The next day, before dawn, hundreds of officials from the morning court were already crowded outside the palace gate.
While the palace door was not open, they gathered together in twos and threes with people they were close to, and carefully discussed the recent important events in the court.
"Unexpectedly, the Marquis of Dingxi, whom Taizu personally named, would not be able to keep his own rules and secretly hide weapons with the intention of plotting rebellion."
"We can just listen to this kind of thing. As for how to deal with it, the emperor has his own discretion in mind."
"Don't tell me that these public officials in our Sixth Section are very courageous. Some of them actually opposed the emperor's revoking the title of marquis of Dingxihou."
"In these cases, the first condition for being selected is to be upright and dare to speak out. If there is a slightly defensible reason, they will magnify it infinitely and argue with reason."
"In these matters, if the seventh-rank official cannot make some remarks that are different from ordinary people's thinking, what use are they?"
"This morning, there are probably different voices coming out."
"Does this need to be said? Hundreds of people, one heart, how in the morning did everyone have unified opinions?"
"No matter what, we just listen. Whatever the emperor's opinion is, we will agree with it."
"You old guy, you are really a piece of grass on the wall."
"Look what you said, I am following the court."
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
The heads of the respective ministers of the six ministries, the Inspectorate, the Dali Temple, and other key departments of the imperial court nodded to each other and waited quietly.
Everyone has their own opinions on Dingxihou's rebellion.
However, as long as the emperor's attitude is unclear, these people will never express their opinions casually.
"Open the palace door and go to court." As a voice like a male duck came from inside the palace door, the tall palace door creaked a few times and slowly opened.
In the emperor's palace, Lin Shangli had already served Ming Chengzu, dressed neatly, and looked up and down several times worriedly.
"Let's go, the ministers should also enter the palace." With that, Ming Chengzu walked towards the door.
Seeing Lin Shangli still frozen in place, Ming Chengzu frowned and said, "Why are you still standing there stupidly? Do you have any questions?"
"I'm thinking, the weather is hot and I have to go to the emperor and the officials to discuss court affairs early in the morning. I don't know when it will come again. Would it be more appropriate to bring a fan?" Lin Shangli hurriedly argued.
"It's just such a small thing, you still have to think about it? Just take it." With that said, Ming Chengzu walked out of the door.
"Yes." Lin Shangli took a folding fan and hurriedly followed.
Entering the Jinluan Hall, hundreds of officials have been waiting for a long time.
Seeing the emperor coming, he hurriedly knelt down and paid homage: "Long live my emperor, long live him."
Ming Chengzu walked to the dragon chair and sat down. He spread his hands and placed them on the desk in front of him. He looked at the civil and military officials kneeling below and said, "All my dear friends, please get down straight."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." All the officials stood up one after another.
Ming Chengzu's eyes swept over everyone one by one: "This is a regular morning court, all my beloved ministers can speak freely and report anything you have to say."
"Report to your Majesty, I'll tell you."
Zhao Hai, the Minister of Household Affairs, took a step across and walked out of the ranks of civil servants.
"Zhao Aiqing, please play."
"Since the drought occurred in Gongchang, the emperor has been worried about the victims and has been sleepless at night. Although the first batch of disaster relief grains has already arrived in Gongchang, there are so many people in Gongchang that they may not be able to support it for long. According to the emperor's wishes, the Ministry of Household Affairs
The second batch of disaster relief food has been prepared and can be shipped to Gongchang at any time."
Holding his fists, Zhao Hai, Minister of the Ministry of Finance, said with a respectful expression.
"Alas." Ming Chengzu sighed, "these food funds are no longer used."
Hearing that it was no longer needed, and seeing the emperor's lonely look, all the officials couldn't help but feel stunned.
Throughout the past dynasties, disaster relief food funds have only been said to be insufficient, but never said to be unused. What on earth is going on?
"It's no longer needed?" Zhao Hai was surprised and asked the question that all the officials were confused about: "A few days ago, the emperor asked the ministers to rush to prepare. Why is it no longer needed? Has something happened to Gong Chang?
?”
One hundred thousand taels of silver and three hundred thousand stones of grain are not small sums.
Money is not bad, these 300,000 shi of grain were prepared in a short time after being transported from place to place.
Just waiting for the emperor's order to immediately transport it to Gongchang for disaster relief, why is it suddenly no longer needed?
