Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 288: Gentry, Civil Officials, and Eunuchs (Four Chapters in One)

"Prince Zhou, the servants in the inner court said that the new weaving bureau wants to purchase cotton and raw silk at a price 50% higher than the market price. Do you think this is true?"

At this time in Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture, farmer She Kaide found the village gentry Zhou Jiansheng to confirm the authenticity of the cotton and raw silk purchased by the inner court at a high price.

Now the people were no longer particularly averse to the opening of a new weaving bureau by inner court officials in Songjiang Prefecture, but instead shifted their attention to the fact that the weaving bureau was purchasing cotton and raw silk at high prices.

After all, anyone with a discerning eye can see that purchasing cotton and raw silk at high prices will naturally benefit the people like themselves.

If the new weaving bureau really wants to purchase cotton and raw silk at high prices, it would be equivalent to the God of Wealth. Who would refuse to open a weaving bureau in Songjiang Prefecture?

of course.

Because the image of eunuchs has always been bad among the people, this is due to the guidance of public opinion by the gentry, as well as the eunuchs' own improper behavior.

But in general, the people were still skeptical about the high prices proposed by the inner court at the beginning.

Therefore, a rich farmer like She Kaide would first find a local gentry like Zhou Jiansheng to confirm the authenticity of the news that the eunuchs in the inner court were purchasing cotton and raw silk at high prices.

For farmers like She Kaide in Songjiang Prefecture, the local gentry are naturally more reliable than eunuchs. After all, they are all neighbors.

Zhou Jiansheng and the other gentry in Songjiang Prefecture were all feeling very depressed at this time.

Because they originally wanted to take advantage of the eunuchs' visit to Songjiang Prefecture to open a new weaving bureau to create public opinion that the inner court wanted to lower the purchase price of cotton and raw silk. Then, out of consideration for the people's conscience, they would purchase cotton and raw silk at a price slightly lower than the market price but slightly higher than the purchase price of the eunuchs. In this way, they could make more profits and make their neighbors feel grateful to them. Isn't it the best of both worlds?

But what Zhou Jiansheng did not expect was that the eunuchs in the inner court would actually purchase cotton and raw silk at a price that was 50% higher than the market price. This caught him and other gentry in Songjiang Prefecture off guard. They were all wondering how the eunuchs in the inner court dared to be so confident as to directly raise the prices of cotton and raw silk by 50% at one time. Didn't they want to make money?

But no matter what, gentry like Zhou Jiansheng from Songjiang Prefecture had to admit that his conspiracy to use the establishment of a new weaving bureau by the eunuchs in the inner court to lower the purchase price of cotton and raw silk in the hands of his neighbors had failed!
Even now, gentry in Songjiang Prefecture like Zhou Jiansheng had no choice but to raise prices in order to compete with the soon-to-be-established state-run weaving bureau for the cotton and raw silk markets.

However, Zhou Jiansheng did not dare to raise the price by 50%. He didn't know why the eunuchs in the inner court were so confident that they dared to raise the price of cotton and raw silk by 50%!
But he knew that there were more and more businesses going out to sea to sell cotton and silk, and the prices continued to fall. In order to sell more cotton and silk from his business, he had to lower the price.

Now, if I raise the purchase price of cotton and raw silk to 50%, my company will not be able to make much profit.

Therefore, Zhou Jiansheng could only take advantage of his neighbor She Kaide's trust in him and said:

"Uncle Yu, do you believe what the inner court says? These officials always talk nicely, but they are just like the girls in the brothel. They take your money and don't care who you are. Now they say that they will increase the purchase price by 50%, but do you think they will honor it? When you transport the cotton and raw silk over, they only take your cotton and raw silk and refuse to acknowledge it. What else can you do? Do you dare to smash the weaving bureau? If you really do that, you will be blackmailed with the crime of treason!"

After Zhou Jiansheng said this, She Kaide believed it and nodded: "That's right, so I came to you for advice. You are a scholar, you are well-informed, and you have a lot of contact with the officials above. Tell me what we should do, I will listen to you!"

