The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The eyes of the retired emperor Hongzhi flickered, and he stood there in a trance for a long time. He handed the memorial to Xiao Jing and walked towards the East Warm Pavilion.

Wang Xian hurriedly followed behind him. If the retired emperor did not deal with the aftermath, it would be difficult for the Ministry of War to explain to Duke Dingguo.

If the two sons of Duke Dingguo were given titles.

What about the other dukes?

Duke Ying had three sons. If he also took his sons to the war.

One person fights, the whole family will be given titles.

The door of the East Warm Pavilion was closed, and the eunuchs and palace maids were all outside.

The retired emperor Hongzhi's face darkened a little, "Is the new emperor in there?"

Gu Dayong hurriedly bowed: "Yes, Lord Yan is also here, and he said that no one can disturb him."

Xiao Jing kicked Gu Dayong away.

"I heard that you gave Duke Dingguo an imperial edict, asking him to kill the Turks, and count it as a military merit?"

The retired emperor Hongzhi stepped into the hall, staring at Zhu Houzhao, and ignored Yan Chengjin who was saluting on the side.

"Yes, the Turks invaded the border of Gansu and looted Tang and Song spices. I have wanted to teach them a lesson for a long time." Zhu Houzhao saw the fierce light in his father's eyes and admitted it directly.

"The title is a reward given by the court to all officials. It cannot be conferred at will, do you know?"

He wondered if this rebellious son knew how to use both kindness and power?

The title is a means of reward by the court.

If it is given out easily, the official position of the court is not worth money, and the salary of a title is at least several hundred stones of money and grain, which is higher than that of a first-rank official, which will only increase the annual waste of the court.

"Father, you are right. I shouldn't have issued this decree. I know I was wrong. Father, please let me make this mistake this time." Zhu Houzhao looked like he was humbly admitting his mistake.

"..." Yan Chengjin.

"..." Wang Xian.

The air pressure in the hall suddenly dropped, like a precursor to a storm.

Wang Xian stepped forward and said earnestly: "The court has just rectified the feudal system, and it cannot be conferred at will. The new emperor will give birth to two feudal princes with one decree."

Generals are dispatched by the Ministry of War. The two sons of Duke Dingguo are only princes, not generals.

Who would accept rashly going to the front line to lead troops and being conferred titles?

It violates military law and discipline, and will also make the generals of the nine frontiers resentful and dissatisfied with the court.

"Master Wang is right. Commoners are not allowed to lead troops. I did something wrong in this matter. I did not tell the Ministry of War about the news of conferring them as small flags."

Wang Xian was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes widened.

"No... not commoners?"

"No."

Wang Xian's chest was violently bullied. If he continued to talk, he would be really angry to death by Zhu Houzhao.

Before the expedition, the small flag was conferred...

Yan Chengjin glanced at Zhu Houzhao. This guy expected that the officials would make a fuss about this matter, so he gave Xu Guangzuo's two sons the army and rewarded them for their meritorious service.

In this way, Xu Guangzuo dared to take the risk of leading troops out of the country to fight the Turks.

Wang Shouren was in the south, Xu Guangzuo was in the north, and the two were sandwiched in the middle...

The Turks wanted to escape, but there was no way to go.

...

After a while, the cabinet was summoned.

Li Dongyang turned his head and looked at Zhu Houzhao, his expression was quite complicated.

Such a big thing was not discussed with the cabinet, and Yan Chengjin led him astray.

"Since the imperial edict has been issued, why not give the reward? Summon Duke Dingguo back to Gansu, so as not to increase the court's waste."

Jiang Mian nodded in agreement. It was useless for Duke Dingguo to conquer the Western Regions.

The lands in the Western Regions were barren and could only be nomadic, not suitable for Han people to live in.

Just like the Tatars today, if they were defeated, it would benefit the Wala people.

Zhu Houzhao pulled his hair aside. His father and the other officials did not know that Tang Song was fighting for the court, so they dissuaded him.

