Chapter 335 Politics
The posthumous posthumous issue of Zhang Cong is not only a simple issue of Zhang Cong's personal honor, but also a political issue of whether the Ming Empire should continue to reform.
Because of this, the small matter of whether Zhang Cong could pursue the posthumous title of Wenzheng aroused great concern among the government and the public.
"As long as your Majesty does not insist on posthumously naming Zhang Cong as Wenzheng, it means that your Majesty has no intention of reforming. In this case, your Majesty will no longer use reformist officials, and we will have the opportunity to whip Zhang Cong's body and dig up his grave later! To avoid successors Tampering with etiquette again! ”
At this time, Xu Jin, the Minister of Academic Affairs, was discussing this secretly with the officials of the Academy.
As a reformer, Zhang Cong not only opened many tax items during his time in power in the cabinet, he also reformed the academic department, and implemented the examination and elimination method for the first time, and dismissed all unqualified students and academic officials. This was also This will cut off the school department’s financial resources.
Therefore, Xu Jin and other academic officials also hated Zhang Cong for a long time, so they wanted to have Zhang Cong's body dug up and branded as a traitor, so as to prevent the second powerful cabinet minister from taking over.
Not only were Xu Jin and other civil servants testing Emperor Zhu Houzhao's reaction and preparing to further discredit Zhang Cong, but at this time, Dingguo Duke Xu Guangzuo was also banqueting guests at the No. 1 restaurant in the capital: "I recently heard that Zhang Fu is driving to Hexi. I’m very happy that the old man really has the vision to have a drink with you all!”
"Okay! I respect Qiu for doing it first! Zhang Fuking has harmed us, and now that he dies, the whole country is really celebrating!"
Qiu Luan, the Marquis of Xianning, also agreed. He slapped a woman on the thigh and touched it in. When the woman frowned, Qiu Luan grabbed her neck and said, "Damn it, Zhang Fujing is dead now." , I’m not afraid of killing you again! Smile for me, smile happily!”
The woman was so pinched that she blushed and opened her mouth. Her hands were weak and she grabbed Qiu Luan's brocade robe. Before she could react, she was kicked aside by Qiu Luan. For a moment, she could only force out a smile. As soon as Zhang Fujing died, these dignitaries in the capital began to show their true colors and were not afraid of the law.
Although the Ming Dynasty now has independent judiciary and administration, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of reforms by Zhang Cong, Zhu Houzhao allowed Zhang Cong to concurrently serve as the general director of the Central Committee of the Zhongjun Society.
The officials of the Ministry of Punishment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Dali Temple were all members of the Zhongjun Society. Zhu Houzhao even established a three-law division of the Zhongjun Society. Because of this, Zhang Cong indirectly had the power to manipulate the judiciary and avoid the possibility of being punished after Zhang Cong's reform. At that time, he was hampered by the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Ministry of Punishment.
Therefore, many dignitaries and officials mistakenly believe that the current strict laws are caused by the cruel official Zhang Cong, but do not think that this is caused by public opinion. After all, with the development of the Ming Dynasty, there are more and more scholars among the common people, and they can no longer Tolerating the dignitaries to disregard human lives, it is natural to wonder why the emperor Zhu Houzhao, who was deep in the palace, agreed to let Zhang Cong take over the judicial power. It was not because the dignitaries were too disobedient.
In any case, Zhang Cong's death is naturally a relief for the powerful, as if they are free and can kill people at will. At least in Qiu Luan's heart, Zhang Cong's death makes him feel as if It felt like the mountain that was weighing on me had been lifted off, and I felt a lot more relaxed.
It was okay for the civil servants and dignitaries to hate Zhang Cong. What is even more disappointing is that many people among the people also hated Zhang Cong and resented Zhang Cong's reforms, which cost them the chance to live their lives.
"The chief minister of the cabinet, Mr. Zhang Taifu, has passed away. His Majesty has only been absent from the court for three days. Why did you set off firecrackers for three days and make such nonsense that the traitors in the country are dead and the world is clear and bright?!"
In the prison, Jin Yiwei asked Wang Shizhen, the captured student.
