Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 211: The platform summons Yan Song, Xia Yan goes out to sea
After Zhu Houcong decided to add the post of Envoy for Observing Customs and Rectifying Morals in Huguang, he naturally needed to consider who to appoint as the first Envoy for Observing Customs and Rectifying Morals in Huguang.

All the cabinet ministers wanted to recommend their own students for this position.

But Zhu Houcong thought about it and decided to appoint Yan Song to this position.

At the moment, Yan Song’s qualifications were sufficient because he followed Wang Xian to participate in the suppression of the enemy in Datong Prefecture, and was awarded military merit for supervising food and wages, and was promoted to Shaoqing of Taichang Temple.

When the cabinet ministers recommended their preferred candidates to Zhu Houcong, Zhu Houcong asked, "What do you think of Yan Song?"

The Grand Secretary was quite surprised, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was reasonable.

"Yan Song was born in the Hanlin Academy, so he is well educated. He has a broad view of politics and has served as a close minister to Your Majesty. He also understands Your Majesty's intention to govern the country, so he is suitable for you."

The cabinet chief minister Mao Ji then echoed the answer.

Fei Hong and others followed suit and said, "I second the motion!"

It was impossible for them to disagree with the person chosen by the emperor.

……

……

"Congratulations, brother-in-law."

Upon hearing that his brother-in-law Yan Song was appointed as the envoy for observing customs and rectifying social practices, Ouyang Bijin, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, came to congratulate him immediately.

Yan Song just smiled and said with a bright face: "This is all thanks to my student Zhang Bingyong! I saw long ago that this man is courageous and resourceful, and will become a great man in the future! Now it seems that it is true!"

"Brother-in-law is right. You have a good eye for talent. Now, Zhang Bingyong is one of the Nine Ministers. Your Majesty really favors him!"

Ouyang Bijin replied.

"He deserves it."

"At that time, few people had the courage to point out the wrongs of the ceremony!"

"He dared to point it out! Such loyalty and courage, the talent of a prime minister to govern the world!"

Yan Song smiled and sat down.

After hearing this, Ouyang Bijin said, "It seems that after my brother-in-law goes to Huguang, he will also punish the ritualists?"

Yan Song suddenly became serious: "It's not a rectification, it's to correct their wrong understanding of the great gift and their wrong view of lending at low interest rates!"

"understand!"

"But what if they refuse to be corrected?"

Ouyang Bijin asked.

Yan Song was silent for a while, then smiled faintly: "That means you will suffer for your own mistakes!"

Ouyang Bijin suddenly felt a chill coming over him.

"Then my brother-in-law will leave after the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Ouyang Bijin asked again.

Yan Song stood up and said, "Tomorrow I will submit a petition to see the emperor, and then leave Beijing for my new post!"

"No banquet to celebrate the promotion?"

"The banquet won't take place!"

"The voice of the masses can melt gold. It is better to correct the public opinion in Huguang as soon as possible, so as to achieve a situation of political order and harmony among the people, lest the emperor becomes suspicious and thinks that I, Yan, am just hoping for more public opinion that is not conducive to the new policy."

"Besides, the emperor values ​​culture and education and has allocated 100,000 silver dollars. If I stay one more day, it is inevitable that some senior officials will ask me to borrow silver and ask for favors."

"Brother-in-law is really thoughtful. No wonder he was chosen by His Majesty. His Majesty is really good at judging people!"

Ouyang Bijin said with a smile.

The next day at five o'clock.

Yan Song then submitted a letter requesting to see Zhu Houcong.

Zhu Houcong met him at Yuntai Gate.

"You are my special pick, and no one has recommended you."

Zhu Houcong spoke first at this time.

Yan Song knew what he meant, so he hurriedly thanked him and said, "Your Majesty, this is an extraordinary grace from heaven. I am deeply grateful!"

