After Zhu Youxiao entered the harem, he went straight to the Cining Palace. He had to go to greet the dowager first. This is filial piety and a rule from ancient times.
"The emperor is busy with state affairs, so it is rare to come to the harem. I wonder why you came to Cining Palace today?"
After Zhu Youxiao finished his salute, he said bluntly:
"Princess, my grandson will not hide anything from you. My grandson is going to replace all the maids and eunuchs in the harem. When the queen takes charge of the middle palace, there will be no more trivial matters."
"It's time to take advantage of this concubine selection to change the people in the palace!"
This is not a small matter. There are at least seven to eight hundred maids and eunuchs in the harem.
Concubine Liu, who had always been calm, frowned and said:
"Then I wonder how the emperor plans to replace them? There are so many people, and the emperor has to arrange a place for them to go!"
"They have been in the palace for many years, and they still don't know if their parents in their hometown are still there. Even if they are, they haven't contacted their families for many years. Many of them are old. They don't know if they can get married after they leave the palace. We can't let them
Are you going to be alone all your life?"
"Don't worry, Princess, my grandson has already thought about it for them!"
"I don't plan to send them back to their hometowns. I plan to give them a good marriage and find them a good family!"
Zhu Youxiao stood beside him and said.
Concubine Liu asked doubtfully:
"Where does this marriage come from? I am curious. Can the emperor tell me more about it?"
The harem was already under the control of Concubine Liu, so it was not against the rules for him to ask this question, so Zhu Youxiao told her all his plans.
Indeed, as Mrs. Liu said, these palace ladies have been in the palace for a long time and have long lost contact with their hometowns. Even if they can return home, their lives will not be easy.
Nowadays, the eunuchs and maids in the palace have not been replaced in large quantities for a long time, especially those maids, most of whom are in their twenties and thirties, and basically not very young anymore.
His grandfather has been in power for too long, and his father has only been in power for a month, so there is no time to change.
Because of their age, it will be difficult for them to get married when they return home. Although their own conditions are not bad, it is still difficult for them to get married. Unless they can lower their profile and selection criteria, it will be difficult to find a suitable spouse.
Although they are palace maids and they are not too young, these palace maids are not simple. They are basically carefully selected from among the people.
Others are similar to those who failed to choose a concubine. They may not be beautiful, but at least they are not ugly.
Their appearance and condition are already top-notch.
Zhu Youxiao planned to hold a large-scale blind date party, gathering all the bachelors of the right age from the Yulin Army, and then clearly marked all their family conditions, and let the palace maids choose on their own.
Of course, not everyone is qualified to participate, and they must rely on real materials.
Their own military merits are their tickets. Only those with military merits are eligible to participate, and their military merits must be accumulated more than ten times.
After all, there are only so many palace maids, and there are tens of thousands of troops. If we don't meet some threshold conditions, how can we allocate them? The typical situation is that there are more wolves and less meat.
After their blind date is over, they will have a mass wedding. The emperor himself will personally appear to preside over it for them. The scene must be spectacular.
This kind of kindness is unprecedented and will definitely cause quite a stir.
He has been pondering this idea for some time. This is a good thing that can achieve multiple benefits with one stone. Everyone knows that joining the army will bring military benefits. If you have military benefits, now let's give them another great benefit.
As long as you have achieved military exploits, I will not only give you food and clothing, but also give you wives. This will further stimulate their fighting spirit and their desire to perform meritorious deeds.
The reason why the tiger and wolf warriors of Great Qin are invincible is precisely because they have pursuits, they have hopes, and they all have a common goal.
For these ordinary people at the bottom, they don't want much in their lives. As long as their families have enough food, they can marry a woman, have children, and continue the family line.
Their life is so simple, but such a simple thing has made many people unable to breathe, and many families have been struggling to survive.
The emperor's governance of the country, in addition to hegemony and kingliness, also requires the combination of grace and power. Only in this way can the balance be achieved as much as possible, and the imperial power is supreme.
