"Beep beep..."

"Beep beep..."

When the battle at the gate of the imperial city was in full swing, an iron whistle sounded, and then a group of soldiers wearing black brocade clothes with red lines on the cuffs and collars, holding water and fire sticks in one hand and black shields woven of rattan in the other, rushed over in a line.

"Bang bang bang..."

Several gunshots rang out, and the people who were fighting together fell to the ground collectively with a burst of exclamation.

The Imperial City Guards guarding the Imperial City subconsciously took off the guns behind their backs.

On the tower of the city gate, the city gate official who was lying on the wall to watch the excitement pointed to the silent curse below, turned around and ran to the heavy machine gun in the middle of the city gate tower.

Although I know that the people below are all my own people, but this is the imperial city, and the precautions that should be done still have to be done.

Suddenly so many soldiers appeared below and shot again, he didn't do anything, and he, the city gate officer, was the end.

took back the revolver, also dressed in black, but the cuffs and collar were yellow edging Hu Yu, and picked up the horn handed by the subordinate next to him with a cold face.

"What do you want to do, gather people to fight at the gate of the imperial city, is there any royal law, when we review the guard, does it not exist?"

That's right, the person who came was the censorship guard, whose duties were equivalent to the police in later generations, Hu Yu was recommended by Zhu Zhangui and became the first commander of the censorship guard in the Ming Dynasty.

The reason why Hu Yu was arranged, in addition to Hu Yu being the most loyal person to him, more importantly, Zhu Zhangui also wanted to give this man who had been with him for many years an errand.

Hu Yu's ability is good, and his work efficiency is also very strong, and it is really a waste of talent to be a personal guard for him.

In addition, Zhu Zhangui was not at ease when the censorship was handed over to others, so he asked Hu Yu to take over the errand.

"My lord, we are meditating here, they came and beat us for no reason, you must be the master for us!"

As soon as Hu Yu finished speaking, a fat man with a blue nose and swollen face and red marks on his face pounced on him crying.

"What is the reason, this commander will investigate, as for who is right and who is wrong, this commander has his own judgment, now you shut up immediately, otherwise you will disturb the king, and your family's head will not be enough to cut off!"

When the fat man heard this, he immediately shut up, knelt on the ground with a sad face, and didn't dare to say anything more.

Glancing at the people present who had blue noses and swollen faces, or were proud, or eager to try and had not enjoyed the fight, Hu Yu ordered loudly: "Everyone is taken away, and some dare to resist, no need to be interrogated, and they will be punished for the crime of attacking the imperial city!" ”

"Yes!"

Thousands of censors shouted in unison, lifted their water and fire sticks, and escorted everyone present away like ducks.

As the two sides of the brawl left, the imperial city fell silent again.

Standing on the city gate tower, watching Zhu Zhangui from the beginning to the end, he calmly turned around and left.

He knew in his heart that this was just the beginning, and those people would definitely have endless means in order to oppose the official gentry.

The simplest is that the literati boycott the examination, and then the academies around the country collectively boycott classes, jointly protest to the imperial court, and even Qingliu officials resign and threaten the imperial court.

In fact, the official gentry paid the grain in one piece, and it was a little early to propose it at this time.

In Zhu Zhangui's plan, after the new students in the future occupy half of the power of the imperial court, they will carry out the action of the officials and gentry to pay for food in one piece.

At that time, even if all the Confucian people resigned from their official positions, the imperial court was not afraid that no one would be available.

But to achieve Zhu Zhangui's ideal time period, it will take at least 10 or even 20 years.

For such a long time, the old man couldn't wait, he didn't want to leave this trouble to his children and grandchildren.

After being an emperor for so long, he knew that once he died, the descendants of the future would be hindered by the ancestral system if they wanted to move the system.

Regardless of whether the descendants behind are forcefully executed or reluctantly submitted, it is not a good thing for the royal family.

So he wanted to take advantage of his life, when his prestige was at its peak, to make this happen, even if it was to kill people with a knife, he didn't care.

His reputation is already stinking like this, and he doesn't care about adding another pen or two.

In addition to Zhu Zhangui seeing this scene in the imperial city, the officials who were sent back from another side door also saw it.

