Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 188: Nonviolent Non-Cooperation in Jiangnan

In Nanjing, the Minister of Revenue Xiao Daheng also heard this name from Xie Tingzan.

"What happened to Deputy Envoy Chen?"

"How do I know?" Xie Tingzan said lazily, "It's just that I have nothing to do, so I travel around Jiangnan. I often hear people talking about Deputy Envoy Chen. I heard that he has a very good reputation among scholars. Recently, I got a strange book called "Jin Ping Mei Ci Hua", which also has a character with the same name as Deputy Envoy Chen. The person who lent the book to me had an ambiguous smile."

"A strange book?" Xiao Daheng was stunned.

Xie Tingzan nodded: "A wonderful book."

"…Why keep it a secret? It's rare for you to come here, so you must have some ideas."

Xie Tingzan had been idle in Nanjing for a long time. Now he looked at Xiao Daheng with a rather complaining look in his eyes: "Although I have some guesses, I have no solid evidence. I heard that after Cao Jiangdu Censor was appointed, the post of Zhejiang Circuit Inspector became vacant..."

Xiao Daheng looked at him with a complicated expression: "Zhejiang Provincial Governor?"

Xie Tingzan said righteously, "Although he is only a seventh-rank official, I am quite curious about Deputy Envoy Chen and am willing to investigate secretly!"

The head of the Ministry of Justice was a sixth-rank official, but the inspector was only a seventh-rank official. Although his rank was low, his power was extremely high.

This kid actually came here to ask for an official position so directly.

Of course, this also shows that this guy thinks the information he has is a breakthrough.

Xiao Daheng thought for a moment and said, "I can recommend you, but you have to speak first."

This is what Xie Tingzan wanted, so he said: "I have traveled a thousand miles in a carriage to pay homage to the Holy Lord. The stars in the sky are shining brightly. I am dressed in red and have red ribbons to pay homage to the Emperor. I am accompanied by attendants with golden horses and bronze dragons. Carriages and books from all over the world are singing and dancing. The five clouds, the sun and the moon are all in the air. I am writing a poem to send you with ink, and I wish to attach my red bow to my immortal merit."

"…What kind of poem is this?"

"Mao Shunfu's "Sending County Magistrate Chen Hongyu to the Emperor"."

Xiao Daheng frowned: "Mr. Lushan from Gui'an, Huzhou?"

Xie Tingzan nodded.

Mao Kun was an important figure in the Tang and Song school of literature. He compiled the "Collected Works of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties", which was very popular in China.

A branch of their family was brought to justice last year.

No one knew whether Mao Kun died of old age or was angered to death.

This poem was written to Chen Jingji when he came to Beijing to report on his work, and it was full of flattery and blessings.

"anything else?"

"The governor of Wuxing is the most romantic. Today he takes his zither and bamboo flute to the upper reaches. The road is covered with flowers and warblers for thousands of miles, and the five lakes and mountains are like fairy boats. Children and bamboo horses dance all over the city, and elders drink wine and sing on the streets. His fame has been surpassed by Huang Ba, and he still looks at the pillars and stones to commemorate the Spring and Autumn Period."

"…What kind of poem is this?"

"'The poem written by Chen Hongyu, the prefect of the county, to send to the deputy envoy of the county, was sent by Mao Shunfu to Chen, the deputy envoy of the county, as a gift.'"

"What's the point of singing back and forth?"

Xiao Daheng said this with disapproval, even though the words Mao Kun used in his poems and essays praising Chen Jingji's promotion were really flattering.

Xie Tingzan chuckled and said, "But among the people of Huzhou, Deputy Envoy Chen has the reputation of 'Old Crow Chen'."

Xiao Daheng raised his brows and said, "What do you mean?"

"I heard that he hates the crows so much that there must be several people on duty to drive them away. If he hears it, he will be severely punished."

"Even so, it's just a little eccentric. During the Chenghua period, the Imperial College's chief academician also hated the sound of crows, and recruited students who could catch crows to give them for free. Zhou Chiying laughed at it for a while."

Mr. Xiao felt that this material was not enough.

"He worked as a director in the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing, and was in charge of Huzhou Prefecture at the time." Xie Tingzan did not keep the secret. "His quirks don't stop there. I heard that he has many taboos, such as the word filial piety. For several years, Xiaofeng County under the jurisdiction of Huzhou Prefecture could only call itself Qingfeng County. For example, when the case was brought to court, the prisoners always called him 'Your Highness', but he quickly turned around and said he didn't dare. The funny thing is that there are many prisoners like this. Could it be that the prisoners in Huzhou Prefecture don't know the taboos of the prefect and always call him that?"

Xiao Daheng frowned.

Xie Tingzan said with a sigh, "Originally, these are nothing, it's just that the local officials are more powerful. But in this strange book, Chen Jingji really did all kinds of bad things."

"…Tell me about it."

Xiao Daheng was not surprised. It was common for someone to hint at something through words.

"It's hard to say."

"What can't be said?"

"I haven't finished reading it yet." Xie Tingzan said seriously, "Wait until I finish reading it, then I'll lend it to the Minister of Agriculture to have a look."

Xiao Daheng thought that he might have some bad health problems due to being idle, so he waved his hand and said, "I'll go find it myself."

Xie Tingzan shook his head and said, "I think it would be better for the Minister of Agriculture not to look for this book everywhere, after all, it contains many obscene words."

"..." Xiao Daheng was speechless. "Just because this book mentions a person with the same name who did all kinds of bad things, and because Deputy Envoy Chen's reputation among scholars is different from what is said among the people, you are asking me for the post of Zhejiang Provincial Governor?"

