On the tenth day of October, the cold wind howled more and more, and there was still an endless stream of people seeking survival on the streets.
If you follow the solar calendar, it’s November!
Zhu Yixi sat on the carriage, admiring the orderly beauty of Xiangyang.
The wide streets are unoccupied, the ground is clean, the shops are in order, and the pedestrians are leisurely. This city exudes great vitality.
As an experimental place for big government and the residence of the King of Hanyang, Xiangyang City is very different from other big cities.
Zhu Yixi expressed her satisfaction.
When the time is right, it will naturally be extended to the entire Huguang.
This was his first foray into politics.
Like in later generations, reform means that the protagonist slaps his forehead, discusses with his subordinates for a few words, then directly implements it, and then succeeds.
This is complete nonsense.
All policies require people to implement them, otherwise good policies will become bad, and bad policies will become even worse.
To put it bluntly, it is a matter of officials governing and people governing.
Why did Wang Anshi's reform fail? It's just not implemented properly.
The reason why Zhang Juzheng's reforms were successful was that he established the examination method and hung a knife on the officials' heads. For the sake of their future, they had to be careful.
The commercial tax he implemented was to start a new business and set up new yamen to avoid the contamination of corrupt officials.
Similarly, in terms of grain, tea, and salt, he would rather trust the merchants than leave it to the officials.
In the early period of Qianlong's reign, he was regarded as a wise and powerful man, but he was still deceived. Eggs were sold at 12 taels each. During the Guangxu period, the number increased to 30 taels.
To deal with businessmen, Zhu Yixi directly locked them up without any effort at all, and no excuses were needed. However, it was much more troublesome to capture officials.
This is also the reason why eunuchs are often reused. It is so convenient that there is no excuse for killing them with a stick.
For example, when he just arrived in Xiangyang, Yang Le, the newly appointed chief officer of Hanyang Mansion, was greeting him at the dock attentively.
Boats, carriages, everything.
"Your Highness, do you want to go back to the palace directly or go to the Yamen?"
Yang Le smiled apologetically and asked respectfully.
"Go to the Military and Political Department!"
Zhu Yixi shook his head and said: "I have been in Wuchang for half a month, and I must have accumulated a lot of government affairs."
"Yes!" Yang Le agreed without hesitation and urged the carriage to go to Prince Xiang's Mansion.
Turning back, he asked with a smile: "Your Highness, you are about to become a prince. It is very inconvenient to live in this county prince's mansion. How about repairing Prince Xiang's mansion?"
“What a waste of money!”
Zhu Yixi frowned slightly.
"Your Highness, the Military and Political Department, the General Staff Department, and the Transportation Department are all in Prince Xiang's Mansion. Although they are only a few steps away, they are separated by one floor."
Yang Le looked at King Hanyang's face and said cautiously: "If there is any urgent military situation, it will be too late."
These words made Zhu Yixi fall into deep thought.
The military situation doesn't matter, but staying away from the administrative center, even if it's only a few hundred steps, is extremely important.
For example, the cabinet in Beijing is located in Wenyuan Pavilion, within the Forbidden City. When the emperor goes to court, he can go there directly without having to cross the palace gate.
Once there is something important or major, whoever is there can be called upon, making it easier for the emperor to supervise nearby.
"You can think of this level, which is already good."
Zhu Yixi showed a smile, looked at Yang Le, and praised.
At this moment, I really looked at him carefully.
He has a square face, thick eyebrows, and a simple and honest look. Although his appearance is not handsome, he is of above-average talent. It is very different from the feminine, harsh, and ugly TV image in his impression.
Think about it, people are all animals based on their appearance, and it is difficult for anyone who is too ugly to be an official. If you want to climb up in the court, at least you must not be ugly.
Who wants to see an ugly guy every day?
His honest and honest image actually gained him a lot of points.
"How did you enter the Prince of Shu's palace?"
Zhu Yixi suddenly asked curiously.
"Your Highness, I am from Beijing. I originally wanted to take the martial arts exam, but accidentally injured my body, so I just thought of entering the palace."
When Yang Le said this, his eyes were full of helplessness. Without any special reason, who wants to enter the palace?
"So, the family took the money from the exams and bribed the slaves into the palace. After the late emperor ascended the throne, he reduced the number of famous people and assigned us to the king of Shu."
The so-called distribution is actually similar to placing an informant. It falls under the jurisdiction of Dongchang, which is to supervise which vassal kings.
Of course, due to the great power of eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty, there were ten times more self-eunuchs than official eunuchs every year. The supply exceeded demand, and if there were too many eunuchs, they were divided among the princes, killing two birds with one stone.
"Martial arts competition?"
Zhu Yixi was stunned and looked up and down in surprise: "I never thought that you would have such an experience."
Yang Le was startled. He understood the thoughts of these vassal kings very well and hurriedly said: "The palace has its own views, and the servants don't dare to act arrogantly. They haven't practiced for more than ten years, and they are inseparable from ordinary people."
Zhu Yixi didn't think too much, but nodded and said: "Practice your legs and feet, and you will live longer. It is much better than taking those miraculous medicines."
When Sun Xuan'er saw this, she looked him up and down carefully and said, "It's useless, it's useless. Your leg and foot skills are so good that if you don't advance, you will retreat. You are only slightly better than ordinary people now."
Yang Le flattered, "How can I compare to Miss Sun? Even if I am more than ten years younger, I still can't beat you."
"Hahaha, that's true."
Sun Xuan'er was happy.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yixi suddenly thought of something.
Factory guard, factory guard, now that Sun Changzhou has gone to Jiangnan, his own Jin Yiwei has been initially established.
However, I don’t have my own Dongchang yet.
As for why we need a Dongchang when we already have Jinyiwei.
The biggest reason is balance.
Jinyiwei is responsible for spies and detectives, while Dongchang is responsible for supervising Jinyiwei and conducting spying at the same time.
Although most of the operations overlap, it is necessary to establish two intelligence agencies at the same time.
The reason why eunuchs are in charge of Dongchang instead of military ministers like Jin Yiwei is that eunuchs are so useful.
The eunuch will try his best to flatter the emperor at any cost, and if he is not satisfied, he can be replaced directly.
Thinking of its many advantages, Zhu Yixi was moved:
"Prince Xiang's Mansion still needs some repairs."
"Slave, go and give your orders now."
Yang Le was busy responding.
"Be more simple and budget within ten thousand taels!"
Zhu Yixi looked diligent and frugal and said: "Now is not the time to enjoy it."
"Yes!" Yang Le nodded.
"For the Department of Chengdu, please stop thinking about it for the time being."
The eunuchs in the palace belong to the Chengfeng Department.
Yang Le was startled and hurriedly knelt down and lowered his head, wondering where he had made a mistake.
Zhu Yixi then said: "I will get some people for you to take good care of the entire Xiangyang City."
"Slave, slave, I obey!"
Yang Le's heart was shocked, his mood was ups and downs, and he couldn't restrain the joy on his face.
As a eunuch, he didn't understand that this was the prototype of Dongchang, the secret agent organization.
Throughout the Ming Dynasty, the power ranking of eunuchs was the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of the ceremony, the eunuch of the palm, and then the eunuch of the East Factory.
In the Hanyang Palace, the princess was in charge of everything, and the Supervisor of Ceremonies was nowhere to be seen. The King of Hanyang was very powerful.
Therefore, if you can control the "East Factory", you will be at the pinnacle of power.
