Chapter Thirty-Eight: The King of Diligent Administration, Strike the Mine and Remove the Prison, and Reward
Update time:2012-10-07
"Your Majesty, it's the second watch and it's time to rest."
In the Qianqing Palace, the eunuch Wang Chengen looked at Emperor Chongzhen who had dark eyes with distress, and reminded him carefully and softly.
When Wang Cheng'en hid in the palace, he served Emperor Chongzhen, who was King Xin at that time. When the late emperor Bin Tian was here, he and Xu Yingyuan, another eunuch of the palace, ensured that King Xin would succeed to the palace. Unfortunately, Xu Yingyuan didn't know what was going on and actually accepted Wei Zhongxian. He was bribed so much that he was deported to Fengyang by the emperor as soon as he was young.
With the lessons of Xu Yingyuan, Wang Chengen did not dare to act recklessly. Although he was the Chief of Ceremonies, he was much more honest and he never interfered in the affairs of the foreign dynasty. In fact, none of the memorials submitted by the foreign dynasties had not been passed by him as the Chief of Ceremonies. , what is the memorial that the emperor is holding now, what does he, Wang Chengen, know and don’t have an idea in his mind?[
Are all your Taoist priests and ceremonial supervisors blind and illiterate? Absolutely not! To put it bluntly, any of those ceremonial supervisors and their writing skills are no worse than that of the great bachelor of that day!
The ministers in the court took the imperial examination and entered the officialdom, and endured decades of open and covert fighting before entering the court. The same was true for the ministers in the inner court. Whoever could sit in the position of minister of courtesy and courtesy also endured the same, and compared with the outer court. Those people are not bad at all, otherwise why would Secretary Li Bingbi be called the internal minister?
After Chongzhen ascended the throne, he was afraid that Wei Zhongxian would appear in the inner court again, so he did not set up a ceremonial palm to prevent any eunuch family from becoming dominant.
Therefore, even though Wang Cheng'en made great contributions to Chongzhen's succession, he could only end his life in the position of Secretary of Ceremonies and Bingbi. If he wanted to be an ancestor, he would have no hope in this life.
Speaking of which, Wang Chengen was really suffering. If he hadn't gone around and contacted various eunuchs in the inner court to ensure that most of the eunuchs were on Chongzhen's side, how could Wei Zhongxian be defeated at his word, and how could Chongzhen really be an outsider? The praised saint?
Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that Wang Chengen sat in the position of the ceremonial palm seal. However, since Chongzhen did not set up a palm seal, Wang Chengen could only stick to his pen and could not make any progress.
However, Wang Cheng'en also understood Chongzhen's reasons for not setting up a palm seal. It really doesn't matter whether he is a palm seal or not. Wei Zhongxian didn't also act as a palm seal. Wang Tigan, the palm seal, is not his dog. As long as he serves the emperor well, it doesn't matter whether he prints the palm or holds the pen, but It's a false name, it's the actual benefits that matter the most.
As long as you don't get involved in politics, the emperor will let you go!
Therefore, Wang Cheng'en was as loyal as he had been in his dormitory. No, he knew that Chongzhen had stayed up late again, and he was afraid that the eunuch on duty would not know what was going on, so he came here specifically just to let Chongzhen rest early.
This man is not made of iron, how can he withstand such suffering?
In the past few days, the emperor had not slept well. He often stayed up late at night before going to sleep for a while. He got up again at the fifth watch to prepare for the court meeting. At the end of the day, he only slept for less than two hours.
Since ancient times, which emperor has been as diligent as Chongzhen? And which emperor has been as bitter as Chongzhen?
The emperor is only twenty-one years old, but he has crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, and his face looks paler and haggard than his peers. He doesn't look like a young man at all!
Wang Chengen is really distressed!
