People in Hongwu, from heavenly master to emperor master

Chapter 536 A bloody case

An agricultural society is based on agriculture.

Chinese civilization was also built on those plains.

The food output in Indochina will definitely not be able to meet the needs of establishing rule.

However, the emergence of potatoes can really alleviate this problem to a certain extent.

Another answer given by Zhang Yi is trade!
Using sea transportation, part of the grain from Lingnan was sold in Indochina through transshipment1
But the thing in exchange is rubber.

The place where rubber was grown was the reason why Zhang Yi encouraged Lao Zhu to take over the Indochina Peninsula.

Of course, it would be best if the emperor could reach the Strait of Malacca and seize the throat of the future world...

Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhang Yi's suggestions and asked many questions.

The premise of trade is that each other needs each other.

The principle of exchanging rubber for food is true, but how should we use the rubber after it is shipped back?

In fact, to put it bluntly, it is still a matter of industrialization.

Without turning these things into cheap commodities, trade would not occur.

So after all is said and done, the reform of industrialization is the key.

In an agricultural society, China was self-sufficient and had insufficient motivation for foreign trade.

Lao Zhu put the pressure on Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi lowered his head and wanted to promote the development of productivity, but the prerequisite was that the foundation of agriculture was stable.

The current situation of the Ming Dynasty means that at least the people of the world have enough food and clothing.

But he estimated that it would take at least five, six or even ten years before a large number of people appeared.

When the number of households increases, there will naturally be more industrial population.

But before that, it did not prevent him from laying the foundation for industrialization.

What industrialization needs most is the market...

How to solve the needs of the people and stimulate their consumption...

This is definitely not a problem that can be solved by patting your head.

Zhang Yi found a piece of paper and told Zhu Yuanzhang his plan.

"First of all, my goal is to get the steam engine out first. The emergence of the steam engine can solve the power problems of many things!

The textile industry and other light industries can develop!
His Majesty once told me that the people of the Ming Dynasty should meet three needs: food, shelter, and clothing.

This textile industry can provide the first cycle of employment and trade..."

What the ancients called a prosperous age was actually still some distance from Zhang Yi's ideal life.

Even if American food is now popularized, Lao Zhu has only initially solved the problem of food and clothing for most people.

His promotion of cotton cultivation in recent years has indeed solved the problem of people's cold protection to a certain extent.

But the cost of these things is actually still relatively expensive in a small-scale peasant economy...

The biggest benefit of industrialization is to reduce costs and then dump them into the low-end market.

The textile industry has actually gradually formed the prototype of industrialization in Ming Dynasty.

The satisfaction of basic necessities, food, housing and transportation brings about the development of commodity economy.

After the demand is discovered, people will naturally need more products...

After Zhang Yi explained this set of economic theories, Lao Zhu understood that this would be the future historical trajectory?

No wonder this guy pays attention to business, not because of how good business is.

But after the development of productive forces, this society is inevitable.

If it is limited to an agricultural society and revolves around land issues, wealth can only rotate in the small circle of China.

No matter how wise the emperor was, they could not prevent the land annexation problem, at most they could alleviate it.

But when productivity breaks through, Ming Dynasty can expand its influence to other countries.

This is not just about plundering resources and feeding back the Ming Dynasty!
Rather, it is about actually transporting the goods produced by Daming to the whole world in exchange for resources.

As for rubber, in today's view of Lao Zhu, it has an effect but does not seem to have much effect.

But Zhang Yi told him that once mechanization appears, this thing will be indispensable in every aspect.

Zhang Yi told Lao Zhu hundreds of years of productivity changes and the underlying logic of economics in one breath. It was not easy for Lao Zhu to accept it.

But Lao Zhu is sure of one thing, that is, Zhang Yi actually has plans for what he will do in the future.

He only needs to think about what needs to be done if he realizes what Zhang Yi said?
What good would he have in that ideal world?
As a farmer, all he could think of in the past was to have enough food to eat, clothes to wear, and a house that could shelter him from the wind and rain.

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that this was probably the life he could give the people.

Over the past thousands of years, those who can do this for the people under their rule can be considered a prosperous and wise king.

But Zhang Yi told him that he could actually do more.

If the common people can live that kind of life, what about him, the emperor?

The industrialization that Zhang Yi showed Lao Zhu before, he understood more about its commercial attributes.

It can bring him tax revenue, but it cannot bring about fundamental changes to the world.

But the future described by Zhang Yi is a real change.

If all this can be accomplished in his hands.

He, Zhu Yuanzhang, is absolutely unprecedented and the only emperor in history.

The dream of an eternal emperor that Zhang Yi had deceived him back then seemed to come to his mind again.

