Chapter 578: Hugging Da Ming Baba’s Thick Legs
Zhu Yijun smiled at Zhang Juzheng.

Master Zhang, it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you, it’s God’s will.

As the Son of Heaven, I must also follow the will of Heaven.

Understanding the meaning in Zhu Yijun’s eyes, Zhang Juzheng was filled with anxiety, but he could only bow and say goodbye with Zhao Zhenji helplessly, and left the West Garden led by the eunuchs.

Walking on the way to Nanhua Gate, Zhang Juzheng asked anxiously.

“Brother Meng Jing, what did the emperor originally want to discuss with you?”

“Let’s talk about the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Since Emperor Taizu compiled and approved the Ming Dynasty Law, the ancestral system has been established and cannot be modified.”

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Zhao Zhenji.

I also know how to avoid the important and focus on the trivial. But since we are all old foxes, there is no need to expose them.

Zhang Juzheng responded softly, “Ancestral rule?”

If we really follow the ancestral system, the four ministers and himself, the prime minister, would have to resign and then go to the Taimiao to apologize to Emperor Taizu.

Zhao Zhenji also smiled gently.

After more than two hundred years, the ancestral system of Emperor Taizu no longer had much killing power. Moreover, the current emperor was as powerful as Emperor Taizu.

He said that if things were to change, even if Emperor Taizu were alive again, he would just have to watch helplessly.

Zhao Zhenji continued, “The laws and regulations of our great Ming Taizu were created in the first year of Wu, revised in the sixth year of Hongwu, standardized in the twenty-second year, and promulgated to the world in the thirtieth year.

After a long period of careful consideration, the law of the generation was finally established, and all cases in China and abroad were decided in accordance with the law issued in 30 years. The Great Ming Code formulated by Emperor Taizu inherited the ten major crimes from the Northern Qi Dynasty and the eight discussions from the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

After 30 years of compilation, the “Great Ming Code” includes seven chapters and 460 articles of the “Great Ming Code” and 147 articles of the “Imperial Code”. It also established ancestral rules that descendants could not revise them.

Therefore, after Emperor Taizu, successive dynasties mainly focused on “compilation of precedents”, that is, compiling some typical precedents and using them as the basis for conviction and sentencing. In the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign, 297 articles of the “Regulations on Criminal Interrogation” were compiled.

During the Zhengde period, forty-four articles were added.

During the Jiajing period, 258 articles were added.

During the Hongzhi and Jiajing years, the imperial court compiled the “Great Ming Code” and used it as an administrative code. Together with the laws and regulations inherited from the Hongwu period, there are 285 articles.

The cases are so numerous, complicated, and some of them contradict each other that it is simply a mess. There is no way to refer them to judicial trials.

The emperor set up the Court of Justice and invited the lawyers headed by Shi Lugong to revise the Six Laws of the Ming Dynasty. Although it was said to be against the ancestral system, everyone still supported it unanimously.

Zhang Juzheng said: “The Kaihuang Code was revised during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, and the Daye Code was revised during the reign of Emperor Yang. The Wude Code was revised during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, the Zhenguan Code was revised during the reign of Emperor Taizong, and the Yonghui Code was revised during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.”

I can talk in circles and gossip. I was a child prodigy in Jiangling, well-read and well-remembered. I have also read a lot of legal stories.

“It took the Ming Dynasty two hundred years to compile the Great Ming Code. It is time to revise it. Only by keeping pace with the times can we achieve good governance.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Juzheng couldn’t help but think of the imperial examinations.

Should scientific examinations keep pace with the times?

The emperor had talked to me about the imperial examination before, but I didn’t want to talk about it.

Now I want to talk to the emperor, but he doesn’t want to talk anymore.

This is troublesome.

Given the emperor’s temper, he will not stop until Hai Rui has caused chaos in Jiangnan.

But Hai Rui was a man of integrity and stubbornness who dared to kill alone.

One is not afraid of poking a hole in the sky, while the other one can’t wait to poke a hole in the sky. With this pair of king and minister joining forces, how can there be peace in Jiangnan?

