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Chapter 87 Attack

It was another early morning, and the heavy door of Daming Gate slowly opened at sunrise.

Every new day brings problems.

In the Nuan Pavilion, Zhu Yunxi was sitting on the throne, and all the counselors in Zhunan's study were sitting on round stools.

Zhu Yunxi held a memorial in his hand, looking at it carefully and frowning slightly.

"What do you think?" Zhu Yunxi looked at it for a while and put down the memorial and asked.

"The emperor's mausoleum is related to the ancestral temple and the country. I think it is better sooner rather than later!" Zhang Wei, the Minister of Household Affairs, stood up and said, "For the mausoleum site, we must first send out workers to explore the geomantic omen, draw atlases, and then dispatch craftsmen. The preparation work in advance must be done

Thirty-five years ago. I don’t agree completely, but I feel that the memorial from the Ministry of Rites is meaningful.”

These words caused several civil servants to nod in agreement.

The memorial was submitted by Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Rites, which means that the emperor has not chosen a mausoleum for himself since he ascended the throne. The emperor's mausoleum is a national event. If the emperor does not choose a mausoleum during his lifetime, he will be placed in a coffin after his death.

For many years, he had to wait for the mausoleum to be built before he could be buried.

Although the location of the mausoleum was chosen, it did not mean that it would be built immediately, but it still made Zhu Yunxi feel unhappy.

"Is there nothing to do?" Zhu Yunxi lowered his head and looked at the memorial in his hand, and sneered in his heart.

How old is he that he has to build his own tomb? Once the construction starts, unless he, the emperor, dies, the tomb will continue to be built forever.

Li Jinglong had been secretly watching the emperor's face, and then he immediately said, "I don't agree with it very much!" After saying that, he paused and said, "The emperor is in the prime of his life, so he is discussing the matter of the mausoleum at this time. Isn't it a little urgent?

"

"Just choosing an auspicious site does not mean building it immediately!" Rujun, Minister of the Ministry of War, said, "This is the practice of all dynasties!"

"This is the Ming Dynasty, not the past dynasties!" Zhu Yunxi threw aside the memorial in his hand, looking a little annoyed.

"The construction of Grandpa Huang's mausoleum only started in the 14th year of Hongwu. How long have I been on the throne? Li Jinglong is right. I was at the peak of my power in the Spring and Autumn Period, and you ministers are so anxious to let me build the mausoleum?"

"I don't dare!" Several ministers hurriedly leaned over to apologize.

The emperor's words were a bit harsh, but Bao Zhao said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am loyal to you. Your Majesty is clear to me. If anything else hurts the people and money, I will not agree with it, but the matter of the mausoleum is related to the country, the country, and the country."

, you have to be cautious.”

After saying that, he paused and said, "Just now, the emperor said that the construction of the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor began in the 14th year of Hongwu. In fact, there is a hidden secret in this. The construction of the Zhongdu Emperor's Mausoleum began in the 26th year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the Supreme Emperor also intended to build it.

The mausoleum was built in Zhongdu. However, in the second year of Hongwu's reign, the mausoleum was changed to the Purple Mountain outside the capital city."

"The original intention was to start the construction in the second year of Hongwu's reign, but the country was weak at that time and could not afford to do both at the same time..."

"I know!" Zhu Yunxi interrupted the other party and said with a bit of impoliteness, "You mean, now that the country has spare money, my mausoleum will be slowly repaired, right?"

After saying this, without waiting for his ministers to reply, he stood up with his hands behind his back.

This is not the first time someone has written to him to build a mausoleum, and it will certainly not be the last time. The ancients, no matter what class they are from, have almost stubborn paranoia about what happens after death. Not to mention him as an emperor, the people are a little richer.

People, when they are still young, they choose the cemetery and longevity materials.

And it is a bit ironic to say that if Zhu Yunxi wanted to build a palace, his ministers would definitely oppose it to the death, but if the place for the mausoleum is chosen now, many ministers will raise their hands in approval.

Of course, this also has something to do with the fact that the Ming Dynasty's treasury is abundant. If the country is in decline, loyal ministers will also regard the tomb of the young emperor as a top priority.

But he really never thought about building any mausoleum.