Since Chongzhen ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty has been in chaos day by day. All kinds of documents sent to the palace every day fall on the imperial desk like snowflakes, and they can't be approved. Because there are too many documents, I'm afraid that I won't be able to read them in time and miss them. When he found something important, Chongzhen adopted the method used in the Song Dynasty. When receiving the document, he asked the General Affairs Department to write out the reason on yellow paper and stick it on the front, which is called diversion. Then he used yellow paper to write a summary of the content and stick it on the back. It's called sticking up the yellow. In this way, he can read the introduction and sticking up the yellow first, and doesn't need to read the full text of the less important ones. However, the urgent military intelligence report and the Tang report were sent to the palace as soon as they arrived. As usual, there was no introduction to the yellow, and even more There was no yellow label. So even though he adopted this method, Chongzhen still had to deal with endless paperwork every day. He often went to bed after the third watch, and sometimes stayed up all night. Today, he did not leave the imperial office for a whole afternoon.
This is also the emperor's first time on the throne. He was frightened by Jiannu two years ago. He is confused when he cares about it. He cannot distinguish the importance of some things, does not care about the beginning and the end, and cannot see the inner mystery.
As far as the emperor can see this memorial, it says that he is asking the emperor to just lift the mining tax, remove the mine supervisors, and not compete with the people for profits.
This strike on mines and removal of prisons had been pending for more than a year or two. In the first two years, the emperor ascended the throne, and then the Donglu invaded again. After that, it was because of Yuan Chonghuan's affairs, so this matter was temporarily shelved.
At present, the censors of the Donglin Party are at odds again. One wants the court to exempt commercial taxes, another wants the court to withdraw from the mines and strike prisons, and the other simply says not to engage in a salt and iron monopoly. What does the emperor mean?
Mingjun, the Holy Lord of Zhongxing, the Ming Dynasty has a rich treasury, so why bother competing with the people for profits? It is better to do everything to benefit the people and let the people appreciate the emperor's kindness.[
The memorial is a good one, and the reason is also tempting. As an emperor, all people in the world are my children. It is only natural for parents to give some benefits to their children.
To put it bluntly, this is enough to hoodwink the emperor. If we want to see it, it would not be an exaggeration to drag out these memorials one by one and chop them up.
You think our family doesn’t know that the people you talk about are just you! If you want the emperor to make concessions to benefit the people, in fact, it will end up in your own pockets. Which of these real people will get real benefits?
See it clearly, Gui see it, know it, Gui knows it, Wang Chengen just doesn't say it, he is really afraid, knowing that what Chongzhen is most afraid of is not that ministers from outside the court will take advantage of him, but that these eunuchs from the inner court will interfere with politics!
Sometimes, even if Chongzhen asked him, he would always reply, "I am stupid, the emperor can make up his own mind."
Answering like this is like not saying anything, but Chongzhen just fell in love with him. In fact, Chongzhen didn't really want to ask Wang Chengen for his opinion. Taizu Iron System - eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics. In the previous dynasty, Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, Wei Zhongxian and so on
The living example of Quan Eunuch has already made Chongzhen unwilling to trust these domestic slaves to his core. Otherwise, how could he have betrayed his brother's last words - "The big crotch is honest and has the ability to do things, don't abandon it." Only after succeeding to the throne can he
Within a few months, Wei Zhongxian was exiled to Fengyang, and he sent people to force him to death halfway. In the final analysis, it was believed that Wang Xin would be frightened by Wei Zhongxian.
With a great eunuch like Wei Zhongxian here, what's the point of the emperor doing this?
Since ancient times, which wise emperor has made great use of domestic slaves and eunuchs?
Nowadays, the power of the Ming Dynasty is declining, and there are worries both internally and externally. As I, a young man, succeed to the throne, I can only work hard to protect the foundation of our ancestors. Even if we are not as wise and powerful as our ancestors, we must protect this country and be a "diligent government" in the future.
This is also the praise of "the King of Kings".
The emperor wrote that "nothing can be done better than to benefit the people", so the decision to strike the mines and remove the prison guards was considered accurate.
Putting down his pen, he saw Wang Chengen looking at the memorial on the imperial case with a strange look on his face. Chongzhen couldn't help but feel a little unhappy and said lightly: "Why, am I right to approve this memorial? According to you, is this mine good or not?"
So what?"
Wang Chengen's heart trembled, and he knelt down in a panic and said: "I don't dare, I don't dare..." Other than that, he said nothing.
"Get up."
