Wei Guan was stunned, wondering what Zhan Tong meant.
Gao Qi stood aside, frowning slightly, and asked Wei Guan's doubts: "I dare to ask the old minister, but what happened in the court?"
Zhan Tong glanced at Gao Qi, smiled politely, and then said to Wei Guan: "After entering the city last night, Hui'er inquired about the news and heard that you were not only dredging Jinfan Path, but also planning to move the government to Zhang Shicheng's palace. The foundation has even been disturbed, is this really so?"
Wei Guan admitted frankly: "It is true. Many people have no way out in the current famine. Although the court provides some food, it can only relieve their difficulties temporarily. Many people leave the food to their parents, wives and children, and go out to do something for themselves. Work can also save food rations. Seeing that there are many people displaced, I plan to work for relief..."
Zhan Tong picked up the tea bowl and expressed his understanding of Wei Guan's decision.
Dredging rivers can indeed make things much more convenient. Transporting goods by boat is always better than donkeys and mules, not to mention it can also alleviate waterlogging in the city. The purpose of relocating the government office is to facilitate management. For the sake of the court's face, whose government office lives in a humid low-lying area, like being in a dungeon?
But the problem is that you, Wei Guan, are not governing Hangzhou, but Suzhou.
You are the prefect of another prefecture. If you want to move the prefecture, you can move it at will. You don't need to inform the court, just start construction. But this is Suzhou, and the place you want to move is Zhang Shicheng's former palace!
Zhan Tong looked at Wei Guan who was talking eloquently. He was diligent in serving the people, honest and loyal, and a good magistrate who won the hearts of the people. However, he lacked consideration for the emperor's thoughts and predicted the danger of the incident. He was too focused on the future. Work-for-relief and relocation of government itself are not considered at all.
If Gu Zhengchen hadn't reminded him, he would have died in this matter, absolutely.
Wei Guan saw Zhan Tong staring at him with something strange in his eyes, so he stopped talking and asked, "Brother Tongwen, did I say something wrong?"
Zhan Tong raised his hand, and Zhan Hui stepped back knowingly. Seeing this, Gao Qi had no choice but to step back.
There are no other eyes or ears around.
Zhan Tong grabbed Wei Guan's hand and said seriously: "You are a good official, but you should not forget that to do more for the people, you must survive. You have forgotten that Suzhou Prefecture How did the people support Zhang Shicheng? How do you think Zhang Shicheng persisted during the ten-month siege? Without the full support of the people here, how could he withstand His Majesty's army with only a high wall and an isolated city?"
"The heavy taxes in Suzhou are not only due to the lack of food in the court, but don't you understand the subtle thoughts of the emperor hidden behind it? Over the years, many censors have wanted to offend the people here, but where are they now, there is still one person standing On top of the court? How dare you build a government office on top of Zhang Shicheng's palace? If this is not a way to die, what is it?"
Wei Guan was shocked: "Isn't it just a government office, how can it become a way to die? Could it be said that the place where Zhang Shicheng lived is not the land of the Ming Dynasty, and the officials of the Ming Dynasty cannot live on it?"
Zhan Tong shook his head slightly and pointed out directly: "With you, it is the officials of the Ming Dynasty who stepped on Zhang Shicheng's palace to show the atmosphere of the new dynasty, but with your enemies, this is the foundation for the rise and destruction of the king, taking over the world, and having two minds. At heart, he intends to rebel!"
The corners of Wei Guan's mouth moved, but he couldn't say a word.
A simple house issue turned into a rebellion issue? Is it possible that the inner city has been left abandoned? How can such a good location not be used, just because Zhang Shicheng is dead and has nothing to do?
"You have no other thoughts, but the person who wants your life has other thoughts. On the way here, I met Yushi Zhang Du. He appeared here. I think it was Chen Ning's instruction. You must be careful."
Zhang Du?
Wei Guan frowned.
Zhang Du's official reputation is not bad. He is honest and impartial. He has written several letters to impeach the founders of the country and is not afraid of the powerful. He can be regarded as a powerful censor. But at the same time, he does have a close relationship with Chen Ning, and his relationship with Chen Ning can be said to be incompatible.
Zhan Tong stood up and continued to say to Wei Guan: "If you are no longer here, and another official like Chen Laotie appears here, the people here will really have no way to survive. Having said this, you should know what to do, right? ?”
Wei Guan bowed deeply and said to Tong Zhan, "Thank you, Brother Tongwen, for reminding me."
"Thank me? Haha, then you are thanking the wrong person."
Zhan Tong smiled happily when he saw that Wei Guan was not stubborn.
Wei Guan was puzzled: "If I don't thank Brother Tongwen, who else can I thank?"
Zhan Tong shook his head and did not say Gu Zhengchen's name in the end. Although it was Gu Zhengchen's credit for this matter, telling it would help Wei Guan and Gu Zhengchen get closer, and they would be looked after in the court in the future, but there were also risks in this matter. , if something goes wrong and Gu Zhengchen's name comes out from Wei Guan'an, then Gu Zhengchen may be doomed.
Out of protection for Gu Zhengchen, Zhan Tong chose to conceal it and said instead: "This is actually an opportunity, an opportunity to fight back against Chen Ning and his political opponents..."
Two hours later, Zhan Tong boarded the ship. He sat in the cabin and listened to the sound of the piano not far away. He picked up a cup of tea and murmured in a low voice: "May the sky bless the people and the virtuous ministers..."
