Chapter 691 The Origin of Constitutional Government
Among the several important matters Chongzhen mentioned was taxation.
This made Lu Zhenfei particularly tempted. The cabinet is now dreaming of levying a commercial tax.
If the proposal to levy a commercial tax is passed at the imperial meeting, doesn't it mean that even the Holy One has no power to stop it?
Lu Zhenfei suddenly felt that compared with this matter, the three matters of the Imperial College in Beijing, the handling of the two surrendered generals and ministers, and the liquidation of the northern gentry were nothing at all. This was a big deal!
Lu Zhenfei has tended to agree that the innovation of the Dachaohui should be written into the ancestral precepts of the Ming Dynasty.
But the premise is that the Prime Minister of the Cabinet must also have the power to convene a court meeting, at least the Chief Minister of the Cabinet must have it.
Meng Zhaoxiang suddenly reminded: "Your Majesty, even if it involves laws, taxation and military use, it may not be an important matter. For example, if there are thieves in the mountains who kill people and steal goods, they can be easily wiped out by just sending dozens of soldiers into the mountains. In this case,
The governor of one province can decide the matter without any vote from the cabinet, let alone a decision from the imperial court."
"Meng Ge's old saying is true, but I have lost my bearings here." Chongzhen said, "I will not be so boring, but no one can guarantee that future emperors will not have such anomalies.
Matters related to laws, taxation, and military use require the convening of court meetings every day. Officials in Beijing are afraid that they will be exhausted to death. In view of this, it is necessary to set a clear limit on the specific number of convening court meetings. For example, a
There will be no more than two imperial meetings a month."
Lu Zhenfei could no longer hold himself back and asked directly: "Your Majesty, do cabinet ministers have the power to convene a court meeting?"
Chongzhen immediately cast a meaningful glance at Lu Zhenfei, thinking that he was indeed an old fox, so he quickly thought of using the imperial court to counter the imperial power and seek benefits.
"Of course." Chongzhen smiled.
However, Chongzhen didn't mind this.
As I said before, Chongzhen was confident that he had absolute control over the Great Court Meeting, so he did not mind giving the Prime Minister the power to convene the Great Court Meeting. In the future, he could even consider giving more officials the power to convene the Great Court Meeting, similar to
Every people's representative can submit proposals.
After a pause, Chongzhen asked again: "So, what do you think?"
Lu Zhenfei, Meng Zhaoxiang and other five pavilion elders exchanged opinions with each other and said in unison: "I agree that the Holy Father's innovations about the Great Court Meeting should be written into the ancestral precepts of the Ming Dynasty, so that after the Ming Dynasty, the emperors and ministers will abide by it unswervingly.
"
"I second the proposal." The six ministers, ministers, censors of Zuodu and other officials came out one after another to second the proposal.
Immediately after, more officials in the main hall and those on the cloud platform outside the main hall also agreed.
Even Chongzhen did not realize that today's Great Court Meeting would leave a profound mark in the history of the Ming Dynasty and even the entire history of China. Most historians of later generations hailed this Great Court Meeting as the beginning of constitutional government.
Because the political status of the Huangming Ancestral Instructions as the first constitution of the Ming Dynasty and even all feudal dynasties in history was established at this Great Court Meeting. More importantly, the status of the Great Court Meeting as the highest power organ of the Ming Dynasty is also established today.
After being officially recognized at this great court meeting, future emperors will never be able to stick to their word like the previous emperors.
Because Chongzhen designed a closed loop, revising the ancestral precepts of the Emperor Ming Dynasty was also a major event and had to be decided by the imperial meeting.
This means that unless future emperors can convince more than half of the seventh-grade civil servants and military ministers in Beijing, they will not be able to change even a word in the ancestral precepts of the Emperor Ming Dynasty, let alone cancel the resolutions of major events in the imperial meeting.
This matter is about as difficult as passing a proposal to remove the veto power of the five permanent members at the United Nations General Assembly.
…
At Beitongzhou Pier, Zhu Cixiang shivered for no reason.
"What's going on?" Zhu Cixiang murmured, "Is something bad going to happen?"
While he was talking to himself, the sound of rapid horse hooves suddenly sounded outside the pier. When Zhu Cixiang looked intently, he saw Zhu Cijiong riding a snow-white horse and rushing into the pier like lightning.
Behind Zhu Cijiong were dozens of cavalrymen.
These dozens of riders are also riding the same tall horses.
After galloping into the pier, Zhu Cijiong reined in the horse again, and the white horse immediately stood upright. Two huge iron hooves kicked in the air several times before it fell heavily to the ground and made a thumping sound.
"Brother, you have finally arrived. I miss you so much."
Zhu Cijiong got off his horse, rushed forward and hugged Zhu Cixiang.
Zhu Cihong also opened his arms and hugged Zhu Cijiong vigorously. No one knows what will happen in the future, but at least at this moment, the relationship between the two brothers Zhu Cihong and Zhu Cijiong is still very pure.
"Third brother, let me take a look at you." After the hug, Zhu Cixiang looked at Zhu Cijiong carefully, "You have grown a lot taller, but you are darker and thinner than before, but you are a lot more energetic."
Zhu Cijiong laughed and said, "It's windy, rainy and cloudy all day long, how can I not be dark or thin?"
"Third brother, you and your father have worked hard." Zhu Cixiang said emotionally, "But now that Jiannu has been destroyed by us, you can finally rest for a while."
