Zhu Youjian bowed and replied, "Master, I think the book of Shangshu you taught is very good."
Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and said, "My brother should read the 'Chuan Xi Lu' (Instructions for Practical Living), which contains the sayings and letters of Wang Wencheng, who is enshrined in the Confucius Temple in this dynasty. It is about pursuing one's conscience and integrating knowledge and action. I have gained a lot of insights from reading it."
"Your Majesty said it is a good book, I will definitely read it." Zhu Youjian did not know the deep meaning of this, he just thought that his brother was supervising education, so he readily agreed.
Zhu Youxiao chatted with his brothers for a while until Zhu Youjian left.
Zhu Youxiao kept this matter in mind when he was conferred the title of king and had his palace built, so as not to forget it when he was busy.
"Paul and Xu are in great good health!" Sun Shenxing, the Minister of Rites, sipped his wine and glanced at Xu Guangqi who was sitting at the wine table not far away with some disdain.
Xu Guangqi was a Catholic, and his religious name was Paul, or perhaps Paul. Sun Shenxing called him by his religious name, with obvious contempt, but also a hint of jealousy.
Ye Xianggao stroked his beard and said slowly, "The Eastern Barbarians are rampant. Xu Zixian (Zi) is quite familiar with the Western Barbarians' firearms. It is reasonable for His Majesty to use him."
"Such eccentricities and tricks are not worthy of being displayed in a refined setting." Zhao Nanxing also spoke with disdain, saying, "Your Majesty's establishment of a separate 'Arms and Gunpowder Bureau' is against the rules. We should advise against it."
Yang Lian nodded and said, "In the great Celestial Empire, there are certainly people who are proficient in firearms and can follow the teachings of our ancestor Qi Jiguang..."
Ye Xianggao frowned, truly unwilling to clash with the young emperor. He politely advised, "If the Western Barbarians' artillerymen we've recruited don't live up to their reputation, His Majesty is fully aware of this, so why should we raise such objections? If the Western Barbarians' firearms are truly capable, why would they be of any harm in aiding the Liaodong campaign?"
During the Wanli period, he served as the chief minister, and he was the only one in the position, known as the "sole prime minister"; when Emperor Tianqi ascended the throne, he was recalled, and Ye Xianggao's mentality had changed a lot.
According to the hardliners of the Donglin Party, Ye Xianggao had lost his fighting spirit and sharpness, and was becoming decadent and trying to compromise with others. He was no longer the upright minister who dealt with the tax inspectors sent by the emperor with an iron fist.
Ye Xianggao was indeed overly cautious and walked on thin ice as the chief minister of the cabinet.
Moreover, he also sensed the young emperor's dissatisfaction with him and the complaints of the civil servants.
It was so frustrating. Ye Xianggao always sighed in his heart and felt helpless.
This was the case during the Wanli period, when some people even compared him with Jiao Fang, a minister who was attached to Liu Jin during the Zhengde period.
Cooperating with and fighting against the Imperial Household Department is the approach that almost every Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty would choose. Zhang Juzheng was so powerful that he even tried to win over Feng Bao!
Ye Xianggao felt very aggrieved. He just wanted to balance the forces in the court and maintain the normal operation of the government. Why was he regarded as "weak" and "compromising" and attacked?
"Though these gentlemen possessed impressive character and opinions... they completely failed to consider their origins, their advancements, their retreats, their survival, their gains and losses, and the crucial issues. I tirelessly advised them, but they refused to listen. Their arrogance led to regrets, ultimately resulting in their own deaths and the ruin of the world... It is deeply painful!"
While complaining about his grievances, Ye Xianggao also became increasingly disappointed with these Donglin Party officials who claimed to be the "embodiment of justice" and sighed helplessly in his heart.
The emperor was not satisfied, and his ministers were still trying to sabotage him. The Prime Minister Ye Xianggao really felt exhausted and had already thought about retiring and returning home.
Seeing that Ye Xianggao did not support them, the new Donglin Party members stopped talking. However, they did not agree with Ye Xianggao. Instead, they exchanged glances, ready to shake off this spineless person and discuss the decision privately.
At this time, Zhu Youxiao had already eaten and drunk his fill, so he stood up and left, ready to enjoy the wedding night.
When choosing Zhang Yan as the queen, Zhu Youxiao was attracted by her fair skin, bright eyes, and pretty figure.
But today, beneath her phoenix coronet and bridal robe, she had a lifeless face like a porcelain doll. Even funnier was the two obvious blushes on her cheeks, which really left Zhu Youxiao dumbfounded.
This is Zhang Yan, the famous queen in history. When did I go blind?
Zhu Youxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the other two imperial concubines had the same makeup.
It turns out that the bridal makeup of the Ming Dynasty, or the palace makeup artists, was at this level. It's so scary.
It can be said that bare face is better than makeup, and light makeup is better than heavy makeup!
………………
The setting sun was like blood, illuminating Guangning City with a deep red hue, as if it had been stained with blood.
The fierce but not dangerous siege finally ended. The Later Jin army retreated, and the defenders were busy organizing equipment, treating the wounded, and preparing for another battle.
Several auxiliary volunteers carried the wounded soldiers down the city wall and took them to an empty house they had requisitioned at the foot of the city.
The empty houses have been turned into hospitals, and doctors from all over the city have been recruited. Together with those in the army, they are barely able to cope with the workload.
The brave Zhao Mengzi bandaged the arrow wound on his arm, met up with a few neighbors who were waiting for him, and prepared to go home to rest.
"Hey, that injured big guy, come here." A very majestic officer wearing a helmet and armor called out loudly.
"The master is calling you!" his companion reminded him. Zhao Mengzi finally woke up and walked over hesitantly. He bowed and said, "Master, are you calling me?"
The officer glanced at Zhao Mengzi's arm and asked, "Did you get injured on the city wall?"
Zhao Mengzi quickly replied, "My lord, I was on the city wall holding a shield to block the arrows for you, the soldier, and I was accidentally hit by an arrow."
He then quickly added, "Don't worry, sir. I only have minor injuries and can still come back to work tomorrow."
The officer nodded, then took another look at the sturdy, somewhat naive volunteer. His expression brightened slightly, and he said, "The governor has recently established a rule that civilians who are injured while helping to defend the city will receive compensation and rewards. Your injury isn't serious, so it seems you'll only receive a piece of cloth."
As he spoke, the officer instructed the guard beside him, "Take him to claim the reward, and then have the clerk at the prefectural yamen give him a tax exemption certificate so he can recuperate for a few days."
"Yes, sir." The personal guard saluted and accepted the order, then waved to Zhao Mengzi, "Big man, follow me to claim the reward."
Zhao Mengzi followed his personal soldiers in a daze and came to the volunteer militia management office set up by the prefectural government at the foot of the city.
After hearing the introduction, the yamen’s clerk recorded it and awarded the reward accordingly.
When Zhao Mengzi walked out of the management office holding the cloth and the tax exemption certificate to show to the head of the baojia system, he was still stupidly not reacting, as if he was dreaming.
"Hey, look, Mengzi really got a reward from the government." After hearing the general idea, several young neighbors did not leave. They had to see for themselves whether it was true or not.
A young man came forward and touched the cloth in Zhao Mengzi's arms, saying enviously, "This is fine cotton cloth. I wonder if it's woven in Songjiang."
A middle-aged man stepped forward to examine it carefully, twisted it with his fingers like an expert, nodded, and said confidently, "It's three-shuttle cotton cloth woven in Songjiang. Each piece is worth at least six or seven cents!"
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