Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 176 This is coming for me! They want to destroy me!
"This involves important people, so we must be careful."

"After the court session is over, the ministers of the cabinet will go to the Wenhua Palace to discuss this matter."

Zhu Houcong seemed to have anticipated this and spoke calmly.

The court officials could not help but be surprised, secretly sighing that the emperor was indeed mature and that even with such a thing happening, he was not panicked at all.

The key is……

The court officials felt that they were the ones who began to question whether Zhu Xizhou was deliberately making the new policy worse, but the emperor did not show any anger on his face.

Therefore, this made them secretly afraid, fearing that the emperor had some sinister plot waiting for them to reveal it.

Zhu Houcong was indeed not at all panicked by this.

Because he came from later generations, he was very familiar with the methods used by the powerful and aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River.

He is even a little excited now.

What excited him was that this was an opportunity for him to take advantage of the situation to clean up the landlord class in the south of the Yangtze River and strengthen central power.

Therefore, after setting up the Ming Dynasty Practical School, he issued an imperial edict to abolish the regulation established during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong that employees who rebelled against their employers would be guilty of treason.

He must first free the lower-class common people in Jiangnan from the constraints of the imperial constitution and national laws!
Because in the Jiangnan region where industry and commerce are developed, the employment system is very common.

Many craftsmen, tenant farmers, and even slaves were employed.

After all, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral teachings, slavery was not allowed in the Ming Dynasty, so the so-called domestic slaves were either kept in the name of adopted sons and daughters, or hired as long-term workers.

However, industry and commerce in the south of the Yangtze River are developed, and the latter method is more common.

Therefore, by doing this, Zhu Houcong was allowing the craftsmen, tenant farmers, and slaves in Jiangnan to be more bold in opposing oppression.

However, the abolition of this imperial edict was indeed difficult for the vested interests to accept.

Because they could have used this regulation to enslave the hired people at will and deal with them at will. As long as the hired people objected, they could execute them or even use the capital punishment. After all, if the hired workers committed a crime of treason, the employer could deal with them for it.

But not now.

Naturally, not only the Jiangnan gentry could not accept it, but many officials in the court could not accept it either.

After all, this was an imperial constitutional provision that had finally appeared during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, and it was extremely beneficial to the interests of landlords and capitalists all over the world, and they were able to unlimitedly exploit and squeeze the proletarian people!

Because of this imperial edict, the cabinet ministers and nine officials have recently been trying to find ways to get the emperor to withdraw it, and have also expressed their dissatisfaction in private after the edict was issued.

And now, there appeared another incident where scholars from the south of the Yangtze River cried in the temple to protest against taxation and demanded that the court kill Zhu Xizhou.

After the court meeting, the cabinet ministers and nine officials consciously gathered in groups of three or four, talking about these things as they walked.

"The crying temple incident occurred because we disrespected the late emperor's filial piety temple!"

"The late emperor's filial piety temple has always been the most popular among the people!"

"But from the beginning of the ceremony, they forcibly cut off their rule. This has made people all over the world complain about the late emperor's filial piety temple, and they think that we ministers are unaware of the late emperor's filial piety temple's kindness!"

"Later, he repeatedly violated the philosophy of governing the country through filial piety and reformed the system, which led to the crying temple protest and the demand to kill Zhu Kunshan."

"People's hearts are like water, and people's movements are like smoke. We cannot ignore public opinion!"

"But now they have issued an edict to abolish the crime of employees conspiring against their employers. Isn't it obvious that this is another act of disrespecting the late Emperor?"

"What do the people of the world who most respect the Temple of Filial Piety think?"

“Wouldn’t that exacerbate the civil unrest?”

It was at this time that the Minister of Works Zhao Huang expressed his views to the Chief Minister of the Cabinet Liang Chu.

He is essentially a conservative and ritualist who does not support reform.

And he also knew that Liang Chu was the minister who could most influence the emperor.

After all, Liang Chu was the chief minister of the cabinet, and the only one among the grand secretaries who welcomed the emperor and was not active in suppressing the imperial power. At the same time, he was always generous and magnanimous, and would not use the emperor's trust to attack people he disliked.

Therefore, he expressed his true thoughts in front of Liang Chu, hoping that Liang Chu would listen to him and persuade the emperor to make appropriate concessions.

Liang Chu stopped and asked Zhao Huang with a smile: "So, the Grand Marshal feels that the decision on the grand ceremony was wrong?"

"Of course I didn't mean that!"

Zhao Huang immediately denied it.

His eyes were a little evasive.

then.

He reorganized the words in his mind and said, "What I mean is that the ceremony is correct, but the people are ignorant and don't understand why the ceremony is set in this way, so they will be more dissatisfied with the Xiao Temple. It's not that the ceremony is wrong. Prime Minister, please understand!"

Liang Chu nodded.

then.

