Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

"I really know, but I can't find it!" Gou Zhixian said with great seriousness as Liu Zhong looked at him in shock.

Liu Zhong originally didn't believe that Gouzhi County knew where the Li family's silver was hidden. Now that he heard this inexplicable answer, he was immediately confused.

I know, but I still can’t find it. What the hell is this?

While Liu Zhong and Gouzhi County were still worried about the kiln silver hidden by the Li family, the capital was like a giant ship undergoing a storm.

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

Since the last strike, there has been a subtle change in the relationship between the emperor and his ministers in the Ming Dynasty.

"Good medicine is bitter to the mouth and good for the disease; loyal words are hard to the ears and good for the deeds. I beg your Majesty to take it back!"

"The Ming Dynasty must not be without loyal and upright ministers for a day, and loyal and upright ministers must not be wronged. I beg your Majesty to take back your order!"

"Your Majesty regards Yao and Shun as the law, and Wei Wu is the most suitable. However, Wei Wu is so suspicious that he can still tolerate you. Why can't your Majesty be Liu Min?"

…

Zhu Youtang originally thought that leaving the court would make this group of aggressive civil servants restrained. However, under the leadership of Ma Wensheng, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate who had just arrived from Nanjing, Kedao Yanguan Shangshu defended Liu Min. More intense.

Stop courting!

Stop courting!

Stop courting!

Facing the offensive from Ke Daoyanguan, Zhu Youtang chose the most comfortable way. He didn't want to waste energy on such meaningless arguments, so he chose to continue sleeping comfortably.

In fact, the violent reaction of these civil servants this time just shows that the civil servants are actually guilty.

Since he liked reading historical novels in his previous life, and Zhu Youtang was a person who liked to look at history from different dimensions, he had a fairly good understanding of the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Although in many people's minds, the officials of the Ming Dynasty had many honest and law-abiding officials and virtuous ministers. Even Xu Jie, who owned 240,000 acres of fertile land, was called a virtuous prime minister because he got rid of Yan Song.

Are civil servants really so incorruptible?

In the historical veil that has not been lifted, it is true that all officials are like honest and good officials. Looking through the life of any official, there are good words such as "incorruptible", "upright" and "loving the people".

In the face of the historical truth that has been unveiled, the ugliness of civil servants can still be seen a little.

Not to mention emperors like Hongzhi who were weak in control, even in the middle period of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's reign, the famous Guo Huan case occurred.

In the eighteenth year of Hongwu, Yu Min and Ding Ting, the imperial censors, sued Guo Huan, the Minister of Household Affairs, for taking advantage of his authority and colluding with Li Yu, the envoy of the Chengxuan Government in Beiping, and the envoy of the Provincial Procuratorate, to embezzle taxes from Taiping Prefecture, Zhenjiang Prefecture and other prefectures, and embezzle about 200 yuan of autumn grain in western Zhejiang. Wan Shi et al.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, ordered a strict investigation. The case implicated twelve chief secretaries, including Zhao Hao, the Minister of Rites, Wang Huidi, the Minister of Punishments, and Mai Zhide, the Minister of Works. A total of seven million stones were recovered.

During Zhu Yuanzhang's time, the civil servant group dared to join forces to embezzle seven million liters of grain. Today, the power of civil servants has increased countless times, so it is naturally impossible for them to be as honest as water.

The most likely possibility is that since the Ming Dynasty lost its iron-fisted Emperor Taizu, there has been no emperor capable of tearing off the mask of civil servants. It was not until the end of the Ming Dynasty that Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang, entered Beijing and stole 70 million taels from the homes of civil servants and other morons. Only in this way can we get a glimpse of the real face.

Although the name of Xichang in the late Chenghua period was resounding, the factory director Wang Zhi had been expelled to Nanjing, and Xichang also disappeared, and civil servants could act without fear.

Zhu Youtang now holds the Twelve Battalions, and now that he has found out Xie Yikui, he is going to kill Li Min, the former Minister of Household Affairs, which scares the entire civil service group.

