Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Although the justice of heaven is very important, after all, it belongs to the feudal dynasty now.

Even though Song Cheng bears the name of Qingtian, if he dares to hold on to the Empress Dowager Zhou for an in-depth investigation, then Emperor Zhu Youtang may be criticized by the outside world.

After all, Song Cheng was the emperor's minister. Regardless of whether he had the emperor's permission or not, once the Empress Dowager Zhou was investigated, the emperor would have to bear the blame.

If this matter were placed in the era when Qingliu dominated the court, Song Cheng's words alone would not only have Song Cheng impeached by all civil and military officials, but the emperor would also be sprayed with blood.

Although the court is now controlled by the pragmatic faction of the imperial protection party, Song Cheng's actions can easily leave a source of gossip, so Empress Chang has to state her position.

Song Cheng didn't have so many complex thoughts, but he insisted on his own ideas: "I would like to report to the Queen, I have no unfilial thoughts on Your Majesty. Shang Gong is a confidant of the Empress Dowager, and the nature of this arson case is so bad, This question is based on my normal thinking when reviewing the case!"

"Master Song, if there is no evidence, I will not allow you to interrogate like this! The Empress Dowager is the grandmother of this Palace and Your Majesty. How can you be suspected by a little minister of yours? Please pay attention to your You must speak and act, otherwise I will definitely testify against you in front of the emperor!" Although Empress Chang hated the Empress Dowager, she also expressed her position in order to prevent the emperor from being accused of being unfilial.

She was naturally suspicious of the Empress Dowager Zhou, and had even determined that the mastermind behind the incident was the Empress Dowager Zhou. She also hoped that Song Cheng could find out the truth from He Shanggong.

It's just that Song Cheng dared to openly ask such a question that undermined the majesty of the Empress Dowager without any evidence. Naturally, her official position had to protect the Empress Dowager.

Of course, although she seemed very angry at the moment, she was not necessarily so angry inside. She was more interested in expressing her position with the emperor, so as to prevent anyone from labeling the emperor unfilial.

Song Cheng couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain in his heart. If this matter couldn't even be brought to trial, what else could be done to pry He Shanggong's mouth open: "I was indeed careless, I must pay attention to it in the future!"

"Now that the case is clear, I wonder how Master Song plans to handle it?" Empress Chang asked in a sudden change of subject, with a motherly demeanor.

Now that the arson case has been revealed to He Shanggong, if He Shanggong is used to close the case, it will be considered a good result.

Although the Empress Dowager was not unearthed in this arson case, as Song Cheng said, it was already known to everyone that He Shanggong was a confidant of the Empress Dowager Zhou.

Just like this, once He Shanggong was brought to justice, the outside world would definitely think that the emperor protected the empress dowager, and the emperor was open to the empress dowager who ordered He Shanggong to set fire because of family ties.

Song Cheng faced the gazes of the people around him, but he insisted on his principle and said: "Report to the Queen, please transfer He Shanggong to the Ministry of Punishment, I will definitely try the case clearly!"

this……

The maid in charge of the Shenjie Department heard the implication of Song Cheng's words, and she still wanted to continue the trial, and even wanted to bring the real mastermind behind the scenes, the Empress Dowager Zhou, to justice.

"This person will naturally be handed over to Lord Song. I will not disturb Lord Song in his investigation of the case, but I'm afraid you will have to go to Guanju Palace next!" Queen Chang was secretly unhappy and suddenly said with a half-smile.

Song Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked in confusion: "Why is this?"

Yun Niang has been in Kunning Palace for some time, and now she suddenly heard the queen suddenly mention Guan Sui Palace, and she looked at the queen with doubts.

"The people below reported to this palace just now that the Empress Dowager sent someone to Wenhua Gate to summon you, but the person sent was late! Since Mr. Song has such a leisurely life, he still has to go there for a while. Come on, the Queen Mother must have something important to discuss with you!" Queen Chang said calmly while playing with the jade in her hand.

Although Yun Niang was not in the court, she still knew some tricks in the palace and could not help but turn to look at her husband in worry.

If I could be more flexible as an official, and not be so obsessed with the truth of the case, and just settle the case according to the Queen's wishes, why would I be making things difficult like this?

Song Cheng felt more clearly how deep the water in the palace was. He didn't even have a chance to go to the scene of the first crime and take a look: "I obey Yi's decree!"

"The Empress is tired, Lord Song, please step aside!" The female official nodded gently to the Empress, and gave the order to expel the guests without expression.

