In fact, from the moment Zhu Yijun said the sentence on the high-gong ticket, "Both palaces are the closest relatives of the emperor and have never been distinguished from each other, so they should be treated equally", Feng Bao knew that something was wrong.
The reason why Feng Bao dared to come to Concubine Li to stumbling upon Gao Gong was that Feng Bao knew that Gao Gong was a "rule-based" person. It is a good thing to follow rules, but it also depends on the occasion and the specific matter.
Gao Gong's rules-based approach is just like that of most civil servants who regard the system as the rule of heaven. As for the specific matters at hand, for example, after Zhu Yijun succeeds to the throne, who is the "mother queen" and who is the "mother concubine"
, is the reality.
According to the rules and regulations of the Ming Dynasty, the "mother queen" can only be Empress Chen. Even if Empress Chen is not the emperor's biological mother, she is the queen of the first emperor. After the new emperor succeeds to the throne, he can only call her "the queen mother" and Li Li.
The imperial concubine can only be the "mother concubine".
Out of his understanding of Gao Gong, Feng Bao concluded that he would stick to this principle and give Empress Chen the title of "Empress Dowager" and Concubine Li the title of "Emperor Dowager Concubine". Although this approach was completely in line with the rules, it was
It must not be in line with Concubine Li's thoughts, and it is most likely not in line with the little emperor's thoughts - why should my biological mother be inferior to others when I become emperor?
This is the reason why Emperor Jiajing launched the Great Ceremony Conference and caused chaos in the world for so long. The only difference is that that time the dispute was about who was the imperial examination of Emperor Jiajing, while this time the conflict is about who is the younger emperor's
Mother.
Perhaps in the eyes of future generations, what is there to argue about? Whose blood I shed is whose son I am!
But in Ming Dynasty, things were not that simple.
This is a great gift! In a Confucian society where etiquette and law are paramount, who is my father or who is my mother must not be messed up. Human relations are so great that they cannot be taken lightly? That concerns me a hundred years from now, who will be me in the genealogy?
Dad, who is my mother!
If "I" were just an ordinary person, then the problem would be slightly smaller, but this "I" is the emperor! He is an emperor who speaks the constitution of heaven and obeys the law!
I, the majestic emperor, the supreme one in the world, can’t even truly identify my biological father and mother?
This is how conflicts arise. Unless one party gives in, they cannot be reconciled.
As a civil servant leader, would Gao Gong be willing to give in on this important matter concerning the regulation of the world?
Feng Bao believes that he cannot and will not give in.
That's why Feng Baocai found the right opportunity to come to Concubine Li and give Gao Gong eye drops to stumble her.
But why did Gao Gong give in? He even made it clear in the draft that "foolish intentions...should be treated equally"?
Of course it was Gao Pragmatism who convinced him.
How can Gao Gong, a pragmatic person, be able to convince Gao Gong, a civil servant leader, on this matter? You must know that since he is a civil servant leader, he enjoys a distinguished status and also shoulders responsibilities.
But Gao Qingshi only used three words to convince Gao Gong.
"Great ceremony."
The emperor is always the emperor. He talks about the constitution of heaven and follows the law. This is the emperor's unique power. Even if the emperor is still young, he will eventually grow up one day. Maybe he can do it if he is forced to bow his head now.
But what about the future? As much pressure as there is, there will be as much rebound!
He is the emperor, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Under the system of the Ming Dynasty, no matter how powerful the ministers are, they are only temporary. How can you keep suppressing the emperor? Do you want to rebel? At least it is impossible for civil servants, and Gao Gong is even less likely to do this.
thought.
So when Gao Pragmatic mentioned the great ceremony, Gao Gong fell silent.
He was someone who had personally experienced the Great Ceremony Conference. Although he was still young at the time, he also knew how much turmoil the Great Ceremony Conference and its aftermath had caused to the court. Gao Gong asked himself, such turmoil was definitely not what he wanted to see at this moment.
