The mother of three daughters, a minister who was heavily involved, and a proper arrangement to stabilize the harem and the east palace in one fell swoop. Is this why he thinks he can do this? Or is there someone pushing him to do it?
Just by dealing with a few eunuchs and maids in the palace, the turmoil of this matter can be suppressed. By the way, the prince's status is visibly strengthened.
Zhu Houcong looked at Cao Cha in front of him, waiting for his reply.
In the past twenty years, he has also been seen through by the officials.
The emperor who admired the way of physics endured the great fire in the Sun Jing Sect and would not get angry over issues such as prayer spells.
Even though he had painstakingly managed the situation of the Ming Dynasty, he would not go to war because of it, causing people in the harem to panic, the government and the public to be uneasy, and the great cause of the Ming Dynasty to stagnate.
It is just a reason to solve the problem. The solution now placed in front of Zhu Houcong is actually in the interest of Zhu Houcong, more in line with the interests of the officials in the East Palace, and in line with the interests of the stable development of the entire Ming Dynasty.
Not only those, Cao Cha also had a nephew who stood out as the number one scholar in the examinations and palace examinations that are now relatively fair.
If we look at it normally, if the emperor feels that another plan arranged by the queen is suitable, his nephew, the number one scholar, will also become the prince's future minister.
Where is the uncle of the number one scholar?
Unfortunately, Zhu Houcong did not remember his nephew's name at all.
The exam syllabus and system have been changed. Some people have good fathers and are indeed better at answering questions. They are even more popular than Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji who lived in the 14th year of Jiajing. Not to mention that their talents are actually average, and in the end they only become a second-class overseas student.
Rui.
Therefore, his plan that seemed to be very suitable for the emperor's needs completely aroused Zhu Houcong's anger.
"... There is such a thing in Renshou Palace. I really didn't expect it." Cao Cha said with a cautious face without knowing anything. "This matter is of great importance. I think that I should announce General Assistant Zhang, Yan Guowu, Liu Shangshu and all of you to take action."
Let’s handle it carefully together.”
Zhu Houcong was not surprised that he answered like this first.
Then Zhu Houcong asked again: "I only informed you about this matter. You might as well tell me first, how will you handle it when the ministers come?"
Regarding matters involving Empress Dowager Zhang, why did the emperor only declare him, the Minister of Civil Affairs?
When an official reaches this level, he naturally knows that the emperor must already have some information.
So there are good and bad.
The best direction is that the emperor has already approved the plan, discuss it with him first, and then unify the opinions with all the advisers.
The bad direction... Cao Cha thought about it, so he knelt down: "I believe that I must not anger Renshou Palace because of this. It must be the three or five slaves in the palace who spread rumors and cause trouble. They should be severely punished to set an example! The safety of the harem is the first priority, Your Majesty.
It is advisable to make an early decision, settle the hearts of the East and West Six Palaces, clear the throne of the Prince of the East Palace, and calm the turmoil between the government and the public, so that the monarch and his ministers can concentrate on national affairs."
"There are waves in the government and the opposition..." Zhu Houcong repeated the word calmly, "There are waves in the government and the opposition... What waves are there in the government and the opposition now?"
"...I dare not speak nonsense."
"Cao Mingqing, Cao Cha." Zhu Houxuan first called him by name and then by name, his voice lowered a lot, "In the past twenty years, when did the affairs of my harem cause turmoil between the government and the public?"
Cao Cha kowtowed: "The worries of the East Palace are also..."
"There is nothing in this world!" Zhu Houcong said coldly, "What worries do you have in the East Palace? It has been established for many years, and it has been many years since I established a government office. I have taught you by words and deeds for many years. I have overseen the country and watched the court with you. Where does the worry come from?"
Cao Cha broke into a cold sweat, but he still thought that this was just the beating that the emperor should give him.
When things came to this point, he could only say: "It is urgent to renew the state-owned phoenix silk. Your Majesty's Spring and Autumn Period are prosperous, and your descendants are luxuriant. The ups and downs in the government and the public are not for today, but for the future."
"Fengsi will continue, okay." Zhu Houcong's voice became even colder, "The queen is still in the banquet hall. Have the government and the public already been thinking about this matter?"
Of course what Cao Cha said was the truth.
"Sitting on the Guidong at dawn, playing the Yaoqin with twin phoenix silks." Using Wen Tingyun's poem, this continuation of the strings is elegantly said.
And the emperor's spring and Autumn period is at its peak, he is in good health, heirs are prosperous, and the word "continuation" is associated with each other, so of course there are endless possibilities.
The emperor's family affairs are state affairs. To put it euphemistically, the matters in the East Palace can indeed cause turmoil in the government and the public. This cannot be more objective.