Everyone was silent, their eyes full of indifference and anger.

The royal family is so ruthless, for its own selfishness, regardless of the thoughts of the people in the world, forcibly implement bad governance, this is to be the enemy of all the scholars in the world.

It is an eternal truth that officials with meritorious names are exempted from a part of the taxes, and even if Lao Zhu was decisive in killing back then, he did not touch this cake, for fear of offending the world's scholars and making the court unable to operate.

Unexpectedly, the Ming Dynasty has only been passed down for two generations, and Zhu Di, a rebel minister who plots to usurp the throne, actually wants to let them, the high-ranking Confucian disciples, pay taxes like those mud legs.

In this way, how can these high-ranking scholars who have developed a habit of reading can endure it.

What makes them even more angry is that Zhu Di not only wants them to pay taxes together with your legs, but also wants to make these noble literati become stinky hills, and train with those rude warriors to kill the enemy.

What are these people working hard to study and take the imperial examination, isn't it just for these benefits, if these benefits are gone, the court is so strict with corruption, and the income is so low, then what is the point of being an official?

Today this is just a small fight, if Zhu Di does not cancel the policy of the official gentry paying food and the military service of the literati, they will prepare a bigger surprise later.

This world was taken by their literati for the old Zhu family, and now that the old Zhu family has stabilized, not only does they not want to rule the world with the scholars, but they also want to kick them away and exploit them like ordinary people.

Hehe, doesn't Zhu Di, the traitor, know that the Zhu dynasty without scholars is not a fart.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived on the 29th of the lunar month, and today is the day of the imperial court sacrifice.

Since the sit-in on the day of the fight, the Jingshi has returned to its former calm, and the troublemakers who were waiting for the censors and guards have not appeared, and those who have been punished or imprisoned have also stayed honestly, without any trouble, as if accepting all this.

But everyone knew in their hearts that tranquility was a prelude to a storm.

The officials and gentry do not make a fuss, not that they have already accepted it, but that they are preparing for a greater action.

Zhu Zhangui got up very early today, and just after the ugly hour, he got up under the service of Tag Elis.

Tag Elis officially entered the palace yesterday, and she came to Daming for more than a month, and she just came back to the day she entered the palace to meet the princess, and the rest of the time, she lived with her grandfather in the manor arranged by the old man.

According to the royal rules, as a concubine, she had to go through the main room and enter the door only after permission.

Even if the crown princess, who is a mother-in-law, agrees, without the approval of Zhao Ling'er's big house, she can't enter Zhu Zhangui's big family.

This is the majesty of the main house, and even Zhu Zhangui, a husband, out of respect for his wife, cannot make decisions without permission.

Otherwise, if he made a decision, Zhao Ling'er would not be able to manage it in the back room.

Yesterday was a good day for the Ministry of Rites, Tag Elis was carried into the palace by a red sedan chair, and then Zhu Zhangui's dormitory, kowtowed to Zhao Ling'er's big house, and after toasting tea, he got Zhao Ling'er's permission, and it was considered an official entry.

In order to welcome this new sister to join, Zhao Linger also generously allowed her husband to stay overnight at Tag Elis last night.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince asked you to hurry up, saying that the time is not early."

Li Da's urging sounded outside the door.

This little eunuch who went to the Western Regions, after unremitting efforts, finally became Zhu Zhangui's personal eunuch.

Of course, Zhu Zhangui fell in love with the other party, not because of the other party's ability to pat on the back, but because the other party's eyesight and ability to do things are good.

In addition, Hu Yu already had other arrangements, and he really needed someone to serve at any time, so he chose this Li Da.

"I see."

With his hands outstretched, Zhu Zhangui, who was serving in Tag Elis and several maids in the Western Regions, and was wearing complicated dresses, answered outside.

Then he said to Tag Elis, who was wearing ornaments for him: "Today is the big sacrifice, although you don't have to go to the female scroll, but according to the rules, you must also put incense eucalyptus to worship." Go to the princess early in a while, you don't understand the rules of the Central Plains, just follow them, don't be rude and make people laugh. ”

Tag Elis nodded obediently, and put the cloak on Zhu Zhangui's body with a happy face.