Liang Chu said, "But the law that employees are guilty of conspiracy against their employers has always been criticized as too harsh. It is not the way to implement benevolent governance, and it really damages the benevolence of the Xiao Temple! Your Majesty abolished this unkind policy for the sake of preserving the Xiao Temple's virtue! Since the people of the world respect the Xiao Temple so much, how could they be dissatisfied with the edict to preserve the Xiao Temple's virtue?"

"This one……"

"Your Majesty's edict is certainly wise, and the Prime Minister's understanding is certainly accurate."

"It's just that the ignorant people don't understand! They just think this is exposing the hypocrisy of the Xiao Temple."

As soon as Zhao Huang said this, Liang Chu interrupted him: "Are you saying that Xiaomiao is hypocritical?"

"I don't!"

"How could I say that!"

Zhao Huang hastily denied it, sweating with anxiety. He did not expect that in his haste to argue, he would actually say such a treasonous statement.

"Prince, what I mean is that the people of the world would rather downplay this law and not mention it, so as to avoid the strict law that was once instigated by treacherous ministers being mentioned again."

"After all, people all over the world admire the Xiao Temple very much and don't want anything to damage its reputation. They can only accept that the Xiao Temple is perfect and has no unkind policies."

"After all, the Venerable has three taboos."

Zhao Huang replied.

Liang Chu said: "Your Majesty did not criticize and deny the Xiao Temple because of this, but just abolished this policy, which means you have to obey the three taboos!"

"Besides, does not mentioning or abolishing it mean that this regulation does not exist?"

"There will always be employees who have disputes with their employers. As long as there are, there will be a time when this regulation will be implemented, and there will be a time when more people will know that the Xiao Temple has established this strict law. Therefore, if this strict law established for the Xiao Temple is no longer known, it can only be abolished before it can be forgotten!"

"Prime Minister is right!"

Zhao Huang replied with a wry smile.

But then.

His expression gradually became ugly because he failed to convince Liang Chu.

At this time, Zuodu Yushi Yan Yishou also walked towards Liang Chu.

He knew that the emperor would definitely ask him, the chief governor, for his opinion on whether or not to kill Zhu Xizhou to appease the anger of the people in the south of the Yangtze River.

After all, according to the power operation system of various government offices stipulated in the "Da Ming Hui Dian", the guilt of the Chief Censor and the Censor-in-Chief was determined by the Censorate.

Zhu Xizhou was the exiled Right Censor-in-Chief, and he was the Chief Censor-in-Chief. It was naturally up to him to decide whether Zhu Xizhou was guilty or not.

Therefore, he needed to first determine what the Son of Heaven meant.

After all, if his will was inconsistent with Zhu Houcong's, then His Majesty would definitely replace him as the Left Censor-in-Chief, or even hold a grudge against him.

If he agrees with Zhu Houcong's will, not only can he keep his position as the Left Censor-in-Chief, but he can also save his life and property.

After experiencing so many things, Yan Yishou basically understood the character of Emperor Zhu Houcong.

He had to admit that the emperor was really smart and generous, giving him a lot of year-end bonuses, but he was just too vindictive!

The former Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Jin and the former Minister of Rites Mao Cheng were tortured to death because they had offended the emperor first. When the emperor gave them the opportunity, they were tortured to death. It is chilling to think about it.

therefore.

Yan Yishou wanted to ask Liang Chu first.

After all, Liang Chu is the person who can best perceive the emperor's intentions, and he is willing to protect all ministers.

Therefore, Yan Yishou bowed respectfully to Liang Chu and asked, "What does Yuan Fu think about the Jiangnan incident, and how should our Censorate deal with it?"

"Do you still need to ask the Prime Minister about this matter?"

"Zhu Xizhou is a man who is always sinister and cunning, and even a traitor who looks like a loyal person! Although he was the one who proposed the strategy of splitting up the Southern Zhili region, he was only trying to curry favor with Your Majesty, and he was not sincere. He was following the example of Li Cha (Li Dongyang), openly supporting the new policy, but in fact he was condoning corrupt officials, excessively collecting taxes, and undermining the new policy!"

"If this man is not killed, the reform will be difficult to achieve!"

"The Censorate sentenced Zhu Xizhou, the traitor, to death!"

At this time, the Minister of Works Zhao Huang put forward his own views first.

Just as Zhao Huang finished speaking, Zhang Zhen, the eunuch from the secretarial office, came to Liang Chu and said, "Prince, Jiangnan has just arrived in Nanjing. The Minister of War Qiao Yu urgently reported that the Yongwei Battalion has developed agricultural, industrial and commercial cooperatives in Jiangnan, which is the basis for indulging the people in rebellion and conspiracy. The emperor asked you to inform the ministers and nine officials, and we can discuss this matter together tomorrow."

Liang Chu bowed and said yes, then accepted the decree.

"Farming cooperative, industrial cooperative, trading cooperative?"