Capitalists will sell anything for profit, even at the risk of breaking the law or even losing their lives, let alone the trust of their neighbors.

Therefore, Zhou Jiansheng said, "After all, we are all neighbors. If I don't help you, who will? How about this? Our Zhou family will buy your cotton and raw silk at a price half a percentage point higher than the market price. You won't suffer any loss and will even get more benefits. I won't lose too much because the price of raw silk is too high. It will be a win-win for both of us. What do you think?"

She Kaide didn't trust that the eunuchs in the inner court would really purchase his cotton and raw silk at a price 50% higher than the market price. The reason why he came to Zhou Jiansheng was that he hoped Zhou Jiansheng would no longer lower the price when purchasing his cotton and raw silk. It would be best if he could purchase his cotton and raw silk at a fair price.

After all, nowadays more and more people are planting cotton and producing raw silk. It can be said that every family grows cotton and picks mulberry trees, which has also led to a continuous decline in the prices of cotton and raw silk.

In She Kaide's opinion, he should be thankful that he can sell his cotton and raw silk without lowering the price this year.

But She Kaide didn't expect Zhou Jiansheng to take care of her at a price higher than half the price, so she was naturally even happier and grateful to Zhou Jiansheng:
"Mr. Zhou, you are really a living Buddha. No wonder you can pass the imperial examination and read such good books. It is true that good people will be rewarded! Old She only hopes that you can live a long life!"

In She Kaide's eyes, Zhou Jiansheng is undoubtedly a truly good country gentleman and a living Bodhisattva. He is much better than those cannibalistic eunuchs in operas and rumors. After all, he is still a country neighbor, and even the rich and powerful know how to take care of their neighbors.

Zhou Jiansheng also calmly accepted She Kaide's praise for him. He was even accustomed to the scene where he would make his neighbors grateful to him just by giving him a little profit. He couldn't help but sigh that ignorant people are so easy to fool, and simple villagers are even easier to fool.

It was precisely because of this that he could not understand why the court wanted these poor children from the villagers to go to school, and why they should not read books that taught people to be respectful and moderate, but had to read books like "Are Kings, Princes, Generals, and Ministers Differently Born?" As a result, the poor children from the villages, who originally worshipped him as a living Bodhisattva, now regarded themselves as "Liu Wencai" and "Zhou Pa Pi" who were circulated in operas, and as a result, the gentry themselves had to find ways to whitewash these so-called "Liu Laocai" and "Zhou Pa Pi", and they specifically used their experience of building bridges and roads to explain themselves, and they paid for books to prove that these people were wise gentry.

of course.

Zhou Jiansheng was pleased that the older villagers still trusted gentry like him.

Those poor children who were disobedient after receiving education were disliked by the village gentry and elders, and were also disliked by their parents.

There is no other reason.

These poor children who received the new education were all very reactionary. They did not even listen to their parents. In the eyes of the gentry and village elders, they were a group of disobedient and unfilial people. The biggest drawback of the new-style education was that it instigated children to be reactionary, corrupted social ethics, and did not advocate filial piety.

Coming back to the topic, after Zhou Jiansheng reached an agreement with She Kaide, he immediately asked She Kaide to sign the contract, and She Kaide also put his fingerprints on it, happily formally agreeing to sell all the cotton and raw silk in his family to Zhou Jiansheng at a price half higher than the market price. Feeling that he had gotten a great deal, he was a little embarrassed and kept praising Zhou Jiansheng.

Zhou Jiansheng became even happier because of this, so he simply let She Kaide stay at his house for one night, and had someone clean up a room in the yard where his servants lived for She Kaide to stay in. He also treated She Kaide to a banquet, which made She Kaide very happy and felt proud. After all, although he was just staying in a servant's room, being invited by Master Jiansheng to stay for dinner and overnight was already a great honor for this country bumpkin.

"Hasn't your boy agreed to come back and marry the girl from the Lin family in the neighboring village?"

