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Part One: Penghu Storm Chapter 505: The Lord of ZTE?  ?

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    Ding Yunyi expanded into Luzon, and Chongzhen suffered from internal and external troubles. At this time, the bandit leaders Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others finally showed their ferocious minions again.

    Regarding the unprecedented crisis faced by the Ming Dynasty at that time, many courtiers were relatively aware of it, and some were deeply worried about state affairs.  The person most affected by the comprehensive crisis was Emperor Chongzhen.  Now he is struggling desperately to overcome this terrible crisis, but sometimes he still fantasizes about being a "Lord of ZTE" and often says so verbally.  Although he did not dare to think about it, let alone talk about the possibility of national subjugation, the infinite worries and frequent pessimism deep in his heart made him even more willful and ruthless, and he would never allow any courtiers to criticize or hinder him.  act.

    In the Forbidden City, after all the civil and military officials were standing in line, an eunuch walked out of the Huangji Gate with a yellow silk whip in his hand. The whip had a body of three feet, a tip three feet long and three inches wide. It was stained with wax.  , equipped with a foot-long red lacquered wooden handle, with a dragon head carved on it and painted with gold lacquer.  He walked to the corner of Danchi and stood there, swung his silent whip, circled it in the air a few times, and whipped it hard.  The sound of the whip was clear and resounded through the sky.  After waving it three times in a row, the eunuch put away his silent whip, walked down to Danqi and stood still.  As a result, the Meridian Gate was silent, the ceremony was dense, and the atmosphere was solemn.

    After a while, the official called, "Here we come!"

    Chongzhen, wearing a Yishan crown and a round-collared yellow robe embroidered with dragons, looked sad and came out in a chariot surrounded by a large group of eunuchs in gorgeous costumes.  The guiding officials, composed of four people each from Hanlin, Zhongshu, Ke, and Dao, guided the dragon chariot out of the Huangji Gate, stepped back step by step, and guided the dragon chariot to the throne.  All civil and military officials bowed their heads, not daring to look up.  Chongzhen got off the chariot.  He ascended to the throne, which was commonly known as the Golden Platform at that time.  In front of him is an imperial table with a yellow satin embroidered dragon surrounding the peak.  There is a small red lacquer railing three feet away from the imperial case to prevent an official from suddenly approaching the imperial throne and assassinating him while he is kneeling on the ground.  After Chongxu sat down, three eunuchs, one holding a yellow satin umbrella canopy and two holding two yellow Luo fans, came up from the east and west sides of His Majesty.  Standing behind Chongzhen.  They held the yellow umbrella cover on the throne, and the two yellow fans were crossed behind him, vigilantly guarding his safety.  If you see any of the ministers trying to assassinate you when they are performing in front of the imperial court.  The two eunuchs holding yellow fans only need to move their hands, and an iron coil will automatically fall down, revealing a sharp blade from the fan handle.  It turned out that there were nine warriors in golden robes holding five umbrella covers and four round fans.  Standing behind and to the left and right of the throne.  Later, because the emperor was not at ease with the Jinyi warriors, he asked them to stand by His Majesty Dan.  The only people standing behind the "Golden Platform" and on the left and right sides are now only the most trusted deacons and eunuchs.

    The official of Hongzhuang Temple, who had a dignified appearance and a loud voice, sang loudly: "Everyone is saluting!" Then all the civil and military officials faced the golden platform, and in accordance with the praises of the Honglu Temple official, they performed the regular salute of one prostration and three kowtows in a rhythmic manner, and then  Stand in separate classes.  A censor who corrected rituals knelt down and played:

    "Today, Zhang Zhifa, the head of the household department, dropped his wat to the ground when he stood up. This is a breach of etiquette and should be questioned. Please order!"

    Chongzhen was tired because he stayed up almost all night last night.  He only whispered a few words, but none of the officials heard him clearly.  One has a handsome appearance and is wearing a round-collared red court dress.  The eunuch with a blue parrot patch and a gold belt around his waist, who was responsible for publicity in the court, took a few steps forward from the throne.  Like a woman¡¯s voice, she announces the message loudly:

    "The emperor's decree: I don't think he did it unintentionally, so there is no need to question him; he will be fined three months' salary as a small punishment. Thank you!"

