The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 147 Inspection ([-]-character chapter)
Household Lobby.

Li Min, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, carefully looked at the grain price booklet that Beizhili had just reported.

He was puzzled: "How come the price of food has dropped so much? Jiangnan's top-grade rice has dropped to five renminbi a stone."

Zhang Wei, the right servant of the household department, said with a smile: "This is a great thing! When the mediocre and evil eunuchs took power in the previous dynasty, the country was in decline. In the 22nd year of Chenghua, the price of rice in Beizhili even rose to one tael or two per stone."

"Now that the price of rice has dropped so much, it shows that the emperor is diligent and caring for the people, and his good governance has achieved great success! The Ming Dynasty has a prosperous time!"

Zhang Wei is in his fifties and his ancestral home is Laizhou, Shandong.This person had worked as a litigator before Zhongju and was able to speak eloquently.

He supervises Jingcang, so he is also called "Cangchang Shilang".

Li Min said: "That's the truth. But I still feel that the sharp drop in food prices is a bit abnormal."

Zhang Wei said with a smile: "Li Butang is too worried. The low grain price shows that your household department is good at managing grain!"

Gao Ping, the left servant, said: "Li Butang, last autumn, the two capitals and the thirteen provinces had a bumper harvest. There was more food, and the price would naturally fall."

Li Min closed the grain price booklet: "Maybe."

The drop in food prices is indeed a major achievement of the Minister of the Household Department.Li Min didn't bother with this matter anymore.

Jin Yiwei North Town Fushi is on duty.

Sun Luan has been on leave for more than half a year.Chang Feng was in charge of the daily affairs of the Beisi, so he simply occupied the magpie's nest and moved to the town care envoy's duty room.

Li Guang, the supervisor of ceremonies, walked in.

Li Guang said with a smile: "Chang Qianhu, you people from Beizhen Fusi got a great job this time! There is an edict!"

The commander of Jin Yiwei is Zhu Ji.According to the rules, Li Guang came to Jinyiwei to deliver the decree, and he wanted to pass the decree to Zhu Ji.

However, Huai En's evaluation of Zhu Ji was very fair and fair: Zhu Ji would never be an official!
It's just that Zhu Ji doesn't know how to be in front of the superiors of the Rites Supervisor, and he treats his subordinates extremely harshly.

Nobody above likes him, and those below hate him.He has been the conductor for three years, and now he is like a cat who hates dogs.

If the supervisor of ceremonies came to deliver an order to Jin Yiwei, he would bypass Zhu Ji and pass it directly to Chang Feng.

Chang Feng quickly knelt down: "Minister, Chang Feng accepts the order."

Li Guangdao: "There is a decree. Order Beizhen Fusi to dispatch Tiqi to all states and counties in the world to inspect the stockpiling of grain in various places. I hereby!"

Last August, Emperor Hongzhi issued a decree ordering the localities to stockpile grain and rice in good times, with a limit of half a year.

Now it's time for acceptance.

Emperor Hongzhi didn't let the people from the household department go down to check and accept.Because he knew that the civil servants of the household department had an intricate relationship with the local officials.Checking back and forth is nothing more than muddled imperial envoys checking muddled accounts.

Emperor Hongzhi simply sent his own private army slaves to go to various places for inspection and acceptance.

From ancient times to the present, acceptance has always been a big beauty.

After Chang Feng accepted the order, Li Guang smiled and said, "Your Jinyiwei's robes, now you can fully reap the benefits of going to Beijing to do business."

Chang Feng said calmly: "My subordinates must let the robes do their best to handle the emperor's mission well."

Li Guangdao: "By the way, Mrs. Zun went to Kunning Palace to meet Empress Zhang this morning. I think she has gained a lot of weight. Sure enough, she enjoyed the blessing with Chang Qianhu."

Chang Feng said perfunctorily, "It's because I've gained a lot of weight."

Liu Xiaoyan got fat because after giving birth to Zhuang Zhuang, she was busy taking care of the child all day long, and also had to socialize with noble ladies in Beijing.I have no time to practice martial arts.

But Chang Feng liked Liu Xiaoyan's current body shape very much between the beds.He once said to Liu Xiaoyan: "You are fat but not greasy, soft as if you have no bones."

Li Guang said with a smile: "The empress's treatment of the Chang family is really different from that of other courtiers. She sewed a bellyband with her own hands and gave it to your young master."

"Hey, how can an ordinary courtier have such kindness?"

Li Guang chatted with Chang Feng for a while, drank two bowls of tea, and left Jinyiwei.

After Li Guang left, Chang Feng immediately summoned the remaining four thousand households, five deputy thousand households, fifty hundred households, and one hundred general banners from Beizhen Fusi to discuss matters.

