The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 155 The sky is falling ([-] monthly votes plus more updates)

"Chen Jingke."

Li Shanchang slowly said the person in his mind.

"He?" Li Qi shook his head repeatedly:
"How is it possible? How old is he? How could he make such a grand plan?"

"Even if he really has this ability, how can he win your Majesty's trust?"

Li Shanchang glanced at him and said, "If you have his ability, you will naturally know how to win your Majesty's trust."

"Uh..." Li Qi was choked and choked for words. It's true, but what you said is too hurtful.

"No... do you really think it's him?"

Li Shanchang also hesitated, but finally nodded and said:

"It's such a coincidence that I have to believe it."

Li Qi asked doubtfully: "What coincidence?"

Li Shanchang said: "The timing of his appearance is too coincidental. Think about when His Majesty started planning."

He asked himself and answered: "Everything started shortly after Chen Jingke appeared..."

"First form a cabinet, and then restart the imperial examination..."

"I used to think that this was all normal. After His Majesty deposed the Prime Minister, he has been thinking of ways to solve this problem."

"The system of four auxiliary officers and the cabinet system are also similar. It is normal for His Majesty to have thought of it himself."

"But now that I think about it, it's so abnormal."

Li Qi asked: "What's wrong? Why can't I see it?"

Li Shanchang replied: "That's because you don't understand His Majesty. If he has any ideas, he will implement them first and then adjust them step by step during the implementation process."

"Take the Fourth Auxiliary Officer as an example. When it was first established, it was empty. Many rules were slowly modified during the implementation process."

"But the cabinet is different. As soon as it came into being, various systems were very complete."

"From its inception to now, only minor adjustments have been made, and the basic rules are still the same as the original ones."

"It shows that this system has been deduced countless times. This is not His Majesty's style at all."

Li Qi thought about it, it was indeed the case.

It's not that Zhu Yuanzhang acted impulsively, regardless of the consequences.

It is a new system that will always have shortcomings of one kind or another and need to be adjusted during implementation.

It is indeed a bit strange that there are no problems with the basic framework of the cabinet.

Li Shanchang added: "Let's talk about the imperial examination. Your Majesty does intend to restart the imperial examination. I have already known about this."

"So I never considered anything unusual before, but now that I think about it, there is something unusual about it."

Li Qi thought for a while and said: "Quota allocation and training of swordsmen and pens?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's changes to the imperial examination were limited to these two points, and the only exceptions could be found in these two places.

Li Shanchang shook his head and said, "It's quota allocation."

"Your Majesty abolished the imperial examination before because he felt that the imperial examination candidates were not capable enough and could not be put to great use."

"After more than ten years of thinking, it is not surprising that we can think of this method to solve the problem."

"But the quota allocation system is different..."

"The rich and the poor vary from place to place, and the level of scholars varies..."

"As a result, some places have too many Jinshi candidates, and some places may not be able to get one for decades..."

"Few people would have thought of something like this before it happened."

"If you think about it carefully, including the anonymity system and the copying and marking of papers, they were all improvements made after errors occurred."

"And this time, His Majesty plugged the loophole before there was any problem."

Li Qi opened his mouth. He wanted to say that maybe this problem had occurred in previous dynasties.

But during the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains was the core, and the south was still a place where criminals were exiled.

The Northern Song Dynasty was similar. Although the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were gone, the north was still prosperous.

The Southern Song Dynasty was just in one corner, so there was no distinction between north and south.

Speaking of which, there really is no precedent to learn from.

In the end, he could only say: "Doesn't this prove that His Majesty is far-sighted?"

Li Shanchang shook his head and said: "I understand Your Majesty. If he had such a vision, he would not have abolished the imperial examination."

This is indeed a bit rude, but when Li Shanchang said it, it was very convincing.

Li Qi still didn't believe that this was Chen Jingke's idea:
"Even if someone is giving advice to His Majesty, it may not be him. Maybe there is someone else?"

Li Shanchang asked: "Who else could it be besides him?"

"The palace seems airtight, but in fact every move is under the attention of the world."

"With such a great talent, entering the palace is like putting a cone in a bag. There is no way to hide it."

"Have you ever heard that a mysterious person appeared in the palace?"

Li Qi shook his head, indeed not.

But he still couldn't believe that all this was planned by Chen Jingke.

He was only thirteen when he entered the palace, and he is only 15 years old this year. How evil would it take to make such a plan?

Li Shanchang also knows that these alone are indeed not enough to make people believe it, but he has more complete games.

