Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Late at night, the palace.

When Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, led by the third prince Zhu Gaosui, walked through the long corridor and arrived at the emperor's bedroom, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

Because it was really quiet here, and there were no palace maids or eunuchs, this made Xia Yuanji feel vaguely uneasy.

Xia Yuanji carefully followed Zhu Gaosui towards the dormitory, only to feel that the surroundings outside the dormitory were pitch black.

"His Royal Highness the Third Prince."

After walking for a while, Xia Yuanji finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked in a low voice: "I wonder what your Majesty summoned you for? Why didn't you even light a palace lantern?"

"Don't worry, Xia Shangshu!" Zhu Gaosui smiled easily and replied: "My father just suddenly remembered something when he told me. Knowing that you are still sitting in the Ministry of Household Affairs, nothing serious will happen!"

After a pause, Zhu Gaosui added: "Besides, even if something happens, my father will still make the decision now!"

Xia Yuanji thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

After all, he is just the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Now that Zhu Di has returned to the capital from Jiangnan, he no longer has to feel like he has no backbone as he did a few days ago.

The two of them continued walking forward, and when they approached the bedroom, they finally saw the eunuchs and maids.

These slaves were carefully guarding the surroundings of the dormitory, not even daring to breathe. This seemed to indicate that His Majesty the Emperor was not in a good mood tonight.

The two quickly arrived at a door outside the dormitory.

With a creak, the door was pushed open by the third prince Zhu Gaosui, and light immediately came from the palace. Xia Yuanji followed Zhu Gaosui and walked in. After passing through several screens, he could vaguely see the scene inside.

Contrary to Xia Yuanji's expectation, Zhu Di was sitting cross-legged on the couch. Behind him stood Jin Youzi, and in front of him was Chen Ying, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Looking at Chen Ying, Xia Yuanji's eyes flashed with a hint of fear.

From the heights of temples to the distances of rivers and lakes, no one knows that His Majesty the Emperor has "eagle dogs" by his side.

The so-called dog is naturally easy to understand. Ji Gang, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, gave the emperor's order to loosen the dog's leash and let the vicious dog bite whoever it wanted. It would not stop until it bit people until they were bleeding.

As for the eagle, it was Chen Ying, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate in front of him.

Chen Ying, a native of Chuzhou, entered Taixue during the Hongwu period. Later, he was promoted to censor and served as the inspector of Shandong. In the first year of Jianwen, he was transferred to Beiping, but he was quickly won over by Zhu Di, who was still the king of Yan at the time. His colleagues secretly reported that he had accepted money from the king of Yan and conspired with the king of Yan. Therefore, he was arrested and demoted to Guangxi by Emperor Jianwen.

If there were no accidents in Chen Ying's life, she would have had no choice but to spend the rest of her life among the world's most beautiful mountains and rivers.

However, only four years later, King Yan became emperor!

Zhu Di was a man who missed old friendships. Soon, Chen Ying was recalled to Nanjing and directly promoted to the highest official of the Metropolitan Procuratorate system, the Metropolitan Procuratorate Zuodu Yushi, also known as "Xantai".

Chen Ying is very clear about his role and what the emperor needs him to do. He is a lonely minister and a cruel official! He is the eagle eyes that Zhu Di used to stare at the civil and military officials! It's also the eagle's beak that Zhu Di will bite whenever someone he is dissatisfied with reveals a flaw!

Therefore, when the Great Prison was established, there were hundreds of families, the name of the Inspector General was heard all over the place, and both censors covered their faces and wept. Chen Ying also looked a little pale, but still insisted: If you don't punish this generation for rebellion, you will We are nameless.

Seeing Chen Ying reporting something in front of the emperor, Xia Yuanji knew that someone might be in trouble.

The greatest possibility is that Zhu Di will use Zhou Jin's head to launch another great purge in Jiangnan.

Zhu Di saw the third prince Zhu Gaosui and the Minister of Household Affairs Xia Yuanji waiting outside the door. After Chen Ying reported, he directly motioned for them to come over.

While the two sides were crossing each other, Chen Ying, who looked gloomy, suddenly smiled at Xia Yuanji.

Xia Yuanji looked calm and just nodded slightly.

The brief confrontation between the two ended in an instant, but Xia Yuanji knew that this was not Chen Ying's show of kindness to him. As a lonely minister, he had no need to do this. The only answer is that Chen Ying came to Dahu and was using the authority given by the emperor to demonstrate to herself.

