Bright Spring

In view of the fact that since the end of last year, Zhu Gaoxu has been participating in various ceremonies in a regular manner, and has been diligent in the morning court and sacrifices to calm the anger of the sky; just after the Lantern Festival, the cabinet minister and Minister of Rites Hu Wei played a performance, requesting that the sutra feast be reopened this spring speak.

Jingyan is a kind of reading activity organized by scholar-bureaucrats and emperors after the Song Dynasty; lecturers mainly talk about ancient classics, classics, and history.But all history is contemporary history, and civil servants will use the past to illustrate the present, take the opportunity to put forward political opinions, and implicitly exhort the emperor.

Zhu Gaoxu used war to win the throne. Since he took the throne, he has been busy with personnel integration and military activities, and has never had a sutra feast.At this time, the ministers may feel that the time has come to restore important systems.

Just after the new year, everything seems to be on the right track quickly.

This reminded Zhu Gaoxu of the profound feelings he had when he was a child.During the Chinese New Year, people are immersed in the excitement of the festival and the joy of gatherings with relatives and friends; but when the Lantern Festival is over, the adults immediately resume the boring activities of making a living.Every family in the village began to prepare seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and trim the fields.

Probably this is the tradition, and traces can be felt in the Ming Dynasty.From the emperor to the ministers and the common people, they all entered the state step by step according to the seasons.

However, the first thing Zhu Gaoxu had to deal with this year turned out to be the affair of the courtiers' sons and daughters.

A part of the fleet from the south came back from An Nanguo. Hou Xian landed from Liujiaxiang, took the lead in going to Beijing, and reported Liu Sheng's private affairs.Then Zhang Sheng, the commander of Jin Yiwei, also came to the Rouyi Hall and told Zhu Gaoxu another wonderful affair between a man and a woman.

It is precisely because Zhu Gaoxu goes to court every morning, so his office after morning is almost always in the Rouyi Hall.

The Rouyi Hall is closer to the "Imperial Gate" Fengtian Gate. After Zhu Gaoxu went to court, as long as he passed the Wulou in the northwest direction, he would be able to see the Rouyi Hall immediately.The Dongnuan Pavilion is located in the north of Qianqingmen, closer to the living place of the harem. When the emperor lived in the harem, it was more suitable for political activities there.

When Zhu Gaoxu received Zhang Sheng today, there were eunuch Wang Gui and young supervisor Hou Xian by his side, besides, Miao Jin was also in the hall.Like the Sutra Banquet that was abolished a while ago, the Living Officer may not have been set up for a long time, Miao Jin can act as the person who records some court affairs, and it does not need to be made public.

Zhang Sheng orally narrated, "The night of the Lantern Festival was crowded and chaotic, and the women and girls paraded the streets to watch the lanterns, which was not conspicuous. The lady Hu and her mother went out with a group of people, and took the opportunity to escape on the way to meet Xie Zhenliang, the eldest son of the Jin family, in private; And because the people of the Hu family searched around the Lantern Market, it caused ups and downs. Mrs. Hu came home in the middle of the night, and when this matter got out, the Hu family might not be able to step down."

"Did you do it..." Zhu Gaoxu immediately changed his tone, "What? What did those two people do together?"

Zhang Sheng clasped his fists and said, "Report to Your Majesty, no one knows about this matter. I'm afraid only Xie Zhenliang and Mrs. Hu know."

He went on to say, "Scholar Hu Hu Guang) was furious, and locked his daughter at home, under strict supervision, and forbade her to go out. However, the minister sent someone to find out that this matter could not be resolved, and Mrs. Hu spent several days. There have been two incidents of finding fault. Yesterday when Weichen met Xueshi Hu in Qianbulang, he saw only two of him.

His eyes were dull and his face was frowning. "

Zhang Sheng paused, and said in a deep voice, "These Hu and Xie families are entangled in grievances and grievances. Hu Xueshi and Xie Shidu used to be classmates in the same hometown, and they had a marriage contract with their children long ago. Later, the two had a grudge, and Hu Xueshi tore up Marriage contract, Xie Jin has repeatedly preached the joke of "being optimistic about pigs" for Xueshi Hu, making it known to everyone in the court. They are at odds with each other..."

"I've heard about those things too." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Keeping promises and moral integrity are the most important ethics for civil servants.Hu Guang and Xie Jin attacked each other in this regard, and their enmity must be deep.As a result, their children had an affair, which became troublesome.Zhu Gaoxu also thought of Romeo and Juliet, probably similar to the current plot.

Zhu Gaoxu said, "I'll think about it before I talk about it."

Zhang Sheng knelt down and kowtowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness and leave."

In contrast, Liu Sheng's affairs are simpler.Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at Hou Xian, and said, "When Liu Sheng arrives in Beijing, you go to see him. You want Liu Sheng to understand what I mean, and I agree with him to decide on family affairs according to his own wishes, without any objection; but At the same time, you can't be too sure about what you say. Do you understand how to communicate?"

Hou Xian was stunned for a moment, then bowed and said, "Go back to the emperor, this servant understands."

Miao Jin gave her an appreciative look, women seemed to like to hear about such emotional matters.

Zhu Gaoxu saw that there were no outsiders around him, so he said again, "Liu Sheng values ​​kindness and justice, and despises the benefits brought by marriage. This is not a bad thing. What's more, Liu Sheng is a capable general under my command. How can I be unreasonable about this matter?"

