Sun Hong spoke eloquently, and his words inevitably had some exaggerated embellishments of literati. However, Zhu Pingjin still listened with great interest.

"The prince of the world asks for advice and dedication, and there are only two people in Shu who can be worried. One is the gentry; The second is called the official government. However, the ministers are the only ones to worry about, and the gentry are also! Why? The gentry and the government are really one!

The gentry, also known as the official gentry, the gentry, or the home of the official eunuch, or the meritorious Jinshi to show off talents, or the tribute (supervisor), or the students of Fuzhou County. For three hundred years, the gentry in Shu, their descendants have multiplied, and the population has been innumerable. The sects and branches are connected, and the counties are cross-county. They live in the same race, and they are all in the same spirit, and if they are prosperous, they will be prosperous, and if they are lost, they will be lost. If you retreat, you will be a squire, and if you advance, you will be a pillar of the court. There is the support of the government on the back, and there is the attachment of the people below. Plough acres of land, run all kinds of industries, open schools, and settle disputes. The documents of the government are passed down to the township, and the brocade of the gentry is passed on to the people......"

Zhu Pingjin is not like Sun Hong, who has plenty of time to go to the grassroots level to take a look. With the existing primitive and backward traffic conditions, Zhu Pingjin may not be able to run half of Sichuan's prefectures and counties in his lifetime. As a leader, he relies more on reports from his subordinates and conversations with various parties to obtain information that interests him.

Sun Hong's description of the gentry gave Zhu Pingjin a vivid impression. That is the gentry of the Ming Dynasty, as if a village official plus a capable person plus the media plus the network plus the police station plus the financial office plus the family planning office...... An omnipotent monster that exists at the grassroots level in China.

The gentry mastered the spirit of the government's documents, controlled the local economic lifeline, monopolized the right to speak in the township, and controlled the direction of public opinion in a place. The gentry's power was combined with divine power and clan power to become the basis of the Ming Dynasty's rule. Any government policy must be supported by the local gentry before it can be implemented. There were no gentry, and the illiterate peasants didn't even know what was said in the official list. The gentry enjoyed generous treatment and privileges, and in addition to the legal exemption of the imperial court, they also often embezzled and embezzled, so some students "sat on a hundred and walked three hundred". The gentry ran rampant in the villages, taking over lawsuits, discussing government affairs without permission, and even forming parties against the government; The gentry annexed land, profited from industry and commerce, and lived in luxury; Huawu Garden, Jiacheng South Mu, all of them are famous and beautiful; The back room is full of fans, Xiao Xi Xiumei, and servants are raised, and there are countless of them.

Zhu Pingjin listened and remembered. Sun Hong has the opportunity to show his true talents, just like a confidant meeting thousands of miles away, and the language is endless:

"I am Emperor Gao of the Ming Dynasty, a privileged student, a quasi-tax-free field, grain and rice, and Yu Yusheng, which is originally a reward for farming and reading, and the meaning of educating the villagers. At the beginning of the country, there were only 30 excellent students in a county, and now there are hundreds of thousands of students in a county! Taizu was a wealthy squire, and built a Shenming Pavilion in the township, so that the squires and the elderly people in the township had disputes, and the county ordered nothing to go to the countryside. But now? The squires and elders often hijacked the clan school and overrode the government. There are even more locals, the government, gentry, hooligans, and bandits collude in collusion, run rampant, and tyrannize the villagers!

However, all these unscrupulous people must not be partial to generalization, let alone use swords and soldiers to shake the foundation of our country! ”

Sun Hong said that he was in a hurry, his mouth was dry, and his eyes were looking for water everywhere. When Zhu Pingjin saw it, he handed over his teacup. You have a gift, and you dare not resign. Sun Hong's eyes were hot, he took the teacup, raised his head and drank it dry.

