Jingming

Chapter 360 The whole Jiangnan is unforgettable tonight
Yan Song didn't expect that the idea he had when he was in Zhejiang was formally raised by Zhang Fujing at this moment.

In the flower hall where Yan Mansion meets guests, four people are sitting tonight.

Two of them and Yan Song have some relationship with their disciples. One of them is Xu Jie, who served as a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing during the Jingcha period. It was Nie Bao, who went to Guangdong Shipbuilding Department to be promoted, and is now promoted to the head of the Zhejiang Cleaning Department of the Beijing Ministry of Household Affairs.

Among the crowd tonight, the two of them have the lowest official status.

Yan Song is the host, and everyone else is the guest.But Wu Tingju was the minister of state in charge of the Ministry of Industry, and he was sitting next to Yan Song.

Another person was Li Mo, who, together with Tang Shunzhi, was appointed as the leader of the National Security and Civil Affairs Bureau and was awarded the title of Chang Ping Bo. At that time, he was promoted from a mere official to the fourth rank of the Metropolitan Inspector Yuan Youqian Du Yushi, and now he is the third rank. The right deputy is the imperial envoy.

In addition to his extraordinary talent, this is also his compensation for being the head of the Guangdong Cleaning Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs for so long, and being suppressed by Wu Tingju for his reluctance to be promoted.

"So, Wu Guowu didn't know beforehand? Zhang Guowu used river control as an excuse. I thought at least Wu Guowu knew..."

Recalling the situation where other state ministers looked a little stunned at the court meeting, Yan Song's guess was confirmed by Wu Tingju's answer.

The displeasure in Wu Tingju's heart didn't show on his face, he just said lightly: "Your Majesty has said it all, it's a big matter. Now, it's just throwing stones to ask the way. Even the ministers of state may not fully agree with this move .”

On the surface, Yan Song just echoed: "It's not just throwing stones to ask for directions, it's really shocking..."

The turmoil in his heart was not because of this, but because of the content confirmed by Wu Tingju: Fei Hong and Zhang Fujing had discussed this matter in advance.

Fei Hong is the current prime minister, and he has been re-elected for one term.Previously, everyone had judged that Fei Hong would definitely resign. This time he was re-elected, and everyone still firmly believed that Fei Hong would definitely resign in two years.In just one term, so many old ministers were gone.In another three years, what hope do people like Mao Ji, Zhang Zilin, Wu Tingju, and Wang Xian have?
However, Fei Hong and Zhang Fujing are actually promoting such a major event now, and they simply want to use this matter as a starting point for the handover between the old and new Chief Assistants.

Everyone counted their ages, Zhang Fujing was already 55 years old, and would be 57 two years later.Although the possibility of him taking over as the chief minister is quite high, don't the others have no idea?

Yan Song was fine. He felt that his body was in good shape and he had just turned fifty this year, so he felt that he could wait another five or even eight years.

Wang Xian and Chen Jiuchou are fine, I'm afraid they will become ministers of state more because of preparations for the future northern expedition, and one will be in charge of officials and the other will be in charge of military affairs.But what about Mao Ji?What about Zhang Zilin and Wu Tingju?

Wu Tingju said calmly at this time: "Naturally, the stone broke the sky. The Mongolian Yuan Khan perishes in the Ming Dynasty, and sooner or later there will be a life-and-death battle between the two countries. After Qinghai changed hands, there were endless discussions about the location of Nanjing Guoben. At this time, There is even a proposal to withdraw the southern Zhili and set up a chief envoy. In three to five days, the news spread to the southern Zhili, and it will be very lively."

At the end of his speech, his tone changed from calm to smiling.

Yan Song just smiled, and then asked the others: "Uncle Chang Ping, Zi Sheng, Wen Wei, do you think this can be done?"

"This matter, I'm afraid it must be done."

It was Li Mo who spoke.When he was in charge of the Qing Dynasty Officials Department in Guangdong, the three household ministers directly under him were Yang Tan, Wu Tingju and Zhang En.It can be said that Li Mo's official career is closely bound with the new law, and even with the Guangdong faction that is faintly formed today.

If we really want to talk about it, Wu Tingju should be an important member of the Guangdong faction, and Zhang Fujing should try his best to win Wu Tingju's support.But now, Wu Tingju is in Yan Song's residence, communicating with him about the direction of this matter.

The same is true for Nie Bao, who was promoted in the Guangdong Shipping Department. Naturally, he can be considered a Guangdong faction.

