Zhu Yijun shook his head and sighed, feeling quite emotional in his heart.

Zhu Xizhong in history died of illness on September 30 in the first year of Wanli.

Today is July 19th. In fact, the two are not that far apart. Even if Huguang had not experienced this, it would have been two months ago.

However, the friendship between the two is very different. There is nothing better than dying with generosity.

Although there are ingredients that everyone needs, but...

Even if he spends thousands of gold to buy horse bones, he can't treat Chengguo Duke's government badly, not to mention that it has been a great help to him.

Before and after he ascended the throne, Jinyiwei helped him control the inner court and suppress the two palaces and high palaces. Until now, the Duke of Chengguo died in the line of duty.

The Chengguo Duke's Mansion has become completely dependent on itself and can be described as an integrated whole.

If Zhu Xizhong couldn't protect his grief and glory after his death, how could anyone believe what he said about Lingyan Pavilion coming back again?

When Zhu Wan was working for Emperor Sejong, he was impeached and committed suicide. He even counterattacked and implicated his relatives, but Emperor Sejong was indifferent.

Until five years after the incident, Nie Bao, Minister of the Ministry of War, was still blaming Shizong for his yin and yang - "There are clear regulations in the law. Nowadays, powerful people in Fujian and Zhejiang build huge boats privately and trade with thieves. If they are banned even a little bit, they will complain about Peng Xing, and the governor Zhu Wan will not be allowed to do so."

After his death, the legal net was withdrawn."

You see, the people who compiled the legal network are not allowed to die, so how can people control the powerful people in Fujian and Zhejiang?

If people's hearts are broken, it will be difficult to lead the team.

For this reason, Zhu Yijun naturally could not let the Duke's Mansion continue to be as it had been in history. Once Zhu Xizhong died, things took a turn for the worse - Zhu Xizhong was granted the title of king in the year he died. The next year, Zhu Xixiao took over as the bodyguard.

The Duke died in the ninth month, and in the tenth year he was deprived of the title he was pursuing. In the fourteenth year, the Duke Zhu Yingzhen committed suicide.

Jinyiwei is not that easy to control, and he will be liquidated if he is not careful.

In the past there was Lu Bing, and later there was the Duke of Chengguo.

Therefore, Zhu Yijun's choice of words just now was euphemistic, but he categorically expressed his attitude.

Zhu Xizhong died for his country! The imperial envoy worked hard to handle the case and took office!

What? Killing the prince without authorization and overstepping the imperial power is a heinous crime?

Duke Cheng Guogong's methods of doing things are just open to question, but his intentions are still good, and he is a good nobleman.

What's more, he worked hard and died in the imperial appointment. How can he be too harsh on such a pure minister?

Let’s not talk about rewards and punishments, let’s just talk about rewards.

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi looked at each other with helpless expressions.

Now when the emperor raises his buttocks, they will know whether he is about to poop or pee.

It's such a difficult thing again.

The court's deliberations are not the sole voice of the cabinet, and the civil and military affairs of the dynasty are not commanded by the cabinet.

The emperor only needs to consider convincing their first and second assistants. They have more yin and yang to reconcile.

As the first assistant, Zhang Juzheng was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, not only is Zhu Xizhong's matter, but also the Prince Consort Wu Jinghe."

"Even if Wu Wu is Zongzheng, he cannot arbitrarily designate Jing, Xiang, Min, and Ji as criminal vassals and demote them to the rank of nobles without going through the Ministry of Rites, the Cabinet, and His Majesty."

In addition to these four vassals, Chu vassal is still investigating.

It can be said that all the princes in Huguang were reduced to sinful vassals after this incident.

Just like what happened with Zhu Xizhong, once it came to the court meeting, there was another uproar.

This does not mean that princes and princes cannot be killed. The imperial court has also killed many people before.

It's not that the vassal vassal can't be convicted. It was Zhang Juzheng who personally organized the elimination of the Liao vassal.

The problem is, what kind of decency is it for people to make their own decisions and act without authorization on such procedural issues without going through the approval of the cabinet or the emperor?

As soon as this example started, the trend spread to the border generals and governors in various places, which meant that the etiquette system collapsed.

Never do it!

Zhu Yijun heard this and nodded in agreement: "The way of doing business is indeed inappropriate."

He smiled and said matter-of-factly: "That's why I have to discuss with you two gentlemen today how this matter should end."

When Zhang Juzheng saw this behavior, he was surprised and helpless.

The little emperor is willing to delegate power, but once he interferes in political affairs, he will always cause big trouble for the cabinet.

Zhu Xizhong was good at killing princes, and the young emperor hinted that not only was he innocent, but he also wanted a reward.

