"Ren Hengtai, this old man, is really becoming more and more unruly!" Zhu Gaochi changed his clothes and stood on the city gate tower, looking at the officials in the corridor of the imperial city below, as well as the officials huddled in the corner to bask in the sun, eat cakes and ducks
Ren Hengtai, who had legs, joked with a smile.
Zhu Shangbing stood aside with his hands clasped in his hands, sighing out of boredom.
Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji were wearing official robes, with their hands lowered and their eyes casually looking at their colleagues in the court who were kneeling quietly in front of the palace gate under the city wall.
Zhu Yunxi, who had slept for most of the day, had extremely bright eyes and full of energy at this moment.
But his eyes are so deep that one doesn't know what he is thinking.
"Will they keep kneeling here?" Zhu Shangbing really didn't want to stay on the city wall blowing the wind, so he asked.
Zhu Yunxi said softly: "They will not leave at this time, just like Ren Hengtai and others, at least no one will leave here today."
Zhu Shangbing had some doubts on his face. He tilted his head and looked at Zhu Gaochi aside: "Why?"
Originally, Zhu Gaochi was not prepared to explain.
But seeing the expression on Zhu Shangbing's face, which made him look stupid if he didn't explain, Zhu Gaochi could only sigh helplessly.
"Because they are now fighting for preferential treatment for themselves and their family."
Zhu Shangbing exclaimed: "What are the preferential treatment for scholars due to their fame? I checked it out today. The Ming Dynasty Law clearly stipulates that only servants will be exempted. It has never been said that taxes will be exempted."
Zhu Yunxi and Zhu Gaochi turned to look at Zhu Shangbing at the same time, with a hint of disbelief in their eyes.
Zhu Shangbing shrank his head and said carefully: "Did I make a mistake? I will drive away that dog-headed master of my house later!"
Zhu Gaochi suddenly couldn't laugh or cry. He patted Zhu Shangbing on the shoulder and said, "You're right. The preferential treatment for people in this dynasty has always been the exemption of handymen. But things will change as things go on. Between the handymen and the official, there are often
It can be confused."
"They're taking advantage of this!"
Zhu Shangbing let out a low cry with shock on his face.
Zhu Yunxu hummed: "Han Chuang studied hard for decades, and once he was on the gold medal list, he was selected as an official in the court, and served as various ministries and yamen, sharing the power of the world. People often say that officials protect each other, but it is not just that. These people share the power of the world.
, and will use the power in their hands to safeguard their own interests.
Household officials who manage the world's revenue and expenditures really don't know what the official salary of local laborers is. Do local officials really don't know how many acres of land they manage? How many farmers are there, and how many tenants are dedicated to their work?"
"Three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflakes and silver."
Zhu Gaochi sighed quietly.
Zhu Shangbing was stunned. Today's conversations really impacted his past knowledge.
He couldn't help but turn around and look at Jie Jin and Xia Yuanji standing in the dark shadow.
Both of them studied hard in their humble beginnings and were awarded gold medals. They were also officials in the court, and they were the same as the officials below who were kneeling quietly to force the palace.
Are they too?
Zhu Shangbing's eyes couldn't help but become sharp.
Xia Yuanji looked at Zhu Shangbing, his face showed some embarrassment, and he silently bowed his hands and said, "The prince can be called Jinyiwei Che Chachen."
Xie Jin said directly: "Why does the prince insult his ministers?"
Zhu Shangbing coughed lightly: "I didn't say anything. Don't try to slander me!"
Zhu Yunxi clapped his hands: "Enter the palace, there is nothing to see here now, let them kneel down."
When someone spoke to him, Zhu Shangbing immediately turned his head to avoid the embarrassment: "Not here anymore? Don't care about them?"
Zhu Yunxi shook his head: "Let's wait until they can't kneel any longer."
Zhu Shangbing scratched his head, not quite understanding what this sentence meant.
Zhu Yunxi had already turned around and walked to Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji, and said softly: "Prince Qin is a fool, you don't need to take it to heart."
Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji immediately bowed: "I don't dare."
When the two of them raised their heads, Zhu Yunxi was already walking down the city wall surrounded by guards.
The idiot Zhu Shangbing squeezed in front of Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji: "I'm sorry. But you'd better not be greedy. If you're short of money, tell me and I'll help you get it from Brother Xi."
After he finished speaking, he patted Jie Jin and Xia Yuanji's shoulders in a very grand manner, passing between them.
Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji looked at each other in surprise, their eyes flickering.
The emperor's grandson was indeed right, this man is just a fool!
Even in the palace.
Although the matter was prepared in a hurry, in name it was the emperor summoning the common people and elderly people in the city to have fun together, so the twenty-four yamen in the palace still worked hard to facilitate this matter in the shortest possible time.
The stage is built behind Donghua Gate and next to Wenhua Hall.
