Quan Yunxu's official position was fulfilled two days later. With the imperial edict being conveyed, he was officially transferred to the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice... The Minister of Personnel personally inquired about it, and many things happened naturally.

The case came to an end. One of the Zhang brothers was placed under house arrest and the other was imprisoned in death row. Zhu Houzhao would not take action on them for the time being, which was also considered the emperor's warning to the nobles.

Empress Dowager Zhang was very dissatisfied with this and quickly wrote a letter and sent it to Xuanfu, trying to persuade Zhu Houzhao to change her mind and let her two younger brothers go.

Xiao Jing received the letter and hurried to meet the saint.

"As my mother, the queen of the late emperor, should know the importance of maintaining stability in the court. Her younger brother was involved in a major rebellion case. I have given them enough face if I didn't kill them, and I have come to plead for mercy. Do you really treat the Ming Dynasty as her family?"

Zhu Houzhao's tone was that the case of the Zhang brothers touched him too much.

Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, the Zhang family did not do anything to rebel, it was just spreading rumors."

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Affair with Japanese people and selling firearms are not considered treason, so what is treason? When I became the prince, I heard that the Zhang family did evil deeds, but because of the favoritism of the previous emperor, the Zhang family was in trouble and was not punished. Instead, the reporter suffered and was repeatedly wronged and imprisoned. If it were not for the support of the upright ministers in the court at that time, I would probably have died a lot of people who reported the Zhang family!"

"this……"

Xiao Jing could not refute that Zhang was at its peak. As Zhu Houzhao said, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were unscrupulous in doing anything.

The situation did not change until Emperor Zhengde ascended the throne.

Zhu Houzhao said: "I didn't kill them, but I respect the last emperor and the queen mother the greatest respect... When I send the message back, if someone is obsessed with it, then I can only kill one to warn you!"

"His Majesty……"

Xiao Jing was shocked, and the emperor not only verbally punished the Zhang family, but also wanted to implement it in detail and start a massacre, which made Xiao Jing feel that it was counterproductive to ask Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "My patience is limited. Now the court is peaceful and the Ming Dynasty is prosperous. I don't want anyone to mention this matter again. It's so annoying! Whoever disobeys me again will end up like the Zhang family. Try not to believe it!"

...

...

In Xiao Jing's opinion, Emperor Zhengde was very meticulous, too much talk and acted, and liked to make a big deal. Compared with the old emperor, he felt that Zhu Houzhao was too incompetent.

Unfortunately, reality is so cruel that he cannot change it.

When Xiao Jing came out, he drafted the emperor's meaning into an edict, but saw Xiao Tuozi coming again... This time Xiao Tuozi still came as the emperor's soundtrack.

"I'm just here to instruct Eunuch Xiao, for fear that Eunuch Xiao would understand and convey the wrong meaning of Your Majesty." Xiao Tiaozi said politely.

Xiao Jing thought to himself: "Your Majesty clearly sent him to monitor me... This kid is very sleek and doesn't act too aggressive."

Xiao Jing asked, "What your Majesty says is above this, what's the problem?"

Xiao Tuozi leaned over and looked carefully at the edict he had just drafted and said with a smile: "There is no problem, but some things need to be determined first. In the future, no matter what happened to the Zhang family, including the Queen Mother and the two uncles, must be mentioned before His Majesty. Not only the officials, but also the servants, if there is a memorial for him, the person who submitted a memorial can be punished directly."

"oh?"

Xiao Jing asked, "What if there is any involvement of the imperial court?"

Xiao Zhuozi smiled and said, "Eunuch Xiao won't want to talk about the chief assistant Liang Zhongtang or Lord Shen? If these people report, you can ask Your Majesty for instructions to see if you need to be punished. If they don't report, Eunuch Xiao doesn't have to worry and treat you equally. But I think Mr. Shen and the others won't go against Your Majesty. After all, you didn't say anything when Your Majesty was punished before, so how could you change your mind easily?"

Xiao Jing thought to himself: "That's the case... The Zhang family's crimes are confirmed, and the heavens are angry and people are resentful. The responsible ministers in the court will definitely not speak for them at this time to avoid getting angry."

