First Minister of Ming Dynasty

First Minister Section 449

"It's King Qin's territory. It's too bad that there are no chickens crowing for thousands of miles. Shanxi has a lot of people and soldiers. The third brother will let the second brother listen to him. If the second brother doesn't do it, they will fight."

Zhu Di didn't mention the things he instigated inside, but instead looked innocent, he really didn't blame his brother, it was all his father's fault!

"Bastard!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was even angrier now. He never expected that the kings who were entrusted to each other would fight because of the population of their respective territories!

They're all from Lao Zhu's family, and they're all brothers and sisters. That's all you guys have to offer?

I'm so pissed off!

"Back then, we held a bowl and went around begging for a living. Over the past ten years, we conquered thousands of miles of land. As a result, you two things have no future at all! We will give you a territory and let you defend the country and protect your brother , to strengthen the foundation of our Zhu family... It turned out that you were lucky, and before you used your troops, you started to fight because of a lot of entanglements! How about your prospects?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, picked up the bamboo board on the table, and was about to beat someone.

Zhang Ximeng looked funny, but since he was in his house and Empress Ma was not there, Zhang Ximeng really couldn't encourage Lao Zhu to beat the child.

He could only stop him, "Your Majesty, although this matter is inappropriate, there is still some room for discussion. You, please calm down first. Let's finish talking properly, and then it won't be too late to punish."

Zhang Ximeng stopped Lao Zhu, then gave Zhu Di a look, and asked him to pull Zhu Xi and Zhu Yan to run quickly.

Zhu Di was very familiar with the road, and he was soon resigned.

Only Lao Zhu was left, furious.

"Huh! These two bastards, do we think they are sensible? I didn't expect that the mud would not be able to support the wall, and because of a trivial matter, they would fight with their noses and faces swollen. If you let them go, you don't need others to call, and you will start to make a fuss first." , it's really disgusting!"

Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyelids, thinking that you just realized it!

Do you think it's that easy to play Fenfeng?

If there is no set of measures, just relying on brotherhood and family affection, the results are almost the same.

There were seven kingdoms in chaos in the Han Dynasty, and eight kings in the Sima family... Your old Zhu family is not much better!

But it's not easy for Zhang Ximeng to say this directly, and there's no need to say it now, after all, the prince is still young.

Zhang Ximeng is more concerned about another matter, "My lord, everyone in Guanzhong knows that Guanzhong is in ruins. Now, in all the northern places, only Shanxi has a surplus of people. The situation in other places is very bad."

This matter is not as simple as two bastards fighting, but involves the strategy of the entire country.

Zhu Yuanzhang also gradually dissipated and calmed down.

"The Northern Expedition West Route Army and Li Siqi, Zhang Liangbi and others fought fiercely in Guanzhong, killing you and me. Over the years, Guanzhong has long been sparsely populated, and there are almost no people there.

In the same way, Shandong, Hebei, and Yanyun lands are all sparsely populated and extremely empty.

The slightly better one is Shanxi, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Except for Guan Duo and the others who went in once, they have maintained stability at other times.

Not only is there a large number of people in Shanxi itself, but there are also many people who have fled from other places. Looking at the whole north, this is a unique situation.

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time, and said slowly: "The disturbance of the second and third child really forced us to immigrate as soon as possible to balance the north."

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "That's true, but I don't think this matter should be rushed."

"Why? There is a shortage of people in Guanzhong. Liangzhou needs to open up the Hexi Corridor and regain their homeland. These things are urgently waiting to be done. How do you let us wait?"

Zhang Ximeng said: "My lord, Wang Baobao has been entrenched in Shanxi for a long time. It has not been affected by the war, which means that there are still many forces left by the Yuan court. They are entrenched in a complicated place. Your Majesty's decree to emigrate at this time will only send those who have no rights Powerless ordinary people are forced to leave their homes, they are unprepared, once they are forced to immigrate, many people will die on the road, the consequences will be disastrous!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly taken aback, and finally realized, "In the final analysis, the local government is still not governed, and we cannot implement what we want!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "The emigration to Huguang happened at the beginning. Luo Furen did a good job. How about letting him continue to preside over the emigration?"

