My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 217 Mr. Zhang, let’s hit the road

In the back hall, Zhang Wenda was still talking with Han Xu and Zhou Jiamo, or arranging funeral arrangements.

He didn't know the front hall. Because he had been away for a long time, Huang Zunsu saw bad signs and left Xianxian.

"After I leave, what should I do with the position of Zuodu Censor?"

Looking at Han Xu who was drinking tea, Zhang Wenda suddenly asked.

"What should I do? What can I do? What can I do? Is the position of Zuodu Censor accessible to ordinary people?"

Hearing this, Han Xu put down the tea cup in his hand and rolled his eyes at the other party.

"Since the new emperor ascended the throne, all the censors and subjects that Guang Temple has added have been handled by the emperor."

"Also, now that the new emperor is promoting the confirmation of power, he is tightening the power in the hands of public officials, and various impeachment memorials have strict requirements."

Seeing Han Xu speak out, Zhou Jiamo also added.

"Moreover, since His Majesty suspended the imperial court, no official words have reached His Majesty's ears."

He had a hunch that neither he nor Ye Xianggao, the two CEOs, would be able to see the "Records of Shenzong" completed.

Thinking this, Zhou Jiamo turned his head and looked at the other party.

"Whether it works or not, you have to try it."

"Unless the Ministry of Industry wants to do something great for the imperial court, it has little sense of existence. Moreover, Xu Guangqi is still a Western scholar and is a lonely minister in the court."

Just when Zhou Jiamo was lamenting the emperor's methods, Zhang Wenda suddenly said.

"Let Guan Yingzhen or Qi Shijiao take that seat."

"Yuan Shizhen from the Ministry of Husbandry used to pay homage to the temple and fished for the emperor from Lianghuai and the common people. If there was no imperial power to protect him, he would have to leave the court even if he died."

"Why?"

After listening to Han Xu's words, Zhou Jiamo nodded in agreement.

After Zhou Jiamo finished adding, Han Xu sighed.

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda sneered and said in a cold voice.

"It reminds me of the time of the World Temple."

"Guan Yingzhen or Qi Shijiao?"

"Does that work?"

And Han Xu. . .

"Huang Kezhan, Minister of the Ministry of War, is a practical man. Whether it's me, Qi Shijiao, Guan Yingzhen or others, we have all tried to win over him, but he sternly rejected them all."

"I understand what you mean."

"At the time of the Shimiao, the dynasty was at a standstill. The Shimiao usually only saw cabinet ministers and six chief officials, but it was able to take charge of the affairs of the world."

"However, those people from the evil party did not listen to my instructions to strictly abide by state affairs. That's why the ex-Fan Xiyuan admonition came about."

Hearing this, Han Xu frowned.

He and Ye Xianggao were studying history, and they were already older.

Come on, they are said to be ministers of the cabinet, but when the imperial court pays monthly salary, it has already explained the problem. It is based on the silver coins of the fifth-grade salary.

Seeing the hesitation of the two people, Zhang Wenda took back the "Constitutional Outline" approved by the emperor from the table.

As he spoke, Han Xu sighed.

"Return to the other side in his own way."

Under such circumstances, they should not even think about returning to the court.

"After Brother Zhang takes office, the only people I, Donglin, can use in the court are me, Duke Zhou, and Duke Ye."

After hearing Zhang Wenda's words, Han Xu and Zhou Jiamo looked at each other and said squidwardly.

"this..."

"When I got this book, I realized that what thunder, rain and dew are, are all due to your kindness."

"Let Qi Shijiao or Guan Yingzhen sit in that position, and let our people sit when the time comes."

"The late emperor went to the cabinet to make amends for everyone, Liu Yishen returned home with a crime, Ye Xianggao was sent to compile history, Shen Huai, Zhu Guozuo and others still refused the imperial edict, but the emperor did not call him again."

"Nowadays, Zhou Yingqiu of the Six Ministries of the Central Government and the Ministry of Personnel is an answering dog, and everything depends on His Majesty's wishes."

"Sun Ruyou from the Ministry of Rites had a close relationship with Fang Congzhe. He did not dare to conflict with the emperor when Fang Congzhe had already served."

With that said, Zhang Wenda pointed to the beam.

"Yes."

"We said last time that we don't want the emperor to fight against us. The people under our command are very obedient. No one has nothing to do but tease the dragon's beard. Everyone is thinking about how to supervise the state affairs."

Being able to use it doesn't mean you can speak it well.

The emperor's ill will towards the cabinet was clearly demonstrated.

But there was something left unsaid in my heart.

"Humph."

Seeing Zhang Wenda's actions, Han Xu frowned and nodded.

"Your Majesty ordered the six ministries and cabinets to recommend it. I'll give it a try."

With this last sentence settled, the three of them had finished what they wanted to say, and they all stood up and left for the front hall.

Next, nothing unexpected happened. Everyone ate, drank, and complained about how they had no way to serve the country.