During the meal, Zhou Jiansheng and She Kaide started chatting, and the topic came up with She Kaide's family affairs. She Kaide sighed:

"Mr. Zhou, please don't mention it. I want to beat this rebellious son to death. Ever since he started studying at Songjiang Prefecture Middle School, he has said that he would abandon bad habits and refused to marry the girl from the Lin family who was engaged to him because the girl had bound feet. He also said that he would only marry girls with natural feet! Tell me, isn't this a great act of treason!"

"How can we go against the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words? The new-style education promulgated by the court traitor Kang Hai has done great harm to people. It ostensibly aims to eliminate illiteracy and enlighten the people, but it actually undermines social ethics!" Zhou Jiansheng couldn't help but sigh.

"That's right. If he could study the system like you and pass the exam to become a scholar, or even just a student, I would be content. But I didn't expect it would turn out like this. If it weren't for the subsidy from the court, I would have let him come back long ago!" She Kaide took two sips of wine and continued talking.

At night, She Kaide stayed at Zhou Jiansheng's house. But before he could take off his shoes and clothes, a third-class servant of the Zhou family came over and asked, "Uncle She, aren't you afraid of the cold sleeping alone at night?"

She Kaide heard the hidden meaning in the Zhou family's words and understood the third thing. He hurriedly pulled the Zhou family's servant and stuffed a silver coin into his arms. He whispered, "I dare not hide it from you, brother. I just drank some wine with your master and I was very hard. Is there anyone in your house doing this business?"

"Yes, of course. We have a girl named Yun in our mansion who specializes in this kind of business. No matter if you are a master, a farmer like you, or a servant like us, as long as you give her some cloth, gold and silver jewelry, she will make you feel comfortable!"

The Zhou family servant said with a low laugh, then pointed at a charming maid walking by the moon-shaped door opposite: "She is Miss Yun!"

She Kaide looked in the direction pointed by the Zhou family servant and saw Miss Yun turning her head to smile at him. She was obviously much whiter and tenderer than his wife, who was sallow and dusty. Suddenly, nothing else came into his mind. He just wanted to pounce on Miss Yun and do it to her: "Will your master mind?"

"The master would never care about us servants. If you really want, just give me thirty silver dollars and I will tell her husband. When her husband comes out, you can go in. Her husband will keep watch for you outside," said the Zhou family servant.

She Kaide had just received a deposit of fifty silver dollars from Zhou Jiansheng. Upon hearing what the Zhou servant said, he hurriedly counted out thirty silver dollars and gave them to the Zhou servant, who hurried away.

She Kaide was waiting in the room with great anticipation. When he thought of Miss Yun's face, which was so tender that it could be pinched out of water, his whole body felt hot. He looked out the window from time to time. Sure enough, after a while, the servant of the Zhou family came.

She Kai was so impatient that he went up to ask, "Brother, what did Miss Yun say?"

"You come with me!"

The Zhou family servant led She Kaide through the moon-shaped gate and came to a wing room. "Come in, Uncle She, and don't make too much noise. It's not good to disturb others."

She Kaide nodded and walked over. At this time, he saw a man dozing on the stone steps outside the wing room. He guessed that this might be Miss Yun's man. He didn't find it strange because as far as he knew, it was very common for such wealthy families to have such activities.

She Kai pushed open the door and saw Miss Yun lying on the couch, one hand on her cheek, the other hand occasionally lifting her pomegranate skirt up, revealing her white legs: "Come on!"

She Kaide had to admit that this wealthy family was different. Even the servants were more attractive than the women in his village. So, She Kaide impatiently took off his sweat towel.

But at the most critical moment, Miss Yun refused to give in. "You have to give me more money, another twenty silver dollars, otherwise I won't give in. I will even shout out that you want to rape me. When our master finds out, he will not let you go!"

She Kaide was very anxious at the time and could not stand this kind of torture. He hurriedly gave the last twenty silver dollars to Miss Yun. Then he got what he wanted. He drooled at the smell of soapy water on Miss Yun and felt that the women from wealthy families were different from the women in the village.