When Yan Song heard Li Mo say this, he said "Oh", "Why must it be done?"

"I am in charge of food supervision in Nanjing and the three provinces." Li Mo, the right deputy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, calmly explained his point of view, "I am also in charge of the investigation of the disaster situation in Suzhou Prefecture. I am not in charge of the situation in Nanzhili. In detail, Wu Guowu and Da Zongbo, as well as Xu Zongsi and Nie Zongsi are all aware of it. Since there will be a life-and-death battle with the northern captives sooner or later, how can the problem of money and food be left unsolved? Think about victory before you think about defeat, and I am afraid that you will really lose."

Wu Tingju and Yan Song were noncommittal, and looked at the other two.

Nie Bao just sighed: "Your official was a county magistrate in Huating, and Mr. Xu is from Huating. You can only say that this matter is very difficult."

Xu Jie also shook his head slowly and sighed softly: "When I was in the Ministry of Officials in Nanjing, I also had a deep feeling. The problems in Nanzhili are mostly problems in Nanjing. The problems in Nanjing are all problems of the third rank and above and those of honored relatives. "

Wu Tingju and Yan Song looked at each other, and then they both picked up their cups and drank tea silently.

There is only one position for the chief minister, and there are only so many positions for the hall of state affairs and counselors.But from the fourth rank to the third rank, and from the third rank to the second rank, how many officials are there?
Although they all wore red robes, everyone wanted to climb up again.Even if they can't get to the Counselor and the Palace of State Affairs, Nanjing still has some positions for them to obtain corresponding official ranks and some considerable power.

If Nanzhili is withdrawn, even if the Nanjing Six Departments are retained for special reasons in Nanjing, what's the point of those positions with status but no power?
"Wu Guowu, after the new year, I'm afraid this matter will be discussed at the national policy meeting." Yan Song put down his teacup first, and looked at Wu Tingju respectfully, "At that time, we all have to have an attitude. Seconding or refuting, It’s all no small matter.”

Wu Tingju thought about the silence in the Wenhua Palace after the dynasty was over.At that time, no one spoke, and the matter was not discussed.

He just sighed again: "I'm afraid that within ten days, the memorials to impeach Mao Gong will be piled up with the General Secretary. Do you want to second the matter, are you afraid?"

Yan Song smiled softly: "I went to Zhejiang from the imperial study, and then served as the Ministry of Rites, so I am not afraid of some criticism."

Wu Tingju paused for a moment before saying: "Let's take a look first. After all, this matter will not be discussed until after the New Year."

……

In the court hall, apart from some people who hope to pull down a few people above so that they can climb up again, there are also a large number of people who know that the end of their official careers is probably in some positions in Nanjing.

In addition to temples, the existence of Nanzhili is also related to the private interests of countless officials and gentry families in Jiangnan and even the entire Ming Dynasty.

The ripples aroused by Zhang Fujing's proposal spread outwards, but strangely, in the last period of time before the Chinese New Year, there were not many memorials to impeach Zhang Fujing.

"It moves very diligently."

Zhu Houcong finished reading the daily report of the officials in Beijing sent by Lu Bing.

Lu Bing stood there, waiting for the emperor's order.

"The most important thing is the movement in Nanjing." Zhu Houcong raised his head and looked at Lu Bing, "You can ask Wang Zuo to send some more people to Nanjing. This year, let's work hard for the people in Nanjing."

"The minister leads the order!"

After letting Lu Bing go back, Zhu Houcong stood up and walked to the new map of the Ming Dynasty: "Mao Gu, read Zhang Fujing's memorial again."

"Yes……"

Jiang Rubi picked up the memorial submitted by Zhang Fujing, which contained his conception and analysis of the pros and cons of establishing the Huaiyang Chief Envoy.

Of course, Zhu Houcong has seen it several times, and now he just continues to think.

On the map, the territory of Daming is not as large as the previous versions, and it also includes many areas that cannot be controlled in reality.

Therefore, Nanzhili appears to have a larger proportion.

The words Nanjing Guoben are not just for fun.

At this time when transportation is not convenient, whichever place is the economic and population center is actually the most suitable place to become a political center.

The southward shift of the economic center of gravity took quite a long time.At this time in the Ming Dynasty, theoretically speaking, the most suitable capital for the Ming Dynasty was indeed Nanjing.And Beijing is actually just an "enclave" in the north of Nanjing through the Grand Canal.