Wang Chengen's appearance made Chongzhen a little more relaxed. While taking a copy of the memorial, he casually asked: "What day is it?"
"Back to the emperor, it's time for the second update." Wang Chengen didn't dare to move his head.
"Second update?" Chongzhen nodded slightly, "It's not too early. I'll approve a few more copies and then go to Concubine Tian's place to rest."
"Old slave, I'll make arrangements now."
As if Wang Cheng'en had been granted amnesty, he stood up quickly and then left to ask the eunuchs to go to Concubine Tian to tell the news.
As he was retreating, he saw Chongzhen suddenly stood up from the dragon throne happily, holding a memorial and praising continuously: "Good, good, good! Liu Mao has hit the point. If the imperial court wants to enrich the treasury,
It is not about increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. The matter of increasing revenue involves competing for benefits with the people. I should not interfere too much. The cabinet will handle it. But I have to personally take charge of the matter of reducing expenditure. Well, there are tens of thousands of large and small post stations across the country. If they are abolished, it will indeed
It can save a lot of money and reduce local burdens. It is indeed a great good governance..."
Abolish the inn?
Wang Chengen was stunned for a moment, always feeling that this was a bit weird, but seeing that the emperor was happy, he didn't think much about it, and waved his hand to call the little eunuch outside, but suddenly a figure came running outside, impatiently.
Without looking at the road, he bumped into him with a "plop".
The man was probably so excited that he didn't even notice when he bumped into someone. He waved the victory document in his hand and knelt down in front of Chongzhen. He shouted excitedly: "Your Majesty, great victory, great victory, great victory in Liaodong!" [
"Great victory? Great victory in Liaodong?"
Chongzhen was stunned for more than ten seconds, then rushed to the eunuch, grabbed the document, and couldn't wait to open it and read it. After scanning a few lines, the smile on his face couldn't stop.
He praised very excitedly:
"Okay, it's great that his ancestor has a long life. It's not in vain that I trust him so much! He beheaded more than two hundred people. It's a great victory! I want to reward, I want to reward, I want to reward..."
A great victory in Liaodong? More than 200 people were beheaded?
Wang Chengen was also excited by the good news. Regardless of the pain in his forehead, he knelt down in front of Chongzhen in three steps and said, "Congratulations to the Emperor, congratulations to the Emperor!"
Chongzhen was probably too excited and still immersed in the good news of the victory, and ignored Wang Chengen.
Wang Chengen quietly turned to Cao Huachun, the eunuch who came to report the news, and asked: "Has the news been verified? It is true that more than two hundred people were beheaded?"
Cao Huachun looked happy and nodded firmly: "The application jointly signed by Zu Dashou and Qiu Hejia, I'm afraid it won't be false."
Wang Chengen did not believe in Zu Dashou, but he believed in Qiu Hejia. When he heard that Qiu Hejia and Zu Dashou jointly submitted the report, he believed it eightfold.
But he still asked again: "Are the real Tatars killed?"
Cao Huachun smiled and said: "The document says there are more than a hundred northern captives and more than eighty eastern captives. The heads are already on the way. They will arrive in about two days."
The northern captives refer to the Mongolian soldiers, while the eastern captives refer to the Jian slaves.
Wang Chengen was convinced that he had made a mistake, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was really frightened by the documents reporting victory in the northwest. A few days ago, documents reporting victory in the northwest came one after another. Today, the general killed three thousand people, and the deputy general elsewhere killed 3,000 people.
There were tens of thousands of enemies. In the end, the Ministry of War verified the heads and found that a few hundred would be considered good. Moreover, according to a secret report from the northwest local officials, there may be some among them who killed good people and took credit for their merits. This made the emperor happy at first, but then he couldn't help but get angry.
He scolded those generals for hiding things from their superiors and bullying their subordinates. Whenever the Director of Ceremonies received such a document reporting a victory, he would not dare to send it directly to the Emperor. Instead, he would first send someone to the cabinet to inquire clearly before deciding whether to report it. Otherwise, if it is done indiscriminately again
Those who reported blindly, the emperor will scold them again for not knowing how to verify.