    Chongzhen was agitated and seemed very anxious. He absentmindedly saw an old minister in his sixties staggering out of the class.  He knelt down and recited in a trembling voice: "This humble minister has behaved disrespectfully in court and deserves to die. Your Majesty is so generous that he has not punished you severely, making it difficult for this humble minister to repay you with his life or death. I sincerely thank you for your kindness!" Then he flowed.  With tears in his eyes, he shouted in a trembling voice: "Long live! Long live! Long live!" Chongzhen was still absent-minded, with no other expression on his face except the original melancholy look.

    When Zhang Zhifa stood up to thank him, Chongzhen's eyes were sweeping towards the class of civil servants on the left.  He did not see Xue Guoguan, the chief minister, and understood that he was "registered" at home because he was impeached.  Another Honglu Temple official knelt in front of him and told him the names and number of the civil and military officials who had thanked and kowtowed outside the Meridian Gate today. At the same time, an accompanying eunuch unfolded a red paper list and placed it on the imperial desk.  He just glanced at the list and then looked outside the Meridian Gate.  Because it was far away from the Meridian Gate, he only saw people kneeling outside the door openings on the left and right sides.

    The Honglu Temple official immediately stood up, took a few steps back, faced the Meridian Gate and shouted: "Thank you outside the Meridian Gate and bow to the officials to salute!"

    When the civil and military officials outside the Meridian Gate were performing five bows and three kowtows to him from a distance in accordance with the praises of another Honglu Temple official, he looked outside the Meridian Gate again, then raised his head and looked at the afternoon.  The gate of the city and the tall building.  The dark clouds are low and the thunder can't stop.  He suddenly repeated the vague hope that often appeared in his heart and dreams: If Yang Sichang could succeed and capture Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng from the capital, he would lead the prince and other princes to the morning gate to be "captured", how wonderful it would be!

      As usual, the officials of the Five Prefectures, Sixth Ministries and other yamen knelt down to perform routine duties, but Chongzhen didn't pay much attention.  He was about to announce the punishment of Xue Guoguan to the ministers when he suddenly heard noisy voices coming from a distance. This was an extremely rare phenomenon near Chengtian Gate.  He guessed that it must be the "ignorant people" from Najifu and Shandong who wanted to see him and refused to leave. He couldn't help frowning and feeling angry in his heart, thinking: "How dare they resist the decree and still stay in the capital!"

    But he did not forget to let his subjects see him as "the king of Yao and Shun", so he endured the anger in his heart, called the minister of household affairs and the ministers to him, and said slowly with a look of compassion:

    "I have always loved the people like a child. The disasters in some states and counties are too severe. Please consider the situation and whether the money and food should be reduced or exempted, and discuss in detail." With a gust of southerly wind, the faint voice of people from the east Chang'an Gate continued to be heard.  He couldn't help but ask: "Are the people outside here the people who submitted the letter?"

    Li Daiwen, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, who was kneeling on the ground, raised his head and said: "They are the common people in Hejifu, Shandong Province. Due to the severe disaster, the conscription continued. They came to the capital to appeal to God for mercy, exemption from conscription, and rapid relief."

    Chongzhen frowned again, was silent for a moment, and said to a eunuch standing beside him: "Go and pass on the imperial edict orally: I already know what the people have said. I know the suffering of the people. I will never allow the local officials to do anything again.  As for the relief work, we have ordered the bureaus to take care of it as soon as possible, and ask the people to return to their hometowns as soon as possible. They are not allowed to stay in the capital, cause trouble, and fail to live up to my great kindness. "

    He immediately called the officials from the Five Governments, Jiuqing, Ke, and Taoists to come to him.  All of a sudden.  The summoned courtiers knelt outside the small railing in front of the imperial court, not even coughing softly.  His face was extremely cold and full of anger.  There was murderous intent between his brows.  All the civil and military officers knew that he was moody and they all lowered their heads, waiting for unexpected events.  Some timid courtiers.  I couldn't help but feel my calves tremble slightly.  The sky is already bright, and the dark clouds are thicker and lower than before dawn, pressing on the ridge of Wufeng Tower.  There was a dull thunder in the sky.  He looked up to the sky, glanced at the ministers, and said:

