Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 155 Bullying the princess? Get your knife ready to weed!

After hearing what Zhu Houcong said, Huang Jin hurriedly knelt down.

then.

Huang Jin raised his silly face and looked at Zhu Houcong.

"Your Majesty, I wonder who the thief is?"

At this time.

Zhu Houcong waved to Huang Jin.

Huang Jin crawled towards Zhu Houcong and raised his head to look at him.

He looked slightly uneasy.

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Houcong saw that he was very respectful and just smiled slightly.

"Go and call Lu Bing."

"Tell him that someone is trying to bully my sister!"

In the past in Xingguo, Princess Yongfu Zhu Xiuning took good care of him and Lu Bing.

Because of his special relationship with the palace, Lu Bing always treated Princess Yongfu with respect like his own elder sister.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong believed that Lu Bing would be more serious than others in handling this matter.

Zhu Houcong was not too surprised about the appearance of a thief in his family.

Because it is impossible for all the old people around him to be saints.

There are also some greedy people.

The characteristic of a villain is that he is disrespectful when you are close to him and resentful when you are far away from him.

The more such people feel that they have a special relationship with the emperor, the more self-righteous they will become.

"It's time to weed again!"

Zhu Houcong smiled and muttered to himself.

It was late afternoon.

The autumn wind is cool.

Zhu Houcong invited the Minister of War Wang Yangming to the inner training ground to learn archery.

It was a chance to learn archery and also to discuss current military and political reforms.

Generally speaking.

Zhu Houcong finalized the most important national policies when he met with his ministers privately.

Because it keeps confidentiality better.

Although Zhu Houcong is only sixteen years old now, he is really busy working hard to govern the country.

Studying and implementing the new policy will take up a lot of his energy.

It was difficult for him to take care of household chores and the management of the harem himself, so he could only choose to trust the people around him.

If this family affair did not concern Princess Yongfu’s lifelong happiness.

Zhu Houcong would not really spare the energy to take care of such details, so when he came to the inner teaching ground, Wang Yangming had already been waiting here for a long time.

After Wang Yangming arrived at the inner teaching ground, he kept looking in the direction of Qingning Palace.

He really wanted to see the emperor soon.

Because he wanted to complain to the emperor, accusing the civil servants in the border towns of being too self-righteous and not wanting to carry out reforms according to his wishes, and having serious differences with him in their views.

But the emperor never came.

This made Wang Yangming a little impatient.

Naturally, he would not suspect that the emperor was lazy.

After all, everyone knew that the current emperor was diligent in his work and studious, so within one year of taking the throne, he uncovered many major cases, which led to a new administration and resettlement of a large number of hungry people.

Wang Yangming just felt sorry for the emperor because he was so busy that he had to delay practicing archery with him in the afternoon because of other things.

He thought to himself that at his age, although he was busy with the imperial examinations, he still had plenty of time for drinking, singing, riding horses and having fun.

But as the emperor had been waiting for a long time, he still wished that the emperor would work harder to govern the country, and it would be best if he didn't rest for twelve hours a day, so that he wouldn't have to wait so long now.

"I have been waiting for a long time!"

When Zhu Houcong came, he said this.

Wang Yangming said hurriedly and fearfully: "Your Majesty, your words are too serious! I have not been waiting for long, and as a subject, how can I not understand the hard work of my king and father? Now that Your Majesty has taken the time to meet with me alone, it is a great grace to me. I am deeply moved and dare not complain."

Zhu Houcong smiled faintly and asked someone to bring a bow weighing one stone.

But Wang Yangming used a two-stone bow.

Although he is a civil official, his martial arts skills are also not low, and his archery and chariot-driving skills are among the best in the world today.

Otherwise, he would not have dared to go deep into the border town when he was young.

Although firearms have gradually become an important weapon in service, bows and arrows still have a very important position, especially in single-person close-range shooting where accuracy is required.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong continued to improve his skills in this area and also used it as a form of physical exercise.

Because archery is actually very physically demanding and it also trains the muscles.

While Zhu Houcong asked Wang Yangming to teach him how to improve his archery skills, he also asked Wang Yangming about the silver reform.

As the ruler of the world, it is common for him to do two or even several things at once. It is impossible for him to focus on just one thing for his entire life.