If we continue to dig like this, we will inevitably pull out the carrots and bring out the mud, and I am afraid that the entire civil service group will suffer.

Just like this, on the surface, the civil service group was working together to save Li Min, the former Minister of Household Affairs who had been imprisoned, but in reality they wanted to prevent Zhu Youtang from investigating the corruption cases of court officials.

"Your Majesty, it is difficult to tell whether the font of Xie Yikui's account book is authentic or not, and the account book comes from a private money shop. It is possible that a traitor deliberately fabricated the falsified accounts to frame the court officials! Today, Li Min was rashly arrested and imprisoned as a Chinese citizen with no family property. This is not a sacred act. Therefore, I beg your Majesty to think twice!" Wan An, who was wearing a python robe, came to the Dongnuan Pavilion and also begged Zhu Youtang for mercy.

Zhu Youtang sat in front of the desk, looked at Wan An who was kneeling on the ground and said: "Mr. Wange, please do things for me. I am not a mean and ungrateful person. Please don't get involved in this matter!"

"Old minister, I obey!" Wan An felt Zhu Youtang's concern and thanked him.

It's not that he wants to stand on the opposite side of Hongzhi, but he also has difficulties in his heart. After all, if the investigation continues like this, it will be difficult for other officials to protect themselves, and it will be difficult for him, Wan An, to protect himself.

He can unconditionally support His Majesty's reform of the salt policy, but if His Majesty really wants to keep catching officials for corruption, then he may really have to consider the safety of his family and his children.

Zhu Youtang still had a good impression of Wan An, and immediately said without any doubt: "Go down!"

"Old minister, please retire!" Wan An, a man who knows how to measure, stood up and said.

Li Min's case is actually a war without gunpowder, related to the credibility of the entire civil service group.

For a long time, in the public mind, eunuchs are the most greedy people, relatives are the root of chaos in the country, Wu Xun is a bunch of idiots who don't know how to lead troops in war, and civil servants are the pillars of the country.

Especially in the direction of virtue, the civil service group has always flaunted itself as a moral model, which is also in line with the mainstream concept that virtuous people hold high positions.

It's just that Zhu Youtang changed the style of the previous dynasty. After taking the military power, he did not rush to reform, but directly slashed the butcher's knife at their civil servant group.

Li Min and Xie Yikui have good reputations in both the government and the public. Once it is found out that these two people are corrupt officials of the Ming Dynasty, it will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the credibility of the civil service group.

Zhu Youtang faced hundreds of officials interceding for Li Min, but he did not intend to compromise.

If Liu Zhong sent him to do his job, then he would send others there. He really didn't believe that he couldn't find this Ming worm.

"Your Majesty, it's time for lunch!" Tan reminded him cautiously as he came from Guiyou's dining room.

Zhu Youtang didn't expect that it was already noon, but he said without raising his head: "Withdraw, I have no appetite today!"

"Yes!" Tan Conggui responded respectfully, knowing that the person in front of him was no longer the indecisive prince.

Liu Jin on the side was worried about Zhu Youtang, but he moved his mouth but did not dare to say a word. His Majesty made a decision, but it was not his turn to dissuade him. It seems that no one dares to dissuade him now.

As for the Empress Dowager, since Her Majesty did not agree to pardon Marquis Qingyun on the spot that day, she has not set foot in Qianqing Palace again.

In the afternoon, Jia Jun, Minister of Industry, arrived.

As the first person to be elected minister since the Ming Dynasty, Jia Jun's appearance is still good, with thick eyebrows and big eyes combined with a standard Imperial face, giving people a decent feeling.

It's just that his eyes are obviously a little lively, which always gives Zhu Youtang the feeling of being both treacherous and loyal.

When Jia Jun came to the Holy Spirit, he immediately saluted and said, "Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Works, respectfully wishes His Holiness good greetings!"

"I am very happy!" Zhu Youtang was in a bad mood today and said perfunctorily.

