Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 168 Gifts
He Xuan and Zhao Xu were sent to the imperial city by Zhu Yuan in the afternoon, and returned in less than an hour. They did not bring the officials, but a copy of the imperial edict and a series of news from Lao Zhu.

The imperial decree is about Lao Zhu's cancellation of tomorrow's Tianshou ceremony: "Following the heavens, the emperor's edict said: Every time I meet my birthday, I will remember the kindness of my parents for their hard work. I want to support but not wait, but it is just sad. Now the army is fighting outside, and the Central Plains is waiting to be revived." , and I am a mature man, and I don’t want to abolish state affairs for my own selfishness, so this birthday will not be congratulated by the court, and the court meeting of all officials will remain as before. This is my honor.”

Still expected.

There is no need to write the form of worship, and there is no need to get up early tomorrow to rush to the palace to salute Lao Zhu. Counting the usual banquets, similar activities often take a whole day.However, Lao Zhu ordered that his birthday should not be ignored. As the 23rd grandson, if he really had to ignore it, it would be called low EQ.

Definitely going to enter the palace tomorrow.

Moreover, some days in advance, Zhu Yuan had quietly prepared gifts.

In addition to the birthday, there are various news.

Regarding Zhu Yuan, His Majesty the Emperor publicly ordered the execution of six Zhongshu or local censors in the early court today.Then, he ordered the Ministry of Rites to discuss the preparations for Zhu Yuan's ancestor recognition and adoption ceremony.

This is not over yet, and Zhu Yuan was promoted in public to be a first-rank official in Zhongshu Province Pingzhang.

Because of Lao Zhu's statement at Longwan Wharf yesterday, all the officials were already mentally prepared, but this series of events... was still a little confusing.

Regarding the first case, Yushi Zhongcheng Zhangyi refuted in public, thinking that His Majesty the Emperor should not be a sinner for speaking.

was repelled.

Zhang Yi insisted on pushing back, and still knelt outside the Fengtian Gate after the court meeting, asking His Majesty to take back his order.

In the end, it was Empress Ma who came forward, and the ministers also advised them that it was unlucky for the emperor to kill people near his birthday, so Lao Zhu finally took a step back. In Qiongzhou, if you are pardoned, you will not be pardoned.

After such a fuss, the other two matters, Zhu Yuan's acknowledgment of ancestors and adoption, and Zhongshu Pingzhang's acknowledgment of fate, did not have much objection.

Perhaps, on the one hand, this is a matter of the emperor's family, on the other hand, Zhu Yuan's ability and achievements are well known in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty.

In addition to these, there is one more.

The imperial court officially confirmed that this year’s imperial examination will be held on September [-]th. At the same time, Lao Zhu appointed the newly promoted Zhongshu Pingzhang Zhu Yuan, the Hanlin scholar Tao An, and the Minister of Rites Qian Yongren to be co-examiners.

This is something Zhu Yuan knew before.

At the beginning, when he felt that Lao Zhu wanted to take the responsibility of the chief examiner alone, Zhu Yuan was under a lot of pressure. On the way back, he had a discussion with Lao Zhu, and even confessed the principle of checks and balances. out the door.

Lao Zhu accepted the proposal.

However, originally the three main and third ranks were neck and neck, because Zhu Yuan had suddenly been promoted from the first rank Zhongshu Pingzhang, it was obvious that this time, he was basically the main one.

Zhu Yuan mentioned that Li Shanchang could be the host.

Lao Li's loyalty to Lao Zhu is unquestionable, and Zhu Yuan does not approve of Lao Zhu leaving Li Shanchang idle. The truth is, since it is not suitable to be completely idle, then only by making the best use of people can we avoid all kinds of moths.

Lao Zhu did not agree.

Zhu Yuan could also understand that, perhaps, his ancestors felt that there were already enough Huaixi clans in the imperial court, and Li Shanchang could not be allowed to use the imperial examination to develop a group of disciples and grandchildren.