Moreover, betrothing palace maids to those low-level sergeants also has the advantage of changing these military households. Although these palace ladies are not high in status, they at least understand some principles. They are not proficient in all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but they at least know a few words.
Compared with those illiterate military households, their personal quality and culture are much higher. After they have children, their descendants may still be at the bottom, but they will not be illiterate like them.
If you want to change backward ideas, you must first start with young people and children. They are the real foundation of the country and they are the hope.
Aren't those vigorous changes during the Republic of China led by the younger generation of scholars? Weren't they the result of their fight at the forefront against the Manchus, warlords, and foreign powers?
Those of the older generation have deeply ingrained ideas. Even if you are the supreme emperor, it is difficult to change their ideas, because their ideas are backward ideas of the old era. They have lived half their lives and have always adhered to this ideological point of view.
, how easy is it to change?
Zhu Youxiao does not expect people of this era to be so selfless and fearless, nor does he expect them to make any great contributions, but they must at least be able to read and write, otherwise how can there be reform?
Even if the reform is implemented, can it really be successful? Zhang Juzheng's lesson is there. If you don't grasp the core and just do it recklessly, even if it can be implemented for a short time, it will definitely not last long.
They don't dare to make mistakes when you are alive, but what happens after you die? Will they still be afraid of a dead person?
How much of the national policies set by Emperor Taizu have been retained? Before his funeral, he specifically called Emperor Jianwen to his side and asked him how to deal with the problem of the vassal king.
Emperor Jianwen vowed to him that we are all a family and I will treat them well. Taizu was immediately relieved. As soon as he died, Jianwen couldn't wait to start cutting down the vassalage.
He not only cut down the vassal vassal, he also ransacked the family and exterminated the entire family. The King of Xiang was forced to burn his entire family to death, and the King of Yan was forced to pretend to be crazy and act like a fool, eating pig food in a pig pen. But even so, he still wouldn't let go.
When you pass by someone, it's as if you have some deep grudge against him.
The so-called people take their tea to cool off, and that's probably it. Zhu Youxiao doesn't think he is more awesome than Lao Zhu. Strictly speaking, he is just an ordinary person with a God's perspective. There is nothing outstanding about him.
at.
After hearing this, Mrs. Liu also felt that this method was advisable. It was indeed an excellent method, but the question was whether these maids were willing.
"Although the emperor's idea is good, for such a big matter, it is better to ask them first. If they are not willing, then don't force it, so as not to cause chaos in the future!"
Zhu Youxiao also knows that things are not 100% perfect. Some people are willing to lower their profile, while others do not want to suffer for themselves.
These ordinary sergeants do not have any prominent family backgrounds, and most of them are in a state of extreme poverty. Although the status of the palace maids is not high, this kind of suffering is not something ordinary people can bear.
"Don't worry, Princess. The grandson will naturally leave the choice to them. If it doesn't work, the grandson will find another way out for them!"
Concubine Liu was well aware of the status of palace maids in the palace. Not to mention the emperor, even the ordinary concubines did not regard these palace maids as human beings.
In addition, she is a kind-hearted person, and she does not want to see these maids unable to choose their own path.
At this moment, seeing that the young emperor was not acting like the late emperor, she said warmly:
"In this case, their lifelong affairs will be left to the emperor!"
"My grandson will not have dinner with the concubine today. Please take your leave!"
After Zhu Youxiao saluted, he went straight to Cining Palace.
"Yang Huan!"
Yang Huan, who had been waiting outside the palace for a long time, immediately went to greet the emperor as soon as he heard the emperor's call.
Bend down and cup your hands:
"His Majesty!"
"Pass on my order to immediately gather all the eunuchs and maids in the harem to Kunning Palace. I have something to announce!"
"In addition, an order is sent to the female officials responsible for selecting concubines, asking them to sort out the list of failed beauties this time and select the ones of the right age to enter the palace!"
"Don't make it too many. Three hundred people are enough. Tell the female officials not to force them. If the beautiful women are unwilling, they will be paid travel expenses as usual to return home."
"You Jin Yiwei will also send a few people to supervise it. If anyone dares to commit this crime, report it to me immediately!"