But if he thought about it carefully for a moment, he could probably understand the reason why this memorial appeared at this point.

Zhu Yunxi had just established the South Study Room, and Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Rites, presented such a memorial at this time, probably to gain a sense of presence in front of Zhu Yunxi.

He was a good talent, but he was also a utilitarian person. Originally, he was expected to be the Minister of Rites, but the emperor chose someone else. Therefore, this memorial, which seemed reckless, was actually a sign of loyalty.

Even Zhang Yan and others who agreed with this matter may have wanted to test the emperor.

"The city wall over Shuimen Pass is still under construction, right?" Zhu Yunxi suddenly asked.

The ministers were slightly stunned and did not understand for a moment. Li Jinglong spoke first, "Although I am not in charge of this matter, I have heard about it. Two city walls at Shuimen Pass are still being repaired. In addition, due to the increasing number of merchant ships traveling to and from the capital, the waterway docks have been expanded.

So Yingtian Mansion recruited civilians after the year to build the city wall and dredge the river at the same time!"

"Let's go out of the palace and take a look!" Zhu Yunxi said, "Let Xia Yuanji follow!"

~~

Instead of changing into casual clothes like before when he left the palace, Zhu Yunxi wore the emperor's dragon robe and led a group of officials out of the city with a guard of honor.

Shuimen Pass, also called Shuixi Gate, is used for amphibious use. It is shaped like a fish belly, making it an urn city that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

The New Year has just passed, and the cold winter has not gone away. Looking from a distance, the water of Mochou Lake and Nan Lake on both sides of Shuixi Gate still looks a bit cold.

In the honor guard, the hot air emitted from the horses' mouths and noses was clearly visible.

Under the towering city wall, countless civilians were working in the biting river water, and countless supplies were transported into the city through the Sanshan Bridge on the water.

Xia Yuanji followed the emperor's shoulder anxiously, trying to figure out the emperor's intention all the way. He didn't know why the emperor asked him to follow him to inspect the city wall, but he vaguely felt that his memorial might have been photographed on the horse's hooves.

"Get off the sedan!" The bastard beside the shoulder carriage waved his fly whisk, and the carriage carried by several guards in royal robes slowly fell down.

Zhu Yunxi directly opened the curtain, strode out from inside, and looked at the busy civilians up and down the city wall with an expressionless face.

"Do you know how many civilians were called this time?" Zhu Yunxi asked.

Although he didn't name anyone, everyone following him knew who he was asking.

"About 3,400 people!" On such a cold day, Xia Yuanji actually had a layer of sweat on his forehead.

"Just two walls require 3,400 people!" Zhu Yunxi pointed to the distance, "If it were my mausoleum, how many people would be called upon?"

"minister......"

"The common people have just celebrated the New Year, and the fields at home are not yet ready, so they have to work for the government. If I choose a mausoleum, the people in the areas around the capital will probably have to do endless corvee work!" Zhu Yunxi said unceremoniously,

Staring at Xia Yuanji, "Yingtian Mansion has spent thirty years and mobilized 280,000 migrant workers. There is still a part of Xiaoling Mausoleum that has not been completed and is still under construction. In these years, 100,000 migrant workers have been mobilized. When I build the mausoleum again, you let them

Alive or not?"

"I made a mistake, please punish me!" Xia Yuanji was so sweaty that he couldn't stand steadily.

Zhu Yunxi looked at him without saying a word, but looked around and looked at the dozens of ministers following him, and continued, "I have long said that I do not want to build a large-scale construction project. I will not even build the Great Wall, so why build a mausoleum at this time?

"

"This is not about building bridges and paving roads, nor is it building canals and docks. Building bridges and paving roads is to benefit the people, but building a mausoleum for me is just for my own personal gain. It's different!"

As he spoke, Zhu Yunxi looked into the distance again, his expression suddenly changed, and he strode over.

"Follow me!" Deng Ping hurriedly called to the guards, quickly stepped forward and surrounded the emperor.

~

Because he came here on an impromptu basis, and no one was allowed to notify him, neither the officials nor the people around the city wall knew that the emperor had arrived.

So when Zhu Yunxi came here, he saw the real construction site.

He walked quickly, his boots stepping on the waterlogged ground, and the skirt of his dragon robe was stained with black spots of mud and water.

