Liu Ji never expected that Zhu Yuanzhang would appear here.
In particular, Zhu Yuanzhang's face seemed to be very unpleasant.
This made Liu Ji's head buzz even more.
The closer I get to Zhu Yuanzhang, the more I realize how unruly his Majesty the Ming Emperor's eyes are.
Liu Ji knew very well that, let alone him, even Li Shanchang, who assisted him in conquering the world, had done something he shouldn't have done.
His Majesty the Emperor would definitely kill without batting an eye.
Now Lao Zhu seems to be in a very unhappy mood.
Liu Ji, who thought he was full of wit, was completely blank at this moment.
He stood up instinctively, wanting to salute immediately.
But then Liu Ji thought that when the servants at home informed him of this incident, they were the relatives of Chang Yuchun.
Even he didn't know that Zhu Yuanzhang came to Yanjing, so it was obvious that Lao Zhu's identity this time was kept secret.
Once Lao Zhu's identity is exposed, wouldn't it add fuel to the fire and make Zhu Yuanzhang, who was extremely angry for no reason at all, even more angry?
Blessed was the soul, and reason immediately returned to Liu Ji's brain.
No matter what Zhu Yuanzhang is doing here, at least he must not expose Zhu Yuanzhang's identity now.
At that moment, Liu Bowen immediately took advantage of the situation and turned his shock into an excited look: "It turns out to be Mr. Chang. It was already a few years ago when Ying Tian said goodbye. I didn't expect to see Mr. Chang here again."
.”
"Mr. Bowen has never forgotten the life-saving grace he gave me. No matter what, I will treat you to a drink today."
"Please take a seat quickly."
With that said, he earnestly invited Zhu Yuanzhang to sit at the top, where the master originally sat.
Of course Lao Zhu was not polite, and Da Ma Jin Dao directly sat in the first place.
Several servants around were a little surprised to see their master acting so rude.
After all, their master is a high official in the imperial court and holds a high position of power.
No matter what happens, I have never been so out of control.
If it is the savior, although it is a bit strange, it can be considered a reasonable explanation.
He earnestly helped Zhu Yuanzhang sit down.
Then he turned to the servants around him with a straight face: "You all can go down, you don't need to serve here anymore."
It was just a few servants who were responsible for passing the dishes. Seeing that their master had spoken, they naturally didn't say anything more and left one after another.
Only the housekeeper opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he was very sensible and didn't say anything, and walked out honestly.
Before leaving, I didn't forget to close the restaurant door.
Squeak!
The sound of the door closing was extremely harsh in the quiet restaurant.
Outside, a few figures could be vaguely seen, as well as the sound of their footsteps slowly leaving.
Until everyone had gone away, Liu Ji immediately knelt down without hesitation and greeted Zhu Yuanzhang in a slightly lower voice: "I have seen your Majesty, long live my emperor. Long live my emperor."
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even look at Liu Ji, but stared at the dishes on the table.
"If you only eat such sumptuous food on weekdays, Mr. Liu, your life is going well."
It’s not like Zhu Yuanzhang was deliberately looking for trouble. This table of dishes is full of delicacies from both mountains and seas. Each dish is worth thirty-fifty taels of silver, which is definitely not affordable.
Then the problem arises. Although Liu Ji has a high and powerful position, according to current standards, his salary cannot afford such a meal.
Let alone one meal a day, one meal every two or three days can easily exceed Liu Ji's salary.
When a person's income is completely incomparable with his expenses, what does that mean?
It can only mean that this person has other income that no one knows about.
If it were an ordinary person, Lao Zhu wouldn't bother to care so much.
But Liu Ji was an official of their Ming Dynasty, and he was such a high-ranking and powerful official.
Picking up the chopsticks, he gently picked up the cooked shrimp on the table: "This shrimp should still be alive, right? Although Tianjin Wei is not far from Yanjing, it takes a lot of manpower and material resources to send the shrimp to Yanjing from there.
how many?"
"Liu Ji just wants to have a meal, but you have to make so many people busy. It's amazing."
With just a brush, Liu Ji's cold sweat soaked his clothes.
Zhu Yuanzhang's dissatisfaction with him should not be too obvious.
