Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 280 "The Great Edict" is thin!
Xie Min frowned and asked in confusion: "After doing so much, will the local authorities really accept this status quo?"

He always felt something was unreal.

The concessions made by the local government were so huge that even he was a little surprised.

Xia Zhibai showed a meaningful smile and said, "Of course I am unwilling to accept this, but people are not worried about the lack of wealth but the inequality of wealth. If other people also suffered losses, they might not be unacceptable. Moreover, this was not what they expected. It was completely a man-made disaster caused by some people who were greedy for profit."

"They just want to put things to rest as soon as possible."

"Because I not only asked the 'Supervisory Censor' to record the facts, but also ingeniously 'opened the sea'. I also proposed to actively open the sea, export salt-making technology, and even trade with overseas states. Everything I said touched their hearts and made them feel palpitations."

"Compared to the benefits of salt, the benefits of maintaining the old status quo are obviously greater."

"They are still clear at the moment."

"They don't dare to let me go crazy anymore."

"Besides, Duke Xin and the Imperial Guards are still here. Who knows if they will really take my words seriously and investigate privately? If they don't find anything, it's fine. But if they do, it will be a disaster for the local authorities."

“Because it’s not just about money.”

"It's fatal!"

Jie Min nodded, with a look of sudden realization in her eyes.

The stove owners' disturbance was intentional by the local authorities in order to damage the reputation of the salt factory and put pressure on the court. However, human deviations occurred during the implementation process, and things eventually evolved step by step to the current situation. Xia Zhibai's move south was even more unexpected.

In addition, Xia Zhibai's moves were unconventional, making it difficult for the local authorities to cope with the situation.

Now he was worried that the matter would get further out of hand, and that Tang He and the Embroidered Uniform Guards would find out other things. He no longer dared to take such a high-profile approach, and was only thinking about settling the matter peacefully. As long as he could get the person away, he would not mind giving up all the profits he had made in the salt market.

At least the others were preserved.

immediately.

The pupils shrink slightly due to desensitization.

He looked at Xia Zhibai fiercely and said tremblingly: "You have taken advantage of these people!"

Xie Min's tone was very affirmative.

The South has now been frightened by Xia Zhibai and only wants to send him away as soon as possible. Little does they know that this has exposed a bigger flaw. The salt market is undoubtedly a huge profit market, but with such huge profits, the local governments are still willing to pay for it. Isn't this telling Your Majesty clearly that what they do privately brings in much more profit than making salt?

And there are much more.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have come out so easily.

However, the local officials were completely shocked by Xia Zhibai's series of deceptions, pressures and calculations, and they panicked and only cared about keeping the peace, but forgot to cover their own asses.

Xia Zhibai looked at Jie Min with some surprise.

He didn't expect that Hua Lun and others didn't understand it, but Jie Min did.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "This is just a guess. We will know tomorrow whether it succeeds or not."

"This is not a fraud on my part."

"They are just guilty and can't stand the slightest pressure."

"When provoked a little, he loses his mind and resorts to all kinds of stupid and sinister moves."

Xie Min smiled bitterly and said, "That being said, how could they panic without the great pressure you put on them? You already have the Duke of Xin and the Imperial Guards by your side during this trip, and you also delivered the documentary and organized a large meeting. It's too much for them to handle and hard to guard against."

"They have been tricked by you."

Xie Min shook his head.

A sense of powerlessness arose in my heart.

To be fair, if I were to switch places with the southern officials, I would probably be shocked and at a loss, right?
It's not that he is incompetent.

But Xia Zhibai’s mind is too cunning.

Although many things have been said early on, this kind of pressure is the greatest, because everything is out in the open. If you commit any fraud and it is discovered and Xia Zhibai makes a big deal out of it, it will be a big problem.

But Xia Zhibai likes to exaggerate things.

How can this not make people worry?

Xia Zhibai, on the other hand, was exerting pressure overtly while testing the other party's bottom line covertly, and also doing all kinds of small tricks overtly and covertly to disturb people's minds. After this series of actions, anyone with a weak will would probably collapse under Xia Zhibai's control and would want to send Xia Zhibai away.

Just this back and forth, the plan was clear.

Xia Zhibai is really good at playing with people's hearts.

even.
He is also 'cheating' His Majesty.

The so-called salt administration made little profit while other places made much profit. This might be the result of Xia Zhibai's intimidation, or it might not be the main reason at all. However, considering Your Majesty's determination, I'm afraid you won't take Xia Zhibai's little tricks seriously at all, and will only approve of Xia Zhibai's "views".

Thereby strengthening the targeting of the South.

Was all this part of Xia Zhibai's plan?

In a moment of thought.

He was even a little suspicious. Could the riot among the kitchen staff in the south also be the work of Xia Zhibai?
But on second thought, he shook his head.