Wu Jinghe's arrogance of authority involved not only the cabinet, but also officials, imperial censors, and the Ministry of Rites. The young emperor's frivolous words about "improper methods" meant that he would not be allowed to make any mistakes.

The little emperor relied on the cabinet to reconcile yin and yang. When something happened, he would call him and Gao Yi - "Sir, please adjust it again."

It really makes people...well, it feels pretty good.

After all, it was all serious business, not a reconciliation of yin and yang like Emperor Sejong's insistence on building palaces and pavilions.

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Your Majesty, since the investigation of the Huguang case is almost complete, let Hai Rui and others return to Beijing first."

Huguang has been struggling for a long time.

When Emperor Shizong ordered Wu Jinghe to handle the major case of patricide and usurpation of the throne by the Chu vassal, he was ostracized by everyone in Huguang for more than a month.

Now this matter has not been resolved for a long time, and many gentry have been destroyed and their families have been destroyed, so the pressure is doubled.

Zhang Juzheng never stopped receiving intercessory letters from his hometown in Jiangling every day.

Of course, the reason was very high-sounding. The imperial envoys investigated the case and the people's hearts were turbulent. This not only dampened the enthusiasm of the officials to manage the affairs, but also affected the enthusiasm of the people for production and farming.

Even if the situation has eased after Liang Menglong took office, the battle should not be underestimated.

Since the emperor said he wanted to put an end to the matter, it would be best to settle the case first and then express his stance.

To prevent people's hearts from wandering.

The three of them were talking about business, while Zhang Hong quietly arranged lunch and stood behind the emperor as a reminder.

Seeing this, Zhu Yijun stood up and walked down the imperial steps, holding a salute to invite him: "Two gentlemen, let's have a meal first."

The two cabinet ministers were also accustomed to the emperor's behavior, so they quickly thanked him and followed him.

Eating time is the right time to discuss matters.

The so-called "eat without talking" means that you can't talk while chewing, not that you can't talk during the dinner. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many banquets.

The three of them sat down in a row.

Zhu Yijun followed Zhang Juzheng's words: "Sir, I will issue an edict later to settle the matter in Huguang and have Hai Rui return to Beijing immediately. How about that?"

The edict must be issued, and the imperial envoy should return.

Didn't he call the first and second assistants to discuss and draw up the votes?

As for the content of the edict, it depends on what consensus the three people reach.

After the two cabinet ministers listened to the emperor's words, Gao Yi was the first to ask: "Your Majesty, do you want to return the property of each vassal to the inner court?"

The emperor had already discussed the matter of being demoted to a higher rank with Wu Jinghe before he left.

Only when you are in charge do you know that firewood and rice are expensive.

The issue of reducing expenditures never depends on willingness, but there are resistances.

The resistance to the vassal surrender was originally the emperor. The Ministry of Revenue and the cabinet were never willing to spend money to support so many clan members.

Since the emperor was interested, the two of them naturally fully agreed.

The consensus at that time was to start with the Huguang incident, punish the guilty vassals and launch attacks, and lift the commercial ban on the lower-level clans.

After the news got out, one or two obedient vassals were instructed to invite themselves to attack, and they were given separate rewards, one penalty and one reward inside and outside, to coerce the other vassals.

Build it first, then customize it.

Boiling frogs in warm water prevents the feudal vassals from colliding with each other and preserves the emperor's sanctity.

However, other than the matter of taking back the family property, the little emperor did not get along with the two of them!

When it comes to real money, are you just playing tricks with the teacher?

Seeing Gao Yi's subtle expression, Zhu Yijun was quite dissatisfied. He quickly asked Zhang Hong to serve his husband a bowl of soup to cool down the heat.

On the surface, he said sincerely: "I just mentioned this matter to Wu Jinghe and confiscated the family property of the Yueyang Prince's Mansion."

"I didn't know that all the vassals would be involved. I didn't expect it!"

"But sir, since it has been confiscated and confiscated, you can't change it overnight."

"As for the specific disposal of the clan property, it is not limited to the inner court. I want the inner court, clan mansion, and household department to take charge of it."

It’s a lie if you didn’t say hello to Wu Jinghe.

Before Hai Rui and others left, they really only knew that the Yueyang Palace was involved in the case.

But Zhu Yijun had some speculations, and even suggested that Zhu Xizhong was involved in various vassals, which was not justified.

If Huguang really wants to confiscate all the property of each vassal this time, it will definitely cost nearly one million.

Just take Chu Fan as an example. Historically, Chu Fan was blackmailed by Wang Shouren, saying that Chu Fan had usurped the property of his ancestor Wang Bi, which amounted to more than 10 million taels.
To be continued...