Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 246 The Spring Festival of the Second Year of Hongzhi

On the first day of the Spring Festival, Vientiane was renewed.

Before dawn, the Qianqing palace was brightly lit, a large group of maids and eunuchs cautiously walked into the dormitory to serve the emperor and empress.

On the day of the New Year's Eve, it is natural that the queen will attend the bed.

The emperor's home is also the home of the Han family. In many ceremonies, the emperor's home is not much different from the ordinary people's home.

Since Zhu Youtang is an emperor, he also needs to get up early and put on a brand new dragon robe to go to Fengxian Hall, kowtow to the spirit cards of his ancestors, and then burn paper money and light firecrackers.

"King Xing, hurry up and kowtow to your elder brother!" Concubine Shao urged her elder son when she saw Zhu Youtang coming out of Fengxian Hall.

Zhu Youruan is now officially 13 years old, but he looks very timid, but under the stern gaze of Concubine Shao, he hastily knelt down and stammered hello.

Zhu Youtang glanced lightly at his younger brother who was kneeling on the ground, followed the younger brothers present with a few simple words of courtesy, and then took the dragon chariot to Fengtian Hall.

In fact, Zhu Youzhang was named Xingwang only on July 23st, [-]rd year of Chenghua, but he knew that even if Emperor Xianzong had the idea of ​​abolishing the crown prince, he probably would not favor Zhu Youzhang.

Relying on his understanding of the civil society, the emperor who wants to really revitalize the Ming Dynasty must not be a good boy, otherwise he will only be slowly emptied of power by those shrewd civil servants.

But now Zhu Youruan is somewhat useful, since these younger brothers go to the Wenhua Hall to attend classes every day, especially Zhu Youruan seems to have been successfully brainwashed by the ministers, which undoubtedly provides a stage for those ministers to speak on the road to governing the country.

Fengtian Temple, the voice of the mountain shouting long live.

Zhu Youtang, who was wearing a dragon robe, sat on the dragon chair, and all the officials above the fourth rank in the entire hall surrendered one after another, but they already knew that the only way to have a future is to hug the thick thigh of the emperor in front of him.

Same as last year, in the first half of the Grand Court Meeting, all the officials congratulated and presented gifts to the emperor, which is called the court ceremony.The second half is the banquet given by the emperor, which is called the big banquet.

Zhu Youtang noticed burnt marks on the black gauze hat and official uniform on Wan An's head, so he asked with concern: "Old Wange, what's going on with you?"

As soon as this remark came out, the officials in the palace were not surprised at all. After all, Wan An's image was simply outstanding.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the old minister's house caught fire in the early hours of this morning, and his clothes are disheveled now. Please punish the old minister for his misconduct!" Wan An came out to salute, responding in a distressed manner.

Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and other officials couldn't help but look at each other, with different expressions.

Officials here are divided into two categories: those who know and those who don't. Of course, those who know have enjoyed it, while those who don't know have a suppressed smile on their faces.

Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, knew about Wan An's impeachment, so he looked at Wan An gloatingly.

Misfire?

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan'an, and then continued to ask with concern: "Is your family all right?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Fortunately, the fire was discovered in time, and no one was injured or injured at home. It's just..." Wan An responded gratefully, but suddenly stopped talking.

Zhu Youtang saw a clue from Wan An's expression, and asked calmly: "Old Wange, but it's okay to say!"

"The fire at the old minister's house was suspected to be caused by heavenly fire. I have thought over and over again, knowing that this disaster must be punished by the heavens, and please punish the old minister for the crime of seeking personal gain!" Wan An plopped on his knees, pleading guilty very sincerely.

Huh?
Officials such as Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, saw that Wan An pleaded guilty for burning down the house, and couldn't help but look at each other.

Ha ha……

Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, saw that Wan An confessed his crime on his own initiative at this time, and thinking of the memorial to impeach Wan An, he couldn't help laughing to himself.

Not to mention what kind of crime Wan An is going to confess to, it is inevitable for him to spend a full 8 taels of silver to speculate in the house now, and Wan An is bound to fall this time.

Although Liu Mianhua, who was replaced, was still a respondent, without Wan'an, the number one courtier, the court in the second year of Hongzhi would definitely become clearer.

Seeing that Wan An confessed his crime on his own initiative, Zhu Youtang seemed very surprised and asked, "Mr. Wange, how did you use public affairs for personal gain?"

The crime of using public interest for personal gain can be big or small, and now Wan An is undoubtedly about to destroy his own future.

