Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 63: It's just a lie

Zhu Houcong looked at Huang Jin: "Did you find out anything else?"

Before being sent to Prince Xing's Palace, Huang Jin was a palace maid from the Inner Study Hall and was old acquaintances of many palace maids in the palace.

Now, after so many years, Huang Jin has become the eunuch of the Sishejian, and many of the palace maids he knew back then have also become close palace attendants to the nobles in the harem.

Therefore, it would be easy for Huang Jinzhen to consciously inquire about some information.

What's more, Huang Jin was born with a simple and honest face. In addition, he was always a kind person who was willing to make friends and stand up for the weak. As a result, many people in the palace were willing to trust him and share some information with him.

Because of this, historically, Jiajing always let Huang Jin be in charge of the East Factory.

After all, if Huang Jin was in charge of the East Factory, he would neither do evil nor be completely ignorant of any news. On the contrary, he would be more well-informed. He even knew that Hai Rui, a sixth-rank official, bought a coffin before his death.

"I also heard that Eunuch Qiu was unhappy because his farmland that he secretly deposited in the imperial farm was cleared out due to the national policy of clearing farmland. He felt that Eunuch Wei and his people were too weak and there was no need to be so obedient to the emperor who succeeded to the throne as a foreign vassal. Not only did he voluntarily hand over the silver, but he also let the emperor take the farmland as a token of his favor."

"Besides, isn't it said recently that Master Yang will soon recover and return to the cabinet?"

"Eunuch Qiu planned to contact some military heroes to support Taifu Yang in negotiating the grand ceremony, so that the emperor would recognize Xiao Miao as his father and only recognize the empress dowager as his mother, and urge the empress dowager and Taifu Yang to cooperate so that the emperor would just stay in the palace and continue his offspring without thinking about anything else."

"The matters of pacifying the people will be handed over to the outer court, and the matters of showing favor to the palace ladies will be handed over to the Imperial Household Department."

Huang Jin continued to answer.

this time.

He had received a lot of advice from Wei Bin, so he knew more clearly what information his master Zhu Houcong, who was already the emperor, needed to hear.

Zhu Houcong was indeed solemn after hearing this, and thought for a while, then instructed Huang Jin:
"Go tell the East Factory to find out which nobles are in contact with Qiu Ju."

Huang Jin bowed and said yes.

"Your Majesty, it's too hot, how about a bowl of magnolia jelly?"

Zhu Houcong was still thinking seriously, so he ignored Wang Chunjing's suggestion and just shouted to Huang Jin:
"return!"

Huang Jin walked back.

"Don't go to the East Factory. When you go to the Imperial Prison to see Wei Bin, tell Lu Song directly and ask him to send someone to investigate secretly!"

Zhu Houcong ordered.

Huang Jin said yes again.

"Have a bowl."

Zhu Houcong then gave some instructions to Wang Chunjing, then stood up, took off his belt and threw it on the ground.

Snapped!
Seeing this, Wang Chunjing hurriedly picked them up, and after a while, he placed a bowl of magnolia jelly in front of Zhu Houcong.

Zhu Houcong took a bite and couldn't help frowning: "I told you not to put sugar in it!"

As far as Zhu Houcong knew, many emperors of the Ming Dynasty were obese and had high blood pressure, such as Hongxi, Wanli, Taichang, and Hongguang, so it was very necessary to control the three highs.

"They used a new method and added some honey. This servant tried it and it tasted good. Many people tried it and had no problem with it. It just made them feel more comfortable."

Wang Chunjing quickly pursed her red lips and replied.

Zhu Houcong smiled and said, "Are you afraid that I will not be able to help myself and will kill this eunuch left by the previous emperor at this time?"

Wang Chunjing knelt down anxiously: "I dare not!"

At this time, all the maids under Wang Chunjing knelt down, and knelt in a room full of girls.

Zhu Houcong stopped smiling and leaned back: "Everyone, get up."

"Rub it for me."

then.

Zhu Houcong waved to Wang Chunjing.

Wang Chunjing bowed and said yes, then walked behind Zhu Houcong, placed his white hand on Zhu Houcong's temple and rubbed it gently.

"Comfortable!"

After feeling the warm touch of Wang Chunjing's fingers, Zhu Houcong smiled and said something.

Wang Chunjing couldn't help but smile.

Zhu Houcong happened to catch a glimpse of this scene, and also caught a glimpse of Wang Chunjing's slender jade neck under her chin. He just smiled slightly, then closed his eyes, letting the faint jasmine-like fragrance linger around his nose.

