Chapter 97 Zhu Di’s plan to reduce the vassal status (please vote)
Ji Gang left in a hurry, and then another person came out from Xu Jingchang's pond. He grabbed the fishing rod and threw it into the pond.
"With so much bait, it will be hard to explain if no big fish comes out!"
Xu Jingchang smiled slightly, "Young Master, we have already reached this point, what do you have to worry about? Don't worry, as long as there is still a glimmer of hope, the courtiers will not be willing to lay off employees. You must know that not everyone is as indifferent as me.
Those who treat fame and wealth as if their official positions are like dirt."
Yao Guangxiao was so angry that he snorted and almost threw the fishing rod in his hand.
"Boy, don't think that everyone is blind and deaf. Although you have retired, Jie Jin is respectful and obedient to you, so you can still interfere in the affairs of the General Affairs Department. And you, Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, etc.
People can also speak well. You are the queen's nephew, and you are a noble person in the court... In the future, if there are any matters in the court or any disputes between the parties, you will be able to mediate. I am even a little envious, you are comparable to
My popularity has become much better. These days, apart from His Royal Highness the Prince occasionally visiting me, I can only come to your place to sit and sit."
Xu Jingchang had a smile on his face, but Yao Guangxiao was not telling lies. He, a prime minister in black, was naturally incompatible with the civil service system. In addition, his status was too high and his status was too special. Even those who wanted to get close to him did not dare to come.
Only a young man like Xu Jingchang, who was not stingy in his efforts, could chat and laugh happily with the old monk.
"Coming to me is enough to put the young master at ease. Now the civil servants are taking drastic measures and moving forward. They have gained enough courage and it is inevitable to challenge the clan."
Yao Guangxiao grimaced and said solemnly: "Some things, such as rectifying finances and taxation, and purging officials, can be written into military orders and have the six ministries and nine ministers work hard to accomplish them. But some things cannot be put on the surface... Here is
There will be a vassal reduction!"
That's right, Zhu Yunzhen cut down the feudal vassals, and when he got to Zhu Di, he also wanted to cut down the feudal vassals.
Zhu Di snorted coldly: "Okay, have you learned how to silence me with the Imperial Examination? I have also checked Taizu's records. It is a common thing to adjust the official system. Don't think I dare not!"
Liu Jun, the Minister of War, Zheng Ci, the Minister of Punishments, Song Li, the Minister of Rites... all stepped forward.
Everyone was uneasy, and going to court was like going through the gates of hell.
Just wait. Sooner or later, I will ask you to ask me for help.
You actually took the initiative to reduce the power in your hands, as expected of you!
If Zhu Gaochi succeeds to the throne, he will have to face his uncles, and some cousins with whom he has barely interacted, who are far apart... Between the emperor and the vassal kings, as they are passed down from generation to generation, the relationship between them will also change.
We are becoming more and more distant, and our family ties are becoming weaker and weaker.
Although I know that Xu Jingchang has a quibbling side, I have to admit that what he said makes sense.
Looking back on the competition over the past few months, Yao Guangxiao sees it clearly.
But Zhu Di is not a person who gives up easily. He is always looking for opportunities.
After all, his status and power were not all given by Zhu Di.
However, before the sword could be cut out, Xu Jingchang, Xia Yuanji and others jointly stopped it.
Zhu Di pressed hard, and the time came in an instant.
Zhu Di didn't want to let Xu Jingchang go yet, so he took out the crucial Jin Yiwei, not wanting to use Xu Jingchang's knife to achieve his goal.
If Lao Zhu can tolerate his sons eating and drinking freely and doing whatever they want, Zhu Di will have to strictly restrain his brothers.
"Sooner or later, I'm going to find something for you to rush to the front and complete with your heart. Instead of staying out of it all the time." Yao Guangxiao gritted his teeth and said.
This can be fatal.
Zhu Di took another breath and hummed: "Although you say so, you are afraid that you will be a meddlesome person and accuse me of bullying my brothers and violating the ancestral system. What should I do?"
It's up to you how to choose.
Zhu Di glanced at the ministers, "What about you? Do you think so too?"
In addition to ensuring the normal operation of the government and increasing tax revenue, Zhu Di was thinking about how to reduce the vassal... Otherwise, Prince Ning would not have been kidnapped, and he would not have come by such a coincidence.
This is completely human nature. In fact, when Zhu Di saw that King Ning was in trouble, he planned to use King Ning as a breakthrough to rectify the clan.
Xu Jingchang sensed Zhu Di's thoughts. It was not fun to cut down the vassal vassal. If the operation was not done properly and the Jingnan War was launched, even if the attack failed, there would be endless troubles. Chao Cuo advocated cutting down the vassal vassal, but lost his life.
, it’s just a matter of the Western Han Dynasty, just over a thousand years ago.
It turns out that the so-called three are actually the three guards of the palace!
Xia Yuanji immediately stood up and echoed, "Your Majesty, King Qi, King Gu, and King Dai. Just these three palaces can eliminate hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses, and save millions of stones of military rations."
Whether it is Xu Jingchang or the important ministers, they all have their own plans. If they encounter something they don't want to do, they will try their best to get out of it.
And it was a huge success!
"Xu Jingchang, I have something to remind you. Although you are very smart, I don't like your calculations. When it is clearly your time to be courageous and charge into battle, you shirk it and stay out of it. What should the courtiers do?
If people are like you, what will happen to the Ming Dynasty?"
