eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 769 Nanjing Guards Liu Jin
Zhang Cong returned to the capital from Shandong.

Along the way, whenever he met someone, he would tell them the four words "take care of yourself", and this was done with good intentions.

Since ancient times, anyone who is a cruel official of the emperor will inevitably die a good death.

If you really want to talk about it, Zhang Cong naturally understands this truth, but there are so many choices in life. When the emperor found him, could he live if he chose not to be a cruel official?
What kind of place is this Forbidden City?
Red walls and yellow tiles, palaces in groups, vast and endless. The road from Meridian Gate to Duanmen is not long, but it is extremely open, and it seems to be wider than before. Walking here alone is like a small boat on the sea. , floating and may capsize at any time.

The man wearing the crown has already arranged the ending for everyone.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Cong, goes to see your Majesty."

The emperor did not like those garish costumes. Taoism and Buddhism were not reflected in the Qianqing Palace. On the imperial desk were several memorials, a set of pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and some books for passing the time.

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After standing up, he straightened his arms and stood bent over, with his head slightly lowered, not daring to look directly at the emperor.

"Has everything in Shandong been settled?"

"Back to the emperor, everything has been done. Although it is not over yet, all the prefectures, prefectures, and counties are making normal progress. If there are any obstacles, I will take care of it."

"Give me a copy of the re-edited fish scale atlas after all officials at all levels sign it."

He will keep a file with the Ministry of Household Affairs and send someone to verify it. As long as there is any falsehood, the signing officials will be jointly and severally responsible.

"Yes."

"I have made a decree to Jiangnan. Yingtian, Fengyang, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi will be the second land for clearing land. From today on, you will sit in the capital and make arrangements. There is no need to go to Shandong, and there is no need to go to Jiangnan."

"Yes."

Zhu Houzhao stood up, walked out from behind the imperial desk, walked around to him, and when he got closer, he whispered: "Come with me."

This is the main hall of Qianqing Palace. Going to the left is the inner heating pavilion. However, it is ventilated in summer and is not stuffy.

These days, except for Shandong, which is in Qingtian, all the places in the country have actually reported to the court after smelling the smell. They listed Zhang Cong's various crimes and wanted to eat his flesh. First, they said that he was greedy for ink, and then for killing people. , and then the idea of ​​using the emperor came out.

Among the capital, few people spoke for him, but many added fuel to the fire.

The current officialdom is extremely intense. There are scoldings among the gentry, and everyone wants to get rid of him. The so-called court situation, from Zhu Houzhao's perspective, is nothing more than that. As long as he doesn't nod, no one can touch Zhang Cong. .

In history, if the emperor was weak, the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty would probably have to gather together to remonstrate. However, if they encountered someone as ruthless as Jiajing and suffered several losses, they would have no choice but to plot secretly.

Just like facing Emperor Zhengde now, no matter how many of these memorials are in the memorial, will any important official in the capital dare to take the lead?

but……

"I grew up in the palace, and it has become commonplace for all parties in power to attack each other and seek their own things. The world is bustling with people, all for profit, and the temples and temples are built for fame. They take advantage of me because I have no power. I have thought of many ways to deal with you."

Zhang Cong didn't understand the holy meaning. He was frightened to death when he suddenly heard these words. He knelt down and said, "I have betrayed the emperor's trust. Please forgive me!"

"I didn't ask you to kneel down." Zhu Houzhao helped him up and pointed to a basket of memorials on the small table in front of him. "There are only about half of these memorials. Don't read the remaining half. Up and down the court, in the officialdom inside and outside, I have gradually sent people to secretly investigate all those who oppose the Qingtian Order. Some people have no problem, but they just have different opinions or dislike you. I won't care about it, so don't argue with them."

Zhang Cong smiled, the emperor was still magnanimous, if he had been replaced.It's a pity that the emperor didn't let him see that half of the memorial. In other words, this half...

"But some people..." The emperor's words slowed down here.

Zhang Cong's heart twitched. Could it be that His Majesty meant...?
He raised his head slightly and found the emperor looking at him, "Your Majesty."

"You are here, take a moment to read it. No copying or carrying is allowed. How much you can remember is up to you. After you go out, don't mention anything about this place."

Not a word about it?

"Yes, I understand."

Zhu Houzhao crossed his arms and said in a faint tone: "I probably know what you have heard recently. I also understand that the people who kneel to this palace say they are loyal, but they don't really believe it in their hearts. A few. But I am not demanding, nor do I demand the loyalty of the people in the world regardless of their own lives. It is always like that, it is me who can't get along with myself."

Zhang Cong was horrified again, how come the emperor knew everything!

"What I want to tell you is that I will not only serve as emperor for two or three days. The Ming Dynasty will not have any new strategies until the Qingtian Order. In the past, the emperors were just for power. Everyone was afraid, and no one violated them. , that’s all. I also value power, but the power I hold is for doing things. And you can still do something."

Although these words are somewhat mysterious, they are heart-to-heart words.

Zhu Houzhao had no intention of killing Zhang Cong. Although this guy had shortcomings, as he said, he was a man of work.

And he is different from the emperors of the past. He has so much information about future generations in his mind, and some decisions are often very subversive. If he burns bridges across rivers, it will be difficult to handle later.

