Li Qing stared at Wang Zhen in surprise, not expecting that the eunuch would actually speak for him.
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, he smiled and said, "I'm just too worried."
After a pause, "But sir, your life is really poor. Apart from other things, do you need servants to do laundry and cooking? I will reward you..."
"I'm used to being alone." Li Qing declined.
Zhu Qizhen asked again: "Sir, haven't you married yet?"
"We don't have any plans for the moment," Li Qing waved his hand, "The situation in the court is unstable, so we don't dare to be distracted."
Zhu Qizhen's heart warmed and he smiled happily and said: "Well, when the situation in the court is stabilized, I will reward you with ten beauties."
"Then thank the emperor in advance." Li Qing joked.
Zhu Qi Zhen Yile said, "You have no words to say, you will be indispensable when the time comes;
Wang Zhen, go ahead and do your work. "
"Yes, please leave." Wang Zhen was a little jealous. After all, the little emperor's heart was not with him.
After Wang Zhen left, Zhu Qizhen backed away again, and then asked:
"Sir, what do you think the Queen Mother means by doing this?"
Li Qing said bluntly, "She wants to imitate the Empress Dowager and intervene in government affairs."
Zhu Qizhen thought so too, but he didn't expect Li Qing to be so frank and direct.
"You mean she's trying to win over you?"
"Isn't this obvious?" Li Qing said amusedly, "Your Majesty, can't you see it?"
Zhu Qizhen's face heated up, and he pointedly said: "Sir is really a very human being, and he can be so... straightforward with my mother and queen."
Li Qing rolled his eyes. He really didn't like this little guy.
Not as good as his father.
Zhu Zhanji was still half a disciple, and the two of them could urinate into a pot, but this little guy... wanted to use him, but often tested him. Li Qing was really speechless.
"Don't trust the people you employ, and don't trust the people you doubt." Li Qing said bluntly, "If the emperor can trust me, don't bother testing me anymore. If you can't trust me, just let me go."
"Uh haha... Sir, you misunderstood. How could I not trust you?" Zhu Qizhen's face was full of embarrassment.
Li Qing could see through his little thoughts at a glance.
Fighting in the court was exhausting enough, and Li Qing really wasn't in the mood to act with him.
Seeing that Li Qing was unhappy, Zhu Qizhen finally gave in and said, "I won't do it again."
"Then thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." Li Qing nodded.
The little guy is not without his advantages, for example, he knows what is good and what is bad and listens to advice.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "Sir, I have something to discuss with you."
He sighed and said, "There is a letter from the British Duke Zhang Fu."
Li Qing was moved in his heart and asked: "How is the battle going?"
"The Ming army has the upper hand, but the enemy's resistance is extremely strong." Zhu Qizhen frowned, "Zhang Fu said that the opponent had tasted the sweetness of grabbing the Ming merchant ships and was unwilling to give up easily. Moreover, fighting in unfamiliar terrain was also extremely hostile to the Ming army. It’s a big test and the combat power cannot be fully unleashed.”
"Did the British Lord ask for help?" Li Qing asked.
"That's not true." Zhu Qizhen shook his head.
Li Qing felt relieved, "That means it's okay. The Ming army went all the way to fight in a strange environment. It's normal for their combat power to be reduced. You'll get better once you get used to it."
After a pause, "The Emperor can provide some supplies to improve the quality of life of the soldiers. They work hard on the battlefield and must be fed well."
"Sure, I'll talk to Yu Qian later." Zhu Qizhen nodded in agreement, and then said: "After the abolition of the recommendation system, the strength of the civil service group has been greatly damaged. Should we take action against the army?"
"Don't be anxious, there is no need to be anxious." Li Qing shook his head and said, "As the saying goes: It takes three years for a scholar to rebel, but the army is different. If the army wants to change the situation, it only needs one major mutiny."
Seeing the ugly expression on the little guy's face, Li Qing softened his tone and said consolingly: "Of course, I am talking about the worst case scenario, which will most likely not happen, but if the generals are really pushed into a hurry, it is still possible;
Corruption in the army is not just a day or two, it even started during the late emperor's tenure. There is nothing we can do about it;
As the war ceases, the military's combat effectiveness declines and military discipline is inevitable. Li Qing said seriously, "To rectify the army, we must be gentle and not forceful." "
Zhu Qizhen nodded slightly: "Sir, you really can't rush."