Anyone who sings as the number one scholar outside Donghua Gate is a good man.
In the former Song Dynasty, Han Qi, a scholar of Tongzhong Shumen and a scholar of Jixian Palace, said this sentence as the prime minister, which pushed the civil servants to a new height.
The former Song Dynasty, when scholars and officials shared the world, was the same for a time.
Although the reason behind this sentence is that Di Qing, who has no political wisdom at all, said something when interceding for Jiao Yong who had deducted military pay: Jiao Yong has military merit and is a good man. And Han Qi said the same sentence smoothly.
, but Han Qi was able to say this without any hindrance, which also illustrates the different treatment of civil and military matters in his heart.
It was the most beautiful era to pass the exam in school and become an official in the court.
This is the most glorious moment for the civil service community.
Since the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a story like this in Donghua Gate.
And behind Donghua Gate today, there was a burst of gongs and drums.
In front of the huge stage, the emperor truly enjoyed himself with the people. Wearing coarse linen clothes and holding a wine glass in his hand, he mingled among the tables.
On the stage, the opera troupe from Suzhou Prefecture sang not the orioles and swallows from the south of the Yangtze River, but the most understandable folk wall, which seemed to be full of flowers and full moon, and the family and people were happy.
When Zhu Yunxi rushed over from the Meridian Gate, he only saw the prince and his father sitting in the clan seat, surrounded by the second generation of the clan who were restless but did not dare to move.
Twenty-three Zhu Huan, who is now getting bigger and bigger, is hiding in a corner, secretly stuffing various kinds of food into his arms, as if he is preparing to fill his stomach that never seems to be full at night.
Seeing Zhu Yunxi, who had not returned home for several months, suddenly appear in the palace, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he stood up suddenly. However, he did not notice that all kinds of food he had put in his arms fell all over the floor in an instant, causing the boss to get angry.
movement.
"Huh?" Zhu Biao, who was watching the show, hummed in his throat and looked sideways at Little Twenty-Three.
Zhu Huang was startled and trembled all over. He quickly waved his hand and pointed at Zhu Yunxi: "Brother Xi is back."
After saying that, he hurriedly fled the scene of his crime, rushed to Zhu Yunxi, stretched out his greasy hand and grabbed Zhu Yunxi's hand.
Zhu Yunxi had no choice but to take out his hand as he walked, grabbed the back of Twenty-Three's collar, and used it to wipe his greasy hands.
"My son paid my respects to his father. He returned to Beijing today. He didn't go to the palace immediately to meet his father. Please forgive him."
Zhu Yunxi came to Zhu Biao and bowed respectfully to accuse him.
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Shangbing performed the son-nephew ceremony.
Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji paid their respects.
Zhu Biao waved his hand: "No formalities are required. The singing in the palace today is more casual."
When Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji saw that the prince seemed to have something to say to the emperor's grandson, they excused themselves and took their own seats to listen to the play.
Zhu Shangbing didn't wait for Zhu Gaochi to make a move, but he was already pulling him away from the sight of the prince and uncle. He really didn't dare to stay in front of Zhu Biao for a long time.
Zhu Yunxi was a little helpless and looked down at Uncle Twenty-Third who was clinging to him.
Zhu Biao said: "Twenty-three, today's homework?"
"ah!"
Zhu Huang exclaimed and ran away: "Baoqing must have had diarrhea again! I have to take care of her!"
While shouting, he went to find Princess Baoqing, who had been sent to rest by the palace officials long ago.
Zhu Yunxi was about to cry but had no tears: "Twenty-third uncle is still like this..."
"Will he grow up?" Zhu Biao rolled his eyes at his son and hummed: "When you were away from Yingtian, he still had a certain appearance. Now that he comes back, his true nature is revealed as soon as he sees him."
Zhu Yunxi rubbed his nose.
Before he moved out of the palace and lived in Taisun's Mansion, Uncle Twenty-Third lived with him in the East Palace. It could be said that the boy grew up in front of him, but he was not just close to him.
Zhu Biao also knew the relationship between Ershi San and his son. The close relationship between his young brother and his son was naturally what he wanted to see.
Zhu Biao stopped pursuing the matter and said, "Just came from the Meridian Gate?"
Zhu Yunxi nodded and sat down: "Zhai Shan is a little angry, so Ren Hengtai and the others stay in front with him."
Zhu Biao snorted: "If they don't stay there, then neither side will be able to be human beings. I heard that today you asked Yutian to imply that these people beat those officials?"
Zhu Yunxi immediately shook his head and denied it: "How could my son dare to do such a thing? Isn't this disregarding the majesty of the court? It must have been privately given by Yutian, and my son will punish him severely when he turns around."
Zhu Biao sneered, looking at his serious-looking son, he just hummed in his throat.
