I'm really not doing business

Chapter 931: With a hammer in hand, everyone looks like a nail
"Then I really planted it." Zhu Yijun placed three potatoes on the imperial desk and said to Shi Xingyan. At this time, Shi Xingyan still had a way out. Zhu Yijun was always like this and was willing to give him two chances.

"If all nine borders plant this, I dare to assert that the good potatoes will bring prosperity and the nine borders will serve as the imperial foundation." Shi Xingyan bowed his head again and said.

"厎" is pronounced as dǐ, which is the same as "缔", meaning to make stable. Shi Xingyan was a serious Jinshi and a cultural nobleman. The Shi family of Qingzhou was a family of Han Dynasty. Cultural nobles liked this tune and quoted from classics.

What he meant was: this kind of Shengliang potato can usher in the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. Even in years of disaster, the nine borders can still have a good harvest, making the foundation of the Ming Emperor's imperial ambitions as solid as Mount Tai.

The nine borders are not in chaos and the Ming Dynasty is safe and secure.

Zhongsheng Fast-growing Yang and Zhongsheng Good Potatoes are both named after Zhongsheng, and the meaning is also straightforward, that is, China is prosperous.

Zhu Yijun looked at Shi Xingyan and was quite satisfied with him, even though he opposed him.

Shi Xingyan was exiled to serve as an official.

In the second year of the Longqing reign, Shi Xingyan, as a member of the Ministry of Personnel, submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying: The governance of the world will either improve or deteriorate; the heart of the monarch will either become stronger or weaken; I have secretly observed that since the beginning of spring, your Majesty's face has become increasingly haggard, you have attended court less and less frequently, memorials have been frequently shelved, and you have indulged in debauchery.

Shi Xingyan, with the main point that Emperor Longqing was not as diligent as he was in the first year of Longqing, submitted a letter criticizing Emperor Longqing on six points.

He indulges in selfish desires, loves feasting and drinking, and enjoys the lights of Aoshan Mountain. He does not attend banquets or court, trusts flattering ministers and does not listen to their words. He keeps reports to the emperor but does not submit them. He indulges in sensual pleasures.

These six accusations, thousands of words in total, are not all nonsense made up by Shi Xingyan. In the second year of the Longqing reign, Emperor Longqing took 200,000 silver coins and rare treasures from the national treasury to make the Aoshan Lanterns.

Every word touched the sore spot of Emperor Longqing, who was furious! He ordered him to be beaten with 60 canes and demoted to a commoner for "making insults to the emperor".

All the officials made suggestions and protected him, and Shi Xingyan was able to barely keep his official position, but he was still exiled to Gansu to serve as an official, starting as a county magistrate and gradually working his way up to his current position as the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu.

More than 20 years have passed, and Shi Xingyan is still the same Shi Xingyan. He still disobeys the will of his superiors and does not quite follow the imperial decree to reopen the Western Regions.

Before Shi Xingyan, he had already given up hope on the Ming Dynasty. As a minister, he saw more clearly that the Ming Dynasty was about to end and its luck was about to run out.

During his lifetime, the Ming Dynasty in his eyes was completely different from the Ming Dynasty in the eyes of his ministers. After he offended the emperor, he spent twenty years in Gansu, Shanxi, Henan, Zhejiang, and then returned to Gansu.

The Ming Dynasty he saw was:
The emperor was in hiding, avoiding disaster. He seldom made decisions and had no sense of responsibility. Most of the time he just went with the flow, caring only about his own extravagance and debauchery, without paying any attention to the critical situation of the country.

The ministers were engaged in factional struggles. After a corrupt Yan Song had been in power for 20 years, an even more corrupt Xu Jie came to power.

After Xu Jie's downfall, Gao Gong came to power and indiscriminately protected the Jin Party. Finally, Zhang Juzheng came who wanted to do something and take some responsibility. For various reasons, Zhang Juzheng chose to be regent.

Being a regent is synonymous with the end of government. If the emperor has come of age and you haven't usurped the throne, what will you do? If you want to usurp the throne, what else can you do?
Local officials are desperately trying to make money, and corruption is rampant, so the country is no longer viable.

Corruption will inevitably condone mergers and acquisitions. The world is already trapped in mergers and acquisitions. The contradiction between people and land has turned into conflicts, and they are becoming more and more acute and frequent.

The scholars and officials talked about their character with their hands folded, and all they talked about all day were romantic things and empty and boring things. Even if they passed the imperial examinations, they were still bent on scheming for fame and fortune, becoming disciples of their masters and calling themselves lackeys, with no other desires except for promotion and money.

