Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 140: Heaven's might overwhelms the city, Jiangnan is in a state of panic

"I do this willingly..." Guo Lanzhi lowered her eyes and did not look at him.

"It's only natural to help your husband, right?"

"……nature."

"You are going to be the queen, and I am your husband."

"Your Majesty..." Guo Lanzhi was a little dizzy. What happened to the emperor?
"Do you want to know why I gave you Ruyi?"

Guo Lanzhi lowered her head and shook it gently.

"Then think about it." Zhu Changluo said with a smile, "Think more about why I favor you. The most important thing is to think more about me."

Guo Lanzhi had never been teased like this in public before, and the person who spoke to her soon became her official husband, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

My heart was slightly throbbing, and I heard the emperor say, "I will help you first, and you should think more about how to help me."

When Guo Lanzhi left in a daze, she began to realize that the emperor was no longer calling himself "I" to her.

What can I do to help her?

How could she help the emperor?

Having children, or...

Zhu Changluo ordered Guo Lanzhi to start thinking about some intimate things that only concerned the two of them during the serious and restrained "rehearsal" stage, causing her heart to begin to stir up inexplicable emotions.

Now thinking about why I was chosen as the queen, it seems... it's not just from the utilitarian perspective of having a cold and stern temperament to intimidate the harem.

But why?

After the big pig's hoof paid his respects at Renshou Palace, he went to find the short and fat Liu Yi to cultivate his relationship. Fan Sirong, who was next to the palace wall, heard the faint laughter coming from over there.

After arriving at the Jingren Palace, the emperor had never come, nor had he ever invited her to listen to storytelling.

But the emperor seemed to have never visited the one in the Yanx Palace.

It seemed that the lonely life in the palace had begun.

Fan Sirong looked at the moon in the sky and couldn't help but think of her father.

You should have received the news by now and are preparing to set off for Beijing.

The clan leader should have also known the news, but I don’t know where he is and what arrangements he will make for his parents and brothers.

Fan Yuanzhu had indeed learned the news that his niece had been honored as Consort Shu.

But the news that concerns him most in Huai'an City now still comes from the south.

Upon hearing that the Jinyiwei Northern Pacification Office had arrested the second son of the Cheng family in Jiangyou, Wang Dewan, the Yingtian Circuit Inspector who is now in charge of the case, still does not trust the Nanjing Ministry of Justice Prison, and asks the Northern Pacification Envoy to detain the wanted criminal in the military camp of the Yongwei Camp.

The Jiangyou Cheng family was in Jiangxi, and Wang Dewan was only the inspector of Yingtian. He couldn't go there to arrest people, at least there was no normal way to go there quickly to arrest people.

But there are “abnormal” ways.

But it's simple. Since he has already asked the Jinyiwei Northern Pacification Division to take action, he can naturally ask again.

Even so, this is already the behavior of the emperor's minions.

Wang Dewan, however, didn't care so much. He and Niu Yingyuan divided the work and rushed to the prefectures, states and counties that were affected by the disaster. Wang Dewan was deeply shocked.

"Old man, I heard that there are river and lake works every year, and this year's disaster is not that big. Why are you so heartbroken?"

In Changxing County, Huzhou Prefecture, Wang Dewan was wearing casual clothes.

Although the few people he brought were all in plain clothes, their skin color and demeanor were obvious.

An old farmer wearing a straw hat and a raincoat walked a few steps on the ridge of the field, looking at the destroyed grain fields, and slapped his thigh. He heard Wang Dewan's words while crying, but just ignored him.

He was mumbling to himself, and Wang Dewan didn't quite understand what he was saying, so he looked at his attendant and asked, "What is the old man saying?"

The follower hesitated and said, "It's just... complaining..."

Wang Dewan didn't say much, just looked around again.

This mile is said to be the most "tricky" mile in Changxing County. It also happens to be the mile through which the tributary of the Tiaoxi River that broke its embankment this time flows.

"...He didn't want to talk because I was unfamiliar to him." Wang Dewan knew what was going on and asked again, "What did he say?"

"...Sir, I really didn't say anything. I just complained that God was blind and worried about the autumn crops, but it was too late..."

"Why is it too late to plant the autumn crops?" Wang Dewan stared at him. "Even if it's summer crops, if we work harder to clear the mud in the fields, we can transplant some of them from other places."

Before I could get a response, a commotion came from not far away: "Is that Master Fu An in front?"

