Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 127 Child, you don’t have to be afraid

After the sun goes down.

Kunning Palace, in the dining room.

"Your Majesty, does your Majesty know what kind of yamen the Shibo Division is?"

Queen Xu picked up a braised chicken nugget for Zhu Di and asked.

Zhu Di looked at the chicken nuggets in the bowl and explained: "Shibosi, Huitong Pavilion, and Siyi Pavilion are all official yamen of the imperial court that manage foreign affairs."

Then, he picked up the chicken pieces with his chopsticks, put them into his mouth, and said while chewing, "Why do you ask this?"

"Gao Sui came to see me at noon today. He wanted to share your worries and ask for a job in charge of the Shipping Department." Empress Xu said frankly.

"The Shibo Tiju Office was abolished by my father, but I have re-established it in Zhejiang, Guangzhou, and Fujian. This yamen is subordinate to the Chief Secretary, but the officials are appointed by me personally."

Zhu Di swallowed the chewed chicken into his belly, and then said: "Shibo Division is a key move for me to go on a sea cruise, and there is no room for error."

"It sounds like a pretty important job."

Queen Xu said with a hint of surprise.

When Zhu Di was full, he got up and walked to the teahouse next to the restaurant to sit down.

Empress Xu didn't care whether she had eaten well or not. When she saw Zhu Di getting up, she also got up and walked into the teahouse.

She sat down with Zhu Di and personally brought a cup of tea to him.

Zhu Di took the tea cup, opened the lid, blew the tea gently, and said: "The Municipal Shipping Department is in charge of the reception of all tribute envoys coming to China, and also collects taxes and silver from the goods brought by the foreigners coming to China. Everything is detailed. , all kinds of things.”

He took a sip of tea, and then asked: "Why is Gao Sui interested in this job? Isn't he suddenly greedy for money?"

"Look at what you said, Gao Sui is only 17 years old this year. He has just become a little enterprising. You should protect him, right?" Empress Xu said unhappily.

"I just said this because I was worried about Gao Sui. Don't look at this kid at such a young age, but he has too many thoughts!"

Zhu Di frowned and said: "If I hadn't been banned last year, I might have caused a lot of trouble. He had been honest for a while, and now he suddenly proposed that he wanted to take charge of the Shipping Department. What if he was deceived by the people around him and his mind was not right? But it’s big.”

Empress Xu sighed and said: "I just hope that our children will be well. Gao Xu, Gao Sui, and Gao Chi are all our biological sons. The palms and backs of their hands are all flesh."

"I have already named the eldest and the third as princes. In the future, they will go overseas to build their own country. Wouldn't it be beautiful to be called lonely, Taoist and widowed?"

Zhu Di took another sip of tea, his expression as usual.

Empress Xu said: "Gao Sui has never left us since he was a child, so naturally he is reluctant to leave. Nowadays, the state affairs are complicated and complicated. Why don't you share the burden and leave the errands of the Shipping Department to Gao Sui? Take care of it so that he can have something serious to do."

Zhu Di looked at Queen Xu with surprised eyes and said: "Let the third child be in charge of the Shibo Division. Where is the boss? I tell you, Gao Sui can't handle the Shibo Division!"

After hearing this, Queen Xu immediately fell into silence and did not know how to continue the conversation.

She felt unhappy when she thought of her eldest son Zhu Gaochi, who had a long history of foot problems. She also felt even sadder when she thought of her second son Zhu Gaoxu, the prince, who was running around and working hard all day long, even squeezing in time to spend with the princess.

"In the more than a year since you succeeded to the throne, you have implemented new policies such as new currency, reform of imperial examinations, and cruises to the sea, and even prepared the establishment of Jinling General Academy, Jinling Women's Hall, Royal Bank, and Huimin Medical Center. Gao Xu is not involved in any of these things. The main control?"

Empress Xu said with tears in her eyes: "You can't just ask Gao Xu to do everything. He is still young. What should you do if you get sick from exhaustion?"

"It's okay, let the boss and the third child share the burden for me!"

Zhu Di felt that what he just said seemed a bit harsh. Seeing that Queen Xu was sad and crying, he comforted her.

After half an hour.

