Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

The news that the Ming army entered Yunnan spread like wildfire, becoming more and more outrageous. When the rumor reached the capital of Yunnan, it was exaggerated to the point that the Ming army had 500,000 troops, carrying 10,000 artillery pieces, and was invincible. It is said that under the fierce bombardment of the artillery, Qujing City and its soldiers and civilians were reduced to ashes, the city walls collapsed, and the river water was cut off. What's more, there was a strange story that wild dogs outside the city were punished for offending the Ming army. It was said that the wild dogs were frightened by the sound of the Ming army's artillery and fled everywhere, but were caught by the Ming army soldiers as a warning to others. These absurd rumors were all the "credit" of the Jinyiwei. They added extra details wherever they went, and the listeners processed it according to their own imagination, so the news became more and more outrageous.

After Li Dingguo captured Qujing, he was not in a hurry to move forward. Instead, he was busy replenishing military supplies and sending spies to scout the enemy. When he first arrived in Yunnan, he was unfamiliar with the place. How could he dare to act rashly? He knew that every step in this unfamiliar land needed to be cautious. Hearing that Sha Dingzhou had assembled troops in the capital city of Yunnan, Li Dingguo sent envoys to persuade the counties to surrender. The elite troops of those counties were transferred to defend the capital city. The old, weak, sick and disabled people left in the city were scared to death when they heard the news. In order to survive, the defenders surrendered one after another, and those who were unwilling to surrender were forced to surrender. They knew that the power of the Ming army should not be underestimated. Instead of resisting to the end, it is better to adapt to the situation and save their lives.

In mid-March, the spring breeze blew across the land of Yunnan, bringing a glimmer of life. However, in Sha Dingzhou's mansion, there was a dead silence. The scout hurried to Sha Dingzhou and reported: "Sir, something is wrong! The Luliangwei and Shilin tribes in the south of Qujing, and the Malongzhou and Xundian tribes in the west have surrendered to the Ming army." Upon hearing this, Sha Dingzhou's face suddenly changed, knowing that the situation was extremely critical. He thought to himself: Malong and Xundian are the gateways to the capital of Yunnan. Once lost, the capital will have no defenses; Luliang and Shilin are the barriers from Qujing to Mengzi, and now they have also been lost. Mengzi is empty and unprepared, and the Ming army may march straight in at any time. He realized that his fate was hanging by a thread.

Sha Dingzhou hurriedly called all the generals together to discuss countermeasures. He looked around and said, "We now have nearly 50,000 troops. We can barely defend a city, but we will not be able to do it if we divide our troops for defense." All the generals were waiting for him to make a decision, but Sha Dingzhou deliberately kept everyone in suspense, wanting to hear everyone's opinions. One general said, "We should fight to the death with the Ming army under the city. The winner will be the king and the loser will be the enemy. We will accept our fate." His words revealed a kind of determination and tragic heroism. Another general said, "We should quickly withdraw to Mengzi to protect our families, so as not to be taken advantage of by the Ming army." His tone was a little flustered and worried. Another general suggested, "Instead of sitting and waiting to die, it is better to counterattack Qujing." His words revealed a kind of unwillingness and stubbornness. However, when everyone heard the suggestion of counterattack, they all laughed at him for being too naive, saying that the artillery of the Ming army was so powerful that it was not easy to provoke them.

After a heated discussion and weighing the pros and cons, they finally decided to retreat to Mengzi, recall the troops fighting outside, and prepare for a decisive battle with the Ming army. Before leaving, Sha Dingzhou did not forget to plunder the property of the Mu Palace to use as military expenses. He was secretly proud of himself: the Mu family has guarded Yunnan for generations, and there are countless gold and silver treasures in the treasury. This is a bargain for me. So he ordered people to move all the gold and silver treasures in the treasury out, load them onto carriages and horses, and prepare to transport them to Mengzi. This transportation took several months before all the gold and silver treasures in the treasury were transported.

