On Zhu Gaochi's side, after receiving the order from his eldest brother, he immediately returned to Prince Yan's Mansion and told his mother and concubine what had happened.
After hearing this, Xu Yihua said with a smile: "It seems that His Highness the Grand Sun really trusts you so much that he would even entrust you with such a big thing."
Zhu Gaochi replied: "But mother, how can I do such a big thing well?"
"What the eldest brother explained is too important. Moreover, it is very involved. I am not sure at all. I am afraid that I will fail to live up to the expectations of the eldest brother in the end."
Xu Yihua said: "Chi'er is confused. If you are engaged in big things, you should ask for a lot of support when it comes to one person."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi quickly bowed and said, "Please ask mother to teach me."
Xu Yihua nodded and began to tell.
The Ming Dynasty was founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, and the most powerful family was naturally the old Zhu family. However, during the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there were twelve other families who were also top families. They have enjoyed huge salaries for generations, but they behaved recklessly, even after breaking the law. , even the Ministry of Justice, the highest judicial body, has no power to arrest people, and only the emperor can decide their fate.
After Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, he summed up historical experience and lessons and created a "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions" for future generations to follow. In this book, Zhu Yuanzhang clearly stated:
"If the emperor's relatives commit crimes, the succeeding king will decide on his own. Except for treason, which will not be pardoned, for other crimes, the minor ones will be held in a meeting with the relatives in Beijing, and the serious ones will be held in a meeting with the kings outside and the relatives in Beijing. They are all decided by the superiors. The offender's family is only allowed to report the crime to the judicial officer, and is not allowed to question it without authorization."
In other words, if these relatives of the emperor committed crimes, the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, and the Supervisory Office could only report them, but they could not arrest them for interrogation.
Regarding personnel, Zhu Yuanzhang also made clear provisions in the "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions".
One is the in-laws of Lao Zhu's family.
It mainly includes the queen's family, the imperial concubine's family, the east palace concubine's family, the princess's family, the county princess's family, the consort's family, and the Yibin family.
Zhu Yuanzhang's descendants are all people with status. Some became emperors, some became princes, some became princes, and some were named county princes. The emperor's daughter was named princess, and the prince's daughter was named princess. Princess.
All families who are married to the above-mentioned people are royal relatives and therefore can enjoy privileges.
In addition, these people also enjoy generous salaries. According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty;
"The prince has ten thousand stones, and the prince has two thousand stones." "The princess and her consort have two thousand stones, and the prince and his guest have eight hundred stones."
Including the mid-Ming Dynasty and after, the empress's family, the imperial concubine's family, the east palace concubine's family, the princess's family, and the county princess's family will all be awarded certain official positions and titles.
For example, the two brothers-in-law of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty both received titles. Zhang Heling was named Duke of Changguo, and Zhang Yanling was named Marquis of Jianchang.
In addition to generous salaries, these royal relatives will also be rewarded with large amounts of farms and land, "as many as hundreds of thousands of hectares, occupying aristocratic land and spanning counties and cities."
For example, the family of Queen Wang of Emperor Jingtai owned 23,000 hectares of land, the family of Queen Zhang of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty also owned more than 20,000 hectares of land, and the family of Queen Xia of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty also owned more than 20,000 hectares of land.
The second is Zhu Yuanzhang's in-laws and old friends.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang killed the heroes, he still took good care of some people, such as the Wei Guogong family, Cao Guogong family, Xin Guogong family, Xipinghou family, and Wudinghou family.
Duke Guo of Wei refers to Xu Da, Duke Cao refers to Li Wenzhong, Duke Xin refers to Tang He, Marquis of Xiping refers to Mu Ying, and Marquis of Wuding refers to Guo Ying. They are all the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, and they have a special relationship with Zhu Yuanzhang. Relationship.
Xu Da and Tang He were old friends of Zhu Yuanzhang, and later they became in-laws.
Li Wenzhong is Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew, Mu Ying is Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, and Guo Ying's sister is Zhu Yuanzhang's favorite concubine.
These people were originally the founding heroes, enjoying hereditary and irreplaceable titles, and their families have always enjoyed wealth.
Zhu Gaochi naturally knew these people, but through Xu Yihua's narration, he had a clearer understanding.
Because behind these people, there are more than just individuals.
As the saying goes, when a person achieves enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
Behind their backs,
There is a huge clan power, and the clans behind these rely on nepotism. Whether they are working as officials or doing other things, they have unique advantages.
Some close friends, even the local magistrate, must be courteous.
In terms of doing business, it can be said that it is smooth sailing and there are no obstacles. It can be said that more and more people will make huge profits based on their own power.
After Zhu Gaochi heard this, he frowned and asked, "These families that my mother mentioned are familiar to me, but what about those families in the south of the Yangtze River?"
"Brother's intention is to integrate many families in Jiangnan and form a force to work for our Ming Dynasty."
"But I have lived in Peiping for a long time and know nothing about Jiangnan."
