Chapter 984: It is my shallowness

When Zhang Juzheng began his lectures in the first year of Wanli, he once taught the Emperor a principle: Zeng Zi said, "A gentleman does not think about what is outside his position."

Zhang Juzheng said: A gentleman is different from a petty person. The scope of a gentleman's thinking will absolutely not exceed his position. He strives to do his best to fulfill the duties of his position, that is: do his duty, what he should do.

As the Left Pillar of State, Imperial Teacher, Senior Grand Secretary, and Marquis of Yicheng, Zhang Juzheng was also practicing this sentence. Everything he thought, worried about, and did was about where the Great Ming should go.

Admittedly, he opened the curtain of the Wanli Reform with the Single Whip Reform, but all reforms must fall on material things. Starting with the administration of officials is to ensure that government decrees can be implemented, but in the end, material things must become abundant for the reform to truly succeed.

In Zhang Juzheng's own view, the reform of the bureaucratic system he represented and the progress of productive forces represented by Wang Chonggu, the official factory system, were more important.

"I don't think the Master is entirely right." Gao Qiyu, through Shen Shiying's words, knew what Zhang Juzheng was thinking and worrying about. After thinking, he denied Zhang Juzheng's view.

"Sure enough, a rebellious disciple." Shen Shiying had an expression of "sure enough." As a student of the Zhang Party, Shen Shiying really did not dare to say loudly that the Master was not entirely right.

After becoming the Minister of Rites, Gao Qiyu's way of thinking immediately rose to the level of rites and laws. Are rites and laws really not important? Gao Qiyu thought it was not so, but the performance of the "cheap scholars" was too poor, leading to rites and laws not being valued by His Majesty.

Wan Shihe did a very good job as Minister of Rites, and His Majesty recognized it very much.

Gao Qiyu shook his head and said: "The Master thinks that with official factories, resident craftsmen, the three-level school of official factories, the equity system, the industrial alliance, job rotation, etc., they will slowly appear over time. I don't think so at all. Maybe they will really appear, but how long will it take? Fifty years? One hundred years? But it is definitely not twenty years."

What Zhang Juzheng represented was not just the reform of the bureaucratic system and efficiency, but also a change in thought. The change in thought seemed vague, empty, and had the same effect as the "nature and heart" talked about by the cheap scholars, but there was an essential difference between the two.

A "Theory of Contradictions" could be called earth-shattering. If everyone could stand from an opposite and unified perspective to look at all problems, starting from the yin and yang sides of all things, then the Great Harmony of the world would be just around the corner.

Of course, things like class theory were somewhat too rebellious, so they were not generally recognized by people.

Gao Qiyu continued: "Why do I say this? The official factory system of Duke Wencheng is not a rare thing. With military colonies and the resident craftsman system, there were official factories during the Yongle era, with a grand scale, but they eventually failed and never recovered. Without the 'Theory of Contradictions' to release all truths, many systems would simply not appear."

"For example, some time ago, the craftsmen came down from the mountain, with great momentum, and everyone was afraid. Court officials knew that the craftsmen had grievances in their hearts and were very dissatisfied with the sloppy handling of Duke Wencheng's aftermath, and even pushed down the monument of Chonggu's imperial road. Therefore, contradictions were born, contradictions intensified into conflicts, and then the craftsmen came down from the mountain."

"Everyone in the court thought that only by resolving the contradictions could it be solved. But in the past, such things would only lead to the Capital Battalion suppressing them."

"In the thirteenth year of Zhengtong, the civil unrest of Ye Zongliu and Deng Maoqi—Ye Zongliu was a miner, and Deng Maoqi was a farmer. The two led millions of people, turning Fujian upside down. Looking at it today, if the Fujian officials at that time could act like human beings, it would not have reached such a point."

At that time, Song Zhang, the Left Administration Commissioner of Fujian, wanted the local gentry to send him "winter livestock" during the New Year. The local gentry had a model, wanting the poor people to send them "winter livestock." This civil unrest, which affected five provinces and millions of people, began.

In a place like Fujian, a place that military strategists did not fight for, there were many mountains and few fields. The people were extremely poor and it was difficult to maintain their livelihood. Coupled with the extra "winter livestock," forcing people to a dead end, they naturally had to make a big fuss.

