Mandarin Palace.

The monarch and the ministers were silent, and there was a dead silence.

Today is the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, and before the ten-day Lantern Festival holiday has passed, the ministers of the cabinet and the department have been urgently summoned by the emperor to discuss the matter.

Those anti-thieves in Jiangxi, although the bandits in Leadshan and Nanfeng have been exterminated, and although the thieves in southern Gannan have been eliminated, the Zhao thieves in Luling are getting bigger and bigger. The imperial court also counted the territory of the sweeping king to Zhao Han's head, thinking that Zhao Han had expanded to three prefectures and seventeen counties.

By the way, just some time ago, the sweeping king tried to expand westward, failed to attack Huguang Chaling County, and plundered the villages and towns of Chaling County.

Cabinet minister Qian Shisheng arched his hand and said: "Li Maofang has been tyrannical in Jiangxi, and he has repeatedly feared the enemy, so he should be recalled to Beijing to ask for his guilt." Xue Guoguan's recommendation is not a person, and he should also be held accountable. ”

Li Maofang's appointment as the governor of Jiangxi was recommended by Xue Guoguan.

Unfortunately, Xue Guoguan went home to mourn, and now he is still in the period of Ding Worry.

The longer he became the emperor, the more impatient Chongzhen's temper became, and the whole country was full of messes in front of him.

"Remove Li Maofang, who is up to the job?" Chongzhen tried to suppress the anger in his heart and asked in a seemingly calm tone.

Everyone was silent.

Chongzhen pointed casually: "You say!" ”

Cabinet minister Kong Zhenyun could only stand up: "Zhu Xieyuan, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, can be the governor of Jiangxi." Although the four provinces worked together to suppress the bandits, the people in Liangguang were in turmoil, and there was no unified control, so Shen Youlong should be removed from the post of governor of Liangguang and Guangxi, and only his post of governor of Guangdong should be retained. Zhu Xieyuan was changed to the governor of Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Zhejiang, and concurrently served as the governor of Jiangxi, gathering the strength of the five provinces to encircle and suppress the Zhao thieves in Luling. ”

Cabinet minister Zhang Zhifa added: "Although the soldiers of Huguang go north to encircle and suppress the thieves, they should set up a governor or general army on the South Huguang Road, which should also be controlled by the governor, so that they can form a siege of the Zhao thieves." ”

"Zhejiang can't move troops!" Hou Sui hurriedly stood up against it.

The monarch was silent.

Now the imperial court's financial endowment is seriously insufficient, and it is all supported by Nanzhili and Zhejiang, and Zhejiang really cannot use troops, otherwise the national finances will completely collapse.

As for Fujian and Guangdong, they can fight as much as they want, and the taxes contributed by these two provinces are negligible.

After thinking carefully, Chongzhen said: "Order Jiangxi Governor Li Maofang to return to Beijing, transfer Zhu Xieyuan as the governor of Jiangxi, and the military affairs of Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Huguang South Road!" Bestow the sword! ”

Zhu Xieyuan once held the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War (fictitious position) and served as the governor of Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Guizhou provinces, and spent several years quelling the rebellion of Lu'an. Because of the merit of the left pillar country, one of his sons is hereditary brocade guard.

It was not until the northwest became bigger that the military affairs of Sichuan and Huguang provinces were changed to the governors of the five provinces in the north.

This old man is not easy to fool, the rebellion of Lu'an has spread to several provinces, and he has defeated more than 100,000 Tusi rebels before and after.

Of course, there are still several remnants of the rebel army that have not been destroyed, and I don't know if Guizhou will make trouble again after Zhu Xieyuan leaves.

After the major event was finalized, Chongzhen said angrily: "Yang Jiamo, the chief soldier of Jiangxi, led his troops to loot villages and towns in the name of suppressing thieves, but was captured alive by a group of peasants, which led to the fall of Fengcheng County. What to do with this person? ”

It was very difficult to solve the problem, but it was very simple to solve the problem, and the result was quickly discussed, and the Yang family was exiled to the army.

And Zhang Yinghe, who committed suicide and martyrdom, was posthumously awarded as the political envoy of Jiangxi Zuobu because of his meritorious service in exterminating the lead mountain and Nanfeng bandits, and died a heroic martyrdom.