"I obey the decree!"
Yang Huan handed over his hand and walked away quickly.
After arriving at Kunning Palace, Zhu Youxiao looked down at these eunuchs and maids and said:
"The reason why I called you all here today is because I want to announce a great event to you!"
After listening to the emperor's words, these eunuchs and maids looked at each other. For them, in this deep palace, apart from gaining the emperor's favor and trust, there was really no so-called happy event.
Seeing their confused faces, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but feel sorry for them. The palace is as deep as the sea. As long as they enter the palace, they will basically never be able to leave the palace in their lifetime. Even if they can, they should be careful in the palace.
I stayed cautious for most of my life.
In this deep palace, not even the prince and concubines can protect themselves, let alone these domestic slaves whose lives are as cheap as dogs?
Although he is the emperor, he is also a person with modern thinking. All he can do is to try to change it and at least give them a way to survive. Don't let them die suddenly in the palace without even a burial place.
No.
"Your stay in the palace is not short. After serving me and my father and grandfather for so many years, I plan to let you out of the palace!"
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, some people below became uneasy. The word "leave the palace" was really too luxurious for them. They only dared to think in their hearts, not even say it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
A group of palace ladies knelt on the ground and shouted excitedly.
Others say how good the palace is, but how good are they, the palace maids, not knowing?
In this palace, if you don't have a strong backer, you will be easily bullied and suppressed. They dream about the day when you leave the palace all the time.
The eunuchs were even less calm. Unlike the palace maids, they faced death when they left the palace.
These people have long been cut off from their families and have no heirs. Because of their physical defects, they will definitely be looked down upon outside. When they grow old, they will no longer be able to do heavy work and have no source of income. Apart from begging, they have no other option.
Can go.
This is also the reason why eunuchs love money so much. For some people, money is an external possession, but for them, this money is equivalent to their lives.
"Long Live Lord, I don't want to leave the palace, but I still want to continue to serve Long Live Lord!"
These eunuchs were howling crazily on the ground, forming a sharp contrast with the palace maids next to them.
"You don't need to panic. I have so many Huangzhuang Huangdian stores and I am currently short of manpower. Just go and look after the Huangzhuang Huangdian store for me."
"But I have my word first. If you dare to line your own pockets and take advantage of it, don't blame me for not remembering the old relationship!"
When these eunuchs heard this, they were extremely excited, not only because the emperor did not abandon them, but because of this errand.
Taking care of the Imperial Store is much more comfortable than being in the palace. At least you don't have to worry about it every day, you don't have to worry about someone setting you up, or you don't have to worry about your life.
Zhu Youxiao looked at the maids who had been crying for a long time and said:
"I will also give you two choices. If any of you do not want to return home, I will betroth you to my soldiers when the time comes. I will hold a blind date at that time. It is up to you to choose. I will not force you.
"
"But for those who are willing to participate, I will reward you with fifty taels of silver, ten stones of rice, two bolts of silk and satin, ten bolts of cloth, and a set of jewelry!"
"I am giving you a seventh-grade married woman, a child, and you will receive a salary every year!"
After all, he went out to the palace, representing the royal family and his own face, so naturally this kind of pomp and circumstance is indispensable.
She is just a married woman, and is worthless. Moreover, a seventh-grade child does not have much salary a year, and a thousand people only have tens of thousands of taels of silver a year.
"If you miss your hometown, I will give you these things and send someone to escort you out of Beijing!"
"Whether you stay or go is entirely up to you!"
A bolder old palace maid came forward and asked:
"Your Majesty, may I ask how this blind date will be?"
"I will select men of the same age as you from the Yulin Army. You will communicate with each other then. If you like each other, I will make the decision and let you get married!"
"I know your difficulties, so I came up with this best-of-both-worlds solution. If you are angry with them and commit domestic violence against you after you get married, you should report it to Gong Zhengsi, and then I will help you make the decision!"
"My officers and men are all selected from a thousand, and they have all made great achievements for me and the country. I will also help you to carefully check their moral character, and they will not harm you."
"After you get married, you will also be the official wife!"