Daming: Old Zhu, we agreed not to rush!

Chapter 368 The idea is good, but the reality is unrealistic

Victory in the Northern Expedition!

This news spread quickly throughout the entire Ming Dynasty. With such exciting news, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally wanted to spread it immediately.

Civil and military officials seem to be applauding, but is this actually the case?
The military generals who did not participate in the Northern Expedition were unable to catch up with this wave of great victories, and their achievements were destined to be much lower.

The civil servants felt even worse, because the current military commanders in the Ming Dynasty were already powerful enough.

Now that the Northern Expedition is successful, doesn't it mean that the tail of the general group is about to rise to the sky?

By then, the position of civil servants in the court will probably be squeezed out again.

Yongjiahou Mansion.

boom!
Zhu Liangzu slapped his palm on the table, his face looking quite ugly.

"Damn it, it's all Su Jing! Otherwise, why didn't His Majesty add me to the list for the Northern Expedition!"

Zhu Liangzu was furious and directly attributed the reason why he failed to go to the Northern Expedition to Su Jing.

Various previous incidents have caused Zhu Liangzu's status in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart to continue to decline.

Now Zhu Liangzu only wants to take revenge on Su Jing.

However, he didn't even know where Su Jing was.

Although Su Jing returned to Lishui County, Lao Zhu did a lot of confidentiality work.

Not many people know about it.

Zhu Liangzu was extremely angry and wanted to vent, but he didn't know who to turn to.

Hu Weiyong has now cut off all contact with him. He works hard in Zhongshu Province all day long and keeps a low profile.

"Master! Master!"

The housekeeper of the Yongjia Marquis Mansion ran in furiously, shouting continuously.

Zhu Liangzu glanced at him and said, "What's the matter?"

The housekeeper immediately said respectfully: "Master Qi, the whereabouts of Uncle Ren Yuan have been found."

"what!"

Zhu Liangzu's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he immediately asked: "Where is it?"

The steward replied: "Uncle Ren Yuan lives in Lishui County under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Mansion, less than a hundred miles away from the capital."

Hearing this, Zhu Liangzu's face became extremely surprised, and he murmured: "That's it! That's it! It's really dark under the lamp, Su Jing, you are hiding in Lishui County!"

"Master, I still have to tell you something."

The steward said carefully.

Zhu Liangzu felt much better and said, "What's the matter?"

The steward replied: "Master, just yesterday, His Highness King Qin just came back from Lishui County, and he should have gone to see Uncle Renyuan."

As the steward of the Yongjia Marquis Mansion, he was naturally aware of Zhu Liangzu's hatred for Su Jing.

This meeting is also a reminder to Zhu Liangzu not to get too hot-headed and do something extreme.

This is the limit of what he can do as a steward.

"King Qin?"

Zhu Liangzu frowned and his expression changed again.

Before this, in the soap business, it was King Zhu Ping of Qin who made him lose a lot of money.

If he hadn't accumulated a lot of wealth before, that trip would probably make him bankrupt.

But Zhu Xi is Zhu Yuanzhang's son, and he cannot move no matter what.

"Okay, I understand, you go down."

Zhu Liangzu waved his hand and asked the housekeeper to go down.

"Yes, sir."

The butler immediately turned around and left.

Zhu Liangzu frowned. It was a good thing that he discovered Su Jing's whereabouts, but it was Zhu Fang who had only met Su Jing.

If I do something myself, I'm afraid it won't be easy to operate.

Zhu Liangzu knew that he could no longer use such methods as direct interception and killing.

This was not the way back from Shandong. The mountains were high and the roads were long. It would have taken ten days and a half to send people from the capital to investigate just the way. The evidence had long been gone.

Lishui County is under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Mansion, and it is really close to the capital.

With such a short distance, if Su Jing had an accident, investigators could arrive on the same day.

Zhu Liangzu wanted to take revenge on Su Jing, and even wanted Su Jing to die, but he didn't want to get involved with him.

Have to find a way!

After thinking about it, Zhu Liangzu still felt that he should go to Hu Weiyong.

He is very self-aware that his brain is not very good.

……

The Forbidden City, inside Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Biao was reporting to Zhu Yuanzhang on the recent progress of government affairs. Whether it was some of the engineering projects that Zhu Biao was responsible for or the state affairs that he handled, he explained everything in detail.

