Someone objected to the emperor's overly preferential treatment of the soldiers and just said a few words: "I ask your majesty to think twice. This move is against the ancestral system. The military household system was set by Taizu. Such changes may... ·.”
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao was mercilessly interrupted and said: "Shut up, it's not you who died, it's those soldiers and warriors who are low-level in your eyes. They have the minimum military pay, or even no military pay, and do what Ming Dynasty is doing." The lowest and most dangerous thing is to protect you, the officials in the court. If Taizu didn't have these lowest soldiers and warriors, how would the Ming Dynasty have been able to survive for a hundred years? Is it up to you? Or is it up to you?" His eyes glanced at everyone.
Yang Tinghe lowered his head and said nothing, Liu Li thanked him and said nothing, Liu Daxia and Jiao Fang sneered at the ministers, Xu Qiong frowned slightly, but felt that His Majesty was right and kept silent.
The military commanders and nobles smiled very comfortably, Your Majesty said it well, without us big guys and rough warriors, what would happen to you, especially Zhang Mao, who looked at the adult who spoke, his eyes were filled with fire, almost If you want to kill people, you are such a naughty mother, you look down on me, ah, you want to be beaten, I will remember you.
When the old minister saw that no one was talking, he quickly apologized and left the class, feeling lingering fear that he had offended others because these things had "showed his face".
Zhu Houzhao sneered, "Who objects?"
Liu Jian stood up and said, "I agree with your Majesty's will."
"I second the proposal."
Zhu Houzhao chuckled and said, "Liu Jin drafted the decree and sent it to the cabinet for review, so that no one would say that I made a decision without consulting the ministers. Are you satisfied, sir?" He asked with a smile.
The three pavilion elders Liu, Li and Xie looked at each other with helplessness in their eyes and said in unison: "I have no objection."
Zhu Houzhao glanced at Liu Jin and signaled the court to disperse.
"Retreat from the court!" Liu Jin shouted in a sensible and unpleasant voice.
"I'll take my leave."
Zhu Houzhao returned to the capital with a great victory, which further established his prestige, and the ministers in the court became more and more surrendered. Between the heroes and the British lords, Zhu Houzhao had the style of Yongle and the benevolence of Xiaozong, and he could always make people win. The ministers had nothing to say, and it was difficult to find fault.
Take the matter of Liu Daxia and Wang Qiong as an example. It is an example of benevolence and the emperor's magnanimity. I don't care whether you criticize me or not. Even after they die, I still send ministers to express condolences, which convinced most of the officials.
Let’s talk about this great victory. I can only imagine that if the emperor personally conquered the country with 100,000 military pay and 5,000 iron eagle guards, he could really defeat Dayan’s 130,000-strong coalition army. In the end, Daning was taken back and the Ming Dynasty’s defense line was once again advanced. In the grassland.
Except for Emperor Yongle, no other emperor in the past has accomplished such a feat. However, he was different from Yongle's domineering killings. He treated his ministers with humility and courtesy, making them feel as comfortable as drinking nectar, so the ministers had conflicts. , today's seemingly unbelievable and absurd behaviors are actually wisdom beyond ordinary people's understanding, which can always make you convinced at critical moments.
The people recognized it, and the courtiers recognized it. Now, with this imperial edict, it is conceivable that the military will be even more desperate. As expected, all the things that the late emperor could not do have been realized in the hands of Zhu Houzhao.
Especially the three pavilion elders, thinking about the late emperor's entrustment, and then looking at Zhu Houzhao, what happened to them? They are old, it is time to consider their successors, and they can go back and take care of themselves with peace of mind.
"In thirty years, the Ming Dynasty will no longer be in danger of border dangers, haha... Okay... Okay, hahaha!" Liu Jian walked out of the hall and laughed heartily, attracting the attention of the courtiers, but he ignored it and smiled. Gotta be wanton.
If it were anyone else, they would have been scolded by the guards and censors long ago. When they saw it was Mr. Ge, they immediately turned their eyes away and stopped paying attention.
