Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 36 If you don’t have eyes, then don’t open them!

Seeing Xia Zhibai's firm attitude, Jie Min did not try to persuade him anymore.

He asked about Xia Zhibai's specific address, then turned and left.

He has another party today.

After Jie Min left, no one came to look for Xia Zhibai anymore, so he returned to the inn where he was staying.

at the same time.

Zhu Yuanzhang also heard about Xia Zhibai's contact with the beggar.

Listening to Mao Xiang's report, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with coldness, and he sneered: "The scholars of the world scold me, saying that I am moody and murderous, and that I am cruel and merciless, and I don't hesitate to punish scholars with harsh punishments."

"Can we not kill him?"

"Everyone in the court has been telling us that the world is peaceful. Is it peaceful?"

"I don't know exactly how peaceful it is, but what I do know is that everyone from the officials to the common people, including my sons, whoever sees me, says that it is peaceful."

"This is what they call peace?!"

"The people in the capital are like this, what about other places?"

"Fuck, there are always a bunch of bastards who just sit there and do nothing. We gave them the power, and this is how they work for us?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was angry.

He has a bad temper.

Especially matters involving the common people.

Still in the capital.

It happened right under his nose. It was like a slap in his face in public.

He has selfish motives.

But which emperor in the world is without selfish desires?
In addition to his selfish desires, he also cared about the people. He required Ming officials to be honest and repeatedly demanded that these officials care about the people.

Anyone found to be lip service.

The solutions he gave were always simple.

kill!

Seeing this, Zhu Biao hurriedly tried to comfort him, "Father, as far as I know, many beggars and refugees in the capital are refugees from the north. When the north was in turmoil, many people fled south with their families. Now the north is beginning to stabilize, but it will take some time to truly bring the people back."

"The imperial court has also been collecting people and resettling refugees."

"It's understandable that I'm not capable of doing it."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and waved his hand, saying, "Bullshit, how could I not know this?"

"We can understand that there are refugees and beggars in the capital, but we have already issued an order for the local government of Yingtian Prefecture to provide relief by distributing porridge every day."

"How did they do it for us?"

"The porridge is getting thinner and thinner, and fewer and fewer people are getting relief. But the reports show that the capital is thriving. Yes, the people at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty are starving to death or freezing to death, so isn't that the only thing left?"

"We only allow royal family members, nobles, and ministers above the third rank to own slaves. Ordinary people are prohibited from owning slaves."

"But you show it to us."

"These bastards sold out all the young beggars and refugees in the capital."

"If we hadn't asked Mao Xiang to keep an eye on Xia Zhibai, I'm afraid none of the officials in the court would tell us about these things."

"We are still kept in the dark!"

Zhu Biao picked up the memorial on the ground and took a careful look at it.

His expression was solemn.

He originally thought that it was just the officials' laziness and inaction, but he never expected that Mao Xiang's memorial clearly stated that someone in the capital was engaged in an organized trade in slaves, and it was very likely that government officials were involved.

Zhu Biao's face darkened and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't waste any more words since someone was looking for death.

Then let them die.

Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly: "Someone come here."

"Send the order to the Chief Censor Tang Yougong."

"Ask him for us what they do in the Censorate?"

"We asked them to investigate and impeach the officials, but where did they go? Does he have to wait until the bodies of the refugees in the capital pile up like a mountain and the stench of the corpses reaches our noses before he knows that there are officials in Yingtian Prefecture who are breaking the law?!"

"Let's give him three days."

"In three days, we will see the final result."

"This time, I want to see how many people have frozen to death or starved to death in Yingtian Prefecture, which our officials talk about as peaceful. I also want to see how many people in our Ming Dynasty are so blind that they don't even take me seriously."

"Send the order to the Minister of Revenue, and tell him to open the granary to provide relief to the people."

"Whoever dares to have such an idea, we will kill all his clans!"

"Mao Xiang."

"You go for us, too."

"Cut off the heads of the prefect, the chancellor, the assistant prefect, the experience officer, the governor, the chief judge, and other officials in charge of Yingtian Prefecture."

"If you don't have eyes, then don't open them."

"We don't like it."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was cold and filled with murderous intent.

Mao Xiang was startled and quickly bowed in agreement.

After Mao Xiang left, Zhu Biao took the memorial and put it back on the table, and asked with a twinkling look, "Father, do you think that this incident involves more than just officials from Yingtian Prefecture?"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said, "It is indeed possible that the officials of Yingtian Prefecture embezzled money and secretly withheld the allocated silver and grain, but they are not so bold as to sell slaves."

"Yingtian Prefecture is the capital."

"It happened right under our noses."

"How dare a third-rank official be so audacious?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was full of disdain. He took the memorial with his hand, pressed it with his palm, looked at Zhu Biao, and said coldly: "When we founded the country, we issued an imperial decree that only members of the royal family, nobles, and ministers above the third rank can own slaves."

“We deliberately made restrictions at that time.”

"Let's not talk about who or which officials they are selling to now. Let's just say that the first ones who opened this loophole must have been the ministers and nobles above the third rank in the court. Only they are qualified to keep slaves."

"They are the only ones who have the ability and right to tear this hole apart."

"If they don't speak up, how many officials below would have the guts to act so blatantly?"

Zhu Biao was thoughtful.

Perhaps none of these noble ministers in the court are openly involved in the buying and selling of slaves, but some of them must have participated in it secretly.

"Think it through now." Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said sarcastically, "The officials of our Ming Dynasty are all treacherous. But they are playing tricks on me. They have chosen the wrong opponent. I have a clear mind and can see everything clearly."

"We are least afraid of these."

"But Xia Zhibai doesn't have any good intentions."

"He knew that we would be watching, so he deliberately placed these beggars and refugees on our table, forcing us to take care of them, and he took the opportunity to escape."

"This kid is cunning."

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly and said, "Perhaps Xia Zhibai really has a heart that loves the people and helps the world. It is really unfair for your father to make such unwarranted assumptions."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Then let's continue watching and see if Xia Zhibai will disappear on the way to Kaifeng."

"We won't make a mistake."

"If we say he has a problem, then he has a problem!"

Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly.

My father seems to be more competitive now, trying to prove to himself that he is right and Xia Zhibai is just a hypocrite who talks about benevolence and morality.

But Zhu Biao is indeed a little shaken now.

(End of this chapter)