Li Yashi said that the Great Ming people were not gentle. If they were forced to a dead end, they would resist, instead of resting assured to die, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, only knowing how to shiver.

After the methodology of analyzing contradictions and solving problems based on the "Theory of Contradictions" appeared, the nonsense of the cheap scholars became very ridiculous. Without analysis based on contradictions, it could basically be concluded that it was all sophistry.

"What you say makes sense." Shen Shiying quite agreed with Gao Qiyu's view, but he might not be in that position, not in the position of Senior Grand Secretary, so his way of thinking about problems was different. Perhaps when he reached that position, he could thoroughly understand all of Zhang Juzheng's thinking.

Shen Shiying and Gao Qiyu's chat ended here, but the general trend of the Great Ming Reform was still rolling forward.

Songjiang Prefecture, Shanghai County, the world trade center, the world economic center—this was the forefront of the Wanli Reform. Almost all new problems and new contradictions were born and evolved here.

And today, Songjiang Provincial Governor Li Le went to the Songjiang Jin Zeyuan Water Navy Yamen to visit the Songjiang Water Navy Regional Commander, Marquis of Shouli, Chen Lin.

"I already know everything the Provincial Governor said. His Majesty already has an imperial decree. You two can just go ahead and do it." After Li Le, Wang Qian, and others explained the purpose of their visit, Chen Lin expressed his position.

Be bold and do it, the Water Navy will provide the bottom line.

Chen Lin did not like dealing with civil officials. These guys never said things completely. He thought for a while and added: "His Majesty's imperial decree says that the capital is the place of the Son of Heaven and the place of first goodness, so elite troops cannot be moved at will, but Songjiang Prefecture has no such taboo."

The Capital Battalion could not impose military control over the capital, because the capital had the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, but Songjiang Prefecture had no taboos. Be bold and do it. If it really didn't work, just impose military control for a period of time.

"That is very good." Li Le showed a relaxed smile when he heard Chen Lin being so straightforward.

Wang Qian said with emotion: "Songjiang Prefecture has already carried out a reform of the six departments of the prefecture and county. At that time, many outsiders were used. As far as the results are concerned, it was effective, but not much. This time, going deeper, we rely on the Marquis of Shouli to sweep the formation."

Li Le and Wang Qian took a reassurance pill from the Marquis of Shouli. Although there was His Majesty's imperial decree, they still had to make this trip to determine some details of the launch. Once Li Le and Wang Qian messed up, they would let Chen Lin come out to clean up the situation.

The Water Navy is a sharp weapon for maintaining stability internally. This knife hangs over the heads of the powerful, and the powerful dare not act rashly.

Externally, the Water Navy charges into battle for the country and the people. The establishment of the Governor's Offices in Nagasaki, Luzon, Old Port, and Jinchi, and the nine victories in the eastern expeditions to Korea and Japan, all have the Water Navy's presence, expanding the Great Ming's interests overseas.

Moreover, the Water Navy rarely participates in the implementation of various high-pressure policies and usually exists as a needle to calm the sea. Even in the suppression of rebellion in Zhejiang, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Emperor's claws and teeth, who did it. Therefore, the Water Navy has a transcendent status in Songjiang Prefecture and rarely offends the interests of various factions.

At this moment, the direct statement of the Water Navy Regional Commander is the direct embodiment of the Emperor's will.

"Provincial Governor Li, Prefect Wang, I have a question. Has the renovation of the warm pavilion in the Huangpujiang Palace been completed?" Chen Lin suddenly said an aside, which surprised Li Le and Wang Qian quite a bit.

"After His Majesty's southern tour the year before last, the renovation of the warm pavilion had already begun, and it was completed in August." Although Li Le did not know why the Marquis of Shouli asked, he answered the question truthfully.

After His Majesty's southern tour the year before last, the Songjiang area discovered the problem with the Huangpujiang Palace, which was that there was no warm pavilion, and it was a bit too cold in winter. Although His Majesty left in October and did not reach winter, it was still somewhat disrespectful.

Chen Lin said with a smile: "That's good, that's good. This Huangpu Palace cannot be worse than the Tonghe Palace in the capital."

After Li Le and Wang Qian left, Chen Lin looked at their backs, appearing somewhat helpless, his expression somewhat desolate, and then this thought turned into a heavy sigh.

Chen Tiande from Lushan walked out from behind the screen and asked somewhat strangely: "Why does the General sigh?"

