"Zhu Yunwen's traces, have you ever found them?"

For the mysterious disappearance of the previous emperor, Zhu Di has always been haunted in his heart, after all, this person who can't find a trace is a major threat to his throne.

Of course, Zhu Di will not think that Zhu Yunwen is not dead, after all, for others, they can believe the statement that "Zhu Yunwen died in the fire", but for Zhu Di, as long as it cannot be proved that Zhu Yunwen is really dead, then he is really alive.

Hu Hui, as Zhu Di's private detective, did exactly what he did to track down the whereabouts of Emperor Jianwen.

It's just that this kind of thing will definitely be fruitless for a while, Hu Hu shook his head and said, "It's still being investigated." ”

Zhu Di sighed: "That's it, when you find him, let's kill him." ”

Zhu Di has said similar things to Hu Hu more than once, and the few people around him listened to this understatement, but no one felt trembling in their hearts, after all, the eagle dog advisers present all understood that if they were really caught by Zhu Di, then Zhu Yunwen would never be lucky!

"Father, look."

At this time, Zhu Gaosui, who came back in a hurry, held a letter in his hand and handed it over.

Zhu Di took it and looked at it, frowned and said, "The letter that the national teacher wrote to the second child? What's so nice about this? ”

However, although he said so, Zhu Di still opened the letter very honestly and looked at it.

The content of the letter is nothing special, it only says that Zhu Gaoxu will take care of Xu Huizu in Beizhili, and even directly explains that it is because of Xu Jingchang's affection, Xu Jingchang's affairs are doing well, and the payment for the workshop has begun to return.

"Why is it Xu Jingchang again? This guy just came to ask for a request, and he seems to be in a hurry, could something have happened? ”

"The minister guessed that it should be that Dingguo Gong felt that there would be movement in Annan recently, so he came to ask for an edict first." Jin Zhong replied.

Zhu Di put down the letter, raised his eyes and asked, "Did you buy the people in the Rongguo Mansion?" ”

Zhu Gaosui's face did not change, of course he couldn't say that this letter was given to him by Jiang Xinghuo, and his answer was very cautious, at this moment, no one can guarantee that he is safe.

Zhu Gaosui hurriedly knelt down and said, "Erchen is guilty." ”

"It's all withdrawn, what does it look like to monitor the important ministers of the country? Do you think I am Emperor Taizu Gao? ”

Subsequently, Zhu Di returned the letter to Zhu Gaosui and sealed the fire paint problems, believing that the professional secret service naturally had a way to restore it.

"The retainers retired." Zhu Gaosui saluted respectfully and turned to leave.

Zhu Gaosui closed the door of the palace, and Hu Hu also left.

There were only five men left in the temple.

Zhu Di clasped his hands together, tapped his index finger, and said, "I invited you here today to come and see this matter, I always feel that something is wrong." ”

"Your Majesty, please." Chen Ying stood beside her and bowed her head.

Zhu Di talked about the matter and Zhu Gaochi's opinion.

"This" Chen Ying hesitated.

He is now in charge of the Imperial Procuratorate, as the emperor's eagle, of course he is the emperor who tells him to stare at whomever he wants, as long as the emperor speaks, no matter what, he will do it.

Originally, he planned to support the verdict of Li Zhigang's acquittal in the trial of the Three Law Divisions, but if the emperor's attitude wavered, then he would definitely have to turn around.

If this is the case, the Criminal Department does not agree, Dali Temple falls with the wind, and Li Zhigang's case will become a hot potato, and there is a high probability that he will be found guilty in the end.

But even if the Jiaozhi Political Envoy is a difficult place, and it can even be regarded as exile, there is no rule that Shangshu goes there in name to wear a crime as a political envoy, after all, Shangshu is a positive second grade, and a political envoy is a second grade, as long as he is convicted, it is impossible to only be demoted to half a grade.

Ji Gang said at this time: "Your Majesty, the minister has been tracking down the Violent Zhaoyu Party recently, and after these Jianwen remnant organizations have been severely damaged, their actions are now very secretive. ”

"Then lure them out, whether the fake show is really done, so it doesn't matter if you are suspicious, you have to have a clue, otherwise these people are like mosquitoes in their ears every day and can't catch them, which is really annoying."