Seeing that Xiao Jing had no intention of refuting, Xiao Guozi smiled and said, "Eunuch Xiao doesn't have to worry too much about the affairs of the capital. With Lord Shen and Liang Zhongtang here, there will be no trouble. Your Majesty asks Eunuch Xiao to pay more attention to the situation on the grassland, sort out the battle reports from the three sides and Xuanda areas, and prepare for Your Majesty to send troops."

Xiao Jing asked in surprise: "Send troops? Your Majesty is going outside the pass?"

Xiao Tiaozi shook his head: "I dare not talk about this kind of thing casually, but I must be prepared for this. If Your Majesty really wants to send troops and cannot know yourself and your enemy, then I will not be confused? All preparations are made in advance... If Eunuch Xiao cannot get enough power, he will ask for help, and no one in the court will shirk. After all, this is to make Your Majesty happy and for the stability of the court."

...

...

Xiao Jing was very upset.

When he first returned to the court, everyone was watching, and many people thought he would do a great job.

But now even Xiao Jing himself has no confidence and feels that nothing he does can't satisfy the emperor. Shen Xi's influence in the court is too great, and there is no veteran minister like Liu Jian and Li Dongyang to support him, and it feels like he can't support him.

As a veteran of the four dynasties, Xiao Jing had a deep connection. In order to ensure that the emperor did not make trouble in the northwest, especially to lead troops to conquer the grasslands, Xiao Jing hoped to do something and bring Zhu Houzhao back to the capital.

The first thing Xiao Jing thought of was another veteran in the court, and he was also a key figure who could compete with Shen Xi head-on - British Duke Zhang Mao.

When Xiao Jing's private letter was sent to the capital, he reached Zhang Mao's hands. After reading it, Zhang Mao could not do anything except smile bitterly.

"What does Eunuch Xiao mean?"

Xia Ru was also there. After he finished reading the letter he handed over, he couldn't help but look at Zhang Mao curiously.

Zhang Mao said: "This shows that Eunuch Xiao has no choice but to do anything to the current court. I hope someone will help you."

"Isn't this pulling someone into the water?" Xia Ru shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Although Xia Ru did not know much about the situation in the court, he knew what Zhang Mao had now, that is, he would never participate in the disputes between the court, and would not confront Shen Xi head-on.

Zhang Mao was a little helpless: "Shen Zhihou was very tolerant in the case of foreign relatives and basically did not take action. Instead, Zhang Yong, Qian Ning and Shaoqing of Dali Temple... Quan Zongxian, who has now been promoted to the Minister of Justice by His Majesty, is very active. Zhihou did impeccable in this matter."

Xia Ru asked, "Is this really the case?"

"What about that?"

Zhang Mao said, "I also know that the rise of the Shen family is not a good thing for the Xia family, but you must endure some things. You have seen what His Majesty looks like now."

Although Xia Ru didn't say anything, she was not very interested. After a while, she closed her eyes and said, "The Xia family has never been greedy for power, nor does it care about the honor of the royal relatives. The little girl has been in the palace for many years, but she is strangers to His Majesty. What she looks like has long fallen into the eyes of those who are interested. But in her heart, she is... unwilling to give up!"

Zhang Mao said: "Are you afraid of being killed? "

"That won't."

Xia Rudao, "I was really worried before, but later I found out that this young man was smart and principled. He never felt sorry for the Xia family. There was almost no intersection between the two families, but who knows what will happen in the future?"

Zhang Mao put the teacup next to him and said with concern: "Then you are still worried... but to be honest, Your Majesty is a fool, and that incident is very rumored, which makes people feel troubled..."

Xia Ru knew that Zhang Mao was talking about the fact that Zhu Houzhao had insisted on deposing Empress Xia before, and shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The matter was not led by the Shen family. Shen Zhihou advised His Majesty, and even had a very terrible moment... But who knows if it was led by the West Palace?"

Zhang Mao couldn't help but smile and said, "Actually, I heard of one thing... Until now, His Majesty and the Shen family's daughter have not yet joined forces."

"Um?"

Xia Ru looked at Zhang Mao, obviously he had heard of it, and immediately asked tentatively, "Do you think it's very likely?"

