Bright Spring

Only one day later, Zhu Gaoxu received a memorial from Xia Yuanji, Shangshu of the Ministry of Household Affairs; in it, he was quite critical of the unrestrained large-scale rewards and continued payment of military salaries to hundreds of thousands of troops in Beijing.

Because these things will increase the financial burden for a long time, in the long run, the income and expenditure of the household department may be unsustainable.

But Zhu Gaoxu only approved four words: increase income and reduce expenditure.What he meant was to save money, and to save it elsewhere.When Zhu Gaoxu set the reign title as "Wu De", he never planned to reduce military expenditures!

And the most critical point, Zhu Gaoxu felt that there were still many old people in the court, and he hadn't thought about purging|cleaning them up for the time being; so he had to support the direct line forces of the Han Palace to occupy an absolute advantage in the court!

Maybe sometimes killing people is the simplest and most direct solution, but Zhu Gaoxu doesn't want to spread too much.The matter of the father's death is there, so I have to take it as a warning.

The second person who was a little dissatisfied was Qiu Fu, Duke of Qi.

Qiu Fu said that the Mongolian tribes harassed the border and the Wuliangha tribe betrayed the imperial court. They had to be ignored, and they must send troops to the Northern Expedition to punish the rebellion, so as to demonstrate the prestige of the Ming Dynasty!And this autumn, the north may still harass the border, and the Ming government and army should take the initiative to attack as soon as possible!Qiu Fu then recommended himself to invite Yingying to the Northern Expedition.

Zhu Gaoxu read Qiu Fu's memorial three times in a row, and he murmured: "Duke Qi is over 60 years old, and he is still very competitive."

The eunuch Wang Gui next to him echoed, "Your Highness is right."

Zhu Gaoxu glanced sideways at Wang Gui, stretched out his hand to stroke his broad forehead, and thought for a while.He quite understood Qiu Fu's thoughts...

Qiu Fu saw that so many people had been made Dukes of the state and were almost equal to him, so he probably was not convinced by these "junior generations".But Qiu Fu should also understand that in Zhu Gaoxu's battle for the throne, those newly promoted princes are fighting bloody battles; while Qiu Fu has hardly done anything, and has no military merits!So he can't say anything.

So Qiu Fu wanted to ask for an order to lead troops in the Northern Expedition, and to clarify his seniority and status through military exploits!

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while, and planned to keep Qiu Fu's memorial.

It is impossible for Zhu Gaoxu to make hasty decisions on these major matters in order to satisfy Qiu Fu.It seems that most people in the world are too easy to stand on their own standpoint, to think about things, at least they will be affected; how many people are completely focused on big things?Zhu Gaoxu didn't bother to care about it either.

Right now in front of Zhu Gaoxu, there are two major events left behind: one is Mongolia, and the other is Annan.The problems in these two places are very difficult!Among them, the Mongolian issue has been worked hard by the court since the Hongwu period, but it has not been resolved so far; and the Annan Kingdom, which was not completely resolved during the Taizong period, seems to be a little easier than Mongolian.

Zhu Gaoxu also felt that these remaining issues were not that simple, and had to be considered in the long run.

...Zhang Sheng, the commander of Jinyiwei who was named "Marquis of Loyalty", failed to catch up with the banquet given by Fengtian Temple.It took him a few days before he returned to Beijing quietly, escorting a key person: Xiao Jien.

Xiao Jien was immediately sent to the heavily guarded imperial prison inside Hongwumen!

He was still wearing a long robe, but the hat was missing, and there were no traces of being tortured, so he looked very raw.But his hands and feet were in chains.

Xiao Jien walked slowly through a row of cells, and then passed several individual cells inside.

In one of the cells, the eunuch Wang Gou'er, who had been sitting on the wooden board in a daze, suddenly regained his energy. He struggled to stand up, walked to the small door where the food was delivered, and stared at Xiao Ji'en there.

Xiao Jien also looked sideways at Wang Gou'er, and the two stared at each other silently for a long time.Zhang Sheng shook Xiao Jien, and Xiao Jien turned his head back.

Zhang Sheng locked Xiao Jien into the innermost cell without even a window, made him sit next to a pillar, tied him up, and gagged him!Zhang Sheng appointed a few jailers to guard him in turn, and the guards were not allowed to talk to Xiao Jien.

Then Zhang Sheng took Xiao Jien's confession and hurriedly sent him to the palace himself.

At this time Zhu Gaoxu was not at the imperial gate, but in the East Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.He was talking to eunuch Wang Gui about Yao Fang's private affairs.

By the time Zhang Sheng was allowed to enter Dongnuange, Wang Gui had almost finished his narration.

Zhu Gaoxu stopped talking, sat silently on the chair in front of the map, and carefully read Xiao Jien's confession...

After a long time, Zhu Gaoxu raised his head and sighed, put his palm on the stack of confessions and clapped twice.Both Zhang Sheng and Wang Gui bowed and stood beside them, not daring to take the initiative to say anything.

Zhu Gaoxu's sigh was both emotional and relieved.The thorn in his throat, the thorn in his side, seemed to be finally removed!In an instant, he felt that his body was a little lighter!

