My father is Jiajing

Zhu Zaigui, who was already preparing for the rehearsal of the ceremonial procedures for his enthronement ceremony, could not help but smile when he received the express letter sent from Nanjing eight hundred miles away. The memorial was signed by Zhang Juzheng and written by Hai Rui.

Originally, Zhu Zaigui was thinking of refusing. After all, the matter in Nanjing was so important, how could he leave at this time?

But on second thought, it seems that what they said makes sense.

Moreover, Feng Bao is still in Nanjing. With him watching there, even if there are some treacherous ministers in Jiangnan who want to take advantage of Zhang Juzheng and others' absence from Nanjing to cause trouble, they will be discovered and dealt with by Feng Bao in the first place.

So after a brief thought, Zhu Zaigui finished reading the memorial and handed it to Meng Chong beside him, saying, "Give Zhang Juzheng and his men a message. If they want to come back, they can. But I won't cover their travel expenses. They have to pay for this trip themselves!"

Meng Chong couldn't help but smile when he heard Zhu Zaigui's words.

This is a new system introduced by Zhu Zaigui in the past two years. In the past, no matter whether officials were dealing with official or private matters, as long as they were welcoming or seeing off guests, the imperial post stations and local government offices were required to pay for and provide reception services.

Zhu Zaigui expressed his dissatisfaction with this, believing that doing things in this way was an act of failing to distinguish between public and private and unclear about the system.

It must be corrected.

So at that time, Zhu Zaigui ordered the cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel to come up with a new set of regulations to set travel reimbursement amounts for officials at all levels on official business trips.

For example, when important officials such as the six ministers visited other places, the reception standard was ten taels of silver per day. The reception for the accompanying staff and clerks could be reduced by half, and the number of people could not exceed three!

The reception standard for officials below the Shangshu to the fourth-rank prefect is five taels per day. The reception standard for accompanying staff and clerks is also half that, and the number of people cannot exceed two.

The reception standard for officials below the prefect and up to the seventh rank county magistrate is two taels of silver per day. No more than one staff member or clerk may accompany them, and the amount is also halved.

As for lower-level officials traveling on business, the reception standard is one or two taels of silver per day, and no accompanying personnel will be reimbursed.

If there are ceremonial guards accompanying the traveler, a subsidy of 80 wen per person per day will be implemented. Of course, if the ceremonial guards are used for travel without reason, not only will they be punished, but they will also be required to subsidize the travel expenses of the ceremonial guards out of their own pockets.

Now Zhang Juzheng, Hai Rui, Yan Maoqing and others want to return to Beijing to attend Zhu Zaigui's coronation ceremony. This kind of thing does not count as an official business trip, so Zhu Zaigui certainly cannot reimburse their travel expenses.

Moreover, cabinet ministers like Zhang Juzheng were the highest-ranking administrative officials. Their reception standards were not subject to this set of regulations and had to be planned based on actual conditions.

Therefore, in order to ensure that Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui's visit to Beijing would not be excessively extravagant, Zhu Zaigui issued this decree.

When the time comes, if they have the ability and financial resources, they can come on their own. If they don’t have money, then I’m sorry, they should just do their job in Nanjing.

Meng Chong took Zhu Zaigui's order and immediately passed it on, and had someone send it back to Nanjing at an accelerated speed of 800 miles.

Otherwise, by the time this edict was slowly delivered to Nanjing, Zhu Zaigui's coronation ceremony would have been completed long ago.

"Your Highness, the servant from the Clothing Department is here."

After Meng Chong came back, he reported to Zhu Zaigui in a low voice.

Zhu Zaigui nodded, and asked the ceremonial officer who was responsible for guiding him in the etiquette of enthronement to stop first and let the people from the Imperial Wardrobe come in.

The Shangyijian was one of the twenty-four offices in the palace. It was a functional office that was specifically responsible for the emperor's crown, robes, shoes, boots and socks.

Although it is not as powerful as the Silijian and the Yumajian, it is also one of the 24 imperial offices in the inner palace. The eunuch holding the seal is still the Silijian and the Yumajian, a eunuch of the fourth rank.

It's just that no one generally takes this kind of eunuch seriously.

But today is different, today it is their turn to show their faces.

Liu Gen, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Wardrobe, called Meng Chong "ancestor" with a fawning smile on his face and almost bowed as he walked into Zhu Zaigui's bedroom.

It can be seen that he is both the eunuch in charge of the seal and the eunuch of the fourth rank. The difference between the Shangyijian and the Silijian is really not a little bit.

