Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhu Ming also came back after the beginning of spring. He stayed with his wife, concubines and children for several days, and did not start doing business until the end of the first year.

"The land administration in Kaifeng Prefecture has been managed smoothly by the imperial court. Land is basically provided to the tiller, and no one dares to object to the sharing of land between farmers and farmers." Zhu Guoxiang threw out a briefcase, "But outside the capital, Emperor Tiangao If it's far away, the local officials and gentry will definitely be acting in a shady manner."

Zhu Ming did not open the documents to read, but said: "Let's talk directly, there are a lot of military affairs accumulated, and I am too lazy to look at these government affairs."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Hunan has been war-torn for a long time and is sparsely populated, while Jiangxi has a tense conflict between people and land. I directly informed Jiangxi officials and people in the form of an edict to encourage Jiangxi's landless people to migrate to Hunan. Guess what the officials and gentry in Jiangxi are doing What?"

"We will definitely not let them go," Zhu Ming said with a smile. "If the landless peasants leave too much, how can the gentry recruit tenants to farm? Even if they can recruit tenants, they cannot exploit them at will as before. The tenant rent treatment must be improved to achieve stability. Cut leeks.”

"That's right," Zhu Guoxiang said. "Last year I beat up the officials in Jiangxi. In order to make business, the officials from various prefectures and counties arrested beggars all over the city and sent them to Hunan. These beggars had nothing, and no immigration work was done along the way. As a result, during the migration A large number of people died of illness, starvation and freezing!”

Ju Ming asked: "Did the inspection censor reveal it?"

"There was an inspection censor named Zhang Xin. When he was passing through Xuanfeng Town in Yuanzhou, he went to explore the local mass graves on a whim."

The more Zhu Guoxiang talked, the angrier he became. He slapped the table angrily and said, "He found that one area was newly buried and dug out the bodies of more than forty beggars. After asking nearby farmers, he found out that local officials arrested beggars for migration and then reported them as immigration achievements. The imperial court. It’s okay to place beggars in a serious way, but they randomly sent a few officers to escort them, and they didn’t even bring enough basic travel rations!”

Ju Ming said: "The actual situation should be more complicated. On the one hand, the local gentry is unwilling to let the landless farmers go, and will probably use old debts to restrain them. On the other hand, the officials want political achievements and must respond to the central government's call, but they do not want to They tried their best to deal with the local officials and gentry. So they arrested beggars to deal with it. It is estimated that the government also allocated money and food, but it was embezzled by the actual executioners."

Zhu Guoxiang was a little surprised when he heard this: "You are very good at predicting things. The results of the inspection by the censor are very similar to what you said. The county magistrate did distribute the food, but most of it was divided up by the old officials of the county government, and they didn't care about the beggars. Will I starve to death?"

"What's so hard to guess? Just pretend to be them," Ju Ming asked, "How do you plan to punish them?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Throughout Jiangxi, officials at all levels involved in such cases, from provinces to prefectures, to prefectures and counties, all first and second-ranking officials were demoted and kept in their posts. They were given a time limit to thoroughly investigate and find out all the corrupt people. If the time limit is exceeded, the investigation and punishment are ineffective. Those who are found guilty will be dismissed from office immediately. If a corrupt official is found out, his entire family will be assigned to a border area, and his household registration will not be changed within three generations!"

Demotion means that the official position remains unchanged for the time being, but the grade is lowered due to the incident.

Then, let these officials investigate on their own without being punished, and clean up the officials involved in the case at all levels of government offices. A thorough investigation must be completed within a time limit to be considered qualified. If the censor finds that there are still problems, then it will not be demoted and retained in the post, but all official positions will be removed and returned home to farm.

Don't think that the punishment is very light. Even if you are only demoted and retained in your post, it will be a big stain on your back. It will be very difficult to get promoted in the future.

