Qi Zhu frowned and slowly organized his words, "Actually, it has something to do with road construction..."
After hearing this, Zhu Yunxi thought to himself, "It's not that he has the bad habit of being a scholar, but he is too careful in what he says and does! Moreover, he is also a person who is good at doing things and not very good at telling stories!"
The reason for this idea is that the ministers that Zhu Yunxi came into contact with on weekdays would immediately list out the problems one by one, and the reasons and reasons could be explained in just a few words. Explained clearly.
"I want to build a road. The purpose of the road is to connect Guangfu and western Guangdong. But if Guangdong Province, western Guangdong and northern Guangdong want to get rid of their poor status, just connecting Guangfu is definitely not enough."
"If we only rely on the Guangfu area, the land in western Guangdong will only transport some special products, fisheries, and even cheap people in the workshops."
"So in my vision, the road to be built..." As he said that, he suddenly raised his head and hesitated.
"Since I asked you to say it, you can say it with confidence! Even if you violate the Central Committee in Guangdong Province, as long as it is beneficial to people's livelihood, I will forgive you!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness!" A trace of cold sweat gradually appeared on Qi Zhu's forehead, "I apologize first. My crime is not only against the imperial court, but is even suspected of deceiving the emperor!"
"Oh?" Zhu Yunxi became interested and said with a smile, "Such a big crime? Haha, I love you!"
Unknowingly, the emperor's address to Qi Zhu changed from calling him by his first name to "Ai Qing"...
But Qi Zhu didn't seem to grasp what the emperor's change of title meant to him, and he still frowned.
"Last year, because of the construction of Guangzhou, Humen and other ports, the imperial court allowed part of Guangdong's customs duties to be withheld..." Qi Zhuo lowered his head, "As the Chief Secretary of Guangdong... Well, I arbitrarily gave part of the money to Move it!”
Zhu Yunxi's eyes suddenly narrowed.
It is nothing new for a provincial official to divert the money withheld from the imperial court. He, the emperor, sometimes demolished the east wall to make up for the west wall. The bigger the place he was in charge of, the more places he could spend money on.
But what makes Zhu Yunxi wary is that Guangdong, not other provinces, is one of the largest sources of tariffs in the Ming Empire today, and it is also the largest sea trade place.
Qi, the chief envoy, misappropriated the special funds for the construction of the port, and no one reported it?
If it were anywhere else, officials would have already written a memorial and made a report!
Perhaps the officials from the Chief Secretary of Guangdong Province all recognized Qi Zhi's reason for misappropriating special funds, and they were determined to work with him.
Or, that was the reason why Zhu Yunxi wanted to transfer him to the capital.
Qi Zhu's father-in-law, Xu Ben, was the first Chief Secretary of Guangdong after the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Together with him, it was two generations of management. The relationship was already deeply rooted, otherwise so many officials and gentry would not have been able to trust him unconditionally. Therefore, it is even more impossible for various chambers of commerce to take out real money.
"The imperial court wants to build ports such as Humen in Guangzhou!" Qi Zhu said worriedly, "But I misappropriated part of the money because I thought that in addition to the ports that the imperial court wanted to build, it also wanted to build..."
As he spoke, he looked up into Zhu Yunxi's eyes and said solemnly, "The three ports of Maoming, Zhanjiang, and Yangjiang..."
Zhu Yunxi's expression also became solemn, and he sat upright on the dragon chair, "Continue to speak and be more detailed!"
"Yes!" Qi's arms trembled a little, "Your Majesty, you said that you would lift the maritime ban. In Guangdong Province, apart from the ports around Guangfu, I don't know that Zhanjiang and Maoming are also good ports!"
"Although western Guangdong is poor, it is not a barren land..." Qi paused and continued, "Not to mention building the port, which can provide local young laborers with jobs and money to earn! Also, Not to mention how much tax revenue will be generated after the successful construction of the port..."
"Let's talk about people's livelihood... The land in western Guangdong is rich in incense, pine, sisal, and sugar cane... But it suffers from blocked mountain roads and blocked sea routes, so it can only rot in the ground."
