Chapter 277 Ascension to the throne, the pinnacle of life
In this way, some landless people no longer need to rent land and are freed from the shackles of landlord exploitation. Some landlords and gentry have reduced the rent and taxes of tenants whether they like it or not, winning praise and attracting others.
Those who have no land come to rent. If things go on like this, those who are stingy and greedy will inevitably gain a bad reputation. With few or no one available as their tenants, they will have to cultivate the land themselves.
Judging from historical data and projections, China's population at this time (usually using "ding" as the statistical unit at that time, which was equivalent to underreporting more than 60% of the population) should be around 30 million. Long-term wars have left the land barren
, the population decrease can be said to be due to vast land and sparse people. In other words, the contradiction between population and land is not prominent. When the government re-measures the land and nationalizes a large amount of unowned land, it can implement a new policy of "public land" to benefit the people.
"Leave the collar".
Although Zhu Yongxing did not use mandatory laws to reduce rents and taxes for the time being, he used another method to squeeze the space for exploitation by the wealthy, ruthless and greedy landlords. Although exploitation cannot be eliminated, there must be a limit.
Ascension to the throne is the greatest joy. Of course, Pan Yongchang and others hope that there will be less fluctuations and less discordant voices. To put it bluntly, it is to whitewash peace and create an atmosphere where the people support and deserve the title.
From ancient times to the present, there is no exception! Zhu Yongxing sighed in his heart, this is just like the leaders of later generations who go on inspection tours or inspections, while those below are busy covering up ugliness or suppressing problems.
"Your Majesty, can we postpone the arrest of the convicted criminals and the exile of their families?" Zha Rulong stepped forward and asked for instructions: "Everywhere after the liberation is full of joy and the atmosphere of a new dynasty. This crying and making noise is an eyesore."
"Showing kindness to the people is one thing, showing disobedience to others is another." Zhu Yongxing shook his head and said: "The enthronement is only in Nanjing City. It only lasts for one day. Is there anything like crying and making noises to disturb the ceremony?"
"Yes, I am a humble minister, but I will obey your Majesty's will." Zha Rulong bowed and retreated.
His intentions were good, but time did not wait for us. Zhu Yongxing also wanted to raise more money and food. He did not care about some flaws. The new emperor ascended the throne, and it coincided with a great victory. The rewards for the army were not small, and the officials had to be given additional rewards.
We need to introduce a pension system, and if we don’t go against the grain, we can only delay the Northern Expedition, thus freeing up money and food!
At the same time, this was also a weakening and attack on the power of the Jiangnan gentry. And it was justified. Those who were officials in the Qing Dynasty were not too much to define as traitors. The Manchu Qing surrendered the Ming Dynasty gentry as a means of attacking the Jiangnan gentry, and Zhu Yongxing adopted this
Zhao'er.
After handling many matters, Zhu Yongxing left the Prime Minister's Office and returned to "Xuyuan", which is the "New Han Palace" in the eastern half of the original Han Palace.
In the first year of Hongwu, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang recruited the old troops of his powerful enemy Chen Youliang and built the Han Palace for Chen Youliang's son Chen Li. Later, Ming Chengzu named his second son Zhu Gaoxu the King of Han. He also expanded the eastern half of the original Han Palace into the "New Han Palace".
Although the city is full, that is, the Imperial City of Nanjing was not severely damaged by the war, the palaces are still very small and are not as good as the Imperial Palace in Beijing with places to relax and play such as Jingshan, Beihai, Zhongnanhai, and Imperial Gardens. When Emperor Chengzu moved north, the palaces in Nanjing
No one had renovated it. Over the years, although there were some eunuchs and ministers who stayed behind to look after it, it was still very dilapidated. When King Fu Zhu Yousong came to the throne, some repair work was carried out and buildings such as Fengtian Gate and Cixi Hall were built, but they were still in ruins.
Make Zhu Yongxing like it.
Therefore, he just spent a small amount of money to repair the imperial city and used it as a place for the offices of various ministries. The original Han Palace was used as a temporary palace for court meetings, and several other buildings were designated for the office of the Prime Minister's Office.
, to make it easier to consult and draft decrees nearby. Xuyuan served as the inner palace, where he, his two wives, and a group of female officials and maids lived. Fortunately, his family members and servants were not very many, so Xuyuan was enough to accommodate them.
