Even when the power of later generations reaches its peak, the cabinet is still the emperor's secretarial agency in name. In the current Yongle Dynasty, the cabinet is far less powerful than the later generations. Not only in name, it is actually the emperor's secretarial agency. Therefore, the cabinet's duty is
The east side hall of Wenyuan Pavilion in Da Nei is low-lying and narrow. It is exposed to the sun in summer and cold in winter, so the working conditions are very difficult.
In winter, several academicians crowded into a room to work. Firstly, it was convenient for communication and discussion, and secondly, it was warm because they were crowded. At this moment, the four cabinet academicians, Hu Guang, Yang Rong, Yang Shiqi, and Jin Youzi, were facing each other.
He raised his head and stared at a newly opened report on the table.
The report was naturally the one that had just rushed from Shanxi Province and was transferred to the cabinet by the emperor. At this moment, it had been unsealed, and one by one, they were pressed with paperweights and jade stones in order and placed on the major case.
Several bachelors had read the contents, and Hu Guang was the slowest to read it. After the other three read it, they all looked at the chief minister, waiting for his opinion.
Seeing everyone looking at him, the first assistant thought for a while and had no choice but to speak, but he recited the Book of Songs and said: "The big rat, the big rat, has no food for my millet! I am not willing to care about a three-year-old girl." This poem is also
It has been chanted for more than two thousand years, but it is a pity that the giant rats are hunted every year, and they can't be beaten every year. Corrupt officials are killed in every court, and there are corrupt officials in every court. This time, we brought a nest of giant rats from Shanxi, which was really satisfying and also for the people.
The twelfth year of Yongle's reign has come to a successful end."
The other three people felt a sense of boredom in their hearts. This Chief Assistant Master was extremely talented, but he lacked a bit of character. After Bachelor Xie was imprisoned, he completely lost his moral integrity. He always reported good things but not bad things, and even bad things could turn into good things.
It was obvious that he had investigated and dealt with the largest corruption case in the Yongle Dynasty so far, but in his words, it was regarded as an achievement of the imperial court, no matter how much credit he had.
"That's what Yuan Fu said." Yang Rong endured the disgust: "Then according to Yuan Fu's wishes, how should we issue this ticket?"
"Strictly follow the law. In this memorial, Zhang Chun, He Zhucai and others were listed one by one for colluding with bandits, embezzling military supplies and other charges. The interrogation was detailed and there was a mountain of ironclad evidence. A group of prisoners were escorted to Beijing and handed over to Dali Temple for review.
Then you can be punished severely."
"..." Seeing that the three of them were silent, Hu Guang said with some displeasure: "What's wrong with issuing tickets like this?"
"Yes." Jin Youzi squeezed out a smile, and Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi also nodded. For such a big case, the emperor didn't even look at it and just asked the cabinet to issue a vote. This in itself shows that the emperor has lost interest in further investigation. What else is there?
There's nothing to say, it's just a fair vote.
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Hu Guang frowned.
"Yuan Fu, there is really nothing we can say about this case, so we have no choice but not to talk about it." Yang Rong was an honest man, and said with a wry smile: "Let's just pass it by in confusion. The only way to deal with it is to turn the page quickly."
Hu Guang then understood why the three of them were waiting for him to speak. It turned out that they didn't want to be labeled as flattering and unprincipled. He couldn't help but secretly blame himself, why am I talking so fast? I should have asked them what they meant first.
.But the words had already been spoken, and it was difficult to take them back, so I had to say with a straight face: "I think this case has been handled very well, and it will be useless if you continue to talk about it. To govern a big country is to cook small things, and you can't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will burn the pot.
of."
"So let's leave an opening." The first assistant had said so much, and Yang Shiqi had to speak. "We can't just praise Ting Ji, the imperial envoy who investigated the case. He must make persistent efforts and continue to dig deeper, and he must not let anyone go."
Bad guy."