Although Zhu Biao is still the prince now, the power given to him by Zhu Yuanzhang is already the same as that of the emperor.

The prince's supervision of the country will soon be made known to the world.

Lao Zhu has never hesitated in cultivating and attaching importance to Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao has grown up, so he should not learn how to be an emperor, but really do what an emperor should do.

Zhu Biao can make his own decisions on many state affairs.

With such power, even among the princes of the past dynasties, no one can compare with it.

"Well, that's right. Biao'erqin has some rules for doing things now, and he looks a bit like an emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. After listening to the report, he was generally quite satisfied.

Zhu Biao said: "My son, I try my best and don't dare to be careless. My father's daily teachings have never been forgotten."

"Have you not forgotten our teaching?"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "What about Su Jing's teachings?"

Zhu Biao lowered his head and said, "As a student, I will never forget Master Su's teachings."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said, "We knew it!"

After a brief moment of anger, Lao Zhu said: "Biao'er, now that the Northern Expedition is a great victory, the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty in the north can't make any trouble for the time being. What do you think we should do?"

The Northern Expedition was the top priority of the Ming Dynasty, and the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty were also the top threat to the Ming Dynasty.

Now that this threat has been temporarily lifted, Lao Zhu also has to take the exam for Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment and said: "Father, I think that the external troubles have been solved, and we should get rid of the internal worries!"

Zhu Biao felt the internal problems of Ming Dynasty very early.

Zhu Biao still clearly remembers Ma Zhiyuan's case.

He was obviously a good official, but he was forced into a dead end.There is something wrong with this kind of Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Then what do you think are the internal worries of Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Biao raised his head and looked at his father, Zhu Yuanzhang, with a firm expression: "Father, I think the internal worry of the Ming Dynasty is that civil and military officials form cliques for personal gain and use power for personal gain!"

Good guy, Zhu Biao opened his mouth and launched an AOE directly.

He did not name who specifically, but targeted all civil and military officials.

Party for selfishness!

Use power for personal gain!

These two charges are not light.

If this is implemented, there will be a lot of officials who will be dealt with.

In fact, Zhu Biao can also talk about some issues such as corruption. After all, this is a problem that has always existed in the Ming Dynasty, and Lao Zhu has also dealt with it time and time again!
But Zhu Biao still firmly said what he wanted to say.

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent. After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he stared at Lao Zhu and said no more.

For a moment, the Fengxian Hall fell into silence.

Lord and minister, father and son, emperor and prince.

The current and future supreme rulers of the Ming Dynasty were facing each other in silence.

I don’t know how much time passed, but Lao Zhu said: "Biao'er, let's ignore the matter of forming cliques for personal gain. This matter of using power for personal gain can be dealt with somewhat."

Lao Zhu knew the most about the cliques in the Ming Dynasty.

He has also been using party struggles to maintain his power. The two parties are confronting each other. He sits firmly in a high position and watches the fight to the death below.

This is the true way to rule.

Lao Zhu knew that his son Zhu Biao was still somewhat conflicted about this matter, so he did not discuss this matter too much with Zhu Biao.

There were quite a lot of people using power for personal gain in the Ming Dynasty.

It can be as small as some money or as large as a key position.

In fact, Lao Zhu knew these things in his heart and had already investigated them clearly.

But everyone involved is too sensitive.

Zhu Biao said: "I don't know how far the treatment my father mentioned can go?"

This rhetorical question made Lao Zhu choke.

to what extent?
The meaning is obvious. Lao Zhu's so-called processing is just some insignificant processing.

Once some key figures are involved, Lao Zhu will still miss old friendships or worry about various factors, but it is always superficial.

"Cough cough."

Zhu Yuanzhang coughed twice, and then said: "Biao'er, it's good that we are the emperor, but there are some things we can't help ourselves. We know what you want to do, but now is not the real time. We can only kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and it is our best chance to do it again." A reminder to the old guys."

Bei Yuan was defeated this time, but the defeat was not complete enough, and the vitality still existed.

Daming's internal problems are indeed not small, but Lao Zhu will not be able to find all the candidates to replace them for a while.

Ming Dynasty needs them, it's such a simple reason.

Zhu Biao paused and said: "Father, I understand, but Master Su once told me that I should stop being disturbed by him."

"For some things, the sooner you deal with them, the smaller the consequences. If you don't have the determination to cut off your wrists, you may have to cut out your heart and lungs later."

