Chapter 565: Monarchs and Ministers of the Same Age
After putting on his official uniform, Mr. Shen got on the carriage and left Shen's house, all the way to the entrance of the palace.
After giving his name and explaining his purpose, not long after this time, two young eunuchs came over and took Shen Yi in. Shen Yi followed these two young eunuchs all the way to the entrance of Ganlu Hall, and then the two young eunuchs bowed. Farewell.
And the eunuch Gao Ming, dressed in purple, was already standing at the door of the Manlu Palace.
Shen Yi stepped forward to salute, cupped his hands and said, "Eunuch Gao."
Gao Ming looked Shen Yi up and down, with a smile on his face: "Congratulations to Shen Shidu for your rise to the top."
Among Shen Yi's three official positions, although the rank of Bachelor of Attendants is the lowest, only the fifth rank, it is also the most noble. For a person like Gao Ming, it is natural to call him a nice name.
Shen Yi quickly shook his head.
"My father-in-law is serious, I just rely on His Majesty's grace."
Eunuch Gao squinted his eyes and smiled, and said: "Your Majesty is taking a nap now. It will probably take half an hour to wake up. Shen Shidu, please wait a moment?"
The emperor had to deal with too many things in a day, and sometimes he could only sleep for five or six hours at night, so he naturally had to make up for his sleep during the day.
The emperor naturally had to wait for his nap. Shen Yi nodded and said with a smile: "I should have come later to disturb my father-in-law's rest."
Gao Ming shook his head slightly.
"We don't take naps at home."
As the emperor's butler, Gao Ming works hard every day. In this position, you must be energetic. At least when the emperor needs you, you can't go to sleep.
Gao Ming takes a break at three o'clock every day and rises when the rooster crows. Except when he is sick, this is the case all year round.
Eunuch Gao looked at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "We will take Shen Shidu to the side hall to rest."
Shen Yi nodded and followed Eunuch Gao into the Manna Palace. As he walked on the road, Eunuch Gao said slowly: "Shidu Shen did a good job on his errand in the southeast. Your Majesty is very happy."
He looked back at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "If Shen Shidu can clean up the offshore area within two or three years, I believe His Majesty will definitely promote him further."
Shen Yi gave a bitter laugh and said helplessly: "Don't say I will be promoted again. With this promotion, I don't know how many people in the government and the public will regard the lower official as a thorn in their side."
Eunuch Gao looked calm and said calmly: "Anyone who is jealous is just a mediocre person and is not worth mentioning."
While he was talking, he had already brought Shen Yi to the side hall, and then the great eunuch smiled at Shen Yi: "Only people like you, Shidu Shen, are the pillars of my court, Da Chen."
"His Majesty has told the ministers in the court a few days ago that the only word for Hong De's reign is "merit"."
"The Mingjun is in power, Shidu Shen will read you, and you will shine brightly in the Hongde Dynasty."
Shen Yi smiled bitterly: "Eunuch Gao is so complimentary, but it's just thanks to His Majesty's great fortune that something happened by chance."
Gao Ming smiled and did not answer: "You can rest here. We will go to your majesty's place to serve you. When your majesty wakes up later, someone from the palace will call you."
Shen Yi said "hmm" and sat down in the side hall.
Soon, a young eunuch came up and served him tea.
Shen Yi only waited in the side hall for half an hour before a young eunuch came to call him. At this time, Mr. Shen was also dozing off. After being woken up, he rubbed his eyes and followed the little eunuch into the Ganlu Hall. 's main hall.
The Manna Hall is actually the emperor's study, but His Majesty the Emperor seems to prefer this study and often conducts official business here.
After Shen Yi entered the main hall, he walked up to the emperor in a few steps, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Shen Yi, kowtows..."
The emperor must have just woken up, so he called Shen Yi over. Seeing Shen Yi kneeling on the ground, he rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said, "No need to be polite, just get up and talk."
Shen Yi responded and then stood up.
His Majesty the Emperor yawned again, pointed at Shen Yi and said, "Why don't you quickly move a chair for my hero?"
The eunuch waiting on the side immediately handed a chair to Shen Yi and placed it behind Shen Yi.
