Chapter 353 The one I really want to deal with is the Emperor
Zhu Houzhao approved the resolution submitted by the cabinet on cracking down on smuggling, and it was recommended by the Political Affairs Office. He finally appointed Admiral Zhu Wan to supervise the military affairs of Fujian and Zhejiang, inspect the coastal areas, and crack down on smuggling.
The Ming Dynasty had a vast maritime territory and many wealthy families along the coast. Therefore, even though Xia Yan had cracked down on smuggling once before, as the collusion between officials and businessmen intensified, as well as the human instinct to evade and avoid taxes, smuggling has become more rampant now.
Of course, it is also related to the external environment. The "trade restrictions" initiated by Japan and other countries and the domestic war in Japan caused a large number of ronin to start smuggling trade.
It just so happened that as the Ming Dynasty opened the sea for many years, the number of wealthy households along the coast increased. These wealthy gentry also cooperated with these ronin, gradually making smuggling rampant again.
When Zhu Wan cracked down on smuggling this time, Zhu Houzhao could guess that he would definitely encounter great resistance. After all, there were many families of officials between the government and the public who made profits from smuggling.
However, the emperor of the empire and the big families of other participating countries controlled the government, and they were unwilling to have the wealth that flowed into the Ming Dynasty be taken away by the southern nobles through smuggling.
The emperor and other big families joined forces with workers and peasants to form the Zhongjun Society, which firmly controlled the power of the empire. Therefore, no matter what, the court has now made a decision to crack down on smuggling.
And Zhu Wan must also complete this task for the court.
Regardless of their criticism of Xia Yan or their dissatisfaction with current affairs, many civil servants representing the business class could only beat their chests and have no choice but to do anything.
Zhu Houzhao continued to be the emperor of this powerful empire, and watched his empire advance further and further on the road to industrialization.
Engineers from the Ming Academy of Sciences successfully used the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction to create a generator. When steam locomotives began to shuttle between major cities in the north and south of the Ming Empire, and the people were amazed, many people would not have thought that the Ming Dynasty had already His electrical age is about to come.
However, the generator at this time cannot provide enough current to be used, and must continue to be improved.
However, Zhu Houzhao is still very concerned about the application process of generators. After all, once generators are used, it means that Ming Dynasty will be able to realize electric lighting and electric driving in the future.
With the popularization of natural science, many people are paying attention to the progress of electrical research, and it has even become a hot topic for private discussion.
In addition to the progress of electrical research, another topic that is hotly discussed among the people is that the expeditionary force led by Yu Dayou may have established a country overseas. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the good news to have not been reported for so long.
Zhu Houzhao didn't know when the news about Yu Dayou's founding of a country overseas spread. Although it was groundless, it was also spread in a well-organized manner.
With the expansion of global trade, the people of the Ming Empire also gained a global perspective.
Establishing a country overseas is nothing new, but it was basically established by the emperor Zhu Houzhao and established by clan nobles. It is naturally considered treason for a general to lead an army to establish a country overseas.
Zhu Houzhao naturally didn't believe it at first, and he also knew that Yu Dayou, as a loyal and famous general in history, should not have the ambition to become an emperor on his own.
But as time passed, Zhu Houzhao gradually felt that something was wrong after not hearing any news about the expeditionary force.
Of course, Zhu Houzhao did not really doubt that Yu Dayou had the ambition to establish himself as an emperor overseas. Although with the current strength of the Ming army, it would be no problem for any general to recruit a team to build a powerful country overseas. However, the wealth and power of the Ming Dynasty Centripetal force does not mean that anyone who wants to be independent can do so.
What Zhu Houzhao felt was wrong was that this rumor spread more and more as time went by after Yu Dayou's expedition to the West. Some officials had even begun to petition the court to send more imperial guards to find out the truth and find out whether Yu Dayou had established a country overseas. After all, Daming is currently using a lot of funds to provide logistical support to Yu Dayou.
"The strong wind started at the end of Qingping. If such rumors suddenly spread, there must be someone behind it who is trying to cause trouble."
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but said to himself, and then continued to pay attention to the electrical research of the Academy of Sciences. He believed that the snake would eventually come out of the hole on its own.
As he expected, not long after, censor Ruan Gui wrote a memorial, impeaching Gao Zhong and Yu Dayou for conspiring to rebel. Moreover, Ruan Gui also detailed the rebellion plan of Gao Zhong and Yu Dayou.
First, Yu Dayou would first use the opportunity of the expedition to Spain to establish a country overseas, and then Gao Zhong would inquire about information for him in the court. After Gao Zhong conspired to kill the emperor, Yu Dayou led his troops back to the Ming Dynasty, and cooperated with Gao Zhong inside and outside to destroy the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, Ruan Gui is not just talking nonsense about the West Factory Admiral Gao Zhong and Yu Dayou colluding together, but there is evidence. The evidence is that Gao Zhong and Yu Dayou both studied at the Ming Army Command Academy, and were classmates, and even had There are poems and essays, and there are even some letters between Gao Zhong himself and Yu Dayou Lianhe Rebellion, as well as oral evidence from the messengers.
