Tang Xian died, which was expected.
Gu Zhengchen was not surprised at all. The evidence of Tang Xian's crime was conclusive. There were a lot of witnesses and physical evidence. It was too difficult to clean up.
Since it is extremely dirty, it can only be discarded.
It really hurts. Using later medical terminology, it was explained as myocardial infarction. However, it is really surprising that a coward actually understands such a profound medical issue.
Zhang Pei saw that Gu Zhengchen was holding the scroll and was not moving, so he asked, "Master, don't you go and take a look?"
Gu Zhengchen turned over a page of the book and said relaxedly: "It's not necessary. He won't sleep, and many people can't sleep well. In order for everyone to have a good sleep, we have to let Tang Xian sleep forever."
Zhang Pei nodded.
Tang Xian is the magistrate of the government, so he must know many things. In order to prevent these things from leaking out, the best way is to kill people and silence them.
Gu Zhengchen put the scroll on his legs and looked at Xiao Cheng: "There is something you need to do."
Xiao Cheng walked towards Gu Zhengchen. After hearing the truth, he was a little confused: "Tang Xian is dead, what's the use of looking for him?"
Gu Zhengchen smiled and said: "Qin Song sent the news. He was also present last night. If he is smart enough, he will definitely escape today. Go ahead and bring him back and lock him up with Jiang Cai, Wang Erquan and others. Be careful. , don’t want to be discovered.”
Xiao Cheng took the order and left the government office.
Zhang Pei asked in a low voice: "What should I do with Jiang Cai and Wang Erquan? The navy still has a group of Quanzhou Guard sergeants in its hands, so what should I do? Do you really want to do nothing?"
Gu Zhengchen picked up the book and said slowly: "What does it mean to do nothing? Can't you see that I have been doing something?"
Zhang Pei looked at Gu Zhengchen with doubts in his eyes.
What to do?
Reading?
This is nothing, reading can’t solve government affairs, not to mention what you are reading is "Zhufan Zhi", your thoughts are obviously not within Quanzhou Prefecture, but outside the sea...
Gu Zhengchen yawned: "I'm waiting."
"wait?"
Zhang Pei didn't understand very much.
You are definitely waiting, not being lazy, not doing nothing, not...
Oh, fell asleep.
Zhang Pei stood guard not far away.
No one bothers.
Gu Zhengchen closed his eyes slightly, thinking about his next plan.
Since entering Quanzhou Mansion, what he has done can be regarded as vigorous and swift, as fast as fire, like throwing large stones onto the originally calm lake.
The movement was so big that it not only caused waves, but also caused aftermath.
Now, the water surface should be calm, and the stone has sunk to the bottom of the lake. I know the depth of the lake and peek at the undercurrents and sediment.
Staying above the bright surface at this time is not conducive to seeing what's going on under the lake.
No, as soon as I arrived at the bottom of the lake, I saw a dead fish named Tang Xian. There were also many fish swimming around, such as Qin Xin, Wu Kang, and a big fish Gao Hui. The Bu family deep in the mud.
wait.
It's not time to come up with the intention of "doing things cheaply". Gao Hui is participating in politics. He cannot stay in Quanzhou Prefecture for a long time. He will have to return to Fuzhou in a few days.
What is the future of Quanzhou Prefecture?
Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly.
The rectification in the officialdom will always come to an end, but after it is over, how to improve people's lives and how to develop Quanzhou is the most critical.
Rather than saying that Zhu Yuanzhang asked him to come to Quanzhou Mansion, it is better to say that he requested to come to Quanzhou Mansion.
Opening up the sea, conducting ocean trade, and using overseas goods to "rob" the money and food from the hands of large households were the ideas I gave to Lao Zhu, and it was also the main reason to persuade Lao Zhu not to close the shipping department.
But Lao Zhu's temperament is very strange. When his temper gets worse, he may shut down the Shibo Division at any time.
Unless, I let him see with his own eyes how great the benefits of ocean trade are!
Opening the sea and preparing for a long voyage cannot wait until Qin Xin, Wu Kang and others are dealt with. Preparations need to be made in advance.
Fortunately, we are now in the seventh year of Hongwu. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, boatmen, crew members and experienced sailors who were good at sailing during the Yuan Dynasty can still be found. Although these people may be a little older, they are not too old to be unable to sail long distances. .
"Zhang Pei, ask Li Chengyi to come over."
Gu Zhengchen spoke.
Zhang Pei responded and called Li Chengyi, who was staying in the room to sort out files.
In order to save trouble, Gu Zhengchen transferred a lot of files to the magistrate's house. Although Qin Xin was now the acting magistrate, he was busy dealing with Tang Xian's affairs and really had no time to pay attention to these small things.
Li Chengyi arrived, looked at Gu Zhengchen who was not decadent at all, and said with a smile: "You really opened my eyes. Without the prefect's seal, you still asked me to sort out the files. After Tang Xian died, he could still sit firmly in the prefect's house. You Aren’t you afraid that they will do something to you?”
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the chair beside him and motioned for Li Chengyi to sit down: "In this matter, one death is enough. They chose Tang Xian, which means that I unfortunately lost the election."
Li Chengyi nodded slightly. It was indeed true. One death was enough. No matter who died, as long as he could not open his mouth to threaten their interests.
Gu Zhengchen handed the "Zhufan Zhi" to Li Chengyi: "How much do you know about Quanzhou?"
Li Chengyi took the book and saw that it was half of "Zhufan Zhi" and said, "What Magistrate Gu wants to ask is, how much do I know about Quanzhou Port?"
Gu Zhengchen leaned back in his chair: "Let's talk about it."
