There was a strange atmosphere in Fengtian Hall.
Just now, Emperor Zhu Di decided to make his second personal expedition, the Northern Expedition to Oara.
However, before a group of civil servants could jump out to object, Han Wang Zhu Gaoxu took the lead and clearly opposed the Northern Expedition.
His words confused everyone.
Zhu Di was stunned.
Prince Zhu Gaochi was dumbfounded.
Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui was shocked.
All civil and military officials in the court looked confused and in disbelief.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on Zhu Gaoxu.
Either angry, questioning, or confused.
Did Prince Han take the wrong medicine today？
He is a true militant!
The emperor’s most trustworthy general, a war madman.
In the past, they clamored for the Northern Expedition to Mongolia and Yuan Dynasty all day long, and wanted to cut off the head of the Tatar Khan and play it as a ball…
Now, he actually opposes the Northern Expedition？
For a moment, the Fengtian Hall was eerily silent.
Zhu Di looked at his second son and tugged at his beard with a headache. He didn’t understand what the devil was doing.
He really didn’t expect that the first person to oppose his Northern Expedition would be the second child!
That Prince of Han who has always been keen on war!
Even the boss did not dare to say a word in the court because he was beaten recently.
Could it be that this kid was injured in the assassination？
Zhu Di was angry, and he laughed angrily and said, ‘Is it inappropriate？ King Han, tell me, what’s wrong？’
Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui heard the anger in this tone and hurriedly shouted from behind, ‘Boy, are you crazy？ Why don’t you admit your mistake!’
The old man was angry, they all had nothing to eat!
Zhu Gaojiu ignored Zhu Gaosui’s reminder, let alone the surprised looks of others, because he had already made up his mind.
Zhu Di, a thief, helped him solve his heartache and made him a lot of money. This guy didn’t even let him go to Yunnan to become a feudal lord.
In this case, Zhu Gaoxu simply went against him.
I object to whatever you do!
I feel disgusted with this thief all day long!
It was so disgusting that he was disgusted and drove himself to Yunnan to join the feudal clan!
If you offend Long Yan, this mess will naturally not fall on you in the future.
Zhu Gaoxu said carelessly, ‘Father, there is a severe drought in Henan and a severe drought in Shandong. There is no grain harvest. Countless people have died of starvation. They have all begun to exchange their children for food. The Ministry of Household Affairs has just had some extra money. What do you think？’ What kind of battle are you fighting？”
Zhu Di was stunned, as if he did not expect that he would oppose the Northern Expedition because of this.
When did this brave and foolish bastard Qiu Ba start caring about people’s livelihood？
Xia Yuanji, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, hurriedly knelt on the ground and said, ‘Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is financially strapped and is trying its best to raise silver. It will be transported to the disaster area as soon as possible to provide relief to the people.’
Angry, Zhu Di was angry.
Didn’t he just earn 10 million taels？
Why is the Ministry of Finance out of money again？
Or is it that Xia Yuanji deliberately said this just to oppose the Northern Expedition？
After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu deliberately sneered and said, ‘Waiting for the Ministry of Household Affairs to raise funds？ The people of Shandong have begun to change their sons and eat each other. Are you, the ministers of Jinzi, not aware of the tragedy of changing their sons and eating each other？’
‘The people have no food to eat. In order to survive, they can only chew tree bark and eat grass roots. When the bark and grass roots are gone, what will they eat？ If you don’t want to eat your own children, you will exchange them with your neighbors…’
His words were light and airy, but he described the miserable situation of the victims in dire straits.
Many important officials in the court looked moved and lowered their heads unconsciously.
Big fat Zhu Gaochi looked at him with suspicion, always feeling that the second child seemed to be a different person these days.
Zhu Gaoxu, the former King of Han Dynasty, was obsessed with fighting for power and gain. How could he care about the life and death of those ‘foolish people in Guizhou’ as he called them？
This second child, could it be that his head was really injured and he became enlightened？
Zhu Di was a little angry. He squinted his eyes and looked at Zhu Gaoxu again, with a sneer on his lips.
The Ministry of Revenue received ten million taels, but only a few people knew about it, such as Xia Yuanji and the Prince of Han.
It’s better now. These two idiots still pretend to be confused and use financial constraints to oppose their Northern Expedition!
Zhu Gaoxu met Zhu Di’s questioning gaze and continued, ‘My son also heard a poem widely circulated by the victims. You Jinzi ministers are all well-educated people, why don’t you comment on it.’
After hearing this, all the officials looked at each other with extremely strange expressions.
Prince Han, can you still compose poetry？
You have lived in the capital for many years. Where have you seen any disaster victims？
Zhu Di also became interested and looked at King Han with a smile, but his smile was somewhat cold.