Yang Tinghe announced that his illness had greatly improved and that he was going to return to the cabinet to continue presiding over the government. Not only did many of Yang Tinghe's fellow civil servants become excited, but even some of the eunuchs and nobles began to become restless.

Zhu Houcong was not surprised by this.

The people who suffered the most in the cleanup of the farmlands in the capital were actually the nobles and relatives of the emperor, as well as the eunuchs who had enclosed land and fields in the name of running the imperial farms for the emperor.

Because these people mainly gathered in the capital.

In addition, Yang Tinghe's previous reduction of military academies also brought many benefits to the nobles, relatives of the emperor, and eunuchs, so naturally many of them were grateful to him.

Therefore, some nobles, relatives of the emperor, and eunuchs hoped that Yang Tinghe would return to the cabinet, and hoped that Yang Tinghe could unite with the dowager to control the emperor's mind on their behalf.

But Zhu Houcong did not regret doing so.

The reason, of course, is that these nobles and relatives have eaten too much over the years and it’s time for them to vomit some of it out.

In addition, the eunuchs also took too much land and put it into their own pockets in the name of the emperor, and they should give some of it back.

You must know that many of the lands they embezzled belonged to the imperial guards and the emperor.

According to historical records, there were more than three million acres of land under the name of the imperial farm, but the amount that actually reached the emperor each year was only worth 50,000 taels of silver.

This is even more excessive than the ratio of "they took two million and only gave me one million".

It's simply deceiving God.

Therefore, how could Zhu Houcong be willing to bear the infamy of annexing a large amount of military and civilian land in the capital and destroying the foundation of the capital's military defense while not gaining much benefit?

Besides.

Zhu Houcong also wanted to test the minds of these noble officials and eunuchs by clearing out the estates.

Who is reliable and who is not, the true colors of these people will only be revealed when the emperor really starts to get serious about interests.

Those with a conscience would naturally feel that it would be a way of making amends if they gave back some of the military and royal property they had embezzled.

Those without conscience will naturally feel that they are at a disadvantage and will resent the emperor for only knowing how to bully those of them who do not have much real power.

Some people are even more heartless and would do something outrageous just because Zhu Houcong asked them to hand over some wasteland.

Only after screening, Zhu Houcong will know which meritorious officials and eunuchs are reliable and which are not, and then feed the reliable ones, while the particularly unreliable ones must be killed as a warning to the monkeys!
"Yang Tinghe."

Zhu Houcong muttered to himself.

He had to admit that Yang Tinghe was really powerful. The news that he was about to recover could make many nobles, relatives and eunuchs excited.

However, what Zhu Houcong was curious about now was whether Yang Tinghe was willing to return to the cabinet after knowing that the Ministry of Revenue had borrowed a sum of internal treasury.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong summoned Gu Dayong and told him, "Send someone to see the tutor again and ask him if he has really recovered."

Gu Dayong agreed and left.

It is said that Yang Tinghe's younger brother Yang Tingyi was meeting with Liang Chu at this time.

After Yang Tingyi wrote to ask for a meeting, Liang Chu did not refuse, but chose a suitable time to meet him.

"My brother is going too far. He actually blames you for not fighting hard in front of the emperor and borrowing money instead."

"I am deeply ashamed, but he is my elder brother, and for the sake of my family, I cannot say much."

"I have come to see you now to make it clear to you that you do not need to take my brother's words seriously. They are just shameless words."

But after meeting Liang Chu, Yang Tingyi directly criticized Yang Tinghe.

Liang Chu only smiled after hearing this. He knew Yang Tingyi well, otherwise he would not have promoted him to the position of Left Vice Minister regardless of his status as Yang Tinghe's younger brother. He only asked directly at this time: "So what does your brother want you to convey?"

Yang Tingyi replied: "My brother said that he dare not ask you to compete for the treasury in front of the emperor, and only asks you to protect the etiquette and correct yourself."

Liang Chu did not answer, but asked in a deep voice: "Did you say anything else?"

Yang Tingyi nodded: "You are wise. He also said that he hopes you can promote the Grand Chancellor to the cabinet as soon as possible, and not keep him in the position of Tianguan."

"Because my brother said that if this man stayed in the position of the Heavenly Official, it would only cause resentment among officials."

"It doesn't matter, as long as the people don't become angry!"

Liang Chu replied with a sneer.

Yang Tingyi nodded: "Please calm down, I agree with you, so I dare not agree with my brother's opinion."

"Have you submitted the congratulatory letter?"

Thank you for the wisdom of the captain and elders.

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(End of this chapter)