"On the 8th of last month, His Majesty held a supreme meeting. Wu Yu, the right servant of the household department, proposed to build the outer city of Beijing, which was supported by most of his colleagues. The old minister knew that this matter might be implemented. The old minister was fascinated for a while, so he borrowed from the Sichuan merchants in Beijing. I got [-] taels of silver to secretly buy land outside the city for profit, and please punish the old minister!" Wan An said with tears in his eyes, admitting his mistake.

what?
Household Minister Li Si and other officials were completely dumbfounded when they heard that Wan An even confessed to hoarding land outside the city.

When they learned that the imperial court intended to build the outer city, everyone could see that this was an opportunity to make a fortune, so they all quietly bought land outside the city.

Since it took some time for the news to leak, they all successfully bought the land at a low price.

As long as the imperial court officially announced the construction of the outer city of Beijing, the land in their hands would naturally turn waste into treasure, and they would earn at least dozens of times from it.

It's just that who would have thought that this opportunity that belonged to everyone to make a fortune together, turned out to be taken by Wan'an on the first day of the new year.

Not to mention the uncertainties surrounding the construction of the outer city of Beijing, if Wan'an is guilty of hoarding land, then few of them present may be able to escape.

Just like that, they had been happily eating melons and watching the show just now, but at this moment, they ate melons and ate them, and even catastrophe was imminent.

borrowed?

Although Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, was also flustered, he sorted out the key words and couldn't help but stare at the old guy who made up the lie.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is also guilty, and please punish him!" Second Assistant Liu Ji hesitated for a while, but also knelt down and pleaded guilty.

This……

Officials such as Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, saw Liu Ji stand up and plead guilty, and suddenly felt that the world had become unreal.

It's fine if the dignified chief assistant pleaded guilty, and this time the assistant Liu Ji also stood up. There is a high possibility of double killings in today's New Year's Day, and the cabinet will be deserted just after the beginning of the year.

Zhu Youtang looked at Liu Ji who jumped out suddenly, and asked playfully, "Mr. Liu Ge, what crime did you commit?"

"The old minister is just like Wange. After leaving Xiyuan that day, he also secretly borrowed 3 taels from merchants to buy land in the outskirts of Beijing. Please also punish the minister for the crime of public conspiracy!" Liu Ji did not agree. Dare to look at Zhu Youtang, and immediately confessed on his own initiative.

Finished!

Li Si and other officials, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, saw that the second assistant Liu Ji also confessed to secretly hoarding land outside Beijing, and immediately realized that things had become troublesome.

As the Spring Festival approached, the news of the construction of the outer city of Beijing had already spread, causing the land outside the city to rise, and the land or houses they grabbed naturally skyrocketed in price.

The meat had already been eaten in their mouths, but they didn't understand why Wan An and Liu Ji took the initiative to recruit it?

How could the dignified first assistant and second assistant of Ming Dynasty be so psychologically fragile? It is understandable to say that Wan An confessed because his house was burned by sky fire, but Liu Ji, as a dignified second assistant, only has this bit of psychological endurance?

All of a sudden, the whole hall could be heard that the first assistant and the second assistant of Ming Dynasty confessed their crimes on the first day of the new year, but the current emperor killed them.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan'an and Liu Ji, then looked at the officials present and said, "I've actually heard about this, but I'm afraid you are not the only ones hoarding land in this palace." ?”

This……

Li Si, Minister of the Household Department, lowered his head silently, but he knew that once this matter was investigated, none of the officials in the palace would be able to escape.

Zhu Youtang already knew the virtues of his ministers, so he said lightly: "I have always hoped that all the ministers and workers will work for the people! Fortunately, some people keep thinking about the people, but they actually want to benefit from it in private." Seeking profit, what you do is not ashaming me, but ashaming the thousands of people who are waiting for a benevolent government!"

"Your Majesty has taught you the lesson, and I am ashamed!" Wan An and Liu Ji expressed their attitudes with correct attitudes.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan'an who was kneeling on the ground, and then made a decision: "The purpose of building the outer city of Beijing is for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, but some people hoard land in advance and want to make a fortune. It is an ominous omen to be burned by sky fire, so the construction of the outer city of Beijing is put on hold for now!"

what?
The officials present widened their eyes when they heard that the construction of the outer city of Beijing had been put on hold.

Because they got first-hand information, they have more or less purchased land and houses outside the city, but now they have stopped because of the fire in Wange's old house, so the land prices that have just been speculated must have dropped.