"Jiangxi is the backbone of land administration reform. It has suffered the least impact from the war, and there are still a large number of Jiangxi scholars serving as officials in the court." Zhu Guoxiang finally got to the point, "Your father-in-law wants to resign and return to his hometown. He has already given three applications and two resignations. , I plan to approve it for the last time. He is the leader of Jiangxi officials. If he is still serving as the chief assistant in the court, it will be difficult for local officials to implement the central government's orders normally."

Ju Ming laughed when he heard this: "After going around for a long time, this is what you just want to say?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "After all, he is your father-in-law. I have to say hello to you, otherwise you will definitely think too much."

"Just resign," Ju Ming said. "It just so happens that this time I want to reward the hero, give him a title, and resign with dignity. After his death, he will be worthy of enjoying the Ancestral Temple."

All the founding ministers, as long as they did not commit serious crimes, basically followed this process.

Including Gao Jingshan, who had died of illness before, he was also given titles and posthumous titles, and then he was entitled to enjoy the Ancestral Temple.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "In addition to Jiangxi, there are also Zhejiang, Huainan and Sichuan. The land affairs in these four provinces must be carefully managed after the Jin Kingdom is destroyed and the finances are sufficient. By then, we will not be afraid of causing chaos, and a large number of people must be killed. People can only truly implement it if they spread it out."

"In future unofficial history, you and I will both be tyrants." Ju Ming laughed heartlessly.

But Zhu Guoxiang said: "I am a benevolent king, and you are the tyrant. By the time I take action, I will have long abdicated and become the Supreme Emperor."

Ju Ming gave a thumbs up: "Dean Zhu is still awesome, let me do all the infamy."

The father and son had a joke, and the atmosphere became relaxed and cheerful.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Gao Qiu died of illness last winter."

"I heard," Zhu Ming said happily, "His three sons were fighting for the family property. The third son sued the eldest and the second son to the government, saying that the two elder brothers teamed up to bully the younger brother. On the day I returned to Beijing, I heard that Gao The family is engaged in an inheritance lawsuit."

The eldest brother is called Gao Yaokang, the second child is called Gao Yaofu, and the third child is called Gao Bing.

Just by hearing the name, you can tell what's going on. Not only is he not born to the same mother, but the third child didn't even use the word generation to name him.

Although the third child’s biological mother is remarried, her mother’s family is very capable!

None of these three sons served as officials in the Ming Dynasty, and they were all playboys. After they divide the property, they will probably make a big contribution to Fan Lou. The three brothers are indispensable in high-end entertainment venues in the capital.

Within one or two generations, most of the family wealth can be consumed.

Speaking of Gao Qiu, Ju Ming suddenly thought of Cai You: "How did Cai You get the sentence last year?"

"Exile to Hehuang," Zhu Guoxiang said. "This man's knowledge is not bad. There is a shortage of scholars in Hehuang, so Cai You can teach by being exiled there. Cai Jing's other descendants were also found in Guangxi, and they were scattered and arranged to farm in the border areas. I taught in the local area. One of my sons, I threw him to Hainan Island."

Which son?

Of course it was the one whose wife was robbed by Ju Ming.

"By the way, the first edition of "Da Ming Code" has been compiled." Zhu Guoxiang asked the eunuch to get the manuscript. "The imperial court is arranging printing, and it will be distributed across the country after printing is completed. In the next three years, judicial departments at all levels must make arrangements based on the actual case. Test this "Da Ming Law". If there are any problems with the legal provisions, they will be added, deleted or revised after three years. Even if they are not changed at all, some typical cases should be added to facilitate the judges' reference when deciding the case."

Zhu Ming was flipping through the manuscript of "The Law of the Ming Dynasty" and saw sixteen words written on the title page: The people maintain the foundation of the country, and the foundation strengthens the country's peace. Under national law, officials and citizens are equal.

"Sigh, I'm afraid that on the day when the Ming Dynasty falls, we won't be able to achieve equality between officials and people." Zhu Ming sighed.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Even if you can't do it, you still have to have this concept."

"This is the truth, but with some emotion," Ju Ming said. "When the four-party war ends and the period of internal affairs truly enters, the main conflict will become the conflict between the central government and the local government. At that time, the central monarch and his ministers will have to compete with the local officials in a battle of wits and courage.' Equality between officials and citizens can be a sword for the imperial court."