Zhu Di returned to Qianqing Palace and sent someone to call Prince Zhu Gaoxu over.

"My dear father, I would like to ask if your father, the Emperor, is okay?"

After Zhu Gaoxu entered the side hall, he knelt down and saluted Zhu Di, who was sitting on the dragon couch.

"I beg you, please get up." Zhu Di said.

"Dinner is for the Crown Princess?"

After Zhu Gaoxu stood up, Zhu Di asked while sitting upright.

"Yes." Zhu Gaoxu replied respectfully.

Zhu Di reached out and patted the empty space on the side of the dragon couch, motioning for Zhu Gaoxu to sit over. The latter hesitated slightly and did not dare to step forward and take a seat.

"You are careful every time you see me. Am I that scary?"

Zhu Di asked jokingly with a smile on his face.

Zhu Gaoxu quickly bowed and said: "Father, your words are serious, my child dare not!"

Zhu Di looked around and said loudly: "Everyone, please step back! No one is allowed to come in without my order!"

"Let's go, let's get out!"

Li Xing, the young eunuch of the Internal Affairs Bureau on duty, hurriedly urged all the internal servants and maids to leave.

After everyone retreated, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said expressionlessly: "Are you worried that I will find out that you are in possession of the secret spy department of the former Jinyiwei subordinates that your grandfather gave you?"

"My son is guilty!"

Zhu Gaoxu was suddenly startled, immediately knelt down, touched his head to the ground, and said respectfully.

He had long expected that one day Zhu Di would know that he had a mysterious spy agency in his hands, but he did not expect that this day would come so quickly.

"Do you really want to know how I knew about this?"

Zhu Di still said in a tone that showed no emotion or anger.

Zhu Gaoxu knelt on the ground without saying a word.

"Because there are people from me in the Secret Service you inherited from your grandpa."

There was a glint of pride in Zhu Di's eyes that was not easily noticed by others, and he said softly: "My child, you don't have to be afraid, dad is not suspicious of you. Get up quickly and sit down next to dad."

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't figure out what Zhu Di wanted for a while, but now he had no choice but to act according to Zhu Di's wishes. He got up, walked to Zhu Di and sat on the dragon couch.

"You see what this is?"

After Zhu Gaoxu sat down, Zhu Di took out a memorial from behind and handed it to Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu took a closer look and found that it was the pros and cons of establishing Zhu Di or Zhu Yunwen as the crown prince that he had written to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Imperial Grandpa gave me this thousand-word advice and told me to take it out and read it when I can't sleep in the future."

Zhu Di said with emotion: "Your mother told me that your third brother wants to get a job in charge of the shipping department. It shows that the third child is still obsessed with the reserve!"

Zhu Gaoxu still didn't say a word.

"Good boy, you are the heir appointed by your grandpa. I have made it clear to you that as long as I reign for one day, no one can challenge your position as crown prince!"

Zhu Di said solemnly: "I want to make you the most powerful prince in history!"

All night.

The next day.

early morning.

"Yu Xin, how is the progress of the shipping department of the three provinces and cities?" Zhu Di asked, sitting on the golden platform.

"I respect your Majesty's order to restore the Municipal Shipping Department established in the early Hongwu period in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces. Many of the fifth-rank promotion officials, sixth-grade deputy promotion officials, and officials have taken up their posts." Yu Xin said respectfully. .

"That's not what I want to know. Sixteen months have passed since the decree was issued in May last year. It's better for you. A small matter like a shipping department has not been settled yet. You are going around in circles with me every day and just shirk it. Prevaricate, what is your intention?"

Zhu Di threw the memorial in his hand on the imperial table, with a look of displeasure on his face. He stood up and walked around the imperial table, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Yu Xin and others, and said loudly.

"Your Majesty, forgive me. It's just a humble minister who didn't do his best to the affairs of Shibo Division."

Yu Xin quickly apologized and then explained: "Besides, each port is assigned to the Chief Secretary of each province, and the Ministry of Household Affairs is often beyond its reach. The powers are incompatible, so the matter is dragged out." Zhu Di said: "In the end, you are still brains There is something wrong with it. You don’t believe in your heart that what results will be achieved in the end if I ask Zheng He to lead a fleet to patrol the sea."