The next morning, just after dawn, She Kaide hurriedly left Miss Yun's place. As soon as she came out, she saw her man still dozing on the green grass. She didn't say anything, but returned to her room, then said goodbye to Zhou Jiansheng with an empty cloth bag without any silver dollars.

It was not until he left Zhou Jiansheng's home that She Kaide began to regret his decision. He felt that it was not worth it. He spent fifty silver dollars in vain by sleeping with a servant of the Zhou family for a night, which was more expensive than spending a night on a flower boat on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing.

Zhou Jiansheng also came to Miss Yun at this time. He ignored Miss Yun's man and only asked Miss Yun: "Where is the silver dollar?"

"My lord, they are all here!" Miss Yun, with her disheveled hair, did not even bother to fasten her half-open collar, but only half exposed her bodice, and brought over a pile of silver dollars.

"Keep five for yourself!"

As Zhou Jiansheng said this, he lifted Miss Yun's fair chin, then threw a silver coin and pounced on her.

Although Miss Yun cooperated with her body, she said: "Master, please leave me here. I am very dirty!"

"Dirty, what's dirty about it? If you are dirty, then there will be no clean place in Songjiang Prefecture! Let me, the master, kiss you quickly." Miss Yun's husband, who was outside, heard the sweet voices coming from the room again, so he had to drink three more sips of wine and then fell into a deep sleep.

Zhou Jiansheng also walked out of Miss Yun's room and resumed his previous serious and solemn appearance. He played the role of a kind-hearted country gentleman among the villagers, and used various means to bring the villagers' cotton and raw silk to his own company. Of course, he also did some shameful things from time to time, making the villagers' silver dollars into his own pocket, and making these villagers feel ashamed and think that they had done something wrong and taken advantage of other people's country gentlemen.

Like Zhou Jiansheng, other gentry in Songjiang Prefecture were almost the same. Their means might be different, but their goals were the same. They used their advantages of controlling the grassroots to monopolize upstream products such as cotton and raw silk in the textile industry, making it impossible for the newly opened weaving bureau to purchase large quantities of cotton and raw silk.

"Godfather, we have been ordered to raise the market price by 50% when purchasing cotton and raw silk, but the people don't seem to be responding very actively. Now the steam spinning machines in our weaving bureau have been installed, and the workers are waiting for the cotton to be harvested before starting work," Diao Yong, the eunuch of the weaving and dyeing bureau, could not help but say to Luo Xiang.

At this time, another eunuch, Lai En, from the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, came running over in a hurry: "Godfather, I have inquired and found out that many gentry are also taking the opportunity to buy cotton and raw silk at a price half or ten percent higher than the market price. The people don't believe that we really buy at a price 50 percent higher than the market price, so now they are giving their cotton and raw silk to these gentry!"

"What should we do? Without cotton, how can our weaving bureau spin yarn? Godfather, please think of a solution quickly!"

Diao Yong couldn't help but panic and said to Luo Xiang.

"Your Majesty said that these gentry are scholars, and these common people are the masses. Although scholars are a minority, they are the most cunning, and although the masses are numerous, they are the easiest to be deceived. If the intellectuals and the masses are united, they will be invincible. Externally, we can resist the Tartars or let the barbarians occupy China. Internally, we can change the emperor or let the common people become emperors!"

"But if we separate the two, they will all become weaklings. The so-called scholars will be more obedient than your dogs, and the so-called masses will be more tolerant than your cows. So, what we need to do now is to separate them and prevent these gentry from deceiving the people!"

Luo Xiang was not panicked after receiving Zhu Houzhao's imperial edict. He even calmly expressed his understanding of this phenomenon.

but.

At this time, the doorman suddenly came to report: "Songjiang Prefecture Supervisor Zhou Yuan has brought a letter to ask for an audience!"

"Zhou Yuan? The younger brother of Nanjing Minister of Industry Zhou Yong? He is not busy collecting cotton and raw silk now. Why did he come to see me? Let him wait in the front hall!"

Not long after Luo Xiang said this, he met Zhou Jiansheng.

