Affected by the small glacier climate, a rare drought in a century swept across the northern part of the Ming Dynasty. Flights from Qin and Jin can be seen everywhere on the road from Daming Prefecture to the capital.

Fortunately, it is the seventh year of Tianqi. Although there are natural disasters, there are no human disasters. The traditional northern gentry that focuses on rural friendship may not be as stingy as the gentry who is mainly composed of merchants in Jiangnan. There are large porridge vendors everywhere in the entire Northern Zhili area.

Due to the governance of the prefect Lu Xiangsheng, Daming Prefecture has more large households who spontaneously donate porridge in the entire Daming Prefecture. Although such a measure can only kill the lives of refugees, it will delay the large-scale peasant uprising that is about to sweep the country by one or two years.

The prefect of Daming Prefecture, Lu Xiangsheng, looked at his people worriedly. If His Majesty had not summoned him, he would rather stay in Daming Prefecture for the rest of his life so that the people here can truly be free from hunger.

However, a letter from Zhu Youxiao gave him, a large volume of documents signed as "Related Materials of the Royalist Party" and a handwritten letter from Zhu Youxiao made him choose to go to Beijing with his crown.

"Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Daming Prefecture, has met His Majesty!"

This was the first time Lu Xiangsheng came to see Zhu Youxiao, and Zhu Youxiao also saw this Ming official who was most respected by him in the late Ming Dynasty, no doubt about it.

"Jiandou invites you to get up, and you're so busy all the way. Before you can rest, Zhu Youxiao said that, he asked someone to give him a seat and give him ginger soup.

Seeing this, Wang Chengen personally took the Jindun from the little yellow gate and placed it behind Lu Xiangsheng, and then personally held the soup to Lu Xiangsheng.

Lu Xiangsheng, who was somewhat flattered, never expected that his little fourth-rank prefect would be so popular with His Majesty, and even asked the dignified ceremonial supervisor to give him soup.

However, Wang Chengen was still full of spring breeze. From the time when His Majesty had been muttering about Lu Xiangsheng three days ago, Wang Chengen could see that his Majesty had a great friendship with this unknown prefect Lu.

So he didn't dare to be big, and he deliberately showed humility in front of Lu Xiangsheng to win His Majesty's favor.

Lu Xiangsheng had no choice but to thank him, and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to become a member of the royalist party and be loyal to Your Majesty!"

"My dear is worthy of being the first loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. Wang Chengen immediately issued an order to the Xinuan Pavilion, and Lu Xiang, the governor of Daming Prefecture, was promoted to the position of left minister of the Ministry of War, and was appointed as the admiral of the Beijing camp."

Zhu Youxiao now issued an order directly to the Xihun Pavilion, and then the rotational Grand Secretary of the Xihun Pavilion Sun Chengzong or Wei Guangwei drafted the order and then sent it to the Silijian, who was then approved by the Silijian.

This actually undermines the power of the cabinet, or the power of the cabinet and the Silijian Capital is concentrated in the Xihunting Pavilion, because the jade seal is also placed in the Xihunting Pavilion, and only the eunuch who is on the rotating position of Bingbi has the right to criticize the dividends.

Because of this, Zhu Youxiao's dictatorial power increased significantly, but the form still did not change. No one would object to the cabinet's votes and the Sili Supervisor's approval of the dividends.

In addition, the current important officials in the court are all ministers of the royal party, and no one dares to object. Even Sun Chengzong believed that this was more efficient and more trouble-free because the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the Superintendent of the Lili were in the same room.

However, when Wang Chengen came to the Xihun Pavilion with his order, Sun Chengzong, the rotating Grand Secretary, came to Zhu Youxiao and said: "Your Majesty, is it too anxious to directly promote the fourth-rank magistrate to the Left Minister of the Ministry of War? The censor Lin from the Middle East of the Court was afraid that he would have another verbal conversation. Moreover, the officials of the Ministry of War were already prominent and foreign ministers, and they would be in charge of the Beijing camp again, which would be a great disaster."

"Oh, Mr. Sun is a bit pedantic. At this time of national crisis, real talents should be used without any restrictions!"

