Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

In March, the bright spring light fills the land of China from south to north.

Around the time of Grain Rain, spring plowing in China has quietly begun. The endless fields are filled with hardworking figures, and the old scalpers make long mooing sounds.

As Beijing becomes the world's textile center, not to mention the capital region, even the entire North Zhili region, more and more farmers have begun to grow cotton as a cash crop.

In the face of huge changes in demand and supply, rice prices in Beijing have now risen.

In fact, the people are not stupid. The cotton market is still in short supply, and the income from planting is very considerable. Even if the price of rice doubles again, the income from cotton can completely offset the negative impact of the increase in rice prices, so most people will still choose to grow cotton.

This result is actually beneficial to the people at the bottom. As the price of rice in the capital rises, it also brings considerable income to ordinary rice-growing farmers.

"If you grow cotton, you can sell it for a lot of money, and if you grow grain, someone will harvest it. How happy your life is!"

"I thought the court would be a good court if it didn't raise taxes every year, but who would have thought that this court can still provide us with food and clothing!"

"In addition to having enough food and clothing, nearly half of the households in our village have renovated new houses, and more and more children are being sent to school!"

…

Facing the current good economic environment, more and more people now have hope, and the farmers who are working can't help but sigh.

Living in this era, aircraft and artillery are actually too far away for the people at the bottom. The best days are still when they can have enough food and clothing. Nowadays, the steady development of the Ming Dynasty has made them feel more and more at ease, and they will naturally love the current emperor even more.

In Beijing, the early morning fog envelopes this ancient city, and the streets in the west of the city are showing a chilling atmosphere.

Rows of prison vans were heading towards the West Market, with a group of tied-up prisoners behind them. Nearly 200 people were being escorted to the execution ground. Although today is the fourth day of beheading, the matter is still not completely over.

Wang Zeng sent people to assassinate the emperor but failed. This move was destined to implicate the nine clans, and he himself had to accept the punishment of Lingchi, according to law, he should be chopped into pieces with 3,600 knives.

The first person to be punished by Lingchi in the Hongzhi Dynasty was Li Guangdu, the former envoy of the Li Dynasty. However, only Li Guangdu was tortured at that time. Now, the number of nine tribesmen implicated by Wang Zeng is nearly a thousand.

"Wang Zeng is really hateful!"

"Fortunately, the emperor is fine, otherwise I really want to eat this man's flesh!"

"The Ming Dynasty finally gave birth to a Mingjun. I didn't expect that there would be such a vicious person!"

…

Faced with this unprecedented massacre, the people watching on the street did not have the slightest sympathy. They felt more like a fluke and condemned Wang Zeng.

"Execution!"

The execution process was already familiar. When officials from the Ministry of Punishment saw hundreds of prisoners being led to the execution platform, they checked their identities one by one, and then the execution officer dropped the token.

"What an injustice!"

"We really don't know!"

"Wang Zeng is not from my Wang clan, so please show mercy!"

…

When they saw the landing token, the Wang clan members shouted that they were wronged.

Whether they are members of the Wang Zeng Nine Clan in the capital, the Wang clan members living in Shulu County under the jurisdiction of Beizhili, or the Zhang family, nearly a thousand people have been escorted to the capital.

Faced with this unreasonable disaster, the Wang family kept crying for their father and mother, and at the same time burst into laughter.

Mrs. Zhang had a beautiful face when she was young. She was actually a famous beauty in the capital, and was sought after by many nobles and young scholars.

Later, she married into the Wang family, but the relationship between Mrs. Zhang and Wang Ying was not good, and it was even reported that Hongxing was having an affair.

Originally, such rumors should not be believed, but Wang Ying was away on military duty, and when she came back for more than half a year, Mrs. Zhang unexpectedly gave birth to Wang Zeng.

Wang Zeng and Wang Ying were completely opposite in appearance and body shape, so everyone suspected that Wang Zeng was not Wang Ying's species, and there was even a big dispute over this.

But I don't know if there was any misunderstanding, or if the Jingyuan Prefecture was concerned about my own face. In the end, the matter was left undisturbed, and everyone was even prohibited from talking about it anymore.

What is very strange is that Wang Zeng was obviously very smart since he was a child, and he also obtained the title of student officer early, but he turned out to be an important candidate for the prince's consort.

The consorts of this dynasty have long since lost their glory. Let alone Wang Zeng, the legitimate son who was born in Jingyuan Bofu. Even young people from ordinary families who have the opportunity to obtain the Jinshi title will not choose to marry into the emperor's family.

As a result, under Jing Yuanbo's operation, Wang Zeng turned into a tool for political marriage, allowing Wang Zeng, who was probably a bastard, to marry Princess Jiashan.