However, the Ruan family had a husband before and had not been divorced, so the plot was betrayal; Liu Sheng's wife could not be put on the table.Even if Ruan Jian is a sinner, it is impossible to reverse the ethics and morality of the husband and wife, and there must be disputes.If I support Liu Sheng publicly, it will cause unnecessary trouble.But the monarch and his ministers understand each other and do things well in tacit understanding, so that they can go smoothly. "

Miao Jin said, "Your Majesty is very considerate."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at her and smiled, then looked back at the eunuch Hou Xian.Zhu Gaoxu thought in his heart that these eunuchs can indeed serve as a link of communication between the monarch and his ministers.

When monarchs and ministers meet each other, sometimes they cannot communicate properly.

Just like writing an article, it is necessary to find the source of the sage's words for the article's rhetoric. There are often "routines" in the conversation between people.Accurately mastering the speech routines in various occasions can make communication like a fish in water; it will be the same until later generations.However, this kind of communication lacks the depth and accuracy of communication. Although those tried-and-true clichés have rich meanings, they often have vague meanings.

As an emperor, Zhu Gaoxu also often had to say clichés, so as not to cause excessive interpretation and omissions.At this time, the eunuch can mediate from it, which can save a lot of trouble.

Zhu Gaoxu made such a decision about Liu Sheng because he also felt that it might be a good thing for a general like Liu Sheng to marry a man from Annan.After all, the intermarriage between nobles in the court and the clan has already created a complicated relationship. The continuous expansion and alliance of the powerful clans is obviously not good for the court.

The grievances between Xie Jin and Hu Guang will only become more complicated.

Miao Jin asked curiously, "How will the Holy Majesty decide the relationship between Mr. Xie and Mrs. Hu?"

Zhu Gaoxu said, "I will meet with Hu Wei first after tomorrow morning. In order to reduce the gap, I plan to call

See Hu Mei, I will talk to Miao Jin later. "

Miaojin nodded.

Zhu Gaoxu hoped that Miaojin would record some things so that after the next emperor ascended the throne, he could look at the order of the court from a perspective beyond the times...

Hu Wei recently wrote to restore the Jingyan. He was also one of the civil servants who voluntarily surrendered to Emperor Taizong, and he may know Xie Jin better.

The next morning, Zhu Gaoxu came to the attic on the east corner gate, where he summoned Hu Wei in private.

Everything seems to be able to find "precedents". In the past, Emperor Jianwen and his teacher Huang Zicheng conspired to cut down the vassals here. Zhu Gaoxu also summoned Liu Ming who seemed to believe in the philosophy of mind here; this is very inconspicuous in the palace. Gradually, the attic has a different kind of uniqueness.

The accompanying Jinyiwei Dahan General, eunuchs and court ladies were all waiting under the pavilion, Zhu Gaoxu stood alone in front of the window, watching the scene of a palace with double eaves.

Not long after, Hu Wei, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, came up and saluted immediately.

Standing by the window, Zhu Gaoxu turned around and said, "Hu Aiqing is dead."

"Thank you, Majesty." Hu Wei got up from the ground, and immediately tugged on his robe lightly, in order to keep his appearance as clean as possible.

Zhu Gaoxu asked straight to the point, "What kind of person is Xie Jin in Hu Butang's opinion?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty..." Hu Wei replied first, but dragged the end of the sentence for a long time, as if he was trying his best to think about the proper words, "Xie Shidu was born as a Jinshi, and he is very talented. Taizu and Taizong both appreciate his talent .”

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu laughed, noncommittal.Hu Yan bent down a little nervously.

"There are only you and me in the attic of the corner gate. Hu Butang is not guilty of anything he says, and I deny what I say when I go out." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Hu Wei showed surprise on his face. After all, the emperor spoke well, and Zhu Gaoxu could directly say that he didn't recognize what he said, which is a bit strange.But it seems that there is no problem, no one testifies, Zhu Gaoxu really does not have to admit it.

Then Zhu Gaoxu immediately talked about another topic, "I understand all affairs in the court, the most important thing is etiquette and personnel affairs. Etiquette corrects people's hearts and increases the authority of my Ming emperor and ministers. Personnel affairs are to use appropriate people to hold power so that decisions can be ruled by people." Various affairs, reducing disputes; the power of the officials of the yamen comes from authority, which complements etiquette. Is this understanding correct?"

These words are already very strange.A look of surprise appeared on Hu Wei's face, but he bowed and said, "Holy Lord, Holy Ming."

And this is just Zhu Gaoxu's euphemistic expression.According to his accurate thinking, etiquette is actually about brainwashing.The repetition of various etiquettes aims to make the authority of the emperor, as well as the order of dignity and inferiority in the world, and morality and ethics deeply rooted in the hearts of the people; people repeat some forms and speeches too many times, and they will take it for granted.

Zhu Gaoxu first talked about Xie Jin, but he just threw out today's topic first, so that Hu Yan would have enough time to figure it out.And then he talked about the imperial court, hoping to induce|guide Hu Wei to have more sincere and in-depth exchanges.

He paused for a while and said, "So the opinions of the ministers are mostly based on the public spirit of maintaining the government, and their loyalty is commendable. I understand it in my heart, and I also understand you."

Hu Wei's cautiousness has indeed changed a little.

end of this chapter)

Chapter 756 A circle that can be recycled

In terms of personal relationship, Zhu Gaoxu and Hu Wei trust each other.

After the abolished prince's party fell from power, Hu Wei was the first to be appointed as one of the ministers at the ministerial level.Hu Wei also abandoned all public and private prejudices, and presided over the matter of whitewashing Qi Tai according to the emperor Zhu Gaoxu's will.