Jiangnan has been exposed, and as the Prime Minister, I have to clean up the mess, right?

As for the scientific examinations, how should they be changed?
After leaving the Nanhua Gate of the Western Garden, Zhao Zhenji was going back to the Censorate, and Zhang Juzheng was going back to the Cabinet. Their carriages were waiting at the door.

Zhang Juzheng hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help but pull Zhao Zhenji.

“Brother Meng Jing, do you know what imperial order Hai Gangfeng was given to go to the southeast?”

Zhao Zhenji spread his hands and said, “Brother Uncle, I know as much as you do.”

Seeing Zhang Juzheng’s worried face, he thought for a moment and said, “Uncle, Yang Jinshui, Hu Ruzhen and others all started their careers in the southeast. Now Shanghai and other places are booming in industry and commerce, and the Federation of Industry and Commerce has been established recently. The emperor also wrote an inscription and bestowed clothes for the first time, and met with him in the Western Garden for joint painting.

Putting it all together, we can roughly see what the emperor is going to do in Jiangnan.”

There was a buzzing sound in Zhang Juzheng’s head, as if a bronze chime was struck.

“Change the cage and replace the bird!”

Zhao Zhenji said meaningfully: “Emperor Gaozu of the Former Han Dynasty followed Liu Jing’s advice and moved the nobles and powerful people from the six kingdoms to Guanzhong. Later, Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, Emperor Wu and other Han emperors moved the powerful people from Guandong to Guanzhong to guard Changling, Yangling and Maoling.

This is a method of strengthening the root and weakening the ends. Under the banner of honoring the ancestral mausoleum and mountain gardens, the capital is strengthened and the cunning are exported.

Since the 41st year of Jiajing, the southeast has been the emperor’s birthplace and the foundation of his country. I believe the emperor must also strengthen the foundation and weaken the ends.”

Zhang Juzheng sighed, “I guess the emperor’s method is probably to kill a group, exile a group, relocate another group, and then replace the old with the new, letting the emperor’s followers guard the southeast.

Just looking at the reports and memorials from Jiangnan, the Buddhist and Taoist temples, the private printing of banned books, and the occupation of farmland may cause serious damage to the officials and gentry families in Jiangnan.

But Zhang could not figure out how the situation would have reached the point where his mentor would want to entrust his child to him.

I can’t see through it, I can’t see through it.”

Zhao Zhenji guessed something in his heart, but he couldn’t say it out loud, so he could only comfort him: “Uncle, wait and see, I believe the truth will soon come out.”

Zhang Juzheng sighed, bowed helplessly, said goodbye to Zhao Zhenji, got into the carriage, and went to the cabinet.

Alas, to have such an emperor.

Being his teacher before was tiring; being his prime minister now is even more tiring.

Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun were soon summoned to the Ziguang Pavilion in Xiyuan.

Zhu Yijun consulted with the two of them about urgent military matters and quickly decided on them. Hu Zongxian was ordered to return to the military government to begin implementation. If cabinet assistance was needed, the Minister of War Tan Lun would go back to coordinate.

For urgent and important military affairs, in addition to the two of them, Zhu Yijun would also summon the five governors of the military government, or the governors-general and the chief of the general staff to the Western Garden for a meeting to discuss.

“Lord Ruzhen, Mr. Erhua, please sit down. Li Chun, please read the urgent military information.”

“As you wish.” Li Chun, the eunuch in charge of the Western Literature Office, took a few military documents and read them out. “The Korean State Affairs Office reported that the King of Korea has written a letter requesting to come to the court to meet the emperor.”

North Korea had just been pacified and there were still sporadic bandits in the country. It was in the period of “observing the country’s affairs” while being helped along.

The Ming Dynasty was also responsible for monitoring the frontier base of Japan’s movements. The Ming Dynasty stationed a large number of naval and land forces in the territory, so the memorials from Korea were sent directly to the Western Writing Office of the Imperial Household Department and copied to the Rong government. “Why does the King of Korea want to come to the court for an audience?” Zhu Yijun asked.

