Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

On the first day of the Spring Festival, everything is renewed.

It was still dark, the lights in Qianqing Palace were brightly lit, and a large group of palace maids and eunuchs carefully walked into the dormitory to serve the emperor and queen.

On New Year's Eve, it is natural that the queen will attend the bed.

The emperor's home was also the home of the Han Dynasty. In many ceremonies, the emperor's home was actually not much different from the home of ordinary people.

Since Zhu Youtang is an emperor, he needs to get up early and put on a brand new dragon robe to go to the Fengxian Hall, kowtow to the spiritual tablets of his ancestors, and then burn paper money and light firecrackers.

"Prince Xing, kowtow to your emperor brother quickly!" Concubine Shao immediately urged her eldest son when she saw Zhu Youtang coming out of Fengxian Hall.

Zhu Youruan was officially thirteen years old now, but he looked very timid, but under Concubine Shao's stern gaze, he hurriedly knelt down and stammered hello.

Zhu Youtang glanced at his younger brother who was kneeling on the ground, exchanged a few polite words with the younger brothers present, and then took the dragon chariot to Fengtian Hall.

In fact, Zhu Youqi was only named Prince Xing on July 1, the 23rd year of Chenghua, but he knew that even if Xianzong had the idea of ​​deposing the crown prince, he would probably not favor Zhu Youqi.

Based on his understanding of the civil servant group, the emperor who wanted to truly revitalize the Ming Dynasty must not be a good boy, otherwise he would only be slowly robbed of power by those shrewd civil servants.

However, Zhu Youjuan is somewhat useful now. These younger brothers go to Wenhua Hall for classes every day. Zhu Youruan in particular seems to have been successfully brainwashed by the CI ministers, which undoubtedly provides a stage for those CI ministers to lecture on the road to governing the country.

In Fengtian Hall, the mountains shout for long live.

Zhu Youtang, who was wearing a dragon robe, sat down on the dragon chair. All the officials of the fourth rank and above in the entire hall surrendered, but they already knew that the only way to have a future was to hug the thick thighs of the emperor in front of him.

Just like last year, the first half of the great court meeting consisted of hundreds of officials congratulating the emperor and presenting gifts, which is called the court greeting ceremony. The second half is a banquet given by the emperor, which is called the Grand Banquet Ceremony.

Zhu Youtang noticed that there were burnt marks on Wan An's black gauze hat and official uniform, and asked with concern: "Mr. Wange, what's going on with you?"

As soon as this statement came out, none of the officials in the palace were surprised at all. After all, Wan'an's image was simply outstanding.

"Reporting to your majesty, the old minister's house was on fire early this morning. Now he is disheveled. Please punish the old minister for his misconduct!" Wan'an came out to salute and responded with pain.

Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and other officials couldn't help but look at each other with different expressions.

The officials here are divided into two categories: those who know and those who don't know. The officials who know are naturally overjoyed, while those who don't know are holding back smiles on their faces.

Because Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, knew about Wan An's impeachment, he looked at Wan An with gloating at this time. It can be said that this paper chief minister was in trouble.

Fire?

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan An, and then continued to ask with concern: "Is everyone in the family okay?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the fire was discovered in time and there were no casualties in the home. It's just..." Wan An responded gratefully, but suddenly stopped talking.

Zhu Youtang saw a clue from Wan An's expression, and asked calmly: "Mr. Wange, it doesn't matter if you say it!"

"The fire in my home is suspected to have been caused by fire from heaven. I have thought about it over and over again and know that this disaster must be punished by God. Please ask your Majesty to punish this veteran for seeking public benefit for personal gain!" Wan An knelt down and confessed his crime very sincerely.

Huh?

Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, and other officials couldn't help but look at each other in shock when they saw that Wan'an had taken the initiative to plead guilty to burning his house.

hehe……

Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, saw that Wan An took the initiative to confess his crimes at this time, and thought of the memorial to impeach Wan An, and couldn't help but laugh secretly in his heart.

Not to mention what kind of crime Wan An is going to confess to, now that he has spent a total of 80,000 taels of silver to speculate on the house, it is inevitable that Wan An will fall this time.

Although the replaced Liu Mianmian was still a yes man, without Wan An, the number one courtier, the court in the second year of Hongzhi would definitely become clearer.

Seeing that Wan An actually confessed his crime, Zhu Youtang looked very surprised and asked: "Mr. Wange, how did you use the public for personal gain?"

Using the public for personal gain can be a big or small crime, and now Wan'an is undoubtedly going to destroy his own future.