An old man with a face as wrinkled as a knife was squatting in the ditch, using his hands to dig out the mud, sand and gravel with difficulty.

The common people did not recognize the emperor, but the majesty of the dragon robe made the old man stunned.

Zhu Yunxi stopped in front of him and said, "Stretch out your hand!"

"The emperor asked you to hold your hands..." Deng Ping said, and directly stepped forward and pulled out the old man's two muddy hands.

Both hands were covered with frostbite cracks, were horribly red and swollen, and the joints were bent and shaking violently.

"How do you dig with your hands in such a cold weather? I didn't give you any tools?" Zhu Yunxi asked, suppressing his anger.

"Yes... it was the official who threw the villain's hoe into the ditch!" The old man thought about it and said in fear, "So, the villain can only use his hands!"

"Who threw it? Why?" Zhu Yunxi said angrily, "Call the person in charge!"

~~

After waiting for a while, a man in his thirties dressed in green was brought to Zhu Yunxi by the royal guards.

It seems that this person is not even a petty official, he is just a helper in the yamen, responsible for supervising the work here.

But don't underestimate him. This kind of person used to be inconspicuous in the streets, but once he has the power of an official, he immediately becomes a fake and powerful person.

"Common people bow to the emperor!" The man was so frightened that he trembled and lay down directly in the muddy water.

"You are in charge!" Zhu Yunxi looked at him, "Why did you throw away his hoe?"

"He...he is disobedient!" the steward said loudly.

"Huh?" Zhu Yunxi felt angry.

The steward didn't even look at it and shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, he is disobedient. The villain asked him to work, but he couldn't finish it alone. Building the city wall is a major matter for the court. His resistance is obviously unwilling to contribute, villain."

In a fit of rage..."

"No effort?" Zhu Yunxi said angrily, "Look at his hands?" After saying that, he took a few steps forward and took the old man's hand directly and said, "It's so hard for the civilians. Both hands and feet are covered with frostbite cracks. It's such a cold day.

He was soaking in the water with his unlined clothes on, and you still said he didn't do any good? He was working in the cold water, and you were watching from the side, and you got angry. Where did you get that anger?"

The man immediately fell to the ground and did not dare to speak.

The emperor was angry, and Deng Ping's hand was already on his sword.

"Where did it go?" Zhu Yunxi said loudly.

"Over there...the ditch!" the steward said tremblingly.

"Pick it back!"

After Zhu Yunxi finished speaking, Deng Ping grabbed the steward's neck and walked towards the ditch in the distance.

Then he threw it into the ditch with a splash, and the steward wailed and started groping in the cold water.

"It's crazy to throw away someone's hoe and let someone dig it with their hands!" Zhu Yunxi gritted his teeth.

Then, he looked at the courtiers who were following him, especially Xia Yuanji, who had turned pale.

"I heard that you were born in a poor family. Now that you are in a high position, have you forgotten the hardships of the poor?"

"Just building the city wall has already made the people miserable. There are still several large-scale construction projects outside the capital, and you wrote a letter asking me to choose a mausoleum. What are your intentions?"

"My lord..." Xia Yuanji was too frightened to say anything more, and was extremely upset in his heart.

"I have said it a long time ago!" Zhu Yunxi seemed to be talking about Xia Yuanji, but in fact he was warning the ministers, "The country is not yet rich, so don't think that you can rest easy just because you have some savings. Officials should be compassionate and considerate of the people. You left

In one ear and out the right ear?”

"I don't dare!"

At this time, Deng Ping dragged the steward over again, holding a hoe dripping with water in his hand.

"There are so many scum in the world, and they are so narrow-minded that they take pride in trampling on others!" Zhu Yunxi pointed at the steward, and then said to Deng Ping, "Hit him with twenty sticks, using that hoe. If he breaks, use another hoe. Beat him with another hoe.

After that, he was sent to Xiaoling to move bricks and stones and let him do the hardest and most tiring work!"

Immediately, he turned to the officials and said, "When can the city wall not be repaired? Does it have to be now when the spring is cold and the weather is cold? Stop it!"

"According to the order!"

"The wages are sufficient. If I know who dares to deduct money and food, I will hang their heads on the city wall for you!"


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