The Prosperous Era of Longwan

Throwing the memorial to the ground, Emperor Jiajing said angrily: "Here comes someone. Order the Jinyi guards to arrest him immediately. Don't let him escape."

"Yes, yes, as ordered."

Chen Hong, who had been waiting below, saw the furious emperor and obeyed the order while crawling. He picked up the memorial on the ground and prepared to go out to deliver the order.

"His Majesty."

At this time, Huang Jin, who had always been like a transparent person next to Emperor Jiajing, called out in a low voice.

His call calmed down the furious Emperor Jiajing.

He is a stubborn person, doesn't he know that Xuan Xiu will not have results?

But if he persists for so many years and gives up at the last moment, not only will he not become the wise monarch that the civil servants say, but he will become a fool, a fool deceived by those charlatans.

This was something he couldn't tolerate as an emperor.

Just now, Emperor Jiajing had the intention to kill Hai Rui. This man was really evil and he wanted to rub salt into his wounds.

However, Huang Jin's soft call was just right and made him gradually calm down.

"Your Majesty, this man has always had a foolish reputation. I heard that before he came to the throne, he knew that he would be punished if he offended the emperor. He bought a coffin and said goodbye to his wife. His servants also scattered in all directions and there was no one left. He himself would not run away. .”

Seeing that Emperor Jiajing had calmed down, Huang Jin hurriedly spoke.

After the news about Hai Rui's appointment today, he learned the details from the factory guard, but the memorial was not sent to the palace, so he couldn't mention it first.

However, this did not prevent him from finding someone to find out Hai Rui's true identity beforehand.

Everyone in the family had been sent away, and there was a coffin in the main room, and he, Hai Rui, was sitting next to the coffin.

Huang Jin's words completely calmed down Emperor Jiajing. He realized that something was wrong with this matter. It seemed that someone was digging a hole for him. When he thought about what Xu Shuli said, he figured it out.

"This man compares himself to Bigan, but I am not King Zhou of Shang."

Exhaling a breath of bad breath from his chest, Emperor Jiajing returned to his original appearance.

Chen Hong below was a little at a loss at this time. He had just received the order to arrest the person, but now judging from the emperor's intention, it seemed that he did not intend to pursue the matter.

"Ignore him, I'm staying here."

Emperor Jiajing seemed to notice his embarrassment and said casually.

When Wei Guangde packed up his desk and left the school recording hall, he didn't hear any news about the palace's arrest.

Sitting on the carriage, Wei Guangde already understood that most of the rumors from later generations were not to be believed, such as the Jiajing Emperor being furious and wanting to kill Hai Rui, the officials admonishing him, etc. Without reading "Public Security Shu" and combined with the current situation, it would be impossible to imagine the current situation. Case.

Even if Hai Rui was arrested later and not released until King Yu ascended the throne, it might just be a means left by Emperor Jiajing to King Yu, so that King Yu could face the people of the world with a virtuous name.

This bit of knowledge is enough for Wei Guangde at the moment, and it can prevent King Yu from making mistakes.

The carriage soon arrived in front of Prince Yu's Mansion. Wei Guangde got out of the car and walked into Prince Yu's Mansion.

After entering the door, a waiter greeted him.

"Master Wei, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Lead the way."

The young chamberlain said attentively, Wei Guangde nodded and gave a casual order.

Soon, under the guidance of the little chamberlain, Wei Guangde walked into the room where King Yu was.

"Greetings to Your Highness."

Wei Guangde stepped forward to salute King Yu, but King Yu hurriedly asked him not to do so.

Wei Guangde stood up and cupped his hands to Yin Shizhen, "Brother Zhengfu, you are well."

During this period, Yin Shizhen spent less time in Prince Yu's Mansion, and Wei Guangde did not see him during his several visits to the Prince's Mansion.

It's not that he avoided seeing him intentionally, but he was not in the palace at all.

Of course, Wei Guangde didn't want to see him either. After all, most of his purpose of coming here was for Li Fang.

However, Wei Guangde believed that the news of his coming to the palace could not be hidden from Yin Shizhen's ears.

"Shandai, you're all well and good. I heard you've been extremely busy over there these past two months, haha."

Yin Shizhen said happily as usual.

"Hey, Your Majesty just presses when there is nothing wrong. Mr. Li Ge also sends people to ask about the progress from time to time. I don't dare to delay it."

Wei Guangde pretended to be helpless and replied.

"From what I heard about the progress of the book revision, you are the fastest. Moreover, the old proofreader Li Ge reviewed the books in your room and rated them very highly. Not a single mistake or omission was found, which is very rare."

Yin Shizhen smiled.

"Eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor, aren't these what we ministers should do?"

Wei Guangde pretended to be humble.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Yin Shizhen agreed.

"Okay, Shandai, I invited you here today because I want to ask you, what should the royal family's attitude be towards the matter of Hai Rui's appointment?"

King Yu interrupted the conversation between Wei Guangde and Yin Shizhen impatiently. It had been almost a day since the incident had developed, and the news had spread throughout the court.

Although Hai Rui seemed to be flattering Emperor Jiajing, most people after reading the memorial felt that he was actually criticizing Sang and Huai, accusing Emperor Jiajing of believing in religion and giving up on governing the country and the people of the world.

After all, in that book, the taboo words "two dragons never meet" were written, and there was also a lengthy commentary on Emperor Jiajing's Xuan Xiu, who was building massive construction projects that exhausted the people of the world.

Regardless of whether Hai Rui was right or not, as the son of Emperor Jiajing, Prince Yu felt that he should not turn a blind eye.

How can a son tolerate it when others criticize your father?

"How does Your Highness want to deal with Hai Rui?"

Wei Guangde put away his relaxed smile when communicating with Yin Shizhen, looked at King Yu and asked.

"I was hesitant, so I asked you and Zhengfu to come back and help me go through the details."

King Yu said.

No high arches were found, which seems to be a good sign.

Wei Guangde was thinking in his heart, but his facial expression remained unchanged. He just looked at Yin Shizhen, wondering how he told King Yu.

"I read Hai Rui's official report and I think he did a good job. It is the duty of a minister to advise the emperor."

Yin Shizhen seemed to understand what he meant and answered.

"Because Hai Rui just pointed out some of the mistakes His Majesty made, at least the mistakes that the ministers thought His Majesty made?"

Wei Guangde asked.

"Exactly. Does Shandai think Hai Rui's memorial is untrue?"

Yin Shizhen asked suspiciously.

King Yu, who was at the head, also moved slightly and sat upright without realizing it, as if he was listening intently.

In response to Yin Shizhen's rhetorical question, Wei Guangde did not answer immediately. He just blinked and asked with a smile, "So, in Brother Zhengfu's opinion, not only should Hai Rui not be dealt with, but he should also be properly protected."

Yin Shizhen did not answer this time, but nodded slightly to express his true thoughts.

This may be the unanimous view of officials in the DPRK who consider themselves clean.

Dare to advise the emperor, such an official is at least not a bad person.

"But His Highness is also worried that if the palace releases a signal to the outside world with such an attitude, it will attract criticism?"

Wei Guangde looked back at King Yu and asked.

King Yu was expressionless at this time, but Wei Guangde was used to it.

It doesn't really matter whether King Yu is really stupid or pretending to be stupid. What's important is that this expression of his appears often, and in the eyes of some people who are not familiar with him, he has an unpredictable look.

Wei Guangde really doesn't know how Hai Rui died, but he has an impression that Hai Rui later had a very tense relationship with Xu Jie. Even after Xu Jie became an official, he was sent to Jiangnan to specialize in rectification. Xu Jie.

As for the rumor that Xu Jie rescued Hai Rui from prison, Wei Guangde just laughed.

Anyway, he no longer believed that future generations' impressions of Hai Rui had been deliberately beautified.

"Whatever attitude you adopt towards Hai Rui, Your Highness just needs to follow your heart."

Wei Guangde also noticed that King Yu seemed to agree with Hai Rui's memorial, but he did not dare to stand up and agree because the person being accused was his father.

Wei Guangde asked King Yu to follow his true heart, that is, since you think you cannot recognize Hai Rui, then just take a small revenge as you think.

This is not only for Xiyuan, but also for the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, and for the people of the world to see what your attitude is as a son.

King Yu's expression still changed slightly at this time, but his eyes flickered, as if he had listened to Wei Guangde's words.

After bowing his head and thinking for a long time, King Yu raised his head and said to Yin Shizhen who was standing beside him: "Mr. Yin told the public after he went out that he doesn't like Hai Rui."

"Your Highness, Sir Hai."

"No need to say more, this matter is settled."

King Yu directly waved his hand to interrupt Yin Shizhen's words. He knew what Yin Shizhen was going to say. He couldn't help it, it was nothing more than that if the emperor made mistakes, his ministers should remonstrate, point out the king's mistakes, and let him correct them, so that the world could be stable.

Gao Gong had heard these things in class when he was a child, and at that time he felt that they were right.

But over the years, as he grew older and saw more and more things, he also discovered that that didn't seem to be the case.

Tang Taizong's approach seems to be correct, but after careful consideration, it always feels very strange and not that simple.

