Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 341 It’s cold, time to put on more clothes!
Zhu Biao supported himself on the ground with both palms and slowly got up from the ground.

He simply gathered together what he had written over the past few days and then handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Biao said: "Father, I have been thinking about how to govern the country better recently. Although I have learned a lot from Xia Zhibai's experience, I also have many of my own opinions."

"Originally, I wanted to write all of this down and then hand it over to you, Father."

"The emperor is here today."

"Then I will give these to Father in advance."

"I want to spend ten years to reorganize the system of the country, to sort out the current complicated and chaotic system, so that all officials can perform their duties, all industries can regain vitality, and the people can truly live in a paradise."

"in addition."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to abolish the 'Mansion'!"

"The officials in the Crown Prince's Mansion in the Eastern Palace were arranged by my father, not selected by me."

"These people have either made great contributions to the founding of the Ming Dynasty or are loyal ministers of the emperor. They are not people that I can order around at will, and I don't dare to order them around. What I want is an Eastern Palace, a Prince's Mansion that allows me to play freely, and a Prince's Mansion that can follow me firmly."

"I am not an official who will immediately refute whatever I say."

"I can accept these people's low salaries, low official positions, or even just minor officials. I can accept this because I am tired of only judging people by the files of the Ministry of Personnel. The files of the Ministry of Personnel show that everyone is perfect, with only brilliant achievements, and no mention of mistakes and shortcomings. In my opinion, this is not the real situation at all."

"Father has always taught me to be pragmatic."

"Because the files submitted by the Ministry of Personnel can be judged by the emperor at a glance."

"But I can't."

"So I decided to bend down and look at these officials in person, not only at their current events, but also at their past history and all their work. As the successor of the empire, I always believe that I must master the ability to identify and use officials."

"But now, I have none."

Zhu Biao sighed softly, his eyes somewhat bleak, and said: "I have read the books of sages over the years, but I can't care about what is happening outside the window. I feel pity, but I stand by and watch. I empathize, but I am powerless. This painful emotion is like a sharp knife, constantly stabbing me."

"If I am truly a heartless person, I am afraid I won't care too much."

"It's just that father has repeatedly told me to be kind and benevolent to the people and to put the people and the country first, but I can't really sit back and do nothing. I still want to do something. Although I can't compare to your great achievements, I am satisfied to be able to follow you and make a small contribution to the world."

"I want to follow in my father's footsteps, but I definitely don't want to follow his old path."

Zhu Biao turned his head. Although he was still trembling slightly, the words he had said before seemed to give him great courage, allowing him to finally face Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze at this moment. He said calmly: "Zizhi Tongjian says: Do not be powerful within and despise the outside, do not see the benefits and ignore the harm."

"When Grand Secretary Song Lian was still alive, he once taught me a few words."

"It is a pity that young people today, when they read the poems and articles of some old scholars, feel that the words are full of decadence, and some old people, when they see the young people's energetic faces, will smile with gloomy eyes and regard them as rebellious villains."

“Even if young people sometimes do nothing, in the eyes of the elderly, they have already gone from hope to disappointment.”

"It comes down to it."

"It is the status quo and habits that tend to bind the mind tightly, while young people are more courageous to break the routine and seek innovation. Just like today, it is the turn of autumn and winter. According to convention, clothes should be changed once, but if someone does not change clothes at the 'turn of the year', it will often cause trouble."

“That’s the power of habit.”

"I didn't quite understand it before." "But now I'm gradually understanding it a little bit."

"In the past, I was trapped in summer and winter. After summer, it was winter. I didn't dare to change clothes at the turn of spring and summer, summer and autumn, autumn and winter, and winter and spring. As a result, my whole body and mind were in trouble. So now I want to change and buy myself some more clothes."

"Father, you too."

"It's getting cold, it's time to put on more clothes."

A piece of clothes appeared in Zhu Biao's hand at some point, and he put it on Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang subconsciously reached out and closed his eyes.

He looked at Zhu Biao in front of him and suddenly had a strange feeling, with a bit of relief and a bit of inexplicable emotions. In the end, he just stared at him blankly.

a long time.

Zhu Yuanzhang came to his senses.

He shifted his gaze to the paper below.

He was obviously absent-minded. Zhu Biao's words touched him a little. It was not Zhu Biao's change, but Zhu Biao's sudden growth that made him feel as if he had re-recognized his eldest son. He could feel that Zhu Biao in front of him had completely changed in spirit.

I am no longer as timid and cowardly as before, but now I am more confident and determined.

In the past, Zhu Biao would never dare to say these words to himself, let alone speak them, he didn't even have the courage to write them down. He glanced at them roughly and put them aside. Looking at Ma Xiuying's spirit tablet beside him, he sighed and sat down.

He stretched out his old arm, touched the cold memorial tablet, and said in a low voice: "Your mother has been gone for almost five years. She used to worry that without her, I would become more and more cruel. This is indeed the case, but how could I want this to happen?"

"On the surface, I am indeed the ruthless and unyielding Emperor Hongwu."

"But in the past, only your mother knew how conflicted and unwilling I was when I made those decisions."

"But I am the emperor, and I must be responsible for the world."

"There's nothing we can do."

"I have ignored you and your mother in the past, but I did all this just to make our descendants of the Zhu family feel more relaxed in the future. But in the end, I was scolded by my son. I am a father."

"But you're right."

"I was a little too strict with you in the past. Since you have your own ideas, I won't stop you. I will follow your will. But let's make it clear first, you must tell me in advance what you do so that I can review it first."

"besides."

"Stay away from Xia Zhibai."

"We don't like seeing him."

"He has only been in the court for a short time, and now our son listens to him and not to us."

"As for what you can do, we have to go back and read all of what you wrote before deciding. As for the matter of the Eastern Palace, there is no room for discussion. That is what I left for you. I am not dead yet, so it is not your turn to point fingers at me."

"."

(End of this chapter)