To the east of the capital city, there is a mansion.
As soon as Jin Xiang returned home, the housekeeper immediately greeted him.
"Master, there are people coming from Jiangnan again."
Hearing this, Jin Xiang's expression changed.
The gentry in the south of the Yangtze River are really becoming more and more unruly, and they actually came directly to the house!
Jin Xiang's face darkened and he came to the study angrily.
A paunchy man with a mustache was waiting for him in the study.
"Qian San, a grassroots man, has met Master Jin!"
"You bastards, are you looking for death?"
As soon as Jin Xiang entered the door, he slapped Qian San so hard that he froze on the spot.
"Did I tell you not to make such a big show, otherwise I will be implicated!"
"But you are lucky enough to come to my residence in a grand manner. Why do you really think that I am going to obey your orders just to accept some ice and carbon gifts from you?"
Facing Jin Xiang's insults and reprimands, Qian San lowered his head, his eyes filled with resentment.
However, this Jin Xiang is the supervisory censor. Although his rank is not high, his authority is huge!
Since the Han Dynasty King Zhu Gaoxu reformed the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Metropolitan Procuratorate has become a transcendent existence independent of the various temple supervisors in the court. As a result, the power of the supervisory censors in the court has greatly increased, and they have become powerful figures that officials can avoid. .
Qian San understood that his boss finally got along with Jin Xiang, so even if he was beaten and scolded now, he could not offend him and could only accept it honestly.
"What you are trying to teach me is that ordinary people should pay attention in the future, pay attention!"
Qian San raised his head and forced a flattering smile.
Seeing this situation, Jin Xiang's expression softened slightly and his face was not so ugly.
He was originally a gentry from the south of the Yangtze River. He entered the imperial court through high school and was promoted to the supervisory censor after a few years of qualifications. It can be said that he had a prosperous official career.
It is precisely because of this that Jin Xiang came into the eyes of the Jiangnan gentry and became a candidate for the court that they strongly supported.
In this regard, Jin Xiang also refused to accept anyone who came, and there were no shortage of benefits that he should get. Every year, those Bing Jing Tan Jing did not get it for free. Anyway, he just asked him to help say a few words and impeach some officials, which was nothing. .
It is the prerogative of the censor to supervise the censor if he hears about it. If he impeaches a few words casually, nothing big will happen.
So Jin Xiang made a lot of money from this gray income, and every year Bingjing Tanjing also made a lot of money. Not only did he buy a mansion in the capital where land is precious, but he also saved a lot of money. With little wealth, he lived a high-class life with fine clothes and fine food.
This is the life a supervisory censor should live!
Jin Xiang took a sip of the fragrant tea and then asked calmly.
"Tell me, why are you looking for me?"
After all, Jin Xiang still has to help when someone comes to his door.
You don’t get the ice and carbon tribute every year for free. If it doesn’t have any effect, why would they give it to you for nothing?
Jin Xiang didn't want to cut off this way of making money. After all, it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it was difficult to go from luxury to frugality. It would be even more uncomfortable than killing him if he wanted him to live the same poverty-stricken life as before.
Qian San didn't dare to hesitate and immediately explained his purpose.
"Your Majesty, it is clear to me that the proprietor's intention is to impeach the Navy for being arrogant and lawless and to compete with the people for profit!"
Hearing this, Jin Xiang frowned.
In recent days, many courtiers have indeed impeached the navy. It seems that this is all the work of the Jiangnan gentry!
But Jin Xiang doesn't quite understand. Why are you trying to provoke the navy?
"What do you want to do?"
"The person behind the navy is the prince!"
Qian San smiled flatteringly and said: "You don't know something, but the profits from maritime trade are so amazing!"
"It's a shame that the imperial court has opened five major customs offices. Anyone who wants to go to sea for trade must pay the corresponding tariffs. Otherwise, not only will they not be able to go to sea, but the ship's cargo will also be impounded!"
"And those naval officers are extremely stubborn. It can be said that they don't get enough oil and salt. Even if they ask dignitaries to say hello to them, it's useless!"
Jin Xiang's face changed slightly, as if he had thought of something.
"So you want to..."
"Use all connections to put pressure on the imperial court to remove Zheng He and others from their posts and replace them with our own people!"
Qian San said with high spirits: "As long as we overthrow Zheng He and these ignorant fools, even if they are not our own people, as long as we can talk, then this matter can be done!"
"As long as we control the five major customs, won't the astonishing profits from maritime trade come?"
Jin Xiang couldn't help but take a breath when he heard this. These merchants and gentry were so courageous. They dared to make plans for Zheng He!
That's Zheng He!
The first person in the Ming Navy!
And the prince is standing behind him!
The prince also created the post of naval governor specifically for Zheng He!
Why do you, a group of merchants and gentry, bring down others?
Jin Xiang looked at Qian San with a strange expression, and smiled subconsciously: "To bring down Zheng He, you think too highly of yourself, right?"
"Then Zheng He is the number one man in the Ming Navy, and he has the full support of His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"It's not that I look down on you, it's just that this is simply impossible!"
When Qian San heard Jin Xiang's sarcasm, a trace of resentment flashed deep in his eyes, but he always had a flattering smile on his face.
"Of course we know this."
"So it's not enough for you and your colleagues to impeach him. We have also prepared other means."
"The imperial court built the customs and allowed the Navy to firmly control the sea access. Then we will control the price of raw materials!"
"Most of the raw silk cloth produced in the Ming Dynasty every year was produced in southern Zhili and Fujian and Zhejiang. As long as we control the raw silk cloth and prevent them from flowing to the emperor's manufacturing bureau in Jiangnan, the emperor's court will not have the goods in hand. How can they go to sea?"
As soon as these words came out, Jin Xiang was so shocked that his scalp went numb!
crazy!
It's crazy!
These gentry and merchants are so cowardly!
For the sake of huge profits at sea, they dared to threaten the imperial court!
You really need money rather than your life!
"You guys are crazy!"
"I will never interfere in this matter!"
Almost subconsciously, Jin Xiang decisively refused.
He has never been very courageous, how dare he get involved in such head-turning things!
If you ask me to say a few words to impeach a few people, I am willing to help you with money.
But if you ask me to threaten the court, I will follow you because I am crazy!
However, Qian San just put away his flattering smile and sneered: "My lord, don't refuse in such a hurry."
"The proprietor has said that if you are willing to help, you will certainly be respectful."
"But if your Excellency is not willing, then the proprietor will have no choice but to send the account books of these years to the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It clearly records the expenditures that the proprietor has filially paid to you over the years!"
"You bastard!" Jin Xiang was furious and stared at Qian San fiercely.
"How dare you threaten me?"
"You are joking, the proprietor just hopes that you will make a wise choice!"
Qian San said with a smile, "After all, as long as we take over the customs, the filial piety will definitely increase several times in the future. Aren't you excited, sir?"
Hearing this, Jin Xiang's pupils shrank and his face became a little uncertain.
After pondering for a long time, he finally couldn't help but be tempted.
When it comes to the fat on your lips, how can you not eat it?
And it’s just an impeachment report, so it shouldn’t matter, right?
"Okay, get lost, I will write an impeachment memorial right now!"
"Your Excellency is wise!"