"I am guilty." Facing Zhu Yuanzhang, who was obviously extremely angry, Liu Ji did not even dare to say a word in rebuttal, so he could only bow his head and admit his guilt.
Snapped!
Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his chopsticks directly on the table.
Subconsciously, I wanted to knock over these meals.
However, Lao Zhu was born in poverty after all.
Although I have now become the emperor and become the master, my old habits have not changed.
Cherishing food is a memory engraved in my bones.
Even when you are extremely angry, you will not waste a grain of food.
Forcibly suppressing the urge to knock over the food on the table, Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table.
The huge force made the dishes on the table rattle.
A lot of soup and water were spilled on the table.
"Guilty? You, Liu Ji, just said you were guilty, and you thought you could get away with it so easily?"
"I asked you to come to Yanjing to build the future capital, not to eat, drink, have fun and harm the people!"
"Liu Ji, Liu Ji, you are a talent, and I have taken a fancy to you. In the future, you will definitely become the mainstay of our Ming Dynasty."
"But you... really disappoint me."
Liu Jihuangmang explained: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please allow me to tell you one thing or two. I don't dare to say how outstanding I am in Yanjing, but I can be considered conscientious and I never dare to slack off.
His Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "If it weren't for the fact that you are still conscientious in your work, do you think I would still tell you so much?"
Lao Zhu is also sincere, and Liu Ji has been with him for so many years.
When he suddenly saw Liu Ji just now, Lao Zhu was almost afraid to recognize him.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Although in the official document, Zhu Han once said that Liu Ji was extremely thin and haggard because he was busy with official duties all day long.
At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang only felt that Zhu Han was just an exaggerated adjective.
After all, what Liu Ji did before Zhu Han reached his eyes was really hard to satisfy.
Making Liu Ji look more pitiful can alleviate some of his guilt.
It's just that Lao Zhu didn't expect that what Zhu Han said was actually true, without any adulteration.
Liu Ji today has indeed undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before.
The whole person has lost weight visibly to the naked eye.
After Zhu Han arrived, the situation in Yanjing improved day by day, and Liu Ji's health also recovered a lot.
Otherwise, his appearance might become even more terrifying, right?
"I thank your Majesty for your trust." Liu Ji said with tears of gratitude.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted rudely: "If it weren't for Nian Zai, who worked so hard to build Yanjing City, I would have had you pulled out and executed on the spot."
The words rectify the law on the spot came out of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth with an especially murderous air.
Liu Ji kowtowed repeatedly: "I thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't worry, thank you. I didn't say I would spare you."
"Now tell me how this big house, all the servants in the house, and all the delicacies you eat came from."
"Tell me your problem honestly. Since you have been with me for so many years, I can give you a more dignified way to die."
No matter how outstanding achievements Liu Ji made.
Corruption is an untouchable red line for Lao Zhu.
As long as you commit corruption, no matter who you are, you will be dealt with according to the Ming Law.
Of course, except for the people of Lao Zhu's family.
Some people think that Lao Zhu has double standards, but who makes him the emperor?
If you don't accept it, you can rebel and become emperor.
Liu Ji was already ashen-faced at first, but when he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's words, his spirit was suddenly shaken.
The whole person's energy and energy look different from before.
This change made Zhu Yuanzhang feel a little baffled.
what's the situation?
You, Liu Ji, have committed corruption and bribery, but why do you look so proud?
Is it possible to think that Zhu Yuanzhang is getting older and is not as decisive as before, and he no longer dares to kill people at will?
Just when Zhu Yuanzhang felt confused, he heard Liu Ji say: "Your Majesty, you really misunderstood me."
"Although I am not a good person, I am still loyal to the Ming Dynasty. Although I have some selfish motives, I never dare to put my selfishness above the Ming Dynasty. Please investigate clearly."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed angrily and said murderously: "Okay, today we are going to see how you, Liu Ji, can talk about corruption and bribery."
Zhu Yuanzhang has seen tough-talking people, but never such tough-talking people.
The facts are all there, but you still dare to quibble in front of him.
Isn't it corruption and bribery? If not, you Liu Ji will make it clear, with your Liu Ji's salary.
