Hu Shouren, like Qi Jiguang, was relieved after seeing Zhu Yijun's recent edict on the old rites that should bear all the responsibility for the great mistakes of the monarchs and ministers in the past, and he was really grateful to the Son of Heaven.

In particular, after he met the old handsome Qi Jiguang, and was mentioned by the old handsome Qi Jiguang, he had more respect for today.

He had to admit that today's son is really eloquent!

When he and Qi Jiguang, the officials of the New Party, were also guilty of the wrong things they had done, His Majesty the Emperor actually came directly to the old rites, and in the old era, no one could be left alone, not even the emperor.

This made him suddenly realize that he could not blame himself, he could only blame the old rites for making himself a ghost before, and he should even be proud of the kindness and loyalty that he still had before.

For this.

Hu Shouren also decided to take the initiative to wear plainclothes to meet the disabled veterans of the old department who were still raised in Beizhirong.

Hu Shouren did not dare to visit these people in person before.

Because he was embarrassed to see these disabled soldiers, after all, many of these disabled veterans had been deducted from their military salaries and even served as envoys to work as coolies for civil officials such as the Governor of Jiliao and the Governor of Fujian, such as building Buddhist temples and academies that flaunted the merits of civil officials.

But now Hu Shouren no longer has such a psychological burden.

Because he can directly say to these veterans, it's not that he wants to do this, it's the old rites that force him to do this.

The southern soldiers who were disabled in battle were basically in the area of the southern city of the Beijing Division.

The area around the southern city of Jingshi is mostly a place where civilians are concentrated, and there are not many official offices.

However, due to the great rule of the world, the good government of the people is frequently issued, and recently it is permanently exempted from forced labor, so although there are not many powerful eunuchs in this area, due to the increase in the wealth of the people, especially the subsidies for the veterans raised here, there are now many shops here, and there are many businessmen who come here to buy and sell, and the economy is also very active.

Also, the streets here are not clean and tidy.

Basically, every one or two hundred paces, there is a sanitation worker sweeping the streets, there are fixed garbage cans and garbage stations, and there are special horse lanes and lanes, as well as sidewalks, and there are soldiers who are dedicated to maintaining order to guide the crowd and horse-drawn carriages.

All this is naturally related to the financial resources of Shuntianfu.

Although the imperial court was permanently exempted from forced labor, resulting in no longer the income of the local treasury, the general secretary of the central imperial court cabinet would issue an investment fund far more than the local government income at a fixed time every year, and the profits generated by this investment would be distributed by the central court, the local government and the contractor according to the corresponding regulations.

Therefore, the current Shuntian Mansion basically has no income from Ding Yin, which does not affect the finances of his government.

On the contrary, because the people were more willing to consume because of the permanent exemption from forced labor, it promoted the economic development of Shuntianfu, and made the investment of Shuntianfu much more profitable, and the increased income was already worth the loss caused by the income of Ding Yin without forced labor.

With its deep financial resources, Suncheonfu will naturally be able to improve its public service capabilities, hire a large number of elderly idle laborers as sanitation workers, and improve the transportation environment, so that it can win the increasingly involuted bureaucratic examination.

You must know that since the Ming Dynasty has linked the career and personal income of officials with the results of the examination, it has made the bureaucrats more and more involuted.

Especially the magistrates.

In order to show that they are more capable than others, they have begun to compete with the level of hygiene and traffic in the cities and villages under their rule, not just the economic situation and the law and order.

Of course.

It is precisely because the promotion and income of officials are becoming more and more competitive in terms of political performance, and they cannot be promoted by a rocket by brushing the reputation of Shilin as before, so it has become the reason why some scholars are disgusted with the new rites and become the old party, even if the new party is in power due to the actual environment, and the officials who have to work hard to get into the top will also be dissatisfied with the new rites because they want to lie down and be lazy.

But Daming has never lacked people who are officials, you don't do it, some people do it.

In addition, the local fiscal revenue is basically invested by the central court, and the local government has to rely more on the central court in terms of economic interests, resulting in a stronger centralization of power.

Therefore, as long as the emperor still adheres to the examination system set by Hai Rui in the era of Zhang Juzheng, these officials can only desperately brush up their political achievements and engage in the economy, and there is no other way, and for this reason they have to sit back and watch the old ritual order be destroyed, and even have to encourage the common people to destroy the old ritual order, such as allowing civilians to wear gold and silver, allowing women to go out to consume, allowing civilians to buy mansions with steps, and completely putting aside the dignity and humility and orderliness required by the old rites.

As for the future emperor, if he does not insist on passing the examination, so that the hundred officials will no longer get the opportunity for promotion by brushing up their political achievements, and making the Manchu Dynasty mostly rely on the clear stream of fame to obtain high positions, it will naturally make the rule of the Ming Dynasty become a different situation.

I won't mention it here.

Anyway, Zhu Yijun is still in office at present, and he is still insisting on passing the exam.

