My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 193 Is the palace recruiting people?

"Declaration?"

Hearing an unfamiliar word, Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhou Yingqiu curiously.

"Tell me more about it."

"To put it simply, according to the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, the cabinet needs to request orders from His Majesty every month, and the people in the countryside announce orders."

Seeing that the emperor didn't know about this, Zhou Yingqiu immediately explained it to the emperor.

"Xuanyu", a policy for transportation in the Ming Dynasty.

Except for the first month and December, which are covered by the university, farming is not active.

On the first day of each month, the cabinet will invite him to choose an edict.

The Yin of Shuntian Prefecture led the magistrates of Wanping and Daxing counties to lead Xuan Yu out from Huiji Gate. He led the elders to Chengtian Gate, crossed the Jinshui Bridge, and went to Fengtian Hall to face the Holy Spirit and Xuan Yu.

The language used in the edict also changed with the change of emperors, and the content was also the vernacular within the vernacular.

According to records, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Zhanji have all done this.

But in the early years of Emperor Mingmen's reign, this system was abolished.

The reason is also very simple. Sanyang is Zhengtong young and can't say anything, so he simply cancels it.

And when Orthodoxy came of age, this system was not restored.

And who is the person who restores this system?

Well, Zhu Houzhao, the Tiger and Leopard Emperor and the Zhengde Emperor.

This man likes to go out among the people when he has nothing to do, so he dug up this system from the pile of history.

After Jiajing was later invited to the capital from Hubei, this system was retained.

However, he also made changes to the system.

After the cabinet brought out the edict, an official from Shuntian Prefecture would hold it in front of him and lead the relevant officials to the south of Chengtianmen Bridge to summon the elderly and well-established gentry from Wanping and Daxing counties to deliver the edict in person.

Yes, the target has also been changed from senior citizens to gentry.

However, this policy of extending imperial power into the countryside was restored.

Here is an example of the decree issued by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty in the 19th year of Wanli.

lunar calendar second month

I would like to tell the common people: Now that spring is coming and the soil is moist, everyone should organize their farm work carefully and not be lazy.

Lunar March

I would like to tell the common people: Now that spring is coming and the soil is moist, you must organize your farm work carefully and not be lazy.

Leap March in the lunar calendar

I would like to tell the people: In this farming season, you must work harder and don’t be lazy.

4th lunar month

Tell the people: Farm diligently when the time comes, and don’t be lazy.

Lunar May

Tell the common people: When the fields are in full bloom, everyone must devote themselves to farming and not be lazy.

Lunar June

Tell the people: The fields are now full of crops, and everyone should do their best in farming and not be lazy.

7th lunar month

Tell the common people: Now that the fields are in full bloom, you must take good care of them to wait for the autumn harvest.

August of the lunar calendar

Tell the people: Now that the crops are ripe, they must be harvested in time to avoid being left in a mess.

Lunar September

Tell the people: Now that the fields are harvested, we must save money and don't waste it.

tenth lunar month

Tell the people: now that the harvest is over, everyone should save money and not waste it.

November of the lunar calendar

Tell the common people: Now that the farming work is finished, everyone should be content with their livelihood and save money.

The edict issued to the people this time can be said to be simple, easy to understand, and clear.

However, starting from Jiajing's later years, the Gyeonggi area was no longer so loyal to the emperor.

In other words, once this person is rich, he will easily drift off.

Some gentry with status, status, and influence chose to ignore the imperial edict.

They hired some rogues from the market to replace themselves and go to Chengtian Gate to participate in the imperial edict, which was called betrayal.

This led to a rapid decline in the imperial court's influence among the people.

"Did the cabinet talk to me about this matter?"

Touching his chin, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Liu Shimin suspiciously and asked.

"Back to the Emperor, on the twenty-ninth of every month, a memorial from the cabinet will be sent to the Supervisor of Ceremonies. The Emperor doesn't know what to approve, so he asks the clerk's office to approve the red ones according to the old temple emperor's practice."

"Oh, when you said that, I remembered it."

Hearing Liu Shimin's words, Zhu Youxiao nodded suddenly, as if he remembered such a memorial.

Did he remember it?

He wants a hammer!

What Liu Shimin meant was that the cabinet did not bully the emperor because he was young, but was doing this. This imperial edict came up.

"so."

Pointing at Sun Ruyou, Zhu Youxiao ordered.

"From now on, we don't need to have those gentry people come to announce the edict. Let the rural officials come to listen to the edict, and then let them declare that everyone is upright."

"The minister obeys the order."

Hearing this, Sun Ruyou bowed indifferently.

This is to add tasks to the new officials in the court, not to myself.

Moreover, this can be regarded as reducing the burden on those squires.