Not long after Sha Dingzhou left, Li Dingguo's army arrived at Yunnan Prefecture City. The common people lined the streets to welcome them. They walked out of their homes, stood on both sides of the street, waving flags and flowers in their hands, cheering to welcome the arrival of the Ming army. The prefecture city was captured without bloodshed. That night, Wen Anzhi and Li Dingguo held a banquet in the prefecture city to celebrate the victory and wrote three letters. One was to Mu Tianbo in Yongchang, summoning him back to guard the city; one was a Tangbao, reporting the situation in Yunnan in detail; and another was sent to Jinling to report the victory to the court. At the same time, they also sent a fast horse to the capital to quickly convey the news of the victory to the emperor.

At this time, Beijing was also busy with an important event - the Spring Examination. Starting from the ninth day of the second month, there were three examinations every three days. Only candidates who passed the provincial examination were eligible to take this examination. Those who passed the examination were called Jinshi, which was a stepping stone to becoming an official. The number of Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty changed frequently. At first, there was no fixed number, but later it was set at six in the south and four in the north. During the Xuande and Zhengtong years, the examination was divided into two volumes. The successful Jinshi also had to take the palace examination, where the emperor personally interviewed them.

Lin Xiaofeng sat in the study, holding a copy of "History of Ming Dynasty" in his hand, savoring the stories in it. He thought to himself: Now that the Spring Examination is in progress, how many talents will stand out? He thought of Huang Zongxi, Gu Yanwu, Wang Fuzhi and others, and couldn't help but feel sorry for them. He wanted to help them, but in the end he didn't do anything. He was afraid that his actions would affect their growth path, and he was also afraid that leaking secrets would damage his reputation. So he could only silently pay attention to them, looking forward to their success in the exam.

When the results of the imperial examination were announced, Wang Fuzhi was the youngest but passed the exam. Huang Zongxi also passed the exam. Only Gu Yanwu failed. When Lin Xiaofeng learned the news, he felt sorry for Gu Yanwu. He knew Gu Yanwu's talent and knowledge, and how much effort he put into the exam. However, fate played a trick on him and made him miss the title of Jinshi. Lin Xiaofeng secretly made up his mind: he must find an opportunity to help Gu Yanwu so that he can go further in the future.

Next, the palace examination and re-examination were held in Jianji Hall on April 21. It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze. The candidates came to the Jianji Hall early to wait. They were dressed in gorgeous official uniforms, wearing tall official hats, holding the four treasures of the study, and their expressions were solemn and dignified. They knew that this day's examination would determine their future fate and future.

The palace examination was over in just one day. After the candidates handed in their papers at sunset, they walked out of Jianji Hall. Some of them smiled, some frowned, and some looked confused. The papers were reviewed and graded by eight examiners. They marked the good and bad with circles and triangles and selected the best ten papers to present to Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon chair and carefully reviewed each paper. Sometimes he frowned, sometimes he smiled, and sometimes he was silent in thought. In the end, he appointed the top three as the champion, the runner-up, and the third place.

On April 20, Lin Xiaofeng personally went to Jianji Hall to inspect the layout of the examination room. He walked in the corridor of Jianji Hall, admiring the murals on the wall and the carvings on the window lattices. Suddenly, a young eunuch came in with a report from Yunnan and said, "Li Dingguo has recovered the capital of Yunnan." Lin Xiaofeng was very happy when he heard the news. He immediately ordered someone to copy a copy and send it to Jian Mingxiao to commend his military exploits. Then, the Minister of Revenue Shao Shihan was ordered to enter the palace to meet Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng asked him about the collection of summer grain, worried that he would encounter obstruction from the people. Shao Shihan answered one by one and said that he would do his best to collect summer grain and ensure national food security. Lin Xiaofeng nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, and secretly thought about the next step of governing the country.

Lin Xiaofeng was grumbling in his heart. It is often said that a little favor can make people grateful, but if too much is given, it may turn into hatred. Isn't the relationship between the court and the people the same? He looked at the sparse raindrops outside the window, and ripples appeared in his heart. The people had a hard time, and the court reduced taxes, and everyone remembered the court's kindness; but after not collecting taxes for several years, the people gradually took it for granted. When the day came when it was said that taxes would be restored, hey, some people forgot all the kindness in the past and started to complain in their hearts. If there were too many complaints, it would be easy to cause trouble. Lin Xiaofeng sighed and thought to himself: People's hearts are more changeable than the weather outside the window.