Chang Feng first relayed the will of Emperor Hongzhi.

Then he asked someone to hang up a complete map of the Ming Dynasty.

Chang Feng said: "Our Daming has a total of 140 prefectures, 190 three states, and 130 eight counties."

"I'm going to transfer a thousand people from Beizhen Fusi. Every five people will form a group and inspect five to six counties."

"Daming has a vast territory. I know that you all want to go to Jiangnan, and none of you want to go to Lingnan."

"For the sake of fairness, after the list of personnel is determined, everyone draws lots. They will go to wherever they are caught."

Fatty Xu asked: "Master Chang, are we thousand households and deputy thousand households also participating in the inspection?"

Chang Feng said: "Qianhu and deputy Qianhu will not participate. After all, the job of our North Town Fusi is not only to inspect the grain storage."

Channing was a little disappointed after hearing this.Originally, he planned to use this errand to go to Beijing to make a fortune.

Chang Feng said solemnly: "Everyone, I know that some of you are thinking that going to Beijing for inspection is a fat job. Prepare to show your talents and make a fortune!"

"I tell you, don't be delusional!"

"Nanzhen Fusi is in charge of the law and discipline. I will ask Nansi Wang Zhenfu to dispatch special personnel to monitor you everywhere. Once you find out that you have accepted bribes for personal gain, don't blame Faji for being unforgiving!"

All the robes said in unison: "Yes!"

Of course, Chang Feng is not Zhu Ji.First hit the robes and others, and naturally give them a sweet date.

Chang Feng said again: "Well, Cheng Yi can still be accepted. We don't want to break the official rules. But we can't go too far! Each transaction of Cheng Yi must not exceed 50 taels!"

After hearing this, the robes were all happy.Sure enough, it is beneficial to hang out with Master Chang.

Chang Feng said: "Okay, let's draw up the list now. Then draw lots."

More than 1000 people were mobilized to go out for inspections, and the list alone was drawn up for four hours, until the time to light the lights.

The next day, Chang Feng ordered those who participated in the inspection to draw lots to determine their respective inspection locations.

After doing all this, Chang Feng went to Qianqing Palace to renew the decree.

Emperor Hongzhi had just listened to the report on grain prices by Li Min, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.He was in a good mood, flattered.

Any wise emperor in the past dynasties hoped that the price of grain would be maintained at a low level.

Before the Wanli Dynasty, it was actually a false proposition that cheap valleys hurt farmers.

At that time, there were still nearly a hundred years before the implementation of the one-whip method.When farmers pay land tax, what they pay is grain and rice.

After the farmers paid their land taxes, they were lucky to have enough surplus grain to fill their stomachs.Where is there any surplus grain and rice to sell?
Even in a good year, farmers have more food in their hands.What they want is not to sell it, but to store it at home to prepare for the disaster year.

Farmers will not be hurt by low prices if they do not sell surplus grain.

Almost all the grain and rice bought and sold in the market came from large and small landlords who owned a large amount of land.

The low price of grain hurts not the farmers at all, but the big and small landlords.

For Emperor Hongzhi, he wished to weaken the interests of the landlords and powerful people!
Chang Feng knelt down on the ground: "My Majesty, I have already drawn up a plan for going out to inspect places to stockpile grain."

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Well, let's hear it."

Chang Feng presented the inspection charter that had just been drawn up, and explained it again.

Emperor Hongzhi was very satisfied: "Very good! Chang Feng, let me tell you something personal between the monarch and his ministers. Those civil servants in the household department are unreliable."

"The policy of hoarding food is the first national policy that I have formulated independently. Jin Yiwei is my eyes and ears, and has to check whether the national policy is implemented for me."

"During the Chenghua Dynasty, someone once said, 'A good imperial decree, a good imperial decree, if it comes out of Shuntian, it will be like straw paper; a good government order, a good government order, will be forgotten if it comes out of Shuntian'."

"I want to know if the magistrates of this dynasty are acting against me!"

What Emperor Hongzhi said was not a phenomenon unique to the Chenghua Dynasty.

In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, and the emperor lived in the capital.When the imperial decree came out of Beijing, it was difficult for the emperor on the dragon chair to know whether the local officials and county officials carried it out, and how well it was carried out.

As the saying goes, the sky is high and the emperor is far away.

For ordinary people, the biggest "official" they can come into contact with in their entire life may be the grain chief in the village.

A county magistrate within the jurisdiction is simply like an emperor.

The imperial decree is conveyed to the county magistrate through the first-level yamen. Whether the county magistrate executes it or not, how to execute it usually depends on the county magistrate's mood.