The emperor then looked at Shen Yi with a smile: "You're welcome, just sit down and talk."
Shen Yi was not polite to him and sat down obediently.
When Shen Yi sat down, the emperor took a sip of tea, collected his thoughts, and asked with a smile: "Shen Qing, how is the current situation of my anti-Japanese army?"
Shen Yi lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, the training situation of the anti-Japanese army is very good. However, this time we went to Beiji Island. The Japanese pirates on Beiji Island were too numerous and fierce. Therefore, more than 200 soldiers were killed and countless others were injured. Hundreds, some of the wounded are seriously injured and can no longer serve the imperial court."
"Therefore, the Anti-Japanese Army is recruiting 500 new soldiers and will soon be able to restore its full combat strength."
The emperor said "Yes": "The campaign against Japanese invaders in eastern Zhejiang was very good."
He smiled and said: "I also felt very uplifted in the court. Shen Qing didn't see it. That day I called the Ministry of War to the Ganlu Hall and showed off my achievements in the fight against the Japanese army. The officials in the Ministry of War were all He looked ugly, but he couldn't say a word."
Having said this, the emperor felt happy and couldn't help laughing: "I have been disgusted with those people for a long time. When I mentioned the coastal defense force in the court, they looked like they were ready to remonstrate to death. They are really a bunch of ignorant people. Corrupt scholar!"
After complaining to Shen Yi about the officials in the court, the emperor coughed and asked: "Then, how long will it take to clean up the Japanese pirates along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong?"
"It can be as fast as one or two years, or as slow as two or three years."
Shen Yi lowered his head slightly and said: "The anti-Japanese army will be able to completely clear the coast of Dachen..."
The emperor nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Isn't the strength of five thousand anti-Japanese troops not enough?"
When the emperor asked this interrogative question, the meaning behind it was already self-evident.
Because the emperor established the anti-Japanese army and the coastal defense force from the beginning, not just to wipe out the Japanese pirates.
To put it more bluntly, the suppression of the Japanese was just a cover, and the emperor's fundamental purpose was to train troops.
Shen Yi bowed his head respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, I have countless coastal state capitals. If I want to maintain coastal defense with only five thousand anti-Japanese troops, I will naturally..."
"Nature is not enough."
Shen Yi also coughed and said: "It's just that based on the current situation, His Majesty wants to expand the anti-Japanese army..."
"It won't happen this year."
The emperor said angrily: "I have tested those old masters, and they are all very honest. I won't be able to pry them open for a while."
After saying that, the emperor smiled at Shen Yi and said: "By the way, Shen Qing, you have a good personal relationship with Zhao Shangshu. You might as well persuade him in private. As long as his Ministry of Revenue can squeeze out the money, I will expand the anti-Japanese army." It’s so difficult.”
I don't know if it's because the emperor and Shen Yi are peers. When the two met in private, the emperor spoke more casually.
In a trance, it seemed as if they were just two people of the same age having a conversation.
Shen Yi looked strange.
He lowered his head slightly and said: "Your Majesty, although I have a personal relationship with Minister Zhao, it does not involve official matters. The Ministry of Revenue..."
"I can't persuade you."
Faced with this simple temptation, even Shen Heng would not make a mistake, let alone Shen Yi.
The emperor narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
Shen Yi lowered his head slightly and continued: "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to report to Your Majesty."
The emperor stood up and stretched his body.
"That's what you say."
Shen Yi nodded and said: "Your Majesty, I discovered the Japanese pirates' lair on Beiji Island..."
"Four bed crossbows were found."
Having said this, Mr. Shen paused and continued: "Also, when I was suppressing Japanese pirates on Beiji Island, more than a dozen merchant ships were found around Beiji Island. Their whereabouts were suspicious, and I suspected..."
"alright."
Shen Yi's words were interrupted by the emperor. He looked up and saw that His Majesty's face was no longer very good-looking.
"These things, you and I, my king and my ministers, should be kept in our hearts, and for the time being... there is no need to talk about them externally."
"It's useless to say it now, but..."
The emperor exhaled a sigh of relief, his face expressionless.