Shao Shihan, the Minister of Revenue, was a shrewd man. He figured out the emperor's thoughts, and then he bent over like a cunning old cat and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, we have already informed the local authorities about the tax collection. Everyone has promised that it can be completed on time and in full." The emperor asked him what tricks he had, and Shao Shihan smiled, with wrinkles on his face squeezed together like a blooming chrysanthemum, "It's still the old rules. Let the rich and powerful gentry take the lead in paying taxes and set an example for the people. The people will naturally follow."

The emperor frowned and asked doubtfully, "The gentry have just been urged to pay taxes, will they be happy?" Shao Shihan smiled, with a sly look in his eyes, "Your Majesty, don't worry, when Li Gelao was collecting taxes for disaster relief in Northern Zhili, he had already sorted out this relationship. For those gentry with good reputations, we will mainly appease them and collect taxes as a supplement. They owe the court a favor, and now the court needs them, they will naturally help. As for those bully gentry, we will strike hard, kill those who should be killed, and imprison those who should be imprisoned. The rest are nothing to worry about."

The emperor saw that Shao Shihan was confident, so he reminded him: "Don't underestimate people's hearts. This is true in the court and among the people. The real enemies often hide in the dark, quietly gnawing at the foundation of the Ming Dynasty." Shao Shihan received the order and was about to leave. The emperor stopped him again: "Wait, I have two more things to discuss with you." He glanced around, at the room full of officials and eunuchs, and fearing that the news would leak out, he whispered: "Let's go to the side hall to talk."

In the side hall, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the landscape paintings on the wall. Cheng Qinghua was setting up a banquet with a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites. When everyone saw the emperor coming, they hurried to pay their respects. The emperor waved his hand and asked everyone to disperse, leaving only Qinghua and Shi Han. The emperor went straight to the point and said, "The first thing is that after the palace examination, the new Jinshi candidates must go to the six ministries and nine officials to observe and learn. This is an old rule of our Ming Dynasty, which started in the 18th year of Hongwu. Although during the Wanli period, Emperor Shenzong was a little lax, but the rule is still there. Let the Jinshi candidates gain experience in the court first, which will be beneficial for them to become officials in the future."

Qinghua went on to say, "The Ministry of Rites has discussed this with the five ministries and nine officials, and no one has an objection. As soon as the palace examination is over, we will arrange this matter with the Ministry of Personnel." The emperor shook his head and said, "Not only the six ministries and nine officials, but also Shuntian Prefecture and its subordinate prefectures and counties must be included. Let the officials of Northern Zhili teach these Jinshi how to be officials and how to deal with local gentry." Shi Han understood the emperor's meaning as soon as he heard it, and quickly bowed his hands to agree.

The emperor's intention is obviously to make these scholars grow up quickly. Northern Zhili is the location of the capital, and the officials here are all experienced. The scholars will surely improve rapidly if they study here. When they have learned, they will be sent to the south to deal with those cunning southerners. If they are still not enough, send some more old officials to the south for support. The emperor seemed to have drawn a grand blueprint in his mind, and he expected these scholars to become important chess pieces for him to realize this blueprint.

After talking about the new Jinshi, the emperor asked again: "Tell me, what are the drawbacks in the local area now?" Qinghua and Shihan smiled at each other and said they didn't know. The emperor was so angry and secretly scolded them for pretending to be stupid. But he also knew that the troubles of the Central Plains dynasties in the past dynasties all came down to the word "money". With money, the officials' salaries would be sufficient, there would be food for disaster relief, and the country would be stable; with money, the army's food and equipment would be sufficient, and foreign enemies would not dare to invade easily.

Seeing the two of them pretending, the emperor simply asked Shi Han: "Minister Fang, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the national treasury. This year is Lin Xiaofeng's 19th year. Can our national treasury's income and expenditure be balanced?" Shi Han nodded and said: "Lord Li has recovered a lot of taxes in Jiangnan. It is estimated that there will be 20 to 30 million taels. Therefore, the national treasury does not have to worry about running out of money recently." As soon as these words came out, the emperor almost choked. He thought to himself: This Shao Shi Han is really an old fox, always able to surprise me.

