Daming: From the Son of Heaven to the Leader of Comprehensive Martial Arts

This is the first time ever!

Chapter 36 Murong Shu's Expectation

At night, the bright moonlight quietly falls.

After reviewing the memorial, Zhu Qizhen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to rest.

Today, there are very few memorials, and there are no major events in the court.

However, there was one small matter that touched Zhu Qizhen deeply. This was a request from a fourth-rank official, not a business matter, but a private matter.

At the Lantern Festival, the White Lotus Sect made a disturbance in an attempt to assassinate the emperor. During the disturbance, fireworks and firecrackers were set off, and the mansion of this fourth-rank official was burned. He had no money to repair the mansion, and the whole family could only live in a friend's home.

Therefore, he wanted to apply to the emperor to advance three years' salary and build a new house.

And the name of this fourth-rank official was Hai Rui.

The upright and strict Hai Rui is a breeze in both sleeves!

In the history of Ming Dynasty, the famous and upright official!

Zhu Qizhen knew that it was absolutely impossible for Hai Rui to put on a show in order to highlight his incorruptibility. Since he submitted such a petition, it showed that this upright official was really desperate.

But having said that, Zhu Qizhen also knew that the salaries of officials of the Ming Dynasty were really low!

There are nine ranks and eighteen ranks for officials of the Ming Dynasty.

The salaries of officials are therefore divided into eighteen classes.

Take Yu Qian, Shangshu of the Ministry of War as an example. He is a high-ranking official with an annual salary of 180 taels of silver and 36 shi of Lumi.

For a family of five, the monthly ration is about one stone of rice, about 120 catties.

A dignified first-rank official is naturally enough to eat.

However, life is definitely not rich.

What's more, everyone will encounter unexpected factors such as illness, but also weddings and funerals, reciprocity and so on.

Officials took risks, accepted bribes, and were greedy for money. Many of them had their salaries too low. Not every official was born into a family with strong capital.

Increase salaries of officials.

This is what Zhu Qizhen wanted to do very early on.

However, there are hundreds of thousands of officials in the world, which is a huge expenditure. The treasury had no money before, and even the money for the relief of the Datong Mansion could not be provided... It is undoubtedly impossible to raise the wages of the courtiers.

However, it is different now!

After the investigation of the world's officials and the reform of the tax system, Zhu Qizhen is now rich and powerful. Moreover, after the establishment of the Daming Bank, there will be a lot of money and the treasury will be filled.

Raising wages for the courtiers is a matter of course.

On Hai Rui's memorial, Zhu Qizhen approved a letter of approval.

Then, he turned his head and told Wei Zhongxian.

"The decree is to order the cabinet to set up the chief and deputy directors of the Daming Bank. There will be one principal, with the official title of the first rank, and Xu Jie, the cabinet's second assistant, and three deputies, with the official title of the second rank."

"Hai Rui's two sleeves are clean, honest and self-disciplined. He should be a role model for officials all over the world, and he will be promoted to the deputy director of the Daming Bank."

Zhu Qizhen continued: "The Great Ming Bank directly controls the economic lifeline of the world. It is not under the management of the Ministry of Household Affairs or the cabinet. I want to manage it directly."

"In addition to Hai Rui, the other two deputy chief executives, one must be familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and the order Xu Jie can be promoted from the supervisory censor, and the other must understand economics, order the chief assistant Yan Song, let him recommend .”

The three deputy managers came from different camps, which was also a check and balance.

Although Hai Rui is clean and honest, like Yu Qian, he is not a clean party and never forms a clique.

And the four Qingliu parties, and Yan Song's strict party, can be said to be incompatible.

Let them supervise each other and check and balance each other, so that no one dares to play tricks in the Daming Bank, greedy for money, and Zhu Qizhen will benefit from the fisherman.

"Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Wei Zhongxian wrote the imperial decree and submitted it to Zhu Qizhen for review.

