I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 50
Today is the day when the imperial court holds a big court meeting. Unlike the usual cabinet meetings that Jiajing attended, this time the court meeting was attended by the six ministries and all officials who returned to Beijing to report on their duties.

However, Jiajing has not been to the court for more than 20 years, so naturally he will not participate in the big court meeting. Therefore, the previous big court meetings were presided over by the cabinet elders, and after the results of the discussions, they were submitted to the emperor for review.

But today, what made the ministers present feel a little uncoordinated was that the elders of the cabinet did not intend to step forward to preside over the court meeting, but stood directly in the first row with awe-inspiring expressions.

"His Majesty is here!"

Just as the ministers were whispering and speculating privately, a thin voice sounded, Jiajing dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, appeared at the court meeting, and Lu Fang followed behind Jiajing.

"What? Your Majesty is here to attend the Great Court Conference!"

"Your Majesty has not been in court for more than 20 years. How could you suddenly participate in the court meeting?"

"Your Majesty regained his original aspirations, it is really my great fortune!"

With all kinds of thoughts, the countless ministers present all knelt down.

"Sir, see Your Majesty!"

"Get up." Jiajing looked at the many ministers kneeling on the ground, and after sitting on the dragon chair, he waved his hands.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After hearing Jiajing's words, those officials got up from the ground one by one.

"Today's court meeting, there are three main things discussed!"

"One is the Southern Wo and the Northern Tatars, the second is the rectification of the official system, and the third is the severe drought in Gansu." A eunuch with an extremely loud voice followed up.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has an official performance!" Zhang Juzheng took the lead and raised the wat (hu) board in his hand.

"Quite." Jiajing turned his gaze to Zhang Juzheng, and said lightly.

"The previous strategy formulated by the imperial court was to first go south and then go north, that is, to relieve the Japanese plague in the south first, and then gradually plan for the Tatars in the north! Not long ago, Qi Jiguang, the governor of Zhejiang Province and the governor of Zhejiang Hu Zongxian, was in Fenghua. , Ninghai and other places wiped out a large number of Japanese pirates, and later rushed to help Quanzhou City and helped Yang Zongtai, the county magistrate of Quanzhou, defend the city."

After pausing for a moment, Zhang Juzheng continued: "After these two battles, the Japanese pirates' power in the southeast coast has been greatly weakened! But their strongholds are still erratic, and they cannot be completely eradicated. At present, the Department of Shipping has built 50 warships capable of going to sea. There are many ships, the soldiers have been trained and their combat power has been formed, please send them out to fight at sea."

After Zhang Juzheng finished his report, he returned to his queue. Jiajing turned his attention to Xu Jie Gaogong again, and asked, "What does your household department say?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the estimated cost of our Ming Navy's naval operations is about 80 taels. First, it can keep the enemy out, and second, it can enhance its combat effectiveness. This strategy is feasible."

"If that's the case, then it's okay. After the court meeting is over, the household department will allocate the money and food." Jiajing waved his hand and agreed to the proposal.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Xu Jie bowed slightly and responded.

After Zhang Juzheng finished his report, Yan Shifan held up the wat board and went out: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Industry have this performance!"

"allow."

After Jiajing agreed, Yan Shifan looked around, and then said: "Your Majesty, regarding the rectification of the official system, the Ministry of Officials dismissed a total of 58 unqualified officials last year! There are some who don’t do anything after taking office, even when they are on duty, they hire others to do it for them, and they only drink and have fun all day long.”

"When the officials from our Ministry of Public Security came to inquire, he also said boldly that merits and demerits have always gone together.

"Just imagine, if all the officials in my Ming Dynasty were like him, how would the court's policies be implemented? How would the people's lives be guaranteed? Therefore, I request Your Majesty to step up the assessment and participate in the Supervising Censor Zhao Zhenji's book! Its supervision is not in place, so these officials are allowed to occupy high positions."

After hearing what Yan Shifan said, Jiajing turned to the side and said calmly, "Zhao Zhenji, what do you say? Mr. Xiao Ge said that you didn't supervise properly."

After Jiajing's words fell, Zhao Zhenji, the supervisory censor, knelt down, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I also have difficulties! Although I am the supervisory censor, there are only a few dozen people under my command. My Ming Dynasty has so many people. There are so many officials, how can they monitor it?"

Zhao Zhenji said with a sad look on his face: "Those reports were stopped halfway, and there is no way to know the specific situation. How can we talk about supervision?"

Seeing Zhao Zhenji's attitude, Yan Shifan said coldly, "Master Zhao, what do you mean by that?"

Zhao Zhenji didn't hesitate at all, and replied, "Master Xiaoge must be very clear about what I mean."

"you!"

"Okay, okay, stop arguing, this is the court meeting!" Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Jiajing stopped them.

"Is what Elder Xiaoge said just now true?" Jiajing turned his gaze to Zhao Zhenji and asked.

"Your Majesty, there is indeed such a thing." Zhao Zhenji didn't dare to hide it, and responded quickly.

"If that's the case, it's also the reason why you didn't do a good job in monitoring. As for the difficulties you mentioned, I will consider them according to the circumstances and fine them for half a year."

"My lord, thank you for your majesty's grace!" Zhao Zhenji saw that the emperor opened his mouth, so he had to accept the order and go back to the queue.

"The next matter that the imperial court is discussing is the severe drought in Gansu, and the governor of Gansu, Wang Ji'en, will have an audience!" Seeing that the first two matters have been discussed, the eunuch with an extremely loud voice roared again.

I saw Wang Jien, the governor of Gansu, kneel down on the ground with a plop, weeping bitterly and saying: "My lord, Wang Jien sees Your Majesty!"

Ever since Wang Jien received the letter from the imperial court asking him to return to Beijing to report on his duties, he has been restless all day long, unable to eat well or sleep well. After the subordinates stopped talking nonsense and unified their voices, Wang Jien rushed to the capital.

"Get up, don't be nervous! I asked you to return to Beijing to report on your work this time, because I want to hear from you how the drought in Gansu is going."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing the emperor's words, Wang Ji'en felt a little relieved.

"Your Majesty, Gansu has suffered severe droughts every year in recent years, and this year is especially severe! It has not rained a drop of rain for three consecutive months, and the fields have become cracked due to lack of water, and most of the crops planted by the people have died of drought! The river water is all dry, exposing the bare riverbed, even if our government sends people to dig wells to find water sources, it will not help."

"Many people immediately broke their cooking. In order to survive, they had to sell their land cheaply, or go to the landlord's powerful family as tenant farmers! The government has started relief, and opened warehouses to release grain, but it is only a drop in the bucket. The Gansu government can't last long. Currently, Gansu government warehouses The grain stored in the village is only enough to feed the victims for a week, I implore Your Majesty to allocate money to save the people in Gansu!"

After Wang Jien finished speaking, he slammed his head on the ground heavily, and his expression couldn't help but move people.

After Jiajing heard what Wang Jien said, he seemed to be touched by it, and then he looked at Xu Jie and asked, "How much money can your household department pay?"

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is currently empty, and the Ministry of Household Affairs can issue up to 70 taels of silver at the moment." After listening to Jiajing's words, Xu Jie said after a moment of thought.

"What? It's only 70 taels of silver! This is far from enough. How should the people in Gansu live!"

Seeing that the amount of payment had changed from the original 130 taels to 70 taels, Wang Jien gritted his teeth, and then put on an expression of righteous indignation, and said.

(End of this chapter)