"Can Wang Xian continue to investigate?" Hu Guang frowned.
"It is his business to investigate or not, but the court has not made a final decision on this matter." Jin Youzi continued: "This way, if the situation changes in the future, the emperor will not be passive."
"This is exactly the reason." Yang Rong nodded and said: "I guess he will probably not investigate further, but it is always good to leave a foreshadowing, and it can also show that our cabinet has not been fooled."
"Let's do it this way, Shiqi, you write the ticket, Youzi, you write the court mail, I will go out for a while." Hu Guang waved his sleeves and left somewhat unhappily. He could feel that the few bachelors under him and himself
He is becoming increasingly alienated. The reason is also very simple. When the prince was in crisis this year, he habitually shrank. When others argued for the prince and were even imprisoned, he became a silent and prickly gourd.
I went to the Chrysanthemum Poetry Party held by King Zhao, which made Yi Yu Qingliu very disdainful.
As soon as Hu Guang left, the three people's eyes showed excitement. Jin Youzi hurriedly whispered: "His Royal Highness, can you be free this time?"
"It should be possible." Yang Rong twisted his beard, nodded and smiled: "The Shanxi military ration case has been solved, and the prince's suspicion has been cleared. What reason does the emperor have to doubt the prince again?"
Only Yang Shiqi was not excited. The two looked at him and said, "What's wrong, brother Shiqi? Are we right?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Yang Shiqi sighed: "Although if we don't pursue it this time, it seems that nothing happened to King Han and King Zhao, but in fact the two princes have lost face. What's more serious, the emperor may also be suspicious of them.
Already."
"Isn't this a good thing?"
"It is a good thing, but they will not remain indifferent." Yang Shiqi frowned and said, "I'm worried that they will organize another attack against the prince. His highness, the prince, cannot bear this blow."
"We have to be careful." Jin Youzi nodded and said: "But don't be so scared that you can't sleep. Since we can't move them this time, they will definitely have to attack. The soldiers will block it, and the water will cover it."
"Yes." Yang Shiqi nodded, frowning tightly. He also knew very well that the most difficult days for the prince were about to pass, but the most dangerous thing was the darkness before dawn. There was an unprecedented emptiness around the prince.
The cabinet quickly submitted the vote. Zhu Di took a look at it, approved it red, and threw it back to Yang Rong who was on duty: "Don't forget that he wrote novels in the Hanlin Academy. As an inspector, even if he didn't participate, he was still stupid.
Incompetent, as stupid as blind. If you participate, it will be even more punishable."
"I obey" Yang Rong responded.
"Draft another edict." The emperor had other edicts.
Yang Rong hurriedly walked to the big case. There were always pens, inks, paper and inkstones on the big cases. Yang Rong quickly picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, and looked at the emperor with bated breath.
"I have been ordered by Heaven to protect the country and the people. Liu Zijin has been entrenched in Guangling County for a long time, blocking traffic and ruining the lives of the people. The local officials and soldiers failed to clean up. Today..." The emperor said, paused and said: "Your Majesty
Zhu Zhanji, the grandson of the grandson, is the chief military officer and leads his troops north to quell the rebellion. The army will set off immediately after receiving the order and must not violate it."
Yang Rong was so excited when he listened to the emperor's words that his rock-steady hand almost cursive the words. The emperor finally chose to send the grandson to lead a young army to quell the rebellion. What does this mean? It means that the suspicion of His Royal Highness has been eliminated.
Clean up, the emperor is giving the grandson a chance to avenge his shame.
After all, he was almost captured at Jiulongkou, which was a great shame and humiliation for his great grandson. Only by turning this page over can he continue to be a good man.
"Also," Zhu Di said slowly: "Wang Xian, a member of the Jinyiwei Thousand Households, is able to handle tasks effectively, and it is really because of his talent. I am a talent-based person, and I will not hesitate to promote him. I will be promoted to the envoy of the Jinyiwei Town, and I will temporarily return to the Taisun's account.
