The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 390 The Crown Prince and the Eldest Son
Chen Jingke stood not far from the bookstore, looking at Yang Shiqi's back, and was very surprised.

I didn't expect to meet this historical celebrity by chance.

Zhu Xiongying noticed the abnormality in his expression and asked, "Do you know this person?"

Chen Jingke replied casually: "He wrote an article criticizing materialism in a weekly newspaper. It was very insightful. I didn't expect to meet him in person."

Zhu Xiongying was disappointed and said weakly:

"Oh, I see. It seems you have some strength to be able to report last week."

Chen Jingke smiled and said, "This person is very interesting."

Zhu Xiongying's eyes lit up and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Jingke said: "From the article, we can see that he has studied materialism."

"He didn't criticize a specific point, nor did he criticize out of context, but rather criticized systematically."

“Although his criticism was still superficial, you can tell that he really understood it.”

"This alone is already better than most Confucian scholars."

Zhu Xiongying was also a little surprised and said, "It seems that Yang Shiqi is indeed a capable person. Why don't we go up and meet him?"

Chen Jingke shook his head and said, "No need. If he is really capable, sooner or later we will see him in the court."

"If he doesn't have the ability, there's no point in meeting him."

Zhu Xiongying, however, took it more seriously: "From what I know about you, if you don't like someone, you wouldn't bother to say so much."

"Every time you say this, you actually have certain expectations of this person in your heart."

"To be able to catch your eye, this man named Yang Shiqi is no ordinary person."

Chen Jingke did not refute and said, "I do have some expectations, but only a little."

"That's enough." Zhu Xiongying nodded and said to Du Tongli behind him:
"Go back and send me this person's detailed information."

Du Tongli said respectfully: "Yes."

Chen Jingke did not stop him. Although the Ming Dynasty was not short of talents, there was no need to be superstitious about the big guys in the previous life.

However, talents who have proven themselves in previous lives are easier to cultivate, and there is no problem in discovering them in advance.

What's more, I just said that I would not interfere with the other party's growth, and Zhu Xiongying would not interfere casually.

There's nothing wrong with just getting to know his detailed information.

In his previous life, he was not a history student. He only knew about the "Three Yangs" but did not know their specific circumstances.

According to his limited understanding, Yang Shiqi was born in a humble family but later held a high position.

He is considered a representative of the noble sons from poor families.

However, this noble boy from a poor family had a bad character. He was sensitive and narrow-minded.

After coming to power, he turned into an evil dragon and indulged his family members in doing evil.

The most important thing is that he was a capitulator in terms of Jiaozhi strategy.

Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji and others said that the money and grain in the national treasury were sufficient to support the continuation of the war and that the place could not be abandoned.

Yang Shiqi and others strongly advocated a ceasefire and allowed Jiaozhi to become independent.

It can be said that Chen Jingke did not have a good impression of him.

This is also the main reason why I didn't go up and get to know the other person just now.

If it was Yu Qian, Shao Bao, who came over, he would have gone up to ask for an autograph long ago.

But no matter what, Yang Shiqi's ability is unquestionable as he was able to take charge of the court during the Yongle, Renxuan and early Zhengtong periods.

If used well, it can be a pioneer of innovation.

As for the evil he did to the people in his hometown... I hope he can change for the better in this lifetime, otherwise the three clans will inevitably have their work cut out for them.

However, the appearance of Yang Shiqi also made Chen Jingke realize something.

The generation born around the founding of the Ming Dynasty has begun to emerge.

This is a very important thing.

Having experienced war, I know the horror of troubled times.

They may be conservative, but they are generally pragmatic and have a clearer understanding of the grassroots.

People who grew up in peaceful times have a different understanding of the world.

If the court fails to realize this, chaos is likely to arise.

To give a simple example, the standards for sterile operating rooms in my country were only established by the General Medical Staff in 1995, and only became popular in the 21st century.

Then when he traveled through time, many people on the Internet began to believe that surgery could not be performed without a sterile operating room.

This is just a small aspect. If we expand it to the whole society, we will find many similar things.

For example, some people believe that in the prosperous times of ancient times, people had enough food and clothing and could eat meat once every ten days or half a month.

However, the fact is that the prosperous period was also the period of most intense land annexation, and people began to lose their land.

Food and clothing?

If you don't starve to death, you're lucky.

On the contrary, in the early days of the country, when everything was in ruins, the people were allocated land and could earn a living through hard work.

But if one can eat until 70% full with two meals a day, he is considered wealthy.

As for the smell of oil? You're overthinking it.

Adding a few more grains of salt to the rice would improve your life.

The cognitive errors made by ordinary people have little impact.

