The second day.
Zhu Shitai was wearing plain clothes and standing outside the Qianqing Palace.
Originally, he wouldn't even die wearing such shabby clothes, but after what happened yesterday, he now wants to be as low-key as possible.
Early this morning, he came to meet the emperor according to the order.
In the Qianqing Palace, several officials from the Ministry of Etiquette stood in front of the imperial cabinet, reporting some New Year matters to Zhu Zaijing.
"Your Majesty, those who came to pay tribute include Korea, Duoyan Three Guards, Khalkha Tribe, Dongfan (Xiaowanwan), Xifan and Ryukyu chieftains, as well as missions from Annan and other countries."
Hearing the names of these countries, Zhu Zaijing once again felt a little more certain about his status as the leader of the Ming Dynasty's Confucian cultural circle.
Although the Duoyan Sanwei were not directly controlled by the Ming Dynasty as they were in the early Ming Dynasty, they were still nominally canonized ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Now the Ming Dynasty has changed its boss. The old boss and the others have not seen each other for decades, so they need to meet the new boss. !
"Yes." Zhu Zaijing nodded with satisfaction.
"Mr. Xu Ge has already told you about the return gift, right?"
Several ministers looked reluctant.
"Your Majesty, I still think the return gift is a bit shabby, and I'm afraid it will damage the majesty of the new dynasty!"
Zhu Zaijing's originally good mood was suddenly disrupted by these words.
He put down the report from the Ministry of Etiquette in his hand to prepare the procedures for various New Year matters, and stared at the official coldly.
"Are you shabby? Then you can add some money yourself. Anyway, the state treasury doesn't have the money to give three or five times the gift in return like before!"
"this…"
"Okay, let's handle other things according to the wishes of the cabinet!"
Zhu Zaijing, who was no longer in the mood to listen to their report, issued an eviction order.
"Your Majesty, please leave!"
When everyone exited the Qianqing Palace and saw Zhu Shitai standing, they did not dare to smile like before, but just nodded lightly.
Zhu Shitai also nodded to them.
It's really ironic. Yesterday he was the eldest son of Duke Cheng Guo, who was admired by all the stars. Even a third or fourth grade official wouldn't be able to nod and bow in greeting when he saw him?
But with one word from the emperor, he became the man named Zhu today.
This is the horror of imperial power.
This also allowed Zhu Shitai, who had always been cynical, to experience for the first time that everything in the Xungui Group really came from the emperor's gift.
At the same time, Feng Bao walked out and walked to Zhu Shitai.
"Master Zhu (the character Zhu was not taboo during the Ming Dynasty), Long live the Lord has asked you to come in!"
"Eunuch Feng!" Zhu Shitai straightened up and grabbed Feng Bao's hand, "How is my father?"
Feng Bao lost the smile on his face, looked around, then looked inside Qianqing Palace, and said, "How does your father do? It depends on your performance in the next month!"
Zhu Shitai heard that his father was only in jail, but he probably didn't suffer any physical pain.
"Thank you, father-in-law!"
Before the last word of public was spoken, a red gemstone was placed in Feng Bao's palm.
Feng Bao was shocked and quickly declined.
"Master! What are you doing!"
"Father-in-law, my thoughts are with you. My mother fainted after hearing the imperial edict yesterday and is still crying. I hope you can take good care of me before I rescue my father!"
Seeing that Zhu Shitai was about to kneel down again, Feng Bao stopped refusing and put the gem in his arms without anyone noticing and said, "Your Majesty, you have been waiting for a long time!"
"Hey, hey, let's go in quickly!" Zhu Shitai said.
"Zhu Shitai, please see Your Majesty!"
"No gift!"
"The guilty minister dare not!"
"Then just kneel down!" Zhu Zaijing said impatiently.
Damn it!
Zhu Shitai was shocked, why didn't the emperor play his cards according to the routine?
"No wonder he got hold of daddy. No one can predict his temper when he behaves so unreasonably!"
Zhu Zaijing leaned on the chair and crossed his legs.
"I want you to thoroughly investigate the empty quota and salary in the Beijing camp. Is there anything difficult about it?"
"Your Majesty, with the help of Dongchang and Mr. Zhang from the Ministry of War, the guilty minister will have no difficulty!"
"Okay, when Qi Jiguang and the others arrive, I will go to the capital camp to check in person. If I find out that there are any vacant places and wages by then, you know what the consequences will be!"
"The sinner knows!"
At this time, Feng Bao came over quietly and said, "Your Majesty, the British Duke is here!"
Zhu Zaijing stood up immediately, "Oh? Please come in quickly!"