Shoufu Wen Tiren did not speak during the whole process.

The more this is the case, the more Wen Tiren has won the trust of the emperor, and he is already a scholar of the Jianji Palace, a young master and a prince and a prince, and a secretary of the Ministry of Officials.

Chongzhen asked again: "Yang Jiamo was captured by the anti-thieves, who will be the chief soldier of Jiangxi?" ”

Lin Yan was already sick and dying, and he didn't have so many scruples, so he said: "Jiangxi's waterways are vertical and horizontal, and thieves should be used as a water army." Zhu Guoxun, deputy commander-in-chief of Fujian, is good at water warfare and can be the commander-in-chief of Jiangxi. ”

Seeing that no one objected, and Chongzhen had no better choice, he nodded and said, "Yes." ”

Three years ago, when Zheng Zhilong was promoted to guerrilla, Zhu Guoxun was also promoted to general manager.

These Fujian officers rose rapidly by brushing pirates, and Zhu Guoxun was promoted from general to deputy chief soldier in three years, and now he is actually going to be promoted to Jiangxi chief soldier again.

Originally, everything was agreed, but Qian Shisheng suddenly said: "The Luling Zhao thief is so difficult to suppress, can you try to appease him and ask him to lead his troops north to help suppress the thief?" ”

Everyone was shocked, but they didn't expect that there was someone in the cabinet who dared to talk nonsense.

Chongzhen suddenly picked up a copy of "Datong Collection" and threw it at Qian Shisheng: "Look at it yourself!" ”

Qian Shisheng picked it up curiously, the number of words in this book is not much, and a cursory reading can quickly read it. The more he looked at it, the more frightened he became, and he didn't dare to say anything more, in terms of nature alone, the Luling Zhao thief was more serious than the Northwest Liukou!

Because, Luling Zhao Thief has already put forward the theory of rebellion, and even put forward a governance program.

What made Chongzhen most angry was that the Luling Zhao thief actually strictly implemented the "Da Ming Law", and said that as long as the emperor could do the same, he would go to Beijing to receive his guilt and die.

Chongzhen felt a deep insult...... With helplessness!

At this moment, the cabinet ministers who oppose Wen Tiren are actually not thinking about suppressing thieves. Instead, he was thinking about how to use Li Maofang's case to take the opportunity to cut off Wen Tiren's henchmen.

In their opinion, the Ming Dynasty made such a field because of the treacherous government.

Only by cutting off the treacherous and gentle and benevolent can we truly implement good governance and the country get better step by step.

The two sides have reached the point of endless fighting, Wen Tiren can bring down one or two political enemies every year, and if this continues, all the cabinets and departments will become Wen Tiren's world!

The ministers retreated, Chongzhen sat alone in the Wenhua Palace, and opened the "Datong Collection" again.

Chen Yuding's secret recital also comes with a Ji'an travel note, this patrol according to the imperial history, actually went to the anti-thief's territory for a private visit.

After reading "Datong Collection", Chongzhen read the copy of the secret music again, which recorded many strange things.

Zhao Han has the most records, and he has been identified as Jishui Xiucai, because the imperial court canceled the preferential exemption of Xiucai, and the life could not go on. He also said that Zhao Han was frugal and honest, and after his wife became pregnant, he hired an old mother, and there were only seven servants. Zhao Han divided the land property among the small people, and only kept a symbolic 100 mu for himself, and paid taxes every year as an example.

Zhao Han himself does not wear silk clothes, only ordinary cotton clothes.

Zhao Han also treats officials well, and the mayor's Yulu is already equivalent to Yulu in Damingzhi County.

At the same time, he was proficient in the rule of officials, and if he embezzled more than 20 taels, he had to be assigned to be a miner, and the officials under Zhao Han's rule did not dare to be corrupt and bend the law.

It's just that Zhao Han treated the gentry harshly and forcibly took away the gentry's property, that is, he had to start from the scribe from the thief and the person.

Zhao Han also built water conservancy and organized farmers to reclaim wasteland, and the whole Jiangxi was on the territory of Zhao thieves, and grain harvests were bumper year after year. The peasants in the area under its jurisdiction only knew that there were Zhao thieves, but they did not know that there was the Ming Emperor.

