eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 658
Zhu Houzhao was actually anxious about matters in the northwest, but he was thousands of miles away and it was difficult to do anything directly.

He also fully felt the political impact of the war.

Although there were no strong anti-war voices in the court during the ten years of Zhengde's reign, there were occasionally some officials who spoke nonsense, but basically they could not make any waves.

However, even the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty were scolded even when they became senior officials.

In the eyes of some people, Hami and Turpan further to the west cannot escape the word "barren land".

The fact that the imperial court had to spend so much money to respond to what was still not a serious provocation remains open to question.

Especially at this time, the emperor still had no intention of returning to Beijing to take charge of the overall situation.

But the reality is that the cabinet agreed with the emperor's decision without any 'resistance', and immediately ordered troops, money, grain, and horses to quickly gather to the northwest.

Once these memorials involved Yang Yiqing and Wang Hao themselves, although they assisted in supervising the country, it was actually difficult to deal with them, so they had to forward them to the emperor like military reports, and even added a letter of apology.

In early May of the [-]th year of Zhengde, a fierce debate broke out in the court of the capital. Some officials felt that the cabinet should at least invite the emperor to return to the capital.

If the goal cannot be achieved, some people will directly go to the media to criticize the first and second assistants of the cabinet.

Since Yang Yiqing and Wang Hao entered the cabinet, they have rarely seen such a chaotic court.

The emperor's eldest son, Zaihe, was so frightened that he still had lingering fears.

The next day, when he saw his uncle Mei Huaigu, he said: "Yesterday at the court meeting, a fierce conflict broke out among the officials, and they had deep disagreements with each other. Sometimes my nephew felt that what this person said was reasonable, and turned his head Then you will feel that what that person said makes sense. Uncle and nephew have never seen anything like that."

Zai Yan next to him looked at him with big eyes. Zai Yan looked like his biological mother, so his facial features were very delicate, but as a man, he sometimes lost his sharpness and had a sweet temper. He was very cute when he was a child. But adults all know that being a prince will not work when you grow up.

On the other hand, although Zaihe is a little more arrogant sometimes, he is at least more cheerful and outgoing.

It's just that Mei Huaigu didn't expect Zaihe to say such words today.

"Feeling overwhelmed?"

"……a little bit."

"Well..." Mei Huaigu continued to serve him food, with a smile on his face, "Remember, it should be in the 12th year of Hongzhi. At that time, the emperor also had a fierce argument with his ministers because of one thing. You know how the emperor does it? Was it handled?"

Zaihe shook his head.

"The emperor is not afraid of them. He went to Zuoshunmen alone and ordered everyone with one person. That is really majestic. Your Highness, the same is true for you. You are the prince and they are ministers. You cannot be afraid of them, but they are afraid of them. You. You just need to remember that the Emperor is your father and your monarch. You can do whatever the Emperor asks you to do. Even if you make a mistake, the Emperor will support you.

To put it bluntly, they fought so fiercely today, but the emperor has already made a decree, how can you go against it?Or can those elders disobey it?My uncle dared to say that even those people themselves did not dare to violate it. "

"Then why are they making such a noise?"

"Ah..." Mei Huaigu now also has a beard, and there is a trace of vicissitudes and calmness between his eyebrows, "Things in the world are very complicated, but the most complicated thing is people. Some people do it for fame and wealth, and some do it for morality."

Zaihe continued to ask: "Then who are doing it for fame and fortune, and who are doing it for morality?"

Mei Huaigu raised his eyebrows, "This is a university question and a big problem. Even adults sometimes can't figure it out. But your highness, don't worry, you will understand one day."

Zaihe still had doubts in his eyes, but he felt much more relaxed after he said it, "Okay, thank you, uncle."

"The family said thank you."

"At least uncle let my nephew understand something. When I go to court tomorrow, my nephew will tell them that my father has already decided on this matter. Anyone who criticizes them will be protesting! When the time comes, let my father deal with them!"

These words surprised Mei Huaigu, who said with admiration, "His Royal Highness is as powerful as the eldest son of the emperor should be!"

Zai Yan was still depressed and didn't say a word.

……

……

At this time, Zhu Houzhao was still on site inspecting river affairs.The emperor arrived at the river, with yellow flags fluttering on the river bank and guards lining up. It was the first time since he became emperor that he had to walk on so many muddy roads.

