Fang Muxian, who had been bombarded with boring questions all night, was not allowed to rest until dawn the next day.
He was carried to the Zhongyuan Hall, and Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang, stood aside with a pale face.
Fang Muxian was very sleepy, but the dog emperor who had had a good night's sleep in the palace in front of him raised his finger and pointed at him, and then said: "This is the person. There was no torture and interrogation, but he was determined to be Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou De Cishou Empress Dowager He was dissatisfied with my lack of heirs, so he ordered him to use the old people in the palace to light a fire at the Rijing Gate."
Zhang Yanling knelt down with a plop, crying and kowtowing: "Your Majesty, I am wronged! This traitor is talking nonsense, I never knew about this!"
"I know. I want you to come and listen to me to make you feel more at ease."
After all, Zhongyuan Hall is much smaller than Qianqing Palace and Fengtian Palace. At this time, Fang Muxian and Zhang Yanling were kneeling at the door. They could hear everything said inside.
It was the first time for both of them to see the imperial study room and how the national policy meeting was held.
Fang Muxian looked at the map of the Ming Dynasty behind the dragon chair, at the eighteen chairs in a circle, and at the fifteen pairs of eyes of the ministers of national policy looking over.
Zhu Houcong sighed: "Now that the truth has come to light, it makes sense to reflect on the past. As soon as Tuenmen was defeated, I ordered Zhang Fujing to go south to kill. That was because Mr. Yangge insisted on giving me some local color. I then became worried. Haisheng has locked you up here for a whole day to discuss, forcing you to agree to try out the new law in Guangdong, and also ordered the officials from all over the world to write the "On Hai Policy". This is indeed my impatience, and I will remember it."
Fang Muchian's eyes widened when he heard: The minister wants to show off to the emperor. Is this something that can be said so lightly between a monarch and his ministers?
Yang Tinghe's tone was full of complaints: "Your Majesty finally knows that it is not easy to be a paper poster! State affairs can affect the whole body. If not for this, how could people in the Southeast be panicked? If not for knowing that the Southeast is unstable, how could Ganzhou feel confident about rebellion? Pay? In the past six months, I haven’t had a good night’s sleep, and Duke Zhong De is also exhausted mentally and seriously ill in bed!”
"It's all difficult, it's all difficult." Zhu Houxuan chuckled, "You don't know how talented I am, and I am open-minded, so it's a good thing to have more quarrels. One thing after another, isn't it getting more and more harmonious? As long as the good news about the northwest border comes, I will celebrate the New Year with peace of mind. After the change of Yuan Dynasty, I will have important affairs in the harem next year. I have vented my energy, and the state affairs will be handled safely by your Majesty. I will continue to study, and there is no need to rush. Your Majesty can do it. Get more sleep and a good night's sleep. Take your time, in this prosperous age."
Fang Muxian felt like a clown kneeling here.
Is this a national policy meeting where Yang Dang, Wang Dang, and civil servants are at odds with each other?
Is it okay to joke about the emperor venting his energy in the harem?
What's the matter with Yang Ting's complaining tone like that of a little daughter-in-law?
Is it a lie that his noble son who was in the fifth rank of the Hanlin Academy was "demoted" to Guangdong and became a prefect under the "imperial party"?
Wang Shouren was carrying Fang Muxian's back, and now he also had a smile on his lips: "Since Li Long's report has come again, it's good to put all the blame on Xu Ming and Dong Wenzhong. He can only kill good people and take risks. There will never be a big mess. The northern captives were previously defeated at the hands of the late emperor, and Arak Khan had just regained the throne after two years of war. Although he had led Chahar, Khalkha, and Ulyanha on the left Of the 30,000 households, Khalkha, Ulyanha, etc. are all unable to use their lives, and the 30,000 households on the right wing have not yet returned. The little prince can only let the Chahar tribe act like an arm. In addition, Yang Dutai is in the northwest , Your Majesty does not need to worry about the invasion of northern invaders this winter."
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Cui Yuan escorted the Empress Dowager Cishou to Tongzhou, but news came from Tongzhou that Shouning Hou secretly escaped south by boat last night. He was like a frightened bird, and we couldn't make a big splash to capture him. Qing and others thought it was time to How to deal with it?”
