The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 82 Kill, demote, forgive, abandon, keep, inspire
Banquets given by the emperor are divided into big banquets, medium banquets, regular banquets, and small banquets.

The big banquet belongs to the list of Jiali.Generally, it will only be held during the major celebrations of the imperial court, the winter solstice, Zhengdan, and the triumphant return of generals.Sponsored by the Ministry of Rites, Guanglu Temple is responsible for specific matters.

Tonight, Emperor Hongzhi held a grand banquet in Qianqing Palace to welcome Huai En.

Using such a high standard of etiquette to welcome an eunuch, if the great grandfather knew about it, the coffin might not be able to hold it down.

However, Wynn deserves a big banquet!
For the first time in Chang Feng's life, he participated in a big banquet.Tangtang is a female relative and cannot participate.

Queen Zhang learned that the benefactor's sister had entered the palace.Simply hold a queen's banquet at Kunning Palace.Invite Liu Xiaoyan and Tangtang.

Although Chang Feng sat at the end of the banquet due to his low grade, he was full of pride and ambition.

Many high-ranking officials nodded to him from time to time.

The big banquet was just halfway through.The two protagonists of the banquet, Emperor Hongzhi and Huai En, left.

The two couldn't wait to go to the East Pavilion to chat.

Emperor Hongzhi gave Huai En a seat.The master and servant sat down.

Wynn said: "Now the situation has stabilized. How does the emperor plan to govern the country?"

Emperor Hongzhi has a strategy far superior to his peers.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Governing a country is actually governing people."

After finishing speaking, Emperor Hongzhi picked up the imperial pen and wrote six big characters "唰唰唰".

"Kill, demote, forgive, abandon, stay, enlighten".

Wynn said: "Dare to ask the emperor, what are these six characters?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "The first word is to kill. People like Li Zixing, Ji Xiao and others. They obtained the favor of the late emperor by offering aphrodisiacs and elixir."

"In recent years, they have not only caused troubles to the court, but also oppressed the common people. In order to build the Great Yongchang Temple, Jixiao forcibly demolished the homes of hundreds of common people."

"Li Zisheng regards the internal transport warehouse as his own private warehouse. The material for a elixir is only five taels of silver. He dared to ask the first emperor for 5000 taels!"

"The other crimes of kidnapping civilian women and occupying civilian land are countless!"

"Before my wedding, Li Zisheng and Ji Xiao conspired with Wanxi to kidnap my concubine Xuan, and wanted to use their blood to make some life-extending pills for Concubine Wan Gui."

"If it wasn't for Chang Feng's ability to handle affairs, he found them in time. I'm afraid that my current concubines would have died long ago!"

"If this kind of person is not killed, the anger of the officials, the people, and the government will not be enough!"

Huai En reminded Emperor Hongzhi: "Not only to kill! Now the treasury is empty. They have amassed so much wealth. It should be returned to the government."

"Chang Feng, that little monkey boy, is good at raiding houses. He can come in handy."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: "Yes. To deal with these people, we must use thunder."

Wynn asked: "Then who is the emperor planning to use the word 'derogatory' on?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Shang Ming and Liang Fang, who are in charge of ceremonies, are the late emperor's favorite ministers. Although there are serious faults, it is always hard work to serve the late emperor."

"Although Shang Ming is greedy and sycophant, he has done absurd things like kidnapping rich people. But more than half of his dirty money is used to help the poor and build free schools."

"Just relying on his kindness. I won't kill him."

"I plan to demote Shang Ming and Liang Fang to Xiaoling."

Huai En nodded: "Shang Ming and Liang Fang, if they have conscience in their hearts, they should serve the great grandfather in Xiaoling to get rid of their sins."

Emperor Hongzhi said the third word "forgiveness".What he said next shocked Wynn.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "I intend to forgive the three brothers of the Wan family."

Wynn was dumbfounded.

The three brothers of the Wan family. They were the mastermind behind the murder of the Empress Dowager Ji, the biological mother of Emperor Hongzhi!

How many maids and eunuchs in the palace who had protected Emperor Hongzhi died at the hands of these three brothers.

Emperor Hongzhi saw through Wynn's thoughts and explained: "I wish I could tear them into pieces!"

