Chapter 234: Military and political affairs are not separated, let’s catch them together!
Wenhua Pavilion.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a rest here.
Today’s court meeting was unexpected.
The method proposed by Tian Jing and Xia Zhibai also made Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes shine.
Indeed, Zhu Yuanzhang has always had a headache with Jiangnan, because this is the most important tax source for the Ming Dynasty. He has always been determined to strengthen his control over the southern financial resources. However, because he started in Jiangnan, most of the civil servants and generals who followed him to conquer the world were also He was born in the south of the Yangtze River, so the southern power was the dominant one in the court.
Moreover, the southern forces are concentrated and deeply rooted. He has made many attempts over the years, but has never been able to break this situation.
I have always been worried.
The Guo Huan case is actually a test.
The results can only be said to be unsatisfactory.
Not good, not bad.
His initial idea was to rectify the officialdom, eliminate some unhealthy tendencies, and at the same time test the situation in various parts of the world. Since there were many vassal kings in the north, it would be easy for the imperial court to issue an order. The gentry and merchants who were entrenched in the local area were severely attacked.
But this is not the case in the south.
As soon as the imperial court reached out to the south, many Chief Secretary officials in the south, as if they had made an agreement, all reported to the imperial court, saying that there was unrest in the south, the people were in dire straits, the people were complaining, and even local people started to complain. When trouble occurred, Li Shanchang, Mei Sizu and other founding heroes also came together to advise.
He was very dissatisfied at first.
But in the end, after Li Shanchang and others submitted a list of "corrupt officials" and related evidence of corruption, as well as more than 10 million shi of food, he chose to stop there because he had killed enough people. We have enough food. If we continue, we will lose more than we gain, and it will really make the place full of trouble.
It’s just that Li Shanchang and others are obviously not reconciled.
At first, various officials were recommended and the official positions in the court were clearly arranged.
He will never let it happen.
I directly shouldered the responsibility of the six ministers. In the end, I felt that it was not possible, so I rearranged the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Punishment to serve as ministers. However, for the most important Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of War, they remained rigid. He holds it in his own hands and does not allow outsiders to interfere with it.
As for the other officials of the Sixth Department, he completely ignored the recommendations of Li Shanchang and others.
Directly promoted last year’s Jinshi.
There is also the Guozisheng who has been in the Hanlin Academy for a period of time. It is through this group of officials who have little involvement with the ministers that he can truly control the entire court in his own hands. , but even so, the manpower he could use was still not enough, and there were still many official positions for people recommended by Li Shanchang and others.
After a year of running-in, the court has actually stabilized.
And he originally didn’t want to disturb the court anymore.
He just wanted to concentrate on preparing for a decisive battle with Bei Yuan, completely defeating Bei Yuan, and completely solve the border troubles in the north. However, all of this changed subtly as Xia Zhibai went north and returned south.
First, some of the ideas Xia Zhibai mentioned in Peiping made Zhu Yuanzhang hesitate.
This summer's whiteness touches the southern financial resources more directly and clearly.
This made Zhu Yuanzhang even more excited.
Since the Guo Huan case, he has actually given up his mind.
Because the South's vitality was severely damaged after this incident, and the attitude and sincerity given by the South were also very sufficient. The money and food were enough to support the Ming Dynasty's several northern expeditions in the future.
But this time there was trouble in the kitchen, and the faces of Li Shanchang, Mei Sizu and others at the court meeting made Zhu Yuanzhang a little frightened.
Because the courtesy shown by Li Shanchang and others before was all fake.
Just to fool myself.
So that I would no longer stare at Nanfang, it can only be regarded as a strong man breaking his wrist, but in his heart, Nanfang did not really surrender, and always made small moves, and even regarded his last concession as his own. Compromise, and then want to use this incident to test myself again, or even force myself to compromise again.
This was something Zhu Yuanzhang could not tolerate.
These people are not convinced, they are just afraid of being killed by themselves!
Zhu Yuanzhang clasped his hands behind his back, scratched his back with Yu Ruyi, looked at Zhu Biao aside, and said coldly: "We, the ministers of the Ming Dynasty, are all worried. If Xia Zhibai hadn't taken these people If all the thoughts are revealed, I'm afraid we will continue to be kept in the dark."
"These dogs want to die!"
Zhu Biao was stunned.