"The fishery industry is booming in Zhanjiang and Yangjiang, but without opening the port, the fishermen can barely make ends meet..."
"How much have you moved?" Zhu Yunxi suddenly opened his mouth and asked.
"I have moved one million, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand!" Qi stood up tremblingly and said in panic, "I have moved this money, but it has not been touched at all!"
"More than one million?" Zhu Yunxi pondered for a moment, "Is more than one million enough for three seaports?"
"Far from enough!" Qi Zhu said, his hands trembling like a sieve, and he took out a memorial from his sleeve, "If I want to build the harbor, I cannot do without the support of the local elders. This is the fourth prefecture in western Guangdong. Officials and gentry, account books for reporting!"
Zhu Yunxi passed the thin booklet in his hand. The reason why Qi's hand was trembling at this moment was probably not because of fear, but because the friendship contained in this booklet was too heavy.
Cantonese people attach great importance to local clans, but they are also very exclusive.
What a heavy burden it is for the officials and gentry of the four prefectures in western Guangdong to trust him unconditionally?
Regarding this Qi Zuo, Zhu Yunxi suddenly felt that transferring him back to the capital might not be a good choice.
"The squires and chambers of commerce in the four prefectures in western Guangdong, ranging from famous figures to pulp hawkers, contributed a total of 760,000 silver dollars..."
"Including the more than one million you transferred, is it enough?" Zhu Yunxi asked again.
"It's still not enough!" Qi shook his head, "Because besides the port, there are roads..."
"What should I do if it's not enough?" Zhu Yunxi immediately asked again.
"Fix it first!" Qi Zhuo said bravely, "We'll talk about it after we fix it!" As he said this, he suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "A living person cannot die from urination. The prefects and county magistrates of the four prefectures in western Guangdong have all issued guarantees..."
"Oh? What guarantee?" Zhu Yunxi asked.
"As long as we take care of the food, the common people will not cause trouble!" Qi Chu gritted his teeth and said, "The local village elders and village chiefs have also issued military orders. Regardless of men, women, old or young, as long as they can move, they can be dispatched by the government at will!"
"Then let me ask you again!" Zhu Yunxi said again, "You misappropriated the special funds of Guangfu Port. How did you plug such a big hole?"
thump!
Qi knelt down and kowtowed, "I am still guilty of ten thousand deaths!"
"explain!"
"I and the wealthy businessmen of the Xiguan Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou have reached a private agreement without asking for money without the permission of the imperial court!" Qi's eyes turned red, "There are mines in Maoming, including jade, tin, and kaolin mines that can be used to make porcelain. , allow them to mine..."
"Ha!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "You are so brave. The imperial court strictly prohibits merchants from mining, and you actually knowingly violate it?"
"Zhanjiang Port allows them to build warehouses, and the land near the port is leased to them, rent-free for twenty years..."
Qi Zhu also took the risk and said, "As for the transfer money that I misappropriated, they will make up for it."
~~
Silence, there was silence in Qianqing Palace.
"Any of the items you mentioned can make you lose your head!" Zhu Yunxi said, "Have you not thought about the consequences?"
"I have thought about it!" Qi Zhu sweated like rain, "But I have thought about it..."
"You think that only you know what God knows and what the earth knows!" Zhu Yunxi sneered, "You think that within three to five years, as long as this big hole is blocked, everything will be fine, right?"
"Yes, that's not right either!" Qi whispered, "Serving as an official brings benefits to one party! I... served in Guangdong for several years and did not do much for the people of Guangdong." As he spoke, he raised his head and continued. , "I just thought that now that the imperial court's sea restrictions have been loosened, with this wind, the barren land of Guangdong Province can be more peaceful!"
"It will make the people no longer go to sea to be pirates, and no longer fall into the trap of being bandits, so that the folk customs will become better..."
"Speaking of selfish motives!" Qi smiled bitterly, "I also have selfish motives... I want to leave a clear name among the people!"