Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 563 New atmosphere in the temple

"Long live's will, you all have seen it..."

On the seventh day of March, when Bi Ziyan's voice sounded in the main worship hall, it also meant that Zhu Youjian's intentions had been conveyed back to the capital.

In order to escape to Nanjing, Zhu Youxiao granted him another month's vacation without hesitation.

At the same time, he also asked the ceremonial supervisor to write an imperial edict to the cabinet, and the content of the imperial edict was the same as what he and Zhu Youjian said.

The household department contracted the cost of repairing the outer court of the Nanjing Imperial Palace, and the emperor borne the repair cost of the inner court.

However, the entire project is supervised by Si Li, and the cabinet and the six ministries only need to pay money.

Regarding this matter, Bi Ziyan summoned the ministers of the cabinet, and the five ministers sat in the main hall of worship, but Gu Bingqian was the only one who lacked a seat.

Ever since Gu Bingqian fell ill, he had never entered the palace.

Zhu Youxiao also sent someone to see him, and the people he sent were Wang Kentang and Wu Youke, who were most trusted by the two brothers.

However, Gu Bingqian did not pretend to be sick this time, but was really sick, and it was already very difficult for him to sit up. His whole body weight dropped from 120 catties to less than [-] catties.

Therefore, on the first day of March, Zhu Youjiao officially approved Gu Bingqian's appointment as an official, and additionally conferred various ranks such as the prince and grand master, and at the same time conferred the second grade on his second son, and first conferred the title of doctor Zishan.

The next day, Zhu Youxiao promoted Bi Ziyan as the first assistant of the cabinet, and Sun Chengzong as the second assistant of the cabinet.

On the third day of March, one day later, Shi Fenglai, a scholar of the Zhongji Temple, asked to become an official. Zhu Youxiao also readily approved it, and called Wen Tiren, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhou Yanru, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, to join the cabinet.

Therefore, the officials currently sitting in the Hall of Respect are Bi Ziyan, the Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, Sun Chengzong, the Second Assistant of the Cabinet, Zhu Xieyuan, a scholar of the Wenhua Palace, Wen Tiren, a scholar of the Wuying Palace, and Zhou Yanru, a scholar of the Jianji Palace.

Such a configuration of cabinet ministers is not luxurious.

Looking at the four people below, Bi Ziyan didn't think anyone would dare to make things difficult.

Although Sun Chengzong is a member of the Donglin Party, the Donglin Party is currently weak and has no power to oppose this matter.

As for Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru, although they belonged to the Zhejiang Party and the Kunming Party, they are both good people after all. Knowing that the current situation has changed, it is courting death to blindly help the gentry resist the court, so they basically only raised objections.

Excluding these three people, although the remaining Zhu Xieyuan belongs to the Zhejiang Party, he is also famous for his temper.

Back then, Zhu Guozuo and the others wanted to use the She'an Rebellion to promote a large number of Zhejiang Party officials, but Zhu Xieyuan's scolding could tell his temper.

With the character and temper of this group of people, it was hard for Bi Ziyan to believe that they would be obsessed with this matter.

Therefore, when the matter was uttered and no one responded, Bi Ziyan expressed his opinion:

"This year, there is another severe drought in the north. Among them, Shanxi and Shaanxi are the most severe, and the Jiangbei area in the south of Zhili is also suffering from drought. There has been no rain for a month and a half."

"Judging from the current situation, I am afraid that there will be no less than 2000 prefectures and counties that need to be exempted this year, and the imperial court will lose no less than [-] million shi."

Bi Ziyan first talked about the embarrassment of the court, but then changed his tone and said:
"Although this is the case, as long as the situation does not expand, it is not a problem to rely on the four provinces outside the Central Plains to earn 8000 million shi."

"I have also asked about the Huangdian and the various departments. The annual income of 4000 million taels is guaranteed."

"Therefore, after the combination of the two, I dare not say that the annual income is 8000 million taels, but there is still 500 million taels."

"Right now, the Beijing-West Railway has been completed, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway will be completed at the end of the year. Next year, the imperial court can save 400 million taels of silver in expenditure."

"Based on this year's expenditure and calculating next year, even if Enke wants to recruit officials, it will still have a surplus of about five million taels."

"After the opening of the train, the two capitals can be used flexibly, so there is nothing wrong with repairing the Nanjing Palace."