However, Lao Zhu was not dazzled by Zhang Yihua's pie. What he wanted was the benefits that he could actually see.

The steam engine is the starting point of the future planned by Zhang Yi...

"Do you want industrialization to start in the north first?"

Zhang Yi nodded:

"Anyway, when it comes to growing food, the conditions in the north are not as good as those in the south of the Yangtze River! If it is limited to the framework of farming, the north is destined to be inferior to the south!
But there are many places in the north that actually have good resources!
Today, when logistics is poor and raw materials are difficult to transport, it is also a good idea to set up local factories to produce goods and then sell them...

Take the textile industry for example. The textile industry in Jiangnan is naturally in full swing!
Jiangnan has a developed economy, products are sold locally, and there is a market!
The north seems incomparable, but have you ever thought about it, your majesty, the cotton production in the north is actually very impressive!
This principle also applies to mining. The transportation cost of many raw materials is too high. Setting up factories locally to produce goods and then transporting them across the country through logistics is a huge burden in terms of both cost and logistics..."

Zhang Yi would not talk about building roads first to get rich. For Lao Zhu, who has not tasted the benefits of industrialization, it is too early to say this.

Since logistics cannot be solved, why not move the factory to the place of production?

And a large factory can actually solve many local jobs...

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and thought for a while, and felt that it made sense.

Not to mention anything else, even the flint from Tiger's Den is not cheap to transport.

Relatively speaking, flint is relatively easy to transport.

But for many ores, according to Zhang Yi, it is not cost-effective to transport them.

mining……

There was no machinery in ancient times, and the so-called mining industry was largely focused on mining the surface of the earth, which was relatively easy to collect.

The future that Zhang Yi described to Zhu Yuanzhang was to use powerful power to carry out mechanized operations.

"As long as you build a steam engine, I will give you greater authority..."

Zhang Yi nodded, easier said than done?

He knew the principles of making steam engines and had been working in this direction.

Although Wu Bao and the Taoist priests like him were a little inferior in level, their foundation was a little weak.

But after his training over the years, their enthusiasm for research is no less than that of later generations of scientists.

Up to now, the progress of the steam engine is still stuck, mainly because the materials cannot satisfy Zhang Yi for the time being.

However, in one year, if you follow the project yourself, you may have a chance.

"Very good... then go and prepare your things!"

When Zhu Yuanzhang sent Zhang Yi away, Zhang Yi smiled bitterly after leaving the palace.

Sure enough, when he wanted to leave, the emperor refused.

Lao Zhu recognized his own value and restricted his freedom. This is probably the price of recognition!
When Zhang Yi left the palace, he met Hu Weiyong and Wang Guangyang who happened to enter the palace to ask for an audience with the emperor.

The two sides bowed to each other, but their attitude was cold.

Zhang Yi also understood that if these people didn't find a chance to kill him now, it was because of the emperor and Xu Da's face.

"That proposal was most likely made by him..."

Wang Guangyang turned around and looked at Zhang Yi's back coldly.

"In His Majesty's heart, his status is still above Mr. Li, so why should Prime Minister Wang bother himself?"

His words made Wang Guangyang speechless for a long time.

Wang Guangyang was indignant: "This prime minister must be aggrieved..."

When Hu Weiyong saw that Wang Guangyang wanted to resign, he smiled and said:
"Wang Xiang, the position you vacate is likely to give others an advantage..."

His words instantly extinguished Wang Guangyang's desire to resign.

He was filled with grief and anger, and Hu Weiyong's words just pointed out the embarrassment of these people.

In the third year of Hongwu's reign, there were still many people who were still thinking about their former dynasty and were unwilling to take part in the imperial examination.

Lao Zhu was angry that the selected talents were not good enough, but in the end he still held his nose and continued the imperial examination.

At that time, they felt proud because the emperor had no choice.

The emperor, his ministers, his ministers, these civil servants are the emperor's brothers and sisters. No matter how angry the emperor is, he cannot cut off his brothers and sisters.

But now, the world is different.

This year, several officials resigned to protest against the emperor's reforms. Zhu Yuanzhang turned back and brought some of them up.

These people have not passed the imperial examination, nor have they read the books of sages.

Their background seems to be a thorn in everyone's heart.

"Too……"

Wang Guangyang stopped talking and walked forward silently.

But Hu Weiyong looked at his back and smiled without saying a word.

……

"Wang Guangyang, history books say that he is a weak person. How could he act as if he wanted to eat people when he saw a poor Taoist..."

Zhang Yi returned to Chunqiu Temple and found that the Xu family girl was lying on the ground.