Therefore, for Zhu Houcong, practicing archery while discussing government affairs was already as easy as drinking water.

"The Three Borders General Peng Ze and Gansu Governor Xu Ming insisted on distributing military pay according to local grain prices in order to save the court money on the Nine Borders."

"But I still think that food prices are low now. Doing so will cause the soldiers to think that their salaries have been reduced, and the nine border generals will take the opportunity to instigate the soldiers to riot."

"But they still insist that saving money is the basis for long-term stability in the country, and they should not change the system for fear of arousing dissatisfaction among soldiers."

Wang Yangming said.

Whoosh!
Zhu Houcong shot an arrow at this time.

Right in the bull's eye.

"Your Majesty's perfect shot!"

Wang Yangming praised it.

Zhu Houcong smiled and said, "They think I am determined to innovate, so they are also actively reforming the system, but their way of reform is very similar to that of the Grand Tutor!"

“Saving money is good!”

“But it is better to be cautious about this kind of reform that causes the officers and soldiers in the border towns to suffer grievances.”

"You're right to disagree."

As Zhu Houcong spoke, he drew his bow again.

Wang Yangming corrected him, and then said: "Your Majesty is talking about the new currency system, which is intended to increase the discount rate and the public revenue of fire consumption in the southeast to increase the annual revenue of the court. At this time, it is not appropriate to carry out cost-saving reforms in the border towns."

"Order Peng Ze and Xu Ming to retire and transfer new officials!"

Zhu Houcong replied and let go of the bow.

Another arrow hit the target.

Wang Yangming bowed and agreed.

A look of joy suddenly appeared between his brows. After all, the emperor chose to support him.

Simultaneously.

Wang Yangming also knew from Zhu Houcong's words that his Majesty was indeed a sage and wise ruler rarely seen in history, and that he had not been confused about the reform and had not been fooled by the officials under him.

Next.

Zhu Houcong asked Wang Yangming about the training of the new army in the Weiwuying.

Since the re-establishment of the Mighty Camp in early March, the preparatory work for the Mighty Camp was completed in May and training has been going on for two months now.

When Wang Yangming saw Zhu Houcong asking about it, he also answered questions about the effectiveness of the training of the Weiwu Camp, put forward his new views on the coordinated use of infantry and cavalry, chariots and artillery, and mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of the Western firearms seized and delivered to the capital by Guangdong Deputy Envoy Wang Lun in a naval battle with the Portuguese invaders in Tuen Mun last year, and the firearms made by the Weiwu Camp in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houcong knew that this was the time when Western colonists had just arrived on the coast of China to harass and invade, and that there would be many wars with the Ming Dynasty in the future.

In this regard.

He just raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

He is not the Jiajing in history, who would allow Westerners to expand wildly in Southeast Asia.

While Zhu Houcong was practicing archery and discussing military affairs with Wang Yangming, Lu Bing was learning military tactics from Wang Qiong in the imperial prison.

"If you want to be good at military operations, you must first be good at managing finances. At present, there are few people in the country who are good at managing finances, so we are always short of money."

“Some officials love the people but not the soldiers, and they only cut back on spending, only to provoke a major change.”

"But fortunately, I am Yangming now. In addition, the emperor is smart and will avoid many drastic changes. However, governing a country is like cooking a small dish. You need to be careful when turning it over. You have to be a good spoon in His Majesty's hand. First of all, you cannot have any ideas of your own. You can only think what His Majesty thinks. Be a sharp arrow of His Majesty. Whoever His Majesty shoots you at, you must kill him! This is the awareness that you should have as His Majesty's henchman."

Wang Qiong was also preaching to Lu Bing at this time.

And just then.

Huang Jin came here and conveyed Zhu Houcong's words to Lu Bing.

"Who bullies His Highness?!"

After hearing this, Lu Bing stood up immediately.

Soon.

Lu Bing rushed to Zhu Houcong.

When Zhu Houcong saw Lu Bing's serious face, he knew that Lu Bing cared about this matter as much as he did.

"Go and investigate these people secretly."

"They may very well be future consorts."

"Investigate Shen Xueli first! Report any new information at any time."

