Chunxiang reported everything he did in Jinan to Emperor Chongzhen, including some of King De's words and deeds. Dongchang had the responsibility of monitoring the feudal king.
There was no expression change on Emperor Chongzhen's face. After asking some more questions about Nanjing, he asked him to leave and informed Chang Yu to enter the palace.
After Chunxiang left, Chongzhen walked out of the attic and stood on the Qianqing Gate, looking at the Daming Gate in the south and frowning slightly. The eunuch came to inform the prince to see him.
"I was just wanting to talk to you when my son came, but what's the matter?" The father and son at the Qianqing Gate leaned on the railing and looked into the distance. Zhu Cixiang bowed and said, "I heard some criticisms about Liu Zeqing, so I came to invite my father. Solve doubts”.
Emperor Chongzhen smiled and looked at Zhu Cihong and said, "From my son's point of view, how is Liu Zeqing like him?"
"It's not an exaggeration to kill him a hundred times," Zhu Cixiang said bitterly, and Emperor Chongzhen laughed: "If that's the case, what can be solved?"
"But there are criticisms in the court..." Zhu Cixiang became anxious. He was really angry: "There are still people like Liu Zeqing who are fighting against injustice."
"Their criticism is not against Liu Zeqing, but against Dong Chang and Chang Yu." Emperor Chongzhen patted Zhu Cixiang on the shoulder: "Can't you figure this out?"
"My child was thinking that he was coming for Chang Yu, so he wanted to..." The prince stopped him before he could finish his words, "This kind of thing to Chang Yu is like a flea that will fly away with just raising his hand. I don’t take it to heart at all, so don’t worry about it, my son.” He turned around and walked into the attic: “Come and tell me how much you have gained by following Chang Yu all the way.”
Zhu Cixiang at the Qianqing Gate was talking happily about what he had seen along the way. Emperor Chongzhen listened patiently with a smile and rarely interrupted him.
It wasn't until the end that he asked casually: "Have you met Zu Dashou?"
Well, Zhu Cixiang nodded: "We have met each other a few times, but we have never been alone together."
"What's your impression of him?" Emperor Chongzhen asked, staring at him with a half-smile.
Zhu Cixiang thought for a moment: "The city is very deep, his eyes are sharp and vicious, he is a ruthless person."
"Of course someone who can eat human flesh is a ruthless person." Emperor Chongzhen sighed and suddenly asked, "Have you ever said anything to him?"
It's coming, it's coming, Zhu Cihong's heart trembled, just as Chang Yu expected: "My child, remember Chang Yu's instructions, watch more and talk less, I haven't spoken to him."
"Didn't you say a word?" Chongzhen stared at Zhu Cixiang with a strange look in his eyes.
You must be steady. Zhu Cixiang started to panic, and then he remembered what Chang Yu told him: if you lie, your expression will betray you, but you can't tell the truth, so at this time you have to cover it up with your expression... So he frowned He bit his lip and made a recollection: "The child didn't take the initiative to say anything to him, but he did talk to the child when he left."
"What did you say?" Emperor Chongzhen smiled half-heartedly.
"We'll see you again in the future. Anyway, we just said goodbye, and the child returned the gift and smiled." Zhu Cixiang replied cautiously. The people around Chang Yu at that time were all personal attendants, and these people were all trusted by his confidants. Those Jinyiwei and Fanzi may not be able to hear what they say if they are a little far away.
Emperor Chongzhen said oh and stopped talking. He reached out to pick up the tea cup and kept stroking it. Zhu Cixiang was nervous in his heart, but he pretended to be calm: "Father, are you unable to talk to him? By the way, he doesn't know. Chang Yu never mentioned the child’s identity to him.”
Emperor Chongzhen chuckled: "How could that old fox not know your identity? Even if Chang Yu didn't say anything, he could see through you at a glance." Then he sighed: "This person Zu Dashou... Well, there is no need to say anything to him. Talking will only increase troubles and cause others to gossip."
"Well, Chang Yu said the same thing!"
"Did he really tell you that?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.
Zhu Cixiang nodded vigorously: "Chang Yu did not plan to leave the confinement before leaving the capital. He only told the child to look more and talk less on the way. After leaving the confinement, he also told him not to say anything and not to say anything to Zu Dashou."
Emperor Chongzhen sighed and stood up: "Chang Yu... I really don't know how he can be so steady and sophisticated in his dealings at such a young age."
The father and son talked again, and the eunuch informed Chang Yu to come to the palace to ask for an audience. Emperor Chongzhen asked the prince to leave first, but then suddenly asked him to stay.
When Chang Yu came to the Qianqing Gate, he had heard from the eunuch that the prince was there, so he didn't show any surprise. After greeting the father and son, he said: "My lord, I have something to report to the emperor."
Later, when Jiang Quan told him about the remnants of the Ming sect, Emperor Chongzhen looked astonished, like maggots attached to his bones. It was really hateful.
