Chapter 40: Really serving the country and the people
Although it is now the time for Emperor Xiaozong to be buried, and everything is complicated, state affairs still cannot be abolished, and the matter of the little prince's offense against Guyuan still needs to be held at court.
Before Zhu Houzhao fell asleep, Wang Yue, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, came to ask Zhu Houzhao whether he would hold a court meeting tomorrow.
Zhu Houzhao knew that the current cabinet would not agree to rectify armaments and train troops, so he was not in the mood to hold court discussions. However, when he thought of his promise to give the Queen Mother a royal title, Zhu Houzhao nodded and agreed to the request of the cabinet and the Ministry of War to hold a meeting tomorrow. During the court discussion, Zhu Houzhao also ordered Zhang Sheng, the Minister of Rites, to participate.
The next day, which was the early morning of October 11th, the 18th year of Hongzhi, it began to snow in the capital city of the Ming Dynasty. The snowflakes like catkins were blown up by the cold wind. After a long time, they were placed on the eaves of the palace, Jiva is dyed white.
Zhu Houzhao added a mink fur coat and a layer of plain clothes, and the crown on his head was also covered with white cloth. His whole body was snow-white. Standing next to the white marble pillars, they were the same color as the sky, palace walls and pavilions, except for a pair of dark-colored The black eyes were particularly bright, staring at the cabinet ministers Liu Jian and others walking in front, as well as the eunuch Wang Yue and the eunuch Lu He who were standing under the eaves of the corridor on both sides wearing python robes and three mountain hats.
Since he came to the throne, Zhu Houzhao and the two institutions of the Ming Dynasty, namely, the cabinet ministers and the eunuchs and eunuchs, have also had many contacts.
But because of this, if it weren't for these actual contacts, Zhu Houzhao really didn't know that his imperial power as an emperor would be restricted by these two institutions.
Because, theoretically speaking, the power of these two institutions was created by the emperor, but in reality they became two mountains blocking his way to power.
Zhu Houzhao knew that the previous emperors had established these two institutions not to limit the imperial power but to restrain and balance each other to protect the imperial power. The fundamental reason for the balance to be broken was that internal ministers and foreign ministers secretly colluded together, so they were emptied out. The emperor himself.
To put it bluntly, it is actually due to people.
But Zhu Houzhao still didn't understand that collusion between internal and external ministers was a taboo, and these people were extremely courageous. Perhaps it was because Emperor Hongzhi treated his ministers too leniently during his lifetime. If the head had been separated in the previous dynasty, Zhu Houzhao felt that In the future, I must strictly prevent internal and external ministers from having private contact without my knowledge, otherwise it will not be enough to ensure my own safety.
Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jin who was holding a plain white umbrella for him: "Liu Jin, if you dare to contact foreign court officials without my knowledge in the future, no matter how big or small it is, I will not let you go lightly! Just like the palm of my hand. Snow!”
Zhu Houzhao grabbed a handful of snow on the white marble pillar, squeezed it hard in his hand, and then suddenly threw it to the ground angrily, causing the snow ball to shatter into pieces.
The current contact between Liu Jin and others and foreign court officials was arranged by Zhu Houzhao on his own initiative and with knowledge. Zhu Houzhao did not need to pursue the matter, but he felt that he needed to remind Liu Jin and others about future events.
Liu Jin couldn't help being shocked and bent slightly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the ministers don't dare!"
Wang Yue, the eunuch of the Chief of Ceremonies, has been staring at the emperor Zhu Houzhao. He found that Zhu Houzhao seemed to have changed a little, and there seemed to be some anger and majesty in his eyebrows. The action of throwing snow just now made him tremble in his heart, thinking that the emperor My personality is similar to that of the late emperor. Although he is cynical, he has a good temper and has always been innocent and innocent. I don't think he will have any troubles. But why did I feel a little panicked just now?
At this time, Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, carrying his robe, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian came towards Zhu Houzhao, followed by Zhang Sheng, the Minister of Rites, and Xu Jin, the Minister of War.