However, this matter took a turn for the worse.
"I am entrusted with the civil affairs of the Ming Dynasty. Should you be worried about the East Palace matter? What kind of disturbances are in your heart?"
"I am loyal to you, and I am also worried about your Majesty's worries." Cao Cha raised his head and looked at Zhu Houcong with firm eyes, "I only hope that your Majesty's blessings will last forever, and that the Ming Dynasty will be immortal! For thousands of generations, the foundation will last forever.
!”
"Okay, you are loyal. So, whatever my will is, you will definitely comply with it?"
"Please give me your decree!" Cao Cha lowered his head again.
"The Empress likes your niece very much. Sun Yuan has been planting trees in Shaanxi for so many years, and he doesn't have the energy to worry about his son's marriage. The Empress often thought about it during her lifetime. Today, I will work with Yue Lao for a while and wait.
Sun Yuan has returned to Beijing, why don't we discuss it. If it can be done, we can get closer to each other. What do you think?"
Cao Cha was shocked, but he could only kowtow and thank him: "Your Majesty has given me a good marriage. My nephew will burst into tears when he hears about it!"
"Get flat."
After Zhu Houcong watched him stand up, his eyes became a little desolate, and then he said: "You have worked hard in Guangdong and Huguang for so many years. I looked at you carefully today and realized that you have aged a lot."
"...I have the trust of Your Majesty, and I dare not give up my life. Now that I am serving as Minister of Civil Affairs, I have already felt that my energy is gradually declining."
"Then it's better not to work too hard. You have to take good care of yourself. I still need to rely on you."
"...I accept my order."
Cao Cha bowed and resigned, and Zhu Houcong looked at his back in silence for a long time.
How could his twelve-year-old grandniece marry Sun Yuan's son, who had been delayed for so long?
If you are serious about it, why not directly grant marriage?
This marriage couldn't happen, either with the Sun family or with the Zhu family as he originally planned.
Cao Cha naturally understood. Considering that his daughter was the mother of three princesses, this matter could only go so far.
And Cao Cha's request to become an official before the major national policy meeting will naturally make some people he has already won over in the court, as well as his opponents, understand the red line drawn by the emperor.
Feel free to worry or plan about the future of the East Palace. But if you want to extend this struggle to the palace, then go back and retire.
If worries about the future confuse the minds of the current monarchs and ministers and prevent them from focusing on state affairs, isn't this just a sign of overeating?
In the final analysis, it's all about authority.
It's just that the Queen's death has not been 27 days, and the officials and the people have not surrendered, so they are eager to start fighting?
In the palace, this time Zhu Houcong handed over the handling of the matter to Huang Jin.
Those who need to be dealt with are other people besides Zhang Qiaomei, including his godson. Whether it is minor or serious, Zhu Houcong is too lazy to ask.
And when Zhu Houcong arrived at Yong'an Palace, what could he do when he faced the concubines?
This is the biological mother of his three daughters.
When the emperor has made up his mind, just a few words can become a blow. It will not become a cold palace, but the emperor often came here to get her pregnant three times. How to remember this again is her own business.
On the contrary, those who need comforting more are Lin Qingping and Wen Suyun who are also implicated.
Wang He's two godsons simply arranged to supervise the construction of the Queen's mausoleum.
Since we need to clarify some attitudes for the harem and the courtiers, we can achieve the goal by simply dealing with the eunuchs in charge of their palaces. I have to say that these methods arranged by Cao Cha are indeed effective.
But I have to explain it clearly to both of them.
Wen Suyun was so easy to talk to, but his father was so frightened that he closed the door and thanked guests. Lao Qi was still very young, and Wen Suyun never thought about that possibility. She was just sad because of Sun Ming's departure.
But for Lin Qingping, it was necessary to call Zhu Zai'an.
"...That's what happened." Zhu Houcong sat there and looked at his eldest son in front of him, "Many of the ministers are thinking about it because you are already nineteen years old. My arrangements for you must be yours.
I've known it for a long time. I originally wanted to wait for another two years, but I'm still a little worried about your ability and want to teach you some more. Now things have become like this. When the mourning period is over, you can take the princess with you first.
, let’s go back to Yunnan to get married.”
"Your Majesty, I have received the order." Upon hearing this, Zhu Zaiyu knelt down and kowtowed, both to Zhu Houcong and Lin Qingping.
"It's not like I'm leaving now." Zhu Houcong asked him to get up, looked at his eyebrows, and squeezed Lin Qingping's hand, "When I first entered the palace in the past, your mother and Huang Jin guarded me day and night. This
In the harem, your mother is now the most caring person to me. She will become a noble concubine in the future. You often write to me. In the past few years, before the south was moved, you came back to see us more. When you become the head of the country, you will not be able to
I left easily."