Wang Dewan looked over and saw a group of people rushing over, one in a green robe and the other in a blue robe.

Looking back, I saw that the people who had come to the fields to check the disaster had quickly moved away.

"Your uncle and I are close friends, you say."

Wang Dewan looked at the follower. He was the son of Xie Tingzan’s wife, named Zhu Xiuguan.

"...Sir, there must be labor after a disaster. The governor is strictly inspecting water conservancy projects, and the summer inspection has just begun." Zhu Xiuguang looked at the officials of Changxing County who were getting closer and closer, and whispered, "I guess Changxing County has assigned river workers. This mile is the most important."

Wang Dewan was confused for a moment: "Solidifying the riverbank is also a good thing for them. It's right next to their home, so of course they have to contribute..."

Then he thought of something and his face changed.

"You mean, first, we need to levy more taxes; second, we need to guard against dike breaches elsewhere, so we have to make some efforts here? Third, the land tax cannot be reduced. This place has a reputation of being 'troublesome', so the officials should not show any sympathy?"

"Your Excellency is wise..." Zhu Xiuguang looked at the officials from Changxing County who were getting closer and closer, "Your Excellency, in Jiangnan, where the land is still in the hands of the common people, there are often many unruly people."

"Your Excellency, Lord Guang'an! How rude, how rude! Lord Guang'an is here on official business in Changxing County, why didn't you write to the county government?"

The magistrate of Chang'an shouted from a distance. Wang Dewan was silent for a while, but still went to meet him.

He had always thought that Jiangnan was a prosperous place, and the lives of ordinary people were better than those in Sichuan. But the five tributaries of Tiaoxi River all rose in water, so why did the dike here collapse alone?
Every year, when it comes to river works, I’m afraid priority is given to the rivers around the fertile fields of the “obedient people.”

People in Nanjing city are already in panic at this moment.

Even Duke Wei Xu Hongji was no exception.

"Did Earl Pingyi reply?"

"The Duke, he hasn't come back yet..." His housekeeper knew what was going on and consoled him, "Since His Majesty has high hopes for the Duke, the matter of the Jiangyou Cheng family smuggling salt will not be a big deal."

"The Northern Governor has personally led people to Jiangxi!" Xu Hongji was restless, "Who knows how many letters and evidence they will find from the Cheng family! Go! Sell the two dancers sent by the Cheng family first!"

"…My Lord, why do you need to do this?"

The Duke of Wei's family has been in charge of Nanjing for generations, and now they are like a frightened bird. So if there is any major case in Jiangnan, the Duke of Wei will definitely be involved.

"What do you think we should do? Private salt! Salt permits!"

"The salt permits in the Duke's hand may be granted by grace, quota or tribute. The salt permits are real, so why should you worry? It's just that the Cheng family is so bold that they smuggle salt." The housekeeper advised, "Duke, you should give it up. Although Changminghao has no profit share or tribute now, it is after all the will of His Majesty. In the future, all these business matters will be entrusted to Changminghao. In this way, His Majesty will not blame you!"

"…But they didn't send anyone to Nanjing to report this!"

“I’m afraid it will come after this big case.”

The meritorious officials represented by Duke Wei were just one type of beneficiaries of the Ming Dynasty’s salt permit cake.

However, the cake was generally divided by the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue.

The copper plate for the salt permit was cast by the Nanjing Ministry of Industry, but the printing, production, exchange and issuance of the salt permit were all the responsibility of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue.

The issue of grain transport was suddenly involved in salt permits and smuggled salt. The Cheng family in Jiangyou was on the verge of being destroyed, and Zhang Yi was frightened every day.

"Your Majesty is determined to handle this major case!" Nanjing Criminal Minister Zhao Canlu was dissatisfied and worried. "The criminals and evidence are all guarded by the Yongwei Battalion, and Wang Dewan is only investigating the case but not questioning it! Is there still no news from the capital? Who will be sent to try this case?"

Zhang Yi tried to remain calm, holding the teacup.

After taking a sip of tea, the lid of the cup still knocked against the edge of the cup a few times.

"This case...is not allowed to be tried in Nanjing, but doesn't the Nanjing Criminal Department have a case to try?" Zhang Yi looked at him with a sharp gaze, "This unscrupulous businessman disregards the law of the country, he should be severely tried!"