Seeing this, Sun Chengzong had to nodded in agreement, but he was very puzzled. Lu Xiangsheng was just a small foreign official, so why was he favored by His Majesty?

However, Lu Xiangsheng was very calm. Although he didn't know why he was promoted by His Majesty's line of force, Zhu Youxiao's words "real talent" just now made him feel excited.

Just then, Wang Chengen hurriedly walked in with a letter: "Your Majesty, my East Factory just received the news that the Fan family caravan has gone north and arrived at the Linqing territory. In addition, the Zhang family caravan has also entered the pass, and it is transported by the raw skins of the Tatars. It is reported that they are planning to sell them to the Fan family store in the capital, and then contact Xi Jijie, the deputy general of Ji Liao who was connected in advance, and secretly transported the latest batch of iron-armored weapons from the Ming Dynasty out of the pass. At the same time, the Zhang family grain shop in the capital has been purchasing grain in the capital, and the current price of grain in the capital has increased by 30%.

"This group of abominable traitors!"

Sun Chengzong did not worry that he was by the emperor, but he had always been jealous of evil. When he heard that these Shanxi merchants were smuggling materials for the Tartars and hoarding goods and attempting to make money from the national crisis, he was so angry.

However, Zhu Youxiao was not in a good mood. He never opposed businessmen's business. He even hoped that the Ming Dynasty's commodity economy could further develop, but he was unwilling to let these selfish merchants poach the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

If these Shanxi merchants were not loyal to the Ming Dynasty, then Zhu Youxiao would not mind using violence to awaken their awareness.

Zhu Youxiao didn't say anything anymore, but lifted his feet and walked towards the West Warehouse on the right side of the Qianqing Palace.

The permanent staff of the Xihunting Pavilion are Zuo Zhongyun and Li Mingrui. When Li Mingrui saw His Majesty and his mentor coming, he hurriedly wanted to bow and salute.

But Zhu Youxiao and Sun Chengzong ignored him, and Wang Chengen, who was easy-going, did not speak. Lu Xiangsheng was willing to tell him, but he was not qualified to enter the Western Warehouse Pavilion.

"Li Mingrui, hang up the map and tell me that Cao Wenzhao, Huang Degong, Man Gui, Mao Wenlong, Zhao Rujiao, Jiang Guan, and Zhou Yuji are assigned any positions. In addition, who is the current general of the seven towns in Xuanfu, Datong, Taiyuan, Jizhou, Liaodong, Guyuan, and Yansui? Tell me immediately about his resume and family relationship!"

Zhu Youxiao started asking questions as soon as he came in.

Li Mingrui, who was used to this emperor's nonsense and asked various questions, had no idea and immediately expanded the map and replied:

"Cao Wenzhao is currently a guerrilla in Liaodong and guards Jinzhou. Huang Degong is a lieutenant general in Jizhou. Man Gui is the deputy general of Shanhaiguan. Mao Wenlong is just named Dongjiang general by His Majesty. Zhao Shujiao is the lieutenant general in Ningzhou..."

Li Mingrui's memory has always been amazing. In addition, he is currently at the center of his position, and civil officials and military generals at all levels in the court have long been familiar with each other. After seeing Zhu Youxiao nodding, he briefly introduced the current generals of the nine-side towns.

Everyone was puzzled why Zhu Youxiao suddenly cared about this. It was not until a moment later that Zhu Youxiao stood up and asked Wang Chengen and Sun Chengen: "You guys say, how powerful are the eight major Shanxi merchants in the court?"

Wang Chengen could think of Zhu Youxiaozhi before he thought, so he hurriedly took out a book: "Your Majesty, this is the power relationship between the eight major Shanxi merchants in the court that my Dongchang Factory spent half a month to find out. It involves a former chief minister, three former or current ministers of the ministry, six fourth-rank officials and above Beijing officials, as well as ten governors of various provinces, and countless governors below."

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help laughing: "It is said that the Donglin Party is powerful, and now it is much inferior to the Shanxi merchant."

As he said that, Zhu Youxiao pulled his face down and said with a serious expression: "I must dig out the eight Shanxi merchants this cancer!"
Chapter completed!