When he went out, Wang Chengen had already transferred a carriage from the palace.
However, Chongzhen did not ride in the carriage. Instead, he found two eunuchs to sit on the carriage. He and Zhu Cijiong wore phoenix-winged helmets with visors and openly mingled among the accompanying Yiding.
The safety string in Chongzhen's mind was always tight.
The reason is also very simple, because what he is doing now has touched the fundamental interests of too many people, so there are many people who want to kill him now.
Jianu must have wished that he died early.
The clan king must also hate him so much that he gnashes his teeth.
Needless to say, there is no need to say more about the distinguished ministers such as the Duke of Guizhou, the Duke of Wei, and the Duke of Bao.
Even those Taoist teachers probably hate him to the core, because he wanted to reform Confucian etiquette and ban foot-binding among the people, which offended these Taoist teachers.
Mr. Daoxue's stubbornness is absolutely beyond imagination.
Therefore, personal security work must not be taken lightly.
When the group arrived at the East Palace, Prince Zhu Cixiang was not at home.
In order to avoid suspicion, Chongzhen did not enter the princess's bedroom, but asked the prince to carry the emperor's eldest grandson to the hall.
The two-month-old baby's little face had begun to grow, and a pair of big black eyes stared closely at Chongzhen. Chongzhen actually experienced first-class blood and family affection, which should be the memory of this body.
Zhu Cijiong also came over and said with a smile: "You look so much like your eldest brother."
Chongzhen then said with a smile: "Jiong'er, in another year you will be seventeen."
"Father, I don't want my son to get married so soon." Zhu Cijiong said hurriedly, "My son wants to learn from Huo Qubing. Huo Qubing said that the Xiongnu are not destroyed, so why should we take care of the family? I also want to wait until the Xiongnu are wiped out before getting married."
"Okay, then it's up to you." Chongzhen had no intention of forcing his son.
While the father and son were teasing Zhu Heqi, Zhu Cihong finally walked in quickly from outside.
"My son, I am late to welcome you, and I hope that my father will forgive me." Zhu Cihong came in and knelt on the ground to apologize to Chongzhen.
"Get up." Chongzhen handed Zhu Heqi into Zhu Cijiong's hands, sat down and asked, "Have you just returned to Beijing from abroad?"
"Yes, I went to Songjiang Mansion." Zhu Cixi stood up and explained, "There is a food shortage in Songjiang Mansion. The people are dissatisfied with the repeated price increases in the grain stores, and they gather to cause trouble and destroy and loot."
"My son is worried that the situation in Songjiang Mansion will get out of control."
"So I followed Jin Xuan to Songjiang Mansion."
"There is actually a food shortage in Songjiang Prefecture?" Chongzhen immediately smelled something unusual.
"How could there be a food shortage in Songjiang Mansion?" Zhu Cijiong said in astonishment, "Is there something famous here?"
"Third brother hit the nail on the head." Zhu Cixiang nodded, "My son went to Songjiang Prefecture to learn more about it this time and found that cotton fields are planted around 1.6 million acres, accounting for about 30% of the total farmland in Songjiang Prefecture."
"In other words, Songjiang Prefecture still has about three million acres of farmland to grow rice."
"This year's harvest is good. Based on two shi per mu, we can harvest 6 million shi of rice."
"Six million tons of rice is enough to feed two million people in Songjiang Prefecture, and there will never be a food shortage."
After saying this, he added: "So this matter is definitely caused by man, and someone is hoarding food maliciously!"
Zhu Cijiong said with a dark face: "Father, maybe it's those clan lords, ministers, ministers and Jin gentry who are causing trouble."
"Jiong'er, be more confident, it must be these people who are stirring up trouble." Chongzhen's eyes cooled down and he said, "I guess they thought the opportunity had appeared, so they couldn't help but jump out."
"Father, speaking of this, there is something wrong with the public opinion in the capital recently." Zhu Cixiang said angrily, "Those imperial officials are going crazy and writing memorials to scold you, because this son-in-law has already quarreled with them.
Many times, once he even used his hands and Erchen broke Li Huei's forehead."
"Brother, good fight." Zhu Cijiong praised, "This bitch deserves to be beaten."
"Nonsense." Chongzhen reprimanded him, "You are the prince and the crown prince of the country. How can you fight with civil servants?"
"Father, you don't know how much this guy Li Hui goes." Zhu Cixiang said, "After reading his crazy words, if I can still stand it, then I am not worthy of being the son of a human being."
"It's just eight counts, it's no big deal." Chongzhen said, "He might as well be Zuo Guangxian."
"Father, have you read Li Huei's memorial?" Zhu Cixiang was stunned for a moment, and then said, "Father, Li Huei is actually making use of the topic. What they are really dissatisfied with is the power of Prince Qin and the influence of the imperial examination on the imperial court.
The huge influence of the Talent Recruitment Ceremony is what civil servants like them are most dissatisfied about. Mr. Lu Ge is also quite critical of this matter, but Mr. Zhang Ge is quite supportive."
"I know, even my father knows it." Chongzhen nodded happily.
It is obvious that Zhu Cixi has truly developed the ability to think independently.
Although he has been surrounded by civilian officials for the past year, he has not been misled by them.
