Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 167

Xiyuan, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

With the sudden collapse of Chengguo's mansion, it was revealed that Xiangcheng Hou Li Jin and others had confiscated the winter clothes of the Datong frontier army at the age of [-], causing heavy damage to the Wuxun group in the capital.

The Wu Xun who originally wanted to take back the military power from the new emperor to make money finally realized that what they were facing was a strategic and courageous emperor, and now they had to obediently eat the rewards from the Zhu family with the world coupons, or leave completely. .

Faced with such options, any fool would know how to choose, after all, keeping Qingshan still has a chance to burn firewood in the future.

After Zhu Youtang saw that this gang of Wu Xun had come down to be honest, he didn't plan to kill them all. In fact, as long as this gang of useless Wu Xun obediently took the world coupons to eat, he didn't bother to smash their deserved jobs.

I can raise a bunch of scumbags, but if these scumbags want to lead troops, they can stay wherever it is cool.

It's just that being self-sufficient is not the goal of his governance. Now that the Wu Xun Group has become a man with its tail between its legs, he naturally wants to let go of his hands and feet to do what he should do.

The emperor, the master of creatures, the ancestor of prosperity.

Zhu Youtang was a lazy emperor, because the early dynasties of every eighth day would be canceled occasionally, and the administration of thousands of officials was less and less valued in the Hongzhi Dynasty, but he was actually a diligent emperor.

In addition to handling the memorials carefully every day, now he is more like an emperor who integrates imperial power and ministerial power, and will always directly face the six parts through the form of palace ceremonies.

The power of the king is granted by God, and the power of ministers comes from the power of the king to a large extent.

Since Zhu Youtang is now emphasizing palace ceremonies, the status of the six ministries has risen. After all, they can directly participate in the formulation of national policies.

The palace ceremonies are expanding. For example, the people attending the meeting this time are no longer limited to the cabinet and the six ministers, and all officials at the ministerial level are present.

In fact, Chen Kun, the left servant of the household department, and other six servants are no strangers to this place. Since His Majesty moved here to handle government affairs, he would occasionally summon them here or in the imperial study.

Those who are interested also realize that the "hard work and prosperity of the country" hanging high in the Hall of Mental Cultivation is not a bluffing statement. The Hanlin Academy, which was highly valued in the past, has not been able to join the Hanlin Academy now.

The decline in the proportion of Ci officials in the core decision-making circle may be a trend in the Hongzhi Dynasty.

In fact, it is no wonder that the final form of the evolution of Ci officials is actually the power of the prime minister, and the excessive power of the prime minister has become a potential resistance to the reform of the Ming Dynasty.For a talented and bold monarch like Hongzhi, the position in his heart is probably just a secretary.

Zhu Youtang is handling the memorials here, and because most of the officials here are selected by himself, he already has a bottom line in his heart.

Seeing that the staff had already taken their seats, he seemed very casual and said: "My new rules for the draft are sloppy, and there are more and more chapters today. Why is that?"

After all, there has been a major change in history. The draft, which was blocked twice by the officials of the Ministry of Rites in history, is now held regularly according to the usual practice.

Now all places have stopped betrothal marriages, and because the Queen's position is vacant, the localities are flocking to it even more.After all, the jackpot has not yet been drawn, which will make lottery players even more crazy.

At this juncture, Zhu Youtang also threw out new rules for the draft, proposing a new standard of "emphasizing talent and appearance while ignoring background", which made the breadth and operability of the show girls stronger.

Because of this, the draft this time was more lively than in the past, and even some rich families sent women of appropriate age to participate.

Huh?
Wan An and other officials, who had just taken their seats, couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment, they didn't expect Zhu Youtang to suddenly raise this question.

Although Zhu Youtang is arbitrary, he will also conduct self-examination and correct his mistakes, so he is also willing to listen to the opinions of these important ministers.

Guo Yong took the memorabilia handed over by Zhu Youtang, and read it seriously: "The world knows that the post is vacant, and your majesty is the lord and Mingjun, so the local drafts are flocking to each other. However, the selection of officials is based on the new regulations. For bribes, the daughters of the family are lucky enough to advance. The daughters of good families have round faces, long shoulders, flat shoulders, and slightly inferior eyebrows, so they will be eliminated. Accurate, don't let the rich family have the opportunity to exploit..."

Wan An noticed that other officials were looking at him, so he waved his hands and said, "This is not the first time this kind of memorial has been given! Your Majesty actually wants to hear your opinions. What are you all watching me do?"