——Reform is on the rise, and the country is on the rise. If there is another big ceremony, how will I face the late emperor in the future?
The late emperor's trust and respect for him could be said to have reached the extreme level of a monarch and his ministers. And did the late emperor's last order require him to organize a grand ceremony for the Ming Dynasty?
Seeing Gao Gong fell silent, Gao Jingshi proposed the idea of simultaneously respecting the two palaces. After hearing this, Gao Gong was still a little hesitant, thinking that this was actually unfair to Queen Chen. If Queen Chen refused,
No one can stand it when the generals make trouble.
However, Gao Pragmatic told him that the problem with Queen Chen had been resolved.
Gao Gong was only a little surprised, but he immediately knew that his nephew had many ways to solve problems, but the one he used most skillfully was just throwing money.
This is really a one-stopping effort. Gao Gong couldn't help but smile bitterly when he thought about it.
After all, there are really not many things in this world that can't be solved with money. If there are, it's probably because we haven't spent enough money.
And more importantly, he is pragmatic and rich.
Gao Gong has rarely asked about Gao Pragmatic's properties, and he doesn't know exactly how much wealth he has. But judging from Gao Pragmatic's generous dealings, Gao Gong even suspects that he is no worse than his uncle's family.
In fact, Gao Gong has a misunderstanding here. Gao Pragmatic's family background, if we just talk about the money from selling these properties, it is actually not as good as the Zhang family in Puzhou. After all, Changlu Saltworks is a giant in the northern salt industry in this era.
No tyrants. However, the high and pragmatic speed of making money is indeed better than that of the Zhang family in Puzhou!
Originally, the most profitable industry in Gao Pragmatic's hands was Jinghua soap. Since last year, honeycomb briquettes have not only monopolized the Jingshi market, but also purchased from the three towns of Jingying and Xuanda, and their sales and profits have also increased significantly. But even so,
Still can only give Jinghua Soap a try.
But since the tribute was successfully completed, the huge profits of Jinghua Soap were quickly surpassed by the Jinghua Caravan!
Originally, there were only two trade routes for the Jinghua caravan: from Xuanfu and Datong, leading to Mongolia on the right.
But after I was granted tribute, Cao Gan, under Gao Pragmatic's personal planning and supervision, not only opened up two trade routes in Yanbian and Ningxia with Ordos, but also continued to strengthen his leading position in trade with right-wing Mongolia, "Export
"Amount" has increased significantly due to peaceful trade between the two sides.
Last year alone, that is, the fifth year of Longqing, the gross profit reached more than 700,000 taels! Moreover, because they delivered a large amount of daily necessities and luxury goods loved by the nobles to right-wing Mongolia, they were regarded as VIPs by the Anda Royal Court and enjoyed
All kinds of privileges. Even now, the status of the leader of the pro-Ming faction in right-wing Mongolia has been greatly improved, and he is regarded as the most powerful person among the following people except Xin Ai Huang Taiji.
And now, Cao Gan has personally gone to Suzhou to prepare to open up western trade routes and open trade routes to Turpan, Duogan, Qinghai, Yarkand, Heshuote and other places.
The last time Gao Pangshi received his report, this guy was in Prince Su's Mansion to communicate with the local vassal king and the military.
Therefore, even if some necessary expenses are excluded, the industry at hand can provide him with at least one million taels of income every year!
This is equivalent to more than one-third of the Ming Dynasty's treasury income! And this income belongs to Gao Pragmatic individuals! You know, although the Changlu Salt Farm of the Zhang family in Puzhou earns more than this, they have to pay more than Gao
It is much more pragmatic. Just like what Gao Jingshi and Gao Gong said before, although the salt merchants make money, they spend a lot of money - from top to bottom, no link can be missing, and they all have to be fed.
Therefore, what big deal is it to spend money to get rid of Empress Chen’s family who has no wealth and power?
The "Great Ceremony" was really a nuclear bomb left by Emperor Jiajing to Gao Pangshi, which frightened both Empress Chen and Gao Gong.