Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

"Your Highness clearly knows that I really don't know that the food chief here is so cowardly and insane, daring to create such a clever name, increase taxes privately, enrich his own pockets, and exploit and oppress the people..."

Please rest assured, Your Highness, the minister will thoroughly investigate all the grain chiefs in Jiading County and will not spare any mercy to any grain chief who bullies and exploits the people! "

The county magistrate Chen Ye looked upright and solemn.

On the side, county magistrate Jia Quan, Lord Bo and other officials also had angry faces.

"You really don't know?"

Zhu Gaochi asked coldly.

"I wonder what your Highness means?"

The county magistrate Chen Ye's face was full of surprise.

Zhu Gaochi smiled coldly, "This person told me that he deliberately created a name and increased taxes for no reason to exploit the people. This is a name handed down by you!"

"what?"

Chen Ye's eyes widened for a moment, and he almost jumped up. He said with a sad face: "Your Highness, I know you, I will never dare to do such evil things!"

"Exactly. I would like to ask Your Highness to warn you. I don't know which villain is making slanderous remarks in His Highness's ears. But Wei Chen and others will never dare to do such a heartbreaking thing!"

"Your Highness, after so many taxes, the people will be ruined..."

"So, you know this?"

Zhu Gaochi sneered to himself and said: "The tax quota set by the imperial court for this place is only thirteen thousand dan, but when we arrived at the head of grain, more than twenty tax categories were added out of thin air.

The tax collected was as high as 32,000 dan. If you add in the fact that the wooden bucket was much larger than the normal wooden bucket, the actual amount collected was even more! "

"And the money and food confiscated from the Li family is only tens of thousands of taels of silver, and there are more than 30,000 shi of grain... Everyone, I want to know that every time this person collects taxes, he can directly pocket more than 20,000 shi of grain!

So, it stands to reason that the Li family's wealth has already reached millions. How come it is only this little? "

"This...reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, Wei Chen and others really don't know!"

Chen Ye's eyes narrowed and he shook his head repeatedly.

"It's better not to know!"

Zhu Gaochi did not continue to press, but nodded slightly.

"Although I have lived in the palace for a long time, I have also traveled around Jiading County, which is shocking!

Originally, neither I nor my father believed in the impeachment of the censors in the court. The officials of Songjiang Prefecture were inspected every year if they were either A or B!

Unexpectedly, it was already rotten to the root! "

"Don't worry, gentlemen, the Jinyi Guard's envoy has arrived with his people, and I have also sent people to recruit soldiers from Suzhou Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture, Shibo Division, and Zhenhai Guard!

Not only Jiading County, but the entire Songjiang Prefecture, I must inspect it carefully. From top to bottom, no upright official will be unjustly punished, and no corrupt official will be spared. Songjiang Prefecture must be restored to justice. Qiankun! "

Looking at Zhu Gaochi, who was gentle but extremely serious, Chen Ye, Jia Quan and others shuddered involuntarily.

Zhu Gaochi ignored it and said again: "I would like to ask you all to stay with me for the next few days. As for the summer tax being delayed for a few days, it doesn't matter!"

Chen Ye's eyes narrowed and he hurriedly raised his hands in salute, "Your Highness, I am the magistrate of Jiading County, and the chief officials such as Dianshi, County Magistrate, and Chief Registrar are all here. I am afraid that there will be some trouble in the county!"

"It doesn't matter!"

Zhu Gaochi said slowly: "I will send the captain to the county government office, and ordinary matters can be solved.

If it's something big, I'll come and report it! "

Chen Ye and others' expressions suddenly changed slightly, but they had no way to refute.

"How dare you directly quadruple the taxes and exploit the people in this way? It is really unjust!"

Zhu Gaochi smiled coldly, waved his hand directly towards Chen Ye and others, and said gently: "You guys have been working hard for so long, so you must go and have a good rest first.

After dinner, I will ask you all again one by one! "

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Chen Ye and others followed several captains and walked down.

However, what surprised them was that behind each of them were two soldiers. Each of them was in a room, and the rooms they were in were also far apart.

What is the prince doing?

Everyone couldn't help but feel that something was wrong.

After entering the room, they walked back and forth a few times. The more they thought about it, the more uneasy they felt.

But in the main hall, Guo An was very satisfied with Zhu Gaochi's arrangements.

The prince finally started to act openly and openly!

After dinner.

