On the Longevity Festival in the 17th year of Hongwu, amidst the sound of rituals and music, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty celebrated the emperor's birthday. The local state capitals or chieftains and local families also presented birthday gifts, but they refrained from comparing the rare treasures, and mainly paid attention to their hearts.
host.
For example, the eminent monk Fatian and his disciples from Gantong Temple in Dali, Yunnan, traveled across mountains and rivers to present a pot of Yunnan camellia, a Dali white horse, and poems symbolizing national unity to the emperor. When they went to the palace to have an audience, there was an auspicious scene of horses neighing and flowers blooming.
There were also many poor prefectures and counties who only donated some self-grown grain. Emperor Zhu was equally delighted and greatly commended these officials.
In the evening, the princes, princes and grandchildren celebrated the emperor with family gifts in Kunning Palace. Zhu Yuanzhang changed into his regular clothes and chatted about family affairs with his sons whom he had not seen for a long time in a relaxed manner.
Zhu Xi, who was a little nervous at first, relaxed now, thinking that his father would reprimand him for impeaching the imperial envoy.
Zhu Biao was talking to his younger brothers Lao Qi and Lao Ba. They had also been granted the title of King Jianfan. Although it was more like a formality, Zhu Biao still made some suggestions for their actions in the past two years.
.
The Ming Dynasty is now in a state of satiety after having had enough food and wine. Stabilizing internal digestion and digestion is the most important thing at present.
At the family banquet, Lao Zhu put down his chopsticks, and the others quickly put down their chopsticks, swallowed the food in their mouths, and raised their ears, still wondering what their father was going to say.
The elders had already expected it, but now they were not resisting but looking forward to it.
"Back then, we said that we wanted to feudal princes and serve as vassal for the country, so we kept the feud until Lao Ba. But now, seventeen years after the founding of the country, the situation has changed again, so we plan to move the feudal state and transfer your vassal state to the vassal state.
Move the seal domestically and move it overseas.”
"We have planned this matter for a long time, and we don't want to leave it until after your eldest brother succeeds to the throne, lest you brothers become discordant."
Zhu Di stood up and responded: "My son, I am willing to obey my father's will!"
Zhu Xi glanced at Zhu Di dissatisfied, "The fourth child is really getting more and more unruly. No matter what, I, the leader of the kings, should express my position on behalf of the brothers."
Anyone who is slightly ambitious is willing to do so. There are too many restrictions in the vassal territory within the territory. If you go out to hunt in the city, you will be impeached by the imperial emissary for several days, let alone other things.
However, some people are willing and others are not willing to do so. A few who are young or have a gentle and easy-going temperament frowned but did not dare to say anything against their father's orders.
Zhu Biao said: "It doesn't matter if you don't want to go. It's just that you can't establish a vassal fief. You can become a Taiping royal family and enjoy wealth forever."
"As the saying goes, everyone has his or her own ambitions. Naturally, my father would like you to stay with me more to enjoy the happiness of father and son. As a brother, I also need the help of my brothers and sisters."
After hearing what the elder brother said, everyone felt that they could advance, attack or retreat, and they felt more relieved. Although they were the masters of overseas lands, what could they possibly enjoy?
Zhu Fan, the king of Chu, stood up and said: "My son and I have no ambitions, and it is difficult to leave behind my father, the emperor, and my mother. I am willing to stay in the court and serve in the court to do my best."
The second child was very surprised, but Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied. The fifth child, Zhu Ji, and the eighth child, Zhu Zi, also expressed their hope to stay in the Ming Dynasty to honor their father and assist their elder brothers. The others were willing to move overseas.
The first reduction of vassals in the Ming Dynasty was carried out in a unique way. First, there was the transfer of local military power, which made Zhu Biao waste a lot of effort, because the new generation of generals were not all able to take charge of their own affairs. Later, overseas vassal areas
The division of the country has been going on for a long time, and most of them, except Zhu Di, prefer Japan.
Through the small countries in the southwest, Ming Dynasty has also had trade relations with the Tughluq dynasty in India, and has roughly ascertained their situation. They only rule the northern part of India and are helpless in the south. Under Zhu Biao's inducement, Zhu Di decided to
The local area is watching with eager eyes.
………
In the eighteenth year of Hongwu, under the conditions of large-scale light corvee and small taxes and exemption of population tax, the development of all aspects of the Ming Dynasty entered another level. Zhu Biao began to focus on changing concepts and social thoughts to prepare for future development.
This year, ambitious people in Luchuan, Annan, Guizhou, and Japan, Liaodong, Korea, and Japan successively incited the people to rebel, but they were all suppressed one by one. The Ming Dynasty's center showed a good state of rapid response.
This undoubtedly dispelled the rumors circulating in the government and the public that the two masters were suspicious of each other. I don’t know since when, the story of the witchcraft disaster in the old days of Han and Wu began to be talked about everywhere, and even related nursery rhymes were written.
The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. The pro-military governors came from all over the country, and finally found the prime minister's house. Hu Weiyong was sentenced to prison. Without waiting for the emperor to order a joint trial by the three departments, Zhongshu Youcheng Chen Liang wrote a letter to sue the prime minister.
There are rebellious intentions, party members, Chen Ning, Lu Zhongheng and other civil servants and military officials.
The government and the public were in an uproar. Without waiting for the emperor to order a thorough investigation, many officials from the Sixth Department of Zhongshu wrote letters one after another, either defending themselves or testifying. The censor also followed suit and impeached Hu Weiyong.
