Daming: My grandfather is Emperor Hongwu!

Chapter 53 The Banquet ([-])

"Dasun, remember, you can't give them a good face to the small countries around you!"

At the dinner table in Kunning Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang held a wine cup and taught Zhu Xiongying Chunchun.

"Don't look at that Annan, what Koryo learned is our celestial etiquette, but they didn't learn our fundamentals, benevolence and righteousness!" Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of wine, "The celestial dynasty is strong, and they flatter them. Our celestial dynasty is weak, They jumped out and stepped on it! The country of villains!"

"So, don't tell them that the emperor treats all directions as a blessing, and our emperor of Ming Dynasty treats the world as a blessing!" Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "We must let them know how to write when they are afraid of words!"

At this moment, Empress Ma came over with a pot of clear stewed lamb chops, put it in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, and said with a smile, "Will it be stewed while it's hot?" Soy sauce, mature vinegar, mashed garlic, southern milk and other dipping materials.

After it was ready, put it in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, and said with a smile, "Master, eat it quickly, it will be cold in a while!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little dazed. It was rare for his wife to be so warm to him. He smiled and said, "What's the matter today? Are you taking the initiative to serve us?"

"I'm sorry to say that!" If it were heaven, after hearing these words, Empress Ma would definitely say a few words.But now, Empress Ma smiled and said, "I have served you all my life, and you still call me no one?"

"What we mean is, how many years have we not been served so kindly!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

"It's your birthday soon, you're the oldest!" Empress Ma served Zhu Xiongying a bowl of hot mutton soup and said with a smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of the wine, grabbed a lamb chop and sucked it, and casually threw the clean bones aside, "Well, it's rotten, delicious!" As he said, his greasy fingers rubbed casually on his clothes , took another sip of wine, and said to Zhu Xiongying, "Grand grandson, on your grandmother's birthday, the gift you gave was a good thing. It's our birthday, what did you give?"

On Empress Ma's birthday, the few paintings Zhu Xiongying sent were cherished by Empress Ma and hung in her bedroom like treasures, she couldn't get enough of them.

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "Grandfather, you can't say that, when the time comes, my grandson will definitely give you a surprise!"

At this time, Zhu Biao said beside him, "Father, your longevity is celebrated in the whole world."

"Don't show off!" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Not extravagant! Just set up a few tables in the palace, and don't do anything to celebrate and have fun with the people. For the sake of face, spending money like water is not worth it!"

"Having fun with the people doesn't have to cost money!" Zhu Biao continued with a smile, "This autumn, several counties in Henan were hit by floods, and the lives of the people were difficult. How about taking advantage of your longevity to spare them Isn't this also a joy for the people?"

"This is a good thing, it should be avoided!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "The Chinese New Year will come in two months, not only should they be exempted from their autumn grain, but we should also give them relief so that they can have a warm meal during the Chinese New Year!"

As he spoke, his brows frowned, "Decree to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Chief Secretary of Henan Province to give lenient relief, don't be afraid to spend money." As he spoke, his tone became more serious, "Then pass the decree to the supervisory censors in Henan, inspect the censors, Keep an eye on it for us. Which bastard official dares to withhold relief food, dares to extend his hand, and will never tolerate it!"

He was afraid of spending money on his own birthday, but when he was helping the victims, he said, don't be afraid of spending money!
This is the other side of the criticized tyrant emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in history.

Lifting the veil of history, in fact, he can be regarded as an emperor who was very humane to the people.

Leaving aside the disaster victims in the disaster-prone areas, Emperor Hongwu far surpassed the so-called virtuous emperors of previous dynasties in treating ordinary people.

The law of the Ming Dynasty stipulates: "Anyone who is lonely, widowed, and seriously ill, poor and has no relatives to rely on, unable to survive on his own, and who should be adopted in the lawsuit but not adopted, the stick will be sixty; .”

Not only widows and lonely old people, when they reach a certain age, the government will provide support, and according to their age, they will give rice, grain, wine, meat and other things every month.In addition to rice, grain, wine and meat, retired veterans who are disabled among the people also have necessities such as cotton cloth, salt, and charcoal every year.

