On November 19th of the first year of the year, the Holy Birthday of the Empress Dowager Cisheng, hundreds of officials came to congratulate her. Because the Empress Dowager worshiped Buddhism, the emperor had previously ordered the Supervisor of Ceremonies to speed up the repairs of the scripture factory that had not been completed by Mu Zong, and restart the work. Tens of thousands of taels of silver were spent to print tens of thousands of various Buddhist scriptures with fine engravings for Empress Dowager Li to bestow scriptures and spread blessings.
The Queen Mother was very happy when she saw the printed scriptures with clear lines, clean paper and elegant binding. She praised Zhu Yijun heavily.
Zhu Yijun saw that the Queen Mother was in a good mood for several days, so he took a chance and said: "The factory supports many people, among which printing and printing. Everyone in the factory has not had much to do in these years, and everything has become scattered. It is better to take charge of it and ask him to print books." In addition, there are too many supervisors and departments in the inner court that have nothing to do with political affairs, and the personnel are redundant, so my son plans to sort them out."
Because the emperor was interested in rectifying palace affairs, he said this more than once. Empress Dowager Li took it seriously and had a deep talk with Zhu Yijun. After hearing the emperor's plan, she hesitated and said: "The establishment of the twenty-four yamen is governed by the ancestors. According to the emperor Does this go against the ancestral rules?"
Zhu Yijun looked at Empress Dowager Li and said: "There are still these supervisors, there is no increase or decrease. It's just that the method of allocating silver has changed, and my son feels that it does not violate the ancestral system."
Seeing that the emperor was serious about his matter, Queen Mother Li thought about what Zhu Yijun said, and finally turned around and nodded: "Your Majesty, you can handle it yourself."
Zhu Yijun received the Empress Dowager's approval and called the eunuch Zhang Cheng over and said: "You have been with me for several years and you have read a book. I will give you something to do."
After Zhang Cheng heard this, he initially thought that the emperor was going to promote him to be a supervisor. When he heard that the emperor wanted him to take charge of the economics factory, he grimaced and said, "Your Majesty doesn't like having slaves around anymore?"
Zhu Yijun said: "I have a big job to do in this economics factory. If you do it carefully and make great contributions, I will promote you to the position of chief eunuch."
At this time, Zhang Cheng was only a servant eunuch of the eighth rank, and the chief eunuch was a full seventh rank. He was suddenly promoted to the third rank. The emperor's cake was so big that he almost fainted with joy.
Zhu Yijun spent more than half a month of his free time to supervise the general bureau, the salary department, the clothing supervisor, the internal official supervisor, the Siyuan bureau, the treasure banknote department, the internal weaving and dyeing bureau, and the needlework bureau. The eunuchs who took the lead conducted training. Finally, they told you: "You will be given one year. In addition to taking on various tasks within the original palace, each department, supervisor, and bureau must be responsible for their own profits and losses. Compare with each other to see if they have done well." Okay, I won’t hesitate to reward you.”
The eunuchs in charge did not have the pedantic idea of "not competing with the people for profit" like those of civil servants. Even if they were half-reading idiots, how could they dare to get into trouble when the emperor was so prosperous? They all said with confidence: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. If you can't do it, I'll cut off the slave's head."
Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "I have arranged for the eunuchs to guard each place and set up shops to sell the things made in the imperial factory. There are markets and channels. It's up to you."
Everyone was gearing up and expressed their intention to do something big.
Zhu Yijun turned his face again and said solemnly: "I have arranged for the Director of Ceremonies to capture the general manager of the imperial factory. I will also set up a statistical inspection bureau in the East Factory and Jinyiwei to specialize in checking accounts and investigating corruption. If you When there is forced buying and selling, bullying and domination of the market, harming the public and enriching private interests, etc., don't blame me for being ruthless." After hearing this, everyone accepted the decree with awe.
Everything was arranged, and Zhu Yijun felt secretly happy. This was a major step that he took to divest the bloated inner court by establishing an imperial factory for more than half a year after he gradually became familiar with the affairs of the inner palace.
Although the Empress Dowager Li was fooled, over time, the Empress Dowager must have noticed something was wrong. But by then, the millions of taels of silver saved every year, plus the profits from sales revenue, would be so large that the Empress Dowager would also expect that
It's easier not to dare to be casual.
Although this divestment will bring financial gainers to the market, "public institutions will become state-owned enterprises". Zhu Yijun guessed that over time, a large number of "state-owned enterprise diseases" will inevitably arise in them.
But - this is an imperial society. Those who can't do well will be sent to the clothes washing bureau directly! If they are too greedy, the royal slaves do not have to go through judicial procedures, and the emperor can kill him if he wants! Zhu Yijun wants to see who dares
fall ill?
.......
Just as he was enjoying himself, Zhang Hong, the Chief of Ceremonies, entered the palace and said, "Your Majesty, Duke Cheng Guo is dying. I heard from the imperial doctor that he will be here in the next few days."
Zhu Yijun was surprised when he heard this. He asked: "The last time he gave a lecture, he was still working as a banquet official. How many days has he been here?"
Zhang Hong said: "Gong Chengguo contracted wind and cold in the autumn. Because he said that he would conduct a review in the capital camp this winter, he forced the sick body to teach him while he was sick, but he couldn't bear the illness."