"You also know what those mathematicians did, right?"

"The new arithmetic was created by Chen Jingke, and this has been confirmed."

Li Qi nodded and said: "The new arithmetic is indeed extraordinary, but this can only mean that his arithmetic is more advanced, right?"

Li Shanchang said: "If it is just new arithmetic, it really means nothing, but think about the new numbers on the new banknotes."

"When the new banknotes appeared, the new numbers had just appeared and had not really spread yet."

"How could His Majesty print a newly discovered number on the banknotes?"

"And it appears in several conspicuous places."

"There is only one possibility. The new numbers and the new banknotes were made by the same person."

Li Qi was speechless. This was indeed a more convincing evidence.

Li Shanchang is getting older and feels a little short of breath when he talks so many words at once.

He paused for a while and waited for his breath to calm down before continuing:

"The prince established the Banknote Bureau and began studying banknotes and economic methods half a year in advance..."

"They also have a book in their hands, which contains all this knowledge."

"Where did this book come from?"

"I was still confused before, but now I think it must have been done by Chen Jingke."

Li Qi couldn't help but ask: "How do you conclude that it was written by him?"

Li Shanchang said: "Because he often gave lectures to these people before..."

"At first everyone thought he was teaching these people arithmetic."

"Now that I think about it, what I preach is basically economic principles."

Li Qi questioned: "There are so many people in the Financial and Banknote Bureau. If he is teaching economic principles, how can it be possible that no news will be leaked?"

Li Shanchang said: "He only needs to teach a few of the most talented people, and then these people will teach others, and the secret will naturally be kept."

"And even if there is news, will you believe it?"

Li Qi shook his head subconsciously. Now he couldn't believe it, let alone what was said outside.

Li Shanchang said: "The military household system, no matter how many people persuaded Your Majesty at the beginning, it was useless."

"But now, His Majesty quietly wants to change."

"It could only be that someone convinced him and gave him a better solution."

"Just wait and see. It won't be long before His Majesty will have follow-up measures."

Li Qi still didn't want to believe it.

It's not that he doesn't believe in genius, but genius must also have a certain temper.

Being able to make this kind of layout can no longer be described as genius.

Li Shanchang could naturally see what he was thinking and sighed:

"Actually, I don't want to believe that such a grand gesture was actually made by a young man."

"But now there is a way to verify whether my guess is true."

Li Qi quickly asked: "What can we do?"

Li Shanchang said: "Based on my understanding of His Majesty, such a genius will definitely find a way to completely lock the two parties together."

"The best way is to get married..."

"Chen Jingke is only 15 years old. He has only three generations in his family. Marriage will have a greater effect on him."

"If my guess is true, maybe it won't be long before he becomes the Prince Consort."

"Among His Majesty's daughters, the one who is similar in age to him is Princess Fuqing."

"So...just wait, news will come out soon." Li Qi couldn't help but nodded, this can indeed be used as a basis.

Although the Ming Dynasty did not attach much importance to the consort's origin, he only cared about character and talent.

Chen Jingke had no problem with both aspects, but his status as his grandson's companion made him unlikely to become the consort.

Can Zhu Yuanzhang ignore all this and marry the princess to him.

Even if Chen Jingke was not the person who planned the plot, he was definitely deeply involved with this person.

Li Shanchang suddenly said with emotion: "I underestimated him."

"I used to think that he didn't associate with scholars, but mixed up with those people who studied arithmetic, and it was difficult for him to achieve much."

"Now I know he didn't need to do that."

"Or, he can't do it."

It is strange that the emperor would not be afraid of being so talented and hanging out with scholars.

Wang Mang was recommended by scholars.

Li Qi nodded, suddenly remembered something and said:

"Dad, if you can think of this, is there anyone else who can think of it too?"

Li Shanchang said confidently: "No, only those who have a deep understanding of His Majesty can discover the anomalies."

Li Qi thought so. Didn't he just think that His Majesty was far-sighted?

It is estimated that most people have the same idea as him.

Only someone who knows His Majesty very well can realize that something is wrong.

Having said this, Li Shanchang suddenly paused and said:
"There is someone who might also know... No, he must know."

Li Qi asked curiously: "Who? Actually know your majesty better than dad?"

Li Shanchang took a deep breath: "Xu Tiande."

When it comes to understanding His Majesty, Xu Da is definitely no worse than himself.

After being reminded, Li Qicai suddenly remembered that Chen Jingke was closest to the Duke of Wei.

