The Minister of Punishment is in charge of the world's criminal names. Naturally, this position cannot be filled by someone with no experience at all.
Since this position is at the second level, only those who have reached this level or slightly below can have hope.
The people who were working secretly in the capital were confused by a strange promotion: Xia Yan was promoted to the censor of the right capital of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate because of his military affairs.
The Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate does not have left positions. As a rule, there are only right governor and right deputy governor. The fourth-rank right and deputy governor is the third-ranking figure in the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate.
But now there is a special person in the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate: Hu Zan.
Because he himself was the censor of Zuo Qiandu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he still held this position as the admiral of Nanjing Cao Jiang.
Last year, when Zhang Zilin went south, Hu Zan had been working with Xiangcheng Bo Li Quanli to suppress bandits in the Yangtze River, and they had made great contributions.
Xia Yan also participated in the abolition of the official army in Beijing and the re-establishment of the three major battalions.
This tribute to Xia Yan immediately disrupted the rhythm of many big officials in the capital: Hu Zan might be promoted.
He is also a fourth-rank official, so it is impossible for him to be the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. He may move up one rank in Nanjing, and then there will be a third rank in Nanjing who will have to move.
Where to move the third product?
Sun Jiaotou is a big man, Yang Tinghe couldn't help but look at Zhang Zilin: Is there any secret arrangement in the southeast that I don't know about?
In the preliminary stage of court recommendation, during the process of nominating candidates, Zhang Zilin finally spoke: "Li Chongsi, governor of Yingtian and minister of the Ministry of Industry of Nanjing, has successively served as director of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, general judge of Guangdong Province, magistrate of Suizhou, and inspector of Shaanxi Province, and Yunnan inspector envoy. When he was patrolling various prefectures in Nanjing, Li Chongsi also contributed to the Chenhao Rebellion, but had not yet been rewarded. Li Chongsi was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing, and was also in charge of water conservancy affairs, dredging Su, Songhe Canal, Wusong River, and opening Baimao Hong Kong. In the past three years, the national policy has been on water conservancy, and Li Chongsi also has a lot of experience."
Okay.
If he went to Beijing to become the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, two positions would be available: Governor Yingtian and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing.
Previously, Li Chongsi was in charge.
Wang Qiong and Sun Jiao both looked at Zhang Zilin, then at Li Hao, Minister of Industry, then at Wang Shouren, and finally at Yang Tinghe.
The Nanjing Ministry of Industry and the Beijing Ministry of Industry have close business relations, and Li Chongsi and Li Wei can naturally take the lead in the issue of water conservancy and floods in the next three years.
After the Chenhao Rebellion was put down, Li Chongsi and Wang Shouren could reminisce about the past.
In addition... he is from Chengdu Prefecture and a fellow townsman of Yang Tinghe.
As for qualifications, Li Chongsi had been doing criminal work before he was governor of Nanjing, and he had rich grassroots experience...
Wang Qiong and Sun Jiao looked at each other: This is a great choice.
Sun Jiao, the host of Tingtui, coughed and said, "It's only one choice. Do you have any other candidates?"
He looked at Jiang Mian, Shi Yuan, and Fei Hong: Don't you three have any enterprising spirit?
But now everyone is thinking about other things.
Is Hu Zan going to be promoted to right deputy governor of the capital, governor Yingtian? Who could be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing?
What was Xia Yan, the first person promoted by the emperor, to do in Nanjing?
…
Xia Yan's promotion was not unpleasant at all.
He is a seventh-level military officer, although his actual influence can easily be concealed by his official rank.
Nanjing is not considered a center, so a fourth-rank doctor in Nanjing is not necessarily more prominent than a fifth-rank doctor in a department in Beijing. What does the Metropolitan Procuratorate count in Nanjing?