Zhu Gaochi is also very clear that as far as the current Ming Dynasty is concerned, Youdao is the best tax collector in Jiangnan. It can be said that when it comes to doing business, Jiangnan is absolutely inseparable.
The affluence of the Jiangnan region can only be matched by the capital.
Even in the beginning, there was a huge gap between the capital and the capital.
That is to say, under the leadership of the eldest brother, the current capital city has become increasingly prosperous in business and has a tendency to catch up with and surpass the Jiangnan region.
Hearing this, Xu Yihua couldn't help but show a look of memories on her face.
Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi was quiet and did not disturb him.
After a long while, Xu Yihua said: "If we talk about Jiangnan, there is one family that we absolutely cannot avoid."
"If Chi'er can settle this family and integrate Jiangnan, it will be extremely easy."
Zhu Gaochi said quickly: "Please ask mother to teach me."
Xu Yihua sighed slightly, with a hint of memories and a bit of regret in her tone: "That is the Zheng family, known as the first family in Jiangnan."
There is a huge family in the south of the Yangtze River. It is said that nine generations have lived together. They have lived together for more than 360 years through the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties. At its peak, more than 3,000 people ate from the same "pot" and were favored by the court many times. According to the imperial edict, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty personally bestowed upon him "the first family in the south of the Yangtze River".
The first one in Jiangnan, also known as Zhengyimen.
In fact, at the end of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, the Zheng family was once named the first family in the world.
The last emperor of the Yuan Dynasty was called Emperor Yuan Shun, and his reign title was Zhizheng. Emperor Yuan Shun was both cruel and foolish.
For loyal ministers, they should be dismissed from their posts and sent to the army; for female ministers, they must obey their advice. He eats, drinks and has fun all day long and doesn't care about the life or death of the people.
The people hated him and rebelled one after another. For a time, the flags of righteousness were raised, the situation was turbulent, and the emperor's throne was already crumbling.
At this time, Emperor Yuan Shun became panicked. While he sent troops to suppress the rebels, he also used his deceptive methods and sent a senior official to the Zheng family in Zhengyimen, Pujiang County, Jinhua Prefecture, Zhejiang Province to check on the "Crow Magpie Fellowship". The memorial "nest, cats and dogs share the same nest, brothers share the same heart" was intended to promote the peaceful scene of the Zheng family in Zheng Yimen, so as to restore the people's hearts and consolidate their dominance.
The imperial envoy received the order and rushed to Zhejiang day and night.
In a few days, we arrived at the head of Zhengyimen Village in Pujiang. As soon as the imperial envoy raised his eyes, he saw a giant camphor tree with a thousand years history at the entrance of the village. There was a large bird's nest built on the tree, and a group of crows and magpies were hovering in it.
He nodded and praised, "That's true. Sure enough, crows and magpies live in the same nest. It's such a peaceful scene!" After that, he asked the local magistrate about the Zheng family's "cats and dogs living in the same nest" and "brothers of the same mind." The local officials did not dare to neglect and hurriedly led the imperial envoy into Zheng's house to sit down and rest.
After tea, the elders of the Zheng family led the imperial envoy to inspect the situation of "cats and dogs living together and eating together", and also checked the account books in which the Zheng brothers shared their work and money. Little by little, don't dare to neglect.
The imperial envoy saw it and was very satisfied. When he returned to the nave again, he suddenly took out a package of things wrapped in yellow satin from his arms and shouted loudly: "The imperial edict has arrived!" Hearing this, the Zheng family's parents and brothers couldn't help being frightened, and hurriedly knelt down to receive it. Purpose.
The imperial envoy opened the package, took out a silk scroll and preached: "I govern the world with benevolence, promote loyalty and filial piety to rejuvenate the country, and praise faith and justice to comfort the sea. Now that I heard that Cao Cao is loyal, filial, and faithful, I specially give you two snow pears as a compliment. Its virtue.
Admire this! "
After announcing it, put the imperial edict on the incense table.
Zheng's family kowtowed and thanked him.
The imperial envoy said again: "Emperor Enhao
Dang, these two pears should be eaten equally to show your loyalty. "
The Zheng family has a large population, how can they share the two snow pears?
It turned out that the imperial envoy was trying to use this method to test them. The Zheng family thought hard and couldn't come up with a solution.
Later, he had to seek advice from Song Lian, a famous local teacher. After Song Lian said this, they had an idea.
At that moment, Mrs. Zheng hurriedly put the snow pears into a stone mortar and mashed them, boiled a pot of water, poured the boiling water into the mashed pear juice, and then used small bowls to scoop them up one by one. few. Then, the whole family raised their bowls and drank together.
At this point, the imperial envoy was satisfied. After he returned to Kyoto, he reported to Emperor Yuan Shun the true situation of the Zhengyi Gate in Pujiang, where "crows and magpies share the same nest, cats and dogs share the same den, and brothers share the same heart".
