At this point, Zhao Wenhua's story should be over...... He would grow old in a lonely mountain village, poor and alone, and no one cared about him. But an unbelievable thing made his death recorded in all the history books, talked about by tens of millions of people, and even ranked among the top ten mysterious cases in the Jiajing Dynasty.

The time is October 23, the 35th year of Jiajing, and the autumn wind and light rain. Zhao Wenhua, who was repatriated to his hometown, traveled to Shandong, but because the roads were muddy, he could not get to the post station, so he had to spend the night in a rural field shop called Cross Slope.

It has been nearly a thousand miles away from the capital, and it has been almost a month since the incident that led to his disrepute, Zhao Wenhua has finally recovered from the huge blow, has some energy, and wants to eat.

asked the shopkeeper to try his best to arrange a table of wine and food, and in the bleak wind and cold rain, his wife had died, leaving only the eight-room concubine, sitting miserably around the table.

"What are you crying about...... Zhao Wenhua was a little leaky when he spoke, but he still taught them a lesson: "I'm not dead yet." ”

I only heard my aunts and wives say: "Woo, my jewelry ......" "Woo, without money, how can we live in the future......" After a long time, people were crying 'poor', not him!

This made Zhao Wenhua very faceless, so he sneered and said: "You girls who don't read books, don't you know the allusion of the 'Three Caves of the Cunning Rabbit'?" He also had 300,000 taels of salt hidden on him, enough money for him to squander for the rest of his life.

Just as he was about to show it off, he would reinvigorate his prestige. Who knew that the aunt's wife, who had the most damaged mouth, immediately retorted: "We women are Taoist people, and no talent is virtue, and it is right not to read." But sir, if you read more books, why did we end up here? ”

"Why?" Zhao Wenhua was choked.

"People have said these days that you are not the first to build a mansion next to the palace." Mrs. Na said with a small mouth: "It is said that a hundred years ago, there was a man named Shi Heng who built a house outside the palace, and the emperor took a look at it, and then it was over...... They all said, there are many books about this, but you are still a Jinshi, why didn't you read it? ”

"Why didn't I look at it?" Lord Zhao couldn't help but sigh, it was really a tiger falling in Pingyang and being bullied by dogs, and Longyou was being played by shrimp in shallow water, and now even the little wife dared to bully the old man, so he could only say angrily: "I watched it." ”

"See?" The little wife stuck out her tongue and said, "That's even more incredible......"

"Fuck!" The angry Lord Zhao patted the chopsticks, got up and left.

"Say less." The aunt glared at the fast-talking aunt and said to Zhao Wenhua, "Master, you haven't eaten yet." ”

"I won't eat it." Zhao Wenhua said angrily: "I'm full of gas, and I'm still eating a fart!" Hiccup ...... so angry that he hiccuped and rubbed his stomach and went back to the house.

The aunts and wives couldn't call him back, so they had to let him go.

When they finished eating, they felt that the old man's anger had subsided, so they carried the dishes left for him on a tray and sent them to the main room.

But seeing the old man rubbing his stomach like crazy and rolling on the ground, the aunts and wives panicked and tried to help him up, but because his movements were too violent, no one could get close, so they could only watch him pick and pick on his belly with both hands...... The clothes have long been torn, and even the belly has been dug open by both hands.

But even though it hurt like this, he didn't say a word, just dug his stomach with both hands. The lady who lacked a string couldn't help but praise: "Master, I blame you wrong, you are a man!" ”

"Don't call someone yet!" The aunt said in a loud voice: "Come on!" ”

When the family members heard the sound and poured in, the aunt commanded: "Hold down the master!" The family hurriedly stepped forward, but it was too late...... only heard a snort, Zhao Wenhua touched his abdomen with his hand, pulled it out, gastroschis, viscera came out, and he died...... The real intestines are rotten, and the blood is all over the ground, and it is extremely tragic! This is the last scene that Zhao Wenhua left to the world...... Of course, now, no one in Yanjing City knows about this tragic scene. But even if they knew, they didn't have time to guess the inside story, because the second Jingcha that was closely related to them began...... On September 23, the 35th year of Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing was also in charge of the ministry scholar Li Ben, who did not know the affairs of the ministry and acted arbitrarily. Neither discussed with the Metropolitan Procuratorate, nor did he allow the Taoist officials to interfere, and the investigation was carried out alone, and it was inevitable that there would be such a joke as 'Zhao Wenhua is ranked first', so Li Ben was ordered to stop reflecting and be fined for one year, and all the two lists he had on were invalidated!