Among all the yamen in Nanjing, the Procuratorate has the least to do. As the saying goes: "The courtyard is outside Taipingmen, but Cao Jiang and the whole courtyard are in the same hall. The fourth and fifth censors are graceful, polite, and strict, and nothing happens."
The actual status of Cao Jiangdu's censor is the highest.
But the grade goes up, which means a lot.
After Xia Yan accepted the congratulations from his colleagues, he was thinking about His Majesty's encouragement to him.
The right censor of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate may not have any other powers, but he can report it.
He was promoted by the emperor himself, and that was enough.
But when he went to Nanjing, His Majesty didn't say much. He just asked him to continue to observe things carefully, make suggestions and suggestions, and never forget his duties as an official.
Is it still the most important thing that Huang Jin reminded me, "Your Majesty is merciful and loves the people"?
What is most directly related to the common people? Xia Yan thought about it, and could only think of taxes, corvee labor, banditry, natural disasters, and official misfortune.
Xia Yan naturally wants to get more things, such as Xinfa, Fuguo, Jingying...
He felt a little melancholy: If we go to Nanjing, we are going to the Longtan Tiger's Den!
On the early spring morning in Guangdong, Yang Shen looked at Gui E looking at him with a sneer on his face, and just said in shock: "Isn't Guifu's statement too serious?"
Gui E shook his head repeatedly, and his words were full of provocation: "I asked Yang Futai, you govern Panyu, Nanhai, Shunde, Xiangshan, Xinhui, Yangshan, Lianshan, Dongguan, Xin'an, Sanshui, Zengcheng, Longmen , Qingyuan, Xinning, Conghua, these fourteen counties plus Lianzhou, do you know the ins and outs of each county and state code? In the fifth year of Zhengde, the imperial court allowed military and civilian households along the coast of Guangdong to fry sea salt privately in lieu of supplementary levies. Do you know this?"
Yang Shen was stunned.
"The annual quota for the Haibei Salt Class was originally 27,400 jins and 200 jins. During the Hongzhi period, it was reduced to 19,483 jins and 490 jins. There are still more than 7,000 jins left. Zese, do you know why?"
"..."
"In the 18th year of Hongzhi, the quasi-students can be exempted from farm service according to the acres of land. Those from one to three ding will be exempted from 70 acres of land. Those from 4 to 6 ding will be exempted from 60 acres of land. Those from 7 to 10 ding will be exempted from farm service. Those who are from 11th to 15th are exempted from 50 acres of farmland. Those from 11th to 19th are exempted from 40 acres of land. Those from 16th to 19th are exempted from 30 acres of land. Those from 30 to 20th are exempted from the whole household. Exemptions. Does Yang Futai know how many kitchen servants you have in Guangzhou and how many exemptions you have?"
"..."
Gui E's little eyes were full of contempt: "In the entire Guangdong, commercial taxes are collected by your Guangzhou Prefecture Tax Department. Yang Futai has never thought about how much this has to do with it?"
Yang Shen was almost numb.
"During the Hongwu period, Guangdong had 237,340 hectares and 56 acres of farmland. In the fifteenth year of Hongzhi, this number was only 73,224 hectares and 46 acres. Yes. You have been busy for several months since you joined the government in Guangzhou. What is the number of acres of land in Guangzhou now? Does Yang Futai have this account in mind? "
No matter how stupid you are, you will know that there is a big problem when you hear this, not to mention that Yang Shen is not stupid.
"...for this reason, Zhang Futai has reported to the imperial court, asking for approval of the new laws and regulations. There are many mergers, and I know it..."
Gui E let out a long sigh: "The Hanlin Academy is so good. Even if Mr. Yang Ge wants you to go somewhere to practice, why should he let you go to Guangzhou? Yangfutai, in my opinion, you are almost finished."
Yang Shen couldn't help but trembled, and saluted him with a troubled face: "Guifu came to Guangdong just after Bucai, but he is more familiar with the situation in Guangdong than Bucai. Bucai is ashamed and hopes that Brother Gui will teach me. "
The talented man heard the sentence "You are almost finished" and was smeared in the face by Gui E with data. He really couldn't be proud.
