prosperous age

"Sir, this is the news we just received from the capital."

The housekeeper Zhang Ji had already stood behind Wei Guangde at some point, and at this time our Mr. Wei Ge was sitting by the river wearing a raincoat, cracking melon seeds, but his eyes were always staring at the floats in the river.

He was fishing, and although his skills were poor, he often couldn't catch a fish for a long time.

It has been more than half a year since he returned to Bengshan Fort. At first, he could still calm down and read a book, but now he has lost interest, so fishing has become his main activity now.

"I saw the Clippers."

Wei Guangde didn't look back, just said something lightly.

If it weren't for the people around him, who would have known that this fisherman sitting by the river would be Wei Guangde, a great scholar in the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty and an important minister of the imperial court.

After speaking, Wei Guangde spit out the melon seed shells in his mouth, rubbed his hands, and then turned around to take the letter from Zhang Ji.

When he casually opened the letter and glanced at it casually, his eyes couldn't help but widen, and the hand holding the letter couldn't help but squeeze it tightly, as if he was going to crush it.

"Master, are you okay?"

Zhang Ji would not peek at the contents of the letter before Wei Guangde. This was a taboo.

However, seeing my master's abnormal reaction after seeing the news from the capital, I naturally knew that something must have happened in the capital, which is why the master behaved like this.

"Nothing, I just didn't expect that less than a year after leaving the capital, things have changed a lot."

Wei Guangde sighed.

Yes, the situation in the capital has changed drastically from when he left.

Although his memorial was delivered to Emperor Longqing, the cabinet had the support of Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, so his objections were ineffective.

As the emperor made up his mind, the Datong Peace Agreement was implemented despite huge pressure from the DPRK and China.

For this reason, Guo Qian, Minister of the Ministry of War, was dismissed from his official position because he offended Long Yan.

Li Chunfang, the chief minister who wanted the imperial court to send more officials to Datong to renegotiate with Anda Khan and seek to modify the terms of the peace agreement, was forced by Gao Gong in the cabinet and was unable to step down.

Yes, even Li Chunfang, who rarely expressed his opinions, was unwilling to agree to the terms of the Datong Peace Agreement. It was really embarrassing.

Alliance of Tan Yuan.

This is the current evaluation of the results of Wang Chonggu's talks among the civil servants in the capital.

As the current chief minister, of course he is unwilling to bear the stigma. He has chosen to submit a begging memorial to Emperor Longqing.

But obviously, Gao Gong was not willing to take the throne at this time, so Emperor Longqing kept suppressing his approval and kept them all in the middle.

After all, all the courtiers' dissatisfaction with the court's decrees will be vented on the chief minister.

As the first assistant, Li Chunfang really did not have the ability to suppress Gao Gong.

Although Wei Guangde had repeatedly thought about it later, although many people regarded the Tanyuan Alliance as a compromise between the Central Plains Dynasty and the northern minority regimes, a way of exchanging money for peace, although it avoided a war that was destined to be hopeless, But he finally bowed his head.

Some people in later generations also held different views, believing that the Chanyuan Alliance was actually a manifestation of equality. Under the circumstances at that time, the Liao Kingdom and the Song Dynasty were equally powerful, and neither could completely defeat the other.

Yes, when the Tanyuan Alliance was signed, both Song and Liao had assembled a large number of troops in Tanzhou, but the Song Dynasty had lost its first move.

Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Dynasty and Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty personally led the army southward and penetrated deeply into the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty had no choice but to choose to fight here.

The odds of winning were originally slim, so being able to end the war in this way was naturally considered acceptable.

The Liao and Song Dynasties were kingdoms of brothers. The Song Dynasty gave Liao 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk every year. The Song and Liao Dynasties used the Baigou River as their border.

These terms were the best results the Song Dynasty could achieve at the time, because after all, the skills were inferior to the people, otherwise the northern border would not have been lost.

Therefore, through the Chanyuan Alliance, the Song Dynasty actually adopted a smart strategy. By paying Sui coins in exchange for peace, it avoided a possible war. Although it was humiliating, it could be temporarily preserved and avoid the risk of national subjugation.

The content of the Datong peace treaty this time did not use "sui coins" in the wording, but used the "sui reward" commonly used in the Ming Dynasty. It seemed more deceptive, but in fact the silver was the same as the sui coins that the Song Dynasty lost to the Liao Dynasty. The currency difference is not big.

The Tanyuan Alliance also became a symbol of the Song Dynasty's transition from prosperity to decline. Since then, the Song Dynasty's national power has gradually weakened, while the northern Liao Kingdom has become stronger and stronger due to the import of war compensation.

This time the Datong Peace Negotiation was actually signed when the two sides were evenly matched, and even the Ming Dynasty had the advantage. As far as the terms of the contract were concerned, the gap in strength between the two sides was not reflected at all.

