Chapter 930 Xu Jie couldn't bear it anymore
"Your Majesty, those powerful people are fighting in the Ministry of Revenue..."
Rui Jingxian described vividly the hustle and bustle of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Taoist priest listened quietly.
"Your Majesty, the two princes are here."
The two princes stood outside the door and saluted.
"What did you learn from your cousin in the Ministry of Revenue today?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
Rui Jingxian stood with his hands behind his back, thinking that as the two princes grew older, the outside world's voices against the crown prince were getting louder and louder. Is His Majesty trying to train them?
Yes, through training, we will find the most suitable heir to the throne from among the two princes!
Shouldn't it be the eldest son?
If a virtuous person is appointed, it would break the rules that have been in place for many years.
If so, this is a great opportunity to become a dragon!
Rui Jingxian, feeling that he had seen through the emperor's thoughts, stole a glance at Emperor Jiajing and thought that His Majesty was not young anymore and it was time to appoint a crown prince.
"Father, today I saw someone trying to lure him with benefits." This was Prince Yu's answer, which was quite conventional.
"Father, today my cousin used sea trade as bait to make the dignitaries behave in a very ugly way. But I think that these people forget their principles when they see profit, and they cannot be relied upon."
King Jing's answer was more positive.
King Jing has the support of the mistress of the harem, so his chances are pretty good!
Rui Jingxian's heart was burning with anger.
"This is just an appearance." The Taoist priest was teaching his son, "Of course, it's not surprising that those monkeys behaved in all kinds of ugly ways for their own interests, but it's not necessary for them to fight each other."
King Jing then asked, "Father, do you mean they did this on purpose?"
The two sons are playing dumb... The Taoist sighed inwardly and said, "This is just pretending to be vulgar. Forget it, I will analyze it for you two."
The Taoist got up and wanted to walk out, but when he reached the door, he remembered that Erlong had not met. After stopping, he said somewhat angrily: "They chose to bow their heads in front of the interests. So can they gain more benefits by bowing their heads?"
He paused for a moment. Outside, Prince Jing seemed to be thinking about something, while Prince Yu lowered his head and his expression could not be seen.
"Maritime trade is profitable, but it carries greater risks. Without the protection of the navy, wind and waves, pirates... all of these could ruin their capital."
"Father, the navy is under the imperial court and only obeys your orders. If your father dislikes someone, all he needs to do is say a word and that person's merchant ship will never return!"
King Jing suddenly realized.
"That's just one of the reasons. The most important thing is fear! Those monkeys were worried that I was afraid of them. So they acted rudely, making me feel that they were just a bunch of dandies and not worth guarding against."
Emperor Jiajing said: "Don't underestimate these people. The powerful and noble who have survived for many years all have their own ways of survival."
"Yes."
After the teaching time was over, the Taoist asked them about their homework and even discussed medical skills with King Jing.
"Your Majesty." Lu Bing came.
"What's the matter?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
"There are envoys from Japan coming to the capital," said Lu Bing.
"Your Majesty, Lord Xu is here."
Xu Jie arrived outside the palace and bowed, "Greetings to the two Your Highnesses!"
The two princes did not dare to neglect and returned the greeting, "Your Excellency, there is no need to be so polite."
Xu Jie smiled gently and said, "I heard from the people in the Imperial Academy that the two princes have done very well in their studies recently."
Xu Jie once headed the Hanlin Academy, so it is not surprising that he was well-informed.
"Lord Xu, the emperor has summoned you." Huang Jin came out.
Xu Jie nodded to the two princes and went in.
"He is trying to show goodwill." King Jing watched Xu Jie go in and thought about the situation of this elder.
"Yes!" Prince Yu nodded. "I heard that he and his cousin are having some quarrels?"
"He is the leader of the Confucian scholars and officials, and is a natural enemy of my uncle." King Jing sneered, "If it weren't for my father's kindness, he would have been sent to serve as an official in the local area."
Prince Yu sighed, "But the newcomer might be even more difficult to deal with than Xu Jie."
Xu Jie is good at forbearance, which is beneficial to the overall situation of the new policy at least for the time being.
"You're not pretending to be stupid anymore?" King Jing said sarcastically, "You're smart one moment and stupid the next. You'll drive anyone else crazy."
Prince Yu smiled bitterly, "Someone recently submitted a memorial."
"I know, it's about advising to establish a crown prince." King Jing said frankly, "You don't need to play dumb, and I don't need to be shy. As I said, let's talk about our own things. As for that matter, my cousin is right, and my father made the decision."
Prince Yu looked at him with more gentleness in his eyes.
"But don't even think about asking me to give in." King Jing said aggressively.
"Who asked you to give way?" Prince Yu smiled, then stretched out his hand to hook his shoulder, "I have some good wine."
"I just got some sausages and bacon from my cousin's house." King Jing raised his eyebrows, "I won't go home until I'm drunk today!"
"Your alcohol tolerance..."
"Don't forget, I'm a healer!"
Inside the palace, Xu Jie lowered his eyes slightly, "The Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites only received the news when the Japanese envoys arrived outside the city."
Emperor Jiajing said calmly: "Is the South trying to intimidate me?"
The so-called south refers to Nanjing.
I would rather die than let my fellow Taoist die...Xu Jie remained silent.
Emperor Jiajing asked Lu Bing, "How is Nanjing doing recently?"
"After the Ministry of Revenue officials left, people in Nanjing were full of complaints. Some even asked who would be held responsible if a popular uprising broke out, the capital or Nanjing."
"After the Ministry of Revenue officials arrived in Nanjing, they urged the six ministries to send people to accompany them. The six ministries in Nanjing procrastinated for several days, and only after being urged many times did they send people." Emperor Jiajing said indifferently: "This is to give those people below time to respond."
