eldest son of Ming dynasty

There is a Shangshu Office under the cabinet, which is responsible for sending and receiving memorials.

There is an archives office under the Attendant's Office, which is responsible for re-copying and classifying all the memorials approved by Zhu.

Later, Zhu Houzhao ordered the establishment of another archives in the palace to store the copied memorials.

In traditional culture, we have always paid more attention to retaining the documents of the previous dynasty. One of the important functions is to use the "name after death" to restrain the current emperor.

Because the emperor is already the greatest in the world, apart from historical evaluation and comments from future generations, there is not much that can be done.

Zhu Houzhao agrees with this approach.

And in his opinion, if these things can be preserved, they will also be an important historical archive.

And history is so important to our nation.

Restoring the historical truth and drawing nourishment from past history are also an important part of our national culture and national character.

However, what is different from the previous ones is that these copied memorials are only kept for archives and not all are made public.

Zhu Houzhao will make a selection based on the actual situation, and the one that needs to be made public is of course Mingfa Dibao.

If it is not appropriate, it can be sent to the courtiers who submitted the memorial in a secret form. No one else is allowed to read it except the person involved and the attendants. It can be sealed in the archives for future generations to decipher.

When using the secret system, he had already warned his ministers not to tell others about their secret dealings with the emperor at will, because if they did not keep it secret, they would lose their virginity. However, he was still picking a suitable time to find someone to scare the monkeys and let them know that he, the emperor, cared about this.

Looking at it as a whole, it turns out that the status of the Attendant's Room will be improved again.

Because only they have access to every memorial that Emperor Zhu has approved.

Although they have no practical experience, copying these government affairs in large quantities will be of great personal benefit to them. This is equivalent to soaking in "martial arts secrets" every day.

Compared with officials who have no access to these contents, the attendant's room has obvious advantages.

This is actually the evolutionary logic of ancient court politics, and it also evolved from the mutual struggle between monarchy and prime ministerial power.

One of the basic logics is that the emperor always wants to take over the power of the prime minister, but the state affairs are heavy and he always has to rely on some literati. Over the years, these people will become prime ministers.

Take the official position of "Shang Shu" as an example. This official position began in the Qin Dynasty and was continued in the Han Dynasty. It was originally an official affiliated with the Shaofu, responsible for documents and memorials to the officials. To put it bluntly, it was the one who delivered documents.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also used eunuchs to serve as such officials.

But by the Wei and Jin Dynasties, he had become the de facto prime minister.

why?

Because they were closer to the emperor and had direct access to various documents and memorials, they gradually gained power.

Another example is the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty. This is actually the same. Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister and took over the power of the prime minister. Later, he had no choice but to set up a cabinet bachelor to assist him in handling government affairs. Later, this was actually the prime minister.

In the Qing Dynasty, although the cabinet was not abolished, there was still a military aircraft department. The predecessor of the military aircraft department was the South Study Room. Those who joined the military aircraft department said that they mainly accompanied the emperor in composing poems, writing and painting, but gradually they also drafted edicts and wrote narratives in accordance with the emperor's wishes. Edict.

So in fact, in the Kangxi Dynasty, the cabinet was almost a decoration.

Now that Zhu Houzhao is doing this, he is also taking over the power of the cabinet to a certain extent. They are beginning to lose access to many things. It is these officials in the attendant's office who really assist the emperor in handling government affairs.

Although this will alienate another cabinet.

There are benefits though.

For example, the cabinet has been established for more than a hundred years since the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, and many long-term rules have been formed that cannot be broken. For example, if all cabinet votes are canceled now, everyone in the government will be confused.

Starting from scratch is a blank slate.

Zhu Houzhao can play as he pleases.

He first set up the Attendant's Office to help him organize various contents reported by officials from various places to Beijing. For a person who lives in the computer age and is accustomed to databases, what can he do in the face of massive information processing?

You can only find personal computers.

This was originally the idea.

Because the initial duties were very simple and the official positions were relatively small, Zhu Houzhao could set some strict rules for them. For example, they were only responsible for recording, carrying out decrees, and handling affairs. They had no say in all key matters such as political affairs, personnel, and military affairs.