Wang Qiong snorted: "It seems like he is absconding out of fear of crime. Your Majesty, since you have ordered Wu Dinghou to return north, why not let him invite Shouning Hou back to Tongzhou. Does Jin Yiwei know where Shouning Hou is?"
"That's natural." Zhu Houcong glanced at the trembling Zhang Yanling, "Guo Xun killed several groups of thieves and broke some hands. He also injured his leg. I'm afraid he is worried that he will not be able to see me. I just hope that Hou Ninghou will not faint. You have to put your head down and resist, otherwise I'm afraid you'll have to suffer some hardships."
Mao Ji complained endlessly and said: "The emperor is not strict and disciplines well, so that he is deceived by the traitors. Your Majesty, after the Empress Dowager Cishou persuades Shouning Hou to come back, you still have to persuade the Empress Dowager Cishou. She is arrogant in daily life. Xiao, you really committed a heinous crime, how will your majesty deal with it?"
"I have persuaded you!" Zhu Houcong pretended to be helpless, "I have always advised you in the morning and dusk. Now it is clear that there is nothing the Empress Dowager Cishou can do. After all, Shouning Marquis has such a lowly servant around him every day..."
Fang Muxian couldn't stand it anymore: "Yang Tinghe! How much farmland did your Yang family in Sichuan embezzle? Mao Ji! I grew up in Shandong. Do you know what the people in Laizhou said about your Mao family? And Wang Qiong! How did you shake your head and tail in front of Zhang Heling in the past, forgetting that I was beside you?"
The imperial study became quiet. Zhang Yanling was so frightened that she fell to the side and looked at Fang Muxian in shock.
"Why are you pretending to be a wise king and a wise minister? The people of Ming Dynasty have become increasingly miserable over the past hundred years. Isn't it all caused by you sanctimonious people?" Fang Muxian's face turned red strangely, looking extremely loyal, "What kind of ignorant fool is Queen Mother Zhang? How greedy and arrogant are our brothers? How dare you, these mediocre kings who have gained the throne with unfair authority, and hypocritical ministers who are flattering and seeking profit, talk about the prosperous times with such arrogance?"
He raised his head proudly: "If I die today, I will die. The Ming Dynasty has a bad character and is full of selfish people. When the country is overthrown, you will all be crowned heads. I will not wait long under the Nine Springs! The clan is greedy and insatiable. , The nobles and relatives are insatiable, and all the officials in the camp are also greedy! Do you really think that they all sincerely submit? "
After seeing Zhu Houcong sneer, Fang Muxian's eyes were full of teasing: "I figured out your temper and pretended to be loyal to the emperor. Don't you want to implement a new method? Try to touch their fields?"
Zhu Houcong looked at him with admiration: "So, I really want to thank you."
Fang Muxian suddenly felt like something was swelling in his heart.
Zhu Houcong acted as if he didn't exist: "Don't worry about this bitch who is still sanctimonious with his hands full of blood. What you want in life is to maintain your family and serve your country. Officials and gentry are exempted from taxes, taxes, and corvee. If there is no incentive, who wants to be frightened?" How about accompanying the emperor like a tiger? A gentleman loves money in a proper way. What I want is that the benefits you bring to Ming Dynasty are far greater than the benefits you get. In this way, Ming Dynasty will get better and better. Don't listen to his quarrels. I have long said that the fire of the Sun Jing Sect cannot scare me."
Fang Muxian was gagged and dragged away like this. He only felt that his blood was rising, his breathing was not smooth, and his body was exhausted after a night of energy. He screamed in a muffled voice and became more and more depressed.
This bunch of dog emperors and flattering courtiers who talk about benefits nakedly!
In the imperial study room, Zhu Houcong looked at Zhang Yanling who was sitting slumped at the door: "Jianchang Lord, are you relieved now? I and all the ministers have heard that Fang Muxian is a madman. But you, you must never do it again in the future. I was deceived by such a traitor. He actually wanted to burn me to death. This is a crime against the nine clans!"
"I understand, I must be alert, I... I thank your Majesty for not killing... Your Majesty is wise..."
