Jiajing Chengming

After hearing this, Zhang Cong began to think seriously.

It just so happened.

Gui E came over, bowed to the two people and asked, "Why don't you two go in?"

"It's like this, Gong Jin just mentioned the matter of appointing a crown prince."

"I have to ponder over this matter."

Zhang Cong saw Gui E coming and replied with a smile.

After hearing this, Gui E also fell into deep thought, and then he folded his hands in front of his stomach and said, "It is time to appoint a crown prince. We have neglected this matter."

"Yes, I have been busy issuing bonds, providing disaster relief, and preparing for clearing the fields. I have forgotten about this matter."

Zhang Cong then looked at Xia Yan and said, "If it weren't for Gong Jin's reminder, this major event would have become an opportunity for someone with ulterior motives to make a fuss."

"I was previously the Minister of Rites, and I had less to do than you gentlemen, so it's natural for me to think of these things that are easy to neglect."

Xia Yan then explained with a smile.

Zhang Cong nodded and said, "Once a crown prince is appointed, it means we have to choose a master for him. We can't just choose casually!"

"Yes, although your majesty is in his prime, the prince is the future monarch. Whether the new policy can remain unchanged after your majesty's death depends on whether the prince understands your majesty's intentions and can see through all the world's affairs like your majesty!"

"Whether the prince can have such wisdom and whether he and His Majesty can have a harmonious relationship as father and son depends on whether the selected master can teach the prince well."

Gui E then started talking.

Zhang Cong said, "You and I both understand this principle, but you and I should understand that if the chosen tutor really teaches the prince well and prevents your majesty and the prince from having any estrangement or conflict, then I'm afraid it will be difficult for the prince to remain in office for long."

"But if the prince is not educated well and becomes a pawn used by people with ulterior motives, more people will be looking forward to a change of dynasty!"

Xia Yan interrupted at this time.

Gui E followed up and said, "That's right! This is where the difficulty lies. If the prince is allowed to follow the right path, it will not be good for him, and if he is not allowed to follow the right path, it will not be good for Your Majesty! But we cannot not establish a prince, otherwise, some officials will use this to stir up trouble, and use the excuse that the country is not established and everything is unstable, forcing all the new policies at present and those to be implemented soon to become difficult!"

"As Lord Gui said, we need to discuss this matter with the two of you first, and then decide whether to report it to Your Majesty."

Xia Yan spoke at this time.

Zhang Cong then said solemnly: "It is better to report this to Your Majesty and let Your Majesty make the decision!"

……

……

"I also know that the matter of establishing a crown prince cannot be ignored."

"And I share your concerns."

"Besides that, I am more worried that if the crown prince is established too early, although it will reassure the wealthy families in the world, I am afraid that the prince will be spoiled and corrupted too early. After all, not all princes can resist temptation. I also don't want the prince to be spoiled and unfilial in the future, forcing me to do things like killing my son."

After Zhang Cong, Gui E and Xia Yan raised the issue of establishing a crown prince, Zhu Houcong also spoke up.

Zhang Cong said at this time: "Your Majesty is right, but it won't work if the crown prince is not appointed. After all, if the crown prince is not appointed, the country will be in turmoil! All policies will be difficult to implement."

Zhu Houcong nodded.

He couldn't help but think of the Qing Dynasty's secret system of appointing the crown prince.

But what gave him a headache was that the "Imperial Ming Ancestor Instructions" set by Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty had already determined the rules for choosing the crown prince: the eldest son of the legitimate wife should be appointed as the heir, and the younger brother should be appointed as the heir after the elder brother's death.

It was precisely because of "Imperial Ming Ancestor Instructions" that Zhu Houcong obtained the greatest legal basis for inheriting the throne.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong had to acknowledge "Imperial Ming Ancestor Instructions".

However, in this case, who will be the crown prince is not decided by him, but by God's will. Whoever is born well will be the crown prince.

However, as Zhang Cong, Gui E and Xia Yan said, and as Zhu Houcong himself just said, as long as a crown prince is appointed, many worrying things will happen.