After Liu Gen entered Zhu Zaigui's bedroom, he did not dare to raise his head. When he saw Zhu Zaigui's feet, he knelt on the ground and bowed nervously and excitedly.

"Your servant Liu Gen, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Clothing Department, pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Zaiqi glanced back at Liu Gen and said calmly, "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Then Liu Gen stood up carefully.

After he stood up, he said respectfully and carefully: "Your Highness, the wedding dress is ready. I came here specially to ask you to try it on and see if there is anything that needs to be changed."

After saying that, several young eunuchs following Liu Gen came in holding trays covered with red silk.

These trays contain the newly made imperial robes for Zhu Zaigui by the Imperial Wardrobe. They are important garments that will be formally worn on the day of his enthronement.

Zhu Zaiqi hummed, "Okay, let's try it now."

Zhu Zaigui did not act pretentiously. He directly asked Liu Gen and others to bring the newly made emperor's auspicious clothes for Zhu Zaigui to try on.

Meng Chong and the ceremonial officer who was responsible for teaching Zhu Zaigui the etiquette for his enthronement ceremony could not help but get excited when they saw this scene.

Because in their view, this was the historic scene of Zhu Zaigui wearing formal imperial attire for the first time.

Although there were no cameras in that era, they could not help but be excited to record this historic moment, and if conditions allowed, they would write down the records and keep them privately with pictures.

Of course, it is extremely difficult to preserve such private written records and paintings over the years.

So, generally speaking, except for some particularly lucky or historically valuable written records and paintings that will be passed down, ordinary written records and paintings will be quietly lost in the long river of history, leaving no ripples or records.

Zhu Zaigui stood there with his arms outstretched, letting Liu Gen and others serve him while he put on the new imperial robes.

To be honest, this kind of ceremonial clothing, which is more symbolic than practical, is really difficult to wear.

Not only is it uncomfortable to wear, it also makes people feel extremely awkward, so much so that it is difficult to bend over or turn the body.

It can be seen that after putting on this complicated set of imperial auspicious clothes, even those who are active and unruly by nature have to be restrained by this set of clothes. After Liu Gen and others helped Zhu Zaigui put on the emperor's auspicious clothes, they immediately and meticulously checked the possible problems that might still exist on this set of auspicious clothes.

After they checked all the details and identified some minor problems and areas that needed improvement, Liu Gen bowed to Zhu Zaigui again and said, "Your Highness, I have checked everything. Do you have anything else to add?"

Zhu Zaigui straightened his body and waved his hands unnaturally, "Take it off, this dress is too rigid and too uncomfortable to wear."

This unnatural movement, restrained by clothing, appears to others to be majestic and stylish.

Moreover, Zhu Zaigui's words made Liu Gen and the people in the hall couldn't help but complain in their hearts.

This is the auspicious dress of the emperor, the supreme ruler. Apart from the emperor, no one else in the world can wear it. Who would despise it so much?
But some people can be so fearless, such as Zhu Zaigui.

As the quasi-emperor who was about to ascend the throne, it was very normal for Zhu Zaigui to behave in a Versailles way.

After all, a man like Boyi can only pretend like this once.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui expressed his feelings honestly and naturally.

Liu Gen quickly apologized, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This is how the auspicious dress is. You just need to get used to it."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "I know. You should help me take off this auspicious dress first."

Liu Gen bowed respectfully again, and hurriedly helped Zhu Zaigui to take off the emperor's auspicious clothes, which he had put on with great difficulty.

After taking off the auspicious clothes, Zhu Zaigui instantly felt free. He raised his hand and Meng Chong beside him immediately put on Zhu Zaigui's daily clothes.

After putting on his regular clothes, Zhu Zaigui stretched his joints and said to the ceremonial officer beside him: "I will stop here today. I still have to deal with government affairs. Please come back tomorrow."

The ceremonial officer did not dare to disobey Zhu Zaigui's wishes, and he immediately bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "Yes, I obey your order. I will take my leave."

After the ceremonial officer left, Zhu Zaigui sat down in his seat very relaxedly, and Meng Chong immediately served him a cup of tea.

Zhu Zaigui took a sip of tea, then looked at Meng Chong and asked, "How is it? Are you still used to the position of the Chief Seal of the Imperial Household Department?"

Meng Chong couldn't help but said excitedly, "I really never expected that His Highness would love me so much and let me become the Chief Seal of the Imperial Household Department right away. I thought I would have to hone myself for a few more years before I would have this opportunity."

