When only he and Cui Yuan were left in the main hall of Huaiyin Station, which was used by Zhu Houcong to receive his ministers, Zhu Houcong first asked him to get up and sit down, and then looked at him deeply.
Cui Yuan felt a little nervous. He was afraid that he would say the wrong word next.
Zhu Houcong felt his trepidation, so he spoke first: "If you have something to say, don't be afraid. Have I ever punished you for speaking freely?"
Cui Yuan immediately knelt down and kowtowed first: "Your Majesty has been in power for three and a half years. Your Majesty has become increasingly powerful. His ambition to enrich the country under the new law is so strong that he went so far as to kill someone in the Fengtian Palace. He was recently charged with treason."
To serve as the prefect of the four prefectures. During the process of participating in the strategy, when the Marquis of Jing'an arrived in Beijing, he was about to patrol the south, so there was no chance to remonstrate. Now that the city of Hengyang has been destroyed, the Marquis of Zhenyuan has reported this. I will directly remonstrate with you. I hope your majesty will forgive me.
!”
Zhu Houcong was silent for a moment, and then said: "Get up and sit down. No matter what you say today, I will never blame you."
After Cui Yuan sat down, he remained silent for a moment, and then said, "I'd like to buy you a glass of wine."
"... Do you need more courage to say it? Or do you want me to promise you a golden cup to drink together?"
Cui Yuan said nothing.
Zhu Houcong thought for a while and called Huang Jin to come and follow him.
Huang Jin went out knowingly.
Cui Yuan drank it all in one gulp, raised his head and said: "Today, I will start with the matter at hand. Your Majesty went to Sizhou and Fengyang. For half a month, I and others have felt ashamed that they have no good plan to deal with the Huanghuai floods and dare not say anything.
Solve this age-old problem."
Zhu Houcong didn't understand why he said this first, and Cui Yuan then continued: "Your Majesty has learned practical knowledge and created new methods. Often the ministers fail to guess your Majesty's extraordinary talents. There are also cases where the failure of the new method will lead to the death of all ministers and the destruction of the family."
There are so many worries, so no one dares to say that it will not be possible!”
"You are saying that I have asserted my authority too much and the ministers are worried but dare not speak out?"
"After Duke Xizheng of Zhou Dynasty left, no one among the important ministers and close ministers dared to advise His Majesty like this anymore." Cui Yuan said solemnly, "I am the consort and one of the clan. These words, the Marquis of Jing'an did not have the opportunity to directly remonstrate with. Now,
When the report from Huguang is received, it can only be said by the minister. Your Majesty, could it be that you are working together to make your Majesty think that everything in the world can be said and followed by the law, and all the officials and gentry in the world can understand the essence of the new law, and the people of the world can
Is there enough people’s power to change the world?”
"...please tell me in detail."
Cui Yuan was heartbroken and said: "Your Majesty eliminated the Holy Duke Yan and dedicated the sacrifice to Confucius Xindian, but the officials and people of the world have been educated by Confucianism for more than a thousand years? Your Majesty wants to weed the weeds and make the world broad, but how can the emperor want to rebel against the subjects of the world? Your Majesty wants to rule
The world is flooded, and water conservancy has been established to bring peace to the people. How can we underestimate the power of heaven and earth, overestimate the power of the people, and misjudge the selfish desires of people? Education, law, and inducement. Your Majesty attaches great importance to the latter two, and forgets the difficulty of education."
He paused and then said: "Use new laws to encourage unwilling people to rebel, and then deal with them with thunderous force; use suppression to train, and use the crime of rebellion as a rope to promote new laws and train elite soldiers in order to expand the territory in the future.
.These, just as Wang Dehua said before, the new law is one link after another, and one is indispensable. However, now there is a big mistake! The emperor used his sister-in-law and nephew as a bait, and this move went against the throne! Even if your majesty is not afraid of Qingshi, but the people of the world
How will you treat Your Majesty? How can the new law be achieved if it cannot win the hearts of the people?"
After Zhu Houcong heard this, he understood what he wanted to say.
Cui Yuan has said so much anyway, so now he simply goes all out: "Your Majesty can first establish his power, which should be the majesty of heaven, not calculation and cruelty. If your Majesty wants to make the world more virtuous, you must not be ungrateful first."
Lord, I would like to ask Your Majesty Wan Sheng: Now that we know that Prince Rui, his mother and son are in great danger of being kidnapped, how will Queen Zhuang Su and Prince Rui handle themselves after the chaos is over? How will Your Majesty deal with it?"
"If the people of Pu Zitong were harboring evil intentions and plotting to usurp the throne, have Prince Rui, mother and son ever been humiliated? If the people of the world say that Prince Rui, mother and son also have complaints about His Majesty's handling of everything after he succeeded to the throne, how will the imperial court deal with them? All of them are treasonous.
