Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

As the sun sets, the long palace walls are coated with a layer of hazy beauty in the golden afterglow.

A carriage stopped next to the steps in front of the cabinet duty courtyard.

"Squeak."

The heavy wooden door of the duty courtyard was slowly opened by the guards wearing helmets and carrying armor.

"His Royal Highness has arrived——"

Following the voice of Zhu Gaochi's personal eunuch Haitao, everyone in the cabinet who had been waiting anxiously for a long time saluted: "See His Highness the Great Prince."

"Ahem. Everyone, please get up." Zhu Gaochi's somewhat tired voice came from above.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

After everyone in the cabinet stood up, they retreated to both sides.

There are seven people in the cabinet, including Xie Jin, Huang Huai, Yang Shiqi, Hu Guang, Jin Youzi, Yang Rong and Hu Yan.

At this time, no one is missing at all, they are all here.

The reason why they were able to get it together is naturally because the eldest prince issued an urgent order today, and all cabinet ministers must come to attend the meeting regardless of whether they are on duty or not.

However, to the surprise of everyone in the cabinet, after the eldest prince Zhu Gaochi slowly stepped out of the carriage, he did not take the lead to enter the not-so-spacious cabinet duty room. Instead, with the support of the two personal eunuchs Haitao and Hou Tai, he Waiting outside the cabinet duty room.

Seeing this, Yang Shiqi, who was standing in the middle of the team, looked at the three colleagues further to the left.

There was no surprise in the presence of the old god Jin Youzi beside him. It was obvious that this emperor's absolute confidant had learned some gossip in advance.

Huang Huai looked slightly surprised, but controlled his expression well.

As for Xie Jin, who was standing on the far left and was actually the chief minister of the cabinet, a trace of astonishment that could not be concealed flashed through his eyes.

"Is it only Jin Youzi who knows? Or is he just pretending?"

As for the three people on the right, Yang Shiqi didn't even need to look at it. He knew that Hu Guang, the wallflower, must be counting ants with his head down at this time. Hu Yan, the honest man, was probably looking straight up in a daze, as if his eyes had lost focus, and the cervical vertebrae Yang Rong, who was not feeling well, was probably looking up at the sky and twisting his neck slightly.

Glancing to the right, it was exactly what he expected.

At this time, Yang Shiqi, who was looking around, attracted Zhu Gaochi's attention. Zhu Gaochi didn't know whether he was really coughing or was reminding him.

"Cough cough cough"

The personal eunuch Haitao took out a handkerchief to cover Zhu Gaochi's mouth and wipe it, while Hou Tai looked anxiously at the palace wall in the distance.

Suddenly, Hou Tai exclaimed softly, "Your Highness, here we come!"

Zhu Gaochi glanced at the handkerchief with a few strands of blood on it and put it into his sleeve without leaving any trace, without returning it to his personal eunuch Haitao.

Later, Zhu Gaochi held out his chest and belly, welcoming the arrival of the carriage in the distance.

When the carriage carrying the emperor actually stopped, everyone bowed their heads and saluted.

After a while, everyone could only hear the sound of footsteps approaching from far away.

"Get up and go in and talk."

Then, a dark red figure appeared in front of everyone.

At this time, Zhu Di was no longer the simple dress he wore when he and Jiang Xinghuo were attending classes in prison. Instead, he was wearing a crimson dragon robe that represented the virtues of the Great Ming Dynasty, a jade crown on his head, and a solemn look on his resolute face.

At this moment, Zhu Di frowned slightly and glanced at the several cabinet members standing in front, which seemed to indicate that Zhu Di was not in a good mood.

Zhu Di didn't say anything outside the courtyard, but strode into the cabinet room first.

The emperor came in person instead of summoning them. This unusual move also aroused speculation among the astute cabinet members.

Jie Jin and Hu Yan were exchanging glances, while Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong were also making small gestures without leaving any trace.

"Jie Shidu, why did you not come when I summoned you this morning?"

When Xie Jin was named, he quickly bowed and said, "Report to your Majesty, minister..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Zhu Di's cold voice.

"That's all!" Zhu Di waved his hand to stop Xie Jin's explanation, "Since you are quite diligent on weekdays, I will forgive you once, but if you do it again next time... Humph!"

Everyone in the cabinet lowered their heads after hearing this, not daring to look at the unlucky Jie Jin, for fear of offending the moody emperor Zhu Di.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Although Xie Jin felt helpless, he did not dare to defend himself at this time. It was obvious that Jin Youzi was temporarily summoned by the emperor last night, and Jin Youzi pushed the work at hand to him, so Xie Jin was busy most of the night.

According to the custom, Xie Jin should not be on duty on the second day of the cabinet, and indeed he should not be on duty. Who would have thought that the emperor summoned him by name this morning, and Xie Jin, who was sleeping soundly in his residence, hurried over. Miyagi was naturally late.

But at this time, Xie Jin also understood that the emperor was in a bad mood, and he just needed a reason to get angry and express his position. If he just accepted it, the emperor would naturally compensate him later. It would be unwise to contradict the emperor at this time.

Zhu Di waved his hand, and like a shadow, Zhu Gaosui took out a memorial from the cuff of his bullfighting uniform, bowed and handed it to his father.

Zhu Di took it, but did not unfold it, but said to everyone in the cabinet.

"Let's see."

Everyone in the cabinet remained silent, but the leader, Xie Jin, had already reached out to take the memorial, read it quickly, and soon handed it to another person next to him.

Yang Shiqi glanced at Xie Jin's face. He pursed his lips tightly and had deep nasolabial folds.

After Huang Huai, who looked equally ugly, finished reading, it was Jin Youzi's turn, but at this time Zhu Di suddenly spoke.