Seeing that the two of them were still playing Tai Chi, the emperor simply said, "This business tax issue has been delayed for a long time. I must solve it!" Shi Han asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to increase taxes or reduce taxes?" The emperor laughed and said, "Neither! What I want is to start collecting business taxes!" As soon as these words came out, the two ministers were stunned. Shi Han hurriedly bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, hasn't our court always collected business taxes? How can you say it's starting to collect them?" The emperor smiled and said, "This is a different time. The previous business tax collection was not standardized and full of loopholes. What I want is to formulate a complete business tax system so that merchants can pay taxes clearly and make the court's financial resources more stable."

When Shi Han and Qing Hua heard this, they suddenly understood. They knew that the emperor was serious about this. So they quickly expressed their opinions and said, "Your Majesty is wise! We will definitely fully support your majesty in collecting commercial taxes!" The emperor nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay! Then you can go back and prepare. I want to see the new commercial tax system introduced within three months!" The two ministers quickly accepted the order and thanked him and left. They knew that the days ahead would be difficult...

Seeing the confused looks on Shao Shihan and Cheng Qinghua's faces, Lin Xiaofeng asked, "Commercial taxes come from merchants, are collected by government officials, and ultimately go to the state and are then used for the people. Isn't this true?" His eyes were sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two answered in unison, with a hint of fear in their voices. They knew that although the young emperor was young, his mind was more meticulous than anyone else.

"But I heard that some local officials set up checkpoints on the road and levied heavy taxes on merchants. The taxes collected did not go into the national treasury, but into their own pockets." Lin Xiaofeng continued, his tone full of anger and dissatisfaction. He imagined those greedy officials, like fat rats, gnawing at the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

"Merchants are complaining, but the treasury is empty, and only corrupt officials are enjoying themselves." Lin Xiaofeng's tone was filled with indignation, and his clenched fists betrayed his emotions. He seemed to see those merchants being stopped by officials on the road and forced to hand over their hard-earned money, their eyes full of helplessness and despair.

"Is this true?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his voice rising a few notches, sounding even more severe. He could not tolerate such a thing happening, he wanted to know the truth, he wanted to bring justice to those suffering merchants.

Shao Shihan pretended to ponder for a while, his head lowered, his eyes flickering, as if he was weighing something. Then he replied, "I have heard a little bit about it." There was some hesitation and reservation in his voice.

"Is it just what you heard?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his tone was full of dissatisfaction and doubt. He stared at Shao Shihan, as if he wanted to see through his thoughts.

Shao Shihan was silent. It was not that he didn't know, but that he knew but didn't dare to say it. In the court, everyone is a shrewd person. It is not easy to protect oneself. You should do your best in your duties; it is better to refrain from interfering in other matters. The more you interfere, the more mistakes you will make. When the time comes to investigate, the consequences will be disastrous. His heart was full of contradictions and struggles. He wanted to tell the truth, but he was afraid that it would bring disaster.

Cheng Qinghua also had such thoughts in his mind. As the second prime minister, he had to step out to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, I have also heard about the local officials setting up checkpoints and collecting extortionate amounts of money." There was a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his voice. He knew that such things did exist, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

"Since you knew, why didn't you report it?" Lin Xiaofeng questioned, his voice carrying a bit of harshness and dissatisfaction. He couldn't understand why these officials chose to remain silent and conceal the truth when they knew it.

"This..." Cheng Qinghua looked embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "The reason why local officials dare to be so arrogant is that they have backers behind them. Take the canal shipping for example. The governor Zhu Guobi is not only a nobleman, but also holds military power. If he is impeached on this ground, it can easily be regarded as a party dispute, which will not only be of no help, but may also bring disaster." There was a bit of helplessness and bitterness in his voice. He knew that such a reality was unacceptable, but he was powerless.

Zhu Guobi was not an isolated case. Some local officials even colluded with the royal family. Although the officials in the court were bold, they did not dare to expose these scandals openly, so as not to hurt the royal family's reputation. This reality made Cheng Qinghua feel helpless and frustrated. He knew that such corruption and darkness could not be easily eradicated.

Seeing that the two men remained silent, Lin Xiaofeng clenched his fists and said angrily: "If they are in trouble, then I and the Ming Dynasty will have no difficulties?" There was some grief and helplessness in his voice. He could not tolerate such corruption and darkness to continue to exist.