Xia Yuanji smiled bitterly in his heart. People can't help themselves in the temple. If they want to do good things, they will be dragged into these quagmires.

Arriving in front of Zhu Di, Xia Yuanji calmed down and stepped forward to salute.

"Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, has met Your Majesty."

"Xia Qing, get up."

Zhu Di was sitting cross-legged on the couch. There was a pile of memorials piled on the table on the couch. This was his great eldest son and his cabinet. They were streamlined from the mountain of memorials and must be handed over to the emperor for personal approval. related to major matters.

Of course, it is impossible for Zhu Gaochi to unite the cabinet to deceive the superiors and subordinates. There are the emperor's confidants in the six ministries below, and the emperor's falcons in the Supervisory Council. The cabinet that has just been built is not monolithic. This is why Zhu Di dares to hand over government affairs with confidence. The reason given to Zhu Gaochi.

Xia Yuanji originally thought that Zhu Di would ask him about the progress of the preparations for the "Ming Dynasty National Debt", and he also made a draft and clinker, but that was not what Zhu Di said.

"The mission that went to Japan to deliver credentials to their shogunate has already identified most of its members."

Zhu Di took out a somewhat yellowed memorial from the desk and read it casually.

"A certain Empress of Japan sent a letter to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty: Since the founding of the country of Japan, all of them have been employed by superior states. I am fortunate to have a balanced country and no worries at home. I have followed the ancient rules and regulations and made the rich Prime Minister A Tong OK, I'll offer you a thousand taels of gold, ten horses, a thousand paper sheets, a hundred fans, three pairs of screens, a collar for armor, a collar for tube pills, ten waist swords, a handle for knives, a box of inkstones, and the same text. Take one."

Zhu Di put down this memorial from the Jianwen era four years ago and saw the picture.

"Japan and the Ming Dynasty are separated by only a sea, and the travel by boat only takes a few days. Now that I have been on the throne for several months, there is still no envoy from Japan carrying credentials and tributes to congratulate me. It seems that I have a disloyal heart."

Xia Yuanji felt a little worried. He didn't know what he, the Minister of Household Affairs, had to do with this matter.

"I plan to send an important minister of the country to go to Japan on my behalf to investigate the crime." Zhu Di looked at Xia Yuanji and asked, "What does Xia Shangshu think of Duke Cao?"

After hearing this, Xia Yuanji almost instantly flashed through his mind the possible reasons why the emperor wanted to send Cao Guogong Li Jinglong as an envoy to Japan.

From the perspective of status, Cao Guogong is respected as the head of hundreds of officials, and is suitable to go to Japan on behalf of the Ming Dynasty, which fully reflects the importance and anger of the Ming Dynasty; from the perspective of candidates, Cao Guogong is tall, with sparse features, handsome, elegant, and elegant. He was born to be a good messenger, and he would definitely be able to make these barbarians stunned for a while. In his heart, he was darker. The emperor didn't like Cao Guogong and it was difficult to kill him. He might be able to kill him with the help of the Japanese shogun.

But among all the reasons, one suddenly emerged.

——Cao Guogong is Jiang Xinghuo’s student.

It is precisely because of this that Cao Guogong Li Jinglong can better understand Zhu Di's purpose of sending him as an envoy to Japan.

And this is undoubtedly an important opportunity for Li Jinglong to change his status in the emperor's heart.

After all, it was no secret that the emperor disliked Li Jinglong. It was just that from the top of the mountain, Li Jinglong was known as the first of the second generation of Huaixi founders. In addition, he had made great contributions to the opening of the city, so he couldn't just take action directly.

And if Li Jinglong can show his value in diplomacy and his trip to Japan satisfies the emperor, maybe Li Jinglong will do this kind of work in the future.

After all, if you want to represent the Ming Dynasty as an ambassador abroad, you must meet the following conditions: noble status, graceful temperament, knowledgeable, eloquent, young and in good health, and not regretful if you die. The best candidate can just give Li Jinglong's name.

Xia Yuanji's mind was spinning with thoughts, but he was not slow to answer.

"Your Majesty is too talkative. Your Majesty should have discussed this matter with Li Zhigang, the Minister of Rites. However, Your Majesty has questions, and I must answer them."

"I believe that Cao Guogong is an extremely suitable candidate to serve as the official envoy of the mission to Japan."

Zhu Di continued to ask: "Why?"

"Because he understands what His Majesty means."

Zhu Di nodded without saying a word.