Now that old things are being brought up again, the Wang family members want to save themselves on the one hand, and on the other hand they are exposing this scandal that has been concealed for more than 20 years.

This matter has actually reached the palace. Liu Ji, the chief minister of the court, seemed to have a firm attitude and said: "It doesn't matter whether this kind of thing is true or false. It doesn't matter whether the Wang family knows it or not. Whether Wang Zeng is Wang Ying's biological son or not , and we have to implicate the king to increase the nine clans to correct the dynasty!"

It was naturally impossible for Zhu Youtang to make such an excuse. If Wang Zeng was exempted from the massacre of the nine tribes because he was an illegitimate son, then it would be difficult for anyone to follow suit.

That's why, even if Wang Zeng is really a bastard from Jingyuan's Mansion, the Wang family will still be unable to escape the consequences of being implicated in the nine clans.

puff! puff! puff!

The blade flashed past, and blood splashed high.

No one in the Wang clan, including Jingyuan Bo Wang Xian, was spared. This massacre of the nine clans was like the most terrifying killing machine in the dynasty, but it was full of heads.

Wang Zeng needs to be tortured for three days, and his punishment ends today.

Facing this inhuman torture, he actually regretted it, but when he wanted to say something, his throat could no longer make any sound.

He actually knew that he was most likely an illegitimate child, but he did not intend to succumb to fate and once became a being that could subvert the political power.

It's just that he underestimated his opponent and overestimated himself after all, but he received the most brutal punishment, and he was also buried with the Wang family and Zhang family.

At this moment, although he also regretted that he had dragged down the Wang family and wanted to be a prince-in-law waiting to die, it was still too late in the end.

When Wang Zeng died, a man wearing a bamboo hat quietly left, seemingly relieved.

"We just returned to the capital and don't want to encounter this kind of thing!"

"This kind of court should have been purged long ago, but I didn't expect how audacious this prince-in-law was!"

"If you ask me, this matter may not be that simple. There may be a big shot behind it!"

…

Wang Shouren, Wu Jinghou Prince Zhao Kuo and Li Yanwen also came here to watch. Seeing the heads rolling on the execution platform, they all expressed emotion.

The three of them were trapped on a desert island. They thought they were doomed, but luckily they got help from a woman on the island and finally managed to return to the mainland and escape.

With the safe return of the three of them, the lies of Cheng Si from the Jin Yiwei Hundred Household were self-evident, and they had already testified against Cheng Si's evil deeds in the Shuntian Mansion Yamen Hall.

Cheng Si killed Zhang Heling, Zhang Lun and others, and was also sentenced to execution. It's just that now the king of Zhu has added nine tribes, so Cheng Si is lucky enough to live a few more days, but he will be pushed here to be beheaded in a few days.

Although I saw the billowing of heads in front of me when I returned this time, I clearly felt that the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty were slowly getting better while traveling north, and many people supported the current Emperor Hongzhi.

In mid-March, a shocking scene occurred in the Ming Dynasty.

When the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty came to Chengtian Gate, the emperor also appeared in a dragon chariot, and the person who greeted him turned out to be a dark-skinned local official.

"I, the Governor of Huguang, have returned to Beijing to deliver the order! The land register of Huguang contains 30 million acres. However, upon verification, I found that the hidden acres were 90 million acres, totaling 120 million acres."

Liu Zhong had always been loyal to his emperor, and he looked very excited as he knelt down and presented the yellow book and said loudly.

He went to Huguang to clear out his land in the first year of Hongzhi. Now he spent three full years in Huguang to clear out his land, and finally achieved substantial results.

Just three years of hard work is beyond what anyone can bear. He is obviously a man in his forties, but his temples have turned white, and his face has been sunburned like loess. He looks like a fifty-year-old man.

Years of wind and frost have not knocked him down, and his eyes are still sharp. Now when he saw the emperor again, his eyes suddenly became warm.

The reason why he was able to accomplish this and the reason why he was able to persevere was all thanks to the wise king in front of him. It also made Liu Zhong worthy of the court and the people of the world.

Zhu Youtang grabbed Liu Zhong's calloused hands and said sincerely like an old farmer: "Liu Qing, I have worked hard for you these past three years!"

"I am stupid by nature! Fortunately, your majesty valued me, so I was appointed as a feudal official from a small household, Wailang, to clean up the Huguang fields for the Ming Dynasty. Now that I have fulfilled my mission, every field will be supervised by me personally. Please accept this yellow book." !" Liu Zhong was also always grateful for Emperor Hongzhi's important use, and he appeared very moved to submit the book.