Another half a while passed.

Zhu Gaochi summoned the tax bureau ambassador to the main hall for questioning.

"I don't look like my father or grandpa. I like to confiscate my family and exterminate my family, or skin and cramp my body, and I'll be put to death..."

However, we don’t care about the Jin Yiwei who is coming.

Not to mention how many people did Li Dade recruit for the sake of his family's heirs?

How many county magistrates, magistrates, county magistrates, and chief registrars have been recruited?

I only give you one chance, do you want to recruit or not? "

"Your Highness..."

Shi Qi, the tax bureau ambassador, could only be confused and his mind was in a panic.

What did Li Dade, the magistrate, Dian Shi and others recruit? Or, were they fabricating crimes in order to reduce their culpability?

Zhu Gaochi still had a gentle face, "I will inquire about all of you. If you dare to tell the truth, I will hand you over to the Jinyi Guards for interrogation!"

The expression of Shi Qi, the ambassador of the Taxation Bureau, suddenly changed. He looked at Zhu Gaochi with disbelief in his eyes. Is this the kind-hearted Prince of the Ming Dynasty that they have been talking about?

"Your Highness, Weichen..."

"Okay, needless to say, I don't want to hear sophistry! Now, the witnesses and physical evidence are all there, we just don't want Jin Yiwei to indiscriminately torture.

There is pen, ink, paper and inkstone over there. I will only give you half an hour. It is up to you whether to write or not! "

After saying that, Zhu Gaochi stood up and walked out.

Behind him, Shi Qi, the ambassador of the Taxation Bureau, looked at the empty main hall and the two guards beside him who had been staring at him closely. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh and looked at the thick white paper in front of him, his face filled with emotion. have no choice.

Even if he wants to die, he can't!

If he doesn't take action at this moment, how can he withstand the torture if he falls into the hands of the vicious dogs of Jin Yiwei?

The county magistrate, Dianshi, and county magistrates will also confess.

In fact, maybe by now, their home would have been thoroughly investigated by the people sent by His Highness the Crown Prince!

The account book hidden in his home will never escape the search of Jin Yiwei!

Ugh……

On one side, within a few houses not far away.

The county magistrate Chen Ye, the county magistrate Jia Quan, Zhu Bo and other Jiading county officials were all in the same state as the taxation bureau ambassador Shi Qi.

Those who can become officials of the Ming Dynasty are smart people who have read many classics.

And the smarter the person, the more they will think about after encountering something.

then.

Half an hour later.

Zhu Gaochi received the report. The county magistrate Chen Ye, the county prime minister Jia Quan, the taxation bureau ambassador Shi Qi and other officials all honestly wrote down a long list of names and powers, as well as all the corruption and taxation processes.

"What a bunch of crazy, daring and corrupt officials!"

After reading all the papers in front of him, Zhu Gaochi became furious.

"These officials are really cowardly. As people directly under the capital, they dare to collude like this and act wantonly!"

Guo An also shook his head slowly, even looking like he was watching a show.

Zhu Gaochi was still immersed in anger at this moment, and did not notice Guo An's expression, but said coldly.

"Teacher, with these confessions, I can directly catch all the thieves in Songjiang Mansion!"

Guo An said slowly: "Your Highness, the soldiers of Jinyi Guard and Zhenhai Guard should be here early in the morning at the latest.

By that time, although His Highness still had insufficient troops, these officials could not get any news in such a short period of time.

Even if they sensed something was wrong, they did not dare to disobey His Highness when he summoned them to the Songjiang Mansion Yamen for discussion. "

"What the teacher said is true. It just happened to take down all these thieving officials in one fell swoop, so that they can't make any trouble!"

"..."

In this caged society where people are subject to household registration and road restrictions when traveling, it is really easy to hide something if you want to.

Two days later, soldiers from Zhenhaiwei, Suzhou Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture, Shibo Division and other generals came to Jiading County to see Zhu Gaochi.

Only a few officials in Songjiang Mansion knew about Zhu Gaochi's arrival.

As for the rest of the officials, they don’t know anything about it.

In this regard.

Zhu Gaochi only left a group of hundreds of royal guards to lead three squads of yamen in Jiading County, and carefully interrogated all the people in Jiading County.

Immediately, he led a large group of people and headed directly to Songjiang Mansion!

