The ruthless emperor in the late Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 163 Starting to Reform

The next day, before dawn, Zhang Yan sent a court lady to invite Zhu Cihong to court, but she was naturally driven back.

The habit developed in the previous life, Zhu Cihong would never get up if he didn't sleep until the sun was high, and even if he woke up, he would have to lie on the bed and check his phone. Now, even though he doesn't have a phone, the habit cannot be changed.

Zhang Yan had no choice but to go to the court by herself, and all the civil officials were very surprised and disappointed when they saw that His Majesty did not come to the court.

After all, the entire Jiangnan scholars are still waiting for them to inquire about the emperor's attitude. The emperor didn't show up on the first day, so how can everyone inquire?

"Your Majesty has been exhausted all the way, and the dragon's body is not in good condition. Today's court meeting will still be presided over by the Ai family."

Zhang Yan had no choice but to explain, but no one had much doubt about it.

"For the matter of the salt industry, His Majesty has read all the memorials submitted by the love ministers and various places, and has determined the general strategy for the reform of the salt administration. In the future, the ministers do not need to submit any more reports on the matter of the salt industry."

Zhang Yan said directly, and then gave them a general explanation of the new salt policy to be implemented.

After everyone listened, their faces were slightly moved. They didn't know that His Majesty had a plan in mind, not to mention adopting their suggestions about the salt industry, I'm afraid it would be good if they could read the memorials.

The salt industry has been the fattest piece of meat in all dynasties. After those salt merchants were eradicated, almost all the rich people in the south of the Yangtze River stared at this piece and wanted to take it over.

Now it was swallowed by His Majesty again without leaving any soup, which is really hateful and shameless.

However, His Majesty's attitude towards the big gentry in the south of the Yangtze River is unclear, and no official in the court dares to stand up and raise objections at this moment.

Everyone didn't believe that His Majesty came to Jiangnan in person just to rectify the salt industry, but after the Queen Mother finished talking about the salt industry, there was no more to say, so they all made indirect remarks, wanting to find out more information.

However, Zhang Yan is not stupid, the matter of the salt industry has been actually controlled by the imperial court, and the specific implementation plan is already known in Lang'er's mind, and it will be announced in the court, so that everyone can prepare.

But in other respects, Lang'er hasn't figured out how to implement it yet, so naturally she won't reveal it now, and announce the dispersal of the dynasty after some perfunctory.

Back in the palace, it was past time, Zhu Cihong finally got up, and was having dinner with Princess Kunxing.

"Auntie hasn't had breakfast yet, sit down quickly..."

Looking at Zhang Yan who came back, Zhu Cihong hurriedly greeted him.

Princess Kunxing even put down the bowl and chopsticks, got up to greet her, helped her to sit down, and then went back and forth.

As for the serving maids and eunuchs, there were none. Firstly, Zhu Cihong was not used to being served when eating, and secondly, he was worried that the court ladies and eunuchs would secretly take the opportunity to poison him.

"My son, is there any discomfort in your body?" Zhang Yan looked at Princess Kunxing and said softly.

"Thank you, Aunt Huang, for your concern. My son is all right now. Today I plan to find a bank location, and then recruit people. I will try to open three branches in Nanjing within half a month, and open all over South Zhili within half a year. Opened all over the southern provinces."

Princess Kunxing clenched her small fists, as if she wished she could go to work immediately without eating.

"You, Auntie doesn't know what to say about you, your brother is really..."

Zhang Yan was dumbfounded by her appearance, so she could only give Zhu Cihong a glare.

"Sister, don't be in such a hurry. You finally came to Jiangnan. I'll let Xu Lan accompany you and Auntie for a stroll around."

Zhu Cihong also waved his hands and smiled.

"Brother Huang, why don't you go?"

After all, Princess Kunxing was only 15 years old. When she heard that she could go for a walk, her eyes lit up, and then she looked at Zhu Cihong again.

Zhang Yan also looked over, obviously a little moved, and wanted Zhu Cihong to accompany him.

After all, she has been in Jiangnan for more than a year, and she has never been out of the palace. During this time, she also wanted to look around, but she finally endured it. Now that she has spoken, she no longer has any worries.

"I'm afraid I don't have time to go shopping with my aunt and sister for the time being. You should go and have a look around Nanjing City by yourself first. After I finish the matter, I will accompany you for a stroll."

Seeing that both of them looked forward to it, Zhu Cihong could only say helplessly.

It has been nearly two years since he traveled here, and he has been staying in the capital. He also wants to see the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan in ancient times.

Especially the West Lake in Hangzhou. Unfortunately, he has too many things to do, and he has no time to go sightseeing.

"Then Auntie shouldn't go, maybe I can help Lang'er a bit by staying in the palace, let's go for a trip together in the future."

"Well, Brother Huang won't go, and sister Chen doesn't want to go either. I'd better open up the banks as soon as possible to help Brother Huang make more money."

"Okay, then after I finish my work, I will accompany you to take a stroll around the beautiful scenery in the south of the Yangtze River, and experience the people's sentiments by the way."