If the bureaucracy that runs the country also generally holds this perception, it will be a disaster for the people at the bottom.

As a ruler, you must realize this.

Find ways to make the new generation of bureaucrats understand the grassroots situation.

Chen Jingke has decided to write a related article when he returns and publish it in the new issue of the weekly newspaper.

The Ming Dynasty has included grassroots work experience as a rigid standard for selecting officials.

But he thought that was not enough. Not only should it be written in the Ming Dynasty Law, but he should also encourage Zhu Yuanzhang to write it in the Imperial Ming Dynasty Ancestor Instructions.

It is also necessary to use propaganda to get everyone to collectively exclude those who have been promoted illegally.

A rule cannot be maintained by law alone.

Only with the collective recognition of the entire bureaucratic system can it exist for a long time.

It is just like the previous life'not entering the Hanlin Academy, not entering the cabinet'.

Chen Jingke also planned to make "not going to the grassroots level, not entering the ministry" the recognized standard for selecting officials in the new Ming Dynasty.
-
They were just wandering around with nothing to do, so after leaving the bookstore, they walked freely on the street.

Du Tongli followed vigilantly behind, his eyes like an eagle, observing everyone who passed by.

Everyone looked at him as if he was a lunatic.

Zhu Xiongying made a comment for fun: "It's too deliberate, not as natural as Jiang Li's."

Du Tongli said quickly: "I am sorry to disappoint you, Dalang. How dare I compete with Commander Jiang?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "From now on, the Jinyiwei will be handed over to you, this won't do.

"Come on, I'll teach you how to do it..."

Du Tongli first called out to his men, asking them to be on high alert, and then he approached carefully.

Looking at Zhu Xiongying who was talking nonsense, Chen Jingke smiled inwardly:

"Be nice and don't lead people into a ditch."

Zhu Xiongying retorted: "Nonsense, how could I not know about this matter?"

Du Tongli, who was standing by, was filled with envy, and at the same time, he was deeply grateful for his original choice.

Otherwise, it would not be his turn to take the position of commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Yes, now he is the new leader of Jinyiwei.

The Jinyiwei was expanded, and the court took the opportunity to adjust its management.

Such an important department cannot be controlled by a single group of people for a long time.

For example, Jiang Li, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, must be removed.

Chen Jingke also fulfilled his promise and helped him successfully retreat to the second line.

Zhu Biao did not abandon him, but conferred on him the quasi-title of Qingqi Duwei.

Although Jiang Li had never been on the battlefield, he made many military achievements by providing intelligence.

Therefore, his title of Light Cavalry Commander was not a reward, but was given after calculating his military merits.

However, the position of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is too sensitive. If he is given a title, all the civil and military officials will rebel.

It was not closed until it was relegated to the second line.

Even so, it aroused opposition from all officials. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was never a person who would consider other people's opinions, and those opposing voices were all ignored.

The day before yesterday, Old Zhu left Beijing and took him with him.

This disappointed many people who were waiting to take revenge on him.

As for the new leader of the Jinyiwei, to everyone's surprise, Zhu Biao actually chose Du Tongli.

You know, Du Tongli is a person who is clearly labeled as "Chen faction".

Choosing him to be in charge of the Jinyiwei was equivalent to handing this organization over to Chen Jingke.

Not to mention the civil and military officials, even Chen Jingke himself was shocked and quickly declined.

This thing is too sensitive, how could a subject like him dare to touch it.

Zhu Biao asked him: "Do you want to be the chief minister of the cabinet?"

Chen Jingke shook his head and said, "I'm not interested. Being a think tank for His Majesty is easy and comfortable, and the credit is not less. Why should I make myself suffer?"

Zhu Biao said: "That's it. You are not the head of the government, and you don't control the military. What are you afraid of?"

"Can you still rely on the Jinyiwei to rebel?"

Relying on Jinyiwei to rebel? You're overthinking it.

This department has a bad reputation. When the people hear that they are planning a rebellion, they will probably take kitchen knives to the streets to suppress the rebellion.

"You must always hold real power in your hands to better lead the change."

"After much thought, I think Jinyiwei is the most suitable."

"..."

"You and Jiang Li worked well together before..."

"..."

"Besides, the Jinyiwei has become much stronger after its expansion. I am not at ease handing it over to outsiders."

"Given your relationship with Xiong Ying, I can only feel at ease if I leave it to you to take charge."

"..."

"There is another purpose for letting you take charge of the Imperial Guard, which is to reform it."

"The Jinyiwei's power is too great now, and it must be restricted."

“How can we limit its power and still allow it to play its due role?”

"I'll leave this matter to you. Clarify the Jinyiwei's scope of authority as soon as possible."

