The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

Since the first year of Longqing, when Emperor Longqing came to the throne, he changed the policy of the Ming Dynasty towards overseas trade. switch".

After the "Longqing switch", private private overseas trade gained its legal status, private overseas trade in the southeast coast entered a new period, and a relatively comprehensive open situation also appeared in the Ming Dynasty.

It's just that Emperor Longqing's behavior that violated the precepts of the ancestors was rarely opposed by the ministers in the court at that time, including Xu Jie, who was the most rigid at that time, and even the royal officials. Since the founding of the country, the tax revenue has been very low. In addition to the serious annexation of land by aristocratic families, the court does not have much tax revenue every year. There are other reasons. Every now and then, groups of ten or hundreds of people come to plunder and slaughter the people in the southeast. Even the pirates produced by the Ming Dynasty are rampant.

Most of all, what the officials still remember is that ten years ago, there was a character like Wang Zhi in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Zhi's name is Wufeng, and he calls himself the captain of Wufeng. To put it mildly, he was a maritime trader in the Ming Dynasty. To put it mildly, he was the largest smuggler and the most famous pirate in the Ming Dynasty. Even muskets were introduced to Japan. Wang Zhi also has a lot of "credit" in it.

This Wang Zhi was the biggest pirate in the Ming Dynasty at that time, and all the small pirate gangs in the southeast and even the pirates all followed him and gathered under him. Not only did the daimyos not dare to think of him, they even flattered and sent troops to send him off.

The imperial court has always had no choice but to take Wang Zhi, and even sent Yu Dayou, the general of the country, to Fusang to encircle and wipe out Wang Zhi, but failed to capture him. In the end, Hu Zongxian, the Zhejiang inspector and supervisory censor, ensnares him. On December 38, Jiajing 25 , Wang Zhi was beheaded at the city palace port of Hangzhou Province, and the Wang Zhi rebellion was considered to be over. It took several years to settle it down.

The courtiers still remember this matter very well, and they thought well. Once the court switches on, it must strengthen the coastal defense construction, so that the problem of Japanese pirates in the southeast can also be alleviated. If Wang Zhi took such a risk, it would be much less likely to go to sea to do smuggling business and eventually become a pirate.

Historically, in the more than 70 years since the "Longqing switch" to the demise of the Ming Dynasty, some people estimated that one-third of the world's total silver flowed into China, about three to five hundred million taels, and two-thirds of the world's trade It has something to do with China, but people in later generations always think this is very strange. If [-] million taels of silver really entered China, why didn't the world's top economic metropolis appear in the late Ming Dynasty? On the contrary, Britain established the status of maritime hegemony , Europe is increasingly becoming the center of the world.

Zhang Fan, whose historical achievements are not outstanding, also knows this. At first, he did not believe that so much silver would enter China, but the gift-giving turmoil in the past few days made him completely believe this. As for why China cannot become the center of the world, Zhang Fan can also see from the gift-giving incident in the past few days that all the money went into the pockets of these officials.

Zhang Fan couldn't help but secretly sighed in his heart for a while, and then he had some thoughts. As a major in economics, he knows that the world continues to develop today. Everything still depends on the economy. Now Zhang Fan also has a considerable status. The most important thing is that Emperor Wanli, who will reign the longest in the Ming Dynasty in the future, trusts him very much. Do something.

"Teacher, what are you thinking?" Zhu Yijun, who was looking out the window in the carriage, couldn't help asking when he saw Zhang Fan's pensive face.

"I'm thinking, after completing His Majesty's order this time, how can we ensure that such large-scale corruption will no longer occur here," Zhang Fan said casually.

"What the teacher said," Zhu Yijun echoed, "Even if the teacher can wipe out all the corrupt officials in Jiangnan this time, if there are more in the future, it is impossible for the imperial court to send imperial envoys to investigate thoroughly every year."

"Jun'er is right," Zhang Fan said, "so I want to find a way to get the best of both worlds, even if I can't completely stop this kind of thing from happening again, I have to make it smaller."

Yingyue didn't understand this, she just looked at Zhang Fan quietly from the sidelines, and now they were on their way to Suzhou Mansion, and they heard that the first return sea boat was coming soon, Zhang Fan didn't care whether it was Whether he is an imperial envoy or his personal wish, he wants to go and find out.

"It's just that this matter is much more difficult," Zhu Yijun said. "When Grandpa Taizu was alive, he hated corrupt officials very much. Once an official was found to be corrupt, the punishment would be severe. Although I have never seen it, but listen I feel my scalp is numb, but even if corrupt officials are severely punished like Grandpa Taizu, the number of corrupt officials has not decreased at all,"

"The heart of the emperor Taizu in the past is really admirable," Zhang Fan said. He didn't flatter Zhu Yijun again, but he really admired Zhu Yuanzhang. "

"Yes, it is said that people are inherently good, but why are there so many bad people and corrupt officials in this world?" Zhu Yijun also sighed.

Suddenly, Zhang Fan's eyes lit up, and he said, "Emperor Taizu is indeed very wise, and I have thought of a way."

"Oh, tell me, teacher, what is the solution?" Zhu Yijun was also very happy when he heard that Zhang Fan had thought of a solution.

