With the new year and new atmosphere, Xu Jingchang put on the bullfighting uniform belonging to a first-grade official early, and then took a carriage and headed to the Meridian Gate. After today's congratulations from the ministers, he also went to Wuying Hall to discuss state affairs.
Since there are many things accumulated during the Chinese New Year, we will probably talk about them until very late.
Madam was very considerate and stuffed a few ginseng pills into Xu Jingchang's sleeves. These ginseng pills can produce fluids, quench thirst, and replenish energy, making you neither hungry nor hoarse.
It is a must-have product for home travel and court debates.
Being so formal makes today's situation really different.
Xu Jingchang has communicated with several major courtiers in private, but unfortunately, even his old father-in-law Huang Guan expressed that he was helpless. The most he could do was not interfere, but he wanted the Ministry of Rites to bow his head and support the General Affairs Department.
It can't be done.
At the same time, Lu Zhen, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, also secretly informed Xu Jingchang that the Ministry of Punishment was also facing many difficulties and asked Xu Tongzheng for his understanding.
Among the six ministers and nine ministers, the two closest to Xu Jingchang have given up. The remaining Tianguan Jianyi of the Ministry of Personnel, Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Hubu, Luo Qian, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Fang Bin, the Minister of the Ministry of War, will never support Xu Jingchang.
of.
In other words, he now has to face the situation of being besieged by his ministers.
Fortunately, Xu Jingchang has rich experience and did not really get discouraged and give up.
As usual, he led the ministers into the court, paid homage to Zhu Di, said a lot of auspicious words, and then went home without being of high rank. The rest of the people, led by Xu Jingchang, went to Wuying Palace.
Zhu Di went to rest at this time and would rush to Wuying Hall when he came back.
Before the emperor arrived, Xu Jingchang had a simple exchange with the ministers.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hopes to transfer the prison students who have performed meritorious service to local officials. I think this is a good idea." After Xu Jingchang finished speaking, he looked at Jian Yi.
Jian Yi smiled and said: "I also agree to promote meritorious ministers. As long as these imperial students can participate in the imperial examination and obtain rankings, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will definitely give priority to hiring them."
Xu Jingchang's expression remained unchanged, and he turned to look at Lu Zhen, the Minister of Punishment.
"Lv Shangshu, there is also a special examination for local criminal officials here, do you think it will work?"
Lu Zhen's face was full of embarrassment, "Ding Guogong, there have been many cases in Jiangxi, and a large number of officials who are familiar with the Ming Dynasty law are needed. I understand this. The Ministry of Punishment is also sending people there to assist His Royal Highness. But there are special examinations for criminal officials... If
It applies to Jiangxi, but what about other provinces? And the Ministry of Justice in the capital, is it the same? This movement is still too big, I wonder if it can be slowed down a little bit."
Xu Jingchang looked at Xia Yuanji again, "Xia Shangshu, what's your opinion on the matter of grain chief?"
Xia Yuanji smiled and said, "Dong Guogong, you also know that Emperor Taizu was worried about petty officials exploiting the people, so he designated grain areas and appointed Ding Duo, a wealthy family, as the grain chief to transport money and grain to Beijing. But after all this
Over the years, the grain chief system is no longer what it used to be. For example, in places south of the Yangtze River, many of the imperial courts are responsible for recruiting officials and transporting grain and grass. It can be said that it is not abandoned. This matter involves the ancestral system. I mean, we don’t agree with each other.
If you declare it is the best, why bother making it known to the whole world? When the time comes, Ke Dao will jump out and cause chaos again, which will not be good for us."
The three ministers all objected, and three cannons were placed in front of Xu Jingchang.
Huang watched this and felt sorry for it. This was initiated by Zhu Gaochi, who supervised various government affairs in Jiangxi and wrote to the court asking for cooperation.
Xu Jingchang agreed to Zhu Gaochi's suggestions, but these suggestions could not be pushed forward at all.
"Dong Guo Gong, do you think this matter can be discussed later? Can we also give everyone a break?" envoy Huang Guan said.
Xu Jingchang's smile did not diminish, but he did not answer.
At this time, Zhu Di walked in from outside, and all the officials saluted together.
Zhu Di said: "Sit down, everyone, year after year... Last year, I was still in Peking, and the prince was in charge. This year, the prince is in Jiangxi. Please tell me about any government affairs you have."
Xu Jingchang, as a first-level general affairs envoy, has the right to speak.
"Your Majesty mentioned Jiangxi. I happen to have a few major events here that I want to report to Your Majesty... First, Jiangxi has the largest tax arrears over the years, totaling more than five million shi of grain."
Zhu Di frowned, "Why are there so many?"
Xu Jingchang added: "This is actually a small amount. The real big deal is in commercial tax."
"How to say it?"
"Your Majesty, Jiangxi porcelain is world-famous. Jingdezhen is rich in precious porcelain, which is sold overseas. According to the latest survey, more than half of the porcelain is smuggled every year."
"What? Smuggling porcelain? Do you have evidence?"
Xu Jingchang said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Governor Chen Ying, and Governor Hu Yan are all in Jiangxi now. Many large households have been raided... Among them, the Xu family is privately engaged in the porcelain business. According to the investigation, their porcelain smuggling is divided into two lines.
route."
"There are two more routes? What do you say?"
"The first is to take Poyang Lake, enter the Yangtze River, and send it to the upper reaches, Huguang, Bashu and other places. This route smuggles 200,000 taels every year, mainly used to purchase grain and wood from Huguang and other places. Secondly, it is through Dayu
Ling, sent to Lingnan, and then smuggled overseas, this is the most important thing, the smuggling amount exceeds 500,000."
