Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

The next morning,

The mist is white.

The officials who had been notified in advance that they would participate in the sacrifice today arrived outside the Hongwu Gate of the palace city either in carriages, sedan chairs, or on horseback.

Xia Yuanji, who came to participate in the "fertilizer elixir" demonstration with a heroic determination to take the blame, went back to the household department last night to make an explanation, and then returned home. Not long after sleeping, he was called up by his family to attend the morning court. Therefore, although I arrived early, I was somewhat late compared to my colleagues who did not work overtime.

In the carriage hung with gold and silver embroidered ribbons, Xia Yuanji wiped the corners of his eyes with the hot towel handed over by the servant, sobered up slightly, and then straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror.

According to the regulations of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang who established the system of the Ming Dynasty for thousands of generations.

The ministers' sacrificial robes, court robes, official robes, crown robes, and ordinary robes are all different. Originally, the imperial robes were supposed to be worn at the court meeting, but today the emperor is going to the large altar to offer sacrifices, so I specially inform everyone that you can wear sacrificial robes when you come. After simply holding the court meeting, you can leave the palace city, go south through Hongwu Gate, go out along Zhengyang Gate, and then go east to the large sacrificial altar not far away. The officials do not need to change their clothes.

Xia Yuanji looked at his soap-collared green clothes and red clothes and sighed.

"I won't need these clothes anymore."

The old servant beside him was so frightened that he remained silent.

With a certain attitude of looking forward to death, Xia Yuanji held the written memorial in his arms requesting to become an official. He planned to resign after taking the blame, so as not to be impeached and step down, which would be even more dishonorable.

What this means is that asking hundreds of officials to donate money can actually be regarded as a stain on Xia Yuanji's resume in the temple. It is not possible that he will immediately offend hundreds of officials just because of this non-fatal matter. There is no way to go on.

But Xia Yuanji really felt that if this started and he was alienated from his colleagues and subordinates, many things in the future would be really difficult to do.

Because the bureaucracy, especially the Ministry of Household Affairs, inherently requires a certain degree of independence. If all the officials think that the person in charge of money is the emperor’s yes-man, the work between him and other ministries will add a lot of things that should not exist. Obstacles will make it increasingly difficult for him to continue.

Hard to understand?

In other words, in a company with a long history, you were originally the chief financial officer (Hebu Langzhong), and the entire company has been doing well under the hard work of successive general managers (prime ministers). One day, the company was replaced by a new chairman. (Zhu Yuanzhang) acquired it, and the chairman himself concurrently served as general manager.

Under the appreciation of the chairman, you were promoted to deputy financial director (Secretary of Household Affairs). After the death of the chairman, the uncle and nephew who owned the equity had some unpleasantness. The final result was that the fourth uncle became the chairman and concurrently General Manager, and promote you to the position of Financial Director (Minister of Household Affairs).

The fourth uncle's business ability is slightly inferior to that of the previous chairman, so he established the Board of Directors Office (Cabinet) as a secretarial agency, but this is okay. According to the company's historical heritage, the various departments include Human Resources (Personnel Department), Regulations (Etiquette Department), and Discipline Inspection (Inspectorate), Finance (Ministry of Accounts), etc., all manage their own affairs. As independent mountaintops, while having their own different interests, they also report to each other to jointly fight against the chairman (emperor). Unreasonable request.

This common unity cannot be destroyed.

Anyone who sabotages it will cause the chairman to take advantage of the situation and take away the exclusive rights of each department. This power has nothing to do with who is the boss of the department. If the chairman changes several department bosses, the new bosses who emerge within the department will not matter. Will allow one's authority to be taken away, this is the butt deciding the head.

The role that Xia Yuanji, the new financial director, will play today is to uphold the chairman's wishes and propose in his own name that everyone voluntarily "donate" part of their salary to the company.

What is this if not a traitor?

What is this if not a scab?

If you dare to do such a thing that betrays the interests of the group, who will treat you as one of their own?

From now on, if this is a business-to-business matter, everyone will wonder whether you have been secretly instructed by the chairman to do something small that harms everyone's interests?

