Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 193 I am such an emperor

The public was in an uproar, but in fact no one really wanted to rebel.

We already enjoy privileges, why are we rebelling?

[They will make a scene, cry, put on a sullen face and pretend they don’t like to associate with you, say a lot of annoying things, and throw a tantrum, but they dare not fight back.]

Liu Ruoyu stood aside, grinding the ink with his eyes wide open, watching the emperor use such straightforward words to write a handwritten note to Xiong Tingbi, who was to be sent to Nanzhili.

[They don't have the courage to rebel themselves, but with their prestige in the village and their power over the years, they have the courage to instigate the people to make trouble or even cause a civil uprising. They wear shoes, and they can actually understand reason. But the common people are barefoot, and they may risk their lives if they are wronged for a moment.]

Zhu Changluo worked tirelessly and wrote handwritten instructions to some young officials who were sent to various places.

This is not about micromanagement, but about giving them a clear idea of ​​the direction.

There are opportunities in crises. As Wang Xijue said, last year they relied on the heavy taxes, and this year they relied on the harmony of the villages. Whether it is the imperial power or the imperial decrees, it is indeed difficult to reach the countryside now. But since they dare to use this aspect to embarrass the local officials, it is also an opportunity to really get their feet in.

【If there are too many cases, we will try them and let the local authorities judge them impartially! It doesn't matter if it delays other civil affairs! When examining the student status, we will remove those who should be removed and commend those who should be commended! Even if it delays the busy farming season, and the land tax of the Ming Dynasty is reduced by several million or even tens of millions of shi this year, I have a way! If someone really forgets what a monarch is and what the national law is, I will have someone hold a knife to his neck and let him know that the emperor, the court, and the government have the final say in the Ming Dynasty! 】

[I am such an emperor, such a ruler and father! For the people of the world, those who are arrogant, dissolute, and disobedient, I will first beat such rebellious children until they are painful, crying, and kneeling down! Otherwise, where is the justice for the rest of the people? ]

One after another, handwritten edicts were sent to various parts of the Ming Dynasty through the chief eunuchs.

Originally an inconspicuous Duzhijian among the four departments, eight bureaus and twelve prisons, he was changed from being in charge of Xingyi, Guanzhi and Kanhe to being specifically responsible for clearing the way for the emperor. But now, after the purge of eunuchs, many eunuchs and sent external spies have been merged into the Duzhijian.

Their work mainly became to go deep into every water and land post station in the Ming Dynasty, and be responsible for forming a "post office" for the emperor's private use, specifically responsible for transmitting local memorials to the upper level and sending the emperor's replies downward.

The local government can save some money for each water and land post station - because the governor-general will send people to each post station, and the imperial treasury will pay 30% of the cost of the entire post system.

The posthouse, which was always used for welcoming and seeing off guests, would obviously become "clear" again because of the addition of an imperial spy. How it would develop in the future, and whether the eunuchs dispatched to the posthouse would become the targets of bribery and eventually become accomplices, was a matter for the future.

The post system is the most systematic information exchange network today. Continuously improving and utilizing it is one of the most necessary "infrastructures".

Streamline the post stations? No, the post station system needs to be expanded and improved.

Isn't it because of the inconvenience of travel and poor information flow that the emperor is far away?

Huai'an has reached its busiest time again, with thousands of grain ships from various generals passing through the customs.

At the Shuilu Post Station in Huai'an, the eunuch received the emperor's handwritten imperial edict sent here from a post station in the north.

The shape is not gorgeous, it is just an ordinary paper envelope with a special bright yellow Emperor Yao hemp paper seal affixed to the outside.

"This one goes to the headquarters of the grain transport army, this one goes to the governor's grain transport department, this one..."

The postmen in the posthouses were originally forced labor for the common people, but now it has become a local rule. After the common people pay silver, they are hired by the government.

This change became widely popular in the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Zhang Juzheng.

In addition to taking care of various livestock such as horses, cows, and donkeys, as well as the post station's means of transportation, postmen also need to work as coachmen, sedan chair bearers, track pullers, and laborers, and do various odd jobs as needed.

But now the eunuchs in charge of the post and courier service already have three to five specialized servants under their command.