The chief assistant of the cabinet Liu Jian and others were also looking at Zhu Houzhao, and Li Dongyang couldn't help but ask first: "Your Majesty, why are you so quiet today?"
When Li Dongyang asked this question, both Liu Jian and Xie Qian seemed to be reminded, and they looked surprised.
Xu Jin, the Minister of War, who was following behind him, said: "It's so cold that your Majesty naturally doesn't want to move."
When Xu Jin, the Minister of War, said this, no one said anything. Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, just snorted and didn't want to look at Xu Jin.
Zhu Houzhao pretended not to see him, and in his heart he couldn't stand Liu Jian's behavior as a veteran. However, when he thought that it was not the time to make the final attack, he still entered the palace calmly and said: " Let’s get started!”
Because the little prince invaded Guyuan again, Xu Jin, the Minister of War, spoke first and told what happened. After Zhu Houzhao listened to Xu Jin's words, he asked: "Do you have any suggestions on this?"
The three elders of the cabinet did not speak, and only looked at Xu Jin, the Minister of War.
Xu Jinze had already prepared the manuscript and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have sorted out the areas where the little prince has invaded in recent years and found that the little prince's attacks are mainly concentrated in Shaanxi. It seems that what Yang Yiqing, the governor of Shaanxi, said is true, that is, The border wall from Guyuan to Datong is in disrepair, which gives the Tatars an opportunity. The most important thing now is to allocate money to repair the border wall first! ”
Zhu Houzhao understood what Xu Jin meant. The direct reason why the little prince successfully invaded the Ming Dynasty repeatedly was that the border wall was in disrepair. It was not realistic to train troops or even send troops. The most necessary and urgent thing was to allocate money to repair the border wall.
"How much money does it cost to repair the side wall?"
Zhu Houzhao asked.
"Reporting to your Majesty, according to the report from Shaanxi Governor Yang Yiqing, it is at least 400,000 taels!" Xu Jin, Minister of War, replied.
Without waiting for Zhu Houzhao to ask, Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, said: "Your Majesty, as Mr. Xu said, the repair of the border wall is really an urgent matter, but now there is no money accumulated in Taicang, and the newly collected taxes have not yet arrived in Beijing, and Most of it has been prepared for the construction of Emperor Xiaozong’s mausoleum. Now that we have to build the side wall, we can only ask your Majesty to allocate internal funds!”
Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, and others already knew that Zhu Houzhao made a lot of money by opening the Royal Exposition, so they would naturally find a way to let Zhu Houzhao spend the internal money instead of letting Zhu Houzhao keep it for himself.
"Using internal funds?" Zhu Houzhao asked in surprise.
Li Dongyang, the second assistant to the cabinet, and Liu Jian, the chief assistant to the cabinet, looked at each other and said: "Yes, Your Majesty! Now only internal funds and money are left."
"You know my internal money better than me," Zhu Houzhao laughed.
At this time, Xie Qian also said: "Please, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, please use internal funds to build the border wall to relieve the people's distress."
When Xie Qian said this, he felt in his heart how much he was serving the country and the people!
Zhu Houzhao also followed his thoughts and said: "Xie Aiqing is really serving the country and the people!"
With that said, Zhu Houzhao said to Xu Jin, the Minister of the Ministry of War: "Since the cabinet has agreed to allocate internal funds, I will not be stingy. If I send internal funds, I will issue internal funds. After my father's mausoleum is laid, I will allocate internal funds to the Ministry of War."
"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness on behalf of the soldiers and civilians of Bian Town! I will first send the more than 50,000 silver hair left by the Ministry of War and ask the governor of Shaanxi to repair the critical areas first, and then use your Majesty's internal funds for comprehensive renovations!"
Xu Jin said hurriedly.
At this time, Zhu Houzhao also nodded: "Yes!"
The three elders of the Cabinet and the Minister of Rites, Zhang Sheng, and others also hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is wise!"
At this time, Zhu Houzhao said: "The military affairs meeting is over, now it is time to discuss the matter of giving the Queen Mother a title."
(End of chapter)