"The Water Navy takes away 6.32 million silver in military expenses every year because of ship construction, maintenance, and protection, plus now there is the Nanyang Water Navy. The Water Navy has more than 160,000 people, while the Capital Battalion has 100,000 people, and the annual military expenditure is only 3.1 million silver. Our Water Navy spends almost the same as the Nine Borders every year." Chen Lin shook his head again, looking at the backs of Li Le and others who could almost not be seen, even more worried.

"The Water Navy is indeed more expensive, but there is a reason for it to be expensive. His Majesty has never thought of reducing the Water Navy's military expenses, and is even expanding the Water Navy." Chen Tiande was even more puzzled. Six million silver in military expenses were thrown at the Water Navy every year. Doesn't this represent His Majesty's importance?

Since the expansion of the Capital Battalion to 100,000 in the sixth year of Wanli, there has been no plan to expand the army, but the Water Navy has gone from 100,000 to 130,000, and now to 160,000, and is still expanding.

Why is Chen Lin, this Regional Commander, so worried?

"Tiande, do you think that when Yang Junmin, the Vice Prefect of Shuntian, wants to change the six departments, he has to specifically run to the Capital Battalion or the Grand General's Mansion to tell General Qi?" Chen Lin asked with great worry.

"No." Chen Tiande suddenly understood Chen Lin's worry.

Yang Junmin would not and did not need to communicate with the Capital Battalion. If he really poked a hole in the sky, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Capital Battalion would act instantly to suppress all those who were disobedient. But Li Le and Wang Qian had to first visit the Water Navy Yamen to pay their respects and see the attitude of him, this Marquis of Shouli.

Chen Lin shook his head again and said: "With nearly double the pay, if His Majesty wants to mobilize the Water Navy, he still has to issue a decree to me first, then to the Yamen, and the Yamen still has to carefully come to me to determine my attitude."

"Now His Majesty is in his prime, full of thoughts about the Great Ming's resurgence. But what about later? Will His Majesty feel that the Water Navy is somewhat difficult to control? Even if His Majesty doesn't feel it, will the ministers in the court feel it?"

"His Majesty instructed me that if there is a gap, it must be made clear, otherwise it will be used by the slander of villains, leading to the gap getting bigger and bigger, and finally becoming strangers."

The army is the most precise killing machine, and it is also the most intuitive violence. How to prevent violence from getting out of control can be said to be a problem that must be considered at all times since ancient times, even if it is Regional Commander Chen Lin, he must consider it.

Many times, emphasizing literature and suppressing martial arts is not entirely because scholars look down on these soldiers, but because violence getting out of control is indeed dangerous. And in order to protect themselves, the army often raises bandits to respect themselves and holds troops to respect themselves. In fact, it is a problem of trust.

However, many times, emphasizing literature and suppressing martial arts will be done too much, and scholar-officials are always magnifying the anxiety of violence getting out of control, leading to the lack of martial preparation.

The elite troops of the Capital Battalion all recognize His Majesty, and many have even been covered by His Majesty with a quilt. This trust is something the Water Navy really cannot ask for.

"The General is right. Our Water Navy soldiers are loyal, but we must let His Majesty know. But His Majesty is far away in the capital, alas." Chen Tiande also sighed. The Water Navy soldiers' loyalty is clear to heaven and earth, but he is afraid that His Majesty and the ministers will have doubts about this loyalty.

"Does the General have a good plan?" Chen Tiande asked.

Chen Lin nodded and said: "Yes."

"A fool's thousand thoughts must have one gain. After repeated consideration, I have already written a memorial. When the imperial road from Jinan Prefecture to Yangzhou Prefecture is opened, and the imperial road from Yingtian Prefecture to Songjiang Prefecture is opened, this memorial requesting the imperial carriage to go south can be presented to the Emperor."

Chen Lin hopes that His Majesty can come to Songjiang Prefecture once a year and stay for a few months. In this way, the Water Navy's loyalty and bravery will be self-evident, because His Majesty can see it with his own eyes. What is obtained on paper is always shallow. As long as His Majesty sees it with his own eyes, any attack or suspicion from anyone will be self-defeating.

The violence getting out of control caused by trust can be effectively alleviated.

