Seiwa

Nanjing in December is full of rain and snow.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the city guards who were born in the north seem to have returned to the frontier.

Such a heavy snowfall is rare in Jinling. The Ministry of Household Affairs reported that many disasters occurred in Yingtian Shibafu, and hailstorms even fell in some prefectures and counties. The damage to houses is not counted, and the winter wheat harvest in Suhu and other places may fail.

Inside the Youshun gate, the householder Zuo Shilang on duty and the two doctors sat facing each other and smiled wryly.

Two months ago, the eight prefectures of Shuntian were hit by disasters, His Majesty waived the money and rations for this year and the next two years, but now there are natural disasters again, next year's summer rations may be hopeless.

"In the long run, what should be done."

The Ministry of Households is not short of money. In the three years of Yongle, there were more gold, silver and copper coins in the treasury than the combined period of the emperor's grandson.

But gold and silver cannot be eaten as food, nor can they be used as Lumi military rations.

At the end of the new year, Xungui and court officials waited in line to receive the food.According to the usual practice, the grain should be transported to Tianjinwei and Shuntianfu by boat division.Pulling the abacus and calculating the required amount, everyone in the household department was in a hurry.Even if you look at the grain books, you can't get so much grain together.

"Your Majesty, you may ask your majesty to use precious banknotes to cover part of the Lumi." A doctor said, "Precious banknotes are not acceptable, but copper coins are also acceptable. The military rations in northern Xinjiang can be temporarily obtained from the eight prefectures of Shuntian and Daning. Treasury collection. Although there are natural disasters in Baoding and other places in Hejian, Daning and other places in Xuanfu are rich in crops. There is also a surplus in the mutual market between Kaiyuan, Guangning and Ningxia. I can invite your Majesty, King Han and King Zhao..."

"No!"

Langzhong was interrupted before he finished speaking.

Xia Yuanji, Minister of the Household Department, pushed the door open and entered, the cloak on his body was covered with a thin layer of snow, and there were also water marks on the black gauze.

"Situ."

The three people in the duty room immediately stood up and cupped their hands.Xia Yuanji took off his cloak, straightened his hat, returned the salute and walked to the side of the charcoal basin, his hands that were frozen stiff finally felt warmer.

"You don't have to be polite."

After experiencing the ups and downs in the early years of Yongle and the three years of Yongle, the Nanjing household department has changed blood many times.The servant, the doctor, the Yuanwailang, the secretary, and the principal will have new faces every few months.Only Xia Yuanji has always been sitting on the position of Minister, just like Yu Situ in Beijing, he can be called the Dinghai Shenzhen of Nanjing.

"All of you, listen to my words for a while. Today, we follow the law of Emperor Taizu Gao. Using money to fill Lumi can relieve the emergency, but it can't solve the problem fundamentally. For the current plan, we should try to raise food reserves. In other words, the food and fodder of Annan's army must not be delayed."

As soon as this remark came out, the three people who had talked before were all shocked.

"What Situ said is true!"

The military rations in northern Xinjiang can be temporarily borrowed from Daning and other places, but the rations for the Annan army can only be found by the Ministry of Households.It's fine to eat locally, but just after the war started, His Majesty ordered that Jiaxuan not be hurt, this matter is very difficult.

"If the grain is adjusted from Guangxi..." The doctor who proposed did not have much confidence.

Where the army was stationed before, a batch of food and grass had been requisitioned, and if it was reconquered, it was hard to guarantee that the local officials would not rebel.

Hubu Shangshu and the three subordinate officials looked at each other and sighed.

There is no money in the treasury, and the worry is getting angry.

With money, I still get angry with worry.

Xia Yuanji originally wanted to discuss a solution with his colleagues in the ministry, but in the end, everyone was involved in a lawsuit.

What is it to worry about food when you have a treasury full of gold, silver and copper?

The Minister of the Household Department was worried in the value room, and Zhu Di, the supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty, was angry in the West Nuan Pavilion of Fengtian Hall.

The invitation from the Ministry of Rites was thrown to the ground, and Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and patted the table, angrily angrily said: "Under the system of Emperor Taizu Gao, people who are over [-] years old can only hear monks! Now in Zhili and many counties in Zhejiang, please send me a letter." There are more than [-] people, and most of them are young and weak, do they not know the order of the court?!"