"On the 15th of last month, His Majesty held a supreme meeting. Wu Yu, the Right Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, proposed to build the outer city of Beijing. Most of his colleagues supported it, and the veteran knew that the matter might be implemented. The veteran was obsessed with it, so he asked Sichuan merchants in Beijing for help. I got 80,000 taels of silver and secretly bought land outside the city to make a profit. Please ask Your Majesty to punish the old minister!" Wan An was full of tears and immediately admitted his mistake.

ah?

Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, and other officials were completely dumbfounded when they heard that Wan'an had confessed to hoarding land outside the city.

When they learned that the imperial court intended to build an outer city, everyone saw that this was an opportunity to make a fortune, so they all quietly went to buy land outside the city.

Since it took some time for the news to leak out, they all managed to buy the land at a low price.

As long as the imperial court officially announces the construction of the outer city of Beijing, then the land in their hands will naturally be turned into treasure, and they will make at least dozens of times from it.

But who would have thought that this was an opportunity for everyone to make a fortune together, but Wan An actually took the initiative to reveal it on the first day of the New Year.

Not to mention the uncertainties facing the construction of Beijing's outer city, if Wan'an is guilty of hoarding land, then I'm afraid not many of them here can escape.

Just like this, they were happily eating melons and watching the show just now, but at this moment, they were eating melons, and even a disaster was imminent.

borrowed?

Although Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, was also flustered, he also sorted out the key words and couldn't help but stare at the old guy who made up lies with his mouth open.

"Your Majesty, this old minister is also guilty, please punish me!" Liu Ji, the second assistant, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly came out and knelt down to confess his crime.

this……

When Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and other officials saw that Liu Ji came forward and confessed, they suddenly felt that the world had become unreal.

It's okay if the dignified chief minister takes the initiative to plead guilty, and this time the minister Liu Ji also stands up. Today's New Year's Day meeting is likely to have a double murder, and the cabinet will be empty at the beginning of the new year.

Zhu Youtang looked at Liu Ji who suddenly jumped out, slightly surprised, and asked playfully: "Mr. Liu Ge, what crime did you commit?"

"Following the old minister Wange, after leaving Xiyuan that day, I also secretly borrowed 30,000 taels from merchants to purchase land outside Beijing. I also asked your majesty to punish the minister for the crime of public smuggling!" Liu Ji was not convinced! If he dared to look at Zhu Youtang, he immediately took the initiative to plead guilty.

It’s over!

When Li Si, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, and other officials saw that Liu Ji, the second assistant, also confessed to secretly hoarding land outside Beijing, they immediately realized that things had become troublesome.

As the Spring Festival approaches, news of the construction of the outer city of Beijing has spread, causing the land outside the city to rise. Naturally, the price of the land or houses they grabbed has skyrocketed.

The meat had already been eaten in their mouths, but they were confused. Why did Wan An and Liu Ji take the initiative to recruit it?

How could the psychological quality of the dignified first and second assistants of the Ming Dynasty be so fragile? It would be excusable if Wan An confessed because his house was burned by sky fire, but Liu Ji, as the dignified second assistant, has this little mental endurance?

For a time, the whole hall could hear the sound of needles dropping. The first and second assistants of the Ming Dynasty took the initiative to confess their crimes on the first day of the new year, but it was the current emperor who would take his life or death.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan An and Liu Ji, then looked at the officials present and said: "I have actually heard about this matter, but in this palace, I'm afraid you are not the only ones hoarding land. ?”

this……

Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, lowered his head silently, but he knew that if this matter was investigated in detail, not a single official in the palace would be able to escape.

Zhu Youtang already knew the virtues of his ministers, so he expressed his position calmly: "I have always hoped that all my ministers will work for the benefit of the people! But now, some people claim to consider the people, but secretly they want to take advantage of it. You are seeking profit. What you are doing is not a disgrace to me, but a disgrace to the millions of people who are waiting for benevolent government!"

"Your Majesty has taught you a lesson, and I feel guilty!" Wan An and Liu Ji had a correct attitude and expressed their opinions immediately.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wan'an who was kneeling on the ground, and then made a decision: "The outer city of Beijing was built for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, but some people hoarded land in advance and wanted to make a living. Now the old mansion of Wange is suffering Burning by sky fire is an ominous sign, so the construction of the outer city of Beijing is put on hold for the time being!"

ah?

The officials present could not help but widen their eyes when they heard that the construction of Beijing's outer city had been put on hold.