But if he told this, Lao Gao would be beheaded by the officials.

After seeing Tang Song and the map, the fool had to leave troops behind to block Tang Song's southern port to prevent the French from landing, and to concentrate troops to fight the Turks.

In this way, he could not go on an expedition to the Ottoman Empire. He needed to let Ding Guogong contain the Turks in the north and could not recall him.

It seems that I still have to convince the masters.

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up, and he said happily: "Master Li is right, then summon Ding Guogong back to Beijing, I will write an edict now."

Xie Qian and Jiang Mian did not believe Zhu Houzhao's words.

But in front of them, Zhu Houzhao really wrote an edict: to confer Ding Guogong's two sons as Jinyiwei Baihu, and to summon Xu Guangzuo back to Beijing.

…

In the corner of the Imperial Household Department.

Zhu Houzhao blocked the exit of the palace corridor with a big stick in his hand. Li Huai, the head of the Imperial Household Department, felt weak in his legs, "…I went all the way west, but I couldn't find Duke Dingguo."

Zhu Houzhao nodded with satisfaction, "You go to France and come back, I will report your expenses."

"…New Emperor, we…we don't have to go to France, right?" Li Huai's face was pale, are you crazy? Who cares about your extravagance.

"Huh?"

Zhu Houzhao hit the palace wall with a stick, shaking off a burst of wall dust, Li Huai was about to urinate, "I…I know, I will go to France and come back."

Gu Dayong took out twenty taels of silver from his arms with a beaming face.

"…With just this little money, do you think France is in the capital?" Li Huai couldn't help but curse at Gu Dayong.

Zhu Houzhao was happy and looked at Gu Dayong: "How about killing him?"

"Enough! Enough... No, it's too much, twenty taels is too much! I don't want so much silver."

Li Huai burst into tears and returned the twenty taels of silver to Gu Dayong.

There was no way to deal with Zhu Houzhao, and reporting to the emperor would only result in a beating.

But he would probably be killed by Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao did not take the silver back, and said happily: "Go, if you can come back in three years, you will be a great hero, and I will give you a gold medal of immunity from death."

"..." Li Huai.

Who wants that broken thing.

But he did not dare to say much to Zhu Houzhao, and ran to the west gate trembling, leading a group of eunuchs and guards out of the palace.

...

Cabinet, duty room.

Li Dongyang focused on the memorials of the Ministry of War, trying to find the memorials from Gansu.

Gansu is far away from the capital, and only three memorials were sent back, one for grassland, one for money and grain, and one for repairing the Great Wall.

There was no news about the Duke of Dingguo.

"Chengjin, what is the new emperor planning in the northwest?"

It seems that even if the imperial edict was issued, Li Dongyang is still worried. Yan Chengjin thought about it and said, "I don't know either."

Maybe Zhu Houzhao is still guarding against him doing something else.

Jiang Mian stroked his beard and said, "Mr. Li, don't worry. Duke Dingguo knows the importance of the matter and dares not disobey the will of the emperor."

Wait until Xu Guangzuo returns to Beijing, and then ask in person.

Yan Chengjin was not worried. He took a booklet from the desk and stood up: "The emperor ordered me to investigate thoroughly. The list of officials who embezzled relief silver is here. I will return to the Censorate."

...

At the end of the palace corridor, there is a side hall.

Emperor Hongzhi sat here for a long time. When he saw Mou Bin coming, he moved slightly.

Mou Bin looked up and said, "The new emperor asked Li Huai to return to the capital after three years."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly. This rebellious son really obeyed the order in public, "Send someone to replace Li Huai, and let Duke Dingguo return to Beijing within half a year."

"I obey the order."

Even Xiao Jing is not here. The emperor must not want to let the officials and the Silijian know.

It seems that he can only do this matter in person.

Mou Bin thought about it and strode out of the side hall.