Ming Dynasty man

Chapter 714 The meaning of the title

Li Jing sighed: "Father-in-law, you are not young, a fall is no small matter."

Shen Zheng shook his head slightly.

Seeing that Shen Zheng was a little sluggish, Li Jing patted Shen Zheng's hand lightly and said, "Rest well, don't talk, the imperial doctor will come later, let him take a good look at you."

Shen Zheng sighed, and slowly closed his eyes.

After a while, the guards hurried over with Doctor Hu.

Li Jing waved his hand to stop Imperial Physician Hu from saluting, and pointed to Shen Zhengdao: "Hurry up and see Mr. Shen."

Imperial Physician Hu responded, put down the medicine box hastily, went to sit in front of the warm kang, calmed down his shortness of breath, then took Shen Zheng's hand and concentrated on feeling the pulse.

After a long time, Imperial Physician Hu let go of his hand.

Turning around to look at Li Jing, and then at Shen Zheng, Imperial Physician Hu pondered for a moment and said, "Marshal, Mr. Shen's health is fine, but he is old and overworked, so his body is a little weak."

Li Jingjing nodded and waved to Imperial Physician Hu, who hurriedly followed Li Jing to the next room.

After waving his hand to motion for Imperial Physician Hu to sit down, Li Jing asked in a low voice, "Principal Physician Hu, how is my father-in-law's health?"

Imperial Physician Hu sighed lightly and said, "Commander back, Mr. Shen is very weak. If you continue to work like this, your fate may not last forever."

Li Jing was stunned when he heard the words, and after a while Fang said: "Can you take care of it?"

Imperial Physician Hu glanced outside the door and said in a low voice, "We must not work any longer."

Li Jing nodded silently, understanding that what Imperial Physician Hu said was to stop working hard was to let Shen Zheng retire.

Li Jing was very conflicted about whether to let Shen Zheng retire.

Both privately and publicly, Li Jing wanted Shen Zheng to retire.

Personally speaking, Shen Zheng is over 60 years old. He has been worrying about state affairs every day these years, and his health is not good. Li Jing hopes that Shen Zheng will retire and live a few years of leisure.

From a business point of view, Shen Zheng has reached the age of retirement.If Shen Zheng was in good health, it would be no problem to work for a few more years. Li Jing also hoped that Shen Zheng would help him, but Shen Zheng's health was not good, and continuing to work would violate Li Jing's retirement system.

But Shen Zheng didn't take the initiative to propose retirement, and Li Jing couldn't force him to retire either.

After all, everyone has seen what Shen Zheng has done over the years. Not to mention what Shen Zheng did when Li Jing started his family, but just a few years ago, when the country was most difficult, it was only thanks to Shen Zheng's careful planning that Daming was able to tide over the difficulties. .Now that the country is getting better and Shen Zheng is asked to retire, how can Li Jing say that?

But now Li Jing couldn't help but stop talking, if Shen Zheng was allowed to continue working, Shen Zheng would be exhausted to death.It's just that Li Jing had to think carefully about how to say this.

After thinking about it for a while, Li Jing thought that he still couldn't say this by himself, but Shen Ying should say it.

Looking at Imperial Physician Hu, Li Jing said: "Principal Physician Hu, I have something to trouble you for. In a while, you and I will go back to the mansion and tell my wife about my father-in-law's physical condition."

Physician Hu hurriedly responded.

Sighing, Li Jing got up and said, "Let's go, I'll arrange a car to bring my father-in-law to my house and let my wife take care of him."

Imperial Physician Hu sighed: "The commander-in-chief is really filial, those so-called filial sons should really learn from the commander-in-chief."

Li Jing shook his head slightly: "I haven't taken good care of my father-in-law these years!"

While speaking, Li Jing returned to the signing room, called the guards and said, "Arrange a car immediately, and I will pick up my father-in-law to live in my residence for a few days."

Zhu Youjian was startled when he heard the words, and looked up at Li Jing. Seeing that Li Jing's face was a little heavy, Zhu Youjian suddenly realized something in his heart.

After a while, the carriage was ready, Li Jing ordered someone to help Shen Zheng up, leaned down and carried Shen Zheng on his back and said, "Father-in-law, I will take you to my residence and let Ying'er serve you for a few days."

Seeing Li Jing personally carrying Shen Zheng on his back, everyone was shocked, and they wanted to help, but Li Jing waved his hand to stop them.

Shen Zheng wanted to refuse, but his limbs were weak, and he fell on Li Jing's back, tears streaming from his eyes.

Li Jing walked a few steps, turned his head and said to Wang Chengen: "Chengen, please tell Su Heng, let him arrange a car to my father-in-law's residence and bring my mother-in-law to my residence."

Wang Chengen responded when he heard the words, and hurried to Li Jing's cabinet office.

Li Jing said to Zhu Youjian again: "Your Majesty, I won't ride with you in the car."

Zhu Youjian hurriedly said: "Brother Li, how about I come to your house another day?"

Li Jing shook his head: "It's okay, you can talk about yours with Huilao, and you can't delay the country's plans because of my affairs."

Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.

After leaving the yamen of the household department, Li Jing carefully placed Shen Zheng in the car, and immediately ordered the coachman to drive.

Li Jing's mansion is not far from the cabinet yamen, and it's time to take a carriage ride.

Seeing Li Jing getting off the carriage with Shen Zheng on his back, followed by Zhu Youjian and the others, the porter was shocked and hurriedly notified Shen Ying and the others.

After a while, Shen Ying, Zhu Huiyu and others rushed over, Li Jing stopped everyone from saluting, and asked Shen Ying to order someone to arrange a residence for Shen Zheng immediately.

