Zhu Xu sat in the small restaurant, and the news from all directions was passed one after another.

He is peeling off the cocoon and analyzing the situation of Nan Zhili, as well as the countermeasures that can be implemented.

From the situation of the academies in various places, to some old and young government and opposition officials, nobles, and gentry in Nanzhili, and then the business environment, agricultural conditions, etc., almost everything.

Just when Zhu Xu was concentrating on his research, the Gongyuan posted a notice, which shocked the entire Ying Tianfu and spread quickly.

'According to the 'Nine Regulations' of the Imperial Court, after the Imperial Court promulgated the regulations, all prostitutes, corrupt and other people who do not comply with the prohibition will be prohibited from the imperial examination and will not be recorded for life......

There were less than sixty words in total, but it still caused a huge sensation, like a muffled thunder, and Ying Tianfu, which was already obscure, exploded in an instant.

"This ...... What does the Gongyuan mean by this, do you want to prohibit us from the imperial examination? ”

"Don't talk about Nan Zhili, the entire Ming Dynasty, who dares to say that there have been prostitutes and visited Qinglou?"

"Punish the former and save the future, cure the sick and save people, isn't this what the imperial court often says? Why is it so decisive this time? ”

Many of the onlookers turned pale and the corners of their mouths trembled.

What is the ten-year cold window for? Isn't it just a day to enter the court? If the imperial court were to ban them from the imperial examination, wouldn't it cut off all hope for them and force them to die?

However, there are still some people who think they are smart people, smiled calmly, and said comfortingly, "Don't worry, even if you have been there, how can the imperial court verify it, is it difficult to let Lord Qian investigate one by one?" What evidence is available for the investigation? How many witnesses are there? ”

"That's right, that's right, the court just wants to reaffirm the ban and show its majesty, how should we wait, or how ......"

"It should be like this, if the imperial court is really strict with the implementation, I'm afraid that few people will be able to participate in the imperial examination, and I should wait for ...... worry-free."

A group of people who were originally worried suddenly relaxed again, laughed a few words, and turned away as if they were nothing.

Some people are not worried, but there are still some people who are uneasy, walking around to inquire about news, walking around relationships, and exploring the roots.

Qian Qianyi sat in the class room, bowing slightly, his expression a little pale.

Gu Yanwu sat not far from him, his body was straight, and he didn't move, but his eyes couldn't help but look back.

In the corner not far behind Qian Qianyi, on a small table, there was an internal supervisor, and if you didn't look closely, it was easy to ignore him.

But the two people in the room, no one dared to ignore it, this was sent by the emperor!

Qian Qianyi is now dry and trembling.

Huang Liji's reason for dismissal was 'lack of innovation', and he also dragged on a little in the matter of the imperial examination, but he was afraid that it had caused the emperor's dissatisfaction.

'The rest of the things must be done seriously, otherwise I will follow in the footsteps of Huang Liji......

Qian Qianyi secretly took a breath, picked up the pen, and wrote hard.

On the list of imperial examinations, he followed the list sent by Zhu Xu to the people, one by one, and each time he crossed out, it meant that the person was banned from the imperial examination!

The first pressure on this notice was not the scholars, but the officials.

Governor's Yamen.

Fang Kongzhi sat in the class room, planning in detail for the afternoon meeting with the prefects of various places.

When I heard the news, I immediately felt heavy in my heart.

The chief bookkeeper stood not far in front of his desk, and said in a deep voice, "My lord, the emperor has just deposed Lord Huang, and there is such a notice at this time, which is clearly to kill chickens and monkeys, and tell everyone that innovation is imperative, and the court will not be soft anymore." ”

Fang Kongzhi nodded slightly, and said: "Although some people are indeed quite talented, they may not be able to become the pillars of the country in the future, but if they can't even abide by the basic rules and regulations of the imperial court, what can they expect to do?" ”

The master sighed in his heart, these people still don't understand, it's not before the apocalypse, the court is the court, they are them, completely irrelevant, the emperor today is not an easy person to fool!