Zhu Houcong said: "I already know your integrity and knowledge, and the governance of officials must be reflected in government affairs; but officials in the capital are different from those outside the capital. Although you will not dare to do illegal things outside the capital, you should be strict in your conduct and make the opinions of the people follow the customs!"

Yan Song said with tears in his eyes: "I dare not fail your grace!"

Zhu Houcong nodded and smiled, then asked, "When do you plan to leave Beijing?"

"I will leave Beijing today."

Yan Song replied.

Zhu Houcong nodded and said, "That's good. With a hundred thousand dollars in your pocket, it's inevitable that you'll attract attention!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Yan Song replied.

Zhu Houcong asked again: "During the trip to the Nine Borders, are the soldiers, civilians, and enemies along the way stable?"

After Yan Song was transferred from his post as the Grain Inspector to Datong, he was ordered by Zhu Houcong to go to Gansu as the Grain Inspector to announce the removal of Peng Ze and Xu Ming from their posts, and to investigate the situation on the Gansu border.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong hoped that Yan Song could see some problems in the Nine Frontiers.

"When your majesty ascended the throne and changed the era name, auspicious snow fell on all borders, moistening the wheat seedlings, so the harvest was abundant. The soldiers and civilians also worked hard to guard the borders, and the enemy was afraid and dared not to spy on the borders!"

Yan Song replied.

Zhu Houcong said in a deep voice: "Did you find any problems?"

"Your Majesty is wise and insightful!"

Yan Song realized that the emperor was very pragmatic and did not like to hear empty words, so he quickly replied with a second set of words that he had prepared in his mind:

"I have asked around in Gansu and found two problems there: one is the lack of money. Metal is not produced there and the people mostly use pottery as currency. It is very difficult to buy with copper. The other is the high price of grain. The generals in the border towns often hoard grain to speculate on the price, which prevents merchants from transporting grain."

Zhu Houcong then nodded, thinking that when Yan Song was serious, he was still able to grasp the key issues. He even noticed what kind of transactions the people in Gansu used, including their background as grain merchants. It seemed that he was seriously investigating the border situation.

So Zhu Houcong said: "Write it up and submit it with countermeasures! I will judge whether it is appropriate or not, and I will not care about it. Just speak boldly!"

Yan Song bowed and said yes.

"Get up and go."

"Huguang is an important grain-producing area of ​​the country, and its culture and education are also prosperous. It is also home to many royal families. They are fair and peaceful in their conduct, and strong in their gentleness!"

"Gui E acted seriously and quickly, and Shu Sheng was resolute and strong-willed. It is inevitable that they would have accumulated resentment. When you leave, you should clear up the resentment and restore their reputation."

Zhu Houcong gave a few more instructions.

"I will remember this!"

Yan Song was secretly quite surprised that the emperor actually put Gui E before Shu Sheng, even though Gui E's official position in Huguang was obviously lower than Shu Sheng's.

But soon he understood, and for a moment he envied his student even more.

However, what Yan Song did not expect was that just after he left the palace, his classmate Zhai Luan, a lecturer in the Imperial Academy, stopped him before he left Beijing:
"I wanted to go to the outskirts of Beijing to see you off, but I didn't know when you would leave, so I came here to say goodbye to you first."

As Zhai Luan spoke, he took out the willow branches and the farewell poem he had given her.

Yan Song couldn't help but frown. He intended to leave Beijing as soon as possible because he was afraid that someone would target him and ask him for money. However, he didn't expect that Zhai Luan had targeted him in advance.

But Yan Song still smiled and took it: "Your Majesty's kindness is deep and affectionate, and I will remember it in my heart."

"I have something unpleasant to say. I wonder if you will hear it?"

Zhai Luan asked with a smile at this time.

Yan Song laughed and said, "Since you say it's unpleasant to hear, it's better not to say it!"

After that.

Yan Song left quickly.

Zhai Luan froze in place.

Yan Song only asked his servants to go back to get the gifts, while he himself went to the dock with a small entourage and boarded the ship.

