Chapter Seventy-Four: The Shocked Huang Liji (Asking for a Monthly Pass Collection)

Zhu Youzhen in the palace was unhappy, and the ministers outside were also uncomfortable.

Liu Haitu, the high-spirited Shaanxi transfer envoy, hid at home at the moment and didn't dare to go out for a single step, so anxious that he was sweating profusely, and he couldn't wipe it off.

"Lord Liu, Lord Liu......"

Outside the door, there was a low, anxious knock on the door from his subordinate Wang Jiandao.

Liu Haitu hurriedly opened it, and before he could open his mouth, Wang Jiandao broke in, quickly closed the door, and said with a panicked face: "Lord Liu, what news is there? Now there are Jinyi guards everywhere outside, arresting people from our salt class everywhere." ”

Liu Haitu's face changed, his eyes were more frightened, and he said anxiously with a frightened look: "Where can there be news now, Lord Wang, you say, what should we do, the imperial court is serious this time, and it is going to do something to our salt class!"

The thing came too suddenly, Jinyiwei almost all dispatched, no one could resist with the holy decree, Wang Jiandao frowned, his face changed for a while, and he gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Wait, there is no next dynasty yet, after the next dynasty, let's inquire first, and then operate, first out of the city and then make plans." ”

Liu Haitu was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Okay, that's it, let's go out of the city first." ”

The two of them were nowhere to be seen, but the salt merchants who met with them yesterday were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, and the whole city was running around, looking for people.

Yang Yongzheng, the fat man who met Zhu Youzhen some time ago, said: "What can I do about this, this time I took out all the silver to buy salt introduction, and now the silver is out, I haven't seen the salt introduction yet, I want to finish!"

The other salt merchants also turned pale, and they all exchanged words impatiently, and kept talking and discussing.

According to the Ming Dynasty's salt law, salt was sold to merchants, and merchants bought and sold salt by themselves, and paid enough taxes and silver to bear their own profits and losses.

Now that they have handed over the spirit stone but have not obtained the salt guide, the imperial court has to seal up all the salt farms, and everyone in the promotion department and the transfer department is in danger.

People who are a little sensitive know that they will probably not get the salt introduction this time, let alone the silver!

The middle-aged man sitting in the middle, dressed in low-key and gorgeous clothes, calm, waited for everyone to quarrel for a while before saying, "Don't worry, the imperial court can't seal the salt field for too long, it doesn't matter if the people don't have salt to eat, but the imperial court still needs to tax silver."

Therefore, we are now waiting for when the court will release the salt, as long as the court produces salt, we will have a way to get the salt and transport it to the salt!"

His words were reasonable, and everyone calmed down for a while, and they all agreed: "Yes, what Shopkeeper Li said is right, it is impossible for the court to cover the salt and not come out!"

"Yes, the imperial court needs this silver even more, it will definitely not affect Xia Yan, it will definitely be soon!"

"He is worthy of being the richest man in Yangzhou, this calmness alone is amazing, admire!"

"No wonder Shopkeeper Li's business can be so big, and the salt he bought this time is also the most......"

Li Zhengyun listened to the compliments around him, his expression was calm, but his heart was not as calm as his face.

He had a premonition that it would be impossible for the imperial court to stop easily with such a big move this time, but he was afraid that it would not be as easy for them to get the salt as he said.

Cui Chengxiu, who walked out of the imperial study, gathered together and talked in a low voice.

Cui Chengxiu and Zhou Yingqiu walked behind Huang Liji, and they were about to turn to the cabinet room after walking a few steps.

Huang Liji walked out of the palace gate quickly, his originally solemn face, his frowning brows slowly relaxed, and his resentful face loosened a lot.

"Lord Huang, the emperor's methods are really beautiful. Cui Chengxiu whispered beside Huang Liji.

Huang Liji couldn't hear what he meant from his words, he looked up and said: "The emperor acts neatly and neatly, and he has the style of a wise monarch, you and I should be pleased." ”

As soon as Zhou Yingqiu and the others heard it, they knew what Huang Liji meant, and immediately began to express their position.

What Huang Shoufu said is that since ancient times, the virtuous ministers have sought the Ming Jun, and it is not easy for the emperor to be able to do this at a young age. Zhou Yingqiu said.

"Indeed, today's matter in the imperial study, Lord Shoufu handled it very properly, and he has the virtuous and virtuous bones of the ancients!" Cui Chengxiu complimented.

The two of them were like a tide of sycophants, which made Huang Liji, who was originally in an unhappy mood, disappear in an instant, which made him quite high-spirited and full of ambition!

......

The capital, west of the city.

On Qian Qianyi's mansion, a group of people looked solemn and talked in a low voice worriedly.

"Elder Qian Ge, did Huang Liji and the three of them go to the imperial study to meet just now?" asked Youyushi.

Qian Qianyi's eyebrows flashed, and he said coldly: "That's right, I don't know what the three of them are doing?"

"I don't know if Your Majesty has ever told Qian Ge Lao alone?" asked a Taoist officer next to him.

Qian Qianyi was already angry in his heart at this time, but the other party was not good at offending, so he said patiently: "Your Majesty has never confronted the old man Zhao. ”

"Yes, it seems that it is right, Your Majesty really still trusts the eunuchs!" the imperial history sighed.

"Qian Muzhai, you are incompetent! Yiyu Shi pointed at Qian Qianyi and said.

At this time, Qian Qianyi's face was not only black, it was simply a five-color spectrum.

