"The emperor is gone. I feel both disappointed and happy at the same time. It's very contradictory!"
"Yes, the emperor is in Suzhou, and Suzhou City is considered to be a well-connected city. But when I think about the emperor being in Suzhou City, I burn three sticks of incense when I go out, for fear of committing something I shouldn't have committed."
"Who says it's not the case? The gentry and wealthy merchants in Suzhou have been dealt a terrible blow this time. Shops were closed, accounts were checked, homes were confiscated, etc. It is estimated that they will not be able to recover for a while."
"It's fine that the emperor is here and can be kept under control, but now that he's gone, will these wealthy merchants and gentry cause any trouble? Although their vitality is severely damaged, the foundation has not been damaged. It's also the base camp. What if it happens?"
"What if? The prefect has the right to take advantage, and there are five thousand Yanshan guards stationed outside the city. If he dares to cause trouble, do you think the prefect is happy or happy?
If it were me, I wouldn't be able to afford this advantageous power if I didn't slaughter the eighteen generations of their nine tribes. "
"Have you noticed that wherever the emperor went, the local gentry and wealthy merchants were liquidated. This was the case in Xuanfu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Jizhen, and now Suzhou.
I really hope that the emperor will go around the Ming Dynasty and kill all the corrupt officials! "
"It's almost time. The emperor has left Suzhou. His next stop must be Nanjing. Nanjing involves the Eighteen Prefectures in Southern Zhili.
After conquering southern Zhili, which is Qufu, the emperor is ready to bloodbath the southern inspection route! "
…
Dang...dang...
Amidst the discussion of the people, gongs sounded one after another, and a policeman carrying a gong shouted at the top of his lungs in various streets.
"Fellows and fellow villagers, Your Majesty has decreed that starting from next year, the taxes of the people of Suzhou Prefecture will be reduced by 50%! There are also 30,000 hectares of fertile land that will be leased to you and fellow folks at a 20% tenancy rate."
At first, the people couldn't believe it, but when they heard that notices had been posted, the people in Suzhou City went completely crazy.
Since the time of Taizu, the taxes in Suzhou Prefecture have been ridiculously high. Now they are reduced by 50%. Although it is still very high, it can save a lot of food.
Moreover, the rent of fertile land is only 20% of the rent. Even if the rent of the fertile land of the gentry and wealthy merchants is reduced to less than 20%, it is not much higher.
In the future, the people will not be much richer, but at least they will be able to eat a few more meals, which is more exciting than anything else.
In fact, Chongzhen is also in a dilemma. Not to mention reducing it by 50%, it can be the same as other states and counties. However, natural disasters will continue in the next few years, and the current reduction will be eaten by the people.
After thinking for a long time, it is better to receive the granary for later use.
For a time, the people in the entire Suzhou City cheered, while the gentry and wealthy businessmen all gnashed their teeth and hated the emperor so much that they even left and even stabbed them.
Compared with the previous review of store calendars and so on, this is the ultimate move for them.
But if they knew that the emperor established the Ming Dynasty Royal Merchant and Department Store, they would think that tax exemptions and low rents were nothing.
When Chongzhen left, he had already told Zhou Tingru to make some small moves when reviewing the store calendar, and to buy time for Yang Shaoan and the others by keeping longer the merchant cards involving goods in the department store.
Department stores have opened. With the supply of necessities, high-quality services and low prices, they have attracted customers from the wealthy businessmen's homes. Even if the wealthy businessmen's stores reopened, they have lost a lot of customers.
No matter how they talked, Chongzhen could no longer hear them, because Chongzhen's Luanjia arrived three miles outside Nanjing City under the protection of the Warrior Camp and Yanshan Guards.
Standing on the carriage and looking at the Nanjing City Wall crawling on the ground like a giant dragon from a distance, I realized how majestic the Nanjing City Wall is.
Nanjing City, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, is the largest capital in history.
The perimeter of Waiguo City is more than 120 miles, and its scale is so large that no other city in history can compare with it.
The art of creating traditional kanyu was brought to its extreme in Nanjing. Nanjing was divided into four layers of city walls: the palace city, the imperial city, the capital city and the outer city. The palace city was laid out according to the Ziwei Yuan, the imperial city was laid out according to the Taiwei Yuan, and the capital was laid out according to the Tianshi Yuan. layout.