The yellow book for an entire province was naturally just a general outline, and Guo Yong stepped forward to accept the fruits of Liu Zhong's three years of hard work.

"Declarate the decree!" Zhu Youtang took the general outline and glanced at it, then ordered calmly.

At this moment, all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty gathered here. Although they knew that Zhu Youtang valued Liu Zhong very much, he never expected to give Liu Zhong such high courtesy.

Guo Yong unfolded the prepared imperial edict and said loudly: "The emperor is entrusted by heaven. The edict says: Liu Zhong, the governor of Huguang, planned to benefit the people. He worked hard for the court and was loyal and not greedy. During his term of office, he went to the fields in person to clear the land of Huguang. ... He has made great achievements today. He is committed to his duties and follows the principles, and he is a pioneer in politics. He praises the virtuous and rewards the best talents. Now he is specially promoted to the post of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. He is bestowed with the most upright plaque and a son of Enyin. I admire this!"

"Is this going to be directly promoted to the Minister of Justice?"

"What the hell? Grand Duke Zhizhengbian?"

"If I had known so many benefits, I could have done it too!"

…

When the civil and military officials present saw the reward Liu Zhong received, they originally sympathized with Liu Zhong for being turned into a farmer, but at this moment they were full of jealousy.

Zhu Youtang keenly felt the jealousy of some people, but this was the effect he wanted to buy bones for his daughter. At the same time, he also knew that what Liu Zhong did seemed simple but was actually very difficult.

If you want to do this well by yourself, I'm afraid you have to go through many times of hardship and hardship, and face so many crises. The most important thing is how much temptation he has to resist.

Now that Liu Zhong's achievements have increased Huguang's grain tax by three times, he is already worthy of this gift.

"Your Majesty Liu Zhong accepts the order, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

Liu Zhong also did not expect to receive such a generous gift. Although his position as Minister of the Ministry of Justice made him a big shot in the court, he was grateful for the "Grand Duke is the Most Righteous" plaque in his heart.

In the past three years, he had worked tirelessly to travel to various villages in Huguang, and his heart had never wavered in the slightest. The words "Justice and Justice" were the emperor's greatest recognition of him.

Zhu Youtang looked at Liu Zhong, who was sunburned as black as charcoal, and said expectantly: "Liu Qing, the Qingzhang in Huguang is over. I plan to implement a nationwide Qingzhang, and you will serve as the national general inspector. What do you think? "

"I will do my best to help your majesty create a prosperous world!" Liu Zhong knew that Qingzhang was just the beginning, so he expressed his stance seriously.

On March 18, the imperial court officially promulgated a nationwide decree to clean up land and re-create yellow records.

Zhu Youtang never mentioned the New Deal, but he has been quietly reforming since he came to the throne, making the dynasty prosperous.

Now that once the whole country fully promotes the restoration of land and land in the Yellow Book, the grain tax will definitely rise to a higher level. Although it cannot be compared with that of the later dynasties, it can still reach one-third of the level.

Zhu Youtang is not proud of being able to get more tax revenue from the people across the country, but he has always firmly believed in development. At present, the most important thing is to build the Northeast Granary.

Haixi Sanwei was officially included in the jurisdiction of Jianzhou, and Jianzhou was upgraded to Northeast Prefecture, and Northeast Prefecture was planned to be the most important production area of ​​the Northeast Granary of the Ming Dynasty.

Shanhaiguan garrison Wang Zhendong was promoted to commander-in-chief of Liaodong.

Zhang Jin, the governor of Liaodong, was promoted to governor of Liaodong due to his military merit.

Zhao Chengqing, the Marquis of Wu Jing, was given a World Voucher so that his descendants would be able to inherit the title of Marquis Wu Jing.

…

At the end of March, Manduhai sent envoy Tong Ha to the capital.

After all, Manduhai was a mature politician. He did not sacrifice his country's interests because of Dayan Khan's hatred, but attributed Dayan Khan's death to illness.

Whether she was doing it for the safety of her daughter or continuing to use the Ming Dynasty's abundant supplies to strengthen herself, she had enough reasons to maintain good diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty.

Although the Ming Dynasty is not afraid of Mongolia at all, its current strength is difficult to dominate both Northeast China and Mongolia. Therefore, peaceful coexistence with Mongolia is the most advantageous choice.

Zhu Youtang canonized Dayan Khan's son Azhu as the new King of Beishun, and at the same time granted him the title of Holy Queen Mother of Beishun State in Manduhai, who acted as the military and administrative officer of Beishun State.

Just when everything was moving in a good direction, the Mingyuan treasure ship, which carried China's hope for revitalization, faced a violent storm. (End of chapter)