Hey, who is this guy? Why is he looking at our brother with black eyes?

Zhang Zongbao, unwilling to be outdone, bravely climbed the rope ladder, trembling as he stepped down. Suddenly, he poked his head out from behind the boat and said to Fatty Zhao, "Hui Zu, don't get on this boat. I'm afraid it will sink!"

I... Zhao Huizu wanted to retort, but Zhang Zongbao's head sank and he could no longer see.

Zhang Junneng squatted behind the side of the boat, not daring to move no matter what; Fatty Zhao just climbed onto the side of the boat trembling, but the boat shook and he rolled down again, not daring to climb up again.

"Come here, use ropes to hang these two cowards down." The officer gave the order with a cold face, and several sailors came over with a grin.

"Help, I can't go down..."

"Be gentle, you're strangling me to death..."

The howling sound like a pig being slaughtered rang out, echoing across the dark and empty sea.

………………

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor!" The cheers of "Long live the emperor" rang out in the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youxiao's face was serene, and he raised his hand to signal, "No need to be polite, everyone."

The emperor attended the morning court and promised to have two days off after five days of court attendance. This is a big event, a happy event, a great happy event.

Although the location was changed to the Qianqing Palace and the time was changed to Sishi (9 a.m.), it was nothing. It was much better than Wanli who had not held morning court for decades.

The Emperor is diligent in his work, and this is all thanks to us. The court is full of upright people, the ruler is wise, and the ministers are virtuous. This political atmosphere is something that many emperors have never experienced!

The officials were very encouraged when they heard the news. They just went to court and stopped arguing with the emperor about ancestral rules and the provisions of the Ming Dynasty Code.

Besides, the emperor has already been chosen. If you resist and refuse to go, leaving the emperor waiting there foolishly, isn't that what a subject should do?

Besides, attending court at 9:00 PM is also a relief for officials.

According to the old rules, officials attending court would have to get up at midnight, cross half of the capital to the Meridian Gate, and wait outside at three in the morning.

When the bell rang around five in the morning, the palace gates opened and officials could enter in order, crossing the Jinshui Bridge and lining up in the square.

I won’t go into details about the other complicated and strict etiquette. Anyway, during the morning court, the officials worked a hundred times harder than the emperor.

Now the emperor is sympathetic to his ministers, which is the act of a benevolent monarch. You are shameless and insist on arguing with the emperor. Aren't you asking for trouble?

Look, our young emperor is so energetic and happy! This is a good start!

"Regarding the response to the Guangning War, the court discussed it yesterday. If there are no new strategies, we will not discuss it further."

"As for the treatment of Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen, the ministers can submit memorials and express their opinions. There is no need to argue endlessly in the court."

As soon as Zhu Youxiao came to power, he put the two major issues on hold temporarily. He really didn't want the court to become a quarrelsome market again.

Most of the officials were stunned and were ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. But the words they had been thinking about all night were useless?

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to submit." Duke of England Zhang Weixian came out and made a memorial.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Mr. Zhang, please report."

Zhang Weixian reported, "Your Majesty has ordered me to reorganize the Beijing Army. A preliminary investigation reveals widespread corruption, including forced labor, fraudulent employment, selling off of leisure time, and contracting exercises. Of the more than 100,000 troops, half are elderly and infirm..."

"I have worked tirelessly and am worried that I have failed Your Majesty. I dare to ask Your Majesty to select capable people to assist in military and political affairs." Zhang Weixian lowered his head deeply, looking very ashamed.

Zhu Youxiao's expression darkened. "How dare you, noble relatives, eunuchs, powerful officials, and even the generals of the Beijing camp, do this? Minister Zhang was able to investigate the abuses, but he lacked the courage and fortitude to eliminate them. He shirked responsibility and is guilty!"

"I am guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty." Zhang Weixian did not argue and remained honest.

Zhu Youxiao snorted and said, "Just deduct half a year's salary to see the effect."