Ji Gang hesitated for a moment, then hugged his fists and said, "Your Majesty Shengming!" ”

Zhu Di saw his hesitation, his face suddenly sank, stared at him coldly, and after a few breaths, he suddenly laughed.

Ji Gang was stunned.

Zhu Di patted Ji Gang's shoulder and said earnestly: "I know what you mean, you want to advise, but of course I have a way." ”

Zhu Di commanded like this for a while, and Ji Gang suddenly realized.

Jin Youzi next to him was shocked when he heard it, and he didn't dare to interject.

Jin Zhong, as Zhu Di's No. 2 strategist, dared to speak at this time.

Jin Zhong continued: "The concerns of the eldest prince are not unreasonable, the power of the national teacher is getting bigger and bigger, and it may be difficult to contain it in the future, but the minister thinks that it is not now, Li Zhigang is going to use it after all, and it is not appropriate to delay this matter for too long, just like His Majesty's strategy, it can not only solve the remnants of Jianwen behind the troubles, but also catch a few fish to suppress it is a good thing, Li Zhigang knows that it is not easy for him to pass the test this time, so he can be grateful to His Majesty for his heavenly grace." ”

"But I have other plans."

"Oh?" Jin Zhong was stunned and said, "I would like to hear His Majesty's teachings." ”

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a deep gaze: "This time Li Zhigang is adding his head, the important thing is still in the salt law, or in the "Da Ming Law", the national teacher wants to change the law, and I also want to change, but this thing to change is different. ”

"But in any case, the "Da Ming Law" is not allowed to be modified, it must not work."

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Jin Zhong stared at him in surprise, he vaguely understood the emperor's train of thought.

"Withdraw the power of legislation from the Criminal Department, the Criminal Department is too strong this time, I don't like it very much."

Zhu Di actually knows very well why the Criminal Department is boycotting this time, and he even knows that this is a drama that the Criminal Department has joined forces to show him.

The collective interest of the legislative power is one thing, and more importantly, the other

However, Zhu Di was too lazy to care, if he asked the ministers according to Zhu Yuanzhang's standards, then the court would be empty.

But just taking this opportunity, Zhu Di also planned to weaken the power of the Criminal Department.

Zhu Di spit out a sentence lightly: "Re-establish the trial court, but this time it will be called the Trial Temple." ”

The trial and punishment court, also known as the palace trial and punishment court, Song Taizong Chunhua two years place, the palm of the review of the Dali Temple judgment case, by the prefect and the detailed officer after the report to ask the emperor to decide, Song Shenzong Yuanfeng three years abandoned.

The trial court was established in the early Song Dynasty by the god of the sorghum river in order to strengthen the centralization of power, and now the re-established trial temple has changed its responsibilities to be solely responsible for legislation and law amendments.

As a result, the power of the Criminal Department has been weakened, and only the two major responsibilities of the fundamental trial and prison have been retained.

But from the emperor's point of view, he certainly didn't think so.

For the emperor, the power of the various departments below is naturally as dispersed as possible.

"The chief officer of the Dharma Judgment Temple?"

Zhu Di said: "Although the two waiters of the Criminal Department are a little stubborn, I still value them very much, it doesn't matter if they make a little mistake this time, they are all smart people, I believe they know how to choose." ”

"When the time comes, you go to be Shaoqing, and Siqing is empty."

Zhu Di nodded Jin Youzi.

"Wechen obeys." Jin Youzi, who didn't speak, was suddenly overjoyed and arched his hand.

Hu Yan was released from the Guozi Prison, Xie Jin went to the president of the law change affairs Yamen as the vice president, and everyone in the cabinet has a great future, but he, a staunch imperial party, has not moved his nest, which does make Jin Youzi feel anxious sometimes, but now it seems that everything is worth it.

The new organization, directly serving as Shaoqing, can be transferred to Siqing after making some achievements, Xiao Jiuqing is sitting firmly, and the waiter and Shangshu are not so far away.

And this kind of agency responsible for legislating and amending laws, His Majesty obviously wants to take it in his own hands, which is also one of the consequences of this criminal department huddle incident, which made the emperor, who had just ascended the throne for a year, realize that his control in the system of the three legal divisions is far from enough.

