Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Seeing the surprised expressions of the ministers below, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but frowned and said, "Is this inappropriate for me?"

"Your majesty is wise, this is the best policy, and it can be used for all ages!" Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, was the first to react and praised it seriously.

Private lending involves most of the powerful class, so we cannot attack them all with a heavy blow, otherwise the backlash may endanger the imperial power.

It's just that we can't let it go, not to mention that in the long run more and more resources will be plundered by the powerful class, and the number of bankrupt people will surely increase slowly.

That's why the best way is for the court to implement controls.

Now Zhu Youtang has thrown out a financial license, which can be said to be the best of both worlds. It can be said that the court can distinguish profiteers from good ones through license plates, and then concentrate its efforts on dealing with profiteers. This can be said to be an ingenious approach.

The imperial court issues a financial license to operate. If you can abide by the law, you can continue to eat this piece of lending cake, but if you don't abide by the law, you will naturally have to face heavy penalties from the imperial court.

The measure now proposed by the emperor can not only allow the powerful to continue lending and make money, but also effectively curb the greedy mouths of the powerful. It can be said to be the best of both worlds.

"Your Majesty, this method is very good!" Wan An and other important ministers also reacted and expressed their support one after another.

Zhu Youtang saw that no one had any objections, so he made the final decision: "Since all the beloved ministers think this strategy is feasible, then we will implement the new financial law in Ming Dynasty. This time, the Ministry of Accounts will take the lead in inventorying one hundred financial shops in the capital, and other yamen Cooperate fully and be sure to leave a way for the people to survive!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Wan An and others knew that this was good governance, so they expressed their opinions in a formal manner.

Now the Supreme Meeting is not just about discussing national affairs. Since the Supreme Meeting is attended by the highest officials of the actual power departments, cooperation can be achieved here.

If there are any differences between the two parties, they can be resolved on the spot here, reducing subsequent quarrels with each other, thus greatly improving the efficiency of governance.

"Your Majesty, you will use 601 new scholars to assist the Ministry of Revenue in checking the accounts. I wonder if this action will be included in the assessment?" Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was concerned about personnel matters and immediately asked seriously.

Huh?

Jia Jun, Minister of Industry, and other officials all reacted and looked up at Zhu Youtang above.

In the past, new candidates for Jinshi were assigned based on the scores of two exams, but now they are "internship" before being assigned, which has become an opportunity for the officials to conduct further inspections.

The most important thing is that if their performance is included in the subsequent allocation of official positions, it will undoubtedly greatly increase the enthusiasm of the new scholars.

Zhu Youtang has never been superstitious about performance rankings. He nodded lightly: "This dynasty must focus on hard-working officials. The Ministry of Civil Affairs can assess candidates. Candidates with excellent performance can get extra points, and candidates with the worst performance can be sent directly to the palace." Position! In addition, the household department requires certain professional skills, and Li Shangshu can also choose high-quality new scholars to fill in the household department!"

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the number of vassal kings has been increasing. Although the promotion of royal officials is usually faster, the royal officials are actually out of the mainstream, so they have always been considered the worst allocation place.

"I accept the decree!" Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, followed Li Yu to see the ceremony, feeling secretly happy in his heart.

The affairs of the household department are very professional. Although many of the new people assigned are very talented, they are naturally mixed. If we can select talents from the 601 high-quality new science scholars, it will undoubtedly bring good seeds to the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Nowadays, the Ministry of Household Affairs has already become a hot spot. Although there are as many as thirteen divisions in the Ministry of Household Affairs, the promotion route from the official position to the minister has been completely opened up by Liu Zhong and Chen Kun, so it is second only to the Yamen of the Ministry of Personnel in terms of attractiveness.

"Your Majesty, there is a serious lack of professionalism among the officials in the Ministry of Punishment. Can I choose talents from among them?" He Qiaoxin, the Minister of Punishment, felt a little moved in his heart and immediately asked.

A good calculation!

Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, knew the importance of this talent selection right and couldn't help but glance at He Qiaoxin.

