First Prince of Ming Dynasty

But Liang Lin's heart is still full of expectations. The so-called one who knows himself is wise, and one who knows himself is clear. The prince has expressed this attitude many times.

If you can't give full play to your own advantages, I'm afraid you can only work hard to become a fifth- and sixth-rank official. If you are lucky, you are just a servant, which is not bad for others.

But Liang Lin, like his predecessors in the poetry world, has a dream of assisting the king to govern the world, otherwise why would he go into an official career? With his own family background and outstanding calligraphy, painting and poetry, he can live a comfortable and wealthy life after the exam It's not difficult...

Zhu Biao went to Jinshen Hall, and suddenly remembered that he still had two younger brothers, so he deliberately walked around to the Wuying Hall, looked at his hard-working younger brother from a distance for a while, didn't go up to speak, and left contentedly.

After solving the problem, I looked at my unlucky younger brother. It couldn't be a better day. Along the way, I ran into a few disgraced and honorable princes. At first glance, they were pointed at their noses and scolded by Lao Zhu. So it seems that today they Both father and son will be in a good mood.

Casually dismissed the marquis who came forward to salute, and went directly through the Huagai Hall of Fengtian Hall to Jinshen Hall. Lao Zhu was drinking tea and watching the memorial. That's it."

The tone was not a question but a natural affirmation. After saluting with a smile, Zhu Biao took the three talisman cards left by Liu Jin from Zhao Huai'an: "I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to handle the ritual solemnly, and I have also seen the talisman cards." Alright, in addition to the three treasured cards, the Ministry of Industry is ordered to make another forty famous cards."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and handed the three precious cards to his father: "The mold has also been ordered to be destroyed, so as to prevent someone from fooling around."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction, took the talisman, read it over and over several times, and then put it aside casually: "Didn't we ask the Ministry of Civil and Military Affairs of the Ministry of Finance and Accounts to draft the salary of civil and military officials last month, but Hu Weiyong personally delivered it today."

Zhu Biao took the memorial thrown by his father and looked at it: the first grade is 1,600 stones, and the second grade is 1,400 stones; the second grade is 1,200 stones, and the second grade is 1,000 stones... One hundred and twenty stone...

It's too high, it's too high, it's almost doubled as a whole. In fact, it doesn't matter how high the rank is, because there are only a few officials in the DPRK with real or false titles, no matter how high the salaries are for them. There was no pressure from the imperial court either.

But the more you go down, the greater the pressure on the imperial court. You must know that the salary issued by the imperial court this year is only 900 stones for the first rank, and 70 stones for the ninth rank. This is because Zhu Biao raised some for them last year. There is only fifty shi's annual salary a year.

Zhu Biao put down the memorial, shook his head and smiled, "He's in a hurry, but it's still a way."

It is actually a hard job to set the age salary. If the setting is low, the emperor is satisfied, but his colleagues will scold their mothers behind their backs. If the setting is high, the colleagues are happy, but the emperor will not only reject it, but also severely reprimand it, which is basically suicide. Yu Tian.

So the tacit understanding has always been to set it lower, to the point where even the emperor can't bear it, so that the emperor will definitely raise it, and the officials will take advantage of the trend to thank Dade and shout long live, so that the best of both worlds .

Since the first year of Wu, this Suilu has been revised two or three times. It is basically the same every time. Only Zhu Biao raised it directly last year. After all, the crown prince is the heir. He is willing to give more food to the people below. No one will say what.

Even Lao Zhu, who has always been stingy with officials, is happy to see his opinion. He is supportive of anything that can enhance Zhu Biao's prestige. If the court's life is a little tight, officials at all levels in the world will be able to benefit from the prince's kindness. In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, it is very cost-effective.

But now Hu Weiyong has changed the tradition and hastily raised the salary so high. It is obvious that he knows that the emperor will never approve it, but he still mentioned it. Presumably, the officials and generals in Beijing already know the amount of the salary.

No matter how sensible a person is, he can't help feeling a little bit lucky. If the Holy Majesty approves, then everyone's life will be much easier. The current salary is enough to eat. If the Holy Majesty approves Hu Xiang please...

The disappointment after having expectations is even more profound, but the significance is not too great. The mood of officials is not worth mentioning to an iron-blooded emperor like Lao Zhu.

But for Hu Weiyong, it is a good political statement. He knows that he is inferior to Lao Zhu in all aspects, but if he wants to live, he must continue to recruit his comrades and strengthen his body. A person is set up, and a person who pleads for an official's order becomes the spokesperson of the vast bureaucratic group.

The position of the prime minister was originally the head of the hundred officials, and it was an important existence of the civil official group to restrain the imperial power. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, the prime minister was high and powerful, and even the monarch had to respect and respect him.

