Having enemies is not necessarily a bad thing.
Zhu Yunwen handed Qu You over to the Ministry of Punishment and the Security Bureau, continued the interrogation, and then returned to the palace.
Gu Sanshen and Bao Zhao also knew that it was impossible for Qu You to tell who Mr. Gujin was, but the violent machine that controlled the empire would get rusty if it didn't run for a few times.
Qu You's screams woke up Captain Hu Dun.
Hu Dun sat up, looked at his bloody fingers, and glanced at the mouse that was stared at at the base of the wall. He reached out and pulled out the flying knife, held the mouse in his hand, and said with a smile: "Shuo Shuo Shuo, no matter what." Eat me millet! I am not willing to take care of a three-year-old girl..."
"who?"
Hu Dun suddenly felt something strange, holding the flying knife in his hand and looked up.
At some point, there was a person standing in front of the cell door. The dim lights in the distance could not reveal the person's appearance.
Gu Sanshen looked at Hu Dun coldly and said, "Aren't you just Shuo Shu?"
Hu Dun's eyes were gloomy and he said calmly: "Yes, I am a Shuo Shu, but I only eat food from dead people! The Shuo Shu here wants to eat living people!"
"The dead cannot be disturbed. Would you be happy if your ancestors' graves were dug?"
Gu Sanshen opened the cell door and walked in.
Hu Dun stared at Gu Sanshen, his wrist moved slightly, the flying knife in his hand kept shaking, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said: "I'm sorry, my grandfather died on the roadside, my father died in the river, and there is no ancestral grave. So. , what do you want the ancestral graves for?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Dun stood up from the ground and pointed the flying knife at Gu Sanshen.
Poof, bang!
Hu Dun's body flew back, hit the wall, and landed heavily on the ground. The flying knife fell aside.
"Master?!"
Hu Dun didn't expect that the other party's speed and reaction were so fast.
Gu Sanshen bent down, picked up the flying knife on the ground, took out the white brocade handkerchief, wiped the blood on it, and said slowly: "We want the ancestral tomb, so that our descendants can have something to think about and have roots."
Withdrawing the flying knife, Gu Sanshen turned around and walked out of the cell.
Hu Dun coughed a few times, sat up, looked at the open cell door, gritted his teeth, got up and walked out.
The jailers were not far away and even saw themselves, but they just turned their heads and ignored them completely.
Hu Dun didn't know what happened, but he still had some courage, otherwise he wouldn't have robbed the tomb. He staggered over and even stopped when he got to the jailer and looked at the jailer.
Seeing that the jailer did not arrest him, Hu Dun also understood that the identity of the person who just walked out must not be simple.
After walking out of the dungeon, Hu Dun looked at Gu Sanshen, who had his hands behind his back not far from the door, and asked, "Who are you?"
In the night sky, there are only stars but no moon.
Gu Sanshen turned around and said coldly: "You are already a dead person. Whether you can leave a grave for yourself depends on your performance."
Hu Dun chuckled, moved his arms, and said, "Are you trying to recruit me?"
"Solicitation? No, I can only promise you that there will be a grave for you to lie in when the time comes."
Gu Sanshen raised his feet and walked out.
Hu Dun didn't know who Gu Sansen was or what his identity was, but he knew that if he continued to stay in the Penal Department Prison, he would be exiled for three thousand miles even if he was not beheaded.
But following the person in front of me, every step seemed to lead to the grave.
"Who are you?"
Hu Dun chased after him and asked.
Gu Sanshen said calmly: "Da Ming Security Bureau, Gu Sanshen."
Hu Dun was stunned for a moment.
Although the reputation of the Ming Security Bureau is not prominent among the people, it is a terrifying existence to the government and gentry. Once someone from the Security Bureau is watching, there will be no secrets in every move he makes.
Hu Dun not only knew the Security Bureau, but also suffered losses from the Security Bureau.
Three months ago, Hu Dun discovered outside Peking
He found an ancient tomb, but unfortunately, that ancient tomb was not in the desolate wilderness, but in a mansion. The most terrible thing was that the mansion was under the name of Prince Yan's mansion.
Unwilling to do so, Hu Dun sneaked into the mansion, but before he could take action, he was knocked unconscious by a guy disguised as a stone. At that time, the stone was only one step away from him.