Song Cheng smiled bitterly, and seemed to leave in a dignified manner.

He was ordered to enter the palace to investigate the arson case in the Qianqing Gate, but he has not been able to get a glimpse of the fire scene. Now he is meeting the Queen Mother and the Empress, and then he has to deal with the Queen Mother.

Just thinking that this case involves the Empress Dowager, and now she has to face the biggest suspect in the arson case in a formal manner, I can't help but feel a headache secretly.

After coming out of Kunning Palace, he originally hoped to go south and pass by Qianqing Gate to take a look, but the eunuch in front led him to Kunning Gate and left the inner palace area.

"Master Song, please come this way!"

The father-in-law who led the way smiled slightly and led Song Cheng in the direction of Qingning Palace.

Song Cheng originally didn't want to meet the Empress Dowager. After all, she was the biggest suspect, and it was naturally impossible for him to say something conceited. The meeting must have become very unpleasant.

It's just that the Empress Dowager's status was transcendent. Even though it was known to both the government and the public that the Empress Dowager was at odds with the emperor, as a minister of the Ming Dynasty, he had to go to see her.

As he was walking, he accidentally touched a thin nylon thread.

In front of the father-in-law, who was gloating about his misfortune, he saw the copper basin above his head tilt instantly, and a basin of water fell from the sky, accurately splashing on his body.

For a moment, his official uniform was soaked through and stuck to his body.

"The bad guy who set the fire..."

Princess Haixiao ran over from the moon arch in front, but was stunned when she saw that the one caught was an official with a face as black as coal. As if he thought of something, he burst into tears suddenly.

This cry was so outrageous that the surrounding eunuchs and maids gathered around her. Everyone knew that Princess Haixiao was the apple of His Majesty's eye. If the emperor were here, I'm afraid he wouldn't be calm either.

this……

Song Cheng, who was soaked all over, looked at Princess Haixiao who was crying so hard that she felt like crying but had no tears at the moment.

Not to mention that he "scared" Princess Haixiao to tears, now I am afraid that she has to leave the palace to exchange for clean clothes before coming to see the Queen Mother. I just want to investigate the case, why is it so difficult?

The winter sun is particularly dazzling, but the trees and flowers in Xiyuan have withered.

The Yangxin Palace was not greatly affected. On the contrary, in this environment of withering everything, this magnificent palace became more and more dazzling.

In the hall, sandalwood scent curled up.

Zhu Youtang, who was wearing a dragon robe, was dealing with memorials here, and he looked very focused.

Since the office location was moved here from Qianqing Palace, it has not only facilitated the communication between monarchs and ministers, but also greatly improved the efficiency of the empire's center.

Now the communication between the twelve ministry-level yamen and the emperor is smooth, and Zhu Youtang will summon them at any time, and even holds the highest meeting from time to time, so a lot of wrangling has been reduced.

After cracking down on the Jiangnan interest groups, no force in the country dared to go against the imperial court. Therefore, the imperial government's decrees were smooth, resulting in fewer and fewer incidents.

Zhu Youtang actually spent less time dealing with government affairs. After handling a domestic disaster relief plan, he turned his attention to the international arena.

"Your Majesty, your speed in processing memorials is so fast, ten times faster than my concubine!" Li Xien stood beside him and studied the ink himself, his pretty face full of love.

Since she got married to Zhu Youtang that year, she would choose this time to come to see the emperor as an envoy every year, and naturally she would stay in the Forbidden City.

Although she followed Zhu Youtang towards Ben San, the years had not left any trace on her pretty face. Her skin was still scratchy and her whole person looked more mature.

In fact, the best age for a woman is not sixteen or seventeen years old, but the age when she is full of femininity. Especially after giving birth, Li Xien's figure is obviously fuller.

Now she is the Queen Mother of North Korea. Since she listens to politics behind the curtain, she decides the national affairs of North Korea. Now that I have seen Zhu Youtang handle government affairs with my own eyes, I can't help but admire him secretly.

Zhu Youtang was not complacent about this matter, and said calmly and calmly: "I have been in office for thirteen years, and I am very familiar with it! Nowadays, local officials are decisive in dealing with problems, and they report things in an orderly manner. I almost only need to Just approve it!”

"My concubine has long heard that during the Ming Dynasty, 'the wise king sat in the court, and the powerful ministers shook the world'. This statement is indeed true!" Li Xi'en cherished these few days in the Forbidden City, so he couldn't wait to stick to Zhu Youtang's side, and he was full of love. Authentic.

