In the palace hall, Zhou Shuyuan was full of excitement and reported to Wei Zheng the gains of the palace in the past few days.

After that, he directly shifted the topic to these descendants of businessmen who had passed the guò assessment.

Under the gaze of Wei Zheng, who was full of smiles, Zhou Shuyuan's face was quickly covered by Yan Sù. Then, he asked Wei Zheng: "Lord Wang, now the entire government at all levels in Beizhili and Shandong is almost in a state of suspension. Now that the entrance examination has ended, will the royal government immediately appoint the officials to the official positions and let the local government run quickly......

"Yes, and the sooner the better......" Wei Zheng replied without thinking about this idea.

Subsequently, he continued to add to Zhou Shuyuan and the others: "Lord Wang Peng, you are specifically responsible for the promotion of all civil and military officials in the Northern Palace, if you are placed in the imperial court, you are the so-called official department of Shangshu. Therefore, you will take the lead in this matter, and within five days, you must come up with a specific plan. Of course, if there is any difficulty in the middle, report it directly to the Prime Minister or the King, and we will absolutely cooperate and support you unconditionally......"

"Please rest assured, I will definitely come up with a specific plan within five days...... It's just ......" Wang Peng assured loudly, and a trace of hesitation also appeared on his face.

Faced with this situation, Wei Zheng said directly: "Just what? ”

"Lord Wang, most of these people who pass the guò examination have a merchant background, are the descendants of merchants, and do not have any experience as officials. I'm worried that suddenly there will be problems with them entrusting them with important tasks......" Wang Peng asked with a worried face.

As soon as the words fell, Wang Yang, the vice premier on the side, followed up and added: "Lord Wang, I am also worried about this. We all know that. Businessmen are the most profit-seeking people. rashly entrusted them with important tasks. Let's not talk about whether they have the ability or not. I'm worried. They will use the businessman's set to the government, use the power in their hands to facilitate their own family's business, and even directly embezzle money to make money......"

"Quite possibly...... In the eyes of businessmen, as long as they can earn silver, they can do anything...... "In the council hall of Nuoda, except for Zhou Changjun and Zhou Lao, who were born as merchants, including Zhou Shuyuan. They all raised concerns about their own heavy use of businessmen, and even directly raised their own objections.

Seeing this, Wei Zheng's face directly showed a meaningful smile.

Because, as the strength of the Haw Par Army becomes stronger and stronger, it occupies more and more territory. The people under his command also slowly began to have their own faction.

Just from those words just now, Wei Zheng clearly felt that these henchmen under his command had been divided into at least three factions......

Headed by Zhou Shuyuan. The patriarchal faction that has been following itself to fight the world......

Officials headed by Wang Peng and attached from the imperial court......

As for the last faction. It is the descendants of some businessmen specially promoted by Wei Zheng in order to improve the status of businessmen, led by Zhou Lao......

Among these three factions, the veteran faction led by Zhou Shuyuan is undoubtedly the largest faction under his command because he controls most of the military strength of the Tiger and Leopard Army and many key positions in the palace.

The former court officials headed by Wang Peng, although they did not have too good positions. However, because there are too many people, and they are all grassroots and middle-level officials, they are also an indispensable and powerful force that cannot be ignored.

As for the faction headed by Zhou Lao, because of its small number and its concentration in the economy and taxation, there is no doubt that it is the weakest of the three factions.

However, this situation, outside the very moment, is obviously about to be broken.

Because most of these people who pass the guò assessment have a businessman background. Once they became officials, and they were entrusted with important tasks by the royal government. Then, they will follow Zhou Lao without hesitation and be classified into Zhou Lao's faction.

Under such circumstances, the strength of Zhou Lao's faction will undoubtedly increase greatly, and even surpass that of this faction headed by Wang Peng......

Of course, Wei Zheng did not object to this situation.

Because, Wei Zheng clearly remembered that Taizu once said that as long as there are people, there will be struggles, let alone such a big palace. If there is really unity and no struggle below, then the person who really has to worry is yourself.

Thinking of this, the thoughtful expression on Wei Zheng's face was directly covered with a smile.

After glancing at the subordinates with different expressions in front of him, he asked directly......

"You mean that as long as the merchants become officials, they will definitely be corrupt and make money for themselves...... Since this is the case, then the king will ask Zhou Lao...... As far as this king knows, Zhou Lao is also a businessman, look at how much silver Zhou Lao has made in the position of deputy prime minister, because being an official has provided a lot of convenience for his family's business......"

Facing Wei Zheng's bloody rhetorical question, Wang Peng and the others immediately showed a very embarrassed expression on their faces. Because, from Wei Zheng's rhetorical question, they clearly felt that Wei Zheng already knew the purpose of their concern just now.

