Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 55 Heading West (Please continue reading)
"This servant obeys the decree," Xiao Hongzi bowed and replied.

Immediately afterwards, a troop of fast horses and light cavalry left the procession ahead to inform the prefectural and county governments they passed that the emperor's personal entourage was about to arrive.

Although there has been no precedent for an emperor leaving the capital for many years.

But as soon as the news reaches them, the local officials must immediately prepare to receive the emperor.

Not long after the Emperor left the capital.

Inside that secluded mansion, the representative figures of the civil service group gathered together once again.

Not long after.

An unassuming middle-aged man entered the room and reported in a low voice, "My lords, His Majesty's entourage has headed southwest."

southwest.

Although they had been prepared, the officials from the Jiangnan region still breathed a slight sigh of relief when they heard the direction was southwest.

If nothing unexpected happens, the emperor is making it clear that he intends to head to Hebei.

Some are happy and some are sad.

While the southern officials looked delighted and excited, Huang Lijie and Li Guopu's expressions grew increasingly solemn.

Although he had long been prepared for the rebellion.

But the fact that it actually happened in the north still made them somewhat worried.

However, what I'm worried about is not the assassination attempt on the emperor.

While the young emperor's prestige is still limited to the capital, it's best to resolve this matter sooner rather than later.

Otherwise, if he were to actually make a name for himself on an external tour and then return to the capital, there would be a lot of trouble.

What they were really worried about was how many loyal and capable servants they would lose afterward, and how much effort they would have to put into covering up the incident in history books.

After a pause.

Huang Lijie and Zhang Guopu exchanged a glance and said, "Now the Emperor is most likely going to make an example of the two of us."

Everyone in the room already knew this, so bringing it up now was just to start a conversation.

Therefore, someone immediately chimed in, "Have the two Grand Secretaries made adequate preparations at home?"

Huang Liji nodded: "One thousand elite cavalry and three thousand strong servants."

Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly.

Although the northern aristocratic families could not compare to these southern powerful clans, their numbers were still enough to kill the emperor.

after all.

Assassinating the emperor is a skill, not something that can be accomplished simply by having a large number of people.

You can't have a band of bandits suddenly appear and chop the emperor into pieces while his carriage is traveling on the road.

The success rate is too low; those thousands of men around the emperor weren't brought here for nothing.

Moreover, this approach is too crude and would never be adopted by powerful and influential families.

A real assassination is like this.

When the emperor goes on an imperial tour, he must have something to ask for, whether it be to check taxes or to manage the land.

Neither of these two things could be accomplished simply by the emperor arriving in the locality and saying a few words.

such as.

If the emperor wanted to find out exactly how many acres of farmland there were in Daming Prefecture...

That would require staying in the area for at least several months after arrival, during which time one would gradually send one's trusted confidants and close associates to conduct investigations both openly and covertly.

Only in this way can one possibly grasp a clue from among countless threads; otherwise, it's just wishful thinking.

At this point, it becomes much easier to take action.

Everyone from top to bottom, except for you, the emperor, is one of our people.

How can you fight us?

Therefore, except for a very few emperors with extremely strong hands, daring to go on an external tour meant certain death.

Only by ceding the benefits of the realm to powerful families can an emperor secure his position.

However, the percentage of this discount will continue to increase over time.

At the founding of the nation, it might have been 30%, in the middle period it was 50% to 70%, and in the later period it was over 90%.

This has always been the case.

With their long-cherished goal about to be achieved, everyone in the room was in high spirits.

Shi Fenglai, also a Grand Secretary, jokingly said with a smile, "In that case, we will wait for the Grand Secretary's good news."

Huang Lijie raised his teacup and nodded, then stretched out his right hand with five fingers: "After the matter is accomplished, the salt tax in Jiangnan will be reduced by 30% for five consecutive years to benefit my Hebei family."

Upon hearing this, the representative of the prominent Jiangnan family inside the room immediately froze.

Good heavens, five years, 30%? You really dare to ask for that much. Do you even know what the salt tax in Jiangnan means?

Give the simplest example.

Every year during the Qiantang River tidal bore.

This was a favorite activity among salt merchants who were considered to be of a slightly higher social standing.

They were throwing boxes and boxes of gold leaves, made of gold, into the waves.

Those who were considered low-class threw silver and silk, which were not worth mentioning.

How could we possibly let such a huge profit slip away?!

However, everyone knows that this is just Huang Liji making an exorbitant demand.

After all, the incident occurred in the north.

These prominent southern families also have to contribute some money, and vice versa.

The representatives from the South exchanged glances and said calmly, "Two years, one-tenth."

Huang Lijie and Li Guopu nodded slightly: "Okay."

The people inside the room reached a tacit understanding, and everything remained as usual.

Assassinating the emperor was a trivial matter.

The distribution of benefits is of paramount importance.

A few days later.

Zhu Youjian's imperial entourage has arrived in Zhending Prefecture, Hebei.

However, he did not linger there.

After resting for a night, the group headed directly to their next stop, Pingding Prefecture in Shanxi Province.

Although traveling for several days in a row would be extremely arduous for ordinary people, the more than 5,000 people in the imperial procession did not feel particularly tired.

Traveling on an imperial tour with the emperor was an extremely exciting experience.

This mindset can greatly alleviate physical fatigue.

nowadays.

When they thought of His Majesty's heroic figure and the events that had happened in the capital a few days ago, everyone would unconsciously straighten their chests.

Tired? How could I be tired?

……

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the capital city.

late at night.

Huang Liji, who was sleeping with two maids from Jiangnan in his arms, was suddenly awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Although a sudden visit to the door late at night often meant something bad might happen, Huang Lijie didn't panic. Instead, he asked in a deep voice, "What is it?!"

"My lord! A secret message has been sent by carrier pigeon! The Emperor's entourage has not stopped in Hebei, but has continued westward!"

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing his confidant say this, Huang Lijie almost lost his balance for a moment.

No wonder he was in a hurry.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation!
Even they had to admit that the man in the palace now truly possessed the qualities of a great ruler.

Therefore, the matter of the external inspection could not possibly have been done on a whim.

Could it be that Hebei is just a cover?!

But what is he trying to do by continuing westward?!

Further west of Hebei lies Shanxi.

However, Huang Lijie believed that it was impossible for the emperor to go to Shanxi, where the Shanxi merchants (later the Eight Great Imperial Merchants) were even more arrogant than the powerful families in Jiangnan.

If pushed too far, they might openly rebel.

Shaanxi? Even less likely.

The area has suffered from drought for years, and order has collapsed. Even if you went there, you wouldn't gain anything.

With the emperor's intelligence, he couldn't have been unaware of these things.

Could it be that the emperor is planning a feint before heading south?
Thinking of this, Huang Liji hurriedly instructed his trusted confidant:

"Quickly, call everyone else up for a meeting!"

PS1: The groundwork laid before entering Shaanxi is almost finished, and the upcoming events in Shaanxi can be summed up in four words—rivers of blood.

PS2: This book will be featured in the new book recommendation section next week and will begin its battle against Sanjiang and Xiaolaba. I sincerely request that all readers help me keep reading during this period and try not to let the book sit unread.
(End of this chapter)