"Yang Qing, come and take a look." Zhu Di said lightly.

Yang Shiqi was stunned for a moment, passed Jin Youzi, and then calmly took the memorial from Huang Huai and began to read it carefully.

The more Yang Shiqi looked at it, the more drastic his expression changed. There were even beads of sweat on his forehead. Finally, he closed the memorial, bowed his hands respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter should be carefully considered!"

Hearing Yang Shiqi say such words that were not in line with his personal style, Hu Guang, the wallflower, couldn't help but look up at Yang Shiqi.

Yang Shiqi is resourceful and very prudent in doing things, and he never changes his opinions easily.

However, bluntly admonishing the emperor, even if it is a very respectful admonishment, is an incredible thing in the current stage when the cabinet has just been established.

After all, the cabinet at this time was not the cabinet of the middle and late Ming Dynasty. It did not have the overwhelming power of one person at all. It was just a secretarial agency that helped the emperor select and handle government affairs.

But today, Hu Guang saw a different Yang Shiqi.

Yang Shiqi actually said the words "carefully consider", which shows that he took this memorial seriously and was not just perfunctory.

Moreover, the first few people who had read the memorial had different expressions, which made Hu Guang, who did not know the truth, feel very surprised.

"Um."

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and finally said: "Yang Qing's advice should be carefully considered. It is not unreasonable."

Having said this, he paused and said: "Gentlemen, this matter is related to the survival of our Ming Dynasty. I hope that after reading it, you can speak freely and give me suggestions."

Everyone replied in unison: "I obey the order."

At this time, Hu Guang, Hu Yan, and Yang Rong, who had not yet seen the memorial, became increasingly confused.

What kind of memorial is it that can rise to the level of "relevant to the survival of the Ming Dynasty"?

When Hu Guang received the memorial, his inner doubts about why Yang Shiqi had lost his composure just now were finally solved.

——"Eight Strategies for Reform"

The three very familiar sentences at the beginning made Hu Guang's hands tremble in fright, and he almost dropped the memorial to the ground.

"I have heard that there is no need to be afraid of changes in the sky, no laws for ancestors, and no sympathy for people's words."

The words come from "History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Wang Anshi". The words were not spoken by Wang Anshi, but were given to Wang Anshi by Sima Guang, a political opponent who opposed the reform. However, it could not be more accurate to describe Wang Anshi's change.

Sure enough, the person who knows you best is your enemy.

"Who is going crazy?" An uncontrollable thought flashed through Hu Guang's mind.

You must know that this is the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Yuanzhang, the great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had already established an ancestral system that could be used by future generations for generations to come. Can you tell me what the ancestral system is?

Moreover, the sanctity of the Ming Dynasty's imperial power was based to a considerable extent on the theory of "Induction between Heaven and Man" further developed by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Can you tell me that you are not afraid of changes in nature?

As for the last sentence, although in the eyes of civil servants, ordinary people are not considered human beings, but the gentry class who speak on their behalf and have the right to speak are considered human beings. Can you give me a sentence that is inhumane?

You want to overthrow Zhu Yuanzhang, the imperial power, and the gentry class. Isn't this crazy?

Hu Guang's eyes quickly glanced down and saw the signature at the end.

Dao Yan.

That's okay.

The first two pages of the memorial in Hu Guang's hand are the general outline.

On each subsequent page, the corresponding changes are written in detail.

The more Hu Guang looked, the more frightened he became. He couldn't believe what he saw, especially when he saw the first three words "Take the Examination Method", his heart beat faster and his breathing began to quicken.

Hu Guang bit his mouth tightly, suppressing the shock and fear that surged in his heart.

In this article, Dao Yan briefly wrote the general content of Jiang Xinghuo's examination method, but even the general content still frightened Hu Guang, a timid person.

This means that Hu Guang's timidity is not an insult to him, but a fact.

In the second year of Jianwen, Zhu Di's physical visit to relatives was in full swing. At this time, the Jianwen court also ushered in its first imperial examination.

Hu Guang and his fellow countryman Wang Gen participated in the palace examination together. The examiners agreed that Wang Gen should have won the championship, but Zhu Yunwen was still a handsome boy (this was also the traditional habit of the palace examination, and the number one scholar was selected based on his face). Wang Gen was deposed by Emperor Jianwen because of his poor appearance. Ranked second.

Hu Guang, on the other hand, wrote a line that satirized Zhu Di, "Being close to the vassal Lu Liang makes people's hearts shake." Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed and appointed Hu Guang as the first number one scholar in Gengchenke Jinshi. He was also named Jing and awarded the Imperial Academy. Compiled and compiled by Cheng Zhilang.

Of course, since Hu Guang is staying here and Wang Gen is not, even people who don't know this history should have guessed something.

A few months ago, when King Zhu Di of Yan crossed the river and invaded Nanjing City, Wang Gen, Hu Guang, Xie Jin, and Wu Pu gathered together. Hu and Xie each made impassioned speeches, but King Gen wept silently.

Wu Pu's son thought that Hu and Xie would commit suicide and martyre Emperor Wen. Wu Pu thought that Hu and Xie would only talk empty words, and Wang Gen was the one who was truly loyal and patriotic.

Before he finished speaking, he heard Hu Guangda shouting to his family, "It's very noisy outside, be careful with the pigs." Wu Pu laughed and said, "If you can't even part with a pig, how can you give up your life?"

Soon, Wang Gen committed suicide. Hu Guang and Xie Jin joined Zhu Di. Hu Guang was promoted to minister and his original name was restored.

That's why after reading it, the cabinet members present here said nothing except Yang Shiqi, who was surprisingly brave enough to speak out today.

There were no hard-core civil servants present who dared to confront Zhu Di. They would have been silenced by the genealogy long ago.