Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 1151 Guess?

After hearing Chen Yi's words, the last trace of doubt in Zhu Qiyu's heart was completely dispelled. He nodded and said.

"Sir is right, I understand."

However, despite what he said, Zhu Qiyu's brows still did not open. Seeing this situation, Chen Yi thought about it and said.

"Your Majesty came here today, I'm afraid it's not just for rectifying the affairs of officials?"

As soon as this remark came out, Zhu Qiyu smiled wryly, but nodded involuntarily. Indeed, what Chen Yi said just now was good.

For him, it is already a matter of determination to take advantage of Jingchao to rectify the administration of officials.

Although there has been a bit of twists and turns now, it is not enough for him to give up his thoughts, at most it is just another way.

What really worries him is...

"Sir, you are wise, what worries me is indeed not about the administration of officials, but..."

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Qiyu still expressed his concerns about the current way of speaking.

The relationship between a ruler and a subject is not a relationship between a master and a slave, nor is it just a relationship between an orderer and an executor. In a sense, it is more like a partner, and the two jointly manage the huge institution of the imperial court.

Of course, under the Ming system, this cooperative relationship is prone to imbalance due to the unequal status of the two parties.

If Zhu Qiyu was just an emperor succeeding to the throne by a vassal king, then he would be happy to see this imbalance.

Because this kind of situation where the emperor is strong and the ministers are weak, is a very comfortable state for the emperor. As for the consequences, I am afraid that it will not be affected by him until his death.

But the fact is that Zhu Qiyu is not an ordinary emperor, he has seen the collapse of the dynasty with his own eyes, and because of this, he is more aware of the hidden dangers buried by the long-term strong monarch and weak ministers, which will usher in decades later. to irreversible consequences.

The so-called governing a big country is like cooking a small fish, sometimes this is the truth. In many cases, as the emperor, Zhu Qiyu needs absolute authority, but he does not want his subjects to become submissive because of this absolute authority. dare not speak out.

In a sense, this is the same contradiction as the ministers, who hope that the emperor can make a wise and holy judgment, but also hope that the emperor can rule.

Of course, for Zhu Qiyu, in this power system of monarch and minister, within a certain range, he has complete initiative.

Just like suppressing or encouraging Ke Dao, how to do it depends only on his thoughts. However, the emperor is not omnipotent after all, he can only make choices, but the results of the choices are not his. can be controlled.

"I see……"

After listening to Zhu Qiyu's words, Chen Yi didn't look surprised, on the contrary, he even felt a little relieved, said.

"Your Majesty's insight is truly a blessing for the country!"

This expected look made Zhu Qiyu feel a little embarrassed, and hurriedly said.

"Mr. is the chief constitution of Ke Dao. I don't know if there is a good strategy for this?"

In fact, this is also Zhu Qiyu's main reason for coming here today. It is the responsibility of science and ethics to speak out impartially, but the generous words of the Ming Dynasty have gradually made these officials unscrupulous and proud of offending the imperial power.

Therefore, Zhu Qiyu reformed the discipline and wanted to suppress this trend, but in the end, he overcorrected, and made the ministers in the court afraid to speak.

Although Zhu Qiyu has the vision of past life and present life, he is only one person after all, and he is used to looking at problems from the standpoint of the emperor.

Chen Yi, as the leader of Ke Dao, no one in the court knows the group of Fengxian officials better than him. Moreover, judging from Chen Yi's previous actions, although he is a member of Ke Dao, he is not that kind of person. Like an ordinary Fengxian official, he only thinks about how to "rectify the emperor", so it is most appropriate for him to answer this question.

However, facing the expectant emperor, this time Chen Yi shook his head and said.

"Your Majesty is a king of action, so the only one who can answer this question is His Majesty himself. Although I can speak, I am also a member of the science and Taoism after all, so there must be something biased when I speak."

"However, if your majesty really doesn't know what to do with the so-called history as a mirror, then you might as well look at what the sages of the past have done, maybe you can gain something!"

Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu was slightly taken aback, but still nodded.

"I see, thank you sir."

Chen Yi naturally saw the disappointment of the emperor in front of him, but he didn't say much, but opened his mouth.

"Since Your Majesty is here today, that minister has the audacity to ask His Majesty for a favor!"