Zhu Yongxing's frugality and simplicity, which he did not indulge in building projects or indulge in pleasure, aroused a lot of praise. Everyone thought that he had not lost his ambitions, and that his stay in Nanjing was only a temporary plan. He would soon launch an expedition to the north and establish Beijing as his capital.
.
In fact, from the bottom of his heart, Zhu Yongxing didn't like a large architectural layout. There were not many people in the palace, and it felt empty and gloomy. However, the small and exquisite garden, with virtual and real contrasts, and clear layers, was more to his liking.
"I welcome your Majesty." As soon as they reached the door of the residence, Mengzhu and Long'er came out to welcome him and bowed down.
"No need, no need." Zhu Yongxing had no choice but to wave his hand in front of the maid. Accompanied by the two girls, he entered the room. After waving the people away, he immediately lay down on the couch with his back and hummed comfortably.
He snorted twice, which can be said to have no image.
Mengzhu smiled helplessly, but Longer followed closely and sat beside Zhu Yongxing, diligently removing his boots and socks, and beating his legs and feet.
"In the future, please don't greet me with such a big courtesy." Zhu Yongxing said lazily: "Outside, everyone is serious and the etiquette is complicated; when you come back, you just want to relax and have the feeling of family happiness. If you do this
It would be boring if it was the same as outside."
"But this gift cannot be abolished. If it is spread out -" Mengzhu stopped talking.
"How can things in the inner palace be spread?" Zhu Yongxing snorted and said, "You, don't always treat others with generosity. When it's time to show your prestige, show it. Make friends with people outside the palace and pass on small talk.
, that’s a capital crime, and you won’t be leniently punished if caught. If you have learned from past mistakes, let’s see who dares?”
Seeing that Mengzhu looked unhappy, Zhu Yongxing sighed softly, stretched out his hand to call her over, stood up, hugged Mengzhu and Longer to his side, and said: "Well, let's not talk about it anymore. I'm hungry, come on
Let’s eat, there’s no need for a maid to be around, it’s just the three of us, um, bring Rou’er and Jia’er as well, so that our family can eat in a relaxed and comfortable manner.”
"Then let's pass on the meal!" Mengzhu's face softened a little, and she reminded: "Actually, we should not eat or drink today, and we should fast in the inner courtyard."
"What kind of fasting is there to fool outsiders?" Zhu Yongxing said nonchalantly: "If you don't eat, how will you have the strength to make them suffer tomorrow?"
For Zhu Yongxing, these red tapes, such as reducing food intake, not eating, and fasting, were simply perfunctory. Under the guise of keeping everything simple and not competing for ZTE, Zhu Yongxing should have discussed it with Zhu Yongxing before he ascended the throne.
The inseparable officers of praise, Shang Baoqing and others were all dismissed by Zhu Yongxing.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty's words are true." Long Er's face was full of joy. He rubbed his face against Zhu Yongxing's and jumped off the bed to arrange the meal.
"Sit upright and serious outside, and when you return to the harem, you should relax and unwind." Zhu Yongxing hugged Mengzhu, kissed him, and joked: "My dear concubine, seeing that spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, we have to work hard! Sow the seeds.
You may not know whether the seeds will sprout or not. Don’t miss the farming season!”
Mengzhu spat angrily and hurriedly put on Zhu Yongxing's socks and shoes, "It's time for the palace guests to eat in a while. Don't let them see the emperor like this.
"When the work is over, I will take you out to play." Zhu Yongxing let his wife play with him and said with a smile: "Don't worry about it, Xuanwu Lake, Jiming Temple, Mid-Levels, Swallow Alum, Egret Lake, Stone City, cool and refreshing
The mountains, the Qinhuai River crossing at night, the peach leaves flowing in the water... Well, it’s really not something you can see all in one or two days.”
"It's not a good idea to go out for fun when you first land in Dabao?" Mengzhu wanted to go out for fun, but she had some hesitation.
"Then it's not called playing, it's called visiting incognito. It's called observing the sentiments of the people." Zhu Yongxing said nonchalantly: "Does it have to exhaust me to death in order to be diligent and caring for the people?"
"Okay, whatever your Majesty says. Also, the Emperor will call himself 'I' in the future." Mengzhu coaxed Zhu Yongxing and straightened the wrinkles on his clothes, "Actually, it's nice to be in this garden. There are mountains
Rou'er loves water. She loves playing on that stone boat."