Zhu Youtang frowned slightly and set the tone: "This time, the new Jinshi will be used to assist the Household Department in checking the account books. It mainly tests arithmetic and work ability, and has nothing to do with criminal investigation, engineering or etiquette. Therefore, other yamen cannot choose talents! "

"Yes!" He Qiaoxin, the Minister of Punishment, said with a flash of disappointment in his eyes, and he said respectfully.

Zhu Youtang knew that the Criminal Department also paid attention to professionalism, so he turned to look at Li Yu and said: "The personnel department's selection of new members of the Criminal Department this time should focus on criminal investigation capabilities!"

"Yes! I will definitely send some good seedlings to the Ministry of Justice!" Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, knew that the emperor actually still took care of the personnel rights of his Ministry of Personnel, so he expressed his stance respectfully.

"This princess and the empress dowager are going to meet the emperor. You all should get out of here!" At this moment, a arrogant and unruly voice came from outside.

this……

Everyone present heard the news and couldn't help but look at each other.

It's just that the rules of the palace do not allow the princess to challenge. Even if there is the noble Empress Dowager Zhou behind her, she still needs to make a clearance before she can enter.

Zhu Youtang knew that the fire he had set was indeed a bit big. There were several dignitaries in the capital who were not involved in private lending, but he did not expect that it would burn so quickly, and that the palace would still be on fire.

Obviously, the Princess of Chongqing and the Empress Dowager came here to prosecute the emperor and even demand that he take back his life.

Han Youying knew that basically all the emperor's relatives were involved in the lending industry, so she couldn't help but look at the emperor standing in front with worry.

Zhu Youtang knew that he might not be able to avoid this matter. Seeing that a young eunuch had already come in to report, he ordered Liu Jin who was waiting at the stairs: "Go out and bring the person in personally!"

Although the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty did not allow the harem to interfere in politics, the identity and status were here, and the Empress Dowager Zhang was the actual person in power for a time, so the Empress Dowager Zhou had a transcendent status.

"My grandson, please give my regards to the Imperial Grandmother!" Although Zhu Youtang was the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had to greet this old woman respectfully.

"I will pay homage to the Empress Dowager!" All the officials present stood behind Zhu Youtang and saluted the Empress Dowager Zhou in a polite manner.

Although Empress Dowager Zhou was already in her fifties, her skin was well maintained and her eyes seemed to grow above her head. She was dressed gorgeously and walked towards the chair placed next to the dragon chair.

Princess Chongqing accompanied the Empress Dowager Zhou and cast an angry look at Zhu Youtang, who was polite and courteous.

It was okay for him to lose face earlier, but now he is quietly inspecting his most important property. This emperor who cheats on everything should really be replaced.

The Empress Dowager Zhou sat down on the chair and scolded the ministers who were kneeling on the ground: "It's okay for the emperor to act recklessly. You are the pillars of the Ming Dynasty. How can you allow him to behave like this? Can you treat the late emperor? Do you know what should be done? What's the crime?"

this……

Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, and other important ministers couldn't help but look at each other in shock when faced with the sudden attack by the Empress Dowager Zhou.

Not to mention that they seemed to have done nothing wrong. This rectification of the financial industry can be said to be good governance that benefits the country and the people. Why does this involve the late emperor again?

"Royal Grandma, I wonder where I went wrong?" Zhu Youtang knew that this old woman came here to seal up the store, but she asked questions knowingly.

The princess of Chongqing knew that she needed to speak up for something, so she said confidently: "Emperor, you raided the capital's banks and pawnshops for no reason, are you trying to become the Ling Emperor of the Han Dynasty?"

It is said that the Eastern Han Dynasty died at the hands of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, which shows how low the historical evaluation of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was. Among the various bad deeds, one of them was to plunder the wealth of important ministers.

Now the princess of Chongqing has tied Zhu Youtang and Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty together, which means that it is naturally Zhu Youtang's move to raid hundreds of banks and pawnshops.