Maybe when I was with my concubine, I was depressed for a while, and I was in a bad mood, so I directly regarded the imperial decree as a worthless straw.

Therefore, an ancient Chinese history is a history of games between the emperor and the bureaucrats, between China and the localities.

Chang Feng cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, don't worry. The ministers will strictly order the robes to handle this errand well."

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Well, I have always been at ease in your affairs. By the way, Sun Luan has been ill for six or seven months. I heard that he is terminally ill. Why hasn't he handed in his resignation letter?"

"He resigned, so I can promote you to Beizhen Fushi."

No matter how benevolent Emperor Hongzhi was, he was still a boss.If it is the boss, it is necessary to paint a big cake for the employees in due course.

After hearing this, Chang Feng burst into tears of gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your love."

Emperor Hongzhi waved his dragon sleeves: "Forget it, let's go to work."

Chang Feng ran a business trip for a day and returned home.

Old Taishan Liu Bingyi came to the door.

Chang Feng half-jokingly said: "Old Taishan. You don't come here to plead for old disciples, do you? Don't talk about it!"

Liu Bingyi was at a loss: "What are you asking for? Ah, you said that the Fusi of Beizhen sent people to various places to inspect the stockpiling of grain?"

"I'm begging for nothing! Let me tell you, all the official positions in the world are full now!"

Chang Feng frowned: "Why is Lao Taishan so sure?"

Liu Bingyi is an old fox in the officialdom, even he has a hand with his son-in-law.Knowing that he made a slip of the tongue just now, he hastily said perfunctorily: "Ah, last autumn there was a bumper harvest. The official warehouses are naturally full. I haven't seen the price of grain drop so much."

Chang Feng sat on the chair: "Then are you here?"

Liu Bingyi said: "Cough. Last time, Tangtang asked me to find a yellow nanmu fishing rod for her, so that she can go to the Yongding River to catch big bastards weighing five catties."

"No, I just went to the Fushenghao grocery store to buy one and sent it to her."

Liu Bingyi served as Minister of Taichang Temple for three years, and he was idle and at ease.Apart from attending the morning court on time, there is nothing serious to do.Playing flowers, birds, fish and insects all day long, cockfighting, walking dogs, and fishing for bastards.

Chang Feng said: "It's Lao Taishan. By the way, Tangtang is ten years old this year. It's not proper to play crazy all day long."

"If Lao Taishan is free, help her find a female gentleman and read the Four Books for Women."

The daughter of a well-known lady in the Ming Dynasty, at the age of ten, she had to start reading "Nv Commandment", "Nv Xun", "Nv Analects" and "Nv Fan Jielu".

Those boxers in later generations will go online as soon as they mention the Four Books for Women.But history is history, and you can’t just turn a blind eye to this history because you think it’s wrong or bad.That's called historical nihilism.

Liu Bingyi said: "It's done. This matter is on my shoulders. By the way, you will be promoted to the North Town Fushi soon, right?"

Chang Feng took a sip of tea: "Who said that?"

Liu Bingyi said: "Who else is there to say? The news has spread all over the official circles in the capital recently. Beizhen Governor Sun Luan is seriously ill. If he dies, the Beizhen Governor will definitely be you."

Chang Feng shook his head slightly: "Don't, Sun Zhenfu is my respected boss. I hope he recovers soon!"

Chang Feng has already made plans.If he was promoted to be the governor of Beizhen, he would promote Qian Ning to inspect Qianhu and continue to be his substitute.

As for Fatty Xu.Anyway, he has the duke title to inherit, and he doesn't care about his official position in Jinyiwei at all.

The only thing he cares about is being Chang Feng's follower and running errands with his good brothers.

Tangtang walked in with Zhuang Zhuang in her arms, and she asked Liu Bingyi, "Uncle, sister-in-law asked what you want to eat tonight. She cooks for you herself."

Liu Bingyi frowned: "Don't. Let the cook do it. You tell her, I'm afraid I'll tire her."

Tangtang turned and left.

Chang Feng laughed and said, "Lao Taishan, I'm also afraid of Xiaoyan's cooking. She can use salt as sugar and vinegar as soy sauce. Even tigers would not eat the rice."

The family enjoyed dinner happily.Liu Bingyi, full of wine and food, went out of the mansion with a full stomach, and got into the official sedan chair.

Liu Bingyi is actually very content.With Chang Feng, a good and promising son-in-law as his backer, he did not lose his official position after the new emperor ascended the throne.Now he lives in Xiao Jiuqing, eating, drinking and having fun all day long, living a life like a fairy.

Sometimes he would be complacent: If I hadn't broken the engagement back then and encouraged Chang Feng to make progress.I'm afraid he can't climb to the high position he is now!