You must know that there are countless reasons for the White Lotus Sect to rebel, but the purpose of the Ming Sect's rebellion is clearly to target the old Zhu family.
The discovery of a den of thieves in the capital once frightened and angered Emperor Chongzhen. He thought it was the work of the vassal king, but he didn't know that when he dug deeper, it turned out to be a feud. It was really unexpected.
"Do you have a way to catch them all and uproot them?" Emperor Chongzhen took a long time to recover and looked at Chang Yu with a look of anticipation on his face.
"It has been hidden for hundreds of years, and the secrets of its operations are completely beyond common sense. If you want to catch them all in a short time, it is impossible to uproot them. The foundation of the counter-sect is too deep, and it is complicated with Bailian and Maitreya...it is really too difficult." Chang Yu smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Wherever there is rebellion, there is a presence. Ignore the side branches for the time being and trace its main line first. Once it is found that it has been uprooted, we must not allow it to show its teeth and claws." Emperor Chongzhen said sternly, with a sudden brow raised: "You also know this rebellion The grudge against my royal family?”
Chang Yu nodded: "I heard something."
"You know a lot," Emperor Chongzhen sighed: "Yes, as the admiral of Dongchang, it is not difficult for you to know this kind of thing, but now that you know it, you can't just sit back and watch."
"My lord, we must do our best to track down the rebels!" Chang Yu quickly said with his hands in hand.
Emperor Chongzhen nodded: "This difficult matter will not be solved in a day. Take your time." He motioned Chang Yu to sit down next to him, and the prince personally served him tea.
"Have you heard that Liu Zeqing's imposition caused constant criticism from both the government and the public?" Emperor Chongzhen asked slowly as he sat down.
"I don't care about this." Chang Yu smiled faintly, causing Emperor Chongzhen and his son to look at each other and smile: "Although you are young, your moral conduct is really deep, so what do you care about?"
"I don't care about other people's criticisms about whether it should be copied or not. What I care about is whether anyone clamors to put it into the treasury." Chang Yu half-smiled, but Emperor Chongzhen had a strange look on his face: "Did you hear something?"
"You don't need to listen to know that I am just curious about who is so short-sighted or sincerely looking for trouble."
Chongzhen's face turned green and gray, and Chang Yu suddenly felt something bad: "Ahem, cough, cough, it can't be...the emperor. I have offended the emperor with my unscrupulous words, so please forgive me."
"Ahem, who said it was me?" Emperor Chongzhen looked very embarrassed: "But someone did mention it, and I think there is still something to consider..."
Chang Yu had a dark look on his face. He knew for sure that someone would be jealous of the confiscated grain and grass, but he never thought that it would be Emperor Chongzhen who paid attention to the grain and grass. However, even so, he still replied forcefully: "Your Majesty, no matter what
Who has mentioned that not a single penny or a grain of rice from the confiscated food and wages can be touched, it is related to the plan of the Western Expedition, and this is absolutely not allowed."
Well, Emperor Chongzhen was suppressed by Chang Yu's tough momentum and felt a little guilty: "As far as I know, the confiscated food is very high and can supply tens of thousands of troops in the west for half a year. However, at this time, there is a great famine in Gyeonggi and the food supply is urgently needed... Can you
Squeeze out some from there to temporarily alleviate the famine, and then pay it back after the autumn tax is collected..."
"No!" Chang Yu's tone was decisive!
"It is not known whether or when the Autumn Fu will be harvested. If we miss the plan of the Western Expedition, the gains will outweigh the losses. And there are nearly a hundred thousand troops there. The confiscated grain and grass will only be enough to supply three months at most. Your Majesty, these grains cannot be touched.
"
"But, you have also raised a lot of donations from Nanjing, and Fujian is also rushing to raise money..."
"Your Majesty!" Chang Yu bowed and clasped his fists, but Emperor Chongzhen refused to give up: "Do you know how many people can starve to death in one month!"
"I only know that if the army runs out of food, more people will die, ten times or a hundred times more, and it will not only be the dead but also..."
"What else?"
"The country will be destroyed!" Chang Yu shouted in a low voice. Emperor Chongzhen was dumbfounded and fell down on his chair without saying a word for a long time.
"To me, human lives are precious, but at this time, if we compare the lives of ordinary people with the lives of soldiers, I choose to let the soldiers live!"
"You, you are really...that's all, I am embarrassed by you." Emperor Chongzhen smiled bitterly and looked at Chang Yu who was still bowing: "Sit down, you are really pissing me off."
"I am guilty of offending Long Yan, please punish me." Chang Yu knelt down quickly. Emperor Chongzhen got up and pulled him up. "Don't do this. I know you are loyal and I also know the reason for your insistence. At this time, I
Too reckless..."
Zhu Cixiang, who was watching silently, had mixed feelings in his heart. This guy Chang Yu... is so awesome. Even his father can't help him when he gets tough, and he still has to apologize to him.