When Hu Dun woke up, he was already in the county government office.
With his skill and means, Hu Dun escaped from the county government office while the guards were lax. Later, he was secretly followed several times before he determined that the person who knocked him unconscious was the security bureau.
Repeated tracking also aroused the alert of the security bureau. In order to survive, Hu Dun had no choice but to escape.
It was no longer safe around Beiping Mansion, so Hu Dun ran all the way to the capital. Hearing that there was a Buddhist treasure in Tianjie Temple, he planned to go and see it, but while he was still checking out the spot, he was caught by a group of monks.
Only then was he imprisoned in the Ministry of Punishment, where he is today.
"As long as you are loyal to the court and the emperor, you can walk out of this door. If you still have second thoughts, I advise you to go back to prison."
Gu Sanshen pointed to the door of the Criminal Department.
Hu Dun swallowed and asked in disbelief: "Why?"
Gu Sanshen said seriously: "There is no waste in this world, it just depends on how to use it. You have the means and the ability, but you just used it in the wrong place. Therefore, if you want to change your life, you must first choose your position."
Hu Dun hesitated.
Joining the Daimyo Security Bureau is better than being a tomb robber, but once you join the Security Bureau, you become a slave and have no freedom.
Hu Dun clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and said, "I want a big tomb to be built at the foot of Jiangyin Fragrant Mountain!"
"no problem."
Gu Sanshen agreed.
Hu Dun took a deep look at Gu Sanshen and walked out of the gate of the Criminal Department.
Early the next morning, Zhu Yunwen reviewed the accounts of the Military War Bureau, Science and Technology Bureau, and Second Artillery Bureau in Wuying Palace, and discovered that the imperial court's expenditure on weapons and equipment was extremely limited.
Taking the entire war bureau as a whole, there are more than 1,500 live craftsmen of all types, and the number of craftsmen working in shifts is twice as long as that of live craftsmen.
In Hongwu years, live craftsmen were paid, but shift craftsmen were not paid.
Even if only the residents were counted, the imperial court's expenses made Zhu Yunwen feel chilled!
At full cost, there are only 45,600 taels a year. Although the material expenses for preparing weapons for the War and War Bureau are not included in the War and War Bureau, but are borne by the "Shiku" of the capital, these more than 40,000 Two taels of silver, however, include the living expenses, heating money, food money, supplies money and other expenses.
Putting aside the monthly money, there is not much left to spend on food and drinks.
In times of peace, the Ministry of Revenue was unwilling to add more silver to the armed forces. In their view, it was better to leave that money to officials for their salaries. Coupled with the suppression of martial arts by civil servants, their control over armaments became even more stringent.
After Zhu Yunwen reviewed the account books, he summoned the cabinet Xie Jin and the Minister of Household Affairs Zhuo Jing, handed the account books to them, and asked: "The weapons and equipment made by the craftsmen are indispensable weapons for our soldiers of the Ming Dynasty to guard the border, but can they How does the court treat them? Calculate for yourselves how much food can the craftsmen have to eat every year?!"
"Your Majesty, this is what Taizu has decided..."
Zhuo Jing said quickly.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhuo Jing with a cold face and said, "Then you are receiving the salary set by Grandpa Taizu?"
Zhuo Jing knew that he had made a mistake and quickly apologized: "After I return, I will re-determine the treatment of craftsmen."
Zhu Yunwen was furious and said sternly: "Let the people from the household department go and take a look. Look at all the palace craftsmen in the capital. How much money they can get every month and how many meals they can eat every month! Each one of them becomes an official. What kind of official is such an official who enjoys glory and wealth but never cares about the craftsmen and farmers?!"
"The craftsmen work for seven or eight hours a day, but they can only eat raw rice to ward off hunger! This is the result of the Hu Bu's harsh criticism! Zhuo Jing, if the Hu Bu cannot handle this matter, I will
You can decree that all the bureaucrats in the Ministry of Household Affairs will be converted into craftsmen! The Second Artillery Bureau is very short of people! "
Zhuo Jing felt cold all over. If he was assigned to be a craftsman, his whole life would be completely over, and his children and grandchildren would even be implicated.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will handle this matter well!"