The maintenance of Beijing depends on the transfer of money and grain with Nanjing as the center.

Nanjing was the economic and cultural base of the empire, while Beijing was effectively a frontline military command.

Zhu Di moved his capital to Beijing, to be precise, only a part of it was moved.Beijing plus Nanjing is a complete capital in this era.

Nanjing is not like the "accompanied capital" in some previous dynasties.Nearly [-]% of the world's taxes and nearly half of the imperial examination talents, this is the strength of Nanzhili.

From the perspective of efficiency, downgrading Nanzhili to a province like other chief ministers will help Ming improve its control over Jiangnan taxes.

But from another perspective, this is indeed digging into Ming's own foundation.

The reason why the later Qing Dynasty had to split Nanzhili was because of their status as foreign rulers. The overly powerful Nanzhili was a greater internal worry for the rule of the Qing Dynasty.For Daming at this time, it is nothing more than a little extra cost to allow Beijing to obtain great stable support.

Now that Zhu Houcong is the emperor, he thinks about these issues from the perspective of an emperor.In such an era, the highest political task of the dynasty was actually to protect farmland.Zhu Di had to move the capital to Beijing at that time. Under the pressure of the grassland tribes, he had to protect the best arable land in the North China Plain of the Ming Dynasty and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain from the north.

Once this land is lost, the Ming Dynasty will have no foundation and will only linger and eventually die like the Southern Song Dynasty.

Another reason is that since the Northern Song Dynasty lost the Yanyun Sixteenth Prefecture, the north has actually been under foreign rule for more than [-] years.If the political center of gravity is not moved northward, the North will eventually become barbaric.The concept of a unified dynasty is not so unbreakable, and the power of time is terrifying.If the Ming Dynasty had always made Nanjing its capital, the north would not have been as firmly attached to the Ming Dynasty as it is now.

How easy is it to transform people's thinking in a place that has been lost for more than four hundred years?
Imagine if the capital was still in Nanjing during the Tumubao Incident, and now the situation is again one of dividing rivers and dividing rivers.With the land resources of the north and the blessings of Han farming and craftsmanship, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty will be many times more difficult to deal with than it is now.And it has entered an era when it does not belong to the same country as the south. After many years, there is no longer a sense of unity and the same China.

From this point of view, Zhu Di's contribution to Huaxia can be regarded as huge.

From this point of view, Zhu Houcong has to make a good decision now: how to deal with the problem of Nanzhili?

Continue to guard the gate of the country, strengthen the strategic depth of Ming Dynasty from the north, transform and naturalize more Han people in the north and even the thoughts of various ethnic groups. This is the foundation of all generations.

However, as an economic and population center, Jiangnan must also be handled well.

The main problem, of course, is stability.

"The Maritime Transport Bureau transported grain from the south of the Yangtze River to the north. How much can it reach the River Transport Bureau?" Zhu Houcong suddenly interrupted Jiang Rubi.

"Back to Your Majesty, just over [-]%."

"Twenty percent...that means it's still less than a million stones." Zhu Houcong nodded and asked, "Renovating the straight road from Beijing to Changsha, the Ministry of Industry initially estimates how much money it will cost and how many years it will take?"

Jiang Rubi couldn't answer this question. Watching him pause, Yang Bo said, "There is no exact figure, but it will not be less than 4000 million taels, and it will not be less than eight years."

Zhu Houcong glanced at Yang Bo, then at Jiang Rubi and Wang Shenzhong who looked a little embarrassed.

"For eight years, at least 500 million taels of silver should be prepared every year." Zhu Houcong silently calculated in his heart.

After the land clearing was completed, including the annual tax reductions due to disasters, Zhu Houcong wanted to calculate how much private interests the wealthy officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River could tolerate and how much the Ming Dynasty's financial level could be improved.In the process of improvement, can it support the court to do many short-term and long-term things, and further strengthen the control of the entire Ming Dynasty?

These things need to be considered for a long time.

Zhu Houcong was not in a hurry to find his ministers to discuss matters. This was something that was neither urgent nor urgent.

He also needs to see the trend of the government and the opposition.

……

The news spread to Nanzhili, and this was the real uproar.

There are many opportunities to get together and travel around at the end of the year. In addition to normal interactions, many people with interests inevitably have to talk about this issue.

Nanjing officials and Jiangnan gentry naturally paid more attention to this point.