There is also the Huimin Pharmaceutical Bureau. In addition to the government schools, all the prefectures and counties in the world are most interested in the nursing homes for the elderly and the Huimin Pharmacy Bureau.It was founded in the third year of Hongwu. All the soldiers and civilians in the world, as long as they are sick and can't afford to see a doctor or take medicine, can go to get medicine and see a doctor for free.

In addition, there is also a free cemetery.Probably after becoming the emperor, he felt that when his parents and elder brothers passed away, there was not even a cemetery, so he implemented such a virtuous policy.

These policies are not a face-saving project. Zhu Yuanzhang personally watched them, and officials from all over the country did not dare to neglect them.

In the early years of Hongwu, there was a catastrophe in Henan.At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, there were ten rooms and nine empties in the north, and the people were living in misery. They had just stabilized and then caught up with natural disasters, and the people were in dire straits.The government's relief was not timely, so that the people had to sell their children and daughters.

After Zhu Yuanzhang heard about it, he killed dozens of officials who were unable to provide relief in one go.He also issued a strict order that the government should pay to buy back the children sold by the victims and return them to the hands of their biological parents so that their families can be reunited.

How could such an emperor be a tyrant!
If he is a tyrant, then what are those virtuous monarchs who are shamelessly touted by the imperial literati, but consume the fat and anointing of the people and enjoy the extravagance?

~~~
A few days later, Zhu Yuanzhang's birthday came quietly.

Even if the old man is unwilling to show off extravagantly, the longevity of the emperor must be grand and solemn.

Early in the morning, the courtiers of the six nine ministers, as well as the nobles of Huaixi who founded the country, all wore auspicious clothes or python robes bestowed by the imperial court to meet in the palace and presented gifts.

The civil servants are so clean and honest. It should be said that the civil servants who survived to be officials in the Hongwu Dynasty were all clean and honest, and the gifts they gave were relatively shabby.They are all my own calligraphy and paintings, write some auspicious words, and write a few birthday poems.

But the founding nobles spent much more money, sending carts of gold, silver and jewels into the palace.Anyway, they were all robbed during the war, and there were plenty of them at home.

In addition to the gifts from the courtiers, the birthday gifts of the vassal kings from all over the country were also stepped on a little bit, and they were sent to the palace on the birthday.

All the feudal lords seemed to understand the old man's thoughts better, and they didn't give any precious gifts, they were all local specialties.

When the court celebrations are over, a banquet is held in the palace, and all civil and military officials are present.

In the Fengtian Hall, 24 Jinwu Guards guard the inside, and the Jiaofang Division sets up nine performances inside, and the great joy is outside the hall.

Guanglu Temple set up a wine pavilion to the west of the imperial seat, and a dining pavilion to the east of the imperial seat.

The imperial banquet was placed on the east and west sides of the throne, the crown prince seat was located in the east of the throne, facing west, and the kings set up their seats facing each other from south to east.The ministers of the fourth rank and above are entertained in the hall, and the officials below the fifth rank are entertained outside the hall. In addition, a group of officials such as pot stewards, Shangjiu, and Shangshi are arranged to serve.

The palace is still simple and simple, and it is rare for the old man to celebrate his birthday, so the Twelve Wardens of the Inner Palace tried their best.

"His Majesty is here!"

After the banquet was set up, the official of the Ministry of Rites sang loudly.

"Your servant, please see my emperor long live!"

Amidst the sound of prostration from mountains and tsunami, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma came out of the side hall, walked forward slowly side by side, walked to the imperial steps, and walked to the throne.

Zhu Biao led Zhu Xiongying and followed slowly behind.

"Grand grandson, come!" When Zhu Yuanzhang was about to climb the imperial steps, he suddenly stopped with Empress Ma, looked back at Zhu Xiongying with a smile, and stretched out his big hand.

"Go!" Zhu Biao whispered in Zhu Xiongying's ear.

Zhu Xiongying stepped forward, holding Zhu Yuanzhang with his left hand and Empress Ma with his right hand.

Two elderly people and a child slowly stepped onto the stage.

"Everyone loves to be flat!"

(End of this chapter)