At this moment, a eunuch came and stood outside the door.

Zhu Guoxiang asked loudly: "What's the matter?"

The eunuch replied: "Li Daizhao held a sign and asked for an audience. He said that all important matters regarding the gold and stone of the Hanlin Academy should be reported."

"Invite her in." Zhu Guoxiang said.

Ju Ming asked: "Who is this Li Daizhao?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Li Qingzhao."

"Eh..." Ju Ming drawled, his tone full of disgust and contempt.

Zhu Guoxiang rolled his eyes at his son: "What are you thinking about? I am the emperor, and she is waiting for an edict. It is a serious relationship between emperor and minister."

While the father and son were chatting, Li Qingzhao had already entered the door.

"Your Majesty, Li Qingzhao, pays homage to the officials and the prince!"

Zhu Guoxiang smiled kindly: "No need to be formal, please sit down if you like me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After Li Qingzhao sat down, he took out a piece of manuscript paper, "The copper plate presented by Jinzhou Vitriol Refining Office has been identified as authentic by the Epigraphy and Stone Research Institute, and the inscription on the plate has been identified, with a total of one hundred and thirty-three characters. The inscription The record is consistent with "The Book of Songs·Xiaoya·Jiu". This copper plate is the reward and appointment recorded by King Xuan of Zhou Dynasty for his meritorious service in battle."

Neither father nor son plays gold and stone, and of course they have never heard of it.

Anyone who knows about epigraphy, calligraphy and painting will be familiar with Xi Jiapan. This disk was unearthed during the Southern Song Dynasty and was acquired by the prime minister of the Yuan Dynasty. It was circulated until its disappearance in the early years of the Republic of China. It has been studied countless times by countless epigraphers in the past dynasties.

Later, there was a story about a missing person. A Chinese living in the United States bought it for a few hundred dollars, some said it was a hundred thousand dollars.

No matter how much it was bought, it was auctioned in China for a sky-high price of more than 200 million yuan, and the handed-down national treasure has since become the private collection of a rich man.

Zhu Ming picked up the manuscript paper handed over by Li Qingzhao, with the inscription translated into regular script written on it.

The general content is: On the Gengyin day in March of the fifth year of King Xuan of Zhou Dynasty, the emperor ordered to conquer Taiyuan. Prime Minister Yin Jifu was ordered to go on an expedition and returned in triumph with the prisoners. The emperor rewarded him with four horses and a cart. He also sent the prime minister to Luoyang and ordered the four countries to pay grain taxes. In particular, Nan Huai Yi and Huai Yi agreed that farmers who wanted to pay tribute must not default on tribute and grain taxes. These barbarians are allowed to travel and do business, but they are not allowed to disrupt the local market. The princes and common people everywhere must also abide by the king's law and can only trade in the prescribed markets and are not allowed to go to remote villages to do business...

After reading it, Zhu Ming was particularly interested and asked Li Qingzhao to take him to the Institute of Epigraphy.

What appeared in front of Ju Ming was the complete body of the Xi Jiapan, with a circle of feet underneath.

In another time and space, due to war, the Xijia plate fell into the hands of farmers. Unfortunately, the ring feet were knocked off, and the copper plate was used as a frying pan to bake pancakes...

Li Tang, director of the Institute of Epigraphy, praised: "In the past, King Xuan of Zhou ordered the prince to attack the gold thieves in Taiyuan. Today, your majesty ordered the prince to attack the gold thieves in Hebei. They were all victorious! The virtues of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty are as good as those of the wise. Emperor Xuan of Zhou. The merits of the Ming Dynasty’s crown prince are even greater than those of Yin Jifu, the virtuous prime minister of the Zhou Dynasty. This disk appears in the world at the right time, isn’t it a response from heaven and man? The Ming Dynasty will surely lead to a prosperous age!”

"There is no need to mention the theory of telepathy between heaven and man, but it is indeed worth being happy about." Zhu Guoxiang smiled happily.