Zhu Qiyu came back to his senses, but said in a gentle voice without much hesitation.

"Sir, if you have something to say, you can talk about it. If you can do it, I have no reason to deny it."

So, Chen Yi propped himself up from the couch, barely straightened his waist, bowed his hands to Zhu Qiyu, and said.

"Your Majesty, I'm getting old, and now I'm seriously ill. It's really hard for me to be the censor of Zuodu. Before, I begged for the bones several times, but His Majesty refused to allow me. I love you so much, so I naturally know."

"However, with Yichen's current body, it is indeed difficult to continue to serve the country."

"I passed the Jinshi examination at the age of 23. I have been an official for more than [-] years. Today, I am really tired and want to go back to my hometown to take care of myself."

"Therefore, I have the courage to ask Your Majesty's prospective minister to return to his hometown and enjoy his old age in peace."

Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu frowned. He didn't expect that Chen Yi's request would be this request.

Although in the previous life, Chen Yi also returned home due to illness, but the current situation is different from the previous life.

First of all, Chen Yi's body, because Zhu Qiyu had sent an imperial physician to take care of him earlier, so the condition is much better than in his previous life, and secondly, Chen Yi's status and prestige in the court are much higher than in his previous life.

You know, Chen Yi is only 65 years old this year. Although he is not considered young among the important ministers, there is still an old man in the Ministry of Rites who is nearly [-] years old and insists on shining. nothing.

In the past, although Chen Yi asked to resign several times, Zhu Qiyu didn't mean to be sure. On the one hand, it was because, for senior ministers like Chen Yi who had been recuperating at home for several months, submitting their resignations was basically a fixed procedure. , to prove that he didn't want to be in love with power and position, and that he would occupy the place without working. On the other hand, Zhu Qiyu was really unwilling to leave such a useful Zuodu Yushi just like that.

However, what Chen Yi said just now was obviously not meant to be joking, but a serious request.

"The constitution must not be like this..."

Regardless of whether it is approved or not, at least in person, he cannot agree to this request, otherwise, if it is spread, it will definitely chill the hearts of all the veterans in the court.

Therefore, putting all these thoughts behind for the time being, Zhu Qiyu shook his head gently, and continued in a gentle tone.

"I was young and weak, and I have been on the throne for several years. It is the time when I need the help of a highly respected minister like Zong Xian. The Zong Xian can rest in the mansion to recuperate at ease. I will send another imperial doctor over later. All the medicines that Zong Xian needs are available. It can be used directly from the internal treasury, and I only hope that the president will take care of his health as soon as possible, so it will be a blessing for the whole country."

For this answer, Chen Yi was obviously not surprised, sighed lightly, and cupped his hands.

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Afterwards, the two didn't talk about this matter again, but talked about some government affairs that happened in the court recently, but Chen Yi obviously had the attitude of wanting to become an official, so he didn't want to say too much.

Therefore, Zhu Qiyu comforted him a few words symbolically, and told him to recuperate well. Afterwards, he left Chen's mansion and returned to the palace.

However, along the way, Zhu Qiyu was thinking about the few words Chen Yi answered him. He could realize that Chen Yi actually had an idea, but he didn't say it directly, but hoped that Zhu Qiyu could go by himself. try to find.

After thinking for a long time, Zhu Qiyu finally shook his head, and he could only attribute it to one reason, that is, maybe Chen Yi felt that it would be more convincing for him to say it directly, and let Zhu Qiyu find this way by himself.

…………

Day by day, the weather in the capital gradually warmed up, but Shen Shangshu's mood was still as if he was soaking in ice water.

First, there was a military report from the Ministry of War. The process of enlisting the Japanese army was not smooth. The Japanese pirates were cunning, and they got the news that the imperial court was about to have a large army coming. Therefore, when the army arrived, they had already fled to the sea.

Faced with this situation, the admiral Yu Qian and the governor Zhang Yu jointly played a concert, intending to take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, they ordered the army to station temporarily and focus on cleaning up the bandits on the land, so as to avoid being attacked when they were fighting the Japanese pirates. At the same time, blockade various places along the coast and cut off the channels for Japanese pirates to obtain supplies.

After all, judging from the information that the imperial court has now, although these Japanese pirates along the coast are called Japanese pirates, most of them are fishermen along the coast. It is necessary to go back to the shore to replenish food and water. As long as these channels can be blocked, they can wait and see.