Minister of Rites knelt on the ground with a sad face, "Your Majesty, this matter..."

"I don't want to hear your explanation!" Zhu Di said angrily, "I just want to ask you, the Ministry of Rites promised to send this ultimatum for 800 people?"

"……Yes."

Zhu Di became even more furious, "So many middle-aged people privately shaved and became monks, and the monk record department did not conduct a detailed investigation, but gave them a degree certificate, which is dereliction of duty. Palm prints, if you can't drive down officials to fulfill their responsibilities, you should be guilty of the same crime!"

The Book of Rites bit the bullet and said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong!"

Zheng Shangshu's face was bitter, and his heart was even more bitter.

To be honest, although the Senglu Department is under the management of the Ministry of Rites, this matter is really not his responsibility.Before Jin Yiwei handed over the note to the emperor, he was also kept in the dark.The ultimatum for 800 people was sent out as soon as it was said, and no word was leaked. Zheng Shangshu didn't know that he had such capable people under his command!

If he can safely pass the test of the Son of Heaven and not be taken off his black yarn, he will definitely pursue it to the end and make the villain who pushes him up behind his back look good!

Do you really think that Zheng Ci is a soft persimmon who can be rounded and flattened without making a sound?

Zheng Ci scolded the villain who hurt him behind his back thousands of times in his heart, but his expression became more and more frightened, he did not make any rebuttals, and pleaded guilty again and again.

Seeing that Zheng Ci had a good attitude of admitting his mistakes, Emperor Yong Le calmed down and knew that he could not be entirely blamed for this matter.Thinking of Zheng Ci's meritorious service when he captured Nanjing, Zhu Di did not take off his black yarn after all, and only fined him three months' salary, and ordered him to go home and reflect.

"Leave this matter alone, and if there is another similar case, it will definitely not be forgiven!"

"Your Majesty Ron!"

Zheng Ci passed the test, and some people in the Senglu Department and the Ministry of Rites were doomed to be unlucky.If Zhu Di doesn't do anything, Zheng Shangshu will also find him out and kill chickens to make an example to monkeys.

The Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment was not done for nothing. How to deal with the assassination in the Ministry of Punishment at the beginning is the same as moving it to the Ministry of Rites.As for the 800 people who falsely asked for degree certificates, Emperor Yongle personally ordered that those who did not issue degree certificates should stop issuing them, and those who had issued degree certificates would be withdrawn.

The reasons why these people "became monks" are clear in Zhu Di's mind.

Monks don't have to pay taxes, don't have to do hard labor, and they don't have to be held accountable by the government.

Picking a bald head just to evade tax and labor?How can there be such a good thing in the world!

Even the emperor has to work hard every day to fulfill his duties.There is no such reason in the world if you don't work hard and struggle hard, just want to wake up, eat, eat and sleep comfortably every day!

Zhu Di sneered, "Those involved in this case, those who are under [-] years old will be sent to Liaodong and Gansu, and they are not allowed to be transferred to Shuntian Daning! Those who are between [-] and [-] will be sent to farm in Guangxi, Yunnan. Those who are over [-] years old will be sent to return to their hometowns and inform the village. I abide by the old system of the Taizu, and never dare to ignore it, but if there are servants who violate the prohibition, do they still have the court's law in their eyes? Such a reckless person will not be pardoned!"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites left with a pale face, and the left servant of the Ministry of War was ordered to enter the military register.

Want to evade taxes?Want to escape labor?Emperor Yong Le will let you know why the flowers are so red.

After venting his anger, Emperor Yong Le sat in the Xinuang Pavilion, feeling tired for no reason.

The injustice of the country and the natural disasters in various places have already made him work hard, and there are such small people doing deceitful things. Four years ago, it is definitely not exile.

After reading the memorabilia, he opened the note from Jin Yiwei, and his anger instantly flared up again.

"There is an official of Dai Wang's family who sues Dai Wang Gui for not accepting righteous words, and flogs him for admonishing him with courtesy."

"The Prince Consort, Captain Hu Guan formed a clique and privately criticized the emperor's strategy."

