My uncle's name is Zhu Di

Chapter 288
In the new year and new weather, Xu Jingchang changed into the bullfighting uniform belonging to a first-rank official early, and then took a carriage to the Meridian Gate.Today, after congratulating the officials, they will go to the Hall of Martial Arts to discuss state affairs.

Due to the backlog of many things during the Chinese New Year, it is estimated that the discussion will be very late.

Madam thoughtfully stuffed a few ginseng pills in Xu Jingchang's sleeves, this stuff can quench thirst and replenish energy, neither hungry nor hoarse.

It is a must-have product for home travel and court debates.

To make it so formal is really different in today's situation.

Xu Jingchang has communicated with several major courtiers in private, but it is a pity that even the old father-in-law Huang Guan has expressed his helplessness. Wan can't do it.

At the same time, Lu Zhen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, also secretly informed Xu Jingchang that the Ministry of Punishment was also facing difficulties, and asked Xu Tongzheng for his understanding.

Of the six ministries and nine ministers, the two closest to Xu Jingchang have given up. The remaining officials, Jian Yi, Shangshu Xia Yuanji, Shangshu Xia Yuanji, Shangshu Luoqian, Minister of Industry, and Fang Bin, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, will never support Xu Jingchang. of.

In other words, he is now facing the situation of being besieged by his ministers.

Fortunately, Xu Jingchang had rich experience, and he was not really discouraged and gave up.

As usual, he led his group of officials into the court, met with Zhu Di, said a lot of auspicious words, and then returned home for those who were not of high rank. The rest of the people, led by Xu Jingchang, went to the Hall of Martial Arts.

At this time, Zhu Di went to rest, and he would rush to the Hall of Martial Arts when he turned around.

Before the arrival of the emperor, Xu Jingchang had a simple exchange with the ministers.

"His Royal Highness hopes to transfer the meritorious supervisors to local officials. I think this is a good thing." After Xu Jingchang finished speaking, he looked at Jian Yi.

Jian Yi smiled and said, "I also agree to promote ministers who have meritorious service. As long as these Tai students can take part in the imperial examination and get a ranking, the Ministry of Officials will give priority to hiring them."

Xu Jingchang's face remained unchanged, and he turned his head to look at Lu Zhen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment.

"Lu Shangshu, there is also a special examination for local criminal officials, do you think it will work?"

Lu Zhen was troubled, "Mr. Ding, there are many cases in Jiangxi, and a large number of officials who are familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty are needed. I understand this. The Ministry of Criminal Justice is also sending people to assist His Royal Highness. But the special examination for criminal officials... If It is applicable in Jiangxi, what about other provinces? And the Ministry of Criminal Justice in the capital, is it the same? This movement is still too big, I wonder if we can slow it down?"

Xu Jingchang looked at Xia Yuanji again, "Xia Shangshu, what's your opinion on the matter of Liangchang?"

Xia Yuanji smiled, "Mr. Dingguo, you also know that the Emperor Taizu was worried about petty officials exploiting the people, so he demarcated the grain area, and the family with a lot of food and grain served as the grain chief to transport money and grain to Beijing. But after such a For many years, the grain chief system is no longer the same. For example, in the south of the Yangtze River, many officials are recruited by the imperial court to transport grain and grass. It can be regarded as not abolished, and this matter involves the ancestral system. Ding Guogong, I mean it. We agree Xuan is the best, why make it known all over the world? At that time, Ke Dao will jump out and add chaos, which is not good for us."

The three ministers all opposed it, and placed three cannons in front of Xu Jingchang.

Huang Guan saw it in his eyes, and he also felt sorry for him.This was initiated by Zhu Gaochi. He supervised various government affairs in Jiangxi and wrote a letter requesting the court's cooperation.

Xu Jingchang agreed to Zhu Gaochi's proposal, but these proposals could not be moved at all.

"Dingguo Gong, can you wait to discuss this matter later? Give everyone a break?" Huang Guan's envoy said.

Xu Jingchang smiled unabated, but did not answer.

At this moment, Zhu Di walked in from the outside, and all the officials saluted together.

Zhu Di said: "Sit down, year after year... Last year, when I was still in Beiping, the prince presided over it. This year, the prince is in Jiangxi. If you have any government affairs, let's talk about it."

Xu Jingchang, as Zheng Yipin's envoy, has the right to speak.

"Your Majesty mentioned Jiangxi, and I happen to have a few major events here, and I want to report to His Majesty... First, Jiangxi has the most tax arrears over the years, and it has more than 500 million shi of grain."

Zhu Di frowned, "Why are there so many?"

Xu Jingchang said again: "This is actually a small amount. The real big deal is in terms of business and taxation."

"how to say?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, Jiangxi porcelain is famous all over the world. Jingdezhen is rich in precious porcelain, which is sold overseas. According to the latest survey, smuggled porcelain alone accounts for more than half of it every year."

"What? Smuggling porcelain? Do you have evidence?"

Xu Jingchang said: "His Royal Highness, the Governor Chen Ying, and the Governor Hu Yan are all in Jiangxi. They have raided many big households... Among them, the Xu family is engaged in the porcelain business in private. According to the investigation, their porcelain smuggling is divided into two route."

"There are still two routes? How to say?"

"The first is to take Poyang Lake, enter the Yangtze River, and send it upstream to Huguang, Bashu and other places. This route smuggles 20 taels a year, mainly to buy grain and timber from Huguang and other places. Second, through Dayuling , sent to Lingnan, and then smuggled overseas, this is the most important, and the smuggled amount exceeded 50."