"I, Zhou Yuan, have come to see you, sir. I have come uninvited for no other reason than to discuss a business deal with you. I dare not hide the truth from you, sir. At present, the cotton and raw silk of Songjiang Prefecture are being purchased by me and several other local gentry businesses. I am afraid that it will be difficult for you to purchase enough cotton and raw silk. Now, I have come to you to discuss this deal, so as to avoid failing to deliver to His Majesty!"

Zhou Yuan said.

"Really? In that case, how does Zhou Jiansheng plan to do this business with our family?" Luo Xiang wanted to know what Zhou Jiansheng was up to, so he asked.

"It's very simple. The Weaving Bureau doesn't purchase cotton and raw silk from the people, but from us. We can sell them to you at a price 20% higher than the market price. You can continue to tell the higher-ups that you purchased them at a price 50% higher than the market price. In this way, you and the eunuchs in your Weaving Bureau can earn 30% of the profit. Of course, I and other gentry in Songjiang Prefecture can give up half of the profit and bribe civil and military officials at all levels, from the governor of Nanzhili to the magistrate of Huating County in Songjiang Prefecture. Naturally, no one will report it then. We can even do this every year in the future. You and the eunuchs in the Weaving Bureau can naturally make a fortune every year, and the civil officials and gentry will not embarrass you. Why not do it?"

"Of course, you can even take advantage of the rising prices of cotton and raw silk every year and report to the court that you want to raise the price of purchasing cotton, and increase the price from 50% higher than the current market price to 70% or 80%. With the love of the people by the current emperor, as long as it benefits the people, the emperor will naturally not doubt it! What do you think, Eunuch Luo, wouldn't it be great to let everyone get rich together? Even the people of Songjiang Prefecture can benefit, and then there will be no trouble! You can even open a new weaving bureau smoothly and will not let the emperor down!"

This week, Jiansheng said.

Frankly speaking, Luo Xiang was almost persuaded by Zhou Jiansheng. He had to admit that this was a good plan, which benefited himself, the civil and military officials of Nanzhili, and even the common people of Nanzhili.

However, His Majesty Emperor Luo Xiang had spies all over the Ming Dynasty, so it was not easy for him to hide the truth from the Emperor. In addition, he was already wealthy and did not care much about money. So after Zhou Jiansheng said this, he just smiled and said, "Zhou Jiansheng has a really good plan. In this way, it is His Majesty the Emperor who is deceived, and the profits earned by the Weaving Bureau in the future will only fill the stomachs of people like you and me, and will not benefit the country!"

"It cannot be said that it is completely useless. The court can at least get some tax revenue! Eunuch Luo only needs to prohibit the weaving bureau from purchasing cotton and raw silk directly from the people," Zhou Jiansheng said with a smile.

"I'm sorry, but I dare not. Besides, it is the order of His Majesty to directly purchase cotton and raw silk from the people at a price 50% higher than the market price. If I don't buy it from the people, but from you, it would be disobeying the order!"

After Luo Xiang finished speaking, he put down the teacup and ordered the guest to leave.

Zhou Jiansheng had no choice but to leave, but he couldn't help but sneer: "Eunuch, do you know that by doing this you not only cut off the financial resources of your subordinates, but also deprived the civil and military officials of the entire Southern Zhili of an opportunity to make a fortune?"

"That's better than offending His Majesty!" Luo Xiang replied.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiansheng had no choice but to bow and say goodbye.

At this time, Luo Xiang's eunuch Diao Yong and others were somewhat tempted and asked hurriedly: "Why doesn't godfather agree to him? This matter seems to be very promising. People travel thousands of miles to become officials just for money. This is indeed a good opportunity to make a fortune!"

"What do you know? Do you really think the people are so easy to fool? Does Your Majesty think His Majesty is so easy to fool? We have already posted a notice to purchase cotton and raw silk. If we remove the notice now and do not purchase from the people, it would be disobeying the order. Once the people really come to the weaving bureau to sell cotton and raw silk, and we refuse to accept them, and the news reaches Your Majesty's ears, it will be the crime of making friends with foreign ministers and colluding with them!"