He turned around and walked behind the royal table, sat down again, and said loudly: "Okay, I will say it to death today. You must complete the affairs of the Shipping Department within the time limit!"

"From the Song Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, experienced wars, merchants were active, and its status rose. It has become the largest port along the Ming Dynasty. When Zheng He's fleet returned, Quanzhou was the best place to dock. Therefore, I order you to first ship to Quanzhou. The preparations have been made for the Secretary-General and the Tongtong Hall."

Yu Xin answered: "The Anyuan Pavilion in Zhejiang and the Huaiyuan Pavilion in Guangzhou have been built, and they will soon be able to receive tribute envoys from merchants. However, the Laiyuan Pavilion in Quanzhou has not yet been completed."

"What's the reason?" Zhu Di asked.

Yu Xin replied: "The promotion of the Ship Division in Quanzhou City has not yet been decided."

At this moment, Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui came out to report: "Father, the reason why Laiyuan Pavilion has not been completed yet is not that the promotion has not been decided, but that the silver yuan and gold banknotes allocated by the Ministry of Industry to build the pavilion have been embezzled and misappropriated. ”

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the main hall.

"Who is so bold as to embezzle public funds allocated by the imperial court?"

"Yes, not to mention the money for the construction of the Laiyuan Pavilion to receive tribute envoys! Isn't this obviously going against Jinshang?"

"I think this man is out of his mind because of his poverty."

For a time, many courtiers were whispering to each other and discussing.

Zhu Di looked at the reactions of the ministers in the palace, paused, looked at Yu Xin, the Minister of Household Affairs, and asked: "Yu Xin, what do you have to say?"

Yu Xin said without fear: "Your Majesty, if you say that I am incompetent in doing things, and that I am careless and procrastinating, I have nothing to say. But if you say that I have engaged in personal fraud and misappropriated treasury money, I will never obey."

"Father, my son is willing to go to Quanzhou for a thorough investigation. I don't believe it. I can't catch these people." Zhu Gaosui said loudly.

Zhu Di raised his hand and said, "No need."

He scanned the ministers with sharp eyes, and then said: "I will start from within the court, starting with you high-ranking ministers."

When all the ministers heard this, they were so frightened that they dared not speak out.

Zhu Di stood up and said loudly: "Show me! I'm going to Yu Xin's residence to see if there is any secret treasury silver in the house of the Minister of Hubu of the Ming Dynasty?"

Two quarters later.

Zhu Di led a group of civil and military ministers to Yu Xin's home.

"The common people bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"

Yu Xin's family members knelt in the first courtyard to perform a ritual of worship.

Zhu Di was angry and did not say "flat body". Instead, he looked around the yard where many vegetables were planted, and then walked straight to the second inner courtyard.

Yu Xin's house is an ordinary house with two entrances. The first courtyard is filled with various vegetables on both sides. The second courtyard on the left is still planted with vegetables, and on the right is pear, apricot, and peach trees. fruit trees.

Zhu Di looked at everything in his eyes and didn't believe that the house of the dignified Minister of Household Affairs would look like this, so he went straight to the inner hall.

He opened the door first, and what he saw before him were three empty rooms on the left, middle and right.

In the middle is the living room. The nave is bare, not even an ordinary ink painting is hung, only four pairs of chairs are placed.

Yu Xin hurriedly walked to the middle hall and wiped the chair with his sleeve to signal Zhu Di to take a seat.

Zhu Di turned around and walked into the restaurant on the left.

There is an Eight Immortals table placed near the window in the hall. The table is covered with leftovers and unpacked dishes and chopsticks with a dark blue coarse cloth.

Zhu Di took a few steps forward, intending to see what Yu Xin was eating.

Yu Xin hurriedly stepped forward to clean up the dishes and chopsticks, saying: "Your Majesty, the humble servants suddenly failed to clean up. The house is really messy."

As he spoke, he pretended to take away the leftovers.

"Wait a minute!"

Zhu Di opened his mouth to stop Yu Xin's movements, then reached out and lifted the dark blue coarse cloth, and saw a large bowl of leftover porridge and two small bowls of pickles covered under the cloth.

"Yu Xin, does your family usually eat this?" Zhu Di asked in disbelief.

