Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 466 Pen and Knife
The lunch box was not tasty, but the eunuch who brought it added one more sentence: "Sir, today's meat soup was cooked by the Empress herself. His Majesty ordered some to be served to the sirs."

Ye Xianggao stood up immediately: "How can this be justified?"

"Your Majesty's oral instruction: I am not the only one who is worried about state affairs. All the ministers have worked hard."

"Your Majesty..." Ye Xianggao choked up and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. How dare I not repay you with my life?"

The young eunuch just said, "Since you have just recovered from your illness, please come and use it now. His Majesty has also asked us to do so. There is no need to rush. You should take a rest in the afternoon."

Ye Xianggao could not help but praise the emperor and his father for their kindness. After the eunuch left, the secretary of the palace opened the food box, looked at it with envy, took out the food one by one and placed it on the table next to him, and helped Ye Xianggao sit down: "Your Majesty must be worried about the current situation and can't sleep or eat well. The Empress personally served the soup, but Your Majesty didn't forget the ministers. It's really a good match between the emperor and his subjects."

"Wen Ru." Ye Xianggao picked up the chopsticks, "You should sit down and eat a little more."

"How dare I accept the responsibility..."

Ye Xianggao just shook his head and insisted that he share.

At this moment, there are four people serving as secretaries in the Executive Yuan.

Besides the Privy Council, the Executive Council has the most offices, and there are two more secretaries in the cabinet. Since Yang Lian and Yang Wenru were ordered to search for ancient books and compile the history of natural disasters in all dynasties and summarize the strategies for disaster preparedness and relief, they have now risen to prominence.

Now he is 47 years old, and although he is still just a "clear stream" with no practical experience, Ye Xianggao values ​​him very much.

Secretarial work has its own advantages.

The two of them ate without talking, they just ate a little in silence, and they only took a few small bites of the meat soup given by the emperor.

Yang Lian knew that Ye Xianggao would not be too partial to one person over another, and the other three colleagues would naturally get a share when they returned.

Someone had the remaining dishes sent to the inner room to be warmed up. When the three of them came back, the lunch prepared by the Outer Court Food Department, which was specially modified by the Guanglu Temple for the civil and military officials working in the Forbidden City, would be delivered, and they could have their fill again.

After dinner, Ye Xianggao sighed and said, "As the Vice Secretary of the Executive Yuan, what do you think of the past few months?"

There were four ministers in the Executive Yuan, and there had to be a hierarchy. Yang Lian was the first, and he was now a third-rank official.

After a moment of silence, he said solemnly: "Man-made disasters are more severe than natural disasters."

"You have never left Beijing since you passed the imperial examination in the seventh year of Taichang. You worked as an editor, the Ministry of Agriculture, and then as a secretary of the cabinet." Ye Xianggao looked at him, "You lack some experience in local affairs. Man-made disasters are more severe than natural disasters. If you were an official, how would you deal with it?"

“Although I have not experienced practical work, I can…” Yang Lian paused, “I have searched for historical records in the past. The past dynasties were not so bad, but during the Ming Dynasty, there were also many natural disasters and man-made disasters. Although the history books only contain a few words, the deeds recorded in the folk notes are…”

Yang Lian looked at Ye Xianggao and said respectfully, "Prime Minister, let him slander you as he pleases. I serve you and I know very well how you are wholeheartedly serving the country and the people. If I were in a local area, I would only focus on implementing the central government's orders and everything would be governed by law."

"Is that all?" Ye Xianggao sighed again, "What's the difficulty? The government's orders are not being implemented..."

"As your majesty said, this is a civil war!" Yang Lian was a little excited. "I have been searching for history and correcting disasters, and I have always shed tears for the people. Fortunately, there is a sage king and wise ministers in the court, who are fair-minded and have made all policies far-reaching for the country and concerned about the people! We should study and serve the country when we are in office, and serve the country and the people when we are in opposition! If the government orders are not implemented, we should do as you said and make a bright and clear government that the people want!"

Ye Xianggao looked at him blankly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

He knew that although Yang Wenru was called a junior, he was actually only thirteen years younger than him.

After all, I have never been to a local place before. Although I have read a lot of correspondence, I underestimated the difficulty of those things.

Of course, his generosity and righteousness were exactly what the emperor wanted in seeking ministers with similar sympathies.

Everything was different in Yang Lian's life, and he naturally didn't need to be killed by Wei Zhongxian again.

Wei Zhongxian himself had been expelled from the palace before Zhu Changluo ascended the throne. No one knew where he was, or whether he was alive or dead.

But the first thing Zhu Changluo asked Yang Lian to do invisibly nurtured his loyal side.

The greatest suffering of the people is during natural disasters and man-made disasters. Although Yang Lian had never served as an official in a local government, he had seen more man-made disasters during natural disasters from various historical materials and folk notes, and these were often very extreme cases.

