Unless there is an urgent military intelligence report, it would take no less than twenty days for ordinary memorials and other official documents to travel from Guangdong to Beijing.
These twenty days must be delivered by a person of sufficient importance, and no delays can be expected at the stations along the way.
Yang Shen spent three days waiting for Huang Zuo and Zhang Fujing to return to the Yamen, and then immediately went to see them and talked about the hidden dangers of Gui E's expression.
He has not been idle during the past three days. He honestly pulled out some information in the library and checked it carefully.
He was hesitant now because he suspected that there was a possibility of the emperor's instructions.
So he just expressed the concerns that ministries sending information to Guangdong this year may have a chain reaction.
Although he was extremely anxious, he could only say this, and then looked at the reactions of Zhang Fujing and Huang Zuo.
"Yong Xiu is very thoughtful." Zhang Fujing looked at him and smiled, then asked doubtfully, "But it would be better for Yong Xiu to report this matter to the Chief Envoy and let Zhang Fantai pay attention."
Yang Shen was immediately embarrassed.
Yes, there is the Chief Envoy above the Guangzhou Mansion. If he is only worried about this, he can tell Huang Zuo and ask him to convey it to the newly appointed Chief Envoy of Guangdong Zuo, Zhang En.
"The lower officials will go to the court to report to the feudal government..." Yang Shen looked at his calm reaction and felt even more unsure, "Futai should know that if a civil uprising is really triggered, the trial of the new law in Guangdong may be greatly affected. . Futai asked for permission on what to do after the land in Guangdong is cleared. The imperial decree has not yet been issued. It can be seen that there must be many people in the imperial court who are worried."
Zhang Fujing then looked at him a little strangely: If we talk about the opposition in the court, that leader is your father. Now what do you mean when you say these words?
The two of us looked at me, and I looked at you, our eyes wide open for a while.
Huang Zuo still had a solemn look on his face: "What Yong Xiu said is true! In Futai, Xiaguan is well aware of the disadvantages of Guangdong. When Xiaguan tried to write policy papers and talked about the administration of officials, most of them gained insights from observing the administration of officials in Guangdong. This matter must be guarded against! Guangdong has a lot of maritime disasters. If the corvee force is too heavy this spring and the farming season is delayed, and there is another big wind disaster after summer, then things will definitely change this year! Now it is not just Guangdong that needs to be worried about! There are two capitals and thirteen provinces. I hope the new law will not be effective. You don’t know how many people there are. If there is any disturbance, bullets will start flying in the court!"
"...So, isn't it because Yong Xiu was pressured by the gentry and wealthy businessmen of Guangzhou Prefecture to persuade me to slow down the pace?"
Yang Shen grimaced: "Master Futai, if you go to Guangdong to serve as an official, your future will naturally be linked to the new law! But now, I'm afraid even if the central government has made a decision, the officials of the six departments and the provincial officials may not have different intentions. "
He hesitated for a moment, and then he said: "Xiaguan, please speak frankly! Guifutai told Xiaguan that the amount of materials sent to Guangdong this year is abnormal! Someone among Guifutai wants to harm my father. In the court An important minister wanted to use Guangdong as a chessboard. This chess game could not change His Majesty's determination. This was clear to me. However, when disputes broke out, my father, as the chief minister, had to come forward to dissuade him. But Futai, Guangdong is now the chessboard. Among them, you are the first to bear the brunt!"
Zhang Fujing was shocked.
Gui E was recommended by Zhang Zilin. Could it be the news from Zhang Zilin?
And if someone in the center wants to play chess in Guangdong, then Zhang Fujing, the person who presided over the trial of the new law in Guangdong, will become a soldier crossing the river who will be surrounded and killed.
He was silent for a moment and then said: "I know it. Yongxiu, please go and report it to Zhang Fantai immediately. Although there are many materials, the various prefectures and counties should not increase the number rashly. I will ask Huo Xun to investigate more. .”
Then he walked to the door and ordered: "Prepare the sedan and go to the inspector!"