Since they had obtained first-hand information, they had already purchased more or less land and houses outside the city. But now that they have stopped because Wange Lao's house caught fire, the land prices that had just been speculated must have fallen back.

But of course Hongzhi cannot be blamed for this matter. If Hongzhi did not take the opportunity to punish them this time, he would be generous.

Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, actually bought two houses outside the city, but he did not expect that Wan An would ruin his good fortune. He immediately looked at Wan An with gritted teeth, wishing to eat Wan An's flesh and blood.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty!" Wan An felt the murderous looks from around him, but he expressed his stance respectfully.

Zhu Youtang cleared his throat and then punished them: "Although Mr. Wange and Mr. Liu did not violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty, they are not good ministers who seek personal benefits from public affairs. They will be fined for half a year to set an example!"

"I accept my punishment, long live my emperor!" Wan An finally let go of his hanging heart. Although the cost of sacrificing a house was a bit high, he still thanked him very happily.

Liu Ji also followed suit, but there was a bitter look on his face.

Ruan Yao, a foreign minister from the Ministry of Industry, went to court to impeach Wan An this time. However, Ruan Yao and he were still teachers and students. Naturally, he, the second assistant, became the biggest suspect.

After all, once Wan'an falls, the biggest beneficiary will be his second assistant, and he will become the new chief assistant of the cabinet.

He originally planned to explain it to Wan An in person, but Wan An just ignored him at all, so he decided to take action to prove his innocence.

After all, if His Majesty wants to punish Wan An, then his second assistant will also be involved, but it is enough for Wan An to see his "sincerity".

Wan Yi, the left minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, stood at the back. Now that he saw that his father had survived the impeachment storm without any danger, he couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ruan Yao, a foreigner from the Ministry of Industry, had the biggest attack on his father over the 80,000 taels. However, his father had passed on the origin of the silver taels to businessmen from the same town, and he even took the initiative to expose the conspiracy of hoarding land in the outer city of Beijing.

Although his father's behavior will definitely make people hate him, compared with keeping the throne of chief assistant, this amount of hatred is not worth mentioning at all.

After the congratulatory ceremony is over, the banquet session begins.

Whether officials are favored or not is actually all empty talk, and the biggest evidence is naturally the physical rewards, and this banquet allowed Beijing officials to distance themselves from local officials in one fell swoop.

In addition, the two most important gifts before and after the Spring Festival are: steamed buns and the character "福".

The imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty can be said to be consistent with folk customs. For example, steamed buns will be steamed on the 28th of the New Year, and the fable is "prosperity". Usually the Ming emperor ate one symbolically, wrapped the rest in yellow cloth, and gave them to the ministers he relied on.

Zhu Youtang did not favor one over the other. All officials who were able to participate in the Supreme Meeting were rewarded with a steamed bun.

The emperor gave him steamed buns and he ate them.

It's just that such a show-off thing cannot be eaten. Instead, it is placed in the most conspicuous place in the house and worshiped together with the guests.

Until the fifteenth day, the officials who received the reward would reluctantly dispose of it, hoping to get steamed buns to show off next year.

As for bestowing "blessings", they were written by the emperor himself on the first day of the Lunar New Year. They were also given to the ministers he relied on, and the ministers also found the most conspicuous place to post them.

The big banquet begins, and the etiquette is the same as last year.

The civil and military officials couldn't help but think of this time last year, when Concubine Shu, who was still the Crown Princess, did something that shocked the civil and military officials.

The spoiled princess actually came here and threw her wine glass to the ground in front of all the civil and military officials because the emperor did not canonize her as queen.

It's just that this year is completely different. Zhu Youtang has firmly controlled the entire court, and the palace is even more harmonious. The current queen is also a husband and a wife.

In fact, banquets are also held in the harem now, but the banquets are for the wives in Beijing.

One year spent similar, each year is different.

Zhu Youtang is not a workaholic. He chose to stop working in the following days and enjoy this rare holiday wholeheartedly.

Although he has no children yet, he still has a lot of women after all, so he takes this opportunity to deepen his relationship with his more than a dozen women, while trying to change his tragic fate of losing his incense.

Fortunately, every woman is very cooperative. Even during the day, they try their best to please him, and they often take the initiative to give him cannons when playing mahjong.

When the time came to the last day of the holiday, Zhu Youtang felt a sense of reluctance in his heart, but he wanted to live this leisurely life of being pleased by women in every possible way.

But he knew in his heart that the second year of Hongzhi would definitely be a more complicated year, and it would also be a year that would further test his ability to govern.