Prince of Chaos

Chapter 439

"Who is the current Xunyan Yushi?"

Zhu Changluo asked Dong Qichang casually.

Dong Qichang sat on the brocade pier, and after hearing Zhu Changluo's question, he was a little puzzled by Monk Zhang Er, but he replied honestly: "Return to Your Highness, it is Xu Guo."

"Xu Guo? Tell me about this person."

Zhu Changluo asked again.

Dong Qichang immediately replied: "Xu Guo is a top three Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli. He is a native of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture. He is decent and well-known in the literary circles of Nanzhili. He is also the great-grandson of Xu Wenzhen, the former chief minister of the cabinet. Also after a famous family."

"Mr. Xu Wenzhen?"

Zhu Changluo read it silently in his heart. At this moment, Dong Qichang hurriedly said, "Xu Jie."

Zhu Changluo suddenly realized that this Duke Xu Wenzhen was actually Xu Jie.

Zhu Changluo said without changing his face: "I know."

Then Zhu Changluo said again: "How long has Xu Guo been the censor of salt inspection?"

Dong Qichang said: "Almost five years."

Zhu Changluo smiled, "Five years? It's really not short. How has he been doing these years?"

Dong Qichang said: "Xu Yushi is a clean and honest man, and his errands have been pretty good these years."

Zhu Changluo snorted: "Then how much tax did he collect for the Ministry of Households?"

Dong Qichang paused, and then replied: "This minister doesn't know, the Ministry of Households should have a record."

Zhu Changluo said: "Of course there are records in the Ministry of Household Affairs, otherwise, I wouldn't have called you here. Now that your chief constitution is ill, you are in charge of the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but you don't want to Forget your own job, you are still the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency."

Dong Qichang said: "I am terrified. Please make it clear, Your Highness."

Dong Qichang felt a bit of fear inexplicably, and always felt that today's events were evil, okay, why does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince care about Xunyan Yushi?This is obviously not a good phenomenon, so Dong Qichang took the initiative to point it out.

Zhu Changluo looked at Dong Qichang's reaction, and said, "Anti-corruption has never been a good job. If you want to do this job well, you must first be honest with others. You need your own hard principles to make iron, and I don't think you need to do it alone." Too much to say."

"During this period of time, you and Fang Shoushi have cooperated with each other, and the errands have been done pretty well. In the counties of Shuntian Prefecture, you Qingzhang came out with 150 million mu of hidden fields and 30 hidden households, and dealt with a large number of people. There are nearly 700 officials, large and small. This achievement is also a highlight in the anti-corruption history of all dynasties."

"However, the more it is like this, the less you can be proud and complacent, and you must have the mentality of walking on thin ice. Now, the officials in Beijing and China don't know how many people are secretly hoping that you will all have trouble with the Procuratorate. At times like this, you are even more You should actively conduct self-examination, and then be upright and not afraid of the shadows slanting. In this way, you can establish an image of being impartial and impartial.”

After Dong Qichang listened to Zhu Changluo's words, he quickly said: "Thank you for your instruction, Your Highness, and I obey the order."

Zhu Changluo said: "I still haven't finished talking. The reason why I called you here is not to tell you about these things. I want to tell you about the Ministry of Households. Decreasing, the reason for this, I really want to know where it came from? Could it be that the people of my Ming Dynasty are so poor that they can’t afford salt? If this is the case, I will punish myself But Gu also wants to tell you clearly, if one day Gu is really forced to commit crimes against himself, then Gu will definitely let the person who forced Gu not have a good death!"

Dong Qichang's heart was shocked by Zhu Changluo's last words, what he said was really scary.

Dong Qichang hurriedly knelt down and said: "I must check myself seriously, and I will never let a silverfish go, which will damage Your Highness's sageness."

Zhu Changluo said: "Okay, very good. I trust Master Dong. Let's start the investigation from the salt road. I want to find out whether it is the Ming people who don't eat salt, or the household department is negligent."

Dong Qichang said: "I obey the order."

Zhu Changluo finally looked at Dong Qichang, and said meaningfully: "Don't let Gu feel sad. After all, you are still Mr. Gu."