Xia Yuanji saw this, but for the safety of his family, he did not dare to disobey Zhu Di who was about to raise the butcher's knife, so Xia Yuanji planned to take the blame and quit.

However, the matter was more serious than Xia Yuanji imagined.

When Xia Yuanji stepped out of the carriage, what greeted him was not the usual compliments and greetings from his colleagues, but colleagues who avoided him, hung their heads in shock, and looked around as if they had seen some savage beast.

broken!

The news leaked out in advance!

As an old bureaucrat who had been involved in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty and came from the Hongwu era, Xia Yuanji judged the reason almost instantly.

There were only three people in the palace at that time. Who else could have leaked the news?

Jin Youzi?

Without the emperor's nod, would he dare?

At this moment, Xia Yuanji was inexplicably sad and angry.

The Sacred Heart is truly unpredictable!

He had obviously agreed to take the blame for taking money out of everyone's pockets, so why didn't the emperor even give him any room?

The cunning rabbit is not dead yet, and he is in a hurry to boil water and set up a pot to cook the lackey.

Shivering and cold.

Can this Daming temple be restored?

What on earth should I do to satisfy the emperor?

Obviously a few days ago, when I was listening to Mr. Jiang's lecture, he said, "I can rest assured that Xia Qing is doing things."

As soon as he turned his head, he abandoned me like a worn-out shoe.

I can't wait to let me take the blame and get out.

Otherwise, why leak the news in advance?

Amid the low-pitched pointings from his colleagues, Xia Yuanji, who was heartbroken, walked towards Hongwu Gate on foot, his steps slow and his back extremely desolate.

Xia Yuanji didn't even have the courage to defend himself, because he knew that it was useless to say anything now.

If the king wants his minister to die, he must die.

At this moment, suddenly a red-robed official without sacrificial robes blocked Xia Yuanji's way with an ivory wat board under his arm.

The red-robed official had a stern demeanor and a powerful look in his brows. When he saw this person coming out to block his way, Xia Yuanji's face suddenly turned ugly.

"Weizhe, why is this happening?"

The man said calmly. Although his tone was soft, it gave people a strong sense of oppression.

Hearing what the other party said, Xia Yuanji's face became even more ugly, but in the end he still forced out a smile and said with a bitter smile: "Brother Yi, you should know what I know."

The red-robed official in front of him was Jian Yi, Jian Yi, who was the most respected among the six ministers and the most respected of the six civil servants.

"As an official, there are certain things you can do and things you should not do."

The confrontation between the two senior ministers attracted the attention of countless officials outside the Hongwu Gate. They were all secretly guessing, because this time Xia Shangshu reportedly proposed that hundreds of officials donate their salaries to subscribe for the "Ming Dynasty National Debt", what would happen to the two ministers? Earth-shattering controversy?

Contrary to what many officials speculated, the exchanges between the two were not full of gunpowder.

Jian Yi sighed slightly and said, "Weizhe, you are a smart man. You should understand the principle of retreating bravely from the rapids."

Having said this, what else does Xia Yuanji have to say?

"Brother Yi, I have my own difficulties."

Xia Yuanji gritted his teeth, bowed heavily to Jian Yi and said, "After I leave, I hope brother Yi can do his best."

After saying that, Xia Yuanji slowly turned around and continued walking forward, leaving Jian Yi looking down at the content recorded on his ivory tablet.

When Jian Yi raised his head again, he found that Xia Yuanji had disappeared into Hongwu Gate.

Looking at the direction the other party was leaving, Jian Yi held the wat board tightly, his eyes revealing a strong sense of sadness and resentment.

At this time, Li Zhigang, the Minister of Rites next to him, came up to him and whispered to him: "Mr. Jian, the officials below are talking a lot. If your Majesty is using the "Ming Dynasty National Debt" to deduct the salary of hundreds of officials, Xia Shangshu also helped this. Not to mention that the high-ranking officials have to worry about supporting a family, the low-ranking officials in the capital may not even be able to pay back the interest on the loan they owe next month."

Jian Yi nodded. Li Zhigang, the Minister of Rites, was right. He knew the living standards of the officials in Nanjing.

According to the salary set by Emperor Gao, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, he could only wait to starve to death.

