The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

In his words, Zhu Houzhao showed his resistance to Yang Yiqing going to Liaodong to lead troops.

Liu Jian came up with a plan to deal with Zhu Youtang. The more those in power insist on something they oppose, the more we must persist, especially when it comes to the "orthodox" employment of people in the court. We must not give in. This shows the integrity of the minister.

In fact, for Liu Jian, there is no big difference in essence between using Yang Yiqing or Tang Yin to fight the Jurchens.

"Yang Yiqing."

Zhu Houzhao had a look of displeasure on his face, "He can fight well in Ningxia, but he may not be able to fight the Jurchens in Liaodong. I just want to see if he can destroy the city without others making suggestions. I want to see if he can defeat the city." The palace will recommend this person to my father."

The prince actually agreed to Liu Jian's proposal openly.

This surprised the ministers present. They thought this kid was a fool before, but why does he seem to be less stubborn now?

"Is it time to collect summer grain? As far as I know, summer grain from various places is less than expected this year."

Zhu Houzhao stopped talking about who would lead the troops in Liaodong, and instead talked about the taxes of the Ming Dynasty. "Is it because the weather is abnormal this year and there are disasters somewhere, which leads to the expected failure of the summer grain harvest?"

"Your Highness, the climate this year is much better than the past two years. At least there are few mentions of natural or man-made disasters in local reports."

Zhu Houzhao asked: "Since the weather is going well, why are we collecting less than last year?"

Zhong Zhong said: “The tax acres have dropped compared to the past.”

"If the tax acres are reduced, does that mean someone has abandoned the land? The weather is obviously good and there is no need to flee, so why are there fields but not cultivated?" Zhu Houzhao asked sternly.

Zhong Zhong felt a headache.

Similar problems have required constant explanation to Zhu Youtang in the past few years. Now Zhu Youtang finally knows that land annexation was serious in the Ming Dynasty, especially that more and more land was owned by clans, officials, etc. who did not pay land tax. In addition, local governments There were falsifications in land measurement and other matters, and some local officials took the opportunity to underreport the land to enrich themselves...

There were many factors involved, and he, the Minister of Household Affairs, couldn't explain it all to a naughty boy.

But what Zhu Houzhao asked was the conclusion reached by a normal person looking at the problem from a normal perspective... Since the weather is going well, the land tax must increase every year. After all, there is still land reclamation involved.

There is no war, no natural or man-made disasters, but they tell me that tax revenue decreases every year. Isn’t this nonsense?

Liu Jian saw Zhong Zhong's dilemma and took the initiative to say: "Your Highness, there are many reasons for the assessment of local tax acres, which cannot be clarified at the moment. In the past few years, the imperial court has also sent people to the local areas to verify, etc. Except for a few shortcomings, the rest are basically reasonable and compliant.”

Zhu Houzhao said: "Mr. Liu Ge, I think you might as well say directly that many people do not pay taxes legally, so that I can understand more clearly."

Liu Jian frowned.

You brat, you know and you still ask?

Zhu Houzhao looked very unhappy and said: "The last thing I want to see is someone poaching the imperial court. A group of moths are doing whatever they want. The royal court's taxes are related to the country. If these people continue to harm the country, how will the Ming Dynasty rely on to support its troops in the future?" ? How can we drive away the Tartars?"

The ministers present all laughed secretly in their hearts, why do you, a kid, have such high ambitions?Do you really think that the bad governance left behind by the founding of the Ming Dynasty can be solved by you, a naughty kid who served as a supervisor on your first day, in a few words?
Zhu Houzhao said: "I believe that a solution should be given to this matter. We cannot continue to delay it. We must act vigorously and resolutely to resolve the matter."

Liu Jiandao: "Your Highness, the background of this matter is complicated, and this situation is not unique to one place. Whether in the north or the south, these problems are becoming increasingly serious, and we should not make a hasty decision."

Zhu Houzhao curled his lips and said: "Liu Ge always wants to say that I am not qualified to make a decision? Since you think everything still has to be decided by the father, then I will go and ask the father to issue an order and send someone. In handling this matter, everything I have done is for the country, the country, the country, you don’t have any objections, right?”

