Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 257: Proper interests and political stability are also necessary!

Xia Zhibai's tone had become a little harsh.

However, Hua Lun, Lian Zining and others were obviously not interested in these things.

They were still immersed in the data of "acres" mentioned by Xia Zhibai. Are local officials really so bold? They dare to falsify even such matters involving tax base? But from Xia Zhibai's words, they really dare not deny that this is impossible.

Because local officials can really do it.

In order to climb up the ladder, local officials have put all their thoughts and efforts into climbing up the ladder.

What does it matter if I cheat to please His Majesty?
And even if some local officials are unwilling, I am afraid that higher-level officials will not agree.

Because this involves the careers of many people.

D.

If all officials in the world commit the same crime, then to some extent, isn't it true that no one commits the same crime? At least His Majesty is happy, and all officials are happy, but the people below suffer, having to pay taxes twice or even three times.

Lian Zining's eyes were a little dazed. He looked at Hua Lun nervously and whispered, "Hua Lun, is what Brother Xia said true?"

"Do local surveying and mapping officials really dare to do such an immoral thing?"

"If this is discovered, all nine generations of the clan will be exterminated!"

Hua Lun smiled bitterly and shook his head.

How would he know?

He was indeed an official of the Ministry of Revenue, but he basically stayed in Yingtian Prefecture and had no chance to go to the local areas. Moreover, no matter how capable he was, how could he really go to investigate one place after another? But if this was really the case, it might not be the problem of the surveying and mapping officials. How could these officials make the decision?

In the end, it was the higher-level officials who were trying to please His Majesty.

Xie Min sighed and said, "If this is the case, the world will be like this, with evil officials at the top and unruly people at the bottom."

"Perhaps this is the norm in the world." Hua Lun said.

Lian Zining also said: "A clean government and harmonious people will eventually have to bow to reality."

Ding Zhifang also said softly: "Water dripping from the eaves is passed down from generation to generation. New officials do not count the old officials' accounts. Even if local officials have ambitions, they are crushed by their superiors. How can they dare to report the truth? In the end, it is very difficult for them to protect themselves and not follow the crowd."

Several people were in low spirits.

They have been in officialdom for some time.

I thought I understood something about the order of officialdom, but when I really faced it, I still felt a piercing chill, because many things were beyond one's control. After all, no matter how high an official you are, you will eventually have to hand over your position.

Thinking of this.

They actually envied Xia Zhibai.

Perhaps only a lone person like Xia Zhibai can see the situation in the world so clearly and always be able to forge ahead without giving up.

Hua Lun said, "Brother Xia, you may be right."

"But."

"Now you can't prove it!"

"No matter how many problems there are in the South, as long as it can last for a day, the court will not easily touch it, because the South is too important to the Ming Dynasty. Regardless of whether the land is fraudulent or not, the taxes collected by the court from the South are real."

"This can't be fake at all."

"And since you know that the Southern Meritorious Forces are the most powerful."

"We should also be aware of the power behind these people. This has already involved every aspect of the Ming Dynasty."

"Even if you really want to fight to the death, you don't know that in the end, only the fish will die, and the net will not break. Even if the net breaks, you can still use it after repairing it, but you will lose your life in vain."

"Why bother?"

Hua Lun couldn't help but give some advice.

He felt powerless.

This is simply impossible to contend with.

The interest groups in the South are too large and have long been linked together.

It's simply not something Xia Zhibai can contend with alone.

Xia Zhibai smiled and nodded, his eyes flickering, and he said indifferently: "I know, so I said this is just the beginning. This time I went south just to solve the local riots, but when I return to Yingtian Prefecture, I will not limit myself to this."

"I will bring about a new political reform in the world."

"Win over, divide and dismember the region!"

"The southern group of forces will be isolated step by step, and eventually become helpless."

Hua Lun was stunned.

He looked at Xia Zhibai deeply, but did not speak again.

Xia Zhibai is a man of deep thoughts.

It was not something he could guess.

But he was also relieved because of this. Since Xia Zhibai had other ideas, it was good. Otherwise, after this incident, Xia Zhibai would be unable to move forward in the world. Moreover, once the court knew about the "land problem" that Xia Zhibai had exposed, it would probably set off another bloody storm.

But Hua Lun was also surprised.

Why does Xia Zhibai have such a deep understanding of the world?

As an official in the Ministry of Revenue, he had seen many accounts in the world, but he did not have such a thorough understanding. Xia Zhibai was only a university scholar. Although he could read many past history books, how could he infer so much information from scattered data?
This vision is truly amazing.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Okay."

"I have given all the instructions that need to be given."

"Please tell these words to the people in the south on my behalf."

"I believe they will make a choice." "I'll give them time."

"But if they are really determined to the end, then you can't blame me for asking for the Imperial Sword."

"If we don't kill so many southerners, we'll end up with a lot of heads rolling down our spine."