Gui E looked at the expressions of his teammates, and after a while he said: "The amount of summer tax in Guangdong is 5,978 shi, and a total of 135 pieces of mulberry silk and scrap silk are folded. An inch is five cents; the amount of autumn grain rice is 1.07786 shi per bucket, 7 liters, 6 in 6 scoops, and the amount of rice in Kosi is 12 shi, 5 dou, 4 liters, 5 in 5 scoops. In previous years, Guangdong would only have to ship rice. 400,000 shi went to the capital treasury, which was converted into 100,000 taels of silver. Last year at the Tuen Mun naval battle, Zhang Futai got the approval. The food and salary requested by Guangdong can be deducted from taxes. Does Brother Yang know what the situation is now?"
Yang Shen continued to be confused by the data and could only listen nervously.
Gui E sneered: "Everyone in Guangdong is eyeing the 100,000 taels and other taxes that have not been paid in the past few years. The counties and states under your rule don't know how to increase taxes in the name of payment! Those counties and counties I'm afraid the Prime Minister's records, as well as those wealthy officials and gentry who have just been cleared of their land, may not know what they are plotting! Mr. Futai asked me to work with you to clean up the rules and regulations and explain them to the public, using the two prefectures of Guangzhou and Huizhou as examples. It’s harmful, I’m afraid it will stir up a hornet’s nest immediately! Besides, what on earth are those people in the center doing?”
"...Center? What does Brother Gui mean by this?"
Gui E glanced at him: "Someone wants to harm your father!"
Yang Shen suddenly felt horrified: "Brother Gui, please speak frankly."
Gui E blew his beard and glared very irritably: "Guangdong has been paying taxes these days, and the higher authorities are also looking at Guangdong! His Majesty is getting married this year. Guangdong has a pearl pond, sacrificial vessels, large trees, and many rare treasures. The palace, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Household It is normal for the Ministry of Industry to send materials to Guangdong. However, knowing that Guangdong is in the process of clearing the land and people are panicking, if they are sent to Guangdong and then sent to various counties, I am afraid it will more than double! In addition to other additional dispatches, the gentry and wealthy families of Guangzhou Prefecture Is there any reason not to take the opportunity to incite the people to cause trouble? If there is a civil uprising under your rule, will your father be implicated? If your father continues to dissuade His Majesty from introducing new laws in Guangdong, will he offend Your Majesty and then resign?"
"... Zhang Futai is here, how dare they make trouble?"
Gui E shook his head tiredly: "I have a bad temper, and it's not good to say it's unpleasant. But look at who are these people in Guangdong now? The new governor of Jinshi, the noble magistrate of the Hanlin, living in seclusion to support the patrol, and the prince's house is idle The ministers participate in politics, and the new scholars participate in the discussion. I am a humble person, but you are all members of the imperial court. Please report the situation quickly, and don't drag me, Huizhou Mansion, into trouble!"
After he came to Yang Shen and complained, he resigned and went to Huizhou Prefecture to take up his post, leaving Yang Shen alone as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
"...Quickly, go and ask where Counselor Huang and Zhang Futai have gone? I want to see you!"
The jurisdiction of Guangzhou Prefecture is really not small.
Lianshan County, Yangshan County, and Lianzhou in the northwest are already semi-mountainous areas. The core cities of Qingyuan, Conghua, Zengcheng, Panyu, and Nanhai are fertile places. The coastal areas of Dongguan, Xin'an, Shunde, Xinhui, Xinning, and Xiangshan also have their own output and prosperous commerce.
When Gui E first arrived, he revealed some cruel conditions in Guangdong to Yang Shen. This was a detail that Yang Shen had not seriously considered before.
It’s not surprising that the number of taxable acres is only 30% of what it was at the beginning of the country, but the amount of taxable land is still a bit higher.