Zhu Zaiyang's heart, which had been hanging for many days, was relieved. With tears in his eyes: "My son has remembered it!"
"I was born in the Heavenly Family, and I feel sorry for you mother and son." Zhu Houcong's eyes were slightly red. After all, from now on, the number of times he can see his eldest son is probably very few. "I will go to Yunnan first to familiarize myself with the climate there.
If you are not used to staying here, I can make other arrangements."
"My son went there when he was nine years old. There is nothing wrong with him. He is used to staying around." Zhu Zai'an wiped his eyes. "My father named his son Yao. He is not talented and is willing to be a good model and set an example for his brothers."
."
Ya, meaning "big", also means "blank", which is the mold for making pottery.
As the eldest son of a concubine, the news that Lin Qingping had him in the first year of Jiajing helped stabilize the hearts of Zhu Houcong who had just ascended to the throne.
Now, his parents are still alive, but he is about to travel far away.
The future of the lord of a vassal state will naturally be more powerful than that of the vassal king, but it will also be less easy.
Now even if he goes to Yunnan, Zhu Houcong still needs to be replaced by a Yunnan chief military officer and Yunnan governor so that the courtiers will not talk too much and fear that the prince and the prince will separate the country together.
"Qingping, I feel so tired these days."
Lin Qingping wiped away her tears, but she only said softly like she had done many years ago: "I will give you a squeeze for your majesty."
…
The solution to the farce is very simple, but the more difficult part is the disputes in the court.
Zhu Houcong was mentally prepared, because the reason for these problems was not whether the battle for the crown prince would happen, but whether it would happen.
Who can say for certain that it is impossible?
Therefore, it is natural to prepare in advance, so it naturally becomes a reason to divide the power territory of the court.
The situation that Zhu Houcong had to rely on courtiers to govern the huge Ming Dynasty has not changed. Even because of the new laws and the current new system, the affairs that need to be handled by the court are more complicated than in the past, and Zhu Houcong has only a lot more to rely on.
Therefore, he must have respect for his courtiers. He must weigh the pros and cons before selecting from the list of candidates for important ministers selected by the courtiers.
He is no longer the young boy he was at the beginning. As long as he attacks, everything he gets is his.
Now if he presses hard and attacks again, he will be harmed.
In such a situation, what Zhang Bi played loudly at the first court meeting half a month after Sun Ming's death seemed thoughtful.
"I, Prime Minister and State Minister Zhang Bi, together with State Ministers Yan Song, Huang Zuo, Gui E, Liu Long, the Minister of Rites and Communications, and Cao Cha, the Minister of Civil Affairs..."
A long list of names was read out by him. First, he clearly expressed his attitude towards becoming an official after the major national policy meeting, and then said that they jointly submitted a memorial to jointly elect Yang Shen to take over the position of Prime Minister and Minister of State in advance.
It's easy to talk about the others, but the names of Yan Song and Cao Cha appear in it, which is naturally intriguing.
They should be in the same group. Cao Cha originally wanted to support Yan Song to take over and he entered the State Palace. Now, did Cao Cha persuade Yan Song, or did Yan Song figure it out first, and Cao Cha just expressed his stance after being hammered by him?
Zhu Houcong simply asked Yan Song: "Weizhong, do you also recommend Yongxiu?"
Yan Song answered respectfully: "Mr. Zhang knows that many people in the government and the public are secretly uneasy now. In the State Palace, he proposed to advise His Majesty to decide on this matter earlier. I fully agree with it. Everyone knows that he is capable of cultivating the Ming Dynasty. He is responsible for the financial planning of the Ming Dynasty.
Over the years, he has been loyal, upright, and a good mentor to the prince. He is truly the best choice, and I deeply believe in it."
Although the amount of information was already large and Zhu Houcong could understand it, he still saw Zhang Bi, who was standing at the front, rolling his eyes towards Yan Song and then nodding along with what Yan Song said.
The old man's expression of fear that the emperor had not noticed clearly told Zhu Houcong that this was Yan Song's idea.
How should I put it? It's very considerate.
I originally thought that distant water could not quench the near thirst, and the major national policy meeting was held at the end of the year anyway.
And if the affairs of the harem are not sorted out for a day, someone will always be interested in it. Those who are not prepared to be interested in it are also afraid that others will be interested in it.
Zhu Houcong would like to call this state the dark forest of the harem.
But since the courtiers can reach an agreement in advance on the most important matter, it is natural to solve the fundamental problem.
If there were no hidden worries about the stability of the crown prince's position, no matter how much competition there was in the harem, it would be nothing more than the honor of being a queen.
