willing to take risks in order to live a good life;
well……"
Yu Qian said bitterly: "The thieves have been suppressed over and over again, but they cannot be eradicated. Officials, gentry, and people protect each other at all levels. If anything happens, the people will bear the responsibility. In return, the rich gentry will help their families;
Officials turn a blind eye to the smuggling of wealthy gentry, and in return, the wealthy gentry will provide certain 'benefits', and at the same time, they must be careful not to make it difficult for officials. This has become an unwritten rule;
This is also the most critical factor that prevents thieves from being eliminated. "
After a pause, "Fortunately, last time Master Shangshu used thunderous tactics, although thieves were rampant, there were no Japanese pirates... Well, in fact, there should be Japanese pirates, but they did not harm the people again."
Li Qing asked softly: "In other words, the purpose of smuggling now is to make money, and there have been no incidents of robbery and harm to the people?"
"Yes, that's right." Yu Qian nodded: "Local officials are also afraid of following in the footsteps of the [Tang Sai'er] incident, so they know how to measure their limits, including wealthy gentry.
They just want to make money, and do not want or dare to go against the court. "As he said this, Yu Qian hesitated to speak, as if he was hesitating whether he should say it or not.
"If you have anything to say, it's okay to say it." Li Qing said.
Yu Qian hesitated for a moment and saw that he was almost at the Yamen Gate, so he said, "Master Shangshu, let's talk about it after we return to the Yamen Gate."
…
The Yamen of the Ministry of War, the inner hall.
Li Qing waved away the government servant at the door and said to Yu Qian, "Just say whatever you want. There is nothing I shouldn't say here."
Yu Qian took a deep breath and said seriously: "The official believes that it is not appropriate for the court to ban the sea among the people."
After speaking, Yu Qian looked at Li Qing, waiting for his reaction.
Unexpectedly, Li Qing didn't react at all. He just nodded slightly and motioned for him to continue.
"Private maritime trade has brought great benefits to the people. Many people have benefited and their lives have been greatly improved." Yu Qian sighed: "Every time I clean up the bandits, I have... cut them off." The guilt of people’s livelihood.”
Li Qing was silent as he weighed the pros and cons of this.
Yu Qian continued: "The thing that impressed me the most was the time I caught a bandit. That person went out to sea to smuggle in order to treat his mother's illness. As a result, the people in Dongchang found out about it, and he and the others got the stolen goods... Sigh."
Sighing, Yu Qian said bitterly, "A woman in her seventies kowtowed to me and begged me not to investigate smuggling anymore. She said that her son did not steal or rob, but only helped others with business to support the family.
He also said that the rich gentry who smuggled were all good people and gave them a way to survive... At that time, the feeling... was really beyond words. "
"Every time the bandits are suppressed, many people's livelihood will be difficult. Not only the people who go to sea for smuggling, but also the workers in various workshops such as furniture, silk, rouge, gouache, spices, and porcelain kilns, will also have less work or even no work..."
Yu Qian sighed: "When I came back this time, I just wanted to advise the emperor to fully open the sea as soon as possible. Who would have expected that the emperor would..."
"It is imperative that the people open the sea!" Li Qing said, "The reason why we do not open it temporarily is to take into account the national policy of the people from the south to the north."
"But if this continues, the imperial court will lose the support of the people!" Yu Qian's tone was filled with anxiety and sadness, "Even... now it has lost the support of the people."
Li Qing frowned: "Let's discuss this matter in a few days. It is an important point in the transfer of power. It is best not to cause trouble. We will not mention it until the emperor is buried and the new emperor ascends the throne."
Yu Qian nodded. He had been waiting for a long time, so it was not enough time.
"Li Shangshu, will something happen?"
"Oh?" Li Qing said in surprise, "Why do you say that?"
Yu Qian said sarcastically: "During the mourning period, I was in the back, and I always felt that some of my colleagues... ahem, there was something wrong with the atmosphere, but I couldn't put my finger on it."
Even you have noticed that something is wrong, can something not happen... Li Qing sighed secretly: The storm is about to hit, and these civil servant groups that have been suppressed by Zhu Di for a long time are going to take action.
As usual, it is still the small fish and shrimps who charge from the front, while the big guys are planning behind the scenes.
Li Qing smiled and said: "Don't worry about what others do, just be yourself. Stay in your position and plan your affairs. If something goes wrong, I will be there to take care of you."
"I understand." Yu Qian nodded.
…
The next day, early in the morning.
Li Qing got up before dawn. He had to go to the morning meeting today.
When they arrived at Fengtian Hall, almost all the ministers were present, all wearing white silk ribbons around their waists and looking sad.
Li Qing glanced at the ministers, walked to his seat and stood down, his eyes watching his nose, his nose watching his mouth, his mouth caring, motionless as a mountain.
A quarter of an hour later, Zhu Gaochi, who was wrapped in white silk and had panda eyes, walked into the hall.
The ministers bowed down and saluted, "I am here to see His Highness the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old...!"
"Everyone is safe," Zhu Gaochi said softly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The ministers stood up and looked at Zhu Gaochi.
Xiaopang stood next to the dragon chair and did not sit down.
Legally speaking, the moment Zhu Di died, he automatically took over the throne and became the Ming Emperor.
This is indeed the case. Once the emperor dies, the prince automatically ascends to the throne. Now the little fat man has all the rights of the emperor.
But... ascending the throne and ascending the throne are not the same thing.
Ascension to the throne means that Xiaopang can exercise imperial power, and enthronement means that he truly becomes the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Wearing a dragon robe, sitting on a dragon chair, calling me "I", and establishing a queen... these can only be done after ascending the throne.
Xiaopang naturally understood this, so even though he stayed in the mourning hall all night, even though he was extremely tired, he still did not sit on the dragon chair.
"Do you have any instructions?" He straightened his back and stood as straight as possible, ready for the ministers' counterattack.
The loud voice echoed in the hall, and for a long time, no one spoke.
Seeing this, Xiaopang relaxed slightly: Fortunately, these people still abide by the rules, and their father's bones are not yet cold, so they are relatively restrained.
"Since there is nothing important, let's just leave it for reading and then..."
"Your Majesty the Crown Prince, I have this memorial."
At the entrance of the palace, everyone raised their voices.
Xiaopang frowned and pondered for a moment, "It's accurate."
The Ministry of Rites all stepped forward, took out a memorial from their arms, and presented it with both hands: "Your Highness, everything I have reported is in this memorial."
"No need to go to so much trouble." Xiaopang was not in the mood now, "Just tell me."
The Ministry of Rites all took a deep breath and said, "As I said... Jianwen's loyal ministers are also loyal ministers."
brush--!
In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on this official.
Li Qing narrowed his eyes: Sure enough... the fourth child saw so clearly!
