Chapter 454: The Age of Empires with Strong Ships and Guns
Conferring two princely titles is not as good as having a grandson?
Zhu Yunxi felt that the old man must have become more and more obsessed recently.
He couldn't help but whisper: "This is the first time in this dynasty that you have been granted the title of king while still alive..."
"so what?"
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be a little bored, and all he could do now was the eldest grandson who kept chattering in his ears about the country, dynasty, society, and country. He cursed and left a word, then turned around and walked to the crib.
Seeing the two little people lying on the soft cotton quilt, Zhu Yuanzhang tilted his head and clapped his hands gently.
"Son, be good, grow up quickly. When you grow up, grandpa will teach you how to read and practice martial arts. Only when you grow strong can you protect Poria, our country and the people of Ming Dynasty."
Is this still the murderous Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty?
Zhu Yunxi blinked and couldn't help but turn his head and look sideways at the fat guy next to him.
Xiaopang shook his head understandingly.
He felt that the old man had gradually developed two faces in recent years.
One is Emperor Hongwu, who is aloof and has an unpredictable sacred heart. A word from the emperor can move the whole court, and a piece of edict can cause his body to float thousands of miles away.
But the other face is an old man who guards the village. He has several acres of fertile land that can be passed down to his family, several children in the house, and a house full of children and grandchildren. Every day, he is waiting for the children to return home from farming and spend time with their grandchildren.
Talking about the not-so-epic years in the past.
Who says the emperor is ruthless?
Zhu Gaochi even felt that the old man in front of him at this moment was his truest nature.
The emperor who was aloof and controlled all life in the world was nothing but the old man who was helpless from the beginning and became like that step by step.
Zhu Yunxi was also a little moved by the scene.
In a daze, he realized that the old man had a lot more white hair and his back was bent a little. The skin on his face was no longer radiant, and the muscles and bones under the skin were visible on his thin hands.
He is really old.
Looking at the old man and then at his two children on the crib, Zhu Yunxi was filled with emotions for a moment.
His heart skipped a beat.
This year is the 28th anniversary of Hongwu.
Zhu Yunxi's eyes suddenly shrank, he stepped forward lightly, his tone became more respectful: "A few days ago, Zhang Ergong, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, was looking for his grandson. He said that he had come up with a few new things. Long
The steam warship at the Jiang Shipyard is about to be launched, and another type of armored warship has started construction. They are all novel things. If grandpa is interested, my grandson can choose a day to avoid the cabinet and the court and go outside the city to see it.
look?"
The two children on the small bed, probably tired from crying just now, gradually closed their eyes and fell into a sound sleep.
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand, turned around and whispered: "You make arrangements, and I will know when the time comes."
Zhu Yunxi cupped his hands and nodded: "My grandson understands."
But at this time, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yunxi carefully, suppressed his voice, fearing to frighten the two little men on the side, and said: "Princes with different surnames in the imperial court are not allowed to attack, and they are not allowed to leave the capital without an edict. Lead the army to go on an expedition."
Establish a deputy general to oversee the army."
Zhu Yunxi raised his eyebrows, it seemed that the old man had already made a plan.
He bowed and said: "My grandson knows, so I can inform the cabinet later and decide on this national policy."
Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, waved his hand and said, "I'm a little tired, you can go and do your own business."
"Grandson, please leave."
…
In the autumn, there is still some heat left in Yingtian City, and it will only gradually cool down after the Double Ninth Festival.
The bright day hung high in the sky, casting long shadows on everything on the earth.
In the palace, since the eldest son and daughter of the Taisun Mansion moved in, everyone from top to bottom has been ordered to prohibit any excessive movement in the palace, which would disturb the eldest son and daughter.
Zhu Yunxi clasped his hands together and seemed to be walking around with a smile on his face.
Beside him was Zhu Gaochi, who also had his hands clasped in his arms, but he was really walking around with his belly full.
All around, from time to time there would be a few palace maids or chamberlains walking past.
When he saw the two of them, he would bow and stand in the distance, and wait until the emperor's grandson and Prince Yan left before moving on.
"Is your marriage to Commander Zhang Qi's daughter about to happen?"
Zhu Gaochi slowed down a little, and looked outside at Zhu Yunxi who suddenly mentioned his marriage: "The intention in the palace is to set it on the day after the Double Ninth Festival, the tenth day of September."
"That's not a few days away. I heard that Zhang's daughter is well-born, filial and gentle, which is in line with your temperament." Zhu Yunxi counted the days and said softly: "The matter in Zhongdu has been settled.
It’s still a sight to behold, and I haven’t lost my face in terms of specifications.”
Hearing Zhu Gaochi mention Zhang, the daughter of Commander Zhang Qi, Zhu Gaochi was a little shy: "I've heard about it too, but I just watched you get married and have children, and I didn't feel much about it. When things really happened to me, it was another matter.
