The clan, the honorable ministers are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and they are regarded as the 'national capital', they are tried and about to be sentenced, which has long caused shock in the government and the opposition.

Then, Zhou Zheng wantonly arrested the Yanguan, which shocked the Ming Dynasty even more.

Immediately, the imperial court will try those rebellious civil ministers and military generals, this number is dozens of times that of the clan and nobles, and almost all the strata of the Ming Dynasty are involved.

That is to say, Zhou Zhengzhong's forces in Beijing have always been weak, and he can only survive if he is protected in advance.

Including the first assistant Zhou Yanru, all the forces have been affected, and there is nothing that has nothing to do with the 'thief'.

After more than 200 years of development, the Ming Dynasty's 'Shi Dafu' group, despite the factions and contradictions, in essence, they are all 'one family', you have me, I have you, and it is difficult to distinguish each other.

It's like opening the city gate for Li Zicheng to surrender, Zhang Jinyan, the squire of the military department when Chongzhen, he turned two people, and he could call Zhou Yanru the 'fourth uncle', and Zhang Sizhi had 'friendship with the same door', and Qian Qianyi was 'in-law family'.

If you want to 'punish Zhang Jinyan for the nine clans', Zhou Yanru and Qian Qianyi will be involved to some extent.

Naturally, they will not allow themselves to be involved, and at the same time, there are too many people in the government and the opposition who do not want to be involved.

Zhang Jinyan can go to the high position of the squire of the military department, not only has a deep background, relatives and friends, but also a protégé and former official is unimaginable. They don't want Zhang Jinyan to be questioned, it will inevitably involve them!

As a result, the Ming gentry, who had been preparing for a long time, moved like never before.

They are not completely just writing books, defending these people, and all kinds of means are used to tackle key problems against the entire imperial court.

For example, there are large families who want to donate 30,000 taels of silver to the imperial court in order to condemn or even exonerate someone or others.

For example, some gentry knew that some famous bigwigs jointly guaranteed and interceded for some people, hoping to exonerate the 'crime of punishment'.

For another example, some people put forward the 'theory of leniency and benevolence', believing that the world is shaky, and the people are panicked, and it is not appropriate to kill too much, and asks the court to 'deal with it lightly in order to win the hearts of the people'.

In the face of surging pressure, Qian Qianyi expected the trial the next day, but in the end it was postponed, hiding and not daring to see anyone.

Under these disturbances, Zhou Zheng's plan is steadily advancing.

Zhou Fang took office as the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Gao Hongtu succeeded him as the secretary of the Ministry of Households, and Zhou Zhengyi was in the first line, and his influence in the court was further expanded.

Expedition to the West Corridor.

Zhang Heyi, Gao Hongtu, Sun Chuanting, and Zhou Fang sat opposite Zhou and talked about things.

Sun Chuanting said: "My lord, now many problems are highlighted, and our shortcomings have also been exposed. One is the lack of talents, not to mention the candidates for governors of the thirteen provinces, even the six departments are seriously understaffed. ”

Strictly speaking, Zhou Zheng is not short of people, with his status, some are stammering, and those who take refuge are lacking in 'talents'. Recognize the talents who are active and able to understand his changes and reforms!

Daming is too big and needs too many talents!

Zhang Heyi, Gao Hongtu, and Zhou Fang also nodded, and they ascended to a high position, feeling more and more that this was a problem.

Zhou Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Do you have any solutions to solve it?" ”

Sun Chuanting, Gao Hongtu, Zhou Fang and others glanced at each other, but did not speak.

Zhou Fang's identity is special, and he answered: "There are two methods, first, that is, to imitate Tianjin Wei's Maritime Academy, we also establish a law change college, from a young age, specializing in cultivating law change talents, this method is relatively slow to work, long time, we can't wait, but we can also do it, prepare." The second is to open Enke next year, and this examiner will be in our hands. ”

Zhou Zheng listened to Zhou Fang's words, his expression moved slightly, thoughtful.

The new emperor changed the yuan, and Kaienke, that is, the imperial examination, was a matter of course. The chief examiner is the 'teacher' of all the jinshi and the first scholars, if Zhou is the chief examiner, then these people will be counted under Zhou Zhengmen, such talents come quickly and reliably.

