Domineering Daming

Chapter 945 The Beginning

Up and down the capital, every square, every street, every temple, every temple, is getting more and more lively, noisy, and the rolling New Year's atmosphere dispels the bleak winter.

Although fireworks and firecrackers are not allowed in the palace, it is quite lively with people coming and going, bright red everywhere, beaming and steaming.

In the Palace of Mercy Ning, the old concubine, Empress Dowager Zhang, Xiao Yongning, Zhu Xu, Li Jieyu, Hai Lanzhu, and two children gathered around a large table. The hot pot was placed in the center, gurgling and bubbling with waves of heat.

"Come on, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the emperor will be with all the ministers and officials, and our family will pass today..." The old concubine sat next to Zhu Xu, her face was flushed, and she laughed loudly.

Empress Dowager Zhang, Li Jieyu and others all laughed and echoed. After a few words of blessing, they moved their chopsticks together.

Everyone was a little less reserved than usual, talking, laughing, and making noise.

Zhu Xu sat there with a somewhat dazed expression. Another year passed, and Xiao Yongning was ten years old.

Empress Dowager Zhang and others were very happy. They were chatting and laughing with the old concubine, Li Jieyu.

After the wine was half drunk, the old concubine took Zhu Xu's hand and patted it vigorously: "Your Majesty, the old lady is happy today, and I will tell you about the Emperor Shenzong back then..."

Zhu Xu grinned, but didn't dare to let her say that the harem of Shenzong is not as clean as Tianqi. Before Zhu Xu could stop her, the old concubine laughed and said, "The Emperor Shenzong's martial arts and martial arts are all in pursuit of Taizu Taizong. Southeast , North Korea, Japanese pirates, invincible, invincible..."

Zhu Xu hurriedly responded with a smile. Although the old concubine drank a little, she was still sober, she didn't say anything, and she still had sense.

Empress Dowager Zhang, Li Jieyu and others listened quietly. What the old concubine said was the truth. Although Emperor Wanli was capricious, the national power of the Ming Dynasty was indeed much stronger after Zhang Juzheng's reform. The Japanese pirates on the southeast coast, and the Ming Dynasty all performed well, that is to say, the consumption of national power was almost the same after that, which gave the Liaodong slaves an opportunity to take advantage of.

Naturally, these old concubines would not mention it too much, they said that it was all the great achievements of Emperor Wanli.

The old concubine talked for a long while, she seemed to be a little out of spirits, she still patted the back of Zhu Xu's hand, and said: "The emperor has the mind and strategy of Emperor Shenzong, and also has Zhang Juzheng's determination to innovate, it is a great blessing to me..."

Empress Dowager Zhang, Li Jieyu and others all agreed, not to flatter Zhu Xu, but to echo the old concubine.

After a long while, the old concubine couldn't bear it anymore when she was full of wine and food. Empress Dowager Zhang and others hurriedly sent her back to Renshou Palace.

Zhu Xu also left the Compassionate Ning Palace, returned to the Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, lay reclined on the soft bed, and let out a long breath.

He drank some wine, somewhat dizzy, glanced at Cao Huachun who was not far away, and said with a smile: "I'll give you half a day off, go back and have a meal, don't neglect your family, it's time to be lively."

Cao Huachun smiled slightly, and said: "My servant and Eunuch Liu have changed shifts. Today he will go home, and tomorrow my servant will go back."

Zhu Xu said "hmm" and said in a daze, "That's all right, I'll sleep for a while, you go."

"Yes." Cao Huachun responded and quietly backed out.

Similar to Zhu Xu is the cabinet, the adults of the Six Departments also celebrate this moment with their families, the whole family is happy, the table is full of wine and food, and there are no empty seats.

In any case, throughout the year, it is rare to have a relaxed and lively atmosphere to reunite with family members.

The adults of the imperial court gathered happily, and the common people were no exception. The whole family was reunited, and the firecrackers were like thunder, resounding throughout the capital.

In the early morning of the next day, that is, New Year's Eve, every family was still full of joy, and the cabinet started working again non-stop, continuing the complicated and huge government affairs.

After lunch, Bi Ziyan and Zhu Xu strolled side by side in the imperial garden. For some reason, Bi Ziyan was in a very happy mood and his tone was light.

"Your Majesty, the 22 censors have been re-checked. They have sorted out their friends, teachers and students, in-laws, property, and past relationships. They have been re-selected and checked at every level..." Bi Ziyan smiled Said.

With his hands behind his back, Zhu Xu said with a relaxed expression, "Well, I will leave this matter to the cabinet."

