Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

In mid-February, it rained significantly more in Beijing.

The pattering raindrops are like continuous filaments, falling silently on the land of Xiyuan, and the soil beside the road here is coming to life.

The trees beside the lake are sprouting new branches, and the dead branches in the flower garden are sprouting new buds. The eight-hundred-acre large liquid pond has been frozen, and is dotted with palaces, tide-viewing pavilions, bridges and pavilions. There are also wisps of green smoke rising from the lake. There are also figures of beautiful concubines or palace maids walking through it, making it like the most beautiful picture of this era.

In the Yangxin Hall, the scent of sandalwood is floating in the air.

Wearing a dragon robe, Zhu Youtang's beard has begun to take shape, and his eyes are like stars under his sword-shaped eyebrows. His whole person has become more masculine, and his imperial power is getting stronger and stronger.

He has now fully integrated into this era. If the emperor is a profession, then he is a very qualified emperor.

As long as he didn't have a cold or fever, he would be able to do it rain or shine. He would always appear in the Yangxin Hall on time every day and handle government affairs from the two capitals and thirteen provinces seriously.

"Your Majesty, the memorial has been delivered!"

Under the leadership of the eunuch Qian Yi, the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of the ceremony, a group of eunuchs came over holding the memorial.

The Neishu Tang is a very qualified educational institution that supplies outstanding talents to the library every year. As a result, Zhu Youtang now has no shortage of eunuchs to assist him in handling memorials.

Since the memorials passed down from the two capitals and thirteen provinces were in disarray, Zhu Youtang disrupted the previous division of officials by official positions and provinces and changed them into four categories: priority and urgency.

"This pile of memorials should be sent to the cabinet first!"

Zhu Youtang knew very well that a person's energy is limited, so he focused his main energy on important memorials.

For those minor memorials that were singled out, such as the naming of babies by clan members, the arrangements for personnel to commemorate the birthdays and deaths of emperors and queens, or reports on auspiciousness from various places, these memorials are usually decided by the cabinet, and they even They won't even look at it.

Qian Yi immediately waved his hand and asked the two eunuchs behind him to take the pile of memorials to the South Pavilion outside and hand them over to the cabinet ministers headed by Liu Ji for processing.

"It seems there is really no escape!"

Zhu Youtang looked at the memorials that were classified as important in front of him. Since there had been no military conflicts on the border recently, impeachment chapters were usually classified as "urgent", and the pile of memorials in front of him undoubtedly focused on Wang Yue.

Although he is in a deep palace, he has built an information network through Jin Yiwei, Dongchang and the guarding eunuchs, so he can know the latest news from various places at the first time.

Naturally, all the turmoil in the Metropolitan Procuratorate trial caused by Wang Yue reached his ears, and he already knew that Cheng Si had gone crazy in the Metropolitan Procuratorate prison.

When Zhu Youtang learned about this incident, he felt a strong uneasiness in his heart.

Although he is a high-ranking emperor, there are still some things he can't do about. Since Du Ming and Wan An left the court one after another, looking at the situation now, it seems that it is Wang Yue's turn again.

How can life be so satisfying? Everything can only be half-satisfactory.

Zhu Youtang felt that this also applied to emperors. Since he ascended the throne, basically every year there would be an unsatisfactory major event in the Ming Empire, and his trusted ministers would also leave one after another.

It's just that Cheng Si went crazy in the Metropolitan Procuratorate's prison, and this matter was actually beyond his control. Regardless of whether Cheng Si is really crazy or fake, as long as he does not regain his sense, Wang Yue will naturally be the first person responsible.

Zhu Youtang naturally wanted to protect Wang Yue, but some things were more complicated than many people thought.

Even if Cheng Si is a serious suspect, his current identity is still his personal guard. As an emperor, one must love the country and the people, but one's personal guards also need to be protected. After all, this group is the greatest guarantee of one's personal safety.

Because of this, not only could he not fully favor his favored minister Wang Yue, but he also had to properly handle the matter of Cheng Si being driven crazy.

"Your Majesty, here are basically impeachment memorials. The two people who are mainly impeached are the two people yesterday!" Qian Yi sent the memorial to Zhu Youtang and reminded him cautiously.

Zhu Youtang opened the top one, and what came into view was the memorial of Cheng Minzheng, the minister of Taichang Temple.

Since Cheng Si went crazy in the Metropolitan Procuratorate Prison, Cheng Minzheng has submitted a memorial every day, and the target of the attack is Wang Yue, who is highly valued by him.

Zhu Youtang actually knew that Wang Yue's investigation was in the right direction. Cheng Si blamed Li Shizhen's father, Li Yanwen, for Wang Shouren's murder, causing him to suspect that Cheng Si was the real murderer from the beginning.

It’s just that you live in this era, so you have to abide by the games of this era.

