"Long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live......!" The ministers bowed down and were uniform.

Zhu Jianshen waved his sleeves, full of force: "Zhongqing is flat." ”

"Emperor Xie!"

The ministers got up, flapped their sleeves, and shook up a puff of dust.

Zhu Jianshen wrinkled his nose, took two steps back, and then, with a warm smile on the corner of his mouth, began to make a year-end speech.

This year, he is particularly introverted, he has been the emperor for two and a half years, and the initial 'momentum' has disappeared, and he is no longer excited, but he has still painted a big pie.

The ministers have been dominated by the big pie for so many years, and they are almost immune, but they also pretend to be useful.

Both parties are like couples who have long lost their passion, obviously not interested, but they are trying to cooperate with each other in order to maintain the already small relationship between husband and wife and no longer dilute it.

Merely...... No one feels cool.

~

After Zhu Jianshen finished speaking, the ministers began to pay New Year's greetings, because there were too many people, so they all greeted the New Year together in groups.

The six ministries came first, then the cabinet, and then the Metropolitan Procuratorate...... In the end, the generals followed the usual practice and copied the cabinet homework.

The nobles who eat and wait for death are at the end every time, repeating the general's congratulatory message.

After a while, it was time for everyone to be happy, and red envelopes were distributed......

This year, Zhu Jianshen, who has always been stingy, is particularly generous and throws a lot of money.

It's not that he's generous, but that he let out all the words at the beginning, if he breaks his promise and gets fat, then how will he lead the team in the future?

I'm afraid that even if there are people who want to follow him, they will have to weigh it.

You can't save the money you should spend.

200 taels for the Shangshu, 150 taels for the squire, 150 taels for the Cabinet Scholars, 150 taels for the Imperial History of the Imperial Palace, 200 taels for the Duke, and 150 taels for the Marquis......

Everyone's red envelopes are extremely rich, and the gap has narrowed a lot, and the seven products have received 40 taels, almost catching up with a year's worth of money.

Especially in the imperial history of the six branches and thirteen provinces, the red envelopes are even more exaggerated, almost one hundred taels per person.

Zhu Jianshen did this, to a large extent, to gain the favor of middle and lower-level officials, but it was also inevitable to offend high-level officials.

They care more about detachment than money.

They send 50 taels, and they send 5 taels below, and they won't say anything, but they send 200 taels, and the people below send tens or hundreds of taels, and they won't be happy.

The sense of superiority is gone, and it is difficult for them to accept it.

It's uncomfortable, no one will talk about this, these high-level people also need people below to do things, and they won't do things that offend people.

Zhu Jianshen doesn't matter, these court bigwigs haven't made him feel better, even if they maintain their transcendent status, the situation will not be much better, it is better to encircle the low-level officials.

Not to mention anything else, at least I can get less scolding.

Zhu Jianshen did not break his promise, and only the red envelopes of the Beijing officials were distributed, and the remaining 300,000 taels were distributed to the local officials through the household department.

Of course, the money is hung on the account of the household!

Such an operation inevitably offended a group of scholars and waiters, and even the cabinet had a lot of complaints, but Zhu Jian was deeply deaf.

Anyway, you don't dare to put it on the table and say it, as long as I don't hear it, then I won't be scolded.

…

Small courtyard.

In the east kitchen, Li Hong wore an apron, and was so busy in the east kitchen that his feet did not touch the ground, croquettes, steamed buns, steamed steamed buns, and fried Qin juni......

Under the eaves, Li Qing leaned on the recliner and flipped through the illustrated book, leisurely.

The snowflakes are fluttering, and the north wind is bleak......

The goose feathers and heavy snow of the demons dancing wildly rendered the flavor of the New Year more fully, but it was just ...... After all, there is no trace of 'fireworks'.

Li Qing always couldn't help but look at the heavy snow in a daze......

At lunch, his godson accompanied him to have a few drinks, and his stomach warmed up a lot.

~

The heavy snow didn't end, and when Li Qing took a nap, a thick layer of snow accumulated on the ground.

On the ground, on the walls of the courtyard, on the eaves, on the fruit trees...... The eyes are white, everything is depressed, and it is covered in silver.

Li Qing sighed, the heat quickly disappeared, turned into hoarfrost and melted into the air, he deliberately stopped the true qi that had already formed inertia and was running in the meridians all the time, and felt the winter from the perspective of ordinary people.

After a while, I felt that my fingers were stiff and slightly painful, as if they were bitten by a cat.

"It's so cold...... Li Qing shuddered, frowning slightly......

Li Hong couldn't help but say, "Godfather, you wear such a thin outfit, can you not be cold?" ”

If he hadn't faced his elders and his godfather had a bad temper, he would have complained about it.

On a cold day, he wears a small coat and a long robe, without adding any cotton, and he, a young man, can't bear it.

"Godfather, wear more cotton clothes." Li Hong persuaded, afraid that he would catch the cold.

Li Qing waved his hand slightly, "No need, I don't like the feeling of bloat, don't worry, my body is not so bad." ”

Looking at the ice and snow again, Li Qing smiled and said: "You go and add a piece of clothing and accompany your godfather, such a great snow scene, it's too wasteful not to appreciate it." ”

"Okay." Li Hong hurriedly agreed, "Godfather, wait a minute, I'll come right away." ”

Godfather is always depressed these days, and he finally got interested, of course he has to follow his godfather.