Zhu Houcong didn't say much. He just handed Lu Bing a piece of paper with his name written on it and gave him a few instructions.

Lu Bing took it and took a look.

Zhu Houcong then warned, "Remember not to tell anyone, including your father!"

"Yes!"

Lu Bing bowed in reply.

"Excuse me, old man, can Mr. Shen from the Imperial College live here?"

On the day.

Lu Bing left home in plain clothes and went to Chongjiaofang.

As the construction of the outer city gradually took shape, the capital became more and more prosperous. Even in Chongjiaofang, the population grew and business flourished.

Lu Bing, dressed like a scholar, pretended to be idle while looking at this and asking that. From time to time, he would choose some toys and buy them, and give them to his servants.

It was not until he arrived at Chongjiaofang that he asked an old man.

The old man's wife, Jin, answered on his behalf: "Mr. Shen lives here and is our neighbor."

"Then I wonder where he is now?"

"He should go see a doctor. He is a widower and has a hereditary disease, so he needs to see a doctor every day."

After answering, Jin patted her husband and went back to the house.

Lu Bing nodded after hearing this: "Thank you!"

"widower?"

"He also has a hereditary disease? How can such a person be the prince consort of His Highness?"

"But why did the emperor ask me to inquire?"

Lu Bing was quite puzzled, but at the same time he had to think seriously about it.

Let’s talk.

Shortly after Lu Bing left, Zhu Houcong received a memorial from Wang Yangming requesting the dismissal of Peng Ze and Xu Ming, and replacing Peng Ze with Li Yue and Xu Ming with Chen Jiuchou.

Zhu Houcong asked the Imperial Household Department to approve his request, and he smiled about it.

According to original history, the Minister of War was Peng Ze.

However, Peng Ze blindly followed Yang Tinghe's orders, so he drastically cut the military strength and saved military expenses.

Governor Xu Ming also echoed him and made every effort to investigate the problem of soldiers eating empty salaries in Ganzhou, reform the military salary system, and force the soldiers to pay according to the grain price at that time, from seven cents a month to three cents and three fen.

However, when Xu Ming carried out the reform, it was the beginning of the first year of the Jiajing reign when the market price of grain was not high, so the soldiers' salaries were relatively reduced, which aroused the soldiers' dissatisfaction. Under the instigation of General Li Long and others, a mutiny broke out.

According to records.

At that time, more than 2,000 Ganzhou border troops made a riot in the governor's office and demanded that the change be rejected. However, Xu Ming was unwilling to compromise and insisted that the change must be made. This eventually led to his own death in the mutiny, making him the first governor in the Ming Dynasty to be killed because of a mutiny.

It is known in history as the Ganzhou Mutiny.

Now, the Minister of War in the first year of Jiajing was Wang Yangming.

Xu Ming's policy of reforming military pay did not receive the approval of the Ministry of War. As the two sides argued, the matter was shelved until July of the first year of the Jiajing reign.

In the end, it ended with Xu Ming being dismissed from his post.

A mutiny was avoided.

Zhu Houcong was also quite pleased with this.

While Zhu Houcong was very pleased about this matter, Lu Bing also went to the palace again that night and reported to Zhu Houcong the results of his investigation that day.

"Shen Xueli is a widower and has a serious illness?"

“Why are these not in the household registration? Are they deliberately hidden?”

Zhu Houcong was quite surprised when he heard Lu Bing's report.

Lu Bing replied, "I have only heard this from an old woman, but if it is true, Your Majesty, Shen Xueli is on the list of candidates for the imperial consort, which means that Old Cui and his men from the Internal Affairs Bureau are evil-minded!"

Zhu Houcong had no intention of listening to Lu Bing's words and just frowned.

Because this Shen Xueli is related to whether he should trust Yuan Zonggao enough!

However, Lu Bing then added: "However, Your Majesty, I thought about it later and felt that something was wrong."

"What's wrong?"

Zhu Houcong suddenly looked up and asked Lu Bing.

Lu Bing said: "I just asked where Shen Xueli was, but the old woman stressed that he was a widower and that he had a serious illness. She said a lot of things, and it felt like she was hinting at something!"

"Normally, you can just say you might as well go see a doctor."

(End of this chapter)