.”
"Yes," Yang Rong responded and quickly drafted a second decree.
"Furthermore, Zhao Changzhen, the magistrate of Fenyang County, is an upright person. He does not shy away from the ax and ax, and refuses to collude with his superiors. He secretly collects evidence of crimes and is eventually killed. His intentions can be said to be loyal and upright, and he is actually a model for his fellow ministers. I am specially ordered to reward him with the title of magistrate.
He was buried generously from the internal funds, and he was named Fenyang City God, and he continued to protect the people..." The emperor said with a sigh: "Good people don't live long, and disasters will last for tens of thousands of years... Put these ten words exactly as they are.
Engraving it on the stele of Zhao County Magistrate is my epitaph for him."
"Yes..." Emperor Yongle was such a great emperor full of personality. He did many more outrageous things than this, and Yang Rong had long been used to it.
"That's it." After Zhu Di finished speaking, he turned his attention elsewhere. He was the emperor of hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty, and he could not always focus on Shanxi.
After receiving the order, Zhu Zhanji jumped three feet high. He was convinced that his father remained calm on his face, but he knew better than anyone in his heart. He quickly changed into court clothes and entered the palace to bid farewell to the emperor.
Zhu Di also happened to have lunch, so he ordered his great-grandson to have a pair of chopsticks and asked Zhu Zhanji to eat with him. Looking at his beaming grandson, Zhu Di couldn't help but tease him: "Finally, isn't he forcing a smile?"
"My grandson is forcing a smile, but it's not what the emperor thought..." Zhu Zhanji said with an embarrassed smile: "It's just that the scene at Jiulongkou has been lingering in my mind, and I really can't laugh happily."
"Well, only when you know your shame can you be brave." Zhu Di's expression became solemn and he said: "You will gain wisdom if you take a step, and you can't be reckless again in the future."
"My grandson, please remember this," Zhu Zhanji said with a heavy nod.
"The elite soldiers of Datong and Datong Town of Xuanfu are helpless against the Bailian rebels this time. Do you have confidence?" Zhu Di's appetite was very small. After eating a small bowl of rice, he started to drink soup.
"My grandson is confident." Zhu Zhanji pondered for a moment and said, "In my humble opinion, the White Lotus rebel bandits are difficult to eliminate. The reality is not that they are powerful themselves, but because the civil and military forces in Shanxi, the princes and princes are entangled with each other, and are complicated.
, gave the thieves an opportunity to take advantage of. Now the emperor's grandfather has restrained the civil and military forces for his grandson, suppressing the prince, and the bandit leader Liu Zijin has also disappeared. The rebel bandits in Guangling County are leaderless, and at this time they launch a surprise attack with a large army.
, it will definitely work in one blow.”
"Haha, okay." Zhu Di said with an approving look: "I can see Grandpa Huang's hard work. You have really made progress in the past six months. Yes, the White Lotus rebels are now the strongest in the world and weak. It is the grandson who has established his power.
"It's a good opportunity." He said in a more serious tone: "But the more this happens, the more cautious you must be. If the boat capsizes in the ditch, even if I don't blame you? Do you still have the nerve to come back to see me?"
"Shameless." Zhu Zhanji shook his head firmly and said, "If my grandson makes the same mistake again, he can only die to thank the emperor."
"Don't say unlucky words." Zhu Di shook his head and said, "You still have to take care of yourself and come back safely.
"Yes, grandson, please remember this," Zhu Zhanji responded respectfully. He said emotionally, "Grandpa Emperor, you should also take care of your dragon body, don't stay up late, and get plenty of rest."
"Okay, let's take care of each other." Zhu Di was also a little emotional. Looking at his grandson who was carved out of the same mold as himself, he was like an ordinary grandfather, feeling a lot of reluctance and concern for his grandson who was about to go on an expedition.