"Wonderful! Very wonderful! And since the opening of the sea nineteen years ago, there have been huge profits overseas. Many things also need His Majesty to handle personally." Chen Tiande's eyes lit up. After the imperial road is opened, His Majesty does not need to be as exhausted as usual when coming to Songjiang Prefecture. He can reach Songjiang Prefecture in seven or eight days, and can return to Shuntian Prefecture in seven or eight days.

This actually involves a cliché problem of the Great Ming: whether the move of the capital by Emperor Chengzu Wen was wise.

Discussing whether any policy is reasonable by leaving the era background is a very stupid "cheap scholar" behavior. One must consider the era background of the Great Split in the early Ming dynasty to understand the fundamental purpose of moving the capital.

Zhu Yuanzhang was already ruthless enough. In the thirtieth year of Hongwu, the North-South List Case broke out. The imperial examination candidates were all southerners. This was a concrete manifestation of the intensification of the North-South contradiction.

Southerners regarded the north as a place of ritual collapse for hundreds of years and a place of barbarian smell, while northerners regarded the south as lambs waiting to be slaughtered, watching covetously, ready to go south at any time.

At that time, the Han people in Beiping Prefecture might have regarded the northern barbarians as closer.

Whether Zhu Di moved the capital to the north for personal emotions like returning home in glory, no one knows, but Zhu Di's move of the capital to the north did indeed play a decisive role in the North-South reconciliation.

If the capital was not moved, it would not be long before a major turmoil no less than the An-Shi Rebellion would inevitably break out, because after the North-South List Case, southerners were completely banning northerners from participating in the feast of dividing power. As time went on, the contradictions intensified, and turmoil became inevitable.

In fact, turmoil had already occurred. Prince Yan Zhu Di went south to proclaim himself Emperor, and the Jingnan Campaign made the world restless.

Time has passed, one hundred and seventy years have passed, and new contradictions have emerged. If the Great Ming does not open the sea, it is a closed system gradually falling into disorder. Opening the sea means opening the closed system and using overseas huge profits to regulate internal contradictions.

However, the capital is in the north, and various problems have begun to emerge one after another.

At that time, Beiping Prefecture and the north were the places where the North-South Great Split was destined to happen.

Then today, Songjiang Prefecture is the place where the commodity economy transformation is destined to happen. If His Majesty does not sit here, who knows what kind of trouble will happen.

It is not just the Water Navy's loyalty that His Majesty cannot see with his own eyes, even the style of extravagance is the same. Everyone says His Majesty is frugal, but His Majesty is far away in the capital. Who knows if he is really frugal?

Various problems, asking His Majesty to come to Songjiang Prefecture to sit in town, has become a necessity. Simple southern tours every few years are no longer enough. This solution is not the optimal solution, and even requires the Emperor to run back and forth every year, but it is the best method that the Great Ming ministers can think of.

"The year before last, His Majesty came to Songjiang Prefecture, and Songjiang Prefecture was lively for a whole month, celebrating the Longevity Festival for His Majesty. Actually, the Jiangnan scholar-officials were also afraid, afraid that if Jiangnan continued to be so rich, His Majesty would bring the Capital Battalion to kill them." Chen Tiande's face was somewhat strange.

The Longevity Festival that lasted for a month the year before last could be called the most grand Longevity Festival. The powerful and wealthy in the south also strongly supported it, somewhat to make His Majesty happy, for fear that His Majesty would have the idea that Jiangnan was too rich now and the pig was fat enough to be slaughtered for meat.

"So the General asked the Provincial Governor about the Huangpu Palace?" Chen Tiande finally understood why Chen Lin suddenly asked whether the renovation of the warm pavilion in Songjiang Prefecture was completed.

The Huangpujiang Palace cannot be worse than the Tonghe Palace in the capital, it must be better, and it must be much better, so that His Majesty can feel at home.

"Indeed." Chen Lin nodded.

The movement of the Songjiang Dai Fuya and County Yamen was much smaller than that of Shuntian Prefecture, because this replacement only replaced one-third, not all of them like in the capital. The impeachment of the censor triggered imperial anger. The Shuntian Dai Fuya was a punishment, while the Songjiang Dai Fuya did not need to be completely replaced directly.

After all, there were 300 people willing to apply for the Songjiang Prefecture, which was much stronger than the 100 in Shuntian Prefecture.

The movement was small, and there were few opponents, and it did not even cause any waves, and there was no need for the Water Navy to act.