Moreover, in fact, he is not willing to kill some capable ministers, whether it is Yang Yiqing, Wang Qiong, Zhang Cong, Yang Tinghe. They may be useful when they are alive, but they can only burn paper money to them after they die.Zhang Cong is also a smart man, he understands, and he understands even more that the emperor's expression is to let him continue to work faithfully and not to be half-hearted and lose his favor.

In fact, what troubles Zhu Houzhao most when he is using others is not what others say. His mind will not be affected by what others say.The fear is that the person himself has made a mistake.For example, if Zhang Cong becomes really arrogant and commits an unforgivable crime, it will be difficult to deal with him at that time.

So far, he has reminded Zhou Shangwen to restrain his family, and giving Wei Guogong an oral instruction in advance can be regarded as...

Then, with the emperor standing nearby, Zhang Cong generously read through the memorials for him. The more he read, the angrier he became. If he hadn't been in front of the emperor, he would have cursed.

Since they were retained by the emperor, these people must have some problems, but their words on paper are so righteous and awe-inspiring.

Zhu Houzhao often glanced at him during the process, and it was not a surprise to see him sometimes glaring angrily, "It's strange to say that only one saint comes out in thousands of years, but our Ming Dynasty is very powerful, and there have been many saints who are full of benevolence, justice and morality. I don't know. It's better to attack them directly, and it will save more effort on your part, but since these people have the handle, you can do it more beautifully."

When it comes to killing someone with a borrowed knife, the emperor would say it directly. Zhang Cong really didn't know what to say. The emperor showed people the truth, whether it was good or bad, and was not afraid of history. Even he could be regarded as having received a lesson.

"Your Majesty, you can rest assured. I think I am not that kind of person."

"Then do you know how to make it more beautiful?" Zhu Houzhao was sitting, but now he bent down and asked.

Zhang Cong replied: "Of course he is upright and upright, so that people can't gossip."

"Those who want to gossip about you will still gossip about you no matter how upright you are, and besides, you are not really unselfish." Zhu Houzhao curled his lips, "I said it was beautiful, not for them to see, but for them. From my point of view, if you have a public heart on top of your selfishness, then you are beautiful."

Zhang Cong instantly understood that he should not just kill people, but also take care of business.

"The humble minister is confused, the humble minister is confused."

"Okay, don't watch it a second time. It won't look pretty after the second time. Go out of the palace."

"Yes, Wei Chen retire."

Zhang Cong stepped back slowly, straightened up after reaching the outside of the palace, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

The emperor has been ruling the country for many years, and his thoughts have become more and more sophisticated and his methods have become more and more fierce. He thinks that he is also a person who understands the Sacred Heart, but this time he failed to get the point several times. This is actually something to be vigilant about.

To put it bluntly, the issue was not considered from the emperor's perspective.

If things go on like this, it will be too late to regret if you can't figure out Tianzi's true thoughts and do things in a wrong way. If there are any consequences, it will be too late.

For example, looking at the memorials of these officials impeaching him, the emperor was not joking with him just to vent his anger.It's ridiculous that I was so controlled by my emotions that I forgot what was really important for a while.

"Beautiful? Interesting." Zhang Cong murmured softly, humming with a smile that sounded like self-deprecation and admiration.

After Zhang Cong left, Zhu Houzhao fiddled with these memorials boredly, brows in deep thought, but he was actually still thinking, "Zhang Cong's killing will definitely be called revenge, and soon everyone will cry out for beatings. I I'm still forcing them to agree to build me a palace to escape the heat. The fire is boiling the oil in a pot, and I'm afraid someone will be in trouble."

"Your Majesty is so powerful that no one dares to oppose the Emperor."

You Zhi's flattery will not solve the problem.

Zhu Houzhao's fundamental purpose was to ensure that the affairs in Jiangnan could not be delayed for even a moment. Only by means of drastic measures and as swift and fierce as a tiger could the world truly understand the court's intentions.

Jing Shaokui promoted officials to him as a new member. He was loyal enough but not prestigious enough. He really needed a helper at this moment.

However, Zhang Cong did not go to Jiangnan because he did it intentionally. There would be far more lives there than in Shandong.

"Youji,"

"The servant is here."

"I know that you are loyal to me. The man guarding Nanjing must also be one of yours."

You Zhi has known for many years that the emperor values ​​sincerity. As long as he is honest, everything will be alright. "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Your Majesty met that man in Nanjing last year. He had nothing to do with slaves, but he has made many tributes this year." , I also want to serve the emperor very much in my heart."

"Okay. Bring him into the palace, and you can train him."

You Zhi was delighted, "Yes, I thank you for your kindness."

The emperor agreed that his own people should enter the palace, which was a confirmation and strengthening of status.

But Zhu Houzhao would not be unreasonable in his actions, "The reason why I say you are loyal is because you did not get rid of Liu Jin secretly. In this regard, you are still obedient."

You Zhi was shocked. What does this mean?
"Then Liu Jin should still be guarding the mausoleum in Fengyang? Send a decree and order him to guard Nanjing."

The Nanjing garrison, also called Nanjing garrison eunuchs and Nanjing garrison garrison officials, is responsible for managing the Nanjing imperial city, overseeing the 24 yamen of Nanjing and the Nanjing army. In the Forbidden City of Nanjing where there is no emperor, the garrison is like a local emperor.

Liu Jin has a very bad reputation, and his methods are despicable and ruthless.After falling from power back then, it was almost forgotten by people. It would be strange if it was suddenly mentioned this time and it didn't shock those people.

(End of this chapter)