Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 145 Sun Chengzong enters Beijing

On November 14th, the court held a meeting.

At this meeting, chaired by the Ministry of Civil Service Shangshufang Zhuangzhuang and attended by court ministers, the Grinding and Surveying Law was officially passed.

Zhu Youjian was ecstatic, knowing that the official reform he was promoting had taken an important step.

For officials, nothing is more important than official hats. The grinding survey method is Zhu Youjian's attempt to seize the official title and ensure the implementation of future reform measures.

Although he never shouted slogans such as reform and restoration, what he is doing now is actually reform.

It's just that the previous Ming emperors also made many changes to the ancestral system. Zhu Youjian only changed a little more and regulated the order of the court that existed before.

In the eyes of many officials, this was the emperor's measure to control chaos after the eunuchs were in chaos.

Although there was a little something new mixed in, it was not incomprehensible to the court officials.

However, they will find in the future that the emperor will make more and more changes to the Ming system until the reform is completed.

It will be difficult to say what their attitude will be then.

However, Zhu Youjian is not worried about this.

When he watched "The Great Ming Dynasty", he knew that the Ming Dynasty's system could never be changed.

Emperors of all dynasties have long used edicts and edicts to change and add various systems.

Things like tingtui are classified as promotions in the "Da Ming Huidian", which were gradually determined through changes by successive emperors.

If any civil servant dared to call the ancestral system, Zhu Youjian would dare to mention the old system of Hongwu and Yongle. Restoring the system of the Ming Dynasty to the period when Taizu Chengzu——

Compared with these two ancestors who have never changed for generations, other emperors are all sects. The system they established was naturally inferior to that of the second ancestor.

If the ancestral system is to be restored, the system from the Hongwu and Yongle years will naturally be restored:
According to the Hongwu rule, officials of the fourth rank and above should serve for nine years and be deposed by superior officials.

At that time, there was no distinction between imperial recommendations and special proposals, and there was no saying that the decree was finalized without the approval of the cabinet.

Unfortunately, time has changed and it is impossible to go back to that time.

Unless Zhu Youjian can bring down the world again and establish supreme authority.

With a clear understanding of the current situation, Zhu Youjian knew that he could not issue a decree easily, nor could he appoint officials casually. Otherwise, the civil servants will not cooperate and things in the court will be even more chaotic.

An edict without official approval and implementation is like a piece of waste paper. Apart from making the court more chaotic, it is unlikely to have any effect.

Nowadays, the Grinding and Surveying Law has been officially passed at the court meeting and has become a system recognized by officials.

November 15th is the winter solstice. According to etiquette, on this day the emperor should go to the Temple of Heaven and the Circular Mound to offer sacrifices to heaven and the Ancestral Temple.

But the Ming Emperor was lazy and often sent nobles to take over these ceremonial tasks.

Zhu Youjian had just ascended to the throne, and he didn't feel that he had complete control over the capital, and was worried that something might happen during this freezing weather. Therefore, he did not leave the palace and sent the British Duke Zhang Weixian to sacrifice on his behalf as usual.

At the same time, a congratulatory ceremony for hundreds of officials was held on this day. After a solemn ceremony, Zhu Youjian realized the complexity of this ceremony. Thinking about the Wanshou Festival he celebrated on December 24th and the first day of the first lunar month, he had to hold this ceremony. He felt that the time was too close and he had to change it in the future——

On the first day of the first lunar month, people should have a good time celebrating the New Year at home. Why hold a court meeting!

November 16, Chang Chao.

Zhu Youjian officially issued an edict. After that, officials were transferred and implemented according to the Mokan Law.

Although the middle and low-level officials in the court still had objections, the matter had become a certainty. No matter how much they object, they can't change the situation.

Adjustments to the scattered officials, honorary ranks, and the grinding method were also simultaneously introduced by Zhu Youjian. The grinding survey system will continue to be improved in the future.

Moreover, after establishing the Mokan Law, Zhu Youjian formally issued an edict to establish martial law. The proposed terms of martial law were determined in the form of an edict.

At the same time, it was determined that martial law would be implemented in the war zone, the war zone outside the customs and the war zone in the interior were delineated, and the Ministry of War was ordered to formulate specific provisions.

And martial law has been implemented in areas outside the Ming Dynasty.

Everything in martial law areas is kept simple, and the emperor's decrees in any form are treated as formal decrees.

At this point, Zhu Youjian officially obtained the power to deal with war zones and overseas areas. In theory, you can use Zhongzhi to give orders to these places.