When it comes to the matter of land, the officials present are all "beneficiaries", and tampering with the principle is equivalent to tampering with their vital interests.

But on the surface, they cannot directly oppose it, otherwise it will be true.

The father and son Zhu Youtang and Zhu Houzhao were not the ones they were worried about, but they were afraid that Zhang Zhou and other people who had political disagreements with them would use the topic to exploit the situation. After all, the upstarts headed by Zhang Zhou had just come into contact with power and had a limited number of acres. .

It can be said that the issue of land taxation is the "weakness" of traditional civil servants, and it is not easy to make it too public.

Liu Jian knew this very well, and probably expected that this naughty kid wouldn't do anything, he was just young and ignorant, just talking.

Even if I give you 100 years, you may not be able to solve this big problem. Isn't it a waste of time for me to argue with you about this?
……

……

The topic continues.

Then there are the river workers and the employees of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Zhu Houzhao seems to have little say in these two items. It may be that he did not do his homework in advance. Sometimes he interjects a sentence or two and his words are clumsy. No one takes his words seriously.

Seeing that Zhu Houzhao's first meeting as supervisor of the country's governance is coming to an end.

Zhu Houzhao suddenly opened the topic and said: "The Ministry of War previously requested to increase the expenditure on shipbuilding in the southeast. This matter has not been decided yet. Even my father's decree was rejected. I will now discuss this matter." To explain, why do you want to cause trouble for Jinghai?"

Liu Jian originally had the intention of asking everyone to stand up and say goodbye to Zhu Houzhao, but after hearing this, he sat down even more firmly on his butt.

Since you kid also wants to make a fuss about shipbuilding, then we have to discuss it with you.

Liu Jian spoke again and put himself on the bright side: "I don't know what the purpose of shipbuilding is. It is for the purpose of Jinghai, but after the imperial court increased its expenditure, it set up a salt farm to ensure its operation. It was a waste of money." There are so many, and now there are hundreds of thousands of taels, but after that, there is no actual achievement of Jinghai."

Zhu Houzhao said: "I don't know what it means to be prepared?"

Liu Jian looked around at the people around him. Even people like Ma Wensheng, who came from a traditional military background, seemed reluctant to speak out on such an issue.

Liu Jian could only continue to push forward.

Many people can also see that Liu Jian usually acts like a "coward" when confronting Zhu Youtang in the court, and mostly lets others come forward to reason. Only when he needs to come out to challenge, he will Come out to express your position and stabilize the tone and situation of civil servants.

But for the sake of the prince, Liu Jian behaved very strongly.

This also indirectly shows that Liu Jian regards himself as the prince's mentor, probably to dissuade the prince's behavior and prevent the prince from being led astray by Zhang Zhou and others.

This is a very responsible performance.

Liu Jiandao: "Now the focus of the imperial court's defense is not on the southeastern sea area. If the prince has something that he doesn't understand, he can ask more questions during the banquet. Someone will give the prince a detailed explanation about the peace of the sea area."

You little brat doesn’t understand anything. I’m too lazy to reason with you. Only by studying more can you make progress.

There's only so much that a gentleman can do to help you.

Zhu Houzhao hated being treated like a child. When Liu Jian said this, he was so angry that he almost jumped out of his chair.

But after taking a look at Zhang Zhou, he immediately calmed down.

Even someone named Zhang can sit firmly on Diaoyutai at this time, why can’t I?I can't mess up, lest these people think I'm a child and treat my words as farts!

Correct!
I just want to show my magnanimity and make them look up to me.

Zhu Houzhao said: "I have some shortcomings in what I have learned, but I also understand that all eggs cannot be put in one basket."

After hearing this, the ministers murmured in their hearts, what on earth did this brat want to say?
Really uneducated!
"The Ming Dynasty's treasury is still full in the past two years, but even in the transportation warehouse and northwest dispatch, you always say that there is no money and food. You also say that there is no shipbuilding. During disaster relief, you also say that there is a shortage of river engineering expenses and water transportation. You also say that there is a shortage... According to my investigation, the money and food reserves in the capital are getting more and more year by year. What you call being prepared is just letting the money and food become worms, right?"