After thinking for a while, the master said, "What my lord said is that some people have repeatedly violated the ban of the imperial court, and the 'new deal' is imminent, so it is necessary to warn it sharply, otherwise where is the majesty of the imperial court?" ”

Fang Kongzhi stopped his pen and said in a deep voice: "We also have to make some moves, in this way, you write a notice and post it, to the effect that the opposition officials and scholars who violate the ban of the imperial court are prohibited from being requisitioned, activated, and must not be violated!" ”

The chief bookkeeper looked slightly shocked, but immediately nodded and said, "What my lord said is that if I want to promote the 'New Deal', I really need to establish my prestige first. ”

After the master finished speaking, he was just about to leave, Fang Kongzhi's eyes sank, and he said: "I'll go to the Governor's Mansion later, and ask Governor Fu to transfer troops, I'm afraid the whole Jiangsu will not be peaceful recently." ”

The Lord's face changed, and he said, "What the Lord said is true. In the afternoon, the prefects of Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Zhou will arrive, and others may be a day or two late. ”

Fang Kongzhi thought for a moment and said, "Let's start with Suzhou, Yangzhou, and Yingtian, and take your time with other prefectures and counties." However, the action must be fast, there must be no delay, and the Supervisory Yuan and the Criminal Prison Department must be firmly controlled, and they must not fake the hands of others! ”

"Xia Guan understands!" The master said in a deep voice.

The Governor's Yuan, the power and responsibility of the Criminal Prison Department are too great, and control is a sharp weapon in their own hands, and in the hands of others, it is a sharp weapon against them!

The Gongyuan made a move against the imperial examination scholars, the governor Yamen was serious about the officials, and Shi Bangyao of Yingtianfu was also arranging to attack the salt merchants.

Ying Tianfu has dispatched more than 500 government soldiers, and the salt merchants corresponding to Tianfu began to find out, but all those involved in the robbery of the Huizitou Chamber of Commerce were all arrested and closed, and hundreds of people were arrested in a short period of time, and dozens of salt shops were sealed.

The most shocking thing is that the price of salt has skyrocketed!

Huai'an, Yangzhou, Suzhou, Hangzhou and other important towns in the south of the Yangtze River appeared almost at the same time!

The price of salt has always been the focus of Zhu Xu's strict control, and it is known to all the people, and this incident shocked the entire Nanzhili.

Fang Kongzhi and the others were all shocked, the person who should have taken the lead didn't move, but they didn't expect the salt merchant to move first.

The 'New Deal' of the Imperial Court was a very complex and systematic innovation, including the establishment of a 'sole salt merchant' in each province to ensure that the revenue of the salt administration was controllable.

Among them, the most important place of salt administration is Lianghuai and Yangzhou, which is the center of salt operation, all the salt in Daming is transferred here, and Nanzhili is the place with the most income, accounting for about fifty percent, which is pivotal and must not be underestimated.

Fang Kongzhi, Shi Bangyao and others were all anxious and gathered together to discuss.

If this matter is a big trouble, not to mention affecting the entire Nanzhili, the top and bottom will not agree, and the cabinet and the emperor will also have to make a decision.

With the intensive occurrence of several incidents, the entire Nanzhili gradually became unstable, and some people and forces jumped out one after another to make trouble and make trouble.

In a house not far from the Qinhuai River.

Zhu Xu and Cao Wenzhao soaked in the open-air pool, holding the steps with their arms, and they both exhaled comfortably.

After a while, both of them got used to it, and Cao Wenzhao turned his head to Zhu Xu and smiled: "Your ...... Your Majesty, how is it, comfortable? ”

Zhu Xu leaned on the steps, feeling the heat all over his body, holding a towel to cover his mouth, he exhaled comfortably, and said, "Yes, this is an artificial hot spring, right?" ”

Cao Wen Zhaoguang was in the big arm, sitting downstream of Zhu Xu, and said with a smile: "Yes, it was discovered by my subordinates, and I came here once before." ”

Zhu Xu's skin is more sensitive, half lying in the water and not daring to move, feeling the heat on his face, he also smiled, and said: "It's really good, after returning to Beijing, I will also get one in the palace, and I will bubble if I have nothing to do, which is more comfortable than in the bathtub." ”

"I'll have someone find the craftsman later, and the drawings and everything will be prepared for the emperor......" Cao Wenzhao immediately said.

Zhu Xu said 'um', lay there, closed his eyes, his whole body relaxed, and took a comfortable bath.

Not long after, Cao Huachun came over, stood behind Zhu Xu and said, "Your Majesty, the more troublesome it is, the more unpleasant it becomes." ”

Zhu Xu raised his hand and straightened the towel on his face, and said lightly, "Say." ”

Cao Huachun looked worried, and said, "The salt merchants in various places have said the same price increase, which has increased more than ten times, the people are frantically hoarding salt, and other rice grains are also rising sharply, rumors are spreading, and there are many panics, and the branches and branches of the royal money houses in various places have been squeezed, and some people have taken the opportunity to make trouble, burning, killing and looting, and there is a tendency to expand, and the government soldiers of Yingtianfu have already dispatched to suppress the ......"