"Prince Ning's son has resentment towards the court, has different ambitions, and has a close relationship with Hu Guanguo."

"The conquest of Annan's army and joining the army was played in secret by Li Jun. The firecrackers used by the rebels in Annan were made by our dynasty. It is engraved with the words "Jinling Military Bureau in the 29th year of Hongwu."

The more he watched, the more angry Zhu Di became.

Angry to the extreme, Hou Xian, who was standing by the side, couldn't help but feel his scalp numb.

If the person reported by Jin Yiwei was on the spot, Zhu Di might draw a knife and kill him on the spot.

"Hou Xian."

"The servant is here."

Hou Xian bowed to promise, his waist was lower than usual, and he didn't dare to glance at Zhu Di, "Give Ning Prince five pieces of silk, one good horse, and ten lottery coins. You go to Ning Prince's mansion and pass on my oral order, The weather is bad, so be careful when going in and out.”

"The slaves obey the order."

Hou Xian bowed and exited the palace, ordered two internal officials to follow, and went out of the palace to Prince Ning's Mansion.

It stands to reason that as the palace gates are closed, one should not leave the palace at this time.But the emperor's order has been issued, and there is no room for delay.Thinking about the expression on the emperor's face when he spoke, cold sweat broke out on the back of Hou Xian's neck, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace a lot.

It's snowing tonight, I'm afraid it won't stop.

After Hou Xian left, Yang Duo was summoned to meet him.Together with them, there is also Zhu Neng's personal guard who returned from Guangxi.

The personal guard carried Meng Qinghe's pen, and Zhu Neng used the memorial of the seal.After arriving in the capital, instead of going to the Tongzheng Envoy, he went directly to the Beizhen Fusi Yamen and told Yang Duo about the matter.

What Meng Qinghe did can be big or small, and if it is bigger, it is against the emperor's benevolence and will bear the crime of bullying the emperor.Conversely, the timber purchased by Pingxiang can be resold to make several times the profit.It can be counted as meritorious service if it is transported to Jiangsu and Zhejiang shipyards for shipbuilding, or sent to Beijing along the coastal road to be used as a palace.

The winter was very cold, and the first month was approaching. The emperor thought that logging in Fangchun would hinder the farming season. He ordered the Ministry of Industry to verify and send out hard labor.After the spring plowing in the coming year, labor will be performed.He also gave travel expenses to those who returned home, and allowed them to offset part of the food tax with money.

The common people praised the emperor for his benevolence, and the household department got angry again.

If it wasn't for the reason, everyone in the Ministry of Finance would hug Emperor Yongle's thigh and cry, Your Majesty, there is no shortage of money in the treasury, but there is a shortage of food!How would you come up with this "good" idea!

It's a pity that you are not joking, Xia Shangshu has the courage to hug Zhu Di's thigh to wipe his tears, and Zhu Di will not take back his life.

Meng Qinghe was far away in Guangxi, so it was absolutely impossible for him to predict things like a god and grasp the lifeline of the imperial court's lack of food.But good luck is in the lead, and when luck comes, it is completely unstoppable.

The amount of wood and gold and silver on the memorandum surprised Emperor Yongle, and the Annan military rations attached at the back made Zhu Di even more delighted.

"I ask you, is everything on it true?"

The guards sent by Zhu Neng immediately replied: "Your Majesty, whether it is wood or military rations, it is the truth. When I returned to Beijing, there were still wood and grains delivered one after another, and even a salt well was found for the border people. Xing Ning Bo said something Please, Your Majesty, can you exchange Annan's salt for food from Siam, Laos, and Champa, and exchange the army's captured Li rebels for military food."

"Can Duke Cheng know about this matter?"

"Return to Your Majesty, Cheng Guogong also knows about this matter. However, he has not heard from heaven, so he dare not make decisions without authorization."

"Why don't you report this matter together?"

The personal guard also had a puzzled look on his face, "I don't even know how humble I am."

Zhu Di was sitting behind the desk, with the memorabilia jointly signed by Meng Qinghe and Zhu Neng spread out in front of him, and he fell into deep thought.

There should be a reason for the unknown book.

Annan salt well, seized during the war, exchanged food with neighbors...

In an instant, a thought flashed through Zhu Di's mind.

Emperor Yong Le smiled.

