Mu Ying watched Zhu Biao leave, then turned to look at the silent Gu Zhengchen, filled with resentment: "Officials, for their own selfish purposes, do not care about the lives of the people. They really deserve to be killed!"
Gu Zhengchen picked up a bowl of wine, took two sips, put down the bowl, and took a breath of alcohol: "Lack of food and clothing, this problem has troubled the people of this land for thousands of years. We should think ways to solve these problems.”
Mu Ying had no choice.
The emperor would not do anything like this.
The grain output is only a little, so what can we do to solve the problem of hunger?
When encountering a famine, one can only look at whether local officials can do anything.
It’s just that people’s hearts are unpredictable.
It is common for local governments to deceive superiors and conceal subordinates for the sake of local interests and officials for their own interests.
Gu Zhengchen imagined the famine in the north and people dying in the ice and snow, while in Jinling, many people were enjoying the leisure and comfort of winter.
It's like a divided world, with hunger and cold on one side and alcohol and meat on the other.
But Gu Zhengchen, who was in Jinling, was powerless and could only rely on Zhu Yuanzhang's methods.
It has to be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was a resolute monarch. That night, Gu Zhengchen got the news from Mu Ying:
Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict and ordered Liu Ren, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and Shang Zhi, the head of the Ministry of Household, to go to Zhending Mansion to provide relief.
This is a very mysterious arrangement.
According to normal logic, the Ministry of Household Affairs is the main force in disaster relief, and the Ministry of War is really out of reach. What's more, there is no news of a civil uprising in Zhending Mansion.
But Lao Zhu arranged for the Minister of War to take the lead, and the Ministry of Revenue only sent a principal and assistant. This means that although disaster relief is one thing, the more important thing is to deal with people.
Gu Zhengchen didn't care how many officials Lao Zhu would kill this time. It was not a bad thing to kill some corrupt officials. Since the court intervened, the famine would always be under control.
Zhending Mansion is very close to Beiping, and Beiping is an important military town in the north. It has a large amount of grain stored in it. It is not difficult to replenish it in Zhending Mansion. At worst, after the spring starts, another batch of grain will be transported to Peiping from the south.
Distillation, that’s the big thing.
Gu Zhengchen had nothing to do, so he stayed at home and taught Mu Chun and Mu Sheng while distilling. He didn't mind that Mu Ying stole a jar of liquor.
At noon the next day, Mu Ying shook her head with a headache and kept complaining: "This wine is good, but why did I have such a headache the next day?"
Gu Zhengchen did not explain and continued distilling. It was not until three days later that he obtained five jars of high-concentration alcohol.
Because the alcohol content is different, the alcohol density is also different. Gu Zhengchen remembered the density of medical alcohol and calculated the alcohol content after repeatedly measuring the specific gravity.
Although I am not 100% sure that it is seventy-five degrees, I think the difference is limited.
After confirming it, Gu Zhengchen found a wine jar and sealed it. The ancient sealing technology passed the test and there was no need to worry about evaporation. The next problem is to determine the frequency of distillation, write down the specific distillation method, and give the calculation method. Gu Zhengchen cannot hold these things alone. He wants to be an official, not a brewer.
What's more, alcohol is related to the life, death and combat prowess of the Ming Army sergeants. Why would a civil servant like me hold this thing? If I hand it over voluntarily, I can get some benefits. If I hide it, I might get a one-way ticket to the west.
After completing the second batch of alcohol distillation, Gu Zhengchen took the things to the East Palace.
The guards of the East Palace all know Gu Zhengchen and have received instructions from the prince, so they cannot stop Gu Zhengchen from asking for an audience. But Zhu Dalang was not in the East Palace, so Gu Zhengchen waited for an hour before Zhu Biao came back.
