Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

The next day, we stopped going to court.

There have indeed been a lot of disputes recently, and today we are both physically and mentally tired and insecure. Naturally, there are enough reasons to stop this kind of morning court, which is actually a mere formality.

The memorials from various yamen have been submitted in advance, and the emperor has already approved them. If we can bypass the early morning ceremony, where thousands of officials listen to the government, not only will a lot of time and energy be saved, but all officials will be able to deal with the next day in a good spirit. work.

Just like this, if the early dynasty can be cancelled, it will not harm but benefit the operation of the entire dynasty.

Zhu Youtang has developed the habit of getting up early, so he doesn't need the chicken man to deliberately perform outside. When the time comes, he wakes up on time to face the new day's government affairs and struggles.

Perhaps because of the handling of Hua En and a group of close people of Hua En yesterday, the serving maids and eunuchs appeared to be more cautious, and did not even dare to look at Zhu Youtang.

Fear is often not about the position someone is in, but the kind of person sitting in that position.

Open the curtain! Huang Pan shouted to the eunuch outside when he saw Zhu Youtang finished washing.

Zhu Youtang dressed up and went to Dongnuang Pavilion, intending to deal with the memorials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

Your Majesty, Marquis Qingyun and Uncle Chang Ning were outside the palace gate early in the morning asking for an audience! Liu Jin reported respectfully when she saw Zhu Youtang coming to Dongnuan Pavilion.

At this time, the sandalwood has grown, and since the heating system of the Qianqing Palace has started to operate, it is already very warm without the need to add extra clothes.

Zhu Youtang was not surprised that Marquis Qingyun and Brother Changning wanted to see him, so he asked calmly: Who else wants to see me?

After enduring it for a full month, this wave can be described as a killing spree. All parties will no longer be able to sit still, and some people even want to come over and hug their thighs.

Xu Pu, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, Liu Jian, a bachelor of ministers, Cheng Minzheng, a bachelor of ministers, Li Si, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue... Liu Jin immediately took out a booklet and started reading one by one.

Stop! Zhu Youtang immediately stopped him.

Liu Jin stopped after hearing the sound and said as if he was waiting for dispatch.

All these people are missing! The cabinet drafted a decree to promote Li Si, the left minister of the household department, to the position of minister of the household department, to promote Ye Qi, the right minister of the household department, to the left minister of the household department, and to promote Chen Kun, the minister of the Guangdong division of the household department, to the right minister of the household department. . Order all the staff of the Ministry of Industry to come to the Huagai Hall at three o'clock in the morning and let them prepare for the Ministry of Education exam! Zhu Youtang had already made a decision in his heart and immediately ordered calmly.

After Li Min, the Minister of Household Affairs, learned of yesterday's court turmoil, he gave up the last illusion of a comeback and took the initiative to submit his resignation to Zhu Youtang.

It was naturally impossible for Zhu Youtang to retain the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance who dared to play against him, so he even agreed to Li Min's resignation.

Since the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue has been completely vacated, it is not suitable to keep it vacant, so a step-by-step approach was chosen to fill it. At the same time, the reliable Guangdong Secretary Chen Kun was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

The position of Right Minister of Hubu seems to be very ordinary, but this official position has always served as the governor of Tongzhou Granary, so the gold content can be said to be the highest among the six Right Ministers.

Now giving this position to a small household doctor is not only a reward for Chen Kun's personal dedication, but also an act of buying bones for a thousand gold.

Liu Jin's loyalty had melted into bones. He first gave a respectful gift, and then hurried to the cabinet to convey his holy will.

After Wan An of the cabinet returned, he quickly adjusted his position and resolutely continued to be a paper elder that made the civil servants gnash their teeth like Cheng Huachao.

The weather is getting colder and today is another sunny and cloudy day.

Although some people were turned away, with Empress Dowager Zhou coming in person, the door of Qianqing Palace would finally be open to the imperial grandmother.

Your Majesty, please show mercy! Zhou Shou and Zhou Yu, who came with Empress Dowager Zhou, saw Zhu Youtang and immediately knelt down and begged.

In yesterday's turmoil, those most affected were not Yu Zijun, the Minister of War, and Zhang Mao, the British Duke, but the Qingwai Houfu, the first foreign relative of this dynasty.

Since the Ming emperors generally did not live long, although their relatives did not enter the political arena to compete for jobs with the civil service group, they had already gradually influenced the military and political affairs.

For example, Sun Jizong, the elder brother of Empress Dowager Sun, oversaw the fifth military camp with the title of Marquis of Huichang when Yingzong returned to the throne. After Ming Xianzong ascended the throne, he also oversaw the 12th regiment camp.