Will the nine clans be punished for this crime?"
He finally shed tears: "Your Majesty, since this year, even I have been exhausted mentally and physically. I can't sleep at night, and I feel like walking on thin ice every day. I don't know why your Majesty is so worried. I only know that your Majesty is worried about all kinds of diseases in the Ming Dynasty.
Even though we are so busy, we cannot expect to be able to complete our achievements in one battle. The ministers cannot bear such a heavy responsibility, and the people of the world cannot bear the rebellion and wars for years. Even if you want to make large-scale purchases and stimulate industry and commerce, your Majesty, don’t you know that there is no land?
Are the people more prone to rebellion?"
He said so much in one breath, but the beginning of the last paragraph was very important.
It is true that Zhu Houcong did not care much about his reputation and so-called reputation from the beginning. He always believed that he only needed to lead Ming Dynasty in a good direction.
After he decided on the arrangements for the Xia family and Prince Rui, he always felt that there was nothing wrong with his arrangement: On the contrary, the initiative was still in the hands of certain people?
But what Cui Yuan is telling him now is: if you use your sister-in-law and nephew as a tactic, the world will not think you are a virtuous monarch.
In the hearts of people who have been deeply educated by Confucianism for countless years, the emperor should be ashamed.
If the emperor is a shameless person, do you really dare to boast that the world will be "virtuous" in the future?
Now, Cui Yuanxian told him in advance: We really have no good solution for the Huanghuai flood.
For so long, you have been the one who is so awesome. Half of us think you have something to do, and the other half is because we are on a pirate ship and can follow you as the helmsman.
Zhu Houcong looked at him silently.
"So, if the monarch and his ministers are united, it's just the counselors who are afraid of power?"
Cui Yuan immediately shook his head: "Your Majesty has worked hard for the Ming Dynasty, and I all admire him. It's just that your Majesty, just like the dialectics taught by your Majesty, your understanding of the principles of all things and human ethics must be in line with the current situation.
Everything is changing, and His Majesty thinks and does things too hastily and too quickly. Now, isn't it because Your Majesty wants to resolve too many conflicts at once and forgets the priority?"
Zhu Houcong finally began to think about these seriously.
Cui Yuan used these to persuade him, just hoping to persuade him with something that Zhu Houcong also recognized.
To put it bluntly, today's Ming Dynasty is still the Ming Dynasty of the past, a Ming Dynasty that advocates the moral ethics advocated by Confucianism.
So what did he do after he succeeded to the throne?
After taking over the throne from Zhu Houzhao and expressing his admiration for Zhu Houzhao, what he did later included but was not limited to: executing his two uncles, imprisoning his mother, adopting a son to him and then giving him another son.
Send your wife and children out to play...
Even if the starting point was for the new law and the overall situation of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houcong ignored the current actual technology, ideas, manpower and material resources of the Ming Dynasty. He only had the new law in his mind, and he still made such big steps.
The important officials in the imperial court knew that he was worried about the Ming Dynasty. The local officials and gentry who controlled the public opinion of the Ming Dynasty would only think that he was an ungrateful, cruel and cruel emperor.
Even his treatment of Prince Rui and his son will be a big problem next.
Have there always been fewer rumors about the Tian family among the people? If not, they may not be spread properly.
Kill them all?
"...I understand." Zhu Houxuan spoke slowly, and then said after a pause, "Instruct Gu Shilong and others to put down the rebellion as soon as possible. In addition, let's not talk about the flood in Huanghuai today. I have to think about it carefully."
"...Your Majesty is wise, and I thank you for your kindness!"
Cui Yuan left, and Zhu Houcong didn't know what kind of state Jiang Mian and others over there would be in after seeing him.
Zhu Houcong's face was not good-looking, and he was cautious everywhere in Huaiyin Station.
Looking at Huang Jin who was following behind, Zhu Houcong suddenly remembered that he had asked Gao Zhong in the palace before: "Are you always on tenterhooks around me?"
That time, Zhou Zhao had just advised him to put the country's foundation first and not to act too hastily.
Now, Zhu Houcong did not ask Huang Jin, Cui Yuan had already given him the answer.
In this thought, Huang Jin saw him stop and asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, do you want to go and sit with Concubine Shu?"
Zhu Houcong was slightly startled, and then understood what he meant: Wen Suyun has a lively temperament, and he can probably make himself happy when he is not in a good mood.
"No, let's go to Concubine Jing."
Zhu Houcong sighed slightly in his heart.
He has never been a boss.
Now, after he has been the most powerful boss for three and a half years, he finds that he is neither a good nor a powerful boss.
He doesn't know much about his employees at all.