After wanting to understand these, Zhu Yuan didn't mention it any more.

In addition to matters related to themselves, Zhao Xu and his wife also inquired about one more thing. Also at today's court meeting, the left minister Li Shanchang personally wrote a letter, proposing to follow the ancient system and set up six departments.

Less than a year after the founding of the country, many departments of Ming Dynasty have not been perfected.

Speaking of the traditional six ministries of the imperial court, before the Western Wu court, there were only three departments: the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Households, plus the same three-rank generals, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Division of Dali, who together held the authority of the six ministries.

This is actually very irregular.

In other words, the yamen called "si" is traditionally at the fifth-rank level and belongs to the six departments.Earlier, in order to show his emphasis on related fields, Lao Zhu set it as the third grade, including the "Yinghai Division" proposed by Zhu Yuan.

If Zhu Yuan hadn't appeared, I think Lao Zhu would be happy to carry out a standardization.

This time, the answer given by Lao Zhu was to discuss it later.

Having said that, this matter is still related to Zhu Yuan.

At that time, the officials could probably imagine that His Majesty's re-discussion would not be with them, but with a certain young favorite.

Let’s think about it again, Li Shanchang’s proposal to set up six departments may also have the intention of bringing the wandering Yinghai Division into Zhongshu’s authority. Unfortunately, stealing chickens is not enough to lose money, and the six departments have not yet seen, but he recruited himself a deputy from the first rank. .

Not counting Zhu Yuan, there were already four Zhongshu Pingzhang in the previous imperial court, namely Chang Yuchun, Hu Tingrui, Liao Yongzhong and Li Bosheng.However, everyone knows that these four people are basically part-time jobs that cannot be practiced, similar to the various provincial seals on many generals, and they are more inclined to loose official titles.

This time, Zhu Yuan's Cong Yipin must have real power.

I just don't know whether Li Shanchang wrote the letter before or after Lao Zhu mentioned himself.Anyway, with the small conspicuousness of the leftist, regardless of the front and back, it is inevitable to be pleasing.

Then, Zhao Xu and the two mentioned that the prisoner offering ceremony this morning was very lively.

Most of them are in a nest, can it be lively?

Moreover, he also said that he saw the imprint of Chuan Guo Yuxi in the Ministry of Rites.

Zhu Yuan met him two days ago.

The famous Jade Seal of Chuanguo, in another time and space, was rumored to have been lost in the grassland after Emperor Yuanshun fled north, and was never found again. Therefore, it became one of the three major regrets of Lao Zhu's life. This time, it was praised by Emperor Zhizheng. It was delivered to the Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers, and sent to the Bianliang camp at that time.

Zhu Yuan played with Lao Zhu's building boat before, and felt that it was very historically significant.

This is a symbol of China's thousands of years of continuous inheritance.

Having said that, Lao Zhu's three major regrets are that the prince of Yuan did not surrender, the jade seal of Chuanguo was lost, and Wang Baobao did not accept it.This time, there was only one left in the blink of an eye.Moreover, without the orthodoxy of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuan felt that it would be difficult for Wang Baobao to cause too much trouble in the future.

Anyway, no rush.

In a blink of an eye, it was the next day, September [-]th.

Zhu Yuan got up a little earlier, after eight o'clock, had dinner, and before he had time to go to the palace, he was greeted by Tao An, who delivered the decree.

The matter of recognizing the ancestors and returning to the clan is later, this time it is about Zhu Yuan's Cong Yipin Zhongshu Pingzhang.

He received imperial edicts, seals, official uniforms, and other things, and by the way, Lao Zhu asked Tao An to bring a lot of documents, such as one of the rosters of candidates who came to Jinling this time and recorded a total of more than [-] people. A foot thick.

The two discussed some issues of the court meeting in the past two days. What His Majesty ordered was more comprehensive than what He Xuan and the others brought back yesterday.

