prosperous age

Chapter 624 623 Reactions from All Sides
"Hehe, the chicken chosen by Chen Hong is the best. Meng Chong, you are still a little tender after all."

After watching the cockfight, Emperor Longqing spoke to the eunuch beside him.

An old eunuch's smiling face was like a blooming chrysanthemum, "Xie Huangye boasted, this old slave's fighting cock has been carefully selected since he was a child, and he has to be raised and trained by an expert to do it, hehe"

"Not bad, this chicken is easy to feed, look at the injury, find someone to take care of it, and I will bet on it to win the next battle."

Emperor Longqing was very happy, because he bet on Chen Hong's chicken to win from the beginning, when did his eyesight become so good.

Emperor Longqing and Chen Hong were talking happily there, while a slightly younger eunuch on the other side had a gloomy expression on his face. The little servant grabbed the defeated chicken and backed away in shock from his stare.

"Take it back and kill it."

This eunuch was naturally Meng Chong, and today he offered a carefully selected fighting cock to show off in front of the emperor, but he did not expect to lose the game so magnificently when he met a fighting cock that was also selected from thousands of people.

He was in a very upset mood now, and he hated the little official who offered the cockfight, and by the way, he also hated Chen Hong.

It's just that he also knows that with his current position of power, he still can't fight against Eunuch Chen Hong, and he can't afford to offend him.

When he turned to look at the emperor and Chen Hong, he was already smiling flatteringly.

A figure appeared at the palace gate in the distance, still dressed in eunuch costumes, most of the eunuchs who could walk around the emperor were high-grade eunuchs, and the servants could only be odd jobs.

Usually hide far away, can only appear when summoned, and do some hard work, thankless.

"My lord."

The person who came was Chen Ju, who bowed to the front and back of Emperor Longqing and said softly.

"Chen Ju, what's the matter ahead?"

Chen Ju was left in Qianqing Palace by him, not because he didn't like him, but mainly because he was similar to Li Fang, they didn't like him to play and rest, so he didn't bother to ask him to follow him when he came out to play by himself.

But for Chen Ju, Emperor Longqing still trusted him, after all, he had informed the palace through Wei Guangde's relationship very early on.

No matter what the purpose is, he helped Yu Yu a lot. He is a nostalgic person, so after he became the throne, he still kept Chen Ju by his side.

In any case, you still need these loyal courtiers to rest assured.

Chen Ju reached out and took out a letter from his bosom, held it in both hands and handed it over, and said in a low voice, "Master Wei entrusted someone to send it in, and asked me to hand it over to Your Majesty." '

"Oh."

Emperor Longqing raised his eyebrows, stretched out his hand to take the envelope from Chen Ju, looked at it and found that the seal was intact, and then walked aside.

Behind them, Chen Hong and the others wanted to keep up, but were stopped by Emperor Longqing with a wave of his sleeves.

After walking into the pavilion not far away, Emperor Longqing tore open the envelope and took out the note inside for a closer look, then his expression changed slightly.

It is said to be a note, but it is actually a full sheet of letter paper, which contains a lot of content, but the most important one is that the Governor of Fujian, Yushi Tu Zemin, requested to lift the sea ban. After that, the cabinet may propose and respond.

Most of the previous content did not have much impact on Emperor Longqing, but when he saw the last two paragraphs, his eyes flashed, and he fell into deep thought, and murmured: "If the courtier The opposition is very strong, so it can be allowed to open a trial in one place, and the inner court will send people to supervise it, and the tax money collected will go directly to the inner treasury, and it will be a market ship."

When it came to opening the sea, Wei Guangde was very cautious, because he knew that there would be great resistance from the DPRK and China, so he planned to open one or two places for trial very early on.

Emperor Longqing knew all of these, after all, he had seen Wei Guangde's constantly revised regulations many times.

However, the content of today's letter has changed, that is, it was originally thought to be the income of the imperial court. If there is too much resistance between the court and the middle court, it will be done directly by the inner court instead of the imperial court.

Emperor Longqing knew that this was Wei Guangde's deliberate and helpless move when he found that the opposition from the court was too great to implement this policy.

But for Wei Guangde, it was a helpless move, but for Emperor Longqing, he was eager to do so at this time.

The benefits of maritime trade, Wei Guangde told him in detail before, can be said to be very profitable, so those people have to do it with their heads up.

Before, he felt that he could not skip the imperial court to advance this matter, but now Wei Guangde reminded him that he could do it alone.

If you are not in charge of the family, you don't know how expensive the firewood is. Only when you become the emperor can you figure out the financial situation of the inner court.