    "I asked you to discuss how to deal with Xue Guoguan. I saw what you said after the discussion yesterday. It was quite lenient and appeasing. Xue Guoguan is the chief assistant and cannot assist me in reviving the government. He regulates yin and yang and assists me in revitalizing the country. Instead, he pursues private interests.  What's wrong with bribery? He should have been questioned and handed over to the Third Law Division for serious punishment. Since his other evil deeds are not obvious, he will be removed from his position and he will not be allowed to stay in the capital in the future. You must not imitate him.  What a look!¡±

    All the civil and military officials kowtowed and got up and returned to court.  Some courtiers who had many important matters to report in person fell silent when they saw the emperor was so angry.  A moment of silence.  Chongzhen was about to retreat from the court when suddenly the voices in the distance became more noisy, mixed with crying.  He was very angry, glared, and said:

    "Where is the Imperial Guard?"

    Jin Yiwei envoy Wu Mengming immediately walked out of the Wuchen class and knelt in front of him.  He first said with emotion to the ministers:

    "Since I ascended to the throne, I have respected Heaven and Father, worked diligently and loved the people. I have always had the heart of Yao and Shun at heart, and made sure that my benevolence and virtue are spread throughout the world. Because of the critical situation of the country, I have been eating and drinking at night, and I always want to make the world early.  Seeing that there is peace, the people came to the table early. The tax department is heavy today, and it is a last resort. I don't want the people to only look at the immediate suffering and not think about my eternal country." He turned to Wu Mengming and said, "Go and take a look.  Look, Haosheng has told the people not to make any noise. If you still dare to disobey, you will all be taken away!"

    Those more than a thousand representatives of the common people who made the emperor angry had "sent a letter to Fu Que since dawn, kneeling to express gratitude to Heaven." They knelt at the right gate of Chang'an and then at the left gate of Chang'an, but they could not get the mercy of any minister who accepted their memorial.  Send it to the emperor.  They could only see Waijinshui Bridge and Huabiao in front of the bridge, not even Chengtian Gate.  When they went to court, they heard the faint sound of three whips, and then everything was silent.  It was as if the Forbidden City was an extremely deep sea, and they were far away overseas.  Chang'an Gate, Chengtian Gate, Duanmen and Meridian Gate, each gate is a mountain that cuts off the coast, making it daunting and impossible to cross.  People's legs were numb and their knees hurt.  Some had to sit down, but most were still kneeling.

    Some people think about the tragic situation in their hometowns, crying to heaven and crying silently in despair.  More and more passers-by gathered, and hundreds of people gathered behind them. Some were just watching the fun, while others were deeply sympathetic and kept whispering.  There were several quarrels because the Jinyi Banner School guarding the left gate of Chang'an wanted to disperse the people.  Suddenly, a eunuch walked out and shouted in a high voice: "There is a purpose!"

    Everyone who was sitting quickly knelt down, and even those watching the excitement hurriedly knelt down because they couldn't avoid it.  After the eunuch orally conveyed the "imperial edict", he turned around and left.  Some of the people knelt behind, panicked, and did not hear the content of the "imperial edict" clearly. They only heard "I appreciate this" and that was it.

    But most people heard it clearly, and when the eunuch left, they couldn't help crying.

    ???????????????????????The old man's heart suddenly jumped up, he grabbed the memorial and held it in his hands, and chased towards the left gate of Chang'an, shouting loudly:

    "Father-in-law! Father-in-law! Please have mercy on the little people"

    The eunuch didn't look back and walked away.  Suddenly a hand grabbed his chest and pushed him hard, pushing him five feet away. He fell to the ground on his back and passed out.  Several people rushed forward to save him, and some went to pick up the memorial on the ground.  The Jinyi Banner School was afraid that the people would rush to the left gate of Chang'an, so they raised sticks and swords to drive them back.  The citizens of the capital who stood watching from a distance were used to seeing the Jinyi Banner School members randomly attacking and arresting people. They were shouting "Hitting people! Beating people!" while running away, causing chaos on East Chang'an Street and shops.  They closed their doors one after another.  It happened that the censor who patrolled the city came with a group of soldiers from the Military and Horse Division, and drove the panicked, angry and desperate common people outside Zhengyang Gate.

