"Your Majesty, the theory of astrology is too illusory. You must not believe it or not believe it completely. Your Majesty, please handle it with caution. If your Majesty is really worried, you can just send one of the courtiers down. If you start a big fight, you may hurt the royal family's face. You should also Your Majesty, please think twice." Liu Jian advised.
The three elders were summoned urgently. Unexpectedly, after the emperor said what he was worried about, the expressions of the three elders suddenly changed. They were more worried than Zhu Houzhao. Chenghua's deeds had not been many years ago. This The signs are not good.
If this news spreads, the government and the public will definitely talk about it. If it is used by people with evil intentions, it will be another absurd evidence of the emperor's crime. He does not ask about the ghosts and gods, which is what the late Emperor Hongzhi was taboo about.
In addition, Zhu Houzhao's foundation was not completely stable since the late emperor came to the mausoleum not long ago, so there could be no trouble.
The main reason is that the emperor's intention is very obvious. He wants to send people down to move the entire Nanjing Prefecture and the people in the seven cities. I don't know whether it is accurate or not. I don't know if it is accurate. It is understandable to take precautions. It is understandable to move directly only? That's not just a few people, but tens of millions of people. You think you're going to be accommodating, but you're in a hurry. The people don't care who you are. If things get serious, there will be wars everywhere.
Xie Qian has the most upright temper. He tolerated the ban on sea operations. After all, the benefits of opening the sea outweigh the disadvantages. It brings benefit to ships to go to sea and serve the country and the people. I still tolerate you, old minister. What the hell is the Royal Manufacturing Bureau? If your Majesty hadn't said that there was an explanation for the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, the old minister would not hesitate to remonstrate directly.
I can't bear it anymore. Your Majesty, do you really think that a veteran like me is just a decoration for the people? Just do whatever you want?
"Your Majesty, do you remember what happened to the late Emperor Chenghua? The dynasty was declining day by day, and he was wasting money and money on building Taoist palaces and refining elixirs. What was the result? Your Majesty, have you forgotten? When the late Emperor managed the country diligently and frugally, and took care of himself, he was able to Barely surviving, it took another ten years before your majesty squandered some of the savings to lift the sea ban, which benefited the country and the people. The old minister agreed, and built a ship for the benefit of the people to find the grain that yielded twenty dan per acre. The old minister sincerely wished your majesty in his heart. It was done, and no one in the country would starve to death."
Xie Qian paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and his voice suddenly became sad, and he said a little frustrated.
"Royal Manufacturing Bureau, your Majesty, what do you want to do? Now because of Qin Tianjian's words, your Majesty actually wants to move the people of the seven cities of Nanjing Prefecture. Your Majesty, you, you, you, if your Majesty really wants to do this, I have no choice. I have no choice but to beg for the bones and hope for your majesty's permission." Xie Qian was really confused, knelt down and took off his hat, knelt straight and said nothing.
Liu Jian didn't think of it and quickly tried to persuade him, "Thank you, Mr., that's not possible."
Li Dongyang was horrified. He didn't expect that Xie Qian was so angry that he even told the beggar's bones. He also stepped forward to pull Xie Qian, hoping that he would not be confused; "Xie Gong, get up quickly, what are you doing?"
Xie Qian struggled to get up and looked straight at Zhu Houzhao, waiting for the emperor's judgment.
Zhu Houzhao thought silently, I just wanted to save people, and I didn't do anything to make people angry. Is that so?
He didn't know that the three pavilion elders were all born in Chenghuanian, and they had a deep-rooted resentment for what he said. In terms of metaphysics, in their view, if they were naive and vain, they would be tempted to guard Qinglong, which would lead to natural disasters. Come on, if Zhu Houzhao believes in metaphysics as much as the late Emperor Chenghua, what hope does the Ming Dynasty have?
Zhu Houzhao sighed and said: "Thank you, master. You are a veteran of three dynasties. When my father was alive, you were deeply trusted. Get up. Forget this matter. I still need three more masters to help govern the world. Please get up quickly."
Xie Qian felt a little embarrassed when he heard what he said. Zhu Houzhao had a very good attitude in admitting his mistakes, and he was still saved.
"Your Majesty, are you serious about this?" Xie Qian still said with some doubts.
After fighting for so many days, I was able to get a feel for some of Zhu Houzhao's character, so I didn't dare to confirm.
Zhu Houzhao showed his white teeth and said with a smile, "Master Xie, don't you believe me?"
Xie Qian quickly confessed, "I don't dare, old minister."