His mother Feng had a close relationship with Xu Da's concubine Sun, and he and Xu Yungong were close friends.

In this case, it was impossible for Xu Da not to guess the truth behind it.

Li Shanchang praised: "No wonder, no wonder the relationship between the Duke of Wei and the Chen family is so good."

"Before, I only thought it was because Chen Jingke cured Xu Tiande's back gangrene."

"Now it seems that he has already discovered that Chen Jingke is extraordinary and wants to place a bet in advance."

"What a cunning Xu Tiande, he took the lead without saying a word."

Li Qi finally believed in his father's judgment and said:

"Should we also form a good relationship with him?"

Li Shanchang nodded, shook his head and said, "We should form a good relationship, but we can't do it."

"Let the princess come forward and make friends with Princess Fuqing."

It is normal for sisters to have good relations with each other.

And the cost of building a good relationship is also very low.

If Li Shanchang's guess is wrong, it doesn't matter, just think of it as strengthening the relationship between sisters.

If the guess is right, the gains will be huge.

In short, it is safe.

At this time, Li Shanchang said to his son:

"By the way, His Majesty has put you in charge of changing the course of the Yellow River."

"You should meet with Bai Ying as soon as possible and ask how to proceed."

"Remember, he is in charge of the diversion. You are there to assist him in managing people and materials."

"Ah?" Li Qi was caught off guard by the news and was stunned.
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With the end of the small meeting, two major events, the relocation of the capital and the diversion of the Yellow River, spread quickly.

The whole Yingtian was boiling.

It's not because the Yellow River changed its course. For the people of Yingtian, whether the Yellow River changes its course or not has nothing to do with them.

What they care about is moving the capital.

Okay, why do you want to move the capital all of a sudden?

If we really moved away, wouldn’t we be able to live as citizens of Gyeonggi?

The sky is falling.

But you can't move.

However, it didn't matter what they said, so they could only complain privately.

The reaction of the scholar community was quite polarized.

Either they specifically support moving the capital, but Yingtian's terrain is indeed problematic.

The Central Plains is where the dragon vein of China lies, so the capital should be placed there.

Not to mention there are other benefits.

The rest are very opposed to moving the capital. It is a waste of money and people, and it is too much trouble.

However, what they said still doesn't count.

The people who can really influence this matter are the officials.

But regarding the matter of moving the capital, the reaction of the officials was relatively dull.

The emperor has always wanted to move the capital. This is nothing new.

The capital city of Fengyang took six years to build, which shows how determined the emperor was to move the capital.

Although this announcement is a bit sudden, it is still within the expected range.

Moreover, Luoyang, as the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, is indeed a place that everyone can accept.

What they are more concerned about is the diversion of the Yellow River.

The diversion of the Yellow River involves too much. Henan, Shandong and the entire Huaihe River Basin... the area involved is too wide.

Anyone who still has a sense of responsibility would find it difficult not to pay attention to this matter.

Although everyone thought it was a good idea to change the route at first, when it was actually implemented, it would be a lie to say that I was not worried.

They are all afraid of what might happen.

Some people laughed at Bai Ying who appeared out of nowhere, but those who knew him gave him enough respect.

After all, this is a man who is willing to die for his hometown.

Of course, what all officials are most concerned about is the reform of military households.

Again, no one is stupid.

Zhu Yuanzhang had already said this, how could he still not guess the real intention.

That is to carry out military reform.

This is no small matter.

If the army causes trouble, the problem will be more serious than the failure to divert the Yellow River.

So how the emperor wants to reform the military system is the issue that everyone is most concerned about right now.

Not only civil servants are concerned, military generals are even more concerned.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army immediately went through various channels to inquire about the news.

Naturally, I didn't hear any news.

The emperor just issued a decree asking them to mobilize 20 military households as soon as possible.

At the same time, the Ministry of Household Affairs was ordered to divide land for these military households in Luoyang counties.

Moreover, they cannot be allowed to live together, but must be scattered and placed among villages.

And prepare agricultural tools, seeds and other items.

These military households must be settled as quickly as possible.

Although the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army was very reluctant, it did not dare to disobey the emperor's order.

We could only transfer 20 military households from various places to the Ministry of Household Affairs without affecting border defense.

The Ministry of Hubu did not dare to neglect. Qiu Guangan, the left minister of the Ministry of Hubu, personally sat in Luoyang to resettle these military households.

Amidst all this commotion, the army from the expedition to Yunnan returned triumphantly and will soon arrive in Yingtian.

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(End of this chapter)