The gurgling stream was blocked by a sudden stone, so it had to turn around and flow past the stone.
Jurong.
Gu Zhengchen spread out the paper, thinking a lot.
Zhang Xiwan grinded gently and saw that Gu Zhengchen was in a low mood, so she asked, "Still thinking about Shibosi?"
Gu Zhengchen leaned on the chair and sighed: "The prince asked Qin Song to bring a message, saying that the problems of the Shipping Department are not small. Not only has there been no profit at all for several years, but there has also been a huge deficit."
Zhang Xiwan smiled brightly: "The imperial court's policy of thin exchanges and thick exchanges has been in place for many years, so it's strange to see any gains."
Gu Zhengchen was bitter: "It doesn't matter if there is no profit, but the thorny issue now is that the Quanzhou City Shipping Bureau submitted a letter to Wei Hong, bluntly saying that overseas trade harmed the country and the people, suggested sealing off the sea, and even targeted the coastal areas. The common people, saying that the common people have colluded with overseas countries and are suspected of becoming pirates, require the imperial court to issue a strict order to thoroughly investigate the common people's private trips to sea and punish them with severe punishment."
There is no clear record in history as to what directly led Zhu Yuanzhang to order the suspension of the shipping divisions in Ningbo, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou. But now, Gu Zhengchen can be sure that the petition from the shipping divisions and the issue of pirates are probably related to The key reason that prompted Zhu Yuanzhang to make his decision.
Wei Hong!
Gu Zhengchen simply couldn't remember that there was such an official in the Ming Dynasty. Maybe he was not even qualified to be included in the history books, but he appeared at this point in time and became the person who affected the direction of the situation.
Zhang Xiwan looked at the worried Gu Zhengchen and asked softly: "Didn't my husband say some time ago that he would ask Marquis Jinghai to help him speak and change the imperial court's policy of banning the sea? Now that the situation has changed, the prince has no countermeasures. I think your majesty is more inclined. In the Forbidden Sea, right?"
Gu Zhengchen nodded heavily and looked at the smart Zhang Xiwan: "You are right. His Majesty lacks ambitions beyond the ocean. For him, the forbidden sea is a one-and-done thing. Everything is cleared up and there are no more worries." He can focus more on national affairs. However, the sea cannot be banned. Not to mention how millions of fishermen live on the seaside, even if the sea is banned, it cannot solve the problem of pirates."
Zhang Xiwan walked up behind Gu Zhengchen, raised her hand and pressed Gu Zhengchen's shoulder: "The prince can't do anything about it, what can I do about it? Besides, your majesty's intention is to ban the sea. If my husband is the opposite and advocates that your majesty open the sea, wouldn't it be wrong? Didn’t you disobey His Majesty?”
Disobedient?
Sometimes disobedience is something you have to do, not to mention that it is the prince who takes the main blame, and he is just a follower. Even if Lao Zhu gets angry, it will not be serious.
Lao Zhu's attitude is still unclear. At least the decision has not been made yet, and there is still room for change.
Just what method is used to change Lao Zhu's will?
Gu Zhengchen thought for a long time and decided to try the Swot method.
The so-called Swot method refers to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a type of analysis matrix that has been widely used in corporate strategic decision-making in later generations.
Tell Lao Zhu what the advantages of opening a large sea are, the actual opportunities and possible future profits, and also give out the shortcomings and problems, and then propose to make up for the shortcomings, solve the problems, seize the opportunities, and expand the advantages.
In order to make it clear to Lao Zhu, Gu Zhengchen specially made the contents of the document into a tabular form. This was not a document handed formally to Zhongshu and the court, but a document written to the prince for the prince to forward. It does not need to follow the court document regulations.
By the time Gu Zhengchen finished writing, Zhang Xiwan was already yawning again and again, the fan in her hand fell to the ground, and there were fine beads of sweat on her brow and the tip of her nose.
In the end it was too hot, and the nights didn't get much cooler.
The next day.
Zhang Xiwan and Gu Zhengchen were busy separately and headed to the tailor compound.
Zhang Xiwan likes her current life very much. She doesn't need to stay in the boudoir every day, she can direct a group of people to do things, and she can see the bright smiles of these hard-working women when they receive money and food.
Considering that the demand for tactical backpacks is increasing and the court is pressing hard, and the court does not plan to fold colored cotton this year, Zhang Xiwan, after discussing with Gu Zhengchen, decided to allocate a group of people in the weaving compound to join in the sewing of tactical backpacks. among.
Gu Zhengchen had no objection, and just let Zhang Xiwan take care of it. As long as the quality was ensured, he could operate it however he wanted. Gu Zhengchen didn't want to get involved too much in women's affairs, and he was too busy with the county government affairs...
The summer harvest is coming, and the county government will stop issuing notices. Before that, the county government must arrange a number of matters, such as summoning the village chief and the elderly to ask them to urge the people to prepare for the summer harvest. When it is time to collect grain, you need to hurry up. It's going to be ruined in the ground.
Although Gu Zhengchen is not willing to do this kind of thing, the people know the importance of food better than anyone else, and there is no need for anyone to talk about it every day, but this is the county magistrate's job. If he doesn't even follow the procedures, he will be lost once he is caught. Official question...
Gu Zhengchen looked at the land and said seriously: "After the summer harvest, autumn planting will be arranged soon. This time, three thousand households in Jurong will be selected to lend fertilizer to increase the fertility of the land..."