"Let the palace maids take good care of her. Don't fall into the water." Zhu Yongxing thought for a while and shook his head: "Let her play happily for two or three years, and then find a teacher for her. As for childhood, she must be happy.
, have fun."
"Your Majesty, please don't spoil her." Mengzhu advised tactfully: "A girl's family is so naughty and out-of-touch."
"Really?" Zhu Yongxing was a little confused. Although he knew that this daughter was more lively, it wasn't that serious. She was still very well-behaved and obedient in front of him!
"This child is so clever. Even the emperor might have been deceived by her." Mengzhu sighed with a bitter smile. She used to be a princess, but in the future, she can't escape the title of princess. If she doesn't change her character, she can't.
What happened?
It's the emperor, it's his majesty, and there are special terms such as "passing the meal", which made Zhu Yongxing roll his eyes and say that he is a loner. It's really boring.
At this time, Long'er walked in with Jia'er in his arms. The little girl, less than one year old, was babbling in a way that no one could understand.
"Come, let me hug you." Zhu Yongxing liked the child. He stood up and took it, rubbed his tender little face, kissed him twice, and put his head in the child's arms, making the child giggle and reach out to grab his hair.
He wasn't upset either, he was laughing as usual.
Mengzhu opened her mouth and saw that Zhu Yongxing was happy, so she stopped admonishing him.
The ancients were very particular about superiority and inferiority. With Zhu Yongxing's status, it would be inappropriate to tease his children. Besides, the families of scholar-bureaucrats were very particular about embracing grandchildren but not sons, and were cold to their sons. How could Zhu Yongxing behave like this?
The maid brought the food, but it was only placed in the outer hall. Zhu Yongxing played with the baby in the inner room. He lay on his back on the couch, holding the baby's armpits, and let the baby step on his chest and abdomen, which made him laugh.
The little baby couldn't stop laughing.
"Your Majesty, it's time to eat." Mengzhu urged helplessly, and winked at Long'er, asking Long'er to take the child.
Zhu Yongxing was still unfinished, so he had no choice but to go to the outer hall accompanied by Mengzhu, Longer and his daughter, and dismissed the servants, leaving only the family sitting around the table.
"Where's Rou'er? Why haven't you come yet?" As soon as Zhu Yongxing finished speaking, Rou'er stepped in, followed by her little loyal dog, which looked like it had just been groomed.
"My son, I'm going to pay homage to my father." Rou'er bowed down and showed no trace of naughtiness.
"Come on, sit down and eat." Zhu Yongxing reached out and asked her to sit next to him, and patted her little head lovingly.
Zhu Yongxing moved his chopsticks, and Mengzhu, Long'er, and Rou'er began to eat. There was no maid around, and Zhu Yongxing preferred this easy-going family atmosphere.
"Father, please try this tiger skin meat. It's delicious." Rou'er brought vegetables to Zhu Yongxing, which greatly comforted him.
"Yeah, it's delicious." Zhu Yongxing nodded in praise and gave his daughter the salted duck, which is also a Nanjing specialty and tastes good.
Mengzhu felt a little helpless and a little happy when she saw her daughter making Zhu Yongxing happy. It would be great if her daughter was really sensible.
Long Er just smiled, and the child in his arms had a bowl of porridge to feed him. The poor child stared at the food on the table with wide eyes. Unfortunately, he was so greedy that he couldn't eat it.
Zhu Yongxing ate happily and stuffed a piece of tofu into the little baby's mouth. Watching her smile happily, even the puppy at Rou'er's feet rewarded him with a few pieces of his leftover bones.
Rou'er rolled her eyes and saw that Zhu Yongxing was not paying attention. She pretended not to hold the chopsticks firmly and deliberately dropped the meat on the chopsticks to the ground, then secretly glanced at Zhu Yongxing.
Zhu Yongxing saw it. He suppressed a smile and pretended not to know, but in his heart he believed what Mengzhu said. This stinky girl is indeed very clever. Well, according to her age, this
He does one thing openly and another secretly. He is not annoying at all, but he shows his lovely childish nature.
In fact, the etiquette officials had already told Zhu Yongxing how the emperor should eat. This made Zhu Yongxing cherish the warm time with his family even more.
You must know that although the emperor is the most noble person, if you follow the palace etiquette, he is far less free than ordinary people at the dinner table. Whether you like it or not, you must listen to music while eating, and this music must be handed down from ancient times.
