Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Get married... Zhou Heng felt that he should indeed get married.

But who to look for?

Zhou Heng knew that with his current status, he didn't even need to look for a wife, as countless people would come to him to find him.

With so many people, I should be able to meet someone who understands me, right?

As Zhou Heng thought about it, his steps became faster and faster. When he was almost home, he suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance. Zhou Heng looked up: Xishi tofu...

This is a small stall selling tofu pudding and pancakes, Xishi tofu...but it has a nickname called Xishi because the proprietress is beautiful.

The tofu in her house is really delicious.

Zhou Heng thought the tofu at this restaurant was delicious and often came here to eat after get off work.

This tofu beauty is beautiful, but unfortunately she is a widow with a five-year-old boy.

I thought: If she hadn't gotten married, it might have been a good choice.

Man, who doesn’t like beautiful things?

Tofu Xishi saw Zhou Heng and asked: "Are you here?"

"Ah."

"same as usual?"

"same as usual."

"Go inside and wait for a moment."

"it is good."

Zhou Heng walked in and found a place to sit down, looking around carefully... It was very clean, the tables and chairs were clean, the room was also clean, everything was arranged in an orderly manner, and it was obvious that she was a housekeeping woman.

The woman's child was reading a book and learning to read nearby. While Tofu Xishi was making tofu pudding and pancakes for him, Zhou Heng went over to her.

It is one of the Hundred Family Surnames.

This tofu beauty is quite good at teaching children. She even knows how to let her children read.

"Momo, did your mother buy the book?"

Momo is the son of Tofu Xishi, and the name Mo is taken from the "Mo" in "tofu mo".

It's just tofu dregs.

A bad name makes a living.

Zhou Heng asked, but got a cold stare from Momo, who then walked away with the book.

Momo: I'm reading, don't disturb me.

"..."

Zhou Heng didn't know why Momo ignored him. Just as he was wondering, Tofu Xishi came over with a steamed bun and tofu pudding and explained to Zhou Heng, "There are several gentlemen who often come to eat tofu pudding. They gave Momo a lot of books and promised that if Momo memorized a book, they would pay two copper coins for each word."

"..."

Wow, do those young men who like to eat tofu pudding have the money to cook it?
This not only allowed Momo to go to school, but also made their family earn money. Zhou Heng really didn't think anyone could do such a thing as throwing money away.

But if you think about it carefully... there seems to be something wrong.

Others may not be able to do it, but those who follow Zhu Kai may be able to do it.

Given their kind-hearted nature, it is possible.

Zhou Heng went over the appearance of Zhu Kai and his group in his mind, and then asked, "What do those gentlemen look like? Can you give us a rough description?"

"This……"

Tofu Xishi is just good-looking, but she doesn't have much culture.

Asking her to describe it... is really difficult for her: "I don't know, but they often come here to eat tofu pudding. If you have a chance, you can meet them. Those gentlemen are all very good people, and so is Master Kai."

"... Master Kai."

There is no doubt about it, it must be Zhu Kai's "group of wise men".

Zhou Heng laughed and said, "No need. As soon as you mentioned Master Kai, I knew who you were talking about. They are good people, but a little spoiled. Don't let Momo learn bad things from them."

"Hey, as a woman, it's already very difficult for me to support him. I really don't know how to teach him."

Tofu Xishi looked at Momo, then cast her gaze on Zhou Heng: "He is in need of a teacher. I wonder if you are willing to teach him? I, I can give you money."

"Haha, who do you take me for?"

Zhou Heng shook his head, "What those young masters can do, I can do too."

How could I, Zhou Heng, be worse than those dandy young men?
"Momo."

Zhou Heng called out "Momo" and said, "I am a scholar. I can teach you how to read."

After hearing Zhou Heng's words, Momo came over. Tofu Xishi did not disturb them and continued to work.

Zhou Heng seemed to have found motivation again.

……

In the Wuying Hall, Zhu Biao was discussing the reform of the six ministries with Zhu Yuanzhang.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard that the reform of the Ministry of Revenue would require the addition of 500 officials, he immediately frowned: "Why so many?"

"Dad, the Ministry of Revenue is the largest department. If we divide the Ministry into four departments, there will naturally not be enough people. And I think increasing the number of personnel is a good thing."

Zhu Biao saw it clearly and explained to Zhu Yuanzhang: "If the number of people increases, and they are all from poor families, at least 500 families will benefit from it. Just like Brother Kai said, the number of people in the middle class will increase. Moreover, these 500 people will naturally spend money after receiving it. Just like Brother Kai said, it will make the money flow..."

Now it seems that the wages of only 500 people increased, but in fact, the Ming Dynasty increased the income of 500 families.

