Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 734 Paper Tiger
Time is the most ruthless thing in the world. It leaves without giving you any chance to react. February comes quietly, and there is still a chill between heaven and earth.

As the cold wind howled, the Forbidden City was surrounded by snow and wind.

Against the backdrop of white, the palace walls appear exceptionally red, as if they were blood.

"Once I decide, there is no such thing as changing it!"

Qianqing Palace.

Dong Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao leaned against the cushion, looked at Zhu Guozuo with his eyes, and said calmly: "If the cabinet can't even settle such a small matter, what's the point of having a cabinet?"

Your Majesty, this is not a trivial matter!

When Zhu Guozuo, who was sitting on a brocade stool, heard this, his brows revealed a bit of melancholy, and he secretly groaned in his heart. No matter whether it was the integration of the imperial court and the provincial government, or the establishment of a special procuratorate, or the clarification of the powers of the imperial inspection, or the imperial award and conferment of titles, any one of them would shock the court and the public!
Especially during this period of time, the emperor did not hold regular court sessions, and even the requests for an audience with court ministers were not summoned if possible. Even the turmoil in the court and the country had no effect on the emperor at all.

The emperor's attitude was not affected at all by the court or the public, but on the cabinet side, except for Bi Ziyan who was so busy that he could not be seen, the other cabinet ministers, including Zhu Guozuo, the chief minister, were surrounded by many people without being disturbed.

In the end, Qian Qianyi and Sun Ruyou both took sick leave. There was nothing they could do as there were too many people looking for them.

After Zhu Youxiao learned about this, he had no other thoughts except to laugh. You want to engage in factional strife and form a party? Fine, I will tell you to do it well and form a party well!

In official circles, people tend to stick together for warmth. This is something that cannot be eradicated. It is human nature. As long as they can have convenience and enjoy privileges, most people will not give up taking shortcuts.

However, those in power can tolerate this phenomenon, but don’t go too far. If you go too far, they will find ways to punish you!
"I summoned you to the palace this time because I have something to make clear to you." Seeing Zhu Guozuo like this, Zhu Youxiao did not say anything else and went straight to the point.

"I plan to grant a provincial examination this year, and next year a metropolitan examination. Liaodong has achieved such a great victory, dealt a heavy blow to the arrogant Jianlu, and revitalized the national prestige and military power of the Ming Dynasty. I want the whole world to know about this!"

this! !

Zhu Guozuo opened his eyes slightly. It was obvious that he was caught off guard by the emperor's special favor. The provincial examination was held in the first year of the Tianqi reign, and the metropolitan examination and the palace examination were held in the second year of the Tianqi reign.

According to the Ming system, the provincial examination, metropolitan examination, and palace examination were all held every three years. The special examination was not a regular category and was extremely special and rare.

If the provincial examination is held in the third year of the Tianqi reign, then the provincial examination scheduled for the fourth year of the Tianqi reign will also be held. There is no conflict between the two. The same goes for the metropolitan examination and the palace examination. If this matter is really announced to the world, it will be exciting for scholars. After all, if you fail in the special examination, you can still try in the next provincial examination and metropolitan examination.

"Your Majesty, is this a little too hasty?"

Zhu Guozuo pondered for a moment, then stood up and bowed to the emperor, saying, "If this is the case, there is only half a year left before the provincial examination. It will take at least several months for the two capitals and 13 provinces to know about this. Places like Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou are too far away from the central government. If we want to let every scholar know about this, it will probably take even longer."

Zhu Guozuo emphasized these difficulties because he was actually a little worried. This time the emperor granted the imperial examination on the grounds of the great victory in Liaodong. As the chief minister of the cabinet, he knew the moral character of some people in the court very well. If they really dared to preach like this, I am afraid that there would be more trouble. If they incited some scholars in this way, this good thing could turn into a bad thing!

"I will issue a strict order to the Ministry of Rites, requiring it to be read out by April. The education officials in all regions must ensure that this is done well." Zhu Youxiao said calmly, staring at Zhu Guozuo.

"This is settled. The cabinet will draft an imperial edict as soon as possible and present it to the emperor. After I have read it, I will send it to the Ministry of Rites, local education officials and other relevant departments in the name of the cabinet."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Seeing the emperor's firm attitude, Zhu Guozuo could not say anything else. Zhu Youxiao saw what Zhu Guozuo was thinking at a glance.

That's what he's going to do.

The special examination must be held. Starting from the third year of the Tianqi reign, the rectification of civil service from the central government to the local level must begin. This will inevitably lead to batches of officials and clerks being investigated, arrested, and killed. The vacant positions will inevitably be promoted step by step, which will inevitably lead to a number of vacancies for county magistrates, county magistrates, chief clerks, and other officials.

With this special examination, plus the scheduled provincial, provincial and palace examinations, there will be two groups of new people who will be named on the list of successful candidates and enter the officialdom. In this way, there will be no major chaos in the Ming Dynasty's rule at all levels from the central government to the local levels. For Zhu Youxiao, stability is the most important thing.

"Your Majesty, urgent delivery from Zhejiang."

Liu Ruoyu held a memorial in his hand, walked from outside the hall to the imperial court with his head lowered, and respectfully handed the memorial to the emperor. When Zhu Guozuo saw this, he couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Zhejiang Express?
Is something happening in Zhejiang?

and many more!

Zhu Guozuo's eyes suddenly widened and he remembered something.

"The Integrity Commission is willing to send it urgently."

Zhu Youxiao, who took the memorial, couldn't help but smile faintly when he saw Cui Chengxiu's name. After hearing what the emperor said, Zhu Guozuo was certain of what he was thinking.

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The tax resistance in Zhejiang is not over yet!!
Many people in the court have always been paying attention to this matter, but the things that happened in the court before were one wave after another, so that the public opinion of Zhejiang's tax resistance was suppressed.

Cui Chengxiu is so cruel.

While Zhu Guozuo was preoccupied with thoughts, Zhu Youxiao read the secret report at a glance. When he saw the people Cui Chengxiu had arrested in Zhejiang, he felt deeply moved.

"Show it to the Prime Minister."

After reading it, Zhu Youxiao handed the secret memorial to Liu Ruoyu.

"Here."

Liu Ruoyu hurriedly took it with both hands, then turned and walked towards Zhu Guozuo.

"Zhejiang's tax resistance has become clear."

When Zhu Guozuo was about to go to meet him, Zhu Youxiao lifted his robe and said, "Because of the tax resistance case, many problems in the grain transport system have been uncovered. The Integrity Bureau led by Cui Chengxiu has arrested thousands of people in Zhejiang, including a group of scholars."

Snapped!
The secret report that Zhu Guozuo had received fell directly to the ground. Zhu Guozuo's face showed a complex expression, with shock, panic, and...

"The cabinet has convened a meeting on this matter."

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about Zhu Guozuo's behavior. He said calmly, "Dare to gather people to resist taxes. This is a contempt for the laws of our dynasty, and even more so, a contempt for the dignity of the central government. I have decided to handle this matter according to Cui Chengxiu's report. I will deal with it severely. All nine clans of the arrested people will be arrested. Those who should be killed will be killed, those who should be imprisoned will be imprisoned, and those who should be copied will be copied. All those who have meritorious service will be taken back, and they will not be allowed to participate in the imperial examinations for three generations!!"

(End of this chapter)