"Merchants are also people of the Ming Dynasty. How can they tolerate such exploitation!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction. He seemed to be able to see the helpless eyes and desperate expressions of those suffering merchants.

Seeing that the emperor was angry, Cheng Qinghua and Shao Shihan hurriedly saluted and said, "We have failed in our duty, Your Majesty, please calm down." There was a bit of fear and uneasiness in their voices. They knew that this young emperor had the determination and courage to not tolerate corruption and darkness.

"I'm not asking you to calm down, but to come up with a solution to the local officials' extortion!" Lin Xiaofeng said sternly, his eyes full of expectation and determination. He believed that these two officials had enough wisdom and talent to come up with a solution to this problem.

"Your Majesty, we will return to discuss this matter and report back later." The two men answered respectfully. They knew that this issue required careful consideration and careful planning, and that a decision should not be made lightly.

"Is there no solution now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, with a bit of dissatisfaction and doubt in his voice. He couldn't understand why these two officials couldn't come up with a solution now.

"Not yet." The two answered helplessly, their eyes full of helplessness and bitterness. They knew that this problem was not so easy to solve, and it took time and energy to think and plan.

"Then let me think of a way." Lin Xiaofeng remained calm and continued, "Now is not the time for bandits to besiege the city. We cannot rely on a crisis to force them into submission. Officials are also human beings. They cannot be treated as machines to execute government orders." There was a bit of calmness and rationality in his voice. He knew that the problem could not be solved by tough means. He needed to find a more appropriate and effective method.

Lin Xiaofeng's meaning was very clear: You don't have a solution, but I do! His eyes were full of confidence and determination, and he believed that he could find a solution to this problem.

"Your Highness, I am all ears!" Cheng Qinghua and Shao Shihan stepped forward and bowed their hands in anticipation. Their eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity. They wanted to know what solution the young emperor would come up with to solve this problem.

"I plan to set up a new government office called the Post Office," Lin Xiaofeng announced, with a firm and decisive tone in his voice. He knew that this decision required courage and determination, but he believed that this was the best way to solve the problem.

"Post Office?" The two men repeated softly, their eyes full of doubt and puzzlement. They didn't know what the role and significance of this new government office was. "That's right. The Post Office has two major responsibilities: one is responsible for transportation, and the other is to collect commercial taxes." Lin Xiaofeng explained, with a bit of clarity and understanding in his voice. He knew that the establishment of this new government office needed the support and understanding of these two officials, so he explained patiently.

Looking at the two men's puzzled expressions, Lin Xiaofeng explained his thoughts in detail: "The reason why local officials can levy exorbitant taxes is because they have power and troops. Take the canal as an example. Officials set up checkpoints to stop ships and show official documents to collect fees. If merchants refuse to pay, they will send soldiers to arrest them." There was a bit of indignation and dissatisfaction in his voice. He imagined how those greedy officials oppressed merchants and collected ill-gotten gains.

"Merchants departed from Yangzhou and paid taxes in Southern Zhili. They had to pay more taxes in Shandong and Northern Zhili! Even small caravans couldn't stand such exploitation, let alone large caravans?" Lin Xiaofeng became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice filled with grief and helplessness. He could not tolerate such corruption and darkness to continue to exist, and he wanted to seek justice for those suffering merchants.

"The Postal Bureau will issue customs clearance certificates to merchants. Those holding these certificates will not be stopped at checkpoints along the way. When issuing the certificates, the Postal Bureau will inspect the goods and collect taxes." Lin Xiaofeng continued, "In this way, the court can receive taxes and the merchants can be protected, achieving the best of both worlds." There was some confidence and satisfaction in his voice. He believed that this method could effectively solve the problem of merchants being exploited.

Shao Shihan and Cheng Qinghua bowed their heads and pondered, they carefully thought about the establishment and significance of this new yamen. They knew that this decision required careful consideration and careful planning, and could not be made lightly.

"Your Majesty, what if merchants don't go to the Post Office to get their diplomas?" Shao Shihan was the first to raise the question, with a hint of worry and uneasiness in his voice. He was worried that the establishment of this new office would not be able to effectively solve the problem.