Three days later, more than a thousand Beisi robes who left Beijing were ready.

Chang Feng gathered them in the school field to give lectures.

Chang Feng said: "Brothers, I still want to remind you a few more words. Don't find me annoying."

"Jin Yiwei is the eyes and ears of the emperor. If the eyes and ears of the emperor get mixed up with the local officials, the inside and outside collude to deceive the saints. Then don't blame the family law for being ruthless!"

"I have said before that I have no objection to you accepting Cheng Yi. But you should not feel that you owe them just because you took Cheng Yi from the magistrate, just defend it."

"You only treat Cheng Yi as what you deserve. The ceremony is accepted, and if you don't do anything!"

Chang Feng's words not only warned Pao Ze, but also gave Pao Ze something to gain.

In the same way, if Zhu Ji said it, I am afraid it would not be the same.

Qian Ning shouted: "My subordinates will bear in mind the teachings of the Governor!"

All the people in Paoze were stunned for a moment, and then shouted in unison: "Your subordinates will bear in mind the teachings of the Governor!"

Chang Feng showed displeasure: "Qian Ning, don't talk nonsense. Governor Sun is recuperating in the mansion. There are only thousands of households here, and there is no governor."

Qian Ning said: "The subordinates only know that whoever sits on duty as the governor will be my governor!"

Chang Feng actually felt very useful.Who doesn't love a top hat?
Chang Feng scolded with a smile: "Okay, it seems that you can talk? Okay, brothers, let's go! I wish you a smooth journey, complete the errands assigned by the emperor, and return to Beijing as soon as possible."

A crowd of robes left the school field one file at a time.

Fatty Xu leaned over: "Hey, Master Chang, your prestige in Wei Li is not only comparable to that of Fushi Sun Zhen, but also comparable to that of Commander Zhu."

"The brothers all said that it would be great if you came to be the commander."

Chang Feng said: "Don't talk nonsense. Let Commander Zhu listen to it, it's another matter."

"Oh, by the way. The brothers are out of Beijing, so it's not like we don't have things to do."

"In a month or two, you and I will go out of the capital and visit several mansions near the capital to check whether the servants are doing their business with all their heart."

Fatty Xu said: "It's done! I've been stuck in the capital all day, and I'm about to get sick."

Chang Feng made a joke: "Go to Yihong Building to find Sai Tanghong to release water all day long, can you still get sick?"

Fatty Xu said: "Hey, don't mention it. She has no time to serve me recently. She is busy with the grain and rice business."

Chang Feng was a little strange: "She is openly doing skin and meat business, but secretly doing business without money. When did she waste money on food and rice again?"

Fatty Xu explained: "My Hong'er not only has a good tongue, but also a good head. She will do business as long as it makes money."

Chang Feng asked: "Now that the price of food has fallen like a third grandson, she still wastes food and rice, isn't she afraid of losing her money?"

Fatty Xu smiled and said, "Master Chang, you are an expert in confiscating houses, but you are an amateur in doing business!"

"High food prices may not necessarily make money, and low food prices may not make money. Whether you make money or not depends on whether there is a price difference."

"I also gave her 300 taels of silver to invest in shares. Guess what? It turned into 500 taels a month."

Chang Feng was surprised: "The profit is so big?"

Fatty Xu said: "That's right. I earn money for me, and people let me live. Where can I find such a good job."

Chang Feng praised: "You are a blessed person. Especially Yanfu."

In the following month, Chang Feng successively received documents from some prefectures and counties in Northern Zhili to check the stockpiling of grain.

Due to the long distance in other provinces, the documents have not yet been sent back.

Without exception, the official warehouses all over the country have stockpiled enough food according to the amount set in the imperial decree of Emperor Hongzhi.Many have exceeded the number.

Chang Feng sorted out the documents and went into the palace to report to Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi was greatly surprised: "Beizhili has 110 seven counties, and your North Town Fusi has inspected 69 counties."

"The 69 counties have all stockpiled enough food according to the amount I set?"

Chang Feng cupped his hands: "Your majesty, according to the documents sent back by the robes, it is so."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned, full of suspicion: "If three or two of the 69 counties have not stocked up enough, I will not be suspicious."

"But now it's all stocked up. I'm a little worried"

Chang Feng immediately understood: "The emperor is worried that his subordinates will collude with local officials to conceal the truth."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded slightly.

Chang Feng said: "I request an order to go out with Qian Ning, Xu Guangzuo and others to inspect the situation of grain storage, and strictly investigate the illegal activities of internal and external collusion."

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Well, it's accurate. Remember, what I want is the truth, not high-sounding numbers!"

(End of this chapter)