Xia Zhibai sneered, bowed slightly to a few people, then turned and left.

Hua Lun and a few others watched Xia Zhibai go away.

After a long while, Hua Lun sighed and said, "Xia Zhibai is still so 'shocking'. If he doesn't do anything, it's fine. But if he does, it's shocking. Everyone thought that he would disappear in obscurity when he went to the north. Especially when he was placed in the Hanlin Academy, many officials applauded and thought that Xia Zhibai's farce was over."

“But who would have thought.”

“This is just the beginning.”

"It's just that after going around in circles, we fell into his hands again."

"I don't know if it's good or bad."

"Based on past experience, it's probably not good." Lian Zining said with a wry smile, "But Xia Zhibai has already said this, I'm afraid we can't refuse it. And even if we refuse, Xia Zhibai can spread the word on his own. I hope these people in the south can restrain themselves a little."

"Otherwise, considering Xia Zhibai's mad dog condition, I'm afraid the south won't be able to calm down anytime soon."

Xie Min said: "Maybe things are not that troublesome."

"Xia Zhibai has already used courtesy before force. If these people in the south still don't know what's good for them, it won't just be Xia Zhibai who will be offended, but also Duke Xin and the Imperial Guards. These people are not afraid of Xia Zhibai, but they will still give Duke Xin some face, and they will also be a little wary of the Imperial Guards."

"What's more important is that Xia Zhibai occupies the great cause."

"He has clearly told the other party what he is going to do."

"If the localities don't comply, that's their problem."

"It's not a bad idea for the Royal Guards to take action."

"I think there won't be so many troubles in the south. Xia Zhibai said so much to persuade you to stop having so many thoughts and ideas and focus on your own responsibilities."

Ding Zhifang also said meaningfully: "I feel the same way."

“You have too much psychological burden.”

"If you were to stand in Xia Zhibai's shoes, perhaps there were indeed many inconveniences before, but after this 'preemptive strike', the situation has been completely reversed."

"Now it is Brother Xia who is taking the initiative, and the South is the passive one. And just as Brother Xia said, he now has the support of Duke Xin, Jinyiwei, and officials from the six ministries like us. He has almost moved southward as a small central court."

"No matter how reluctant the South is, do they really dare to go their own way?"

"This is disrespecting the imperial court."

"Brother Xia said so much, maybe it's just to remind you."

"Although you were born in the South, you are not deeply involved in the situation in the South, so you have a chance to get out of it. If you still insist on standing on the South's point of view, you will not be able to escape when the court settles the accounts in the future."

"The sun and the moon are bright."

"My Ming Dynasty does not rule only half of the world."

Ding Zhifang looked deeply at Hua Lun and the other man, bowed to the three of them, and left on his own initiative.

Hua Lun and Lian Zining are too selfish.

He always holds the idea that the South is noble and the North is inferior, and subconsciously substitutes the South for himself. This arrogance and contempt from the heart makes Ding Zhifang quite dissatisfied. He was born in Shandong. If we really go by historical origins, wouldn't he have more Chinese heritage than Jiangxi?

Xia Zhibai will take the faces of both of them into consideration.

He won't.

Hua Lun and Lian Zining looked embarrassed.

Xie Min smiled awkwardly, and bowed to the two men, saying, "Brother Ding is a man of temperament. He was upset at the time, so he was offensive in his words. I hope you two gentlemen don't take it to heart, but you two are indeed a bit partial to one over the other."

"Brother Xia reminded me again and again when I was taking the imperial examination."

"The Ming Dynasty does not only have half of the country."

"Any thoughts that use half of the country as an excuse should be strongly resisted. You are now in the court, but you still put the South first. This is worrying. It is because there are so many people like you who are biased that there are so many injustices and inequalities in the world."

"People can have their own preferences, but they can't be too biased."

"We court officials should do the same."

"I, Jie Min, will take my leave now."

Xie Min shook his head and turned away as well.

Hua Lun and Lian Zining's faces turned blue and red, and they felt very unhappy.

They actually acknowledged what Xia Zhibai said, because in terms of knowledge and ability, they were indeed no match for Xia Zhibai. But being criticized by Jie Min and Ding Zhifang, they felt somewhat embarrassed. However, they also knew that they had indeed lost their composure and shown too much worry.

They were from the South, after all.

I have some understanding of the South, and I have been influenced by it since childhood. How can I change it overnight?

After being criticized by these three people, Hua Lun and Lian Zining finally calmed down and thought about whether their daily words and deeds were really too biased towards the South.

After thinking about it, I couldn't help but blush.

indeed so.

Although many of them were subconscious, they were indeed considering the South. As court officials, this was actually a very dangerous signal. At least they did not hide it very well. It was just that no one in the court was keeping an eye on them. If someone deliberately targeted them, I am afraid that the two of them might suffer for it.

For a while.

Both of them were sweating profusely.

(End of this chapter)