In the feudal era, it stands to reason that the emperor is the law, but in fact, many times it is inconvenient for the emperor to directly intervene in the judiciary, and at this time, it is very important whether the chief officials of various judicial departments understand the emperor's intentions, or whether they are willing to do it according to the emperor's intentions.

"Okay, you all go down, Jin Zhong stays, I still have something."

After Ji Gang, Chen Ying, and Jin Youzi left, only Zhu Di and Jin Zhongjunchen were left in the palace.

At this time, Zhu Di suddenly spoke: "My sons are all good, but they are not stable enough, I can't protect them for the rest of my life, so sooner or later, they will have to suffer setbacks, I want them to grow Jin Zhong, do you understand my thoughts?" ”

"Minister, understood."

Jin Zhong's voice trembled slightly, he thought that he was already very clear about the emperor's intentions, but when he heard Zhu Di mention this, he couldn't help but feel a little scared.

According to the agreement, now the second prince is going north, and the eldest prince and the second prince will be responsible for the development of the north and south respectively.

After fighting Annan, Daming's next focus will be on the north.

Why?

The reasons are simple, the first is the real threat of the Timurid Khanate, and the second is that the northern nest is now in urgent need of rectification and recovery after the war.

As the defender, the Ming Dynasty had to go all out to the north after ensuring that the Annan Kingdom was dismembered and there was no threat to the southern front.

Strengthening the defense of the north-west was certainly important, but this was not the point, the point was to avoid the return of the Mongols in the steppes to the south.

Now that the Northern Yuan Dynasty has officially disintegrated into Warat, Tatar and other departments, it has only been less than a year, the Golden Family has ruled for hundreds of years, and Timur has always regarded himself as the orthodox successor of the Chagatai Khanate, if you are Zhu Di, will you believe that Timur poured the country into the conquest, and the Warat, Tatar and other departments on the steppe are indifferent?

I don't believe it anyway.

And the Mongols were not honest, having just attacked 30,000 guards in Liaodong last year.

According to Zhu Di's temperament, of course, it is impossible to be beaten passively, and he must beat the Mongols honestly first, and then defend against the possible Timurid expeditionary army.

The reason why Zhu Di let the second prince Zhu Gaoxu go north to Kaiping Wei to prepare for autumn is also for this reason, so let's try it first.

So since Zhu Gaochu is leaving, the "they have to encounter setbacks, I want them to grow" in Zhu Di's words naturally does not refer to Zhu Gaoxu, otherwise would Zhu Gaochu be beaten by the Mongols?

And that's why Jin Zhong will fight a spirit.

What the eldest prince Zhu Gaochi said to Zhu Di before may have provoked Zhu Di's dislike, which is understandable, after all, the father and son have always maintained a cautious balance in the temple. Where did the third prince Zhu Gaosui dislike Zhu Di? Planting spies in the Rongguo Mansion? If it weren't for Zhu Di's acquiescence, Zhu Gaosui would definitely not dare, so this is not the reason.

If he went deeper, Jin Zhong didn't dare to think about it.

"That's it." Zhu Di slowly closed his eyes and said, "You stand down." ”

"Yes."

Jin Zhong bowed silently, turned around and walked to the door of the main hall, and just took a step, but stopped again.

He slowly turned around and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, there are some things that Weichen has to say. ”

"Speak."

Jin Zhong said cautiously: "Actually, what the eldest prince said is not unreasonable, but from the perspective of the minister, the minister thinks that the so-called merchants, citizens, and factory owners, it is difficult to say how these classes will be in the future, after all, the Northern Song Dynasty has not seen merchants in power. The real problem at hand is that the national teacher and Xungui are getting closer, which is not good for anyone. ”

Jin Zhong's words were not said thoroughly, but Zhu Di understood.

If Zhu Gaochi is worried about Jiang Xinghuo's impact on the Ming Dynasty in the next hundred or even hundreds of years, then Jin Zhong is worried about the present, after all, in such a few kilometers, Yao Guangxiao, the Duke of Rongguo, has an extremely close relationship with Jiang Xinghuo; Cao Guogong and Li Jinglong also regard Jiang Xinghuo as a confidant and friend; Xu Jingchang, the Duke of Dingguo, and Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, also seem to be very related now; Chengguo Gong Zhu Neng was originally a little estranged from Jiang Xinghuo, but now that Jiang Xinghuo saved his life, it is too late to be grateful, how can there be any estrangement; On the contrary, Qiu Fu, the Duke of Qiguo, only had a relationship with Jiang Xinghuo in the military academy, and was not so close.