Emperor Yuan Shun came on a whim and wrote the five characters "the best family in the world" and gave him a national treasure "Purple Crow Cup". Along with the imperial edict, officials were sent to Zhengyi Gate to commend the gift.
After Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty sent someone to Zhengyimen in Zhejiang to give him the calligraphy, he went to the inner palace to drink and have fun. When the Prime Minister learned that Emperor Yuan Shun had bestowed the title, the busy palace asked Emperor Yuan Shun, "I heard that Long Live bestowed the title to the Zheng family in Jiangnan. Is this possible?" Emperor Yuan Shun said, "Yes."
"Which words?"
"The best in the world."
"Then what family does the Holy One belong to?"
Emperor Yuan Shun was stunned.
The Prime Minister hurriedly reported: "Your Majesty is the "first family in the world." No matter how meritorious the Zheng family is, it cannot be called "the best family in the world". I hope you will think twice. "
Emperor Xiaoyi, Zhongyuan and Shun knew that he had written the wrong word and regretted it.
His stomach turned, he gritted his teeth and made a "kill" gesture with his hand.
He immediately issued an edict, sending a general and hundreds of light cavalry to kill the Zheng family of Zhengyimen in Pujiang, which was known as "the best family in the world".
The soldiers and horses came to Zhengyi Gate and surrounded the house. The general looked at the door and was stunned.
It turns out that the huge plaque at the head of the door does not say "the first family in the world", but "the first family in the south of the Yangtze River".
After Zhu Gaochi heard this, he couldn't help but smile and said: "The Zheng family is still a bit smart and knows that it cannot bear the title of the best family in the world."
"But the Zheng family is really powerful. It started from the Song Dynasty, passed through the Mongolian and Yuan dynasties, and in our Ming Dynasty, it was still given the title of "the first family in the south of the Yangtze River" by the emperor. "
Xu Yihua said with a smile: "Chi'er only knows one thing. At the end of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, when you were the general, could you retreat so easily? How could you not kill them when everyone is here?"
"The Mongolian cavalry are the most vicious and greedy. How could they let the Zheng family go just because of the plaque of the first family in Jiangnan?"
Zhu Gaochi was stunned and immediately understood that there was something hidden in this.
Then he asked, "Then how did the Zheng family escape from General Meng Yuan?"
Xu Yihua said: "Not only General Meng Yuan, but also Emperor Meng Yuan must give him enough benefits."
"In the eighteenth year of Hongwu, when His Majesty personally bestowed "the first family in the south of the Yangtze River", he was a little curious about it, so he asked the Zheng family how they escaped in the first place. "
"The Zheng family naturally didn't dare not answer. This matter didn't spread, but your father knew about it, so he also told my mother."
"There were three thousand Mongolian cavalrymen at that time. Even the smallest cavalry was given a hundred taels of silver. The leading general received a full one hundred thousand taels of silver, and then he agreed to let the Zheng family go and go back to resume his life."
"As for Emperor Meng Yuan, the Zheng family also paid 80,000 taels of silver as a tribute."
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but asked strangely: "Why did the general get one hundred thousand, but the emperor only got eighty thousand."
Xu Yihua said: "Because the emperor is easier to fool than the general."
"The general holds a sword in his hand. With just one order, the Zheng family will be wiped out. But the situation with the emperor is different."
"The general's sword has no restrictions, but the emperor's decree has many restrictions on the powerful ministers."
"The Zheng family spent, of course, only these six to seven hundred thousand taels of silver to open up all the connections in the Meng Yuan court, bribe the cronies around Emperor Mengyuan, and
It took more than 400,000 taels of silver and a large number of antique calligraphy and paintings to make Emperor Meng Yuan take back the edict. "
After Zhu Gaochi heard this, he immediately made a calculation in his mind.
A total of more than one million taels.
Among them, three thousand soldiers received 300,000 taels of silver, and the Mongolian general received 100,000 taels of silver.
Emperor Meng Yuan received 80,000 taels of silver.
But in the end, it cost more than 400,000 taels of silver to get through the relationship with the court, as well as antique calligraphy and paintings of inestimable value.
Calculated in this way, the most expensive ones are the civil servants and cronies, and the smallest ones are the emperor.
Seeing his mother's meaningful eyes, Zhu Gaochi suddenly understood a lot of things.
But at the same time, I was also a little curious: "Grandpa Huang gave the first family in Jiangnan. Didn't the Zheng family have any expression?"
Xu Yihua smiled and said: "With your imperial grandfather's ability, how could you give it so easily when you tax Jiangnan so heavily?"
"As far as my mother knows, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, among the families in the south of the Yangtze River, the Zheng family has paid the most generously."
"And behind the name of the first family in Jiangnan, there are three million dan of grain, three hundred thousand taels of gold, five hundred thousand taels of silver, thousands of hectares of fertile land, thousands of horses, countless pieces of cloth, silk and satin, etc." "
"It can be said that after the entire Zheng family's fortune was emptied by your grandpa, this is the first family in Jiangnan today."