"My palace receives offerings, and those gentry also receive offerings. My palace has collected more, and the gentry have received less. My palace is a person who comes, and the more the merrier; Most of those gentry were in the township of the clan and gathered together to take refuge. My palace collects and surrenders, in order to enrich the country and strengthen the army; Those gentry received and surrendered, mostly for the benefit of one clan and one place. It's not that he doesn't know the righteousness, it's human nature, and it's not because he deliberately makes trouble with the palace. Moreover, most of those lands have been accumulated for several generations, and they just want to keep their ancestors' family business. In this way, most of the gentry are not very wrong. If you rush too much, it will cause chaos! ”

"The rear can't be messed up!" Zhu Pingjin interjected categorically, "But if he doesn't pay for food, he won't be able to produce people, and it won't help in big things; Abusing the villagers, wanting excessively, will eventually lead to chaos in Shu. What can I say? ”

"No food, no people, it's just that things are slowing down for now!" Sun Hong shook his head, indicating that he did not agree with Zhu Pingjin's opinion, "At the beginning of the year, the chaotic people besieged the city, and Yang Tianguan didn't have to pay people to help Xu Kong defend the city. He knew in his heart that once the city was broken and the jade was burned, no one would be able to benefit! As for the tyranny of the villagers, it is not their sexual evil, but after all, it is still a disparity between the rich and the poor, and people suffer from their injustice! ”

The plundering of the privileged class by virtue of power is both overt and covert. The excessive disparity between the rich and the poor, as well as the unfair enrichment process of a few, are important catalysts for the civil uprising. Zhu Pingjin does not have the time and capital to realize social reform now, and Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are eyeing each other outside Bashan, and he cannot distract himself from the focus for a moment.

"So how do you let them know that it's urgent? This prince will send troops to northern Sichuan this year. As soon as the army was dispatched, the money and food were spent like flowing water. In the future, the world will change dramatically, and the use of troops will inevitably be hundreds of thousands, and there will be millions of refugees in urgent need of pensions, and the food demand may reach tens of millions of stones! At present, our food stock is only a drop in the ocean! Determine the world by a corner of Shudi, although there are sages of Kong Ming, they can't. Therefore, we must plan ahead and hoard early! ”

"We must rely on propaganda and know the righteousness. They will also persecute them, let the government, bandits, rebels, and thieves force them. During the minister's trip to Jiading, all the contributions received were those who had land. Ministers are like combs, and there is not one in ten who has land among the common people. The rest of the land was owned by the gentry. That Zhizhou autumn grain levy, see where he collects! It is impossible for him to keep the black yarn and not offend the gentry. ”

Hearing this, Zhu Pingjin raised the corners of his eyes, "What Mr. means, the officials and gentry are one, and it is true!" The government needs the gentry to make noise, and the gentry need the government to take care of it. Their fame and fortune, their wealth and taxes, are all in the hands of the government. Hong Qihui and Wang Guochen are in Yazhou, and those gentry are all submissive and cautious. For fear that if one sentence is wrong, the government will fabricate charges and lead to imprisonment. Mr. can make contributions to Jiading Prefecture, but it is even more difficult to implement the dedication in Qiong and Mei Prefectures, because the Jiading government is afraid of the chaotic people, and there is a request for my palace! ”

"The son of the world has insight into the world, and that's exactly what it is! Jiading Zhizhou, cowardly, was frightened by the rioters at the beginning of the year. Tianquan Tusi cavalry stationed in the state city to help him deter the rebellious people, he flattered in every way, and he was about to settle in every way. As far as the minister knows, he left more than ten Tusi cavalry in the state government, and entertained them with good food and drink, that is, as soon as there was a disturbance, he would protect his family and abandon the city and flee! The minister and Mr. Tang set up a stall opposite the government of his state to receive offerings, and the governor did not say a word, but ordered the officials to maintain order; The gentry made trouble, but he severely reprimanded the gentry and scolded them not to make trouble. When his subordinates went to the counties, villages and towns, he not only sent troops to protect them, but also informed the counties in advance that they could not be stopped. ”

Zhu Pingjin smiled and said: "As the saying goes, it is good to break the county order, exterminate the clan and order Yin, and the gentry are afraid of officials." The gentry are afraid of the officials, the officials are afraid of the people, and the people are afraid of the thieves. Everything in the world is always one thing descending from one thing! If Sichuan is such a timid and cowardly Zhizhou, this son will be easy to do. ”

Sun Hong boldly proposed a new direction of development, that is, to control the regime. Through the control of the political power, all kinds of local forces are wiped out.