Zhu Yijun groaned for a long time, and then said: "The country has lost its Qiancheng! According to common practice, how do I treat the minister's illness?"
Zhang Hong was stunned when he heard this. He thought for a while and then said: "In this dynasty, the emperor rarely leaves the palace to check on the illness of ministers. Only Taizu and Chengzu did this. At that time, there was no fixed rule."
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun felt something in his heart and said with an expression of pity: "This minister has made great contributions to the country and served as the emperor's teacher and protector. I would like to visit his home, how about it?"
Zhang Hong was generous and upright, but lacked quick wit and his level was much worse than Feng Bao. After hearing the emperor's words, he was stuck. After a long while, he said: "How...how can this be done?" After a pause.
He added: "I have sent doctors and medicines as usual before. Your Majesty does not need to give his family such grace."
When Zhu Yijun heard what he said, his good mood disappeared. He lowered his face and said, "Then you go ahead. I'll go ask the Queen Mother."
Zhang Hong resigned. Zhu Yijun calmed down and went to see Empress Dowager Li and said, "Mr. Cheng is dying. The doctor said he will be here in the next two days."
Empress Dowager Li was also surprised and said: "Mr. Chen, I saw you last month and said that Duke Cheng was training in the capital camp. How could this be so?"
Zhu Yijun whispered: "Mother, my son wants to go to Chengguo Duke's Mansion to have his disease treated." Empress Dowager Li nodded, but then she thought sadly: "It is no small matter for the emperor to leave the palace. How can we prepare all the important things such as books and records at once?"
He looked at Zhu Yijun doubtfully and said, "Do you want to be a simple servant? Or even leave the palace incognito?"
Zhu Yijun originally wanted to dress incognito, but seeing that Empress Dowager Li saw through it, he didn't dare to say that, so he came back and said, "I don't dare to wear a white dragon fish dress. How about a simple carriage?"
Empress Dowager Li made a decision, thought for a while and said: "Gong Chengguo has made great contributions to the country. When your emperor was here, you also said that he was loyal and talented. It would be good for the emperor to go and see."
At this time, Zhu Yijun saw the advantage of expelling Feng Bao. Since Feng Bao was not with Queen Mother Li, no one spoke directly to Queen Mother Li about the royal etiquette matters. She acted according to her heart more often, without asking those around her.
Man, how could our ancestors do such a thing? He directly agreed.
Zhu Yijun was overjoyed. But after all, Empress Dowager Li had experienced great political affairs and had some political acumen, so she said: "It is not appropriate for the emperor to go by himself. Please arrange for someone to ask Mr. Zhang and ask him to accompany you."
Zhu Yijun's heart moved, and he asked with a smile: "Do you want Mr. Zhang to take advantage of you?" Empress Dowager Li nodded, looked at Zhu Yijun solemnly, and said: "Exactly." There was deep meaning in her eyes.
Zhu Yijun smiled calmly and said: "Don't worry, mother, my son has already made an agreement with the mother, and I will leave everything to him." He paused and then said, "It's good to make another statement at this time."
Zhang Juzheng received the order and immediately started preparations. The cabinet, the Ministry of Rites and other departments were busy from the afternoon of that day to the next day, and the etiquette of "light carriages and simple obedience" was in place.
Zhu Xixiao, the boss of the Jinyi Guards, is the younger brother of Duke Chengguo, so he does not need to accompany him because of the emperor's special decree. Chen Ju and others mobilized experts from Dongchang to arrange personal guards; the commander of Jinyiwei, Li Santai, his colleague, sealed off all the roads from the palace to Duke Chengguo's mansion.
Pro-troops stood guard every ten steps, standing all over the street.
Zhu Yijun rode in the chariot and Zhang Juzheng rode in the chariot. They were cheered from the front and supported by the back, and went to Chengguo Duke's Mansion.
Because the carriage was light and simple, the Ministry of Rites arranged for Zhu Yijun to ride in a "small" chariot drawn by eight horses. It was one foot and nine feet long, with a pavilion cover, two lattice doors on the front and left, a screen at the back, a red carpet in the middle, and seats. Others
The flat plate, beaded plate, and wheel spokes are all shapes that can only be used by emperors. The tops are carved with dragons and phoenixes, and various decorations highlight the meaning of the supreme. The only drawback is that the wind comes from all directions.
The cold wind of the twelfth lunar month turned Zhu Yijun's face green from the cold, and he couldn't keep himself warm even under his fur cloak. He thought to himself: "If this unfortunate carriage is not scrapped in the future, it will be a shame to the travelers!"
Poor Zhu Yijun has been trapped in the palm-sized place from the Huangji Palace to the Harem for more than ten months since he time traveled. He was suffocated to death. Fortunately, Duke Cheng was dying, so he only got a chance to leave the palace. But along the way
Blocked by the door lattice on the chariot, only a bunch of Jin Yiwei officers and soldiers could be seen through the crack of the door, and none of the Beijing citizens could be seen.
Duke Cheng's Mansion is close to the imperial city. When he arrived at Duke Cheng's Mansion, Zhu Yijun was almost frozen. When he saw Zhang Juzheng, who was riding in Chengguo, his face turned blue, and the two of them were speechless.
Zhu Yijun thought to himself: "In the past, when Huo Guang was riding, Emperor Xuan was like a ray of light on his back. Today, when Zhang Juzheng is riding, I feel nothing but cold."