Xia Zhibai had never been to the south, nor did he know anyone in the south. He could only send his followers to beg for information. If he really had such ability, why would he go to such great lengths? It should be that he was just overthinking.

Jie Min shook her head and cleared her mind of distracting thoughts. Ding Zhifang, who was standing by, was stunned. It was the first time he heard that there were so many twists and turns in the affairs of the South, and Xia Zhibai seemed to have figured it out and seen through it a long time ago, so he deliberately set up a trap and waited for the southern officials to jump.

Now the South is really jumping.

Thinking of everything he had done in the South, Ding Zhifang felt a chill down his spine.

Always feel chilly behind.

Ding Zhifang shrank his neck, letting his clothes move closer to his chest, and then said, "What about tomorrow's official-business conference? Won't there be too many waves?"

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Yes, but not many."

"Lü Cang's return basically indicates that all their previous plans have been in vain. The officials of the Salt Transport Bureau and the group of people who have made profits may not be the same group. At least from the current point of view, they are not in the same place. Therefore, they will not sacrifice their future and life for others."

"In this case, they try it once and then basically give up."

"There's no point in struggling."

"They don't know how much information I have found out, and they don't dare to gamble. If they gamble wrong, it means they don't understand the situation of the salt factory. Now, in their mouths, the Salt Transport Bureau is only a tax collector, which means they don't know how to collect taxes."

"This is a loss of state money."

"They don't dare put themselves at risk."

Hua Lun frowned and said, "But haven't the account books been delivered to us? Can they still be overturned?"

Xia Zhibai said: "How difficult is this?"

“Those salt factories closed down and then merged with other salt factories and the accounts were put together.”

"They are only responsible for collecting taxes and don't know anything else."

"As long as you want to fool people, isn't it easy to find an excuse?"

"But there's no need to hold on to this matter. It doesn't make much sense. It will only make both sides look unhappy. We are not here to make enemies with anyone. We are only here to solve the problem of the stove owners in the south." Xia Zhibai took the initiative to remind him.

Hearing what Xia Zhibai said, Hua Lun couldn't help but roll his eyes.

How dare Xia Zhibai say that?

Wasn't this something he had started?

They have no intention of holding on to it.

Hua Lun said: "If you put it that way, the matter is simple. It's just some simple wrangling. After some pulling each other, the matter will be resolved."

"Huh." Lian Zining let out a long sigh, revealing a look of relief. He said, "I was really worried earlier because you kept holding on to me. If you really insisted on holding on to me without caring about anything, I really don't know how it would end."

"Ugh."

"You are really capable of causing trouble."

"Once anything passes through your hands, even small things become big things."

Xie Min and Ding Zhifang deeply agreed with this.

Xia Zhibai laughed and said, "This is not a way to solve the problem. If it is difficult to solve the problem, then make it bigger. When these people are really scared, then we can go back and solve the problems that needed to be solved before. Then these people will be willing to sit down and talk."

“This is wisdom!”

Hua Lun said, "I don't have the courage to use your wisdom. If I don't use it well, it will be fatal."

"This method will work once, but it will work over and over again. If it doesn't work that time, it will really cause a big incident."

Hua Lun knows his own worth.

This way of solving the problem does not suit him.

He doesn't have the courage.

Xia Zhibai stood up and said, "I have explained almost everything to you. In the next few days, we should wrap up the matter in the south. The matter in the south is just the appetizer this time. Once these people are a little relieved, it's time to start the main course."

“Something has to be done after all.”

"The source of the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue must be thoroughly investigated and brought into the hands of the imperial court."

"otherwise."

"The imperial court is controlled by the local governments, and even has to look at the local governments' faces. Where is the majesty of the imperial court? How can it convince people? How can it properly rule the world?"

Hua Lun and others nodded.

They also did a lot of work when they came to Yuhang.

With a general understanding of the situation in the south and Xia Zhibai's temporary improvement, he had a clear idea of ​​how to solve the problem of the kitchen stoves. As long as the local authorities did not cause any trouble, there would be basically no major twists and turns in this matter.

Especially with Xia Zhibai's assurance, they felt much more at ease.

After a brief chat, they went their separate ways.

Xia Zhibai did not stay here for long. Seeing that everyone else had left, he also walked towards his residence. When he returned there, Lu Cang had already been waiting there. The only difference was that unlike in the main hall, Lu Cang had an extra book in his hand.

There are only two words in the book.

"Great Edict"!
Xia Zhibai reached out and took the "Great Edict". He glanced at it briefly, sighed deeply, and then took the "Great Edict" back to his resting place. As he walked, he whispered, "The "Great Edict" written by Emperor Hongwu is getting thicker, while the "Great Edict" in the hands of the people is getting thinner."

(End of this chapter)