But even if officials have some income that is not completely compliant, in fact, officials in the capital are still limited, especially the poor Hanlins in Qingshui Yamen such as the Hanlin Academy, who have to take loans to work.

Therefore, Xia Yuanji’s proposal this time to force all officials to contribute their salaries to subscribe for the ‘Ming Dynasty National Debt’ really offended the public.

"This kind of thing...Xia Shangshu may have no choice..."

Li Zhigang shook his head and left, and Jian Yi also sighed inaudibly.

For Xia Yuanji, yesterday he was still the popular Ming Dynasty God of Wealth.

And starting from today, if he does not take the initiative to become an official, what awaits him will not be the infinite glory after the emperor's appreciation, but a disaster!

Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing one's parents.

Those admonishing officials and censors who have had their salaries deducted, don't care whether it was for any reason, forced or active, they only know that they will be complained by their mother-in-law when they go home!

For Xia Yuanji, a man who has cut off the wealth of hundreds of officials.

If you are not decent, there will always be someone to help you be decent.

Once this matter spreads, Xia Yuanji will become a laughing stock in the entire Ming Dynasty, whether in the central or local areas!

And not only that, after the news that Xia Yuanji "proposed that hundreds of officials donate their salaries to subscribe for the 'Ming Dynasty National Debt'" spread throughout the Hongwu Sect, more and more officials paid attention to this matter.

Because this has seriously affected their vital interests.

Don't say that this was said by Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs. Even if it was said by the emperor, they still had to ask for an explanation!

As the Hongwu Gate opened, these officials gathered next to the Hubu duty room to watch the excitement. There was a dense flow of people and darkness, and the Hubu duty room was completely surrounded.

As mentioned before, the imperial road between Hongwu Gate and Chengtian Gate crosses the Waiyu River crossed by the 'Wai Wulong Bridge'. This part belongs to the "Imperial City" rather than the "palace city".

On the east side of this road are the duty rooms of the Sixth Department, Hanlin Academy and other departments.

It was still a while before the Great Court Meeting, so they just entered the Hongwu Gate and continued to wait. The Great Court Meeting would not begin until the Chengtian Gate opened at that time.

Regarding this matter, officials were talking a lot and exchanging information spread through various gossips. Everyone had different opinions on this matter, but one thing was beyond doubt.

——Resentment towards Xia Yuanji.

"I didn't expect that Xia Shangshu, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also become a traitor among the civil servants!"

"What exactly does Xia Yuanji want to do? Does he want to follow Chen Ying and become a cruel official until death?"

"What's the 'Ming Dynasty National Debt'? I think he must be trying to embezzle a huge sum of money from it!"

"No! Think about it, even if he is dismissed, no one will dare to take his place!"

"You are all blind! Who doesn't know that his family has thousands of acres of fertile land? Do you think he will be short of money?"

"Who thinks there's too much money? How do you explain this?"

Everyone was arguing.

Only a weak voice said: "If I let that tigress in my family know that she won't have her salary next month, I'm afraid she will tear me to pieces."

No one paid attention to him. What man outside could say that he was afraid of his mother-in-law?

Suddenly someone asked: "Can we impeach him first?"

This question overwhelmed everyone for a while, because Ming law stipulates that if an official is impeached, he must avoid it.

In other words, if the imperial censors impeached Xia Yuanji at the beginning of the meeting, Xia Yuanji would have to avoid it, and he would not be able to propose that he let the emperor deduct the salaries of hundreds of officials as the first batch of people to subscribe to the "Ming Dynasty National Debt" suggestion.

Otherwise, if Xia Yuanji forcibly refused to recuse himself when being impeached, he would be violating the ancestral precepts of the Emperor Ming Dynasty, and would be regarded as a crime of deceiving the emperor, and would be beheading the nine clans.

This is a fact, but can it be done?

A censor from the Supervisory Council pondered and replied: "As far as I know, according to the regulations, it should be feasible."

"That's right! I heard that his family has thousands of acres of fertile land. Without a month's salary, he can have enough to eat, but we poor people can't take the blame!"

"That's right! Colleagues, tell me, is there such a truth in the world?"

"This Xia Yuanji is really a treacherous villain. Just because he is favored by His Majesty, he acts recklessly and recklessly. He is simply audacious!"

