Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

One of the major issues Chongzhen mentioned was taxation.

This makes Lu Zhenfei very tempted, the cabinet is now dreaming of collecting business taxes.

If the proposal to levy business taxes is passed at the Great Court Assembly, wouldn't even the Holy Majesty have the right to stop it?
Lu Zhenfei suddenly felt that compared to this matter, the three matters of the Beijing Imperial College, the handling of the surrendered generals and the liquidation of the northern gentry were nothing at all, and this was the big deal!
Lu Zhenfei has already tended to agree with writing the innovation of the Dachaohui into the instructions of the emperor's ancestors.

But the premise is that the prime minister of the cabinet must also have the power to call the court meeting, at least the chief minister of the cabinet must have it.

Meng Zhaoxiang suddenly reminded: "Your Majesty, even if it involves laws, taxes, and military use, it may not be a major matter. For example, if there are thieves in the mountains who kill people and steal goods, you only need to send dozens of soldiers into the mountains to easily wipe them out. The governor of a province is enough to decide the matter, and there is no need for a cabinet vote, let alone a resolution by the court."

"Meng Ge's old words are right, and I've lost my mind here." Chongzhen said, "I won't be so boring, but no one can guarantee that future emperors will not have such outliers. Matters related to law, taxation, and military use require the convening of the Great Court Meeting every day. The officials in Beijing and China may be exhausted by him. In view of this, it is necessary to set a clear limit on the number of times the Great Court Meeting is called, for example, one There are at most two court meetings per month."

Lu Zhenfei couldn't hold back any longer, and asked directly: "My lord, do cabinet ministers have the right to call a court meeting?"

Chongzhen immediately cast a meaningful glance at Lu Zhenfei, thinking that he was indeed an old fox, and he thought so quickly that the Dachao would fight against the imperial power and seek benefits.

"Of course." Chongzhen smiled.

However, Chongzhen didn't mind this.

As I said before, Chongzhen is confident that he has absolute control over the Great Court Meeting, so he doesn't mind giving the cabinet ministers the power to call the Great Court Meeting. In the future, he may even consider giving more officials the power to call the Great Court Meeting, similar to Every people's representative can submit a motion.

After a pause, Chongzhen asked again: "So, what do the elders think?"

Lu Zhenfei, Meng Zhaoxiang and other five elders exchanged their opinions with each other, and said in unison: "The ministers agree to write the innovation of the Holy Majesty about the Dachaohui into the instructions of the emperor's ancestors, so that the emperors and ministers after the Ming Dynasty will abide by it unswervingly. "

"The ministers and others seconded the proposal." The six ministers, the minister, Zuodu Yushi and other senior officials came out of the class to agree.

Immediately afterwards, more officials in the main hall, and officials on the cloud platform outside the main hall also echoed.

Even Chongzhen didn't realize that today's Great Court Conference will leave a strong mark in the history of the Ming Dynasty and even the entire history of China. Most historians of later generations hailed this Great Court Conference as the beginning of constitutionalism.

Because the political status of the emperor's ancestors as the first constitution of the Ming Dynasty and even all feudal dynasties in history was established at this Great Court Conference. More importantly, the status of the Great Court Conference as the highest authority of the Ming Dynasty is also today. It was officially recognized at this great court meeting, and the future emperor will never be able to promise everything like the previous emperor.

Because Chongzhen designed a closed loop, revising the emperor's ancestral precepts is also a major event, which must be decided by the Great Court Council.

That is to say, unless the emperor of later generations can persuade more than half of the civil servants and military officials of the seventh rank and above in Beijing, he will not even be able to change a single word in the emperor's ancestor's instruction, let alone cancel the resolution of the Great Court Assembly on major events. The difficulty of this matter is about the same as the proposal to cancel the veto power of the five permanent members at the UN General Assembly.

……

At the North Tongzhou Wharf, Zhu Cihong shuddered for no reason.

"What's going on?" Zhu Cihong murmured, "Is there something bad going to happen?"

Just as he was talking to himself, there was suddenly the sound of horse hooves outside the pier. When Zhu Cihong looked intently, he saw Zhu Cijiong riding a snow-white horse, rushing into the pier like lightning.

Behind Zhu Cijiong, dozens of cavalry followed.

These dozens of riders also rode the same tall horses.

After galloping into the pier, Zhu Cijiong reined in the horse's reins violently, and the white horse immediately stood up, and the two huge iron hooves kicked several times in the air before they landed heavily with a bang.

"Brother, you've finally arrived, I'm going to miss you little brother."

Zhu Cijiong got off his horse, rushed forward and hugged Zhu Cihong.

Zhu Cihong also hugged Zhu Cijiong with open arms. No one knows what will happen in the future, but at least at this moment, the relationship between Zhu Cihong and Zhu Cijiong is still very pure.

"Third brother, let elder brother see you." After the hug, Zhu Cihong looked at Zhu Cijiong carefully again, "I have grown a lot taller, but I am darker and thinner than before, but I am much more energetic."

Zhu Cijiong laughed, and said: "It's raining and cloudy in the wind all day long, can it be dark or thin?"

"Third brother, you and your father have worked hard." Zhu Cihong said emotionally, "But now that Jianu has been wiped out by us, you can finally rest for a while."

"There's no time to rest." Zhu Cijiong shook his head.