After waving his hand to skip the question of the announcement, Zhu Youxiao led the two of them on the field ridge.

"I have also heard about this court official examination. Some people are quite unhappy. They feel that the officials given by the court are too young, and some of them look down on them?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

After hearing the emperor's words, Zhou Yingqiu said quickly.

"They are all bookworms who are industrious and ignorant of grains. They have no reverence in their hearts. I have written and issued instructions."

"Ah."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded and suddenly asked Sun Ruyou.

"Sun Shangshu Wenda Tianxia, ​​can you tell me how to write the word locust for locust?"

"Zhongzi, come here..."

After hearing the emperor's question, Sun Ruyou opened his mouth.

Then, it got stuck.

"Come here and tell me the emperor's imperial title?"

Not caring about Sun Ruyou's pause, Zhu Youxiao said what Sun Ruyou hadn't finished.

"People are as they say. If there are insects on the emperor's side, then the court will become locusts that harm the people."

The fan in his hand opened with a snap, Zhu Youxiao looked at the farmers sowing seeds in the distance and said with emotion.

"Since I came to the throne, Feng Sanyuan and Gu Zao have ignored the country and colluded with bandits in an attempt to subvert Liaodong."

"In the future, corrupt officials are rampant and their hands are high and low, causing the national treasury to be empty. I am very worried about this."

"This time the imperial court will take the official examination and replenish the official staff. The Ministry of Civil Affairs must keep a close eye on them. Those who violate the imperial decrees must be dealt with seriously. I don't want 'locusts' to appear that cannibalize the people's wealth and anointing."

"Your Majesty, don't worry."

Hearing that the emperor described the imperial court as locusts, Zhou Yingqiu felt unhappy, but was speechless.

Indeed, the word locust for locust is just worm plus the word emperor.

There was a bug around the emperor. The court treated the people harshly and became a locust that destroyed the people.

This reason also makes sense.

"The Ministry of Officials must strictly manage officials to ensure that there will be no locusts in the court."

"Well, go ahead and focus on national affairs."

After receiving Zhou Yingqiu's assurance, Zhu Youxiao had nothing more to say to them at this time, so he waved for the two of them to leave.

Standing beside the emperor and watching the two people leaving, Xu Waner didn't know what she was thinking.

"what!"

Just when she was in a daze, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but stretched out his hand and hugged his wife's waist.

In the evening, after a group of people wandered around in other people's fields, they set off on their way back to Beijing. There is no place for women to live in the wild.

The Imperial Palace, Xiyuan, and Nanhaizi are all my family's land after all.

On the carriage back to Beijing, Zhu Youxiao held a lolita in his arms and ate the ringo, or apple, that Xu Waner brought to his mouth.

I just want to lament that my life is really too corrupt.

"Where are you?"

Unable to help but stick with the little Lolita, Zhu Youxiao asked outside the carriage.

"Back to the young master, we have entered Chaoyang Gate."

After hearing the emperor's question, Tiqi immediately reported back from outside.

"Find a restaurant and eat before going back."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao let go of Loli in his arms and ordered.

"Yes!"

After hearing the emperor's words, Shen Lian, who was on duty today, immediately handed over his hands and led people to find the restaurant.

Of course, Shen Lang didn't find the famous Yanxing Tower in the capital when he was looking for a restaurant.

I just randomly found a restaurant on the roadside where many travelers were resting.

After getting off the carriage, someone went upstairs to find a private room. Then the little eunuch went to the back kitchen of the restaurant and watched the folk cook cooking.

Xu Waner was asked to go up to the private room first, while Zhu Youxiao lay beside the railing on the second floor and eavesdropped on the chatter of everyone in the lobby.

The biggest topic in the capital now is the emperor's new monetary policy, which will return the coinage power to the imperial court.

Of course, ordinary people cannot say such lofty words.

They only knew that the imperial court directly launched new silver coins, which were beautifully made and were very convenient for their lives.

Merchants are seeking profit, and these people are trying to find ways to collect the scattered silver from the people, and then melt it into gold and silver, and send it to Baoquan Bureau to exchange it into silver coins, so as to make a fortune.

However, because of the emperor's protection of his new monetary policy, especially the reoccurrence of the troubles caused by large private households when the new copper coins were introduced during the Jiajing period, Jin Yiwei paid special attention to this matter, and even killed him for it. Three Counts.

For this reason, these big players dare not go too far.

And the common people, with the emperor's backing, are not fools either.

Nowadays, folk goose eyes, sand shells, fish eyes, water floats, dimes, thin coins, etc., which are mixed with soil and sand and have a high proportion of lead and tin, can no longer be exchanged for loose silver.

If you want to exchange money from the private sector, you can only exchange it with a sufficient amount of Tongbao.