Li Dongyang had long thought of retiring, and after hearing the words, he agreed, "I have exactly what I want. Now that your majesty has achieved great success, and everything in the court has been renewed, it is time to let go. After your majesty wears the dragon, I can enjoy the countryside and play chess with my grandchildren. Andu is in his old age."
Xie moved his forehead and stroked his beard and said, "I have been in a high position. Since the late emperor's great power and His Majesty's accession to the throne, I have always acted in the same way I viewed Your Majesty in the past. I am self-righteous. But now I think about it, it turns out that I am old and foolish. With Your Majesty With my wisdom and mind, I think it’s time for me to retreat, why don’t I go back here.”
He was the chief minister who was hit the hardest. He was the most opposed to Zhu Houzhao, but he was always slapped in the face in the end. Gradually, he also understood that the current emperor was no longer the playful prince he used to be. The thought of regretting retirement is no longer unavoidable. It is more of a feeling of being at a loss and feeling sorry for oneself.
Yang Tinghe came up from behind them, raised his hand and said, "Three pavilion elders, the court needs to rely on you for many things, and the court cannot afford to lose the three pavilion elders."
Liu Jian smiled meaningfully and said, "Jiefu, I will help your majesty in the future. I can see how much your majesty trusts you. Jiao Fang is cunning and Liu Daxia is not enough to make things happen. From now on, I will have to rely on you."
Yang Tinghe bowed and saluted, and said, "Don't worry, Sir. Your Majesty's heart is like a clear mirror, and he has made his own arrangements."
His response was to show his position and identity. The three cabinet elders Liu, Li and Xie did not blame him. Everyone has their own choice. Yang Tinghe is still young, rigorous enough, acts with integrity, and has a bottom line. With him here They are still very relieved around His Majesty.
Several people left talking to each other. Liu Daxia and Jiao Fang walked behind, wanting to step forward, but they were afraid of making others uncomfortable. Jiao Fang knew that Yang Tinghe looked down on him, and the three pavilion elders did not like him very much, so he did not hesitate. Not fun.
The two of them signed up to stay together, so to speak, but it was almost a certainty that the two of them would join the cabinet, and it was also the return benefit Zhu Houzhao gave them. The affairs of Hejian Mansion and Nanjing Mansion made Zhu Houzhao Longyan very happy, and gave him countless gains. The capital of the people's hearts, such ministers who can do things must be reused.
There was also a group of people following behind them.
Among the civil and military generals, Zhang Mao's follower is naturally Yang Yiqing. Since going out this time, Yang Yiqing has completely relied on the military, becoming a marquis and worshiping the prime minister. This is the ultimate goal of a minister, and today's emperor obviously attaches great importance to warriors and military personnel. The array equipment allowed him to see great prospects, so there was nothing to hesitate about. Zhang Mao was already old and could still go to the battlefield a few more times. Who else could be the successor of the military than Yang Yiqing?
Although Zhu Houzhao deliberately mixed civil and military affairs, but depending on the situation, there is still a long way to go. Civil and military forces are civil and military, and they still have clear lines.
But these are all things for later.
After retiring from the court, Kong Wenxun was retained by Zhu Houzhao.
"The guilty minister Kong Wenxun, please see your majesty, long live my emperor." He put on the most humble posture and knelt down to worship Zhu Houzhao, hoping to be spared by Zhu Houzhao. He was afraid, he was really afraid.
Zhu Houzhao's situation has become a success, and it is already over. If he still doesn't know his position, he is looking for death.
Kong Wenxun bowed his head and knelt on the ground. He didn't dare to get up until the emperor asked him to get up. According to his status, he didn't need to kowtow when he saw the emperor. He just needed to perform the courtesy of a prince.
Zhu Houzhao didn't speak. He leaned on the dragon chair, holding a cup of steaming tea and blowing it gently.
The back of Kong Wenxun's clothes has been wet with cold sweat. It is already November, and the weather is extremely cold this year. The ground in the hall is cold. Even in this situation, he is still sweating, which shows how worried he is. Nervous.
Zhu Houzhao put down the tea cup and knocked it heavily on the imperial desk. Kong Wenxun's heartbeat suddenly jumped and he just listened.
