eldest son of Ming dynasty

Zhu Houzhao crossed his arms and embraced his chest, surrounded by his courtiers.

"Where are the four people in Han Wangfu now?"

Zhao Shen reported, "Report to Your Majesty, I have ordered people to search for him."

"Is anyone from the household department here?"

Han Wen lowered his head and stepped forward, "Old minister is here."

Zhu Houzhao tilted his head, "After listening to this story, I understand now. The creditor of the royal family of the Han Palace is the court, and I owe them the money. So their gambling money should come from the Ministry of Households, right? "

"Your Majesty, I forgive you. This matter... I don't know about this matter."

"Why don't you know? You don't know the money from the household department?"

Han Wen's heart tightened, "Lieutenant Fengguo's annual salary is only two hundred shi. This amount is relatively small. I really don't know."

"I don't know what treasury you manage!" Zhu Houzhao suddenly became angry.

So from the old man to the minister, to the ministers who rushed over to make a fuss, they all knelt down.

"The clan's patriarchal salary is determined by the ancestors, and I should allocate it to them," Zhu Houzhao raised his eyebrows, pointing to Han Wen and said, "So if it really goes out from the household department, it doesn't matter. It's only natural to pay back the debt. One hundred shi, it’s only [-] shi for four people, it’s not scary. But the treasury is short of money and food, you, the minister, don’t know, it’s your fault, after this incident, I want to check the accounts of the household department , I don’t know, and you don’t know, then who owns Daming’s money and food, a few Yuanwailang or a few principals?”

"Let's talk about Li Mengyang's matter again. You are all kneeling here today to plead for his life. After all, it is not a difficult matter. Whoever committed the crime, find out the evidence, and I will punish him today! Daming is the biggest, and you All the civil and military nods, what are you afraid of?"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

This one shouted loudly.

"Isn't it a sage who fulfilled your wish? Zhao Shangshu."

"The minister is here."

"The clan entered the capital without obtaining the will, and beat the court officials. What is the crime?"

"If you don't obey the will, you can't enter the court. This is the imperial decree of the ancestors. If you disobey it, you will violate the imperial decree. If you beat the imperial court official, you will despise the imperial court. Both crimes will be punished together. The crime should be executed."

"So, if you want me to arrest these four people and behead them, the matter will be over, isn't it?"

"Your Majesty!" the right deputy imperial censor Mao Cheng requested, "Since Chenghua and Hongzhi, the clans of various princes and clans have repeatedly complained about poverty. Especially in a barren land like Gansu, the local financial resources cannot cope with it, resulting in clans suffering from poverty, hunger, cold, and no way out. The accusation, and then the clan's family left the fief without authorization and went to Beijing to play in Yue. However, the two emperors of Xianmiao and Xiaomiao did not have such a will to kill them at will.

In the 13th year of Hongzhi, the Xiaomiao issued an order, reiterating that the vassal government's memorials, except those related to the prince or the performances are confidential, the prince must first inform the prince about the big and small things. Two out of ten.At that time, His Majesty was still the crown prince, and he saw it with his own eyes.

Now, with the old system in place, why has the situation changed so suddenly in just a few years? "

Zhu Houzhao knew that if he wanted to kill the clan for this matter, some old Confucians would definitely not agree.

Confucianism has always advocated benevolence and righteousness. Killing people of the same clan is a rare thing even among the people. In ancient times, emperors generally did not do it, except of course rebellion. Old Confucians don't like this kind of hostile emperor.

That being the case, he was not in a hurry, and went back to the dragon chair and sat down.

On the other side, Mr. Wang Bing came out to speak, "Vice President Mao's words are wrong. This incident was caused by a fourth-rank official of the imperial court being beaten in the street. Everyone in the capital knew it. After a while, it will happen. It is known to the whole country. If the imperial court does not come to uphold justice, then where is the justice? The crimes committed by these clan members in the Han Palace are not just a crime due to poverty? Besides, get money and food here, and get money and food there. Entering a gambling house, if you are poor, how can you blame the court or your majesty?!"

"that is!"

"Old Wang Ge is right!"

……

Zhu Houzhao knew and pretended not to know, "Han Shangshu."

"The old minister is here." Han Wen stepped forward.

"Didn't everyone say that the Ming Dynasty was revived? Why do you still owe so many Zonglu from the clan? Do the math, can the court find a way to make up all the Zonglu owed, and how much money will it cost?"