In Zhu Kai's words: "Money is just a tool. The bigger the base, the more beneficial it is to us."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang agreed with it, he still felt his heart bleeding when he thought about having to spend 500 more people for no reason. It was such a waste of money!
Why did I listen to Zhu Kai and carry out this stupid reform?
Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was bleeding. He looked at Zhu Biao and asked, "Do we still have enough money in the treasury?"

“There are a lot!”

Zhu Biao smiled and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Let's not talk about anything else. The commercial taxes we collected last year already equaled all the revenue of the national treasury in the third year of Hongwu. Don't worry, Dad. There will be more next year. The salary of 500 people is just a drop in the bucket."

"It's nothing. You are just a jerk. You don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are if you don't manage the household."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao fiercely, thinking that he really didn't know how to live: "Don't think that you have a lot of money. There will be more places to spend money next year."

But the income will be higher next year... Zhu Biao just said it in his heart and did not refute Zhu Yuanzhang.

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang was obsessed with money and would not listen to anything else. Zhu Biao simply stopped talking and only talked about work.

……

"Mom, I didn't go. I really didn't go."

Zhu Kai tilted his head, one of his ears was twisted by Ma Xiuying, and explained with gritted teeth: "It was my fifth brother who went there. I was very angry when I heard about it, so I rushed over to save my fifth brother."

Seeing that the New Year was almost over, Ma Xiuying began to settle accounts with Zhu Kai.

Let's not talk about anything else, just the matter of visiting the brothel, Ma Xiuying had to make it clear to Zhu Kai. If the news got out that he was so young and dared to visit a brothel, the royal family would become a huge joke. "Don't try that!"

Ma Xiuying continued to increase the strength of her hands and twisted them hard: "You bastard, if you don't learn, your brothers will not learn either. Let me ask you, why are the third and fourth brothers locked up in the cell? Why don't they talk? Are they influenced by you?"

Zhu Kai suddenly stopped struggling, tilted his head and said to Ma Xiuying: "Mom, have you ever thought that this has nothing to do with me? Is it Dad who didn't set a good example? He also went to the brothel... Oh, Mom, don't just lecture me, the culprit is Dad! It's Dad!"

When it comes to Zhu Yuanzhang, Ma Xiuying becomes furious.

"The upper beam is not straight, the lower beam is crooked!"

Ma Xiuying let go of Zhu Kai's ear, patted him twice, and then scolded him: "Don't go to those indecent places in the future, do you hear me?"

"I know, mother. I will definitely not go."

Zhu Kai smiled flatteringly, then came behind Ma Xiuying and gently pressed her shoulders: "Mom, don't worry, my children are about to be born, have you named them?"

"Go aside."

Ma Xiuying didn't want to talk to Zhu Kai, but when she mentioned her grandson, she still said a few more words: "We don't know if it's a grandson or a granddaughter yet, why give it a name so early?"

"Daughter, I want a daughter."

Zhu Kai immediately expressed his opinion, "A daughter is a father's little cotton-padded jacket. I just want a daughter. I'm not like my father, who gave birth to a monk temple."

Granddaughter?
Not bad.

However, Ma Xiuying reminded Zhu Kai: "Kai'er, it's true that a daughter is a father's little cotton-padded jacket, but what about when she grows up? My son brought me a daughter-in-law, but my daughter can only bring me a son-in-law..."

"..."

When Zhu Kai heard Ma Xiuying mention this, his expression suddenly turned ugly.

What are you doing? Everyone is discussing the little cotton-padded jacket, but who mentioned how she became when she grew up?

"Let's go. No more chatting."

Zhu Kai showed no interest and turned away.

My mother is getting worse and worse. She must have been taught badly by Old Zhu. He is full of evil intentions and doesn't allow others to be good.

Maybe the palace is a bit evil. Zhu Kai was thinking about Zhu Yuanzhang in his heart. As soon as he walked out of Kunning Palace, he was pulled over by a hand. Zhu Kai was about to take action, but when he saw Zhu Yuanzhang, who seemed to be smiling, Zhu Kai immediately calmed down: "Dad, you are done, I will leave first."

Having said that, Zhu Kai was about to run.

But Zhu Yuanzhang's hand holding Zhu Kai's collar did not loosen at all.

"You're not your style, kid, to run away after framing your dad in the room."

It was obvious that Zhu Yuanzhang had arrived a long time ago, but he just knew that Zhu Kai was in the room and he had not exposed himself... Now, Zhu Kai was the one who had to bear the consequences.