Either hand over the crown prince to the Confucian officials of the Qing Dynasty and let them train him to be a king who maintains the status quo in line with the Conservative Party's ideas.

Either he personally trains the prince and lets him inherit his will.

But Zhu Houcong clearly remembered that in history, before Jiajing handed the prince over to the upright Confucian officials, it was indeed difficult for the prince to save his life.

It was not until the historical time when Jiajing listened to the Taoist priest and handed the prince over to the upright Confucian officials on the grounds that "two dragons cannot meet each other" that there were no more mysterious deaths of princes.

This shows that no one in the court or the palace wanted the monarch after Jiajing to remain so strong and strict.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong had to ponder over how to arrange for the crown prince.

After all, the eldest prince is now nine years old and has been educated by eunuchs in the palace for three years. It really can't be delayed any longer.

In fact, if he had not been too strong and tyrannical as the emperor, some upright people would have suggested establishing a crown prince long ago.

And now, no one can say for sure. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or next month, a minister will stand up again and propose to establish a crown prince.

As long as he doesn't kill the first person who proposed to establish a crown prince, there will definitely be imitators in the future.

"We'll discuss this matter tomorrow."

Zhu Houcong did not immediately make up his mind whether to appoint a crown prince, but decided to put it on hold for the time being.

Because he wanted to think about it seriously when he was free in the evening.

The three cabinet ministers did not force it, and of course they did not dare to force it, so they just nodded and agreed.

Zhu Houcong suddenly remembered something that the new eunuch Mai Fu from the Imperial Household Department had said this morning, so he patted his knees with both hands and said with a smile: "Since you are here, come with me to the Armory Bureau to see the four-wheeled carriage developed by Zhao Tishuai's men. This may be an important tool that will change the country's economy and people's livelihood in the future. Although you are scholars, you should also pay attention to practical matters and cannot underestimate its value."

"Yes!"

Zhang Cong and others bowed and saluted.

When Zhang Cong, Gui E and Xia Yan arrived at the Armoury Bureau and saw the four-wheeled carriage built by the Bureau, they noticed at a glance that this carriage had many unique features.

After Zhu Houcong asked Zhao Bing to introduce the new skills used in this four-wheeled carriage to the three cabinet ministers, Zhang Cong and other cabinet ministers learned that the extra parts on the wheels of the carriage were called bearings, and there were also differentials that made the carriage easier to turn, and shock absorbers that reduced vibrations.

"Let's all go up and sit down."

Zhu Houcong also asked Zhang Cong and others to accompany him in the carriage.

Soon, Zhang Cong and others discovered that this carriage was indeed much faster and more comfortable than the previous two carriages.

Therefore, after experiencing the four-wheeled carriage, Zhang Cong said: "Your Majesty, the person who developed this carriage should be rewarded heavily, because in my humble opinion, this is a great achievement. With this carriage, it will be much more convenient to transport grain, coal and silver in the future."

"Not only for transporting these, but also for transporting the wounded in the event of a war, it is more suitable than traditional horse-drawn carriages."

Gui E then followed up with this.

Zhu Houcong smiled and said, "Over the years, I have not cut the expenditure of the treasury. Instead, I have increased it a lot. Of course, it is not for my own extravagance, but most of it is spent on things that can promote the development and progress of the national economy and people's livelihood. You mentioned transporting coal, silver and even the wounded. The other horse-drawn train I asked them to make is more suitable."

Zhu Houcong said to Zhang Cong and others, "Follow me."

Not long after, Zhang Cong and others followed Zhu Houcong to the training ground in the imperial city, and saw a large iron-wheeled cart consisting of several carriages, pulled by several large horses, running in circles at a high speed on a wooden-covered iron track.

Zhang Cong and others could not help but be stunned.

After a while, Zhang Cong suddenly turned around and said to Zhu Houcong: "Your Majesty, I am grateful for letting me see this car. Therefore, I dare to think that the matter of the crown prince does not need to be taken seriously!" (End of this chapter)