"In front of His Majesty, don't talk about your official positions and qualifications. Whoever can relieve His Majesty's worries is the real skill! Our cabinet will not participate this time, let's see who can relieve Your Majesty's worries!" Liu Ji is a kind-faced The little old man quickly waved his hands when he saw the eyes of other officials focusing on him.

"Your Majesty, since the new rules have not been changed before, the cabinet's draft opinions must remain the same, and the minister also agrees with the draft proposals of the two cabinet elders!" Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, took the lead in expressing his position, showing a sly smile.

Zhu Youtang glanced at Li Yu, and then jokingly said: "You are so cunning, the official secretary! Du Qing, you are not allowed to be cunning, tell me your opinion!"

Since Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and Du Ming, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, were the first to surrender, Zhu Youtang himself didn't realize it, and he was obviously more casual and intimate with these two.

"Your Majesty, the imperial court used to have the old practice of drafting, and there are also censors who impeach the big family for bribery and so on. These people really want to win the name of integrity! I always thought that last time you asked the Ministry of Officials to investigate the Ke Dao Jing very much. Gao Ming, this time the censor still uses rumors of bribery by the big family to make a fuss, so it is not appropriate to change course because of this melodrama!" Du Ming, Shangshu of the Ministry of punishment, has already seen through the true face of the censor, and took a picture without any trace. Flattery.

high!
When Xu Qiong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, saw Du Ming making a nutritious flattery, he couldn't help but secretly praised him.

Zhu Youtang also felt comfortable listening, and asked Li Si on the other side noncommittally, "Li Qing, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty is in charge of the wealth and power, and what you look at is the money bag of Ming Dynasty! Today's draft is over half, and the silver taels have already been spent, and there is no trouble in the local area. How can there be any reason to overturn it?" Li Si knew that this was a small talk. That's right, he smiled slyly.

Chen Kun, the left servant of the household department, and Liu Zhong, the right servant of the household department, couldn't help but smile knowingly. This answer fits their positions as officials of the household department.In fact, if everyone in the six departments can manage their own one-acre three-point land, it will be better than any flower work.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Li Yu, but praised him slightly: "Hehe... Now that Li Qing is in charge of the wealth and power for me, I can rest easy!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment! It's just that the money that should be spent has to be spent. Today's draft is more than half over, and the matter of picking pearls in Lianzhou must be implemented as soon as possible!" Li Yu was secretly happy, and then mentioned another matter.

There is no king's soil under the whole world, and there is no king's ministers on the coast of leading the soil.

As a rare asset, the Pearl Pond was naturally owned by the imperial court.In Tokyo Bay, which is rich in pearls, the Ming court not only set up a special management yamen, but also set up a Haidao Bing Bei Dao yamen to take care of it.

The reason why the Ming court paid so much attention to Hepu pearls was not only the value of Hepu pearls, but also the needs of the Ming royal family.

According to the public service system, the queen's phoenix crown should be inlaid with more than 5000 pearls, large and small, and then concubines, princesses, princes, princesses, princesses, and other royal family members and court wives must order the pearls according to their status. The quantity is decreasing, and the quantity demanded is terrifying.

Now Zhu Youtang is going to hold a big wedding after the draft, and then he will be canonized as a queen and concubine, so it is necessary to pick pearls now, so as to meet the royal family's demand for pearls.

It’s just that hundreds of boats and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have to be dispatched to pick pearls. Naturally, the Ministry of Households must allocate funds to support this pearling activity, but the pearls obtained have nothing to do with the Ministry of Households.

"Your Majesty, the officials and craftsmen dispatched by the Ministry of Industry have arrived in Hepu County. We only need to build the diving bell, and the pearl hunting will begin soon!" Minister Jia Jun of the Ministry of Industry noticed that Li Si glanced at him, and immediately reported .

Xu Qiong, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't help asking, "What is a diving bell?"

"This is His Majesty's miracle work. A diving bell is placed in the sea, which can be used for divers to breathe. The Ministry of Industry tried it, and the effect is very good. It can more than double the duration of holding one's breath. Over the years, pearl divers have been limited by the length of holding their breath in the sea. Either you can’t pick the big pearls from the deep sea, or you’ll die from suffocation. Now that there’s a diving bell to breathe, picking pearls is not only easy to produce results, but also can reduce casualties in Danhu, which is a benevolent government!” Jia Jun saluted Zhu Youtang solemnly, looking Very respectful and authentic.