As an emperor, he can certainly kill people without evidence, and he can also execute any minister without reason, but this approach can easily lead to a situation where "one person singles out the entire powerful class", and it is not his own style of conduct.

If you kill someone without reasoning, even if you are doing the right thing, this is still the rule of man. But history has long proven that saints may make mistakes, and only a society governed by the rule of law can maintain a fair and healthy social environment.

Zhu Youtang did not intend to abuse imperial power to deal with this matter, but wanted to work hard to create a society ruled by law.

The only hope now is that Wang Yue can find evidence of Cheng Si's crime within seven days, so that Cheng Si can be guillotined openly, and Cheng Minzheng will get out of the capital.

Qiu Jun came in too?

Zhu Youtang was flipping through the pile of memorials to impeach Wang Yue, and suddenly saw Qiu Jun, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, also pointing the finger at Wang Yue, and couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

"Your Majesty, this is the ginseng soup sent by Concubine Jing personally. She said she did not dare to disturb Your Majesty, so she will wait for you to finish drinking it at the north gate, and then she will return with the soup pot!" Liu Jin came in from the outside and reported cautiously.

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but think of the Suzhou beauty Jing Fei with the fairest skin. Looking at the ginseng soup served by Liu Jin, he smelled an alluring fragrance.

The palace has also been uneasy lately. Ever since it was rumored that Emperor Chang would not be able to have children, although Concubine Shu Zhang Yujiao has become obviously active, Concubine Jing, Concubine Bei and Concubine Shu Rong have become more united.

Now the group of women are exchanging their experiences, which makes them feel better. They seem to want to work together to break the rumor.

Zhu Youtang is also secretly glad that he is still young and his body functions are very healthy. According to the way those women are playing recently, even if their skills are slightly inferior, they may not be able to play anymore.

Now after drinking Concubine Jing's soup, I know that Concubine Jing will be sleeping with her tonight. However, this Concubine Jing is still a novice. Taking care of her by myself might be like killing mosquitoes with a cannon.

After eating the ginseng soup sent by Concubine Jing, his eyes fell on the memorial written by Yu Ming, a doctor in the Department of Water Resources of the Ministry of Industry: "Liu Jin, is the Mingzhi treasure ship setting sail today?"

"Your Majesty, I am going to sail today. This day was personally selected by Qin Tianjian, and the sky must be clear and clear. Liu Zhang will definitely be able to bring back precious seeds for your Majesty with smooth sailing!" Liu Jin also knows something about political affairs. Pay attention, even if it is very optimistic.

Aju!

The American Governor-General Liu Zhang had just boarded the bow and looked at the gloomy sky in front of him. He was suddenly blown by the sea wind and couldn't help but sneeze loudly.

Just thinking that if he could bring back the treasure this time, he could compete for the title of Six Ministers, he immediately straightened his back and let the sea breeze blow on his unicorn suit.

"The time has come!"

"Sound the gun salute!"

"The treasure ship sets sail!"

With the sound of a gong at the Tianjin pier, followed by a thunderous salute, finally the Mingyuan treasure ship fleet built with a lot of money from the imperial court slowly sailed towards the vast sea.

"Jia Shangshu, do you think it can be successful?"

"We must succeed, Liu Zhang will definitely be able to get the treasure seed back!"

Jia Jun, the Minister of Industry, and Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, came in person and looked at the fleet slowly sailing into the sea, but they sincerely hoped that Liu Zhang could fulfill his mission this time.

In order to sail at this moment, the Ming Dynasty can be said to have used the entire country to build the most advanced Mingyuan treasure ship in the world so far.

In the afternoon, the spring rain in the capital stopped.

A group of officials came to Xi'an Gate, and they handed over memorials to the eunuchs in the clerk's room who stayed here.

Since Zhu Youtang moved to Xiyuan, the original regulations for Zuoshunmen to receive memorials were changed, and Xi'an Gate to the west of Xiyuan will receive them.

When Liu Jin forwarded the memorial, he reported bitterly: "Your Majesty, Yu Ming, the doctor of the Ministry of Industry, has delivered the memorial through Xi'an Gate again!"

"This doctor from the Ministry of Industry really won't give up until he achieves his goal!" Zhu Youtang felt as if he was being entangled, and couldn't help but let out a sigh.

There are two types of impeachment memorials that he least wants to see now. One is the memorial to impeach Wang Yue, and the other is the impeachment chapter from this doctor from the Ministry of Industry.

Liu Jin hesitated for a moment, and finally said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I thought that I should either deal with him or meet with him, otherwise this matter may not be settled!"

"Send someone to call him in!" Zhu Youtang knew that the Mingyuan treasure ship was actually designed by Ming, so he decided to give this talent a chance.

Yu Ming was quickly called into Xiyuan and came to the Yangxin Hall.

He was an Enke Jinshi in the second year of Hongzhi's reign. He is now just over thirty years old. His face looks older, and his appearance is slovenly, making him look a bit silly.