"Moreover, once something happens, these gentry will only put the blame on us, saying that we, the eunuchs, are greedy and forced them to do this!"

After Luo Xiang said this, the eunuchs in the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau all understood, but Ryan asked again: "But what Zhou said just now is right. If we don't cooperate with them, the civil and military officials of Nanzhili will lose an opportunity to make a fortune. It's equivalent to offending all the civil and military officials of Nanzhili!"

"What's there to be afraid of if we offend them? We are not scholars, we are His Majesty's servants. The more we offend them, the more His Majesty will trust us! He just wanted to instigate you, saying that this eunuch has cut off your financial resources. Would you believe it? This eunuch tells you the truth. There are plenty of opportunities to make a fortune following His Majesty. There will naturally be benefits to opening this weaving bureau in the future. But now, we can't make money without telling His Majesty. If we do, even if we make a fortune, we won't be alive to enjoy it!"

After Luo Xiang said this, the eunuchs from the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau didn't say anything else.

At this time, Zhou Jiansheng returned home disappointedly: "This Luo Yan is actually quite loyal and stubborn. He gave up the good things that could make him rich and insisted on using the excuse that it is difficult to disobey the emperor's order. There are only people who cannot be offended in this world, but no rules that cannot be broken!"

After saying that, Zhou Jiansheng added, "However, he might report to the court and go to Nanjing to find Zhou Si, the uncle's (Nanjing Minister of Works Zhou Yong), and ask him to find Wang Wenchang, the Nanjing Attendant, to report Luo Xiang and take the initiative!"

……

It is now almost the 18th year of Zhengde, but Zhu Houzhao did not expect that a weaving bureau that used steam spinning machines as the latest production technology would not start operating profitably after nearly half a year!
First, the scholars and people of Songjiang Prefecture obstructed the opening of the new weaving bureau, and even the chief officer Xiong Jia stood up to speak for the scholars and people of Songjiang Prefecture.

Now the Weaving Bureau was unable to receive cotton again. According to Luo Xiang's secret report, it was because the gentry of Songjiang Prefecture took advantage of their control over the grassroots people and blocked the cotton purchasing channels.

According to the impeachment memorial submitted by Wang Wenchang, a member of the Nanjing Household Department, Luo Xiang deliberately did not purchase cotton and raw silk when he was ordered to purchase them at a price 50% higher than the market price, and intended to contact some unscrupulous businessmen in Songjiang Prefecture to profit from it.

This made Zhu Houzhao feel very depressed. He angrily threw the two memorials from Luo Xiang in the inner court and Wang Wenchang in the outer court on the table: "It's too much! It's so difficult to open a weaving bureau!"

The cabinet ministers below all looked at each other in bewilderment. They had all received many secret letters from their colleagues in Nanzhili. The content of the secret letters was to ask them to find a way to get rid of Luo Xiang in front of the emperor, as he did not give Nanzhili officials the opportunity to make money.

But now the cabinet ministers did not dare to stand up and defy Zhu Houzhao at this time. Although they accepted charcoal tributes from the officials of Southern Zhili, they could not do things for others just because they received the money.

Wang Qiong said at this time: "Eunuch Luo has been with Your Majesty for many years. He is mature, but also kind-hearted. He is inevitably hesitant and has delayed the start of the Weaving Bureau. In my opinion, it might be better to choose another courageous eunuch in the palace!"

Yang Yiqing secretly admired Wang Qiong's words. He thought that his colleagues in Nanzhili wanted to transfer Luo Xiang, who did not give the civil officials and gentry the opportunity to make money, but His Majesty knew what Luo Xiang was doing through Luo Xiang's secret reports. If he and the cabinet ministers attacked Luo Xiang at this time, it would be counterproductive. Instead, Wang Qiong's suggestion, which openly praised Luo Xiang but actually advised His Majesty to replace him, would make it easier to achieve the goal of transferring Luo Xiang, and then replace him with a eunuch who was willing to cooperate with the civil officials and gentry and make money with them to preside over the opening of a new weaving bureau.