Yes. As for the one from Zhongdu, he never thought that you could be so generous."
Zhu Yunxi chuckled: "He even asked Duke Xin to send me a letter."
Speaking of this, Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but think of that day when he received a letter from the Imperial City of Zhongdu from Tang Li.
A letter written by Zhu Yunwen to himself.
Under the thin envelope, there was only a piece of paper.
The paper is completely blank except for the word "Thank you".
It seems unexpected and interesting.
Zhu Gaochi walked a little faster and caught up with Zhu Yunxi who was walking in front. The two walked side by side: "What did he say?"
Zhu Yunxi looked sideways at Xiaopang and smiled slightly: "He said, try to have a baby before you can."
A big white eye was given to Zhu Yunxi by Zhu Gaochi intact.
This man can't tell the truth.
With a slight sigh, Zhu Gaochi looked at the direction and asked: "There is something else at the tax office that I have to deal with. Should we go there together or go somewhere else?"
Zhu Yunxi stopped and waved his hand.
Several palace maids and chamberlains in the distance immediately quickened their pace and disappeared.
"We still need to keep a close eye on the affairs of the tax bureau. My second uncle is in front of us to deal with the affairs of the tenants and local officials in Beijing. Your tax bureau must follow closely behind and not give the local area a chance to breathe."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zhu Gaochi nodded and said: "The problem is still not enough manpower. The tax soldiers only need to select good family members who have no fault within three generations, and even the most basic tax offices in the countryside
Chiefs can also be promoted from tax soldiers. However, for example, the head of a tax office branch in a county must be selected and appointed separately. Simply being promoted from tax soldiers will always be slower."
This is the wrong thinking.
Zhu Yunxi glanced around, walked towards the steps under the shadow of the palace wall, and sat down.
Then he waved to Zhu Gaochi.
Zhu Gaochi stepped forward and sat down: "Is there any other way?"
"You still regard the tax bureau as an ordinary yamen of the imperial court." Zhu Yunxi looked at the frowning little fat man and reached out to pat the other person's shoulder: "What was the original purpose of the tax bureau? Why did a yamen have to set up a yamen?
Tax soldiers?”
Zhu Gaochi's brows furrowed even more.
The original intention of the establishment of the tax bureau was to weaken the power of the local gentry and cooperate with the people to share the land, so as to truly control the national tax revenue directly in the hands of the court.
The country does not seek profits from the people, but it does not allow local powerful people to control and seize the profits of power and taxes.
This is the meaning of the existence of the tax office.
The tax soldiers who can be equipped with crossbows and even fire guns are to ensure that the tax office itself has enough force to carry out the original intention of the tax office's existence.
so……
Zhu Gaochi whispered: "So, you have never regarded the tax office as a government office."
"The tax office is not a government office, but a sword in the hands of the imperial court. It is a sword used to strike at those powerful local gentry clans who dare to exploit the people and compete with the imperial court for profits."
Zhu Yunxi’s words were sharp and pointed out the essence of the tax department.
Zhu Gaochi fell silent.
"The role of the tax bureau is to kill anyone who dares to compete with the court for profit. This is the biggest and only role of the tax bureau!"
Zhu Gaochi sighed softly: "If that's the case, then the tax office doesn't have any big problems at the moment."
Zhu Yunxi shook his head and said: "The supervision system is still indispensable. The tax office has court supervision, and the tax office must also have its own internal supervision.
The tax bureau should set up an internal tax supervision department to regularly inspect local tax bureau branches to see if they are hiding anything and whether they are lining their own pockets.
This year's public examination is about to begin, so you can sort out the regulations later, report the number of people needed, and submit it to the cabinet for review and approval."
Just at this time.
There was a sound of footsteps in the distance.
This is very inconsistent with the common practice in the palace these days.
Zhu Yunxi and Zhu Gaochi followed the sound and looked over.
The footsteps came from the direction of Qianqing Palace. When the owner of the footsteps appeared in front of the two of them, Zhu Yunxi and the two realized that it turned out to be Sun Gou'er, the chief manager of the 24th Yamen of the Inner Palace.
Zhu Gaochi whispered beside Zhu Yunxi: "Why is Sun Daban here?"
Sun Gou'er was also a little surprised. His Highness Taisun and Prince Yan had already left Qianqing Palace long ago, but he didn't expect to meet them here again.
He immediately came forward with the young chamberlains behind him: "I have met His Highness, Prince Yan."
Zhu Yunhe took a look and saw that Sun Gouer seemed to be leaving the palace, so he couldn't help but curiously asked: "Is Sun Daban going to leave the palace?"
Sun Gou'er nodded, and directly stated the reason: "Your Majesty has a decree, asking the pedestrians to report to the court and publish the residence newspaper. Your Majesty gave Pan Deshan, the governor-general of the river, the title of Minister of the Processing Department."
Zhu Yunxi was slightly startled and glanced sideways at Zhu Gaochi, only to see the same surprise in his eyes.
