Chapter 144 Cabinet meeting before the sacrifice

Author: Spring turns to summer

Chapter 144 Cabinet meeting before the sacrifice

When the first ray of sunshine in the morning shone into the Forbidden City, Jiajing put on his robe under the clothes of a personal eunuch. Today is the day when the cabinet meeting will be held.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow is the day for the sacrifice. Here is the general process submitted by the Ministry of Rites!"

Lu Fang appeared beside Jiajing at some unknown time and respectfully handed the memorial in his hand to Jiajing.

"Well, put it there, I don't want to look at this now." Jiajing pointed to the bookcase beside him and said calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." After Lu Fang finished speaking, he put the memorial in his hand on the desk, then came to Jiajing's side and stood respectfully.

"Lu Fang, do you think Hu Zongxian can capture Wang Zhi?"

"Your Majesty, I think Governor Hu will definitely be able to capture Wang Zhi!"

"Oh, how come you can see it?"

Jiajing saw the confident look on Lu Fang's face and couldn't help asking.

"Your Majesty, before this battle, the imperial court had already made complete preparations! The ordnance, food, wages, etc. needed by the soldiers at the front were all transported secretly. Not many people knew the true purpose of this operation, so they excluded

to avoid the possibility of leaking secrets.”

"In addition, the soldiers participating in this battle are all carefully selected warriors who have fought a hundred battles. They can easily deal with a group of unscrupulous Japanese pirates. Coupled with the thirty-six warships sent by the Ministry of War to assist, our army's strength is far greater.

Far stronger than the Japanese pirates."

"But our army is calculated with heart and mind without intention, and uses the right divisions to defeat the unscrupulous ones. This battle will be won! Your Majesty only needs to calmly wait for the good news from Governor Hu."

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he came to Jiajing's side and stood respectfully as before.

"Haha, not bad, you understand me better!"

After listening to Lu Fang's analysis, Jiajing couldn't help but feel very good and sighed.

"Your Majesty, I have one more thing I want to report to Your Majesty."

Lu Fang secretly observed the expression on Jiajing's face and said cautiously.

"Oh, what's the matter? But it doesn't matter."

Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang and said calmly.

"Eunuch Shi, the eunuch who is the Supervisor of Ceremonies, has been feeling unwell recently, so he wants to leave the palace two months early and go back to take care of himself. Please allow your Majesty's permission."

After Lu Fang finished speaking, she knelt down on the ground with utmost respect and said in a deep voice.

After hearing Lu Fang's request, Jiajing looked at Lu Fang who was kneeling on the ground and said with a half-smile: "Lu Fang, don't you want to make room for your godson Feng Bao in advance?"

After hearing what Jiajing said, Lu Fang's face turned pale with fear, her whole body was shrouded in endless panic, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, this is unfair. This slave has absolutely no such idea!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he bowed again.

"Get up, I don't mean to blame you. It's understandable that Eunuch Shi is old and in poor health. I should let him go out of the palace to take care of himself!"

"Lu Fang, I am right about what you just said."

Jiajing saw Lu Fang's behavior, and then personally helped Lu Fang up from the ground and said loudly.

"This servant will thank Your Majesty for your grace on behalf of Eunuch Shi!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, when she was about to kneel down, she was stopped by Jiajing.

Jiajing's expression remained unchanged and he said, "Okay, no need to thank me! What time of the day is it now? Please accompany me to the cabinet."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he followed Jiajing step by step. He lowered his head all the way, not knowing what he was thinking.

…

"Your Majesty is here!"

Outside the cabinet, a high-pitched voice sounded.

All the ministers were kneeling on the ground, waiting for the emperor's arrival.

After a while, Jiajing walked into the cabinet followed by Lu Fang.

After Jiajing sat down in his seat, all the ministers bowed again and said in unison: "I will see your Majesty, long live my emperor!"

"Get up." Jiajing waved his hand, signaling everyone to get up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Then all the ministers stood up and sat down in their respective positions.

"Your Majesty, I have this memorial." Yan Song was the first to go out, holding the memorial in his hand high above his head.

"Speak." Jiajing glanced at Yan Song and said calmly.

"Here is the list handed over by Zheng Michang, the official previously assigned by Wei Chen, Zhejiang Chief Envoy! It contains detailed records of the proceeds from this house raid. In addition, these properties are already on the way and will be transported to the capital in the near future."

After Jiajing listened, he nodded slightly to Lu Fang who was standing aside. Lu Fang also came to Yan Song, took the list, and handed it to Jiajing.

Jiajing opened the list and found that the amount recorded on it was almost the same as the specific amount he saw at Jinyiwei last night, and he immediately lost interest.

"Well, Mr. Yan Ge, you did a good job on this matter."

Jiajing closed the list in his hand, nodded to Yan Song, and encouraged him.

"All of this depends on His Majesty's wise guidance!"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he tremblingly returned to his seat and sat down.

Xu Jie on the side had a gloomy look on his face: "Humph, I guessed it right! I asked him how could Yan Song take such a big risk to facilitate this matter. It turns out that everything behind it was ordered by His Majesty."

After Yan Song passed by, Yan Shifan also stood up and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I also have my own memorial!"

"Are the questions for the imperial examination finished?"

Jiajing looked at the expression on Yan Shifan's face, raised his eyebrows, and asked.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, this is exactly what I want to say!"

"Bring it over."

As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, Lu Fang came to Yan Shifan and took the envelope containing the imperial examination questions from his hand.

"His Majesty!"

Lu Fang brought the envelope in front of Jiajing and continued to stand by him.

Jiajing opened the envelope and saw what was written on it: "Dangdanghu, the people have no name, Weiweihu, they have success, and Huanhuo has articles..."

Jiajing only glanced at it twice and then looked away, which reminded him of the pain he felt when writing ancient Chinese translations in his previous life.

"Well, you did a good job. As the examiner of the imperial examination, you must not cause any problems for me. Do you understand?"

Jiajing then turned his gaze to Yan Shifan and said softly.

"A humble minister will live up to His Majesty's great trust!"

"Okay, I hope that all of you will not betray my trust in you!"

Jiajing seemed to feel something, and his eyes swept over the five people one by one.

"I will definitely kill you for His Majesty's sake, even if I die!"

Sensing the emperor's gaze, the five people knelt on the ground and cried.

"Get up, get up, all get up! You are all ministers of my Ming Dynasty, and I still believe in you."

Xu Jie and Yan Song looked at each other, and then said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Zhang Juzheng, I asked you to be responsible for building the second navy of Ming Dynasty. How is the current situation?"

Jiajing turned his gaze to Zhang Juzheng, who was kneeling on the ground, and asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, since the funds have been allocated from the Ministry of Revenue, the work of building warships is being carried out in an orderly manner, and the progress is very smooth!"

Seeing that the emperor asked him about this matter again, it was obvious that he attached great importance to the matter, so Zhang Juzheng cheered up and answered respectfully.

"Well, that's right. There is no room for error in building the imperial court's second navy! You have to keep an eye on me in this regard. If you have anything, just report it to me."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he picked up the teacup on the side and took a sip.

"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely handle this matter for your Majesty!"

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, he said goodbye.

"By the way, tomorrow is the sacrificial ceremony. You should prepare in advance and familiarize yourself with the process."

Jiajing glanced at the ministers and gave instructions.

…

Late at night, Supervisor of Ceremonies.

"Daddy, it's so late, what do you want from me?"
To be continued...