Zhu Zaiqi laughed and said, "You don't need to hone your skills now, just start working. Go and call Li Fang and Teng Xiang over later, I will make some arrangements for them as well."

Meng Chong quickly agreed, and after helping Zhu Zaigui tidy up the table, he immediately sent someone to call Teng Xiang and Li Fang over.

By the time Li Fang and Teng Xiang arrived at Zhu Zaigui's place, almost an hour had passed.

The two entered the palace exhausted, and upon seeing Zhu Zaigui, they immediately bowed to the ground and said, "Your servant Teng Xiang and your servant Li Fang pay their respects to your Highness, the Crown Prince."

Zhu Zai raised his hand and said, "Everyone, get up."

Teng Xiang and Li Fang bowed again: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Then the two of them stood below with great respect, waiting for Zhu Zaigui's instructions.

Zhu Zaigui didn't give them any more excuses and said directly, "From now on, Teng Xiang will be the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Administration, responsible for the defense of the Beijing Camp. Li Fang will be the eunuch in charge of the Western Hills and the commander of the Western Hills Sacred Weapon Camp, responsible for all important matters in the Western Hills."

Teng Xiang and Li Fang immediately knelt down and said, "We obey your command and thank you for your grace, Your Highness."

Zhu Zaigui nodded and continued, "The Imperial Horse Guards' Camp and the Western Hills Divine Artifact Camp are both important places in the capital. As my old subordinates, you two have also followed me to besiege the capital in the suburbs of Beijing and to fight a decisive battle with the Tatar army at the White Horse River."

"Although the country has been peaceful and the capital has been stable in recent years, we cannot relax our military preparations in the slightest. Therefore, I hope that you two will remember the past and bear in mind my mission, and train both the Beijing Camp and the Xishan Divine Artifact Camp as the most elite troops."

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I will give you another chance to make achievements and establish your career, so that you can become a wise official like Zheng He and Wang Zhi, who are no less than the famous generals of previous dynasties!"

Li Fang and Teng Xiang became excited when they heard the big picture that Zhu Zaigui painted.

Although at that time, the two did not actually follow Zhu Zaigui to kill the enemy on the banks of the Baima River, they both knew the origin and course of the battle very clearly.

Teng Xiang was especially brave. He led a group of troops alone and charged into the Tatar army according to Zhu Zaigui's orders.

Therefore, Teng Xiang still cannot forget the splendor and glory of that battle.

Now Zhu Zaigui finally brought up that battle in front of them again. At this moment, Li Fang and Teng Xiang's hearts were excited and their blood was still hot.

The reason why Zhu Zaigui adjusted the positions of the two was, on the one hand, because he took into account that the two had been in the same position for too long, and on the other hand, Zhu Zaigui really intended to let the Japanese navy test the red-haired foreigners who were building cities in Taiwan after he ascended the throne.

By then, a fierce battle is inevitable.

However, Zhu Zaigui did not want the elite troops of the Beijing Camp and the Xishan Divine Weapon Camp to remain in the so-called elite state all the time. He had to make this elite force live up to its reputation and re-emerge the glory it had in the defense of the capital.

Let the generals and soldiers in other garrisons and places of the Ming Dynasty see that this is the benchmark they will emulate and learn from!

Moreover, Zhu Zaigui was also planning to change the selection rules for soldiers in the Beijing Camp, so that more capable and combat-ready local soldiers could be selected through military competitions such as the King of Soldiers, or other practical assessments, and the best of the best could be trained to maintain the absolute combat effectiveness of the Beijing Camp!
Make it truly the best army in the world!
Unlike the so-called 800,000 central imperial guards of the Northern Song Dynasty, which were just for show.

If this were the case, Zhu Zaigui would not have to spend a lot of money and effort to build this elite tribe directly under his control.

Just take a shower and go to bed early.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui's current idea is to train this elite army that he once led for the purpose of actual combat, so that they will always remember that morale and combat effectiveness are tempered by blood and fire.

It was just like when they first arrived, they were just a group of so-called elites who were well-equipped but had never seen blood.

But under the leadership of Zhu Zaigui, they were able to display their morale and spirit in actual combat, and thus became true elite troops.

Now more than ten years have passed, and the old soldiers have not experienced real war for a long time. Therefore, Zhu Zaigui must reorganize them and let them continue to maintain the invincible spirit of victory and become a king's army with spiritual inheritance!
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Ask for monthly ticket~~~(End of this chapter)