With a light peck on the beautiful woman's red lips, Zhu Zhangui walked out of the door and took Li Da to the East Palace to meet with Daddy Zhu Chubby.

"Dad, I heard that the imperial court has been making a lot of trouble during this time."

At the gate of the East Palace, Zhu Zhanji, who had just rushed back yesterday, was holding the Asan area map in his arms, and while waiting for Zhu Zhangui with his father Zhu Fatpang, he inquired about the current situation in the imperial court intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhu Chubby, who was pouting his ass and sorting out the hybrid rice and potato boxes with his daughter-in-law, smiled bitterly when he heard this.

"What's more, it's just an undercurrent, that is, I saw that something was wrong, and ran into the temple to hide and relax, otherwise the gate of our East Palace will be kicked out."

"Alas!"

He sighed as he spoke.

"Your grandfather and your eldest brother are also really, they don't discuss such a big matter with me, they only told me before going to court, and I was not prepared at all."

Zhu Zhanji nodded thoughtfully after hearing this, and said with a smile: "In fact, this system is very good for the country's finances, but it is a pity that it affects the interests of the people in the world, I am afraid that there will be no turmoil, and it will not end so simply." ”

Zhu Chupang glanced at Zhu Zhanji when he heard this, and nodded with satisfaction.

The second son has been training in the Asan area for so long, and he has finally grown up, and he knows the pros and cons of analyzing things.

"The turmoil is certain, I have heard that many colleges are already preparing to boycott the imperial examination next year, and many civil officials are also planning to force each other by resigning, the purpose of which is to make your grandfather cancel the policy of paying food for the official gentry."

Zhu Zhanji frowned.

"Grandpa, this matter is still too inconsiderate, if a large number of officials really resign, I'm afraid there will be problems with the operation of the imperial court."

"Who's to say it isn't!" After tidying up the work in his hands, Zhu Chupang patted the dust on his hands.

"If you want me to say it,..."

"Ahem, Junki, come over and take a look, pick if it's comfortable."

Just when Zhu Fatpang was about to express his opinion, Zhang, who was fiddling with the basket, suddenly coughed and called Zhu Zhanji over.

The father and son were stunned for a moment, and then under the signal of Zhang's eyes, they glanced at a team of people walking over in the far passage.

The lantern at the front of the team is printed with the word Taisun on it.

The two of them immediately understood what Zhang meant, and closed their mouths and stopped talking.

After all, Zhu Zhanji has withdrawn from the competition for the throne, that is, he has not yet been titled, otherwise he is no different from an ordinary vassal king.

A vassal king cares about the affairs of the court, what do you want to do, do you have any thoughts that you shouldn't have?

Zhang, who didn't want to see his two sons cannibalizing each other, saw that his eldest son was coming, so he hurriedly reminded the two.

Although she also knew what the two of them had just talked about, she couldn't hide it from Zhu Zhangui, but as long as she didn't say it to her face, there was still room for relaxation.

Zhu Zhanji smiled, didn't talk much about the government, and stepped forward to help his mother start to adjust the flat burden.

Today it is said to worship ancestors, but in fact, it is more like the old man like Lao Zhu and the ancestor of the old Zhu family, showing his merits.

At the same time, he told his ancestors about his imminent abdication and Xian, so that the ancestors knew that the royal family of the Ming Dynasty was firmly inherited and there was no bloody struggle.

"Daddy, good morning!"

Zhu Zhangui came, first said hello to his father and mother, and then said to Zhu Zhanji with a smile: "Originally, I planned to go out of the city to pick you up the day before yesterday, but I was held back by some things, so I didn't pick you up, don't be angry, second child." ”

"I've seen His Royal Highness Taisun!"

Zhu Zhanji first saluted in a proper manner, and then said with a smile: "We are all a family, not outsiders, if you delay the state affairs of my eldest brother because of picking me up, it will be my sin." ”

Zhang on the side watched the two brothers talking, and there was a trace of melancholy between his eyebrows.

The two brothers no longer speak as cordially as before, although the eldest brother and the second brother are cordial, but between the words, there is an obvious sense of alienation and distance.

This kind of situation is the last thing the Zhang family wants to see, but being born in the royal family, this is actually the best result.