However, as the imperial power continued to strengthen and the autocratic monarchy reached its peak, the prime minister's duties and powers were continuously divided. The prime minister was no longer the spokesperson of the civil official group, but became the spokesperson of the imperial power, and even a scapegoat.

Hu Weiyong is now trying to regain his original position as prime minister, so he will not be an answerer like Li Shanchang, Yang Xian, and Wang Guangyang in the future, but will fight against the imperial power and strive for the interests of bureaucrats, not only civil servants, but also generals.

Only in this way can he have a chance to win a ray of life. In fact, it is true that this is indeed his only way out, even if Zhu Biao is in his position, because this is what the emperor wants to see.

Facing a monarch who has centralized power so far, in addition to finding a way internally, is it possible to rebel outside? That is hopeless. Besides, Hu Weiyong himself is also a person who desires power. This road was forced by Lao Zhu , but maybe he wants to go too?

Otherwise, Hu Weiyong commits suicide by taking poison now, and Lao Zhu has no choice. It is undoubtedly a wise choice to die himself and keep his family alive, but Hu Weiyong did not do this. He has to admire his father's sharp vision of people. Afterwards, he will definitely choose to commit suicide. I am afraid that Yang Xian will throw himself at Lao Zhu's feet and show his loyalty frantically, not daring to die in confrontation.

"Let's just add another 50 shi according to what was set last year. That is to say, this year only Shaanxi and Gansu are severely drought-stricken, and the weather in other places is relatively smooth. Otherwise, we planned to give them a little less."

Zhu Biao nodded and said: "It's not good if it's too high, but it's even worse if the situation is reduced now, more or less, at least let those officials who are clean and not corrupt save some savings."

Zhu Biao's attitude has always been to pay more salaries, not because he intends to provide high salaries, but because the salaries set by Lao Zhu from the beginning are too low. Those who are greedy may also be greedy.

Corruption, perverting the law, rich profits, and sweetness are too great. I have tasted it countless times, from small greed to big greed and then to giant greed. It is hoped that officials will at least reach the level of Xiaofu.

Zhu Biao thinks it is not too much to worry about food and clothing and save some money for his descendants. No matter whether they are officials in the capital or local officials, except for a few Qingshui yamen, most of them are also very busy. Head risk job, somewhat higher income is justified.

If you want a horse to run, you have to feed him some good grass, otherwise, why would it cost a thousand miles?

In this way, it will be easy to kill officials who dare to take bribes and break the law. Otherwise, some officials’ families are really poor. In the capital, there are still wives and children who are seriously ill. Officials who have been sold off.

Zhu Biao also specially sent someone to investigate. He thought he was another ruthless person who was going to be famous for his integrity, but it turned out that he was really poor. If he hadn't sent someone to help, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to make it this year. .

There are countless officials who are corrupt and pervert the law in the court, but there are indeed such a group of officials who are honest, self-sufficient and upright, especially in Yushitai and Hanlin Academy, just like the prosperous dynasty, it is impossible to have no corrupt officials. There are always upright officials who appear to be stupid.

Today's memorials are not too many. When Zhu Biao was chatting with his father, he turned to the number of prefectures and counties in the world recorded by the Ministry of Officials. Third, this is also the official introduction of the prefectures and counties of the original Xia Kingdom into the territory of Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Biao asked curiously: "Father, speaking of it, Liu Bowen went to Bashu for a while, and he didn't mention the matter of coming back?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was unhappy talking about Liu Bowen, leaning on the back of his chair and humming: "It's not that he wants to come back, he just wants to quit. Since last month, he has been sending letters saying that he is old and ill, and he hopes We can give him the grace to let him return to his hometown in Qingtian before he dies."

Zhu Biao put down the memorial in his hand and walked behind his father and squeezed his shoulders: "Let him go back to his hometown next year. Why is Liu Bowen following the old man who assisted you in the early years? He has credit and hard work. Even if the father does not Like him, and give him the grace to raise him, so that the monarch and his ministers will be passed on to future generations is also a good story."

Zhu Yuanzhang squinted his eyes to enjoy his son's filial piety, but he still had no intention of agreeing immediately. Zhu Biao behind him naturally felt it, and couldn't help but curiously said: "Father, Liu Bowen is a bit arrogant, but you haven't seen anyone before. Speaking of arrogance, Chang Shuai back then is not much better than Lan Yu today, and you can handle it well, I don't believe you hate such a great talent just because of this little thing."

Zhu Yuanzhang groaned and chirped a few times before he opened his mouth and said: "Your mother always praises him in our ears as a great talent, and tells us to win over him, but no matter how good he is, the old boy also looks like he is not close. , it’s fine if you can’t do it with us, but you are still very close to your mother!”

Zhu Biao couldn't help laughing out with a puff. It turned out that it was because of his mother in the final analysis. No wonder all the hard work was thrown on Liu Bowen for so many years. It turned out to be jealous.

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