Otherwise, Yang Lin, as the censor of Zuodu, would not have carefully presented such a seemingly unfounded matter to Emperor Zhu Houzhao.
After Zhu Houzhao saw this memorial, he was both surprised and funny. What was surprising was that Gao Zhong and Yu Dayou still had contact. What was funny was that if Gao Zhong really wanted to murder himself and went overseas to support Yu Dayou as emperor, it would be nothing more than a failure at best. Become an imperial minister like you are now.
Therefore, Zhu Houzhao didn't know what Gao Zhong's motive would be if he really wanted to murder him.
Although Zhu Houzhao became a little cautious emotionally, but rationally, he did not do anything and still let Gao Zhong take charge of the West Factory.
However, Gao Zhong himself was quite frightened.
Gao Zhong knows that being with the emperor is like being with a tiger. He also knows that emperors are suspicious. He has also heard and seen with his own eyes the consequences of previous generations of eunuchs for treason. Therefore, now he is really afraid of the emperor. His Majesty doubted himself because of this matter.
Of course, Gao Zhong is not stupid. He knows that some civil servants who want to threaten him are secretly plotting to frame him.
Therefore, Gao Zhong hurriedly came to Zhu Houzhao, knelt directly in front of Zhu Houzhao, and said with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty has learned from it! This old slave has entered the palace since he was a child and grew up with His Majesty's favor. Later, I went to the Ming Dynasty Army Command Academy after studying in the Nei Shutang, but it was to protect His Majesty! How dare you? The slightest bit of disloyalty! Oh! I don’t know what civil servants who hate me are framing me behind my back. It’s hard for me to tell my story, and I don’t know how to prove my grievances! I am innocent. I will only kowtow to death in front of His Majesty today to prove my loyalty. I hope Your Majesty will know that my ministers are loyal.”
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
……
As Gao Zhong spoke, he suddenly knocked on the gold brick, causing blood to flow everywhere on his forehead.
Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao hurriedly helped Gao Zhong: "Get up! How could I not know your loyalty? You are Gao Feng's godson, and you inherited Gao Feng's stock assets. I forgive you for not having the courage!"
Zhu Houzhao said and persuaded a few more words, and then Gao Zhong turned to thank Zhu Houzhao. However, Gao Zhong's words also reminded Zhu Houzhao, making him realize that the sudden rumors may really be caused by some civil servants with ulterior motives, and the purpose may be Xichang, but Zhu Houzhao really didn't know this at the time. What is the purpose of people playing like this?
But what Zhu Houzhao is sure of is that he cannot ban Xichang under any circumstances, absolutely not!
……
Gao Zhong knew that with such a performance, His Majesty would not doubt him, and a stone fell from his heart.
Moreover, Gao Zhong couldn't help but say to Wan Quan, his most trusted Qingke and his former mentor:
"These vicious literati and officials are chewing maggots behind their backs! Just because my family and Yu Dayou were classmates, these people actually fabricated that our family colluded with Yu Dayou to rebel. Tell me, these people even made up this Come out, thanks to your Majesty’s wisdom, you won’t be deceived by these people!”
"Although your majesty is wise, my father-in-law still needs to pay attention to it in the future. Now that your majesty is getting older and older, he cannot guarantee your wealth for the rest of his life. These civil servants may not be able to guarantee their success in the future. Therefore, judging from the later life, they do not want to do this. I want to frame you, but I want to remind you not to go too far just because you are the admiral of the West Factory!”
When Wan Quan said this, Gao Zhong couldn't help but frown, and after a long time he sighed: "You're right!"
……
Zhu Houzhao naturally thought that even eunuchs would have the motive of protecting themselves wisely, but in fact, he never placed his hope of controlling the court only on eunuchs. Zhu Houzhao believed that he had trained some civil servants who represented the interests of the people and the country. We will not sit back and watch some people with ulterior motives spread rumors like this.
Even if he doesn't think so, in Zhu Houzhao's view, since Yu Dayou can be rumored to be interested in establishing a country overseas, there must be someone who will help Yu Dayou.
In any case, as the emperor, all Zhu Houzhao had to do was to wait and see.
……
On this day, Xia Yan couldn't help but mention this matter to Yan Song, and said: "Rumors and rumors about Yu Dayou's overseas founding of the country can become popular. It can be seen that people like Xu Jin are still unwilling to accept it, but they don't know that they are like this." What a calculation this time.”
Xia Yan was certainly not a fool. He knew that he was suggesting that His Majesty the Emperor set up an administrative affairs office, and even cooperated with the emperor to support military ministers to become ministers of administrative affairs, and entered the decision-making level of the empire. He also repeatedly thwarted the plots of Xu Jin and other high-ranking civil servants. He must have been regarded by these people. for the enemy.
The fierce impeachment memorials written by Han Yiyou and other officials against him are clear evidence.
Therefore, Xia Yan has been wary of whether these high-ranking civil servants will persecute him. Even the rumors of Yu Dayou establishing a country overseas will make him think about this.