"Okay, okay, don't talk about your brothers, you're done with today's business, you have time to talk, let's hurry up, your grandfather has urged him several times!"

As if he didn't see the distance between the two brothers, Zhu Fatpang interrupted the chat between the two brothers in a hurry, urging the two to hurry up and set off with the box.

Zhu Zhangui and Zhu Zhanji glanced at each other, spread their hands helplessly, and then picked up the boxes containing potatoes and hybrid rice one after the other.

Following in front, Zhu Fatpang, who was holding the totem banners of several major tribes in the grassland, went to Fengtian Hall to meet the old man.

The palace is preparing, and the civil and military officials are also preparing.

"Old Wu, it's up to you whether we can protect the interests of the literati, don't suddenly change your mind when the time comes."

In a restaurant that opened very early, several officials wearing red official robes were eating with an old official.

To be precise, it was the old official who ate and they watched.

The meals are very rich, with a variety of chicken, duck, fish, meat, mountain and sea delicacies, which fill the entire table.

To tell the truth, those who know that it is morning, otherwise those who do not know still think that this is a banquet invited by whom.

After all, in addition to going to the banquet, who eats such a greasy and hearty meal early in the morning.

The old official, who was chewing slowly, as if tasting the last meal, nodded calmly.

"Don't worry, the old man has made this decision, naturally he will not change it easily, and I hope that you will protect my family when the time comes, and don't let them be implicated by me."

The official who had just spoken received an affirmative answer, got up and bowed deeply.

"Please rest assured that if the emperor is angry with your family at that time, not only will we sacrifice our lives to save you, but even the three pavilion elders will not stand idly by."

Let's try it soon, everyone. 】

The old official nodded, then said no more, and continued to eat and drink with his head down.

Several other officials didn't bother, just quietly accompanied him, pouring wine and food for him from time to time.

After a full meal and wine, the old official got up and walked to the next room under the congratulations of several officials.

As the door opened, a sand bed could be seen inside, and two young girls were waiting on the bed.

Apparently this is for this old official.

As the old official entered, the door closed slowly, and several officials who accompanied him picked up the tea cup on the table and listened to the movement next door while sipping it.

The sound was intense at first, but it was over in less than two minutes.

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and the old official changed into a new official uniform and walked out refreshed.

When he came to a eucalyptus, he bowed to the statue of Confucius on it, reached out and took down a letter enshrined on it, wrapped in white paper, and turned to a few people:

"It's not early, let's go!"

In fact, in addition to this restaurant, there are more than a dozen such inns in the capital, all of which are experiencing the same thing.

Whenever there is a great change, someone will die in the forerunner, and without blood and death, it is simply impossible to change the emperor's mind.

But ordinary death can't shake the emperor, and only the death that shocks the world can make the imperial power afraid and withdraw the non-compliant policy.

Wen is dead, and martial arts are fighting to the death.

Today, these civil officials plan to take advantage of the opportunity of the big sacrifice to have a death sentence with the old man.

Since ancient times, gentlemen, for justice and righteousness, did not hesitate to persuade each other with death.

Today, in order to dismiss the imperial court's unreasonable policy of integrating officials and businessmen to pay grain, they decided to play a match between people and ghosts in Taimiao to the dead Taizu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

It can even be said that they are actually ready to go down and talk to Lao Zhu about this in person.

As the time approached, the gate outside the palace slowly opened, and the civil and military officials, who had long been lined up outside, stepped into the palace in a neat queue under the leadership of the major feudal kings.

The atmosphere is solemn and the expression is resolute.

Today is not only a royal ancestor worship, but also another duel between monarchs and ministers.

If the courtiers win this game, everything will continue to return to the previous state, and if they lose this game, they will become a disgrace to all the officials and literati of later generations, and they will be the object of scolding by later generations of literati.

The Taimiao of the Jinling Imperial Palace is on the left side of the Duanmen, that is, the next gate from the Chengtian Gate to the Fengtian Temple.

All the officials entered the palace, first went to the Fengtian Temple to wait, and then after completing the rituals in the palace, they went to the Taimiao Temple to worship under the leadership of the emperor.

The officials marched silently, as usual, without any changes.

However, the vassal kings who led the way in front found that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

Thinking about what happened in the imperial court during this time, all the vassal kings knew in their hearts that today's big festival might be lively.

