Daming heir

Chapter 298

"you win."

In the small study room of the Eastern Palace, Zhu Gaochi, the heir apparent of King Yan, looked at the chess game in front of him with an ugly expression, and admitted his defeat in frustration.

Because the weather has been getting hotter recently, the corner of the wall was placed half a month earlier than in previous years with river ice dug from the ice cellar last winter to cool down.

It's just that even so, it's hard to suppress the heat in Zhu Gaochi's heart.

And Zhu Yunxi, who sat opposite him and played chess with him, always had a smile on his face.

"It's because you have no room to fight back."

Indignantly, Zhu Gaochi knocked the last white piece in his hand on the chessboard, and looked sideways at Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji.

Finally, he looked angrily at the chess game in front of him.

The iron wall that I worked so hard to build was smashed to pieces by that violent white dragon.

There is no way at all.

It happened to be the last one, and the tyrannosaurus took shape.

"You can't count as chess."

Zhu Yunxi smiled and looked at the aggrieved chubby in front of him, and chuckled lightly: "It doesn't matter if the cat is white or black, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat."

Zhu Gaochi's shoulders collapsed, and he sighed softly: "So, this time, you also won the rumor."

This statement came out.

Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji, who were sitting on the sidelines watching the chess, straightened their necks together, with scrutiny on their faces.

Zhu Yunxi shook his head: "Although we have already made an inference, we still have to wait for Sun Cheng and Tian Mai to make a final confirmation today."

It's too late, it's too soon.

Sun Cheng's voice had already sounded outside the small study.

"His Royal Highness, the matter has been found out."

Outside the door of the small study, Sun Cheng and Tian Mai, who hurried back to the palace, still had a vague smell of blood on their bodies.

It wasn't until a voice came from the small study that the two of them waved their sleeves across their chests before stepping into the door.

Before the chess game in the tea room, Zhu Yunxie and the others had already changed their positions, watching Sun Cheng and Tian Mai walk in.

Sun Cheng and Tian Mai bowed to each other.

Then Sun Cheng took a step forward, cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness, the imperial court offered rewards for crops a few days ago, and then rumors spread in Ying Tiancheng, and now we have identified the person behind the spread of the rumors."

Zhu Yunxi hummed lightly.

Zhu Gaochi frowned, Yingtian City, which had managed to stabilize for a long time, was about to cause another disturbance.

Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji frowned.

They were all aware of the previous rumors, but no one could figure out who was spreading the rumors behind their backs.

At that time, rumors spread throughout the entire Yingtian City overnight, and when the gates were opened the next day, the rumors spread outside the city.

If it wasn't for the imperial court's quick response, suppressing the rumors in time, and writing the article again immediately, it would have caused a riot in the local area at that time.

Looking back, almost everyone was secretly deducing and groping for clues.

It's just that they all found out helplessly that the source of this rumor could not be found at all.

Therefore, when they heard that the person behind the rumors had been found out, Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji both showed curiosity.

Sun Cheng didn't hold back, and said directly: "This matter involves a total of 35 Yingtian Mansion gentry in Yingtian City, and 54 merchants participated in it."

Xie Jin immediately frowned and asked, "No one from the court participated?"

Sun Cheng shook his head: "We have checked many times, and no one from the DPRK is involved."

"Are those gentry and merchants involved?" Xia Yuanji was also puzzled and confirmed again.

Tian Mai on the side smiled and nodded: "That's true. We followed the officials of the court to investigate this matter, but we didn't find anything unusual. In the end, the grandson reminded us that we only put the last year's Ying Tianfu on the table. The matter of Ding's mother was re-examined.

Then, they targeted the families who had conflicts with the government's implementation of the government's promotion of "singling into the mu" last year, and used this as clues to sort them out one by one. Finally, after several confirmations, these people were picked out. "

Xie Jin couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "It's really just these people who did it."

Zhu Gaochi was worried, with a worried look on his face. He looked at Zhu Yunxi and said in a low voice: "This matter has to be dealt with easily, otherwise I'm afraid the place will be difficult, and such things will happen again in the future."

"Coercing the people to speculate on the government of the court, causing the people to be at odds with the court..."