"It's a pity, I'm the Son of Heaven now. You can't do anything with selfish hatred and no public heart!"

"The three brothers of the Wan family have been deeply rooted in the court over the years, and their power has been poured into the court and the public. Their party members are all over the world."

"Among their followers, there are mediocre officials, corrupt officials, and virtuous officials. There are a large number of virtuous officials who have to bow their heads to them in order to keep their official titles and do things for the people."

"This principle is just like Wang Yue's attachment to Wang Zhi back then."

"If the three brothers from the Wan family are pursued, there will be a big prison in the court. By then, one case will lead to hundreds of cases, and one case will fly ten miles away. Too many officials will be implicated."

"You need to know, a little ink on the case, a thousand drops of blood in prison! Those virtuous officials who were once attached to them ate their melons, and I can no longer use them."

"For the long-term stability of Ming Dynasty. I must let go of my personal hatred."

Wynn said with emotion: "Forgiveness requires more courage than revenge. The emperor can do this. It is really a gentleman!"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "I intend to remove all their official positions and send them back to their original places. However, the money they have accumulated over the years must be handed over."

Wynn said: "it's natural. The emperor spared their lives. It's a kindness. They should be more sensible and spit out their money. "

Emperor Hongzhi also mentioned the fourth word "abandoned": "Mediocre officials like Wan An, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Liu Jue, a member of the cabinet. I must abandon it."

"What are the clay sculpture ministers and Xiniao censors?"

"With this group of insects, how can we manage Daming well?"

"I will give them a golden step to walk. Old Prime Minister, I want you to pave this golden step."

"You just returned to Beijing. Naturally, you should have a banquet with the officials. You have to hint them for me, and express the old handbook."

Huai En is a little strange: "Your Majesty just said that you want to abandon Wan'an and Liu Jue. But you didn't mention Liu Ji. Could it be you?"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: "Yes, this is my fifth character. Stay."

"Not only do I want to keep Liu Ji for two or three years, but I also want to promote him to be the chief minister of the cabinet!"

Wynn was a little puzzled: "Dare to ask the emperor, why?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "There are two reasons. First, for those who have achieved major events in ancient and modern times, the first priority is to find a substitute."

"I want to carry out drastic reforms in the court, which will inevitably hurt the interests of some people."

"At that time, Liu Ji will be pushed out and scolded for me!"

"Liu Ji is nicknamed Liu Mianmian. The biggest characteristic of this person is that he is not afraid of being scolded."

"He is my substitute who stayed in the court to be scolded for me!"

Wynn asked, "What about the second reason?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Since Emperor Taizong built the cabinet to the last years of Xuande, the cabinet's power has been overwhelming. The emperor is bound."

"I have just ascended to the Great Treasure. If I want to clean up the decline of the late Chenghua Dynasty, I have to change many national policies. This requires getting rid of the shackles of the cabinet."

"Liu Ji doesn't have much ability. Let him be the chief assistant so that I won't be restrained."

Huai En looked at Emperor Hongzhi with admiration: "Your Majesty, you will definitely become a wise king."

Emperor Hongzhi said: "The most important thing is the sixth character, Qi."

"Wang Shu once said to me. The foundation of a country's prosperity lies in close and virtuous ministers and distant villains."

"If I want to do great things, I must use virtuous ministers. I have a few candidates for the time being."

Wynn asked, "Which ones?"

Emperor Hongzhi said three names: "Wang Shu, Ma Wensheng, Liu Daxia."

To put it another way, these three names will be honored by the world as the "Three Gentlemen of Hongzhi" in the future, and they will assist Emperor Hongzhi in creating "Hongzhi Zhongxing".

Wynn said: "The old slave also recommends one."

Emperor Hongzhi asked, "Who?"

Huai En replied: "Wang Yue. Although Wang Yue was attached to Wang Zhi, he was the most capable border minister in Ming Dynasty. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the No. 1 general of the Chenghua Dynasty."

"He went out of the fort three times to collect Hetao. He went deep into the hinterland of the grassland twice to surprise the Tartars"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Well, I know this person. He is a good material to be a border minister. In my opinion, let him be the governor of Ganliang, and take charge of the military affairs of the four towns of Gan, Liang, Yan, and Ning."

(End of this chapter)