Zhang Yanling kowtowed repeatedly at the door, frightened and speechless.
The smell of Ruoyou Ruowu came in, and Zhu Houcong frowned: "Go back and think about how to act in the future. Huang Jin, let's discuss this matter behind closed doors."
Zhang Yanling continued to kowtow, and the door of the Zhongyuan Hall was slowly closed in front of him.
Afterwards, Gao Zhong walked up to him and said calmly: "Jianchang Marquis, please stop kowtowing. Your Majesty has asked you to return to your residence. I have to clean this place."
"Yes...yes...I'll go back right now...I'll trouble my father-in-law...I'll make my father-in-law laugh..."
Gao Zhong raised his sleeves and put them in front of his nose. He couldn't help but feel a little happy when he saw Zhang Yanling, who was so domineering in the palace, staggering away like a piss.
Then there was some sighing and dissatisfaction: If it weren't for a sister who was so lucky, such a waste would have been killed long ago!
In the imperial study room, the ministers who had tacitly performed a play to let Fang Muxian break through the defense felt that they had also been played by the emperor using Fang Muxian.
How many naked words did Fang Muxian say?
Although the intention was still to provoke the emperor and his ministers, the emperor heard those words after all.
Zhu Houcong was silent for a while and then slowly spoke: "It's just that the vassal kings are inheriting the throne, and they just want to implement new laws to enrich the country and seek governance. Such ignorant and rebellious people can use situations everywhere to fan the flames and make the monarch and his ministers deal with it as if they are facing a formidable enemy for several months. It can be seen from this that , I know how stubborn the ills of the Ming Dynasty are, and so do you and others. Once the report comes, we can only infer this before the truth is found out, so we fell into this person's so-called conspiracy."
All fifteen people were silent.
If we didn't really know how many problems there were in the local area, how could we feel that there was a huge interest group just because of the killing of officials in the southeast?
Can this be said to be a new law?
Although they all felt that what Yuan Zonggao said was reasonable at the time, and those local people were not so courageous, but what if?
In other words, if they actually have the ability to cause trouble, it depends on whether they have the courage to cause trouble.
The benefits of the Ming Dynasty have indeed fallen into the hands of so many people, and the people are indeed in dire straits.
There are some natural and man-made disasters, and millions of people can easily be displaced. From time to time, people gather to become bandits, or even raise flags to rebel.
Zhu Houcong laughed again: "This matter is not without benefit. In my opinion, it is just a drill."
Yang Tinghe looked at him and saw him saying with bright eyes: "I asked you how to make the country rich. I think you can think more about it now. If you do something new and this person provokes you, the world will be in panic. In the final analysis, it is because of money. Now I can see more clearly where the profit lies, and who will do what actions because of what things. In the future, if there are reports like this in the local area, I will not be easily led to make any decisions. If Guangdong’s new law is really effective in five years, it will be better to make thorough preparations when it is implemented in the future.”
Zhu Houcong paused and then said: "It is not easy to find a way to reconcile the contradiction between private interests and national interests. If the people are exploited too much, more and more people will eventually go on the road to escape. Those who take wealth without morality will be the worst offenders. If there are more people in the world, there will be more injustices in the world. I have already investigated some of Fang Muxian's origins, and will continue to investigate. One thing is certain, they are in the Ming Dynasty, but they have connections with Japanese pirates. Among them I don’t need to tell you the key, you and others also know it.”
Under the sea ban, there are both traders and thieves. How can anyone who can sit here not know?
Another word for profit. Under the sea ban, those who are protected by others dare to go to the sea to take advantage of the huge profits. Since they were all illegally entering the sea, how could they dare to complain if they were robbed?
As they became more and more courageous, they dared to collude with others, invade the shore, rob something, and eliminate something.
"I know if you are in a hurry," Zhu Houcong said again, "Just like Zhang Heling lost his mind and used Fang Muxian's plan to set a fire in the Rijing Gate, I still can't deal with him. But what should I do in the future? Zhengdan When discussing national policies for the next three years and next year before the holiday, you and others need to think carefully about it."