Of course, at this moment, there is no time and opportunity for him to regret it.

Old Zhou, who was already full of gray hair, stood up directly under Wei Zheng's rhetorical questioning and replied loudly: "Lord Wang, I don't dare to say anything else." However, there is one thing I can guarantee, since I was reused by you, Lord Wang, I, Zhou Changjun, have never taken a tael of silver from the palace. Not only did I not take a tael of silver, but I also put almost a thousand taels of silver into it in more than a year......"

"According to the regulations of the royal palace, when going out to work, all funds are paid by the governor's palace. However, many times, in order to avoid trouble, I use my own silver......"

As for facilitating the Zhou family's business, this is even more ridiculous. Now, the Zhou family's business is basically outside the control area of the palace, and I just want to facilitate the Zhou family's business, and there is no way to ......"

"Finally, I would like to add that the Zhou family can earn at least 300,000 taels of silver from all over the Ming Dynasty every year, as the head of the Zhou family, I have silver flowers, and there is no need to embezzle the silver of the palace......"

After Zhou Lao finished speaking, Wang Peng and the others' already embarrassed faces became even more embarrassed at this moment.

However, in order to teach these people a lesson, and to further improve the strength of Zhou Lao's faction in the palace. Wei Zheng, who was smiling, didn't intend to pass this matter like this.

As soon as Zhou Lao's words were finished, Wei Zheng continued to ask.

"Old Zhou, as far as this king knows, many people are studying now in order to be promoted and make a fortune, and glorify their ancestors. Since you are not here to get promoted and make a fortune, what is your purpose in becoming an official? ”

Zhou Lao replied without thinking about it: "Glory to the ancestors, leave a good reputation......

"The prince should know that before the Haw Par Army came, in the Ming Dynasty, although we businessmen were rich, we were the people with the least status and status. A small official in the government can bully us businessmen......"

"That's why we've always wanted to be merchants. However, because of the imperial court system, this is almost impossible......"

"At this moment, the arrival of you, Lord Wang, has given us businessmen a hope, so that we have an identity and status, and we are no longer inferior......"

"Therefore, the reason why we are officials is for one purpose, to ask the businessman to be inferior, to glorify our ancestors, and to leave a good reputation......"

After Zhou Lao finished speaking, Wei Zheng's gaze directly shifted to Wang Peng.

Ignoring Wang Peng's increasingly embarrassed face, he asked directly: "Lord Wang, in addition to managing the appointment and dismissal of all officials in the palace, officials violate laws and disciplines and embezzle...... It seems to be all in your hands. Not to mention anything else, this king will ask you how many officials have been won in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces in the past six months, and what are their backgrounds...... You must know that in the past six months, the various salaries given by this king to these officials are more than three times that of the imperial court. In such a situation, they are still corrupt, which proves that the purpose of these people who want to become officials is to get promoted and make a fortune and make money. Instead of doing things for the sake of glorifying the ancestors, doing things for the common people..."

After Wei Zheng finished speaking, Wang Peng was directly on the spot, speechless for a long time.

At this time, Wei Zheng's voice sounded again: "What, Lord Wang, is there anything you can't say...... Or is it because in the past six months, in the entire Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, not a single civil and military official has been investigated for corruption? ”

"No, there are people, and there are many people ......" Under Wei Zheng's series of questions, Wang Peng's forehead was already sweating because of nervousness, and then he subconsciously answered.

"Lord Wang, in the past half a year, a total of 85 civil and military officials above the seventh grade have been imprisoned for corruption. Among them, 79 are civil officials, 29 are seventh-rank officials, 31 are sixth-rank and sixth-grade officials, 16 are fifth-grade and fifth-grade officials, 8 are fourth-rank and fourth-rank officials, and 1 is third-rank and third-rank officials......"

"Among these people, there are a total of 19 county magistrates, 11 prefecture governors, and 6 prefects with real power......"

"As for their origins, except for the two old men who followed the prince into the customs from Zunhua. The others, all of whom were appointed by the imperial court, were all Xiucai who passed the imperial examination, that is, the scholars you said. ”

After hearing the answer he wanted, a sneer came out of Wei Zheng's mouth.

"Aren't you all worried that after the merchant becomes an official, he will embezzle and make money? Now it seems that the proportion of scholars who make money is even greater. You must know that there are only more than 1,000 civil and military officials above the seventh rank in the entire Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. And for more than 1,000 people, in just half a year, more than 80 people have been investigated, and all of them are scholars...... Ladies and gentlemen, what else do you have to say......