Chapter 78: Only a higher power can nourish...
Zhao Changning knew about this, and she even placed the memorial in a conspicuous place.
Fujian's location is really special. It is surrounded by Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong on three sides and faces the sea on one side. Fujian is full of mountains, which makes it easy to hide. Since the early days of Dayong, it has been a gathering place for mountain bandits and Japanese pirates, making it difficult to wipe out.
Nowadays, porcelain making is booming. The Japanese pirates and bandits who were beaten so hard before seem to be recovering. This will be a great threat to the sea voyage and transportation of porcelain.
This is a big deal and it concerns her, so of course she can't just sit back and do nothing.
"They all seem capable officials," Zhao Changning said, picking up the memorial and reading it. "Your Majesty, perhaps the elders haven't considered intervening, but simply don't have anyone available."
Upon hearing this, the emperor sneered, "No one is available, huh..."
He snorted coldly, "Whether or not someone employs them is up to them. Those students who pass the imperial examinations, upon arriving in Yujing, must pay homage to the mountain master. Only by doing so can they possibly become officials. It's become so complicated over the years, and even I can't pull this vine out."
Zhao Changning lowered his head and said nothing. The emperor was telling the truth.
The late emperor had said something like this before, but he really didn't have the energy to change it, so he just muddled through it all, and nothing major happened anyway.
Seeing that she was silent, the emperor asked, "Is Mingxuan still in the inner study?"
Zhao Changning's heart skipped a beat, and he said softly, "Yes, he is still in the inner study hall. Your Majesty, do you want to use him?"
Come to think of it, it seems that Mingxuan’s mourning period is almost coming.
After the emperor said this, he didn't speak again and just concentrated on his thoughts.
Zhao Changning left the Qinzheng Hall and sat in a side hall to sort out the recent situation.
Now the selection of female officials is still going on smoothly, and matters related to porcelain making have also been settled. However, the higher she goes in the cabinet, the more she realizes how dense and strict the network is, and she has no power to fight back.
In particular, Zhou Min and Sun Zhidao frequently provoked her, eager to interfere in the affairs of the female officials. Zhou Min even wanted to insert his daughter into the matter, which made Zhao Changning very annoyed.
Starting from the female officials, with the example of the female scribe, and now an eighth-rank female admiral, many families seem to see more opportunities.
Zhao Changning was also quite curious about this, and was even more moved. It turned out that they were not so old-fashioned. As long as their daughter stepped forward, they would still be willing.
No one can refuse more power, just as no one can refuse money.
Now the emperor is becoming more and more impatient with the cabinet, and he even mentioned the issue of the imperial examination. It can be seen that his patience has run out. You know, the chief examiners in recent years are basically several adults in the cabinet who are elected in turn.
If she wants to make further progress, the cabinet will definitely be a major obstacle. Coincidentally, the emperor also feels the same way...
Zhao Changning leaned back in the rattan chair and let out a long sigh. The excitement she had felt when she climbed up so desperately surged into her heart again, making her blood boil again. In the cold autumn wind and rain, her limbs were filled with strength as if they were filled with lead. The feeling of establishing her goals step by step and moving towards power made her obsessed and happy.
Power, she only wants power, and only higher power can nourish her growing ambition.
She saw her target clearly again.
Soon, the emperor and the cabinet elders discussed it again, and the imperial edict was issued.
Zhao Changning looked at the memorial with the red approval, and it was indeed Mingxuan. Ever since he had made a name for himself in Jiangxi, the emperor's attitude towards the cabinet had obviously changed, and he was no longer as restrained as before.
As expected, if you want to break something, you must first create a path that no one has ever walked on. Zhao Changning was also quite inspired by this.
She was thinking about the four elders one by one in her mind, wondering how she could stand out from them. She was already used to squeezing out a path through the cracks in the rocks.
In fact, there is no need to make enemies with everyone. There is always a way to divide and conquer, sow discord, use coercion and inducement, and it will be effective.
Of course, the most important thing is always the emperor's attitude.
Mingxuan was very happy when he learned that he was going to Fujian to serve as the governor of Fujian.
He had already gone to the Honglu Temple and met the emperor to listen to his instructions. He would set off in two days, so he was eagerly waiting for Zhao Changning to return to Shuier Lane.
"Thank you very much."
Zhao Changning had just entered the room when she heard Mingxuan thanking her. She was a little confused.
However, she came back specially this time just to see Mingxuan off.