…
Jing Concubine Zhang Qinghe was the quietest and most aloof from the world among the concubines of the new emperors in the Forbidden City. She even lived like a monk.
She was once designated by Empress Dowager Zhang as one of the candidates to be selected into the palace in the future, and she was made famous because of the imperial censor's impeachment after the Rijing Gate fire. In the end, she was chosen to be in front of Zhu Houcong because of her quietness and observance of etiquette.
Because Zhu Houcong was a little surprised when he saw her for the first time and finally stayed in the palace.
Today, Zhang Qinghe is nineteen years old, but when she sees Zhu Houcong come in, her every move is more disciplined than Lin Qingping's back then, as cautious as a middle-aged woman who has been taught etiquette for many years and is in a humble position.
Today, Zhang Qinghe felt a little nervous.
Because after the emperor came in and sat down, he didn't look at the carefully built courtyard of Huaiyin Station outside the window, nor was he thinking about anything. He just kept following her.
Watch her fetch the tea leaves herself, watch her boil water, watch her silently warm the cup and make tea.
"I remember that you didn't want to be selected into the palace."
Hearing Zhu Houcong's words, Zhang Qinghe's hand shook, and then his wrist was burned by the hot tea droplets splashing from the teapot.
But she just pursed her lips and didn't make a sound.
"...I was young and ignorant at the time..."
Zhu Houcong said nothing, took her hand and took off the tea towel next to her.
It was already the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, and the tea towel was cold, so Zhu Houcong gently pressed it on the burned area.
Cui Yuan is right, he is indeed ruthless and unkind.
Sun Ming's marriage is about politics.
The news of Lin Qingping’s pregnancy is political.
The choice of several concubines is also political.
There are a total of twelve women at one time, and because of him, everyone has another life that lacks freedom but must be full of calculations.
Zhu Houcong didn't even consider their real inner needs too much. How could he consider his sister-in-law who didn't have much friendship?
But he always believed that he was right, for the sake of Ming Dynasty and the common people in the world.
An inexplicable sense of mission from above.
"After returning to the capital, I will call your father back to the capital. Do you miss him too?"
"...My father has your Majesty's trust and is able to work in Guangdong. It is his blessing. I dare not cause trouble to your Majesty."
The submissive face appeared in Zhu Houcong's mind, and then he smiled: "I haven't seen him for a long time. He must also miss you."
After changing the tea towel, Zhu Houcong looked at the small patch of red on her white wrist: "You never want anything. You have been in the palace for so long, and Concubine Shu said that you look like a monk in the palace."
"...I, my concubine, deserve to die!"
Zhang Qinghe immediately wanted to take her hand back to apologize, but Zhu Houcong held her hand.
"It's my fault." Zhu Houcong said softly, and then let out a long sigh, "It's my fault."
Zhang Qinghe just didn't know what to do. She had never seen such an emperor.
Zhu Houcong stayed here and asked her to tell her stories about her childhood.
He knew that he was still out of touch with this era after all, and he was proud of the huge amount of information he had received. He comforted himself by saying that he didn't need to disturb the people so he didn't go see more real ordinary people.
By his side, there were either former princes, people from the upper echelons of power, or high-ranking officials.
Most of these people are human beings who know what to say in any situation.
But there are actually ordinary people around him, such as Zhang Qinghe, and some eunuchs and palace maids.
What's ridiculous is that Zhu Houcong, who "enlightened" the so-called practical studies and dialectics, was actually just a porter.
His understanding of these things is not as good as that of Cui Yuan, who once became a prince-in-law halfway through the imperial examination before becoming famous.
Instead, he forgot the importance of the material foundation, and all he cared about was new ideas, new technologies, and a new era.
History will give him a hard time sooner or later.
Now it was Cui Yuan who was afraid of the completely unpredictable future and risked his life to give him a reminder.
He really risked his life. After all, Zhu Houcong had just convicted four prefects of treason when he left Huai'an half a month ago.
It can be said that he directly exercises the supreme authority of the emperor with his subjective knowledge and position.
Early the next morning, Cui Yuan came to see him again.
He felt something was a little different about the emperor, but he wasn't sure.
Zhu Houcong suddenly asked him: "You had just participated in the national policy at that time. I talked about Portugal and Spain in front of Napi Laizi, and discussed the Great Wall on the Nanyang Sea. What were you thinking?"
Cui Yuan recalled the inexplicable interview and the excruciating national policy meeting that followed, and the corners of his mouth trembled slightly.
Zhu Houcong smiled: "I am indeed the King of Jiji."
"...Your Majesty, the emperor, is so proud of himself, why do you call yourself king?"
Zhu Houcong did not explain, but just said: "Just say it casually. Let me know where the trouble is in the Huanghuai River. Speak freely so that I can think carefully and act carefully. There is no rush this time. There is no need to come up with strategies here.