Zhu Di was furious, "The imperial court set up shipping divisions in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Quanzhou and other places. Why did they avoid them?"
"Because these places have tariffs."
"How courageous!" Zhu Di was furious, "If the whole family is like this, every family is like this, how much wealth will I lose?" Then Zhu Di looked at Xia Yuanji and shouted angrily: "Xia Qing's family, the treasury has always been in deficit these years.
It seems that it’s not that our Ming Dynasty has no money, but that we have a lot of money and can’t collect it at all, don’t you think so?”
Xia Yuanji was stunned. This was certainly true, but Xu Jingchang did not mention Zhu Gaochi's requirements and instead talked about these things. He could not lie in front of the emperor.
"Your Majesty, it is true that some places have gone too far. There was Shandong in the past and Jiangxi now. They are the most difficult places to deal with. The Ministry of Household Affairs is in a dilemma."
Zhu Di hummed: "Of course I know about Hu Bu's difficulties, but who knows about my difficulties?"
Xia Yuan Jinonuo lowered his head, but Xu Jingchang hurriedly came to the rescue, "Your Majesty, the truth of this matter has nothing to do with Xia Shangshu. I have some more shocking things here that need to be reported."
"explain!"
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, you still remember that in the autumn of the first year of Yongle, there were wind disasters in Jiangxi and other places. You reported it to the court and asked for relief. The court allocated 300,000 shi of food and allowed Jiangxi to leave 300,000 shi, a total of six
One hundred thousand stones will be used to provide relief to the victims."
Zhu Di said: "This disaster relief thing happens every year. I also listen to your courtiers and allocate a lot of money and food every year. Is it possible that someone has embezzled the disaster relief food?"
Xu Jingchang smiled bitterly and said: "It seems more serious than this."
"What do you mean?" Zhu Di asked angrily.
"According to the investigation, officials in Jishui, Jiangxi Province, handed over the disaster relief money and food provided by the court to large local households on the grounds that they were familiar with the local situation and asked them to help the people on behalf of the court."
"Then what? They didn't follow the court's orders?"
Xu Jingchang said: "They used the food originally used for disaster relief to buy the victims' land at a low price."
"What?" Zhu Di was furious, and his whole body felt bad.
"Are you saying that they took the food provided by the court and defrauded the people of their land, spent the court's money, and let the court take the blame? This is simply unreasonable!"
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, please be patient. There will be follow-up to this matter... If you don't believe me, you can ask Jian Shangshu."
In an instant, all eyes fell on Jian Yi, and the official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.
Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said, "Jian Shangshu, do you know what Duke Dingguo is talking about?"
Jian Yi said helplessly: "If I remember correctly, I should have rated Jiangxi officials as top grade back then... because, because they were effective in disaster relief, no victims starved to death!"
"Absurd! It's so ridiculous!" Zhu Di was so angry that he slapped the table repeatedly, and his whole body was filled with anger. He paced back and forth on the ground, "He is so deceiving the king, messing around with official affairs, and hiding each other. The court is not aware of it. This is another case.
What's going on? You people have wasted my trust and you really deserve to die!"
Jian Yi was sweating profusely. At this moment, he had no choice but to think of a solution, "Your Majesty, I dare not shirk the blame. It belongs to me, and I will definitely take the blame. It's just Jiangxi's disaster relief or evaluation, there are many things."
It all goes through the cabinet and the General Affairs Department. Some things are done based on many years of experience. It is true that I have made some oversights."
Zhu Di snorted: "Ignored? Then Duke Ding should die?"
Jian Yi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, it was not Duke Ding who served as general envoy at the beginning. This is not Duke Ding's crime."
If Xu Jingchang is fine, then Jie Jin will naturally be there.
Another Jiangxi person!
Zhu Di was already extremely angry, "One or two, everywhere! Time and time again, they took the Ming Dynasty as their family's business? Am I the one who was wronged?"
Zhu Di's anger was completely aroused. He was really furious and furious... Xia Yuanji, Jian Yi, and Yang Shiqi, who were attending the political meeting, were sweating profusely and were out of their minds.
At this time, Xu Jingchang suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be judged based on region, and it is not the fault of Jiangxi officials... Although there are some bad policies here, please calm down and elaborate slowly."
"Elaborate? How can you elaborate? Don't think I don't know, you are also Jiangxi's son-in-law!" Zhu Di said angrily.
"Your Majesty, the same thing has happened to us in the Ming Dynasty... For example, Emperor Taizu increased taxes on Susong and other places. In order to avoid the loss of taxes, people from the four prefectures of Susong Town were not allowed to be officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs
. This method seems to have some effect, but it still cannot solve the fundamental problem. The same is true for the loss of finance and taxation in Jiangxi."
"What's the point?"
"It means that the court cannot manage the things that should be managed, and the responsibilities that should be shouldered are not shouldered. The courtiers want to do things, but they may not know how to do them... In the end, they engage in favoritism, cheat each other, give and receive privately, and the superiors and subordinates are in the dark.
It’s inevitable.”
"What is inevitable? There is no inevitability here! There are so many bad policies in Jiangxi, and I cannot sit idly by and ignore them."
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, I see it this way too. It just so happened that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince handed over an official document and wanted to appoint a Imperial College student to break bad habits... I have just discussed it with you all, Your Majesty, please take a look at it."