It's just that Hongzhi can't be blamed for this matter. If Hongzhi didn't take the opportunity to punish them this time, he would be magnanimous.

Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, actually bought two houses outside the city, but he didn't expect Wan'an to ruin his good deeds, so he immediately looked at Wan'an with gritted teeth, wishing to eat Wan'an's flesh and blood.

"Your Majesty is holy!" Wan An felt the murderous gazes from around him, but expressed his position respectfully.

Zhu Youtang cleared his throat, and punished him: "Elder Wange and Elder Liu Ge did not violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty, but they are not good ministers who use public interests for personal gain. Today, they will be fined for half a year to serve as an example to others!"

"The old minister is punished, long live my emperor!" Wan An finally let go of his hanging heart. Although the price of sacrificing a house was a bit high, he thanked him very happily.

Liu Ji followed suit, but with a bitter look on his face.

Ruan Yao, a member of the Ministry of Industry, went to impeach Wan An this time, but Ruan Yao still has the title of teacher and student with him, so he, the second assistant, naturally became the biggest suspect.

After all, once Wan An falls, the biggest beneficiary will be his second assistant, and he will become the new chief assistant of the cabinet.

He originally planned to explain clearly to Wan An himself, but Wan An just ignored him at all, so he decided to take action to prove his innocence.

After all, once His Majesty wanted to punish Wan An, then his secondary assistant would also be involved, but it was enough for Wan An to see his "sincerity".

Wan Yi, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites of Nanjing, stood at the back, and now seeing his father survived the impeachment turmoil without any danger, he couldn't help secretly heaving a sigh of relief.

Ruan Yao, a member of the Ministry of Industry, attacked his father's biggest point of attack was the 8 taels, but his father pushed the source of the silver taels to a fellow merchant, and even took the initiative to expose the tricks of hoarding land in the outer cities of Beijing.

Although his father's actions must be hated, but compared with keeping the throne of the chief assistant, this amount of hatred is not worth mentioning at all.

After the congratulatory ceremony is over, it will enter the banquet giving session.

Whether an official is favored is actually empty talk, and the biggest evidence is naturally a reward in kind, and this banquet made the Beijing officials distance themselves from the local officials in one fell swoop.

In addition, the two most important gifts before and after the Spring Festival are: steamed buns and the word blessing.

It can be said that the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty is consistent with folk customs, such as steaming steamed buns on the 28th of the New Year, and the fable is "prosperity and prosperity".Usually the emperor of the Ming Dynasty ate one as a symbol, and wrapped the rest in a yellow cloth as a reward to the ministers he relied on.

Zhu Youtang didn't favor one person over another, and any official who was able to participate in the Supreme Meeting would be rewarded with a steamed bun.

The emperor gave steamed buns, just eat them.

It's just that this kind of thing that can be shown off is naturally impossible to really eat. Instead, it is placed in the most conspicuous place at home as an offering, and it is also necessary to kneel down with the guests.

Until the fifteenth day, the rewarded officials will reluctantly dispose of it, hoping to get steamed buns next year and continue to show off.

As for bestowing "blessing", it was written by the emperor himself on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and it was also rewarded to the courtiers he relied on, and the courtiers also found the most conspicuous place to post it.

The banquet begins, and the etiquette is the same as last year.

The civil and military officials couldn't help but think of this time last year, when Concubine Shu, who was still the crown princess, did something that stunned all the civil and military officials.

The spoiled princess concubine ran here and threw her wine glass on the ground in front of civil and military officials because the emperor didn't canonize her as a queen.

It's just that this year is completely different. Zhu Youtang firmly controls the entire court, and the future palace is even more harmonious. The current queen is also a husband and wife.

In fact, banquets are also held in the harem now, but the banquets are for the wives in Beijing.

One year spent similar, each year is different.

Zhu Youtang is not a workaholic, so he chooses to stop working in the following days and enjoy this rare holiday wholeheartedly.

Although he has no heirs yet, after all, he still has a lot of women. He just took this opportunity to deepen his relationship with a dozen of his women, and at the same time try to change his tragic fate of losing incense.

Fortunately, every woman is very cooperative, even during the day, she does everything possible to please him, and often takes the initiative to give herself a gun when playing mahjong.

When the time came to the last day of the holiday, Zhu Youtang felt a sense of reluctance in his heart, but he wanted to live this kind of leisurely life being courted by women in every possible way.

But he knew in his heart that the second year of Hongzhi must be a more complicated year, and it was also a year that tested his ability to govern.

(End of this chapter)