prosperous age

Chapter 435 The Emperor Jiajing who practiced in 434

"Approved."

Faced with nearly a hundred impeachment memorials, Emperor Jiajing still made a decision after thinking deeply, and spit out two words lightly.

Emperor Jiajing felt a trace of fear again for no reason.

If these memorabilia scolded him for his dedication to cultivating Taoism, he would only be very angry, but they all impeached illegal and incompetent officials from court to local officials. Are these censors so unbearable?
Emperor Jiajing has always been very conceited. He thinks that he has managed the country well during his years as emperor, so he devotes himself to cultivation.

Yes, in the early days of Jiajing, because he used low-level officials such as Mr. Zhang and Xia Yan, these people were familiar with the sufferings of the people, so they were often able to prescribe the right medicine and come up with some means to solve the stubborn diseases of the Ming Dynasty, so that the Ming Dynasty showed a vicissitudes of renewal in the early Jiajing Dynasty look.

Wise and harsh inspections, strict control of officials, lenient governance of the people, rectification of the government, and reduction of taxes and labor, later generations are also known as the "Jiajing New Deal".

It is also because Emperor Jiajing entered the Datong as a vassal king, so when he first came to the throne, he checked the Zhuangtian seized by his relatives and returned it to the people; This series of reforms to correct current disadvantages eased the already tense social and class contradictions to a certain extent, making the Ming Dynasty like a dead tree in spring.

And because of the influence of his cousin Emperor Zhengde, he was full of distrust towards the eunuchs. Whether it was because he really believed what the civil servants said, or because of the result of his cousin's untimely death, he was true to the eunuchs. There are many restrictions on his actions, and the public's evaluation of him is also very good.

It's just that after these achievements, pride and self-satisfaction gradually affected Emperor Jiajing's mood. He began to indulge in cultivation. The temptation of rights was too great. He wanted to live forever and have such rights forever.

In his view, the empire has already been governed by him, and it just needs to be run step by step until the 29th year of Jiajing.

But even so, because of his ego, he was still unwilling to admit that he was wrong.

Emperor, there is no mistake.

Therefore, even in his heart, he began to have some doubts about cultivation, but in the face of opposition from the government and the public, he showed the aura of hard steel Yang Tinghe back then, and continued to practice.

But now, facing nearly a hundred impeachment memorials all at once, all of which were officials appointed by him, and looking at the memorials piled up with imperial scriptures, he felt flustered for no reason.

At this time, for the first time, he doubted Yan Song's ability to govern.

Officials, he nodded in agreement, but what is the cabinet for, and what does the bureaucracy do for food.

Looking at the memorials, thinking about Shangman's description, imagining that the people below were managed like this, he thought of the rebels in Fujian, and from this he thought of what Wei Guangde said last year that the folks in the south of the Yangtze River turned against the Jiapai. Carry a year of judgment.

What is the big deal for the emperor?
That would naturally affect the continuation of the dynasty. In fact, Emperor Jiajing felt more ashamed of the Japanese pirates, and Huanghuang Daming was helpless against the Japanese pirates.

As for the Mongols in the north, as well as the rising rebels in the country, they are the enemies that really affect Datong.

Solar eclipse in early February, warning from heaven, Wushan.
"Turn out Wu Shan's official memorial, criticize him, and let him go."

Emperor Jiajing, who still refused to admit defeat, chose to be out of sight and out of mind, and let Wu Shan go directly.

Before, he just took back his rights, but the official position was not dismissed. He was still the Minister of Rites, but from this moment, he was no longer.

When Huang Jin brought out the official memorials that had been retained in Wu Shan before, Emperor Jiajing asked Huang Jin to approve him directly, and then ordered: "You go with them to the Supervisor of Rituals to use the seals, and take them all away. I want to be quiet."

While speaking, Emperor Jiajing looked at the aging Yan Song.

"According to the order."

After Huang Jin answered respectfully, he summoned three servants to hold the memorial on the imperial book case, and followed him, Yan Song, and Xu Jie out of Yongshou Palace.

"Master Shoufu, what is going on this time? There was no news at all before."

Huang Jin asked the question in his heart in a low voice.

"The old man only found out today, maybe it's because Mr. Zhou couldn't manage the council before."

When Zhou Yan was sick, his control over the Metropolitan Procuratorate must have been greatly reduced, and most of the censors were thorny and prone to extremes.

Zhou Yan is naturally a good person, so he can persuade his subordinate Yushi, but he is not in the Ministry, so naturally no one can do it.

"I only hope Master Pan can be like Master Zhou."

Huang Jin glanced at Xu Jie inadvertently, and whispered a word from his mouth.

This wave of impeachment was a big storm, and basically satisfied the appeals of the officials of the Kodao. When the news spread to the outer court, the censors naturally cheered. This was a major victory for them.

