In early March, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Eight?? One Chinese ≈ = ≤.≤8≥1≥Z≤≤.≤COM

With the arrival of spring, the tranquility on the canal is broken, and shipping, which has been dormant for a winter, gradually wakes up and gradually becomes lively.

At this time, a large ship with three decks in the canal attracted attention, and the ships along the way avoided it.

This is not only because of the huge size of the ship, but also because of the yellow dragon flag that does not dazzle on the ship, and it is either a eunuch acting on orders or an important minister of the imperial court.

Judging from the specifications of this ship, only the first-class officials of the court can match it, so how dare the official and civilian ships along the way collide with the officials on board.

In the cabin, Li Hongyu talked and laughed with Zhao Xin, Zhu Wanting, Chen Ting and others, and the group was ready to go south to Yangzhou, and then to Shanghai.

The main project of Shanghai's new city has now been completed seventy percent, and it will be completed in another year, which can be described as a majestic and huge city, and Li Hongyu regards it as a base for the future.

The so-called calyx main project refers to the construction of the city wall, as for the houses and shops in the city, when the city wall is repaired, the construction will be rapid with the inflow of merchants.

Qin Yue, Rou'er and Naren Tuoya failed to follow Li Hongyu south, after all, the young master's mansion in the capital needed someone to take care of them, and Qin Yue and Rou'er really couldn't leave.

As for Naren Toya, because she shouldered the responsibility of liaising with the Mongolian tribes, she could not follow Li Hongyu to Jiangnan, so Li Hongyu almost stayed in the room of the three since he took a concubine to show his favor.

It is worth mentioning that there was a happy event before leaving Beijing, the Emperor of the Apocalypse issued a decree, because Zhao Xin was meritorious in handling government affairs and military affairs in North Korea, so he was crowned as the crown prince and young master, and then became an out-and-out member of the second grade, only one step away from entering the ranks of the first grade.

For the Emperor of the Apocalypse's benevolence, the Manchu Dynasty was unconvinced, and the ministers knew very well that Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin had a close relationship, and Zhao Xin, who had paid silently behind Li Hongyu's achievements, was indispensable.

Li Hongyu had to return to China last year to command the operation because of the sudden change in the war situation in western Liaoning, so he left the affairs of North Korea to Zhao Xin, who handled this with care and fulfilled her duties, so her young master of the prince deserves his name and is popular with the people.

In fact, compared with Li Hongyu, who is in the limelight, Zhao Xin, an official who is capable and unknown at the same time, and has not been involved in party disputes, and acts in a low-key manner, is most liked by officials of various factions in the officialdom, who is not a threat to himself and can help him do things at the same time.

The boat ride of Li Hongyu and his entourage naturally alarmed the officials of the state capitals along the canal, and after learning the news that Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin were heading south, the officials of the state capitals all rushed to the wharf to greet them.

Now that the situation in the court is unpredictable, the officials naturally want to find one more backer, and Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin, who are deeply favored by the Emperor of the Apocalypse, are undoubtedly the best choices.

Obviously, there are no more capable officials in the Ming Dynasty than Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin, and they have little interest in the party and government, so no matter how the court situation changes in the future, the two will be celebrities in front of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

Li Hongyu knows that it is a common practice in officialdom to welcome and send people away, so it is not easy for him to refuse people thousands of miles away, but he can't be too modest, after all, the rank in officialdom must be taken into account.

What is particularly important is that Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin are just passing by this time, and there is no need to disturb the local government, so it is not appropriate to meet too many officials.

Therefore, Li Hongyu only let the officials of the government and the yamen of the government and the fifth grade or above come on the boat to meet along the way, and the other officials could only bow down and wait on the dock.

But even this made those officials satisfied, after all, the difference in rank between them and Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin was too great, and they never thought that it would be a rare honor to be able to meet the two court officials, and it was already a rare honor to be waiting on the dock.

In mid-March, Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin and their entourage arrived in Yangzhou, and the officials of all the yamen in Yangzhou City led by Ran Xingrang greeted them at the wharf, and the scene was very huge.

Compared with the last time he came to Yangzhou, the title of young master undoubtedly established Li Hongyu's status in the imperial court, and the battle of Shimen Mountain played Li Hongyu's prestige, so the officials of Yangzhou Yamen were in awe of him.

Officials of the fifth rank or above and the military attache of the third rank or above in Yangzhou were able to participate in the reception banquet prepared by Ran Xingrang to Li Hongyu, and the scene was very grand and lively.

At the beginning of the banquet, Li Hongyu announced in advance that Zhao Xin, a scholar of Youchunfang University, would replace wine with water because he was unwell, because he was the highest official on the scene, followed by Zhao Xin, so Li Hongyu announced that naturally no one dared to let Zhao Xin drink.

After the banquet, Ran Xingrang invited Li Hongyu and Zhao Xin to the study of the back house of the Customs Department, and he and the two of them had not seen each other for a long time, so they had a lot to say.

"What is the situation in the capital?" After the maid served the tea and left, Ran Xingrang asked Li Hongyu with a concerned expression, very concerned about the situation of officialdom in the capital.