However, he did not abuse this power. Most matters in the war zone were still discussed with cabinet ministers and Jiuqing at the standing meeting.

Things abroad are being prepared. Zhu Youjian has always attached great importance to confidentiality and has not issued decrees at will.

Also on this day, Sun Chengzong finally rushed to the capital from his hometown of Gaoyang County, Baoding Prefecture, after being imprisoned at the end of last month.

Zhu Youjian ordered him to have a good rest and choose a day to discuss matters.

The next day, Chaoyong, Mao Wenlong and others escorted Wei Zhongxian's thousand warriors to the capital.

Zhu Youjian ordered the two men to report the situation, and handed over the thousand warriors to the Jinyiwei for training, and would use them according to the situation in the future.

November 18th, Wuying Palace.

Zhu Youjian convened a standing meeting to handle affairs of the Ministry of War, and ordered Sun Chengzong and Mao Wenlong to attend to discuss matters such as Liaonan and North Korea.

First, he commended the two people for their previous achievements and encouraged them to work hard. Zhu Youjian said to Sun Chengzong:
"Does Sun Qing know about Liu Zhao's affairs?"

"Why do some people impeach Liu Zhao, Yan Mingtai, and Ma Shilong for collaborating, saying that Sun Qing trusted Yan Mingtai and used him to drive the king to Jin?"

This accusation is very serious, because Liu Zhao has been designated as an accomplice of the rebellion. When the late emperor was dying, he led three thousand troops to approach the capital. This was too bad.

All the officials who knew about this knew the power of it. If the Ming Dynasty is not good, there will be an additional Shence army under the control of eunuchs, and even a Dong Zhuo will appear in the capital.

Some people connect Liu Zhao and Sun Chengzong. If Sun Chengzong does not explain it well, the consequences can be imagined.

After Sun Chengzong came to Beijing, he also heard about some people impeaching him. After hearing the emperor's question, he hurriedly explained:
"When I arrived at the pass, I reported that the late emperor thought that it was not suitable to return to the city within eight miles, so he changed the king's position in the Jin Dynasty to be the minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing."

"The Ministry of Personnel and other yamen will recommend the Liaodong economic strategy, and they have recommended Yan Mingtai, Li Sancai, Wang Zhicai, and Wang Zhichen."

"I thought that Liaodong's economic strategy was suddenly hard to find, so I asked myself to be appointed as the governor of the mountains and seas."

"The imperial court promoted Yan Mingtai as governor of Liaodong. Is it possible that Yan Mingtai was appointed by the minister to drive the king in Jin?"

"Liu Zhao was the imperial court's edict, saying that he had been betraying the border talents for a long time. I really didn't know about his rebellion."

Without letting Sun Chengzong's explanation go, Zhu Youjian asked again:
"What happened to Ma Shilong?"

"What is his relationship with Liu Zhao and Yan Mingtai?"

Sun Chengzong said:

"I immediately impeached Ma Shilong and Liuhe for his failure. How dare you show any partiality?"

"I have never heard of his relationship with Liu Zhao and Yan Mingtai."

Zhu Youjian stared at Sun Chengzong closely and continued to ask:
"Some people say that after the defeat of Liuhe, there were only 58,000 troops left."

"The imperial court has been distributing pay and silver to Liaodong based on 140,000 soldiers and horses."

"So how many troops and horses are there in Liaodong?"

This problem is even more serious. Sun Chengzong said:
"When I was in Liaodong, the original number of officers and soldiers was 134,433, but 17,347 were eliminated, leaving 117,86 officers and soldiers. Member name."

"Ma Shilong's loss at Liuhe resulted in the loss of two generals and hundreds of troops. I really don't know where the saying 'stop the remaining 58,000 troops' came from?"

"I really don't know how many troops and horses there are in Liaodong."

Zhu Youjian also didn’t believe that the defeat at Liuhe cost tens of thousands of soldiers, otherwise this battle would not have been unknown in later generations——

The defeat, which cost tens of thousands of troops, was enough to affect the entire Liaodong war situation. It is impossible to remain unknown at any time.

In addition, Liaodong has always paid salaries to 140,000 people. Zhu Youjian let the defeat of Liuhe pass lightly, turned to Mao Wenlong and said:

"Ma Shilong was defeated in the Liuhe battle. He was born in martial arts and became the captain of the Dongjiang Guard Army."

"General Mao, can you cooperate with him?"

(End of this chapter)