Zhu Xu lay motionless in the water, and only exhaled lightly after a while, and said slowly: "Lao Cao, you said that so many years have passed, why do so many people still think that I am easy to bully, and they are angry with me at every turn, is it that I have not killed enough people......

Cao Wenzhao could hear that Zhu Xu's tone was a little erratic, this was a manifestation of his anger, his heart moved, and Lang smiled: "The emperor is wise and martial, chasing Taizu Taizong, how can he kill anyone, these people are bold and reckless, ignoring the laws of the court, the emperor's prestige, and their own local officials severely punish them, the emperor doesn't have to worry too much......"

Zhu Xu suddenly laughed out loud and said, "It's still your old Cao who understands me." ”

Cao Wenzhao smiled and didn't say much.

He does know Zhu Xu, Zhu Xu will never push himself into an 'unreasonable' position, Nan Zhili's situation is complicated, he must not interfere directly, he wants to fake the hands of others.

Zhu Xu soaked in the water, and his thoughts flew in his head.

Without the East Factory, some things are indeed more troublesome to do, and there is no knife that is sharp enough.

'Die to save face and suffer sin......

Zhu Xu muttered, sometimes he also hated the 'righteousness and brightness' advertised by the Ming Dynasty, and everything had to be upright. Although the abolition of the East Factory is the general trend of building a new Ming Dynasty, it is not forced by the inertia of the Ming Dynasty.

"How's that Gong Dingyu?" Zhu Xu spoke again for a long time, this person is another knife he cultivated, different from Dongchang, from within Shilin.

Cao Huachun said: "I just took over the Zhenfu Prison, and I am currently in the preparation stage, and I have done some things, but the results are not great. ”

Zhu Xu's jaw, a knife needs enough time to sharpen, he has this patience.

"Lao Cao, how are you preparing over there?" Zhu Xu took away the towel, washed it in the water, and covered his face again.

Cao Wenzhao was stunned, and immediately came to his senses, and hurriedly said: "It's all ready, and you can drill for those adults in two days at most." He already understood that Zhu Xu had a plan for Nan Zhili, that is, through powerful military exercises and so on, to show his determination to reform and put strong pressure on Nan Zhili!

Zhu Xu didn't make a sound, but his body moved downward, burying his entire neck in the water.

War in the South was imminent, and he had to see for himself. Nan Zhili's matter is not yet able to scrape the bones to cure the poison, and can only perform concise and rapid surgery for the future.

After Zhu Xu and others finished soaking in the hot springs and returned home, the prefects of various places finally arrived at the governor's yamen belatedly.

As the acting governor, Fang Kongzhi summoned several people to discuss the 'new deal'.

But before he could speak, Bi Zikang, the prefect of Suzhou, looked solemn and said in a deep voice, "My lord, the lower officials think that the most important thing at present is to solve the chaos that is happening in front of him. ”

The 'chaos' in Bi Zikang's mouth was caused by the salt merchants, and it affected the entire Nanzhili riot.

Cao Bushan, the prefect of Yangzhou, also echoed and said: "Lord Fang, regarding the salt policy, the lower officials think that the imperial court is still too hasty and should be reconsidered. ”

Everyone else has followed, and the new salt policy has harmed the interests of most salt merchants, and they will never agree.

Fang Kongzhi had already known this, his expression was extremely firm, and he said strongly: "This is part of the 'Jingzheng New Deal', no matter who you want to follow!" This official is, so are you, and even more so are those salt merchants! If someone is dissatisfied with the new policy of the imperial court, he wantonly agitates and disturbs Nanzhili, and this official will never agree! ”

Bi Ziyan, Cao Bushan and the others all frowned slightly, and couldn't help but look at each other.

They had already met before they came, and they reached a tacit understanding on some things, wanting to persuade Fang Kongzhi to be able to write to the imperial court and change the 'new salt policy' of the imperial court.

It's just that in the face of Fang Kongzhi's tough attitude, they are all a little hesitant.

If it is before the apocalypse, they can fight to the death, whether it is Shangguan or the adults in the court, they can jointly write a recital to make the matter bigger and force this matter to be closed. But now it's completely different, the governor's yamen has a great power and has a great influence on the imperial court, and most of their promotions are decided in the governor's yamen, so they must not be offended unless they have to!

Ying Tianfu Yin Shi Bangyao was very supportive of Fang Kongzhi, and said directly: "What Lord Fang said is that we must earnestly and completely fulfill the requirements of the imperial court!" There are too many aspects that need to be innovated in Jiangsu, and the salt merchants are so ignorant and reckless that they should be severely punished! ”

Cao Bushan, Bi Zikang and others were not at ease, in the past, the governor yamen still took care of the reputation and took care of the place, and it would not be too harsh, but now it is aggressive and forced.