Yan Song couldn't help but comfort Xia Yan: "Don't worry, Yuan Fu. It seems to me that the person behind this rumor is really not targeting you, but directly targeting the emperor. Otherwise, he wouldn't target Eunuch Gao of Xichang." Throw dirty water.”
Hearing Yan Song's analysis, Xia Yan also felt that it made sense and laughed: "Is it possible that these people still want to overthrow Gao Zhong and ask His Majesty to ban the West Factory?"
"Of course they know that this is impossible, but by doing this, they can at least make Eunuch Gao inevitably have to consider their feelings when doing things in the future. These officials who want to reduce taxes for businessmen originally wanted to use this push to achieve complete results. The person who controls the government, as a result, because of Xichang, His Majesty Having the opportunity to be exposed through the "Huang Ming Bao" caused dissatisfaction among officials and scholars from common people. Therefore, Yuan Fu proposed to set up an administrative office and change the court recommendation system. As a result, many of their comrades were not only executed and deposed, but also There is no chance to regain the position.”
"It can be seen that Xu Cifu also knows that the root cause of their defeat this time is in Xichang and some pedantic nerd officials, such as that Hai Rui, so they naturally have to deal with Xichang first, fearing that Hai Rui and that... Yang Jisheng will be hit hard by them!”
Yan Song analyzed.
Xia Yan nodded. He found that although Yan Song was a bit cowardly, he was indeed very insightful and had a clear analysis of the current situation. For a time, he became more certain that he was right to recommend Yan Song to the cabinet.
……
It was now the day of the Beijing inspection, and Wen Yuan had just been promoted to the official minister, and he happened to be upright and rigorous, so he personally reviewed the assessment results of a group of Beijing officials who needed to be assessed.
At this time, Wen Yuan happened to turn to Hai Rui, the chief executive of "Huang Ming Bao". Seeing that Hai Rui's assessment result was "dismissed", he asked Ai Li, the doctor of the Literature and Selection Department: "Why was this Hai Rui dismissed?"
"Back to Otsuka Zai, this Hai Rui was an arrogant, impetuous, and extremely rebellious official. He had a very bad reputation in the eyes of his superiors. His superior, Chen Dian, a member of the Information Department, said that Hai Rui even scolded him with filthy words many times, so it is appropriate Dismissed.”
Wen Yuan nodded and recorded it himself. After all, Hai Rui was the director of "Huang Ming Bao", and he also knew that the recent exposure of the fraud in the court was exposed by "Huang Ming Bao", which was in charge of Hai Rui. , thinking that this Hai Rui might be impetuous, but he could still be regarded as an official, so he corrected him and said: "In view of his uprightness, he should be demoted to the Nanping County Jiaoyu."
Seeing that Wen Yuan did not choose to dismiss Hai Rui, Ai Li couldn't help but feel a little thumped in his heart.
On this day, it happened to be the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Although Wen Yuan was not the minister of political affairs, because he was the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he was also present to preside over the selection.
However, after the court push was over, Xu Jin called out to Wen Yuan: "Wen Gong is staying. I wonder if Wen Gong knows about Hai Rui, the chief executive of Huang Ming Bao?"
"Of course, if Mr. Xu Ge has any advice, please let me know clearly," Wen Yuan replied.
"Xu didn't dare to make a mistake, but this is Hai Rui. I asked Mr. Wen to remove him from his post. This person has a lot of connections with Xichang," Xu Jin said.
Wen Yuan nodded and said no more.
It didn't take long for Zhu Houzhao to receive a batch of Beijing inspection lists from Wen Yuan, but he suddenly saw that Hai Rui was among those who were dismissed. He couldn't help but ask Wen Yuan: "Why was Hai Rui dismissed?"
"Back to Your Majesty, Ai Liyan, a doctor in the Literary and Selection Department, said that Hai Rui was impetuous and running wild. His superior, Chen Dian, a foreign minister in the Information Department, also repeatedly said that Hai Rui was disrespectful. The first trial was for dismissal. However, considering his upright temperament, he was demoted to Nanping County Jiaoyu. Mr. Xu Ge recently said that Hai Rui was connected with Xichang, so I thought about it again and changed it to dismissal. "
Wen Yuan replied truthfully.
After hearing this, Gao Zhong couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He thought that Mr. Xu Ge was so ruthless. Yan Hairui had a connection with his West Factory. Didn't this mean that Hairui had befriended his ministers? This was Lingchi's crime. It would be good for Mr. Wen to do so. In order to protect Hai Rui from being harmed by villains, he had to be dismissed from his post. However, he did not expect that His Majesty would only pay attention to such a small official as Hai Rui.
Zhu Houzhao smiled after hearing this. He understood the twists and turns here and directly ordered: "Let's redo it. Hai Rui will be promoted to a member of the Information Department, Wailang, and will also be in charge of the "Huangming Daily", and will also be the Supervisory Censor! That man named Chen Dian is too narrow-minded and should be dismissed from his post! Also, that Ai Li should be dismissed from his post! Impeachment of Ni Song’s supervisory censor Yang Jisheng should be promoted to the position of doctor of literary selection department.”
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(End of chapter)