The inner court earns a lot of money every year, but the expenditure is also not small. Let's see how many maids and servants are needed, and there are countless palaces that need to be repaired.

Before Teng Xiang and Meng Chong said they wanted to buy him some jewelry, clothes, hats and some gadgets, the inner court couldn’t afford 2 taels of silver, so they wanted to go to the Ministry of Households to get it, but they were rejected. Emperor Longqing, who had a strong self-esteem, felt ashamed.

If it is possible to win this port, it will cost tens of thousands of taels of silver a year just by writing a note and stamping it.

Don't think that tens of thousands of taels of silver is very little, in fact, Fujian, aside from the in-kind taxes that are difficult to transport and realize, the tax that a province can pay to the capital for a year is only tens of thousands of taels.

Opening a port is equivalent to the tax money of one more province, which is naturally a big figure for the financially strapped court.

Moreover, during this period, the world's silver had not poured into the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty lacked gold, silver, and even copper.

In fact, Emperor Jiajing didn't really leave an empty internal treasury for Emperor Longqing, there was still a lot of money.

But for the emperor who had just ascended the throne, more than 20 taels of silver was really not enough.

Not to mention the funeral of Emperor Jiajing, the reward army after ascension to the throne almost emptied the internal treasury, and the money had to be paid out.

Of course, Emperor Longqing knew that the military households would not get much if the money went out, but he also knew that the money itself was not for the military households, but for the generals in various places.

Just think of buying the loyalty of the army, although the actual effect may be very low.

Folding the letter and putting it in his arms, Emperor Longqing got up and left the pavilion, "Go back to Qianqing Palace."

The news from the cabinet came out, and all the officials at the gathering in Liuxiang, the major flower streets and teahouses in the capital that night talked about it.

Originally, everyone was indifferent to this matter at first, but I heard that the cabinet was divided into two factions because of Tu Zemin’s memorial, which seemed to be evenly matched. I have to take care of it.

For most officials, how to choose should they still use teaching?

The past is the teacher of the future, how many times someone proposes to open the sea, and what is the final result.

As in the past, the voices that support the maintenance of the ancestral system are in the absolute majority, and those who support change are very few.

Most of those who support the change do not really think that this strategy is correct, but because they know that those who support Kaihai are old people such as Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin, who are capable of changing today's attitudes.

It is not an exaggeration to say that they are actually political speculation.

"Teacher, do you want to start using those methods?"

In a dark room of Xu Jie's mansion, Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie were sitting opposite each other.

"Don't worry, let the officials discuss it first. The real launch of this matter will have to wait for His Majesty's Holy Judgment."

Xu Jie made up his mind before moving, so naturally he would not rush into battle.

Emperor Longqing had two choices. One was to support him, that is, to stick to the ancestral system, so the chance of this inverted arch was not ripe.

At least from his experience, even if it is activated, it is difficult to kill the enemy with one blow.

Different political opinions are actually commonplace in court.

But if Emperor Longqing chose to support Gao Gong, that would be the chance to expel Gao Gong from the court.

The support of the first assistant and the second assistant was rejected by the emperor, which in itself is a contempt for the officials, not to mention that it is related to the ancestral system.

At that time, the rumors that Gao Gong can influence the emperor's decision will be confirmed, and the impeachment of Gao Gong on this ground is the ultimate move.

"Teacher, then send some news to the following, so that they can be prepared."

Zhang Juzheng continued to ask.

Gently tapping on the table, Xu Jie thought for a long time before saying: "If your majesty follows the cabinet's wishes, don't act rashly, but if you support Gao Suqing, then focus on impeaching him on the grounds of 'controlling the court gentry and specializing in the country'. It has to be evicted."

"What about opening the sea ban?"

Just for a moment, Zhang Juzheng had actually approved the teacher's words in his heart, but he still had to have an attitude towards the focus of this debate, the sea ban.

"What do you think of Tu Zemin's memorial?"

Xu Jie did not answer Zhang Juzheng's words, but asked rhetorically.

"As the teacher said, there is something in the words, and it seems feasible."

Zhang Juzheng replied.

"New era, new atmosphere, that's a good saying, Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin are still capable, but they are too young."

Xu Jie commented, "If Your Majesty insists on lifting the sea ban, I will definitely fight vigorously and lead the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty to collectively oppose."

"In this way, His Majesty's face will be great"

Zhang Juzheng knew that Emperor Longqing took face very seriously, perhaps because he was offended by Yan Shifan a lot in the past, so he paid more attention to these things.

"I will prepare steps for His Majesty, and you can try this out in one place."