Zhao Huang and Yan Yishou were both greatly surprised and curious.

After all, it was the first time they heard of such a new organization.

Liang Chu then handed the book to the two of them and said, "Take a look at it first."

then.

Zhao Huang and Yan Yishou started reading it first.

"That's unreasonable!"

"This is rebellion! This is a reversal of moral principles! This is a disruption of our moral code! This is terrible!"

"All those who join farmers', workers' and business cooperatives and become thieves should be executed and put on a pile of stones as a warning to others!"

After reading it, Zhao Huang, the Minister of Works, frowned and stated his own views.

Yan Yishou was calmer than Zhao Huang, and only bowed to Liang Chu and said, "Prime Minister, it is only the scholars and officials who have established literary and poetry societies. How can the common people establish societies? Establishing a society means that there will inevitably be group discussions and group decisions, and group discussions and group decisions will inevitably lead to the suspicion of rebellion. The scholars and officials know etiquette and understand teachings, so establishing a society is naturally conducive to learning and rectifying the government, but the common people are ignorant and stupid. Once they have a society, they will be easily instigated by evil spirits and may commit rebellion!"

"What do you think? Please come to the emperor tomorrow to discuss it. I will show the book to the other ministers first."

Liang Chu said this with a smile and left with Qiao Yu's book.

And the next day.

When the ministers arrived at the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Houcong was the first to raise questions: "Is crying at the temple as simple as expressing public grievances?"

"I don't think so. This is because they are dissatisfied with the imperial court and with me as their father. They want to rebel!"

"Otherwise, why are you crying in the temple? You must be crying in the temple because you think I am incompetent!"

"Not only did they privately set up a sacrificial shed to invite the deity of the filial temple, but they also privately tried my personal guards, killed my personal guards, and even directly set up a council."

"What do they want to do?"

"Want to destroy me?"

When Zhu Houcong got to this point, he sneered and asked about the ministers and officials.

The ministers of the cabinet were horrified, some with their mouths half open.

Zhu Houcong stood up and pointed to the book that had been placed on the imperial desk. He said, "Look for yourselves. This is an urgent letter sent by Zhou Shangwen. It contains the proclamation and memorial of the scholars in Jiangnan as well as the sacrificial text!"

"This is coming for me!"

Zhu Houcong then said this in a harsh voice, deliberately sounding very angry, and then said:
"So, I summoned you important officials here for only one reason. If you also think that I should be deposed, then I will return to Xingguo! You can ask the Queen Mother for her will and re-appoint the monarch!"

All the ministers and officials turned pale and stood there in a daze.

"These Jiangnan scholars are so bold!"

Zhao Huang came to his senses first, reprimanded him, and then bowed to Zhu Houcong and said:
"Your Majesty, I have long believed that Zhu Butang is honest and upright. He will never condone corrupt officials, nor will he harbor evil intentions and deliberately undermine the new policy. If he is disloyal, why would he propose to split up Nanzhi? After all, he is from Nanzhi, but for the sake of the country and the people, he is willing to offend his fellow villagers, which shows his loyalty! How can I not believe in such a loyal minister?"

"In my opinion, the so-called public grievances are nothing more than the deliberate creation of momentum by the powerful to intimidate the imperial court!"

At this time.

Zuo Du Yushi Yan Yishou also bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly believe that crying in the temple to resist taxation is indeed a great act of treason, and the proposal to kill the soldiers and set up a council is even more tantamount to rebellion. However, according to the memorial submitted by the Nanjing soldiers that Your Majesty asked me to read yesterday, I learned that General Zhou also established agricultural, industrial, and commercial cooperatives in Jiangnan."

"I asked Zhou Shangwen to establish these societies so that the lower-class people can help each other and communicate with the government!"

Zhu Houcong then asked Yan Yishou: "If the Chief Justice has any objection to this, please speak frankly."

Zhu Houcong spread his arms and put them behind his back, saying, "I am not someone who cannot tolerate different opinions!"

"Your Majesty, I have no objection. I just think that your Majesty's move is a wise and enlightening one. The scholars and officials set up societies to promote learning, and the common people should also set up societies to facilitate education!"

"It's just that Grand Marshal Zhao Gong has objections to this."

Yan Yishou replied at this time.

He himself did not dare to remonstrate with the emperor, so he thought of giving this opportunity to Zhao Huang, and at the same time letting the emperor see Zhao Huang's true face.

Zhao Huang was shocked when he heard this and quickly crawled down.

"Your Majesty! I have no objection. I fully support your move!"

"In my opinion, your Majesty's actions are in line with the style of the ancient Taizu. Back then, Taizu also set up the Shenming Pavilion, where villagers often gathered to drink and pass on government orders to resolve disputes and hold officials accountable!"

Zhao Huang was so anxious that he was sweating all over his forehead and almost wanted to cry:
"Your Majesty, there is a bad guy among your nine ministers!"

(End of this chapter)