“Reporting to the emperor,” Hu Zongxian replied, “the report of Wu Junze, the Joseon envoy, made it very clear that Joseon had just stabilized and was caught up in factional strife. The king of Joseon was annoyed by it and wanted to solve his own crisis, so he decided to come to the court to meet the emperor.”

After Hu Zongxian’s detailed explanation, Zhu Yijun finally understood that the Korean king and his ministers had just entered the royal capital, Seoul, and the ruins in the city had not yet been cleaned up. Upon hearing the news, the Korean scholars and civil servants who gathered together started quarreling in the wooden shed built by the Ming army’s engineering camp.

There are many things to be done and many official positions are waiting to be shared among everyone.

Those who have survived the civil unrest for more than two years all claim to be loyal subjects of Joseon. They have been loyal to the Li family for more than two years, and now that the country has finally been restored, they must be rewarded.

As a result, this group of loyal ministers argued fiercely over the positions in the Council of Ministers and even engaged in a physical fight on the spot.

It is beyond reproach that the Prime Minister, the Left and Right Prime Ministers, the Left and Right Assistant Prime Ministers, the Six Ministers, and “insignificant” high-ranking military positions were appointed by the Ming envoys.

But what makes you able to be the chief judge? Is it because of your big dick?

Then why are you able to be the chief minister of the Secretariat? Is it just because you have a lot of hair?
The two or three hundred remaining civil servants and scholars in Korea quarreled every day and fought every night. They were divided into the Northerners, Southerners, Easterners, Westerners and Ganghua parties, just like fighting cocks, and they fought with red eyes.

Queen Dowager Shim, the queen of the previous King of Korea, was also unwilling to be lonely and began to make decisions in the harem.

I have suffered so much, and my relatives have suffered as well. What’s wrong with me giving them some preferential treatment now?
The current Joseon King, Yi Sun, is the nephew of the previous Joseon King, Yi Ha. He ascended the throne at the will of Queen Dowager Shim, and when faced with such a great pressure, Yi Sun could not bear it.

After months of fighting, the court of Joseon was in chaos. All the affairs of restoring the people’s livelihood in the local area were handed over to the Guan Guo Zheng Shi Si Yamen.

Wu Dui, along with Ye Mengxiong, conducted examinations to select poor Korean scholars and appointed them as local officials. Since there were not enough Koreans, they selected scholars and public school students from the country.

Then they gathered the refugees, reclaimed wasteland and cultivated land, and restored people’s livelihood.

When Zhu Yijun heard this, he was delighted.

There is such a good thing!

The few remaining scholars and civil servants in Korea all gathered in the court in Seoul to fight cocks. Wu Dui and Ye Mengxiong took the opportunity to take over the civil affairs of various parts of Korea.

Now the Korean army is completely under the control of the Ming army. If the local civil affairs are also gradually taken over, the complete Mingization can be achieved.

Japan, this rebellious son, can be slowly stewed into a pulp before being dealt with.

But North Korea will take what it can.

Now God has given me such a great opportunity.

During the more than two years of civil unrest, most of the powerful families and Confucian scholars in various places died at the hands of the rebels, and some who surrendered were charged with accomplices and were beheaded by the government troops.

Now there are only two or three hundred remaining local powerful families in North Korea. They are not in a hurry to take back their territory and gather the people’s hearts. Instead, they are dazzled by the dazzling official hats in the court and are hiding in Seoul to fight among themselves.

Fight, fight hard. By the time you figure it out, you’ll find it’s too late.

After Hu Zongxian finished introducing the details, Zhu Yijun immediately said: “Now the Ming Dynasty has recovered the area north of the Taedong River. We originally gave the Korean monarchs and ministers a chance to restore the state system, but they were useless.

If you don’t take what God gives you, you will suffer the consequences! I, the Ming Dynasty, accepted it with a smile.

He secretly ordered the Ministry of State Affairs to use the restoration of people’s livelihood as an excuse to carry out comprehensive education and win the hearts of the people, and strive to transform the State of Korea into the Korean Provincial Administration within five to ten years.