The eyes of Zhang Ying, the new minister of the Ministry of War, also took the initiative to participate and said, "Over the years, there have been many casualties in pearl fishing, and there have been turmoil in Danhu. Now that we have such a sharp weapon, the place must be safe, and it is a great blessing!"

"Your Majesty has the talent to control the world, has the ambition to swallow mountains and rivers, and can create weapons to benefit the people. I am willing to serve Your Majesty for thousands of years!" Seeing this newcomer robbing her of the title of sycophant, Xu Qiong hurriedly stood up and expressed her opinion.

Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, and other six servants originally listened with great interest, but after seeing these two people stand up, they found that the style of painting changed suddenly, and it became the scene of a large-scale society death grabbing flattery.

"The diving bell is the result of my dream. Whether it will have a miraculous effect depends on the results of this pearl hunting!" Zhu Youtang was not complacent about this idea that stole future generations, but seemed very modest and authentic.

In fact, he knew that the invention of the diving bell was still a temporary solution for Danhu, and that the real solution to their plight had to be the development of the cultured pearl industry.

Zhu Youtang realized that he had dragged the topic far, so he ended the topic and said: "This is the end of the discussion! I called you here today, I want to discuss the matter of salt and Tamra Island. Especially Lianghuai Wang Yue has already cleared the Yantian, and the number of hidden fields is shocking. I am in the court with you, but local affairs are easily deceived by lawless officials, so as to prevent the recurrence of Yantian’s concealment in the future. Do you have any good recipes?"

When Wan An heard that he was going to talk about salt, he couldn't help observing Zhu Youtang secretly, for fear that the board would hit him.

"Your Majesty, being diligent in rectifying the administration of officials is a good way to avoid lawlessness!" Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, took the lead in offering advice.

But as soon as the words fell, Jia Jun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, said disdainfully: "Since I became an official, Daming has been promoting officials almost every year. As a result, Li Zhiqing has been in Yangzhou for more than ten years. After all, it is a matter of knowing people and knowing the face but not knowing the heart! Besides! , your bureaucrats can manage Li Zhiqing and his ilk, but can you still check whether the ambassadors, the chief destroyer and the kitchen chief of the saltworks are successful?"

Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, frowned slightly, and was immediately speechless.

Although the idea he has accepted since childhood is government officials, when he actually sits in this position, he also realizes that this kind of work of persuading people to be good is difficult.People can obviously spend time, wine, fish and meat, but you actually want them to be monks with you.

"Your Majesty, government defense is not as good as civil defense! "Elementary Geometry" has been compiled into a book, and I think it can be published and printed at the expense of the imperial court, and then distributed to the families of Zaohu, teaching Zaohu to learn the method of measurement, and Zaohu can prevent shrinking flies! "Liu Zhong, the right servant of the household department, had an idea in mind, and immediately put forward his own solution.

Zhu Youtang was quite curious about this thin-faced Hubu Youshilang, but he was not in a hurry to express his opinion: "What do you think?"

"Liu Shilang, the method of measurement is profound and profound. How can it be learned by ordinary kitchen households? Isn't it too whimsical?" Zhang Ying, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, was an arrogant person, and immediately pointed out the flaws in it.

Li Si, Minister of the Household Department, did not expect Zhang Ying to say such superficial words, but he was relieved to think that this old man had just returned from Nanjing.

However, Liu Zhong did not expect to pick on this problem, and immediately said in a serious manner: "The "Elementary Geometry" compiled by His Majesty is simple and easy to understand, and it is not difficult for ordinary people to learn this technique! The method of geometry taught by the householder can prevent the salt officials from shrinking and cheating when measuring in the future!"

"Establishing another teaching officer in Chongqing is an act of eliminating officials. Do you know how much it will cost?" Zhang Ying, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, frowned slightly, and continued to pick faults.

"Zhang Shangshu, the hidden land in Taizhou alone has more than a quarter, and the annual salt tax infringement of the imperial court can be as much as 10 taels! Now we have added a nine-rank official, with 66 stones of Lumi a year, which is no more than silver. 40 taels, but you don’t know how important it is?” Chen Kun, the left servant of the household department, immediately calculated an account.

Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, couldn't help but smiled knowingly. This new Minister of the Ministry of War was still used to playing the tricks of finding faults in the past.

They don't have the slightest ability to do things, but they are first-class masters when they are hindered. No matter how good a good strategy falls in front of them, it will be worthless.

