The civil and military personnel of the Manchu Dynasty, led by the four prime ministers, traveled ten miles from the capital to greet the emperor. In addition to being escorts, the imperial guards led by Xu Xianchun also served as a guard of honor.
When the common people learned that the emperor had won a great victory in the Northern Expedition, they spontaneously followed the officials out of the city to greet their emperor.
"Your Majesty is already five miles away!"
"Your Majesty is less than two miles away!"
The officials quickly arranged their clothes and lined up on the grand official road.
When the emperor's dragon flag appeared in their sight, both officials and common people all knelt down.
"Congratulations to His Majesty the Emperor on his triumphant return to the DPRK, and respectfully wish my Emperor peace!"
"I'm in peace, let's all be safe!"
Then Zhu Youxiao stood up and dismounted, and the four prime ministers and ministers quickly came forward to greet him. Looking at the left-behind ministers whom he had personally entrusted, he also had mixed feelings in his heart.
If it weren't for them looking after his home, his northern expedition would never have been so smooth.
"You guys have worked hard these past two months. You should be the first to contribute to this great victory in the Northern Expedition!"
Yuanfu Wang Xiangqian immediately bowed and said:
"I dare not accept your majesty's words. I have only done my duty. As for the great victory, I have nothing to do with it."
Zhu Youxiao held Wang Xiangqian's hand and said:
"Yuanfu is too self-effacing. What I say comes from the bottom of my heart. Without you to stabilize my rear, how would I have achieved such success?"
"Mr. Zixian's hair has turned a lot pale. It's really my fault!"
Xu Guangqi cupped his hands and said:
"I am just sharing your Majesty's worries and fulfilling my duties. I will never repay Your Majesty's kindness even if I die!"
"This is not the place to talk. Let's go back to the city and talk first!"
The big Han general with a loud voice immediately shouted:
"His Majesty the Emperor returns to court!"
Zhu Youxiao did not ride on the imperial chariot. After all, the emperor still wanted to show his respect, and this could also prevent the assassination of the king from killing the chariot to a certain extent.
At his invitation, the four prime ministers also boarded the imperial chariot and rode in the same carriage with the emperor. The chariot was surrounded by guards led by Ma Xianglin, while Li Songping and Zhou Xingwu led the army back to the military camp!
"Has there been any change in the capital during this time? How are the courtiers?"
Several ministers looked at each other, and finally Cheng Guoxiang took the lead and said:
"Your Majesty, everything in the court is normal. It's just that according to the Jin Yiwei's report, some people want to secretly murder your Majesty!"
Zhu Youxiao said with his hand on his waist and knife:
"I already know about this matter and have ordered Wei Zhongxian to start handling it!"
"What I want to ask is, the commander of the 21st Guards!"
Zhu Youxiao didn't believe there was anything fishy in this. With these civil servants who couldn't even kill a chicken, even if they were really stuck on the grassland, they wouldn't be able to make a splash.
They dare to plan these secretly with such confidence. There must be enough support and reliance behind them, and these must be related to the army. Now the entire capital is controlled by the Yulin Army and Factory Guards. The only ones who can give them support are those two Eleven Guards Horse.
They have never thought about or paid attention to the issue Zhu Youxiao mentioned. I wonder if Your Majesty has heard any rumors?
"Why does Your Majesty have such doubts?"
Zhu Youxiao smiled mysteriously, looked at Xu Guangqi and replied:
"Because some people want to imitate the Tumubao Revolution!"
The Tumu Fortress Incident was a major taboo in the Ming Dynasty. If anyone dared to mention it casually, they would at least be jailed.
"I know a little bit about it. Some officials in the court want to do harm to Your Majesty, but I don't know much about it."
When Zhu Youxiao told them about the servant's confession, except for Wang Zaijin, the other four people looked frightened. They did not expect that these people were so bold and dared to collude with Mongolia to do this.
"I think they must have contacted everyone they can to improve their chances of winning this time, including my imperial brother!"
"Your Majesty, these thieves who have no king or father and seek to usurp the throne should all be put to death!"
Cheng Guoxiang now understands why His Majesty treated the DPRK ministers so harshly, which is really frightening.
"Da Sinong is right. It is true that all crimes must be judged, but it is not as simple as execution. Instead, the nine tribes must be killed to avoid future troubles. Without killing the nine tribes, it will not be enough to control the world!"
Zhang Weixian was born as a military attaché and had no dealings with civil servants, so he was naturally more ruthless than Cheng Guoxiang, who was also a civil servant.
Zhu Youxiao also agreed very much. Although Wang Xiangqian and Xu Guangqi were also civil servants, he said without hesitation:
"The old Duke is right. It is because the emperor was too kind and indulgent towards them that these rebellious officials and traitors want to do this!"
Seeing that the emperor spoke so directly, several civil servants wanted to give advice, but finally gave up.
They all know that His Majesty is not King Sejong Shenzong. He is more like an emperor like Emperor Taizu. There is no sand in his eyes. In this regard, even Emperor Chengzu is not as good as His Majesty.
Although Chengzu also killed countless corrupt officials, he did not hate the gentry and literati so much. Looking at His Majesty's behavior, it was obvious that he was already dissatisfied with these people.
Wang Xianggan is a mature man. Seeing the strange atmosphere in the car, he immediately changed the subject and said:
"Your Majesty, the Chief Envoy of Shaanxi Province sent an urgent message the day before yesterday. Due to the heavy snowfall this year, many areas in Shaanxi Province were unable to plant seeds. Spring plowing has been delayed. People's hearts are now unstable, and there is a sign of a major disaster and chaos!"
Zhu Youxiao was worried. The biggest disaster in the late Ming Dynasty was finally about to begin. Starting from this year, the disaster caused by the small glacier would sweep across East Asia like a violent wind. Even Jiangnan would be severely affected.
Influence.
Zhu Youxiao's opponent is not Mongolia or Jianzhou, nor the so-called Western countries, but this natural disaster. If he can't handle it well, Wang Er will kill officials and start a rebellion, and Gao Yingxiang and Luo Rucai will still
Rise up and harm the whole country.
If he remembered correctly, this year's Daming Festival affected all the northern provinces to a greater or lesser extent, which also indirectly caused the southwestern chieftain rebellion and the White Lotus Sect uprising in Shandong.
"Da Si Nong, how much money and grain is left in the treasury now?"
"Your Majesty, the current reserves of gold and silver in the national treasury are less than 1.5 million taels, and the grain storage is only more than 300,000 dan, but this year's taxes have not yet been put into the treasury!"
Cheng Guoxiang's meaning was clear to Zhu Youxiao. Your Majesty, although the state treasury is living a tight life now, it should be able to survive this year.
But he had no idea what kind of disaster Daming would experience this year.
"It's too little. Officials' salaries are temporarily suspended. All useless projects are stopped and abolished. Five hundred thousand taels of silver are set aside. All other valuables such as jewelry, cloth, and other items are sold off. Then we immediately purchase grain from Jiangnan. How much can we buy?"
Just buy as much as you want.”
"The cabinet issued a decree to order Yang Yipeng, the governor of water transportation, to comprehensively clean up the canal. If there is any problem with water transportation this year, then I will throw him into the canal!"
Although the ministers didn't know why His Majesty was so anxious, no one questioned it because they understood that His Majesty was not an abrupt person.
Zhu Youxiao closed his eyes and thought deeply, this disaster is coming, Boar Skin, in this time and space, let's see how you survive. I hope you won't starve to death in the deep mountains and forests.