"Yes." Lu Bing nodded. "Now the officials of the Ministry of Revenue have gone to different places, and the news coming from different places is not optimistic."
“How can you not be optimistic?”
"Reports came from various places that when the Ministry of Revenue officials arrived at the local areas, no one was there to receive them. When they went to the homes of the gentry, either the people were not there, or they were sick or had various excuses..."
"Let my people be turned away?" Emperor Jiajing narrowed his eyes. "It seems that the implementation of the new policy in the south needs to be urged."
Lu Bing suddenly smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei got the news. After the Japanese envoy landed, the local officials sent a fast horse to report to Nanjing. But Nanjing... for some reason put the matter aside."
"You are so forgetful." The Taoist smiled, but Lu Bing felt a hint of coldness.
Xu Jie coughed dryly, "Your Majesty, Chang Wei Bo has already taken over this matter."
"Hmm!" Emperor Jiajing pondered.
"Marquis Changwei ordered the Honglu Temple to keep the reception simple." Xu Jie said.
"A simple reception?" Emperor Jiajing wondered what that idiot meant.
Even Altan Khan's envoy Jiang Qingzhi had never made such a suggestion at the beginning.
"Let him come."
"Yes." Huang Jin went out and told someone to go to Zhilu to invite Jiang Qingzhi.
"Let Chang Wei Bo hurry up!" Huang Jin instructed.
This incident made Huang Jin smell some crisis, so he informed Jiang Qingzhi as a gesture of goodwill.
Favors are often expressed inadvertently like this.
As for the reward...Huang Jin thought of the White Horse Temple.
The last time he wrote to his hometown, he asked about the condition of the White Horse Temple. He heard that it was in a dilapidated state.
Maybe, I can take the opportunity to go back to my hometown someday.
Huang Jin said softly: "I am a eunuch, childless, and will be unknown after my death. If I can rebuild the White Horse Temple, it will be a blessing..."
Jiang Qingzhi came hurriedly after hearing the news.
"Lord Xu is here too." Huang Jin came out and said softly.
"Old Huang is so nice!" Jiang Qingzhi patted Huang Jin's arm, showing his appreciation.
When he entered the hall, the Taoist priest was reading the Qingci written by Xu Jie.
"Your Majesty." Jiang Qingzhi interrupted the Taoist's interest and sighed, "Good words."
Xu Jie smiled and said, "I have carefully thought about it for three days and three nights, but I am still not as good as Your Majesty."
Jiang Qingzhi laughed in his heart at this flattery.
"What's the matter with the Japanese envoys?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
"This matter..." Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Xu Jie and thought, could it be that this Ninja Turtle had given me some bad medicine?
Xu Jie smiled gently, as if he was harmless.
Jiang Qingzhi sneered and said, "Your Majesty, in Japan, the king is not a king, and the ministers are not ministers for many years, and the vassal states are ruling each other. At present, the great general Ashikaga is the supreme ruler..."
"You mean, this is the envoy of Ashikaga?" Emperor Jiajing asked sharply.
"It's almost certain." Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "What could a so-called great general send an envoy to the Ming Dynasty to ask for? Is he asking for a title?"
Everyone knows it's impossible.
"Then the envoy's intention is worth pondering." Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Xu Jie, "This matter... Lord Xu is in charge of the Ministry of Rites, so he must have some opinions. I am all ears."
The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple were the two carriages of Ming Dynasty diplomacy.
Jiang Qingzhi's attitude was impeccable: You, Lord Xu, are an expert, please help us solve our doubts.
Since reaching a tacit understanding with Xu Jie about the marriage, this was the first time that Lu Bing saw his in-laws in such an embarrassing situation.
"This matter..." This is not something that can be solved by tolerating it. This is your job, Xu Jie. If you can't even figure out your job, you, the elder...
What use is there for you?
Jiang Qingzhi's counterattack came quickly and fiercely.
Xu Jie was in trouble.
"Lord Xu?"
Jiang Qingzhi said sincerely: "I am still waiting for Lord Xu's advice before I meet with the envoy."
You shouldn't provoke Jiang Qingzhi at this time... Lu Bing sighed in his heart, "This time the Japanese envoys went all the way north... quite quickly."
If the messenger is fast, it means there is something urgent.
Lu Bing!
Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Lu Bing and said, "Old Lu, it seems that you are planning to change your career? There happens to be a vacancy at Zhilu..."
This guy!
Lu Bing couldn't help but offer advice to his in-laws, but he didn't expect to be attacked so directly and fiercely by Jiang Qingzhi.
——You are the emperor's lackey, and you rashly intervene in the dispute between the two ministers. Are you preparing to interfere in the government?
In this case, how about sending you, Lu Bing, to the Council of State and adding another cabinet minister?
Lu Bing lowered his eyes and said nothing. He didn't understand why Jiang Qingzhi took the matter of the Japanese envoy so seriously that he even went so far as to attack both himself and Xu Jie at the same time.
Lu Bing lowered his head, Jiang Qingzhi smiled at Xu Jie, Xu Jie coughed, "Recently, there have been a lot of things to do in Zhilu, so I have some free time..."
As he said that, Xu Jie glanced at the Qingci in the Taoist's hand… Yan Song and Jiang Qingzhi suppressed me, and I had nothing to do. So, I wrote Qingci for Your Majesty when I had nothing to do.
Tsk!
This diversionary tactic was truly amazing, as it immediately magnified the problem.
——I am the Second Prime Minister, but I have been repeatedly marginalized in the Zhilu. Your Majesty, don’t you have anything to say about this?
This is the first time in several years that Xu Jie has shown his true colors!
He looked at Jiang Qingzhi calmly and smiled gently.
(End of this chapter)