Wang Shizhen replied solemnly: "Zhang Cong is a cruel official. He imposed heavy taxes and bankrupted the noble family. He humiliated the descendants of the noble family with torture. He was even more headstrong and harsh in his actions. He eliminated tens of thousands of people and even committed suicide." He also encouraged the people to fight against his crimes, which is insulting to the gentle people! In addition, it is Wang Mang and Cao Cao who stole the power of Tai'a. Now the treacherous officials will not escape the disaster and their souls will go to hell. How can we not be happy!" br>
……
It's cold in spring.
Xia Yan, the successor as the first assistant, had just returned from the Ming Dynasty Engineering Academy, but at this time he was not at all excited about becoming the first assistant. The people's spontaneous counterattack against Zhang Cong made him feel disappointed and frightened. He was not afraid of the opposition of the powerful and civil servants. Counterattack is a waste of time, but he is really afraid that he will not be understood by all the people.
Now there are more and more voices in the court suggesting that he cancel the heavy tax on mining within the customs and reduce commercial taxes and tariffs. However, Xia Yan has been in the cabinet for many years and already knows that the empire's tax policy cannot be relaxed at present, especially the heavy tax on mining within the customs. This Once banned, Ming's civilian capital and human resources will return to the customs again, and the newly developed areas outside the customs will return to a nomadic state.
It will even lead to serious damage to the environment within the customs, as well as the destruction of more cultivated land, and the presence of a large number of slave laborers and aliens will also leave hidden dangers.
Therefore, from the perspective of national interests, Xia Yan knew that even if he became the first assistant, he could only follow the rules and continue to adhere to the external expansion strategy rather than the conservative strategy of internal development.
"But most people are selfish and short-sighted. They see that the Guan area is warm as spring, rich in mineral resources, and the transportation conditions are convenient. If they bring slave labor to the Guan area to develop minerals, they will undoubtedly make huge profits. But they don't develop the areas outside the Guan area in the northwest first. The female straightness in Oara and the Northeast will become a serious problem sooner or later. Guan Nei is not a paradise, how can we be alone in Yu Nei? ”
Xia Yan couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Zhang Cong is dead, and the people's poverty has been relieved." A headline on a page of a newspaper called "Jingcheng Zhenghua" caught Xia Yan's attention. Xia Yan couldn't help but asked sharply:
"The imperial court has not yet made a conclusion about Zhang Cong, and now Zhang Cong is still the former chief minister and the leader of the Ming Empire. Who gave him the courage to make such arrogant comments about his ministers! Go ask the official of the General Administration of Press and Publication of the Ministry of Rites, How did they pass the review? ”
"Sir, please calm down, this newspaper is run by the second prince," Tang Shunzhi, cabinet bachelor (newly established official position), couldn't help but remind Xia Yan.
Xia Yan didn't say anything after hearing this. He only kept quiet for a moment and then sighed slightly, thinking: "Maybe some general trends are really unstoppable."
Not long after, Xia Yan got on the special bus line to the imperial city. Only officials who went to court were eligible to ride on this special line. Zhu Houzhao would often take this special line out of the city. Now when Xia Yan came up, he happened to meet him. Zhu Houzhao on the steam bus line couldn't help but bow deeply: "Your Majesty!"
Zhu Houzhao nodded when he saw it was Xia Yan, and immediately said: "It's really cold today! It's obviously past spring, and all the flowers are ready to bloom, but there is a cold wave that refuses to dissipate!"
Xia Yan naturally understood the implication of Zhu Houzhao's words, and couldn't help but reply: "Spring, summer, autumn and winter, cold comes and summer comes and goes. The four seasons always cycle around once a year. The alternation of hot and cold is also common. Your Majesty, you should pay attention to the dragon body. As long as the country has a wise king, there will be no cold." Well, no matter how hot it is, the world will still be prosperous after all.”
"I know that the land under our feet is so attractive, just like the embrace of a mother or the body of a lovely wife. No one can leave it. No one is willing to travel to a bitter and cold place, and no one is willing to leave their hometown. After all, I The thousands of miles of rivers and mountains of the Ming Dynasty contain countless treasures." Zhu Houzhao's meaning was very clear. He also knew that geographical factors made most Han people in the Ming Dynasty conservative at heart.