They began to be called "Imperial Letter Porters" and were responsible for only one thing: delivering memorials and handwritten imperial edicts.

The work is easy and simple, and the status is high.

The eunuchs at Huai'an Water and Land Post Station have assigned their tasks, and their work for the day has begun.

Some went to the next stop, while others rushed to the government office where the handwritten imperial edicts were to be delivered and handed them to the officials.

Officials are not necessarily sent to government offices, but they can only be sent to government offices.

Since the memorial had been submitted, the officials naturally looked forward to a reply. If they were on a business trip, they would definitely leave a capable confidant in the government office, and the memorial would be handed over to the person who had been in touch with them when they submitted the memorial to the post station.

In the mansion of the general of the grain transport army, Wang Chengxun went to Yangzhou, so the "imperial letter bearer" who was responsible for delivering the handwritten imperial edicts here found Meng Chuanfei, the court secretary designated by Wang Chengxun, the Earl of Xinjian.

"Master Meng, please sign a note and use your official seal so that I can report back."

So Meng Chuanfei took out a special seal left to him by Wang Chengxun, and then wrote on the booklet brought out by the imperial letter bearer, "Received by Meng Chuanfei, the Secretary of the General's Office of the Cao Army", "Year, Month, Time and Quarter", and then changed the seal.

The imperial messenger took it and compared the seal on it with the seal on another list handed to him by the eunuch, and then handed the other list to Meng Chuanfei.

"I'm sorry to bother you. After I submit this memorial, General Wang, I will return to the posthouse."

"Thank you for your hard work." Meng Chuanfei smiled and took out a small piece of silver, "Use it to have some wine."

"Thank you for the reward, Master!"

The imperial porter was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly before taking the reward and leaving.

Otherwise, why is it considered a good job? As messengers for high-ranking officials to communicate with the emperor, they are of course highly valued. On weekdays, they receive small favors constantly, and at least they will work hard to deliver the key content as soon as possible.

I took it apart and pasted it back together again. Although this is a capital crime, it is inevitable.

Of course, you can only bribe the eunuchs and imperial messengers who are in your own post station. But if there is no grudge between the eunuchs and imperial messengers in other post stations, why would you risk losing your head to harm you for others?
Just take care of it on weekdays, it's an extra layer of protection.

As a result, the Duzhijian suddenly became the most unoffensive eunuch system in the local area, apart from the local garrisons and other eunuchs.

Meng Chuanfei watched him leave, then he very carefully found the housekeeper of Wang Chengxun's house and asked him to quickly deliver the handwritten imperial edict to Wang Chengxun.

Wang Chengxun was very busy because he now needed to appease many military officers and soldiers.

The reason is that when transporting grain this year, the number of people who asked them to smuggle goods to the north dropped sharply, which means that everyone's income this year has dropped sharply.

Two days later, he received the emperor's handwritten imperial edict, and he felt more at ease.

The two lieutenant generals, Wei Haixian and Cui Sheng, were both on the bank of the canal south of Yangzhou City.

Four of the remaining twelve general commanders of the Cao Army also gathered here at the same time.

"Transporting grain is of the utmost importance, so we naturally dare not delay it. But this year, the transport brothers are all resentful about this trip." Wei Haixian was even more irritable and complained silently.

Cui Shengze didn't say much.

Wang Chengxun looked at the two of them and said, "I have already reported these things to His Majesty. You are worried about being like Zhayang Zong, and you are also worried that your brothers will make trouble this year. His Majesty should know all these things."

They both fell silent and listened to him first.

"Last year, a big problem almost occurred, but His Majesty had already made arrangements. Changming Grain Store bought a lot of grain at a high price. You listened to my advice and asked your subordinates to give up half of the goods." Wang Chengxun looked at them meaningfully and said, "His Majesty also knows your contribution."

Although it seemed like giving him, the commander-in-chief of the Cao Army, some face at that time, and the purchase price was indeed higher than before?
But they have offended many of their former "old customers", and it seems that the consequence is that not so many people are asking them to promote their products this year.