The people were trapped in annexation and struggling in hell. Even a meal and a pair of pants were a luxury.

In Shi Xingyan's eyes, all the kings, nobles, dignitaries, literati, and Confucian classics are fake! Everything in the 205-year-old Ming Dynasty is fake! Only hunger is real!
The people were starving. This was the only scene Shi Xingyan saw during his many years as an official, from a county magistrate to the governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu.

Since when did Shi Xingyan stop despairing? After the establishment of the breeding base in Gansu, Shi Xingyan saw hope.

The struggles in the court were too far away from him. The emperor's marriage and farming were more like a political show carefully arranged by Zhang Juzheng. The light of various new policies could not reach this remote place of Gansu at all.

But at the moment the breeding ground was established, a little hope suddenly ignited in Shi Xingyan's heart.

When the emperor resolutely chose the Longkai Road, Shi Xingyan was full of fighting spirit!

He knew that Daming had been holding his breath, and finally after a deep breath, he turned over and sat up.

Did the emperor really want to reopen the Western Regions, or did he use the name of reopening the Western Regions to distribute the impoverished areas of Shaanxi, Gansu and Suiyuan? Shi Xingyan couldn't guess. This was his first time to see the emperor, and he didn't know the emperor at all, so he didn't guess.

He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi in the 41st year of the Jiajing reign. That year, Emperor Shizong did not show up at the palace examination. After that, he was just a Jieshi Zhong and had no chance to see the emperor. He could not even enter the Huangji Hall for grand court meetings.

He was banished from the capital in the second year of the Longqing reign. He had never seen the emperor in his life, and this was the first time he met him.

Actually, Shi Xingyan was not very good at being an official. He passed the imperial examination and was admitted to the Hanlin Academy as a Hanlin, but his bright future was ruined by his own hands.

The memorial insulting the emperor in the second year of the Longqing reign caused him to wander for twenty years. To this day, Shi Xingyan still has no regrets. Why? Because he was unwilling to accept that the Ming Dynasty would end like this.

After Shi Xingyan met the emperor and saw the emperor's hands, he knew that His Majesty really farmed and that His Majesty was a comrade, a fellow traveler, and a fellow enjoyer.

Your Majesty annotated a sentence in the Analects in the first year of the Wanli reign: "Isn't it a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar?"

Your Majesty said: Friends come from afar, so naturally we have common topics and common aspirations, and naturally we will do the same things, so how can we not be happy? This is what we call: comrades, people who walk together, can only enjoy themselves together.

This sentence is a very inconspicuous annotation, but for seventeen years, it has inspired Shi Xingyan and people like him.

Shi Xingyan came before the emperor and confirmed the original annotation. It was not a political show by His Majesty to win people's hearts, but His Majesty's belief.

Shi Xingyan is now full of confidence. What if the sky changes? If the Ming Dynasty works together, they can poke a hole in the sky!
"Governor Shi, have you ever heard of the talk of natural disasters?" Zhu Yijun looked at Shi Xingyan and talked about the small glacier climate. The temperature drop that began in the first year of Yongle was becoming worse.

Shi Xingyan said solemnly: "I have heard of it. I have been in Gansu and Shanxi for fourteen years. I believe it is true."

Zhu Yijun sighed, looked at the geomancy map and said, "So, you are against reopening the Western Regions. If you don't do this before the change in the heavens, I don't know how many years it will take to reopen the Western Regions."

Shi Xingyan thought for a moment, bowed his head and said, "Didn't the Imperial Astronomical Observatory say that there will be droughts nine out of ten years? Once we survive these ten years, the bad times will be over and good times will come. The Longkai Chidao will run smoothly under the Chidao Branch Bureau, and Shaanxi, Gansu and Suiyuan will become a little richer. Then we can reopen the Western Regions."

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life. I think you can wait a while."

Zhu Yijun shook his head and said, "No one knows when good times will come. It could be ten, twenty, fifty, or even a hundred years."

Shi Xingyan was stunned for a moment, hesitating to speak, and in the end, he said nothing. Your Majesty is a holy monarch and obviously would not speak nonsense.

The astronomers of the Imperial Observatory and the Academy of Astronomy of the Academy of Natural History have apparently sorted out the historical documents on several past incidents of imbalance between yin and yang and floods and droughts. Based on reliable historical experience, this super cold wave will probably last for a very long time, so long that even the emperor cannot wait.