Since there are Haizhu materials, we must suppress the bandits who stole the pearls.
After the suppression, there will be military information that can be rushed to Beijing!
…
There are several things that come together in the purpose of setting off from the capital to various places.
The first is the edict of the year of Kaiyuan, some colorful words of encouragement.
Then there are several good governance policies, including the tax exemption policy for some places that were hit by disasters last year, and the news that the emperor established a sales home in Beijing Huangzhuang to allow various places to accept orphaned children and send them to Beijing.
There is also a new rule that the emperor is not allowed to marry during his wedding.
Although the families were mainly ordinary and kind-hearted, the families of local gentry and wealthy merchants were also included, and the news that relatives could serve as real officials immediately caused a sensation in the local area.
The year of the draft has finally arrived, and the first to take action was Beizhili. The situation in Beizhili was also the first to be reported to the palace.
"Officials, wealthy businessmen, wealthy families..." Yan Song read a bullet submitted by a censor who patrolled Beizhili. "They are all colluding with each other and bribing money in order to get lucky. The daughter of a kind family, There are many people who are coerced and induced to hastily discuss marriage in order to avoid their lucky way to advance. This is a disorder of government! Ministers who participate in national policy meetings cannot directly speak out their shortcomings. How many times may they induce Your Majesty to violate the good governance taught by our ancestors and cause trouble? Descendants, suspected of shaking the foundation of the country..."
After a lot of cursing, Yan Song read a few words and then put down the memorial and said in a complicated tone: "The cabinet vote is that your majesty can choose one concubine and two concubines from the pre-selected ladies from Guangdong, South Zhili, Zhejiang, and Fujian. It is not advisable to choose for a long time to show your majesty’s benevolence in not wanting to disturb the people.”
What Zhu Houcong listened to in person was the memorial written by Yan Song and his three accompanying bachelors in the royal study who were unwilling to make up their minds to judge whether it was acceptable or not.
He said nonchalantly: "Isn't this great? Who wants to send their girls to the palace? Isn't there a list this time? I said that we can't get married, and some people don't want some beautiful girls from good families to stand in their way. As my girl says, just let the governors and governors of various places take this matter to heart. Once the decree is given, it will naturally proceed as usual."
"I understand, then I would like to reiterate your majesty's benevolence not to cause unrest among the people and to continue the official career of the country's relatives. There have always been many illegal things in the draft. This year, there are ministers who should understand the holy will."
Intimate Yan Song immediately found a good reason: the emperor had a very good starting point. As for someone taking advantage of the loopholes to engage in illegal activities, that is another matter. The national law is there.
But he actually wanted to understand why His Majesty wanted to use this incident to make such a big change.
If it's just fishing, it would be a disadvantage to fish out some officials, wealthy businessmen, and large households who want to make a fortune now.
And if the decision is made many years later, then there is really no need to use relatives as an inducement - there are many ways.
So he picked up another memorial: "Please report to the Ministry of Household Affairs. Your Majesty will be getting married this year. You can order fragrant tea from all over the country as a tribute."
"Fragrant tea?" Zhu Houcong became a little weird and looked at Yan Song, Wang Shouren, and Zhang Bi, "Yang Tan signed his name, and the cabinet betrayed Sun Ge's old reputation, but you are not sure and asked me?"
Yan Song smiled awkwardly.
There are only a few people who know that the queen of this dynasty is called Sun Ming.
Zhu Houcong couldn't help but look at them deeply.
Test, keep testing.
"Then it's OK." Zhu Houcong said lightly, "It's just what you mean. It doesn't take much, so as not to disturb the people."
"...The Ministry of Rites requested that the vassals still stay in the palace under the ban. How should we arrange the envoys sent by the vassals to celebrate His Majesty's wedding? The Ministry of Rites has drawn up a strategy, and the cabinet thinks it is acceptable."
Zhu Houcong took it in his hand and looked at it.
It's just that some vassal kings already have heirs, so they can send sons to congratulate them; some have brothers, so let brothers come; if there is a single seedling, send subordinate officials.