Although it is tempting enough for some people in the harem, as long as Zhu Houcong is not worried about chaos in the court, isn't it difficult to deal with?
Now that Yan Song has taken the initiative to give in, and Cao Cha has been severely punished and entered the countdown to retirement, Zhu Houcong pretended to say: "The important officials from the provinces have not yet entered the capital. If there are no objections from the ministers by then, I will naturally be happy to see it happen.
You, sir, can work together to relieve my worries, and my worries for many days have dissipated a lot."
"Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body! Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty's national power is booming, and people all over the world hope that your Majesty will live long and prosperous. May your life be better and better under the rule of Ming Jun."
"The king and his ministers are of one mind. I believe that after this period of time passes, there will be more and more good news."
Then, it was Yan Song and Liu Long who asked Zhang Fujing to decide on his posthumous title.
Zhu Houcong was not stingy with this powerful man and gave him the posthumous title Wenzheng. In the future, he would accompany him to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and enter the Hall of Heroes, which would naturally be a complete package.
Zhang Fujing, who carried swords and killed people in Guangdong, is gone. How many veterans has Yan Song presided over the posthumous ceremony for?
Zhu Houcong looked at Yan Song and suddenly spoke: "In the blink of an eye, I have been with you for twenty years. During this time, I have been organizing funeral ceremonies day and night. I have drafted decrees and added the crown prince and tutor Yan Shifan.
Following the emperor's order, he wandered overseas, forgetting his home for the sake of his country. He bartered more than three hundred thousand taels of silver in Tsushima Island every year. His hard work and merits made him a Bo of Japan. However, don't overwork yourself. More and more old ministers are leaving.
I hope you can stay with me for another twenty years."
"...I thank your Majesty for your kindness." Yan Song's voice was choked with sobs, knowing that he had done the right thing this time.
Although he is still far away from the Prime Minister and Minister of State, the Holy Family is still there!
Yan Shifan, who had been busy in Japan for more than five years, was made an earl for making money. This was a symbol that the emperor's promise could be fulfilled.
It once again hinted that he could stay with the emperor until he was eighty years old.
The courtiers were in class, and Cao Cha felt bitter in his heart.
Some people, even before they reach sixty, are already looking older and older.
Some people are already sixty-one years old, and His Majesty still wants them to stay with them for another twenty years.
The night he returned from the palace, Yan Song's master came to his house and told him that he was supporting the prince anyway, so he should support Yang Shen in the same way.
In fact, before the situation became clear, the whole dynasty was full of imperialists and the whole dynasty was full of princelings.
But there is a difference. Can it be the same with the princelings who have long been arranged by the emperor to serve as subordinate officials in the Eastern Palace and who may provide help when the prince's status is unstable, and who are related by marriage?
How could Yan Song, who didn't have any official title as a prince, not think about building a good relationship with the prince? It's just that he didn't show up.
He is not easy to come forward, and he probably won't live long enough for the crown prince to ascend the throne. As for his son, it is obvious that the emperor is planning to let the Yan family establish themselves in Japan in the future.
Yan Song will continue to have a good relationship with another prince in the future. At present, it seems that it is the prince's half-brother, the fourth prince and Wang?
Now, Yan Song also has the title of Crown Prince and Tutor. He helps the Crown Prince, the fourth prince, and the direct Zhu family.
Cao Cha's sweet dream came to nothing, and the beads in his abacus were scattered everywhere.
But those calculations were originally based on whether the emperor would choose this method of achieving multiple goals with one stone.
Now that Yang Shen is indeed going to serve as the general assistant, the possible instability of the prince's status has been resolved, but isn't the position of the queen still vacant?
This problem will always have to be faced.
After Zhu Houcong finished the court meeting, when he returned to Yangxin Hall, the prince had been kneeling there for a long time.
"Every time you learn, you gain wisdom." Zhu Houcong pulled him up. "How can it be so easy to secure a position in the future? You still have a lot to learn."
Zhu Zaiyi did get caught up in a turmoil inexplicably, even though other people's intentions were for his own good.
Now he looked at his father with mixed emotions, but when he heard these words, he only felt puzzled.
When you ascended the throne, you were not as old as I am now. How could you secure the throne so easily and still succeed to the throne as a vassal?
How did you learn it?
There is naturally no answer to this question.
In the entire Ming Dynasty, no one could figure out this problem.
When Louis arrived in Guangzhou again, he saw an even different pier. Looking at the tall iron frames and wheels, Rope could only ask in surprise: "What is that?"
"A pulley crane, used to transport goods."
Louis was shocked when he saw it: Isn’t it no longer just labor to carry it?
What achievements has the great Ming Emperor made in the past six years?