This request has never been made before.

Han Wen would not be too free to calculate how many Zhenguo generals and Fengguo lieutenants there are in the country. Which of them were given to Zonglu and which were not given to Zonglu? There are thousands of people. Who would To worry about this?

Besides, he is so old, even if he wants to take care of it, his energy can't keep up.

So he can only make a rough outline, "Your Majesty, the treasury pays Zonglu about two to three million shi every year."

Zhu Houzhao was dissatisfied, "You are such a rich man. You can get in and out of 100 million shi just by touching your lips. How can you be so careless in handling money? Your two servants are also here. Go down and do a careful calculation. It is not bad to say that one stone is not bad, but it must be relatively accurate."

After receiving two criticisms in a row, Han Wen felt a little uncomfortable, and withdrew nervously, and two officials followed behind him.

Zhu Houzhao asked again: "Does anyone know how many clan members there are?"

Jin Gui, the attendant in the attendant room, returned after saluting, "Your Majesty, the exact number can be found on the jade plate in the clan's house, and you can know it at a glance. However, the minister also knows the approximate number."

"How many?"

"There are about [-] people."

Everyone exclaimed, there are so many?

Anyway, the emperor was not in a hurry, so he let his courtiers whisper to each other.

After a while, You Zhi whispered and said: Your Majesty, Li Mengyang is here.

The emperor nodded but didn't shake his head, so You Zhi understood.

"quiet!"

The great eunuch shouted, and everyone bowed their heads facing the emperor and stood still.

"Xuan, see Li Mengyang!"

Zhu Houzhao also sat down, Li Mengyang is not Yan Song, he has to pay attention to the emperor's demeanor.

The person who came here still had a white cloth wrapped around his head, but the blood stains were gone, only a small patch of blue-purple skin remained on the right side of his face, and under the white cloth was a face full of righteousness and no flattery.

"Minister, Li Mengyang, Li Mengyang, the envoy of Huang Huang, kowtow to the Holy Majesty!"

"Get up. Li Mengyang, you came to the palace today because of the fact that the royal clan of Prince Han beat you, right?"

"Report to Your Majesty!" Li Mengyang raised his arms and clasped his hands, looking straight ahead, with a loud voice, "I didn't come here for this."

"Then why did you come here?"

"I come to see the emperor for the sake of the country! I come to see His Majesty for the sake of the Ming Dynasty!"

The corners of Zhu Houzhao's lips curled up. Those who had read the book liked this tone.

Li Mengyang said loudly: "Your Majesty, have you heard the origami talk in the capital recently?"

"What did Origami say?"

"It's just that a piece of paper can't be folded seven times. Why? It's the number doubling so fast, which is far beyond people's expectations. May I ask Your Majesty, how many feudal kings there were in the world during the Hongwu period?"

"In the last years of Hongwu, there were 58 vassals."

"What about today?"

"All the ministers know, there are more than [-] people."

Li Mengyang immediately said: "It will double in 30 years. After 30 years, there will be 600 people in the Ming Dynasty. In 30 years, it will be 1. In 30 years, it will be 4000. From this, it can be seen that in a hundred years, Daming will be everywhere. Clan, by then, presumably there will be more vassal kings entering Beijing due to poverty! The money, food and taxes in the world will not be able to support the clan’s salary. Even if it can still be supported after a hundred years, what about 200 years? 300 years? Or say , can my Ming Dynasty still have 300 years?!"

This kind of thing can be said in private, but it is a bit shocking to say it in front of the emperor.

"Presumptuous!" Zhu Houzhao could only scold him directly, "This is the Fengtian Palace!"

Pfft!
Li Mengyang knelt down directly, and there was no intention of retreating, "I have committed crimes against the clan, and the clan took advantage of this to retaliate against the minister. I have no regrets and no fear. The minister is loyal to the country and righteous. Why should death be feared?! Therefore, today The death of a minister is a small matter, but the great Ming Dynasty is a major matter! The poverty of the clan is like the hand and foot of the imperial court. If you don’t go, you can’t move for a day! All of them are related to the foundation of the ancestors and the common people in the world. Please Your Majesty!”

Having said that, he touched his head to the ground and shouted with all his might, "Ming Cha!"

There were even bursts of echoes in Fengtian Hall.

With his statement like this, even Yang Yiqing and Wang Jia were moved with emotion.
This is the loyal minister! !