As the younger brother of Empress Dowager Zhou, Zhou Shou received quite a lot of honors and favors. He was granted the title of Marquis of Qingyun and was now one of the Three Dukes. He was given the false title of Taibao and was in charge of the affairs of the Governor's Office of the Right Army.

Following the Sun family, and Zhou Shouben, who was from Beizhili, he also inserted his children into the military and political system, and even showed more greed.

On one day, Zhou Shou packed seven of his clan members into the Jinyi Guards, and his younger brother Ningbo Zhou Yu was appointed as the governor of the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion.

When the Queen Mother Zhou was in charge of the Twelve Regiment Camp through Qian Yi, Zhou Shou also did not miss this opportunity and sent Zhou Lie and others from the clan to high positions in the Twelve Regiment Camp.

This was originally a clever move to strengthen control of the Twelve Regiment Camps, especially since Zhou Lie was recognized as the most bloody Zhou family man, but now it was going to ruin their entire Zhou family.

Rebellion is the most serious sin in any dynasty.

The reason why Qingyun Hou Mansion has not been arrested now is mainly because of his transcendent status, but there is not much time left for them to escape from death.

Zhu Youtang looked at the brothers Zhou Shou and Zhou Yu who were kneeling in front of him, but he knew that they were responsible for all this, so he said with a straight face: It's fine for Zhou Lie to resist the decree and disrespect him, but he actually killed my sent man in public. The eunuch in charge of the army even gathered a crowd to rebel. If I am so merciful outside the law, then where is the majesty of the royal family? Do I still need the country of the Zhu family?

Not to mention that he didn't have a good impression of the Zhou family, even if he did have a good impression, he wouldn't be able to talk about this kind of thing online. No matter how powerful the civil service group is, they dare not openly confront the royal family. Now Zhou Lie can fight him with a knife. If Zhou Lie doesn't destroy the clan, who will?

Zhou Shoude was so frightened by Zhu Youtang's firm attitude that his face turned pale, and he looked at his sister for help.

The Empress Dowager Zhou naturally cared about the Zhou family, so she spoke earnestly and sincerely: Your Majesty, everyone knows that Zhou Lie has a reckless temperament! Zhou Lie disobeyed the order yesterday, and he was also killed on the spot, but I’m afraid you don’t believe Zhou Lie’s rebellion, right?”

The Empress Dowager, whether Zhou Lie is treasonous or not, I can leave it to the ministers to decide! Zhu Youtang knew that the Empress Dowager Zhou wanted to minimize the big issue, so he responded calmly.

this……

Zhou Shou and Zhou Yu couldn't help but look at each other. Although everyone knew that Zhou Lie could not go for the throne, his actions fully justified the charge of rebellion.

If Shan Dankang disobeys the order, there is still room for maneuver in this matter, but if he kills the eunuch sent by the imperial court to lead the army, and openly armed himself against the imperial court's counter-rebellion forces, Zhou Lie will have to wait until he dies.

The Empress Dowager Zhou naturally knew that she would hand it over to the ministers to be convicted. The crime Zhou Lie committed was still the treason against the nine clans, so she said seriously: Your Majesty, those ministers naturally want your Majesty to lose his arm strength, and they will definitely use this excuse to kill me. The Zhou family is dead. But you are the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and we are a family, so you have to protect my Zhou family!

If my family members are disrespectful in their words, I can ignore it for the sake of Imperial Grandmother. That was the case last time! Imperial Grandmother, Zhou Lie is rebelling this time. You must be well aware of this. If this is the case, There is no need for heavy rituals to frighten the people of the world, I can really leave the Zhu family to King Xing to take care of it! Zhu Youtang was not moved, but said firmly.

Your Majesty, I was wrong. I should not have been disrespectful to you earlier. I will definitely work hard for you in the future. Please spare our Zhou family! Zhou Shou realized that he had indeed slighted the emperor. , even though he begged for mercy again and again.

Empress Dowager Zhou knew that it was impossible to deceive the emperor, so she played the emotional card and said: Your Majesty, if you really want to deal with the Ai family's natal family in this way, can you really bear to see the Ai family without any relatives in the future? 伱Just because the Ai family brought you up single-handedly, will you forgive the Zhou family if the Ai family begs you?

Zhu Youtang looked at the tearful Empress Dowager Zhou, but he knew that it was really not appropriate to kill them all.

At this time, Liu Jin hurriedly walked in from outside. Just seeing this scene, he swallowed his words.

Zhu Youtang didn't know how to make such a decision for a while, so he asked Liu Jin, What's the matter?

Wynn said that someone wanted to silence him last night. He wants to see you immediately now, saying that he has extremely secret things to reveal to His Majesty, but Your Majesty must keep him safe! Liu Jin reported seriously.

As soon as these words came out, Empress Dowager Zhou's expression changed instantly.