Jia Jun got up from the ground and asked Zhu Youtang directly: "Your Majesty, I wonder why the minister came here?"

"I just got the report, why hasn't the ground of Camp Aegis been broken yet?" Zhu Youtang's face darkened, and he asked straight to the point.

For the sake of the security of the capital and to maximize the use of the Aegis Camp to defend against the Mongols, the new camp was chosen on a hillside about ten miles north of Beijing, but an earthen fort and camp grounds were to be built there.

It's just that a few days have passed, and although he has ordered the twelve eunuchs to select three thousand elites from the twelve battalions, there is still no movement in the selected camp.

Jia Jun seemed to have already guessed the intention of Zhu Youtang's summons, and replied from a professional point of view: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the new camp will be located in the northern suburbs, ten miles away from the north gate of the capital. I just want to follow your Majesty's decision. The scale requires not only the recruitment of thousands of people, but also the preparation of materials, food for the workers, and many other things to prepare. Please give your Majesty three more days to prepare, and promise to break ground after three days!"

this……

Liu Jin turned to look at Jia Jun, who was talking eloquently. Although he knew nothing about such architectural matters, he always felt that the minister of the Ministry of Industry was deliberately exaggerating.

"At the current speed, when will it be completed?" Zhu Youtang felt that he had heard a lot of nonsense, so he asked directly.

Jia Jun thought for a moment, then gently shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the project you want is too big. It is already winter, and the Spring Festival is coming soon. Many materials may be in short supply. The workers will be homesick, and I can't." It’s impossible to give a definite number!”

"Don't talk about whether these are available, give me an accurate number immediately, otherwise let Chen Zheng, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, come over!" Zhu Youtang didn't know that these were just words of refusal, so he said in a deep voice.

Jia Jun found that this matter could no longer be ignored, so he immediately gave a date and said: "Your Majesty, if you really want a date, I guarantee that it will be completed in the beginning of next spring!"

"Next March?" Zhu Youtang couldn't help laughing when he heard the date.

Jia Jun did not dare to touch Zhu Youtang's anger, so he said cautiously: "Your Majesty, although the time is guaranteed to be completed in March, I will work hard and I will not let you down!"

"Get off!" Zhu Youtang waved his hand and said knowing that Jia Jun was wearing the same pants as those civil servants.

Jia Jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and saluted respectfully: "I excuse you!"

When things have reached this point, since they, the civil servants, cannot stop His Majesty from planning to build the Aegis Camp, they naturally have to delay it.

From the beginning of the establishment of the military camp, their Ministry of Industry has been slowly dragging it. Later equipment and weapons are also being dragged by the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Household, which is responsible for the supply of horses, can also delay it. This matter will definitely not allow Zhu Youtang to attack God smoothly. Shield Camp.

They civil servants have no other abilities, but working as a foreigner has always been their strong point, and His Majesty is only one person after all. When a person's spirit is slowly consumed, Zhu Youtang will inevitably focus on one thing at the expense of the other, and even have to compromise in the end.

"Damn it!"

Just as Jia Jun left, Zhu Youtang was so angry that he gritted his teeth and cursed.

I thought that this kind of civil servants were defeated by me, but now it seems that these people have healed their wounds and forgotten the pain.

They rescued Li Minze earlier, but now they are trying to stop him from building the Aegis Camp. These civil servants have lived in peace for too long, and they no longer regard the emperor as an old man.

Zhu Youtang slowly calmed down and gave instructions to Liu Jin: "Xuan Dali Temple Young Minister Song Cheng!"

Although Qianqing Palace seems quiet, there are always people coming and going.

Guo Yong brought another large pile of memorials, but he deliberately placed a small pile of memorials in front of Zhu Youtang and said: "Your Majesty, here is the urgent report just sent from Huguang!"

Urgent report?

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but was slightly stunned, then picked up the top memorial, but suddenly blurted out: "Wang Yue killed the King of Chu in the street?"