"Do you know your guilt?" Zhu Houzhao's cold voice came.
Kong Wenxun quickly kowtowed and confessed, making a loud banging sound in the hall.
"I know I'm guilty... I'm guilty...!"
Zhu Houzhao said indifferently: "Then, tell me, how should I deal with it?"
When Kong Wenxun heard this, he knew that whether he could be forgiven depends on how he answered. If he had other thoughts, he would be doomed.
"Your Majesty, are you willing to listen to the guilty minister?"
This is his last chance, or Beizong's last chance, so he hopes to use his greatest sincerity and determination in exchange for a chance to survive. Others may see Zhu Houzhao as a young emperor with a mind and wisdom beyond ordinary people. .
But he saw another side that others could not see, the heroic attitude of a ruthless and domineering man. Back then, they had experienced the eras of Kublai Khan, Hongwu and Yongle. For such an emperor, they had chosen Complete surrender, because anything other than surrender is a dead end.
Zhu Houzhao looked at him calmly and said, "Let's talk and listen."
In fact, Zhu Houzhao did not have to deal with the Confucian family, or Confucianism. The thousand-year-old family is not that easy to deal with. The huge foundation of civilians and officials is a big trouble, and it has to be criticized by others. For an inspirational saint king For him, who knows his master, these are not the results he wants.
However, if you make him angry, then it’s up to you. Now it’s up to Kong Wenxun himself.
"Your Majesty, when the guilty minister arrived, everything had been prepared. I believe that Your Majesty will be satisfied after reading the guilty minister's memorial. This is the guilty minister's explanation to your majesty, as well as the apology gift from my Kong family."
After speaking, he took out a memorial from his sleeve, fell on the ground, raised his hands and presented it. Liu Jin stepped forward to take it and presented it to Zhu Houzhao.
When Zhu Houzhao opened the memorial and saw the first line of words, he was surprised.
"Thirty million taels of silver, eight hundred thousand taels of gold..."
Hiss~!
Zhu Houzhao took a breath of air in his heart. The Kong family is really rich. This contribution alone is enough to cover the court's tax revenue for five years. The heritage of the thousand-year-old family is indeed profound. I'm afraid this is not just the entire net worth. Bar.
Of course, this is not all of Kong Wenxun's net worth, but it is enough to severely damage the Kong family's vitality. This is most of the Kong family's net worth, which is about the same. However, the profitable business is still there, so the wealth donated is nothing. , as long as the Kong family is still there, they will be able to recover sooner or later. For now, it is more important to save the Kong family first.
Zhu Houzhao collected business taxes, not because the court had no money. Everything he wanted to do required money. Kong Wenxun did what he wanted. This trick really worked. Zhu Houzhao immediately changed his face and said with a smile: " My dear, please get up, get up quickly."
As soon as these words came out, Kong Wenxun felt relieved, knowing that the bet was right, and the emperor was indeed short of money.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After Kong Wenxun thanked him, he stood aside respectfully, not daring to be careless. Judging from the current situation, His Majesty is obviously a person who can fall out of favor faster than turning over a book. People who are uncertain are the most annoying. Blurred.
Zhu Houzhao read this memorial carefully, and he smiled happily. He thought in his heart that it seems that the rich people in Ming Dynasty are really damn rich. My father lived frugally for more than ten years before he left it for me. With this little wealth, I didn’t expect that the Kong family would be able to acquire more than what my father left behind. It’s really...!
Kong Wenxun carefully observed the emperor's face and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Jin coughed and glared at Kong Wenxun.
Kong Wenxun said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the guilty minister has sent a letter to his friends and jointly submitted a memorial, asking the court to collect business taxes. Eight major business houses in Shandong and Shanxi responded to the call. The chief envoys from all over the country will soon send memorials to Beijing, as well as in Nanjing and other places. My Kongfu Company took the lead in paying commercial taxes, and the guilty minister did this just to let your majesty understand that the guilty minister is loyal to the emperor and has absolutely no second thoughts. Please make it clear to your majesty."