In this way, coupled with the combination of Jiang Xinghuo's manual workshop and foreign conquest, it can bring huge benefits to the nobles, how can the combination of money and military power not make people worry?

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I already have this thought, you go on an errand first." ”

"Yes." Jin Zhong retreated.

——————

"Changyi Toad Palace asked Su Yue, Qingguang seemed to pass by.

sighing that he was young, only Dan's heart is getting more and more. ”

Ma Jing, the left attendant of the Criminal Department, stood in his study, looking at the letter he had just received in his hand, the handwriting was very familiar.

"Mao Dafang? He's not dead yet? ”

He was thinking about why the letter was in his hand, and he knew that the sudden appearance of the letter must have had another purpose.

However, Mao Dafang only wrote a poem for himself, and did not reveal his intentions, and Ma Jing was not interested in pondering.

Danxin, to whom is Danxin? To Emperor Jianwen?

Emperor Jianwen is a fart, now no one can find him, he doesn't know whether he lives or dies, he is dead.

Everyone wished he was dead, after all, it was embarrassing for everyone to be alive.

He knew it was tricky, he shouldn't ask too much, and besides, he didn't want to get involved at all.

"Master, the young master is outside." The butler said.

"Let him in." Ma Jing said, sitting on his chair.

A moment later, a young man dressed in the costume of a prisoner stepped into the study.

The man inherited Ma Jing's national character face, and his eyes were bright.

He is Ma Jing's eldest son, Ma Jian.

"Father!" Ma Jian arched his hand and said, "The child has something he wants to ask his father. ”

"What?" Ma Jing asked indifferently.

Ma Jian said: "The child wants to ask about Li Zhigang. ”

Ma Jing frowned: "Li Zhigang's case involves a wide range of issues, and it affects the whole body, once you intervene, it is equivalent to being involved in the storm, you don't want to participate in this matter." ”

"The child understands this truth, so I would like to implore him to go to the National Teacher's Mansion on behalf of his father and communicate his thoughts clearly, otherwise it will be difficult for his father to meet with the National Teacher at this time." Ma Jian said sincerely.

"Confused! What's not to meet? ”

Ma Jing was furious and put the teacup in his hand on the table.

"Public is public, private is private, do you think this is your classmates who have different opinions, and can still make peace in private?" Ma Jing asked rhetorically.

Ma Jian said frankly: "The child just looks at his father's sad face all day long, and he really can't bear it, and he wants to help share some of it. ”

"Confused, what do you want Your Majesty to think?"

Ma Jing shook his head and said: "This is a court battle, you can't avoid it if you want to, even if you hide to the ends of the earth, there are countless people forcing you until the winner is decided." ”

"Moreover, legislation is where the fundamental interests of the Criminal Department lie, and the "Daming Law" cannot be modified by a single word.

"But my father, is there any eternal law in the world?"

Ma Jian said in a deep voice: "It's just that I don't want my father to go in a direction contrary to the general trend because of this incident." ”

Ma Jingjing was about to be laughed at, sending this kid to go to school in the country, how could he still train a new disciple?

What Ma Jing didn't know was that there were actually many prisoners like Ma Jian who were influenced by Xinxue (practical learning + science), and the number was destined to increase.

After all, Shixue advocates the application of the world, and since they all go to the Guozijian, rather than the road of the imperial examination, it is natural to be closer to the application of the world to see the several types of enrollment of the Guozijian, in fact, entering the Guozijian itself is quite "practical to the world", in other words, the pragmatism is strong.

Science, on the other hand, is purely the result of young people's curiosity, which is an irresistible temptation for any young person who has a desire to learn and explore.

Who would refuse to explore the truth of the world? It's just Thai pants spicy!