Therefore, Yang Yiqing also took the initiative to suggest: "In my opinion, Eunuch Wei of the Internal Affairs Bureau has always acted decisively and has extraordinary strategies. He is very suitable for this position."

Wang Qiong smiled slightly, secretly agreeing with Yang Yiqing's ability to judge people. Wei Bin was also one of the Eight Tigers and was a person that His Majesty could trust, but Wei Bin was more greedy than Luo Xiang. If Wei Bin was allowed to go, it would naturally make the civil servants, eunuchs, gentry and common people rich together, rather than the current result that only the common people and the royal family could profit and the weaving bureau could not be opened.

Kang Hai was a little bit stupid and couldn't understand the wit behind Wang Qiong and Yang Yiqing's words. He just said, "Your Majesty, there seems to be nothing wrong with what you two adults said. However, perhaps the cause of this matter is really the wrong person!"

Wang Qiong smiled secretly. Now that even Kang Hai believed her conclusion that "the weaving bureau could not be opened due to improper employment" was naturally the best thing.

In this way, I am afraid that the emperor will believe it. As long as Luo Xiang, the eunuch who is out of touch with the times, is transferred away, everything will be solved naturally, the weaving bureau can continue to operate, and the officials, gentry and people of Nanzhili can all benefit. Of course, the cabinet ministers in Beijing will not have received the filial tributes from their subordinates in vain.

Zhu Houzhao had to admit that Kang Hai, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, was not good at speaking. He directly said that the current situation was caused by improper employment. This clearly meant that he, as the emperor, did not choose the right person.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao was not Chongzhen, nor was he overly concerned about face, but he did not realize that except Kang Hai, the other two elite ministers of the cabinet were all playing Tai Chi, trying various ways to make him, the emperor, transfer back Luo Xiang, who was unwilling to cooperate with the gentry and civil servants of Songjiang Prefecture.

However, Zhu Houzhao had been the emperor for nearly twenty years now, and he knew that he could not trust all the words of his ministers. Therefore, he habitually decided to put the matter aside until tomorrow and think about it himself.

"We'll discuss this tomorrow!"

Zhu Houzhao said.

The three cabinet ministers then withdrew.

Zhu Houzhao summoned Zhang Zhong, the governor of the Western Factory, and asked, "What unusual moves have the three cabinet ministers made recently?"

This was just Zhu Houzhao asking out of habit. After all, the cabinet was the core of the imperial court, and Zhu Houzhao had to ensure that the cabinet ministers were absolutely dedicated to the public. Otherwise, he would not have removed Liu Yu from his position as the chief minister of the cabinet when he only advised Liu Yu to establish the crown prince for the benefit of his own family.

Zhang Zhong considered that if his eldest son wanted to become the crown prince in the future, he would naturally need the support of the cabinet, so he deliberately covered for the cabinet ministers and completely forgot Liu Jin's instructions before his death. He replied: "Your Majesty, the first assistant Wang has only watched operas with his children and grandchildren after returning home recently, while the second assistant is still compiling textbooks, and the third assistant often goes to the military academy to give lectures."

Zhu Houzhao nodded after hearing this, thinking, could it be that the administration of officials in this country has really changed? Whether it was eunuchs or civil officials, the ones he had learned about were all honest and capable officials.

But if this is the case, why do ordinary people still have such little trust in the government, and why do officials live more and more luxurious lives? Is it really because the empire is becoming more and more prosperous?

Recently, I read the historical materials of Ming Dynasty and found that most of the biographies of civil officials were good officials, who were either good at solving cases or good at controlling floods or were honest and famous, or were upright and outspoken. The proportion of treacherous officials and corrupt officials was very small. What puzzled me was that since there were more good officials than corrupt officials, why did the dynasty still perish and the people still rebel? Anyway, if the author designed the plot purely according to the historical materials, he would not be able to find a few villains at once!

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(End of this chapter)