He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said in a deep voice: "I couldn't believe it before. The old ministers who worked hard with my father have now become profit-driven and are willing to disregard the world for their own selfish desires."
Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes slightly and sneered: "You think too highly of them."
"They have never changed."
"It was just that there was no chance before, and because There is also Yuan Ting, Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang above them. They dare not show it too obviously, but when they conquered the world, these people more or less showed their flaws, but we didn't pay attention to it at the time, and we didn't let it go. In my heart.”
“Now that they are successful, they have to think about their own family.”
"We can't figure it out either."
"We gave them the name, and we also gave them the official position."
"Did we give them too little money?"
< br>"Why do they become like this one by one?"
"As for the salt policy, Xia Zhibai mentioned it to us at the beginning. We thought about it again and again and did not adopt it, but we also wanted to borrow it from him. I used my hand to test the reaction of the courtiers. It turned out that this test was good. How many snakes, insects and rats jumped out?"
"They think we really don't know the true situation in the south?"
"I'm afraid they have forgotten."
"We are also from the south, or we started from the south."
"We know the South as well as they do, and we also have our own eyes and ears in the South!"
"The reason why we didn't pick the matter out is that we wanted to see what these people were thinking. I also want to see the brothers who have followed me through life and death. Is it true that none of them care about me?”
"But you have seen what happened in the court today, Biao'er."
"Of all the princes in the court, who has spoken for me and for the Ming Dynasty?"
"No!"
“They all turned around and changed their ways, criticizing and opposing Xia Zhibai and Tian Jing. Their fierce eyes made them want to eat these two people alive. These things they did in the palace Do you really think we can’t see it?”
“We can see it clearly!”
"What are their intentions, can we really not understand?"
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, put Jade Ruyi on the table, and a stern look flashed in his eyes, "When the Ming Dynasty was just established, my sister once Let us treat these brothers well, and we did it. We gave them iron coupons to avoid death, and we also gave them marquis and reward. But we also said at the time that as long as they perform their duties honestly, we will protect them. Their family has been prosperous and wealthy all their lives, but how did they do it?”
“Don’t we know that people in the world say that we are mean and ungrateful, and that we will no longer cherish our old friendship after becoming emperor?”
"In fact, we have always recognized it." "But they are forcing us not to recognize it!"
"Today we lost one city, tomorrow we lost ten cities, one city after another."
"They thought that after we became the emperor and took over the world, everything in the world belonged to us. They took advantage of us. I won’t say anything if I steal something from home. I’m not that generous, but I’m not stingy either. I’m just a judge. Do you think you can do this?”
"Deliberately provoking local civil unrest to threaten us into giving in."
"Is this still a minister of our Ming Dynasty?"
"Tell us about it."
"Is it wrong for us to kill these bitches?!"
After Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily, he could not suppress the murderous intention in his heart.
Zhu Biao trembled, also because he was startled by the angry Zhu Yuanzhang. He looked solemn, knowing the dissatisfaction and anger in his father's heart. He also understood now why his father was so angry.
My father often turned a blind eye to the dirty things done by his subordinates.
But my father is the emperor after all.
How can I be bullied by my ministers again and again?
These people passed!
Zhu Biao pondered for a while and said in a serious voice: "Back to my father, I think that Tian Jing and Xia Zhibai have a good idea. The court cannot lead Li Shanchang and other old ministers away, otherwise they may still be killed. I think if the imperial court is really scared, it will become more aggressive."
"The imperial treasury is now full and can afford the cost of relocation."
"We must not tolerate his arrogance anymore."
"And judging from the situation in the court, I'm afraid that this incident in the south is not only deliberately provoking it, but also taking the opportunity to demonstrate to the court. Although it used the influence of the last time, it has caused turmoil twice in a row, which is enough It proves that local officials have insufficient control over the local area."
"The minister also asked for an order to strictly investigate the chief ministers and prefectural and provincial officials in the south."
Zhu Biao's eyes were cold.
He was also wary and dissatisfied with what happened in the court today. A salt administration could actually silence the whole court. No other ministers said anything. This situation is too scary. If he continues to hold office With its development, sooner or later, the government decrees will become empty talk.
The Ming Dynasty is the world of the Zhu family.
Not from the scholar-bureaucrats!
If anyone is still unclear, use blood to calm them down.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
“We see it this way too.”