Where did the big house that I couldn't afford, the delicacies that I couldn't afford, and the servants that I couldn't afford to hire come from?
Lao Zhu still doesn't believe it. Could it be that you, Liu Ji, are the reincarnation of a god?
These things are all conjured up by your magic, Liu Ji.
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, Liu Ji also knew what the Ming Emperor was thinking.
However, Liu Ji is not panic at all now.
In his heart, there was only endless gratitude to His Royal Highness.
Although Liu Ji also assisted Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world for the sake of the people of the world.
However, it is naturally impossible to say that he understands every private message.
Guangzong Yaozu, this is the ambition of every man in this era.
For the sake of his ideal, Liu Ji can certainly sacrifice some of his personal life.
However, if you can make your life better while satisfying your own ambitions, why not do it?
Liu Ji is not like Liu Song, who is upright and has an old-fashioned character that can almost be said to be masochistic.
But in the past, it was difficult to have both.
Lao Zhu's background determined that he actually had no good impression of these officials.
It's just that these people are indispensable for governing the world, so Lao Zhu can only hold his nose and endure it.
If they are not needed to govern the world, maybe the next day, all of them will be beheaded by Lao Zhu.
Because of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's restrictions on officials were extremely harsh.
To embezzle dozens of taels of silver, one must rip off the person's skin and pass it off as grass. This has never happened in the previous dynasties.
Liu Ji and the others don't know that their current treatment is because Zhu Han fought for them.
It is already much better than the original situation in history.
But even so, it is still almost impossible to have delicious food in a mansion like Liu Ji.
Of course, some officials are from well-off families, so it is not impossible for them to live such a life.
But, who dares?
Zhu Yuanzhang was famous for hating corrupt officials, so he enjoyed it so unscrupulously in front of Lao Zhuo?
Is this disgust? You have lived too long?
Moreover, in the bureaucracy, as a subordinate, life is more comfortable than that of a superior.
Isn't this an obvious way to tell your superiors that I'm an idiot, please come and put some shoes on for me?
Therefore, the officials in the entire Yingtian Mansion, at least on the surface, seem to be living a more miserable life than the last one.
Of course, after all, they were upper-level bureaucrats of the Ming Dynasty, and no matter how they lived, their lives would be much better than those of ordinary people.
Just like Liu Song, there were dozens of people in his family when he died, only the house passed down from his ancestors and fifty acres of land.
After all, not much.
But in Yanjing, Liu Ji was shocked to find that there was no conflict at all between making a good life for himself and contributing to the Ming Dynasty.
Liu Ji was ecstatic, finally knowing where Zhu Yuanzhang was really angry.
Once you know what the problem is, it will be easier to prescribe the right remedy.
Although Liu Ji was ecstatic in his heart, he did not dare to show it at all.
Still looking respectful: "Your Majesty does not know that Wei Chen's house, most of the servants in Wei Chen's house, and even the food Wei Chen eats are actually not Wei Chen's money."
Zhu Yuanzhang's brows raised in disbelief.
Is this guy Liu Ji suffering from water in his head?
Listening to the meaning behind his words, doesn't this further prove that Liu Ji is engaging in corruption and bribery?
He didn't have to spend a penny himself, so wouldn't that mean that these things were given to him by people with ulterior motives?
This Liu Ji is really crazy. He is absolutely convinced of corruption and bribery, but he can still refute himself plausibly.
It seems that I am still too kind.
Lao Zhu reflected on himself secretly in his heart.
As expected, what these officials are best at is pushing the envelope.
I just gave them a little bit of good looks, and these guys started to act unscrupulously.
On this issue, we really can't listen to Qi Wu.
This guy is good at everything, but sometimes he is too soft-hearted.
Is there any truth to be said about corrupt officials?
We must use thunderous means to let them know what it means to be afraid and let them know what it means to regret.
Only in this way will they not dare to reach out randomly.
Liu Ji didn't know that with just one sentence, so many messy thoughts had already flashed through Zhu Yuanzhang's mind.
He continued to explain carefully: "Your Majesty, the house, the servants in the house, and the food standards throughout the year are all set by His Royal Highness the King himself."
After a pause, he added: "All expenses will be borne by the imperial court."