Yu Xin replied frankly: "Your Majesty, I am living a peaceful life at home. This has always been the case."

The civil and military officials who came here with Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu and others couldn't help but feel a little ashamed when they heard Yu Xin's answer, combined with the situation of the family they had just seen.

An embarrassed look flashed across Zhu Gaosui's face.

Zhu Gaoxu knew, however, that Yu Xin was not a person seeking fame, but that this was just his nature.

Yu Xin, a native of Linhuai in Fengyang Prefecture, was a Jinshi in the 21st year of Hongwu. He served successively as a member of Zhongshushe, Hanlin, and minister.

Because of his majestic appearance, loud voice, and neat appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang gave him the name "Xin" and was awarded the title of Chief of the Department of Hubu.

In the 24th year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang made an exception and promoted him to the rank of Doctor Jiayi and Right Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Zhu Yuanzhang once asked him about the world's household registration, land wealth, geographical dangers, and he answered everything.

Therefore, when Yu Xin's inspection period expired, Zhu Yuanzhang decreed that he should be promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and Minister of Finance.

At that time, the prince's annual lumi was [-] shi. Yu Xin suggested that Zhu Yuanzhang reduce it by four-fifths, and at the same time make clear regulations on the amount of lumi for the clan below the prince.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought it was reasonable and agreed with his suggestion.

In addition, because the military grain and salary for the border fortress could not be sustained, Yu Xin, under the order of Zhu Yuanzhang, presided over the Kaizhongfa, ordered merchants to transport grain to the bottom of the fortress, and then issued vouchers, and paid salt according to the vouchers. Therefore, the grain reserves for border defense were sufficient.

Historically, after Xia Yuanji was promoted to head of the Household Department, Yu Xin valued him very much and entrusted him with the affairs of all the household officials, which was equivalent to focusing on cultivating Xia Yuanji, and Xia Yuanji also regarded Yu Xin as a role model for him to follow. , and eventually became a famous minister of wealth.

"Your Majesty, the common woman really didn't know that the emperor was coming and was not prepared. Could you please have a cup of hot tea?"

At this moment, Yu Xin's wife came over carrying several cups of tea on a wooden tray, bowed and said.

"No need."

Zhu Di looked a little confused and waved his hands: "I'm not here to visit you today, so don't bother me. I'll drink your tea another day."

As he spoke, he sat down on the stool next to the Eight Immortals table and said, "Yu Xin?"

Yu Xin hurriedly bowed and said: "Wei Chen is here."

"You have millions of taels of silver in your hands, but you can live on porridge and soup. You have the official position of a high official in the court on your shoulders, but you can live an honest and frugal life. It's not easy!" Zhu Di sighed with emotion.

Yu Xinzhuo replied: "There are still famine-stricken people in the world. I have three meals to eat. I am unworthy of my kindness to the people for raising them!"

Zhu Di turned sideways and said to the civil and military ministers standing nearby: "Have you all seen it?"

The ministers were silent.

Zhu Di then looked at Yu Xin and said: "The Ming Dynasty is really lucky to have such self-denying and devoted courtiers as you!"

"Being upright, honest and diligent is the duty of a minister. I don't dare to accept such a high reputation!" Yu Xin bowed.

Zhu Di thought for a moment and then told the eunuch Li Xing beside him: "Pass this decree and write this testimonial into the official evaluation of the Ministry of Civil Affairs at the end of the year to reward and favor him."

He changed the topic and continued: "However, Yu Xin, the Minister of Household Affairs, failed to supervise the Municipal Shipping Department, and he will be fined for one year."

Yu Xin knelt down and said, "I accept the order and thank you for your kindness."

Afterwards, Zhu Di got up and left the wing and walked outside.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu following closely behind him, he ordered: "Prince, find a way to buy some decent furniture for Yu Xin's family."

"My son, I accept the order." Zhu Gaoxu said respectfully.

PS: In the future, after Zhu Di’s Northern Expedition, Zhu Gaoxu will supervise the country, and he will be a veritable executive deputy emperor! [This chapter is still a two-in-one chapter, please recommend votes, monthly votes, and chapter check-ins!All kinds of support! 】

(End of this chapter)