Zhang Ximeng shook his head slightly, "My lord, Luo Furen is certainly an official, but now Shanxi still belongs to the Zhongshu Province of the Yuan court. Get it under control!"

Zhu Yuanzhang became serious, "This is not a small matter!"

Chapter 625 The Flowers of Ming Dynasty

After discussing with Zhang Ximeng, Zhu Yuanzhang hurried back to the palace, thinking that he should study this issue carefully.After he left, Zhu Di took the two elder brothers and came out in a big way.

"Don't be afraid, Mr. Lu Wang is a very good person. Have you forgotten what the queen mother told you? When you get here, you will be just like in the palace."

Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Ximeng, "Sir, let's have some food! Now that we're back to martial arts, we don't have anything to eat, and we'll have to be punished if we go to the palace."

Zhang Ximeng said helplessly: "I only have rough tea and rice here, I'm afraid I have wronged you!"

"Don't be wronged, don't be wronged, my brother's house has so many cattle and sheep, let the kitchen kill them, and just put them in my name, my brother won't feel bad."

brother?

Zhu Chen and Zhu Fan are still hesitating, isn't our elder brother Beiping?

How can he have any mansion?He lives in the East Palace!

"You two forgot? Isn't Zhu Ying our elder brother?" Zhu Di said, "Both our father and mother recognize him, even the elder brother of the crown prince in Beiping. Let me remind you to respect our elder brother." Point. It’s not easy for him to open up territory for his father and send troops to the southwest. When he comes back, I’ll thank him well! At that time, I’ll also invite him to the martial arts school and tell us stories. How fun it would be! "

While talking, Zhu Di told the people in Zhang's house: "Go quickly, we are still young, we can't eat too much, just pick a small one, and save money for the elder brother!"

The subordinates looked at Zhang Ximeng helplessly. What Zhang Ximeng could say, they just nodded and asked him to do so.

In fact, if you think about it carefully, it's quite fun.

This kid Zhu Ying is the reincarnation of heaven, and he is unhappy with retribution.With a bastard like Zhu Di added, his good days are coming to an end.

Sure enough, the cook brought a fat sheep from Zhu Ying's mansion, what small one?Eat fat!

Zhu Di was quite considerate, he personally ran to direct, a fat and tender hind leg was roasted and given to the husband, he and his two elder brothers shared a hind leg, roasted some lamb chops and gave it to Zhang Shuning.

Then take the front legs, the fat and tender mutton, and go to the school to share food with the group of sages.

The remaining sheep heads, sheep bones, sheep hooves, and sheep haggis are all reserved for soup in Zhang's kitchen.

"Thank you, everyone. I'll come back in a few days. Let's slaughter the horse from the eldest brother's house! I don't think the horse likes to eat grass, and it doesn't grow up. It's just right for drinking."

The gang in the kitchen looked like they wanted to laugh, the villain had his way, and finally someone could make Zhu Ying feel embarrassed.They thoughtfully gave Zhu Di a large pack of spices for barbecue.

Zhu Di was carrying the mutton, as if he was a general returning from victory, returning to his loyal martial arts.

After a barbecue, Zhu Di, the little sun of martial arts, became brighter and brighter.

The world of children is so simple, there is nothing that cannot be solved by a barbecue, if there is, then another meal!

It's just that if it's put on the government, it won't work.

When Zhu Yuanzhang announced that he would adjust the provincial divisions, the entire Ming Dynasty Hall was in motion.

Unexpectedly, the first person who couldn't sit still was Wang Guangyang. He came to pay a visit to Zhang Ximeng as a heavenly official of the Ministry of Officials and a lord of political affairs.

After talking a little about the arrangement of the imperial examinations, Wang Guangyang got straight to the point, "Mr. Zhang, I think that this province should not be adjusted easily, especially the Jiangbei province in Henan, and it is even more difficult to wait for leisure."

Zhang Ximeng smiled slightly, and poured him a cup of tea, "My lord has indeed said this, but how to arrange it has not yet been decided. You are also an important minister of the court. If you have any ideas, just speak them out. Everything can be discussed."