Zhang Mao smiled and stroked his beard: "The thing next to him may be a rumor, but this matter has not escaped... The little girl of the Shen family is resistant to His Majesty. I heard that Zhihou once told His Majesty that if he gets along well after marriage, he will take the little girl of the Shen family out of the palace... Many things are just His Majesty's nonsense. Whether it is the little girl of the Shen family or Zhihou, he will not let His Majesty do whatever he wants."

"well!"

Xia Ru was obviously dissatisfied with the state in front of him.

He had long known that his daughter and Zhu Houzhao had not fulfilled her family, and now he can be sure that the Shen family's daughter is in the same state, so he feels even more worried.

Although the two daughters are queens, their status in the palace is very different. Empress Xia cannot meet the emperor at all, while Shen Yier is entangled by Zhu Houzhao every day.

Zhang Mao said: "Recently, you have tried to walk more with Zhihou... When I went back to find Zhihou for tea, you can go with me. After getting familiar with him, you can observe his attitude... Zhihou is quite sincere in treating others. He has no bad record in the court over the years. He is young and has no political faction, which is actually a good thing."

...

...

Just when the government and the opposition were discussing the case of foreign relatives, Shen Xi had no intention of paying attention to it at all. He had to pay too much attention to.

On March 25, Shen Xi held a closed-door meeting with Wang Qiong, the Minister of War, Wang Shouren, the Left Minister of War, and Lu Wan, the Left Censor of the Censorate.

After reporting on the preparations for Jiangnan, Wang Shouren began to complain, which roughly means that the Ministry of War could no longer continue to follow up and needed to send important personnel to take charge of the command.

"Nanjing Ministry of War has not reported the relevant preparations for war, and the military supplies from Nanzhili and Zhejiang have not been allocated as planned. If it is delayed, it is afraid that the preparations for war will not be carried out..."

When Wang Shouren reported, he looked at Shen Xi from time to time, because he knew that Shen Xi was the only one who was traveling to the court for sending troops to the country of Langji and its overseas territories. Tang Yin, who was in Nanjing, was just a puppet.

It is best to let Shen Xi go to Jiangnan to prepare for war, but now Shen Xi is the governor of the country and may not go to the south in the past few years. Shen Xi will only serve as the person in charge and take the remote control command in the capital.

After Wang Shouren sat down, Wang Qiong looked at Shen Xi with a serious look: "This preparation for the war requires too huge food and grass, and the number of ships in Jiangnan is seriously insufficient... His Majesty has decided that there must be a hundred large ships to go to sea, but now Jiangnan reports that there are only a dozen large ships, and there are several that need to be repaired. It is almost impossible to collect a hundred large ships, because a ship requires 200,000 to 300,000 taels of silver..."

The ship was designed by Chenxi. The imperial court had only allocated hundreds of thousands of taels of silver due to arrears and debts on more than a dozen ships. Now, in order to reflect the determination of the country of war and the overseas territories, Zhu Houzhao had to build one hundred large ships at a time. In the eyes of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works, it was impossible to complete the task. Of course, they did not know that Chenxi had built ships in Liaodong, Shandong, Luzon and other places. The number of ocean-going ships in the Ming Dynasty was far more than this dozen.

Lu Wan calculated: "Even if one ship is built at 100,000 taels, one hundred ships will require 10 million taels of silver... The amount is too large, and the Ministry of Revenue will never allocate funds!"

Wang Qiong nodded: "That's true. This year, the budget for Jiangnan preparations will be allocated for only 500,000 taels of silver. Even if the part raised by the local governments themselves is added, the number will not exceed 800,000 taels."

Lu Wan looked at Chen Xi: "So do you have to tell Your Majesty that it is unlikely to build a complete large ship. Should the number of large ships be reduced and replaced by ordinary official ships?"

Wang Shouren said: "Ordinary inland ships have poor stability at sea, soldiers are prone to seasickness, and they are prone to overturn when encountering strong winds and waves. Large ships must be required to fight in oceans."

"There are a little fewer than a dozen boats, but it is still possible to build twenty or thirty boats."