Then the bureaucrats must continue to do practical things, and they must not just talk about their hearts or use all kinds of drastic means to invite fame.

Hu Shouren likes Jingshi City under this governance model.

Because the Jingshi City under this mode will change rapidly at a visible speed, and it is a positive change, that is, it will become more and more prosperous.

As Qi Jiguang's old department, Hu Shouren naturally actively supported the industry of Qi Changguo, the son of the Duke of Jiguo, and bought a four-wheeled carriage early.

Sitting in Qi's four-wheeled carriage, he looked at the various new changes in the southern city of Jingshi with great admiration.

Soon, Hu Shouren found that none of today's merchants wore cloth clothes, they all wore silk robes, and some women began to go out because of the improvement of their economic status brought about by the large number of embroidery workshops, and many civilian women began to wear gold hairpins and silver hairpins, rather than most civilian women who could only wear wooden hairpins in the early years.

In addition, Hu Shoumin also had to admit that there were really many civilians who came out to consume, and there were no people who came out of the shops empty-handed.

Long queues began to form in front of many shops, filling the specially designated pedestrian streets of Suncheon.

Especially outside some of the dental shops in charge of the introduction work, there were many people looking from afar, like a black python lying across the street, and it directly blocked Hu Shouren's plan to go to some big pharmacies to buy some tonic medicinal materials.

Obviously, under the influence of the permanent exemption from forced labor, more low-level poor people have preferred to come out to find a job than to join a large household as a slave, after all, as long as there is no Ding Yin, even if the salary is low, they can live, and as long as they can live, not everyone is willing to sell their dignity to do small things for others.

Han people are not born cheap, they are born to want to be slaves.

"Ministry, do you want to send soldiers to Qingdao Qingdao?"

Hu Shouren's standard battalion general Lin Yan asked at this time.

Hu Shouren waved his hand and said: "Don't disturb the people, leave a few people to drive the carriage back, you and I get off the car and walk together, and bypass the side path." ”

"Yes!"

Hu Shouren got out of the carriage as he spoke, turned around and walked back.

It is the middle of winter in the eighteenth year of Wanli, and it is about to reach Chinese New Year's Eve, and there is snow everywhere.

And Hu Shouren and Lin Yan walked through the snow and made a detour to a big pharmacy.

The façade of this large pharmacy is long, covering half of the street, and red lanterns are hung at intervals, and all kinds of bright stained glass cabinets are piled up with precious medicinal materials such as deer antler velvet and ginseng, and there are also many people coming in and out here.

Because even if the north wind is blowing badly now, if you stay for a while, your eyebrows will be frosty and your face will be chapped, but because everyone in the Ming Dynasty is rich nowadays, and it is at the end of the year, there are frequent exchanges of people, which makes this big pharmacy like other shops also prosperous business.

After Hu Shouren entered, he directly bought a large amount of ginseng, deer antler velvet and other nourishing things at one time.

He didn't feel distressed at all when he spent money on the disabled soldiers of his old department.

What's more, this is the first time that he has the courage to see the disabled soldiers who have followed him.

He didn't intend to hide his generosity.

Because of the new ceremony, his legal income was enough for him to buy a lot of ginseng and deer antlers, so he was not afraid of being seen by the Yanguan and Jinyi guards in the capital.

was coming out with Cai Guozhen and passing by here to give the matter to Bai Selection, at this time, I happened to see Hu Shouren buy so many valuable supplements and put them in the car, and I couldn't help but say to Cai Guozhen, who saw this scene with me:

"If it was before, the official would have been able to use this to impeach him Hu Shouren, and if he bought so many precious medicinal materials, he would definitely have the feeling of deducting military salaries!"

"And if there are a few more impeachments, the Son of Heaven will be suspicious if he doesn't doubt it, and the people of the world will believe it if they don't believe it, but now it's different, he Hu Shouren can completely say that only he supports the country's external development and the benefits of the subscription coupons can allow him to buy so many precious medicinal materials, then the Son of Heaven will not doubt it! The people of the world will believe in him! ”

"The new rite is purely to buy people's hearts with profit, not with righteousness!"

Bai Xuan continued.

Cai Guozhen said with a smile: "Why bother with this kind of trivial matter, since you have met, you might as well make friends, now the popular military generals are transferred to civilian positions, this Hu Shouren has become the governor of Beizhi, or the old department of Qi Penglai, if you can get in touch with him, in the future, Li Tieling (Li Chengliang) will replace Qi Penglai as the prime minister, just to separate them, the generals of the southern army and the generals of the northern army, and look for opportunities for the restoration of the old ceremony." ”

"You're right, Qi Penglai is Qi Penglai, and he Hu Guanhai is Hu Guanhai."

Bai Xuan suddenly realized, and asked Cai Guozhen: "Then let's go say hello?" ”

Cai Guozhen bowed his head, came over first, and bowed his hand to Hu Shouren:

"Hu Butang must have gone to see the veterans who were raised here?"