"There's no time to rest." Zhu Cijiong shook his head.
"Brother, you arrived today. If you had arrived two days later, you would not have seen me. Early tomorrow morning, I will leave for Liaodong to prepare for the formation of a cavalry regiment."
"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about this." Zhu Cixiang patted his forehead and said.
"Brother, where are Zheng'er and Gui'er?" Zhu Cijiong rubbed his hands and said, "Hurry up and take a look. We haven't seen each other for more than half a year. These two little guys must have grown taller and fatter, right?"
"Zhen'er and Gui'er didn't come this time." Zhu Cixiang said with some regret.
"In the ** month, they and the Crown Princess will come with Concubine Li, Concubine Ran and Jinxiu."
"That's right, Zhen'er and Gui'er are still young and can't bear the long hours of traveling and traveling." Zhu Cijiong nodded and said, "Then we can only wait until we are done with the cavalry regiment and then come back to see them."
Zhu Cixiang hesitated for a moment, and finally asked in a low voice: "Third brother, have you gone to worship in front of the mother-in-law's mausoleum?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "I'm gone." Zhu Cijiong's expression immediately darkened, "Although Li Zicheng, a thief, committed many atrocities, he accepted his mother and gave her a generous burial.
I still appreciate his kindness, and if there is a chance to capture Li Zicheng alive in the future, I can still spare his life."
Zhu Cixiang asked secretly: "Where is the queen mother buried?"
"He will be buried in the Imperial Concubine Tian's Mausoleum in Tianshou Mountain," Zhu Cijiong said.
"Are you buried with Concubine Tian?" Zhu Cixiang said thoughtfully, "Did your father ever say anything about moving the mausoleum for your mother? Or did your father ever mention to you about repairing the mausoleum?"
Regarding the mausoleum, Emperor Chongzhen was an anomaly.
Other emperors repaired their tombs early.
However, until the seventeenth year after he ascended the throne, Chongzhen had no plans to build a mausoleum for himself. It is not known whether it was because he lacked money and did not want to start construction hastily, or because of other reasons.
But now the Ming Dynasty has no shortage of money.
"I don't dare to ask this." Zhu Cijiong shook his head repeatedly.
"If you are not afraid of being scolded, you can ask your father yourself."
Zhu Cixiang was silent for a moment and then asked: "Where are the second sister and the younger sister?"
Zhu Cijiong sighed softly and replied: "The second sister is buried in the Zhou family cemetery. As for the younger sister... no one knows where she is buried. Like the younger sister, there are also concubines such as Yuan Guifei."
Zhu Cixiang was in great mourning. Is it possible that there were no bones left?
…
The great court meeting in Huangji Palace is still going on.
As Chongzhen expected, the Imperial College in Beijing and the proposal to liquidate the Northern Jin gentry were passed smoothly, and the proposal to reestablish the Imperial College in Beijing was unanimously approved.
What is being discussed now is the third major matter - how to punish the second surrender and the surrendered general.
In fact, there is nothing to discuss about surrendering a general. Everyone is in favor of punishing him.
Whether it was Wu Sangui who led the wolf into the house, or Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, Jiang Xiang and Zu Dashou who were traitors, they were all taken to Caishikou and executed in Lingchi.
The controversial ones are Hong Chengchou, Wang Aoyong and Sun Zhixie.
Many officials believed that these ministers should also be executed, but some dignity should be preserved for them, so it was best to hang them and leave their whole bodies.
There are also many officials who believe that the two ministers should be given a chance to atone for their sins.
To this end, Zuo Zhuan's famous saying was quoted: Who has no faults? If you can correct your faults, there is no great virtue.
There are also a very small number of officials who advocate severe punishment, and the ministers and generals will be punished with the death penalty of Lingchi.
Thousands of civil servants of different ranks were divided into three factions and started a fierce debate.
However, the military attachés of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the right squad remained silent because they already knew what Chongzhen meant and were waiting for Chongzhen to give him a hint before expressing their opinions.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Chongzhen nodded slightly.
Ma Mingluan, who was standing at the head of the class, immediately stepped forward and shouted: "I have something to say, please listen!"
Ma Mingluan always had a loud voice, but he shouted with so much force that the nearby civil servants were so shocked that their eardrums buzzed, and they almost went deaf in both ears on the spot.
The entire hall suddenly became silent.
Ma Mingluan then said loudly: "If the subordinate officials have a shallow view, like Hong Chengchou, Sun Zhixie, Wang Aoyong, Gong Dingzi and other ministers, they are willing to fall. They first surrendered to thieves and then to slaves, and they are really worthy of death."
"However, it would be too cheap to kill them like this."
"So they should be allowed to continue building the railway on the construction site."
"Use the rest of their lives to make their final contribution to the Ming Dynasty."
"Isn't this a hundred times better than killing them? What do you think?"
A civil servant immediately retorted: "What will happen after the railway is built? Let them go?"
"Nonsense." Ma Mingluo said, "After the Liang-Beijing Railway, there was the Yunxi Railway, and after the Yunxi Railway, there were other railways. Will the Ming Dynasty's railway be completed? In short, let these two ministers build the road until they die.
, If you don’t kill them, you will cause them a hundred times more pain than if you kill them. This will be enough to warn those who come after you.”
After saying this, the military ministers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the right squad came out to support him one after another.
Immediately afterwards, more voices of support rang out from the corridor outside the hall and from the cloud platform.