Dong Qichang's heart trembled, and he felt that these words were warning him not to shield anyone, and if something went wrong, Zhu Changluo might borrow his good head to quell public anger.

Dong Qichang was so frightened that he knocked his head, "I must do my best to live up to His Highness' trust."

Zhu Changluo said: "Okay, then step back."

After saying this sentence, Zhu Changluo immediately added another sentence: "Master Dong, you can first go to the household department to find your fellow villager Liu Pinru. I believe he can give you a lot of help."

After Dong Qichang listened, he kowtowed again: "I obey the order."

Zhu Changluo looked at Dong Qichang, who was already a little panicked, and finally smiled kindly: "Master Dong, go."

After hearing Zhu Changluo's words, Dong Qichang retreated as if he had received an amnesty, and then went straight to the household department.

After arriving at the household department, Dong Qichang didn't even have time to exchange pleasantries with Liu Pinru.

Dong Qichang asked straight to the point: "Brother Shixian, what happened to Yandao?"

Listening to Dong Qichang's question, Liu Pinru sighed, "Brother Xuanzai, let's see for yourself."

After all, Liu Pinru took out an account book on his official case and gave it to Dong Qichang.

Dong Qichang quickly flipped through the account book, waiting for him to read the contents of the account book.

Dong Qichang thumped in his heart, "It's over, it's over. It's over now."

Dong Qichang really couldn't believe that the situation in the household department was so serious.No wonder His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specifically asked him to chat with him in the Ciqing Palace.

On the surface, they were talking about the problems of the Ministry of Household Affairs, but in fact, what they said was that there was a problem in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Now, seeing this ledger, Dong Qichang was really terrified.

Daming’s Salt Road collected less than 10 taels of tax money a year!

What a terrible data!
At the beginning of the founding of the country, the Ming Dynasty was newly built, the people were withered, and all industries were waiting to be flourished. However, the salt tax at that time was still 130 million taels a year.

Today, the world has been peaceful for more than two hundred years, the population is growing, and all industries are prosperous.However, the annual tax paid by Yandao is actually less than 10 taels.

Although it is also stated on the books that the money was misappropriated for disaster relief or something, but these are obviously not reasons.

Because it is impossible for the imperial court to spend the money from Yandao every year without recording it.

There must be something tricky in this.

Dong Qichang looked at Liu Pinru, he still couldn't believe it and asked: "Brother Shixian, is the salt road really so serious?"

Liu Pinru said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg. The problems of the household department are more serious than imagined, and the salt road is just one of them. Brother Xuanzai cheated me!"

Having said that, Liu Pinru gave Dong Qichang a resentful look. Originally, he lived a very comfortable life in the household department of Nanjing, but Dong Qichang recommended him to the household department of the capital. Although he was promoted, he honored his ancestors.

However, this Jingshi household department is a bottomless giant well that devours people!
Once it falls in, there is absolutely no possibility of survival.

Dong Qichang sighed: "Then, what will brother Shi Xian do next?"

Liu Pinru said: "What else can I do? Let's eat cold salad. The issue of the household department is like this, and I can't do anything about it. When the time comes, the imperial court will kill or cut, so it's up to you."

Dong Qichang became anxious, "Brother Shixian, don't be so discouraged, this time I came here for this purpose. Your Highness still values ​​Brother Shixian very much. At that time, it was His Highness's will to recommend Brother Shixian."

Dong Qichang immediately explained the reason why Liu Pinru got from Nanjing to Beijing.

When Liu Pinru heard that he came to the capital, he actually received the crown prince's attention. This news was a huge shock to him!This mountain-like grace made Liu Pinru so grateful. At the same time, he also understood that he was not the unlucky guy who was pulled to stand up to the thunder, but the one who had high hopes.

Liu Pinru turned around and bowed in the direction of the Forbidden City and knelt down, "How can I be so honored by Your Highness?"

After all, he knocked heavily.

Dong Qichang asked again: "What should we do next?"

Liu Pinru firmly said: "Check the salt road!"

(End of this chapter)