Xia Yan also understood the implication of Zhu Houzhao's words, and replied: "But China is not the only one in the world, and the Han people are not the only ones in the world. If they stay in a peaceful and happy place, they will inevitably decline. Once powerful neighbors go on the run and plunder, the rivers and mountains will inevitably change their colors. Minister I understand Your Majesty and I understand Mr. Zhang, otherwise I will not join the Loyal Lord Society, but now no one in the world understands it, and even the emperor's heirs are unreasonable. I am worried that a hundred years from now, our Ming Dynasty will still inevitably make the same mistakes, even if I am willing to follow Xiao Gui and Cao Cao, regardless of life and death, just for the sake of my family and country. ! ”
"Who?!"
Zhu Houzhao looked at Xia Yan seriously.
Xia Yan looked around. He knew that if he mentioned these things in front of the emperor now, he would be in danger of offending the emperor's heirs. However, in order to give His Majesty a clearer understanding of the current situation, he had to say it. Now His Majesty wants to ask, He must also answer truthfully: "Your Highness, this is a piece of news from "Jingcheng Zhenghua". According to the reminder of Tang Shunzhi, the cabinet scholar, this publication is run by His Highness."
Zhu Houzhao glanced at Tang Shunzhi.
Tang Shunzhi was extremely depressed, wondering why this Lord Shoufu had just sold him out. He could only kneel on the ground immediately: "I, I only heard about it when I was studying at the Capital University."
"Get up, there is no need to tell this matter, I just know it." Zhu Houzhao said, and looked out the window again. He had to admit that he could always insist on external expansion, or he could choose to always insist on it. The chief minister and other important officials of the cabinet for external expansion , but his lifespan is limited. If the new emperor ascends the throne in the future, will he insist on external expansion, and will he also pursue peace and happiness and become conservative? History has proved that even the so-called Mingjun Emperor will still ban seas. They even prefer sea bans and seclusion.
This made Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but wonder in his heart whether he wanted to carry out a reform to limit the monarch's power.
But is it useful to limit the power of kings?
Nowadays, most people in the world tend to be conservative, and the restriction of monarchy means that the country's governing organs will represent the will of the majority of the people, which will make them more conservative. Historically, the monarchy in the middle and late Ming Dynasty has long been restricted by the etiquette and laws held by civil servants. However, isn't it still conservative?
How to keep Ming Dynasty in a state of expansion, openness and even aggressiveness after a hundred years?
"It's impossible to count on any emperor, it's impossible to count on the majority, because sometimes the truth is not in the hands of the majority. After all, even the rebellious peasants don't know why they rebelled. The only way is to allow ideological dictatorship. Let the idea of external expansion and openness continue to dominate the Ming Dynasty! If it continues to be dictatorial, whether it is the emperor, the chief minister, or other people in power, if they want to secure their positions, they can only accept this idea and obey this idea. ! ”
Zhu Houzhao suddenly said this. Xia Yan couldn't help being surprised and asked: "Your Majesty means to use the Constitution to clarify the orthodoxy? But if the ancestral law can be changed, how can the Constitution not be changed?"
"Although ancestral laws can be changed, they cannot be abolished. The same is true for the constitution. The Ming Dynasty needed to enter the era of constitutional government. What we need to do now is undoubtedly to strengthen the people's constitutional awareness and strengthen the constitutional awareness of those in power. Loyalty to the Emperor Society is in It plays a major role in this. We cannot guarantee that everyone in the world has the idea of opening up and expanding to the outside world, but the members of the Zhongjun Club must also be pure!”
After Zhu Houzhao said this, he motioned for Xia Yan to sit down and said: "This can only be the case now. Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. The same is true in this world. We cannot control the world of future generations, we can only take care of the present!"
"I understand! I will obey the Holy Order!" Xia Yan said with cupped hands.
……
Snap!
With a crisp sound, the second prince Zhu Zaitu broke the glass in his hand and said angrily: "This Xia Yan doesn't care about my face at all!"
"Why is it necessary for Your Highness? Now he is the chief minister of the cabinet and has taken over Zhang Cong's position in the Zhongjun Society. Apart from His Majesty the Emperor, he has the final say in the world! I don't think Zhu Hounan of Prince Zheng's Mansion was executed by Zhang Cong at that time, but now he is just It is just to let His Majesty know that you are dissatisfied with Zhang Cong. The emperor is dissatisfied with the prime minister on the spot. There are too many things to do, and it doesn't matter. Now the focus is on what His Majesty is thinking. The Procuratorate has been submitting evidence of Zhang Cong's imperial examination fraud for impeachment for so long, but there has been no response. I'm afraid that Xia Yan deliberately cheated on the Emperor. I sold you out in front of you just to test His Majesty’s will.”
