Longevity begins with Jinyiwei

"Why did Brother Chun come back so early today, where is your Uncle Li?"

"Uncle Li is here too..."

The little emperor twisted his body and pointed to Li Xiu who had just walked in from outside the hall.

"Chen, I have seen the Queen Mother!"

"Duke Qin, hurry up and get rid of the ceremony!"

Empress Dowager Zhou got up quickly.

"Thank you, Empress."

"Uncle Li, didn't you say that you have something to tell your mother!"

The little emperor yelled, but the restraint in the palace instantly dissipated a bit.

Empress Zhou patted the little emperor's hand lightly, and said softly:

"What's the matter, Mr. Qin?"

"There are some things that need to be reported to the Queen Mother."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager Zhou is also quite serious.

It has been more than half a year since the first emperor passed away, and it has been more than half a year since the Duke of Qin in front of me has been assisting the country in governing the country. Naturally, she has almost figured out the character of the Duke of Qin.

If it wasn't an important matter, he would definitely not go to the palace to find her to report. Once he did, it must be something related to the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

"Duke Qin, please speak up!"

"Please read it, my lady!"

Li Xiu took out an account book from his bosom, an account book that recorded the income of Daming's treasury, the internal funds and silver deposits, and various expenditures of Daming today.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was a little puzzled, took the account book and read it, the income and expenditure amount clearly written by Li Xiu in simple strokes, as well as the forecasted financial situation, also fell into the eyes of the Empress Dowager Zhou clearly as the account book was flipped through.

The Empress Dowager Zhou's demeanor also became more frightened as she flipped through the account book. In the end, her complexion was pale, and the hand holding the account book trembled a little.

"Qin...Grand Qin... these, but... are they all true?"

"Since Wanli, the imperial government's finances have been overrun every year. By the time the first emperor ascended the throne, the imperial court's finances have been completely corrupted!"

"Officials are corrupt, finances are rotten, there are money looting outside, and there are natural disasters and chaos inside!"

"Therefore, at the beginning, the minister and the late emperor discussed..."

"Up to now, the external aggression is tentative, and there is a strong army inside. I believe that it is time to reverse the decline and rebuild the world!"

"As long as it is for the good of Ming Dynasty, Duke Qin is free to do whatever he wants, and the Ai family will definitely support it with all their strength!"

The Queen Mother Zhou was still in shock, but she still expressed her attitude as always.

After getting an affirmative answer, Li Xiu did not leave as before, but looked at the Queen Mother Zhou again, cupped his hands and said, "Throughout the past and present, any reform of the New Deal will be full of resistance, and there is no new deal." Reform can be accomplished without bloodshed!"

"At that time, the government and the opposition will definitely have countless criticisms of ministers, there will be countless cliques colluding, and they will do everything possible to undermine the New Deal. The whole world will also be shaken!"

"However, with the opening of the New Deal, there is no retreat! If you retreat, Ming Dynasty will be finished!"

As for this, Li Xiu didn't say any more.

When it came to an abrupt end, the Empress Dowager Zhou was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, she soon realized it.

Although she was born in a small family, she is not illiterate, and she reads a lot on weekdays. Naturally, she understands what the four words of reform and new policy mean.

It must be a monstrous bloody storm, and it must also be a turmoil in the world, and rumors are everywhere!

In this way, the position of her queen mother in this is naturally very clear.

"Duke Qin is loyal to the country, and the Ai family knows it well. Even if Duke Qin is free to do anything, the Ai family will never add trouble to the court affairs!"

"The Queen Mother is wise!"

After getting the desired answer, Li Xiu bowed deeply, and then left.

After Li Xiu left, the Empress Dowager Zhou stared at the file in her hand for a long time, and the worry between her brows was hard to hide.

After a long time, she called out to the outside of the hall, and soon, Wang Chengen hurried over.

"Miss!"

The Empress Dowager Zhou was obviously a little tangled, and after a while, she asked slowly:

"Recently... What's going on with the head of the country?"

Hearing this, Wang Chengen was also taken aback, a little unsure of what the Queen Mother meant.

But then, he suddenly thought of Qin Guogong, who had just met the queen mother, and Jin Yiwei's big moves recently...

After thinking about it, Wang Chengen cautiously probed: "Everything is fine with the father-in-law. Recently, he has taken in two concubines..."

"These mourners know."

Empress Zhou frowned slightly: "What Aijia means is, has the father-in-law committed corruption and violated the law, and has he gotten close to any courtiers?"

"This……"

Hearing this, Wang Chengen couldn't help but tremble in his heart, and after a while, he managed to suppress the horror in his heart, but he couldn't say anything when the words came to his lips.

"Jin Yiwei monitors the world. Those former emperors told the Ai family that you and Li Ruolian have a close relationship, and these Ai family also know it. Don't try to hide anything, tell me the truth!"

After saying this, Wang Chengen couldn't help but sigh in his heart, how can he answer this question!

After struggling for a while, Wang Chengen finally couldn't resist the majesty of the queen mother, sighed secretly, and then told him little by little what he knew.

Taking advantage of the power of the head of the country, plundering and plundering, oppressing the people...

Make friends with officials, and use the power of the head of state to work for officials...

Every day in Guozhang’s mansion is full of guests, people come and go...

Following Wang Chengen's narration, the Empress Dowager Zhou's fingers turned white like onions, and she trembled a little with anger.