Zhu Youtang stretched out his hand and scratched her nose, but he deliberately joked: "There is also a confidante in Cao Ying!"

Although today's North Korea is not within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, it is already better than the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Under Li Xien's governance, pig iron and rice were continuously transported to the Ming Dynasty every year, becoming an important contributor to the Ming Dynasty's infrastructure.

In terms of culture, five thousand years of Chinese culture has fully invaded North Korea. In less than a hundred years, North Korea will become a colony of Chinese culture, and it will be natural for it to be included in the territory.

"When will His Majesty come to Cao Ying in person to take in my concubine?" Li Xi'en smiled charmingly, his eyes full of expectation.

Zhu Youtang stroked this face that could be broken by a bomb, and found that it was getting more and more enchanting: "Now that we have Deng'er, do you really want me to conquer Seoul in person?"

"Your Majesty really doesn't intend to divide the world?" Li Xi'en naturally understood the implication of these words, but he said firmly.

Zhu Youtang shook his head very seriously: "Only through centralization of power can the dynasty truly have long-term peace and stability!" As he said that, he also raised the credentials from Siam and said: "Little Siam wants to take the road of centralization. What reason do I have to carry out enfeoffment and break up a good empire?"

Now that the Ming Dynasty has conquered the three oceans, it can swallow up the endless land with or without owners at any time, allowing its descendants to establish kingdoms and become kings all over the world.

But the harm of this approach is also obvious. After all, people are ambitious animals, and the consequences of enfeoffment will not only weaken the strength of the central government, but may also suffer backlash.

"Your Majesty has no such intention, so I'd better be a weaver girl, right?" Li Xi'en glanced at Zhu Youtang resentfully, and then curiously took Siam's credentials: "This is South Siam? I remember your Majesty's previous paragraph. Time also ordered North Korea to prepare to send troops together, why did South Siam send a letter of surrender? "

"He doesn't have the capital to challenge the Nanyang Governor's Office. This is all thanks to the fact that the Nanyang Governor's Office intervened in Siam at the right time!" Zhu Youtang looked at the credentials of Southern Siam and said with emotion.

Since Li Xien became the Queen Mother of North Korea, she has been particularly interested in such political matters: "Just the right time?"

"Let me test you! What causes conflicts and strong oppositions in a peaceful country?" Zhu Youtang patted his thigh and motioned Li Xien to sit on it.

The dignified Queen of Korea was very tactful and sat on it obediently, but her brows were slightly frowned.

Zhu Youtang hugged her voluptuous waist and gave a hint: "Don't you like someone's calligraphy?"

"Reform?" Li Xien's heart moved and she immediately gave an answer.

Zhu Youtang patted her arm and said with appreciation: "Yes, it is political reform!"

At the beginning of the establishment of the Ayutthaya Dynasty of Siam, it basically inherited the political system of the previous Sukhothai Dynasty, with three organizational forms of tribes, city lords and vassal states as the main ones, and these organizations were independent individuals.

However, the drawbacks of this political system are very obvious. If the central government is strong, these independent organizations will naturally follow the lead. But when the central government's strength declines, these independent organizations may no longer pay attention to the central government's orders.

The ninth king of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, Bolongmo Dailai Luojiana, implemented political reforms, one of the most important of which was the "Sakdina System" of granting land according to the rank of nobility.

The Sakdina System is somewhat similar to the Enfeoffment Order of the Western Han Dynasty. Originally, the tribal leaders, city lords and vassal states were the owners of the land, but now all the land is nationalized and then divided according to the size of the nobility.

The interests of the "family heads" of the tribal leaders, city lords and vassal states were naturally infringed, but the core members below were naturally ecstatic. After all, they no longer needed to look at the face of the "family head", but owned their own territory in the name of the dynasty's nobility.

This reform naturally encountered resistance. Originally, the head of the family controlled everything in the territory, but the king forcibly divided the family. No one would feel comfortable.

The ninth king of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, Bolongmo Dailai Luojiana, promoted this political reform during his reign, but unfortunately it was not fully implemented and he had passed away.

The tenth Siamese king, Borommaraja III, inherited the throne. He could not wait to move the capital back to Ayutthaya, while his younger brother, Ramathep Bodhi II, stayed in Phitsanulok to continue governing his homeland of Sukhothai.

However, the Nanyang Governor-General's Office, which was headed by Wang Zhi at the time, suddenly intervened, which immediately aggravated the conflict between the two sides and gave these local forces strong support, which eventually directly led to the division of Siam into two. (End of this chapter)