Xu Jie glanced at Zhang Juzheng, and continued: "Thinking about it carefully, the Japanese pirates rose up in the past, maybe it's because of Zhu Dan's strict laws.

It's just a pity that he didn't consider the livelihood of the people along the coast at the beginning. He only thought that blocking the sea and blocking traffic would eliminate the Japanese pirates, but he didn't know that the people living without support would also take risks. "

"I understand."

Zhang Juzheng understood that it was best to be so natural, and Emperor Longqing would save face, but he just didn't know how he would choose.

At this moment, in Gao Gong's mansion, Guo Pu was also sitting opposite Gao Gong.

"Su Qing, the more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes."

Guo Pu's expression was not good, and he said to Gao Gong in a low voice: "Tell me, could this be done over there, with the purpose of making us public enemies of the government and the public?"

"I thought about it after this incident, but anyway, even if opening the sea can't cure the Japanese plague, it will definitely make life easier for the people of Fujian, and the number of people who want to join the Japanese pirates will inevitably decrease, which is still good for the court to eliminate the Japanese plague. of."

Gao Gong is not stupid, even if he didn't realize it at the time, after he came down, he would have found Xu Jie's abnormality today as long as he recalled a little.

It is too early to express your opinion. This is not what the Lord Shoufu should do. It is no wonder that Guo Pu guessed that Tu Zemin's memorabilia was related to Xu Jie.

"I was also influenced by Governor Tu's Memorial at the time. Thinking about it carefully, there are many strange things about this matter."

Guo Pu said with a sigh.

"As long as we uphold a public heart, we don't have to worry about being attacked by them."

Gao Gong is really not afraid of Xu Jie instigating his subordinates to impeach him crazily. He is really crazy. order.

Before, most of the courtiers only saw that Ke Dao impeached Gao Gong crazily, as if he had made him into a mess. In fact, the whole matter has developed until now, Gao Gong has not fought back, but there are disputes between the cabinet and Xu Jie. .

As for the rumors circulating outside, that he was deliberately antagonizing Mr. Xu Ge, Gao Gong also dismissed it.

In fact, most of the disputes were not really about competing with Xu Jie for the right to speak in the cabinet, but because of the fundamental differences in the two people's governing philosophies that led to their different handling of affairs.

With the emperor behind him, he was naturally not afraid of tearing his face apart with Xu Jie in the cabinet.

He just didn't expect that Xu Jie would spread the news in the ruling and opposition parties as evidence of his political discord.

"I don't know when His Majesty will send back the memorial. Before that, I think we still need to contact some like-minded people, and everyone will play together to support this matter."

He has already stated his position, even if he wants to change his mind now, it is impossible. Guo Pu just wants to attract more people to stand with them to strengthen their momentum.

"I think it's okay. I'll contact Yu Yu's people in a while. It doesn't matter if you have a low official position. Just contact some friends to help out."

Gao Gong twisted his beard and said.

What he said actually meant that most of their disciples were in the sixth or seventh rank of officials at this time, and it was not suitable for them to be involved in this matter.

"We still have some fellows from Ke Dao, please contact us too."

Guo Pu frowned and thought about it.

"Kodao."

Gao Gong is a little noncommittal, he is also a headache for Ke Dao officials now, he is not like Xu Jie, he can bow his head to these people, he always thinks that this group of people are seventh-rank officials, but delusional thinking that they are not necessarily cabinet ministers because of their last positions, It's ridiculous.

Xu Jie was too tactful, he could put down his figure and mingle with officials at all levels. It was fine for an official like him to be the chief assistant in the prosperous age, but now the Ming Dynasty has become riddled with holes after the Zhengde and Jiajing emperors, and urgently needs to be cleaned up.

Xu Jie is not suitable for such a position.

What the imperial court needs now is a person who can reorganize the imperial court as the chief assistant.

Looking at the entire court, only he can barely do it, and no one else can.

Even Li Chunfang, who was more unbearable than Xu Jie, Gao Gong actually didn't like it from the bottom of his heart.

Because after working together for more than a year, he found that Li Chunfang did not have an idea or a decision like Xu Jie.

"In the palace, shouldn't Su Qing also talk about it?"

At this time, Guo Pu reminded again in a low voice.

Gao Gong didn't answer his previous question, Guo Pu planned to use his own ideas to do it.

He and Gao Gong are more of a cooperative relationship, and it is far-fetched to say that they are a party committee.

In Wei's study, Wei Guangde sat alone behind the desk, and there was a note on the desk, which was sent by Chen Yiqin.

If he didn't think of it at the beginning, now that Chen Yiqin reminded him, Wei Guangde finally realized that what happened this time might really become a high-profile Waterloo.
(End of this chapter)