The first one is aimed at the Ming Xia regime in central Shu.

Today at the court meeting, Lao Zhu summoned the envoys of Ming Xia, expressing that Bashu has been the old land of China since the Qin and Han Dynasties, and asked the other party to return to Sichuan, and told Ming Sheng, the Lord of Xia, to obey the destiny and take the initiative to surrender to Ming Dynasty, so that the family's wealth and honor can be guaranteed.

Lao Zhu also promised that if Ming Xia voluntarily submits to him, he will avoid a war between the two sides and promote Feng Ming to the Duke of Shu.He is one level higher than Gui Minghou of Emperor Zhizheng and Gui Dehou of Chen Youliang's son Chen Li, which can be said to be full of sincerity.

Next to the sweet dates is the big stick.

In front of Ming Xia's envoys, Lao Zhu ordered Chang Yuchun, the current deputy general of Zhenglu in Shaanxi, to reorganize his armaments and open up roads, waiting to go south to Shu. Huguang and other provinces, Pingzhang Yang Jing's class teacher went north and stationed in Wuchang.

Finally, a period of three months will be given to Mingxia.

If after three months, Ming Xia refuses to voluntarily surrender, then Daming will have one more general who conquers the West.

Zhu Yuan also knew about this in advance.

It was still a plan discussed by the grandparents and grandchildren on their return journey, relying on knowing the result in advance. In the past, when the army approached the city, Ming Xia also voluntarily surrendered.

Moreover, the results of the Ming family were very good. After surrendering, they were moved to Tamna by Lao Zhu. Since then, they have spread all over the Korean peninsula. Hundreds of years later, they have become a common surname with a population of tens of thousands on the peninsula.

This time, although a three-month deadline was given, the attitude of Zhu Yuan and Lao Zhu before the discussion was that after a year of high-intensity fighting, all the armies had to rest. Submission, the actual dispatch of troops will have to wait until next year.

Furthermore, mentioning Chang Yuchun in Shaanxi is just a strategic intimidation.

God of killing, are you afraid?
Liao Yongzhong is the actual candidate for the general who conquers the west, and when he sends troops next year, he will only use Liao Yongzhong and Yang Jing, plus some troops from Jinling.If something different from what happened before, Chang Yuchun would not leave Shaanxi.

Zhu Yuan's suggestion is to wait until Shaanxi is more stable, and at the end of the year, it is best to recall Chang Yuchun.

next year……

Just take a year off.

The grandparents and grandchildren also have the same attitude towards this, Chang Shiwan cannot die.

In addition to the incident in Central Shu, Lao Zhu ordered the establishment of a field division with the same rank and rank, and issued a decree to recall Kang Maocai, the governor of the Metropolitan Government in Henan, and appointed him as the field envoy.

Zhu Yuan also knew in advance.

The plan for large-scale farming was originally proposed by Zhu Yuan to Lao Zhu, and Kang Maocai was also mentioned by Zhu Yuan.

Zhu Yuan's Sea Envoy was inspired by Kang Maocai who once served as an Envoy to the Field.

What's more, Kang Maocai has been in poor health. As far as I remember, this general died of illness in the past two years.

The early recall, and Wu Zhuanwen again, is also Zhu Yuan's hope that the opponent's fate can be changed.

Lao Zhu also agrees with this.

The governor of Tongzhi is from the first rank, and Lao Zhu does not intend to completely remove Kang Maocai's military post like Wu Liang did, but let him serve as the camp field envoy of the third rank.It's the same as Zhu Yuan, the sea envoy who served as the third rank from the first rank Zhongshu Pingzhang to the third rank.

Not to mention other things, this position is very suitable for Kang Maocai.

Because, for the next garrison, the initial plan is mainly military garrison, so that some soldiers who are not strong or surrendered in various places will be completely transferred to garrison. The advantage is that the implementation of militarized management will be more efficient.

