"Your Majesty..." Wang Tigan came in and softly reminded that it was getting late and time for dinner.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and instructed Wang Tigan, "Prepare eight dishes and two pots of wine for Lord Shen and send them to the inn."
After saying that, he turned to Shen Yourong and smiled, "You must be reserved here, so go back and eat more freely. This is my way of welcoming you. Well, bring these documents. I wrote them. Shen Youqing has read them carefully. Tomorrow -"
Shaking his head, Zhu Youxiao said, "I'm afraid I won't have time tomorrow. Then let's do it the day after tomorrow. I'll test the cannons on the outskirts of the city. Mr. Shen will watch with me, and then report back."
Shen Yourong still didn't know what the emperor was thinking, but the favor of being given wine and food made him secretly relieved.
"Your humble servant thanks His Majesty for the reward." Shen Yourong stood up and saluted, took the wooden box containing the documents brought by the palace servant, and took his leave.
Another veteran is going to work so hard! Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh softly as he watched Shen Yourong, who was already over sixty years old, withdraw.
There's nothing I can do. Apart from Shen Yourong, I don't know of any other famous naval commander, even an experienced one.
As for Yu Zigao, the general of Fujian, Zhu Youxiao felt that his ability was mediocre and far inferior to his father, the famous general Yu Dayou!
Of course, the court's financial investment in the navy was also a problem. Zhu Youxiao had already withdrawn the treasury and issued an edict, ordering Fujian to build ships and organize troops.
Time is very short. We must expand the navy before Zheng Zhilong and others become powerful.
Sell everything you have for money, tighten your belt, or else we really have to sell the palace?
The magnificent house in Beijing can be sold for more money, and the house in Nanjing can be kept for myself to live in. After all, one needs a home.
………………
A ray of lavender light, like a beacon signaling freedom, swept across the horizon, dyeing the earth with the beautiful colors brought by the morning sun.
Outside the Forbidden City, a large group of people were already looking out and waiting.
On one side were civil and military officials, and on the other were scholars wearing brand new jinshi hats and black gauze caps with flowered hairpins. Of course, there were also military jinshi dressed in military uniforms.
The results of the palace examination were in, and today was the "Grand Announcement." With so many talented young men admitted at once, the court naturally had to hold a grand induction ceremony for them.
The candidates were very excited. They were already winners in life. It all depended on the final ranking!
The treatment and honors received by the top three scholars in the imperial examination are incomparable to those of ordinary Jinshi.
Compared to the excitement of the tribute scholars, the officials were much more dull.
So many people were forced to "resign" at once, and a whole bunch of them were crushed under the accusation of "forming a clique and making false accusations";
The anti-corruption campaign by the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel resulted in a number of officials from the capital to the local areas being severely punished; the decisive blow from the young emperor filled everyone with awe.
What about the king's benevolence, the court's traditions, and the unspoken rules of officialdom? How come they all changed so suddenly?
You must be cautious when resigning from office, you will be dismissed for forming a clique, and you must be even more careful about corruption.
Although the young emperor's few blows did not bring awe to the court, they did alert many officials and made them re-examine the emperor's thoughts and actions.
Of course, there are those who are disappointed, and naturally there are those who are proud.
The newly appointed ministers of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel were full of vigor and looked like they were ready to make a big splash.
There is also Yang Lian who has taken over the job of assisting in military affairs, and Bi Zisu who has been promoted three levels to become the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. He has already ordered the thirteen censors to come to Beijing to report on their work. His intention to make a big move is obvious!
The rank of the Censor-in-Chief was not high, but his duty was to inspect prefectures and counties, specializing in the inspection and impeachment of officials. He also had the power to "report major matters and make decisions on minor matters immediately", which was very powerful.
Look, Bi Zisu is standing there with a serious face. He is famous for his strong temperament. Whoever he looks at with those big eyes will tremble!
Yan, Su! That’s right, Bi Ziyan and Bi Zisu are brothers, both very talented.
Zhu Youxiao selected Bi Zisu to the Censorate in order to control this censor's base, which was also the Donglin Party's stronghold.
Basically, after Zhu Youxiao's fierce actions, the Donglin Party in the court had suffered a heavy blow.
Small fry aside, the most important Donglin Party officials were either transferred out of the capital or demoted. Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing also submitted a petition for resignation, citing illness as a pretext. Given the emperor's quick-tempered nature, he was also about to be fired.
The drum in the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City sounded. As soon as the drum sounded, all the civil and military officials lined up according to their ranks and positions, waiting for the palace gate to open.
Under the command of the officials from the Ministry of Rites, the civil and military scholars also lined up in order.
The bells rang and the palace gates slowly opened, unveiling the majestic and solemn veil of the imperial palace.
The civil and military officials walked into the Meridian Gate with ease, and the civil and military scholars followed the civil and military officials and also walked into the Meridian Gate.
The Jinshui River winds its way between the Meridian Gate and the Taihe Gate. The Jinshui Bridge is made of white marble and is meticulously carved, looking magnificent and majestic.
The officials adjusted their hats and belts again, and the queue became more orderly as they continued to move forward.
At this time, in addition to more guards, the censors among the civil and military officials also began to take on the responsibility of supervision. Any inappropriate words or deeds would be recorded and dealt with later.
When they arrived outside the hall, the civil and military officials stood in order of rank from top to bottom, and the civil and military scholars lined up behind the officials and stood under the "step", which showed a clear hierarchy.
Because the emperor would be present in person, the area outside the hall was decorated according to the emperor's specifications, with all kinds of ceremonial guards and musicians on standby.
The emperor's personal guards stood on both sides of the steps, ceremonial swords and spears shining in their hands, each of them standing with their chests puffed out and their heads held high, looking awe-inspiring, which made the atmosphere even more solemn and dignified.
According to etiquette, at the beginning of the Chen period, the Minister of Rites would go to the Qianqing Palace and request the emperor to dress in formal attire and leave the palace. The emperor would then be led into the main hall and seated by his attendants.
At this time, the Zhonghe Shao music played the Longping chapter, and a guard came to the eaves with a whip and danced with the whip three times in a row. Then the Danbi Da music played the Qingping chapter.
Well, the whip cracked loudly! The music wasn't exciting enough.
Zhu Youxiao sat on the throne with a gentle smile on his face, looking at the officials and civil and military scholars below who were performing the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Today I just came out to show my face. I don't need to issue an edict or give a speech. I just want to sit there as a decoration.
At this time, the Honglu Temple official began to announce the "Decree": "On a certain date in a certain year, the imperial examination will be held for the tribute scholars of the whole country. The first class will be awarded the title of Jinshi Jidi, the second class will be awarded the title of Jinshi Chuan, and the third class will be awarded the title of Tong Jinshi Chuan."
After the announcement of the "Decree", a palace maid handed the imperial ranking to Han Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet.
Han Yu held the imperial edict in his hand and saluted Emperor Tianqi who was sitting on the dragon throne. Then he walked to the table on the east side of the hall, opened the imperial edict and put it down.
The civil and military scholars standing behind the officials immediately became nervous and excited, and even their breathing became heavy.
Under the blazing gaze, the official from the Ministry of Rites walked to the table, opened the golden list, and began to read out the list.
"The first place winner of the imperial examination in the second year of the Tianqi reign... Liu Lishun!"
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