Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 185 Filial Piety Reward
Everyone knew that the New Year's Day court meeting in the second year of Taichang would be a little special, but no one expected it to be this special.

The ministers walked into the Meridian Gate one by one, with thoughts surging in their minds.

This is a true situation of two saints ruling the country, not the combination of Li Zhi and Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, but the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor.

Naturally, the emperor had suffered a stroke, so he would not express any opinions on state affairs. But why did the emperor appear at the court meeting on the first day of the second year of Taichang, when the Ming Dynasty was about to undergo significant changes?

Imperial power cannot be shared, and the existence of the emperor emeritus is very sensitive. Is this a request made by the emperor emeritus, or an arrangement by the emperor?
They didn't know the specific reason, so they could only make random guesses within the limited distance.

This time, as soon as I entered the Meridian Gate, I saw the grand court procession in front of me.

The newly rebuilt Huangji Gate looks the same as before, but with a new look.

The paint color is bright.

The two thrones vaguely visible in front of me are also new.

Zhu Yijun watched the ministers file in, and this scene made him feel mixed emotions.

Only after losing something do we appreciate it. If only we had been more diligent back then...

The ministers came closer, and looking over his son's crown, he saw faces that were both familiar and unfamiliar.

Kong Shangxian, Shen Yikuan, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue...

Xu Wenbi, Zhu Dingchen, Zhang Weixian, Li Chengliang...

There are also some envoys from vassal states...

Kong Shangxian first looked at the emperor with a calm expression, then looked at the emperor emeritus who was higher up.

He suppressed the nostalgia in his eyes. He wished that the emperor was still in power and he wasn't as frightened as he is now.

The emperor is a little lazy, but he is... pretty good.

It was not until he entered the palace to prepare for the grand court meeting that he learned that the officials of the Honglu Temple who were attending court with the retired emperor had begun to lose.

This was the standard phrase Tian Yi used to say to him.

"On the first day of the lunar year, the Emperor Retired is watching the ceremony from the gate. Five bows and three kowtows, one bow, I wish the Emperor Retired good health."

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you and wish you good health. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long, long live the Emperor!"

"Two obeisances..."

The long process of five bows and three kowtows was accompanied by an auspicious word each time.

As Zhu Yijun listened to their worship, his eyes gradually became moist and his heart was excited.

He really wanted to do something, say something, but he no longer had the ability to do so.

Even to sit steadily on the throne, he needed to lean halfway against the chair back and rely on the support of Tian Yi and Chen Ju on both sides.

Then they paid homage to the emperor. When they had finished their ceremony, Zhu Yijun saw his son raising his hand to support him and said in a loud voice, "All the ministers, please stand up!"

"We thank your Majesty for his great grace. Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty! Long, long live your Majesty!"

Looking at the tassels on his son's head swaying, Zhu Yijun sighed silently in his heart: It was his time.

"My father entrusted me with the responsibility of ruling the country in times of crisis, and I dare not slack off for even a moment. I consulted with the civil and military officials on the pros and cons of government affairs, and they have shown their loyalty and diligence in the years of state affairs."

Inside the Huangji Gate, Zhu Changluo answered their questions about the two saints' reign.

"Since my father fell ill, he has been resting. While I am taking medicine, I have been looking forward to the completion of the Huangji Gate, and respectfully inviting my father to attend the court. Now I see the virtues of the ministers, and the country is safe, which is exactly what my father wants. Listening to the blessings of the ministers and watching the grand court meeting are also my filial piety."

After saying this, he got up from his seat and knelt before Zhu Yijun, saying, "My parents, you have worked so hard to give birth to me. Now the emperor and his subjects are helping each other, and the country is stable. Your Majesty, please calm down and accept the respect of your son and the ministers. Then, you can rest assured that your son will be happy and all the subjects will be encouraged and obedient."

The ministers suddenly realized what was going on. Some of them felt a little disappointed, but also somewhat relieved.

The most outrageous guess in everyone’s mind before was naturally: Could it be that the emperor has recovered and taken power back?

It turned out that the emperor just wanted to tell everyone that the emperor emeritus had always been worried about whether the people of the world would be loyal to the new emperor after this special succession of the throne.

Only after seeing that all his subjects were loyal and obedient could he put aside his worries and focus on recuperating.

The emperor also wanted to tell everyone that he was very filial. It is said that when living with a child, one should show respect, when raising a child, one should show happiness, when sick, one should show worry, when a child dies, one should show grief, and when offering sacrifices, one should show solemnity. Now the emperor has not passed away, but he is seriously ill. The emperor asked him to attend the court in order to let him enjoy the respect of his ministers again and relieve him of some of his worries about state affairs and imperial power. This is indeed filial piety of worry and respect.

Zhu Changluo took the lead, and all the ministers naturally bowed down and carefully came up with various words to bless the emperor.

Only important ministers were qualified to speak individually, and then the cabinet ministers led everyone to once again shout "Long live the emperor", giving the occasion a grand occasion.

He is a king and also a father.

The emperor was not worried about the possible "nostalgic" reaction among his ministers after the retired emperor came out again, and only expressed his filial piety. Naturally, the ministers should also fully express their filial piety.

The grand court meeting lasted nearly half an hour at this stage. The respect that was normally paid to the emperor at the grand court meeting was given to the emperor emeritus today.