Zhu Yunxi said in a low voice, his eyes gradually became gloomy, and then under the gaze of everyone, he slapped his hand heavily on the table, causing the whole plate of black and white chess pieces to jump and fall to the ground.

In the study room, there is only the sound of chess pieces falling to the ground and rolling.

Zhu Gaochi and the others also knew the real purpose of this matter.

Zhu Yunxi whispered with murderous eyes: "Are they trying to control the countryside forever!"

In the study room, several people were silent.

This matter has involved a common problem of all dynasties throughout the ages.

The imperial power does not go to the countryside.

Take Daming today as an example.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court has been setting up the ownership of court power, the division of local administration, and the extension of power.

From the beginning of the first day of the imperial court, Zhongshu Province was the leader, and led various ministries and offices to control the power of the world.

Locally, it is the extension of the power and will of the court with the three levels of the Taoist government and the county.

The power of the government ultimately rests with the county magistrates and county magistrates in the local counties.

These two official positions are still officials appointed by the court officials.

Under this, the county book, county lieutenant, and the officials of the sixth office of the county government are almost all filled by local gentry, or the local officials who have been in the family for many years. younger brother.

Further down, although the imperial court also has management positions such as Lizheng, Village Zheng, and Grain Chief, they are basically selected by the localities themselves.

As a result, in a village or a town, only the local gentry and merchant families hold power and voice.

They are responsible for explaining every policy of the imperial court to the rural people, and are responsible for the annual tax payment of each rural area.

Putting Ding Ding into Mu fundamentally deprived local gentry and merchants of their power to exploit local people.

However, at the beginning, when the imperial court promoted the allocation of gentry to the mu, it did not take into account the large number of small gentry merchants in the local area.

Now, they are starting to launch their first counter-offensive against the deprivation of their rights.

There was a moment of silence in the small study.

After all, no one has been able to accomplish the matter of imperial power going to the countryside for thousands of years.

After observing for a long time, Xia Yuanji finally whispered: "Your Highness, if the imperial court is too strong at this time, I am afraid that there will be changes in the summer and autumn taxes this year."

He looked at it from the stand and angle of the household department.

After all, the imperial court has not been able to take power back from the local government. Many things in the local area, especially the system of food chiefs who are responsible for collecting taxes from the local people and handing over to the government, are carried out between the local government and the people. Those little gentry merchants are in charge.

Xie Jin also said: "If the system of grain chiefs cannot be changed at this moment, and the local government is forced to hold the local government accountable for what has been investigated today, I am afraid that local taxation will be difficult this year."

"Ignore it, or take it lightly?"

Zhu Yunxi said lightly, looking at Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji.

What the two of them said is not wrong. Everything in power should be stable, and it is even more impossible to interfere with taxation without preparation.

Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji were speechless when asked.

Because this is not Taisun's usual way of doing things in the past.

At this time, Zhu Yunxi looked at Xiaopang on the opposite side of the chessboard.

Zhu Gaochi, who was being targeted, looked stunned for a moment, and couldn't help coughing a few times, with a blush on his cheeks, before he said slowly: "Actually... this matter... if it can be properly arranged and carried out step by step, it is not impossible , can also have a deterrent effect on the ground."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Yunxi silently.

Zhu Yunxi smiled immediately.

Xiaopang guessed his own thoughts correctly.

Zhu Yunxi hummed twice: "Let's come here today."

Xie Jin and Xia Yuanji looked at each other, their eyes twinkling, and they got up silently.

"I'm waiting to retire."

Zhu Yunxi turned his head and looked down at the completely messy chess game, without saying a word.

Standing in front, Sun Cheng and Tian Mai looked at the emperor's grandson who seemed to be in meditation, and they also bowed and joined hands together: "The ministers also leave first."

"You two stay here for a while."

Zhu Yunxi's voice suddenly came out at this time.

Sun Cheng and Tian Mai stopped silently with puzzled faces on their faces.

Zhu Yunxie said softly: "I sent someone to continue the investigation secretly. The whole Yingtian Mansion, the whole Zhili, I just want to see how many people there are, and they are still thinking about treating the people and land in the countryside as a private property. .”

"The minister takes orders."

Sun Cheng and Tian Mai cheered up, with a murderous look on their faces.