"This time, Long Live promised to use internal funds to repair the inner court. It is already a blessing for the country. It is normal for the construction of the outer court to fall on the six departments."

Bi Ziyan used "a blessing for the country" to describe the decision made by the emperor, which shows that in their hearts, Zhu Youxiao was already very frugal.

This is not because Zhu Youxiao is really frugal, but compared to Jiajing and Wanli who often embezzle the treasury, Zhu Youxiao will at least share it with internal funds.

Therefore, after Bi Ziyan spoke, no minister dared to refute.

Seeing this, Bi Ziyan also discussed and asked Wen Tiren: "Do you have any comments from the Ministry of Industry?"

"No...the supervisor will be the supervisor."

With Zhu Youjian around, Wen Tiren didn't dare to embezzle, let alone let the people below embezzle.

The construction of the Nanjing Imperial Palace is so troublesome, if the people below have dirty hands and feet and implicate him, then he will be kicked out the next second he just entered the cabinet.

Don't take the initiative to do things, don't take the initiative to take the initiative, and don't take the initiative to take responsibility... This is Wen Tiren's "three no principles".

Restoring the imperial palace is a laborious and laborious task, and you have to go to Nanjing, and you have to be wary of the people below stealing and stealing, so Wen Tiren didn't do this thankless job.

Since the Supervisor of Ceremonies is going to take over, let them take over.

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren was thinking about going to the big chef to have something to eat after the meeting was over.

"Since there is nothing wrong with the Ministry of Industry, let's leave."

Seeing that everyone was fine, Bi Ziyan shook his head, feeling a little unaccustomed to this no-nonsense cabinet for a while.

In this way, the affairs of Zhu Youjian and Zhu Youxiao have been implemented, but the price of this implementation is not as simple as the cabinet and the Ministry of Households paying out money.

Both brothers wanted to rest, but there had to be someone in that seat.

As for this man...

"I'm exhausted!"

"Why is it so hot!"

Almost at the same time, when Bi Ziyan and the others left the main hall, Zhu Ciran, who was on the county road in Huai'an Prefecture, was sticking out his tongue and almost fainted.

The dry weather and the sudden rise in temperature caught people off guard. When Zhu Ciran and the others crossed the Yellow River and the Huaihe River to Hebei, they discovered that many small rivers in Hebei had dried up.

The seedlings in the paddy fields are all sun-baked, and the farmers in the river have to step on the water diversion machinery to pour water into the canals to moisten the paddy fields.

The peasants on the side of the road were pedaling waterwheels, and Zhu Ciran on the road was pedaling bicycles. At this moment, they were no different.

The only difference may be that the farmer only has a bamboo hat for shade, and Zhu Ciran still has a shed anyway.

But even if there is a shed, the hot wind blowing on the face is still very annoying.

"Zhang Xiu...how many times is it now?!"

Zhu Ciran vented and yelled the name of Zhang Xiu, an official from Siyi Hall who was sitting in the back row, and Zhang Xiu also took out the thermometer that he had put aside.

"28 degrees... the weather is so fucking bad, it's only 21 degrees in previous years, why is it so high this year!"

Even the good-tempered Zhang Xiu couldn't help scolding, but Zhu Ciran complained when he heard the words:

"This 28 degrees is the same as [-] degrees. Isn't it just a small local drought? Why is this scene?"

Zhu Ciran was lying on the handlebar umbrella, his feet were still stomping, it was very funny, but at the same time, he also looked at the seedlings in the field with heartache.

He didn't feel sorry for Jiangnan. After all, Jiangnan was full of water and water. The severe drought would not deprive the people of food.

"I don't know how many acres of paddy fields will be destroyed after this severe drought..."

Zhu Ciran couldn't help sighing. At the same time, he got up and leaned on the chair of the bicycle, and took out the map from the bamboo basket next to him to check it.

Now they have arrived in Linhong Town, which is less than two hundred miles away from the border of Yanzhou Prefecture in Shandong.

I just don't know if there will be a drought in Shandong in a few days, and if it will affect a lot.

Thinking of this, Zhu Ciran couldn't help but glance at the cloudless blue sky.

He had never hated a cloudless sky so much, but he also knew that his personal dislike couldn't fix the weather without rain.