It is said that he is "as sinister as he is loyal, as treacherous as he is upright, he relies on the merits of his parents, he is evil-minded, he is promoted to the top, he is good at exerting power, he is in charge of politics alone, he is a coward for the country, and he is a sinister predator."
Just three days later, the emperor ransacked the house of the prime minister who had been prominent for more than ten years and beheaded him on the pretext of perverting the law, falsely accusing the virtuous, and harming politics. When the embroidery envoy ransacked the house, he confiscated more than 300,000 taels of gold and silver from the warehouse of Hu Weiyong's hometown.
, there are nearly a thousand calligraphy and painting seals of famous artists of the previous generation...
After the incident, the former Prime Minister Li Shanchang immediately left for the capital to plead guilty. However, he was persuaded to return just outside the capital. The eunuch passed a decree saying: "The emperor and his ministers do not believe it. They will go home and rest in peace. See you again at the Wanshou Festival."
Shan Chang burst into tears of gratitude and knelt outside the city for a long time, unwilling to get up.
Li Shanchang was able to escape, but it was difficult for Hu Weiyong's large number of disciples and followers to escape, and Zhu Biao did not come forward to protect him. Under his deliberate arrangement, Hu Weiyong absorbed and sheltered many frustrated officials, and these people occupied too many centers in the imperial court.
It’s time to clean up the location.
As a result, a major case suddenly arose, and it did not subside because of Hu Weiyong's death. Instead, it became more and more serious. Not only officials, but also those military generals who were dissatisfied with the imperial government's seizure of military power were also captured and put into the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
For two whole months, there were turbulent undercurrents. In the end, not to mention the number of beheadings and confiscations, more than 50,000 people were exiled to the frontiers and even overseas, many of whom were exiled by their entire families.
Afterwards, the imperial censor impeached the pro-military Duwei Mansion for conspiring to frame the blame and took the opportunity to amass wealth and land. The imperial court abolished the pro-military Duwei Mansion, and Ling Chi appointed Mao Xiang, the commander of the pro-military Duwei Mansion, and established another Jinyi Guard as Suwei Jingban.
, reconnaissance and arrest, and in charge of prison.
This completely cleared up the capital, and no one dared to speculate on the emperor's thoughts.
…………
One night in the 20th year of Hongwu's reign, the father and son were at the Jinshen Hall reviewing memorials. Zhu Yuanzhang felt pain in his back after sitting for a long time, so he put down his imperial pen and hammered his waist.
I remember when I was washing up in the morning, my half-white hair in the mirror, and looking at the thick, long black hair on my son’s head, it turns out that we are getting old...
Zhu Yuanzhang was inexplicably interested and did not want to review the memorials. He just stared blankly at the hall and the endless memorials in front of him.
When Zhu Biao accidentally raised his head, he saw his father in a daze, so he stood up and stepped forward to beat his back and said: "It's late at night. Father, please go back and rest. The rest of the sons and ministers can just take a look."
Zhu Yuanzhang came to his senses: "Biao'er, we are old."
Zhu Biao's hand stopped but he immediately resumed his rhythm and joked: "Yesterday the imperial doctor came to report that Concubine Liu Hui was pregnant, and I came to congratulate you. Father, you are still young and strong. You will give me some more brothers and sisters."
It’s not a problem.”
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and laughed: "That's not it, you brat. I dare to make fun of you. We feel that in government affairs, the energy is not as good as before."
"It's inevitable to be in one place. Father, why don't you go north and south and visit a few places to relax your mind? My son is here to supervise the country. Do you have anything to worry about?"
Zhu Yuanzhang still shook his head, and after a moment he seemed to let go of something: "We have been the emperor for twenty years, and you have been the prince for twenty years."
Zhu Biao had some expectations in his mind, so he walked to the imperial case and stood solemnly: "Relying on the trust of my father, I have been the crown prince of the East Palace for twenty years."
Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was a little complicated: "It's so fast."
"Biao'er, when we made you the crown prince, we didn't expect that we would live for such a long time. We just thought that before my life was over, I would clear the way for you so that you could take over an impregnable country and feel at ease.
Enjoyment spreads throughout the country.”
"My father's loving heart is known to my sons and ministers."
"I really didn't expect that it only took the two of us twenty years to manage this broken country into the splendid place it is today."
"How much effort did you put into this?"
Zhu Biao said with a smile: "It's worth all the hard work I put into it."
"Yes, this country belongs to you and me, and it should be done no matter what!"
"Biao'er, let's start preparing for the Zen ceremony tomorrow."
Zhu Biao did not agree, nor did he kneel down to refuse in fear. He just remained silent for a moment and said: "Father, I am not in a hurry. Besides, there is no difference between a chair and clothes. You can sit there and I will feel at ease whatever I do."
.”
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and kicked the dragon chair with his foot: "Although we are not tired of sitting on it, we don't want to move our butts until we die, only to make future generations laugh at us."
Zhu Biao wanted to say something else, but Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said: "What do we have to say no to? Watching you ascend the throne and become emperor has been our long-cherished wish."
"We saw it with our own eyes, and we can still protect it for a while. It couldn't be better."
"Your mother has not been in good health in the past two years, and she is getting older. To be honest, she is the one we feel most sorry for... Xiongying is not young anymore. It is time for him to participate in political affairs... Once the emperor and the courtiers, those few
Those who have been trained for many years can be directly arranged to join the Sixth Ministry as a minister, and be promoted to minister in two years..."
Zhu Yuanzhang went around the palace to plan things for his son after he ascended the throne, wanting to help him sort out the best. It can be seen that he was still reluctant to part with it, not the power, but the hard work.