In the third hall of Prince Qi's mansion, Li Zhi was sitting on the throne, discussing Wang Dehua's visit with his subordinates.
Today's Prince Qi's Mansion is actually the former Duke's Mansion. Speaking of which, this palace is too small for Li Zhi today and cannot reflect Li Zhi's identity. Li Zhi has already asked people to build a brand new Qi Palace in the eastern suburbs of Fanjiazhuang.
The palace has a larger main hall and a more decent harem.
However, the construction of this palace takes time, and it cannot be completed within one or two years. For the time being, Li Zhi has to use this lower-standard Duke's Palace.
Wang Dehua came to discuss "important matters" with Li Zhi on the emperor's order, but Li Zhi did not receive him immediately. Li Zhi asked him to stay temporarily in the palace, and asked the secret guard ambassador "An Pingbo" Han Jinxin to go and chat with him first.
Wang Dehua simply told Han Jinxin the emperor's intentions and all the emperor's thoughts on using Li Zhi's power.
After hearing Han Jinxin's report on Wang Dehua's intention, Li Zhi summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.
Tianjin's chief officials filled Li Zhi's three halls, divided into two groups, civil and military, standing on the left and right of the three halls.
Zhong Feng expressed his opposition as soon as he came up.
"I think this matter cannot be done."
Zhong Feng stood up and said: "Your Majesty is in charge of Tianjin, and every bit of hard work is rewarded. He has already established his own situation, so why bother to go to the muddy water of the court? As the emperor's official minister, he supports the emperor.
The decision was made to use the power of Tianjin to intimidate the Jiangnan officials for the emperor. This is a matter of great harm and no benefit."
"If the king really goes and works hard in the capital, what will he gain in the end? Appoint a lot of Confucian scholars with imperial examination background to be this official or that official? I am afraid that in the final analysis, he will be just a loyal minister of the emperor. If by then he will be exhausted in the capital because of his energy
, delaying the construction of one town and nine provinces, it is really not worth the loss."
After hearing Zhong Feng's words, Li Zhi's subordinates talked a lot, and many people expressed their agreement.
Even Zheng Kaicheng stood up and said: "Your Majesty Mingjian. If Your Majesty goes west to the capital this time, I am afraid that he will act as a shield for the emperor."
"The emperor intends to order the world to implement new laws, but the gentry and civil servants in the south of the Yangtze River do not listen. If the prince comes to Beijing to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and intimidate Jiangnan with the strength of a town of nine provinces, the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River will probably double their hatred of the prince."
"When the emperor implements the new law, he gains the hearts of the people of the world. But the emperor has no strength and only has ideas and is unable to implement it. If the emperor relies on the prince's strength to implement the new law, then all the efforts will be made by the prince, and all the benefits will be the emperor. In the end, the gentry in the world will all benefit.
I hate the prince, but the prince is empty-handed and gets nothing."
"No matter how you look at it, this is not an option."
Hearing Zheng Kaicheng's words, Li Zhi's subordinates started talking again. Most people agreed with Zheng Kaicheng's words and were not interested in doing what the emperor urged and shouldering all the gentry and civil servants in Jiangnan.
Nowadays, the emperor turns to Li Zhi whenever he encounters a problem. The officials in Tianjin are really tired of the emperor's habit and are unwilling to contribute any more.
Zhong Feng stood up again and said: "We can do things in Tianjin, but the court can do it by itself. If the emperor puts all of Jiangnan under the governance of the prince and lets us collect taxes and file reports in Jiangnan, we can really do it.
Take care of Jiangnan’s affairs.”
Everyone nodded when they heard this.
Cao Yu stood up and said: "Since the emperor can't control Jiangnan, it's better to hand over Jiangnan to the prince. We must rely on the prince's power and appoint officials according to the emperor's wishes. All the benefits belong to the emperor, and all the efforts belong to the prince.
Isn’t this a case of being taken advantage of?”
There was another burst of approval from the officials.
However, when Li Zhi heard these words, he remained silent.
The officials in Tianjin talked for a long time, and when they saw that Li Zhi did not express his position, they gradually became quiet. They didn't know what Li Zhi's attitude was, so they stopped talking.
Cui Changwu looked at Li Zhi's face, stood up and raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think there is something to be done about this matter."
Li Zhi looked at Cui Changwu, became interested, and said, "Changwu said!"
Cui Changwu walked out of the queue and said: "The prince is dedicated to the people. The reason why he continues to expand the management scope of the Tianjin system is to make decisions for the people and benefit the people. However, no matter how the prince expands his territory, the Ming Dynasty territory he manages is only Tianjin.
In Shandong, Henan and Jianghuai areas, the number of people benefiting is limited, and it cannot benefit all Han people."
"However, now that the emperor is seeking help from the prince, it is equivalent to giving the prince an opportunity to promote Tianjin's policies to the entire Ming Dynasty."
Having said this, Cui Changwu raised his head and looked at Li Zhi's face.
Li Zhi looked happy when he heard this and said with a smile: "What Changwu said is interesting, keep talking!"
Seeing Li Zhi's interest, Cui Changwu perked up and said: "The emperor now relies on the prince's authority to manage Jiangnan, but he is also afraid that the prince's power will be too great, so he only allowed the prince the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. So this matter seems to be
It’s not worthwhile to go up there, it’s all driven by the emperor.”
"But the prince has one town and nine provinces, which is the power that the emperor relies on. Using this as a bargaining chip, he can bargain with the emperor. The emperor offers a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the prince can counteroffer a chief minister of the cabinet."
"If the emperor gives up the official position of chief minister of the cabinet, the prince can directly carry out his ambitions throughout the Ming Dynasty without fighting. If the prince can promote public morality and equalize land and property throughout the Ming Dynasty, run schools, newspapers, and build mines and factories,
If we build a railway terminal, wouldn’t it be possible for the prince to benefit the whole country?”
"If this can be done, it will be worthwhile for the prince to contribute his efforts to serve the court."
After listening to Cui Changwu's words, everyone was in a daze.
What Cui Changwu said was to let Li Zhi benefit the entire Ming Dynasty. But what if Li Zhi was to manage the entire Ming Dynasty, one town and nine provinces?
If Li Zhi becomes the chief minister of the cabinet, he will not care about one town and nine provinces?
What should officials from one town and nine provinces do?
Zhong Feng frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I think it's impossible..."
Li Zhi waved his hand to stop Zhong Feng and said: "I have been fighting for more than ten years and laid the foundation of a town and nine provinces. Now the people and officials of a town and nine provinces are dominated by me. This foundation is
, I will never give up no matter what."
"The inheritance of one town and nine provinces belongs to me, and it will be passed on to Li Huan."
After hearing Li Zhi's words, everyone felt relieved and no longer in a daze.
Li Zhi thought for a while and said: "But now is indeed an opportunity to use the strength of one town and nine provinces to benefit the people of the entire Ming Dynasty."
Looking at Cui Changwu, Li Zhi said: "Cui Changwu, I will recommend you to the imperial court. As my representative in the imperial court, you can influence the policies of the entire Ming Dynasty!"