Later, after twenty years of development, the powers of the Attendant's Office will inevitably gradually expand.

Because the emperor needs it.

At first, they would record the data of each province. Later, they would have to master the files of some officials that the emperor cared about. Later, when they encountered some sensitive matters that the emperor did not want foreign officials to know, they would act in accordance with the orders.

And because they are used to following orders completely, not to mention the opinions of foreigners, even they themselves will not regard themselves as cabinet ministers, thinking about giving advice, recruiting talents, etc.

Even if their powers are further strengthened by this change, they will be unable to form the cabinet's ability to contain Zhu Houzhao during the Zhengde dynasty.

This kind of evolution requires at least a change of monarch.

Similar to it, there is also the palace.

Zhu Houzhao preferred the summer palace built in Chengde. There were also political reasons for this: As the palace where the emperor lived, the Forbidden City was actually a political symbol, and over the years it had formed a vast array of rules - even who could go through which doors. It's been prescribed.

To be honest, living under the many rules of the Forbidden City is not a happy thing.

However, no matter how reform-minded Zhu Houzhao was, he could not change all these things, and some of them were related to feudal superstitions. Any random changes would cause a lot of criticism. The construction of the Forbidden City itself paid attention to a lot of Feng Shui.

But in the palace, it will be more casual. Not only will life be casual, but it will be better to meet ministers, handle government affairs, and even play with princes and princesses.

A group of censor officials will not be too noisy.

Therefore, since the summer palace was completed in the fifteenth year of Zhengde, the emperor has to stay there for at least two months every year.

At the beginning, some ministers and harem women will be brought along.

Later, the Empress Dowager followed.

I stayed there for two months at first.

But in the seventeenth year of Zhengde, the emperor stayed for more than four months before returning to Beijing.

This year, it's already June. Anyway, it's time for Emperor Long Hu to set off.

This was expected by everyone, and the reason was very good. After all, it had something to do with the emperor's dragon body.

This year's team is even bigger.

In addition to the huge team of civil servants, in order to ensure safety, Zhang Yong, the eunuch in charge of the Royal Horse Supervisor, also brought four A-level guards and three B-level guards.

In order to strengthen his military preparedness, Zhu Houzhao started the annual martial arts order in the second year after he went to live in the palace in the 16th year of Zhengde.

Therefore, these guards are accompanying them, on the one hand, as guards, and on the other hand, they are also inspected.

The country has so much money, why is it always kept there? Although it costs money to bring the troops out for training, this money cannot be saved.

As for the harem, the three concubines Sheng Yuxian, Jing and Shun accompanied them.

The emperor brings different people every year, but basically everyone gets a turn, of course, the number of times varies.

As for the princes, the three princes above were all out on business, so the fourth prince and the fifth prince were accompanying them. The other princes are still young and not suitable. Zhengde 20th year, June 18th.

Zhu Houzhao got up early, put on a soft round-collared red satin suit, and boarded his oversized carriage under the service of the palace maid.

The carriage not only had a desk, but also a clean and neat little bed so that he could take a nap when he was tired.

This is just a room inside, but it is longer outside. There are two benches on both sides close to the carriage. If necessary, four people can sit on each side. There is an exquisite wooden dragon chair on top of the door. The emperor alone.

Because the time on the road was too long, and Zhu Houzhao had to work overtime at night, it was better to finish the work during the day.

That's it now,

The emperor sat on the chair at the top and rocked along with the carriage, sometimes staring at the scenery outside the carriage window in a daze.

The few courtiers who were sitting down kept talking nonstop.

"...According to previous statistics, the number of members of the clan in our dynasty has exceeded 20,000, which has increased much more than at the beginning of the dynasty. During the Cheng and Hong years, the clan's salary has always been about 30% of the annual salary, and it has increased year by year. After growing to this point, it will inevitably increase as the size of the clan expands. Although the national power of this dynasty has increased, the annual expenditure of four to five million taels is not heavy, but according to the memorial written by Lou Tianying, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, A hundred years later, when the clan's population has increased several times, the burden will no longer be light."

This is what Zhang Cong and Zhang Ge are talking about.