Zhu Cixi even learned how to be patient and keep a low profile. For example, when the civil service group asked him to move back to the East Palace from the Kang Family Courtyard, he did not go hard with the civil service group, but chose to compromise.
When Zhu Cixiang wanted to continue speaking, he was stopped by Chongzhen.
"Okay, Xinger, stop talking." Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Let's go back to the Imperial College."
In Nanjing, only the Imperial College was the base of the imperial party, and only in the Imperial College did you not have to worry about being eavesdropped. Otherwise, you would never know whether there would be a civil servant's ear through the wall.
At that moment, the father and son, surrounded by Wang Chengen, Gao Qiqian, Hu Guozhu and others, came to the Imperial Academy.
At this time, Ma Mingluan, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and all the officials in Nanjing had gathered in the Imperial Academy and were waiting in the Yilun Hall to be summoned by Chongzhen.
Ma Mingluan finally removed the subtitle.
Now he is the serious head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Seeing Chongzhen and his son walking in, Ma Mingluan and others stood up one after another.
"Okay." Before Ma Mingluan and others could bow down, Chongzhen stopped him and said, "You all know how much I hate those red tapes, so please stop practicing the bad habit of kneeling down and worshiping."
Ma Mingluan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I just want to bow to you."
After saying this, Ma Mingluo led all the scholars and bowed to the ground: "I will kneel before you, Your Majesty."
"Sit down." Chongzhen walked to the Taishi chair in the hall and sat down. He got up and quickly took a brocade cushion to put on Chongzhen's back. Chongzhen adjusted his sitting posture to make himself as comfortable as possible, and
He asked, "Ma Qing, the evil wind in Nanjing has been quite strong recently, have you not been affected at all?"
"How could the Ministry of Internal Affairs be influenced by those corrupt scholars?" Ma Mingluan shook his head and said, "However, it is not a problem for these corrupt scholars and mediocre officials in the capital to be mixed together for a long time, as well as the fallen clan princes and honorable ministers.
, Your Majesty, how about I call on the Qin princes and scholars to sort out these people?"
"Well, the energy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs should not be wasted on such nonsense." Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "The most important task of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the moment is to prepare for the Northern Expedition, especially the preparation of wages, grain, grass, and weapons and equipment.
This is business, don’t waste your precious energy on other things.”
Things have priorities, and conflicts also have priorities.
Chongzhen would not ignore the external enemies because of internal disputes.
Besides, the conflict between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the civil service group did not reach the point of incompatibility.
For now, the civil servant group is only adding fuel to the flames, and the real demons are the clan kings and nobles.
Ruan Dacheng was still a little angry and said: "These people have insulted the Holy One too much, and I think they should not be leniently spared. And if they are allowed to continue to collude secretly, there is no guarantee that they will not cause trouble. The rice shortage in Songjiang Prefecture this time may be caused by these people."
"
Mr. Yuan Haigong still has some hard-to-change nature. This is because his old habit of being keen on political struggles has recurred.
However, Chongzhen did not reprimand Ruan Dacheng. In fact, people like Ruan Dacheng are not completely useless. When used properly, such people become hunting dogs, which can bite prey to death. But if they lack the ability to control, they become vicious dogs that devour their masters.
Not only will the prey be bitten to death, but the owner will also be bitten to death.
"Ruan Qing, we will discuss this matter separately." Chongzhen pressed Ruan Dacheng down and then asked Ma Mingluan, "Ma Qing, tell me now how much wealth the Ministry of Internal Affairs has accumulated in this year.
?”
"Your Majesty, the total assets on the books of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have increased to 300 million taels."
Ma Mingluan said without hesitation: "The profit on the books has exceeded 50 million taels."
The figure mentioned by Ma Mingluan has not yet taken into account the benefits that Chongzhen gained from Yunnan.
"The profit exceeded 50 million?" It was the first time for everyone here to hear this figure, and they were immediately excited. In addition to being excited about the financial abundance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they were also happy that the officials could receive large dividends this year.
Calculating it based on fifty million, each scholar can get two hundred and fifty taels.
Ma Mingluo glanced at a dozen of them and gave Shizhong a look, and said with a wry smile: "I know what you are thinking, you want to pay dividends, right? Then I can only tell you with great regret that there will be no dividends this year."
"Ma Qing, what are you talking nonsense about?" Chongzhen said, "How can we not get dividends? Everyone has been busy all year, and they just want to have a good year with dividends. You can't want the horse to run and not let the horse run.
Eat grass.”
"Your Majesty, I don't want to deduct everyone's dividends, but I really can't get the money." Ma Ming smiled bitterly and said, "Why did I deliberately emphasize the assets and profits on the books just now? Because these are really just numbers on the books.
, In fact, the Ministry of Internal Affairs only has one million taels of cash left in the Royal Bank account."
"Where's the money? Where's the silver?" Huang Zongxi said solemnly, "Where has the silver gone?"
Since Huang Zongxi became a member of the Supervision Bureau, everyone has been in trouble, and everyone looks like a corrupt criminal, especially Ma Mingluan.
Ma Mingluan said angrily: "Huang Taichong, don't look at me like that, I'm not corrupt."