"It's not a good thing that the emperor trusts the eunuchs so much. ”

"Yes, now that the affairs of the cabinet are said to be paid to Huang Liji, Qian Ge Lao has no part to speak at all. ”

"Although Huang Liji is mediocre but extremely diligent, I heard that every day he sits in the cabinet until the palace gate is closed, and he enters the palace as soon as the palace door is opened. ”

"He is so diligent as a traitor, what is the ...... of me"

"You don't know yet, I heard rumors from the inner servants that the emperor's affairs a few days ago were taught by Huang Liji......

"Be careful, be careful!"

"Yes to ,......"

West of the city, Huangfu.

In the study, Huang Liji stood in front of the desk with his brows furrowed, and the pen he was carrying seemed to be as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he couldn't fall down.

He knew how much turmoil it would cause outside once this recital was written, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it would turn Da Ming over.

Huang Liji remembered the scene of today's audience:

As soon as Zhu Youzhen came in, he asked coldly, "...... Are you going to make a promise with me, a threat or a pray?"

Huang Liji hurriedly begged: "How dare the ministers persecute Your Majesty, it's just that the resistance ahead is too great, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire."

Even if the ministers don't think about themselves, they ...... for the family."

Zhu Youzhen interrupted coldly: "Okay, I understand, I am not an unreasonable person, in this case, I can give you a promise."

How can Kerr's and others prove that they have this value?"

"Your Majesty, I would like to follow Your Majesty to the end, and I will never have two hearts!" Cui Chengxiu said eagerly.

Zhu Youzhen said calmly: "I don't look at your loyalty, I don't need you to have much talent to see what you do later, but what I explain must be completed to the letter, understand?"

"Your Excellency understands. Huang Liji and the three of them immediately replied.

"In that case, the first thing I did for you was to draw up the ticket. After speaking, Zhu You walked out of the imperial study without looking back.

Huang Liji opened it and looked at it, and was immediately taken aback and sat on the ground, unable to stand up again.

......

However, it was said that Zhu Youzhen left the imperial study and walked in the imperial garden for less than a quarter of an hour, and Wang Chengen ran over.

Zhu Youzhen knew that there was something important at a glance, and said impatiently: "Big companion, what's the matter?"

"Emperor Qiqi, Wen Tiren is asking to see you outside. Wang Chengen said.

Zhu Youzhen shook his head helplessly, he really couldn't be idle for a moment!

Zhu Youzhen walked back to the imperial study and found that Wen Tiren, one of the top ten traitors of the Ming Dynasty, had obviously been waiting here for a long time.

As soon as Wen Tiren saw Zhu Youzhen coming in, he hurriedly saluted respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen has something important to do." ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at this middle-aged man with a goatee and some elegance, obviously a little bit unconvinced that this would be the most unscrupulous traitor in the late Ming Dynasty.

He looked at Wen Tiren for a while before he came to his senses and said, "Oh, it's Wen Aiqing, I don't know why Aiqing came to see him?"

Wen Tiren touched a goatee and said calmly: "Your Majesty, it's February soon, and the spring festival is coming, but the candidate for the chief examiner has not been determined, and Weichen has come to ask His Majesty's will." ”

Zhu Youzhen was a little amused in his heart, Wen Tiren didn't discuss this kind of thing with the cabinet, but came to ask himself first.

It seems that Wen Tiren is the most unscrupulous traitor, which is true!

However, Zhu Youzhen still thought seriously for a while and asked, "Who is the chief examiner?"

Wen Tiren hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, it is generally the Pavilion Elder or the Ministry of Rites Shangshu who serves as the chief examiner. ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at Wen Tiren and looked at him eagerly, and smiled secretly in his heart, maybe what he mentioned behind was the point.

After thinking about the cabinet people, he found that Sun Chengzong, the only suitable person in the cabinet, was no longer in the capital, and the rest of the people were not suitable.

So he immediately decided: "In this case, the chief examiner of the exam here will be Lord Wen." ”

Sure enough, Wen Tiren was overjoyed when he heard this: "Thank you, Your Majesty, Weichen, I will select the best talents for the imperial court!"

Zhu Youzhen smiled and walked out.

......

The next day, in the morning court, as soon as Zhu Youzhen sat down, he saw the Imperial History of the Imperial Court of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister still has something to play." ”

At this moment, Zhu Youzhen was sleepy, and he was disturbed and sleepy, and he was naturally a little uncomfortable, but he still said, "What's the matter?" ”

Na Yushi's face was serious, and he said slowly: "In August last year, the townships in Shandong, Shaanxi, Henan and other places tried to cheat in the autumn season, and there were fraud cases one after another.

According to the secret investigation of the ministers and others, most of the township test Xie Yuan and Ya Yuan in these provinces are wealthy families, but they do not learn and have no skills, because of their middle move, the northern provinces are now angry and have a great impact, and I also ask Your Majesty to make a holy judgment!"

After hearing the words of Yushi, the whole court was shocked!

At the same time, Zhu Youzhen found that some people in the eunuch party suddenly trembled, and their faces were terrifyingly pale.

The imperial examination system is an important means of recruiting talents for the imperial court, and the imperial court attaches great importance to each township examination, meeting examination, and palace examination.

In order to ensure fairness, not only are all the rules strict and meticulous, but central officials will also be sent to inspect and supervise during the township examination, and once there is a fraud case, it will be severely punished.

The Ming Dynasty has lasted more than 260 years, during which there have been many cases of fraud in the imperial examination, and the successive emperors of the Ming Dynasty have never been soft on this, and they are all strictly investigated to the end.