Mingxuan explained, "Because of the hidden death, I thought it would be difficult to recover. I didn't expect... Thank you so much, thank you for speaking up for me."
Zhao Changning knew that he had misunderstood, but it was hard to say. It was she who helped Mingxuan enter the inner study, and she would occasionally mention Mingxuan's name in front of the emperor.
"Master Ming, it's not that my words are useful, but your talents are outstanding. The emperor is not someone who can change his mind with just a few words."
Mingxuan chuckled and changed the subject, "Come in, I've prepared some food for you, I wonder if it suits your taste."
Zhao Changning also laughed.
At the dinner table, Mingxuan solemnly toasted Grandma Xu, "I won't be back for a while. There are many mountains and long roads over there, and there are many bandits. It's really inconvenient to bring Yunqiu with me. Grandma Xu, I'm sorry to bother you."
Granny Xu waved her hands repeatedly, "I'm lonely too, I'm fine with Yunqiu around, you should ask the girl about this."
Zhao Changning nodded, "Yunqiu is with me, don't worry."
Mingxuan couldn't help but smile at her, trust in his eyes, "I know, this glass of wine is for you."
Zhao Changning also picked up the wine glass and drank it all.
After dinner, the two went into the main room to drink barley tea.
Zhao Changning actually didn't quite agree with him going to Fujian. "The Governor of Zhejiang and Fujian requested leave due to illness, and the Emperor graciously granted it. If you go there, you have no foundation, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to rally people's support."
Mingxuan was not afraid. "When I went to Zhejiang, although it was not so dangerous, there were also forces from all sides coming together, and I managed to get through it."
Zhao Changning smiled and shook his head. "I have no doubts about your abilities, but Fujian is a place with mountains and rivers. The Japanese pirates and bandits you defeated were almost all hiding in Fujian. I've heard that the local people and the pirates have a close connection."
Mingxuan used to be the governor of Zhejiang, and he knew as much about the situation in Fujian as Zhao Changning did.
"I once joined forces with the Governor of Fujian to suppress bandits. It was indeed difficult, but the people there were innocent. I think I can always ensure their safety, right?"
Zhao Changning felt very emotional. As time went by, she felt more and more that she and Mingxuan were two different people.
She knew herself very well. Everything she did was just for the sake of moving up. She was indifferent to ordinary people in her heart, even though she talked about righteousness. She had no intention of supporting the country and saving the people from dire straits, but when facing people like Mingxuan, she always admired them unconsciously.
People are always like this. When they can't do something themselves, they hope others can do it.
"I offer tea instead of wine to you, Master Ming. Dayong is lucky to have you."
Mingxuan was very happy as if he had been rewarded, "I am very happy to hear Miss Changning say this."
Zhao Changning smiled and shook his head, suddenly remembering something.
"You have no foundation and no strong means to break through in Fujian this time. Why don't you go to the emperor and ask him to bring two red cannons with you? If you encounter bandits, you can bombard them whenever you can. It can also deter Japanese pirates and other bandits."
She had witnessed the power of the Red Cannon, which was much more powerful than any fire gun or bird gun. After the emperor got this thing, he praised it highly and asked the Portuguese envoy Tome to get several more.
If they hadn't had the money at the moment, the Armory would have started to copy it regardless of the cost.
Mingxuan was stunned. "I'm afraid the emperor doesn't want to do this? I heard that the emperor attaches great importance to firearms. I really didn't realize it before."
Zhao Changning shook his head. There were many things that the emperor had not let people see. For example, the Portuguese language was so gibberish that even the late emperor probably didn't know when he learned it.
"Don't underestimate the importance of sailing to the South Seas to the Emperor. Regardless of the suffering of the common people, you know better than I do the harm posed by Japanese pirates, bandits, and piracy to sailing. Sooner or later, it will spread to the Guangzhou area. The Emperor knows even more about the huge sum of money involved. The Cabinet is pressing hard, and the Emperor only promoted you after much effort, so this shouldn't be difficult."
Otherwise, that hellish place of Fujian has been like this every year, and the people have been suffering terribly every year, but the people sitting high in the hall have never cared about it. Why do they care about it now?
It's nothing more than interests, and these interests can change his current situation. As for the suffering of the people and saving them from dire straits, they are all high-sounding excuses.
When Zhao Changning thought of this, he couldn't help but look at Mingxuan again.
Yes, people’s hearts are sometimes too easy to guess, even the emperor is no exception.