If it is not written as a memorial, it does not need to be submitted to the court for discussion, let alone go through the Ministry of Household Affairs.Naturally, the amount of food exchanged does not need to be known to others.However, there are Jinyiwei in the army, and Cheng Guogong is involved in this matter, so he will definitely not hide it from the palace.In this way, the money and food obtained can be used as an army and as an internal treasury, which means that the local government and the Ministry of Household Affairs are not allowed to intervene.

Zhu Di is very clear about the behavior of the imperial court and local officials, and Cheng Guogong also knows it.Therefore, it will be jointly named.Presumably, he also knows what Xingningbo is planning in private.

No one is perfect, and Zhu Di is the emperor on horseback, so he naturally knows that soldiers will put their lives to the test, and when he is on an expedition, verbal awards alone are not enough to show his merits.

To put it crudely, whether it is a general or a soldier, with his head tied to his waistband, he must give some practical benefits to fight to the death.

The reward from the imperial court will wait for the teacher to return to the imperial court.When attacking, there will be strict orders from the imperial court, and it is inevitable that there will be people who break the ban.

"Instead of punishing severely afterwards, it is better to establish rules first."

Zhu Di's doubts were all gone, and the smile on his face grew bigger and bigger.It is good to live up to my protection all the time.

The timber on the memorabilia is shared by the imperial court.The Annan military rations obtained can also solve the urgent needs of the household department.It is only difficult for the imperial court to intervene in the discovery of the salt well and the transactions with foreign countries such as Siam Champa.With the name of Shangguo, after all, it is not easy to talk and bargain with neighboring small countries.If you were a general or a businessman acting on your behalf, you would have no such worries at all.

Undoubtedly, after this spring, the inner library will be expanded again.

In addition to Shuntian Prefecture, Yingtian Prefecture, which was hit by earthquakes and floods, was also exempted from winter grain and summer tax for a year.

"Yang Duo."

"The minister is here."

"You take my handbook and go to Guangxi."

Zhu Di grinds the ink himself, writes two handwritten orders in person, and orders the internal officials in charge of the seal to come and stamp the emperor's seal.

There are two hand orders, one is a secret order to Meng Qinghe, and the other is a decree to Shen Xuan.

"On the way, there is no need to report when passing counties and counties."

"The minister obeys the order."

Yang Duo solemnly held up two bright yellow silk cloths and exited the warm pavilion.

Zhu Neng's personal guards also withdrew, and he was needed to lead the trip to Guangxi.

Hou Xian came back from the palace and found that the emperor's mood had improved.He asked the internal officer who stood in the hall for him, and found out that it was the commander of the Jin Yiwei who had come with Duke Cheng's personal guards. He nodded and signaled the internal officer to stop talking.

"Our family knows about it. When others ask you about this, remember not to talk too much."

"Yes."

A trace of hesitation flashed across the face of the internal officer, Hou Xian narrowed his eyes, "But something is hiding from our family?"

"You don't have the guts, but," the inner officer hesitated for a moment, then leaned into Hou Xian's ear and whispered, "It's the Wenhua Palace...Princess Ping..."

Hou Xian's expression changed after listening to the internal officer's words.After he finished speaking, he scolded in a low voice, "You are so courageous! But you still hide it from our family?"

"Go back to Eunuch, no more!"

"Okay, this matter is rotten to your stomach, and if someone comes to you, come and tell our family immediately."

"Yes."

Hou Xian waved his hand, and the internal officer quickly stepped aside.

The raindrops fell with snowflakes and hit the glazed tiles, making a crisp sound.

Hou Xian lowered his expression, stood respectfully by the door of the Nuan Pavilion, and only took small steps into the room when he heard Emperor Yong Le's call.

At the same time, Zhu Panxuan, the son of King Ning who received the reward from the emperor, was ashen-faced.Thinking of the few words Hou Xian had brought, he clenched his fists and drove the servant out of the door. With a sudden wave of his arm, he swept all the teapots and cups on the table to the ground.

"Come here, pack your bags. After Gu enters the palace to thank you tomorrow, I will return to Nanchang immediately!"

On Xinmao in December of the fourth year of Yongle, Zhu Panxuan, the son of King Ning, came to the table and asked to return to the feudal land.