He looked at the people who kept treading waterwheels along the road, and finally he could only shake his head and say:

"If the drought continues like this, I am afraid that the people in Nanzhili will have to face another migration."

Even though he said so, Zhu Ciran also knew that in the situation of Zhili, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi in the south, relocation was the best way out.

Even if the local people have adapted to working for others and being tenants, such a life can only maintain food and daily expenses, and it is impossible to get rich.

People don’t have any silver deposits. If Jiangnan’s economy continues to improve, it’s okay. But to put it bluntly, Jiangnan’s economy is supported by the textile industry. Millions of people are unemployed.

When millions of people are unemployed and have not yet saved money to fight the disaster, the imperial court will have to pay the price for Jiangnan's deformed economy.

"How many textile factories are there in Jiangnan Yumajian? How many workers are there?"

Zhu Ciran rode his bicycle and asked Liu Shun, but Liu Shun couldn't answer this question, so he tried to think about it before answering:
"When Apocalypse was 15 years old, there seemed to be more than 10,000 companies, with [-]+ workers."

"So many?" Hearing that the textile farm in Huangdian actually supported 10,000+ people, Zhu Ciran turned around in surprise, and Liu Shun also took the opportunity to explain:
"Originally, based on the situation in the country, if it does not affect the situation of men farming and women weaving, we should only be able to recruit 10,000+ workers. However, there are tens of millions more people in Xiaoxiyang, and overseas people also need white cloth. , so more workers will be recruited.”

"The wages in the textile factory have always been fixed, 7 Wen per day, once every 17 days, and return home every morning ([-]:[-]-[-]:[-])."

Liu Shun explained the treatment and working hours of the textile factory, and Zhu Ciran also asked curiously after hearing the words: "Where are you resting? Did you not take a rest?"

"This..." Hearing this, Liu Shun said in embarrassment:
"Your Highness, the imperial court has too many workers to support. The factories add up to four million people. If they are allowed to rest like officials, the imperial court will have to pay forty-five million taels of silver every year. "

"They took 500 million taels, and the court lost 500 million taels, and several railways had to be shut down."

Liu Shun revealed the fact that Daming was in dire financial straits, and it was only then that Zhu Ciran realized it.

After all, the conditions offered by the factories in Huangdian are better than those of the local area. In this era, it is just a dream for ordinary people to work and get paid.

The reason why daily wages are popular in Ming Dynasty is that people can only work one day less if they want to rest. Paid vacation is a benefit that cannot be achieved by productivity in this era.

Only Daming's more than 200 million soldiers, officials, and government servants can enjoy this benefit.

So after learning about the situation, Zhu Ciran didn't ask any more questions. He felt that he should study economics after returning to Beijing, especially "Economics" edited by his uncle.

At the same time he saw the severe drought in the southeast, Zhu Youjian, who was far away in Hexi, also received news that the drought in various places had worsened.

He retreated from Jiayuguan to Suzhou City to rest. When the news came, he was about to take the four cubs out for a ride.

However, when he saw the content of the memorial, his brain immediately started to work rapidly.

"Your Highness, Sun Jinglue has already gone to Xi'an to prepare for the stabilization of food prices."

When Zhu Youjian was looking at the memorabilia full of drought conditions in various places in his hand, Man Gui, who was wearing a round collar robe, also just walked in from outside the mansion, and happened to bump into Zhu Youjian who was reading the memorabilia.

He told Zhu Youjian the news he had just received, and Zhu Youjian also closed the memorial and raised his head when he heard the words:

"If the drought is really like this, then the price of grain in the north must be stabilized."

"Is it serious?" Man Gui only had information on the northwest, so he was curious about the drought in other places.

In this regard, Zhu Youjian stretched out his hand and rubbed the center of his brows, and sighed:

"Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, North Zhili, Henan, South Zhili... and Guangdong..."

"These places have all suffered major or minor droughts. Fortunately, the imperial court has stockpiled grain in various places in advance. Presumably, the price of grain will not be as exaggerated as it was in the 14th year of the apocalypse."

Having said that, Zhu Youjian also instructed Lu Yuangao next to him:
"Tell Sun Chuanting, and then return to Long Live, and say that the north can release 3000 million shi stabilized grain, and the southern Zhili can release 1000 million shi stabilized grain."