It was the first time Mingxuan heard Zhao Changning talk about state affairs with him, and she spoke in such detail. When he heard her say that the cabinet was pressing forward step by step, he couldn't help but pursed his lips.
"The elders in the cabinet have forgotten their original intentions. Before, Minister Gao even wanted to petition for posthumous burial in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but the Emperor refused. Now I understand."
Zhao Changning sneered when he heard this.
The longer she spent with the emperor, the more she felt the similarities between him and the previous emperor. Those people underestimated him just as they underestimated her.
In this way, at the end of September in the third year of Cheng'an, Mingxuan took three red cannons and set off for Fujian by boat.
It was at this time that the ship that sailed to the South China Sea returned again.
This time, he brought back a total of five million taels of silver, which even shocked Zhao Changning.
Fortunately, Mingqiu and Zuoyu have been reporting the situation to her. There have been great changes in Jiangxi. People tend to seek profit and avoid harm. The government's ships can bring back more money than private merchants, so the merchants will naturally turn to the government and even start a competition in porcelain making skills.
I heard that Zheng Chan's craftsmanship, especially white porcelain, is also famous.
Of course, Zhao Changning also selected four female officials to go to Jingdezhen to help the two. As the business grew, they could not have too few staff, so they would continue to send more people in the future.
Yunhui was very disappointed when she learned that her good friend Mingqiu could not come back.
Zhao Changning couldn't help but nod her head, "If you put the energy you put into dressing up into studying, you wouldn't have to waste your time here with me."
Yun Hui chuckled and stuck close to her aunt, "Then I'll just stay with her for the rest of my life."
She felt sleepy as soon as she saw a book. She even tried divination, and it worked wonders, she slept better.
This time, the five million taels were strictly followed as agreed upon at the last small court meeting. Two and a half million taels went into the national treasury, and two and a half million taels went into the Ministry of Revenue.
None of the money passed through Zhao Changning's hands.
Finally, many people shut up, including the old stubborn man who always scolded Zhao Changning. It turned out that one should be grateful to those who have received favors and be soft-hearted when receiving benefits.
Of course, there are indeed people who don’t love money, but these people’s voices are too small, and Zhao Changning doesn’t care at all.
Song Huan and Zhou Miao were even more powerful. They faced six divisions and were not at all inferior.
The account books were kept flawlessly, and her memory and accounting skills were also first-rate. Many men who graduated from the accounting department of the Ministry of Revenue could not compare with her. For a time, the reputation of the female official and the female admiral grew.
There is only one thing, and that is Zhou Min.
Song Huan couldn't help but get angry when she thought of Zhou Min's sarcastic words. "Aunt, how could he be so petty at his age? He slandered the female official with ulterior motives. We have to find a way to shut him up."
Zhao Changning also gritted his teeth, "What did he say about women serving men again?"
When she saw that Song Huan did not respond, she knew that it must have been Sun Zhidao who mentioned it first. This man was rough and always said whatever he wanted. Zhou Min retaliated against her again and again because she hated her.
These scholars with sharp minds are no more than that.
She comforted Song Huan, "After all, he was referring to me. Anyway, I don't care. Don't be angry."
But how could she not care? Since she is so shameless, don't blame her.
That afternoon, Zhao Changning, filled with anger, went to Zhou Min's house in a grand manner.
Although he didn't meet Zhou Min, he drank five cups of tea at his house before leaving.
The next day at the court meeting, Zhao Changning joined in without hesitation.
Speaking of the drought in Shaanxi and Gansu, for some reason, people started arguing about whether the Ministry of Revenue or the national treasury should pay for it.
Zhao Changning had just deposited 2.5 million taels into the national treasury, and the emperor hadn't even warmed up to it yet, so how could he let anyone take it away?
"The Ministry of Revenue's 2.5 million taels need not be distributed for now, especially to the Ministry of Works. It's okay to put the construction work on hold for now. Disaster relief is more important. Lord Zhou is a reasonable man, so I'm sure you'll understand." She glanced at Zhou Min deliberately. "Lord Zhou, don't you agree?"
Zhou Min hated her the most at this moment, and immediately retorted, "If the female secretary doesn't care about the maintenance of the palace, if a tile falls or a rafter hits someone one day, the female secretary will be responsible."
Zhao Changning looked at Zhou Min in disbelief, his eyes filled with sorrow. He said sadly, "Lord Zhou, that's not what you said when you were at my bedside yesterday..."
The whole court was in uproar.
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The author has something to say: Changning: Come on, spread rumors, who is afraid of who [angry] [angry]
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