In addition, Zhao Han also gave preferential treatment to businessmen and abolished harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes. Whether it is a shop, a factory, or a businessman, they have all set their hearts on the thief, and Chen Yuding asked for the abolition of the private banknote customs in Nanchang.

These contents made Chongzhen's vest sweat when he read them, completely extinguishing the mind of recruiting Zhao thieves.

At the same time, Chongzhen regretted a little, he shouldn't have canceled the show talent concession, and actually forced out such an extraordinary thief.

Chongzhen was even thinking that if Zhao Thief was admitted to the Jinshi as soon as possible, maybe Daming would have one more capable minister.

Chongzhen left the Wenhua Hall in a sitting court, and all he thought about was recommending talents. In the past two years, due to the corruption of the officials, the ministers have been discussing the restoration of the recommendation system in the early years of Hongwu.

It seems that as long as the talented people are recommended as officials, the situation of corrupt government can be reversed.

Historically, it has indeed recovered, and it has done well.

A large number of virtuous and famous people, and a large number of six- and seventh-grade officials with outstanding political achievements, have been promoted and appointed because of their recommendations.

Wen Tiren was originally a supporter of the recommendation system, and he wanted to use it to promote his own henchmen. Halfway through the implementation, Wen Tiren asked for the abolition of the recommendation system, because many Donglin Party ......

At this time, Chongzhen thought about it repeatedly and felt that it was time to restore the recommendation system.

Talents like Zhao Yan in Luling can be recommended to be officials, which can not only make the governance of officials better, but also avoid the rebellion of talented people.

Chongzhen really wants to revitalize the country, or more like a drowning person, hoping to grasp all the life-saving straws.

The next day, Chongzhen convened the ministers again, and after half a month of discussion, two policies were finally promulgated in February of the ninth year of Chongzhen.

First, recommend talents. The target group is officials with outstanding political achievements below the fifth grade, as well as people who have repeatedly failed to rank and are well-known.

Second, recommend the talents of the sect and select the talented children of the clan as officials.

The recommendation system has set a lot of thresholds, so as not to make random recommendations at the local level. Anyway, whoever recommends is responsible, and the person being recommended has to take the blame if something goes wrong.

In particular, to recommend Zongcai, a clan to be an official, must be guaranteed by five clans, and the prince sends Changshi to investigate, and the prince reviews and conducts an interview. If something goes wrong, the prince will be unlucky, and the five clan guarantors will also be unlucky.

Wujin Shi Chen Qixin took the opportunity to sparse and experienced the disadvantages of the imperial examination.

Officials of the Ministry of Rites also asked for the reform of the township examination and the general examination, the addition of military books, arithmetic and other subjects, and the addition of mounted archery content after the release of the list.

Chongzhen actually agreed, he was really working hard.

But it is useless, because the military book and arithmetic are only examined in the second and third examinations of the imperial examination, and they are classified as science subjects such as official documents, criminal judgments, and policy theories. However, the focus of the imperial examination is on liberal arts, which is dominated by eight-strand literature, and science can be regarded as a bonus at most.

As for mounted archery, it is set to be after the exam is released, no matter how good the mounted archery martial arts are, it can only be reused as appropriate when awarding officials.

In any case, it's a kind of progress.

At least, Jinshi who are proficient in the art of war and martial arts can be promoted faster, unlike before when they only read Confucius and Mencius's articles.

Then Chongzhen issued a holy decree to announce it to the world.

The general content is to admit that the anti-thieves in various places are forced to rebel by corrupt officials and corrupt officials. Forgiveness is granted if you sincerely repent. After surrendering, when they return to their hometowns to farm, the local government must not discriminate against them, and they should be called "refugees", and they should no longer be called "recruiting security and anti-thieves". The Governor and the Prime Minister may be appointed to the Governor-General and the Prime Minister among those who are outstanding in the "rescue of refugees".

Chongzhen finally compromised.

Big thieves like Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Zhao Han, as long as they sincerely repent, can also be officials in the imperial court.

But what thief would believe it?

(The previous chapter was not clearly written, but it has been corrected, and the evaluation of military merit is recorded and reported by the military propaganda officer, but it must be agreed with the military commander and the military judge.) ）