During these days, how could Zhu Biao, who had taken over many Ming government affairs, not understand the constraints imposed by Lao Zhu today?
On the one hand, we must use them, and on the other hand, we must punish their sins.

These two contradictory things are inherently difficult to balance.

The simplest way is to use it first and then liquidate it after the thing is completed.

It's just that this inevitably means that the cunning rabbit is cooked by the lackey, and it also shows that the person in charge is extremely cold and ruthless.

"It's Su Jing again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "Do you think we don't understand such a simple truth? But now that the strong man has broken his wrist, the Ming Dynasty is in danger of overthrowing. Su Jing said it was easy, but he actually gave a solution!"

Everyone understands the truth, but governing a country cannot be done by words alone.

Lao Zhu was very angry. Under Su Jing's guidance, Zhu Biao had deviated further and further from his original expectations.

"Of course there is a way!"

Zhu Biao replied immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed and he said, "Biao'er, did you tell Su Jing about the court affairs?"

Zhu Biao shook his head and said: "That's not true. Master Su doesn't want to enter the court. As a student, I naturally won't disturb him with court affairs."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked in confusion: "Then where does your method come from?"

Zhu Biao replied: "Reporting to my father, although Master Su does not enter the court, he has many shops under his control. He is the boss, and all the shopkeepers must obey him."

"The relationship between them is like the relationship between the father and the ministers. I heard from my second brother that Master Su is currently dealing with a rebellious shopkeeper, and my son thought of Master Su's way of dealing with these shopkeepers who seek power for personal gain."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became interested and said, "Tell me, what can I do?"

Zhu Biao replied: "It's very simple, that is to say it openly and set fair and transparent standards."

"The shopkeepers under Master Su are in charge of each shop. It is inevitable that they will arrange for their relatives and friends to enter. Even if they are incapable, they can live on free wages."

"Master Su never said not to arrange for his own relatives. He just told the shopkeepers clearly that each person can be assigned several paid positions. These positions are all determined by the personal abilities of the shopkeepers. If it’s good, give more; if it’s not good, give less.”

"To put it bluntly, you are capable and can make more money for Master Su. It doesn't matter even if your parents, relatives and friends arrange to come in, because this is all your money."

"Of course, this will not prevent the shopkeepers from arranging more relatives, and there are also some truly capable ones among them. Therefore, Master Su has formulated detailed assessment standards, fair and open assessments, and those who are capable will be hired, and those who are not will be dismissed."

"Our affairs in the Ming Dynasty can also follow this template. For meritorious officials, there are death-free gold medals that can be awarded. Let them use them when they should use them. This is the 'empty salary' quota."

"For some personnel in important positions, there is a unified and open assessment. As long as they can meet the standards, it is not impossible to keep them. If they are really incompetent, then they can only withdraw. Is there a scandal ahead? If I don't target anyone in particular, those ministers must also There’s nothing to say.”

Su Jing never taught Zhu Biao this plan. Zhu Biao figured it out by himself based on some of Su Jing's methods of doing things.

Zhu Yuanzhang listened carefully and said, "Biao'er, your idea is very good, but some things are not that simple."

"There are many positions in the imperial court. How to set the assessment standards? Some positions, such as military commanders, are mainly responsible for military inspections and security work on a daily basis. How to inspect this kind of situation? It is usually not obvious that there is anything important. It cannot be ignored. Let’s find fault.”

"Besides, the positions in the imperial court are determined by me. We first bring people up and then find reasons to drive them away. Do you really think the ministers won't say anything in their hearts?"

"Fair? It's not normal for them to only want to use their own merits to gain some benefits."

Lao Zhu refuted Zhu Biao's suggestion without mercy.

Zhu Biao's ideas were still too naive, and it was too hasty to manage the country like a businessman.

The gap between the shopping mall and the political field is so huge that it is not of the same order of magnitude at all.

Zhu Biao was silent, because he had never thought of what Zhu Yuanzhang said before.

Now it sounds like they are all loopholes.

"Father, my son is too stupid."

Zhu Biao lowered his head and said, admit if you are wrong and never be harsh.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not blame Zhu Biao, but simply said: "Biao'er, you have to think about it yourself. This is a good thing. We don't blame you."

"If there is a chance in the future, you can really ask Su Jing, maybe he will have any different approach."

(End of this chapter)