She had already arranged the daily lives of Zhang Haipeng and Zhang Shengyou, and she happened to meet Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi was a little upset, so he pulled her to talk.

When he mentioned what happened in the palace today, he felt a little emotional.

"Wang Xiang seems to be a bit bookish!

What you have moved is the foundation of the scholar-bureaucrats in the world! "

"Too!"

Zhang Yi laughed, Wang Guangyang was indeed worthy of the title of prime minister.

As prime minister, no matter what you think in your heart.

When class interests are harmed, it is necessary to stand up.

Zhang Yi remembers that in later generations, someone asked whether Yan Song and Xu Jie were both corrupt officials. Why was Xu Jie a corrupt official, but Xu Jie was famous in history, and Yan Song was infamy for thousands of years.

Zhang Yi saw a very interesting angle, which probably meant something like this.

Because Yan Song betrayed their class.

As the head of the civil service and the most respected prime minister, Yan Song was willing to work for Jiajing and did not care about the responsibilities that a prime minister should bear.

That's why Yan Song was criticized. His Majesty, the literati who holds the pen, will definitely show no mercy to this traitor.

Wang Guangyang is probably the opposite of Yan Song.

In terms of personal pursuits, he is actually not worthy of the prime minister's virtue.

But he firmly stood on the side of the scholar-bureaucrat class.

"Nowadays, things are happening in the capital. Please don't go out randomly in the future. As His Majesty puts more emphasis on the students of Spring and Autumn College, you, the dean, will also become the target of public criticism...

This year, there were many people in the court trying to force the palace, but His Majesty backhanded a group of them!
One of them has been promoted to the position of Doctor of the Household Department, and he is regarded as the person who has reached the highest position in our college..."

Zhang Yi thought of this student. Although there have been hundreds of students from Spring and Autumn College over the years, not many have actually entered the officialdom.

"That student from Tobe is called Jiang Lang, right?"

He is not a man who has exhausted his talents, but a man who has a bright future...

Zhang Yi still vaguely remembered this student, because every time everyone called his name, he insisted on emphasizing these things. Over time, Zhang Yi remembered it.

He is very good, even Yao Guangxiao praised him.

However, because he was the son of a guilty minister, although he was exonerated, he could not take the imperial examination.

However, there was a bright future, because he was good at arithmetic, so he was transferred by Lao Zhu to work as a clerk in the Ministry of Household Affairs.

It was just by chance that he was promoted to an official position by the emperor.

Although the chief seal official who was implicated in his father's Kongyin case was exiled by the emperor.

Jiang Lang did not blame anyone but others.

This was one of the reasons why he was promoted to doctor by Zhu Yuanzhang during this turmoil.

If it weren't for his junior qualifications, Lao Zhu might have directly promoted him to the position of Minister of Household Affairs...

In order to repay the emperor's promotion, Jiang Lang, or maybe Zhu Yuanzhang encouraged him to perform.

These days, these people are indeed very active.

The Xu family girl was talking about other people's affairs, while Zhang Yi was enjoying herself.

His academy can make some people who should have been annihilated in exile shine with their own brilliance. Zhang Yi feels that what he has done is worth it.

Of course, his purpose in opening Spring and Autumn College was not at all officialdom. “He came to visit us a few days ago. He is obviously much older than us, but he is still polite!
It's a pity that neither you nor Master Yao are here. He found a few disciples and led them out..."

"What to do?"

Zhang Yi asked curiously.

"It is said that I went to the local government to check the accounts..."

When Zhang Yi asked this, he stopped asking.

But he didn't know that the student they were chatting with casually would make many people restless.

"grown ups……"

night……

Hu Weiyong was reading at night, and his servant hurried over.

"what's up?"

Hu Weiyong asked casually and put down the book in his hand.

It's so late, and it's definitely not a small matter to come to him in the middle of the night.

Sure enough, the servant replied:
"This is Master Yu from the Ministry of Finance, coming to visit you?"

"Is there something wrong with the household department?"

Hu Weiyong's expression changed and he was quickly called in.

"Hu Xiang, there is something I must report to you..."

"What could make you come to me in the middle of the night?"

Hu Weiyong took a sip of tea and waited for the other party to speak.

"Sir, do you still remember Jiang Lang?"

"Jiang Lang, who has exhausted all his talents? No, I seem to remember the truth. He is the boy from Spring and Autumn College who took advantage of him..."

Hu Weiyong thought of the young man who impressed him deeply and asked:
"What's wrong? A small doctor can still let you, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, come here?"

"Sir, don't mention it. There is no one among the students at Spring and Autumn College who is not annoying, especially those who help His Majesty in auditing. I wish they would die early!