This has caused a wave of silver and gold trends in Beijing.

Hearing that his monetary policy was so "supported" by these people, Zhu Youxiao felt speechless for a while.

There are many things going on in this land, and it can easily change its flavor.

The cost of exchanging silver for the people is 10%, while the cost of these turtles collecting miscellaneous silver from the people is 20%.

Earn more than him!

However, this issue is a minor one for now.

What Ming Dynasty is now facing is a situation of expulsion of bad currency.

Compared with the huge amount of silver deposits in the Ming Dynasty, the amount of silver coins that have been put into the private sector cannot be said to be more than enough. It is also a drop in the bucket.

"We still need to expand the casting volume."

Flapping his hands on the railing, Zhu Youxiao decided to add another burden to the Baoquan Bureau.

"Moreover, the Baoyuan Bureau that mints copper coins must be strictly managed. After all, the face value of this silver coin is still too high for ordinary people."

Just as the emperor was lost in thought, a sudden burst of noise reached his ears.

"Please be kind to everyone, my daughter has entered the palace, and I came to the capital to find a relative."

"There's no trouble on the road. I beg you all to be kind and give us something to eat."

"Ok?"

Seeing a begging father and son suddenly appearing at the door of the store, a bunch of question marks popped up in Zhu Youxiao's head.

What is this? The protagonist’s private visit in incognito must be treated as an emergency?

Two father and son, an old man and a young man, walked in from the door.

He is old, his face is dark and wrinkled.

What he was holding in his hand was a child over one meter tall, who also had a dark complexion.

"Brother, what's going on?"

Seeing the father and son in tattered clothes and holding a branch they broke from nowhere, the waiter immediately came up to them.

"Well, a few days ago, a man named Zhao Dashan came to the village. He said that the palace wanted to draft a girl, and my daughter was chosen because she was pretty."

"A few days ago, her mother fell ill and was lying in bed. I was thinking of coming to Beijing to see if I could ask for some reward from my daughter who had entered the palace to treat the old woman."

Hearing the waiter's question, the old man immediately answered.

"Has the palace hired anyone recently?"

After hearing the old man's conversation, Zhu Youxiao frowned and looked at Liu Shimin beside him and asked.

"No."

It was obvious that Liu Shimin also heard the old man's words, and immediately shook his head like a rattle.

"Since the Emperor ascended the throne last year, after the palace was cleaned, the Emperor approved the selection of girls from the Ministry of Rites, and the palace has not followed suit to recruit maids and eunuchs. These people now are from the temple in the early years, Choose those who enter the palace.”

"Call those two father and son up. I have something to ask."

Hearing Liu Shimin's words, Zhu Youxiao frowned.

He didn't like the involvement of the previous dynasty in the affairs of the palace, so the Ministry of Rites submitted a letter to select women and the memorial after the selection was directly approved by him.

Why are we still hearing about people sending their daughters to the palace?

"Yes."

After hearing the emperor's words, Liu Shimin immediately ordered the young eunuch to go and get the people.

A quarter of an hour later, in the private room.

Listening to the old man's description of his daughter's entry into the palace, a question mark floated over Zhu Youxiao's head.

"After entering the palace, you still need to learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting? Do you need to have your feet bound?"

"Back to the emperor, this is definitely not about entering the palace. The maids in the palace have to work. If your feet are bound, how can you serve the nobles in the palaces."

Standing beside the emperor, Liu Shimin, who also listened to the old man's words, quickly shook his head.

"Then what's going on when he said he entered the palace? Is this someone using my name to plunder private women?"

Instantly feeling that something was wrong, Zhu Youxiao reached out and took out a token from his sleeve and threw it to Shen Liandao.

"Go and check for me what's going on."

"I accept your order!"

After receiving the token thrown by the emperor, Shen Lian handed it over and immediately walked outside.

"When I return to the emperor, I'm afraid I'll be sent to be a lean horse."

Just when questions were raised on Zhu Youxiao and Liu Shimin's heads, Xu Waner, who had been sitting behind the table drinking tea, suddenly spoke up.

"Ok?"

Hearing this, everyone in the room focused their attention on the queen.

"My concubine once heard that there is a man named Yazi among the people who walks in the countryside and searches for beautiful women among the people."

"These people made announcements saying: The emperor wants to select concubines and maids to enter the palace."

"But most of these captured women were sent to the rich families in the capital and became domestic servants. The slightly more beautiful ones were sent to various private prostitutes and brothels to become thin. Horses, sold everywhere.”

"I heard that in order to prevent these women from escaping, they would bind their feet."

"!!!"

Hearing Xu Waner's words, Zhu Youxiao's eyes suddenly burst into flames.

"Human trafficking?!"

"And in my name?!"

(End of this chapter)