Zhu Houzhao had obviously done his homework on this matter.

Because he knows that the army will move forward before the food and grass are used. If he has the dream of fighting and iron horses, and he doesn’t even know how much food the Ming Dynasty has, then what is the great dream of the Spring and Autumn Period?
Of course, he didn't know the exact amount, but he would ask. For example, Liu Jin, Zhang Yong and others said in detail in front of him that in fact, the Ming Dynasty's treasury was not very short of money and food in the past two years. It was better than the previous few years. The situation in the year was much better, but even the ministers in the court would always complain about the lack of money and food. In fact, they were causing trouble for the emperor and Zhang Zhou and not allowing them to "trouble".

And Zhu Houzhao himself happened to be a person who liked to toss more than his father and Zhang Zhou.

When you restrict my old father and Mr. Zhang, you are also restricting me!
You bunch of traitors!Liu Jiandao: "Regarding the treasury reserves, a few sentences cannot explain it clearly. Your Highness should still make more inquiries. Regarding the purpose of the reserves, the imperial court has already reported to Your Majesty. Prince, please do not make extraneous matters."

Another criticism.

Liu Jian couldn't say this to the emperor directly. Could he tell the emperor, "Don't make trouble? We'll see you unhappy?"
But for the junior Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jian dared to speak in such a tone.

After all, even your father was once our student. How dare you fight with us?

Even if you are the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, the pen is in our hands. Do you want to be a wise king or a faint king?Don't be so shameless!
Zhu Houzhao sneered and said: "It turns out that this is how you talk to your father. I understand. You can't explain the taxation clearly, and you even cover up what is hidden in the treasury. The court must be useful and use it on the right path. , you will also shirk the blame. Alas! It seems that governing the country is not as simple as I thought. "

Xie Qian smiled and said: "His Royal Highness, you should study more."

Zhu Houzhao turned to glare at Xie Qian and said, "Mr. Xie Ge, I dare to ask you, is it unnecessary to build a ship?"

Xie Qian didn't expect that Zhu Houzhao would suddenly focus on him. He was also thinking, why are you asking me?Are you looking for recognition?Or do you think I would agree with Zhang Bingkuan’s idea of ​​building a ship?
Xie Qian turned out to be a cunning person and said with a smile: "I don't know this. The prince should ask someone with experience."

"Yes, if you ask experienced people, you have no experience, but you are very experienced in opposing." Zhu Houzhao retorted.

Xie Qian was taken aback.

How come this naughty kid doesn't use any curse words when he curses people?Have you learned all my essence?
No, it must have been taught by that boy Zhang Bingkuan.

Zhang Bingkuan has been pretending to be mute today. He has found a disciple and asked the prince to be his vent and shoot at us, right?
"That's it." Zhu Houzhao said with disdain, "I have benefited a lot today, and I have learned a lot about your ability to govern the country. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will learn more from you... No, I will ask for more advice. "

Others are wondering, what is the difference between learning and asking for advice?

But most people can tell that this naughty boy's character is not as gentle as his father's. After all, even if Zhu Youtang is dissatisfied, he usually swallows his anger and rarely glares at ministers.

But the prince is different.

Maybe he is just starting out and has little experience, and he looks reckless and can’t rub his eyes with the sand, but in fact he is just “making nonsense”.

Liu Jian stood up and said, "Old minister, please leave."

"Okay." Zhu Houzhao also stood up and said, "By the way, my father said that we are going to give you a banquet today, so please don't leave in a hurry. You can wait until lunch before leaving. I have to do it first. I will report all these things to my father, and I will not eat with you and your family."

"Respectfully send off His Royal Highness."

All the ministers stood up to see him off, and even the prince's lecturers also stood up to salute.

Then under the scorching eyes of everyone, Zhu Houzhao left the Wenhua Hall with several of the Supervisors of Ceremonies, as well as Zhang Yong, Zhang Zhou and others.

Among the civil servants, only Zhang Zhou had the right to accompany the prince to see the king, which made many ministers present feel powerless. This also meant that their struggle with Zhang Zhou was still long.

……

……

"Do they look down on me?"