"Then we can't have it." Shi Xingyan answered the question in a low voice. Upon hearing that the super cold wave and continuous drought would not end in ten years, Shi Xingyan's attitude became even more determined and he refused to say even a nice word.

Seeing that His Majesty did not refute, Shi Xingyan immediately whispered: "Your Majesty, Shaanxi and Gansu are not self-sufficient in food. About 20% of it needs to be supplied by the hinterland. Now with the Hetao in Suiyuan, the pressure on the hinterland can be alleviated a little."

"The Western Regions are not self-sufficient in food. If we reopen the Western Regions at this time, we will most likely need to supply food from Jiangnan to the Western Regions."

"Now, we can't afford to support them, and with the change in the weather, we can't defend them anymore."

Shi Xingyan did not talk about silver. Silver was almost useless in Gansu. Only food was the most important thing. Now that the highway had been built, people had hope. Otherwise, when a severe drought came, Shaanxi, Gansu and Suiyuan would lack even more food, and even Shaanxi and Henan would lack food. It would be almost natural for civil unrest to subvert the country.

"That makes sense." Zhu Yijun did not deny it. Shi Xingyan liked to tell the truth, so he was right.

This is true for almost everything. We need to consider personal struggle as well as the historical process.

Shi Xingyan has always felt that the most important thing the court should do now is to occupy all the arable land in Southeast Asia and establish the north-south convection of steel grain.

"Your Majesty, the border regions are extremely valuable because of their military security."

"Whether it is Suiyuan or Gansu, without the Western Regions, we would be exposing our heart to the enemy, which is not conducive to the peace of the Ming Dynasty."

"So, it is very necessary for Ningyuan Hou to be in Luntai. It is like a nail driven into the Western Regions, just like a poplar tree. The Ming Dynasty can have a basis for advance and retreat." Shi Xingyan was afraid that he would use too much strength and the court would suddenly switch from offense to complete contraction, so he hurried back to make up for it.

The city of Luntai, which can be attacked or defended, must never be abandoned. As long as the Ming Dynasty can drive a nail into the heart of the Western Regions, the Western Regions will not threaten the security of the Ming Dynasty's hinterland.

Safety value is a value that is often overlooked but is very important, even more important than economic value.

Horse bandits from the Western Regions plundered Suiyuan three times a year. No matter how good the rule of the king was, it would be completely destroyed.

"Let's wait and see." Zhu Yijun thought about it. Li Chengliang had already reached Luntai City, so let him continue to expand. The Ming Dynasty could still afford to support his 3,000 foreign soldiers.

Zhu Yijun's plan for the Western Regions underwent some changes. In the original plan, he intended to divide the Western Regions into counties, which was a very bold plan.

Now he planned to set up a Governor's Office, which meant letting Li Chengliang fight and then build a city on the oasis. The actual ruling area of ​​the Ming Dynasty in the Western Regions was just those cities, and the rest of the place would have a high degree of autonomy. This was the Governor's Office system of the Ming Dynasty.

Fight as many as you can and take as much as you can. When the Ming Dynasty has the ability, we will continue to deepen the rule of the king.

Zhu Yijun and Shi Xingyan chatted for a long time, mainly about the development of the Western Regions. Shi Xingyan briefly introduced the important passes in the Western Regions.

Almost all the passes worth mentioning are located in important geographical areas, beside famous mountains and large rivers.

Controlling the pass means controlling all the roads passing through it and controlling the entire area. Its importance is self-evident.

There are three famous passes in Jiayuguan: Tiemen Pass, Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass.

There are no old friends west of Yangguan, and the spring breeze does not reach Yumenguan. Yumenguan and Yangguan are both located in the Seven Guards West of the Guanxi. Eighty percent of the seven guards outside Jiayuguan are Han people.

Tiemenguan is a name that has been buried in the wind and sand. The first time Tiemenguan appeared in Chinese history was in the third year of Emperor Wudi's Jianyuan reign in the Han Dynasty, when Zhang Qian passed through Zhaliu Valley and discovered the importance of this place. It was not until the sixth year of the Yongyuan reign in the Eastern Han Dynasty that Ban Chao built a road and a pass here, and Tiemenguan was officially established.

After the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty withdrew from the Western Regions, and Tiemenguan fell into the hands of the Western Turks. To this day, it has been 850 years.

Tiemen Pass is located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, a key position between three mountains and two basins. As long as 3,000 troops are stationed here, no bandits from the Western Regions can disturb the peace of the Ming Dynasty.