"The general trend, the general trend, what is the general trend? You explain it to me. ”

Ma Jing took a deep look at him and said, "Don't think that the things you learned in Guozi are the principles of heaven and earth, your father and I have eaten more salt than you have ever eaten, and the water here is very muddy, do you think that I and your Uncle Li don't want to back down?" ”

Ma Jing simply pointed thoroughly: "In the Three Law Divisions, Huang Xin's fall was complete, and the old people in the Metropolitan Procuratorate were either uprooted or transferred to the cold bench, but Dali Temple and the Criminal Department have not moved at all. Dali Temple also means this, "Da Ming Law" can not change a word, you can talk about anything else, talk about this without talking, Your Majesty is also this saying. ”

"Why? Aren't you afraid of your majesty's thunderous wrath? Ma Jian was surprised.

"Isn't it so simple that you feel like you've learned the truth of the universe? I can't see through it. ”

Ma Jing looked at his son and asked, "What kind of existence is the emperor?" ”

"Ninety-Five Supreme."

"Yes, the emperor is the supreme in the world, who can compare with the emperor? He can decide with one sentence that he doesn't know how many people's lives and deaths, how can he put it in his eyes when Li Zhigang's three law divisions will be tried? ”

Ma Jing said lightly: "Do you think that with the temperament of His Majesty today, he will make a big fuss for Li Zhigang?" What he is doing is just to change the law of Emperor Taizu Gao, but this matter must not be mentioned by the emperor himself, as for why, you think for yourself. ”

Ma Jian thought about it and understood, naturally because Zhu Di was not in the right position, it was precisely because he was not in the right position, so many things of his father Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di did not like it and wanted to change it, but he never dared to mention it openly, this obscure attitude can be seen from the debate ring and the death day of Taizu. Once it comes to Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral system and ancestral teachings, Zhu Di does not dare to violate it in his own name in public.

After all, the biggest legal basis for Zhu Di's Fengtian Jingjing is actually Zhu Yuanzhang's sentence "There will be traitors in the later generations, and the vassal king can lead troops to Jingjing to clear the king's side."

But Ma Jian thought about this matter clearly, but fell into greater confusion.

"In that case, if the national teacher wants to change the law, it is actually the same as what His Majesty wants to do, and he has done what His Majesty wants to do, so why should my father oppose it? Even the Criminal Department and even the Dali Temple did not agree, but Zheng Shangshu did not object, and the Shaoqing of Dali Temple did not object. ”

"Because it is necessary to express its opposition, and to express its opposition, it is for His Majesty to see, so that he knows that the Criminal Department and the National Teacher do not deal with it; It's also for some people to see, so that they can see that it's not that we're not doing our best. ”

Ma Jing seems to have said an inexplicable nonsense.

But Ma Jian looked at everything at home, calligraphy, paintings, antiques, furniture, he seemed to understand.

The tea law is good to say, but the chain of interests involved in the salt law is too amazing, and the wealth involved is too huge, and the officials of the criminal department, because they have the sentencing and imprisonment for selling illicit salt, have not known how many benefits they have received since the Hongwu period, and now they are silent when it comes to reforming the salt law.

At the very least, the posture of resolute opposition must be made out and shown to those Huai merchants, Hui merchants, Jin merchants, Shaanxi merchants, and even Guangdong merchants.

You see, we are working against the national teacher under the huge pressure of the emperor, and even did not hesitate to use Li Zhigang's case as a bargaining chip, trying to get the national teacher to give up reforming the salt law, but we didn't succeed.

What else can we do? Go and hit your head on the pillars of the Fengtian Temple? I'm sorry, you didn't give enough money.

Anyway, we did our best.

From the authority of the department, the penal department must oppose all those who try to change the law; In terms of the interests of the department, the criminal department must express its opposition to the revision of the salt law.

This is why the Criminal Department is the reason why Wang Ba eats scales this time - he is determined to fight against Jiang Xinghuo.

In public and private, in fame and profit, Jiang Xinghuo has violated the fundamental interests of the Criminal Department, so no matter from which point of view, even just from the show to the emperor, let the emperor see that the Criminal Department does not deal with the national teacher, and the Criminal Department has to behave like this.

Ma Jian's face turned pale and muttered, "No wonder ......"

Ma Jian originally thought that he understood a lot, but he didn't expect his father to have insight into all this.