Of course Wei Guangde knew that the reward money in the contract was definitely much less than the previous military expenditures. Those officials who supported the peace negotiation may also view this matter with the mentality of winning with less loss.

But Wei Guangde knew that the grassland peoples had no hope, and the future was no longer theirs.

But there is no use thinking about it now. As Emperor Longqing made up his mind to accept the content of the peace agreement, the imperial court has issued a decree, appointing Han Naji as the commander and Ali Ge as the official of Qianhu. Each will be rewarded with a large red silk cloth, and The governor-general, Wang Chonggu, and others were ordered to follow the original composition and deal with it with all their heart, ensuring that they are done to the best of their ability.

In response, I agreed to trap Zhao Quan, Li Zixin, Wang Tingfu, Zhao Long and other leaders of the White Lotus Cult in Bansheng City. Among them, Zhao Quan had already been elected as the leader of the White Lotus Cult by the White Lotus Cultists in Bansheng City and sent them to Datong. handed over to the Ming Dynasty officials.

Later, he sent an envoy to beg for a title, and also begged for an official position for Huangtaiji, and asked for the exchange of horses, iron pots, cloth, and silk.

Both parties began to fulfill the terms set during the negotiation in a tacit understanding. Daming Xi used the title of king, named Anda the King of Shunyi, and awarded him a gold-plated seal.

Ji Nang's eldest son Ji Neng and An Da's eldest son Huang Taiji are both suitable to be given the post of governor. The descendants of each branch, such as Wu Shen Da'er Han Tai Ji, Wai Yaobao Du'er Tai Ji, etc., are all awarded according to the story of Duoyan Sanwei. He was awarded the official positions of commander, Qianhu, and Baihu.

At the end of the news, Datong escorted Zhao Quan and other White Lotus sect rebels to Beijing, and the Ministry of Rites was preparing for the prisoner presentation ceremony.

Wei Guangde knew very well that the Datong Peace Agreement was settled and the north should be temporarily peaceful, although no matter how he thought about it, he felt that Ming Dynasty had suffered a bit in the contract.

In fact, at this time, Wei Guangde no longer cared about the contract at all. He was more concerned about the fact that Li Chunfang's official appointment and Gao and Zhang were involved in this matter. Only Yin Shizhen was left in the cabinet, and he was afraid that he would not be able to hold on for long.

Chaos, the government is in complete chaos.

Less than a year after he left the court, the entire Ming Dynasty had undergone such huge changes that he did not know how it would develop in the future.

If Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng get together through this incident, it will be questionable whether Yin Shizhen can delay his comeback.

If Yin Shizhen was also dismissed from his post on the way, would it be necessary for him to come back?

After more than a year, he returned to the cabinet and was suppressed by Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng.

At this moment, Wei Guangde suddenly felt discouraged.

He felt that even if he returned to the court, he would just be an angry little wife, and Gao Gong would probably leave all the dirty and tiring work to him.

not worth it.

Wei Guangde had some thoughts in mind, silently folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and put it into his arms. All he can do now is continue fishing, hoping to catch a fish today.

In the evening, Wei Guangde was not in high spirits when he returned home.

After dinner, I went to the study alone and pulled out the draft of the revision of the "Regulations on Duties and Vassals" that I had thought of these days. I almost wanted to tear it up.

This was what Emperor Longqing sent to inform him before he left. Since he returned to his hometown, he had time to help him think about how to deal with the clan issue.

He now relies on Emperor Longqing for everything. His original plan to train the young prince was shattered because of the emperor's decree that the prince should leave the cabinet at the age of ten.

Speaking of which, he, the prince's young master, rarely sees the prince a few times a year.

Wei Guangde unconsciously began to daydream that his status in the eyes of Emperor Longqing was not as good as Gao Gong. As for the prince, it seems that later generations only said that his teacher was Zhang Juzheng, and he still monopolized power for a long time. Until the prince came of age and took charge, Zhang Juzheng also He also almost controlled the supreme power of Ming Dynasty.

"Ok?"

Wei Guangde, who had been leaning on a chair and taking a nap, suddenly sat up straight, and his previous laziness was gone.

Wei Guangde recalled carefully that he did not know when Zhu Yijun ascended the throne, but his impression was that he only started studying with Zhang Juzheng after he ascended the throne.

What does this mean?

Suddenly, a terrible premonition emerged in his heart. Emperor Longqing was afraid that he would die soon.

He didn't know when Emperor Longqing died, but if the emperor died and how old the prince was now, would he still remember him as his master?

Zhang Juzheng defeated Gao Gong

A thought appeared in his mind, yes, Zhang Juzheng could take over the power, it must be after the death of Emperor Longqing.

Without the support of Emperor Longqing, Gao Gong could not hold on in the court at all, not to mention the matter of Xu Jie, it was impossible for the two of them to really get together.

Wei Guangde felt that his head was a little swollen at this moment. Too many things were realized at once, which seemed very messy and disorderly. He didn't know how to sort them out.