The place where Li Chengliang was ambushed was at Tiemen Pass. After he promised benefits, they built a stone road to Tiemen Pass. When Li Chengliang went to survey the terrain personally, he was ambushed by several tribes.

In addition to Tiemen Pass, Li Chengliang also planned to build a pass in Alashankou, named Wenquan Pass, because there were many hot springs in that place (Alashankou, 110 kilometers northeast of Sailimu Lake).

As long as the two passes of Nanwenquan and Beitiemen fall into the hands of the Ming Dynasty, the Western Regions will never be able to break away from the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

This is also the result of many discussions between Shi Xingyan and Li Chengliang. It is the most cost-effective way to open up the Western Regions. Although it has not met His Majesty's requirements, it is already the limit.

"Governor Shi, what do you think about anti-corruption?" After Zhu Yijun finished talking about business, he started talking about anti-corruption.

It was not only to ask for Shi Xingyan's opinion, but also to inform Shi Xingyan of the court's movements.

"I must be pure-hearted and upright, and not be influenced by the worldly customs. Integrity is the foundation of my conduct." Shi Xingyan carefully considered his words and expressed his determination to be honest to the emperor.

Zhu Yijun naturally heard that this was a cliché. He sat up straight and said, "Just say whatever you want to say. You dare to oppose such a big thing as reopening the Western Regions, but you dare not speak freely about such a small matter? Just say it."

Shi Xingyan glanced at Ye Xianggao. The secretary who was writing the daily notes had stopped writing. It was obvious that some words were not convenient to record. After confirming that his words would not be recorded, Shi Xingyan sighed and shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, fighting corruption is difficult."

"Your Majesty, there are 176 prefectures in the Ming Dynasty, and there are 187 powerful and wealthy families that can be considered high-ranking. Whether in the local area or in the court, the fifth rank is a hurdle. If you can't make it through in a few years, you probably won't make it in your lifetime. If you can make it, you can still climb up."

"This prefect is of the fourth rank, just above the fifth rank. This means that any prefect must at least be a Jinshi, and must fight in this world of fame and fortune and suppress others before he can become the prefect."

"Your Majesty, those who become prefects are all outstanding talents, but the annual salary of a prefect is only the cost of a meal for these powerful and wealthy people, or even less."

"A county magistrate may still try to flatter the gentry and socialize perfunctorily, but when it comes to the prefect, he has a hammer in his hand and everyone looks like a nail."

"I understand. If we want to cure corruption, we have to start with people's hearts. Specifically, at least we have to make the prefects convince themselves not to be greedy." Zhu Yijun frowned when he heard this.

There are also differences in the selection of officials. A county magistrate may need the cooperation of the gentry to do his job, but the prefects, who only have 176 members, really hold the hammer in their hands. They control the power, and if anyone disobeys, the yamen runners, patrol archers, and military soldiers can all cooperate and mobilize them, and that will really destroy the family.

The prefects who controlled the power of life and death could only face their own hags after a busy day. After all, visiting prostitutes was a moral corruption and would be impeached by the censors. Even Shen Shixing, a direct descendant of Zhang's party and a favorite of the emperor, would be impeached for his dirty deeds.

These 187 families could be considered as the powerful and wealthy families of high rank. One meal would cost them the annual salary of the prefect. With that much money, they could take any beauty away with them, and they had all kinds of luxury cars and beauties.

Zhu Yijun put himself in the other's shoes and thought about it. As a prefect, how could he convince himself not to be greedy, corrupt, or tempted by wine, sex, money and power?
We are all human beings, all living things, all have desires, all have one nose and two eyes, and all have a piece of skin covering a pile of flesh and blood. Why, even though I am holding a hammer, am I not as comfortable and contented as a playboy like you?

Why?

And even if he personally can resist the temptation of wine, sex, money and power, can his wife, parents, family, relatives and friends resist the temptation?

It may be that the life and death problems of loved ones and friends can be solved by him just by stretching out his hand, without even saying a word. As long as the master hears it, it can be solved. So should he solve it or not?
As long as it is solved, you have to accept it as it is, because the first time to compromise is the most difficult, the second time will become unimportant.

"I heard that Governor Shi is known for his integrity." Zhu Yijun looked at Shi Xingyan. He had been an official in the local area for twenty years and there had never been any rumors of corruption. He was famous for his integrity, loyalty, and diligence in governing.

When Shi Xingyan heard the emperor's question, he said with a little disappointment: "I am not a saint, it's just that no one wants to be involved. No one gives me money, for fear that I will bring them to justice."