After the two left, Zhu Yunxi calmed down, and looked at Fatty sitting in front of him lightly.

Zhu Gaochi smiled helplessly: "So, you have to win Yingtian Mansion and Zhili first."

Zhu Yunxi hummed: "What do you think I will do?"

"Go to Yingtian first, and then go to Zhili, just like the case of Zhejiang Taoist stalls entering their mu." Zhu Gaochi muttered angrily.

Then, he turned his gaze.

Zhu Gaochi stared at Zhu Yunxi and asked: "There is also the method of reforming the post station. You will use it this time."

"Well, that's really the intention."

Hearing the clear answer, Zhu Gaochi nodded, with a suddenly enlightened expression on his face.

Tsk-tsk twice, Zhu Gaochi continued: "No wonder, this time you returned to Beijing, you didn't give credit to those wounded from the Southern Expedition who came back with us."

"That's right, the contributions of the meritorious soldiers have not yet been fulfilled." Zhu Yunxi smiled: "They are the meritorious people who followed us on the battlefield."

Zhu Gaochi said softly: "So, you can rest assured that they will be placed in the local area to replace the local grain chief, Lizheng, and village chief. Because they don't know how to form groups, they are not locals, but as long as there are a few people together, they can fight against a village. , Form a deterrent in one place, because they have been on the battlefield and killed people."

"Use the wounded to enter the local area and take over the local power. Apart from this method, I can't think of a second method now." Zhu Yunxi's face tensed slightly: "It's just that the employers are at ease now, but they take root in the local area, marry and have children, and reproduce. Will future generations repeat the same mistakes?"

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi raised his head and looked deeply at Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi sighed quietly: "There has never been an old-fashioned way to restrain power. The core of power is continuous concentration."

After finishing speaking, the young Yan Shizi's expression was gloomy.

Zhu Yunxi was also a little depressed, but he soon cheered up again.

Yes.

There is no absolute system in this world that can guarantee the stability and goodwill of power.

The only thing we can do now is to do our best to build the original system well.And, give this system the possibility to have the courage to change in the future.

"What if the wounded army is used as the chief of food for a long time?" Zhu Yunxie said softly, and then quickly shook his head: "This method is not appropriate, and the imperial court is absolutely impossible to continue to punish foreign countries."

What can future generations learn from?
Zhu Yunxi's thoughts gradually faded away.

Zhu Gaochi, who was sitting across from him, didn't need to know the answer urgently, but took advantage of this free time to take back the scattered chess pieces, put the chessboard aside, and started making tea.

After a pot of water made a rumbling sound, Zhu Gaochi began to brew tea.

The dark green tea leaves were soaked in hot water and kept turning, and the clear water gradually turned green.

"Hot tea, just brewed."

Zhu Gaochi pushed a cup of tea soup to Zhu Yunxie's hand, and said softly.

Zhu Yunxi's eyes moved slightly, and then slowly looked at Xiaopang: "With the leadership of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of War, the officers and soldiers who are difficult to recruit are selected as tax collectors, and they are stationed in Daofu counties to supervise places. Every year, the court three The ministry will then send tax collectors to various places to supervise the collection of taxes, and they must stay in the local area. Before the tax is paid, the year-old tax collectors will be released to Yingtian. How about this method?"

Tax Justice Department!

In later generations, it is known as the executive department of the forefront assembly force in the entire world.

You can avoid being held accountable by the local government, but you can never escape being rounded up by the tax department.

Advanced technology.

Now, Zhu Yunxi feels that this is probably the best method and method.

It is independent of the power of the local government of the Ming Dynasty, but it is jointly managed by the three departments of the imperial court.

The Metropolitan Procuratorate can provide supervision, the Ministry of Households settles taxes, and the Ministry of War coordinates tax collectors.

Zhu Gaochi was full of surprise at this moment, and he never expected that the solution Zhu Yunxi gave was to start anew, replace the local grain chief system with a brand-new tax collector system, and maintain the cleanliness and continuity of the new system.

This is to re-establish a yamen in the imperial court!

Zhu Gaochi knew that once this matter was really facilitated, it would be another Yamen with power in its hands.

Perhaps it is not enough to rank with the six ministries, but it is enough to surpass the Dali Temple and other yamen.

