Therefore, there are not many red lanterns and palace lanterns in the palace. Except for a few places that look brighter, the entire Forbidden City is dark and deserted, which is a bit scary.

The wedding money and monthly gifts in the palace were also getting less and less. Emperor Chongzhen had no way to increase his income and could only continue to cut back on expenditures.

In the Wuying Hall, Wang Chengen watched Emperor Chongzhen immersed in reviewing the documents. It was obviously the year of his establishment, when he was full of energy and vigorous, but Emperor Chongzhen looked very haggard and old, and his figure was very thin. He did not look like a man at all.

A man in his prime.

After reviewing the reports from the local governors, and then looking at the reports from the cabinet and court ministers, Zhu Youjian felt that he was physically and mentally exhausted. Who was responsible for so many problems in the Chongzhen Dynasty?

Is it really Zhang Haogu and those Datong thieves?

But why were they able to prevent the people from rebelling at that time?

Why do the eunuchs and maids in the palace and the common people outside still think of the previous dynasty, the late emperor and Zhang Haogu?

Is Zhu Youjian's Chongzhen Dynasty so bad?

Disheartened to this point, Zhu Youjian still had to cheer up. After all, his ancestors had placed the burden of the country on him, and he had to resist.

Late at night, Zhu Youjian looked at the reports of the court ministers. He was shocked and angry to find that these court ministers actually wanted him to issue an edict to quell the current chaos in the world. Some imperial officials even said that all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes were a disaster for the country.

Lift.

Doesn't he know that these exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are a heavy burden on the people, but now that the government has millions of taels of silver every year without collecting taxes, how can it deal with the fire in all directions, and how can it deal with Zhang Haogu in Liaodong?

Could it be that he was allowed to watch the Ming Dynasty and the foundation of his ancestors be destroyed in his hands?!

The angry Zhu Youjian threw away the book, picked up the tea that had been cold for an unknown period of time, and drank it. He was frugal by nature and was used to living in poverty. He was not willing to exchange heat for this tea when it got cold. He could save some charcoal in the palace.

With firewood, you can save a little more money.

Sighing, Zhu Youjian stood up and walked to the dark red charcoal basin to warm himself over the fire. Suddenly he heard someone whispering outside the hall.

"Oh, these days are getting more and more sad."

"Who says it's not the case? In the past, there was a bit of celebration in the palace during the New Year. The nobles would reward us with some festive money, and we servants would have a better life. Now, alas..."

"I still remember when the late emperor was here, it was really good. Every year, the palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. We servants not only got wedding money, but also received extra monthly salary. The nobles also enjoyed various wines, meats and snacks, and could also

It was such a good time to watch the singing and dancing and watch the fireworks display."

"Yes, they say it was a prosperous time. The court was rich, the palace was rich, no wars were lost, and barbarians from all over came to worship. The countries in the South Seas and the Western Regions were really domineering."

"The nobles are kind to the servants, but now, let alone money, wine, meat and snacks, we can't even afford charcoal fires. More and more people in the palace have frozen to death recently."

"Your Majesty himself saves a lot, how can we, the servants, get the charcoal for fire? Your Majesty is so frugal, and we all feel sad about it. How much money can you save with this frugality? Look at the life in this palace, it is worse than a

Rich country man."

"Well, it was better in the late emperor's time. Everyone said that Prime Minister Zhang was a monster, but when Prime Minister Zhang was in charge, we eunuchs were also human beings..."

"Keep your voice down, don't risk your life. If your Majesty hears it, you and I will be dead!"

Zhu Youjian listened quietly to the discussions outside, his whole face was extremely calm, without sadness or joy.

Wang Chengen stood quietly on the side, watching Zhu Youjian roasting scattered fire spots next to the dim brazier. The temperature in the Wuying Hall was not high, the only charcoal fire was burned out, and it was frighteningly cold.

Zhu Youjian didn't know how long he stood in front of the brazier. Finally, he got up and returned to the table. Thinking about the desolate situation in the palace and the uprisings everywhere, the Ming Dynasty was finally in danger.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Youjian began to write the imperial edict. While writing, he said: "The two eunuchs outside should be killed with a stick. Since they are thinking of the late emperor, let them serve the late emperor. I don't want such disloyal slaves."

.”

After hearing the order, Wang Chengen hurriedly went out, and within a moment he heard the frightened begging and crying of the two young eunuchs. Soon, as the guards dragged them farther and farther, the begging and crying became further and further away, until

can not hear.

Finally, Zhu Youjian, who had not slept all night, wrote a long edict with complicated emotions. In the edict, he blamed the rebellion of the people in various parts of the Ming Dynasty on the incompetence of the court officials and the corruption of local government offices.

, saying that there were treacherous ministers who deceived the Holy Listener, and he would deal with these corrupt officials, treacherous ministers and traitors; at the same time, he also gave an explanation for various levies, which were to quell the chaos. As soon as the bandits and thieves were eliminated, they would be canceled immediately and tax exemptions would be given to the people;

He blamed the natural disasters in the past years on the birth of evildoers, so he would definitely wipe out the evildoers and so on...

Finally, Zhu Youjian declared that he was the emperor. He must be responsible for the many natural and man-made disasters in the Ming Dynasty and the people's complaints, and he would definitely come up with a solution.
Chapter completed!