The elegant music is a hypnotic divine song. Whether you are willing or not, apart from watching the theater and drinking at night, eating is very serious, and there is a very obvious hierarchy. Even if there are a lot of concubines sitting next to them, they are all busy eating their own things.
It is impossible to drink, chat, and laugh.
In other words, normal family dinners were rare in the royal family a few times a year. Most of the time, the emperor was surrounded by palace people, fighting alone at the dining table; whether you ate or not, whether you liked it or not.
Eat, the royal meal stipulated by the ancestors must be cooked every day, and the method is always the same. If you don’t have the courage to change, then endure it! After all, not eating the royal meal. And opening a small stove will attract the attention of the loyal ministers outside the palace.
Endless.
Moreover, when the ancestral Guanglu Temple, Imperial Dining Room and other institutions were established as the etiquette officer said, there would be even more tricks, and there were countless things to trick the emperor. For example, Guangxu in history ate four eggs a day, and the imperial dining room was
The price for the house was actually thirty-four taels of silver.
One tael of silver is equivalent to 200 yuan, so doesn’t an egg cost 1,600 to 700 yuan? In this way, Emperor Guangxu could eat 12,410 taels of silver in one year just by eating eggs, which is equivalent to RMB
More than two million taels. Well, if you put it this way, it is not surprising that the Qing Dynasty's inner court used four to five million taels of silver a year.
Another example is that the last emperor Chongzhen also imitated Taizu in eating wild vegetables. But the imperial kitchen also came up with a workaround. There were many "ways" to process wild vegetables for him: first put the vegetables in the belly of the raw goose and simmer them in a pot.
, when the goose is cooked, take out the vegetables, soak them in wine, drizzle them with sesame oil, mix them with seasonings, and serve them on a plate.
As a result, the actual cost of a plate of wild vegetables, which was originally cheap, increased dozens of times, and everyone in the imperial kitchen made a profit. Emperor Chongzhen didn't know the tricks in it. He took a chopstick and tasted it. Well, it tastes good. Who knows?
Are you saying that it is bitter for the people to eat bran and swallow vegetables?
From childhood to adulthood, Zhu Yongxing believed that there are many lessons from history, and modern people must not ignore them. Don't think that the emperor's edict can "power the whole country". If supervision is not in place, just relying on the lower level's self-consciousness, I am afraid that the royal chef will "cheat the emperor"
Stories will continue to appear, and the trend of clean government and frugality will only gradually fade away. Turning to government affairs, it is not difficult to formulate and issue a policy or regulations. The difficulty is not to be compromised during the implementation process.
The difficulty lies in how to prevent the following "workarounds" during execution.
Under the slogan of advocating frugality and not being extravagant, Zhu Yongxing temporarily abolished the Guanglu Temple in the outer court and the Shangshi Supervisor in the inner government, but only retained the Shangshi Bureau of the female official system. The procurement matters were also handed over to the Shangshi Bureau every day.
Take out the meal recipes you want to eat a day in advance so that there is no waste when buying and preparing ingredients.
In the past, feudal emperors opened their mouths to eat whatever they wanted, often making people jump around. For example, Emperor Mu Zong liked to eat donkey intestines, but he did not eat them every day. However, Guanglu Temple did not dare to neglect it and killed one donkey every day.
Prepare Xuansuo. There are also other ingredients and seasonings, and they have to be prepared whether they are eaten or not for fear of missing them, resulting in a lot of waste, and it is also a channel and excuse for corruption.
Many ancient emperors were frugal at first, but it was difficult for them to be prudent in their beginnings and ends. Because the people who flattered them were really pervasive and omnipresent. Even their closest ministers were all thinking about flattering people and gaining favor with them. Hundreds of years later,
, how can it be better? Even Zhu Yongxing cannot be absolutely sure that he will not make the same mistake again and get lost in enjoyment and flattery.
This meal was not troubled by the presence of the two children, but it was more warm and cozy. Rou'er performed well. After receiving praise, she was still a child after all, and she couldn't hide the pride on her face. Jia'er ate two pieces of tofu.
, drank some vegetable soup, but also giggled.
"There will be a zoo in the future." Zhu Yongxing held Rou'er on his lap and said with a smile: "If you want to raise birds, you can do it, but it should be done in moderation. If the palace is covered with bird droppings, that's not good.