Zhu Zaitu's staff said.
After hearing this, Zhu Zaitu couldn't help but laugh angrily: "So, I still have to pay a visit to the new chief minister?"
"No, your Highness just wait and see what happens. Your Majesty has been deliberately avoiding talking about establishing a heir. This is obviously because he is dissatisfied with His Highness being the Crown Prince. Your Majesty is very fond of the Queen. Therefore, there is no doubt that Your Highness, you and the Third Highness will Your Majesty likes it even more, but now Xia Yan's actions really make us passive. From a small perspective, no matter whether it is good or bad, we should stop the "Beijing Political Talk" first."
Zhu Zaitu's staff said.
Zhu Zaitu also nodded and ordered people to stop the "Beijing Political Talk".
……
While eating steamed pork ribs with potatoes, Tang Shunzhi took out a newspaper from his sleeve and handed it to Hai Rui: "Take a good look at it, this is probably the last issue."
When Hai Rui saw that the title of the newspaper was "Beijing Political Talk", he couldn't help but be surprised and said: "Isn't this started by His Highness the Second Highness? How can it be the last issue and stop publication?"
"This matter, it's true that the child has no mother. It's a long story. Even though the lifestyle has changed now, the court is still so complicated. The big boss in the cabinet really dares to say anything to His Majesty. There's nothing he can do about it. I am involved, I am just giving him a heads up, blame me for talking too much..."
Tang Shunzhi told everything he had seen and heard.
After hearing this, Hai Rui was not very interested in Tang Shunzhi's experiences. He was only interested in the topic that Tang Shunzhi mentioned about His Majesty the Emperor's strengthening of constitutional government. As a young man who grew up in the Zhengde Dynasty, he had personally experienced the rapid changes of this era, and also Having received a different education in this era, Emperor Zhu Houzhao's judgment gave him a feeling of enlightenment.
But at this time, Hai Rui was naturally not qualified to enter the core level of the Ming Empire. The only thing he could do now was to ask himself curiously, as if asking Tang Shunzhi: "Tell me, what thoughts does His Majesty want to set?" The Constitution of the Ming Dynasty? ”
Tang Shunzhi smiled slightly. He knew Hai Rui because Emperor Zhu Houzhao issued an edict to establish the Royal Academy in order to educate the children of the clan. At the same time, in order to play a positive role in guiding the children of the clan, he required the Royal Academy to regularly recruit a certain proportion of children from aristocratic families and poor people. The family members were students, and they became good friends because they provided free education and because they were both fearless of the domineering behavior of the clan children.
Because of this, Tang Shunzhi was unwilling to hide anything from Hai Rui, saying: "To be honest, I don't know what law the emperor wants to adopt as the constitution, but at least the outline of the constitution will add the content of opening up to the outside world and reforming the country internally." It is not rotten, the door hinge is not rotten, the situation of the government is changing, the people's hearts are When things change, government orders will naturally change. You know that I am a disciple of Wang Xue, who pays attention to achievements and despises the existing etiquette and laws. If we really want to govern the country by constitution, this law must fall on the outline of the constitution, and I will defend it with my life.”
Hai Rui nodded and couldn't help but clapped his hands: "Hai has decided to join the Zhongjun Society!"
Tang Shunzhi smiled: "Then I will be your introducer."
However, not long after Hai Rui applied to join the Zhongjun Society, an edict came to Tang Shunzhi. The content of the edict was that he was not suitable to stay in the center, so he was demoted to the Ming Army Command Academy to study military affairs.
Zhu Houzhao still asked Dongchang to investigate Zhang Cong's fraud in taking the imperial examination for his son. When the final result was found out, it turned out to be fabricated evidence by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, because Zhang Cong's children and nephews were raped by Zhang Cong. Ling did not take part in the provincial examination.
"What can you all do with the procuratorate? The innocence of the dignified chief minister of the cabinet actually depends on the people of Dongchang to prove his innocence! Zhang Zan, the censor of Zuodu, hanged himself to apologize!"
After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he turned to Xia Yan and ordered: "The one who impeached Zhang Cong must be killed with a stick! As a magistrate, he impeaches an official, and if he is not severely punished, it will not be enough to correct the course of the government!"