He looked at the ministers with sharp eyes: "I don't hope that in five or ten years, the Ming Dynasty will still give these rats such an opportunity."
"...I will work with all my heart and soul to relieve His Majesty's worries."
"After the case is fully investigated, the report will be spread to all provinces." Zhu Houhuang nodded, "The matter involves the Empress Dowager Cishou, so I will only order the Jin Yiwei to conclude the case and leave some dignity. In addition, these people are good at deceiving people, so the provinces promoted officials How should we discipline the scholars of this province in the future? Why don’t you learn to cultivate your mind and manage your family with integrity, but instead you are giving advice every day and discussing how to govern the country and bring peace to the world?"
"……yes."
After all, he used this case as an excuse again, but who allowed the Jiangnan scholars to make the ten tribes of Taizong Yifang Xiaoru talk about it?
…
Queen Mother Zhang had not left the palace for who knows how many years, but this time she had to go for the sake of her biological brother.
But who would have expected that after arriving in Tongzhou, although the Zhang family's motorcade and servants were there, Zhang Heling had escaped as early as last night?
Empress Dowager Zhang looked at her "brother-in-law" Cui Yuan and said in panic: "Consort Cui, Heling is so cowardly. You must not report him and say he is absconding out of fear of crime!"
Cui Yuan didn't know how His Majesty made her have to come to "persuad" him in person. He could only say helplessly: "I don't know where the Marquis is hiding now. Queen Mother, it's freezing cold. Your body is important." . Why don’t you rest for a night and I’ll take you back tomorrow?”
Empress Dowager Zhang was afraid that someone would be found behind her, so her brother was so frightened that he resorted to using weapons and became an assassin and a rebel.
"Cui Prince Consort, I have watched and raised Yongkang since he was a child." She begged, "No matter what, tell him that His Majesty has found out the truth, and He Ling was just deceived by that cheap servant. I will wait here. , after finding him, if he doesn’t believe it, I will go over and tell him personally. You must not use force, you must not!"
"How can Luan Jia stay here for a long time? Don't worry, Queen Mother. Your Majesty has told your ministers that the Marquis will not be harmed."
Queen Mother Zhang burst into tears: she was afraid that if the situation was unclear, the idiot would use force, or even commit suicide out of fear of being tortured.
"Dai Ping, you must help me. I still have several royal estates, which I can give to Yongkang later..."
"Queen Mother, how can I not do my job with all my heart? Why are you doing this?" Cui Yuantou said, "Your Majesty is a benevolent and filial king. If you really want to ignore it, why do you need to invite the Marquis back to the capital like this? Queen Mother, please don't worry, Zhengdan Before the festival, I will surely find the Marquis to return safely."
"Bodhisattva bless, Bodhisattva bless..." What can Queen Mother Zhang do?
While driving outside the palace in this cold weather, she was destined to suffer from the bumps and worries last night, and from the reminders tonight and tomorrow.
But what can be done? That's her biological brother.
That fool really set the fire, so what can be done?
The emperor could say that, and Empress Dowager Zhang could no longer demand anything more. Without Zhang Heling giving the lowly servant a seal of communication, how could the lowly servant pass the news to the palace?
Empress Dowager Zhang knew this. Maybe some of the palace maids and eunuchs who were investigated together with Yuan Jinsheng had already confessed.
If Zhang Heling didn't know anything about it, no matter how stupid he was, he would have known to kill that cheap servant earlier!
With Queen Mother Zhang's limited intelligence, she couldn't understand many of the subtleties involved.
She only knew that the emperor must be very confident, and felt that only if she came, would the idiot dare to believe him instead of desperately resisting arrest and escaping.
What a sin!
From now on, both myself and the two brothers will be just chickens to be slaughtered - if the emperor is willing.
Cui Yuan has actually received the news that he arrived here from Beijing on a fast horse before noon.
He knew where Zhang Heling was hiding.
But the order was for Guo Xun to catch him.
It's not like we were in the capital, so not many people saw the officers and soldiers using weapons against Shouning Marquis, right?
As the commander-in-chief of the Zuo Army, as a military minister who participated in the national policy meeting, and as the "general military officer" who was supposed to go to the southeast to suppress bandits, Cui Yuan sent people to deliver the general's order and the guards along the way.