At the same time, an order was also sent to various prefectures and counties in Songjiang Prefecture.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty inspected Songjiang Prefecture. The county officials, county magistrates, and taxation bureau ambassadors all went to Songjiang Prefecture to pay homage to His Highness the Crown Prince!

All the prefectures and counties in Songjiang Prefecture were simply surprised when they heard the news.

Immediately, everyone took the rare treasures at home and quickly headed towards Songjiang Fucheng.

His Royal Highness actually visited Songjiang Mansion. Their big opportunity had come!

...Songjiang Fucheng.

Songjiang Prefecture magistrate Zhao Zeng, Tongzhi Yuan Fei, Tongpan Yue Dan and other officials looked at the prince Zhu Gaochi who appeared in front of them with surprise on their faces.

"Wei minister Zhao Zeng, the magistrate of Songjiang Prefecture, and officials from Songjiang Prefecture, respectfully welcome His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Wei Chen and others respectfully welcome His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"My dear friends, no courtesy!"

Zhu Gaochi smiled slightly, his face full of warmth!

Immediately, after chatting with Songjiang Prefecture Magistrate Zhao Zeng and other officials, he went to the Magistrate's Yamen.

This made all the Songjiang Mansion officials who had been worried secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The prince's attitude shouldn't be a bad thing for them!

but.

However, they did not notice that as several imperial guards walked to Songjiang Prefecture's Qianhu Wei Da, and after chatting with Wei Da for a few words, Wei Da's expression became stiff, as if he had lost his energy.

"The court finally discovered something was wrong with Songjiang Mansion. I didn't expect that the always kind-hearted prince would be so ruthless!"

"It's ridiculous. These civil servants who shout about benevolence, justice and morality all day long, but behind the scenes are a group of male thieves and female prostitutes, actually imagine that they can get on the prince's ship and have a prosperous official career from now on!"

"Hahaha, let's die together..."

Wei Da glanced coldly at the group of Songjiang Mansion officials who had gathered around Zhu Gaochi with a humble expression on his face, then turned around and headed for the Jinyiwei Yamen.

"Send the order, all the Jin Yiwei households in Songjiang Prefecture come here quickly. If you dare to delay deliberately, you will be killed immediately!"

"Yes!"

All the Jinyi guards were startled and ran out quickly.

Less than half an hour.

All the Jinyiwei households in Songjiang Prefecture gathered in the Jinyiwei Yamen.

Simultaneously.

A group of soldiers also set out from Songjiang Mansion, carrying Zhu Gaochi's order and heading towards the Jinshan Guards stationed in the south of Songjiang Mansion.

The entire Songjiang Mansion started to move inexplicably.

However, the officials gathered in the Songjiang Mansion Yamen were not aware of this at all.

All the officials sat down below with faces full of joy, and reported to Zhu Gaochi one by one the government affairs of Songjiang Mansion.

In this regard.

Zhu Gaochi just nodded his head, or gave gentle praise and encouragement, while the officials below were full of joy and became more and more active in reporting.

At the same time, magistrates and other officials from various states and counties in Songjiang Prefecture continued to enter the magistrate's office!

in this way.

Until evening.

Zhao Zeng, the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, asked Zhu Gaochi for instructions and ordered his servants to prepare dinner.

Zhu Gaochi nodded in agreement.

Less than half an hour.

Songjiang Mansion's dinner was fully prepared. There were dozens of tables, and on each table there were more than twenty different dishes of delicious food.

"His Royal Highness and Duke Ding came all the way from the capital. In a hurry, I can only order my servants to prepare some simple meals. If the hospitality is not good, please scold Your Highness!"

Zhao Zenglue, the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, asked Zhu Gaochi to plead guilty.

Zhu Gaochi understood what Zhao Zeng meant, and said quietly: "With so many delicacies, how can it be just plain food?"

"Make His Highness laugh!"

Not getting the desired effect, a flash of disappointment flashed through Zhao Zeng's heart, but after all, he was the chief official of the first palace.

Immediately, he bowed his hands towards Zhu Gaochi and saluted.

"Your Highness, please have dinner with Dingguo!"

"Ok!"

Zhu Gaochi nodded slightly and sat down with Guo An and others.

"Everyone, please take a seat. Each table here has more than twenty dishes. There are also more than twenty kinds of tax items cleverly established by the various states and counties in Songjiang Prefecture!