Looking carefully, Zhu Houzhao still felt that there was something wrong. Although he was not an expert in river management, he had occasionally dabbled in it in his previous life. "All the weeds on the river banks need to be cleared. Do you know this?"

No one said anything, so the emperor had no choice but to ask Song Heng, "You are an official in charge of the river, do you know?"

Song Heng was a little trembling, "I, I will send someone to weed the grass right now."

"When the water level rises, the weeds on these shores easily become entangled with the floating objects drifting down from the upstream, forming large lumps. If there are too many such lumps, they will block the river channel and affect the discharge. It will even accumulate water flow and threaten the dam. Furthermore, so much grass grows here and covers the soil. Can you see clearly whether there are gaps in the dam?"

When the emperor said this, everyone suddenly realized.

"Don't keep thinking about fooling me, thinking that I don't understand."

"I don't dare! It's just that no one has come up with such profound insights in the past. Today, after hearing the emperor's glance, I feel that it is particularly reasonable."

Wang Bing suggested: "Flood control is a major matter. Since there is such a hidden danger, it is better to send people to eliminate it as soon as possible."

Zhu Houzhao did not want to make things difficult for him, and said something to excuse Song Heng, "Fortunately, there is still time. Besides, water plants grow easily in this season, so it is understandable that there is no time to clear them. There are many rivers in the Jianghuai area, with a total mileage of hundreds Kilometers, it is extremely labor-intensive to remove them along both sides of the river. Song Heng, I leave this to you. You can discuss with the local officials on how to remove it."

The natural environment is so good, but sometimes it can be a problem. In some places we just passed, the reeds grew more than one meter high. It is actually difficult to remove them all.

Therefore, we can only select some key sections, but the emperor does not need to worry about this in such detail.

On the way back, Zhu Houzhao still made a request to Song Heng, "In my opinion, it is still necessary to set up a government office specifically for rivers. You should go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and ask them to send some officials who know river affairs to your place to listen." Use it. This is a long-term matter, and I can’t just look at it today. You must not take it lightly. "

"Your Majesty's request, I will bear every word in mind."

"Yeah." Zhu Houzhao didn't want to punish anyone today, and he didn't want to lower Song Heng's authority too much. It seemed that if everyone in Huai'an Mansion was dissatisfied, then Song Heng would be difficult to serve as governor in the future.

After this, the holy driver returned.

Zhu Houzhao sat back in the carriage, walking on the dirt road with a swaying motion. Halfway through, he suddenly heard some indistinct noises coming from the distance, and soon after, the carriage stopped.

You Zhi immediately came to report, "Your Majesty, some people are blocking the sedan chair."

"Oh?" He still remembered what he said in Shandong, don't do good deeds because they are small, and don't do evil because they are small. These small things are big things that can make the whole family collapse. "Where is Yang Shen?" ?”

"Wei Chen is here."

"You and Song Heng go to find out the situation. I'm waiting for you here."

"Yes!"

Yang Shen has the best image. He is young and talented. In the eyes of ordinary people, this is how the ministers around the aloof emperor should be.

Song Heng was in dire straits now. His only consolation was that at least the people could still stop the sedan. If there was any obstruction, it would be even worse.

On the road, people dressed in gray cloth were kneeling on the ground, crying and begging, shouting for the emperor to make the decision. There were old people, women and children, and they looked okay. Although all their clothes were patched, at least they were not like that. A disgraced and miserable refugee.

Song Heng suppressed the anxiety in his heart, pushed aside the guard who was standing in front of him, and shouted loudly: "Dear fellow villagers and elders! Dear fellow villagers and elders! I am the governor here, and I have been ordered by the emperor to listen to your grievances, no matter what they are. You can tell me your grievances, and I will definitely uphold justice for you!"

Zhu Houzhao got out of the car and stood on top to take a look.

It wasn't a huge crowd, but there were about 60 or [-] people there.

As a person from the bottom, he clearly understands the feeling of powerlessness he sometimes feels, so he cannot leave his position in the center today.

"Your Majesty, I think this matter may take some time."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, then pointed at him and said, "You have clarified the matter. No one is allowed to move until you have clarified it."

(End of this chapter)