Lu Wan knew that he no longer managed the army, so he said with emotion, actually he wanted to tell others that he didn't want to care, he just made suggestions.

Chen Xi asked: "Does the Ministry of War explain this practical problem to Your Majesty?"

Wang Qiong said: "Actually, the specific situation was clearly stated to Your Majesty when he was in the meeting with the Holy Majesty that he had to increase the budget. However, the Ministry of Revenue's books are relatively tense now, and the transactions with the Folang Ji people have not become normalized. There is uncertainty in earning silver through foreign trade, so the Ministry of Revenue can only make a living."

On this matter, Wang Qiong did not want to answer directly, so he asked Zhu Houzhao to start a war with the Folang Jiren in the court. Chen Xi had already shown that this battle was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it was not thankful for its efforts.

Now the Ministry of War cannot make decisions on its own. Wang Qiong is nominally the Minister of War, but the emperor will not listen to him when it comes to military affairs. When making major decisions, Zhu Houzhao would rather believe in Chen Xi. This can be seen from the fact that Chen Xi presided over the preparations for the war.

Chen Xi looked calm: "It is necessary to raise it." Then he added, "When we didn't do business with the Folang Ji people before, the treasury revenue could maintain the normal operation of the Ming Dynasty. It does not mean that foreign inputs must be required to prepare for war."

"Your Majesty decided to send a fleet to attack the country of Folangji and its overseas territories, and was mentally prepared for the difficulties they face. If the Ministry of War did not tell His Majesty directly, it would make His Majesty think everything would go smoothly. It would be better to report it according to the truth, and it would instead let His Majesty give up unrealistic thoughts."

Wang Qiong sighed, without saying anything, but this sigh was already very clear. He wanted Chen Xi and Zhu Houzhao to make suggestions. Even if Chen Xi was not his direct boss, he was also a more prominent ruling country. In his opinion, this was originally Chen Xi's duty.

Chen Xi said again: "The Ministry of Works' budget this year is inclined to the northwest, which is because His Majesty is preparing to use troops to suppress the development of the grassland tribes that are gradually recovering. This is also his Majesty's preparation for the next year's troops to send troops to the Folangji Kingdom and its overseas territories. This move is correct."

Wang Qiong asked in surprise: "Zhihou, do you think the Ming Dynasty should make a fuss in the northwest?"

Wang Qiong was born as a three-sided governor, but he did not support spending huge amounts of money to build the city gates in the northwest. In his opinion, it is the most important thing to vigorously promote military farms in the northwest and restore people's livelihood.

Chen Xi asked back: "Brother Dehua thinks it is inappropriate?"

When Chen Xi asked this, Wang Qiong did not hide it and said bluntly: "The northwest has experienced too many wars in the past few years, and the population has dropped sharply. These two years are the time to recuperate. His Majesty suddenly built a city blockade in the northwest, which will definitely make laborers unable to engage in production with peace of mind and occupy the imperial government's funds. With the current threat of the grassland tribes, there is no need for that."

Wang Shouren followed Wang Qiong's meaning and said: "The Dayan tribe has declined, and now the tribes on the grassland are evenly matched, and it just takes advantage of their conflicts to make them kill each other."

Faced with the two "Northwest Connections", Chen Xi smiled but said nothing. On this issue, his voice was obviously not as good as Wang Qiong and Wang Shouren.

Lu Wanze frowned: "The grassland is already in a mess. If you don't take the opportunity to suppress the grassland tribes, what if the government sends troops to sea next year and causes trouble on the grassland, isn't it going to cause trouble?"

Lu Wan's words were not what Wang Shouren and Wang Qiong said, but more like asking Chen Xi for advice. He knew very well who was in charge of the court now. Even if Zhu Houzhao was arrogant, he had to listen to Chen Xi when using military service.

Chen Xidao: "This is Your Majesty's decision, and it has its foresight... In fact, there is no need to go into it too much. Strengthening the northwest border defense is a matter of sharpening the knife and chopping wood."

Chen Xi's words are a reasonable explanation for Zhu Houzhao's garrison in the northwest and the construction of border defense fortifications in the northwest.
Chapter completed!