After Zhu Houcong finished reading, he looked at Yan Song and the others: "That's right."
"I have no other memorials that need to be approved by His Majesty." Yan Song bent down.
Zhu Houcong nodded and said: "Bo'an, continue to talk about the method of achieving conscience."
This is the result that Wang Shouren and Yang Tinghe "won" when they were debating scriptures. Now no one can say that there is anything wrong with His Majesty understanding this little trick.
Nothing else has changed anyway.
The capital has passed the first lunar month peacefully, and the emperor has indeed changed his rhythm.
Subsequently, the tribute gifts for the emperor's wedding year sent by the Ministry of Household Affairs to various tea-producing areas were also passed on.
And Zhang Fujing's memorial in the name of "military suppression of bandits" was being rushed to Beijing for delivery.
Xia Yan went south, and Li Chongsi went north.
On the coast of the South China Sea, pearl fishing has begun in various pearl ponds.
Hepu pearls in Lianzhou Prefecture are famous all over the world, and Lianzhou Pearl City is also famous.
The pearls here were tributes during the Shang Dynasty, and pearls were collected here in every dynasty thereafter.
Today, there are many large and small pearl ponds in the Hepu area, such as Wuni Pond, Yongan Pond, Pingjiang Pond, Yangmei Pond, Qingying Pond, Duanwang Pond, and Haizhu Pond.
Most of these pearl ponds are connected to the sea and have many tidal flats, where mother oysters are cultivated year after year.
The people responsible for collecting pearls are called Dan people. They use boats as their homes all year round and live on the sea. They float like eggshells on the sea, so they are called Dan people.
But there is also a saying that they are in a dangerous living environment. Although they have unique means of livelihood, their lives are not guaranteed and they are as fragile as eggshells, so they are called Danjia.
This so-called means of livelihood is to make a living by collecting pearls and fishing.
You can imagine the physical appearance of the Dan people who live at sea all year round. They are a group of people who are truly at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty.
"Tie a rope around your waist and go into the water with a basket." The eunuch in charge of the pearl pond asked with a straight face, "Today, each Dan Ding must bring five taels of beads! Places that he did not dare to go to before are now available." I tried my best to hold my breath and went to explore. If you catch more than five taels of giant beads, I will give you a big reward!"
Among the various things needed for the emperor's wedding, pearls were mainly provided by Guangdong.
The total quantity is nearly fifty thousand taels!
The eunuch of Zhuchi was very anxious: Logically speaking, it is appropriate to collect pearls in large quantities every ten years or so, but he could not handle the situation in the past ten years, when the palace and some important ministers kept adding more people.
There was a big harvest in the ninth year of Zhengde's reign, and a total of fourteen thousand taels were handed over.
I picked it again three years ago, and that time I only got less than 4,000 taels.
This time, all the pearl ponds are harvested together. It is not known whether a sufficient number can be harvested, but I am afraid that the quality of the beads picked up will be worrying.
He returned to the room and walked around, and after a while he told his godson: "Go and find me the owners of those seventeen families!"
There is really no other way but to see how their inventory is.
If you want to continue doing this pearl business, you must help him get through this hurdle today no matter what. It's hard not to be affected by last year's storm!
Pearl fishing is only a small part of the story. In the deep mountains and forests of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places, countless laborers are driven to find and cut down precious wood.
This matter actually started after the autumn harvest in the second half of last year, because now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, he will naturally have these requirements this year.
In Lianzhou Zhu City, the stewards of three businesses hurriedly sent their servants to Guangzhou Prefecture.
It was already two days later when we arrived at Guangzhou Prefecture after crossing mountains and ridges.
Upstairs in Yuanying, several people gathered together again.
"Pearls only involve the Dan people, but since those eunuchs have begged us, it's a bad word." The speaker's eyes were bright, "The sea is so vast, Guangdong is not the only one in the world to produce pearls. My pearl shop is full of pearls. There are still more than three thousand taels left, and there are more than thirty peerless pearls. How about it? Let’s sue and complain?”