To be honest, the actual interests of the virtuous nephew clan and the civil servants are not linked.

But in addition to practical interests, people also have values.

We are connected by blood and branches. In the final analysis, we are all one family. There is a saying among the people that one person can ascend to heaven with chickens and dogs, and this is accepted by people. Now the royal family wants to abandon their own clansmen with the same surname. No matter how you say it, it is a big family. Disgraced the court.

Inevitably, the emperor also had to be stabbed in the spine and said bad things.

And they are worried about the humiliation of their ministers, and they can't just watch the emperor leave such a reputation.

"This matter...should we wait for a while?" Even Wang Tingxiang was worried. Of course he was the emperor's confidant, but the choice between justice and profit was simply a simple one in the eyes of Confucians. thing,

"If we are settling accounts, it is naturally more beneficial to the court to not have to support so many sects. However, even if it is a family of ordinary people, no matter how miserable their life is, most of them are reluctant to push their own family members out. Besides, Your Majesty has been in charge of the country for twenty years, and I have a great Ming Dynasty. It is a prosperous time, and doing such a thing in a prosperous time must be confusing... I save some money, but weaken the affection between blood relatives, and use this to set an example for the world. I don't know whether it is joy or sorrow."

When Wang Tingxiang said this, he glanced at the emperor from the corner of his eye.

I saw the emperor looking through the memorials on the desk, and then he picked up what the ink pen was writing.

Even after listening to their words, they seemed to have no intention of speaking.

He glanced at Jiang Yong, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance who was sitting opposite.

Jiang Yong understood what he meant, raised his hands and said: "The old saying of Wang Ge is right. This dynasty governs the world with filial piety. The word filial piety originally means the way of kissing. What is the way of kissing? The scriptures of heaven and the meaning of earth. , the behavior of the people, and the feelings of people. When a monarch governs a country, he should follow the natural way of heaven and earth and be ethical. Otherwise, people's thoughts will be agitated and their principles will often be disordered. The money saved may have to be spent again. "

Everyone looked at the emperor again.

Zhu Houzhao still said nothing, just reviewing the memorial, but suddenly he felt a pause, and he raised his head in surprise, "Why don't you continue?"

Gu Renyi answered, "To say that the court's move goes against the natural way of heaven and earth, that's not the case. The emperor is the son of the emperor, and he is the guardian of heaven. All people in the world are the emperor's subjects. The emperor is the monarch, and more importantly, the emperor's father. As a father, he does not focus on one family, but on the people of the world. This is more in line with the natural way of heaven and earth."

Zhang Cong nodded, "Not bad."

Jin Gui, the Minister of Rites, sighed again, "In the long run, this is a strategy for the long-term stability of the country. However, as Mr. Wang Ge said, now is a prosperous age. How can there be any reason to separate families in a prosperous age? If word spreads, everyone will It is said that we are being strict. The choice is really not easy."

He said the word "strict", but he didn't dare to have anything to do with the emperor, but that's what he meant.

"Fortunately, the amount of the vassal's salary is not huge now. Do you want to be on the throne for a few more years? Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Wang Tingxiang asked with his hands raised.

Zhu Houzhao did not answer immediately. He finished reviewing the memorial in his hand and then closed it.

He chuckled softly and said, "I, I will soon have three adult sons. Not to mention that the crown prince has not yet been established, even if I become a vassal, I have not even thought about it. Someone advised me that personal relationships should not be used before state affairs. . But I should still be worried. Tell me, when the vassal kings of Ming Dynasty arrived, they were not allowed to do anything or give up their place. Apart from finding ways to make more money, what else could they do?

But the salary for each title is fixed, but people's desires are constantly growing. I have always warned my cousins, uncles and uncles not to oppress the people. However, after these sons of mine become vassals, what if they invade the local fertile land? At that time, abolition of public service for private reasons would be even worse than today's abolition of public service for private reasons. So you shouldn’t be surprised that I have such selfish motives. "

The emperor was speaking from his heart, and this was the first time they knew that this was the reason why the emperor did not allow the adult prince to become a vassal.

Rather than letting them go out to harm the people, it is better to stay here in the capital. Even if he spends some money from his own money to reward them, it is worse than them going out to race and enclose the land.