"The mountain rain is coming, and the wind is full of buildings!" Li Hongyu groaned for a moment when he heard this, and slowly spit out seven words in his mouth.

"Alas!"

Ran Xingrang was stunned, and then sighed heavily, from Li Hongyu's brief answer, he had already smelled the smell of bloody rain.

As the saying goes, the authorities are confused, and the bystanders are clear, and Ran Xingrang has a clearer understanding of the situation in the court since he left the capital to run the Customs Department in Yangzhou.

Unlike other officials in the court, Ran Xing let the concubine who was the Ming Dynasty naturally understand the character of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and he felt that the Emperor of the Apocalypse was a little unexpected, and he actually made the Donglin Party take advantage of Jingcha to give Qi, Chuzhe and other factions a pot, which really made him feel incredible.

Obviously, the dominance of the Donglin Party is a threat to the imperial power, and the emperors of all dynasties do not want to see the court dominated by officials of one faction, which means that the power of the subjects will be lost.

Therefore, Ran Xingrang paid close attention to the situation in the capital, and when he learned that the officials of the Qi, Chuzhe, and other factions suppressed by the Donglin Party had joined the eunuch to rely on Wei Zhongxian in order to protect themselves, he vaguely understood the intention of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

Now, Li Hongyu confirmed his guess with seven words, which made Ran Xingrang's mood very complicated, as the son-in-law of the royal family, he naturally didn't want any big mess in the court.

"Donkey, the emperor is a wise gentleman, he must have thought of a countermeasure, you and I should relax and wait and see what happens." Seeing Ran Xing's worried expression, Li Hongyu knew that he cared about the situation of the Ming Dynasty, so he smiled and comforted.

Since the Emperor of the Apocalypse has made up his mind to rectify the imperial program in order to control the power of the court, then these courtiers naturally cannot stop it, which is why Li Hongyu left the capital during this period to avoid getting involved.

"By the way, what is the situation outside the gate?"

Ran Xingrang smiled helplessly when he heard this, knowing that Li Hongyu was reasonable, and then remembered something, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "I heard that Nurhachi personally commanded the battle of Shimen Mountain, does he dare to invade Daming after this battle?" ”

"Jiannu has full wings, and although Nurhachi is defeated in Shimen Mountain, the main force is still there, and it is still a problem for my Ming henchmen."

Li Hongyu pondered for a moment, and then said with a solemn expression, "If we can't solve Jiannu as soon as possible, then the war situation outside the border will cost a lot of military spending every year, which will be very unfavorable to the Ming Dynasty!" ”

"Alas, a small Jiannu tossed Daming up and down, if Hong Wuye and Yongle Ye were alive, they would probably be angry to death."

Ran Xingrang's face changed when he heard this, he never expected Li Hongyu to say such a thing, and then sighed gloomily, and said angrily, "Did those soldiers raised by the imperial court become paper paste?" How could it be so unbeaten! ”

"Freezing three feet is not a day's cold, Hong Wuye's original intention of setting up the cantonment system was to reduce the burden on the people, but now the military discipline of the guards in various places is deserted, and the military households are oppressed by the superiors, so who has the heart to give life to the Ming Dynasty?"

Seeing that Ran Xingrang was sulking there, Li Hongyu hesitated for a moment and then said to him, "Starting from Xuande Ye, the imperial court will regularly send people to various guards to clean up military affairs, but unfortunately with little success, in my opinion, if you want to solve the problem of the army once and for all, the only way to abolish the cantonment system is to abolish the cantonment system!" ”

"Abolish the cantonment system?" Ran Xingrang was stunned, looked at Li Hongyu with a surprised expression, and then shook his head with a wry smile.

The military system is the foundation of the Ming military system, once it is moved, then the Ming Dynasty will rebuild a new military system, which is not just as simple as hard work, and it will lead to military rebellion.

If we summarize the essence of the cantonment system, then it is two words - hereditary, not only the hereditary military status and even the military position are hereditary, but also the military field is exempt from paying taxes to the imperial court, so that the military attachés of the Ming Dynasty, large and small, including the nobles, are the beneficiaries of the cantonment system.

Therefore, although the Ming Emperors of all dynasties since Emperor Xuande knew the disadvantages of the cantonment system, no one dared to move the cantonment system, so that the combat effectiveness of the army of the Ming Guard was declining.

Li Hongyu did not stay in Yangzhou City for a long time, and after dealing with some affairs of the Customs Department, he set off to Shanghai County, which in the final analysis was his territory, and he lived there to live in peace.

Zhao Xin left Yangzhou a day earlier than Li Hongyu, and went to the micro-service for a private visit in the name of inspecting the branches and industries under the Customs Department, and naturally hid his whereabouts, followed Youlan and Yamashita Sakura to the chicken coop port in Xiaoliuqiu, and reappeared after giving birth.

Anyway, with Li Hongyu to help her play the round, Zhao Xin can wait until she recovers before returning to the capital, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse will never think of her giving birth to a child.

In fact, no one doubts whether Zhao Xin really went to Weifu for a private visit, because no one knew that she was a woman, so naturally she would not think about it elsewhere.

(End of chapter)