But Guo Xun wouldn't be red-eyed and really take the credit for Zhang Heling's death, right?
Empress Dowager Zhang is like this, Zhang Heling is already like this, and they will all be dealt with by His Majesty when the time comes.
After all, I have been staying in the Royal Study Room for more than a month. I need to make some progress and know how to measure myself!
In Jinyiwei Prison, the preferential treatment Fang Muxian received finally disappeared.
Three of his "godsons" have already been arrested.
"One of them committed suicide simply, and the other two stayed beside Shouning Marquis. I wonder if they would encourage him to fight to the death." Luo An asked him with a smile, "The Jin Yiwei's method of torturing you without letting you die is too good. There are too many. If you want to bite your tongue, it will not be easy. I don’t need to ask you anything now. Your Majesty said that he knows everything he should know. If the remaining little thieves miss a few, just forget it. But you are so eloquent and upright. You are the remnant of the Fang family. I will raise you until you are white and fat, and show it to the people in the southeast who were harmed by the Japanese pirates. Such a loyal and loyal Fang Xiaoru has some descendants who are so heartless."
Fang Muxian's eyes were about to burst, and he no longer had the coolness and calmness before.
Luo An felt that he had learned the essence of two things, which was to keep chatting with him until his defense collapsed.
But the premise is that you can talk about his pain points.
"I'm afraid you don't know that Zhu Yunming, who wrote "Wild Notes", set off from Guangdong at the end of last month. He is one of the four great talents in Wuzhong. You are good at picking people. But I don't know that the scholars in Jiangnan know that you are deliberately creating publicity and harming others. Your Majesty has been prejudiced against Jiangnan scholars from now on. In the future, it will be much more difficult for imperial examinations and promotions. How will you talk about your ancestors? Your Majesty said, you understand people's hearts. You understand, right?"
"By the way, and also, Mr. Shi Ge is presiding over the compilation of a volume of "The Great Ming Dynasty Zhong Ren Jian". Now that you have made such great achievements, there will still be a mark in the history books. I am very envious." Luo An shook his head, " It's just that your eldest godson, named Zhong, is not loyal! He was recruited before and said that you have a son who will take the provincial examination next year. I heard that he was just blessed with Qilin'er. Wow, the whole family is really loyal. !”
"Ugh!!! Ugh!!!"
Fang Muxian, who had been injected with needles and stuffed with walnuts, could only endure the pain all over his body and roared angrily.
"I want to learn from you. You are obviously a heartless person, why do you think you are doing justice for God? Can you tell me when you are no longer in pain?"
Fang Muxian was speechless. He just wanted to die soon.
The fast horse galloped in the south of Beizhili, heading for the temporary camp of the Chinese army in Shenji Camp.
Zhang Yong has already arrived at Xuanfu and has to continue walking west for many days to reach Ganzhou. Kill Li Long to find out the truth and spread the news to the nine sides. His Majesty wants this shock!
Zhu Yunming has entered the canal, and the weather is getting colder and colder.
Zhang Fujing wrote the most important memorial in the warmer Guangdong.
Clearing the land is just the beginning, and the cleared fields that have been hidden only account for a very small part.
A large amount of land has sales documents written in black and white. How can it be taken by force?
Officials, clerks, civil servants...all kinds of people are exempted from corvee service. With so much to do in Guangdong, how can we just use so many poor people?
There are still vacancies in the guard posts and the silver needed to recruit soldiers...
The affairs in the southeast were still unclear, and Zhang Fujing knew not to cause trouble to His Majesty.
However, since the victory of Tuen Mun at the end of September, Zhang Fook King has become more clearly aware of the difficulties of the new law.
All difficulties ultimately boil down to the word money!
Once again, I would like to point out that both The Fire in the Rijing Gate and Fang Muchian are just my own interpretations and do not represent my true views on Fang Xiaoru. The plot requires that the choice of the protagonist will bring about chain reactions, and reform will face huge difficulties. The emperor is far away and can only make decisions based on known information. The real emperor's perspective is full of conspiracies.