"It turned out to be Saozuka Jae, disrespectful!"

Hu Shouren saw that it was Cai Guozhen, the right attendant of the Ministry of Officials who had a relationship with each other in the past, so he immediately bowed.

At this time, Bai Xuan also came over and saluted Hu Shouren:

"In the lower rite section left to give the matter to the white choice, today I am fortunate to meet the ministry!"

Hu Shouren also bowed his head and saluted: "It turned out to be a white admonition." ”

Then, Hu Shouren replied to Cai Guozhen: "As Shaozuka Zai expected, I just wanted to see the disabled soldiers of the old days, so I came here to buy some things for them. ”

Cai Guozhen said with a smile: "They are injured and disabled for the country, I should also go and see, just go all the way with the ministry, I don't know if the ministry minds?" ”

"How dare you!"

Hu Shouren replied with a smile.

Cai Guozhen instructed the servants to buy some precious medicinal materials, and at the same time said to Hu Shouren: "I don't know if the ministry can go to see the cardinal minister?" ”

Hu Shouren said: "See." ”

"How is the cardinal's health now, I heard that he is sick, but I haven't had time to see him yet."

Cai Guozhen said.

Hu Shouren said: "It's much better, but it's still a little lacking in qi, and I have to recuperate and recuperate." ”

"That's it!"

Cai Guozhen said with a smile, and then said: "It's just that if the prime minister has been bad, and even has to be dismissed and return to his hometown, I am afraid that I will fulfill the will of the northerners." ”

After hearing this, Hu Shouren glanced at Cai Guozhen, and then echoed: "What Shaozuka Zai said is that everyone knows that the northerners love to raise Kou, and if the old cardinal leaves his post, maybe most of the benefits of the people in the world will go to the northerners." ”

"That's what we southerners are worried about."

Cai Guozhen was overjoyed when she heard Hu Shouren say this, so she whispered something to Hu Shouren that seemed to be heart-wrenching.

Hu Shouren bowed: "Shaozuka Zai came to greet me when he saw me, and he really came for a purpose." ”

"Don't dare to hide it from the Ministry, we have long intended to let the Ministries enter the Privy Council in the future, so as to stand up for our southerners and divide the northerners."

Cai Guozhen then said this sentence again, and took this opportunity to look at Hu Shouren, waiting for Hu Shouren's reaction.

Hu Shouren hurriedly waved his hand: "I don't have that ability!" ”

"How could the public not have it!"

"Among the southern soldiers, except for the Duke of Ji Guo, he has the highest prestige!"

Cai Guozhen said.

Hu Shouren said: "Li Tieling is not an ordinary person, where can I deal with it." ”

"Although he Li Tieling is powerful, how can he be as powerful as my southerners, whether it is the cabinet or the Privy Council, or the ruling minister, he is mainly from the south!"

Cai Guozhen said.

After hearing this, Hu Shouren couldn't help asking, "What do you mean?" ”

"There is a new beauty in Xunfang Pavilion tonight, she plays the piano very well, you might as well go and see it, and then you will see many people worth befriending."

Cai Guozhen said and took a step first.

Hu Shouren pondered for a moment, and then followed.

……

"Your Majesty, Jinyiwei has found out, and the bureaucrats who have recently gone to see the prime minister are mainly Cai Shilang and others in the Ministry of Officials."

"Specifically, it was Cai Shilang and others who let the cardinal minister know about the demon book, which made the cardinal minister fall ill, and in addition, Cai Shilang and others are bureaucrats who often go to Yixunfang Pavilion to gather, so the minister wants to ask, do you want to arrest all the bureaucrats who went to Xunfang Pavilion and Cai Shilang and other gatherings."

West Garden.

Zhu Yijun was lying on the soft collapse in the warm pavilion, eating oranges, and uncomfortably put the orange peel in private by the charcoal fire, looking at the newly arrived secret box by the light of the charcoal fire, and at the same time listening to Zhang Jingxiu's report on some bureaucratic situations found by Jinyiwei.

After Zhang Jingxiu said, Zhu Yijun said: "Then arrest them all, in the name of forming a party and plotting chaos!" ”

Zhang Jingxiu said yes.

Zhu Yijun then looked at the secret music that had just been sent.

While Zhu Yijun was watching the secret performance, Zhang Jingxiu immediately issued an order to arrest him immediately after leaving the palace.

Soon, Cai Guozhen was pulled out of bed by Jinyiwei and forcibly sent into a prison car.

Cai Guozhen also knew the reason, so he hurriedly said: "When I saw the cardinal minister, I wanted to ask the cardinal minister to make an idea, and I didn't force the cardinal minister to do anything, I have a clear conscience, why does Your Majesty want to arrest me?!" I want to see Your Majesty, I want to see Your Majesty to plead! ”

(End of chapter)