Wang Guangyang looked at Zhang Ximeng's expression and found nothing unusual, so he plucked up his courage and said, "Mr. Zhang, among other things, Jiangbei Province in Henan is going all out to control the flood. It needs to be considered comprehensively and concentrate on allocating manpower and material resources. It needs to be united and united, like arms and fingers. If the Henan and Jiangbei provinces are split up, causing officials to shirk and argue, powers and responsibilities are unclear, and major water control projects are delayed, the lower officials are afraid that the overall situation will be ruined!"

Zhang Ximeng listened silently, "What you said is also a truth, and we will weigh it carefully later. After all, the matter of water control alone seems a little thin, and if there are other reasons, we will also say it... In short, the reason is not clear. ah!"

Wang Guangyang seemed to want to say something more, but he didn't say it, but left obediently.

After he left, the look on Zhang Ximeng's face was not so good.

However, he can also accept that even under his command, he must be allowed to have his own ideas.

Just after Wang Guangyang left, Liu Bowen arrived again.

Compared with Wang Guangyang, Liu Bowen was much more straightforward, "Zhang Xiang, do you think that this time the provinces are re-divided, can the Shandong province established by Han Song continue?"

"why?"

Liu Bowen laughed and said: "According to the original division method of the Yuan court, Shandong belongs to the Zhongshu Province. Not only Shandong, but also Shanxi and Hebei belong to the Zhongshu Province. This Zhongshu Province is really too big and too powerful. It’s serious. Some time ago, Zhang Xiang served as a left-behind in Beiping, and these places were under the control of the Beiping Left-behind Department. Now Zhang Xiang has also returned to the capital, so I boldly propose that Shandong should be designated separately. First, it is convenient for governance, and second In the future, some officials in Shandong can also be promoted to a higher level."

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "Mr. Bowen, are you an old man who is openly taking care of yourself?"

"Forget it!" Liu Bowen said with a smile: "But I think they have made a lot of contributions to the Northern Expedition, and they should be rewarded for their merits. And if I make an opinion, Xu Zhang is the opposite. I will do my best."

Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, "Mr. Bowen, if you make your words so clear, I'm afraid it's not for the sake of Shandong, right? Let's be honest and honest. Tell me, what are the voices in the court and how do they plan to divide them?"

Liu Bowen also laughed. He and Zhang Ximeng are not only friends, but almost half confidants.For such a big matter related to the national economy and the people's livelihood, they naturally put the state affairs first.Moreover, there is no need to play some small tricks. How could Zhang Ximeng be so sensitive, how could he not see it?

"Zhang Xiang, speaking of it, each province divided by the Yuan court is too big. Henan and Jiangbei provinces dominate the Central Plains, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces include Yingtian, Liangzhe, and Fujian. Controlling half of Jiangnan's finances and taxes. As far as these two provinces are concerned, whoever secures the Central Plains will be half the emperor, and whoever occupies Jiangsu and Zhejiang will be the Minister of the Household Department, pinching the court's pocketbook."

Liu Bowen said: "Especially at present, although the officials of the Yuan court have been abolished and replaced by the chief envoys in charge of civil affairs, and the procuratorial envoys in charge of criminal names. But in fact, once the procuratorial envoys of these large provinces return to Beijing, they will be ministers and must be Put on the title of being a political adviser. There is no way to compare the ministers of the various ministries in Beijing. Even, even the princes of Zhongshu, you have to worry about it!"

There is no need to doubt, the person who said it was you, Wang Guangyang, you are talking about water control, who really can't understand it!

In addition to Wang Guangyang, there is also Luo Furen, who also came up from Huguang as a political envoy, and took over the household department at once, which is also a very important yamen.

If you add Mao Gui before, it will be even more amazing.

Basically, something happened to the imperial court, the minister was abolished, and then local officials were transferred to Beijing to take over the vacant position.

Things happen again and again, and all the princes in the court, who can sit still and wait for death!

"Master Zhang, the news I heard is that someone suggested that the provinces of the Yuan Dynasty should be abolished altogether, and the local government should be governed by roads."

When Zhang Ximeng heard this, he almost laughed out loud. The roads in the Yuan Dynasty were almost the same as those in the Fu. There is no way to do big things.

"Zhang Xiang, maybe that's what they planned." Liu Bowen sneered slightly.