The moon passes over the branches, and the courtyard is in a mess.

Looking at the servants who were packing things in the yard, Zhang Wenda turned around and walked into his bedroom.

Slowly took off the black gauze hat on his head and placed it on top of his official uniform.

After tonight, he is no longer qualified to wear this suit.

After three kowtows and nine bows to the official robe, when Zhang Wenda stood up from the ground again, he was already in tears.

"I am ashamed of my entrustment to the late emperor."

Early the next morning, just as the door of Zhang's mansion was opened, Zhang Wenda was informed that the Jin Yiwei was already waiting for him at the door.

As soon as Fang walked out of his house, Zhang Wenda saw a eunuch wearing a scarlet robe.

"Mr. Zhang."

When he saw the visitor, Zhao Yu, who was sent to escort Zhang Wenda back home, bowed and saluted him.

"The Zajia family is sending Duke Zhang back to his hometown under the orders of His Majesty."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda responded hurriedly, but frowned and looked at these people who looked slightly frosty.

"Are you waiting outside the hospital all night?"

"It's not in the way, it's not in the way."

Hearing this, Zhao Yu waved his hand and smiled shyly.

"We came last night at the second watch. At that time, Zhang Gong's friends were practicing for Zhang Gong in your mansion. These royal guards brought by the Za family were just rough men who had been on the battlefield. They were afraid of bumping into Zhang Gong's friends, so they didn't come here to sting the door. , I just waited in the distance all night, it’s okay.”

"!"

Looking at the smile on the eunuch's face in front of him, Zhang Wenda felt the hairs on his back rising.

"May I ask my father-in-law, where do you work as an errand?"

A jade wall slipped out of his sleeve, Zhang Wenda stuffed it into Zhao Yu's sleeve in a vague way and asked.

"this."

Noticing the extra stuff in his sleeves, Zhao Yu pinched it, and then frowned.

The texture should be jade.

However, you, Zhang Wenda, use this to test the eunuchs?

Not to mention the butcher's knife held high in the emperor's hand, it was the fact that he could work in Dongchang.

That eunuch can't stand such a test?

As soon as his hand was loosened, the jade pendant fell to Zhang Wenda's feet with a snap.

Hearing this voice, the eyes of everyone present were attracted. "Mr. Zhang dropped something."

Pointing to the jade on the ground, Zhao Yu narrowed his eyes and said.

"The Za family is an errand in the Inquisition Office and is a subordinate of Wei Daxuan of the East Factory."

"oh oh."

Zhang Wenda was a little stunned when he saw the jade pendant on the sole of his foot.

The sun rises in the west, but this eunuch doesn't accept bribes?

Hearing Zhao Yu's words about Dongchang Wei Daxuan again, Zhang Wenda felt his head feel dizzy.

The eunuch of Dongchang led the Jinyi Guards to stay outside his house all night!

He also watched his friends come to hold a practice banquet for him!

Why did he suddenly feel a chill on his neck?

"Mr. Zhang, this thing must be tied up, otherwise it will break easily."

After picking up the jade pendant from the ground and wiping it with his sleeve, Zhao Yu handed it to Zhang Wenda and said.

"Your Majesty knows that Mr. Zhang is homesick and worried about the safety on the road, so he sent us to see him off."

He looked like a smiling tiger, Zhao Yu continued.

"Three days ago, when Eunuch Liu came to deliver the imperial edict of Feng Zeng, he already said that Eunuch Zhang is already ready."

"Here...there are still some things I need to bring."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda hesitated and decided to see if he could delay the time.

"This is easy to talk about. Just let the housekeeper stay and deal with it."

Zhao Yu saw the other party's plan at a glance and smiled.

"If Mr. Zhang is worried that the housekeeper can't handle it, he can set a price and the palace will buy everything."

With that said, Zhao Yu put his hands in his sleeves and looked up at the sun.

"We will set off at noon. If Mr. Zhang does not arrive, the Zajia family will have no choice but to tell the truth to Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang."

As he said that, Zhao Yu glanced at the other party sideways.

"Resisting the order is disrespectful."

"I'll do it now, I'll do it now."

Hearing Zhao Yu's words, Zhang Wenda immediately shed a cold sweat and said hurriedly.

Looking at Zhang Wenda who hurried back to his house, Zhao Yu showed a sneer on his lips.

He used to be a gatekeeper for the imperial palace, and he was recently transferred to the East Factory.

His life creed is just two words: loyalty.

Before coming, the emperor personally told him that he must send Zhang Wenda back to his hometown in person, and there would be no delay on the way!

Not every eunuch is Wang An.

Not every eunuch is Wei Zhongxian.

The origins of the eunuchs in the palace are complicated, but most of them can't survive, so they trade the things in their crotches for food.

Now, the emperor not only gave them a bite to eat, but also gave them hope that they could see.

These people will also show their due loyalty.

It was not until noon that Zhang Wenda was alone. He simply took some gifts and went out to get on the carriage prepared by the eunuch.

