After receiving the summons, Zhu Hejian quickly rushed to the imperial study and met Emperor Deqing.
During this period, Emperor Deqing often summoned Zhu Hejian, and each conversation was meaningful. Zhu Hejian also knew that these conversations were Emperor Deqing's temptations and tests for him, so he always dealt with them carefully.
After meeting Emperor Deqing, Zhu Hejian still looked respectful and saluted: "I have met my father."
After seeing Zhu Hejian, a trace of satisfaction flashed in Emperor Deqing's eyes.
After this period of familiarity, testing, and testing, Emperor Deqing became more and more satisfied with Zhu Hejian, and increasingly believed that Zhu Hejian was the most suitable candidate for the next crown prince.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing's expression was also very warm, and he nodded and said: "No need to be polite, just get up."
After saying that, Emperor Deqing reached out and picked up a few articles from the imperial case and said: "Two days ago, I was suddenly interested, so I asked someone to review several of your articles in recent years, and found that you were very interested in ""
"Book of Rites" seems to be well researched, and several of your articles in recent years all revolve around the word "ritual"..."
Then, Emperor Deqing asked Zhu Hejian with great interest: "I don't know why you attach so much importance to the word 'ritual'? Can you tell me the reason?"
After Zhu Hejian pondered for a moment, he replied: "Father, I believe that if we want peace in this country, we need to abide by order and let everyone in the world understand the rules they should abide by, and these are all related to this 'etiquette'
The words are closely related! What is etiquette? According to Erchen, it is nothing more than twelve words, which are "clear identity, determine relatives and friends, distinguish between inside and outside, order honor and inferiority". If everyone in this world can do these twelve words
words, then the world will be at peace."
"Clear your identity, establish your relatives and friends, distinguish between internal and external affairs, and order your superiority and inferiority..." After hearing Zhu Hejian's answer, Emperor Deqing's expression became more satisfied.
These twelve characters seem simple, but if you study them carefully, you will find that there are many articles, and they are even related to the governance of the country and the emperor's mind.
Seemingly just a word "ritual", Zhu Hejian actually extended it to the management of the country and the emperor's mind. Such talent is naturally amazing.
The most important thing is that since Zhu Hejian attaches so much importance to the word "ritual", it means that he is a person who values rules. If such a person inherits the throne, he will often follow the rules and regulations, and he is an excellent monarch.
Moreover, Zhu Hejian repeatedly emphasizes the word "property", but it also gives people the illusion that Zhu Hejian knows the way of respect and inferiority. Such people often do not have too much ambition and do not need to take special precautions.
In fact, this has been Zhu Hejian's deliberate disguise for many years. When everyone thinks of Zhu Hejian, they will think of Zhu Hejian's emphasis on the word "ritual", and they will subconsciously neglect to take precautions.
Today, Emperor Deqing was also deceived by Zhu Hejian.
After becoming more and more satisfied, Emperor Deqing asked Zhu Hejian: "Did you really hear that many court officials wanted to meet with you secretly during this period, but you rejected them all?"
There is never a shortage of smart people in the temple, and there is never a shortage of speculators. During this period of time, Emperor Deqing repeatedly reprimanded Prince Zhu He in front of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and repeatedly summoned Zhu Hejian to talk. Many smart people could see that.
There are some signs, and some speculators want to take refuge with Zhu Hejian before everyone else.
This was also Emperor Deqing's test of Zhu Hejian.
At this time, after hearing Emperor Deqing's inquiry, Zhu Hejian frowned slightly, his face full of embarrassment.
After seemingly hesitating for a long time, Zhu Hejian said to Emperor Deqing: "Father, logically speaking, as a prince who is about to become a vassal, my son should not participate in the government affairs of the court, but now the matter involves my son.
, I will be bold enough to say a few words."
After seeing Emperor Deqing nod, Zhu Hejian said with a serious expression: "Father, you have repeatedly reprimanded the prince in front of all officials during this period, which seems to be out of consideration. After all, the prince is the future emperor, and father, you should deliberately protect him.