To use what Wei Guangde once told him, that is, everyone is performing, performing hard, and performing for others to see.

Tang Taizong acted like this in order to portray himself as a wise king, a courteous and virtuous corporal, and he was targeting the remnants of the enemy. In fact, it was just to cover up the injustice of his obtaining the throne.

He, King Yu, doesn't need to act, because he is the most upright one. He doesn't do anything, and that position is all his.

Follow your heart, since you agree with Hai Rui's words, but worry about the public opinion of Youyou, then just act like it.

"Mr. Yin, please go back first. I have something else to talk to Shandai."

King Yu spoke again.

"I excuse myself."

Although he didn't know what King Yu and Wei Guangde had to say, Yin Shizhen still saluted and left the room.

After the others left, King Yu looked at Wei Guangde and asked, "Shandai, what kind of person do you think Hai Rui is? Why are you writing this memorial?"

When he asked this question, Wei Guangde knew that King Yu had also thought about this issue, and that was the purpose of Hai Rui's promotion.

"Hai Rui served as county magistrate for two terms. It is said that he has a good reputation, so his official reputation is very good. Because he performed well in collecting land taxes when he was magistrate of Chun'an, he was transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs."

Wei Guangde replied.

Duan Mengxian actually mentioned these to him before, otherwise he wouldn't know about Hai Rui's past experiences.

"Tian Fu?"

King Yu said suspiciously, looking at Li Fang.

Li Fang on the side just nodded slightly under King Yu's gaze.

"His land tax collection exceeds previous practice?"

King Yu was curious at this time. He already knew something about it from Li Fang, but he was very curious about what Wei Guangde meant by collecting land taxes, and wanted to find out what was going on.

"this."

Wei Guangde was a little hesitant because this involved some local rules. Although he had never been in charge of a local area, he knew what was going on from Ouyang Yijing. Combining what he had seen and heard in Jiujiang, naturally Just roll out the whole picture.

Wei Guangde was hesitant whether to tell King Yu the details.

In fact, what Hai Rui did in those two counties is just "fair". This is what local officials should do, but because most of the officials who went there found it difficult to do it, or didn't know it at all, so It was Hai Rui's actions like this that earned him such a great reputation.

The private collection of land tax is carried out according to the land level allocation method. The person who masters the allocation method is the county magistrate rather than the county official.

When these people allocate land tax, they often collude with local large households for profit, and allocate more of the land tax that should be shared equally to the common people through the field hierarchy.

What Hai Rui did was actually to personally preside over the apportionment, eliminating profit-seeking manipulation by petty officials, and the common people benefited from this.

At the same time, the cases encountered were handled impartially, and Qingtian's reputation spread.

I have to mention Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Perhaps because of his past experience, Zhu Yuanzhang had fully considered this when formulating the laws of the Ming Dynasty, so he punished minor officials particularly harshly.

In fact, because officials in this era entered official positions through the imperial examination and were transferred from official positions, they were often fooled by local petty officials. It can be said that the petty officials reaped a lot of benefits, and their bad reputations were all attributed to these officials. On my back.

In fact, if we think about future generations, similar situations are not uncommon, and they are becoming more and more serious.

Even Ouyang Yijing, a fellow villager of Wei Guangde, wanted to return to the capital even though he was not working as a county magistrate. It was because the officials below were trying to set him up.

Although there are many benefits, after all, I feel uncomfortable being put in the same group.

But everyone was following the rules, and he couldn't find any clues, so he asked Wei Guangde to change his position.

As for the rumors in later generations that Hai Rui was incorruptible and too poor to buy meat for his mother's birthday, Wei Guangde just laughed.

Although those two county magistrates were driven out, they would not be able to acquire a huge fortune, but Hai Rui should be rich, otherwise he would not be able to keep marrying wives and concubines.

It is worth mentioning that Hai Rui still has no son, so his concubinage is in compliance with the provisions of the Ming Law, and he can do these things openly without fear of being impeached.

Wei Guangde thought about King Yu's character and the current general trend of the world, and felt that it seemed irrelevant to tell King Yu this. At least the future emperor would know what it was like to rule the country, and would think more about it when raising taxes and reducing taxes.

So Wei Guangde briefly mentioned what he knew to King Yu.

"I see."

After hearing this, King Yu was speechless for a long time. After a long time, he said again: "Just the word "fairness" allows the counties under his rule to pay the land tax on time. This shows how those county magistrates who cannot hand over the land tax on time are derelict in their duties. It is no wonder that the court wants to treat these people. Reduced use."

"Then what do you think of him going to court this time?"

King Yu asked again.

"His actions can be forgiven, but his heart can be punished."

Wei Guangde answered simply.