"How many merchants and merchants can there be in a county? Basically all goods are within a hundred miles. There is no need for roads within a hundred miles, so how can we try it out?
There are too few businessmen and businessmen, and no real and effective feedback can be collected. Trial implementation is useless.
Suzhou Prefecture is different. There are many businesses, merchants, etc., so there are more problems reported, and there are also many temporary situations.
If there is really a big problem, stop it immediately and restore it to the original state without any loss! "
After Zhou Tingru finished speaking, he glanced around the crowd, especially staying for a while in some places in the crowd, and then looked at Sun Youzhi with a half-smiling expression on his face.
With a wave of his hand, a guard handed a memorial to Sun Youzhi.
In doubt, Sun Youzhi opened the memorial, but within a few breaths, Sun Youzhi was stunned.
"How is it possible? How do you have approval from the Ministry of Revenue, the Cabinet, and His Majesty?"
"You have only been in Suzhou for a few days. Even if you rush 600 miles away, you won't be able to get the approval!"
"Where did this come from?"
Sun Youzhi exclaimed, his face changing, his hands shaking.
But he already had two speculations in his mind. Zhou Tingru's proposal could be approved, that is to say, either the court had already formulated countermeasures before Zhou Tingru came, or the emperor also came to Suzhou.
No matter which one it is, it means that the imperial court has made up its mind to rectify Jiangnan, and his good days are coming to an end.
The common people, gentry and wealthy businessmen were all stunned when they heard Sun Youzhi's exclamation. They all thought that Zhou Tingru was playing new tricks with cheap power to let the court see his political ability.
But I never expected that it had already received approval from the court.
They couldn't even figure out why the emperor would agree to such an outrageous statement. Even if he wanted to rectify Jiangnan, he shouldn't engage in such turmoil!
Looking at the silent people, Chongzhen, who was far above the attic, shook his head secretly. Not to mention the people were shocked, even he was so shocked that he almost stood up when he saw the statement handed over by Zhou Tingru.
The idea is too advanced, and it is completely different from the imperial court's suppression of business affairs. This approach can not only suppress business affairs, but also promote better development of business affairs, which is a very contradictory thing.
In this era, it is really difficult and somewhat idealistic to complete this kind of idea.
But he thinks this is a bold attempt to transform the past word-of-mouth and perceptuality into concrete, visible and rational data.
After the Suzhou government has done it and learned from the experience, it can be promoted throughout the Ming Dynasty. It can be regarded as the first step in commercial reform, although the step is a bit big.
"This Sun Youzhi is a bit interesting. He seems to consider issues from the perspective of the people and the court, but in fact he is always protecting the interests of Suzhou's gentry and wealthy businessmen!"
"Your Majesty, according to our investigation, Sun Youzhi has taken bribes of at least 200,000 taels of silver since he became governor of Yingtian in the sixth year of the Apocalypse. Various antiques, calligraphy and paintings can also be converted into more than 100,000 taels. It is estimated that the gifts from the gentry and wealthy merchants are at least more. "
"Um!"
Chongzhen snorted softly and asked again: "Where are the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing?"
"Your Majesty, I estimate that we will enter Suzhou City in an hour at most!"
"Okay, let's just watch the show. The stage is set up and the show has started. Let's see how they continue singing!"
As the emperor's absolute confidant, although the emperor's voice was gentle and teasing, it revealed full of murderous intent.
Everyone was silent, staring at the magistrate's office.
"Dear neighbors and fellow villagers, the general plan for commercial matters is as follows. There are also some matters such as cargo loading and unloading at the water transport terminal. Our government will negotiate with the people from the Cao Gang and the Ship Gang.
There will be detailed regulations on what kind of goods are to be hauled, how long it will take to complete loading and unloading, etc. If it exceeds the limit, you will have to pay a space fee.
After all, this terminal serves thousands of merchants, not just one. It is not fair to others if your cargo is parked for three to five days.
These are all minutiae, we’ll talk about them later, let’s talk about other things first! "
Zhou Tingru picked up the teacup, took a sip, and slowly picked up the question book next to him.
"Come here, bring Ye Zhisong from Yejia Lane, Nie Chusheng from Xuanqiao Lane, Xiao Lei from Xiaojia Lane, Daru Lane... all to our house. Those who dare to resist can be dealt with by force. Those who do not arrive within an hour will be treated as fugitives." !”
"yes!"
The soldiers of the government took the book and divided the troops into several groups.
Seeing the soldiers leaving like wolves and tigers, the crowd gathered looked at each other in shock.
"What's going on? Why do you need to ask...to arrest someone again?"
"I know Ye Zhisong from Yejiaxiang. He ranked first in the college examination that year, which shocked the city of Suzhou. Unfortunately, he failed in the next five provincial examinations. He was discouraged and gave up on the imperial examination.
Because of his good handwriting, he started a business copying books and writing letters on the street. What did the prefect want him to do? "
"I also know Chen Laoliu from Nanping Alley. His fortune-telling skills are passed down from his family. He is very sharp-tongued and has earned the title of Nanping Half Immortal!"
"Zhao Xingchen from Daru Lane must be the third son of Jingshui Tower!"
"What do you mean, how did these people get together? It's inexplicable!"
"Hey, just wait, it's probably not going to be a good thing!"
Suzhou City is only seven or eight miles long and wide. With the foot power of the soldiers, it takes at most half an hour to go back and forth. One hour is already very long.
Amidst the discussion, the departing soldiers came back one after another, suppressing some people. Some of these people were unconvinced, some were full of doubts, some were angry, and some were frightened, but they all shouted Unjustly accused!
"quiet!"
Looking at the people who had been brought down below, Zhou Tingru sneered, picked up the gavel and slapped it hard, and a harsh sound sounded.
"Do you know why I brought you here?"
"I'm not going to talk to you in circles. I'm asking you questions. All you need to do is answer yes or no. If you say half a word of nonsense, I'll slap you in the face!"
"Ye Zhisong, I want to ask you, what did you say to Zhang Laosan, the fortune teller, and Wang Mazi, the man who wrote the memorial, at three o'clock on the morning of July 21st?"
Ye Zhisong trembled all over and raised his hands towards the high platform: "Master Magistrate, the students have been wronged..."
"Slap him for me!"
Snap, snap... snap, snap...
The soldier next to him could be said to have forbidden it. He stretched out his hand and whipped Ye Zhisong. The beating made Ye Zhisong dizzy and his face was visibly swollen.
This scene made the rest of the people's faces even more frightened, and they felt their cheeks hurt.
"Zhao Xingchen, I want to ask you, what did you talk about with the orioles in the Manchun Courtyard on July 21st, the 1st hour of the month?"
As soon as he said this, before Zhao Xingchen could respond, the crowd burst out laughing.
Manchunyuan is one of the top three brothels in Suzhou. It’s okay for literati to enjoy romance and visit brothels.
But the Yinghua in Manchun Courtyard is not the kind of geisha who is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and sells her skills without selling her body. She is a sex prostitute who sells her body. The dignified third son of the Zhao family and a scholar would go to a place like this.
And if he said it in public, the Zhao family would lose all face.
…
In the next quarter of an hour, Zhou Tingru asked the remaining people, accurate to the date, time, and participants.
"Since I have made it so clear, you should know what crime you have committed!"