It is the reputation and prestige of the prince. Now that your father has repeatedly reprimanded the prince and summoned his son to talk to him many times, many people who think they are smart will inevitably have misunderstandings... However, my son is a prince and should not make friends with foreign ministers.
, naturally you will not have contact with these speculators, but if you want to stabilize people's hearts, father, you'd better deliberately protect the prince and show your support for the prince in the future, otherwise the situation in this temple will be chaotic sooner or later, and the prince will be in trouble in the future.
If you want to inherit the throne, I’m afraid it won’t be stable.”
Emperor Deqing took a deep look at Zhu Hejian.
By now, it was obvious that Emperor Deqing wanted to change the reserve. Many people had seen the signs, but Zhu Hejian still seemed unaware. Emperor Deqing could not guess what Zhu Hejian was for a while.
Are you really confused or just pretending to be confused?
However, Zhu Hejian was still willing to defend Crown Prince Zhu He and even took risks to criticize Emperor Deqing, which satisfied Emperor Deqing.
Since ancient times, most of the royal children who became princes but were deposed did not end well. They were always under various suspicions by their successors, and they might die inexplicably one day.
After all, Emperor Deqing had some father-son feelings for Zhu He, and he didn't want to see Zhu He's end be too tragic. Now that he saw that Zhu Hejian's feelings towards Zhu He didn't seem to be fake, he felt a lot more relaxed.
Emperor Deqing thought that with the brotherhood between Zhu Hejian and Zhu He, he would not embarrass Zhu He when Zhu Hejian became the new crown prince.
This is one of the reasons why Emperor Deqing wanted to make Zhu Hejian the new crown prince.
Therefore, after hearing Zhu Hejian's advice, Emperor Deqing not only did not get angry, but nodded and said: "You are right. It is true that I am too impatient. I will pay attention to maintaining the dignity of the prince in the future."
A hint of joy flashed across Zhu Hejian's face, as if he was really happy for the prince Zhu He. He bowed to Emperor Deqing and said: "Father is wise! I also know that my father just wants the prince to grow up quickly, and I can't help but feel
There is some urgency, but if this kind of thing cannot be rushed, it is better to guide him slowly. I believe that the prince will understand my father's good intentions sooner or later."
Emperor Deqing was noncommittal, but suddenly changed the subject and said: "Speaking of which, in a few days, Liang Fuchen and Wang Baoren will come to Beijing one after another. After they arrive in Beijing, they will serve as cabinet ministers and crown prince's grand master respectively.
They will become the core ministers in the temple in the future. In order to show my attention, I plan to send someone to greet them outside the capital."
After saying that, Emperor Deqing glanced at Zhu Hejian and said: "Well, let you handle this matter."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhu Hejian's eyes, knowing that Emperor Deqing was planning to push him to the front.
If Zhu Hejian really wanted to go to greet Liang Fuchen and Wang Baoren on behalf of the imperial court, such a signal would be too obvious, and anyone would be able to see Emperor Deqing's intentions.
But on the surface, Zhu Hejian looked embarrassed and hesitated: "Let me go to greet the two adults? Isn't this against the rules?"
However, before Zhu Hejian could further refuse, Emperor Deqing had already said: "I have already decided on this matter, do you still want me to take back my life?"
Seeing Emperor Deqing's resolute attitude, Zhu Hejian's eyes became even more joyful.
Since Emperor Deqing has made such a decision, it means that the countdown to Zhu Hejian becoming the crown prince has begun.
"My son... I will obey the order."
Then, Zhu Hejian accepted the decree "reluctantly".
While Emperor Deqing was talking to Zhu Hejian, Zhao Junchen also left the Forbidden City and returned to his Hubu Yamen.
In the office room, Zhao Junchen looked at the memorial in his hand, his eyes full of helplessness.
After foreseeing the coming of the "Little Ice Age", Zhao Junchen wanted to do some practical things to nip the problem in the bud, but he found it difficult and faced difficulties everywhere. He only felt that there were constraints everywhere.