Li Hong quickly went and returned, and the person was bloated again, and he also took a mink fur for Li Qing.

"Godfather, let's put on this and go out again, our bodies are important."

"Hmm..."Li Qing didn't refuse, although he didn't need to.

Even Jiatun'er is not big, but it is not small, after all, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, there are many people living here, and there are still people buying land here, building houses, and settling here.

Should I say it or not, the people of Jingshi are relatively happy.

After all, under the emperor's nose, the people are not doing well, and they can see it at a glance, so they will naturally be given preferential treatment.

If the imperial court has any policies to benefit the people, it will be promoted in Beijing first, and it is at the feet of the Son of Heaven, which basically puts an end to the fact that the scriptures are not read crookedly.

Li Qing walked all the way, watching all the way......

The air is filled with the smell of meat and the characteristic smell of fried food, and the streets and alleys are filled with children's laughter and warm clothes......

Li Qing was pleased, he knew that this was not representative of all the people, but ...... This scene is always good, at least, a considerable part of the people are living a good life.

Stepping on the snow, there is a 'creaking' sound, like a light note, very soothing, Li Qing's feet are warm, and his heart is also warm.

"Hong'er, do you remember when you were a child?"

"Remember," Li Hong bowed his head lightly and said with a smile, "Did you forget your godfather?" I have been to Beijing since I was a child. ”

"Well, after so many years, have you noticed any changes in Lianjiatun'er?"

"Has it changed...... Li Hong scratched his head and said: "It has indeed changed, at that time, Lianjiatun'er was not so big, and over the years, Lianjiatun'er has grown by at least one-third." ”

Li Qing smiled bitterly, but did not hear the answer he wanted to hear.

It is no wonder that Li Hong has lived a life of fine clothes and food since he was a child, he has never experienced hardship, and it is difficult to empathize with ordinary people.

"Not only have they gotten bigger, but their lives have also gotten better." Li Qing sniffed his nose, "You smell it, isn't it fragrant?" ”

Li Hong sniffed, nodded and said, "It's very fragrant, it's the New Year, who can't eat some good ones!" ”

He didn't understand it a little and thought that this was a normal thing, and the same was true for the people of Jinling during the New Year.

Li Qing said: "In the past, the people didn't have such a good life, if the timeline was pushed to before the Ming Dynasty, it would be a problem for the people to eat;

What you think is a normal life is a dream that many people can't reach, and the life you live is what your ancestors fought for you, not everyone. ”

Li Hong nodded slowly: "The child also knows the suffering of the people, but now that Daming is thriving, I believe that it will get better and better in the future, at least now that the people have basically gotten rid of hunger, the future will only be better." ”

"It's not as optimistic as you think." Li Qing shook his head slightly, "You only saw the result, but you didn't see the process, Daming has such a situation, and the process is not smooth." ”

Li Qing sighed lightly: "Such a scene is the result of the hard work of the people, the exhaustion of the emperors of previous dynasties, and the efforts of a few virtuous ministers......

After a pause, he said proudly: "It's also a godfather who worked tirelessly and forged little by little......"

Li Hong said with a smile: "That is, who doesn't know that the godfather and the important ministers of the two dynasties have been working hard for decades......"

Li Hong Balabala said obediently.

"Hehe......" Li Qing smiled and sighed: "So, I still can't be too optimistic, this kind of scene is not easy to come by, and it will not be better to go with the flow, but it may be worse;

Anytime you need someone to swim against the current, and if you want to follow this path, you must be prepared to fight against officials who go with the flow and live with the light. ”

Li Hong seemed to understand whether he understood or not, nodded and said, "The child remembers." ”

He didn't have a deep understanding of his godfather's words, but he could see that his godfather was really tired.

He tentatively said, "Godfather...... Otherwise, don't enter the cabinet, just retire directly. ”

"How?"

Li Hong said: "Godfather has been busy for so long, it's time to rest, so many officials in the Ming Dynasty, in fact, ...... It's not bad for you. ”

"Although there are many officials, there are not many that can reassure the godfather." Li Qing smiled bitterly, "The emperor has not consolidated the imperial power, the situation in the Mobei grassland is unclear, and the Hetao area has not been properly developed...... There's still a lot to do;

If you can't enter the cabinet and don't say it, you can't retreat. ”

"Why?"

"Because I don't worry about a lot of people." Li Qing said.

Li Hong sneered and said: "Godfather, listening to you say this, why do you seem to be traitorous ministers all over the court?" ”

"It's not so outrageous, there are still a lot of people who want to do practical things, but some are incapable, and some have character problems......," Li Qingyu said, "Without one of the two, it will be difficult to do things well;

There are even many good national policies, under the influence of personal selfishness, which will develop in the opposite direction, and officialdom ...... It's more complicated than you think. ”

Li Hong muttered, "Is it so exaggerated? ”

"Most people are selfish, most people are not satisfied, but resources are ......limited after all," Li Qing sighed lightly: "When you really step into this circle, you will understand whether the godfather is exaggerating." ”

Li Hong didn't believe it, and said, "Godfather, the child thinks ...... You're too pessimistic. ”

Li Qing did not refute: "You are not wrong, I am indeed pessimistic." ”

He laughed at himself: "I have experienced a lot, it is inevitable that this will be ......"