Zhongshu Province.

An officer hurried in.

"Lord Yang, something is wrong, something is wrong!" The officer said in alarm.

At this time, Yang Xian, Li Jinzheng and Zhu Tong were discussing something, Yang Xian turned his head and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"Back to my lord, there are two household members outside the yamen who are scuffling, and people can't stop them!" The official said.

Yang Xian frowned and asked again: "The officials of the six departments of the hall are so disrespectful of etiquette and nonsense!" Grab them all and reward him with fifty boards! ”

Zhu Tong and Li Jin stared at the two for a long time.

"Wait, Lord Yang, officials won't fight for no reason, let's go and see, what if something really happens?" Zhu Tong said.

The officials of the six ministries have never scuffled in public, which is related to the face of the imperial court, but it is an unusual thing.

If there is an important problem, a second delay can lead to disaster.

Yang Xian said impatiently: "Lord Zhu, the household department is a mess, and he often comes to Zhongshu Province to complain, for trivial things. ”

"Last time, there was a servant named Wang Ba who said that the measuring tools for collecting grain taxes were too cumbersome and should be replaced, which was simply vexatious."

"There is also a squire named Zhou Yunsong, who is simply unreasonable, and even asked for the annual salary of all officials in the ministry, think about it, why should the official department increase the annual salary?"

"Besides, this is a matter that Your Majesty has decided, and if you have an idea, you can directly give it to Your Majesty! He said again, he didn't dare, what kind of person is this! ”

"Just this Zhou Shilang, who has been scolded by me four times, has not repented, but his subordinates are too lazy to pay attention to them, otherwise they would have been arrested and put in the prison of the Criminal Department."

"Give them a good dredging and dredging of their muscles and bones, it's too unusual!"

Zhu Tong paused and said: "This often comes to Zhongshu Province to interfere with government affairs, so I have to take care of it, otherwise it will be lawless!" ”

"My lord, do you know that this household department has always been in charge of Li Shanchang, and the big and small officials are arranged by him, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere at all."

"And they are, Your Majesty's old ministers, they are even more domineering, if there is no will of Your Majesty, moving the household department without permission is equivalent to lifting a stone to shoot yourself in the foot!"

Yang Xiandao.

Zhu Tong hesitated for a while, but finally said: "Go out and take a look, everything is on the door, how can you not see it?" ”

After saying that, he walked out of the mansion with his hands on his shoulders.

Outside the provincial government of Zhongshu.

"That's three cents, you read it wrong!"

"Fart, that's four cents."

"How do you curse, vulgar person."

"Lao Tzu is vulgar, you donkey raised in autumn, fooling the court, embezzling taxes."

"Hey! You can make it clear, the official is all collected according to the regulations! You're corrupt, foul language, don't read four books, and still be an official! ”

"The donkey was raised in autumn, you don't know the grains and talk nonsense, you are mistaken."

Zhu Tong walked out and didn't say anything, Yang Xian, who was following behind him, couldn't help it anymore, and shouted loudly: "Shut up, what kind of system is Cheng, two reckless men, this is Lord Zhu of Pingzhang Political Affairs." ”

"If there is any nonsense, hurry up, and get out of here after speaking!"

When the two saw Zhu Tong, they didn't kneel or salute, they stood and looked Zhu Tong up and down.

At this time, Li Jin stood up and asked Zhu Tong, "My lord, can this matter be handed over to his subordinates?" ”

When Zhu Tong heard this, he was overjoyed, but he didn't expect that this Li Jin had a momentum, and he just came to do something.

I wanted to see what this champion was capable of, so I nodded and said, "Hmm." ”

As soon as Zhu Tong's voice fell, Li Jin stepped forward and shouted: "Zhongshu Provincial Government and the troublemaker, according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, cut off the right foot and cut off the tongue!" ”

But the two of them didn't care about Li Jin at all, and still looked at Zhu Tong.

"If you see that the chief does not kneel and salute, behead! Someone will be summarily executed! With that, dozens of officers and soldiers drew their swords and stepped forward to escort the two of them.

Seeing that the other party was serious, the two hurriedly begged for mercy: "My lord, the two of us do have a report, but I don't know who is responsible in Zhongshu Province." ”

Li Jin said: "Nonsense, how can there be officials who don't know about the affairs of the government!" ”

"My lord, I was wrong, I just wanted to report that last year's tax was different from the registered acreage, and I didn't mean anything else." An official begged for mercy.

Li Jin said: "This official, if you are a first offender, I will spare the two of you, and the tax matter will be handled by the official, and the two of you will stay in the government for the time being." ”

"When the official is done, the two of you will be released back, do you two have any complaints?"

The two officials hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, thank you!" ”

Zhu Tong looked at Li Jin on the side, nodded again and again, and said in his heart: "He is worthy of being a champion, he is vigorous and resolute, and his scale is very appropriate, he is a good seedling." ”

"I don't know how to solve this tax matter, it is impossible for him to be familiar with the rules and regulations of the imperial court when he has just taken office, so it is not easy to do things."

After Li Jin finished dealing with the two, he came over and reported to Zhu Tong: "My lord, there are already ways to deal with the tax. ”

"Oh? Tell me about it! Zhu Tong said.

"There are mistakes in the measurement of acres, and the acres are different from place to place, such as how many areas of paddy fields in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, while the alpine areas are scattered cultivated fields."

"In addition, there are many factors that farmers cultivate in a single crop, and the soil is not suitable for long-term cultivation of the same crop, otherwise the yield will be reduced."

"The subordinates are willing to go to the problematic places with the farmers to inspect and correct them." Li Jin said.

Yang Xian looked at Li Jin and admired: "Sure enough, he is a virtuous person, Zhuang Yuanlang is different, I didn't expect to be able to get started with things just after coming to Zhongshu Province." ”

"It's much stronger than in the next year, follow Master Zhu to work hard, and the future is immeasurable!"

Zhu Tong patted Li Jin on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Okay, let's leave this errand to you, and go back to prepare for you!" ”

"Lord Xie, my subordinates must handle this matter properly, and if there is a mistake, please punish the adult." Li Jin said.

"Good! If you have ambition, let's wait for your good news from Li Jin in Zhongshu Province! Zhu Tong said.

......

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Tong flipped through the folds.

"Tong'er, your progress has been getting bigger and bigger recently, and you can help us review these folds." Zhu Yuanzhang said with satisfaction.

In recent days, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Tong into the palace whenever he had free time and asked him to review the recital.

For several days in a row, Zhu Tong was able to review most of the folds by himself.

Suddenly, a eunuch reported to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, Yang Xian asks to see you!" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and said, "Let him come in." ”

After a while, Yang Xian followed the eunuch into the Qianqing Palace, knelt down and said, "Respectfully, please Sheng'an!" ”

"Get up and talk about it!" Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Your Majesty, the minister has received a report from Li Jin, and the tax matter has been properly resolved, and it is expected that grain production can increase this year!" Yang Xian reported to Zhu Yuanzhang.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he laughed loudly: "This Li Jin seems to be following Tong'er, right?" What a talent! Tong'er, you have cultivated a great talent for our Daming! ”

"Good!"

Zhu Tong said lightly: "Back to Your Majesty, the minister is also accidental!" Or is it due to His Majesty's Long Grace! ”

After that, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed again, and recently because of the good news brought by his son, he seemed to be several years younger.

While he was at ease, Yang Xian said again: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing..."