"Princess of Chongqing, don't be so presumptuous! The emperor is the Mingjun Holy Lord, how can he be compared with the Han Ling Emperor!" Wan An, as the head of the officials, immediately reprimanded him righteously and sternly.

"Princess of Chongqing, please be careful what you say!" Liu Ji and other officials did not take a little princess seriously at all, and warned him calmly.

Although the princess of Chongqing had a noble status, she had no real power at all and had no influence on the emperor. She immediately looked at her mother with tears in her eyes.

The Empress Dowager Zhou did not expect that these important ministers would be so protective of this misbehaving emperor, but she knew that it was probably just a facade, so she pointed the finger at Zhu Youtang and said: "Emperor, the Ai family should not interfere in government affairs, but no matter how tight the imperial finances are, , we should not inspect the shops of the imperial relatives and military heroes without any reason! How many of the shops you have sealed now are the property of loyal ministers, and how many are the sources of income for our imperial relatives! The Ming Dynasty is hard-won. , and the relatives of the emperor and the country are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. The Ai family will not stop you from being a lonely man, but do you really want the Ming Dynasty to be destroyed in your hands? Do you really want to be the king of subjugation? "

She had originally thought that she had controlled Zhu Youtang's life since childhood, but it turned out that she had been in the East Palace for less than a year. After Zhu Youtang ascended the throne, it was like a different person, and she even slaughtered her own brother.

Ever since her own brother was beheaded, she hated the emperor whom she had brought up with her own hands, so she ignored him at all for nearly a year.

But the opportunity to show off his bad temper came today. Not only did his family and daughter come to cry and complain, but also a large number of female relatives of martial arts and relatives entered the palace.

That's right, now that he has such help, and he is a grandmother, he can naturally teach this white-eyed wolf that is out of his control.

this……

Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and other officials could not help but look at each other. They were convinced that the Empress Dowager came here to investigate and investigate the emperor's seizure of one hundred shops.

It's just that this matter was not done wrong at all. Although the emperor violated the interests of the powerful class, it was for the Ming Dynasty to go further.

"The Empress Dowager, this is wrong!" At this moment, a voice that appeared to be upright sounded.

Princess Chongqing looked at the dark-faced young man in front of her, and immediately frowned: "What is your identity?"

"My name is Song Cheng, Yin of Shuntian Prefecture!" Song Cheng responded seriously without changing his expression.

Princess Chongqing reacted immediately and pointed at Song Cheng to report: "Mother, he is the one who sent people to seal the store!"

"Princess, what you said is wrong. The sealing of the shop this time was a joint action by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Shuntian Prefecture Office, the Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Punishment!" Wang Yue, who had been silent, stood up and said.

Princess Chongqing looked at the tall old man and immediately frowned: "Who are you?"

"Wang Yue, Censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!" Wang Yue revealed his identity.

After all, the Empress Dowager Zhou was an old man who had experienced four dynasties. She said calmly and honestly: "You two were promoted by the emperor. The Ai family knows that you obey the emperor in everything. But once something big happens this time, you will He is a sinner of Ming Dynasty!"

this……

Faced with this hat, Song Cheng and Wang Yue were both caught off guard, and for a moment they really didn't know how to deal with it.

"Royal grandmother, I know your scruples, but water can carry a boat and capsize it. Whether they are relatives of the emperor or ministers of meritorious service, the imperial court gives them money. Not to mention that the people today have been suffering and benefiting for a long time. If they are because of I won't allow them to rebel if they use usury to make money. It's better not to have such ministers!" Zhu Youtang knew that there could be no compromise on this matter, so he immediately made his position clear.

Although Wan An and several officials were the "victims", they knew that there was nothing wrong with this financial rectification, so they nodded gently.

The Empress Dowager Zhou felt even more unfamiliar with this emperor, but she continued to teach her a lesson: "Emperor, you can't do this! You have only been on the throne for a year and a half, and the world has failed to obey you. How can you be so alienated from the merits of your relatives?"

