Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 25

On September [-]th, the new emperor's first morning court.

This is a time when the stars and the moon are sinking, the sky is late in September, and as the stars and moon disappear above the sky, the sky becomes pitch black.

It is said that the Ming emperor was lazy and quit the court, but he did not know that there were many officials who wanted to be lazy and not go to the court, and they lost the court under the banner of "oversleeping", "blocking the road" and "illness".

According to historical records, on a certain day in May of the ninth year of Chenghua, nearly 1000 people lost their court.Originally, one would be punished for losing the court, but the law does not blame the public, and Emperor Chenghua chose not to pursue it in the end.

It's just that today is Emperor Hongzhi's first morning court, and no official dares to be absent.

The new dynasty has a new atmosphere, and everyone knows that the new monarch is benevolent, which makes many officials full of expectations for the new dynasty, so that they have no burden to get up early in the morning.

The first bell and drum in Wulou had already sounded, and the lights in half of the capital gradually lit up.

Huaishu Alley, Xu Mansion.

Xu Pu woke up to the crowing of the rooster man, his feet felt reluctant to leave the warm area, and the two bed warming maids seemed to have received a signal to help Xu Pu get up.

Although teaching the monarch "King Wen is humble", but as the top ruling class of this era, life must be extravagant.Whether it is status or financial resources, it is enough for him to live a good life.

Xu Pu gargles with the West Lake Dragon Well, which is respected by his students, and the top-grade fine salt that Li Zhiqing sent permeates in it. Although he is not as particular about using morning dew as the emperor, the cost is still quite a lot.

Official uniforms are also complicated, and several maids carefully serve and dress them.Because it is still in the filial piety period, mourning clothes and a belt around the waist are also worn outside.

Although Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials is a third-rank official, he was awarded the vain position of the prince's junior teacher when he was teaching the prince, so he has already become a second-rank official.

Xu Pu touched his flower rhinoceros belt, but he knew that he would be able to use the jade belt in a short time, so he went out directly with the tooth card.

The weather has turned cold, and there is a chill in the courtyard.

It was said that officials worked hard in the early morning court, but when Xu Pu woke up, dozens of servants in the entire Xu Mansion had already woken up, and it was around Xu Pu.

The sedan chair had already been lifted out of the sedan chair hall, and it was waiting in the front yard, with several burly guards standing at the door.

Xu Pu strolled to the front yard, although two concubines had appeared here to see him off, but there was no one in the sedan chair behind his sedan chair.

"Greetings, Daddy, child!" A young man in a seventh-rank official uniform hurried over with his hat on, saluting to Xu Pu in a flustered manner.

In the Ming Dynasty, it was not uncommon for father and son to be in the same dynasty.

It's not that the tiger father has no dogs, but because of the official shadow system in the Ming Dynasty.At first, those who were shaded were usually those who died in the official position or became official, but later, "the Beijing official examinations of the third rank and above have completed the results, and they have a son who is called an official student."

Xu Pu was promoted to the right servant of the third-ranking rites department in the 15th year of Chenghua. He was not qualified to be an official, but he begged to let his son Xu Yuangai enter the Imperial Academy. Pinzhong Shusheren.

According to statistics, before the Jingtai Dynasty, there were only more than [-] people who obtained shade, and "all of them belonged to special favors", and most of them were "obtained through begging for favors". The phenomenon of "civil officials overshadowing martial arts" appeared, such as Cheng Xun, the former minister of the Ministry of War, Cheng Xinchang, Sun Chengxun, who had a hereditary family of Jinyiwei.

Xu Pu has always been very strict with his son, he looked up and down the panting Xu Yuangai and asked with a somber face, "Where's the tooth card?"

"Uh, by the way, where's my tooth card?" Xu Yuangai realized that he was empty-handed, and couldn't help asking in confusion.

Tooth plaque, which is a passport to the early dynasty, is an exclusive item for Beijing officials, so that there is a saying "I love foreign officials and I have pai Yamen, and I love Beijing officials and I have tooth plaques".

Fortunately, at this time, the beautiful maid who found the omission picked up the tooth card and hurried over.

Xu Yuangai took the tooth card, seeing his father still staring at him dissatisfiedly, he smiled respectfully and said: "Father, please get on the sedan chair!"

"Master, it's getting late!" The butler said with his heart turned towards Xu Yuangai, also helping him out of the siege.

Xu Pu could not help but feel a burst of sadness seeing his son being so neglected, and the son and grandson of the chief assistant of the courtier who both entered the imperial examination.

I am a talent for managing the world, but the things I produced in the end are not as good as that idiot chief assistant.

"Get up the sedan chair!" The housekeeper sang loudly when he saw Xu Pu entering the sedan chair.