"Brother, you arrived today. If you arrive two days later, you won't be able to see me, brother. I will leave for Liaodong early tomorrow morning, and prepare to form a cavalry regiment."

"Oh yes, I almost forgot about it." Zhu Cihong patted his forehead and said.

"Brother, where are Xun'er and Gui'er?" Zhu Cijiong rubbed his hands and said, "Hurry up and take it out and have a look. I haven't seen you in half a year. These two little guys must have grown taller and fatter, right?"

"Xian'er and Gui'er didn't come this time." Zhu Cihong said with some regret.

"In August and September, they and the Crown Princess will come with Concubine Li, Concubine Ran and Jinxiu."

"That's right, Xing'er and Gui'er are still young, and they can't stand the long hours of exhaustion." Zhu Cijiong nodded and said, "Then we can only come back to see them after finishing our work at the Cavalry Corps."

Zhu Cihong hesitated for a while, and finally asked in a low voice: "Third brother, have you gone to worship in front of the mother's mausoleum?"

"Go." Zhu Cijiong's expression immediately dimmed, "Although Li Zicheng, a thief, has committed many atrocities, but for the matter of taking the embalmed mother and giving him a generous burial, I still accept his kindness. If there is a chance to capture Li Zicheng alive in the future, I can still do so Spare him a dog's life."

Zhu Cihong asked sadly: "Where is the empress buried?"

"It will be buried in the Mausoleum of Imperial Concubine Tian in Tianshou Mountain." Zhu Cijiong said.

"Have you been buried with Concubine Tian?" Zhu Cihong asked thoughtfully, "Did Emperor Father say to move the mausoleum for your mother? Or did Emperor Father mention to you about repairing the tomb?"

Regarding the mausoleum, Emperor Chongzhen is an outlier.

Other emperors repaired their tombs early.

However, until 17 years after he ascended the throne, Chongzhen had no plans to build the mausoleum for himself, and he didn't know whether it was because of lack of money and he didn't want to start construction hastily, or because of other reasons.

But now Daming has no shortage of money.

"I dare not ask that." Zhu Cijiong shook his head again and again.

"If you are not afraid of being scolded, you can ask the emperor yourself."

Zhu Cihong was silent for a moment, then asked again: "Where are the second sister and the younger sister?"

Zhu Cijiong sighed softly, and replied: "The second sister is buried in the Zhou family cemetery. As for the younger sister... no one knows where she is buried. Like the younger sister, there are concubines such as Concubine Yuan Gui."

Zhu Cihong's heart groaned greatly. I'm afraid there are no bones left?

……

The grand court meeting of Huangji Hall is still going on.

As Chongzhen expected, the Beijing Imperial Academy and the proposal to liquidate the northern gentry were passed smoothly, and the proposal to reset the Beijing Imperial Academy was unanimously approved.

Now we are discussing the third major matter - how to punish the second surrender and surrender general.

In fact, there is nothing to discuss about surrendering generals. Everyone is in favor of punishment.

Whether it was Wu Sangui who led the wolf into the house, or Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, Jiang Guan and Zu Dashou who were traitors, they were all escorted to Caishikou Lingchi and executed.

Controversial ones are Hong Chengchou, Wang Aoyong and Sun Zhixie and other ministers.

Many officials think that these ministers should also be executed, but they should retain some dignity, so it is best to hang them and leave them with a whole body.

There are also many officials who believe that the second minister should be given a chance to atone for his sins.

For this reason, Zuo Zhuan's famous saying: Who is without fault?There is nothing good that can be improved after passing by.

There are also very few officials who advocate severe punishment, and the second minister should be sentenced to death by Ling Chi just like the military commander.

Thousands of civil officials of different grades were divided into three factions, and a heated debate was launched.

However, the military attache of the Right Ban's Ministry of Internal Affairs kept silent, because they already knew what Chongzhen meant, and they waited for Chongzhen to give a hint before expressing their opinions.

Seeing that the timing was almost up, Chongzhen nodded slightly.

Ma Mingpao, who was standing at the head of the class, immediately took two steps forward and shouted, "I have something to say, gentlemen, please listen!"

Ma Mingpao used to have a loud voice, and this yell was even more exhausting. The eardrums of the civil servants who were close were buzzing, and they almost lost their hearing in both ears on the spot.

The whole hall suddenly became silent.

Then Ma Mingjue said loudly: "If the following officials' superficial views are like Hong Chengchou, Sun Zhixie, Wang Aoyong, Gong Dingzi and other officials who are willing to degenerate, first surrendering bandits and then slaves, they will be more than worthy of death."

"However, it would be too cheap to kill them like this."

"So they should be allowed to continue working on the railroad at the site."

"Use the rest of their lives to make one last contribution to Daming."

"So, wouldn't it be a hundred times better than killing them? What do you think?"

Immediately, a civil official retorted: "What should we do after the railway is completed? Let them go?"

"Nonsense." Ma Minglu said, "After the Liangjing Railway, there is the Yunxi Railway, and after the Yunxi Railway, there are other railways. Will the Daming Railway be completed? In short, let these officials build roads until they die If you don’t kill them, it will make them suffer a hundred times and a thousand times more than killing them, so this is enough to warn those who come after.”

After finishing speaking, the military officials of the right class's internal affairs government came out to support.

Immediately afterwards, there were more voices of support from the corridors outside the hall and on the platform.