"Yes!" Lu Yuangao bowed in response, and then went to the side to arrange for Jin Yiwei to deliver the news.

Zhu Youjian walked up to Man Gui. He didn't speak, but looked at Man Gui, feeling very satisfied.

Compared with Huang Long, Zhu Youjian is always satisfied with Man Gui and Sun Yingyuan.

Although the two of them have heirs and are also in high positions, they did not take advantage of their positions to promote their heirs and make them rich, but let them study hard in Shuntian Academy.

It's not hard to see that the two of them put their focus on Qi, so they don't want their heirs to be too involved in Daming's military and political affairs.

"How are the children in the family doing now?"

Zhu Youjian chatted with Man Gui, but Man Gui smiled honestly when he heard the words: "That's it, if you can't make words, you can't make martial arts."

His words are not false, he has four children, but his grades in government and government schools are not very good, and his personality is relatively "weak", which makes him hate iron for steel.

However, after following Zhu Youjian for so many years, Man Gui has learned nothing else, but he has learned how to save his life.

In his opinion, with his current status, he would definitely not be able to rise any higher, at most he would be a knighthood.

Now that you have obtained the title, there is no need for your descendants to take power, as long as you have a certain status in the court, it is enough.

Only by being moderate can one live a long life, and fighting for power will only lead to death.

"father!"

While Zhu Youjian was chatting with Man Gui, Zhu Cihong, who had changed into another outfit, and the four little ones ran out and hugged Zhu Youjian's thighs one after another.

Two thighs were hugged by four children, Zhu Youjian was a little dumbfounded.

Seeing this, Man Gui bowed knowingly: "There are still some military affairs that have not been dealt with in the house, and the last general will retire first."

"Hmm..." Zhu Youjian took a rest after a long time, and didn't want to talk too much about military and political matters, so he watched Man Gui leave, and then rode with four little ones to the northern part of Suzhou City. Grassland play.

It is Zhu Youjian's habit to maintain a certain amount of exercise every day, and it is also one of the few times when he can play with the four little ones.

But having said that, fathers take their sons as long as they don't die, so Zhu Youjian boldly took them to ride horses, swim, archery, play cuju, and play polo.

The four little ones are in one team, Zhu Youjian and Lu Yuangao are in one team.

The four of them rode four pony horses, although Zhu Youjian and Lu Yuangao also rode horses, but they always played in the style of strolling in the courtyard, not wanting to win.

After playing like this for a day, when they returned to Suzhou City, the evening drum representing the curfew had already sounded.

With the passage of time and the continuous progress of industrialization, Zhu Youjian can also rest and relax properly.

But the only embarrassing thing is probably Zhu Youxiao who handles government affairs in the Forbidden City...

"140 nine catties (89kg), lost so much?"

In the Kunning Palace at dusk, when Zhang Yan saw that Zhu Youxiao had lost so much weight, she couldn't help but raise her head in distress.

Sure enough, her husband, whom she hadn't seen for twelve days, was visibly smaller by the naked eye.

"Didn't Wanzai have a good meal?"

Zhang Yan asked distressedly, but Zhu Youxiao touched his short beard: "I always eat, but sometimes I don't sleep enough and eat less, and people will naturally lose weight."

After all, he patted his still big belly and said:

"I know why my brother can't gain weight. It's strange that he can gain weight after handling government affairs like this all year round."

"Long live, I still have to check your pulse..."

While Zhu Youxiao sighed, Wang Kentang, who recorded Zhu Youxiao's weight, also bowed and talked about the business.

"Hmm..." Zhu Youxiao, who heard the words, sat on the chair and put his hand on the silk bag for pulse diagnosis.

85-year-old Wang Kentang, with black hair and beard, saw Zhu Youxiao sitting up, so he also sat down and checked Zhu Youxiao's pulse.

When he was taking his pulse, Chen Shigong from Taiyuan Hospital also came to Kunning Palace. He was in charge of checking Zhu Youxiao's body bones and setting them by the way.

Not long after he came in, Wang Kentang smiled and withdrew his hands, and congratulated Zhu Youxiao:

"Long live has lost twelve catties in the past two months, and his pulse has become much stronger, not as fluctuating as before."

"That's a good thing. I didn't eat the medicinal food for so long." Zhu Youxiao withdrew his hand and smiled kindly on his face.