"drive!"

As the driver waved his horsewhip, Zhang Wenda, the censor of Zuodu in the Ming Dynasty, officially left the capital.

And not long after that, Xiyuan.

"Has Zhang Wenda left the city?"

Suddenly closing the memorial in his hand, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Liu Shimin and asked.

"Go back to your Majesty, I just reported back and left the city at noon."

"This loser is finally gone."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial in his hand and said coldly.

"Look at the Metropolitan Procuratorate he is in charge of. He sent several censors to the south to investigate why they owe taxes, but it has been several months and there is still no return."

"..."

Listening to the emperor's words, Liu Shimin shrank his neck, said nothing, and pretended to be mute.

Tapping his fingers on the table, Zhu Youxiao thought secretly.

If you ask the censor to check the taxes, you will definitely not be able to find out clearly.

Let’s not talk about officials protecting each other.

That's the place in the south, it's a place of disrespect and disloyalty.

Take Xu Jie, the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty's cabinet, as an example. As early as the Longqing period and when Hai Rui was the governor of Yingtian, Xu Jie's family owned more than 30,000 acres of land.

Where did his Xu family come from with so much land? All the gentry below came to it and paid money to his family in order to avoid court taxes.

The result was that the Xu family was enriched and the court was impoverished.

Later, Suzhou eunuch Sun Long tried to collect labor taxes, which almost led to a civil commotion.

And, the disgusting five-person tombstone story.

Tapping his fingers on the table, Zhu Youxiao's mind turned slightly.

In the southern region, let alone tax reform, just by collecting all receivables, the pressure on the court can be reduced a lot.

"In common parlance, I will issue an edict directly to those censors and many magistrates in Nanzhili, Zhejiang and other places. If you don't give me a reply before May, those censors will not need to return to Beijing and will go home to farm directly. Go and ask those magistrates to go with them."

"My slave takes orders."

Knowing that the emperor was angry, Liu Shimin did not dare to say anything and hurriedly walked outside.

Opening the memorial in front of him again, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but touch his chin.

Why did he suddenly think of the censor sent to the south by the Metropolitan Procuratorate?

Because Wang Tiqian in southern Zhili gave him another memorial.

"50,000 pieces per day are particularly insufficient. Merchants are rushing to redeem them, and some even add money to exchange for silver."

Looking at Wang Tiqian's description of the silver exchange scene in Nanzhili, Zhu Youxiao rubbed his teeth.

How much money does Nanzhili have?

Zhu Youxiao is really undecided now about how to reform Ming Dynasty's messy economic policy.

Nowadays, Nanzhili is really like a bottomless pit. A million silver coins have been thrown into it, and there is not even a splash of water.

After thinking for a while, Zhu Youxiao finally slapped the table and made up his mind.

An additional 300,000 silver coins will be given to Southern Zhili every month, tax transfer!

ps: Compiling history is a strenuous job. The emperor is watching from above. Every paragraph and every record needs to be carefully considered.

Just like the words "Fighting and Defeating", "Fighting and Defeating".

The same thing, different descriptions give people different feelings.

Therefore, the cycle of compiling history is quite long.

There are five hundred and ninety-four volumes of Shenzong's Records, from May of the sixth year of Longqing to July of the forty-eighth year of Wanli. It was started in the first year of Tianqi. The British Duke Zhang Weixian was the supervisor, and Ye Xianggao, Liu Yishui, Han Xu, and Shi Jikai After three years of Tianqi, Gu Bingqian, Ding Shaoshi, Huang Liji, Feng Quan and others were appointed as presidents. After Chongzhen came to power, he changed the chief executive officer, and the work was completed until November of the third year of Chongzhen.

The Guangzong Records, a total of eight volumes, records that from August to December in the forty-eighth year of Wanli, Ye Xianggao was the chief official, and it was not completed until three years after Tianqi.

Tianqi, also known as the Records of Xizong, records the first month of the first year of Tianqi to the twelfth month of the seventh year. In the first year of Chongzhen, Zhu Chunchen was the supervising officer, and Wen Tiren, Zhang Zhifa, Zhang Zhenyun, He Fengsheng, Huang Shijun and others were the chief officers. The repairs were not completed until the death of the Ming Dynasty.

Just then, after the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, the former great scholar Feng Quan came to the Qing Dynasty and continued to compile the actual records of Xizong.

It is said that because Feng Quan flattered Wei Zhongxian, he removed content related to him in order to hide his ugly face.

Therefore, Tianqi Shilu (Liang Hongzhi's edition) has seventy-nine volumes, while Shiyu's edition has eighty-six volumes.

However, not to mention the places where the records of Apocalypse have been changed, the missing parts alone are initially estimated to be upwards of twenty volumes, because not only in June and July of the fourth year of Apocalypse, but also starting from the first year of Apocalypse, there are many months where the content is missing. .

(End of this chapter)