Qianqing Palace.
After Zhu Jianshen finished reviewing his memorials, he leaned on the dragon chair and took a nap while drinking tea. There was a hint of sadness and fatigue between his brows.
After making a big move, how to land smoothly is the most challenging thing.
The reform of native land return to local affairs was basically fully implemented, but it also encountered a series of difficulties. The break of the old order brought strong shocks. The newly appointed officials did not have a deep understanding of the customs and customs of the chieftains, and the chieftains also had no understanding of the court's customs. The discipline was very repulsive, and the original chieftain fanned the flames, making the relationship very unpleasant.
The officials of the Ming Dynasty thought that the chieftain was disobedient to discipline, and the chieftain thought that the Ming Dynasty court had too many affairs. The two sides were not on the same channel at all, and sometimes they even communicated with each other.
In fact, Zhu Jianshen was mentally prepared. He appointed the original chieftains as deputy officials of the Ming Dynasty, and did not deprive all the rights of the old vested interests across the board. However, the resistance... was still beyond his expectation.
Officials of the Ming Dynasty had a natural sense of superiority and looked down upon these chieftains. They also wanted to make political achievements quickly, win awards from the court, and even be promoted.
Tusi people, who are accustomed to living a lax life, suddenly accept so many rules and regulations, which is naturally unbearable and their resistance is extremely strong.
This is to be frightened by the might of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, those chieftains would have to 'eat' these white-faced scholars.
Are you the only one who knows how to baba?
This is how we have been here for generations. You, a foreigner, just come up and tell us what we should do and what we should do. Why are you so busy?
Why are you dictating everything?
Just because I am an official of the imperial court!
…
Zhu Jianshen could clearly see the conflict between the two parties, but he understood that it was really difficult to resolve...
Once it is not solved properly, all the previous hard work will be in vain.
Zhu Jianshen looked up at the top of the beam and murmured: "If the control is tight, it will force people to rebel. If the control is loose, it will make them arrogant. It will not dampen the officials' ambition. How to control this degree... It's difficult!"
After a long time, Zhu Jianshen sat up and said with a wry smile: "Now, there are only Ku Yi Ku officials."
He has scolded him too much in private, so it's better to have more. As the saying goes, if you have too many lice, you won't be itchy, if you have too many debts, you won't have to worry. It's the lesser of two evils. If the chieftain is pushed too hard, he may rebel, but relatively Generally speaking, officials will be much more tolerant.
After all... there is no shortage of people who want to eat from the imperial court at any time.
"Come here and draw up a decree." Zhu Jianshen, who had no skills, could only issue the decree.
~
"The emperor is destined to be carried by heaven, and Zhi said:
Those who serve as chieftain officers must contact their families as soon as possible and move their families to the place of employment. The time limit is six months. Travel expenses along the way will be reimbursed by the court. If there are delays or omissions within the expiration date, you will be dismissed on the spot!
Three years after the term of office expires, the imperial court conducts a unified assessment. Those who have meritorious service will be promoted and their salary will be increased.
Admire this. "
The little eunuch put down his pen, read it once, and asked: "Your Majesty, do you have anything to add?"
"That's it." Zhu Jianshen leaned on the chair again and said: "This decree is handed over to the Wan University Scholar and let it be known to the officials serving as chieftains everywhere."
"My slave obeys the decree." The young eunuch bowed, picked up the imperial edict and exited the hall.
This was the best solution Zhu Jianshen could think of. It was not a masterstroke, but it was still adequate, but... all the pressure was placed on the Ming officials who served as chieftains.
After taking all the family members, these officials had scruples, and they no longer dared to do anything in the name of the court, but in fact they acted recklessly for political achievements.
But it's not okay to quit or fish in troubled waters. Otherwise, when the evaluation period comes, they will either be dismissed from office and punished, or demoted. No matter which one it is, it is not what those officials want to see.
With this move, it can be said that their escape route has been blocked.
Fortunately, Zhu Jianshen also opened a window for them, and they will be rewarded for their good work!
Although this window is not big, it is still a way to get promoted.
Common people will rebel if they are pushed into a hurry, but officials will not easily do so.
Wise top-level rulers sincerely care for the bottom, because the bottom has infinite power, but the top-level is very cautious towards the middle-level, fearing that they will exploit too much downwards, and also fear that they will leap too far upwards, thus affecting themselves, so... …There can only be checks and balances.
Being an emperor is indeed difficult!
…
Zhu Jianshen sat there for a long time before he got up and left Qianqing Palace.
I originally planned to go to Yongning Palace, but after walking a few steps, I remembered that the Supreme Emperor had just returned to the capital, and I, as his son, should go and greet him.
So I moved to Changle Palace...
"Emperor Father and Queen Mother, are you still in the habit of living here?" Zhu Jianshen expressed concern, "If you need anything, just ask the servants below. There is no need to be polite in your own home."
"I'm quite used to it," Zhu Qizhen nodded, "There's nothing necessary, so that's good."
Seeing Qian going to pour tea, he quickly stood up and said, "I'll do it."
"I'll come, I'll come." Zhu Jianshen hurriedly volunteered. As a son, how can he let his parents pour him tea?