The reason why I came here today is because Jiang Lang went to Suzhou...

He went to check on our business..."

Hu Weiyong said:

"Why are you so anxious? What can a little doctor like him find out?
Moreover, how are you sure he is checking us?
Don’t you know what a doctor is doing when he leaves the capital? "

"My subordinates really didn't know it at first. I only found out from others that Jiang Lang had checked the accounts for the past ten years!

Although our accounts were done well, even those who audited them didn't see any clues!
But I can't stand this guy who knows how to settle accounts, and he keeps digging out the details year after year!

If he hadn't reported this issue to Zuo Shilang, Xia Guanye would not have thought of it...

When the official reacts and investigates further, he has actually been checking our accounts! "

The smile on Hu Weiyong's face gradually disappeared, and as the other party spoke, his expression became serious.

They are very careful in doing things. Zhu Yuanzhang has killed countless officials because of corruption in recent years.

Later, the Ming Dynasty's economy improved, especially Japan began to send back a large amount of silver to fill the national treasury!
The imperial court never wronged the officials below in terms of salary.

The number of corrupt people gradually decreased, and the emperor was wary of the power of the Jin Yiwei, so fewer officials died in these years.

But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know that Hu Weiyong had been thinking of ways to make money from it.

And they act carefully and keep good accounts!

From top to bottom, there was a continuous process to cover up the matter.

Ling said that when he presided over the arrest of corrupt officials, Lao Hu and the others had not yet been dug out.

After he was bribed by Hu Weiyong, he blindfolded Jin Yiwei. Hu Weiyong and the others made money faster than before.

He needs money to unite everyone who can unite.

He originally thought that he could still make money safely for a few more years!
Who knew something like this happened?

If the emperor really catches clues, it may be another major Hongwu case.

"Master Hu, there seems to be someone in the palace behind this matter...

If Jiang Lang goes, at least he will have the support of His Majesty or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
Even the lower officials didn't know the real purpose of his trip.

If not..."

"understood!"

Hu Weiyong knocked on the table and nodded gently.

"It would be nice if there were some surprises like Japanese pirates..."

He muttered something to himself, which frightened Mr. Yu so much that his face turned pale.

Hu Weiyong already had murderous intentions in his understatement.

This prime minister is completely different from other civil servants. He seems to like to use force to solve some problems.

"Sir, there are Japanese pirates, but they are all concentrated in the north now.

After we conquered Japan, they would no longer be able to move south!
It seems too difficult to frame the Japanese pirates...

Moreover, despite the fact that we are still in good shape in the capital, if we really start to take action, where will we find people?

And, Mr. Hu, that’s the imperial envoy! "

"Imperial envoy? That's a ghost envoy that we need to understand. Do you, Mr. Yu, want to wait for the royal guards to come and ransack your home?"

Hu Weiyong's words made the other party turn pale.

"But, I'm afraid there are people from His Majesty beside him..."

"This matter is not something that adults should worry about. Since you have found out that the accounts are wrong, adults should go back and fill in the loopholes..."

When Master Yu heard this, he showed a look of resentment.

"Other things will be solved by themselves!"

Hu Weiyong stood up and wanted to see off the guests.

The other party realized what was going on and left quickly.

After the other party left, Hu Weiyong found his servant and gave a few instructions:

"Sir, are those generals willing to listen to us?"

"If they don't listen, they can escape His Majesty's butcher knife and let them kill them. I have my own way..."

Hu Weiyong sneered:
"When the money is divided, they have a share. When something happens, do they want to protect themselves wisely?"

Hu Weiyong's face showed a hint of madness and ferocity.

"Tomorrow, go to Ling's Mansion and ask Ling to find out the truth.

He took so much money from me, it’s time to do something for me..."

……

A few days later, the emperor and the prince were discussing matters in the imperial study.

Suddenly, a memorial was hurriedly delivered. When Zhu Yuanzhang opened it and took a look, his face suddenly turned blue.

He roared: "Bold!"

Zhu Biao raised his head and asked:
"Father, what's the matter?"

"A while ago, Lang Jiang, a doctor in the household department, asked to see me and told me that when he was checking the accounts in the household department, he found something wrong!
Suzhou Prefecture's tax revenue in recent years seemed to be inadequate, but he had no conclusive evidence.

So he checked the account books for ten years and finally found a clue.

But because I couldn't decide, I found me.

I gave him a license and asked him to take people to Suzhou Mansion to check the accounts...

Moreover, I assigned him two royal guards.

Who would have thought that before they could find anything in Suzhou, they would be killed by robbers on the road for no apparent reason..."