Afterwards, Old Zhu, Empress Ma, and Zhu Xiongying all came out and asked him to take charge of the Jinyiwei.

In this case, what else could Chen Jingke say? He could only take the job reluctantly.

Du Tongli was also in disbelief when he received the appointment letter.

At that time, he was working at the Yingtian Maritime Customs and took a boat to Luoyang to meet Chen Jingke overnight.

When he learned that it was true, he felt very complicated.

There is excitement and also emotion.

Back then, he was forced to leave by Mao Xiang, but who would have thought that he would return in such a manner today.

If it were in the past, he definitely wouldn't want to jump into this mud pit again.

But Jiang Li's good end gave him confidence.

In addition, with Chen Jingke as his backer, as long as he doesn't seek death, he will most likely be able to have a good start and a good end.

Therefore, he took over the responsibility without hesitation.
-
Zhu Xiongying was not talking nonsense, he often went out incognito and was very concerned about his own safety.

Naturally, I also know how to do security work.

Although Du Tongli had worked in the Jinyiwei before, he held a low position at that time and had never done security work.

I really don't know as much as Zhu Xiongying in this area.

One teaches while the other learns, and it seems like the same thing happens.

Chen Jingke would also interject and say a few words from time to time.

We walked and talked like this, and soon it was noon.

They found a place to eat, and just when they were halfway through their meal, a guard came over to report a piece of news:
"Concubine Hu is about to give birth, Your Highness, please return to the palace as soon as possible."

Hearing the news, everyone couldn't help but show joy.

He didn't even have time to eat and hurried back to the palace.

When they arrived, they found that Empress Ma and Zhu Biao were there, as well as cabinet members such as Li Shanchang and several senior officials from the six ministries.

No wonder everyone takes it so seriously.

When Zhu Xiongying was sixteen years old, Empress Ma gave him four concubines.

In the past two years, two concubines became pregnant, but neither of them could keep the baby.

It's not like anyone framed me or anything, it's just a health problem.

However, to outsiders, the problem is not that simple. Could it be the Xu family's doing?

Although the Ming Dynasty adopted the system of primogeniture, the status of the eldest son of the emperor was also very high, and many things were uncertain.

Although this possibility is low, to conspiracy theorists, everything is possible.

Since the day that Miss Hu was found to be pregnant, she has become a key protected person.

All the civil and military officials are watching.

Even Chen Jingke was very conscious and never got close to the other person.

Routine prenatal checkups and the like are all handled by someone assigned by Empress Ma.

It is precisely for this reason that Li Shanchang and others received the news and arrived at the scene as soon as possible.

It’s just that many things are tacitly understood, and no one has lifted the last layer of fig leaf.

Zhu Xiongying and others arrived. After exchanging greetings, everyone said nothing and waited quietly for the final result.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong this time and the baby was born safely.

It's a boy.

When the news was confirmed, there was a moment of silence at the scene.

After that, everyone acted as if nothing had happened and started to congratulate.

Zhu Biao was naturally very happy, after all, his eldest grandson was born.

As for who gave birth to this grandson, it doesn't matter to him.

The ministers were actually very happy as there was no problem with the successor.

As for not being the eldest son, that doesn’t matter.

At least it doesn't matter now.

Let's talk about it first, someone must inherit the throne.

Zhu Xiongying was naturally happy too, after all, that was his own child.

However, he did not forget Xu Miaojin. After seeing the child, he hurried to comfort his beloved.

And promised to have a hundred children in the future.

When the news spread that the prince had a son, civil and military officials naturally came forward to congratulate him.

The threshold of Lady Hu’s parents’ house was almost broken down.

A mother's status depends on her son, so the mother of the emperor's eldest grandson must have an extraordinary status.

And who dares to say that the eldest son is definitely inferior to the eldest legitimate son?

There has been endless debate about whether to appoint the eldest son or the most capable person.

In fact, Concubine Hu was indeed named the Prince's Second Concubine because of this incident.

Before Xu Miaojin entered the palace, she was the de facto master of the Eastern Palace harem.

Empress Ma also gave generous gifts to her family.

This is implied in the question, there is nothing much to say.

Now, more people are trying to please her parents.

However, Concubine Hu's parents did not get carried away and chose to refuse visitors behind closed doors.

After hearing the news, Zhu Xiongying just said:
"They know what's going on."

In contrast, the Xu family was a bit embarrassed.

The prince has been born there, but your daughter hasn't married yet.

But immediately afterwards, Zhu Biao ordered Xu Yungong to be transferred to Beijing to serve as the commander of the Shenjiying.

(End of this chapter)