On the way to Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houzhao could finally speak freely, but he didn't look too angry. In the eyes of several eunuchs, the prince's expression method might be different from ordinary people.

Maybe now this kid has reached the critical point of breaking out.

Ordinary people would not feel good if they argued so hard with the ministers in the Wenhua Palace.

Xiao Jing said hurriedly: "Your Highness, in fact, all the ministers just spoke frankly and did not mean to offend."

"Did I ask you?" Zhu Houzhao glared at Xiao Jing angrily.

Xiao Jing was immediately embarrassed.

Zhu Houzhao turned to Zhang Zhou and said, "Mr. Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Well, they look down on you."

Several eunuchs were simply stunned when they heard this.

You, Zhang Bingkuan, are just adding fuel to the fire.

Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists and said: "Let me just say, they are deliberately trying to intimidate me. They think they are stumbling upon me when I am in court for the first time! A bunch of bastards!"

Zhang Zhou said: "A gentleman should maintain his dignity. It is wrong to curse people like this."

"I'll go!" Zhu Houzhao frowned at Zhang Zhou, stopped, and asked, "You are usually so targeted by them that you lose your temper? A man should have courage, but he should also have backbone. I'm ashamed of you. .”

Zhang Zhou said with disdain: "So what if someone is targeting you? So what if you feel angry? Do you want to fight with them?"

"Yes, that's how it should be!" Zhu Houzhao almost punched out.

Xiao Jing said hurriedly: "Your Highness, please calm down your anger. Mr. Cai Guo, please also calm down and achieve harmony between the monarch and his ministers."

"I'm not a king, I'm just a minister. Why should I keep peace with them! They bullied me in the court for being a novice, so why didn't they say they want peace?"

Zhu Houzhao was still very angry.

Zhang Zhou took the first step forward and said in a leisurely and contented manner: "Prince, have you ever thought about how to make them angry and powerless against you?"

"how?"

Originally, Zhu Houzhao wanted to be a vanguard and lead the way, letting others follow his footsteps.

Now he was following behind Zhang Zhou.

It was also because the conflict he had just created was so successful that Zhu Houzhao successfully regarded civil servants from both the government and the public as his opponents. Now he was angry. Zhang Zhouyi said he had countermeasures, and he immediately became interested.

Zhang Zhou said: "That is to continue to win, whether it is on the battlefield or in dealing with others. Only your continuous success will make them feel ashamed and make them unable to express their temper. They can only watch you."

"Yes, yes, that makes sense." Zhu Houzhao smiled happily.

The two of them have countless things in common.

Xiao Jing and others next to him were even more stunned now.

You Zhang Bingkuan, why do you speak so openly?Have you never thought that doing so would intensify the conflict between the prince and the minister?Is this what His Majesty wants to see?
You are causing trouble.

Zhang Zhou said: "Don't feel angry because others attack you. Only if you do things better will they target you more and more. Then you can stand high and see them furious in front of you, but they can do nothing to you." .For example, if you clearly account for the acres of land, send the ship out of the port and bring back a whole shipload of silver, bomb the Tatars until they don’t recognize their own mother, and drive the Jurchens to the ends of the earth without daring to cause trouble... If there is no money in the treasury, you will earn the money yourself; if you have no money, you will have to pay for the manufacture of firearms; no money or food will be allocated for shipbuilding, but the ships will still be built and sent out of the port... Does it matter whether there is any opposition in the government at that time? ?”

Zhu Houzhao said: "Damn it, are we going to be self-reliant? Then what is the use of the court?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Didn't the ministers in the court also say that? They are here to protect the country and the people. If the money and food are really used for people's livelihood and make the people rich in food and clothing, then they have fulfilled their responsibilities as ministers. As for whether they If they can keep their word, wouldn't it be the right time for you, Prince, to test them?"

Zhu Houzhao gritted his teeth and said: "Yes! I don't ask them for anything, but I have to complete everything myself. Then I can turn around and ask them, I have completed all my own affairs, have you completed what you promised? What happened? Then it won’t be that they come to see me as a joke, but that I look down on and despise them, making them feel ashamed!” (End of Chapter)