He sat for a while with a thoughtful look, then suddenly raised his head and said, "I know some things about the old Yan Palace. The eunuch Wang Gou'er spent a very long time in Yan Palace. Prince Wen (Zhu Biao) has not passed away; there is no need for the royal family in the capital to put such a person next to the late emperor. (Emperor Taizu didn't like eunuchs very much and forbade eunuchs to intervene in politics, let alone use eunuchs to do such secret things.)

Therefore, I still have two questions: First, why is Wang Gouer a spy of the Jianwen Dynasty?Second, Wang Gou'er has been favored, so why did he insist on murdering the late emperor instead of finding a way to kill Xiao Ji'en to silence him?The latter is much simpler to do, with fewer risks and greater benefits. "

After hearing this, Zhang Sheng cupped his hands and said: "The Holy One is wise and discerning! I ordered to torture Xiao Jien on the spot at Xiao's house in Jiangxi Province. At that time, I was a little hasty and didn't have time to think about such things."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Marquis Zhongzhen, you have done a good job in this matter."

When Zhang Sheng heard the address, his eyes seemed a little unaccustomed, and his face turned red.Zhu Gaoxu doesn't even need to guess... Zhang Sheng must have been very pleasantly surprised that he was able to become a Marquis. How could it be so easy to be a Marquis during the Taizu Taizong period?

"My Majesty, Wang Gou'er is still in prison and Xiao Ji'en has been arrested. At this time, Wang Gou'er may confess the truth." Zhang Sheng said, "I will go to interrogate Wang Gou'er immediately, and report to the Holy Majesty within three days. Report, never dare to slack off."

Zhu Gaoxu has always attached great importance to this matter.After some weighing, he said, "I will personally go to the prison and ask Wang Gou'er face-to-face... I will go there after the yamen are on duty in Youshi. Marquis Zhongzhen will make arrangements."

Zhang Sheng hurriedly said: "I obey the order!"

The Imperial Prison is in the imperial city, but Zhu Gaoxu passed through the palace and found Meridian Gate, Duanmen Gate and Chengtian Gate.In the evening, he went out in light clothes; he didn't bring eunuchs and maids with him, but only a group of Jinyi guards from the Meridian Gate.These people used to be members of the Northern Division of the Shouyu Mansion, and they were only recently assigned to serve in the Jinyiwei.

In the building complex of Imperial Prison, in addition to the various prison cells, there is also the government office set up by the Fusi of Jinyiwei North Town.Zhu Gaoxu didn't go into the cell himself, but waited in a government office, and asked the soldiers of the Jin Yiwei to escort Wang Gou'er up.

Zhu Gaoxu sat down behind a desk, and after waiting for a while, there was movement outside.

In the evening, the officials everywhere on the Thousand Step Corridor were on duty, the light gradually dimmed, and the imperial city was very quiet.At this moment, the sound of "cracking" chains outside the room became very clear and heavy.

After a while, the door was opened, and Zhang Sheng walked in with Wang Gou'er.

Zhu Gaoxu's gaze stayed on Wang Gou'er, and he saw that he was wearing a dirty prison uniform, his hair was like dry grass, there were scars and wounds on his face, neck and wrists, and he was too emaciated to look like a human being.

"Eunuch Wang, you've lost weight." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Wang Gou'er's eyes were ashen and ashen, like a blind man. At this moment, his eyes moved a little, and he raised his head to look at Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Zhang Sheng stayed to make a statement." Zhang Sheng clasped his fists and said, "I obey the order...all of you stand guard outside the door, twenty steps away."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the door that hadn't been closed, and pondered: "The day is coming to an end, so there should be a complete end to that past?"

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Chapter 627 Frozen Eyes

The eunuch Wang Gou'er's face was very haggard. He dragged the iron chain and stood hunched over. He didn't answer Zhu Gaoxu's words for a long time.He raised his head and looked at the sky outside the west window.

The sun has set, but the last rays of light still remain in the western sky.Wang Gou'er looked at the smear of orange on the edge of the black cloud, and his eyes gradually became vivid.

I don't know if he hasn't seen the sky for a long time, or he is still nostalgic for the scenery of the world, Wang Gou'er is very engrossed in watching it.

Zhu Gaoxu observed the expression on his dirty face, and didn't care about Wang Gou'er's rudeness in not answering the emperor's words.After a while, Zhu Gaoxu also turned his head curiously, admiring the remnant cloud in the direction Wang Gouer was looking at.

It was supposed to be a trial|judgment of crimes, but for some reason, Zhu Gaoxu clearly felt a little sad.

"If people in the world were not afraid of death at all, there would be no way to govern this world." He said casually.

Wang Gou'er turned his head, and finally said in a hoarse voice: "My servant, tell the Holy One the truth, can the Holy One make this servant feel better?"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded slowly and solemnly, and said very smoothly: "I have always been very trustworthy."

Wang Gou'er bent his waist down again: "The Holy One is benevolent."

His voice was not loud, and he felt weak. After saying those four words, he was silent for a long time...

A dark sky gradually appeared in front of Wang Gou'er's eyes.The light on the earth and in the sky, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is the embers of the fire or the sunset.He seemed to hear the slight crackling sound of the wood burning.