And by the cabinet deputy assistant Xu Jie, together with the new secretary of the Ministry of Shangshu Wu Peng, the left capital of the Imperial Prefecture Zhou Yan, the three of them jointly conducted a Beijing inspection.

Emperor Jiajing emphasized in his edict appointing three people to re-inspect: 'The distinction between gentlemen and villains is very small. The gentleman is isolated and incompatible, and he will inevitably take resentment from the vulgar, and the villain is soft and familiar, which is enough to bridge the gap in others. To inspect the canon, we should distinguish the subtleties of the mind, judge the truth of right and wrong, and think that we should stay. There is no distinction between humility and humility, no distance, no constant number, no pursuit of the past, and want to open up deeds to show whether the virtuous are not. ’

This is the lesson that Emperor Jiajing learned from the right and wrong of Li Mo and Zhao Wenhua in this year, which can be described as the true meaning of the proverb, and it should be followed by future generations!

The next day, the officials above the fourth grade were re-submitted to the self-presentation, Jiajing or excellent edict praised, or demoted for other purposes, and individual orders were idle, almost unchanged.

At the same time, the three adults presided over the inspection of the Beijing officials below the fifth grade. There are 25 people who are old and sick, 2 are greedy, 2 are soft, 100 and 2 are not careful, 19 are impetuous, and 26 are not as talented. Subsequently, Kedao picked up more than ten people.

However, the DPRK and China's reaction to this Jingcha was very bland, far less than the grievances and righteous indignation of Li Ben. The main reason is that this time Emperor Jiajing withdrew the right to review the senior personnel above the fourth grade, and the last time Jingcha listened to Li Ben's impeachment regardless of the grade, it can be seen how unfair it was last time!

Although the Beijing inspection is inevitably suspected of sheltering fellow party members, on the whole, there are provisions to follow, and the emphasis is on the examination of the competence of officials, which is already a very good result for officials who have just gone through stormy seas.

Moreover, under the auspices of Xu Jie, the deputy assistant of the cabinet, everything in Jingcha was done according to the system, and there were Kedao relics and Kedao mutual correction, so that Jingcha could maintain the general situation and everyone was satisfied.

Xu Jie, because of Jingcha's ability, was promoted to a scholar of Huagai Palace, added the rank of young teacher, and was given a python robe, and he was given the same treatment as Yan Ge Lao.

Shen Mo originally thought that Jingcha had nothing to do with himself this time, after all, he had only been an official for less than a year, but in the list of thirty-eight people who had been announced to be the top rank, he suddenly saw the name of 'Cabinet Si Zhilang Shen Mo', which made Zhang Siwei, who only got the second class, cry out unreasonable.

However, Zhang Siwei is just talking, he has been immersed in silver in the cabinet for a long time, and naturally knows that there are many laws in this world, that is, there is never a word for 'fairness'.

"You're a good life, humble words." After laughing, Zhang Siwei said with emotion: "The first Li Ge Lao who is in charge of the Ministry of Officials is your fellow countryman, and he will help you to the right Zhongyun; The latter Xu Ge Lao, who is in charge of Jingcha, is also your teacher, and he will give you a first-class comment that you don't change, if you are not developed, it is really unreasonable. ”

Zhang Siwei was right, only three days later, Emperor Jiajing summoned Shen Mo and personally announced the appointment: "Shen Mo, who is also the cabinet secretary, is the same governor of Suzhou." ’

Shen Mo is really a little dizzy now, Suzhou is Shangfu, one level higher than Shaoxing, so the prefect is the fourth grade, and the same knowledge is also the fifth grade...... It is the same as the prefect of the middle and lower prefectures, that is to say, less than a month after he was promoted to the right Zhongyun, he was promoted to two levels in a row...... 'In half a year, he was promoted to three levels in a row, will it be too high-profile? Shen Shuyan, whose brain structure is clearly different from others, thought so.

