The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Inside the main hall, the Li family members all expressed their gratitude.

Zhu Xiong Ying quickly helped him up and said a few polite words.

Seeing that the time was almost right, he didn't forget the important matter of the banquet and said, "Uncle, and all the elders, please don't stand. Today is a rare opportunity, let's have a proper get-together. Xiong Ying would like to offer you a toast!"

Tang He laughed heartily and chimed in, "The eldest grandson of the emperor is absolutely right! We're all starving, Siben, let's begin the feast!"

Li Wenzhong immediately agreed.

During this time, given Zhu Xiong Ying's distinguished status, he was originally to be invited to the main seat.

But how could he possibly usurp the host's role?

So he waved his hand, insisting on refusing, and said, "Today is your birthday, so you should naturally sit here!"

"Besides, Xiong Ying is a junior, and there is absolutely no reason for him to sit as the host..."

After Uncle Bao'er took his seat, Zhu Xiong Ying, along with Tang He, Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, Chang Mao, and others, took their seats in turn.

The banquet begins.

The servants filed in and brought out the delicious food and wine.

First came four cold appetizers to accompany the drinks: braised pork offal, assorted pickled vegetables, crispy fried river fish, and braised lamb tripe.

Then comes the main course, strictly adhering to the rule of four dishes and one soup.

This was also the standard for official banquets set by Emperor Hongwu in the sixth year of his reign!

The dishes include scallion and tofu soup, stir-fried chives, and braised carp...

Looking around, there was no beef in sight.

This is because more than twenty years ago, before Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, he had already issued a ban on slaughtering cattle when he was in charge of the Jianghuai war!

Later, it was also written into the "Great Ming Code - Military Code - Pasture".

Furthermore, it was specifically stipulated that: privately slaughtering one's own healthy ox would result in 100 strokes of the cane; intentionally killing another person's ox would result in 70 strokes of the cane and one and a half years of penal servitude; stealing and killing an ox would result in 100 strokes of the cane and three years of penal servitude, and repeat offenders would be directly exiled to the border garrison...

Hoon-gwi wanted to eat beef, but most of it was either "old age" or "illness"...

Even within the palace, the daily meat dishes consisted mainly of mutton, pork, goose, and river fish and shrimp.

In addition to regulations on diet, Zhu also issued several special prohibitions on the clothing, food, housing and transportation of officials!

For example, if an official goes to the countryside to handle official business and does not take a single needle or thread from the people, but dares to accept food and drink from the local village head, even if it is just a simple meal, he will be punished for embezzlement!

In the past decade or so, numerous prefectural and county officials have been beheaded and their heads displayed to the public for this reason!

Furthermore, officials from both the court and the public are prohibited from using public funds for meals and drinks. Violators will be punished for embezzlement, and those who use more than forty strings of cash will be executed!

Furthermore, even the residences and daily social interactions of court officials were subject to detailed regulations!

This shows that being an official in the Hongwu era was not only incredibly poor, but also extremely tiring!

But considering that Old Zhu was acting in the people's best interests, his starting point was not wrong...

The dishes were laid out.

Zhu Xiong Ying first picked up the chilled watermelon juice and toasted it to all the elders, then focused on chugging it down.

Seeing the demeanor of the eldest grandson of the emperor, the atmosphere suddenly became more relaxed.

Amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, everyone ate heartily and drank heartily.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhu Xiong Ying let out a burp and turned to his uncle Chang Mao, who was standing nearby, to chat in hushed tones.

"Uncle, how have you been lately? Are you feeling well?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Mao leaned forward, his eyes filled with deep resentment. He stroked his stubble and said with a bitter expression, "My dear nephew!"

"You have no idea, these past few months... especially the last two months, I've been so busy I barely have time to breathe, I haven't even had a moment to close my eyes and sleep!"

"I had to inform the Crown Prince of my departure today in order to be able to come to the Han Palace..."

At this point, I noticed my nephew's big eyes were full of curiosity.

Chang Mao let out a hiccup, unable to stop talking, and sighed, "Alas, do you think your uncle wanted to suffer like this... In the end, isn't it all because of that performance evaluation decree?"

"In the past, it was common for things to be delayed for ten days or half a month, or even a year or two."

"Now things are really messed up. The palace has set strict rules: all matters supervised by imperial decree by the Six Ministries, the Crown Prince's Palace, and the Censorate must gradually have deadlines set, responsibilities defined, and be properly registered and recorded. Each completed task will be closed off, with monthly reviews and quarterly performance evaluations!"

"If one task isn't completed on time, you'll be fined six months' salary. If two tasks aren't completed, you'll be demoted. If three or more tasks are completed, you'll be investigated and then exiled..."

"Just ten days ago, two officials under the Crown Prince were dismissed from their posts and thrown into jail because they were two days late in checking the accounts of embezzled funds."

"Your uncle just happened to be the one who spearheaded this whole thing, and I even got a mention of it in the performance review book! Don't you think I'm being wronged?"

The moment I heard the examination order.

Zhu Xiong Ying then knew the reason.

His neck shrank back instinctively.

After all, it was he who suggested this performance evaluation system to Old Zhu.

Now, starting from the imperial court, the policy has been implemented first, targeting those lazy bums who are used to slacking off.

How could they not complain?

But the improvement in efficiency is obvious!

Right now, the more the court officials oppose it, the more it proves that the implementation is correct!

Then there's my eldest uncle, Chang Mao, who was granted a title at a young age. He was arrogant, domineering, and ignorant of worldly affairs.

It just so happens that such a rope was needed, and it was firmly tied up.

Zhu Xiong Ying picked up the wine pot, poured her uncle a cup of wine, and said calmly, "Uncle, please quench your thirst first!"

"Um!"

Chang Mao, unsuspecting, drank it all in one gulp, then poured out his grievances, saying, "That's not all. Just three days ago, the Crown Prince gave me a new task: to oversee the smallpox vaccination program in Yingtian Prefecture and the surrounding eight prefectures, for a period of three months..."

"Nephew, you have no idea how difficult it is to gather all these hundreds of villages together..."

Zhu Xiong Ying blinked and moved her body back a little.

At first, I was just going to be polite and ask if he had been busy lately, but who knew that his uncle would start complaining in front of everyone!

They dare to speak ill of Lao Zhu, openly or secretly!

I can't exactly tell his uncle that he was involved in both of these things!

In order not to affect their relationship as uncle and nephew.

Old Zhu is determined to take the blame for this huge mistake.

People today and in the future will inevitably have a deeper impression of Zhu De's "harsh" image.

Of course, he couldn't just stand by and watch his uncle suffer in his current predicament!

Then, Zhu Xiong Ying whispered a few words in his ear.

Upon hearing this, Chang Mao's eyes lit up immediately, and he sobered up completely. He exclaimed happily, "Good nephew, this method really works?"

Zhu Xiong Ying remained calm and said, "Of course, as long as we use my nephew's method, I guarantee that all those villagers will bring their children to be vaccinated..."

Chang Mao felt relieved and said, "Good! You really dote on your uncle! You're more reliable than your second uncle. Once this matter is settled, just tell me what you want, and I'll have to thank you properly..."

My maternal uncle, Changmao, was easily startled.

It immediately attracted a lot of attention.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled at Li Wenzhong, Tang Ping, and the others who were looking over, and said, "Uncle, you flatter me! If you are in trouble, it is only natural for your nephew to lend a hand!"

"Left and right, we're family!"

Hearing the word "family," Chang Mao's heart stirred, and he chuckled, "That's right! Good nephew, from now on, my life is yours!"