Already."
"Where are the peacocks? Can they be raised?" Rou'er leaned in Zhu Yongxing's arms, raising her little face and looking at her father expectantly, "Father, peacocks are also birds, right?"
"Yes, they are also birds. You can keep two or three of them." Zhu Yongxing nodded with a smile and said: "When the Northern Expedition is successful, the palace in Beijing will be very big. Not to mention peacocks, even raising elephants will be no problem."
"I don't want an elephant." Rou'er shook her little head and said, "Rou'er wants the kind of animal that has a small pocket on its belly to hold babies, as the emperor said."
"Kangaroo, wombat?" Zhu Yongxing looked a little bitter and said, "There is no need to rush. The sea route for thousands of miles has not been opened up. It will take at least ten or twenty years, right?"
Zhu Yongxing regretted that he should not show off and tell his children some distant things. He put them aside after telling them, but the children remembered them solidly.
Rou'er was a little disappointed, but then she smiled and said: "Rou'er can afford to wait. Since the father has agreed, he will surely make Rou'er get her wish."
"This is not only Rou'er's wish, but also the father's wish." Zhu Yongxing said with emotion, as long as the Chinese can occupy the sixth largest land in the world during his lifetime, he will be satisfied.
Well, there was enough time. It took more than a hundred years for the British to exile the first batch of prisoners there, and then many years later, free immigrants arrived there and began to establish colonies. I am not a short-lived minister, am I? Twenty or thirty years of pioneering
Exploring shipping routes, immigration and occupation began 40 or 50 years later.
………………
March 15th was the auspicious day. Zhu Yongxing stayed outside the palace to wait early. Everything in the palace was ready, including prayers, praises, rituals and music, and treasure cases. The Imperial Guards would be in the palace.
People were lined up all the way inside the palace, and Captain Yu Lin stood majestically holding a guard of honor and a broadsword.
When the time came, the ministers went to the Fengtian Hall to plead, and Zhu Yongxing came out and took the officials to the southern suburbs to worship heaven and earth. Once the ceremony in the suburbs was completed, the arch guards set up a bastard, and the golden-armored guards lined up outside the Meridian Gate, and there were many flagpoles. In Fengtian
There are five chariots outside the door. First, the ceremonial attendants enter with table cases. At the sound of drums, all civil and military officials, all wearing court uniforms, stand outside the Meridian Gate.
After the praises and salutes, the guards and Shang Baoqing entered the main hall. After three drums, the cabinet ministers entered. The emperor ascended to the throne, Shang Baoqing placed the imperial treasures on the imperial case, the general rolled up the curtain, and all the officials entered the hall to play music.
, the cabinet ministers were presented with the jade seal and the emperor's crown. After dressing and changing their clothes, all the ministers shouted long live and bowed to the ground. After the official read out the congratulatory form, all the officials bowed again, the emperor ordered no ceremony, and the ceremony was completed.
.
"Long live, long live, long live!"
In "Long Live the Mountain", Zhu Yongxing finally reached the top of power. In these three years, he showed kindness, he pressured, he tested, he gathered people, he struggled, he worked hard, and he personally went to the battlefield.
, he has accomplished extraordinary feats... Everything now seems easy, seems to be a matter of course, and seems to be supported by everyone, but how many people know the hard work and efforts he has put in? Understand the blueprint he has planned for this re-emerging empire.
?
The emperors have been prominent in the long history of China's feudal society for more than two thousand years. Some of them are boats with the wind in this river, and what they see is the midstream stones. Some are like spring floods, some are like winter temps, and some are swimming with the water.
Some of the mud and sand are rotten trees drifting down the river. They are rich all over the world, care for all the people, hold the power of life and death, and control opportunities and conveniences. They are respected and feared, envied and jealous. In the eyes of everyone, everyone
How can you not be afraid and not take warning when your hand points to you and everyone's hearts covet you?
Looking at the respectful ministers and listening to the flood of praises, although Zhu Yongxing had been looking forward to it for a long time, he was unexpectedly not particularly excited. Instead, he felt a kind of sadness as an emperor in his heart.
Whatever you gain, you will lose something. It's too cold at high places, and the emperor is doomed to be lonely! Zhu Yongxing sighed inaudibly, gathered his energy, and faced the peak moment of his life. And the road ahead is still long and long.
Full of opportunities and challenges. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!