Although with the rise of natural science research in the past decade or so, the materialist idea of "Heaven is constant, not for Yao, not for ruin" has gradually become the mainstream among the intellectual elite of the Ming Dynasty. But in the vast countryside, especially in much of the interior, ignorance and superstition still control the spiritual world of the middle and lower classes.

Especially in such a continuous natural disaster season, when self-help and the relief of the imperial court cannot fight against natural disasters, the theory of heaven and man induction has become the last straw for the vast number of desperate people. What's more, there are many local gentry who either want to divert the resentment of the people, or for some ulterior purpose, but also try their best to open their eyes to the theory of heavenly induction, believing that this continuous disaster is obviously a punishment from heaven for some people or things.

After all, the Ming Dynasty was a dynasty established by the Han people themselves, and both the emperor and the scholars had a moral limit, and when the people questioned the cause of natural disasters to the imperial court, no one had come up with the idea of using massacres to question the people to silence them, except for reasoning.

As an elite among scholars, Qian Qianyi naturally does not understand the purpose of this kind of celestial induction. According to historical records, once the government and the opposition accepted the explanation of the current disaster by the theory of heaven and man, then the responsibility fell on the emperor and the ruling ministers, and it was precisely because they did not govern the country well that the heavens would send such a disaster.

Then if you want to win the understanding of the people and God, the least you need to do is to remove the ruling minister; The most serious thing is that the emperor personally issued an edict to confess his mistakes to heaven and his subjects. Although Qian Qianyi doesn't mind carrying the black pot for the emperor on weekdays, he really can't afford to carry this black pot at the moment.

Once he has come to this point, it is undoubtedly equivalent to showing the world that he Qian Qianyi is the treacherous evil who is hated by God. And after this name is worn on his head, his reputation is not much different from Wei Zhongxian, who everyone shouts and beats. This not only represents the end of his political life, but also has a very bad impact on the descendants of the entire family, that is, in the future, his name will be tied to the traitors of the past generations in the history books, how can he endure this.

However, just when Qian Qianyi was thinking about it, Liu Ru, who was sitting on the side, couldn't help but interrupt him and said, "Can you calm down a little, don't always think crankily and scare yourself." It is impossible for His Majesty to accept the explanation of the current disaster by the Heavenly and Human Induction Theory, otherwise wouldn't the reform of the past ten years have to be reversed and restarted? Where is His Majesty's face and prestige? Who should have the final say in the court in the future? ”

After Qian Qianyi heard this, he pondered for a moment, his face softened a little, he looked at Liu Ru who was frowning and thinking, and said, "Then why did Your Majesty refuse to speak out and let these small and sour literati make the city full of storms?" If something happens, will we be able to reverse the direction of public opinion? ”

Since entering the Qian Mansion, although Liu Ru has not been able to get any name, but the relationship between her and Qian Qianyi has become deeper and deeper, although the two are not respectful to each other, but Qian Qianyi's love for her is also extremely rare, not to mention the trivial matters at home, even the daily government affairs allow her to interfere, even if it is criticized by outsiders, she has not changed her attitude, it is because Liu Ru is at this time also put a piece of heart on the other party, for his wholehearted housework and advice on official affairs.

Although Liu Ru is only 22 years old now, she was displaced when she was a child, and she was used to seeing the warmth and coldness of the world, and she has been by Qian Qianyi's side for eight or nine years, and she has also read a lot of official documents of the imperial court, so her understanding of the real situation of the Ming Dynasty is much deeper than that of scholars and doctors like Qian Qianyi who have not suffered. In addition, her IQ can be regarded as one of the few even among men, so she also has a deep understanding of politics in the court, and in some aspects she even sees it more thoroughly than Qian Qianyi.

This is why Qian Qianyi was able to accept Liu Ru's suggestions to him on political affairs, ignoring the ridicule of outsiders about his family's chicken Si Chen, because these suggestions did provide him with considerable help. And to a certain extent, Liu Ruyi, who is like a wife and a concubine and a friend, has a close relationship with him far more than that of his protégés, so other people may give him ideas and carry private goods, but Liu Ruyi's idea must be the first to defend him, after all, the two can almost be regarded as one.

So after Qian Qianyi faced the current predicament, although Liu Ruye's mood seemed calm, he was also thinking about a way to break the situation all the time. When Qian Qianyi felt at a loss, Liu Ru seemed to have finally figured out something, and his hands couldn't help but gently patted the hand stove in his arms and said, "You are waiting for Your Majesty's reaction, Your Majesty may also be observing your reaction." ”

"Huh?" Although Qian Qianyi didn't understand the connotation of Liu Ru's words, he couldn't wait to walk to her side, dragged a chair and sat down, then reached out and held her little hand, looked at Liu Ru is quite eagerly and said, "What does Qingqing mean, explain it to me quickly." ”

Although Qian Qianyi's hands were a little cold, Liu Ru didn't pull out his hand, just frowned slightly, and maintained this posture, and said coldly to Qian Qianyi, who was about to put his head on his shoulder: "Wang Hanru's matter, in the final analysis, still evils the gentry and the clan.

