The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Emperor Hongzhi was lost in thought. Duke Baoguo was nearly sixty years old and could not fight for the court.

Letting him take charge of the Nanjing Jingying was out of trust.

"Does Zhu Fu have any outstanding qualities?"

Yan Chengjin bowed and said, "I don't know, but among all the dukes, when it comes to horse politics, Zhu Fu is like a wild crane standing among chickens."

During the Jingnan Campaign, many dukes were conferred titles.

Three years ago, the salaries of officials in the country increased by 30%, and the salaries of dukes also increased from 600 dan per month to more than 700 dan per month, so they lived a worry-free life.

Half of them were ruined.

Chai Sheng said sternly, "Your Majesty, the Nanjing Jingying should be managed by a minister who is the backbone of the court."

The implication was, how could Duke Cheng be trusted?

Emperor Hongzhi also felt that this was no small matter, so he said to Li Dongyang: "Tomorrow, the Duke of Xuancheng will go to court."

Half an hour later, Yan Chengjin walked out of the palace, but saw Yan Song waiting in front of the fallen horse monument, and bowed slightly to him: "Master Yan."

Master Yan did not allow him to call him mentor, so he could only address him as Master.

"What's the matter?"

"Tomorrow, I will go to the Ministry of War to observe politics."

How could Yan Song go to the Ministry of War if he didn't know military tactics and horse politics?

And the Ministry of War was headed by Chai Sheng, who knew that he had too much contact with Yan Song. Even if he didn't deliberately make things difficult for him, it would be difficult for him to be promoted.

Yan Chengjin nodded: "Yes."

Yan Song looked stunned, and after hesitating for a moment, he said: "But I want to go to the Censorate, and ask Master Yan to recommend me..."

The censor of the Censorate is a seventh-rank official.

After Yan Song won the third place in the imperial examination, he was awarded the title of Hanlin Compiler, and his rank was the sixth rank.

What are you thinking about? The six ministries have a better future than the Censorate.

"Old Gao will not recommend you, so give up on this idea." Zhu Houzhao stood happily behind Yan Song without knowing when.

Yan Song's voice trembled slightly: "Why?"

"To avoid suspicion, Old Gao is most afraid that the emperor will think that he is forming a clique for personal gain."

Zhu Houzhao just slipped out of the palace, rode his horse and rushed to Liangxiang.

Yan Chengjin pretended not to see it, got on the sedan chair, returned to the mansion, thought for a moment, and ordered someone to inform Zhu Fu.

Early in the morning, all officials passed through the moon cave of the Meridian Gate.

Arriving at the Fengtian Hall, Emperor Hongzhi sat on the high hall, looked at Xiao Jing and said: "Announce the Duke of Cheng."

A clear summons was heard in Guangting.

All the officials turned their heads and saw Zhu Fu ascending the steps, entering the hall, and bowing to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, I am Zhu Fu!"

"I heard that you asked the Yan family to recommend you to command the Nanjing camp?"

Zhu Fu's face was stiff. If he took the initiative to ask an official to recommend him, he would be suspected of bribery.

Also known as selling officials.

All the officials were in an uproar.

Zhu Fu said: "Yes!"

"What are your outstanding qualities that can make me believe that you are capable of commanding the three armies?" Emperor Hongzhi said indifferently.

"I have read military books since I was young, but the court over-employed the lineage of Duke Ying and Duke Baoguo, and ignored other dukes and marquises. That's why I asked Lord Yan to recommend me.

As for my military talent, I dare not compare with Wang Shichang, but compared with Duke Baoguo, it is no problem."

Zhu Fu knew that there were not many such opportunities.

With Li Dongyang here, at most he would lose his position as the garrison commander of Nanjing.

The officials were slightly moved. Zhu Fu was so stubborn that he dared to say that he was not appreciated.

Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly and carefully observed the expression of Emperor Hongzhi. Would His Majesty blame him as well?

In the hall, you could hear a pin drop.

Emperor Hongzhi deliberately let the hall fall in silence for a moment before asking: "What do you think, gentlemen, let Cheng Guogong take charge of the Nanjing Jingying?"

"I think it's OK!"

Yan Chengjin looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person who spoke was Chai Sheng.

Everyone in the Ministry of War was also shocked.