He was demoted in the second year of the Longqing reign because he cursed the previous emperor, and he became famous throughout the world as a loyal and upright minister. Everyone knew that he was a loyal and upright minister. Running to give him money, didn't this give credit to Shi Xingyan?

No one wants to get into trouble again. He is not corrupt, but is burdened by his reputation. If he is constantly corrupted, he doesn't know if he can bear it.

Shi Xingyan felt it was really difficult.

Shi Xingyan continued, "Your Majesty lives in deep palaces, and only a few court officials can report to Your Majesty. Maybe in Your Majesty's eyes, the officialdom is divided into lines. These are the people of the Yuanfu, those are the people of the Jin Party, and over there are the people of the Zhejiang Party."

"But once you leave the nine gates of the capital, the world is actually a big net."

"Everyone is a point on this web. It's easy to take. The subordinates show respect, and the subordinates show respect to others. But once someone in the middle doesn't take, it will affect others to take, and they will immediately fall into the trap of being hunted."

The most typical example of hunting down honest officials is Hai Rui. There is also Xu Chengchu, who refused to be hunted. He was even more stubborn than Hai Rui. Hai Rui was targeted for hunting down in the Southern Court, and Xu Chengchu was also hunted down in the capital, and he would continue to hunt down officials.

If you don’t take it, how can I take it? If I don’t take it, how can Commissioner Geng, Governor Hu, Zhang Bu Tang, and Prime Minister Yan take it? If Prime Minister Yan and others don’t take it, how can I make progress?
This is the second dilemma in anti-corruption: the environment.

The current environment in the Ming Dynasty does not allow you to be free from greed and corruption. If you are not greedy and corrupt, you will be overthrown and hunted down. When you fall, you will be blamed for everything. Even after your death, they will not let you go. All kinds of messy rumors will make you infamous.

Shi Xingyan felt that it was impossible to convince individuals and change the environment.

"And, Your Majesty, usually, corruption and hunting are carried out at the same time. The situation is extremely complicated, and it is even difficult to tell whether it is a trap or a bait." Shi Xingyan reminded His Majesty that the honest officials who are hunted are usually under tremendous pressure, and at this time, the bait of corruption will become particularly tempting.

There will be a voice constantly telling you in your ears that as long as you compromise, the pressure will disappear immediately, and wealth and glory will follow.

When people make decisions, they are not affected by the huge sunk costs in the past. It may be that they see a scene, hear a sentence, or read a poem, and the taut string breaks. They give themselves a reason and compromise.

As for the powerful and wealthy, they were best at winning people's hearts and catering to their interests. The director of the Military Equipment Bureau, Liu Yongshun, was fond of antiques, and Zhen Zhuolian was well versed in history, so they immediately took Liu Yongshun down.

"I understand. The road ahead is long and arduous." Zhu Yijun kept nodding his head. When His Majesty asked, Shi Xingyan saw that others could not take notes, so he spoke his true feelings.

"I'll take my leave." Shi Xingyan looked at the time. He had been seeing the emperor for almost half an hour, so he bowed his head and took his leave.

Shi Xingyan walked out of the imperial study in Tonghe Palace, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood in front of the door of the imperial study, looking around the study. He stood there for about a quarter of an hour before leaving for the Ministry of Personnel.

After Shi Xingyan left, Zhu Yijun stared in a daze for a long time at the crows standing on the old tree and withered vines outside the window.

"Feng Daban, what Shi Xing said makes sense, but I have never heard General Hai and General Lu complain to me about this." Zhu Yijun leaned back in the rattan chair, his emotions very stable. He was not disheartened, but he found that the job done by Hai Rui and Lu Guangzu was extremely difficult.

The prefect is holding a hammer in his hand, and everyone looks like a nail to him. If you don't give him money, he will hammer you until you're dizzy!

The court cannot take the hammer from the prefect, otherwise how can the prefect manage the local area? It would be strange if the powerful people did not ride on the neck of the court.

On the contrary, the overall environment that Shi Xingyan talked about has improved a lot because of Hai Rui's vigorous anti-corruption efforts!

At least for now, no one dares to hunt down Xu Chengchu, Shi Xingyan and others openly like they did Hai Rui. These upright ministers and honest officials have room to survive. They can't afford to offend them, but they can afford to avoid them.

Feng Bao sorted all the memorials that needed to be sent to the cabinet into a box and replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, Xu Chengchu was not impeached for protecting unruly people, bullying local gentry, and seeking fame and disrupting government. His wife and family were not killed. This is already a very good world."