Xie Tingzan sighed and said, "The author of this book, Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng, is definitely not an ordinary person. This book is really a strange book. This strange book happens to write about Chen Jingji, who also worked in Yanzhou and Huzhou. He has the same name as Chen Fushi, who served as the prefect of Yanzhou and Huzhou. He is also a guy who has done all kinds of bad things. What's wrong with this subordinate thinking this way?"

Finally, he added: "Besides, if I have nothing to do, I will be idle. If the post of Zhejiang Provincial Governor is vacant, it will be vacant."

"...Then you should read it quickly, and let me see it after you finish. I will ask and see whether these speculations are reasonable or not before I make a decision." Xiao Daheng was still skeptical, and said, "The post of Zhejiang Provincial Governor has been vacated, so naturally there are many people eyeing it. You are too inexperienced, and even if I recommend you, the court may have already made a decision."

"…Although I am idle, I have not forgotten the emperor's command!"

"...I know, I know. I haven't forgotten your contribution."

Xie Tingzan felt that Xiao Daheng's tone was a little guilty.

This guy, maybe he really forgot. Maybe it's because he was very busy, but he probably really forgot!

It’s a waste that I paid so much attention to it in private!
He snorted and said, "I have used up all my money and have no money for drinks. Does the Minister of Agriculture have enough money? I will lend you some money." "...How much do you want?"

"One hundred taels."

"what?"

"I've been to all the places near Yingtian. Next I want to travel around Zhejiang. I have nothing to do anyway!" He then took out a few volumes of books from his sleeves, "I also want to buy a set to give back to my friend!"

"..."

So Xiao Daheng spent one hundred taels to buy this set of books that had been touched by Xie Tingzan, and watched him go to his house angrily and take his note to get the silver.

After returning home at night, I heard from the housekeeper that Xie Tingzan had come and left with a hundred taels of silver.

After dinner he went to the study and did some other things before he started reading the book.

As he read it, he finally understood why Xie Tingzan did not suggest that he go around looking for this book.

It is really unbecoming for a dignified Minister of Revenue to specifically ask for this book.

But...it is indeed a strange book...

……

Chang Qing'an in Jiangnan received a steady stream of letters from him to Beijing.

Otherwise, Zhu Changluo would not have replied to him saying that both brown rice and japonica rice could be eaten.

Having officially entered the new year's work state, Zhu Changluo's main job every day became replying to letters.

They are all memorials.

This is a huge workload.

All public memorials were first voted on by the cabinet, but Zhu Changluo reminded many people who he had met collectively or individually and appointed to local positions that they could make memorials.

Liu Ruoyu and Zou Yi have already divided the work, one is responsible for the compilation of memorials, and the other is responsible for the memorials.

And the locations are different.

All memorials were submitted to the Yangxin Palace, while the inscriptions were kept in the Qianqing Palace.

The compilation of the title books was no longer done by the Inner Study, but was handed over to the Hanlin Academy's Zanhua Gallery. Zou Yi was only a proofreader, mail clerk, and organizer.

Wei Yunzhong originally thought that this Zan Art Gallery was such an impressive place, but after starting working there he became a social animal.

But after seeing how the emperor read memorials, they were no longer surprised that he handled many things so efficiently.

The emperor is not in the Qianqing Palace today, and they have a huge number of question books in front of them.

After the four imperial edicts of the grand court assembly on New Year's Day were issued, the first batch of memorials from the localities began to pour in.

Therefore, the emperor decided to wait for a while and take a comprehensive and focused look at the reaction of the entire Ming Dynasty.

The emperor was reviewing memorials in the Yangxin Palace, which was not something they could see.

Liu Ruoyu presented the newly arrived memorial minutes.

Zhu Changluo read it through first, then drank tea and pondered.

Everything was calm before the Chinese New Year, but after the Chinese New Year, grain began to be shipped, and the memorials from Jiangnan began to reveal a situation: to some extent, non-violent non-cooperation had begun.

Anyway, I won't disobey orders. I will just use various small reasons to delay as much as possible.

It highlights a significant increase in the time cost of grassroots administration.

Although some families did follow this rule voluntarily, most people did so tacitly or after discussion.

Last year, only some places' grain delivery was delayed, but this year it will be delayed on a large scale.

I'm afraid that the transport troops under Wang Chengxun's command are already extremely anxious.

"Go find Tian Yi and ask him to ask the Ministry of Revenue and then ask the Changming Grain Store how much grain is left in the warehouses in the capital."

"Yes."

Zhu Changluo frowned, stood up and paced slowly.

He believed that Jiangnan would not dare to take such a step on a matter of principle and anger the emperor.

The biggest hidden danger may not be the grain transported to the imperial court, but the grain that is smuggled to the north on the grain ships every year.

If they don't do business this year, the court can't force them to do business, right? Is it okay for them not to make money this year?
Perhaps, the second year of Taichang will be a rather quiet year on Caohe River.

What followed was a decline in banknotes, silver, and commercial taxes, as well as dissatisfaction among the people on both sides of the Caohe River and the Caojun troops.

After walking out of the main hall gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Waking of Insects comes right after the first month of the lunar year.

Looking up at the sky, Zhu Changluo's eyes gradually turned cold.

As long as we want to make some changes, then we will have to face this kind of thing every year when the grain is shipped?

He also thought of the additional 200,000 taels of gold and silver in Jiangnan, which was equivalent to 800,000 dan of grain at a lower cost. Maybe if he only sold it in Jiangnan, the profit would be good and he could survive.

What if we stockpile more food? After all, after the strict exemption this year, everyone has a reason to cry poor and talk about worries.

It seems that Jiangnan didn't appreciate the good intention of stopping last year when hundreds of companies were found.

(End of this chapter)