But the more high-profile one is still to come, only to hear Emperor Jiajing smile and say: "Cao Bangfu, the governor of Susong, has been transferred; Wang Chonggu, the prefect of Suzhou, has also been transferred to Songjiang, and I will not send people to these two positions anymore, do you know what this means? ”

Silent head buzzed, and he swallowed and foamed, "This means...... This means ......" said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty forgives me, Weichen's brain is a little messy, and he can't figure out anything." ”

Emperor Jiajing laughed and said: "Human nature, what is the crime? Saying that, he decomposed for him: "Hu Zongxian, the new governor of the southeast, has put forward three requirements for me. One is to allow him to act cheaply, without rules and regulations; The second is to temporarily not set up a governor of Su Song, so as to unify the command and prevent mutual constraints; The third is to ask for money...... Next year, there will be a shortage of 1 million taels in military spending, and I will fill this hole for him. Do you know how I replied to him? ”

Shen Mo shook his head blankly...... In fact, he has gotten rid of the state of surprise, and he is just happy to continue to pretend to be stupid.

"I said, I promised everything else, but I just wanted no money." Jiajing smiled: "Do you know how he replied?" This time, without waiting for a silent answer, the emperor said, "He said, don't give money, it's okay, give it to a person." As he spoke, he pointed and said silently: "Hu Zongxian asked me to name you, and I wanted you to make him the governor of Zhejiang." ”

Shen Mo smiled dryly: "This span is too big." He knew that with Hu Zongxian's wisdom, he would not really do such a non-musical thing, and the reason why he made such a request was just to ask for a price to pay back on the spot.

Jiajing nodded and said, "You are too young, and you have only been a jinshi for less than a year, so the governor doesn't even think about it." And there are many evasions about returning to your hometown to serve as an official, so you can't go back to Zhejiang. As he spoke, the corners of his mouth flashed with a wry smile: "I originally wanted you to be the prefect of Suzhou, but who knew that the two elders said 'ridiculous' in unison, how can there be a twenty-year-old prefect?" ”

I only heard the emperor say in a tone of abduction of children: "I fight for you on the basis of reason, saying that you are different from ordinary Jinshi, successively served as an inspector in Zhejiang, patrolling and supervising the military road, although there was no award at that time, but it is already the sixth grade of Yitongzheng, and now you have won the champion, ordered Hanlin, promoted to the right Zhongyun, and have the experience of the cabinet secretary, it is not too much to release a prefect." ”

Speaking of this, the emperor glanced at the silence, and saw that he was already moved to tears, nodded with satisfaction, and said in his heart: 'Finally, the expression was not in vain. Then he said with a look of pity: "It's a pity, Elder Yan Ge has already agreed, but Mrs. Xu Ge is stubborn, no matter what, she won't agree to let you be the prefect." In the end, I had no choice but to wronged you first. ”

Silent thanked him with a handful of snot and tears, and said in his heart: 'Wronged me to be a comrade? Why is it so awkward? ’

I only heard Jiajing say again: "But don't worry, I won't send the prefect of Suzhou anymore, and in the entire Suzhou City, your deputy position is the biggest." ”

"Minister, the minister is terrified, the minister can't afford it......" Except for this, Shen Mo couldn't say anything else.

"Hehe......" Jiajing finally put away the pretentious 'Corporal Lixian', sat back on his futon, and said slowly: "If you can think of responsibility first, it proves that I am not wrong." As he spoke, he said to Shen Mo, "Do you know why I want to promote you?" ”

Silently wiped away his tears and said: "Because, the minister's recital, that recital is right." ”

"That's right," Jiajing nodded and said, "I'm still very sober, and I'm not getting carried away." ”

Shen Mo smiled shyly: "The minister really can't think of anything else to gain from himself." ”

"Hehe......" Emperor Jiajing was amused by him, leaned on the big pillow and said: "Although you are humble, I really use you to solve the financial and tax problems. Said and sighed: "I put you in the cabinet for half a year, just to let you understand what kind of situation Daming's finances have reached...... After speaking, he looked at Shen Mo and said: "Tell me, what is the reason for all this?" There is no solution. ”

Shen Mo was just about to speak, but the emperor waved his hand again and said: "There is no third person here, and today's words will not be recorded in the living note, you don't have to worry about someone making trouble for you." Therefore, I allow you to have no taboos once, even if you accuse me of spending excessively and accusing my ancestors of law, I will not blame you. As he spoke, he looked at him and said, "To be honest, I know that you have this ability. ”

Shen Mo sighed and said: "Actually, Your Majesty is not a big palace room, and the second is not a tour, how much can it cost?" But the Ming Dynasty is still so stretched in the face of His Majesty in the world, which shows that there is a problem at the root. ”

"Go on." Emperor Jiajing said in a deep voice.