Until he discovered that Jinyiwei and Hubu were protecting each other and wanted to escape punishment, Zhu Di became furious and struck a thunderous blow at the courtiers.
Jian Yi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is wise and wise, quite like Taizu. But reforming the official system is not a trivial matter. If you do it hastily, there will be endless troubles. I boldly implore Your Majesty to be careful... Secondly, I think there are some expenses that can be cut as soon as possible, and there will be no consequences."
Any difficulty can only be resolved by His Majesty’s will.”
Jian Yi said: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Emperor Taizu established the Nine Great Sai Kings to guard the borders... Time has passed and the Nine Borders today are very different from those of the past. The Mongols surrendered and lived in peace. The Sai King was the Taizu King.
It is established by the ancestors and cannot be abolished. However, the three guards of the palace under the jurisdiction of King Sai can be eliminated."
Basically staying out of the situation and watching the storm with a smile can be regarded as his success.
Xu Jingchang laughed loudly, "I hope Master Yao can find it... But don't worry, even if you find it, I have a way to resolve it. How about we just have a gamble?"
However, when everyone saw Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji, the two ministers were confident, and they were somewhat comforted.
Jian Yi bowed and said: "In reply to Your Majesty, I have carefully verified that it is not easy to eliminate officials in the capital. Unless some yamen can be merged, such as abolishing Zhan Shifu... After all, the responsibilities of each yamen and the number of officials are very different.
It was set by Emperor Taizu. Your Majesty is extremely filial. How can you change it so easily?"
It's just that this matter neither needs Xu Jingchang to promote nor execute it.
Xu Jingchang still wanted to make a bet with Yao Guangxiao, but the courtiers were deeply entangled... because Zhu Di asked them to lay off redundant staff, but after carefully weighing each yamen, no one could be laid off except those who served tea and water.
Zhu Di relied on Jingnan to rise to power, so naturally he could not let others copy his success.
Jian Yi said: "Your Majesty, how dare I ask you to cut down the feudal vassal? It's just that the world is peaceful and there is no need for so many soldiers and horses. To reduce the burden on the vassal king and enjoy the glory and wealth with peace of mind, isn't this the true meaning of your majesty's love for your brothers!"
Zhu Di originally wanted to use tax revenue to replenish the national treasury, rectify merchants, and track down tax arrears... If it was a vassal king doing business, he would naturally be among them.
"When I reply to Your Majesty, this is how I see it. Isn't it wonderful to get rid of the three redundant palace guards and your Majesty can give generous gifts to the kings so that they can bathe in the emperor's favor?"
And Xu Jingchang realized that Jin Yiwei was destined to take the blame, and it was difficult to end up with anything good, so he took the initiative to hand over the list to the Ministry of War and let civil servants control some Jin Yiwei. Even if he wanted to scold Jin Yiwei in the future, he would be merciful... Even Zhu Di would be merciful with this move.
Didn't even think of it.
No matter what, I want you to reduce redundant staff and save expenses.
Xu Jingchang thought about it seriously, "Young Master, even if I risk my life, the Ming Dynasty may not be much better! Moreover, it is much better for the courtiers to raise this matter than for me to raise it. Otherwise, I will be accused of estrangement."
Hat, now they have no choice but to attack the clan, which is the best result."
Yao Guangxiao chuckled: "I don't know how to bet, because I will definitely win."
When Zhu Di came here, the relationship between him and the vassal king was mainly blood brothers. The so-called blood brothers settled the scores, and the friendship was still there, but it was not so reliable.
Seeing that the sharp blade in his hand was about to get rusty, Zhu Di was naturally angry, so he attacked the ministers and forced redundant personnel to be laid off... Anyway, he had the strength to flip the table if he didn't obey.
The interesting thing about this matter is that at the end of the game, all parties still have to face the problem of reducing the vassal state.
As strong as Zhu Di, he cannot control everything; as wise as Yao Guangxiao, he cannot make perfect plans.
After meeting the king, Zhu Di hummed: "How did you do with what I told you?"
Zhu Di hummed: "Seriously?"
Xu Jingchang rolled his eyelids, how could this old thief with his bald self-confidence be more annoying than himself?
After all, Xu Jingchang is not a desperado like Ji Gang, and he does not need to obey the emperor's orders and be obedient.
Zhu Di said angrily: "What do you mean? Don't you want to encourage me to cut down the feudal vassal?"
Out of the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, when he realized that someone was trying to mess with him, Xu Jingchang gave up his position as General Secretary... This time, even if there are any suggestions to reduce the vassal, I don't need to raise it.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was on the throne, all the vassal kings were his biological sons. Father and son were the closest relatives. There was nothing to say.
And there is a very real problem here.
The emperor didn't agree, what was his plan, and everyone couldn't feel his pulse... At this moment, Xu Jingchang took a step forward calmly.
"Your Majesty, I believe that what Jian Shangshu, Xia Shangshu, and all my colleagues have said are reasonable. But they are only half of the truth."
Zhu Di couldn't help but laugh, "Can it be said that the truth can be divided into two halves?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the princes in the court are certainly for the good of the vassal king, but the court still doesn't know what each vassal king thinks... So I thought I could send an official document to each prince's palace and ask them how many soldiers and horses they need.
, what's the use? If the palace really has legitimate reasons, then the palace guards must not be eliminated!"
When everyone heard this, they all rolled their eyes... When it comes to being immoral, I have to look at you!
