Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 48, The Court

The next day, when the sky was just slightly bright, when ordinary people were still sound asleep, all the officials above the fifth rank in the capital had bid farewell to their warm nests, left their flowery wives and concubines, and risked their lives. Came here to the palace in the severe cold, ready to go to the morning court.

This court meeting is divided into the big court meeting and the small court meeting. The big court meeting was originally once every three days, and there was only one big court meeting every three days. All officials above the fifth rank in Beijing had to participate.

As for the small court meeting, it depends on the emperor's mood. Sometimes it is held every day. When Haiyan and Heqing are clear, the small court meeting will be held together with the big court meeting. Most of the ones who hold real power are the celebrities around the emperor.

This is the same as what people in later generations have said. A meeting with many people is not important, but an important meeting with few people is actually the same.

Emperor Hongzhi's father, Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen, was a relatively lazy emperor. He was often out of court, and he was always inseparable from Wan Guifei in the harem every day.

Emperor Hongzhi was just the opposite. He worked hard to govern and was very diligent in government affairs. He changed the grand court meeting that was held every three days to once a day, and sometimes even held it twice in the morning and evening.

As for the small court meeting, it is very frequent to convene important cabinet ministers to discuss national affairs. Several ministers in the cabinet are almost going to wear the threshold of the palace.

It can be seen from this that, not to mention Emperor Hongzhi's literary and martial arts, at least he is still a very diligent emperor.

The morning court time is very early. If calculated by the time of later generations, it is about 4 o'clock in the morning.

At this point in time, it is better in summer, at most it is not sleeping well, at least it is not cold, but in winter, 4 o'clock in the morning is the time when the temperature is the lowest.

Coupled with the arrival of the Little Ice Age at this time, the winter is extremely cold, with howling north winds and bitter cold winds. Under such an environment, few emperors of the Ming Dynasty could go to the morning court on time.

Many emperors would find reasons not to go to the early court, and Emperor Wanli did not go to the early court for more than [-] years. Even Zhu Yuanzhang, who formulated this system, sometimes really couldn't get up, and when he didn't want to wake up, he would find reasons not to go to the early court .

To be honest, the morning morning time is indeed too early and not humanized. It is at least three o'clock to get up and prepare for the morning morning around 4 o'clock. Such a time is difficult for individuals to bear.

At this time, there was still some time before the morning court began, and many ministers came to the square outside the Taihe Gate to gather here one after another, stomping their feet, rubbing their hands, and gathered together in twos and threes to discuss yesterday. What happened in Mochizuki Tower.

"Have you all heard what happened in Wangyue Tower yesterday?"

"I heard that some scholars are talking nonsense, saying that the Golden Continent is full of gold, and there are cities built with gold."

"What's even more outrageous is that there are three high-yielding crops in the Golden Continent, which can produce dozens of stones per mu. This is a bit exaggerated. Who would believe it?"

"Although Liu Jin's words are not very reliable, his statement about the monsoon is quite in line with the situation in our Ming Dynasty. The floods in the south and the drought in the north, and the drought in the north and the south occur almost at the same time, but it is still a bit of a talent."

"It's just some heresy. Governing the country still depends on the loyalty and filial piety of our holy religion."

"..."

Amidst the discussions among the crowd, the time quickly reached the early court time, and as the gate of the Supreme Harmony Gate slowly opened, the many ministers who had been discussing before stopped discussing cleanly one by one, and tidied up their clothes one after another. Then they are divided into two columns according to their ranks, official positions, etc., and prepare to go to court.

The civil servants are headed by Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, with general civil servants such as Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, and the military generals are headed by the British Duke Zhang Mao, with Cheng Guogong Zhu Fu and other noble military generals.

After a set of cumbersome ceremonies, the civil and military ministers entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and after waiting for too long, Emperor Hongzhi came. After shouting long live, the court meeting officially began.

"Start playing when there is something to do, and retreat without reason."

The sound of filial piety resounded in every corner of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is a routine practice.

"The minister has the original play."

As soon as the words fell, Ma Wensheng, Minister of the Ministry of War, stood up.

Several ministers originally had notes, but when they saw Ma Wensheng standing up, they immediately stood back with interest.

"Hmm~"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded slightly, motioning for Ma Wensheng to continue.

"Your Majesty Chen Qizuo, I received an urgent report from Guizhou last night. Shuixi Tusi Andingxi recently rebelled and led his troops to attack Guiyang, Guizhou. Fortunately, Guiyang's defense has been defeated, but Guizhou's troops have suffered heavy losses. Send troops to quell the rebellion."

The first thing is the military and national event of the Tusi rebellion in Guizhou. The Tusi issue in Yunnan and Guizhou has always been a big problem.

In the Yunnan-Guizhou area, the mountains and rivers are steep, the roads are rugged, and the traffic is extremely inconvenient. Since ancient times, the emperor is far away from the mountains. The emperor here is the chieftain. These chieftains have always been obedient when they are good. Once there is no benefit, or feel that the benefit is not enough. , and immediately became noisy.

Almost every now and then, there would be chieftains rebelling, and it would subside soon if it was mild. If it was serious, the entire land in Yunnan-Guizhou would unite against the imperial court. A fight could last for several years.

"Immediately dispatch troops from Sichuan, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces to enter Guizhou. We must quell the rebellion of the chieftains in Shuixi as soon as possible. Remember that it should be used together with suppression and appeasement, and the number and scale of rebellious chieftains must not be expanded."

Emperor Hongzhi was also very experienced in dealing with this matter, not once or twice. Naturally, there was a rebellion to be suppressed. However, he knew that the suppression should be suppressed, but the matter must not be magnified. It cannot be resolved overnight.

"According to the order~"

Ma Wensheng replied respectfully, and the other ministers also nodded slightly. This way of handling is the most appropriate. The court has no money, so it is not appropriate to go to war. It is naturally best to appease the rebellious chieftain. You can prepare with both hands, and use both to suppress and appease.

"The minister has the original play."

As soon as Ma Wensheng returned to his seat, Zhou Jing, Minister of the Household Department, stood up again and said, "The weather has been cold recently, and the capital has found hundreds of people who were frozen to death. I fear that if the severe cold continues, More people will freeze to death.”

"At the same time, according to the law of previous years, once the winter is too cold, there will be changes in the Tatars and Oirats in the north. Your Majesty, please prepare early."

(End of this chapter)