Governor Yingtian and Huaiyang had just been dismissed, and the Nanzhili officials had a good year this year, after all, there were two less important figures on their heads to watch over.

But in the future...

"Demolish Nanzhili and set up some Huaiyang chief envoys. Is it better than now?"

Restaurants, tea shops, fireworks, there are talks everywhere.

A certain scholar looked puzzled.

"Heh." Another scholar hugged Jiao'e and said with a sneer while holding the charcoal basin in the room, "It depends on who is good for it. It must be bad for students like you and me. Just say one thing, All provinces and township examinations have already been sent by the Beijing Ministry of Rites, but Nanzhili is not the same! In the future, officials from all prefectures and prefectures in Nanzhili will be selected by the Beijing Ministry of Officials. It's not as easy as it used to be!"

Several people were thoughtful.

It is true that the Nanjing Ministry of Officials no longer has the qualifications to select officials from the prefectures and counties of Nanzhili, but they still have the right to inspect.And in the same way, if they don't have the right to vote, don't they have the right to recommend?Being an official in the same dynasty, would it be possible to refute Nanjing's face for many low-quality officials who have the authority to select and appoint the Beijing Ministry of Officials?
Most of those who serve as officials in Nanjing already focus on managing their own personal relationships and doing something for the future of their relatives, friends, and heirs.You help me, I'll help you. South Zhili is unique in many things.

"The killing of officials in the southeast, the Hui'anbo rebellion, the southern inspection, the Beijing inspection, the direct conquest of food and taxes..." Someone sighed, "Since Your Majesty's imperial majesty, Nanzhili really has not been in a year without fear. The land of Jianghuai Longxing, The foundation of Nanjing, what on earth is His Majesty suspicious of Nanzhili?"

They couldn't figure it out, and neither could many people who were officials in Nanjing.

As for the military officials in Nanjing, they are now headed by two young men, Xu Pengju and Qiu Luan.

They were nervous because this was something extraordinary after all.

In Huating County, Xu Jie's father would urge the housekeeper every day: "Have you received any letter?"

"Master, young master, whenever there is a letter, it will be sent to you immediately."

"Hey……"

He is just a microcosm. How many families in the south of the Yangtze River have produced people who have been promoted to the imperial examinations and become officials in the court?Their relatives who are officials are concerned about their official careers, while their families and tribesmen are concerned about their future taxes and servitude.

In Sichuan, Yang Tinghe, who had already retired from his official position at home, frowned, his expression was at odds with the festive arrangements at home for the Spring Festival.

After a long time, he just let out a long sigh: "There will be no chaos now, but if the war is unfavorable in the future, or if there are more and more complaints in successive battles, it will be a big trouble..."

"...Brother, what are you talking about about Nanzhili?" His younger brother Yang Tingzhong was very worried.

Yang Tinghe was silent for a long time, and could only say leisurely: "I have retired, he should go his own way..."

In Qianshan, Jiangxi, there was an endless stream of people visiting Fei's family before the end of the year, and everyone wanted to find out what the Fei family had to say.

In the northeast of Qianshan Mountain, Huizhou Prefecture now belongs to Nanzhili, and those who are doing business abroad also go home for the New Year.

There were several large merchant gangs in the Ming Dynasty, and Huizhou merchants were also one of the most important ones.

"This year is the grain tax, and I'm afraid there will be taxes next year. When I come back from Zhejiang, I have to buy some struvite from the sea trade house. It costs money and takes up space! Zhejiang Ship Ship There is no way for the company to make more money, and the taxes in Jiangnan, Beijing and the three provinces cannot be the same as before. Brother Fang, you are a low-ranking county magistrate, what do you have to say?"

One person who was stared at by everyone could only smile bitterly: "Although I am a county magistrate, there is no Xiangxianyuan in Nanzhili!"

"Master Zuoxian will be able to send letters to His Majesty, Brother Fang..."

The man's complexion changed greatly: "Such a big matter, how can a mere township sage in my district, even if he is the governor of the county, speak out?"

"Is that so..."

"...Let's celebrate the new year well first, let's see, isn't the court still undecided? For such a big matter, you adults should discuss it first."

"Does Song Shilang's family have anything to say?"

"Secret about it..."

"Hey……"

The ninth year of Jiajing came in such an atmosphere, and the whole of Jiangnan will never forget tonight.

The New Year's Eve in the Forbidden City is very lively.

Today is the most neat time for the clan and relatives to enter the palace to celebrate the Spring Festival together.

(End of this chapter)