But Zhu Yuanzhang obviously underestimated Zhu Kai. Zhu Yuanzhang obviously knew everything, but Zhu Kai still looked at Zhu Yuanzhang as if he knew nothing. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion: "Dad, what are you talking about? Why don't I understand?"

"Dad, I really have something to do. Please let me go first. We can talk later if you have anything to say, okay?"

"not good!"

Zhu Yuanzhang finally caught an opportunity, but he would not let Zhu Kai go so easily: "You bastard, come with me! You are the only one who said bad things about me in front of your mother!"

"..."

It’s over. Even if I run, I can’t escape this meal today.

Zhu Kai had no choice but to shout, "Mom, help!"

However, Ma Xiuying had no intention of saving him and turned a deaf ear to him. Zhu Yuanzhang took him to a remote place and had a good time with him.

It's been a long time since I beat up this kid Zhu Kai. It felt so good to do it again.

……

The first to be reformed was the Ministry of Revenue!
When this matter was raised in the court, it immediately caused an uproar.

The Minister of Revenue Zhang Su and Zhang Zijing still wanted to refuse, but Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, Wang Guangyang and others had already become people on the same front. Even if Zhang Su had ten mouths, he could not say a word at this time. He could only swallow his anger and accept the arrangement honestly.

The ministers of the other five ministries were also horrified when they saw that the Ministry of Revenue was divided into four.

Zhu Yuanzhang has already taken action against the Ministry of Revenue, so they can’t escape, right?

What’s going on? Why is the Ministry of Revenue divided up?

Then, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly announced another news: the establishment of a cabinet.

Li Shanchang was the chief minister of the cabinet, and included Zhu Biao, Hu Weiyong, Liu Bowen, Wang Guangyang, Zhao Yong... and Zhang Su, who had just been kicked out of the Ministry of Revenue, making up exactly seven people... From now on, the court affairs of the Ming Dynasty would be managed by the cabinet headed by Li Shanchang. This news also detonated the court.

What is a cabinet?
A cabinet was established and the Ministry of Revenue was reorganized.

The seventh year of Hongwu had just begun, and these two pieces of news had already shocked the entire court.

Before this, they had not heard any news, but judging from the expressions of Li Shanchang, Zhu Biao, Liu Bowen and others, this matter did not seem to be a spur-of-the-moment idea, but had been discussed beforehand from the beginning. It's just that this matter was very secretive and the outside world had no idea about it at all.

The more secretive something is, the bigger the matter is.

The court officials now understood the meaning of this sentence. They knew that there was no way to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang to take back his decision, so they could only place their hopes on Li Shanchang and others, hoping to get inside information from them about Zhu Yuanzhang's formation of a cabinet and reorganization of the Ministry of Revenue.

Unfortunately, Li Shanchang and others said nothing about this matter and refused to mention it again no matter what.

……

Feeling as uncomfortable as the court officials was Confucius' 55th generation grandson, Kong Xixue.

He felt bad too.

Ever since he met Li Shanchang and learned what he should do to gain the recognition of court officials and achieve the goal of saving the Kong family, he has been working hard for this.

Isn't it because the current Confucianism was not satisfactory enough to please Zhu Yuanzhang that Kong Xixue started to do this, to reform Confucianism... He thought about what Zhu Yuanzhang needed now, and then he made changes in the direction that Zhu Yuanzhang expected.

However, after submitting the revised manuscript to Li Shanchang's house again and again, there was only one result: no.

If it doesn’t work, keep changing it.

Kong Xixue revised it fifteen times, but the final result was always just two words: No. He was going crazy. How could he revise it? Why don't you tell me the reason? What's the point of just saying "No"?

Unfortunately, Kong Xixue only met Li Shanchang once, at the beginning, and never met him again.

Kong Xixue could only keep revising...until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when he finally met Li Shanchang.

Thinking that his last revised manuscript was accepted by Li Shanchang, Kong Xixue kept recalling the revisions of the fifteenth manuscript on the way, trying to gain the upper hand in the conversation with Li Shanchang.

However, after meeting Li Shanchang, Li Shanchang said to him: "I think your first round of writing is the best."

"..."

Li Shanchang's words made Kong Xixue collapse.

If you had told me earlier that the first write-up was the best, why would I have gone through the trouble of revising so many times?
Li Shanchang had no time to read what he wrote. Zhu Yuanzhang had now learned to delegate power and basically let Zhu Biao do things, and Zhu Biao handed them over to Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang was in pain and happiness every day and was so busy that he forgot about Kong Xixue.

In fact, now that the court officials are all thinking about their own future, Kong Xixue’s affairs are not that important.

As long as Confucianism accepts Zhu Yuanzhang and becomes a tool to assist Zhu Yuanzhang, that is enough. (End of this chapter)