Everyone, please have a taste, how delicious are these people's fat and people's ointment plundered from the hands of nearly one million people in Songjiang Prefecture! "

Hearing this, the whole room fell silent. Zhao Zeng and all the officials looked at Zhu Gaochi in surprise.

After a while, Zhao Zengcai asked cautiously: "I am stupid and don't know what His Highness means. What did Your Highness misunderstand?"

"No misunderstanding!"

Zhu Gaochi sneered and said: "Sit down, everyone, sit down and eat. Enjoy these delicacies. This should be the best meal you have ever eaten in your life!"

"The humble minister is frightened and does not understand His Highness's intentions..."

Zhao Zeng and others still did not dare to sit down.

However, Zhu Gaochi ignored it, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

On the side, Guo An ignored him and ate the fastest. He was really hungry!

Tired too!

Zhao Zeng and other officials suddenly became restless and looked at each other for a while. They didn't understand what the prince meant.

half an hour.

Just when a magistrate couldn't help but wanted to pick up his chopsticks and take a bite.

Zhu Gaochi spoke again, "A group of grain chiefs in Jiading County collected taxes and cleverly created more than 20 names. They originally only needed 10,000 shi of grain tax, but they levied more than 30,000 shi from the people.

As a result, those people can only eat one meal a day, and the children there can only go to the fields to catch insects and eat to satisfy their hunger during the day...

You all must be very aware of such corruption, perverting the law, and exploiting the people.

After all, if you didn't exploit these people, how could you eat such delicious food? …”

All the officials suddenly widened their eyes.

Zhu Gaochi said indifferently again: "A few days ago, I have already ransacked the homes of all the officials in Jiading County!

The magistrate, chief clerk, and taxation bureau ambassador of Jiading County also wrote down all the crimes they knew about, as well as their accomplices. Would you like to take a look? "

"what?"

"Magistrate of Jiading County..."

"How can this be?"

All the officials were stunned again, in an uproar, with disbelief on their faces.

They couldn't believe that those Jiading County officials would take the initiative to confess to the crime of exploiting people under clever pretexts, and even write it down on paper?

Now, what worries them is, when did the Crown Prince come to Songjiang Mansion?

How much do you know?

Zhu Gaochi smiled coldly and continued: "Zhao Zeng, the magistrate of Songjiang Prefecture, collected taxes last year from the magistrate of Jiading County, one thousand taels of various kinds, eight hundred taels of various kinds of filial piety from the county magistrate of Jiading County, and all kinds of filial piety from the head of Jiading County." Six hundred taels of filial piety...

Yuan Fei, a fellow magistrate of Songjiang Prefecture, received 800 taels of various filial piety from the magistrate of Jiading County last year, and the county magistrate of Jiading County..."

Plop! Plop...

Zhao Zeng, Yuan Fei and other officials suddenly turned pale and knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"Please spare your life, Your Highness, I am just confused for a moment!"

"Your Highness, please spare your life..."

They couldn't remember clearly the amount of money they received from their filial piety, but this prince, his Royal Highness, could actually remember it so clearly!

Zhu Gaochi sighed slightly, "Don't worry, I have seen so many places in Songjiang Mansion. I have already become disheartened and no longer have any expectations for you.

Duke Dingguo endured the abuse from those noble merchants, admonished his father, raised the salaries of all officials, and set year-end bonuses for you. But in the end, you are still like this...

You are trying your best to exploit the people under your rule, and let the people under your rule sell their fields and houses, and go to the fields to catch insects for food. Are you still human? "

"Wei Chen is guilty!"

"Please calm down, Your Highness, I am guilty!"

Zhao Zeng, Yuan Fei and other officials said hurriedly.

"You must have committed a serious crime. If the emperor is still there, you will all be skinned and eaten, and the nine tribes will be destroyed!"

Zhu Gaochi said softly, making all the officials shiver coldly again.

"However, my father should not skin you!"

All the officials were shocked again.

Zhu Gaochi once again just said: "Since the crimes you have committed have been discovered by me, you will inevitably die!

Should you write down the evidence of the crime you know and report it on your own like the magistrate and county magistrate of Jiading County, or should you let the Jin Yiwei interrogate you and then confess? "

All the officials suddenly looked desperate and looked at Zhu Gaochi blankly.

On the side, Wang Zhen, the envoy of Jinyi Guard, also had a strange look on his face.

His Highness is acting more and more like Duke Dingguo, he is so sinister...

...(End of chapter)