As for the officials in the court, they undoubtedly feel a lot of pressure, and no one will feel relaxed when they are watched by these officials.

However, no one knew that this impeachment storm directly opened the prelude to the last major adjustment of officials in the Jiajing Dynasty.

But by this time, in fact, the Yamen with the greatest influence was the Ministry of War.

Jiang Dong's dismissal made some of the previous plans of the Ministry of War completely thwarted. They had to find a credible person again to take on the heavy responsibility of suppressing the rebels that might arise.

With the development of the Ming Dynasty to the present, it has become a common practice for civilian officials to control soldiers, and it is absolutely impossible to appoint a general to carry out this matter.

"Master Xu is in charge of Ji Town now, how can he be transferred to Fujian, what a joke."

"Li Wenjin is now the governor of Xuanda, and he cannot be transferred. Who else has a good record?"

"Don't mention Tan Lun, we can't even finish suppressing Japanese pirates now, not to mention his current situation, it's hard for His Majesty to agree to decree to seize his love. I know he's from your hometown, so you can't joke about it."

"I want to talk about Huang Guangsheng."

Listening to the two servants under his command, you and I counted the qualified officials, Yang Bo also felt dizzy.

But at least, now the senior officials of the Ministry of War seem to be not optimistic about Hu Zongxian. Although the officials of the strict party have blown him up like a god, judging from the actual results of so many years, it is difficult for Hu Zongxian to suppress the Japanese. Now let him still want to wipe out Zhang Lian's rebels , I am afraid it will not be easy.

So many taxes and lijin were collected in the south of the Yangtze River, and hundreds of thousands of troops were raised, but Japanese pirates were still rampant. Yang Bo wondered whether most of the collected money had gone into the pockets of Hu Zongxian and the officials of the Yan Party Otherwise, even if you smash them with silver, you should kill the Japanese pirates.

Yang Bo never thought that Hu Zongxian would be able to live among thousands of flowers without a single leaf touching his body, but seeing that there might be a serious disaster in the south of the Yangtze River, he should stop, otherwise he would really die without a place to die.

As for what he considered, in fact, Hu Zongxian could also think of it, but he also had his own scruples.

Most of the subordinates are soldiers from various guards. These soldiers are not strong enough to defend the city, but it is difficult to wipe out the enemy in the field. The only ones who dare to fight the Japanese pirates in the field are the battalions trained by Qi Jiguang and Tan Lun. In actual combat, Hu Zongxian didn't have the confidence to say that he would win.

The current court situation, according to Yan Shifan's letter to him, must not be defeated, otherwise the emperor may change.

So after receiving the capital's order, all he can do is to mobilize troops and horses to block the way of Zhang Lian's rebels to expand outward.

Soldiers and horses were deployed in the prefectures and main roads outside the mountain, and he did not dare to give such an order to let the Ming army enter the mountain to suppress the bandits. He was already considering whether to redeploy Guangxi wolf soldiers to Fujian.

At the beginning of the Japanese invasion, the Ming court dispatched wolf soldiers to suppress the Japanese. Although they had a good record, they were not outstanding. Moreover, the wolf soldiers were suitable for fighting in the mountains but not suitable for fighting against the Japanese pirates. Therefore, the wolf soldiers were gradually abandoned.

Now to redeploy the wolf soldiers, it will take at least half a year until the order is transferred, but the time limit given by the court is limited.

Hu Zongxian was in a dilemma in Zhejiang, but he soon lost his mind to think about it, because a large number of Japanese pirates had already approached the coast of Daming.

In the spring of the 40th year of Jiajing, there were nearly [-] Japanese pirates, and more than [-] warships gathered in the sea off Ningbo and Shaoxing, spying on the truth and waiting for opportunities to invade.

However, this is not the past, and the entire coastal state capital is full of loopholes.

Ningbo, facing the East China Sea, has been built into an impregnable fortress for so many years. Shaoxing is closer to Hangzhou, and its natural defense force is not light. If it continues south, it is Taizhou and Wenzhou.

After being discovered by the Ming court, Hu Zongxian quickly sent Qi Jiguang to lead the recruited battalion to fight as a mobile force to quickly reinforce Ningbo.

After the movements of the Ming army were detected by Japanese pirates, they quickly adjusted their direction and chose to go south to find their targets.

Soon, the situation in Taizhou Prefecture also began to be detected by them.

Taizhou governs the six counties of Ninghai, Linhai, Huangyan, Tiantai, Xianju and Taiping, with mountains on three sides and the sea on one side, from Wenzhou in the south to Ningbo in the north, with a coastline of more than 700 miles.