Zhao Canlu felt the look in his eyes and then understood something.

At least the Nanjing Ministry of Justice could intervene in the criminal cases in the prefectures of Southern Zhili, especially those that were pushed to Nanjing for adjudication.

At least before the imperial envoy goes south, many people need to know how to speak.

The might of heaven was overwhelming, and officials of all ranks in Nanjing had to make their own choices.

Zhang Yi, Hao Jie and Ye Xianggao previously believed that it would be enough to remove the word "Wo" from the person and push Geng Dingli, the censor of Jiangdu, to take the blame, which should be enough to show Nanjing's submission.

But is it enough now?
At this time, many officials of all ranks in Nanjing also remembered that memorials were different now. Now memorials were secret and reported directly to the emperor.

Although Nanjing did not have a study outside the Silijian, since it was a secret report, who wouldn't have servants?

In a short period of time, countless people took their books and headed north.

On the canal, at least the section of the canal south of Linqing has passed the critical period for grain ships to go north, and now there are endless civilian ships traveling back and forth.

Apart from the grain transportation period, the main bulk cargo was naturally the salt merchants who flocked to the Huaiyang Salt Field and Zhejiang Salt Field to prepare salt.

But today they are all very cautious. There is no scene like in the past when they would bring boats or carriages to every salt field to buy salt from the salt farmers.

Grain merchants in Beijing were fighting each other, and the Cheng family of Jiangyou was arrested in Nanjing.

The house purchased by Fan Yuanzhu in Huai'an City has become bustling recently.

"Brother Fan, you haven't been a water merchant for a long time. How come you have suddenly changed your business and now have a Changming store?"

Fan Yuanzhu naturally got to know many people in the business world, so what was so strange about meeting them in Huai'an?
"Business is difficult, so I have to work harder. I hope you guys can take care of me."

"I heard that there is a grain store called Changming in the capital that has not raised its prices recently and even sells white grain...Brother Fan, could it be that your Changming store is a grain and rice business? That's a big deal!"

Fan Yuanzhu knew that they were here to inquire about the situation, so he just said modestly: "Excuse me, Changming is not mine. We are in Shanxi, where it is cold and bitter, and we all join hands to do some small business."

"My dear brother, we have all worked hard to earn our money, and you know why we are here." Someone was not used to beating around the bush. "I heard that His Majesty's personal soldiers are helping Changming Grain Company to protect the grain ship. Also, His Majesty has already selected his empress. The Ministry of Rites is drafting a ceremony to confer the title, and the Concubine Shu is from the Jiexiu Fan family. My dear brother Fan, you are the head of the Jiexiu Fan family! People in Jiangnan are in a panic now. What do you know? How can you help everyone? Just speak frankly!"

Fan Yuanzhu looked at their expressions; some were expectant, some were flattering, some were embarrassed, and some were anxious.

So he just bowed and said, "The Concubine Shu is my niece, there is no need to hide this from you. As for the other matters, I am only ordered to pick up the salt business in Huai'an and sell some southern and northern goods. I need your help."

"...According to orders? Hey, Brother Fan, the Jiexiu Fan family is already a royal family. Are you following orders or..."

They didn't dare to point it out, but the situation changed suddenly, and whether they could grasp the latest news was what businessmen needed to pay most attention to.

Zhayang was restructured into a merchant, the emperor helped Changming Grain Store fight against the grain merchants in the capital, Nanjing arrested the Cheng family, the largest water merchant in Jiangnan among the salt industry, and all the merchants who went out to the canal area were like ants on hot pot.

"Second uncle! Second uncle! There is an imperial decree entering the city!"

Fan Yuanzhu stood up and looked at his younger generation: "Imperial edict? Where did it come from?"

"Two!" His young grandson wiped his sweat, "One went to the North Palace, and the other went to the East Courtyard!"

In the official room of the main hall in the backyard of Changminghao, a group of businessmen looked at each other with even more worry.

What happened again?

Fan Yuanzhu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at the others, "Why worry? Things will become clearer and clearer."

Others looked at him with mixed feelings: Of course you are not in a hurry.

How can the future be bright? Do I need to honor you and take care of my colleagues in order to get the opportunity?

Today's three chapters are all big chapters, and they have reached 10 a day. They are gone by pm. It has been a day for consecutive days. I need to make some adjustments later, to ensure that the three chapters reach , and try to reach a day.

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(End of this chapter)