Gao Hongtu looked at Zhou Zheng and said: "My lord, the current officialdom is disturbing, people and ghosts are difficult to distinguish, our change cannot be lost, this method is the safest." ”

Zhou Zheng's gaze swept over the four people, obviously they had discussed it in private, nodded lightly, and said, "Okay, write down this matter." ”

Zhou Fang saw that Zhou Zheng was finally willing to come forward, and his heart was relieved, and he said, "Yuanfu's side, will you stop it?" ”

Zhou Zheng picked up the teacup and said, "No." ”

The four of them were all smiling, and Zhang Heyi said: "My lord, Li Shangshu is still very hesitant and hesitant about the military reform, and it is still difficult to make up his mind after discussing with him for many days. ”

Li Banghua, the secretary of the military department, seems to have become the biggest stumbling block to Zhou Zheng's reform of the Ming military system.

Zhou Zheng held the teacup, his expression became cold, and said, "I'll talk to him, you continue to prepare." ”

Zhang Heyi responded.

Gao Hongtu continued: "The affairs of the household department are complicated and messy. The lower officials are sorting out the interior, and then they will start to revise the relationship with the localities, especially the taxation and acreage, and the household department is preparing to legislate and become part of the Da Ming law. ”

Zhou Zheng sighed, looking a little surprised and surprised, and said: "Your idea is good, the formulation of tax law and land law is indeed urgent, you first prepare internally, explore, and conduct in-depth research on the local area, don't do it behind closed doors." ”

Gao Hongtu was very excited when he received Zhou Zheng's praise, and said: "Yes, Xiaguan will definitely be perfect!" ”

Zhou Zheng hummed and looked at Zhou Fang with a smile.

Zhou Fang glanced at the codex on the table and said, "There are a lot of things in the Ministry of Industry. When it comes to the Yellow River, the Yangtze River bursting its banks, the official roads falling into disrepair, the reconstruction of palaces, altars, courtyards and other buildings in the capital, as well as the manufacture of a series of weapons, there are many complicated things, and there is a serious shortage of money and food......"

Originally, the Ministry of Engineering, which was the smallest and most easily ignored in the six ministries, did not expect it to become the most troublesome one.

Zhou Zheng put his right hand against his chin, thought for a while, and said: "In this way, your Ministry of Industry will first formulate a plan, including the project, steps, time and the money needed, that is, next year's budget, your six ministries will do their own first, and then summarize it to the cabinet, and I will discuss it with Yuanfu." ”

Gao Hongtu is the head of the household, and he hesitated a little when he listened, and said: "My lord, after Li Zicheng's experience, the northwest has been abolished, and the southeast has been shaken. In addition, the military salaries in the northwest and northeast are simply beyond our means, and in the next few years after next year, we may need tens of millions of dollars and grain to support the Ming Dynasty, not to mention our changes......"

Zhou Zheng's expression was slightly solemn, which was also a big difficulty in front of them.

Don't count on the Ming Dynasty's taxes, even if you add the Zhou Chamber of Commerce, it is far from enough, and it takes money and grain from the sea to rebuild a broken and huge dynasty.

Zhou Zheng took another sip of tea and said in a deep voice: "Debt!" With the treasury of the Ministry of Household as a guarantee, borrow money from the world, agree on the interest rate, and give priority qualifications in the scientific examination. You draft the specific rules. ”

Gao Hongtu listened, pondered, and said, "My lord, even if we can borrow it, with the current tax, we can't afford to pay it back......"

Zhou Zheng laughed and said: "Borrowing is not only to fill the treasury, but also to revitalize the market of my Daming, eliminate old silver, integrate commerce, and sort out maladministration, there are too many benefits." Even if we didn't pay it a few years ago, when we changed the law and got results, even if it was just to return to the Jiajing period, the annual tax of 30 million yuan would be easy to repay the debt, and there was no need to be under too much pressure......

Gao Hongtu is the head of the household, and he came to his senses after a slight turn of thought, and hurriedly said: "Yes, it is still an adult who has a long-term view, and the lower official will immediately start arranging the ...... when he goes back."

Before Gao Hongtu's words fell, Yao Tongshun came in, saw that it was the four of Zhou Fang, did not shy away, and said, "My lord, Mr. Jinghu is here." Some people write to the adults to recount their merits, please add the title of An Guogong. In addition, the mansions of the officials of the imperial court above the third rank are full of people, and the prime minister's compound is also there. ”