Father can be an enemy to the country

"Basically, this is the situation in Guozixue." When the situation calmed down, Zhu Zhen immediately entered the palace and reported the whole story to his father and elder brother.

He also presented the audit results, the confessions of those involved, and Song Ne's self-report.

Zhu Yuanzhang listened patiently to what he said, and asked with a dark face: "Why did you wait until now to report it? What were you doing earlier?"

"Of course it is to minimize the impact." Zhu Zhen said solemnly: "My son, I will keep in mind my father's instructions, 'Guozixue is the face of the imperial court, and it is also the face of my father! You can't start a big prison as soon as you come up. 'So keep things under control."

"Did we say this?" Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes, wanting to deny it.

"I did say that." The prince nodded.

"Okay..." Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bear it anymore. After enduring it for a long time, he said angrily: "But we can't help it!"

As he spoke, he pressed the jade belt around his waist hard and said in a deep voice:

"Pass the decree to skin the principal criminals, including Wang Jiahui, Jin Wenzheng, and Chen Qianfu, and remove their heads from the accomplices, and hang them in front of the Imperial Academy as a warning to others!"

"Father, this is the Confucius Temple. It would be disrespectful to hang so many human heads at the door." The prince advised.

"Well..." Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and said, "Then set up a few wooden stakes outside the mountain gate and hang the human skins and heads on them, so that you can see them when you look up when you go in and out."

Zhu Zhenxin said, good guy, what kind of "most dazzling Chi You style" is this?

After a pause, Boss Zhu added: "Don't forget that Yu Ji. As a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he actually let himself down and colluded with those clowns. It really disappoints us! Cut off his head and hang it In front of the official gate!"

"Yes." The prince knew he couldn't persuade him, so he had no choice but to agree.

"As for Song Ne's sacrificial wine," Zhu Yuanzhang paused for a long time, still undecided, and then asked Lao Liu: "How do you think we should deal with it?"

"Demoted and retained," Zhu Zhen said clearly.

"Oh?" Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him in surprise. "Don't you always hate him so much that your teeth itch?"

In fact, Boss Zhu had already wanted to kill Song Ne at this time. He had tried to protect Song Ne because Song Ne managed Guozixue well and could continuously produce qualified officials for him.

But now, if it weren't for Lao Liu, Guozixue would have completely overturned, and would even become the number one laughing stock of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang felt that he had been let down by Song Ne, and out of shame and anger, he naturally became murderous.

He asked Lao Liu just to help him make up his mind. He can also let Lao Liu take the blame for him...

Unexpectedly, Lao Liu changed his mind and saved Song Ne.

"Personally, I really hate this stubborn old man." Zhu Zhen said sternly:

"But after an audit, it was found that in the fifth year of Hongwu, before Song Ne was appointed as the Jijiuer, the accounts of Guozixue were in chaos and corruption and waste were serious. However, during his tenure as the Jijiuer, the situation quickly reversed. In this year, there will no longer be any need for additional funding from the court, and students can even be given regular 'filial piety money' every year, which can be seen intuitively.

"However, this year, as he was about to retire, Wang Siye gradually took over the financial power, and as a result, the accounts began to have problems again." He sighed and said:

"This at least shows that he is honest and honest."

"But when it comes to offering wine to the Imperial Academy, it's not enough to be honest and serve the public." Zhu Yuanzhang said in a muffled voice: "He has to run the school well for us. The least thing is that nothing happens."

"This is the second point I want to say." Zhu Zhen said in a deep voice: "Although he has many shortcomings, he has a rare advantage - he is selfless and uncompromising. This is the way to manage Guozi in the future. Necessary conditions, but Ming officials who can achieve this are really rare.

“And through his experience at Guozixue during this period, Erchen discovered that the situation there was very complicated—it would be no exaggeration to say that it was the intersection of conflicts between the north and the south, and the main battlefield between the school and the imperial examination.

"There, Song Ne alone endured the collective malicious slander and slander from a certain group." Lao Liu continued:

"Of course, he also has big problems of his own, otherwise he wouldn't be taken advantage of. But Erchen couldn't tell whether he was like this since he was born, or whether he was forced to be like this step by step during the fight with the gang. . So I think I can give him another chance. Of course, I must arrange for him to have a boss to check and balance him to prevent him from going too far."

"Indeed," the prince nodded and said: "My son also thinks that it is appropriate to demote him and retain him. If he is not retained at this time, his successor will inevitably go to the other extreme - what Guozixue needs now is a combination of leniency and severity, appropriate laxity. , but if the rules are too lax, all previous efforts will be wasted.”

"Okay, let's do what Lao Liu said." After hearing what the boss said, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and asked Lao Liu: "Then who will serve as the sacrificial wine? Has anyone chosen it?"

"My son, I have discussed this with my eldest brother before - Jiangxi Governor Zeng Tai." Zhu Zhen nodded and said: "I was a little sorry for him when I asked him to be Zuo Siye, but now he is serving wine directly and can still wear a scarlet robe. , it’s much more respectable.”

"In normal times, it would be no problem for Zeng Tai to serve as the sacrificial wine." Zhu Yuanzhang thought seriously for a while, then shook his head and objected: "But now, Guozi has learned that at the most dangerous moment, he cannot withstand the counterattack of those people. What’s the next step? It’s not up to him to decide.”

"Then Father, who do you think can withstand it?" Zhu Zhen nodded.

"You." Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly.

"I, you really want me to serve as a sacrificial wine?" Zhu Zhen pointed to his nose.

"What's so surprising? We decided long ago that we were wrong. Otherwise, why would we let you go to school?" Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Now it seems that the original decision was correct. No one else can do this job."

"Then why do you still need to ask me about the candidate?" Lao Liu rolled his eyes.

"I thought you would do your part." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile but not a smile: "I didn't expect you to be quite conscious."

"Can my son say no?" Zhu Zhenxin said, isn't this nonsense? This is the principal of the Huangpu Military Academy of the Ming Dynasty. I don't dare to ask for such a sensitive position.

"No." Zhu Yuanzhang said flatly: "We have to get on the right track no matter what, and then let others take over."

"Lao Liu, please don't refuse." The prince also advised him: "When it comes to the imperial examination, don't you do it in one way? Then use it and show us whether it is just talk on paper or real evidence."

"Of course it's true." Lao Liu stiffened his neck.

"Then the matter is settled." The prince smiled and said: "It just so happens that I, Zeng Tai, have another use."

"What do you want him to do?" Lao Liu asked curiously.

"Zhongshu Sheng." The prince said calmly: "It's too calm over there. Let him argue with Hu Xiang."

"Good guy, I can't even stop this official destiny." Zhu Zhen couldn't help but sigh. I originally thought that Zeng Tai would be demoted and appointed, but after a lot of trouble, he was promoted to Zhongshu.

"This is not a good job." Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Zeng Tai must be prepared to peel off the layers of skin."

"Father, it doesn't matter, Gang Ling is very resistant to frustration." Lao Liu disagreed. The old thief obviously underestimated the fighting power of 'Gang Ling'. "I still don't know who is torturing whom."