Eunuch chaos in government has been common since ancient times.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, in fact, in order to prevent the eunuchs from causing chaos when the emperor was stupid, it was stipulated that eunuchs should not be able to read and write.

However, for many years, this has actually been aimed at ordinary eunuchs.

For example, the eunuch with palm prints, the eunuch who writes the pen, the supervisor of the East Factory, the supervisor of the West Factory, these big eunuchs, in fact, each of them is a cultural person, knowledgeable and talented.

Wei Zhongxian not only knows Chinese characters, but also can write them well.

"Go down and deliver the decree, I'm resting."

Zhu Qizhen nodded.

At this time, Wei Zhongxian clasped his hands and said, "His Majesty, the Empress Dowager specially confessed to her slaves and urges her Majesty to turn over the cards to be a beautiful girl, give birth to a dragon heir as soon as possible, and continue the royal bloodline."

After Wei Zhongxian's words fell, a court lady walked over in small steps, and placed the tray with the brand in front of Zhu Qizhen.

"This is really a real mother. I'm too anxious. I'm going to do my best. I won't be consummated until a few months later. It's okay to have an heir two years later."

Zhu Qizhen sighed silently.

He suddenly remembered that it seemed that a month ago, he turned over a sign, and it seemed that he had also conferred the title of a concubine.

"Where does Murong Xian live now?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the concubine Xiangfei has been bestowed, and the Empress Dowager has given the Changchun Palace."

"There's no need to turn over the sign, let Murong Xian serve me. I remember that the sign says that she is good at singing and dancing. I haven't appreciated it yet, but I'm a little interested right now."

"According to the order, Concubine Xuanxiang will sleep in the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"

More than a month ago, Murong Xian was conferred the title of Fragrant Concubine and moved into Changchun Palace.

Murong Xian naively thought that from now on, he could accompany the king.

However, she never expected that the reality would be so cruel!

All of this was actually hit by her elder sister Murong Shu. After more than a month, she stayed in the Changchun Palace alone. Just as the female official Murong Shu said, the most indispensable thing in the palace is young and beautiful women. Forget about her.

Murong Xian was very annoyed, why didn't he serve His Majesty?If I serve His Majesty, will His Majesty forget himself till now?

Although Murong Xian was very depressed during this time...

But fortunately, she got a palace, and brought her sister Murongxian to live with her, and the two sisters comforted each other...not physically.

The two practice calligraphy and singing every day, which is not so boring.

However, in her spare time, Murongxian secretly draws alone, and what she draws are characters, always the handsome young man in the Palace of Mental Cultivation.

She often stared at the portrait of that boy in a daze.

This is her own little secret, and her sister Murong Shu doesn't even know about it.

Tonight, Murong Xian had just finished bathing and was about to go to bed.

At this time, a palace maid happily ran in: "Your Majesty, please dress up quickly, Your Majesty will let you sleep."

A dignified and generous beautiful woman stepped out, very similar to Murong Xian.

Murong Shu reminded: "My little sister is truly blessed, and His Majesty's flop is you again this time, little sister, you have to remember, don't be as stupid as last time."

Murong Xian's pair of autumn water eyes were as bright as stars, and a look of joy appeared on her pretty face, she nodded fiercely: "Yes! Sister, don't worry, I will remember what the female officer taught us how to please the emperor before."

"Tonight, I want His Majesty to remember me forever!"

The innocent Murong Xian patted his chest and vowed firmly.

However, Murong Xian didn't notice at all that her elder sister Murong Shu, whose appearance was not inferior to her own, was happy for her sister, but at the same time, a trace of loneliness flashed deep in her eyes.

She is also a show girl.

She also wants to be favored by the emperor.

Of course, the lonely look in Murong Shu's eyes just disappeared for a moment, and her eyes turned bright and full of anticipation.

The two have always been sisters.