To be honest, Zhu Di still knows the level of his second son.
With his sinister look on his face, what kind of poems can he write？
‘The village is very desolate and suffers from drought and locusts every year.’
‘The old man pays the debt, the young man sells the grain.’
‘The walls are broken and the house is prosperous, and Liang Yueyue falls into the bed.’
‘But those who know herdsmen are unwilling to report disasters and injuries.’
Zhu Gaoxu’s voice was not loud, but it reached the ears of all officials clearly.
In an instant, the hall fell into deathly silence.
Zhu Gaoxu, however, glanced at the ministers with cold eyes, showing no intention of letting them go.
‘Yang Shiqi, aren’t you good at learning？ Can you comment on this poem？’
Zhu Gaoxu was naturally full of confidence in reading Qian Yu’s classic poems.
Seeing that the King of Han was targeting himself at this time, Yang Shiqi could only bite the bullet and come out to comment.
‘The language of this poem is easy to understand, as clear as words. It does not use allusions or elaboration, but it perfectly depicts the miserable and miserable life of the victims, and it also exposes the local officials…’
At this point, Yang Shiqi shrewdly did not continue.
Because when some words are put on the table, their nature is completely different.
The poem spoken by the King of Han is so straightforward and simple that it is so easy to understand.
The villages are desolate and poor, with droughts and locust infestations every year.
The son was sold to pay rent and taxes, and the old man worked as a servant to pay off debts.
The house collapsed and the moon was leaking out of the bed, and the walls were broken and could not block the wind.
Who can be called a parent official and not report the disaster to the court？
On the one hand, due to drought and locust disasters, the people have reached the point of suffering from no money, no food, and no houses to build.
On the other hand, local officials refused to report famines for fear of affecting their political performance, and continued to collect taxes from the people, forcing them to go to a dead end.
The people had no choice but to sell their sons and daughters to pay for food, and officials were able to cover up the disaster.
This poem seems to be describing the dire straits of the victims, but it is actually satirizing and exposing the selfishness and indifference of local officials.
However, if we continue to dig deeper, where is the real root cause？
In this day and age, Zhu Di is sitting on the dragon throne!
After the emperor ascended the throne, he built Shuntian, built the imperial mausoleum, dredged the Grand Canal, compiled the Yongle Grand Ceremony, and sent troops to the northern expedition to the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty…
Which of these items should not cost a huge amount of money？
This poem by the King of Han is satirizing the emperor in public!
Yang Shiqi was not stupid, he could tell at a glance that this was a ‘trap’.
If I continue to talk, I am afraid that I will immediately be accused of ‘driving alienation between brothers and sisters’ and be imprisoned!
So, wisely, he didn’t go on.
This Prince of Han is so cunning and insidious!
Zhu Di also reacted at this moment, his old face suddenly darkened, he glanced at the courtiers with different expressions, and suddenly shouted sharply, ‘Prince, did you hear it？ The rebels committed rebellion and assassinations, and the victims had no food to eat. What country are you in charge of？! ‘
Tiehanhan was shocked and hurriedly knelt down to apologize.
Zhu Gaoxu was stunned, what does this mean？
It seems like… something… happened… an accident？
After Zhu Di snorted coldly, he immediately ordered ‘The prince fails to supervise the country well, and he will be punished by spending a month in seclusion.’
‘As for the Northern Expedition to Wala, I have made up my mind. The Ministry of Household Affairs will raise food and wages, and the Ministry of War will mobilize troops for the Northern Expedition next spring.’
‘During this period, the King of Han temporarily supervises the country and handles all the affairs of the court. The Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Zhan Shijian are also the Minister of Yibing and Zhan Shi. Jinzhong is a bachelor of Zuo Chunfang and a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. Huang Huai Zuo Yude is also a minister of the Hanlin Academy. Talk about Yang Shiqi assisting in supervising the country.’
When the holy order is issued, hundreds of officials bow their heads and obey the order.
Zhu Gaoxu stayed where he was, hurriedly waved his hands and said, ‘Dad, no, dad…’
However, Zhu Di didn’t give him a chance to explain at all. He just glanced at him meaningfully, then stood up and left without saying a word.
Yang Shiqi and others looked at Zhu Gaoxu coldly, as if they were mourning for their heirs, and then walked away.
Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui gave him a thumbs up at this moment, ‘Tall, second brother, you are so tall! This brain is getting better and better.’
‘The princelings’ civil servants were so clearly played by this move that they didn’t even have a chance to argue and refute…’
Zhu Gaoxu ‘？？？’
Your mother!
What did I do again？