"My lord, calm down!"

Wang Chengen suddenly fell to his knees.

After a long time, the Empress Dowager Zhou seemed to have calmed down a little from her shock and anger. She glanced at the little emperor who was a little afraid, but she seemed to have figured something out, and her eyes immediately became firm.

"Pass down the will of the mourning family, and let the head of the country reflect behind closed doors. If there is no wish of the mourning family, he must not leave the mansion!"

"This……"

Wang Chengen was even more terrified. He closed his door and introspected. He was not allowed to leave the mansion.

This... What kind of bad luck did he have today!

"Why, isn't Aijia's words hard to use?"

Empress Dowager Zhou asked in a deep voice.

"The slave obeys the order!"

Wang Chengen kowtowed again and again, but the helplessness on his brows was hard to hide.

Walking out of the hall, Wang Chengen also didn't come back to his senses.

"Grandpa, what did you say, let us suffer such disasters!"

He stopped and let out a long sigh, Wang Chengen was helpless, but the decree had been made, no matter how helpless he was, he could do nothing, he could only lead the Queen Mother's decree, surrounded by several eunuchs, and quickly walked out of the palace.

At this moment, in the Qianqing Palace, the Empress Dowager Zhou also completely lost the rigidity she had when she gave the decree just now, and she slumped on the ground as if she had lost all her strength.

"Mother, mother!"

The little emperor rushed over, but was hugged by the Empress Dowager Zhou.

The little emperor was at a loss, but he didn't dare to move. He let the Empress Dowager Zhou hug her tightly, and there was even a faint cry...

……

Chapter 264 The Curtain Opens

night.

The sound of the blade piercing through the air is continuous. Under the moonlight, the bright blade reflects bright and silver rays of light. The blade is fierce and violent, but it is continuous. Between the silver and white blade light, it seems that there is a fierce beast. It is brewing, and at any time, it will break out of the shell.

With such power and power, the maid who was waiting on the side had already retreated to the corner of the courtyard, looking at the almost violent scene in front of her with a pale face.

I don't know how long it took before the violent knife light finally dissipated slowly.

A bright and cold long knife was stuck on the ground, and a body with mottled scars stood there.

"master."

The maid stepped forward and handed over a cloth towel for wiping.

Li Xiu acted as if he had never heard of it at the moment, his eyes flickered, but he didn't know what he was thinking.

After a while, he waved his hand to signal the maid to back down, then drew out his long knife, walked to the gazebo in a dispirited manner, and sat down casually.

The capital city in the deep winter is undoubtedly bitterly cold, but Li Xiu doesn't seem to be able to feel the coldness. In fact, he really can't feel it. The complete cold and heat will not invade, but the distance is not far away.

The night sky was as bright and deep as ever, and the night was as quiet and peaceful as ever.

In the Duke's mansion, everyone knows that the Duke likes to be quiet and not to make trouble, so every time he does something, he tiptoes and pays attention to it.

"All is ready except for the opportunity……"

With a soft murmur, Li Xiu's expression was complicated, but deep in his eyes, there was an uneasy uneasiness that could not be dispelled.

It is true that he is full of confidence in front of everyone, even unstoppable.

However, deep in his heart, there was an unspeakable anxiety.

Reform, New Deal, Reform!

Three nouns with the same meaning.

Throughout the thousands of years of history, which reform has been easily achieved.

Reforms in the prosperous age are extremely difficult, let alone reforms in the last years of this dynasty.

No matter how good a system is, it cannot be implemented without people.

Daming is so vast, no matter how sharp his knife is, can he catch everyone?

The implementation of a policy requires not only the unified will of the central government, but also the concerted efforts of the entire ruling class.

And his reform undoubtedly violated the interests of the entire ruling class.

The irony is that his policies and reforms still need to be implemented and implemented by the ruling class.

It is precisely for this reason that he is so eager to start reforms.

As for the imbalance of financial supply, this is just an excuse, or in other words, a cause that is not too important.

The ruling class……

Naturally, it also includes the Wu Xun Group that has risen and grown under his command.

Now, he is able to command and move, and military orders are like mountains.

However, as time goes by, the Wu Xun Group under his command will definitely be in line with this era and form solidified interest groups. This is an inevitable trend and a law of history.

It is natural that the knife is sharp and easy to cut at others, but it is not so easy to cut at yourself.

Therefore, just like the unbalanced financial supply, Li Xiu has no time in this regard.

Taking advantage of this knife, it's still sharp, it's still in his hand, and it's still obeying orders. In this way, he still has capital and confidence.

Otherwise, when the class interests solidify, he really can only be a paper poster.

I am afraid that if I spend my whole life, I will not be able to return to heaven. I am afraid that what is left is only a sad song.

……

Before dawn, it was still dark between heaven and earth, and outside the Meridian Gate, hundreds of officials had already gathered.

As usual, Li Xiu was dressed in a python robe, standing at the head of all officials, facing the Meridian Gate, standing silently.

Outside the Meridian Gate was still noisy, and the ministers gathered in twos and twos, talking non-stop.

It's just weird that today's ministers are not surrounded by a group of ministers, noisy and bustling like in the past, but they are all full of thoughts, just like Li Xiu, standing alone, but, That's not the look in Li Xiu's eyes, it seems to clearly explain what they are thinking.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

I don't know how long it took before the drum of the Meridian Gate finally sounded, and the closed Meridian Gate slowly opened.