Involuntarily, Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Yunxi who had already started drinking tea in front of him.

What kind of wisdom and courage is needed to make him think of such a method and make such a decision.

"I thought maybe we could give it a try." Zhu Gaochi tried his best to keep himself calm, and continued to speak softly: "First try this method in Yingtian Mansion, and if it works, it can be implemented in the whole Zhili immediately."

This is a word of caution.

Zhu Yunxi nodded: "Most of the world's taxes come from Zhili, and Zhili regards Yingtian as the first place to be good. Starting from Yingtian, it will be promoted layer by layer from top to bottom. Once the matter is successful, it will deter the enemy."

People of later generations can no longer say that Daming cannot collect taxes!

And as long as Daming's internal affairs are stable enough and there are no financial disturbances, even if natural disasters continue, it will probably be able to resist the coveting of foreign enemies.

most……

Zhu Yunxi's eyelids sank, and his eyes hidden in the shadows were gloomy.

At most, it is just changing the surname of the Han family to be the master.

Zhu Gaochi hummed: "Since the New Deal is going to be implemented, those hundreds of families who spread rumors earlier should be severely punished."

"Let's deal with it at the court meeting."

Zhu Yunxi said lightly.

Zhu Gaochi moved slightly.

When this matter was mentioned in the early dynasty, it was to tell the world and deter the world's largest group of small gentry merchants who hold local power.

Probably, that was the time when the system of tax collectors was discussed in front of officials.

After all, the emergence of a new Yamen has always been accompanied by new power struggles and checks and balances in the court.

There is also the issue of the cultivation of sweet potatoes and the competition for interests brought about by expanding the scope of cultivation after the yield per mu may be determined.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaochi's eyes sank, and he looked at Zhu Yunxi opposite him with hesitation.

"Sweet potatoes will mature in a few months. Once the yield per mu you mentioned is confirmed, there will inevitably be another disturbance between the DPRK and China."

Zhu Gaochi thought carefully: "It is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to plant sweet potatoes on all the land. This is not in line with the way of heaven and earth, and it will also harm the land. At that time, where should be planted first, how much should be planted, and on which land should be planted? is a problem."

Zhu Yunxi nodded silently.

When he was planting sweet potato vines in Shanglin Garden Supervisor, he knew that it was impossible to hide the matter.

This is not a side matter, but a matter of planting sweet potatoes in the ground.

The old man will know, and so will all the officials.

So, everybody came at that time.

Afterwards, when everyone heard the figure of [-] shi per mu from their own mouths, they became agitated, and even made behaviors that were inconsistent with the status of the current court officials.

All this is because they want to show more in front of the old man and themselves in advance.

Now there are only three or four fractions of sweet potatoes planted in Shanglin Yuanjian. According to Yuan Sutai's plan, all he can do is to fill up that sweet potato field this year.

But compared to the entire Daming, how many sweet potato seeds can there be in that piece of land?

Where the sweet potatoes were planted a few years ago has become a point of contention.

and……

Zhu Yunxi said in a low voice: "The yield per mu of sweet potatoes is different from that of rice, wheat, millet, etc. The yield per mu of land is tens of stones. Will the imperial court still collect the summer and autumn taxes according to the current tax rate per mu? The impact is far greater than that of The previous split into the mu was more far-reaching and involved more interests."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but nodded in agreement.

Today, Daming's yield per mu is basically between three and five stones, and the tax amount set by each mu is based on the number of mu.

If the tax on sweet potatoes is also levied according to the current tax per mu in the future, there will be a huge gap in the middle.

"So, the tax collector system must be promoted at the same time!"

Zhu Gaochi's worried eyes gradually became firmer, and he spoke in a deep voice.

Zhu Yunxi nodded with a smile on his face.

The establishment of the tax judicial system is to collect taxes more accurately, and at the same time, there will be no exploitation of the people.

But, after looking at Xiaopang twice.

The smile on Zhu Yunxi's face gradually became ambiguous.

His eyes stared straight at Xiaopang, which made Zhu Gaochi's back tingle.

Zhu Gaochi swallowed his saliva, faltering and asking in a low voice: "What...what? What else?"

(End of this chapter)