The eldest grandson of Emperor Ming Dynasty!

Chapter 219 Why Do I Feel Like Being Auctioned?
Ruyang County belongs to Shang County, with a population of nearly 15, and the commerce is relatively developed.

However, the [-] troops camped within a few miles outside the city, which put a lot of pressure on Ruyang County.

The government office in the county seat.

Several people, including the magistrate, gathered together to discuss matters outside the city.

The officials of the county government are basically arranged in the order of chief official, second official, subordinate official, teaching post, miscellaneous post, official code, and servant.

Zuo Erguan is the county magistrate and chief bookkeeper, who is in charge of grain affairs, water conservancy, river defense and other matters.

At this moment, in addition to the magistrate, the master book, the county magistrate and others, the pawns, as subordinate officials, are also among them.

"Master Yuan, it is said that the person who leads the army outside is His Highness Changsun. I don't know how His Highness Changsun came to us with such a noble status."

"They said they came here for the plague." Ruyang County Cheng asked the magistrate with some doubts.

Yuan Zhixian raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard the words, but he didn't answer the county seat's words.

The Yuan surname is a common surname in Ruyang, and its ancestors can be traced back to Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao at the end of the Three Kingdoms period.

The position of Yuanzhi County, the county magistrate, is not based on fame, but also through recommendation.

There are only so many candidates and Jinshi in a year, and a large number of officials in the Ming Dynasty basically became officials through recommendation.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang can have such prestige, and even Daming, who was rotten to the root, can still maintain it, and he is very popular among the people.

It is inseparable from the recommendation system employed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang's recommendation system can be seen as mainly to win over local wealthy people.

In the sixth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict and said: "If a talented person is not prepared, it is not enough to govern."

The subjects recommended for recommending talents include: smart and upright, virtuous and upright, filial brother Li Tian, ​​Confucian scholars, filial piety, scholar, talent, senior citizens, etc.

During the Hongwu period, the scope of recommendation was very wide, mainly to encourage the people to improve themselves in morality, and it was very good to commend filial sons.

For example, Li Decheng, a citizen of Laishui County, Yizhou, braved the severe cold to "lie on the ice and beg for his mother's corpse".

Judging from the recommendation system, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang paid more attention to a person's moral character rather than ability. He wanted to bring the social atmosphere to a better side through this move and cultivate a group of officials who are loyal to the emperor and patriotic.

Zhu Yuanzhang implemented a recommendation system, and even directly selected officials from the wealthy people.

It can be said that it spared no effort to win over the landlord class.

For example, in the 30th year of Hongwu, the Ming government investigated the chief ministers of nine places including Zhejiang, and the landlords with more than 240 mu of land in the eighteen prefectures of Nanjing. A total of [-] households were compiled into a roster and summoned in batches. direct hire.

With the support of the landlord class, Daming is naturally extremely stable, especially the landlords who support them, they advocate the idea of ​​loyalty to the monarch and patriotism, which can be regarded as a positive energy system.

It is not difficult to imagine Zhu Yuanzhang's prestige among the people, of course they will speak well of Zhu Yuanzhang.

For example, poor peasants basically have to live off the rich people. The rich people who can be elected as officials must have a good reputation in the local area and are supported by the local poor.

At least when there is any disaster, they usually lead by example and come out to rescue the Quartet.

Therefore, the poor peasants also supported Zhu Yuanzhang, thinking that he was a really good emperor.

Where there is wooing, there is suppression.

For the landlord class who supported the rule of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally responded with a smile.

For landlords and literati who do not support, do not cooperate, or even have a bad reputation in the local area, it is called decisive killing.

For example, Suzhou talents Yao Run and Wang Mo were not recruited, but they were all punished and lived in their families.

For example, those landlords who are more powerful are more ruthless.

The powerful landlords in the south of the Yangtze River are the most powerful. These powerful landlords own a large amount of land, and they are domineering. These people are behind it.

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered several times to move to Fengyang the powerful landlords in the south of the Yangtze River, such as Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, Fang Guozhen, etc., as well as the lonely ministers loyal to the Yuan Dynasty.

Make it far away from home, without foundation, convenient to control, but also can develop Fengyang hometown.

Some of the larger ones were also relocated to Nanjing, where they lived under Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

It was such a combination of rigidity and softness that was able to lay down the nearly 300-year-old Guozuo of the Ming Dynasty.

Otherwise, those strange emperors in the middle and late Ming Dynasty would have finished Daming long ago.

Later, Zhu Di made three personal conquests, which made Daming poor and empty. It was also because of the support of the landlord class that the foundation of the rule was not shaken.

Yuan Zhixian is a member of this landlord class, so he is extremely supportive of the court, especially Zhu Yuanzhang.

The disaster relief here in Henan actually provided a lot of money and food.

Hearing this, Yuan Zhixian didn't answer immediately, but after pondering, he said: "His Royal Highness Changsun can come to our Ruyang, it is because of the importance he attaches to Ruyang."

"Since the eldest grandson is here, we, Ru Yang, have to show our sincerity."