Zhu Yunxi was a little embarrassed, thought for a while, changed the topic and said: "My son has been reading the history of the Song Dynasty recently, and he has some insights. He deeply believes that our dynasty should learn from history and not follow the footsteps of the previous dynasty."
"Oh?" Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows, curious, and asked cooperatively: "What do you think?"
"Innovations in ancient times may have succeeded or failed. There are various reasons that cannot be explained. But my son believes that in the final analysis, it all depends on the people's hearts and minds."
Zhu Yunxi thought about his words and spoke very slowly.
After finishing speaking, he looked at the prince and his father calmly.
"Whatever you want to do, my dear grandson, just tell me, and grandpa will be kind enough to listen to you."
At some point, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still among the people, suddenly appeared in front of Zhu Biao, Zhu Yunxi and his son, holding a wine glass with a rosy face and full of excitement.
Zhu Yunxi stood up immediately: "My grandson is visiting the emperor. He did not come to the palace today to pay his respects. My grandson is unfilial."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "It's all a false courtesy. Just talk, grandpa is listening."
Zhu Yunxi nodded, looked at his father, and then slowly opened his mouth, telling him his plan to return to Beijing all the way south.
…
In front of the Meridian Gate.
Night came as expected.
The officials, who had been kneeling for a whole day, finally began to lose their support and were on the verge of collapse.
Bang bang bang.
Some people began to fall to the ground because they had been kneeling all day and could no longer hold up, and then tried hard to get up again.
After the first person fell, people began to fall to the ground one after another due to exhaustion.
Under the palace wall, Ru Yu, who was out of the sun, took a breath. As soon as he took a breath, he immediately infected Zhai Shan, Ren Hengtai, and the three of them breathed with tears in their eyes.
Then it was spread to Yu Xin and Wang Jun next door.
Suddenly, the five imperial ministers gathered together and were filled with anger.
Ru Yu's eyes were red, and she stared fiercely at the kneeling palace officials in front of her. Her voice became a little hoarse: "Raise your hands, as long as everyone agrees with this matter, I will call the people from the Soldiers and Horses Department to come over and help this person."
Help everyone get away!"
Ren Hengtai immediately raised his hand. He was still thinking about going home and eating the meat that his old wife had stewed early in the morning.
Zhai Shan rolled his eyes twice and nodded to show his attitude.
Among the five people, three people agreed.
Yu Xin and Wang Jun looked at each other, and then said worriedly: "I'm afraid I can't fight them off. My legs are on them. Let them move away now. They can come back later. If you can stop the first grade of junior high school, you can still fight them."
Can you stop Fifteen?"
Wang Jun sighed deeply: "I said, why don't a few of us go to see the Holy Spirit and ask for His Majesty's judgment."
Ru Yu looked at the two of them, snorted coldly, rolled up her robe, leaned against the wall, stopped talking, closed her eyes and rested.
Ren Hengtai's stomach growled twice in protest, and then he lowered his head with a sad expression, touching his empty chest and sleeves, feeling that he should not share the meatloaf and duck legs with Zhai Shan and Ru Jin today.
eat.
Zhai Shan spat on the ground in front of him, his eyes scanning Yu Xin and Wang Jun with dissatisfaction.
Just at this time.
Under the Meridian Gate, torches suddenly lit up.
More Jin Yiwei officers and soldiers, holding torches and embroidered spring knives in their palms, filed out from under the city gate and surrounded the officials kneeling quietly in front of the Meridian Gate.
The sudden change caused Zhai Shan and others to stand up.
It doesn't take a few people to tell.
The commander of the Jinyiwei, Jiang Gu, already had a dark face. Accompanied by the commander of the Jinyiwei, the commander of Qianshi, the governor of the north and south, and many other Jinyiwei Yamen officials, he appeared under the gaze of Zhai Shan and others.
Zhai Shan immediately stepped forward: "Jiang..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Jiang Wei interrupted with a wave of his hand: "His Royal Highness the Grand Sun has arrived."
In a word, it is like a huge boulder on the sea cliff, falling from the already trembling cliff into the calm sea water, splashing huge white waves.
The officials who were kneeling quietly in front of the Meridian Gate raised their heads one after another.
When they saw clearly the emperor's grandson standing in the firelight, their faces were full of surprise and surprise.
Shouldn't the emperor's grandson be still on his way back to Beijing?
Every official who saw Zhu Yunxi's face clearly felt nervous for no reason.
Zhai Shan and others suppressed the surprise in their hearts, adjusted their robes, waved their arms and knelt on the ground: "I am here to see His Majesty the Emperor."
Zhu Yunxi ignored the kneeling of the imperial ministers. He just calmly watched the Ming officials kneeling in front of the Meridian Gate almost all the way to behind the Duan Gate.
Among the crowd, there were only a few officials who had fallen to the ground due to exhaustion and no one was helping them.
Zhu Yunxi showed a hint of ridicule on his face.
"Since you can't kneel any longer, go and rest in the prison."