On the other hand, Yu Qian also asked the imperial court to say that the officers and soldiers had not practiced naval warfare for a long time, and the sea ships they used were dilapidated. He asked the Nanjing shipyard to build [-] more sea ships, and at the same time, repair the existing hundreds of sea ships. Boat.

It should be said that from a strategic point of view, these two items are the most suitable for the situation of the war, but for the household department, they are fatal.

In the previous article, it is true that the officers and soldiers stationed here can force the Japanese pirates to venture ashore, but it should be noted that when the army goes out to fight, the money spent every day is poured out like running water. It started in a month, not to mention, Yu Qian still planned to continue building ships, but when his upper lip touched his lower lip, it was easy to say, where did the money come from?

"Your Majesty, this is a report from Henan, Huguang and other places. Since the beginning of spring, it has not rained in several places for more than a month."

"The report just sent back from Fengyang shows that the money for disaster relief has been allocated in place, and all the food has been shipped smoothly. Now the people's situation is still stable. As long as the follow-up is successfully concluded, the disaster situation will be calmed down."

"but……"

In the Hall of Martial Heroes, the early court has ended, but another small-scale court meeting has just begun. Apart from the six ministers and cabinet ministers, the participants are several governors of the military mansion.

Right now, in the middle of the main hall, the one who is chattering is Mr. Shen Yishen, Minister of the Household Department.

"According to the reports from various places, the snow disaster has had a great impact on the fields. Almost all the affected areas, the wheat seedlings have been frozen to death. This is the memorandum just handed over by the prefect of Fengyang, asking the court to save the disaster. At the same time, this year's tax will be used to pay for the remaining grain in the Changping warehouse to assist farming."

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

These words, Shen Shangshu said full of resentment, and there was only one reason, just in the early court, the emperor waved his hand, and directly approved Yu Qian's memorabilia.

It doesn't matter if they want to be stationed, after all, it's not good for Shen Yi, a minister of the household department, to intervene in such a strategic matter and urge to send troops quickly, but the latter request, in Shen Yi's view, is completely unnecessary.

You must know that Ming Dynasty's officers and soldiers were not good at naval warfare. Even if they build new sea ships now, they can still catch up with them.

What's more, it's not that the Japanese army does not have sea-going ships. Although they are a bit broken after not being used for a long time, maybe they can't be used?

From Shen Shangshu's point of view, he doesn't even want to approve the money for repairs, and even build new ones...

But helplessly, the emperor had already opened his mouth, and Shen Yi himself was not the kind who dared to confront the emperor directly in the hall.

Therefore, I can only use this method to complain about the emperor spending money lavishly...

However, Zhu Qiyu didn't care about Shen Yi's resentful eyes. He knew the Minister of the Household Department. Since he agreed to go to the army at the beginning, he must have reserved a solution for how to solve the problem if money is needed, even if he didn't For the ready-made money, Shen Yi must have already thought about who should be withheld.

With his current appearance, he just wants to sell miserably. If he has the opportunity, he will ask for a sum of money.

In the end, he must be able to handle the matter well, Shen Yi has the measure.

Of course, despite this, one cannot just take it lightly. Although the disaster situation in Fengyang has calmed down, as Shen Yi said, there are still many things to worry about. Not only that, but also to provide grain relief to ensure the next round of cultivation.

In addition, the people lost their harvest, not only because of the failure to pay taxes, but also how to restrain local tyrants from taking the opportunity to annex land. This is a difficult problem.

Moreover, there is another point that although Zhu Qiyu was prepared for the drought that was just reported in Henan, Huguang and other places, not everyone was as foresighted as he was. At least, for Shen Yi, this must be a sudden problem.

In this way, I am afraid that the affairs of the Ministry of Punishment cannot be delayed any longer. At this point, Zhu Qiyu's eyes fell on Jin Lian, but just when he was about to speak, a discordant voice suddenly sounded in the hall. sound.

"Your Majesty, according to what Shen Shangshu said just now, the disasters in various places are serious this year. Under such circumstances, it is even more necessary to save money. I just submitted the memorial to the Shaobao Office. What I said is a lot of money. I think it is not allowed..."

(End of this chapter)