"This style of extravagance is so rotten." Wang Qian handed a file to Provincial Governor Li Le, his face worried, and the knot in his eyebrows could not be untied at all.

A murder case occurred in Qingpu County, Songjiang Prefecture, which was almost identical to the murder case that Yao Guangqi reported to the Emperor. They were all county school students, all supported by the whole family, and all were comparing extravagance. It was just that Yao Guangqi reported a wicked son killing his grandmother, while this case was the student dying.

The student went home to buy clothes and accessories, but failed to get the money, so he jumped into the river and committed suicide.

"When we were studying, sand was paper, wood was pen, and daylight was light. We dressed in short clothes with upper and lower pants, and our minds were all on our studies, fearing that our studies would not be refined and we would be punished by the teacher, not daring to show a little disrespectful look, being reprimanded by the teacher, and returning home, our parents would inevitably give us a stick." After reading the file, Li Le could not understand at all what was wrong with these students now.

The "Jade Forbidden Step" that the Qingpu County student wanted to buy was an ornament to correct the posture of walking. It was made by stringing jade pendants and bead ornaments of different shapes with colored threads and fixing them at the waist. When walking, these ornaments could not collide and make a sound, which was considered elegant.

This thing was only used for grand ceremonies, such as suburban sacrifices and heaven sacrifices. Later, the Emperor did not even wear these things for grand ceremonies, because it was really too cumbersome and troublesome.

But the style of extravagance in Songjiang Prefecture was very prevalent. The Jade Forbidden Step that this county student wanted to buy had six jade pendants and cost four silver. And the reason he wanted to buy it was simple: his classmates all had it.

"Hairpins, waistbands, cuff buttons, pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, books, paperweights, playthings, hand-held pieces, fans, clothes, and even pen holders, all have to be compared. With such comparison, how can students cultivate their moral character?" Wang Qian asked someone to bring a tray, and the tray was piled with all kinds of odds and ends, which he collected from the county schools of Qingpu, Shanghai, Fengxian, Jinshan, Huating, and other counties.

"What kind of thing is this?" Li Le picked out an ornament that looked particularly exquisite and asked with a frown: "Sachet pendant?"

"Red copper gilded chiseled hollow sachet pendant, hung on the pen holder, three taels of silver each. In Songjiang Prefecture, it can buy ten shi of imported rice, 1,500 catties of rice." Wang Qian's mouth twitched and said: "When I was studying, the most expensive thing was my father's ruler! My son is the same, his most expensive thing is also the ruler."

1,500 catties of rice could allow a grown man to eat for eight months or even a year, and he bought such a thing to hang on the pen holder. Wang Qian, as the second dandy in the capital, could not agree with it either.

Hollow sachet pendant, Wang Qian had never used this thing. In his view, it was a bit too evil.

"Maybe they are crazy." Li Le looked at this sachet pendant for a long time and made the same judgment as Yao Guangqi.

As the Songjiang Provincial Governor, he could not understand at all why these things appeared on the desks of students. Shouldn't students in county and prefecture schools focus on reading?

"It cannot go on like this. If this style of extravagance spreads from Songjiang Prefecture to all over the country, you and I will be unable to escape the blame. Even if His Majesty doesn't behead us, we will have to find a tree to hang ourselves." Li Le sat up straight and said: "In this way, Prefect Wang, you and the Education Commissioner should find Sun Hongyi of the Songjiang Ocean Trading Company. The Songjiang Prefecture schools will uniformly purchase pen, ink, paper, inkstone, clothes, etc., and calculate them into the tuition fees."

"The style of comparison must never be allowed to spread so wantonly in the school."

The style of extravagance, the Yamen really couldn't control it, but blocking the style of extravagance outside the school gate could be done. In any case, the school was a place for cultivating moral character and reading.

If this continues, what kind of students will be cultivated?

And these students are young, at the age where they are not convinced by anyone. In any case, they cannot be confused by these luxurious things, otherwise, the Dinghai School System will fail before it is finished.

"Good, you do it. I will draft a memorial to report to the Emperor, so as to save the censors in the capital from talking nonsense." Li Le immediately agreed and reported to the court. Uniform purchase is easy to have some corruption and is easy to be caught by censors, but it has reached the point where it must be done.