Zhu Houzhao's treatment was like a thunderbolt from the blue, which shocked both the government and the public. No one expected that His Majesty the Emperor would still protect Zhang Cong like this. Deep down in their hearts, even Dingguo Duke Xu Guangzuo, Xianning Marquis Qiu Luan and other dignitaries also kept a low profile and did not dare to express any dissatisfaction with Zhang Cong.
The officials below also heard the elegant meaning of Xian Ge and began to actively arrest those who slandered Zhang Cong in private.
But Zhu Houzhao knew that his behavior only temporarily suppressed the resentment of the people in the world against Zhang Cong. It was like temporarily sealing a volcano that was about to erupt with ice, but sooner or later this volcano would have to erupt. Pressure, there will probably be even more magma coming out of the fire.
However, he could suppress it as long as he could. Under the instructions of Zhu Houzhao, Xia Yan, the chief minister of the cabinet, still asked the Ministry of Rites to posthumously honor Zhang Cong Wen Zheng, which brought the matter to an end for the time being. Xia Yan not only admired His Majesty the Emperor's courage, but also deeply He felt his own pressure, but the emperor's behavior undoubtedly gave him more confidence to continue to implement the policy of external expansion and opening up.
Of course, continuing such a policy will not really cause chaos in the world. The vested interests just want to turn the pass into their hunting ground. Now that the emperor and the court are unwilling, it does not mean that they cannot survive, so they can only continue to Looting outside the customs and plundering overseas.
As long as the vast majority of the common people can survive, even if the vassal kings rebel, the generals mutiny, or the civil servants conspire, they will not be able to overthrow the Ming Dynasty.
But Zhu Houzhao began to reach a higher level of ideological requirements, and at the same time he also intensified the propaganda of this ideology.
then.
From education in the classroom to newspaper articles in the media, as well as the conversations of officials at all levels, and even the research articles of scholars, the idea of external expansion and opening up has been fried over and over again like beans, making it popular among scholars and people all over the world. Everyone has to admit that this is the right path.
From officialdom to shopping malls and even academia, members of the Zhongjun Society quickly occupied various important positions.
Unconsciously, the Ming Dynasty ceased to be governed by Confucianism and became a party governed state.
But no matter what, Zhu Houzhao could not avoid the issue of succession to the throne and how much power the successor should have.
"Now it seems that whoever becomes the core figure of Zhongjun Society can control the court. But if this continues, even if I become an emperor, what will happen? Will the world really let them have the final say in Zhongjun Society? But Zhongjun Society is loyal He is the king, but they have never listened to the theory of the king. They regard the king as the country, but I don’t want to just represent this country, I also want to own this country!”
The third prince Zhu Zaibin said somewhat depressedly.
Immediately, Zhu Zaijun couldn't help but said angrily: "This is all Zhang Cong's fault! And Xu Jin and Wang Hua!"
"Why should the third son be angry with others? If the emperor hadn't wanted to be like this, how could they have accomplished this?" Zhu Houcong said.
When Zhu Zaijun heard what Zhu Houcong said, he couldn't help but become a little nervous: "The emperor's uncle is right, but I don't understand why the man who gave birth to me did this! Also, tell me, why did he hesitate to give in?" The eldest brother is the prince!”
Zhu Houcong looked around again and then said: "According to the emperor's uncle, he is confused. He even doesn't know what he is doing. No matter what, the emperor believes that other princes do not understand your father like you." , maybe you have already complained a little. What you have to do now is to keep calm. No matter whether you can reach the top in the future or not, you will win. First think of a way for the ministers to persuade your majesty to make the king overseas. The world is so big. No matter whether the current emperor or the future emperor, how can he manage it? When he goes overseas, he will break the earth first and then make the king. If he can be appointed as the crown prince by your majesty in the future, he will return to China. It would be better for the locals to become emperor. If not, why not worry about not being able to accomplish great things if we have millions of soldiers!”
"You are right. The world is not limited to Kyushu. It is full of fertile wilderness. But I don't know what my father is thinking now. He neither establishes a throne nor appoints a king overseas. He only wants to engage in technology and industry. If we continue like this, we will grow old too!”
After Zhang Heling sailed around the world, the Chinese people's vision also changed. At this time, not only Zhu Houcong set his vision overseas, but Zhu Zaibin also began to have a global vision and did not limit his vision to the country. He even couldn't help but complain about Zhu Houzhao.
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(End of chapter)