Li Chengyi thought for a while and said seriously: "Quanzhou was the land of Baiyue in ancient times. In the 26th year of Qin Shihuang's reign, Minzhong County was established, and Quanzhou was returned to it. The chiefs of the Minyue tribe had no one to lead them. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, no one had any help. For the Han Dynasty's contribution to the destruction of Qin and Chu, he was granted the title of King of Minyue and took control of his hometown in central Fujian, with the capital Dongye..."
Gu Zhengchen listened carefully and had to admire that Li Chengyi was very familiar with the history of Quanzhou and could easily pick it up.
Li Chengyi continued to narrate: "In the late Tang Dynasty, the separatist regimes were fighting, and many people from the Central Plains were forced to move to Fujian. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the appearance of Wang Shenzhi changed Quanzhou. Magistrate Gu is from the north, so he should not know this person, right?"
Gu Zhengchen's face was solemn: "Although I come from the north, I still know a little about people like Wang Shenzhi. He is called the King of Kaimin, the Holy King of Kaimin, and the King Zhonghui. Song Taizu even called him the Eighth Fujianese. Ancestor."
Li Chengyi looked at Gu Zhengchen in surprise. He didn't expect that he knew this. He adjusted his clothes and continued: "Yes, Wang Shenzhi can be said to be an ancestor that people in central Fujian cannot forget. He has a saying that can be dedicated to Our Ming Emperor."
Gu Zhengchen glanced at Li Chengyi and told him to be careful what he said.
Li Chengyi did not understand and said in a deep voice: "Wang Shenzhi shouted: I would rather be an open-door military envoy than a closed-door emperor! During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Wang Shenzhi was able to understand this truth, and our emperor..."
"cough!"
Gu Zhengchen interrupted Li Chengyi: "Wang Shenzhi can only be regarded as the king of Fujian at best, and he is content in Fujian. All he can do is to deal with the outside world. There is no way out in isolation. But the Ming Dynasty is different. The imperial court owns rich places such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Besides, Wang Shenzhi didn’t have that many pirates back then. Let’s continue talking about Quanzhou.”
Let's talk about things, don't always turn on Lao Zhu. If the news reaches Lao Zhu's ears, the knife can be wiped off your neck.
Li Chengyi finally came to his senses and continued: "Under Wang Shenzhi's governance, two major ports appeared in Fujian at that time, namely Gantang Port and Quanzhou Port. During the Zhezong period of the Song Dynasty, the imperial court established the Fujian Road Shipping Department in Quanzhou. Together with Guangnan East Road and Liangzhe Road Shibosi, it was called Sanlu Shibosi. As for the Jiading period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Quanzhou City Bosi ushered in a promotion, and this promotion was..."
Gu Zhengchen watched Li Chengyi pick up "Zhufan Zhi" and said seriously: "Zhao Rushi!"
Li Chengyi lowered his head and looked at "Zhufan Zhi": "Yes, that's this person. Zhao Rushi didn't really go on a long voyage to the sea, but he learned from various maritime merchants where they came from, and knew about overseas products and customs. This " There are as many as fifty-eight overseas countries recorded in Zhufan Zhi, and some countries are far beyond imagination."
Gu Zhengchen turned his attention to "Zhufan Chronicles" and had to admit that this book written by Zhao Rushi was an extraordinary work. The geographical location, products, royal customs, common people's customs, national temperament, etc. all have considerable significance here. Detailed records.
And the Zhao Rushi that year was the one he saw overseas in Quanzhou.
Li Chengyi continued: "During the Song Dynasty, the port of Quanzhou was unprecedentedly prosperous. Originally, it only belonged to the Guangnan East Road Shipping Department. Some privileges were also given by the imperial court to the Fujian Road Shipping Department, which allowed the City Shipping Department to use part of the official money to use it. It was used to entertain maritime merchants. The Southern Song Dynasty was a quiet corner, and the imperial court relied heavily on Quanzhou Port. In addition, most of the people who managed Quanzhou Port at that time were honest people, and it was prosperous for a while..."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly.
For the Municipal Shipping Department, whether the corresponding officials are honest or not is directly related to the operation of the entire Municipal Shipping Department. The prosperity of the Shipping Department in the Song Dynasty was not only due to the factors of the times, but also to the factors of officials.
Li Chengyi put down "Zhufan Zhi" and his face became solemn: "When the Song Dynasty destroyed the Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou Port became the first port. The Yuan Dynasty was not completely barbaric back then. Before the Yuan army captured Lin'an, Marshal Boyan sent people Go to Quanzhou to recruit the Pu Shougeng brothers of Suzhu Shibo.'"
"Pu Shougeng?"
Gu Zhengchen stared slightly.
Li Chengyi nodded and didn't say much, but continued: "In the Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou Port was further advanced, with countless ships anchored here. The Yuan Dynasty paid great attention to maritime affairs, with countless businesses and numerous merchants coming and going. It's not quite right. If you listen, the imperial court’s ban on the sea is a big mistake..."
"You think banning the sea is a big mistake, what do you think we should do?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
Li Chengyi said bluntly: "Of course, we should follow the example of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, launch sailing, carry out sea transportation, connect the Tibetan people, and prosper Quanzhou Prefecture through trade. Only in this way can Quanzhou Prefecture return to its former prosperity, and the people can be prosperous due to business, at least not hungry. "
Gu Zhengchen closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, and asked: "Your father is a generous man with many connections. He must know many boatmen who are good at maritime affairs. Write to him and ask him to find a few people to bring to Jinjiang City. , the sooner the better.”