In the fourth year of the Longqing reign, the censor Dai Fengxiang impeached Hai Rui for "sheltering unruly people, bullying local gentry, and disrupting politics for the sake of fame." The Prime Minister Gao Gong's opinion was: he was too hasty in seeking governance, and his changes were too sudden, which had offended people. When there were corresponding vacancies in the two capitals, he should be recommended for appointment at his discretion.

Gao Gong said that Hai Rui acted too hastily and did not consider personal relationships. If there was a vacancy, he should recommend someone else for the position.

In August of the fourth year of the Longqing reign, Hai Rui's wife and concubine died one after another. Hunting had always been a bloody and murderous hunt, not a gentle and peaceful one.

Feng Bao took another pile of memorials and placed them on the imperial desk, saying, "Why don't these corrupt officials dare to hunt Xu Chengchu? They only dare to make fun of him with the big tumor, and even in the past two years, they don't even dare to make fun of him."

"They are not afraid of Xu Chengchu, but of your majesty. In your majesty's eyes, Xu Chengchu is a good person, and those who make fun of Xu Chengchu are bad people. Once they are branded as bad people, I am afraid that if there is any disturbance, Master You will be in trouble."

The emperor was confident in handing the case of Wuqingbo Mansion to Xu Chengchu, and he adopted all of Xu Chengchu's opinions. This was the emperor's heart. Who dared to continue to make things difficult? All of the honest officials in the Ming Dynasty had the emperor's favor, which was a talisman.

"Your Majesty, the congratulatory memorials have arrived." Feng Bao said, pointing to a heavy pile of memorials on the table.

"There are congratulatory letters every year. I won't read them. Just write 'I am here to greet you' and send it off." Zhu Yijun glanced at the congratulatory letter. He was not interested in these clichés. He liked upright ministers, such as Hai Rui, Shen Li, Xu Chengchu, and Shi Xingyan, who dared to speak the truth and had something to say.

An honest official who can stand before the emperor must be a capable minister, because if he is not a capable minister and wants to remain honest, he will die like a fish in boiling water.

"This year's congratulatory messages are very different from those in previous years. The government offices in various places have learned about the natural disaster and have forced the powerful and gentry to express their opinions." Feng Bao reminded His Majesty that these congratulatory messages are different from those in previous years. They all contain promises from the powerful and gentry.

Zhu Yijun's eyes lit up. He read through every congratulatory letter and made his comments solemnly without stamping or being lazy.

The promises generally consisted of six items: first, rent reduction, which would be reduced to 10%, or to zero if there was a disaster; second, planting potatoes and sweet potatoes, and if there was a disaster, the land would be cultivated by the farmers themselves, and potatoes could also be planted on good land; third, disaster relief, the landowners' warehouses would be registered, and in disaster years, grain would be released to help the farmers tide over the hard times;
4. Do not annex other countries, and do not take advantage of natural disasters to create man-made annexations; 5. Do not take advantage of famine to force the people to sell their wives and children and amass slaves; 6. Do not give out money for green rice, and in years of famine, the government will provide seeds and store them in warehouses, and the government will provide seeds and grain.

As for the gentry, they were not allowed to grow sweet potatoes on fertile land, because sweet potato wine tasted bad, and many gentry made wine, so there was a second promise that potatoes and sweet potatoes could be grown on fertile land.

In some water-scarce areas, there are commitments to build wells and ditches. There are as many as 62 commitments of various types tailored to local conditions.

"This must be the promise that the prefectural government forced the local gentry to sign with a hammer." Zhu Yijun was extremely surprised when he saw the promises made by the local gentry.

If the local gentry of the Ming Dynasty can fulfill this promise, Zhu Yijun would like to give them a thumbs up and say to them: good gentry!

Feng Bao thought for a moment and replied, "Officials at all levels don't want to be a nail in the majesty's eyes. Now that the heavens have changed, people in their jurisdiction are starving to death and civil unrest is caused. I'm afraid they can't escape the death penalty."

The emperor's hammer was so big that not only the local officials but also the officials in the capital could not bear it.

The county magistrates and prefects forced these local sages to make a promise that if anyone made trouble during a disaster, they would have a legitimate reason to strike down the powerful and the gentry with hammers.

If they still want to make trouble in a disaster year, they will not let the county magistrates and prefects live, and they will not let the officials live, so we will just start to beat them!
(End of this chapter)