The work during that period was also a great stimulation for Yang Lian, Huang Zunsu and others. The information I looked up was too dark.

This time the imperial court was going to implement a new currency system. How could Yang Lian and others, who often stayed in Beijing and could think from the perspective of the common people, not know about the drawbacks of the old currency system?

Who would have thought that the local people would take advantage of the two major wars that the Ming Dynasty was going through to create this man-made disaster, and even dared to assassinate the crown prince.

"Prime Minister, I have a solution!"

"Oh?"

Ye Xianggao responded perfunctorily without much concern. He did not have high expectations for what Yang Lian could come up with - he was a good secretary, but he did not seem to be flexible and was rather stubborn and old-fashioned.

"I think that when investigating cases in various places, we should search for more poems, essays and letters written by corrupt officials and evil gentry!"

Ye Xianggao looked at him puzzledly.

"I think the court should be open and honest! Let's not talk about virtue, but kindness is always the easiest to achieve according to the teachings of the sages, right? Look at how these corrupt officials and bad gentry talk big every day, and then observe their actions and spread the word to the people. This is justice in the hearts of the people! The court is doing this to correct the style of officials and scholars. It is also good to teach and punish those who harm the group!"

"Wen Ru is saying..." Ye Xianggao thought silently, then looked at him with complicated eyes, "Do you know what the people of the world will think if you really do this on a large scale?"

"Naturally, the people will support you and you will be praised by the world!"

Ye Xianggao knew that he might have underestimated the number of "black sheep".

But for Ye Xianggao, he figured out the key after thinking about it for a while.

This approach is not wrong, but you have to find the right degree.

He looked at Yang Lian and laughed: "Wen Ru will be suitable for doing something in the future. Since the situation is like this, I can ask Your Majesty to make preparations in advance."

Yang Lian was stunned for a moment: "What's the matter?"

"It's about the pen." Ye Xianggao felt much better. "Proclaiming justice and denouncing scum. Do you know why Tongzheng Academy was renamed Tongzheng College?"

"…Isn't it that the schools are run in the same way as the provinces, prefectures, and states, and that the whole country is of the same mind?"

Ye Xianggao just smiled inexplicably, but said no more: "I'll take a short rest first."

The emperor is determined to build a party, but how easy is it to unite everyone from top to bottom?
Just as the Ministry of Rites in the Jinxianyuan was changed to the Ministry of Rites and Laws, the upper limit is the ritual of great virtue that the sages hoped for, and the lower limit is the precepts of the law; in the future, within this party, there must also be the precepts of party discipline and the advocacy of the great unity of the will. Your Majesty said: This will should be spread all over the world, just like the scholars have been saying morality for thousands of years, and they have their own reputation constraints; and within the party, there should be another department to promote the model and denigrate the scum.

Yang Lian might not be suitable to be an official in the local area, but he is suitable to do this job because of his pure loyalty.

To put it bluntly, what you have to do is something that will bring fame to people before and after their death, but will also bring disgrace to them.

Therefore, Yang Lian’s method can be used, but we must be careful to control the situation and only target those who are truly despicable.

I was born in a toilet, but is what I have done in my life as stinky as you guys?
After all, Ye Xianggao was resentful of the bad reputation.

Even if the emperor said he was noble, it would be of no use.

Ye Xianggao lay down on the couch in the warm room with all his clothes on, and suddenly thought: learning to use the court newspaper, the newspaper bureau, the economic bureau, the storytellers' guild behind Kuai Tan Xuan, and the emperor's order to change the Jiaofang Bureau into the Performing Arts Bureau...

It seemed that the emperor had started laying the groundwork a long time ago.

Your Majesty, have you been preparing for a mutual verbal and written attack with the gentry of the world?

But the situation is a bit strange now.

If this balance is grasped well, whether in the government or in the opposition, those who wisely survived this catastrophe would probably do one thing: since everyone has some flaws or even stigma and secrets, if someone appears to be more unbearable, dirtier, and stinkier, then they will naturally appear to be more "noble".

Did Your Majesty foresee from the beginning that it would end up like this? Wouldn't he really be drowned by the spit of the world?
……

Zhu Changluo put down his bowl and chopsticks in Kunning Palace: "I just have to pay more attention to the situation in the world during this period, and I haven't been so busy."

Guo Lanzhi sighed, "I am worried about the Crown Prince and Your Majesty. It would be good for me to make some soup so that I can worry less."

"Youjian has done a great job in Teng County." Zhu Changluo comforted her, "He has made great progress during this experience. Duke Jingguo has also arrived in Shandong, and he is fine."

"He is only acting as the magistrate of a county temporarily. I am afraid he has countless things to do and he also has to take care of the overall situation. Your Majesty has to take care of the world..." Guo Lanzhi looked into his eyes and suddenly stood up to salute, "When the bad news came to the palace, I was confused. I acted inappropriately, please punish me, Your Majesty."