Zhao Junchen spent a lot of effort on this memorial on agricultural reform and it was entirely public-spirited. However, it was foreseeable that the contents of this memorial would inevitably be opposed by hundreds of officials.
In particular, even Zhou Shangjing would clearly express his opposition to restrictions on farmers growing fruits, tea, and tobacco.
At the same time, it would be much easier for Zhao Junchen to take bribes, protect his comrades, and frame his political opponents.
Zhao Junchen could easily deal with the Six Ministries of Nanjing and the Eight Kings Shipping Company at the same time, and he could also guide dozens of corrupt officials to rise through the ranks. However, when he wanted to do something for the people of the world, the difficulties he encountered actually became greater.
In a way, this is a very ironic thing.
But it's also a very practical thing.
When Zhao Junchen took bribes, protected his comrades, and framed political opponents, although it was out of selfish motives and completely self-interested, he would only harm the interests of the imperial court or the interests of a small number of officials, so the resistance he encountered was natural.
Not big.
At the same time, the Ming Dynasty is already full of ills, and almost everyone is taking advantage of these ills to profit. If Zhao Junchen wants to do something practical for the people of the country, he must make changes, and such changes will often damage the
When it comes to the interests of everyone, the resistance encountered will naturally increase countless times.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly and sighed.
Then, Zhao Junchen unfolded the memorial in his hand and revised it carefully.
Zhou Shangjing's statement is also reasonable. Fruits, tea, and tobacco are more profitable. If the people are forced to reduce planting, it will inevitably lead to a huge backlash. As the beneficiaries, the officials will definitely oppose it. If Zhao Junchen
If you raise this matter directly, there is no chance of success.
Therefore, after Zhao Junchen hesitated, he deleted this suggestion from the memorial.
In addition, Zhao Junchen also split the remaining suggestions in his memorial into separate memorials, including promoting the new agricultural book, expanding potato and corn cultivation, and restricting folk wine brewing, and planned to submit them to Deqing one by one.
Emperor, instead of throwing them all out in one go as originally planned, in this case, the resistance Zhao Junchen would encounter would be further reduced.
As for asking the imperial court to invest large sums of money in building agricultural infrastructure, Zhao Junchen planned to delay it until the money obtained by Huang Yourong from ransacking his house in Nanzhili was sent to the capital.
By the time Zhao Junchen finished writing several memorials, it was already an hour later.
After Zhao Junchen stretched his stiff back, he turned his head and looked out the window, only to find that it was already approaching noon.
So, Zhao Junchen packed up again and prepared to go home for lunch and rest.
However, at this moment, a clerk from the Ministry of Revenue suddenly pushed in the door and reported to Zhao Junchen: "Master Shangshu, there is a Hanlin Academy minister named Cui Yu who wants to see you. Do you want to see him?
"
The Imperial Lecturer was only a sixth-grade official and had no power or authority, which was very different from Zhao Junchen's status.
After this Cui Yu came to the Hubu Yamen to ask for an audience with Zhao Junchen, he encountered a lot of difficulties. In the eyes of the people in the Hubu, what kind of identity is Zhao Junchen? How precious is time? He is just a powerless sixth-grade man.
Junior official, where can I meet Zhao Junchen casually?
However, this Cui Yu kept insisting on seeing Zhao Junchen, and he seemed to be bothering him to the death. The people from the Ministry of Revenue finally reported it to Zhao Junchen.
However, unexpectedly, after hearing the report, Zhao Junchen's expression did not show any contempt. He just pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "Invite him in."
Seeing Zhao Junchen use the word "please", the household clerk was shocked and turned around quickly.
The reason why Zhao Junchen values Cui Yu so much is because Cui Yu is Cui Qianxue's father.
Zhao Junchen also roughly guessed Cui Yu's purpose of coming.
…
I've been feeling a bit unbearable recently. Tomorrow I may only have a guaranteed chapter of 4,000 words. I'll try my best to update both chapters, but I can't guarantee it.