When the county magistrate below heard the words, he replied with a sad expression: "But my lord, His Highness did not respond today, but told us to look at it tomorrow. Does it mean that His Highness thinks of us?"

Yuan Zhixian shook his head and said: "Don't wantonly speculate on His Royal Highness's thoughts. I heard that His Majesty has made a decision to confer the grandson in September. His Royal Highness must be here to deal with the plague. .”

The existence of Zhu Xiongying, even the most important officials in the court, is almost unknown, even in the palace, if it is not from the older generation, they are not aware of it.

So Yuan Zhixian subconsciously thought that it was Zhu Yunqi.

After Yuan Zhixian finished speaking, several officials nodded in agreement, and the pawn said: "Master Zhixian, His Highness the eldest grandson is here, we have to organize the big households in the county to express our sincerity together."

Yuan Zhixian didn't say anything, but other officials agreed one after another.

As the county magistrate's official, the pianist naturally has to do his best if the county magistrate doesn't speak up.

Apparently this pawn was very knowledgeable, and Yuan Zhixian also gave him an appreciative look.

The sincerity reflected in this, in Yuan Zhixian's view, naturally the bigger the better.

This is His Highness the Grandson of the future, His Majesty the future emperor of Ming Dynasty, if he is lucky enough to make him have a good impression of himself, he will worry about his official career in the future.

In Yuan Zhixian's view, the arrival of His Highness the eldest grandson is simply the greatest opportunity in his life.

So when His Royal Highness Changsun first arrived yesterday, he couldn't help but want to visit.

Now that I think about it, I'm a little crazy.

However, since His Highness did not expressly refuse, there must be some drama, and considering the situation, His Highness Changsun should not stay for more than a day or two.

"My lord, this sincerity probably falls within what category."

The master clerk asked hesitantly.

To be able to be the master book, he naturally has enough emotional intelligence.

The director is not a native of Ruyang, and has no foundation here, but he has been working for more than seven years.

Different from the recommendation of Yuanzhi County, the master book is selected as an official by the Guozijian in addition to the recommendation and the imperial examination.

It belongs to the promotion of the college.

Recommendation, imperial examination, and Guozijian, these are the three ways for Ming Dynasty to become an official.

Moreover, the background of the master bookkeeper is not considered wealthy, and his parents were even born as tenant farmers.

In the Yuan Dynasty, the tenant farmers were considered to be dependent on the landlord, and they were even masters and servants. The law of the Yuan Dynasty stipulated that the tenants should treat the landlord and the master and servant with courtesy.

This is not much different from a slave.

After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an imperial edict stipulating: "When a tenant sees the landlord, regardless of the order of the teeth, it should be treated as if it were a minor event. If it is a relative, regardless of the owner's tenant, it will be treated as a relative."

From the master-servant relationship in the Yuan Dynasty to the relationship between the tenant farmers and the landlords, it became a relationship between the young and the long in the Ming Dynasty, and their status improved a lot.

What's even more rare is that because of the continuous war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the people were in dire straits, and many people even sold themselves as slaves when fleeing famine.

In this regard, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict: "Anyone who is weak, lonely or poor during the war and cannot survive on his own, and who is a slave to the common people's family, will be released when the edict comes."

On this basis, it was further decided that the imperial court would pay to redeem the freedom of those who had been enslaved by the famine.

In the 19th year of Hongwu, the Chief Secretary of Henan alone redeemed 270 men and women who were sold as slaves.

To put it in a small way, this is to elevate the status of the poor at the bottom.

On a larger scale, this is the emancipation of slaves.

Up to the 25th year of Hongwu, Daming has no people who are slaves.

In the landlord class and the poor class, all these measures go on, especially if they are all directly issued by Zhu Yuanzhang's decree.

Coupled with the vernacular-like content of the decree, the common people who do not understand the elegant language are not only clear, but also have a great sense of intimacy.

Zhu Yuanzhang's identity as a farmer gave the majority of farmers a strong sense of identity.

The killing of corrupt officials is even more so.

And you have to know that [-]% of Daming's army today are field soldiers, and they usually do the same work as farmers.

Therefore, the personality worship of Zhu Yuanzhang went deep into all strata of the Ming Dynasty, not to mention the dignitaries of the upper class.

These various aspects are the important structures that constitute Zhu Yuanzhang's deterrent power.

Despite the wanton massacre of heroes, even though more than 5000 middle-level officers were implicated and killed in the Lanyu case in history, this had no effect on Zhu Yuanzhang's personal majesty.

Throughout the past and present, only Zhu Yuanzhang killed most of the founding heroes, and the imperial power remained stable.

I knew it wasn't just heroes. Before that, officials had killed several rounds.

Therefore, among these officials in the county government, whether it is the county magistrate Yuan who was born as a landlord, the master register who was born as a tenant farmer, or the county magistrate who was born as a military household, they are all staunch supporters of Zhu Yuanzhang.

The Ruyang County Government is just a microcosm of the more than 1000 counties in the Ming Dynasty, and almost most of the county government is similar to the Ruyang County Government.

With such a deep dominance, who can shake Zhu Yuanzhang?
The purpose of the director's opening was also to let Yuan Zhixian set the tone.