In the past, Tan Lun, the prefect of Taizhou, was good at defense, and recruited thousands of brave battalions as a mobile force to strengthen the resistance. However, at the end of last year, Tan Lun was promoted to the right minister of Zhejiang and resigned. If you don't sort out the relationship, it's an opportunity.

The Japanese pirates finally made a plan to attack Taizhou at sea. They split up and attacked together. They planned to make a mess of the Taizhou government first. If they successfully mobilized the surrounding officers and troops to come, they would immediately turn back and attack Ningbo again.

At this point, the battle of Taizhou between the Ming Dynasty and the Japanese pirates officially broke out, but neither side knew what the war would bring them in the end.

Beijing City, Xiyuan, Yongshou Palace.

Candles lit in the palace illuminated the entire palace. Emperor Jiajing sat on the throne, with only Huang Jin standing beside him. The difference from the past was that there was a huge map hanging on a wall in the main hall.

It has been a few days since the last large-scale impeachment by the officials, and Emperor Jiajing has also recovered.

Although the turmoil has passed, once some things are thought of, the impact will naturally not be small.

The appointment of officials in the DPRK and China affects the whole body, and the replacement of officials often represents changes in the government.

In the past, at this time, he is always meditating and practicing, but not in the past few days.

Although he didn't practice, Emperor Jiajing still closed the door of the palace, as if he was still practicing, and only Huang Jin, who had been accompanying him all the time, knew what they were doing.

In fact, looking at the map from the emperor's throne, the things on it could not be seen clearly at all, but Emperor Jiajing still sat watching for a long time. This may be because the emperor had his own country in his heart.

Suddenly, Emperor Jiajing, who had remained silent all this time, asked, "Is there any result to the news I asked you to inquire about?"

To others, this seems to be a question without beginning and end, but Huang Jin, who is familiar with Emperor Jiajing's behavior and habits, still understands the meaning of the words.

"My lord, I have already checked."

Huang Jin took half a step and began to report in a low voice: "Most of the officials think that Hu Zongxian is cunning and mediocre, and he is not suitable for the post of governor of the Japanese suppression. He has been in office for many years, and the Japanese plague in the south of the Yangtze River is a clear proof."

"continue."

After Huang Jin said something, he showed hesitation. Emperor Jiajing was naturally displeased, but he still said something calmly.

"Among the officials, most of the officials who admire Hu Zongxian have a close relationship with Lord Shoufu, and all officials also regard Hu Zongxian as a member of the strict party in private."

"It's the strict party again, so is there any Xu party, and the Yuwang party?"

Emperor Jiajing was very disgusted that someone accused this party in his court, which party, the person who said this was actually accusing him of blindness and appointing treacherous villains.

Forming a party for personal gain was a felony in the Ming Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's killing spree was based on this, and the major cases involving tens of thousands of people were all in the name of forming a party.

But when the emperor said this, Huang Jin was terrified and fell to his knees in a hurry.

"Get up and continue talking."

Emperor Jiajing just glanced at Huang Jin and said again.

Huang Jin got up, and then continued: "About Hu Zongxian's theft of military pay, most of the officials speculate, but there is no real evidence, but it seems that this is just."

"Hmph, corruption has become a common practice, and there is nothing we can't do."

Emperor Jiajing snorted dissatisfiedly. Although he disdained this, he could do nothing about it.

When he took over the country, he discovered that civil servants were corrupt and shielded each other, and thus established offensive and defensive alliances.

And he can only investigate and deal with those with real evidence, and he can only silently endure the unspoken rules formed over the years in the officialdom, turning a blind eye to them.

He spends a lot of money on cultivation, knowing that the household department has no money, he insists on it, part of the reason is this.

There is only so much money, and if he spends more, these officials can be "greedy" and less "lost".

"Ok!"

However, after he said this, he didn't see Huang Jinwen for a long time, so he couldn't help turning his head to look over.

Huang Jin, on the other hand, frowned at this moment, as if trying to organize his words.

"Just say what you find out, faltering and fumbling to deceive the king?"

"Don't dare."

Hearing Emperor Jiajing's words, Huang Jin hastily defended himself, and then said: "There is no one in the court who wants to replace Hu Zongxian, whether it is Xu Ge's side or someone else in the court.

Most of them just said that Hu Zongxian was wrong, but no one recommended others to take up the post. "

"This is so strange. He wants to overthrow Hu Zongxian, but there is no one to replace him."

Emperor Jiajing frowned, but said casually.

"This is where I don't know what to say. It doesn't seem like someone is operating secretly, but the officials have such intentions."

Huang Jin said in a low voice.

"What the people want, what everyone expects, hehe, this Hu Zongxian has committed a lot of evil!"

Emperor Jiajing couldn't help laughing.

(End of this chapter)