When Zhu Biao heard this, his expression also changed slightly.

Jiang Lang, he remembered, was considered a relatively capable official.

At first, when he came out of Spring and Autumn College, he was assigned to be a clerk in the Household Department just because he was good at auditing and accounting.

As a descendant of a sinner, even if he is freed from his sinful status.

It is not easy for him to become an official.

Lao Zhu mentioned him solely because of his outstanding abilities.

Moreover, Lao Zhu also wanted to set him as a benchmark and a check and balance for certain people.

Otherwise, how could he, a doctor, get the order from the emperor to secretly visit Suzhou?
But it was such a person who died under the eyes of the emperor, died of bandits?
Although the Ming Dynasty has not been able to say that everything is safe within the borders of the country in recent years, in the southern border of Zhili, are there any rogue bandits who dare to kill court officials?

Zhu Biao didn't believe it, and Zhu Yuanzhang naturally didn't believe it either.

"very good!

You dare to kill the imperial envoys I sent there. The water in this household seems to be deeper than I thought..."

Lao Zhu was furious, and the imperial study was filled with murderous intent.

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely angry. He shouted outside:
"Let Ling tell me..."

Since Gao Jianxian left, Ling Shuo has been the censorship official.

However, since the last incident, although Lao Zhu missed his old relationship, he did not deal with him.

But his self-imposed exile and low-key life actually won Lao Zhu's favor.

Now that he was about to do something bloody, the first thing Zhu Yuanzhang thought of was Ling Shuo.

"Father, please calm down first..."

Zhu Biao stood up and took the initiative to comfort Zhu Yuanzhang.

"The matter has not yet been decided. If you start killing people arrogantly, I'm afraid it's inappropriate!
If Jiang Lang really died of murder, we will naturally bring them to justice, but if it was just an accident, that is another matter!

My father understands his anger, but my father, you must also think about the recent situation in the court! "

Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Biao's words.

His recent relationship with the civil service group can be described as a powder keg.

At this sensitive juncture, Lao Zhu didn't want to irritate other people's nerves at will.

"Erchen thinks that since there is something wrong with the accounts, then we should check the accounts.

Even if they want to go on a killing spree, they are justified.

At least, don’t let others take the blame! "

Why does Zhu Yuanzhang need to be so careful when killing people?
But considering the real situation, he finally calmed down.

"His Majesty!"

Ling Shuo came to the imperial study and knelt in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Take someone with you to Suzhou to find out the cause of Jiang Lang's death!

I give you the authority to seize the person involved in the case first and then interrogate him...

But you can’t kill people randomly, you know? "

Ling said his expression did not change, he bowed and said yes.

"I will definitely fulfill my mission. I will not let go of a person who has done many evil things, and I will never wrongly accuse an innocent person!"

After he finished speaking, he excused himself.

After Lao Zhu waited for Ling to leave, he turned back to Zhu Biao and said:
"Ling said he was going to check to see if there was anything fishy about Jiang Lang's death.

But we also need to figure out the accounting issues he mentioned.

However, if the Jinyiwei people wanted to check the accounts, they would probably just drag them to prison and torture them!

This matter is unwarranted and this method does not apply! "

Zhu Yuanzhang had also vaguely realized over the years that Jin Yiwei had too much power.

Expanded scrutiny of corruption will also lead to a large number of unjust cases.

The biggest problem in this matter is that Jiang Lang himself is not sure whether what he wants to check really exists?

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and said:

"You must have someone go to the Ministry of Accounts to review the accounts. Since Jiang Lang can't do it secretly, I will do it openly.

I want to see if there is really any shocking case waiting for me! "

Lao Zhu's voice was full of murderous intent.

……

The imperial court acted very quickly. Jin Yiwei quickly appeared at the door of the household and began to take away the accounts one by one.

However, this time Zhu Yuanzhang did not take away any officials, but arranged for someone to review the accounts of the Ministry of Accounts.

On the other side, after Ling Yue reported to Mao Xiang, he led the people out of Yingtian Mansion without stopping.

This action in the palace made many people panic.

Everyone is well aware of Zhu Yuanzhang's murderous nature.

If there are any clues about this matter, the impact will definitely be greater than the empty seal case.

However, their request for an audience was rejected by Hu Weiyong.

Hu Weiyong only left them one sentence.

Everything has been taken care of, giving them peace of mind.

"Master, they're gone!"

"Before Lord Ling leaves the city, he asked me to bring you a message. He will definitely handle this matter, so that I can rest assured."

"I know, let's get down!"

Hu Weiyong waited for the servants to leave before showing undisguised pride on his face.

(End of this chapter)