Zhu Cihong nodded.

Then the three of them continued to eat breakfast.

After breakfast, Princess Kunxing left, but Zhu Cihong and Zhang Yan came to the Imperial Study Room again.

Zhang Yan first talked about what happened in the hall today, and then said: "Long'er, there shouldn't be any resistance to this salt administration matter, and it's easy to handle..."

Speaking of this, I was quite worried. After thinking about it, I said: "Lang'er, how about letting my aunt preside over the reform? What if something goes wrong..."

"Auntie's kindness, I appreciate it. I'm not the kind of emperor who doesn't take responsibility and finds someone to take the blame if something goes wrong. What's more, this reform can only succeed, not fail, and there is no room for redemption!"

Zhu Cihong waved her hand, and understood that she was doing it for her own benefit. After all, the emperors hid behind the scenes and let the ministers preside over the reforms in all dynasties.

If it succeeds, it will be a famous minister. If it fails, it will cause public anger, and the minister will be dragged out and killed to quell public anger. Even if it succeeds in the end, it may be necessary to kill the presiding minister to appease everyone's resentment.

In history, there was only one emperor who personally presided over the reform, and that was Wang Mang.

Because what Wang Mang did, not to mention the era of the Han Dynasty when the aristocratic families controlled everything, even the current Ming Dynasty, is a bit radical.

"Then how do you plan to proceed?"

Zhang Yan looked at him nervously.

Obviously, in her opinion, such a radical reform is simply as difficult as climbing the sky, and there are so many clues that ordinary people don't know how to start.

"My boy has already thought about it. First implement the new policy in Nanzhili, and start with three aspects. First, while improving the salt policy, open the royal store to the counties and counties, so that you will not be afraid of businessmen going on strike. You can Guarantee the basic living needs of the people, so as not to cause panic among the people.

Second, to improve the local military equipment, I plan to set up [-] officials in each county in Nanzhili, and garrison one to two hundred soldiers. Veterans in the army will serve as hundreds of officials. Household officers, [-] to [-] soldiers and horses are stationed, and each province has a guard commander, and [-] to [-] troops are stationed. With the guarantee of force, the smooth implementation of various new policies can be ensured.

Third, send people to spread the word everywhere, so that all the people everywhere understand that the New Deal implemented by the imperial court is beneficial to them, so as to prevent those gentry from inciting the people to resist the New Deal.

After these three aspects are properly arranged, the New Deal will be implemented at that time, and it will definitely get twice the result with half the effort! "

Zhang Yan also nodded repeatedly when she heard it. She didn't expect such a complicated and difficult matter to be dealt with, and she thought of a countermeasure so easily. In this way, the biggest trouble was indeed solved, and at least it would not cause any major troubles. turmoil.

"The garrison is easy to handle. Now there are [-] troops in the south of the Yangtze River. They are all newly recruited recruits. Just assign some of them. The manpower for the management of the salt industry and the shopkeepers of the imperial store are also brought here this time. A month at most. It can be arranged properly, but the public opinion is not easy to handle.

First of all, they must be able to speak well and explain the benefits of the New Deal to the people clearly. Second, they must stand firmly on the side of the court. Finally, they should have some prestige among the people, so that the people will believe what they say. "

At the end of Zhu Cihong's speech, she also rubbed her forehead.

This kind of propaganda work can’t be relied on by government officials in various places, and I’m afraid traditional literati are also unreliable. Let ordinary soldiers say it, and most of them can’t explain it clearly. It’s even more nonsense to run a newspaper. The people don’t know a single character. Look?
Zhang Yan's eyes lit up when she heard the words, and she tried to say: "Lang'er, this auntie has a suitable candidate, and she can definitely complete the task that Lang'er gave her."

"Oh? Who is it? Auntie, this is not something that can be solved by one or two great Confucian scholars. It requires hundreds of thousands of people who can speak well to go to various villages to spread the word. You can't have anything to do with those gentry and literati, otherwise It will definitely change when you explain it to the people.”

Zhu Cihong looked at her in astonishment, even though she was still having a headache, she actually said there was a way.

"Lang'er doesn't know. A while ago, the gentry and literati in the south of the Yangtze River slandered Ying'er's reputation everywhere, so much so that they could stop the child from crying at night. Later, when Ying'er left, Chen Yuanyuan and a group of brothel girls were asked to help her clarify. It is rumored that in the past two months, Chen Yuanyuan brought thousands of brothel girls to distribute cotton cloth and salt to the people in various places in the south of the Yangtze River, promoting Yinger's good name. The female Bodhisattva..."

At the end of Zhang Yan's speech, she blushed a little. This kind of blatant use of things to win over the people, coaxing children, and making them call herself a female Bodhisattva, the red lady didn't blush, but she blushed for her.

"Oh, is there such a thing? If that's the case, it is indeed a way to let them go to various places to publicize the New Deal to the people. At worst, let them send some cotton cloth to the people, and at the same time promote my benevolence. .”

(End of this chapter)