Shen Mo nodded and said: "If a country has no money, the problem can only lie in two aspects, the income is shrinking, the expenditure is inflated, and the income cannot make ends meet, so the current situation will naturally occur." He knew very well that although the emperor let him speak freely, if he really wanted to say anything to attack the ancestral system and accuse the emperor, he would definitely be able to hide from the first day of junior high school, and he would not be able to avoid the fifteenth.

But the cliché doesn't work...... "Everyone knows this, I ask you why?" Jiajing said.

This should be the last interview before taking up the post, Shen Moxin said, and replied softly: "I don't discuss the issue of expenditure, because the country has been short of money in recent years, and it has shrunk expenditure again and again, and it can't be reduced again." He knew that Emperor Jiajing was afraid of trouble, so he simply brought over those things that were very involved, and said: "From the perspective of income, my Ming Dynasty's taxes are mainly concentrated in agricultural taxes, and the land of the princes and gentry is not taxed, but the land of these people accounts for more than eighty percent of the country." In other words, we have to use less than 20% of the arable land to feed hundreds of millions of people and provide state tax revenue, which is why the income is too small...... If this problem is solved, I will no longer have to worry about running out of money. ”

"Go on." Emperor Jiajing nodded slightly. Of course he knew about this problem, but he did not have the determination to become an enemy of the world, so he could only ignore it.

Shen Mo sighed lightly in his heart and continued: "The collection of other taxes is basically a formality...... For example, in Shanxi, Lianghuai, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, these provinces have tens of thousands of households with a wealth of 100,000 taels, and there are hundreds of more than 1 million taels. Since ancient times, they have been rich without business, and if these people rely on land alone, they will never be able to accumulate so much wealth, and they must all be in business. He spread his hands and said, "But the commercial tax of less than 500,000 taels is levied every year...... If this problem is solved, I will not worry about running out of money. ”

"You have a point." Jiajing shook his head and said, "But it's too unrealistic...... In fact, ten years ago, I wanted to raise the commercial tax, but those ministers opposed it with one voice, saying that "Shinong Industry and Commerce" and that if the merchants were at the end, if they were overtaxed, it would improve their status. He scolded and said, "Ghosts don't believe this kind of bullshit reason, but they can say it in one voice, do they know why?" ”

"In the official family, there are more or less shops and industries that supply their expenses in Beijing, and of course I don't want Your Majesty to collect more taxes." Silent laughter.

"Yes," Jiajing nodded and said, "I want to implement it, but I have violated the yang and the yin, and there are many resistances, and in the end I can only ...... it."

Of course, Shen Mo knew that Emperor Jiajing would definitely deny his first two statements, and the reason why he deliberately said this was for the last and only choice to gain the greatest initiative.

"Then there is only maritime trade, the Japanese people are stupid and have a lot of money, and the Western Francophiles and Spaniards have a lot of money, and they are full of admiration for our country's products, and they are willing to buy them at a high price," Shen Motu said poorly: "So the only way to sell our country's products is to exchange them for real money." ”

"That's right," Emperor Jiajing said, standing up, "That's why I use you." He cleared his throat and said, "Listen silently!" ”

"The minister is here." Shen Mo hurriedly saluted.

"I order you to concurrently serve as the director of Jiangnan City, and be fully responsible for trade with the Yiren." Saying that, he glanced at him meaningfully and said: "The Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau is in charge of Huang Jin next to me, and the Jiangnan Tea and Horse Bureau is in charge of the new Hangzhou Governor Tang Ruji, you have to cooperate with the two of them." ”

"Obey." Silence can only lead to orders.

"This year is almost over, forget it," Jiajing finally said with a dagger: "Next year, in the thirty-sixth year of Jiajing, I will ask for two million taels, and then increase by two million every year, until you said that the annual income is ten million taels." If you can't do it, everything will be in vain, go back to the cabinet and become your Si Naolang. As he spoke, he looked at him deeply and said, "If you can do it, I will protect the future of your two dynasties!" ”

(To be continued)