Choose the lesser of two evils. Although this school rule and uniform purchase have some drawbacks, continuing to let the school be so extravagant will destroy the Dinghai School System, which is the fundamental policy of the country. I am afraid that the two of them will not be able to keep their heads.

"Send these odds and ends to the Emperor together, and let His Majesty decide." Wang Qian added his own view.

August 17th is His Majesty's Longevity Festival. The Emperor issued a decree that under the change of heaven, the Holy One has no heart to celebrate. Just send the congratulatory tables from all over the country, no congratulatory gifts are needed. Except for three days of rest, there is no need for celebrations in all places.

The Longevity Festival has three more days of rest. Apart from that, there are no more celebrations. The Emperor's reason is very sufficient. The change of heaven is a sword hanging over the head of the Great Ming, so he must be cautious. Arrogance and extravagance will only attract the wrath of heaven.

"The school rules and regulations formulated by Wang Qian are too strict. Sitting, standing, sleeping, lying down, going to the toilet, clothing, food, housing, and transportation are all strictly regulated. Being so harsh, I am afraid it will stifle the nature of the students." Zhu Yijun did not agree with the school rules and regulations made by Wang Qian, because they were too strict. For example, no noise, no fighting, no staying too long in the toilet, and walking in a line.

Walking in a line means lining up to go to the toilet. People are living things. Wang Qian's way of doing things is a bit too much.

Zhu Yijun did not give his vermilion approval immediately, looked at Feng Bao and asked: "What about the odds and ends sent with the memorial?"

Feng Bao clapped his hands, two small eunuchs lifted a square table, and a small eunuch dressed as a scholar walked into the Imperial Study.

In order to make it easier for His Majesty to understand the use of these odds and ends, Feng Bao specifically found a small eunuch to dress up in the clothes sent, which was convenient for His Majesty to understand.

The small eunuch dressed as a scholar was bright and beautiful, sitting at the desk, with a folding fan on one side, the tassels of the folding fan hanging below the desktop, and incense lit in the sachet pendant, looking quite wealthy.

"What are these things? How much money does it cost to set up such an outfit?" Zhu Yijun asked somewhat sluggishly. Just looking at the content of the memorial, he didn't feel anything, but seeing it with his own eyes, this outfit, Zhu Yijun somewhat understood why Wang Qian was so ruthless.

"According to the market price in Songjiang Prefecture, such an outfit costs more than seventy silver." Feng Bao said in a low voice.

"How much?!" Zhu Yijun raised his voice by three points!

Feng Bao hurriedly bowed his head and said: "More than seventy silver, and this is a medium outfit. There are even more expensive ones that cost more than one hundred silver."

"Seventy silver, 240 shi of grain, 35,700 catties of rice, to buy such an outfit? Are you crazy?" Zhu Yijun turned three times to the left and three times to the right, looking for a long time. As the richest person in the Great Ming, he did not understand these odds and ends. Why are they worth 35,700 catties of rice!

"Is this outfit useful for reading?" Zhu Yijun asked about the feeling of the small eunuch.

The small eunuch felt uncomfortable everywhere, shook his head and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, with such a dress, I can't even write characters. This appearance, is this reading, or is it a theater troupe singing a big play? If I toss like this every day, I'm afraid I can read a few chapters of books and write ten big characters."

The small eunuch felt that dressing like this was a waste of time. Sachet pendant? Just the effort of burning incense is enough to write a big character.

If a small eunuch doesn't read well, people will die.

"Forget it, let Wang Qian do it. It is my shallowness." Zhu Yijun returned to the Imperial Study and immediately gave his vermilion approval to the memorial. ===== CHAPTER 985 =====

The young eunuch always felt uncomfortable everywhere, shaking his head as he said, "Your Majesty, after dressing up like this, I can't even write characters anymore. This getup—is this for studying, or is it for a theater troupe to perform a grand play? If I have to go through this fuss every day, I'm afraid I could have read several chapters of books and written ten pages of calligraphy instead."

The young eunuch felt that dressing up like this was simply a waste of time. Scent sachets and pendants? The effort spent just on arranging the incense alone would be enough to write a page of calligraphy.

If a young eunuch doesn't study well, people will die.

"Forget it, let Wang Qian handle it. It is I who didn't understand the situation." Zhu Yijun returned to the imperial desk and immediately used the vermilion brush to approve the memorials.