"In the past, the Emperor Taizu set up six departments under the six departments in order to fear that the six ministries and the cabinet would be too powerful. It's eye-catching,"

"The teacher means..." Zhu Yijun still didn't quite understand what Zhang Fan meant.

"Jun'er, think about it, most of these people are people with excellent moral character and integrity. Although they are not very good at being officials, it is because of this that they always feel against those who exclude them and are not as talented as others. They are jealous of those who climb higher and faster than them," Zhang Fan said, "Emperor Taizu's way of stepping up to the throne is really a good recipe."

"What the teacher means is to do the same with regard to local taxation issues," Zhu Yijun said, "This is a good way, so that these people who are either unwilling or jealous will really vigorously supervise the officials of these local taxation departments However, how can the teacher be sure that these people will not be bribed by those officials, and thus join them in committing corruption and perverting the law," Zhu Yijun was still a little worried.

"Hehe, Jun'er is very thoughtful, this matter is really worrying," Zhang Fan said with a smile, "But I still have a way, Jun'er must know that I am now in charge of Jinyiwei, Jinyiwei is the emperor's personal guard, and His job is to supervise the ministers on behalf of the emperor. At that time, I can let the Jinyiwei guards monitor these people. Of course, this is done in secret, and those people are not stationed in one place, but change every three years. , In this way, even if the local officials want to bribe these people, they will change another batch after three years, but they will have no way to do so,"

"This method is good," Zhu Yijun clapped his hands and applauded, "Master, why don't you quickly write a memorial and report it to the emperor?"

"This is just an idea of ​​mine now, and there are still a lot of things that need to be carefully considered," Zhang Fan said. In fact, the reason why he didn't want to play it right away is because there are too many corrupt people in Jinyiwei. If this problem is not resolved, the court will approve it. When the time comes, the people of Jinyiwei will unite with corrupt officials from all over the country, and it will be more troublesome.

"Well, what the teacher said is," Zhu Yijun didn't know Zhang Fan's real thoughts. He just thought that such a hasty decision was very inappropriate. Zhu Yijun can think of it.

The carriage continued to walk, although the speed was not fast, but it was very stable. Zhu Yijun felt the occasional majesty from outside the window, and he really enjoyed it in this hot summer. But he has to run around outside, his whole heart is completely fascinated by the beautiful scenery in the south of the Yangtze River, now he is like a bird out of the cage, no longer has to be troubled by the complicated rules in the palace, and he doesn't have to care about his prince Identity to do things that you want to do but dare not do on weekdays.

"Jun'er, you made up your mind to go back to Beijing with me after my affairs here," Zhang Fan asked casually, "Aren't your parents worried?"

"Teacher, please don't worry." Zhu Yijun didn't care about this matter at all, "I will write letters every few days. My mother's side is now focused on my younger brother. I only ask Wang Dexian to go to my mother's place every day. Just a notification is enough, as for my father, he said that there is a teacher with me, he is very relieved, "

Hearing Zhu Yijun's words, Zhang Fan couldn't help but smiled wryly in his heart, and thought to himself: "Your Majesty, don't you know that there are unpredictable things in the sky, and that people have good and bad fortunes? No one can guarantee such accidents. If something happens , Aren’t you wanting my life?” But then he thought that Zhu Yijun was still a child after all, from the time when no one cared about him to his present status as the crown prince, he felt the biggest gap in his life, and Now that the younger brother is born, although Long Qing, as the father, still treats him fairly as always, but Li Guifei, who is the most mother, now puts all her heart on the younger son. After all, Zhu Yijun is a child, so why doesn't he feel lost in his heart.

"Thank you Your Majesty for your compliment," Zhang Fan said, "In that case, Jun'er will come with me, but I have a request."

"I will definitely obey the teacher's orders," Zhu Yijun thought it was this matter, and immediately said.

"It's not about this," Zhang Fan said, "I mean, since Jun'er finally came out once, then we should have fun and don't leave any regrets."

"Well," Zhu Yijun nodded happily after hearing Zhang Fan's words, and he respected Zhang Fan even more in his heart, "It's just, why do they have to follow?" Another carriage driving behind.

"Oh," Zhang Fan looked at it and said, "Since His Majesty ordered the opening and closing of Jiangnan, every year when the first sea ship returns, the guards from all over the country will go to greet it."

"But I hate eunuchs," Zhu Yijun said, "I saw a lot of them at home, but now I have these people here, and although this Liu Shan doesn't know my identity, but because I am by the teacher's side, he treats me very well. This kind of person is the most hateful person."

Zhang Fan was a little helpless at Zhu Yijun's words.

"And, with that vixen," Yingyue at the side muttered softly.

"What did sister say?" Zhu Yijun asked without hearing her clearly.

"No...it's nothing, I said Suzhou Mansion is near," Yingyue said hastily.

Zhang Fan heard what Yingyue said, but couldn't explain it clearly, so he could only smile wryly.

At this time, Liang Chao, who was riding outside with the carriage escort, leaned over and said, "Your Highness, my lord, the Suzhou Mansion is coming soon."