Zhuo Jing promised seriously.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Xie Jin and said: "Send the news to all officials that the Ministry of Revenue intends to improve the treatment of craftsmen. If anyone objects, take away their official uniforms and hats and go to the Military War Bureau to forge iron for three months. Three months of thinking Come back when you understand. If you don't understand, just let them stay in the military battle station."
Xie Jin took a deep breath. The emperor was really angry.
"Remember, the craftsman's spirit, the craftsman's family and the country! Retreat!"
Zhu Yunwen raised his hand and said.
Xie Jin and Zhuo Jing bowed and excused themselves. They left Wuying Hall and could not help but feel bitterness on their faces.
Zhuo Jing sighed and said: "Jie Ge, the emperor seems to be interested in strengthening military equipment. I heard that he went to the Houhu Second Artillery Bureau yesterday."
Xie Jin walked and said: "The foreign enemies of the Ming Dynasty have not been eliminated, and those martial arts are still needed. It is not unreasonable for the emperor to strengthen military equipment. Now that you are temporarily in charge of the household department, you can take people to see the craftsmen in person. The emperor rarely gets angry, so I will definitely What made the emperor angry?"
"Extreme Spiritual Chaos Jue"
"Hey, it would be great if Master Huang was in the capital."
Zhuo Jing sighed.
Xie Jin shook his head slightly and said: "Master Yu took Huang Shangshu and others to Kaifeng, and they will not be able to come back in a short time. Please handle this matter carefully, and remember to warn those officials not to offend the emperor on this matter."
Zhuo Jing agreed bitterly.
It seems that it will take some time for the civil servants to collectively weaken military honors and reduce military readiness.
Zhu Yunwen looked at the memorial that impeached the naval commander Gu Pu and recommended Li Jian to take charge of the navy. He couldn't help but nodded slightly. The Ministry of War was still very knowledgeable and knew how to advance and retreat. What the Ming Navy needed now was to show strength. An incorruptible civil servant. He could not show Come out with strength, even if it means doing your duty.
Li Jian was the son-in-law of Zhu Yuanzhang, a consort who was loyal to the old Zhu family. In his early years, he accompanied Fu Youde in the Yunnan expedition. Due to his military merits, he was appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang to serve as the governor of the former military governor's office.
Zhu Yunwen knew that this person was capable, so it was a good choice to let him also be in charge of the navy.
After approval, Zhu Yunwen picked up another memorial.
"I submit to you, Yu Qian, the magistrate of Hangzhou: Monks, temples, and Taoist monasteries have vast fields. According to their financial resources, they have purchased countless fields. Most of the people's homes are tenant farmers, and it is difficult to retain their property. This is the source of trouble. I request that the monks and Taoist temples be restricted. Each person has less than ten acres, and the rest is given to the poor..."
Zhu Yunwen looked at Yu Qian's petition and had a headache.
The whip law and the national policy of curbing land annexation still cannot stop these monasteries and Taoist temples from occupying land. Many gentry, including many gentry, have also begun to buy land on a large scale.
Their idea is simple:
Didn’t the imperial court curb land annexation?
Then if we spend a lot of money to buy land in a reasonable and reasonable manner, buy all the land, and then recruit tenants to work, your court will have nothing to do, right?
Many royalties paid a penny in taxes.
As for whether to leave food for the tenants, that is a personal matter. What does it have to do with the court?
Zhu Yunwen knew clearly that the people below had been taking advantage of loopholes, and the trend was getting worse. Seeing the profits, some people actually sold their fields one after another, holding dozens of taels of silver in their hands, and became households with "hundreds of thousands of dollars". , lying at home and being an uncle, sitting and eating.
If this trend continues, in a year or two, all the money in the hands of these farmers will be squandered, and they will become outright "proletarians." With no other choice but to sell themselves to big households and become sharecroppers.
By then, the court's taxes may not be reduced, but the lives of farmers are still in dire straits, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty is still unstable.
"This matter is unfair, and the consequences will be endless!"
When Zhu Yunwen said these words, Zheng He, who was standing on the beach in Yangjiang, also said similar words:
"If we don't get rid of this person, there will be endless troubles!"