Zhang Ximeng thought for a while, then smiled and said: "The local government can't do anything, and it is inefficient... Then it is inevitable to invite the imperial court to send imperial envoys to coordinate local affairs. Then we can attribute all the blame to the local government and give them the credit On his head, use the place as a place of dung to nourish the gorgeous flowers in the court?"

Dung, flowers?

It's really apt.

Liu Bowen couldn't help laughing. It's rare that Zhang Ximeng's most powerful thing is his sobriety. He laughed and said, "Ms. Zhang is really perceptive. I was too worried. They can't fool Mr. Zhang at all with their little means."

Zhang Ximeng shook his head, "Mr. Bowen, this matter may not be so simple. Of course, the place must be able to do things, but it should not be too large. If it reaches the level of the Yuan court, it will be troublesome. The provinces must be split up, but To what extent it has been split up is hard to say in a few words. I don’t have an opinion now, Mr. Bowen, do you have any ideas?”

Liu Bowen was shocked, and immediately said: "Master Zhang, if you want to say that the Yuan court's failure to divide provinces, the biggest problem is that the mountains and rivers are used as boundaries... This is not dividing provinces, but dividing countries! They just hold back Making the region bigger is the way to bring about chaos. For example, Chahan Timur and Polo Timur, these people are in the capacity of local officials, occupying one side and becoming princes."

Zhang Ximeng nodded again and again, "Mr. Bowen has a good opinion, I know it well."

After talking with Liu Bowen, Zhang Ximeng didn't see anyone else.The division of provinces this time may be even bigger than the previous ones.

If there is an extra province, there will be an extra set of three divisions, the chief envoy, the inspector, and the command envoy. foot.

Every position must be filled by someone, which is a coveted benefit.

And if the province is too small to do things, someone needs to coordinate it, which adds another set of people and is also a piece of fat.

In addition, the current situation of the chief minister becoming a minister is too fierce, and the princes in the court must guard against this move.

It has been almost a month since the proposal to re-divide the provinces. Finally, the first imperial meeting was held. Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang all sat in their seats.

Correspondingly, Wang Guangyang, Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian, and other important officials in the court and the flowers of Ming Dynasty were all present.

Colorful, vying for splendor...

Chapter 626 New Provincial System

Li Shanchang, who was still the head of the hundred officials, coughed first, then bowed down and said a lot, what is the division of provincial relations for generations, is a matter of benefiting the country and the people, so be careful about Zhou Xiang, benefit the country and facilitate the people...

Li Shanchang said everything, but it seemed like he didn't say anything.

But if you feel that you haven’t said anything, Lao Li has said a lot... All in all, he is a cat, or Schrödinger’s cat.

No one is surprised that Li Shanchang has such an attitude.

Lao Li really became more and more calm, entered the leisure mode, uploaded and issued, and would only express his attitude when he was sure that it was irrelevant.

More retreat than pragmatism, to put it bluntly, is to be the prime minister of peace.

Lao Zhu has nothing to do with his blatant fishing behavior.Before a replacement can be found, if Li Shanchang is abolished rashly, Zhang Ximeng must be promoted to the Ministry of Zhongshu.

And Zhang Ximeng couldn't do without his disciples. As a result, under this weird court situation, Li Shanchang's detachment was fulfilled instead. You can fight as much as you like, anyway, I don't care.

If you have the ability, let the old man go home to take care of his grandson!

Li Shanchang has been an official all his life, but at this age, he has comprehended the highest state, knowing what it means to be strong without desire!

It is also amazing.

After a long silence, Yang Xian was the first to stand up.

After seeing the ceremony, he said: "I think that maybe we can follow the example of the Song Dynasty and use roads as provinces, and then arrange three divisions of officials to govern the local area."

After Yang Xian finished speaking, there was a brief silence, not because he was talking nonsense, but because this suggestion really made sense.

A total of 23 roads were set up in the Northern Song Dynasty. Considering the territory of the Northern Song Dynasty, these [-] or [-] roads were already highly consistent with the provinces of later generations in terms of area, and many provinces of later generations originated from the Song Dynasty.

For example, Jiangnan East Road and Jiangnan West Road were established in the Song Dynasty, while Jiangnan West Road was referred to as Jiangxi, and Guangnan East Road and Guangnan West Road were also established. The abbreviation of these two is Guangdong Guangxi.