In fact, if Zu Dashou and others reported that they had killed thousands of enemies, Wang Chengen would not believe it at all costs, but the numbers in the report are unbelievable. There are more than 100 northern captives and more than 80 eastern captives, which are hard to believe.
Liaodong finally got some relief for the emperor this time, and the emperor could sleep well today! The more Wang Chengen thought about it, the happier he became, and he couldn't help laughing.
His laughter was too loud and a little presumptuous, but Chongzhen was also excited and excited at the moment, so how could he care about the old slave being rude in front of him?
"Your Majesty, when Ningyuan was victorious, the document reporting the victory only stated that nine out of 260 ranks were beheaded. On my birthday, my ancestor was beheaded for more than 200 ranks, and they were all real Tatars. No matter what, the imperial court must reward talents this time. Yes!" Cao Huachun did not forget to remind Chongzhen that the victory on the front line was a sign of honor for the emperor.
"Yes, yes, I am so happy that I want to be rewarded!"
Chongzhen laughed, took the official document and read it again, and declared in a deep voice: "Zu Dashou has commanded the troops well and achieved great victory. I am very happy. I have been awarded the rank of military general of Jiazhen. I will give Yinzi a member of the Jinyi Guards." One hundred taels of gold and silver each, one mink fur coat, one carved saddle, and one white horse. In addition, the governor Qiu Hejia made good arrangements, and was given the title of right deputy censor of the Ducha Yuan. He also gave one hundred taels of gold and silver, one mink fur coat, and one carved saddle each. , ten pieces of brocade..."
After announcing this, Chongzhen suddenly paused. He seemed to be talking to himself or to Wang Chengen. Cao Huachun said:
"The document says that Songshan garrison Shi Dayong was brave, wise and courageous. He defeated Jiannu Jingqi with the strength of an army, and his achievements were huge. Zu Dashou and Qiu Hejia jointly guaranteed him to be Jinzhou's staff general, and he was promoted to staff general for his defense. This is the company's I have been promoted to level three. According to the usual rules, it seems that it is not allowed. What do you think?"
Wang Chengen said without thinking: "Since his achievements are so great, he deserves to be promoted. Although he was promoted to the rank of general through guarding, it is not unprecedented in this dynasty. Moreover, the people he killed were elite cavalrymen from the slaves, who were extraordinary refugees. According to the The old slave's opinion, the emperor must take it for granted. If someone makes an exception, he will be grateful for the emperor's kindness and repay the imperial court. He may make new achievements in the future!" After saying this, he secretly cursed himself: I am confused, the general promoted himself. How can you talk nonsense? Isn't this just interfering in politics?
"The emperor will make the final decision on the promotion of meritorious generals." Cao Huachun was much smarter, and he turned to Chongzhen with one sentence. After speaking, he glanced at Wang Chengen.
"Well, that's good, I'm sure. Shi Dayong, who is guarding Songshan, will be promoted to Jinzhou General. He will be given fifty taels of gold and silver each, as well as a sword handle and ten altars of wine. The relevant generals and schools in his department will also be rewarded. I Another ten thousand taels of internal funds will be allocated to reward the soldiers who participated in the battle to show my favor!"
Chongzhen was so happy that he didn't care whether Wang Chengen was involved in politics. He generously allocated another 10,000 taels from the internal funds. In addition to the reward from the treasury, in his opinion, it was definitely a generous reward.
The emperor was not dissatisfied. Wang Chengen breathed a sigh of relief. He shouldn't have spoken anymore, but he still reminded him: "Your Majesty, do you want to wait for the head to be verified before awarding the reward?"
Chongzhen thought for a while, nodded and said: "That's fine." He told Cao Huachun: "Draw up a decree and ask the cabinet to check it with the Ministry of War. After confirming the error, the soldiers participating in the war will be listed one by one and rewarded. There must be no mistakes."
"This slave accepts the order!"
…………
Author's note: The abolition of the post station by Liu Maoshangshu in the Criminal Division was in the second year of Chongzhen. It is briefly mentioned here. Readers do not need to worry about it. As long as they know that the post station was cut off, Li Zicheng, the Yinchuan postman, would lose his iron job.