This is also the most important reason why Zhu Di appointed Li Jinglong. If Li Jinglong had not listened to Jiang Xinghuo's lectures, Zhu Di would have given Li Jinglong a chance to be the top official for a year or two based on his attitude towards Li Jinglong. It doesn't matter if Li Jinglong doesn't make mistakes himself, just find someone in Cao Guogong's mansion who makes mistakes passively or actively.

It's not necessary to kill the nine tribes, but it is indispensable to be imprisoned for a lifetime.

Zhu Di made a decision, Jin Youzi wrote it immediately, and immediately drafted an edict appointing Cao Guogong Li Jinglong as the envoy of the Japanese mission. Zhu Di then stamped the seal with his own hands, officially taking effect.

"Third brother, send it to Zhao Prison early tomorrow morning." Zhu Di ordered calmly.

The third prince Zhu Gaosui bowed to accept the order and immediately retreated.

In the Nuan Pavilion of the dormitory, only Zhu Di, Jin Youzi, and Xia Yuanji were left.

Xia Yuanji's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Zhu Di's true purpose of summoning him tonight was coming.

"Xia Qing, in the past two days since I came back, I heard that the 'Ming Dynasty National Debt' incident has caused quite a stir among the government and the public. Tell me what you know."

"Reply to Your Majesty," Xia Yuanji said carefully, "As the head of the Household Department, I have also heard what some colleagues and subordinates have reported to me."

Zhu Di sat down and waited.

"It's not exactly what was expected. As soon as the news about the Ming Dynasty National Debt came out, the first reaction of the government and the public was, 'Is the Ministry of Finance out of money?'"

Xia Yuanji really didn't know whether to laugh or cry this time. He continued: "Jian Tianguan also specifically told me that if the Ministry of Revenue is really out of money, some of the money from the Ministry of Personnel this year can be postponed for a while, and don't borrow money from people all over the world. If the money is not returned, it will hurt people’s hearts.”

The so-called "Jian Tianguan" refers to Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Affairs.

Jian Yi was a Jinshi in the eighteenth year of Hongwu. If Cao Guogong Li Jinglong is the nominal head of the hundred officials, and Qi Guogong Qiu Fu is the head of the military officials, then Jian Yi and Jian Shangshu, who are highly qualified, are the head of the civil officials.

Jian Yi was well-versed in allusions, had deep qualifications, and had outstanding prestige. Now that the Ministry of Civil Affairs was decided and ranked first among the six ministries, even if military and state affairs did not fall under the authority of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the emperor and the eldest prince still had to rely on him to handle them.

As for the young talents in the cabinet, they are still wearing green robes and green robes. In the eyes of the temple bosses, they are still the kind of subordinates who are close to the emperor.

Those who truly spoke on behalf of the civil servants were Jian Yi and other senior ministers and ministers, among whom Jian Yi was especially respected.

Because of this, when Zhu Di first ascended the throne, the courtiers rushed to propose the abolition of Jianwen's New Deal in order to take sides. However, only Jian Yi dared to say: "Profits and losses are important at the right time." Those who made changes in the past were definitely inappropriate, and those who are trying to restore it now are not doing it properly.' He also gave a few examples of the new policies that were not without merit. Not only did Zhu Di not get angry, but he followed Jian Yi's advice and slowly worked on it.

"Jian Shangshu has a lot to worry about."

Zhu Di said something cool and nonchalant, and then asked again: "As for the fertilizer elixir, I have done everything possible to ensure that the demonstration will not go wrong."

Xia Yuanji nodded subconsciously. This was no problem and it was a sure thing.

However, Zhu Di's next words made Xia Yuanji almost lose his temper.

"When we go to the Great Sacrificial Altar tomorrow, shouldn't all officials gather at Hongwu Gate in the palace city and then set off from Zhengyang Gate in the south? What I mean is that Xia Qing will make an announcement at that time and let all officials actively subscribe for one. The upcoming 'Ming Dynasty National Bonds' will be issued to set an example for the world."

Why do you ask me to do this kind of thing that offends the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty?

This matter should have been made by the emperor himself, or the eldest prince should have made the proposal through entrustment. In this way, since it was a request from the imperial power, the civil and military officials would not say anything and could only hold their noses and admit it.

Just think of it as a little less salary this month.

But if a minister comes to propose it, of course Chen Ying, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, can do it. Everyone knows that he is the eagle of Emperor Yongle. What does it mean that he, the Minister of Household Affairs, comes to propose it?