Zhu Di was furious, "The imperial court set up shipping departments in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Quanzhou and other places, why did they bypass them?"

"Because these places have tariffs."

"How courageous!" Zhu Di was furious, "This is the case with every family, how much wealth do I have to lose?" Then Zhu Di looked at Xia Yuanji and shouted angrily: "Xia Qing's family has always been short of treasury these years. It doesn't look like our Daming has no money, but that we have a lot of money, and we can't collect it at all, don't you think?"

Xia Yuanji stared blankly, this was certainly true, but Xu Jingchang didn't mention Zhu Gaochi's demands, but instead mentioned these things, he couldn't lie in front of the emperor.

"Your Majesty, it is true that some places are too much. There was Shandong in the past, and now there is Jiangxi. They are the most difficult places to deal with. The Ministry of Households is very difficult."

Zhu Di hummed: "Of course I know about the difficulties of the household department, but who knows about my difficulties?"

Xia Yuan Jinonuo bowed his head, but Xu Jingchang hurriedly broke the siege, "Your Majesty, the truth of this matter has nothing to do with Xia Shangshu. I have some more shocking things here, which need to be reported."

"Say!"

Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, you still remember that in the autumn of the first year of Yongle, there were wind disasters in Jiangxi and other places, and they reported to the imperial court to ask for relief. The imperial court allocated 30 shi of grain, and allowed Jiangxi to leave 30 shi, a total of 60 shi , used to relieve victims of disasters.”

Zhu Di said: "This disaster relief thing happens every year. I also listen to your courtiers and allocate a lot of money and food every year. Could it be that someone is greedy for disaster relief food?"

Xu Jingchang smiled wryly and said, "It seems to be more serious than this."

"What do you mean?" Zhu Di asked angrily.

"According to the investigation, the officials in Jishui, Jiangxi, handed over the disaster relief money and food provided by the imperial court to the local big households on the grounds that they were familiar with the local conditions and asked them to help the people on behalf of the imperial court."

"Then what? They didn't follow the court's order?"

Xu Jingchang said: "They took the opportunity to buy the land of the victims at a low price by using the food they originally provided for disaster relief."

"What?" Zhu Di was furious, and he was in a bad mood.

"Are you saying that they took the food provided by the imperial court, conversely defrauded the people of their land, spent the imperial court's money, and let the imperial court take the blame? It's simply unreasonable!"

Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, please be safe and don't be impatient. There is still a follow-up to this matter... If you don't believe me, you can ask Shangshu Jian."

In an instant, all eyes fell on Jian Yi, and suddenly the official of the official department felt uncomfortable.

Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said, "Jian Shangshu, do you know what Duke Ding is talking about?"

Jian Yi said helplessly: "If my memory serves me right, I should have been the one who gave the Jiangxi officials the highest evaluation... because, because of their effective rescue efforts, none of the victims starved to death!"

"Ridiculous! It's ridiculous!" Zhu Di was so angry that he repeatedly slapped the table, pacing back and forth on the ground with his whole body in a rage, "so deceiving the king, fooling the official business, and fooling each other, the court didn't know it. What's going on? You people have wasted my trust, you really deserve to die!"

Jian Yi was sweating profusely, and at this moment, he couldn't think of a way out, "Qizou Your Majesty, I dare not shirk the responsibility. It should be my fault, and I will definitely take the blame. It's just that Jiangxi's disaster relief and evaluation are also good. There are many things. It all went through the cabinet and the Secretary of General Administration, and for some things, the minister here is also doing things based on years of experience, and it is true that there is a responsibility for negligence."

Zhu Di snorted, "Neglected? Then Duke Ding deserves to die?"

Jian Yi hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Duke Ding was not the envoy at the beginning, it is not Duke Ding's fault."

Xu Jingchang is fine, so of course it is Xie Jin.

Another Jiangxi native!

Zhu Di was already outraged, "One or two, all over the place! Over and over again, taking Ming Dynasty as their home? Am I the one who has been wronged?"

Zhu Di's anger was completely aroused, it was really burning with anger, and the anger couldn't be contained... Xia Yuanji, Jian Yi, and Yang Shiqi, who was attending the political meeting, were sweating profusely and out of their wits.

At this time Xu Jingchang suddenly stood up, "Your Majesty Qizuo, this matter cannot be discussed based on the region, and it is not the fault of Jiangxi officials... Although there are some malpractices in this, please calm down and speak slowly."

"Explain in detail? How can you elaborate? Don't think I don't know, you are also Jiangxi's son-in-law!" Zhu Di snorted angrily.

"Your Majesty, we have already experienced the same thing in the Ming Dynasty... For example, Emperor Taizu increased taxes on Su Song and other places. In order to avoid the loss of taxes, Su Song is not allowed to be an official of the Ministry of Households. .This method seems to have some effect, but it still can't solve the fundamental problem. The loss of finances and taxes in Jiangxi is the same reason."

"What's the point?"

"It's just that the things that the imperial court should manage are out of control, and the responsibilities that should be shouldered are not shouldered. Courtiers want to do things, but they don't necessarily know how to do things... In the end, favoritism and fraud, giving and receiving privately, and mutual understanding between the top and bottom, it will become a thing of the past." Inevitably."

"What is inevitable? With me, there is no necessity! There are so many bad policies in Jiangxi, and I can't just sit idly by."

Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, I think so too. It just so happened that His Highness the Crown Prince handed over an official document, intending to appoint a high school student and break the bad habits... Just now, I discussed it with all the adults. Your Majesty, please take a look."

(End of this chapter)