Zhu Jianshen poured tea and said: "These slaves are so lazy, I..."
"Don't blame them, I didn't let them come in to serve you." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "Your mother is not in good health and needs to rest."
"That's it..." Zhu Jianshen nodded slowly. He also saw that Qian was ill, "Mother, please have some tea."
"Your Majesty, you're welcome." Qian took the tea and said with a smile, "Let's chat. I'm a little tired, so I'm going to rest for a while."
Zhu Jian bowed deeply and watched Qian go to the inner hall. Then he turned around and offered another cup of tea: "Father, please use it."
Zhu Qizhen took it and took a sip, looked his son up and down, and asked, "Have you not had a good rest recently?"
"Some." Zhu Jianshen smiled bitterly, "But I'm used to it. Now that the storm has just passed, while moistening the earth, it will inevitably cause potholes. Just survive these few years and it will be fine."
Although Zhu Qizhen didn't know the details, he could guess a good guess, and sighed: "It is difficult to be an emperor, but it is even more difficult to be a wise and accomplished emperor.
Take your time, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Things will get better if you take things slow..."ΟиЪ.ōΓＧ
He stopped abruptly and laughed at himself: "Forget it, I can't teach you anything as a father. As you can see, it's good to be diligent, but you also have to take care of your health."
"What the father said is true, and I understand." Zhu Jian smiled deeply, picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then put it down again, and asked with concern: "The mother's illness... should we ask the imperial doctor to diagnose and treat it?"
"No need, she was not sick, but..." Zhu Qizhen sighed and suddenly asked: "You and that imperial concubine..."
He didn't know how to ask for a while, so he held it in for a while before asking: "How are you feeling?"
"My son likes her very much. He likes her very much." Zhu Jianshen felt something in his heart. His eyes were strange, as if he was declaring his sovereignty: "She accompanied my son all the way through the difficult years in the past without asking for anything in return. I can't live without her." .”
What do you mean by that? What's your look in your eyes...Zhu Qizhen was quite speechless.
"What do you mean, father?" Zhu Jianshen asked tentatively.
Zhu Qizhen shook his head calmly: "It's not interesting, I just asked casually, back then..."
"I heard what she said about what happened back then," Zhu Jianshen said first, "Let's forget about the past."
Zhu Qizhen was even more speechless: What you said...how do you make me, a father, want to steal a woman from my son?
"You are too worried. What the emperor is saying... is that your mother is in poor health and she is partially responsible." Zhu Qizhen said, "Of course, she was just following orders. The real culprit is your grandma..."
Zhu Qizhen briefly talked about what happened that year, and then said: "This is also the reason why I hate your biological mother and that Wan Zhen'er. I am not telling you this to punish them, but to let you understand... …”
After a pause, "This harem must be managed, otherwise, it will lead to disaster."
Zhu Qizhen said calmly: "When my father first ascended the throne, it was your great-grandmother who controlled the government... At that time, my father was young but also sensible;
Frankly speaking, your great-grandmother didn’t have any bad intentions, and she also wanted to do things well, but judging from the results...it was just average. "
Zhu Qizhen took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and continued: "After her, your grandma also wanted to follow suit, and the foreign minister also wanted to promote this matter. If Li Qing had not been there, given the situation back then... I, who was still a low-key person, I really can’t figure it out.”
"It is a great disaster for foreign officials to collude with the harem!" Zhu Qizhen sighed.
Zhu Jianshen's face heated up, and he realized that he had misunderstood his father. At the same time, he also realized that there was something in his father's words.
"Father, are you saying...?"
Zhu Qizhen did not answer directly, but just said: "Your great-grandmother can control the government because she has Xuanzong's edict, but your grandma does not have it, but she almost succeeded;
If Li Qing hadn't come up and overthrew Yang Shiqi, I wouldn't have been able to control the situation if the two sides joined forces. "
After a pause, he asked: "Do you know how many concubines were buried after Xuanzong died?"
"I don't know." Zhu Jianshen shook his head.
Although these are clearly documented, how can he have time to pay attention to this?
"Except for Hu, who became a monk, and your second uncle's biological mother, all the others were buried." Zhu Qizhen said: "And this is not Xuanzong's original intention, but your grandma's handiwork."
Zhu Jianshen was shocked. If his father hadn't mentioned it, he would never have known that something like this happened in the palace.
He was wondering if Zhen'er would be buried by someone if something happened to him.
This... is not impossible!
Zhu Jianshen frowned deeply, pondered for a long time, and said: "Father, what you mean is... the harem should be more lively, that is... abolish the burial system?"
"What do you think?" Zhu Qizhen asked.
Zhu Jianshen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's feasible."
After a pause, he wondered: "I just don't have a suitable opportunity!"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he regretted them. It was as if he was urging me to die.
Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "There will always be."
"Uh-huh..." Zhu Jianshen laughed dryly, but did not dare to answer the question.
…
The father and son talked about other things, and Zhu Jianshen stood up and left.
Zhu Qizhen leaned on the back of his chair and sipped tea, and his mind couldn't help but think of that terrifying scene that morning...
He sighed softly and said to himself: "Just think of it as... atonement."