Among them, the happiest is Ning Wang Zhu Quan.

He has long hated this fourth brother's family, and now that he can see the excitement of the fourth brother, he can't mention how happy he is.

That is, he did not bring paper, ink, pen and inkstone, otherwise he would definitely draw down the lively scene, and when he was depressed in the future, he would take it out to observe and observe.

The generals are in mixed moods.

It stands to reason that they should support what the civil officials oppose, and they should oppose what the civil officials approve of, and it is right to fight to the end against these civil officials who look down on them.

But today they can't oppose it, because this official gentry pays for the grain in one body, and they are also included.

For the old man to make this decision, many generals were also opposed in their hearts, but out of their loyalty and fear of the old man, they did not have the courage to stand up and oppose it.

So this time, no matter what happens, they choose not to happen.

If the civil officials win, they will sit back and enjoy what they will gain, and if the civil officials lose, they will not be implicated.

When everyone came to the main hall, they saw at a glance the old man who was sitting on the dragon chair and was in a good mood, as well as the prince and grandson Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui who accompanied him, and all the men in the entire royal family, dozens of people, large and small.

"See the emperor, my emperor Shengjin'an."

"I'm safe!"

As if he didn't know that these civil officials were going to make big moves, the old man raised his hand with a majestic expression and asked everyone to get up.

Later, the selected waiters of the Ministry of Rites began to follow the ritual of the sacrifice.

When the time arrived, everyone followed the old man, accompanied by the sound of ancient music, gongs and drums, and followed the red and yellow flags with the four big characters of "Royal Family Sacrifice" on them, and went to the Taimiao.

Along the way, the drum salute did not stop, and 365 dancers wore pink and white dresses and danced on both sides of the procession.

Today's old man is extraordinarily mighty.

He was dressed in a black crown robe, with the sword of the Son of Heaven hanging from his waist, and strode forward with Yugui in his hand.

Behind him, Zhu Chubby, who was also wearing a solemn dress, followed closely with the current territory map of the Ming Dynasty in his hand.

Behind Zhu Chupang were Zhu Gaosui and Zhu Gaoxu's eldest son, who were holding the totemic banners and golden knives of the tribes of the northern grasslands.

On the other side of the old man, Zhu Zhangui and Zhu Zhanji carried a flat pole on which were placed potatoes and hybrid rice that were about to be sacrificed to the ancestors.

Behind the two of them, Zhu Fatpang's other sons, holding various sacrificial utensils, followed Zhu Zhangui with Zhu Zhangui's three sons.

Behind them, followed by Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui's other sons.

The little guys' faces were tense, and they were obviously nervous

The reason why these little guys are nervous, in addition to participating in such a big ceremony for the first time, the most important thing is that according to the rules, they will enter the Taimiao Temple in a while and chant the Book of Filial Piety to the ancestors.

Originally, this matter should have been replaced by students, but in the past two days, the old man had some contradictions with those civil officials, and he didn't look down on those self-righteous talents, so he let his grandsons and great-grandchildren replace him.

The team passed through the end gate, passed through the temple and gate on the left, and entered the garden in front of the temple.

Although it is winter, it is still full of greenery, and with a snowfall some time ago, the scenery is beautiful.

It's a pity that no one appreciates this scenery, and everyone walked through the garden with serious expressions and came to the square in front of the Taimiao.

The procession stopped, and the dancers lined up on both sides of the temple, waving their sleeves and dancing the court dance.

The little ones who had been instructed a long time ago, under the leadership of Zhu Zhanyong, slowly walked into the Taimiao.

Inside, they first prostrated to the ancestors, and then, under the big arrangement, the small ones sat on the futons on both sides and began to chant the sutra of filial piety seriously and loudly.

"Play big music!"

With the shouting of the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, the solemn court music sounded, and the artillery of the Shenji Battalion arrayed in the garden roared into a salute.

The old man standing at the front looked solemn, and with the children and grandchildren behind him, he strode towards the main hall of the Taimiao.

The feudal kings surnamed Zhu followed closely, and the civil and military officials stopped at the gate of the Taimiao, they were not qualified to enter it, and could only be at the door.