Seeing that Gu Zhengchen had been waiting for a long time, Zhu Biao was a little apologetic and explained: "The Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate completed the first draft of the "Da Ming Code". After reviewing it, my father was very satisfied and decreed the promulgation of the "Da Ming Code". Just because many people are illiterate and some laws are obscure and difficult to understand, we asked Zhou Zhen, the minister of Dali Temple, and others to interpret the laws and regulations directly so that the people can know them. You are the magistrate of Jurong, this "Da Ming Law" 》Indispensable, I have already sent word that after the engraving is printed, I will send a few sets to the East Palace for you to take a good look at."
After Gu Zhengchen thanked him for a few words, he turned to say: "The preparation of alcohol has been completed, ten altars."
Zhu Biao's eyes lit up and he quickly brought Gu Zhengchen into the palace to see him.
Huagai Palace.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard that his chamberlain said that Zhu Biao and Gu Zhengchen wanted to see him, he nodded, and then continued to say to Prime Minister Hu Weiyong, Secretary of the Ministry of War Wu Lin, and Le Shaofeng: "The chieftains in the valley of Guizhou have gathered to cause chaos. What do you think should be done?" ?”
Just when Hu Weiyong was about to speak, he heard someone shouting, "Long live the mountain." He looked sideways and saw that the prince had brought someone with him. He was about the same age as the prince. He couldn't help but stare:
This person is Gu Zhengchen, he is very young.
Hu Weiyong rolled his eyes and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, is this person the Tiger Fighting Magistrate of Jurong?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "That's right."
"It's him!"
Wu Lin looked at Gu Zhengchen, with a smile on her lips.
This man is young and promising. Although he is not from eastern Zhejiang or Huaixi, he has no background, but his opportunities are surprisingly good, and he has a close relationship with the Prince of the East Palace.
Wu Lin glanced at Hu Weiyong and then at Gu Zhengchen, wondering whether this person could become Hu Weiyong's strong rival, but looking at Gu Zhengchen's young face, Wu Lin still sighed feebly.
Difficult, too difficult.
Hu Weiyong is an old fox. Not to mention that he is sophisticated in his tactics and tactics, but he has a high and powerful position and has controlled Zhongshu. He has become the prime minister who is under one person and over ten thousand people. Not a small official like Gu Zhengchen can shake him. of.
What's more, Hu Weiyong is good at forming cliques, and the Yushitai Chen Ning is his pawn. The entire Yushitai respects Chen Ning. Once the Yushitai becomes serious, the impeachment memorial will completely swallow up Gu Zhengchen.
Besides, Gu Zhengchen was too young, inexperienced in officialdom, and had no backers. He could not stand firm in court with just one or two cases in Jurong.
Above the court, the only one who can shake Hu Weiyong is probably the aging Liu Ji and Liu Bowen. It's just that Liu Ji doesn't dare to say a word when he stays in Jinling out of self-protection. He spends all his time recuperating and studying.
If he doesn't come out, who will compete with Hu Weiyong?
unmanned!
It had only been a few years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and it was about to enter the period of powerful ministers who had monopolized power.
Wu Lin was a little sad.
Le Shaofeng stared at Gu Zhengchen with a murderous look in his eyes. This was the man who had angered Fei Ju and Chen Ning. How could such a little ant be still alive?
Hu Weiyong rolled his eyes and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, I heard that the magistrate of Jurong County has a great talent, and Li Min, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, praised him very much. The Guizhou Guxia assassination and rebellion against the chieftain Guan can be used to test the school. .”
"oh?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth moved slightly.
Hu Weiyong looked at Gu Zhengchen: "The Governor's Office has received military information. Not long ago, some chieftains in Guxia attacked Guan and gathered to cause rebellion. How do you think we should respond?"
Gu Zhengchen glanced at the cunning Hu Weiyong, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, I am the magistrate of Jurong County, not an official of the Governor's Office, the Ministry of War, or the Zhongshu. Matters in Guizhou are not something I can discuss."
Not fooled!
Hu Weiyong's pupils condensed, and he paid attention to the young man in front of him.
