The appalling thing that Wang Chengen broke out was the current situation of selling officials during the Chongzhen period.

From the early years of Chongzhen, because of the vacancies of Beijing officials or local chiefs in the central government, in addition to the regular selection by the new jinshi, it was also selected by the state and county officials who had served for a certain period of time. As a result, the sale of officials also came into being.

Libu Lang Zhonglu Mai, just because he and Zhou Zhengyi, the younger brother of the university scholar Zhou Tingru, are sons and daughters, relying on this relationship, he actually set a price of "7,000 Qiuzilin (Hanlin officials), 5,000 Qiuke (in the middle of the matter), and 3,000 Qiudao (supervising the imperial history)", openly accepting bribes, and going to the door to seek officials on behalf of others.

Just imagine, this kind of thing is public, what does that mean? The officialdom of the Ming Dynasty has reached an extreme point of collusion and favoritism.

In the Ming Dynasty, it stands to reason that such a situation should not have happened, because there are factory guards.

In fact, at the beginning, the factory guard did impeach such fraud. But their purpose is not really to correct the atmosphere and severely punish evil, but to participate in a piece of the pie.

Therefore, every year during the assessment and selection, the officials will send 20,000 taels to the East Factory, and then the East Factory will no longer manage the assessment and selection of the officials. Of course, Jinyiwei's side is also indispensable.

The officials had no supervision, and openly asked for the price, and the subordinate officials of the Ministry of Rites were 2,000 taels, and the military department did not have much oil and water to fish, as long as 800. And it is also very market-oriented, often bidding, the highest price wins. Someone bought an official position with a lot of money, but before he took office, he was snatched away by others at a higher price!

The matter of buying officials was quite common in the late Ming Dynasty, and even Song Yingxing, who was famous in later generations, was from the same background as him, but because he had money to buy officials, he had a county order to be a magistrate. And Song Yingxing didn't have the money to buy it, so he could only be a county magistrate who was most unwanted.

The saying that money can make ghosts grind has been very well confirmed in the Chongzhen Dynasty. No matter what, as long as you have money, there is nothing you can't do. But if you don't have money, then I'm sorry, even if you have the ability, you can't do anything! Anyway, at this time, it's all about money!

In this context, if nothing else, let's talk about those who buy officials. After they take office, will they devote themselves to serving the people? The vast majority of officials are not trying to get the money back, and who will suffer in the end, you can imagine!

All the yamen are thinking of ways to make money, ignoring what they want to do with this money! To put it mildly, this is much more fierce than the stock market in later generations! After all, the stock market has ups and downs, and in this Ming Dynasty, the money goes out first-class, and if you don't wait for the final destination, it is definitely the fat man who becomes a thin man, and the thin man who becomes a skeleton!

Although Emperor Chongzhen already had a psychological expectation for the rule of officials at the end of the Ming Dynasty, he didn't expect it to reach such a point. Can this Ming Dynasty still be saved?

At this moment, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought!

But soon, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. Regardless of whether you are saved or not, since you have become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, you must save it!

There are difficulties to overcome difficulties, prescribe the right medicine, and solve the problem step by step!

Thinking like this, Emperor Chongzhen slowly regained his fighting spirit. And this, in fact, is his character, even in the later life, he is also this character who does not admit defeat!

Live again, fight again!

As a person from the afterlife, there are naturally examples to refer to for this situation. For example, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, before and after its establishment, has a good reference significance.

Emperor Chongzhen thought about this and thought deeply, and even missed some things that Wang Chengen said.

At this time, he was still thinking about how to rectify the rule of officials. I don't know when, he suddenly realized that it seemed that Wang Chengen had finished speaking and was waiting for his will.

So, he put aside the things in his mind first, and decided to continue to follow the previous plan, solve Cao Huachun's matter first, and at the same time rectify the East Factory, which can be regarded as re-sharpening the rusty knife hanging over the heads of hundreds of officials!

Emperor Chongzhen stood still, turned to look at Wang Chengen, and said with a hint of relief on his face: "You didn't disappoint me after all, it's good!" ”

In fact, he only heard about selling officials.

Wang Chengen actually didn't say everything, he was a little apprehensive in his heart, and when he heard the emperor's affirmation, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart, and hurriedly asked for sin: "The slave maid used to be blinded by lard, and the slave maid should die!" ”

"It's good to have this understanding, get up and talk!" Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and said lightly.

But when Wang Chengen stood up according to his words, he suddenly said again: "Now the imperial court is extremely short of money, and all the money for military salaries, disaster relief, etc. Since you didn't disappoint me, I don't care anymore. However, you still have to give me how much money you have left with your ill-gotten money, and I need money urgently, understand? “

Without waiting for Wang Chengen to speak, Emperor Chongzhen added: "Actually, if it weren't for the fact that Da Ming was really short of money, the previous things would be forgotten, and everything would start anew." I can't help it, I can't take out as much as I can get out of the illegal gains, what I want is this attitude, as long as I take it out, I will never pursue the previous things! ”

In fact, there was originally a concern here, if all the previous illegal gains were taken out, and the amount was large, wouldn't it mean that the previous illegal things were very serious? The number is less, and the emperor knows about it, what should I do if I pursue it again?

Even Wang Chengen has such concerns. However, he heard Emperor Chongzhen repeatedly emphasize the lack of money, and as a person close to the emperor, he did know that the imperial court was very short of money. However, although the emperor said that he would not pursue it again, should this be believed?

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to know what he was thinking, so he said again: "I actually understand that my Ming Dynasty's Yulu, after more than two hundred years, is already very low. Doing things for the imperial court, but not being able to support my family, this is also why I am sorry for everyone. I am not to blame for what I said in the past, and it is also because of this reason that the previous ones, which have been used, should be regarded as compensation for everyone, and I will not study it in detail! After I reform the government, the court will have money, and everyone's income will increase! Do things for me, and I must not treat everyone badly! ”

Saying this, it would be very unfair to a small number of Qing officials. If you knew that this was the case, shouldn't you be a clean official?

However, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were too few Qing officials. As long as you are an official, you will definitely be able to directly and indirectly, actively and passively obtain benefits through the power of being an official. And this is precisely the biggest reason why everyone wants to be an official.

However, what Emperor Chongzhen said now is aimed at corrupt people, but it is reasonable for them, and it is somewhat reassuring.

It was only at this time that Wang Chengen had the opportunity to reply: "The slave deserves death, and all the silver must be taken out!" ”

In this regard, Emperor Chongzhen didn't believe it, and the ghost took out all the silver. But no matter what, it's enough to take out the money when you have it.

Thinking so, he said to Wang Chengen again: "Cao Daban was the old man when I was in the hidden mansion, and he was my confidant. Although he is sorry for me, I still want to give him a chance. Send someone to tell him, and let him do as you do, and I will be blamed. ”