"That's right! If a colleague hadn't happened to reveal it today, we might have been kept in the dark forever."

"That's it! If we don't know in advance, when Xia Yuanji suddenly attacks, and he can't react, he will be forcibly passed like last time, the big guy will be the one who suffers the loss!"

All the bustle in the world is for benefit, and all the hustle and bustle in the world is for benefit.

Xia Yuanji hid in the duty room of the Department of Revenue, suffering through this difficult time. He looked out the window blankly, and the chattering sounds floated in.

This means that even the censor who is monitoring the conduct may have participated in the denunciation of himself.

From today on, he is no longer the Ming God of Wealth that everyone pleases, but a traitor who has betrayed the interests of the entire civil servant group.

Even though he couldn't hear it clearly, the words that made veins on his forehead still completely messed up Xia Yuanji's heart.

No colleague, no matter how good they were with each other in the past, dared to enter the duty room of the household department to visit him at this time.

Just when Xia Yuanji clutched the memorial in his arms and completely resigned to his fate.

"Creak" sound.

The door was pushed open.

The visitor was a low-ranking green-robed official.

——Jin Youzi.

After meeting this man and being stabbed in the back by him, Xia Yuanji almost couldn't hold back his anger that had accumulated to the limit, and he blurted out sarcastic words.

But when the words came to his lips, he was forced to press them down.

Revealing the news was certainly not Jin Youzi’s own intention, but the emperor’s.

It doesn't matter if you offend hundreds of officials and get squeezed out, just be smarter and go back to your hometown to farm.

But if he offended his colleagues and the emperor, he would not even have the chance to go back to his hometown to farm.

Forbearance is a knife in the heart!

I will endure!

Jin Youzi flicked his clothes, lifted up the hem of his official robe, sat on the check-in chair, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Xia Yuanji suppressed his anger, looked at the other party calmly, and said.

"I wonder why you are here at this time?"

To be honest, he was ready to be humiliated by the person in front of him.

But Jin Youzi did not do this. Instead, he bowed respectfully and said: "Today, I came here specifically to tell Xia Shangshu on His Majesty's order that when the court meets later, he must clearly inform the officials and the household department that they have no money."

Xia Yuanji's expression suddenly changed: "What do you mean?"

Jin Youzi shook his head and said nothing.

Immediately, he stood up and took a step closer to Xia Yuanji.

His eyes fell on Xia Yuanji's face full of doubts and wariness.

Jin Youzi spoke slowly.

"Xia Shangshu should be very confused as to why His Majesty would do this and why he would create such a negative public opinion out of thin air for the Ming Dynasty's national debt."

Xia Yuanji didn't speak, but he already expressed what he meant without speaking.

"Build the plank road openly and visit the warehouse secretly."

After saying these eight words, Jin Youzi stood up and left directly.

Behind him, Xia Yuanji was sitting on a chair, unable to recover for a long time.

After a long time.

Xia Yuanji's eyes shone brightly.

This isn't about burning bridges, it's about killing people.

The emperor sent Jin Youzi to tell him, just to make himself clear that he had not been abandoned by the emperor, and the proposal he had to submit today would not be successful. All of this was planned by the emperor.

Next, it depends on whether his performance as the beaten Huang Gai is really unreal, and whether he can cooperate with the emperor, deceive all the smart people, and achieve the emperor's true purpose.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of drums woke up Xia Yuanji from deep thought.

Unknowingly, it was time for the imperial meeting, and the Han generals were already beating the big cowhide drums.

As soon as the drums were played, hundreds of officials lined up outside the Meridian Gate according to their official ranks.

Two drums were played, and hundreds of officials filed in from the left and right gates, lined up on the east and west sides of Danqi, facing north.

There are three drums, Zhu Di wears a gong crown and ascends to the throne in the Huagai Hall, and the sound of the bells gradually stops.

Zhu Di calmly looked at Xia Yuanji in the front row of the official queue.

Even though he couldn't see clearly, Zhu Di could still feel the resentful looks of everyone, which really made Xia Yuan Jirumang feel uncomfortable behind his back.

The curtain rises, and here comes what follows.

Concealing the truth.