"It's hard for the Emperor. It's because the ministers are incompetent and can't share the Emperor's worries."

Zhu Houzhao sighed, "How can you share the worries? We can only do this for now. Also, Emperor Taizu started from a young age, and it was difficult to start a business. He lived a really hard life. When the Ming Dynasty was established, He must be looking at his children with compassion in his eyes, thinking that he will not let them suffer the same suffering as him in this life. Do you think my analysis makes sense?"

Jin Gui, the Minister of Rites, said, "During the Hongwu period, Prince Yiwen and all his brothers and brothers were respectful. The love between heaven and family at that time was rare in all dynasties. Most of this was due to Emperor Taizu's love for his children. , which is exactly what His Majesty said."

"Yeah, but then again. I don't think so. A person's life is not about how long it is, but how thick it is. You have to taste all the joy, anger, sorrow, joy, sweetness, bitterness, and joy to live this life in vain. So. I didn’t keep these sons of mine in captivity. Otherwise, they would have nothing to do but eat and sleep every day. How could they be alive? They are just humanoid bodies. Of course, whoever wants to live in such a muddle-headed way for the rest of their lives, Then let him be an idle prince."

Everyone was confused, why was this talking about their own son?

Does it have anything to do with what happened before?

"This time, Zai Yao has crossed thousands of miles of raging waves, and I don't know what happened to him."

Everyone said one after another: "Your Majesty, our Ming Navy is invincible everywhere. Your Highness will definitely win a great victory in Luzon and exaggerate the prestige of our country!"

"I have been thinking about the enfeoffment of the vassal for the past few days. If this confederation fails in the Central Plains, it will lead to the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms. But what do you think of the enfeoffment overseas?"

This is still a new idea.

Zhang Cong's expression changed, and he immediately said: "Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with where the enfeoffment is. Don't you hear about the disputes between Meng Ge and Chagatai and Ogedai, and Ali Buge and Kublai Khan?"

Zhu Houcheng understood that this was the history of Temujin's descendants fighting for the throne.

The fundamental reason is that Temujin's sons and their descendants each have a certain degree of strength. Temujin was fine when he was alive, but when he died, no one would be convinced by the other.

Therefore, the Mongol emperor had a thrilling transfer of power every time, and finally fell apart after only four terms.

Therefore, there cannot be such a situation of relying on strength under that chair, and one party must be dominant.

Is it useful to entrust it outside?

As long as he has the strength, he will want to compete for the throne of the Central Plains treasure land and the emperor of the Celestial Kingdom. Even if he has no strength, after three generations, the emperor of the Central Plains will open his eyes and find that everything around him is 'scabies'. Who can bear it?

And once China becomes weak and in chaos,

Well, the whole thing is a big chaos in East Asia.

In fact, many princes now have this hidden danger when they are sealed off to the frontier.

Therefore, apart from the money issue in the five-household clan, Zhang Cong also had another purpose, which was to defeat all the distant vassal kings.

It's just that it's hard to say these words directly.

Zhu Houzhao pursed his lips. To be honest, what Zhang Cong said made sense.

It is difficult for an upright official to stop household chores. While he was feeling sad, the carriage stopped and the eunuch's voice came from outside, "Your Majesty, we have arrived."

"I know." Zhu Houzhao then saw the guests off, "Okay, okay, we'll be here today. Get off the car. I won't leave you alone. Go and have your own meals. Come back to me in an hour. Shandong and Xinjiang each have their own affairs. , let’s discuss it.”

"Yes."

The emperor did not give his own attitude on the clan affairs, or even refused to express his position, so it would be difficult for his ministers to force him.

Zhu Houzhao's idea was to wait for it to ferment. It would not be good to deal with this matter too quickly. Anyway, he has been waiting for so many years, not less than this moment, and the current vassal salary is indeed not the majority of the imperial court's annual expenditure.

After getting off the carriage, Zhu Houzhao stretched his legs and feet, flexed his muscles, and said to You Zhi: "You will ask Gui E and Jiang Yong to come over first."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, which meant that there were no big rules. After all, this was not in the Forbidden City.