"Liu Shilang's method is feasible! It's just to prevent lawless people from tampering with the meter. From now on, the meter supervised by the Ministry of Industry will be used in government offices all over the world, and the ruler stone will be set up for the reference of all people!" Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, did not wait for Zhang Ying continued to criticize, so she stood up to express her support.

Zhu Youtang was very relieved to see that everyone had put their brains to work.

There is another difference between salt fields and private farms. Private farms are usually very small, so tampering is easy to be discovered.It's just that the area of ​​the salt field is too large, and many people in the kitchen can't even realize that they have been cheated by the surveying officials.

Although it seems idealistic to promote "Elementary Geometry", it is indeed the most powerful weapon to solve this stubborn disease from the root.

After all, you don't even know if your Yantian has been exaggerated, even if you have doubts, you don't dare to provoke trouble, only knowing the truth can you have the confidence to make trouble.

As for the meter mentioned by Jia Jun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, it can be regarded as a stroke of genius.

Liu Ji saw everyone's performance in his eyes, and found that these juniors should not be underestimated. The method mentioned here is indeed more pragmatic than that of Chenghua Dynasty.

Liu Zhong's heart moved slightly, and he suddenly asked Jia Jun seriously: "Jia Shangshu, you said that you are walking in the government offices of the world, do you mean to include the county government offices in the world?"

Wan An's old problem suddenly broke out, coughing non-stop.

Liu Ji didn't dare to say anything anymore, and vaguely felt that the Hongzhi Dynasty was going to have a tough minister.

Li Yu and other officials are all good people, and they immediately realized that a big storm was about to break out.

Liu Jian, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, and other six servants were lucky enough to come here to participate in the discussion for the first time, and they seemed ignorant.

For a while, the important officials present here showed different expressions, and even Zhu Youtang had already picked up the tea and was drinking it silently.

"Since it is a government office in the world, it naturally includes local government offices, state offices, and county offices!" Jia Jun seemed to take this question as a matter of course.

Liu Zhong put his hand into his wide cuff, and then took out a memorial and submitted it: "Your Majesty, I have recently checked the account books of the Ministry of Households, and the tax and grain of the Ming Dynasty are actually declining year by year. During the Xuande period, it was still at 32. On top of the stone, it fell below [-] stones in the year of Chenghua, and last year it was [-] million stones, which is amazing! The act of concealing fields is not limited to salt fields, and there are also people who are not judges and gentry. , Your Majesty, please decide!"

Yin Tian, ​​in fact, is the official gentry fighting with the court.

The officials and gentry have too much power in the local area, and even the local magistrates have to curry favor with them.They only need to deal with the officials of Zhangtian, and even the officials of Zhangtian are their own people, so they can't help but use their power or connections to achieve the goal of Yintian paying less food.

In this era, there is no such thing as honoring paying taxes, but in fact it is honoring not to pay taxes. Have you seen which Jinshi officials pay taxes?
Since Wang Yue uncovered the incident of shrinking rope hidden fields in Taizhou salt fields, it is equivalent to unveiling the mystery of the decline in grain taxes year by year. Everyone knows that there are generally shrinking rope hidden fields in farmland.

Now, this layer of window paper was still pierced by a small household servant right servant.

Liu Jin secretly admired the courage of the right servant of the household department, so he handed over the memorial to His Majesty.

Zhu Youtang didn't take the memorial, but looked at Liu Zhong, the right servant of the household department, and said indifferently: "Today we only discuss the matter of salt and Tamra Island, and the matter of Qingzhang Tianmu will be put on hold in advance!"

Liu Zhong couldn't help feeling disappointed when he heard Zhu Youtang's attitude.

Obviously, the problem of shrinking the rope and hiding the land has been revealed, and His Majesty is a courageous and cunning emperor, so why not promote this Qingzhang that is beneficial to the country and the people?

Wan An and other officials breathed a sigh of relief. Their emperor was sober after all, but he knew that things should not be rushed.

"There was a shrinkage of the ropes in the Lianghuai Salt Fields. This is because there are thieves in the kitchen households seeking to make money! If the imperial court makes a list of thieves, once it is found that [-]% of the hidden fields are found, they will be included in the list of thieves, and the right to take the three generations of imperial examinations for their children will be taken away. What do you Aiqing think?" Zhu Youtang still focused on the salt issue, and immediately threw out his own ideas.

Liu Zhong suddenly felt his mind explode, and turned his head to look at the emperor in disbelief.

Compared with his reckless intentions, such a shocking strategy, this is the one who can really lead Daming to prosperity.

(End of this chapter)