"Then we can only accept the exploitation at the checkpoints along the way." Lin Xiaofeng answered straightforwardly, his eyes full of determination and decisiveness. He knew that the merchants had to make their own choices. If they chose not to go to the Post Office to get their diplomas, they would have to bear the consequences of being exploited.

"Then...what if the checkpoints don't recognize this diploma?" Cheng Qinghua asked, with some worry and uneasiness in his voice. He was worried that the establishment of this new government office would not be recognized and supported by local officials.

"Kill!" Lin Xiaofeng said only one word, but it sent chills down their spines. His voice was somewhat cold and decisive, and he knew that this decision required severe punishment to ensure its execution.

"Is it... a bit too severe?" Cheng Qinghua asked tentatively, with some hesitation and uneasiness in his voice. He was worried that this punishment was too harsh and would cause disgust and dissatisfaction among local officials.

"Is it severe?" Lin Xiaofeng sneered, "Not recognizing the diploma is the same as not recognizing the court, which is the same crime as treason! I have shown mercy by not exterminating his three clans. Anyone who encounters such a situation, all civil and military officials on duty will be executed!" There was a hint of coldness and decisiveness in his voice. He knew that this decision required severe punishment to ensure its execution, and he could not tolerate any betrayal and disloyalty to the court.

Seeing the emperor's firm attitude, Cheng Qinghua knew that it was useless to persuade him any further, so he asked, "Your Majesty, which government office does you plan to put this Post Office under?" There was a hint of caution and tentativeness in his voice; he wanted to know the ownership and management of this new government office.

Shao Shihan patted his chest and said, "Minister Fan, matters concerning money and grain will naturally fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue." There was a bit of confidence and pride in his voice. He thought that this new government office should be under his jurisdiction.

However, Cheng Qinghua widened his eyes and retorted, "It's true that the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of money and grain, but the Ministry of Works is also indispensable for the caravans to transport military supplies for the imperial border troops!" There was some dissatisfaction and doubt in his voice. He believed that this new government office should also be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works.

Shao Shihan asked again: "So the Ministry of War should also be involved?" There was a hint of tentativeness and inquiry in his voice. He believed that the Ministry of War should also have a certain status and role in this new government office.

"The Ministry of War has little to do with this..." Cheng Qinghua blinked and said, but then changed his words, "I think so too!" There was a bit of embarrassment and helplessness in his voice. He knew that he could not convince Shao Shihan and the emperor, so he could only reluctantly agree to this.
Why did successive dynasties attach importance to agriculture and suppress commerce?

The reasons behind this are complex and are closely related to the economic foundation, social stability, class order, and the guidance of values. But if we want to explore it in depth, the most critical issue is the tax system.

Look at the farmers, they are busy in the fields all day long. The few mu of land is their lifeblood, and the quality of the harvest depends on this small space. The court sent an official to collect taxes, which is simple and direct, and not easy to miss. The farmers are simple and honest. Although it is hard work, they also know that paying taxes is a matter of course, so most of them can pay on time.

But it was different for merchants. They traveled all over the country, their whereabouts were erratic, like catkins in the wind, hard to predict. At that time, technology was limited, and it was impossible to collect taxes directly at the production stage. They could only collect taxes when goods were transported and sold. Commercial taxes can be roughly divided into three categories: toll taxes, city entry taxes, and local business taxes. Each type of tax was like a stumbling block on the road for merchants, making it difficult for them to move forward.

Toll tax, like the current tariff, was collected by local government at checkpoints on the road. In the Ming Dynasty, this tax was called banknote tariff. In the first year of Tianqi, the national banknote tariff revenue reached 520,000 taels of silver, nearly 200,000 taels more than in the 25th year of Wanli. Although this tax was heavy, merchants had to pay it for their livelihood. However, when Wei Zhongxian was in power, in order to win over the officials in the south and the merchants behind him, he greatly reduced this tax. The merchants were naturally cheering for this reduction, but the government's finances were greatly reduced.

The city entry tax, as the name suggests, is the tax that merchants have to pay when entering the city. The government will determine the tax amount based on the amount and value of the goods. Only after paying the tax will a certificate be issued, and only with this certificate can they legally sell goods in the city. Every time merchants enter the city, they have to carefully calculate the value of the goods, for fear that the tax will be too high and they will lose money.

