"It's hard for one person to sing a unique tune if he can't clap his hands."
"Officials have reached this point today, and you must bear at least 30% of the responsibility, or even more. Therefore, the similar behaviors I just mentioned are all under my reckoning.
For those of you who have done these things, I will give you three days to think about how you gave the gift in the first place, and pay ten times the amount to the Nanjing government office. If after three days, no one comes on your own initiative, don't blame me for going on a killing spree. "
After saying this, Chongzhen went down from the city gate tower and walked towards the palace.
After a while, the people outside Hongwu Gate started talking thoroughly.
"I was really shocked. Among the hundreds of officials, about 30 were high-ranking officials of third rank or above. They were not even tried, and they were cut off as soon as they were told."
"Domineering and iron-blooded, they are really deep in my heart!"
"The capital of Suzhou has been here once. Isn't Nanjing familiar with the situation this time? The evidence of the crime is conclusive, and the emperor personally executed the conspiracy. If he doesn't decide, will he wait until the autumn to waste food?"
"There are probably more than 3,000 Gongsheng students in the Imperial College in Nanjing. If they really want to be liquidated, it is estimated that 30% of them will be liquidated. Their lives will be over from now on. The gains outweigh the losses!"
"Naive, the Ming Dynasty is so big, thousands of people are like rainwater falling into the sea, and they can't stir up a single wave. When the storm passes, find a remote county and change your name. Who can find out?"
"Fart, if there are no corrupt officials to look after them, who will change their names? Who will make arrangements for them?"
"Corrupt officials are punished, but how come even those who paid bribes are punished? It's really unexpected!"
"Hmph, giving bribes is more disgusting than accepting bribes. Isn't it spread in Suzhou City that wealthy businessmen and gentry use coercion, inducement, suppression, and frame-up for their own interests? It's hard to guard against it.
You can defend yourself a thousand times, but as long as you are framed once, all the previous attempts will be ruined! "
"Yes, you can only be a thief for a thousand days, and how can you prevent a thief for a thousand days? If you can't prevent it, then you might as well become a thief. It's worth it if you are a popular and popular person and there is someone to protect you!"
"As long as no one pays bribes, the number of corrupt officials will be reduced by half, and the government will be much clearer."
"Childish... Have you ever thought about killing these corrupt officials who are well fed and then sending officials with empty stomachs, will they fall back on the old path?
Then the imperial court conducted a thorough investigation, beheaded them again, confiscated their homes and exterminated their clans. In the end, the people were exploited and suffered, and the officials were chopped off, but they fed the imperial court. "
"Eh...it seems to make sense!"
…
The people were talking one after another and were in an extremely happy mood.
Regardless of what will happen to the officials in the future, at least in the next two or three years, the officials who come to Nanjing will not dare to act arrogantly. The wealthy businessmen and gentry have to behave with their tail between their legs. They no longer have to worry about being beaten and scolded by the wealthy businessmen and gentry when they go out. This is the most direct thing they can do. beneficiary.
It would be even more comfortable if we were exempted from 50% of taxes and so on like Suzhou Prefecture.
The people were talking very enthusiastically and did not notice that some people in the crowd were listening attentively.
Chongzhen, who was the protagonist of the discussion, was walking in the palace. The layout of the Nanjing Palace and the Beijing Palace were basically the same except for the differences in the names of each palace.
Fengtian Hall, Huagai Hall, Jinshen Hall, Qianqing Palace, Kunning Palace, Dongnuan Pavilion, Xinuan Pavilion, etc. Even the layout of Dongnuan Pavilion was exactly the same as that in Beijing. For a moment, he thought he had returned to Beijing.
Now he finally knows why Emperor Chengzu moved the capital to Beijing and stabilized the north, but the emperors of all dynasties did not abolish Nanjing.
In addition to political and economic reasons, I guess there is also the meaning of going home.
After drinking a cup of tea in Dongnuang Pavilion, Chongzhen rubbed his swollen temples with a wry smile as he watched the comments of the people presented by Jin Yiwei.
The problem of corruption, let alone this era, will still not be solved even by highly developed societies in later generations.
If I don't pay you, I won't do anything for you. What can you do?
Sometimes it doesn't mean that people have to pay bribes, but they have to pay bribes.
He now has some ideas, but he needs to discuss them with the courtiers after returning to Beijing. Although it cannot be completely solved, it can be reduced by 80%.
After staying in Nanjing for three days, the emperor did not appear again, nor did he issue any edicts. The entire city of Nanjing was unusually quiet.
But it was extremely painful for the gentry and wealthy businessmen. The emperor's actions caught them off guard, and they all confessed their crimes. However, the anger still burned in them.
He has paid ten times the amount of bribes he paid in the past ten years since the first year of Tianqi. Not to mention bankruptcy, it will definitely damage his vitality.
But if they don't hand it over, the emperor will definitely kill them, there is no doubt about it.
And we can't even take chances. In Suzhou City, those who were clever because of the supplementary payment were all beheaded and their homes were confiscated.
While the wealthy businessmen were terrified, dozens of young men dressed as scholars gathered in a quiet academy outside the city.
"The thing we were most worried about happened after all, and we were not given any time to deal with it!"
"Yes, although we look down on these officials, they can give us a lot of conveniences. Now that they have been cut off, the new officials have to spend some time!"
…
"Brother Tianru, what do you think of this? What should we do next?"
"Brother Laizhang, you guys should say something!"
Listening to everyone's urging, the two young men in the first seat looked at each other. The younger one picked up the tea cup and took a sip, and said softly: "This is a good thing for us, a great good thing. !”
Seeing that he was attracted by his words, the young man's eyes flashed with pride and he continued: "Everyone, 80% of the officials in Suzhou Prefecture were cut off. What did the emperor do in the end? They were recruited from the local area."
"Brother Tianru, you mean we can do it too?"
Facing one person's exclamation, the young man known as Tianru said calmly: "They can do it, why can't we?
In terms of talent, which one of us is not a leader? Who doesn't know about fame? In terms of appeal, we are all the best. In this case, who would you choose if you don't choose us? "
"right!"
"That makes sense!"
"It's better that Tian Ruxiang's brain works so fast!"
"In this way, we can at least save more than ten years of imperial examinations. With our talents, the ten-year ban on promotion is not binding on us!"
…
Seeing that everyone's emotions were aroused, the young man stretched out his hand and said: "Of course, to be on the safe side, we need to hold a powerful rally in the next few days. It is best to let the emperor know about us and accept our advice.
Since then, everything has been foolproof, and it has even reached the sky in one step.
Your Majesty has been rectifying the Jiangnan officialdom during this period. From now on, His Majesty is killing violently. This can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause.
Therefore, as long as we can make a plan to govern the Qingming Dynasty, it will be a great achievement for the entire Ming Dynasty. What do you think? "