"Three masters, thank you for your hard work. I understand your worries. I am not Master Cheng Hua. I am a little tired of the three masters. Let's stop here today. As for the matter of Qin Tianjian, that's all. Let's follow Master Liu's wishes. To deal with it, it is better to take precautions. After all, there have been many records of the Yinghuo Disaster Star in ancient times, so it should not be done carelessly."
"My Emperor is wise, I will take my leave."
Zhu Houzhao wanted to ask them, what if something happens? Are you responsible? In the end, I held back, after all, it didn't happen, and worrying too much would only make things worse.
The three cabinet elders went out, and Zhu Houzhao ordered Zhang Zhong to take the Iron Eagle Guard out of the imperial city. Before leaving, he said: "We must move the people to the state capital before the officials sent by the cabinet arrive. No matter what method you use, as long as no one is killed, you must pay attention to this."
Zhang Zhong is a thorough imperialist. No matter what the emperor asks him to do, he will not frown. Even if he kills all the people in the seven cities, he will carry it out. This is the ultimate power left to him by the late emperor Hongzhi. Now he has turned from secret to It's just clear, no longer mysterious.
Liu Jin didn't know why His Majesty was so convinced that there would be a catastrophe, but he couldn't help but worry about Your Majesty: "Your Majesty, do you know whether I should say something or not?"
"Say." Zhu Houzhao glared at him.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for your bold words. Natural disasters are unpredictable. If a natural disaster occurs, your Majesty's move will definitely be the act of a sage and a wise monarch. No one in the government or the public would dare to say anything bad about Your Majesty." Liu Jin paused and asked the emperor to think about it first.
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and motioned for him to continue.
Liu Jin nodded and continued: "But if the natural disaster had not happened, Your Majesty, have you thought about the price? This will inevitably lead to criticism from the officials of the government and the public. Zhang Zhong is a person close to His Majesty. After the accident, the Emperor will bear the brunt. What I mean is, Why doesn't the emperor find a courtier to do this and ask him to stop it? If it succeeds, it will be the emperor's fault, and he will take second place. If it fails, he will take the blame, and the emperor will have nothing to do." Liu Jin's idea is really a dog-eat-dog idea. Weird, but it seems to make sense. After Liu Jin finished speaking, he bowed and retreated to the back, waiting for the emperor to figure it out. If he talked too much and failed to show off the emperor's abilities, or if he made the emperor unhappy, it would be more of a loss than a gain.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but think, Liu Jin was right. Let others do this kind of offending work. Zhang Zhong is indeed not qualified. If he is allowed to kill people, it will be okay. To do this kind of thing, you must know how to be flexible. Zhang Zhong will do it. Too bad to work around.
"Do you have anyone you think is suitable?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
Liu Jin flattered him and said, "Your Majesty has forgotten, Jiao Fang Jiao Shangshu."
Zhu Houzhao discovered that Liu Jin was really a talented person. Although he might not be needed for big things, he was very good at doing these dirty things. Although Jiao Fang was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, this person knew how to be flexible. This way Unable to make sense, he found another way and became the emperor together with Liu Daxia. However, he was a minister of the Six Bureaus and could not follow others' influence. Therefore, few people believed that a minister of the Six Bureaus would do something outrageous to please His Majesty.
"Inform the cabinet and send Jiao Fang to go down in person. On the pretext of inspecting the Nanjing government affairs, he will be appointed as an envoy and temporarily in charge of military affairs. He has the right to act expediently." Zhu Houzhao explained with his hands behind his back.
"My slave obeys the order." Liu Jin immediately followed the order and went there.
Jiao Fang received the imperial edict, and Liu Jin whispered to him alone: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has high hopes for you, but you must be careful. Although you are here for inspection, you have to think about the reasons yourself. Your Majesty I don’t have the intention to save the people from fire and water, but I can’t let the officials criticize me. It’s up to Mr. Jiao to decide what’s right. Mr. Jiao can set off. Eunuch Zhang has already gone ahead. If you have any questions, you can ask him for help. Farewell, Master Jiao, there is no need to send you off."
"Eunuch Liu, please go slowly and report back to Your Majesty on behalf of Jiao. I know what to do." Jiao Fang said goodbye with cupped hands.
Liu Jin gave him a meaningful look, nodded, and said goodbye.