Now that my younger sister is about to be favored by the emperor, I am sure that my younger sister will never forget her elder sister, and will whisper in front of the emperor and mention herself.

Thinking of the possibility that she will serve His Majesty together with her younger sister in the future, Murong Shu couldn't help but blush, looking a little shy.

. . . . . .

Chapter 37 The imperial concubine is drunk, please have another drink, Your Majesty

Qianqing Palace, Yangxin Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was leaning on the dragon couch, reading a novel of gods and demons, called Journey to the West, written by Shi Naian.

Historically, this was only in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, this is not a historical Ming Dynasty, but a Ming Dynasty in the world of comprehensive martial arts.

Not only is martial arts prosperous, there are martial arts masters like Zhang Sanfeng and Di Shitian, but the culture is also prosperous.

The four great classics of the previous life all blossomed in this era at the same time. Besides, novels such as Strange Tales from a Liaozhai Studio, Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, etc., are all very popular and bestsellers.

In teahouses, you can often hear storytellers say.

And among the people, opera has already appeared.

It can be said that the prosperity of this aristocratic family culture is approaching the heyday of Tang Dynasty.

Just when Zhu Qizhen saw Sun Wukong beating the Bone Essence three times, Wei Zhongxian entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Xiangfei Empress is waiting outside the hall."

"Let Murong Xian come in."

Zhu Qizhen said lightly, and put Journey to the West on the dragon case.

Murong Xian came slowly, one lotus at a time, and entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but his eyes lit up.

Obviously, Murong Xian had carefully dressed up, and the clothes on his body were also brocade and light gauze.

When Murong Xian entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she finally saw the young man whom she had been thinking about so much. For more than a month, her missing him was like spring rain, uninterrupted.

At this time, seeing him again, for a moment, Murongxian, an innocent girl, had tears flickering in her eyes like autumn water.

"Your Majesty, long time no see, I...I miss you very much."

Wei Zhongxian beckoned, and he withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation together with all the court ladies and eunuchs.

Murongxian walked up to Zhu Qizhen's side, bowed and gave a blessing.

"Your Majesty, the concubine has not performed a dance for His Majesty yet, Your Majesty, let the concubine dance for His Majesty."

"I'm looking forward to your singing and dancing."

Zhu Qizhen looked at Murongxian and smiled softly.

When Murong Xian walked in, he suddenly realized that Rong Xian looked at him tonight, with spring waves in his eyes, tenderness like water, a trace of inexplicable charm, which made people's heart throbbing.

"Your Majesty, have you ever heard of a noble concubine getting drunk?"

the drunken beauty?

Zhu Qizhen shook his head lightly. In his previous life, he had heard of a drunken imperial concubine, but it was just a Huangmei Opera. He never thought that it was actually a song and dance now.

"The concubine, I will present a song for His Majesty, the drunken concubine."

After saying that, Murong Xian took two steps back and began to dance gracefully.

I saw her feet on the ground, like a spring swallow passing by a branch, like a dragonfly in a pond, lightly tapping the water surface when flying by, dexterous and light, graceful and charming.

Her singing is ethereal, gentle and long, as if it is the sound of nature.

The singing is full of nostalgia.

"The soul is broken, love and hate are in an instant, raise a glass to the moon, love and hate are both busy, ask when you will fall in love; the moon is reflected on the chrysanthemum platform, who knows that my love is cold, drunk in the king's arms, dreams Back to Datang Ai; Your Majesty, let's have another drink."

The imperial concubine is drunk, this song tells the story of Tang Minghuang and Yang Yuhuan.

Concubine Yang Guifei heard that Tang Minghuang was lucky to Concubine Jiang, so she was so annoyed that she wanted to die.Concubine Yang Guifei was resentful in her boudoir, and she had all kinds of feelings, which were hard to dispel for a while. She poured wine into her heart, and became drunk after three cups.

Murong Xian is in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, dancing to move people's hearts and melodiously.