It must be understood that the relationship between the civil servant group and the emperor is extremely complicated. They must cooperate and oppose each other. The fundamental interests of both parties have something in common but are not exactly the same. When it is time to safeguard the interests of their own group, all civil servants will not do anything. Make decisions with hesitation.

Unless you are like Chen Ying who is determined to be a lonely official and a cruel official, then you are cutting yourself off from the entire civil service group!

The consequence of cutting yourself off from the entire civil service group is that all your social relationships, including parents, relatives, teachers, classmates, colleagues, students, and subordinates, will completely part ways with you. The only way to climb up according to the emperor's will is you. I can walk by myself.

No matter how big an official you are, your reputation in official circles and scholars is extremely stinky and everyone avoids you.

In other words, social death.

And even if you make this determination to cut yourself off from the entire civil service group, the future of this road is generally not very bright.

Because this kind of person is what the emperor uses as a rag. When it is useful, he uses it to wipe things he doesn't like. When it is not useful, he just throws it into the trash without giving it a second look.

Have you not seen how Zhou Xing, a cruel official in the Wu Zhou Dynasty, was abandoned by Wu Zetian like a pair of shoes and then "invited you to the urn" by himself?

Did the emperor want to harm him?

Xia Yuanji was shocked and confused, but there was a clear look of panic on his face, and he quickly said: "Your Majesty, I am not powerful enough to do this. If I come to propose, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public!"

This matter is too sensational. If Xia Yuanji really does what the emperor said, not only will he become the laughing stock of the world and be recorded in the annals of history as a "fool", and his reputation will be infamous from now on, he may also affect the whole family.

After all, although the Ming Dynasty national debt sounds very tempting, it is not easy to operate in practice. The attitude of civil and military officials towards this kind of thing is - you can sell it to the people from the Ministry of Revenue, but don't take the money from me.

If the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes depreciate, they will still be valuable and can be exchanged for copper coins. If you give me a Ming Dynasty national bond and take away the valuable banknotes in my hand, won’t I lose a lot?

Who in the world doesn't know that the Battle of Jingnan has emptied the national treasury? Isn't it that your Ministry of Revenue is trying to find ways to prostitute us for nothing? The Ming Dynasty's national debt has been agreed to be charged with interest, but who knows if you will default on it.

In short, Xia Yuanji was really reluctant and unwilling to offend all the civil and military officials at once.

Zhu Di seemed to have been prepared for it, and continued: "Xia Qing does not need to be modest. Xia Qing has served in the Ministry of Revenue for so many years, and his grasp of the way of running the country is much better than anyone else. Besides, this is what the Ministry of Revenue will do next. The key thing to do, I believe that with your talents, you can definitely do it well and make the Ming Dynasty National Debt truly popular in the world!"

This time it was Xia Yuanji who was dumbfounded. What did Zhu Di mean by this?

Do I have to do it whether I want to or not?

"Your Majesty, how can this be done?"

"What's wrong? I'm very optimistic about you, so just go ahead and do whatever you want!"

"His Majesty."

Xia Yuanji kept pushing away, but Zhu Di waved his hand, looking a little impatient.

"I'll leave this matter to you to announce. As for the specific plan, you and Chi'er can discuss it later. You both have a cautious temperament and should know what to do!"

Xia Yuanji suddenly felt his scalp numb. This was because he didn't want to make himself feel better!

Do I really want to completely succumb to the emperor's will in front of all the civil and military officials, playing the role of a jester who offends all his colleagues?

It should be noted that since the Tang and Song Dynasties, the six ministers who entered Nanya were rarely the emperor's yes-men. Although there was no Nanya in the Ming Dynasty, the six ministers divided the power of the world and still upheld this temple custom.

This is some kind of historical inheritance of the civil service group.

Xia Yuanji lamented in his heart that the emperor was too domineering.

"Why, does Xia Qing have any objections?"

"I obey the decree!"

Xia Yuanji gritted his teeth, cupped his hands and answered.

Zhu Di smiled and said, "In that case, Xia Qing should go back and rest early. I will be waiting for your good news tomorrow."

"I resign!"

Watching Xia Yuanji leave the palace, Jin Youzi, who had been standing silently behind Zhu Di, suddenly laughed.

"Your Majesty's clever plan, in this way, you can successfully deceive all the officials tomorrow."

Zhu Di continued to review the memorial and said without raising his head: "It's just a hardship for Xia Shangshu. He is really a prudent person for the country, and he endured such an errand."

The third prince Zhu Gaosui happened to come in at this time and was a little stunned after hearing the conversation between the two.

The officials were deceived?

What's the meaning?