Then, at the court meeting today, Lao Zhu also ordered the commander to send people to investigate the gold, silver and copper mines in various places, and prepare to mint coins. For this matter, Lao Zhu once again ordered Zhu Yuan to be in charge of the court, and asked Shan Anren to find a certain young man. Chapter discusses the details.

After talking about all kinds of things, it was already noon.

Tao An stayed for lunch, Zhu Yuan didn't take a nap, and rushed to the imperial city with the gifts prepared in advance.

Entering the palace from the north gate, after the announcement, Zhu Yuan took the shoulder car approved by the old Zhu to the Fengxian Hall located in the southeast of the inner palace. This is the family temple specially built by Lao Zhu in the inner palace, similar to the Taimiao in the southeast of the imperial city , the purpose is to facilitate offering incense and offering sacrifices from time to time.

One of the servants who greeted Zhu Yuan mentioned that His Majesty the Emperor had paid homage to the Ancestral Temple early in the morning, and then came to the family temple of Fengxian Hall after lunch, saying that he wanted to be alone in meditation.

Is this...will it not be the right time?
However, there is no way, come and come.

Jianyu stopped in front of the outer gate of Fengxian Hall. Zhu Yuan entered the door alone, walked through the square in front of the hall, stepped on the steps, and finally came to the door when he felt a little out of breath.

Let yourself slow down, wait for the waiter at the door to report, and finally enter the door.

In the solemn hall, the air was filled with the smell of incense, and Lao Zhu sat cross-legged on a futon beside him in a disfigured manner. He seemed to be staring at the many memorial tablets in the hall in a daze. When Zhu Yuan walked aside, he gestured for a futon in the middle: "They told you to rest for a few days... Now that you're here, let's offer incense to our ancestors."

Zhu Yuan nodded, put a booklet he brought with him on the ground, walked over, took three sticks of incense and lit them, put them in the incense burner, kowtowed four times in a proper manner, and then returned to Lao Zhu's side, He whispered: "My ancestor, Yuan'er was like this when he worshiped the ancestors, and he didn't know whether the etiquette is right or not. Yesterday, he wanted to find a ritual officer to learn it, but he didn't have time."

Old Zhu personally helped Zhu Yuan pull a futon over, motioned for him to sit down too, and said softly: "It's up to you if you like it, we were born in commoner clothes, and we don't have too many rules."

Zhu Yuan nodded, sat down at the side, and took the booklet that was placed on the ground before: "A gift prepared in advance for the ancestor's birthday."

Lao Zhu glanced at him: "I've said it all, don't congratulate me."

"It's not the same," Zhu Yuan handed to Lao Zhu, "It's not those official worship watches, and it's from the juniors to the elders."

Only then did Lao Zhu take it and opened the booklet.

Zhu Yuan explained softly: "This is some sketches related to steam engines and internal combustion engines that Yuan'er started to draw a few days ago, as well as trains, cars, airplanes, etc. hundreds of years later. step towards industrialization."

When Lao Zhu saw the simple steam engine model on the first page, he didn't rush to turn it over. He pondered it carefully and said, "Don't tell me, this is not a day's work, let's not be in a hurry."

Zhu Yuan paused, and said honestly: "Yuan'er is really not in good health, I'm afraid there will be a sudden..."

As soon as I said this, I was interrupted by Lao Zhu: "I didn't say anything stupid."

Seeing Lao Zhu's angry look, Zhu Yuan knew that he really cared about him, so he smiled, but continued: "...Anyway, I gave these to my ancestors. In the future, even if... do it like this, there will be no mistakes."

"Don't talk about this again," Lao Zhu interrupted again, gently turning over a page of the book full of charcoal drawings in front of him, and then said: "This time I brought back many palace people from Dadu, you Afterwards, pick twenty servants and bring them back. There are thousands of maids in the palace. Inspired by you, I ordered all illiterate ones to be released, and the rest are literate. I plan to reward the meritorious officials. , if you like this, pick some too.”

(End of this chapter)