"
When Cui Yuan heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He could understand the bravery and diligence of a young emperor. Although this majesty often gave his subordinates headaches, he was still good in the end because he was tolerant and able to listen to advice.
I hope he will understand more and more in the future what kind of storm his every word and deed will set off in the Ming Dynasty.
At this day's meeting, Zhu Houcong listened a lot, asked detailed questions, and did not talk about his strategies and blueprints.
He heard the "guilty" Gong Hong's use of so much "filial piety money" and court appropriations every year, and heard his straightforward statement that he wanted to protect not only the grain and water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River, but also the ancestral mausoleum. The river Yamen is near Huai'an.
What a price it cost.
Even if people in Huizhou Prefecture are taxed on silk silk, it is because Taizu left some problems in order to stabilize Jiangnan at the beginning of the founding of the country, and now it involves many actual people's interests.
He believed that his advice to Chu Yuanren was not wrong, and he believed that his more than three years at Hedao Yamen were also correct.
"Your Majesty wants to implement a new law and control the floods in the Huanghuai River. The difficulties I faced in the past will be no less. Many merchants in the past dynasties have looked at businessmen differently, and there is a reason for it. I am old and stupid, and I don't know how the new law will be implemented.
The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If your majesty thinks that I am also obstructing the new law, I am still here and will not be afraid."
After Gong Hong said this calmly, he looked directly at Zhu Houcong: "I heard that your majesty paid homage to the ancestral mausoleum. I advise your majesty not to think about moving the mausoleum to control the Huanghuai River. Will the National Games of the Ming Dynasty be affected by this? This matter
Then it must be used by Xiaoxiao. Extensive military service to control the Huanghuai River is different from winning the Great Wall in Qin Dynasty and opening the Caohe River in Yang and Sui Dynasties. In the current era of the new law, the resumption of large-scale military campaigns has the intention of opening up territory and expanding territory. It is said that a tyrant is in power.
, what will happen if the Ming Dynasty is about to perish? Riots are everywhere, how can the people deserve it?"
The rest of the people couldn't help but look at the boss He in shock. Can a tyrant speak nonsense?
But after Zhu Houcong listened, he thought quietly and just looked at him.
Look, he can guess that he has this idea. In the past three and a half years, his thinking and character are not necessarily understandable to smart people like Ming Dynasty.
"I will give you a thousand silvers to Dr. Ronglu, and one of Yin's descendants will be admitted to the Imperial Academy." Zhu Houxuan said, "Yuan has made great contributions, and I would like to be taught by him."
Zhang Jin has paid off, Gong Hong is indeed just a normal high-ranking official and has a normal family fortune, and Zhu Houcong even killed his own grandson with a cane.
In this decisive battle in which Zhu Houcong considered "taking sides", those who did not fully side with his new law were not necessarily those who viewed the new law as a scourge and Zhu Houcong and the New Party as enemies.
Everyone has their own ideas and persistence.
Ever since that "golden cup drink with you", Zhu Houcong has gradually slipped to the other end in the sense of achievement of "the king and his ministers are united".
In the past three years, the number of comrades and friends has not increased, but the number of enemies has increased.
How can you run Ming Dynasty well with such a boss?
It is possible that during his three and a half years as emperor, he used his superiority from five hundred years in the future to cut through the mess with a sharp knife and played the situation to the brink of collapse.
Now that the rebellion was over, it was time for him to sum up his gains and losses.
"Liu Tianhe was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Industry and the right deputy to the imperial envoy of the capital, and the prime minister of Hedao." Zhu Houcong made another appointment, "Although you have never controlled water, it is good if you are willing to study it. I will give you five years first.
With you in charge, I will consult the wise people in the world and try to come up with a strategy."
"...I thank your Majesty for your kindness." Liu Tianhe, who had been in the fourth rank for many years and finally became the third rank, felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.
Zhu Houcong looked at them again, and then said: "Since the rebellion has been suppressed, I will not go to Nanjing, and there is no need for me to see Huang Ceku in person. The southern inspection tour was originally to detect disasters, but since you and others were able to relieve the disaster, I went to Huai'an to have a look in person.
Huanghuaishui is suffering from emotional problems, so he will drive back to Beijing soon."
Jiang Mian couldn't help but take a deep look at Cui Yuan.
The emperor's decision will make many people in Southern Zhili breathe a sigh of relief.
How did Cui Yuan do it?
Zhu Houcong just felt that he really needed to think carefully for a while.
He imagined that after the Huguang rebellion was put down, it would be the beginning of the renewal of all things in the Ming Dynasty.
But now, he needs to adjust his thinking and understanding first.
An engine that is too unrestrained will only scatter the wheels of old history.