After receiving the decree, Jiao Fang hurried back to the house, prepared to salute, and did not have time to set up the honor guard. Zhu Houzhao asked him to set off, which shows that the matter may be a bit urgent. Now he has finally gained the trust of the current emperor, and he can be regarded as an imperial party. Naturally, he did not dare to be sloppy in his work, and ordered: "I will bring my men and my chariots to follow. You will speed up your pace later. People and horses will not rest. You must come as soon as possible to join me."
"I obey your orders."
Jiao Fang then hurried out of the city without much delay. The next day, on the official road, he caught up with the three thousand Iron Eagle Guards led by Zhang Zhong. After a few simple inquiries, he understood the cause and effect. Xing was the one who took the blame for the emperor. He already had a conspiracy in his mind. Forcibly relocating the people would definitely not work. The amount of money and food consumed alone was an astronomical figure.
He wanted to let the people go to the state capital on their own under some name, but he was worried about it, and he didn't have much time. According to Qin Tianjian, the natural disaster would be in half a month.
As if to confirm Qin Tianjian's statement, near Nanjing Prefecture, a county under the jurisdiction of Liudu Shuntian Prefecture, a place called Jiangning, many insect corpses, earthworms, ants, and centipedes appeared on the road here.
After passing another city and entering Jurong County, the scene was the same. What was even more frightening was that snakes jumped out in groups, and the old cows refused to drink water, their eyes were filled with tears, and they screamed and raised their heads to the sky.
After arriving in Shangyuan County, Shuntian Prefecture was not far away, and the problem became more serious. There were shaking clouds in the sky, and the people thought it was a miracle, but they didn't know that it was a sign before the earth dragon came. Chickens could not be put in the cage, ducks could not leave the fence, and the livestock Manic, dead fish appeared on the river, and the clear river water became turbid overnight.
They watched all this with trembling fear, but the common people didn't realize it at all. They just did whatever they were supposed to do every day. The local officials didn't take it seriously and were indifferent. The more Jiao Fang saw this, the more she became dissatisfied with the emperor. Instilling awe, for everything that happened thousands of miles away, just by a comment from Qin Tianjian, you can know where the natural disaster will appear. The natural disaster vision will appear here, and you can be sure of it.
"Eunuch Zhang, this is not far from Yingtian Mansion. You and I can go our separate ways. Your Majesty has the foresight. If we come a few days later, Jiao Fang can't imagine what will happen. Whatever we say now, we must handle this well." For this matter, the father-in-law is short of manpower and needs the support of the state capital. Jiao Fang immediately goes to dispatch. However, father-in-law, please listen to Jiao Fang. You must not use force. You can drive them away on the grounds of temporary recruitment by the court. If there are any who do not obey, , arrest directly on charges, as long as no one is killed, father-in-law, please remember this, Jiao Fang bids farewell."
Along the way, Jiao Fang thought about it but couldn't find any good solution. This is not a border town in the north. It requires some kind of Jianbi Qingye, but it is almost better than Jianbi Qingye. We need to hire people and move them to the state capital without leaving any people behind. I want to come. If you want to go, there is only this way. On the grounds that the imperial court needs people, there is really no other way to temporarily recruit people to settle in the state capital.
"Sir Jiao Fang, please go. Our family will remember your warning. His Majesty has also told us that we must not hurt anyone's life. I just hope that you and I will do well and not waste His Majesty's kindness to the people." Zhang Zhong said seriously.
Jiao Fang nodded and left, taking a few subordinates with her and hurried towards the state capital.
Zhang Zhong waited for him to leave and immediately gave the order.
"The generals will listen to the order, and all the people in the village will be recruited in teams of ten. They will go to the county government to recruit in teams of one hundred people. As long as they are human beings, regardless of men, women, old or young, they will all obey this temporary recruitment order. Those who do not obey will be taken directly. You will be bound and taken away. You are all people who have been on the battlefield and crawled out from the pile of dead bodies. I don’t need to say more. There is only one thing: do not kill anyone. This is a death order. You all understand it and carry it out."
"Promise." The soldiers responded solemnly.
This group of soldiers appeared very suddenly. At first, due to the color of the sky, they were too far away to see them clearly. It was only when the Iron Eagle Guards walked in that they discovered them. They thought they were robbers from somewhere. When they found out they were all After they were all wearing black Ming army armor, they breathed a sigh of relief. The village chief, the local security guards and others greeted him respectfully at the entrance of the village.
Before they could speak, a black-armored sergeant stood up and said loudly, "The state government has ordered that everyone here, regardless of age or sex, pack their bags immediately and leave for Yingtian Mansion. Anyone who violates the rules will be immediately taken to trial."