He will stay in Jiangxi for more than a year. Can Emperor Longqing last until his comeback?

If possible, no matter how angry he is in the cabinet, he will still persevere and wait until he finally becomes a minister who cares about life.

If he could not persist, then he would have almost no hope of coming back. At that time, Zhang Juzheng was already the Minister of Guan Ming, and he could only take orders from him in the cabinet.

No matter how he thought about it, Wei Guangde felt that he was wrong.

His mother's death was so sudden that it disrupted his plans, and now everything has been lost.

Wei Guangde didn't dare to complain. After all, he was the mother of this body, but he still felt a strong unwillingness in his heart.

I don't know when, Wei Guangde was already in the room, pacing back and forth, a feeling called anxiety already filling his body.

Now is not the time to consider the situation of the cabinet in the capital. He has already thought about what will happen after Emperor Longqing.

Yes, it was because of Zhang Juzheng's cooperation with Feng Bao that after the death of Emperor Longqing, he asked Gao Gong to step down again and take charge of the government by himself.

Zhu Yijun and Feng Bao, Feng Bao should be the most critical figure now.

Wei Guangde stopped and thought for a moment. Zhu Yijun's birthday will be in two months. In previous years, at this time, he would be prepared by the little prince with gifts.

Although I am not in Beijing this year, birthday gifts are still indispensable.

At least this way, the little prince would still remember the existence of a teacher like him.

By the way, Feng Bao also has to give a gift.

Since he is not in the capital, it is almost impossible to tie Feng Bao to his side.

Feng Bao is not a fool. Now the cabinet minister Li Chunfang can rule it out. His departure will be a matter of time and has lost its value.

The only cabinet ministers with investment value left in the cabinet were Zhang Juzheng and Yin Shizhen.

Gao Gong's status and his relationship with Chen Hong made it impossible for him and Feng Bao to get together.

Moreover, with Gao Gong's status in Emperor Longqing's mind, there was no need to consider cooperating with Feng Bao, because he would never have thought that Emperor Longqing would die young.

Comparing Zhang and Yin, Wei Guangde believed that Feng Bao's partner must be Zhang Juzheng, not Yin Shizhen.

After all, Zhang Juzheng was also one of the masters appointed by Emperor Longqing to Zhu Yijun.

There are not many remedies he can think of now. Apart from writing another letter to Yin Shizhen to ask him to be patient, there is no other way.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde returned to his seat and sat down, looking at the several revisions he had drafted in trance.

The "Regulations on Duties and Vassals" was put forward in the late Jiajing period in order to deal with clan issues. The main promoter was Zhu Muxing, the Nanling King of the clan.

Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, the financial pressure caused by the sudden increase in the clan's population has become a problem that cannot be ignored.

For this reason, the imperial court had to constantly revise the "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions" to reduce the expenditure on supporting Zonglu and reduce the birth rate of clan members, but each time it had little effect.

Before the promulgation of the "Regulations on Duties and Vassals", clan issues were handled in accordance with the "Ancestor Instructions of the Emperor Ming Dynasty".

It took four years from Emperor Jiajing's decree to the completion of the "Regulations on Suspensions and Vassals", which was completed by cabinet minister Li Chunfang in the 44th year of Jiajing.

In order to compile this book, Li Chunfang also consulted the clan's suggestions, and almost all of them were incorporated into the book.

不过，此书真正的目的还是在于明确禄米折色比例，如有以下规定，郡王、将军给钞70%、给粮30%；中尉给钞60%、给粮40%；郡主、县主、郡君、县君、仪宾等给钞80%、给粮20%。

Clarifying the payment ratio between Baochao and Lumi is actually reducing the salary of the clan.

Everyone knows that Ming Dynasty treasure money is just waste paper, and only food is real.

In addition, strict conditions for the payment of clan salary include age limits, strict withdrawal times, restrictions on clan weddings, funerals and other activities, etc.

Although there are many "Regulations", in fact, apart from cutting wages and setting more stringent conditions, they almost continue the content of the "Huangming Ancestors" drafted by Zhu Yuanzhang, and there are not many fundamental reforms.

When Wei Guangde considered amending the "Regulations on Duties and Vassals", he first gave a quota of lumi to each branch of the clan and set the distribution ratio of titles.

No matter how the clan population changes in the future, the Lumi quota will not change and will only increase or decrease according to changes in the clan population.

Another option is to allow clan members to make a living voluntarily, giving up their salaries in exchange for tax exemptions. They are also allowed to conduct scientific examinations and hold official positions, but they can only choose between official positions and titles.

According to the rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty clan could not engage in four industry activities, that is, they could not do anything.

Wei Guangde allows the clans to choose one of the two here, which is actually a violation of the provisions of the "Huangming Ancestors". However, based on his knowledge of the situation of the lower-level clans, he believes that there will be many people who are willing.