Before it was too late, Hu Guan, the captain-in-law, was sent to Jinyi Prison for crimes such as accepting sinners privately and violating the regulations on the house and the utensils used.

In Bingshen in the same month, the imperial army led by Shen Xuan attacked Duobang City at night.

The army built bridges on the river day and night, and threatened the city with artillery.

After the bridge was completed, at four drums that night, Shen Xuan sent the governor, Qian Shi Huang Zhong, to carry artillery across the river.

On the side of Duobang facing the river, it is an open shoal. Although there are bamboo and wooden horses set up by the defenders, they still cannot withstand the crushing of Wugang chariots and artillery.

In the night, there were several loud bangs and flames rose.

The chariots equipped with wooden buildings and iron plates formed a charge formation, and the infantry used the wooden plates to cover them, went to the bottom of the city, and set up ladders.

Several gaps had been smashed into the city wall by iron balls. The defenders in the city panicked and fired arrows randomly, which did not delay the Ming army's attack at all.

Huang Zhong and the others held torches, daggers in their mouths, and waist knives on their backs, scrambling to climb to the top of the city first.

When blocked by the defenders, throw the torch first, and when the thieves are in a panic, then stab the nearest with a short dagger. The short dagger is released from the hand, pulls out the waist knife, and shouts, like a tiger rushing into the flock of sheep, the defenders ring out instantly from the top of the city. Dying screams.

In the army, there are many generals who have been banished for crimes, and they have made meritorious service with the army to atone for their sins, and most of them are the vanguards of this kind of officers and soldiers.

The siege Ming army quickly occupied the north gate.

When the city gate was opened, a formation of elephants rushed out suddenly, and the Ming army's offensive was stopped.Under the leadership of Huang Zhong, they deliberately led the elephants to the city gate.The defenders waiting to drive the elephants squeezed to the city gate and immediately issued a signal.

"finally come."

In the light of the fire, Shen Xuan was dressed in black armor, riding on the horse, and drew out a long knife.

"Rush!"

The cannon rang again, and this time, it wasn't just solid iron balls that fell, but also explosive thunderbolts and a few flowering bombs.

Two war elephants were killed one after another, and there were firecrackers and crossbowmen arrayed on the flanks. The sound of firecrackers sounded like fried beans, and the blindfolded horses suddenly rushed from the river bank. The sound of horseshoes was like thunder. Clamping the horse's belly with both legs, holding the knife in one hand, and holding the hand crossbow in one arm, the sound of the crossbow trigger was overwhelmed by the sound of the firecrackers, but the crossbow arrows ruthlessly pierced into the long trunk and front legs of the war elephant.

After the cavalry, there was a group of three, a battle formation composed of "iron skin" and long spears. The spear points and iron spikes gleamed coldly.

Amidst the friction between the flames and the armor, elephants wailed, and the defenders fled like ants.

In just one night, the Ming army conquered Duobang City, killing the thieves commander Liang Minxian and Cai Bole.After chasing and routing the soldiers to Shanyuan Mountain, Annan's army trampled each other and killed more than a thousand people, and those who were captured or fled into the dense forest were counted.

The Ming army obtained [-] stones of military rations, twelve elephants, and more than twenty boats in many states.

After the war, Shen Xuan commanded Cai Fu and others to transport the wounded and some of the captured soldiers back to Pingxiang, and led the rest of the troops to go up the Fuliang River and head east to the capital.

When Cai Fu took the order, Yang Duo and his party arrived in Pingxiang, carrying the emperor's order.

Meng Qinghe received the handbook, read the above content, and did not speak for a long time.

"You can do it cheaply, please." Very good.

However, what is "from now on, the military rations will be self-raised"?

Could it be that the emperor meant that he would solve the food and grass for the 30 army?

Thinking of this, Meng Qinghe's eyes darkened for a while, so he didn't faint.

Even if those who are capable work harder, there is no need for this, right?Working for Lao Zhu's family, it is really extraordinary that ordinary people can do it.

But the emperor's order has been issued, and there is no possibility of reincarnation.The only thing to do is to grit your teeth and accept the order.

Isn't it just the rations of 30 troops?

Meng Qinghe clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, there was nothing wrong with him!