Lord Ruzhen, the intelligence investigation bureau of the Rong government must fully cooperate. Well, I will also send an order to Yang Jinshui and Song Gongliang, asking the Shaofu Supervisor and Jinyiwei to fully cooperate as well. “

“According to the order!”

Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun responded without hesitation.

Turning the State of Korea into the Korean Provincial Administration was another great achievement of destroying a country and establishing a province.

The emperor uses such a great power to test the officials of the Ming Dynasty. Which official can withstand such a test?

Hu Zongxian was still thinking about whether he could be granted the title of Duke before retiring and create history for the country.

Tan Lun also wondered if he could be granted the title of county lord.

Li Chun asked, “Your Majesty, what about the King of Korea coming to the court?”

“Arrange it as usual.” Zhu Yijun guessed what Li Cheng was thinking.

Now even the Queen Mother has fallen, and his throne was picked up by accident. If the political struggle becomes fierce, and someone finds another way and begs the Ming father to establish a new king, then he will get the credit of following the emperor to the throne for free, then his throne will be wasted.

So without saying anything, I hugged Da Ming Baba’s thick legs tightly.

Li Chun continued to talk about the second piece of military intelligence.

“Report from Lanzhou: Xu Wei, the governor of Gansu and the envoy to Qinghai, Huo Jing, the military commander of the Qinghai envoy’s office, and Huo Bian, the deputy military commander, jointly reported that since the end of February, two cavalry divisions of our Xihai camp, with 13,000 cavalrymen, have been marching towards Qinghai.

Before the end of March, all the Tumed tribe members and pastures in Qinghai were captured.

In April, they conquered Jiegu (Yushu), Zaquka (Shiqu), Derge and other cities; in May, they conquered Guanjue (Gongjue), Ganzi, Qamdo and other cities. Litang, Batang and Daowu (Daofu) surrendered upon hearing the call. The vanguard regiment of the left division of the Xihai Camp reached Dajianlu and looked at Yazhou in Sichuan from afar.

In the old Tubo territories such as Qinghai, western Sichuan, Gannan and U-Tsang, each chieftain, big and small, had long been king.

If Altan Khan sent three or four thousand Tumed cavalry, he would be able to become king.

Even decades later, four or five thousand Mongolian cavalrymen could rush directly to Lhasa, overthrow the Tsangpa Khan and the Kagyu sect, and bring the Gelug sect to power.

The 13,000 cavalrymen led by Huo Jing and Huo Bian were not only the elite troops of the Mongolian right wing, but also equipped with the fine weapons and armor of the Ming Dynasty. They also had food and grass supplies from Gansu and Shaanxi. When they fought against these chieftains of all sizes, they swept them away like a whirlwind.

“Xu Wei also reported that Lama Sonam Gyatso, the abbot of Shela Monastery in Ganzi, not only sent envoys to surrender to our army, but also requested to enter the court for an audience.”

Hey, North Korea wants to cling to my thighs, and there are also people in Qinghai and western Sichuan who want to cling to my thighs. The east and the west are advancing at the same time. Fortunately, I have two thighs.

Hu Zongxian added: “Your Majesty, Xu Wei reported that Sonam Gyatso, as the abbot of the Gelug sect, has a great influence in Qinghai and western Sichuan. If we win him over, we can help the country take over Qinghai, western Sichuan and other places.”

“Then issue an imperial decree to allow Sonam Gyatso to come to the court for an audience. Then secretly order Xu Wei to summon all influential monks and lay leaders from Qinghai, western Sichuan, Gannan, and U-Tsang to the court.

I summoned them all together.

And with so many people sitting together, it would be easier for the court to negotiate a price with them.”

It is difficult to negotiate alone, so we should get together and bargain with each other to discuss the price.

Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, “As you wish!”

After dealing with the urgent military situation, Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun said goodbye and left, while Zhu Yijun sat in the house and continued to read the memorials.

I opened a memorial and found it was from the Zhejiang Provincial Government.

Zhu Yijun couldn’t help but raise his head and look to the south.

Has the big show that Mr. Hai performed in Suzhou begun?
(End of this chapter)