The middle door of Xu's house was wide open, and two sedan chairs went out one after the other. There was a lantern in front of them, and there were strong guards on both sides, and they were heading towards the Forbidden City.

When we arrived at West Chang'an Avenue, it became lively. Apart from many officials who also boarded sedan chairs for the early court, there were many food stalls along the street.

Xu Pu sat in the sedan chair and closed his eyes to rest, but he knew that the most urgent task was not to overthrow the first assistant Wan An and the second assistant Liu Ji, but to put shackles on the imperial power, so that Emperor Hongzhi could not use the factory guards as he did in the Chenghua Dynasty. .

The east is getting brighter, and the square in front of the Meridian Gate is already crowded with people.

"I pay my respects to Bachelor Xu!"

"Your Majesty respectfully invites Xu Xueshi Junan!"

"Your Majesty, I respectfully honor Xu Xueshi!"

……

Nearly a thousand officials had gathered here, and when they saw Xu Pu, who was wearing a second-rank official uniform, walking from the outside of the square, they all saluted.

The first assistant, Wan An, is a mediocre minister, and the second assistant, Liu Ji, is a mediocre person. Now only Xu Pu has the prestige and strategy among the civil servants in the Manchu Dynasty. Especially in the new dynasty, he also promotes enthronement, so Xu Pu has won the unanimous support of everyone.

The corners of Xu Pu's mouth rose slightly, he just nodded slightly, and then walked forward.

Liu Ji seemed to have forgotten the unhappiness earlier, and said to Xu Pu who came over: "Master Xu, good morning!"

"Morning Liu Ge, good morning!" Xu Pu knew that it was not appropriate to tear himself apart with Liu Ji, so he returned the greeting.

Didn't Liu Ji have his own little calculations, and he took the initiative to show his favor to Xu Pu and said: "My husband and Lord Yuanfu both think that enthronement enthronement is feasible, and the vote was submitted to His Majesty yesterday, and it must be approved in the early morning today. Execution enthronement grace All officials, soldiers and civilians must be grateful to His Majesty, His Majesty's new policy will be unimpeded, Xu Xueshi is a talent in the world, and hope to join the cabinet as soon as possible to serve His Majesty!"

"Mr. Liu Ge is too much!" Xu Pu found out that Liu Ji was a good person, and he was a little smug.

Seeing Xu Pu's reaction, Liu Ji took the initiative to extend an olive branch and said: "When the late emperor was alive, I asked the late emperor to add ministers to the cabinet, but the late emperor was obsessed with monkhood! Now your majesty has started to handle government affairs, old man What does Xu Xueshi think about asking for more cabinet ministers today?"

"Everything is up to Mr. Liu Ge!" Xu Pu was overjoyed in his heart, and he bowed his hands to Liu Ji.

At this moment, there was a commotion behind, and Wan An, who was wearing a python robe, was supported by his grandson Wan Hongbi.

Wan An is already a 70-year-old man with age spots on his face that look like beans. He waved his hand to Liu Ji who was presenting, "I'm getting old, and my bones are not as good as yours, and I almost couldn't even get up in the morning court! Even if the new ruler wants to let the old man do it, he won't be able to do it!"

Xu Pu didn't speak, and looked at the idiot chief assistant seriously.

"Your Majesty Yuanfu was just joking. You are honest and prudent. Now that the new king has just ascended to the throne, you have to rely on you for everything in the court!" Liu Ji complimented.

Wan An waved his hands, but he let out a long sigh: "No, no, I can't do it! It's just that His Majesty hasn't recalled the guarding eunuch so far, so I can rest assured that I will see His Majesty set things right!"

"Bachelor Xu, I think Master Yuan Fu is right!" Liu Ji said with a slight thought, and turned to look at Xu Pu.

Xu Pu also had calculations in his heart, and immediately stated his position: "If the new dynasty is to be rejuvenated, it must respect the virtuous and appoint the capable, how can we allow eunuchs to continue to disrupt the government!"

From studying hard in a cold window to being in a high position, he is naturally a smart person!Now that the words have been said here, the three court officials just looked at each other, and they have reached a certain tacit understanding.

Dawn has broken in the eastern sky, and the majestic Forbidden City has been revealed.

"Go up to court!"

As soon as the hour arrived, the eunuch on the tower sang loudly.

As the city gate opened, the imperial guards inside ran out neatly, staring at the civil and military officials present.

Civil and military officials, holding tooth cards, filed in through the left and right gates. Through the deep door opening, they could glimpse the magnificent Fengtian Gate in the morning light. At this time, the Fengtian Gate Tower is like a lonely giant beast.

When they came to the Jinshui Bridge, all the officials stopped to adjust their clothes, and then stepped across the Jinshui Bridge towards the West Corner Gate on the right side of Fengtian Gate.

(End of this chapter)