"Most of the former officers and soldiers in Zhayanghang have stayed. You will have your own dealings with them in the future, so let's wait and see. The rest of the generals will not be changed now. Even if they are to be changed in the future, it must be after you know how they have lived after working in Zhayanghang, and you are willing to change them."

Wang Chengxun did not avoid the question of the future, and then immediately talked about the current problem.

"This year, there aren't that many people asking the generals to help carry goods through customs, so the generals won't be treated unfairly." As the general commander of the grain transport army, he must be able to seek benefits for his subordinates. "At least when the general grain transport ships arrive in the north, Changming will have prepared enough goods to transport back to the south."

Wei Haixian asked in disbelief: "Just one Changming? So many managers, so many ships?"

Even though we already knew that the Changming was extremely extraordinary, with so many generals in the grain transport army, how could the Changming alone prepare thousands or even tens of thousands of ships of cargo?

"I might as well tell you clearly." Wang Chengxun had been to the capital twice and had received instructions. Now he was shouldering an important responsibility. "Changming, I dare not avoid the name. I took one character each from Taichang and Daming. It is because the owner is Your Majesty, and there are also princes of the royal family and many noble relatives. I said that this year I will definitely not treat the grain transport troops unfairly. Don't you believe me?"

Wei Haixian was shocked. Today he finally knew the full picture of Changming, so he was speechless.

"Since I can tell you these things clearly, it is because Your Majesty is also aware of how the grain transport troops lived in previous years. Your Majesty will not treat the grain transport troops harshly. The transformation of the grain transport army into a merchant is to find a new way out for everyone. However, relying on the importance of grain transport, you still insist on allowing you to change the grain transport boats and smuggle a lot of money as usual. This is firstly contempt for the court, and secondly, your vision is too narrow!"

He was staring at the captains, but Wei Haixian also lowered his head.

"One by one! Although it is true that the grain transport has been delayed this year, your grain ships have been moving slowly all the way and have only just arrived in Yangzhou. They will definitely miss many ships when crossing the Huai River. Why, are you also following the gentry and wealthy families in Jiangnan to make trouble for His Majesty?"

"...I dare not, because it is much slower when it comes to us..." The four captains all argued.

"After loading the ship and shipping, are you focused on getting on with your journey?" Wang Chengxun said sullenly, "You all stayed in Yangzhou, and the captains and generals under you were all negotiating with the former wealthy merchants. Do you think I don't know?"

He looked at everyone and said, "It's impossible for everyone to pass through Huai before the end of March. Which two of you are willing to take the blame and stand behind?"

Cui Sheng looked at the two of them and cupped his hands, "Last year, I was saved by the Lord and was not convicted of the grain transport issue. This year, I will bear the blame."

If we miss the crossing time, someone has to take the blame.

Wei Haixian looked at him with some surprise, his expression uncertain.

The two people who were looked at by Cui Sheng also turned pale, gritted their teeth, lowered their heads and said nothing.

"Then it's settled." Wang Chengxun nodded. "Don't delay in Yangzhou, and hurry to Huai'an. How many big merchants are there in Yangzhou? How many goods are ready to be loaded? I still say that if you do a good job, I won't treat you unfairly this year. Don't you really want to let His Majesty see that the grain transport troops have made a wasted trip and then be unwilling to transport grain?"

Wei Haixian could only stand up with the two of them, clasped his fists and said, "I obey your command."

After they all left, Wang Chengxun took out the imperial edict and said, "It's good that you dare to take the blame. His Majesty's order has arrived. You are waiting here in compliance with the order. You are not guilty. Wait in Yangzhou. When Changming Grain Store collects enough new grain in Jiangnan, it will be transported here and you can transport it to the north together."

Cui Sheng looked at him in surprise, and the other two captains were also surprised and delighted.

"I still say the same thing. You should look at the Zhayang Company first. If they all become prosperous in the future, you will be jealous and hope for changes, and then the Caojun will change. His Majesty allows everyone to make money. His Majesty is looking for a way to guarantee the grain and tax silver, and let everyone make more money. I came here to tell you that I have submitted everything you have thought of, and His Majesty has also made arrangements! As long as you obey orders and dare to work, His Majesty will not treat you unfairly!"

(End of this chapter)