“But this matter cannot be rushed. Do you know why Zhou Dexing and Wang Bi are so confident? Because they know that we want to fight and know that we are eager to fight. And once there is a war, we must use them, and most of our generals in the Ming Dynasty are from Huaixi, so even if we know what happened in the south, we cannot blame them. "
"Because we want to use them."
"They are aware of this, so they reveal their names in such a big way. How can we not see their little thoughts? It's just After much thought, these people probably haven't figured out one thing. In addition to trying to change the salt policy, Xia Zhibai also wants to mess with the great cause of the Northern Expedition that we set out to do."
"If we hadn't. All they have done is enough to make us kill them ten times!”
Zhu Biao’s expression changed slightly.
He hesitated and said: "Father, the Northern Expedition has already been decided by the court. If we change it easily, wouldn't there be something wrong? And in this way, wouldn't it completely push Xia Zhibai to the forefront of the storm? , given his current situation, he has already offended a large number of civil servants, and because he is dictating military affairs, I am afraid that the generals in the army will also dislike him. "
"By then he will have enemies all over the court."
Zhu Biao was a little worried.
Xia Zhibai is already arrogant. If his father does this again, I'm afraid Xia Zhibai's situation will be even more difficult.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao and said indifferently: "Do you think he didn't consider facing this situation when he said these words? We don't know whether he did it intentionally or unintentionally. We saw it early When he came out, Xia Zhibai chose to be a "lone minister" from the beginning, but his loyalty was not to our emperor, nor to our Ming Dynasty."
"But to himself!" br>
"Or the people of the world as he said!"
"And many things in the world are caused by him. He should shoulder this responsibility. If he can't even convince the courtiers, how can he let him do it? Do we have a change of heart? If he can convince the proud soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, we will comply with his wishes, postpone the Northern Expedition, make peace with Bei Yuan, and reform the salt policy at the same time."
Zhu Biao changed his mind.
He stood there in a daze.
I also feel my scalp is numb. If the court really holds another discussion to discuss the war with Beiyuan, with the violent tempers of Lan Yu, Chang Sheng and others, most of them will be angry and take action directly. How could Xia Zhibai, a weak scholar, stand up to this?
Just when Zhu Biao wanted to persuade him with a word or two, he seemed to think of something and stopped again.
He thought about when Xia Zhibai went to Peking. Zhu Di also had a violent temper, and it was not just Zhu Di. His second and third brothers also had bad tempers, but Xia Zhibai was as violent as him. He said these words in front of his brother Tempt and escaped unscathed.
Perhaps
it can also be successful this time?
Zhu Biao couldn't help but feel a little struggle in his heart.
final.
Zhu Biao remained silent.
Because he always remembers one sentence.
Internal worries are greater than external ones.
Foreign troubles only divert internal troubles away.
If the world is not completely reorganized, even if Beiyuan is destroyed and broken into pieces, it will eventually have to return to internal affairs.
The Huaixi Group headed by Li Shanchang, as well as a large number of military groups, including some local forces in the south, have now shown their fangs. If the court does not step up precautions, when the war in the north begins, the court will It’s harder to deal with in the short term.
Now that the north is relatively stable and the imperial treasury is full, it is indeed the best time to solve the problem.
Zhu Biao said: "Everything must be obeyed by the emperor father's will."
"Well, there is no rush now. We will wait until Li Shanchang and Xia Zhibai submit the memorial. You will send someone to do it later. Tang He called us, the only one we can trust in the court now is this old brother." Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, his eyes full of desolation.
Zhu Biao nodded: "I honor your order."
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, stood up from his position, and walked out of Wenhua Pavilion with his hands behind his back.
He only came here for a short rest. Now that he has almost rested, it is time to go back and continue working on the memorial.
Now that everything in the world is burdening him alone, there is no room for any delay or slack.
But when leaving, Zhu Yuanzhang's footsteps were extremely firm.
It seems that some kind of determination has been made.
Zhu Biao respectfully watched Zhu Yuanzhang leave. When Zhu Yuanzhang's figure completely disappeared from his eyes, he sighed softly: "Father, after all, he is old. If it were the previous father, how could he be so entangled and hesitant? "It has been so long that you are making a decision now?"
"But the South." Zhu Biao snorted coldly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Guangzhi save me, I will recover tomorrow, but I will be dizzy today!
(End of this chapter)