He seized the property of the gentry clan in the name of the imperial court, and forcibly requisitioned slaves and maidservants and children to defend the city. If it can still be appreciated because of this, it will not set an extremely bad example for officials in various places. If everyone follows Wang Hanru's example in the future, won't the gentry become lambs slaughtered at will by the imperial court, and what is the difference between everyone and those ordinary people in the future? Do you want the face of this gentleman and the clan?

If Your Majesty comes forward to protect the king Han Ru at this time, isn't this tantamount to publicly saying that this Ming Dynasty is not the emperor and the gentry ruling the world, but the emperor alone in the world? If Your Majesty doesn't make a sound, there are still people who speak for Wang Hanru, but if Your Majesty speaks, this will become a problem between Your Majesty and the scholars.

Therefore, in my opinion, His Majesty's reluctance to speak out is to wait for the cabinet led by you to make a decision before he can express his attitude. In this way, Wang Hanru's case is a problem of mistakes in the conduct of local officials, and it will not escalate into a contradiction between the scholar and His Majesty. ”

Qian Qianyi was a little dumbfounded when he heard this, and he was silent for half an hour before he digested the meaning of Liu Ru is words. He couldn't help but reach out and pinch his beard, and said softly: "No, I have never violated His Majesty's instructions over the years, and His Majesty's meaning is what I mean." If Your Majesty does have such thoughts, even if you don't tell me explicitly, it is not too much to give a hint, why do you treat me like this? ”

Although Qian Qianyi's words were more like talking to himself, Liu Ru unceremoniously interrupted him and said: "That's because you are too assertive on weekdays, and Your Majesty is worried that you will not be able to withstand the pressure from the government and the opposition, and when the time comes, Your Majesty will be pushed out to fight with them, so what is the difference between this hint and explicit?" ”

Qian Qianyi's old face couldn't help but turn red, although Liu Ru is words were direct, he still agreed in his heart. However, he was not willing to continue to dwell on this issue, and changed the subject: "Your Majesty may indeed have such thoughts, but isn't it uncertain at the moment. If I had misguessed His Majesty's intentions, without His Majesty's support and the pressure of public opinion from outside, wouldn't I have put myself on top of the furnace? Are you really sure that Your Majesty meant that? ”

Of course, Liu Ru can't take her guess as Chongzhen's idea, but she also knows that if she can't strengthen her old lover's mind, this matter will only get more and more tricky if it drags on.

So after a moment of silence, she said from another angle: "Whether Your Majesty really has this intention, I'm afraid no one can be sure. But sir, you should think about the way Your Majesty has appointed his ministers since he ascended the throne, then you may know what to do now. ”

Qian Qianyi asked without thinking: "How are the ministers appointed?" Qingqing didn't say anything more detailed. ”

Liu Ru glanced at him, and then said unhurriedly: "As soon as Your Majesty ascended the throne, he drove Wei Zhongxian and Cui Chengxiu out of the capital, and dismantled the eunuch party that controlled the government, which was praised by the people of the world for a while. However, His Majesty only did this step, and did not obey the wishes of those Donglin Party gentlemen, and drove all the remnants of the eunuch party out of the court, but continued to let Huang Zhongwu guard the cabinet.

I think that's why Your Majesty is acting the way it is. First, he wanted to maintain the stability of the court at the beginning of his ascension to the throne; the second is the need for Huang Zhongwu to promote reform policies for him; The third is to use this to suppress the Donglin Party members who have the support of the local gentry and maintain the authority of the center.

After Huang Zhongwu, His Majesty chose the old man to take over as the first assistant of the cabinet. I think Your Majesty probably takes a fancy to the old man's soft temperament, even if he takes over the first assistant of the cabinet, he will not completely overturn the various reform policies formulated by Huang Zhongwu and do whatever he wants. His Majesty can also take the opportunity to promote the reform of the imperial court system to reduce resistance.

Today, the term of office of the two first assistants of the lord has almost expired, and the institutional reform of the central court is also quite effective. So next, what does the lord think His Majesty wants to do? And what kind of person should be chosen to take over the position of the master? ”

Although Qian Qianyi has been the first assistant for two terms, he is not bored at all, and he still wants to continue to work and contribute his ability to the Ming Dynasty, His Majesty, and the people. Of course, there are more people who want to contribute to the Ming Dynasty, His Majesty, and the people, and since there is a term limit now, no matter how reluctant he is, he has to avoid one or two terms first, in order to wait for the opportunity later.

After all, he is only 58 years old, and the next first assistant will be handed over to someone else, and the next one may not be without a chance to recover. Of course, it would be better if the next Shousuke fell into his own hands.

Therefore, hearing Liu Ru talk about these two issues, Qian Qianyi suddenly became highly nervous, and begged Liu Ru in a soft voice: "Qingqing seems to have some ideas, then don't sell anything, the master will definitely not disappoint you in the future..."

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