    When Jin Yiwei envoy Wu Mengming walked out of the East Chang'an Gate, the people who had "Fu Que submitted a letter" had been dispersed, leaving a few broken shoes and torn memorials on the ground.  He ordered a Jinyiwei commander, Tongzhi, to lead the Jinyi Banner School, together with the five city military and horse commanders, to expel the people of Shandong and Jifu who had to come to Beijing to write a letter to the inner and outer cities.

    When Wu Mengming walked down the Danchi of Huangjimen, Chongzhen was about to retreat from the court. Suddenly, an old minister in his fifties came out from the class of civil servants and knelt down outside the vermilion railing in front of the imperial case.  Chongzhen immediately became angry when he saw that it was Huang Daozhou who had opposed the increase in conscription and training pay and attacked Yang Sichang the day before.  Before the veteran minister could open his mouth, he asked sternly:

    "I have read your memorial. Is there anything else you would like to present?"

    Huang Dao Zhoufu said: "The humble minister begs the emperor to stop the military training and pay, severely punish Yang Sichang to thank the world. Promote a lenient and benevolent government and heal the broken hearts."

    Because Chongzhen was angry, his hands and feet became even more erratic, saying: "Because the captives and bandits were rampant, and I was short of soldiers and soldiers, I had no choice but to use the advice of my assistant Yang Sichang to increase the number of soldiers last year. Why don't I love the people like a son? Why don't I love the people deeply?  Do you know the suffering of the people? However, if you don't recruit new soldiers, you can't train new soldiers. If you don't train new soldiers, you can't suppress the rogue bandits internally and defend the Eastern Han Dynasty externally. Therefore, we have no choice but to adopt Yang Sichang's proposal and temporarily torture our people as ministers.  In this difficult time for the country, I deeply regret my failure to be pragmatic and to work in vain. Today, I am supervising the division in the rain and wind, and it turns out that the nine gangs of bandits in Fang County have already arrived one after another.  Please surrender. After Xian's defeat at Manao Mountain, he has become a fish in the bottom of the cauldron. He and Luo Rucai are trapped in the eastern Sichuan area in western Hubei and cannot escape. Li Zicheng is still besieged in Shangluo Mountain and will be annihilated within and outside the imperial court in a few days.  Disharmony and constant restraint will inevitably lead to failure in the great task of suppressing thieves. You said in your statement the day before yesterday that Yang Sichang's proposal to increase the training salary is poisonous to the world. Is it for the sake of the country to attack Khan so wantonly?" He turned to the ministers and continued:  "I sincerely hope that civil and military ministers, whether in court or abroad, can work together as one, and never set up separate factions to attack the Khan."

    Chongzhen thought that his words would stop Huang Daozhou from fighting with his court and make other courtiers dare not follow suit.  But Huang Daozhou was neither persuaded nor persuaded by him.  Huang Daozhou has a very stubborn character, and he has been familiar with Confucian classics and history books since he was a child. He only wants to be a loyal minister, imitating those ancient people who dared to speak out and give advice, and takes the words "Literature is to die for admonishment, and martial arts is to die for war" as the rule of being a minister.  It is a golden rule. I like Su Wu's poem "You will die in office and die in battle".  More importantly, he came from a poor family and was often reviled, being close to the lower class of the landlord class.

    The imperial court implemented the "one whip" collection method, which combined the Ding's labor money and all the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous sects into the land tax.  Large landowners were mostly from wealthy gentry families. They not only enjoyed immunity from servitude, but also were able to pass part of the burden of land tax onto powerless small and medium-sized landowners through corruption by the government and willing officials.  This class and the peasants with a small amount of land are not only the target of expropriation and expropriation by the government, but also the target of large households to acquire land and wells. Coupled with wars and natural disasters, there is a possibility of their situation being reduced at any time, or even bankruptcy and death and displacement.

    This class, plus farmers with a small amount of land, is second only to tenant farmers and farm laborers in number, so their movements will affect the survival of the Ming Dynasty.  Emperor Chongzhen regarded the wealthy gentry as the backbone of the country, while Huang Daozhou regarded small and medium-sized landowners and farmers with small amounts of land as the backbone of the country.

    ¡°The ¡°little people¡± he refers to refer to these two classes of people, who are directly bearing the burden of additional land taxes.  (You are welcome to come. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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