After a pause, "Then what do we do next?"
Li Qing thought for a while and said: "With so many troops in the capital withdrawing, the emperor can use the name of consolidating the capital to transfer some troops back from the border, train troops in his spare time, etc., and show his goodwill to the army."
"Well... this is a good suggestion." Zhu Qizhen readily accepted it, "I will start mobilizing the army tomorrow."
Li Qing was a little helpless, the little emperor was still impatient.
This is normal. After all, he is only fourteen years old and has been suppressed for too long. It is not strange to have such a mentality.
It's unrealistic to ask a high-spirited young man to be mature and prudent. It's great that the little emperor is willing to listen and advise. Li Qing can't help but hit him repeatedly.
"Don't mobilize too many people at the beginning. Eighteen thousand people are enough. Let's test it out first. After we see the situation clearly and gain experience, we can take the next step." Li Qing said.
"That's natural." Zhu Qizhen said with a smile: "Sir, where do you think it is appropriate to start?"
Li Qing scratched his head, "I'm really not sure about this. It would be better for the Emperor to discuss this with Yu Qian. He has been the Minister of War for so many years and knows the army far better than I do."
"Yeah, that's fine." Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but think of his father's words in the past: There is only one person in the world who doesn't love power, and even disdains power. He has ambitions but no ambitions!
He actually pushed such a good opportunity away... Zhu Qizhen was impressed. At the same time, he was also a little puzzled, how could his father know?
"How old are you, sir?" Zhu Qizhen suddenly asked.
"How old is it?" Li Qing's heart moved, and he suddenly remembered something, so he said: "Twenty-eight."
Zhu Qizhen said in surprise: "Sir, are you already this old?"
Then, he felt relieved again. After all, the painting was painted by his father during his lifetime, and his age was just right.
"Sir, you look really young."
"Yeah?"
"Well, he looks like he is only twenty years old." Zhu Qizhen asked, "Have you met the late emperor?"
"That's not true." Li Qing shook his head.
"Have you ever been to the capital?"
"I was here eight years ago." Li Qing nodded, "By the way, I met a man named Zhu Ji at that time. He was a man of great talent and had great talent..."
Barabara...
Li Qing sighed: "We chatted for a long time, and he also said that when I come to the capital in the future, he will give me a big gift. However, I have been here for so long, but I have never seen him;
Your Majesty, can you ask Jin Yiwei to help me find this person? He seems to be a local. "
Zhu Qizhen suddenly realized that everything made sense.
Zhu Qizhen sighed: "Sir, do you know who Zhu Ji is?"
"Could it be...the feudal lord?"
"No, it's the late emperor." Zhu Qizhen said, "What you met is the late emperor who paid a private visit incognito."
"Ah?" Li Qing was shocked, but then he felt relieved and sighed, "No wonder, only the late emperor can be so talented."
"Yes." Zhu Qizhen was a little sentimental. He walked out of the hall and looked up at the sky. After a long time, he turned back to Li Qing who was following him and said, "The great gift the late emperor gave you is my unconditional trust."
Zhu Qizhen said seriously: "I will not test your husband again in the future, but you should explain clearly to me your opinions, so as to avoid misunderstandings between our monarch and his ministers."
"It should be." Li Qing agreed.
Zhu Qizhen smiled: "It's getting late, sir, go back and rest."
Then, he added: "Now that the abolition of the recommendation system has passed, sir, you should come to court more often. There are too many people impeaching you for not going to court. I also want you to come to court."
Li Qing sighed and nodded in agreement.
~
After leaving the palace, Li Qing breathed a long sigh of relief. Finally, he fixed the bug left by Zhu Zhanji.
The Empress Dowager Zhang is mature and prudent, and will never tell her grandson that he can live forever, causing the eldest grandson to embark on the path of no return of cultivating immortality.
What Li Qing was worried about was that the little emperor could see the clues himself. After all, they had the same name and surname, so he would inevitably not associate it with anything in the future.
But after today's incident, his identity has been completely 'legitimized', and he doesn't have to worry about anything anymore.
Immortality is too tempting for the emperor, and Li Qing cannot guarantee that this little guy will be as free and easy as his father in the future.
He didn't want Ming Dynasty to produce an 'old Taoist priest' in advance.