"The Empress Dowager is wrong! Although the emperor has been on the throne for a year and a half, he still cares about the people of the world. He has rectified the salt administration, cleared the land, cut taxes, pacified Annan, and repaired Mongolia in the north. Now the people of the world have returned to their hearts. This is a grand event of the Ming Dynasty. ! Today’s rule of private lending is the method of restoring Taizu, what’s wrong with it? If the powerful are not loyal to the emperor because of this, they are traitors of the Ming Dynasty, and it would be a shame to kill them!" Song Cheng had his own values, and he immediately spoke out righteously.

Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, opened his mouth slightly and looked at Song Cheng in disbelief.

I have always thought that I am the best flatterer, but this black-faced young man is obviously flattering, but he can do it without opening his eyes. He is simply the first person in the flattery world.

The Empress Dowager Zhou originally came to investigate, but was rendered speechless by Song Cheng's retort, but she got angry and said: "You..."

"What the Yin of the Song Dynasty said is absolutely true. Anyone who refuses to submit to your majesty's financial rectification today will do great harm to the Ming Dynasty and can be killed!" Liu Ji and other important ministers immediately expressed support.

Although what Empress Dowager Zhou said makes sense, the current situation is indeed as Song Cheng said, and all people in the world have returned home. If financial rectification will force the powerful to rebel, then it would not be a pity to cut them all off.

Even Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, who has always been a naysayer, has to admit that there is nothing wrong with managing private lending now.

The Empress Dowager Zhou knew that some important officials were involved in private lending, but when she saw that all the important officials in the court were on the side of the emperor, she looked unbelievable and said: "You...are you all crazy?"

"The Empress Dowager, you can't just listen to the words of the powerful, you must also take a look at the people of the Ming Dynasty under your rule! Yu Ming, come forward to pay homage to the Empress Dowager and ask her... to take a good look at you!" Zhu Youtang knew what was happening in front of him. The old woman didn't think about the people at the bottom at all, so she gave the order calmly.

Yu Ming had been kneeling in the middle of the imperial study room just now. When the Empress Dowager appeared, he consciously knelt beside the door and saw with his own eyes how wise his emperor was.

At this moment, his eyes were already wet with tears. Now that he heard the emperor's instructions, he immediately crawled towards the Empress Dowager and said: "Common people Yu Ming pays homage to the Empress Dowager!"

"Why is there a mountain villager in this royal study!" Princess Chongqing said when she saw Yu Ming crawling over, she immediately felt disgusted.

ah……

Suddenly, Empress Dowager Zhou let out a deafening scream that seemed to shatter the tiled roof of the imperial study room.

Huh?

The important ministers present looked at Yu Ming and just raised his head, but they didn't expect that the Queen Mother Zhou would make such a big reaction, and they couldn't help but look at each other.

"Grandma Huang, what's wrong with you?" Zhu Youtang vaguely guessed what was going on, but still asked pretending to be concerned.

"Ghost, ghost!"

Empress Dowager Zhou pointed at Yu Ming in front of her. Her face was already pale with fright. She stretched out her finger with a glove and pointed at Yu Ming tremblingly.

Although she came from an ordinary family, she stayed in the palace for decades and was out of tune with the lower class people.

After just one glance, after seeing Yu Ming's appearance, especially the swollen left eye, and the skin of a villager, I suddenly felt the fear of seeing a ghost.

this……

When the important ministers present learned what was going on, they couldn't help but look at each other in shock.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was so frightened that she ran around Yu Ming, not to mention that she wanted to accuse Zhu Youtang of raising an army. Now she only regretted why she didn't have an extra leg, but she escaped from the imperial study room in embarrassment.

There are unofficial records: When the Empress Dowager saw the farmer Yu Ming, she thought he was a ghost and fled the imperial study in a hurry. No one dared to come to the emperor's residence. Although Ming was a human being, he was as high-interested as a ghost. The words of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were true, but the emperor became more determined to manage finance.