Brother Lei, who was wearing a rather rugged ring, grinned: "These pearls, if Guangdong can't come up with a big share, then His Majesty's marriage will be ugly. Zhang Fantai bears the responsibility, and those eunuchs in Zhuchi will live or die." I don’t want to say anything about the inside story. I estimate that I don’t know how many people will be forced to death this time. Even if we mobilize troops to fish for it, it won’t be enough! We have fished three times in seven years, how can there be so many pearls?”
"So, are you all willing to come together?" The elegant scholar waving the folding fan smiled, "I'm really anxious, maybe I can temporarily send additional natural pearls to each county. If you want to do it, just go to that step. When the chaos breaks out, look at Zhang Fu Should I continue to kill His Majesty's servants first, or should I go to every house to ask for pearls?"
"It's enough to go to Zhang Fantai's place." One person shook his head repeatedly, "When I went to Sichuan to buy tea, I got acquainted with Zhang Fantai's nephew. He was transferred from Sichuan to Guangdong, so he would not be ignorant of the importance. Wait for the pearl pond to be collected first As a result, Zhang Fantai saw that this project could not be completed, so he would ask the elders to come forward. When the time comes, we can just negotiate the price."
"No!" The folding fan closed sternly, and the elegant scholar said with a sinister expression, "Is it for that little money? Guangdong is really going to push down the new law. Who among you and me will be spared? Even though the emperor has given a sword that is sharp, how can it be used to its full potential? Killing the good people of Guangdong? It’s not that we are dissatisfied. I’m afraid His Majesty still doesn’t know the suffering and grievances of the people of Guangdong!”
He stared at the person who spoke first: "Old Pang, you might as well scatter two good beads secretly and sell them to those who like to show off. Without you or me taking action, the eunuch of the Pearl Pool will come to your door and threaten to buy them! Several murder cases have occurred, and the people in the court are invited to get involved in the deaths of the people, the exploitation of the ministers, and the plundering of people's wealth in Guangdong to attract the emperor's favor! If the wind goes together, the other two capitals and twelve provinces do not need to be reminded. They will swarm you!"
From the distant Forbidden City, what was delivered together with the military intelligence report was Zhang Fu's request from Mai Fu, and it would not go through the secret report of the General Affairs Department.
Lin Qingping stood aside and saw the calm coldness in the emperor's eyes.
Zhu Houcong is getting used to it.
As an emperor in this era, he has to get used to what many things will look like thousands of miles away.
Without him, the real people of Ming Dynasty would still be suffering like this.
To change this situation, we must really cut the knife on the heads of those who turned the more than 230,000 hectares of land in Guangdong into more than 70,000 hectares of land.
It can't be cut alive yet, because it represents the most powerful class at present.
Zhu Houcong couldn't even blame Yang Tan and the others, because they were just normal bureaucrats.
The emperor's wedding has always been like this.
Even if Zhu Houcong only married Sun Ming first, it would be impossible for the emperor and empress' wedding to not be arranged in a grand manner.
If they don't do anything, it will leave them at a loss as to what to do and leave the local government to make random guesses.
In this case, it's better to use it as an introduction and take another step forward.
It's just that this step will be stained with the blood of the common people first.
After Zhu Houcong put down the secret report, he said to Huang Jin: "Tell Maifu and ask him to tell Zhu Qi. If you didn't make any achievements last year, if you have the opportunity this year, train your troops well!"
He walked towards the dragon couch at the back, with Lin Qingping following behind him.
As an emperor, countless people are dying every day for various reasons. He cannot let these emotions influence his thoughts.
It is impossible for him to cross the era and take any other path. He can only take his increasingly ruthless emperor's path.
"Do you know why I must kill you?"
Lin Qingping shook her head silently.
Yes, she is older and comes from a humble background, is it just because it is safer to give birth?
"I want to give dignity and decency to many people in the world, and it starts with you." Zhu Houcong adjusted his mood again and smiled, "When you are by my side, I will always remember this."
He continued to go into battle with his gun, and Zhu Qi's intention to strengthen his troops also went south.
(End of chapter)