As the prefect of Suzhou, Bi Zikang's relationship network is complicated, and he is unwilling to offend the local government and affect the official reputation, so he hesitated and said: "Lord Fang, everything must be done step by step, and it must not be ...... Presumptuous ......"

When Cao Bushan heard this, he hurriedly said, "My lord, Chen Ke's old evils need to be slowly adjusted, governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, we should be patient, today's salt merchant matter is that the imperial court is in a hurry......"

"Yes, Lord Fang, there are so many things to do, you have to give us time to ......"

"The 'New Deal' is too urgent, and we still need to plan a lot ......"

Fang Kongzhi had a calm face and a cold gaze. He can see that few of these people are really willing to support the new policy of the imperial court, and they are all looking for excuses to delay their responsibilities.

Shi Bangyao could also see that the governor's yamen was somewhat isolated.

He vaguely understood that as the Yin of Ying Tianfu Mansion, the emperor called him over, but he was afraid that he also needed him to support Fang Kongzhi at this time.

His expression did not move, his chest quietly bulged, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, this is wrong! Although the new policy of the imperial court was promulgated this year, it has been quietly promoted in the past few years, but who here really cares? If it was promoted a few years ago, why 'reconstruct' now? ”

The corners of the people present moved, and they didn't hit people in the face, and this Shi Bangyao poked them in the ribs.

"What does Master Shi mean? I have done a lot before, but it is not yet to the point of the reform of the imperial court, so naturally we need to discuss it in detail......"

"Now we're talking about Yan Zheng, don't divert the topic, Lord Fang, what should Yan Zheng do?"

"Yes, my lord, there are rumors outside, and the people are struggling to make a living, so we need to make a decision early......

"Lord Fang, what should this salt policy do, how can it be decided in one word, please be cautious ......"

Fang Kongzhi nodded slightly at Shi Bangyao, this can be regarded as his ally in Jiangsu, and then looked at the others coldly, and said in a deep voice: "You are the prefect of a prefecture, you should be the governor of the yamen, and you will relieve the worries of the imperial court, if you just ask the official 'what to do', others will, you don't need to come in person!" ”

Everyone looked shocked, and Fang Kongzhi's words were full of murderous intent.

However, Cao Bushan is not afraid, he has an invisible coat, and outsiders can't figure out his relationship with Cao Wenzhao, and no one dares to touch him lightly, even if it's Fang Kongzhi!

"Lord Fang, we are the officials of the imperial court, so naturally we don't just ask, 'What should I do,'" Cao Bushan's words were also a little hard, and he said with a wooden face: "Now it is the new policy of the imperial court that has caused me and others to have problems, as a lower official, I have the right to truthfully explain the real situation to the higher officials, so that the imperial court can deal with it prudently." ”

"That's what Lord Cao said!"

"I also ask Lord Fang to turn the court and think about it in the long run."

As soon as a group of people saw Cao Bushan coming out, they followed suit, and they all stood on Cao Bushan's side and confronted Fang Kongzhi, so to speak, they had isolated him, the governor.

The governor's yamen is now imperfect, there is only one bald governor, Fang Kongzhi looked at the attitude of a group of people, and secretly snorted coldly, "Once the Governor's Yuan and the Criminal Prison Department are formed, everything will be up to you!" ’

He also heard the rumors of Cao Bushan's background, so he was not afraid, and said in a deep voice: "Since you don't just ask 'what to do', then think about what to do!" The official gave you two days to write a good recital and submit it, if you don't write it, if you don't write it well, you don't have to go back! ”

Everyone's faces changed greatly, especially Cao Bushan stood up violently and shouted: "We are the officials of the imperial court, even if you are the governor, you can't detain us privately, otherwise this official will definitely write to the emperor to impeach you!" ”

"Yes, even the governor can't detain me privately!"

"Lord Fang is still cautious in his words and deeds, don't have a bad pool!"

"Lord Fang, please be cautious!"

Even Shi Bangyao's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Fang Kongzhi with some frowns.

These people are right, Fang Kongzhi is against the list by doing this, and once the court investigates it, the responsibility will be extremely heavy!

Fang Kongzhi snorted coldly, and said indifferently: "If this official wants to detain you, he will directly send you to prison!" The two days for you are to wait for the cabinet edict, once the cabinet edict arrives, all the 'dereliction of duty' officials in Jiangsu, the governor and the yamen generals have the right to appoint and dismiss! ”

Everyone present, including Shi Bangyao, was shocked, this Lord Fang really dared to mess around!