Although the capital of the Ming Dynasty is Beijing, Nanjing is the economic and cultural center of the Ming Dynasty, and the military and political center of the south.
The unique geographical location and climate have created this prosperous place, with titles such as Nanguo, Yanyu Jiangnan, Yanyu World, House of Silk, Land of Fish and Rice, Jiangnan Granary, etc.
While looking at it, several horses came galloping forward. When they reached a hundred meters in front of the carriage, their speed slowed down. The leader jumped off the horse and walked quickly to the carriage: "I, Teng Xiang, the commander of the left guard, sent Cao Wenzhao to see your majesty!" "
"Cao Aiqing is exempt from courtesy!"
Chongzhen raised his hand: "Is there any movement here in Nanjing?"
"Back to Your Majesty, after capturing the officials of the Caoyun Yamen, I led my troops to Nanjing City day and night and stationed themselves three miles outside the city.
And took over the three gates of Jiagang, Shangfang and Gaoqiao in the outer city, the three gates of Tongji, Zhengyang and Guanghua in the capital, and the two gates of Hongwu and Chengtian in the imperial city.
The city of Nanjing can be attacked at present, or defended when retreated. Your Majesty can enter the city at any time! "
"good!"
Chongzhen was very satisfied, and then looked at Chen Qian, the commander of the Yanshan Guards, and said coldly: "Chen Qian, lead the Yanshan Guards to take over the official roads and docks in and out of Nanjing City. No one is allowed to enter or exit without my permission!"
"I obey the decree!"
After Chen Qian led the Yanshan Guards and left with the smoke and dust in the sky, Cao Wenzhao whispered: "Your Majesty, the Nanjing garrison officer Han Zhengsheng and officials from the Sixth Ministry, the General Affairs Department, the Supervisory Office and other officials knelt down at the city gate to welcome him."
"Come into town!"
Although Chongzhen's voice was soft, everyone who was close to him knew that the emperor was completely angry.
Three miles away, at Luan Jia's speed, it took more than two-quarters of an hour to arrive at Shangfang Gate. Han Zhengsheng, the guarding official, led all the ministers to greet His Majesty.
But the emperor's commander didn't pause at all, as if he didn't hear anything.
This scene made the officials in Nanjing instantly sink into an abyss.
Five days ago, without any precautions, Cao Wenzhao, the commander of Tengxiang Zuowei, held an imperial edict and took over several city gates near the palace city, the capital city, and the imperial city, and even took over the gates stationed in Nanjing City. Six health centers.
Moreover, the whole process was extremely violent. Anyone who resisted was pulled out and chopped on the spot. More than thirty people were chopped down.
Among them, there are six commanders and commanders, and the worst one is a hundred households of sixth grade.
The five governors of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion went to argue, but were immediately imprisoned. Even the military talisman and fire cards of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion were confiscated. They were so powerful that they were completely confused.
The remaining more than 10,000 Tengxiang Zuowei, armed with a forest of spears, were stationed outside the city. The slogans they drilled every day in the military camp made all officials tremble.
After Chongzhen's chariot entered the city gate, the officials just stood up when they saw a fleet of prison cars approaching.
"Shang Shu Liang?"
"Master Hu?"
"Governor Yu?"
…
Looking at the people in the prison car, the ministers who had just stood up exclaimed, their legs instantly became weak, and their faces looked miserable.
This time it was completely over.
"Welcome Your Majesty!"
"Welcome Your Majesty!"
"Long live the Ming Dynasty!"
"The Ming Dynasty is mighty!"
…
As soon as Luan Jia entered the city gate, countless cheers rose to the sky, and people were kneeling on the street.
Through the gap in the car window, Chongzhen could see that although the people were cheering, their eyes were filled with tears.
If he had to describe the expression on his face, it would be that of raising his head and covering his eyes, looking at the rain with withered seedlings, and stretching his neck and raising his heels.
After thinking for a moment, Chongzhen understood that the people of Nanjing had been suffering from Nanjing officials for a long time.