Then the official imperial edict was issued. The Western Garden was opened as the Imperial College, with four gardens under it: the university, the middle school, the elementary school, and the Hundred Schools. A Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy was appointed to be in charge of culture and education, and a group of academic officials were selected. This was a major cultural and educational event that would begin in the second year of Taichang.

The old imperial examination system remained unchanged, but the Imperial College had a clear curriculum and examinations could be taken every year. This was undoubtedly a powerful supplement to the provincial and metropolitan examinations which were held only every three years.

To this end, the official rank of the local education officials at the prefecture and county levels was raised or determined, and the provincial education commissioner was also promoted by half a grade, from the third grade to the first deputy commissioner of the provincial criminal supervision commissioner's office, second only to the provincial supervisor. They also opened offices and offices, and deployed assistant officials and subordinate officials.

Another imperial edict was also related to culture and education, which required local officials and gentry to strictly discipline themselves and respect the current preferential and exemption rules. At the same time, it announced new regulations that would affect the preferential and exemption rules after officials and gentry were convicted of harming the people starting this year.

Zhu Yijun had been observing the expressions of the important officials nearby, and looking at the low-ranking civil officials in the distance, but at least they did not have any big reaction at the court meeting.

This was enough to shock him. Although he had listened to a meeting in the Yangxin Palace, he only proposed this idea to the ministers and the nine officials in private. Now it was a grand court meeting, the grand court meeting with the largest number of people.

Could it be that he also borrowed the special atmosphere created by carrying himself here?

After all, I just said that all the subjects in the world are obedient, loyal and diligent. They can't just rise up and oppose this confirmed imperial edict, right?
The next imperial edict was even more important.

The prefectures in Southern Zhili that had not been completed after Zhang Juzheng's death were required to complete the land survey and rebuild the fish scale book and the yellow book.

The last imperial edict was a good policy for local officials: after the preferential exemptions were implemented, the increased taxes would still be transported to the two capitals according to the old amount, and the rest would be allowed to be retained as rewards for diligence and integrity and public funds.

Only these four edicts were issued at the grand court meeting on New Year's Day in the second year of Taichang, foreshadowing the extraordinary nature of the second year of Taichang.

Each one of them is directly related to culture, education, and officials and gentry.

The establishment of the Imperial College was to actively encourage the gentry to participate in the new order, and also to reserve more talents for the changes in officialdom that would inevitably be brought about by the following three edicts.

However, can such a new policy really be implemented smoothly if the extra money and grain collected are used to support the extra officials?

After the grand court meeting, Zhu Yijun was first carried to the couch by the eunuchs in front of the important officials.

They all saw Zhu Yijun's eyes, which were filled with extremely complicated emotions, as if they contained expectations, instructions, and worries.

They didn't want to interpret it any further, but the fact was clear: he was still alive, but unable to speak or move.

There can only be one supreme voice in the Ming Dynasty, and one of the two saints is the tool of the other.

The Huangji Gate slowly closed, and the emperor, holding the couch of the retired emperor, disappeared on the way to the harem.

After the special court meeting, all the ministers lined up in silence and walked out of the Forbidden City. The next step was the Spring Festival.

The important ministers walked at the front, and the other court officials looked at their backs with extremely heavy hearts.

Although it has been widely rumored before, as long as the imperial edict has not been issued, there may still be room for maneuver.

Today, in addition to the re-establishment of the Imperial College, the other three decrees were actually implemented. The important officials ultimately failed to stop the strict implementation of preferential treatment, so what will happen next?

The major Jiangnan case in the first year of Taichang seemed to be just a warm-up, and it was still unknown what kind of events would occur in the second year of Taichang.

Can the emperor and the new party suppress the dissatisfaction of so many officials and gentry? Or are they going to do something like really demoting the entire Ming Dynasty officialdom and gentry?

After escorting him to the Cining Palace, Zhu Changluo said to Zhu Yijun, who was also wearing a dragon robe, "My son has really taken this step. Father, the Ming Dynasty must be destroyed first and then rebuilt in the hands of us. Let the government and the people know that we are of one mind, then no matter how big the storm is, my son can suppress it!"

Zhu Yijun looked at his son's heroic eyes under the crown, looked at him for a long time, and finally moved his eyeballs up and down.

Yes, he has taken that step.

Wouldn't it be better for us to not help him and help others to destroy the Ming Dynasty?
Let him use his sick body however he wants.

Anyway, Zhu Yijun attended a court meeting today which he had not seen for a long time. Although he could not move or speak, he still felt that some of his energy and spirit had returned.

It has been a year and a half since then.

After the father and son said goodbye, Zhu Changluo returned to the Qianqing Palace.

At the entrance of Qianqing Gate, he looked back at Huangji Gate standing alone in the south.

"Wanhua, tell Dayun to be ready to march south at any time."

Chen Ju's heart trembled: "I obey your command."

Zhu Changluo turned and walked into the Qianqing Gate.

The canal south of Huai'an must be filled with grain ships ready to cross the Huai River, and the annual grain transportation is underway.

That is the top priority.

After that, it will be the turn of each place to follow the imperial edict and make arrangements for this year's taxes.

The several prefectures in Southern Zhili need to survey the land, but that should be done after the autumn harvest this year.

This is the last time that taxes will be collected according to the old Yellow Book and their registered exemptions. How will they deal with the difference in numbers before and after?

Will it be this year, next year, or the year after, or will it still be as I judged, waiting for an opportunity when natural disasters, man-made calamities, internal and external troubles break out at the same time?

(End of this chapter)