Zhu Youjian smiled and said,"Minister Lu, don't worry. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I, as the Emperor, must correct my mistakes."
It had to be fair and just. Once the emperor had selfish motives, it would definitely hurt the public's hearts.
"When I was alive, I was not afraid of being scolded by the world. I only hoped that after I died, it would be written in the history books that I had worked hard to make the country prosperous."
An emperor who knows his mistakes and can change.”
After saying this, Lu Xuan's admiration for the Emperor increased a little.
"By the way, Minister Lu, send this imperial edict to Qian Qianyi. His writing is good. Tell him to follow the meaning of this imperial edict.
He would draft another one. Tomorrow, this edict would be sent to the nine sides and to the world.”
"Yes, sir!"
The next morning, Lu Xuan brought Hou Xun into the Profound Language Pavilion.
Zhu Youjian sized up Hou Xun. He was not tall and his hair was already white.
His clothes were tattered, but they were decent. He looked tired, but his complexion was very good. He did not look like he had just come out of prison.
Instead, he looked like an old man who had played mahjong all night and went out to buy groceries in the morning.
"Hou Xun, it has been hard on you during this period of time.”
"Haha, Your Majesty, I've missed you too recently. However, it wasn't hard for commoners to stay in prison.
Moreover, in these two months, His Majesty had sent many old acquaintances over. Haha, Hou Xun felt too good to see them suffer!”
"Hou Xun, what do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, Old Hou is in prison. He eats well and sleeps well, but he is bored.
However, in the past few months, batches of nobles and ministers have become my neighbors. Haha, they all call me senior and fight to empty my toilet bowl. I'm in a very good mood!”
Zhu Youjian looked at the optimistic old man and then at Lu Xuan.
Noticing that the Emperor was looking at him, the Jinyiwei Tongzhi suddenly lowered his head in embarrassment. There was a faint smile on his face.
Zhu Youjian understood. It turned out that the reason why this little old man could eat and sleep well in prison was because Lu Xuan's subordinates protected him.
It seemed that this Lu Xuan really had a fair heart.
"Haha, Old Hou, then zhen will put you back.
"Alright! Haha, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. However, this old man has a request.”
"Tell me."
"Everything in this prison is good. It's warm in winter and cool in summer. It's just that there are some books and wine missing. Your Majesty, please give me books and wine every day. I can also enjoy this rare scene.”
"Haha! You, Old Hou, are actually so shameless! Find a peaceful place and read and drink every day. Even I can't live such a carefree life. Dream on!
Haha, tomorrow, report to the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. I will appoint you as the Minister of Personnel Affairs. Then, come to the Military and Political Affairs Office for a meeting. From tomorrow onwards, you will still be the Minister of Military and Political Affairs. Do you understand?”
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Hou Xun will definitely do his best for Your Majesty!”
Although he was laughing, he was not joking with the imperial court. Hou Xun bowed and kowtowed, his expression solemn.
"Alright, Old Hou, are you still in contact with Zuo Liangyu?”
"Your Majesty, why do you ask this? When I was in prison, everyone avoided me like they were afraid of nothing.
That Zuo Liangyu fellow is a person who is good at both sides. How could he be in cahoots with a criminal like me?”
Zhu Youjian nodded and continued,""Now, Zuo Liangyu has 800,000 soldiers and asks for food and pay from the Imperial Court every day.
However, I don't listen to the imperial court's orders. I was just about to ask you for a favor.”
"Could it be that His Majesty wants me to be the Governor of Sichuan?”
This Hou Xun was indeed not an ordinary official. His train of thought was actually able to match Zhu Youjian's.
"Haha! You old monkey, you're really smart!”
Zhu Youjian indeed wanted Hou Xun to be the governor of Sichuan and lead troops into Sichuan. At the same time, he also wanted to give Hou Xun some of the 17th year of Chongzhen's firearms to hold the line.
He had also thought of the candidate. It was this Yuan Chengzhi.
Yuan Chonghuan had the combination of a big cart and a fire gun. He believed that with this batch of new firearms, the summoned Yuan Chengzhi would definitely bring him a pleasant surprise.
Inadvertently, Zhu Youjian blurted out the words 'old monkey' and made Hou Xun famous.
"Your Majesty, as the governor, I don't think I'm going to charge into Sichuan alone.”
"Don't worry, I will prepare everything for you. However, you will have to get these soldiers yourself.”
"Your Majesty, are you making things difficult for me?”
Zhu Youjian smiled without saying a word. Similarly, Hou Xun also smiled. The two of them seemed to have reached a tacit understanding.
"I'll find these soldiers myself, but I don't have any generals.”
"I'll recommend someone to you. It depends on whether you can find him.”
"Who is it?"
"Do you know Yuan Chengzhi?"
Because of the system, this person did exist in Hou Xun's memories.
"Your Majesty, I know this person. He is Yuan Chonghuan's son. However, since Yuan Chonghuan was executed, there was no news of Yuan Chengzhi.
"I heard that this Yuan Chengzhi followed his father to guard Liaodong in his early years and had the essentials of firearms and artillery. However, his whereabouts are unknown."
Once again, he felt that it was unrealistic and against the law to hire the son of a criminal.”
Just as they were talking, Qian Qianyi entered Wenyuan Pavilion.
"Qian Qianyi greets Your Majesty!"
"Minister Qian, you don't have to be so polite. You know this Hou Xun.
I brought him out of prison and prepared to make him pay for his crimes.
Tomorrow, he will be officially announced as the Minister of Personnel Affairs and will enter the military. You all have to help each other.”
"Yes, sir!"
Qian Qianyi already knew that Hou Xun had been released from prison, but this statement of committing a crime and making a meritorious service was a little hard for the Military and Political Affairs Office to accept.
Which person who atoned for his sins and rendered meritorious service would be conferred the title of a first-grade official after being released from prison? It was clearly arranged by you, the emperor.
It was not easy to accept, but he could not go against the Emperor's orders.
Moreover, Hou Xun had the Donglin Party's background. With one more Donglin Party member, Qian Qianyi would not have any actions that were against the same party.
"Minister Qian, have you finished drafting the edict I asked you to draft?”
Qian Qianyi carefully took out a memorial from his pocket and handed it to Zhu Youjian.
Zhu Youjian opened it and saw that the handwriting was indeed neat and smooth. It was many times better than the one he had written.
"As expected, there are specialties in every field. Wang Chengen, write the imperial edict according to this memorial. Hurry up.”
Wang Chengen accepted the order and jogged away. He began to transcribe the imperial edict and stamp it.
"Your Majesty, I've found the person you asked me to find yesterday." Lu Xuan said.
This person was currently living near Guangning Gate. Now, the streets had been cordoned off, and they were only waiting for His Majesty to personally go.”
This Guangning Sect was actually Guangqu Sect. It was only later changed to Guangqu Sect to avoid the taboo of Emperor Ming Ning.
"Alright, call the high-ranking officials of the capital to gather at Guangning Gate to pay their respects to Yuan Chonghuan.”
Hearing the Emperor say this, Hou Xun understood why the Emperor said that he could find Yuan Chengzhi. It turned out that the Emperor wanted to redeem Yuan Chonghuan.
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