After Shen Ying arranged Shen Zheng's room, Li Jing told Shen Ying about Shen Zheng's fall, and asked Imperial Physician Hu to tell Shen Ying about Shen Zheng's physical condition.

Shen Ying couldn't help shedding tears when she heard this.

Patting Shen Ying's back lightly, Li Jing said: "Ma'am, it's not convenient for me to say something, I hope you can persuade my father-in-law to let him retire and go home to spend his old age."

Shen Ying nodded silently upon hearing this.

At this time Zhu Youjian suddenly interjected: "Brother Li, Mrs. Sister-in-law, Mr. Shen has worked for the country for many years, and the merits of the Ming Dynasty can be learned from day to day. I want to award Mr. Shen the title of Duke of the Kingdom."

Li Jing was taken aback when he heard the words, and then shook his head lightly: "I accept the emperor's wishes on behalf of my father-in-law, but it's a big matter to be ennobled, especially since my father-in-law is a civil servant, so I need to think twice about being ennobled."

Zhu Youjian hurriedly said: "I know that brother Li stipulates that non-military merits are not allowed to be knighted, but Mr. Shen is in charge of the logistics department and also has a post in the staff department. This is a real military position. Although Mr. Shen's credit is not like that of Cao Wenzhao and others It's so obvious, but everyone knows that logistics is inseparable from winning a battle. If Mr. Shen hadn't dispatched various supplies for the soldiers, how could Cao Wenzhao and others have made such outstanding achievements?

Thinking back when the Taizu made the Eight Dukes of the founding of the country, Li Shanchang was the leader of the Eight Dukes, General Xu Da and General Chang Yuchun were in second place, Master Shen's achievements were not inferior to Li Shanchang, this Duke deserved it. "

Li Jing looked at Shen Ying, and shook his head again: "My father-in-law is indeed meritorious, but I still don't think the knighthood should be hasty, and I will explain the reason to you later."

Zhu Youjian said: "Brother Li, you don't need to explain, I know what you are thinking. If you want me to say, you just worry too much. Although Mr. Shen is your father-in-law, Mr. Shen's title is earned by merit, isn't it? Rely on your nepotism. Besides, conferring titles is my right as the emperor, and you can't interfere too much."

Hearing this, Li Jing smiled wryly: "It seems that I can't do without explaining it clearly to you. Well, let me explain it clearly to you this time, so as to save you from wanting to confer titles on people every now and then."

Turning to look at Shen Ying, she said, "Ma'am, I have asked someone to bring my mother-in-law together. During this time, father-in-law and mother-in-law will live in our house. You should be filial and filial to the two elders."

"Thank you, master." Shen Ying whispered.

Li Jing patted Shen Ying's hand lightly and said: "You and I are one, husband and wife, it is our duty to honor our father-in-law and mother-in-law, so there is nothing to be thankful for."

After a pause, Li Jing continued: "Take care of your father-in-law first, and I'll talk to the emperor about something. After you settle your father-in-law down, go to the study with Huilao, and the emperor and I have something else to tell you."

Shen Ying hurriedly said: "Yes! The master will go first, and the concubine and sister will go there in a while."

"Not busy, I'll go there after you settle down." After finishing speaking, he turned around and greeted Zhu Youjian to follow him to the study.

After arriving in the study, after the servants serve tea and leave, Li Jing said: "Your Majesty, let me tell you why I don't want to ennoble my father-in-law.

Your majesty, you should know that I have always wanted to cut off the titles of those nobles who relied on the merits of their ancestors to sit on the titles. This is why the hereditary system of titles was abolished in the first place.I originally wanted to gradually cancel the titles of these people step by step, but I have too many things to do in the past few years, and I don't have the energy to do it. "

Zhu Youjian nodded silently when he heard the words.

Li Jing continued: "So is the title system useful? It should be said that it is still very useful. In the Tang Dynasty, Du Fu's poem said: A man is born in the world, and he will be a marquis when he is strong. Keeping the title system can stimulate people's fighting spirit.

But our Daming has too many noble titles, some people have not made an inch of merit, they just rely on the shadow of their ancestors to seize the title, and some can be awarded the title by relying on their daughters to become imperial concubines or princesses, and then they can just do nothing , enjoy the glory and wealth.How unfair is this to those soldiers who survived their deaths on the battlefield? "

Zhu Youjian couldn't help being a little embarrassed when he heard this. The emperor of Ming Dynasty often conferred titles on the fathers and even brothers of the empress and his beloved concubine.Zhu Youjian himself conferred earls on Queen Zhou's father Zhou Kui and Tian Guifei's father Tian Hongyu.

However, the two were dismissed by Li Jing because of their tax resistance. It was because of the face of Queen Zhou that Li Jing didn't send them to prison for questioning.But Empress Zhou is a virtuous and virtuous woman who is indeed the mother of the country. Instead of complaining about Li Jing, she scolded her father and elder brother.

Seeing Zhu Youjian's embarrassed expression, Li Jing smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I'm not talking about you. Compared with previous emperors, you are still pretty good."

Zhu Youjian shook his head with a wry smile.

Li Jing continued: "Because the emperor's concubines are mostly selected from folk families or low-level official families, the quality of these families is not high, and many of them have the appearance of nouveau riche, and the emperor arbitrarily bestows titles on foreign relatives. Obviously, it is extremely disrespectful to Daming's title, which completely deviates from the original intention of setting the title.

You must know that the titles of Daming are set up for those who have military merits. In fact, not only Daming, since the past dynasties, most of the titles have been bestowed on those who have made military exploits.Li He's poem in the Tang Dynasty said: "Why don't men bring Wu hooks and collect the fifty states of Guanshan, please go to Lingyan Pavilion temporarily, if you are a scholar with thousands of households?" "

Zhu Youjian nodded silently upon hearing this.

(End of this chapter)