The local business tax is a variation of the city entry tax. Merchants have a lot of goods, and they may not be able to sell them all in one county, so they will agree with the government on the quantity they want to sell. For example, if they bring 1,000 cotton clothes and plan to sell 200, they will pay taxes based on the value of 200. When leaving the city, the government will check the goods again. If they sell more than they want, they will have to pay additional taxes or be fined. This tax is a headache for merchants. They have to be on guard against government inspections at all times, for fear that they will accidentally sell more goods and cause unnecessary trouble.

The city entry tax and local business tax were both managed by local governments, so it was difficult for Lin Xiaofeng to intervene. But he could still think about the toll tax. So he set up the Post Office, hoping to unify the collection of toll taxes across the country, weaken the power of local governments, and bring it back to the court. This move was undoubtedly a major challenge to local governments, and also an important opportunity for Lin Xiaofeng to establish his prestige in the court.

At the emperor's command, the six ministries and nine officials were busy like spinning tops. Although the post office was decided, the various departments had to discuss and decide on the officials. They also had to communicate with the local government to ensure that the new government office could run smoothly after its establishment. Lin Xiaofeng sat in the hall, looking at the busy officials below, feeling secretly proud. He finally had the opportunity to show his talents in the court.

After Cheng Qinghua and Shao Shihan left, Lin Xiaofeng sat alone in the hall, and soon he felt bored. Before the sun went down, he returned to the Qianqing Palace, and then went to Kunning Palace for dinner, chatting with the queen until late. The queen was a gentle and virtuous woman, and she always comforted and encouraged Lin Xiaofeng when he was tired. Lin Xiaofeng talked to the queen about the establishment of the Post Office, and the queen praised it and said it was a good thing for the country and the people.

The next morning was the day of the palace examination. The examinees were so excited, happy and scared. They were happy that they had finally arrived at the imperial city. This place was really magnificent, with glazed tiles, golden pillars, carved windows, golden bricks, and those exotic flowers and plants, which made people dazzled. They were afraid that if they did not do well in the exam, all their efforts for so many years would be wasted. They were dressed neatly, holding their pens and inkstones tightly in their hands, waiting nervously and expectantly for the exam to begin.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites led the examinees forward, and kept reminding them along the way: "You are new here, so everything you see is new to you. But the Imperial City has rules. You can only look and cannot stay for long. Don't stand in one place stupidly, and don't look around everywhere. Remember this!" The examinees all agreed respectfully. They knew that this was the rule of the Imperial City, and they dared not neglect it in the slightest.

The group passed through the side doors of the Huangji Hall and the Zhongji Hall and arrived in front of the Jianji Hall. This hall was majestic and magnificent, which made people feel awe. The officials of the Ministry of Rites instructed the candidates to stand on both sides of the steps and wait for the emperor to arrive. The candidates held their breath and did not dare to move at all.

Four Jinyiwei men stood on the steps, wearing bright red official uniforms with golden dragon and phoenix patterns embroidered on them, flowers embroidered on the sleeves, and the hems spread out like lotus leaves. They tied blue brocade belts around their waists and hung embroidered spring swords. They held the handles of the swords with their left hands and yellow whips with their right hands. The handles of the whips were carved with dragon heads and decorated with gold. They looked serious and their eyes were sharp, as if they could see into people's hearts. The examinees couldn't help but shudder when they saw them.

The officials arrived earlier than the examinees and stood in front in court robes, looking superior. There was a reason for this, they were also controlled by others before, and now they finally got their way. They all looked arrogant, as if they were watching a good show.

"Go to the palace!" the official of the Honglu Temple shouted loudly. Before he finished speaking, four Jinyiwei waved their golden whips at the same time. Three "cracks" echoed through the sky, and everyone was shocked and refreshed. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, whips were blown for major ceremonies such as New Year's Day, Winter Solstice, Longevity Festival, and Palace Examination. It is recorded in the "Da Ming Hui Dian": "When the "Ding'an Song" was played, the Nine-Five Flying Dragon soared into the sky, and all nations obeyed respectfully. Whip three times..."