There are already more and more people living in seclusion and fleeing their households, and Zao Ding is exempted. So much of the land that has not been reduced is produced on 30% of the land in the country.
The number of annual salt courses in Haibei has been reduced by half. Over the years, what role have the officials at all levels and the local gentry and wealthy businessmen played in this?
Yang Shen, who only cooperated with Xie Changjie to clear land in Guangzhou Prefecture, was used by Gui E to unravel the bloody reality that may exist at the bottom of Guangzhou.
Last year, there was a war, and this year, Yang Tan from the Ministry of Husbandry, Li Hao from the Ministry of Works, and Yuan Zonggao from the Ministry of Rites were sent out. What were their intentions?
Yang Shen had not yet learned the news of Yuan Zonggao's death, and the more he thought about it, the more frightened he became.
Could this be His Majesty's instruction?
Did His Majesty know the situation in Guangdong, and deliberately wanted to provoke a civil uprising, and then use a large army to plow the territory and solve the problem of the wealthy families in one fell swoop?
Yang Shen made a wild guess. In a restaurant called "Yuanying Tower" in Guangzhou city, he could indeed see the distant view of the Pearl River Estuary from the private room on the highest floor.
At this moment, five people in loose robes were sitting in this private room.
Naturally, they are not Taoist priests. It is very common for them to wear Taoist robes.
Although it was only the first month of the year, some of them were holding ivory folding fans, and some were wearing gemstone rings with restrained brilliance.
They had morning tea.
Around the private room, four young girls stood on the left and right, ready to help them make tea or bring in freshly steamed refreshments from outside.
The people at the table spoke Cantonese and did not shy away from the four girls.
"Zhang Shatou is still there, but tea from Guangdong and Guangxi, tea from Hunan, and tea from Fujian cannot be missed this year. I stayed in Shaanxi for a year last year and spent nearly ten thousand taels of money on it, so I got so much Cha Yin!" The person who spoke was obviously just a wealthy businessman, "If everyone goes to accept the service this year, will the salt be fried or the tea leaves will be picked?"
"Brother Lei, don't be in a hurry." The man waving the folding fan became much more elegant. "Although Zhang Futai's sword is sharp, he is not good at practical work after all. Cutting down big trees, collecting pearls from the pearl pond, and casting ritual vessels in Foshan, this is nothing. It's just that he has arrived. When the farming season is busy, all these need to be shipped out of Beijing. By then, the spring rain will be heavy and the roads will be rugged. How many porters, carriages, horses, and boats will be needed? If the farming season is delayed, summer and autumn grains will be a problem, and the people will not agree."
He said the last words with a smile.
"...His grandma's, that Xie Changjie, my family's fertile land was cleared out for fifty hectares! Fifty hectares!" Another person said angrily, "Brother Luo, your cousin is in the capital, join him! "
"What are you talking about? Last year, His Majesty just spoke so much in one go. How can he participate in the impeachment now?" Another person ate steamed chicken feet and shook his head. "If you want to participate, you must also be the censor of Guangdong."
"What did the Huo family say?"
"The Huo family?" He sneered, "The Huo family's business in Nanhai County has no dealings with any of our families? This Huo Weixian used to be afraid of trouble and hid back, but now he is still on the same page. You can't count on him! The Huo family would rather not make money now. We must also ensure that he rides on this wind!"
"Have you heard any response about the invitation for Cantonese fragrant tea?"
"Don't worry." Someone smiled at the corner of his mouth, "Your Majesty is so majestic and heroic, and there are so many things that I want to change the old system. You will all be surprised at your Majesty's wedding this year. I'm afraid this tea will be offered as a tribute everywhere. We Zhang Fu Taiwan may keep a closer eye on other officials, but he will supervise the management of this Cantonese tea no matter what. This person helped His Majesty pre-select the lady master last year!"
(End of chapter)