As for the 100,000 silver dollars, they have already been taken to Tongzhou, and he will only need to wait until he goes to Tongzhou in the future to withdraw them.

……

……

By the way, when Yan Song went to Huguang, Xia Yan had already arrived in Donglai accompanied by the navy led by Han Ping, the co-governor of the Zhejiang Command.

This was Xia Yan's first time crossing the sea to Donglai Island, and he was also the first governor-level official of the Ming Dynasty to come here.

When approaching Donglai Island, Xia Yan became interested in the scenery of the island and couldn't help but say to Han Ping:
"This island is suitable for immigrants to cultivate land. It has abundant water and grass, lush forests, crisscrossing rivers, and mountains to block the evil winds. At least it's close to Fujian and Zhejiang, so we can cultivate fields and grow mulberry trees!"

Xia Yan was from Guixi, Jiangxi Province. When he was a child, he lived with his father in Yanzhou, Zhejiang Province. Later, he visited Huguang, Guizhou and other places. In recent years, he has been responsible for clearing and protecting fields in the capital, so he is naturally more sensitive to farming.

After hearing what Xia Yan said, Han Ping just smiled and said, "Zhongcheng is right!"

At this time.

At the port of Jin County, the coastal defense guerrillas and the navy of the defense thousand households had come to greet them, and on the shore there was also a civil official, Zhang Lun, the governor of Donglai.

As soon as Xia Yan came ashore, Zhang Lun and others immediately greeted Xia Yan: "Xia Zhongcheng."

Xia Yan returned the gift and then asked Zhang Lun: "Has the Jingua mine really been mined out?"

"Of course I have done my best. How dare I deceive the court?"

Zhang Lun replied with a smile.

Xia Yan put his hands behind his back and said, "I don't believe it, but I have to go and see for myself."

Zhang Lun said, "Just go and watch, Zhongcheng. How dare I stop you?"

Xia Yan said: "Then lead the way!"

Zhang Lun said, "Zhongcheng, you must be very tired after such a long journey. You must rest for a night. I have prepared a small banquet to welcome you."

"No need!"

"It's still early, let's go directly to the mining area."

Xia Yan said.

Zhang Lun had no choice but to agree and took Xia Yan to the Jinguashan mining area.

As soon as he arrived at the Jinguashan mining area, Xia Yan saw thatched houses were connected like clouds, and men and women were carrying mud and rocks nearby.

"Are these all exiled criminals?"

Xia Yan asked at this time.

"Yes!"

"As long as the imperial court does not issue an order to stop mining, they cannot stop! And their wages and food cannot be cut off."

"But the mines have long been mined, so letting them continue like this is a futile effort and a waste of the court's money and grain. It would be better to let them cultivate the land."

Zhang Lun said.

Xia Yan didn't say much, and then entered the mining area.

By the way, mining in the Ming Dynasty was already very advanced for that era. They knew how to use bamboo tubes to exhaust gas and build ventilation systems, so Xia Yan was able to enter the mine with a torch and carefully observe these mines.

Xia Yan took a look and saw that the mine wall was indeed surrounded by mud and rocks, but no golden mineral material.

Zhang Lun smiled and asked, "Zhongcheng, I didn't lie to you. The mines here have indeed been mined out! But the court still doesn't believe it and has asked you to travel a long distance and brave the bad winds at sea to check. Your hard work and money have been wasted in vain. If something goes wrong at sea, wouldn't it be a huge loss for the court?"

Xia Yan didn't say anything, but just asked Han Ping to poke the mine wall with the knife.

Zhang Lun's expression suddenly changed.

Han Ping immediately poked it and gold particles came out.

Seeing this, Xia Yan simply used his hands to scrape off all the mud stuck on it, then looked at the golden veins on the wall and said, "I was wondering why this mine smells like fresh mud from spring plowing!"

After Xia Yan finished speaking, he asked, "Zhang Zhizhou, what is your explanation?"

(End of this chapter)