"The disaster in Gongchang had lasted for more than two months when the court received the news. The food reserves of Gongchang Mansion could only sustain the gruel supply for the entire Gongchang victims for three days. When the court's disaster relief arrived in Gongchang, Gongchang
There are tens of millions of victims, and more than half of them have been killed or injured." Ming Chengzu held his forehead with his hand, feeling very guilty in his heart.
These are all his own people. Due to famine and the government's inaction, they starved to death one by one.
Local governments have direct responsibilities, but they also have responsibilities that they cannot shirk.
That is, you cannot observe the public sentiment anytime and anywhere.
"Gongchang Mansion is a court department that governs several counties. How can this food reserve only last for three days of gruel supply?" Zhao Hai looked incredulous.
Not only Zhao Hai couldn't believe it, but also all the officials in the court couldn't believe that the grain reserves of a government office were actually so small.
To maintain the supply of porridge for the people for three days, what is the reserve? What is called a grain reserve? Just don't reserve it. It is a waste of manpower and material resources, and a waste of such a large warehouse.
"According to the news sent back by Dongchang, Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang Prefecture, was short of food reserves. He was afraid that the court would find out the truth, so he concealed the drought in Gongchang for a long time. When he learned that the court sent Dongchang to provide relief, he hurriedly
Open the granary and start cooking porridge for the people. But at this moment, the old, weak, sick and disabled people have already been killed by hunger." Looking up, Ming Chengzu's words gradually became cold.
At the end, the murderous look in his eyes made people shudder.
Zhao Hai thought for a moment and softened his tone: "Your Majesty, the drought in Gongchang is due to the lack of water conservancy facilities. Do you want to transport this batch of grain money there to build up the water conservancy facilities in Gongchang?"
"In the past, the grain money from the Ministry of Revenue was definitely not enough, and preparations should continue to support the Gongchang Water Conservancy Construction. But now, Dongchang has raided the residence of Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang Prefecture, and decided to build the Marquis's Mansion in the West.
, their homes have also been confiscated. Their property and food do not need to be transported back to the capital. I have ordered the East Factory to be directly used for the water conservancy construction of Gongchang Mansion."
Ming Chengzu said slowly.
"Since the emperor has made other arrangements, I will put this batch of grain money back into the treasury." Zhao Hai, the Minister of Household Affairs, hunched over, waiting for Ming Chengzu's decision.
"Yes." Ming Chengzu nodded, "Let's put it in the household department first."
"I obey the order." In response, Zhao Hai walked into the group of civil servants.
As soon as the Minister of Hubu entered the team, Chang Wei, the Minister of Libu, stepped out.
"Your Majesty, the disaster in Gongchang is serious, and it is impossible to have no one to take the lead in building water conservancy projects. Since Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang Prefecture, has had his house confiscated and punished for multiple crimes, should the Ministry of Civil Affairs consider the selection of the prefect of Gongchang and let the new prefect take office as soon as possible?
, preside over government affairs?"
"No rush." Ming Chengzu waved his hand, "Gongchang has been taken over by Dongchang. Whether it is disaster relief or water conservancy construction, everything is going smoothly. The Gongchang prefect is corrupt and perverting the law, causing harm to the people.
, but other officials in the government office did not follow the trend and worked together in collusion. When the people were completely settled and their lives returned to farming, one of the officials in the government office who shared the joys and sorrows with the people would be promoted to the post of prefect."
"Yes, I obey the order." Chang Wei, the official minister, returned to the team.
"Is there any other beloved minister who has something to report?" Ming Chengzu's eyes swept over the officials one by one.
The officials looked at each other, but no one answered.
"Since there is no one to report, I will say a few words." A smile appeared on Ming Chengzu's face, "Someone handed me a note yesterday, saying something about Dingxihou Wang Rong secretly hiding weapons and intending to rebel.
Different views."
Baiguan's heart skipped a beat and he couldn't help but look around.
Who is so bold as to dare to make irresponsible remarks on this matter?
The crime of rebellion has always been the fate of the nine clansmen. Is this because you want to die because you can't be implicated?
"The book said that the Marquis of Dingxi was a marquis personally granted by Taizu. To cancel the title of marquis would be disrespectful to Taizu." With a "pop" sound, Ming Chengzu slapped his palm hard on the table.
"I would like to ask all of you dear friends, if Taizu knew that the marquis he personally named had a large amount of armaments secretly hidden and was eyeing the Ming Dynasty, what would he do?"
Ming Chengzu's gaze swept across everyone's faces one by one like a sharp blade.