Zhu Changluo knew what she was talking about.

He pulled Guo Lanzhi up and said, "Why are you being so serious? As for assassinating the crown prince, at first glance, who would dare to do such a thing? Not to mention you, I have also prepared for the worst. You have also seen that the palaces have been walking on thin ice in the past few months."

Guo Lanzhi lowered her head.

"I have to think about the world and future generations. I can't just pretend to be harmonious with them and muddle through."

Zhu Changluo waved his hand and ordered: "I and the Queen will go for a walk in the back garden of the palace."

Then he and Guo Lanzhi walked slowly towards the north of Kunning Palace, and continued, "After this year, I will have been on the throne for twenty years. By then, I will not be much older than You Jian..."

What Zhu Changluo was talking about was the period before Guo Lanzhi entered the palace.

What was the Ming Dynasty like at that time?

Mine supervisors and tax collectors are still competing with local authorities for profits using simple and crude methods.

Zhu Yijun was unwilling to hand over the money he had extorted to the national treasury.

The three major expeditions had just ended, military expenses in the nine borders were high, and the Tatars and Jurchens were great hidden dangers.

And Shen Yikuan and many people in the court whom he faced at the beginning were not necessarily good guys.

"Fortunately, we have Master Tian..." Zhu Changluo said this as if he were talking about the past, and suddenly he lost his mind, "I wonder how he is doing in Japan recently..."

He quickly regained his focus and sighed, "Anyway, my father was unable to attend court for many years due to illness, and the situation in the local area was even worse..."

Guo Lanzhi just watched her husband shake his head, looking like he was too lazy to say anything.

"In short, if you don't have great courage and the right method, the Ming Dynasty will already be doomed." Zhu Changluo looked into her eyes, "How easy is it to turn the tide? Twenty years is not enough, and I alone am not enough. If You Jian is only kept in the deep palace, she will not have enough experience and skills in the future. I am afraid that my legacy can only be protected for three or five generations."

Guo Lanzhi felt that what he said to her today was a bit too deep.

Zhu Changluo looked at her meaningfully: "People's thoughts also change with the times and circumstances. Now there seem to be many more ministers in the court who are willing to work with me, but behind the scenes... I appointed them as prime ministers, delegated power, increased their salaries, and created this new foundation to give them a good reputation after their death..."

He looked at the left and right rear, "It's the same with the harem, it changes with the times and circumstances. I established Youjian's position early on and taught him carefully, but I didn't do it just to show off to others, but actually to show it to Youjian. He can bear this burden and not be confused by some things, so he can make greater progress in the future. The more talented he is, the less he has to worry about other things. You also understand that jade cannot be made into a useful tool without being polished."

Guo Lanzhi nodded, feeling warm in her heart: "Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness. I am just a woman, sometimes..."

"Don't act impulsively out of suspicion." Zhu Changluo patted her on the back. "Just like these years, although my actions towards the vassal states were both good and bad, I generally took the relatives of the clan and vassal states into consideration and gave them greater hope. But now that we have solid evidence, I want to punish a few families to serve as a warning to others. There are benefits to making things clear first. This time, with this as an excuse, the clan and vassal states will also undergo major changes. In the future, the second brother and his people will also have their own ways out, so you don't have to just think about the things of the past dynasties."

"Your Majesty, I am my concubine..."

Zhu Changluo smiled and said to her: "I am different. I can always come up with a better way."

Ever since the news of the assassination attempt on the crown prince reached the palace, Guo Lanzhi fainted upon hearing it, and naturally there was an atmosphere of "chain of suspicion" in the harem.

Zhu Changluo also had to solve this problem.

Now that several months have passed, Guo Lanzhi has calmed down a lot. On the one hand, Zhu Changluo has tried to appease her, and on the other hand, he wants Guo Lanzhi to understand.

Things are different now. Her son is the crown prince, and the other princes are getting older. If he doesn't handle it well, Zhu Changluo might face a fight for the throne or palace fighting.

Now Zhu Changluo only told her that he hoped Zhu Youjian would become stronger. How could he become stronger without pressure and hardship?

That is the burden that Zhu Youjian should bear.

But if there is no hard evidence and the Queen and the Crown Prince begin to suspect other palaces and princes, that would really disappoint Zhu Changluo.

After walking around the back garden of the palace with Guo Lanzhi, Zhu Changluo said to her solemnly before leaving: "To change the situation, I can't leave Beijing easily, but someone from the Zhu family must hold the knife in front, so that officials and gentry in the world know that the descendants of the Zhu family are still not afraid of killing and dare to kill without fear of the dangerous situation! Some people will only remember when facing the knife. After all, all they have is a pen and a mouth."

"Before he returns to Beijing, no matter what happens, you must stop overthinking. I have spent so many years teaching him, you just need to know that I hope he can take over my responsibilities in the future more than you do!"

(End of this chapter)