"I thank Your Majesty for your great grace." Zhang Weixian knelt down and kowtowed, looking depressed.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept across the courtiers, finally stopping at Yang Lian, the Military Affairs Commissioner. His expression brightened slightly as he said, "Mr. Yang is upright and unyielding to personal feelings. You are the one who must rectify the long-standing malpractices in the Beijing military camp."

Yang Lian thought for a moment, then stepped out of the line and knelt, "Your Majesty, I am willing to assist you in military and political affairs and share your worries."

"Excellent," Zhu Youxiao praised, and said in a clear voice, "Yang Lian is loyal to the country. He is promoted to the rank of Vice Minister of War and granted the Imperial Sword. Starting today, he will be in charge of the Beijing camp and assist in military and political affairs."

"I thank Your Majesty for your great grace." Yang Lian kowtowed and accepted the order.

Zhu Youxiao nodded with a smile and raised his hand to signal Yang Lian to stand up. Hexi's eyes swept over the ministers in the hall, and his clear voice echoed in the hall.

"You are all well-read and knowledgeable, pillars of our nation. Although I do not know all of them, I understand some of their strengths. I hope that everyone can make the best use of their talents. You should also understand my heart, work diligently, and share my worries."

Zhu Youxiao turned his gaze to Zuo Guangdou, the Left Censor-in-Chief. "When Zuo Qing was in charge of the Zhili military farming project, his memorial on 'Three Causes and Fourteen Proposals' was well-organized. Later, water conservancy projects flourished, and the people of northern China began to learn about rice cultivation. This benefited the people, and his hard work and contributions were immense."

Zuo Guangdou bowed and thanked him, "I dare not take credit for it. This is all thanks to your majesty's wisdom. Your Majesty has approved all the decrees, which is a blessing for all the people."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "The convicted eunuch Liu Chao once forged an imperial decree and demanded from Zuo Qing the abandoned estate of Qi Wan. You refused to open the seal and refused it, which shows that Zuo Qing is upright and strict."

Raising his hand to silence Zuo Guangdou's humble thanks, Zhu Youxiao continued, "Shaanxi is a strategically located frontier region, occupying four of the Nine Frontiers. Yet, natural disasters are frequent, and droughts are particularly severe. In the tenth and fourteenth years of the Wanli reign, droughts spread throughout the province. This is due to a lack of knowledge of water conservancy, making it difficult to resist natural disasters. Do you agree, Zuo Qing?"

Zuo Guangdou bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. If we don't understand water conservation, the land will become barren in one year, the people will migrate in two years, and the land and the people will be gone in three years. If we want to prevent droughts from becoming disasters and floods from becoming harmful, the only way is to develop water conservation."

"Good." Zhu Youxiao nodded in praise and said, "Would you, Zuo Qing, be willing to serve as the governor of Shaanxi, shepherd the people, share my worries, and bring benefits to the people?"

Zuo Guangdou couldn't think it through for a moment and looked hesitant.

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes and said, "There are six princes in Shaanxi who have been violating laws and regulations by encroaching on farmland, causing quite a bit of public resentment. Is Zuo Qing afraid to offend the imperial family?"

This was not what Zuo Guangdou hesitated about, but after the emperor said this, if he did not accept the appointment, it would be tantamount to confirming the suspicion.

"I am willing to be the governor of Shaanxi to share your worries, rectify the laws and relieve the people's suffering." Zuo Guangdou bowed and accepted the order.

Make the best use of people and things.

Yang Lian was upright and honest, so he went to reorganize the Beijing camp and deal with those nobles, dignitaries, eunuchs, powerful people, and generals of the Beijing camp. After all, he was not afraid of offending anyone.

Zuo Guangdou was not only a stubborn person, but also an expert in water conservancy and farming. He was well versed in military farming. So he should go govern Shaanxi. Then he could fight against the vassal states who were encroaching on the land and breaking the law, and try to eliminate the source of the peasant uprising.