"Your Highness, if nothing happens, I will go and deliver the message first."
Zhu Yunxi blinked and nodded: "Sun Daban will go by himself."
"Slave, please leave."
When Sun Gou'er led the people all the way out of Fengtian Gate, Zhu Yunxi turned his head and looked at Zhu Gaochi beside him.
He couldn't help but laugh: "Look, this is our grandpa. When did the court affairs really get left behind when he was flirting with his grandson?"
Zhu Gaochi was a little funny: "I'm afraid Wang Jun won't be able to sleep today."
"That's because he is stupid." Zhu Yunxi directly criticized a minister in the court: "If it were not for balancing the court, or for the farce at the Meridian Gate, he would have been killed. The hundreds of officials begging for bones later, He can't escape his involvement either.
He was retained because the court wanted stability and had different voices to prevent any one party from becoming dominant.
A dignified minister of the Ministry of Industry does not even know about the installation of new cannons on naval warships. He is so stupid. Even if the emperor does not accuse him of dereliction of duty, he is spared lightly."
Zhu Gaochi smiled. After the great turmoil in the court this year, the departure or stay of a minister was no longer a big deal.
He spoke softly: "So, when the Yellow River is controlled, Pan Deshan will return to Beijing and take up the post of Ministry of Industry?"
Now the old man only gave Pan Deshan, the governor of the river, the title of Minister of the Ministry of Industry, rather than an actual award. This is still the practice of the imperial court to show its trust in a certain minister.
"If Pan Deshan manages the Yellow River well, he will join the cabinet after returning to Beijing." Zhu Yunxi did not hide anything, and directly told Pan Deshan's future, and then said: "Zhang Ergong will be appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Only when people are put to their best use can the Ministry of Works really look like a Ministry of Works."
"For a craftsman to become an official and then sit in the Ministry of Industry, this is the only thing that can happen in a thousand years."
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but sigh.
But he was particularly fond of Zhang Ergong, the left minister of the Ministry of Works, whose body was always stained and his hands were wrinkled.
It seems that such officials are real officials.
…
Autumn is crisp.
When the sun breaks through the fog and heats up the earth, in the fields in Jiangnan where the autumn harvest has been completed, there are layers of birds, falling from time to time, searching for the rice and insects remaining in the soil.
A small team with only a few dozen people marched in the west of Yingtian City at a leisurely pace.
The team left the outer city from Jiangdong Gate and headed north.
To the north is the Longjiang Shipyard near the river.
The original location of the Longjiang Shipyard was quite satisfactory. It was close to Yingtian City on the east side and the Yangtze River on the west side. However, there was a Jiangxin Island on the river. The Jiajiang River was used to lead to the shipyard. The water flow was not fast, but the newly built ships could be directly connected. Enter the Yangtze River.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "I remember that this thick smoke was something I had never seen at the Longjiang Shipyard."
It was rare for Zhu Yuanzhang to ride a horse, so he disguised himself and concealed his identity. With his hands on the reins and a relaxed look on his face, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the Longjiang Shipyard, which was not far away and had thick smoke.
Zhu Yunxi said: "I think the steam warship must have lit the stove."
Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood and said loudly: "Zhang Ergong is a capable minister. The steam engine at that time could drive the carriage on land. I heard that now he has made a new one that can use the steam engine to pull more goods...
"
"Grandpa Huang, it's a train."
Zhu Gaochi reminded him quietly from the side.
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately nodded and said: "Yes, that's the train. I heard that Zhang Ergong boasted in front of you, the emperor's grandson, that he wanted the train to be able to pull 100,000 kilograms or hundreds of thousands of kilograms of weight?
"
Boom boom boom.
A roar came from the Longjiang Shipyard. The huge roar startled swarms of birds that had landed in the wilderness in search of food.
A thick smoke spread on the river northwest of Longjiang Shipyard.
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "Is this the sound of artillery?"
Zhu Yunxi nodded: "Today is the last day for Zhang Ergong and others to test the ship. First, they need to test the accuracy of the steam warship on the new artillery, and then they have to walk two laps on the river."
Zhu Yuanzhang was already beaming with joy just listening to it.
He let out a long sigh, and then said happily: "What a strong ship and sharp cannon! Our Ming Dynasty not only has a territory of thousands of miles, but also a sea territory of thousands of miles in the future."
Zhu Yunxi smiled implicitly.
Where is this?
In the Ming Dynasty's imperial era, which had powerful ships and cannons, what we have now is not enough.
He said softly: "Grandpa, it's better to go to the shipyard earlier so that we can see clearly."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded immediately: "Go quickly!"
After finishing speaking, the old man took the lead and drove his horse to the front of the team.
Zhu Yunxi and Zhu Gaochi, who were lagging behind, were so frightened that their backs were numb, and they quickly led the imperial troops who had changed their armor to catch up.