The two monarchs and ministers finally saw a glimmer of light to solve the problem, and they were in a good mood. However, Sun Hong soon faded from joy and said:

"One thing descends to one thing, and the son of the world breaks through the principle of all things in one word. The minister thinks that the cycle of heaven is the same in the fortune of the country. Peace, prosperity and decline, three hundred years of cycles. The Ming Dynasty has been three hundred years, and it has been peaceful for a long time, and since the end of Wanli, there is a picture of prosperity and decline. If you want to set things right, it's very difficult! As the saying goes, overkill must be overdone. In troubled times, you can't use the method of governing the peaceful world. With the method of governing the gentry by the government, the ministers thought that they could only do it when they were peaceful, but now they are a little pedantic. For example, in Qiongzhou, Zhizhou Xu Kongtu and Yang Tianguan have been very close, and it is difficult to have a dislike between them. Even if he is forced by taxes, Xu Kongtu may not be able to turn his face with Yang Tianguan because of the money, and besides, we can't afford to wait for time. ”

Zhu Pingjin showed a resolute look, and took advantage of the topic to play:

"Overkill must be overkill, what the gentleman said is very true! Then we will use the methods in the troubled times, lest they be drunk and beautiful all day long! Zhang Shilin and Liu Sangen have long wanted to push it. There is no civil unrest in Yazhou, where is today's good situation? In Qiong and Mei, the hardships of the people's lives are all over the place, and they burn at a point! How the brothers of Wang Daniu's family joined the caravan were seen by Ben Shizi and Mr. Sun. Last time, Yang Tianguan escaped by luck, and now he has forgotten the pain after the scars! It seems that we have to remind them one more time! ”

"Of course, it is necessary to remind you, but we have to find the right enemy. Yang Tianguan and other gentry, there are only one or two in one state and one county, and you must not hurt Tianhe ...... because of such inferior gentry."

It seems that Sun Hong's will to fight against the enemy is not strong enough to become a real revolutionary. On the way to Qiongzhou at the beginning of the year, he met the Wang Daniu brothers who led the trouble, and Sun Hong looked a little flustered and a little afraid at that time. Zhu Pingjin immediately decided to beat Sun Hong a little:

"Mr. Sun, those who are in power have the world in mind, and those who do big things are not informal, and they must not look forward and backward and tie their hands and feet! Qiong, eyebrows, inferior gentry, collusion with the government, fish and meat villagers, have long been dead! Zhu Pingjin's words directly announced the death penalty of Yang Tianguan and others, "Those who are peaceful in heaven are also the hearts of the people!" Don't lie about the peace of heaven and go against the will of the people! ”

"The minister doesn't dare to say anything!" Sun Hong suddenly lost color, left his seat and knelt down, and the green tendons on his neck appeared: "The people are suffering!" The soldiers pass everywhere, and the tiles do not leave ......"

Zhu Pingjin slowly left his seat, pacing back and forth in the camp hall with his hands behind his back. The constant cries of unknown animals in the mountains and forests made him feel depressed. He strode to the door and lifted the curtain on it. A refreshing mountain breeze immediately hit the face, taking away the heat from the body.

By the light of the bonfire, Zhu Pingjin saw Wei Chen, the commander of the guard company, standing in front of the door with a knife.

Zhu Pingjin beckoned Wei over and asked, "This son of the world ordered you to kill someone, do you dare?" ”

"The son of the world has the virtue of regeneration for the last general's family, and the last general has sworn to the sky: except for his parents and brothers, the son of the world will be willing to go to the soup and fire when he gives an order!"

"If you kill this person, you may have to raid your family and exterminate your family, do you dare?" Zhu Pingjin asked again.

"If there is no son, the last general's family will freeze to death and starve to death." Wei Chen's words were calm and without the slightest hesitation, "Even if a catastrophe descends on the sky, it is just to return his life to the son of the world!" ”

"Is your brother Wei Shen like you?"

"The last will vouch for the head, my brother is the same as the last general, swearing allegiance to the son!"

Zhu Pingjin nodded emphatically and did not speak again. He lifted the curtain again and walked back to the lobby.