But everyone still underestimated Yuan Zhixian's methods.

People with the Yuan surname in Ruyang are considered to be from a scholarly family, and money is such a vulgar thing, how can they open their mouths, isn't it just like those cheap businessmen.

"I will notify all the big households in the county later that I will prepare a dinner tonight, and His Royal Highness the eldest grandson will come here. Don't be negligent."

"As for the sincerity, each family's situation is different. Of course, there is no certain number. It depends on the individual. Can I force it? Wouldn't this damage my reputation?"

When Yuan Zhixian said this, he paused slightly, and then added.

"I can't let everyone down. Let the news out that the one with the most sincerity will be able to bring a few people with me at my discretion, and go with me to see the holy face of His Royal Highness the eldest grandson."

As soon as Yuan Zhixian's words came out, the scene immediately became a little lively, especially the eyes of the pawns showed surprise.

Anyone who is well-informed about the news knows that His Highness Changsun is the future His Majesty.

The so-called emperor and courtier.

If you can show your face in front of His Highness the eldest grandson, even if it is just to say your name.

In the future, there will be the possibility of skyrocketing.

In today's Daming, this kind of opportunity is really rare, and it is really possible.

His Royal Highness Changsun has lived in the deep palace for a long time, so if he sees a familiar name, he will naturally pay more attention to it, which cannot be exchanged for any amount of money.

Xing Zhou, a pawn, is a native of Ruyang.

Zhou is in Ruyang, but it is a common surname, and its origin can even be traced back to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

It's a very ancient surname.

Zhou's surname is ranked fifth in "Hundred Surnames", and there is a saying in later generations: The famous family comes from Runan——the world's surnames must be called Zhou's.

What later generations call Runan is the current Ruyang County in Ming Dynasty.

It has been renamed many times.

As a common surname in Ruyang, Zhou Dianli has a lot of support behind him. Coupled with his relationship with Yuanzhi County, Zhou Dianli has made up his mind. This sincerity must far exceed other families.

Thinking of this, Zhou Dianli felt a little restless. He wanted to rush back to discuss with the elders in the clan, and he must not miss this opportunity.

The faces of the people were seen by Yuan Zhixian. To be able to become a magistrate and work steadily for so many years, Yuan Zhixian certainly has some means.

"Everyone, let's leave first. But this matter is a bit rushed, everyone, don't rush me, I am afraid that there will be a lot of people coming, and I have to arrange for the cooks to prepare more delicacies."

"According to my official opinion, let's tentatively set it at half o'clock in Xushi, and it will be about the same time in the future."

Yuan Zhi County gave enough time, and decided to have a banquet at [-]:[-] pm.

The officials who heard this all agreed that there are still more than two hours before half watch at Xushi, which is enough for them to discuss this matter.

After setting the tone, Yuan Zhixian didn't talk nonsense and asked everyone to disperse. While notifying the big family, he also went back to discuss how much sincerity he should show.

The news that His Royal Highness Changsun came to Ruyang County immediately spread among the big families in the city.

Almost all the big families skipped dinner and held a family meeting directly to discuss as much as possible how much sincerity they had to achieve in order to have a chance to show their faces in front of His Royal Highness the eldest grandson.

And this news was soon known by the people of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce in the city.

In a big county like Ruyang, there are naturally leaders of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce stationed there.

Long before Zhu Ying came, they had already started communicating.

Although Qunying Chamber of Commerce has not settled in Ruyang for a long time, because of the snowflake salt business, it can be regarded as having enough face, at least there is no need to worry about sales.

Although Snowflake Salt is run by the government, Zhu Ying's profits from it are naturally mainly smuggled.

This is why Zhu Ying has not directly incorporated Snowflake Salt into the official camp.

Private salt is the quickest profit.

In addition to hunger sales, although the Qunying Chamber of Commerce has a short presence in Ruyang, its status is not low.

The news spread from Yuanzhi County reached Zhu Ying in less than half an hour.

Hearing this, Zhu Ying was quite helpless.

This feeling seems to be no different from the auction-like high-priced lunch in later generations.

If it was Zhu Yuanzhang, or a contemporary of Ming Dynasty, after knowing these things, he would definitely feel upset and even furious.

But as a person from later generations, Zhu Ying is very interested in it.

He even asked the person in charge of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce: "Will you go there then?"

The person in charge was a middle-aged and elderly man. He bowed his head and said respectfully; "Reporting to Your Highness, the old slave can naturally go."

Zhu Ying smiled slightly and said, "When the time comes, raise this price up."

"Well, if it's too low, then I'll be slapped in the face. You must bring this up at the banquet."

"Take this opportunity to try out the details of each family in the city. The details must be carefully recorded."

Hearing this, the person in charge breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, when he came, he was still a little apprehensive.

In his opinion, his boss, His Royal Highness the eldest grandson of Daming, has such a noble status, wouldn't this kind of form defile His Royal Highness.

How can money be used to measure the standard of meeting His Highness, it should be based on virtue.

It's just that Zhu Ying, how could she care about these face-saving projects at the bottom of the company?

Getting more money to treat the plague is the kingly way.

(End of this chapter)