Wang Kentang also nodded when he heard the words: "If you keep it for another two months, Long Live should be able to lose weight to about 130 jin. By then, you should be in good health and will not get sick easily."

After finishing speaking, Wang Kentang stood up, and Chen Shigong also stepped forward.

Wei Zhongxian and the others brought a bone-setting car for Zhu Youxiao to lie down and relax his tired body during this period of bone-setting.

After doing all this, Zhu Youxiao also felt refreshed and moved his body a little in the hall.

Wang Kentang and Chen Shigong saw that Zhu Youxiao was fine, so they bowed and retreated, and they left the Qianqing Palace under the escort of the Jing army.

After they left, Zhang Yan also ordered the meal to be passed on, and soon four dishes and one soup were placed on the table.

Except for a medicated chicken, the rest are Zhu Youxiao's favorite seafood stew and fire-roasted lamb's feet, as well as some vegetarian dishes that Zhang Yan likes to eat.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help touching his stomach, and sighed to Zhang Yan:

"When I first came to the throne, I could still eat eight or nine dishes per meal, and sometimes there were more than a dozen."

"Right now, the Ming Dynasty is rich and the people are strong, but I can only eat four or five dishes."

Zhu Youxiao lamented the changes in his life, and Zhang Yan could only persuade him when he heard the words: "It's better to eat less, because there are too many kinds of food in each meal, and sometimes it will get boring."

"That's true..." Zhu Youxiao nodded in approval, and at the same time said to Zhang Yan:
"Counting the time, it's time for Brother Ran to enter the border of Shandong. When he comes back, it's time to choose a concubine for him."

"Hmm..." Zhang Yan was also very concerned about her parent-child marriage, so she took the opportunity to say:

"How about choosing a concubine at the end of the year? First choose 300 people."

"Almost." Zhu Youxiao didn't interfere too much with Zhu Ciran's marriage, but instead asked about Zhu Cixuan and Zhu Cijiong:
"How is this Brother Xuan and Brother Jiong learning recently?"

"The courses that Uncle Wu recommended to them are easy to understand. These two children have learned well, but according to their age, I am afraid that after finishing the studies, the officials will urge them to become a feudal lord."

Zhang Yan was very worried about Zhu Cixuan and Zhu Cijiong. Although they were not her own, she watched them grow up after all.

Zhang Yan felt a little flustered at the thought of them going to surrender.

"Hmm... Concubine Fan Gui told me about this recently." Zhu Youxiao said while eating:
"In my opinion, with the premise of having a younger brother, they can settle down without worrying about it. They can follow their younger brother and study for two years."

"The concubine also thinks the same way." Zhang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, she was most afraid that Zhu Youxiao would send the two children out directly.

After all, according to the new policy of the new dynasty, the mainland of the Ming Dynasty did not allow the vassal kings to become vassals. Therefore, if Zhu Cixuan and Zhu Cijiong really became vassals, it would probably be either Levia or the Hezhong area.

In such a far place, and the two of them are so small, it's no wonder that Zhang Yan is not worried.

It would be great for them to learn from Zhu Youjian. Not only can they learn something, but they can also choose two better places in the future.

"By the way, long live, Concubine Li Xian and Concubine Zhang Hui are both overjoyed."

After solving the matter of Zhu Cixuan and Zhu Cijiong, Zhang Yan remembered the happy event in the inner court, so she reported it to Zhu Youxiao.

But Zhu Youxiao shook his head after hearing this: "I don't know if it's a son or a daughter this time..."

"..." Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Zhang Yan couldn't laugh or cry.

Logically speaking, Zhu Youxiao should have many heirs for going back and forth to the harem all year round.

However, I don't know if it is because he was born with only three sons in his life, but after so many years of hard work, he got six daughters.

Compared with Zhu Youjian, who gave birth to six sons and four daughters in seven years next door, Zhu Youxiao, who has three sons and six daughters here, feels very humiliated.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Yan's pretty face and was a little itchy for a while, but when he thought of the more than 200 memorials that had not been processed by the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he immediately lost interest.

Looking at the medicated food in the bowl, Zhu Youxiao lacked interest, and even couldn't help thinking:

"I don't know how my younger brother handles so many memorials every day and can still give birth to so many children."

　I don't come back until seven o'clock, it's a bit late

　　
　
(End of this chapter)