Yu Ming didn't seem to realize that he had actually offended the emperor, and he knelt down in a polite manner: "Yu Ming, the doctor of the Water Division of the capital, respectfully wishes His Majesty's blessing!"

Although he had only been in the official position for two years, he was promoted to one level due to his merits in raising grass carp and his contribution in building the Mingyuan treasure ship. Therefore, he succeeded Zhu Zhongzhi, the former doctor of the Dushui Division of the Ministry of Industry, and became the new doctor of the Dushui Division of the Ministry of Industry.

When Liu Jin saw the silly Yu Ming, he couldn't help but think of the often mentioned saying that "foolish people are blessed by fools", but this fool's good luck may have come to an end.

"Do you have any grudge against Liu Zhang?" Zhu Youtang looked up at Yu Ming who was kneeling in front of him and asked directly.

Yu Ming did not hesitate at all and shook his head firmly: "No hatred!"

"But you have a complaint?" Zhu Youtang asked calmly as he picked up the tea cup next to him.

Yu Ming also didn't think twice and shook his head affirmatively: "No complaints!"

"Then why do you impeach your former Shangguan Liu Zhang again and again?" Zhu Youtang's face straightened, as if he was torturing his soul.

Since he took office, if he classified the importance of things, then the Baozhong Project would be ranked before the rectification of the salt policy and the national cleansing, and even more important than the mining of Luzon gold mines.

The imperial court spent money to build the Mingyuan treasure ship to cross the Pacific and bring back corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes from South America. This move was related to the prosperity of the entire China.

However, he finally overcame all difficulties and solved the financial and technical problems, and even chose Liu Zhang, the right servant of the former Ministry of Engineering who was responsible for supervising the construction of the Mingyuan treasure ship, to lead the team.

Now that Liu Zhang had sailed, Yu Ming, who was highly valued and promoted by himself, repeatedly insisted on impeaching Liu Zhang, which made him feel quite depressed, even to the point of anger.

"Such a person who is corrupt and perverts the law, even if he is still my superior, will be punished by everyone. I am willing to guarantee my wealth and life, and what I have reported is ironclad. I hope your majesty will take a closer look!" Ministry of Industry The doctor Yu Ming did not flinch, but spoke righteously.

After he carefully checked the account books for the construction of the Mingyuan treasure ship, he found that Liu Zhang had embezzled as much as one hundred thousand taels in the process of supervising the construction of the Mingzhi treasure ship.

Faced with such a lawless person and such huge corruption that cannot be tolerated by nature, he immediately reported the matter and impeached Liu Zhang in his own name.

It just made him very puzzled. It was clear that he had found evidence of Liu Zhang's crime of corruption, and that Liu Zhang was a corrupt official, but the emperor turned a blind eye to the matter.

"Yu Ming, do you know how much silver the imperial court has spent on retrieving the treasure this time?" Zhu Youtang suppressed the anger in his heart and asked calmly.

Yu Ming naturally knew it, so he answered seriously: "Just to build a fleet of Mingyuan treasure ships, the Ministry of Revenue spent more than three million taels!"

"If you stop this voyage for a mere 100,000 taels, do you know the gains and losses involved? And do you know how many people Baozhong can feed?" Zhu Youtang took a deep breath and asked as if he hated iron. .

Yu Ming had a firm belief and seemed a little unwilling to ask: "If Your Majesty does not severely punish such a corrupt person, where is the justice?"

"Justice? What is justice! Empty talk harms the country, but hard work can rejuvenate the country. Baozhong can feed the people of the world. This is Liu Zhang's miraculous achievement. I will never hold him accountable. On the other hand, what have your other officials done? , all sitting in the capital enjoying the royal rice, but you ask yourself, what have you brought to the people? If you can bring back the treasure seeds, I can help you get rid of all these eyesores, but you are not afraid of water!" Zhu Youtang put down the tea cup that he had not taken a sip from, and expressed his resentment.

Unlike many saints with mysophobia, his eyes can still tolerate sand.

This time, in order to obtain the treasure, the Ming Dynasty spent more than three million taels to build the Mingyuan treasure ship fleet. It can be said to be the most critical step in revitalizing China.

It's just that the doctor from the Ministry of Industry in front of him just wanted to bite Liu Zhang because he found out that Liu Zhang, who was responsible for supervising the construction of the Mingyuan treasure ship, was suspected of embezzling a hundred thousand taels of money.

If it had been earlier, he might have conducted an investigation and verification, and even pushed Liu Zhang to the guillotine. But now that Liu Zhang has sailed, there is no reason to recall him again.

If Liu Zhang successfully brings back the treasure species, then Liu Zhang will be China's number one hero. Even if Liu Zhang really took 100,000 taels of silver, he would definitely not pursue it and would even confer a knighthood on him.

Facing this torture of his soul, Yu Ming silently lowered his head and said in pain: "I...I am afraid of water!"