The whip stopped beating, and Lin Xiaofeng walked into the Jianji Hall in his court robes. He looked solemn and walked steadily, as if every step was in the rhythm of history. After the officials and examinees performed the ceremony of three kowtows and nine bows, they returned to their seats.

The first exam was a policy test, which was set by the emperor himself and the candidates answered in the corridor of the palace. This exam mainly tested the candidates' mental maturity, adaptability and eloquence. When Lin Xiaofeng was looking at the list of candidates, he was attracted by the name of Lu Gong.

Lü Gong was the nominal leader of the Nanzhili Autumn Examination and the Temple Crying Incident. But in fact, someone was behind the scenes manipulating it and trying to escalate the incident. When Lin Xiaofeng saw his name, his brows slightly frowned. Normally, the chief examiner should have crossed out his name during the Autumn Examination to punish him for his bad behavior of crying in the temple. But not only was Lü Gong not crossed out, but he passed all the tests and entered the Palace Examination.

"Interesting, really interesting! Isn't this testing my patience?" Lin Xiaofeng sneered and closed the list. He thought to himself, who is behind this Lu Gong? What do they want to do? Lin Xiaofeng decided that no matter what, he would get to the bottom of this Lu Gong.

As the exam progressed, a tense and solemn atmosphere gradually filled the Jianji Hall. The examinees wrote furiously, trying to pour their years of knowledge and talent into their pens. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the high dragon throne, looking at each examinee with a sharp gaze. His heart was full of expectations and worries. He expected to select the real talents from among them, and worried about the conspiracy and struggle that might be hidden behind this exam.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the exam was finally over. After handing in their answer sheets, the examinees walked out of Jianji Hall one after another. Some of them had confident smiles on their faces, while others looked exhausted. Lin Xiaofeng stayed in the hall and reviewed the answer sheets with the officials. He looked at them one by one, and each answer sheet seemed to be the fate and future of a examinee.

While reviewing the answers, Lin Xiaofeng paid special attention to Lv Gong's answers. He found that Lv Gong's answers were clear, logical, and brilliant, and he couldn't help but nod secretly. But at the same time, he became more vigilant, because this Lv Gong was obviously not a simple person. What exactly did the people behind him want to do? Why did they send Lv Gong to the palace examination?
Lin Xiaofeng decided to send someone to secretly investigate Lu Gong's background and origins. He wanted to find out what kind of person Lu Gong was? Who was behind him? What was their purpose? Only in this way could he make the right decision and ensure the fairness and justice of this palace examination.

As the investigation deepened, Lin Xiaofeng gradually uncovered the secrets behind Lu Gong. It turned out that Lu Gong was not a simple character, but a huge political group was hiding behind him. This group tried to infiltrate the court and expand its power by manipulating the imperial examination. And Lu Gong was a chess piece they chose, a chess piece to test Lin Xiaofeng's patience and determination.

After understanding all this, Lin Xiaofeng became more determined. He not only wanted to select the real talents, but also to fight against those forces that tried to infiltrate the court. He decided to use the Lu Palace to lure out the forces behind the scenes, and then catch them all in one fell swoop.

Therefore, in the following exams, Lin Xiaofeng paid special attention to Lu Gong. He deliberately asked some sharp questions, trying to draw out the power behind Lu Gong. And Lu Gong lived up to expectations, his answers were always so clever and profound, as if there was a huge think tank behind him supporting him.

Finally, in the last exam, Lin Xiaofeng successfully led out the forces behind Lu Gong. They tried to manipulate the exam results by bribing the examiners, but were discovered and stopped by Lin Xiaofeng in time. This exam not only selected real talents, but also hit those forces who tried to infiltrate the court.

After the exam, Lin Xiaofeng conducted a special interview with Lv Gong. He wanted to know what kind of talents and ambitions this young man had. During the interview, Lv Gong showed extraordinary talent and keen insight. His analysis of the current situation and his suggestions on policies impressed Lin Xiaofeng.

In the end, Lin Xiaofeng decided to hire Lu Gong and give him an important position. He knew that this decision might cause some controversy and doubt, but he believed in his own vision and judgment. He believed that Lu Gong was a real talent, a talent who could contribute to the court and the country.

And Lu Gong did not disappoint Lin Xiaofeng's expectations. (End of this chapter)