Accompanied by court ceremonies, Zhu Zhangui followed the team and walked slowly.

He has been to Taimiao several times, and the longest stay was three days before he got married.

There is no extravagance in the main hall, but it is very simple.

In addition to all kinds of valuable offerings, the hall stores the portraits of the old Zhu family and various spiritual positions.

The group followed the old man into the main hall, and after the old man stopped, Zhu Zhangui and Zhu Zhanji carried the box, walked to the spiritual seats of each ancestor, and placed the potatoes and hybrid rice ears inside on the offering table.

"Kneel!"

When everything was busy and everyone returned to you, the officials of the Ministry of Rites shouted, and the descendants of the Zhu family, under the leadership of the old man, bowed to the spiritual seat.

"Dad, your unfilial son is here again."

After the salute, the old man asked Zhu Chupang and Zhu Zhangui to offer incense to each spiritual seat, and he walked to the portrait of Lao Zhu and talked to Lao Zhu.

"Did you see that? This is a potato, a high-yield grain that his son let people get from thousands of miles away, an acre of land can produce thousands of catties, with this thing, our people in Daming will not starve. ”

"My son sometimes thinks that if Grandpa had potatoes at that time, our family wouldn't have starved to death so many people."

"Now that our Ming Dynasty not only has high-yield food, but the country has also become rich, even the northern barbarians you have been worried about have been beaten away by their son, and next year I plan to go north again to solve this scourge in one fell swoop."

The old man was chattering, and at the same time he unfolded the territory map brought by Zhu Fatpang, and kept gesturing on it with his hands, telling his stubborn old man how good his son was.

After introducing the problem of the Ming Dynasty's territory, he looked at Zhu Fatpang, who was still incense to the ancestors, and whispered to the portrait of Lao Zhu:

"You should remember this eldest grandson, he is very much like the eldest brother, he is a very good prince, I have already planned, I will work for another year next year, and after disposing of the grassland barbarians in the north, I will give him the position when I come back the year after tomorrow."

"In fact, my son's health can still work for a few years, but your eldest grandson is not in good health, and my son is afraid that he will be the same as his eldest brother and leave the crown prince's throne, and then I will pass the position to my eldest grandson, and follow the same old path as you, so that our family's affairs will be repeated again."

"But don't worry, my grandson is better than your grandson."

"Oh, by the way, I also found your grandson, and now he is being served by me with good food and drink, and his life is very chic."

Talking about the original incident, the old man stopped talking about what he didn't hear.

He turned his head to look at Lao Zhu's portrait, his eyes staring directly at the portrait, Lao Zhu's shocking eyes.

Not afraid of jokes.

Since he came to Jinling and became the emperor, every time he came here, the old man didn't dare to look at the eyes on Lao Zhu's portrait, for fear of seeing something different from it.

But now he is not afraid.

The Ming Dynasty was so powerful under his leadership that he won a lot of territories that the Han dynasty did not have in his life, and the old man was fearless in his heart.

He felt that he was qualified to face his father's eyes, and he was qualified to speak to the stubborn old man who neglected himself and passed the throne to his grandson

His achievements today and everything he has done have proved his excellence and Lao Zhu's mistakes.

"Emperor Taizu is above, Wu Hai, the minister is admonishing with death! Unfilial descendant Zhu Di, do not listen to the words of the ministers, indiscriminately administer bad governance, the court is in turmoil, the country is in turmoil, the country will be in turmoil, please Emperor Taizu punish the unfilial descendant Zhu Di, and be the master of the people at dawn in the world! ”

Just as the old man was telling his father about his great achievements, a person suddenly broke in from outside the main hall.

Then, before everyone could react, this guy directly threw the piece of music wrapped in white paper in his hand into the brazier, and then he yelled while hitting the edges and corners of the table in a daze.

Hearing only a bang, the official who broke in instantly burst his forehead and poured blood down.

This scene made the temple quiet, and the little guys who were reading the Book of Filial Piety were also frightened and widened their eyes and stopped chanting.

On the other side, Zhu Zhangui, who was accompanying his father and placing offerings and incense to the ancestors, saw this scene, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he sneered in his heart.

"Civil officials are dead, you are sure, this can scare the old man."