Emperor Hongzhi made a prompt decision: "Pass on my order, Duke Zhu Fu of Chengguo will take charge of the Nanjing Jingying!

But! If I find that the soldiers of the Jingying are corrupt and take advantage of others, I will strip you of your title of Duke and demote you to a commoner!"

Yan Chengjin spat secretly, and sure enough...

Zhu Fu had a surprised look on his face, as if "I tried my best, and the bicycle actually turned into a motorcycle", and said with tears of gratitude: "Your Majesty, I... Thank you for your grace!"

Three days later, Zhu Fu thanked Yan Chengjin and hurried back to Nanjing to take office.

During these three days, the Ministry of Revenue was clearing up the extravagances in various places and wanted to pay the gentry the interest on the national debt.

The gentry who did not buy the national debt hoped that the court would issue the national debt again.

The gentry who bought the national debt were looking forward to how much property they could share in Annan.

Wang Qiong looked at Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, how much relief silver and rice should be allocated to Jiangnan?"

"No matter how much, each will be allocated 150,000 taels and 5,000 shi of grain." Emperor Hongzhi said lightly.

Twenty-seven plots... 150,000 taels, more than 4 million taels!

In the blink of an eye, Wang Qiong figured it out in his mind. Silver is really more expensive than copper coins...

"Your Majesty, even if the silver is allocated for relief, it is past the farming season. I am afraid that this year's summer tax and autumn grain will not be very good."

The canal needs to be repaired to block the upstream river.

There is no water for water transport, and the seeding and cultivation of seedlings is in March. Now it is almost April, which delays the farming season by a month.

"It happened to be a landslide, which is also a helpless move." Liu Jian said.

Emperor Hongzhi was worried and hurried, looking at Xiao Jing and said: "Han Wen, Wei Shen, and Zhang Sheng, the three of them should be cured?"

"Reporting to your majesty, I will go to court tomorrow."

Today, I am off duty.

Yan Chengjin came out of the palace and sat on the sedan chair. Someone knocked on the sedan chair several times, as if knocking on the door.

He opened the curtain of the sedan chair and looked at Zhu Houzhao with a stern face: "What does your highness want to see me for?"

This guy usually doesn't show up at the palace gate, just like a student who climbs over the wall and is afraid of being seen by the teacher, but today, it seems that he is waiting here specially for him.

Zhu Houzhao came up with a smile on his face and whispered: "I want to buy another 10,000 taels of national debt."

"Where did your highness get the silver?"

Zhu Houzhao didn't say anything, hesitating and dodging for a long time before saying: "I'll take you to see someone."

"I won't go."

"Then I'll let him come to see you."

"Okay."

About a quarter of an hour later, in front of the Meridian Gate.

A man in strange clothes came over with a hunched body, wearing a copper ornament on his neck, like a non-chief.

Especially the lips, as if poisoned, purple and black.

When the man saw Yan Chengjin, he smiled as if he was meeting an old friend: "Master Yan?"

Yan Chengjin looked around him: "Who are you?"

"Your servant, it's Gu Dayong!" The man looked a little excited, and his mouth was about to split with laughter.

Gu... Gu Dayong?

Yan Chengjin looked at the visitor in surprise.

Zhu Houzhao was happy: "Gu Banban found something for me that can be sold for a lot of silver. I decided to plant it in the East Palace first."

Yan Chengjin saw Zhu Houzhao hiding a treasure, so he asked: "What is it? Can you show it to me?"

Zhu Houzhao came closer and took out a red object the size of two fingers from his arms. This object looked like ginseng, with some roots, but it was not long.

Yan Chengjin asked: "What is this?"

Gu Dayong smiled flatteringly: "This is snow lotus. I went through thousands of hardships and picked it on the edge of the cliff of the snow mountain."

Yan Chengjin kicked it over. Do you think I don't know sweet potatoes?

Gu Dayong was confused. As long as he was brave, his official position would become bigger. "Yan... Lord Yan, this is really snow lotus, Tianshan snow lotus!"

If he hadn't traveled through time, Yan Chengjin would have been fooled by his tearful acting skills.

"Your Highness, this thing is worthless. Selling it to the people at a high price is a crime."

Oh my god, I watched the news today and saw the plot of the M country election. I really wanted to write about the plot of Prince Ning's rebellion, but I was afraid that the chapter would be blocked...