Ginger is still old and spicy.

Ma Jian's mood fell to the bottom.

Originally, there was a glimmer of illusion, but now it is all shattered.

Now it seems that his father is bound to embark on the road of confrontation with the national teacher.

"Listen well, you are the pillar of our Ma family's future, and your task now is to smoothly come out of the Guozi Prison and embark on a career in the official career, and the messy things in the Guozi Prison will be less involved."

Ma Jian lowered his head and didn't dare to raise it.

"Now that you are about to come to the last step, as long as you study hard and work hard, you will have the hope of starting higher and going farther than those of your classmates.

Ma Jing looked at his son and said seriously: "The responsibility on your shoulders is very heavy, the future of this family needs you to bear, all this depends on you, and you are still young now, the future is still far away, don't affect yourself because of a momentary trend of thought, you still lack a deeper understanding of the world." ”

Hearing Ma Jing's words, although Ma Jian felt that his father still felt that he was a child, his heart was warm and said, "Dad, don't worry, I won't let you down!" ”

Ma Jing patted Ma Jian on the shoulder and said, "Okay, hurry up and go back to rest, prepare for the exam during this time, and you don't have to worry about other things." ”

"Yes!" Ma Jian said respectfully, then turned around and left.

After leaving the study, he paused in the courtyard and was silent for a long time.

However, are all the ideas in the new learning of the national teacher wrong?

Ma Jian is not a person who has to prove himself, he knows very well that everything he has today comes from his father, but it is precisely because of his clarity that he is extremely entangled.

Interests and ideals are at war with this young man at the moment.

"Young Master."

At this time, a servant came to the side of the horse.

"What's the matter?" Ma Jian asked.

"There is news from the palace, Your Majesty has summoned the lord to meet him immediately." The servant said.

"Entering the palace late at night?" Ma Jian was stunned for a moment.

——————

"Whew"

A cool breeze in autumn blew and brought up dust on the ground, and Ma Jing narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips tightly, obviously in a complicated mood.

After coming to the Fengtian Palace, Ma Jing knelt on the floor tiles and said, "The minister knocks to see Your Majesty!" ”

"Flat."

Zhu Di said lightly: "Ma Shilang, there is something that asked you to come here today. ”

"I wonder what Your Majesty commands?" Ma Jing asked respectfully.

Of course, Ma Jing knew Zhu Di's intentions, but at this time, he still had to follow the emperor's rhythm to play the right game, but he always felt that there seemed to be something wrong with the atmosphere today.

"What do you think of Li Zhigang's matter?" Zhu Di looked at Ma Jing with interest.

"Your Majesty thinks that Li Zhigang is indeed guilty, but if Your Majesty appoints him otherwise, I am afraid that this kind of crime is not suitable for the court to discuss, otherwise it will cause chaos in the government and the opposition."

"Then what do you think should be done with Li Zhigang?"

Zhu Di stared at Ma Jing, with a playful smile on the corner of his mouth.

"This. The minister thinks." Ma Jing hesitated.

"Say."

"According to the law, friends should be killed if they disrupt the government, and if they sell their official positions, they should be exiled." Ma Jing said stiffly.

"Oh?" Zhu Di smiled and said, "This is Ma Shilang's suggestion?" ”

"Do you know what you're talking about?"

Zhu Di's gaze suddenly became cold, he stared at Ma Jing, and said in a calm tone.

Ma Jing couldn't help but tremble, and hurriedly fell to the ground to plead guilty.

However, in the next moment, Zhu Di laughed.

"Li Zhigang is a loyal minister, I can't let him down, but Li Zhigang made a mistake after all, if I don't punish him, my dynasty will be chaotic, even if it is a small punishment? However, the three legal divisions must unify their opinions, this case should be published in the "Ming Pao", and let the people of the world discuss and discuss, Li Zhigang's mistake, whether the evidence is clear or not, whether it violates the "Da Ming Law", whether it should be punished big or small, do you know? ”

The sudden change in Zhu Di's attitude was like a thunderclap exploding in the hall.

Ma Jing's thoughts turned around a thousand times at this time, but his face was not shocked, and he just kowtowed heavily:

"Your Majesty."

(End of chapter)