Bi Ziyan had thousands of opinions on Zhu Xu in his heart, but for the sake of his lord, he hid them in his heart. He was very pleased with Zhu Xu's willingness to delegate power. , Dali Temple, etc. have already formulated a promotion plan for next year, and I have already sorted it out and submitted it to the Supervisor of Rituals."

The so-called supervisor of ceremonies is Zhu Xu's small room in Liu Shimin's class in the cabinet.

Zhu Xu has already seen it, and he is not satisfied with the speed of advancement of these departments, so he will not send it, and is going to find a chance to talk about it.

Bi Ziyan was very satisfied with this plan, it was more than safe, and there would be no trouble. Seeing that Zhu Xu hadn't said a word, he continued: "As for the appointment of officials in various places next year, especially the prefects, the prefects and the cabinet have already made plans. It is planned to rotate or transfer all officials in two to three years, in line with the pace of the 'New Deal'..."

"Those who come from the Royal Political Council have been discussed again by the ministers, and those with outstanding abilities will be promoted exceptionally. Those who win the imperial examination next year will be reused..."

"Other decrees, prohibitions, laws, cabinets and various departments have been sorted out, compiled, and reorganized the "Official Orders", issued clearly, and strictly controlled all officials in the world..."

……

Accompanied by Zhu Xu, Bi Ziyan talked a lot, all of which were recent government affairs decisions made by the cabinet.

Zhu Xu listened, nodding from time to time.The efficiency of the cabinet is faster, more organized, and more comprehensive than the previous six ministries, with comprehensive consideration and elimination of many unstable factors.

After talking for half an hour, Bi Ziyan looked at Zhu Xu and said: "The emperor's big wedding, the palace, the ceremonial supervisor, and the Ministry of Rituals are almost ready. I don't want to intervene much. The military performance is also in charge of the military department. I want to ask Your Majesty's question is, about the Great Discussion, where is the location?"

It stands to reason that the best place for such a big discussion would be the Jinluan Hall, followed by the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, but according to the method of the big meeting revealed by the Supervisor of Rituals, these places are not suitable.

This Zhu Xu had thought about it a long time ago, and said directly: "Cabinet, dismantle the cabinet and redecorate it. There are blueprints at the Supervisor of Rituals. Let's arrange the cabinet now. When it is rebuilt next year, we will also build one like this Large conference hall for frequent use.”

Bi Ziyan was actually dissatisfied with the method of discussion revealed by the Supervisor of Rites, but he knew that he couldn't hold back Zhu Xu, so he had to acquiesce first and discuss it later in the year.

Then, the next most important thing is Zhu Xu's wedding.Before the big wedding, officials and envoys from all over the country will come to Beijing one after another.

The current Daming is not in the past, and there will be many envoys in the surrounding area and overseas—the capital will be more lively!

"Does the cabinet have any comments on the list of tonight's banquet?" Zhu Xu turned around and looked in the direction of Kunning Palace.

Kunning Palace, the queen's residence, is in front of Jiaotai Palace, and in front of it is Qianqing Palace.

Bi Ziyan stood beside Zhu Xu and said, "The cabinet has no objection."

The political significance of this kind of royal banquet is actually not great, at most it is a certain period of time for the emperor to show kindness and win people's hearts.

Zhu Xu nodded and said: "Then the cabinet should be ready, arrange people to enter the palace, and don't leave anyone behind."

"Yes." Bi Ziyan said.After saying this sentence, his expression and heart are relaxed.All these troubles this year are in the past, let’s think about the next year in the coming year.

……

……

West of the city, Zhang family.

The current Zhang family can't be more low-key, and keeps the door tightly closed. Except for the occasional maid who comes in and out, no one else is seen.

In the inner hall of the Zhang family, Zhang Rongji, Mrs. Zhang and other important members of the Zhang family gathered together. The hall was filled with various betrothal gifts, styles, large and small, filling half the room, and it looked like a palace standard. .

These were just sent by the Ministry of Rites, and they were formal dowry gifts, marking the official start of the empress's wedding—this time would last for more than a month.

Zhang Rongyu looked at Mrs. Zhang and the others, and said with a smile on his face: "The Ministry of Rites has already revealed to me that next year's state affairs will be complicated, and the process of the wedding ceremony will be accelerated, and all matters will be finalized year after year. , and even the concubine will come to our Zhang family..."

Zhang Rongyu is now in the Royal Political Council, one of the vice presidents, and has Wang Qiaonian's example, so he can be regarded as a person with a bright future.

Everyone smiled and nodded, extremely excited. It is a supreme honor to have a woman standing in the middle palace.

Mrs. Zhang smiled the happiest, looked at Zhang Rong and said: "I am a woman, I don't understand these things, I just listen to my uncle."