Seeing the sudden change in the emperor's attitude, Zhu Shitai began to feel jealous of the Zhang family.
Although the Zhu family is known as the most favored family in the Jiajing Dynasty, Zhu Shitai knew in his heart that there was no comparison with the British Zhang family.
The British Zhang family was the most noble and loyal family in the Ming Dynasty.
The Xu family with one family and two nobles, and the Zhang family with one family and three nobles can be said to be the two most honorable families in the Ming Dynasty.
After Xu Da was granted the title of Duke of Wei, the Xu family made bets on both sides during the Jingnan Campaign. The eldest son Xu Huizu supported Emperor Jianwen, and the third son Xu Zengshou supported Zhu Di.
Later, one of them committed suicide and died for the country, and the other secretly sent information to Zhu Di and was killed by Jianwen. Neither of them survived until Zhu Di broke into Nanjing.
Zhu Dini was his father-in-law's son in the Xu family, and he admired Xu Huizu's loyalty, so he restored the Duke of Wei to his lineage and stayed in Nanjing hereditary.
Xu Zengshou's lineage gave him the title of Duke of Dingguo, and later moved to Beijing as the imperial court moved its capital.
This is the first and second son of the Xu family.
And the three nobles of the Zhang family are even more generous than the Xu family.
Zhang Fu and Zhang Yu were like gods of war during the Battle of Jingnan. Zhang Yu, in particular, followed Zhu Di almost all the way in the north and south for more than 20 years. Zhang Yu'an was also behind the battles in Annan and Mobei. Follow the fourth child.
Later, the fourth child died in Yumuchuan, and Zhang Fu controlled the power of the imperial army to assist Zhu Gaochi in safely taking the throne. When the Han Dynasty rebelled during Zhu Zhanji's period, Zhang Fu was also in front of the army.
Later, Zhu Qizhen, the God of War, sent away the 75-year-old British Duke Zhang Fu, a veteran of the Four Dynasties, in Tumu Fort. The Dinghai Shenzhen of the Ming Dynasty died tragically in Tumu Fort.
Later, when Zhu Qizhen was restored during the Seizing of the Gate, Zhang Fu's two younger brothers, Zhang Fu and Zhang Shi, together with Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and others, welcomed Zhu Qizhen's restoration. After Zhu Qizhen ascended the throne again, he conferred the title of Marquis of Taiping on Zhang Fu and Wen Anbo on Zhang Fu. At this time, the Zhang family had three lords and a great reputation.
Zhu Zaijing was very relieved about the Zhang family.
The British clan has always served in the military. He is almost the last among the nobles to retain military power. He is also very loyal in history and has made great efforts in the succession of Apocalypse and Chongzhen.
The British Duke almost lived and died with the Zhu family royal family. The last British Duke, Zhang Shize, would rather die than surrender. After breaking the city, he was killed by Li Zicheng.
Truly living with the country!
"My dear, Zhang Rong, please see Your Majesty!"
What came in was a very burly, middle-aged man with a stern face and thick eyebrows and big eyes.
"Please get up quickly!"
Zhu Zaijing went over to help him up in person.
Zhang Rong is now 50 years old, but he has no fat on his body. He is very strong and full of strength.
There are not many traces of age on his face, and he looks 20 years younger than his teenage years.
"Sit for the British public!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Rong didn't refuse, took the chair from Feng Bao and sat on it.
Only then did he notice Zhu Shitai kneeling on the ground.
Zhu Zaijing was not polite and explained to Zhang Rong.
"You should have heard about Zhu Xizhong. Although he was ineffective in running the army, I appreciate his contribution and specially ordered his eldest son Zhu Shitai to conduct a thorough investigation of the capital camp!"
Zhang Rong nodded.
"But you, in addition to the assistance from Dongchang and the Ministry of War, your British father-in-law also needs to help him. After all, your official position is here!"
"I understand!"
Zhang Rong didn't talk much, but he answered every sentence very accurately.
Zhang Rong's current official position is Zuo Commandery of the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion, and he is the top leader.
The Zuojun Dudufu is part of the Fifth Army Dudufu.
The Zuojun Dudufu initially assigned the left guard, Zhennan guard, navy left guard, Xiaoqi right guard, Longhu guard, Yingwu guard, Shenyang left guard, and Shenyang right guard in Beijing, and also led Zhejiang Dusi, Liaodong Dusi, and Shandong Dusi outside. The guard post led by the Dusi and the guard post led by the Nanjing Left Army Dudufu.
It is no exaggeration to say that the British public now has one-fifth of the world's soldiers and horses.
However, he does not have any power to deploy or lead troops. He is only responsible for daily management and training.
