The places that Zhu Yijun is passing through are still in Jinei, so he passed through these places when he held the tomb ceremony.

Naturally, he remembered that there weren't so many schools in these places before.

Therefore, he had to admit that the sudden appearance of so many schools in these places was indeed not a face-saving project that local officials could create by surprise, but that there were really so many children studying.

What's more, the sound of reading is difficult to fake, and if you haven't read a book for a few months or even a year, the sound of reading in the slowly moving carriage will not be so loud and pleasant.

Therefore, Zhu Yijun is willing to believe that the new policy, which aims to benefit the people, has indeed benefited the people, and the local bureaucrats are indeed not so bad, and they still implement the favor of him, the emperor.

There are more and more people reading, and for Zhu Yijun, it is indeed a matter of benefiting the country and the people.

This allows a person to be of greater value to society.

Such as.

If the disabled veteran who is teaching at the No. 1 School along the official road does not receive knowledge in the army, then after he is discharged from the army, he can only watch the sunset and sunrise in a wheelchair, and he will not be able to generate value to society and make the rest of his life more intentional.

But now, because he has read, even if he can't go into battle to kill the enemy, he can still shine for this society by teaching and educating people.

And there is no doubt that if the education level of the majority of the people can be improved, it will indeed have a more positive effect on social stability.

Although Zhu Yijun likes to flip the table, he doesn't want everyone to be as reckless as him.

The railroad track continued to extend in front, and gradually became a wooden track extending in front, and Zhu Yijun and his pro-conquest army also continued to extend forward.

The reason why the rails became wooden rails is because the rails used for the tracks are too large and the cost is too high, so at present, only the Gyeonggi area is the railroad tracks, and after leaving Gyeonggi, the wooden rail tracks are the main tracks.

Before I knew it, it was the wax moon, and the light clouds and red leaves were thin.

This is the busiest time of the year for farming.

Except for the potatoes that have been widely cultivated in the autumn and need to be harvested on these cold days, farmers have little to do except chop wood and clear the snow, or pick coals to pickle salted meat and cabbage in the cellars.

Although these civil affairs seem to be ordinary, in fact, in this era, they are already scenes that only exist at the height of their prime.

First of all, there is wood that can be cut down to cut firewood, instead of being peeled and eaten in the spring and then dying, indicating that there is no problem of eating, and secondly, coal can be used for heating and salted meat, and there is a cellar to store vegetables, which shows that there are still people living well in the nineteenth year of Wanli, and even have spare money to buy coal to buy more salt.

As the saying goes, if you don't go out of Beijing, you can't see the fireworks and folk customs in the world.

Zhu Yijun now really saw that in the villages and towns he passed along the way, there were a large number of people sitting idly playing cards and smoking, and there were also a large number of rural people who were shouting loudly in front of a stage.

In the nineteenth year of Wanli, the countryside next to the official road.

Between the ice-covered wheat stacks and the houses, as long as someone builds the shed and the stove is a little bit, after the three or five wisps of white smoke rise on the ground, there are strong men and fat women gathered here, their gloves in their sleeves, hunched their backs and shrunk their shoulders.

Then.

When Zhu Yijun saw it, there would be a showman who played and sang, and the absurd performance of the story he picked up from nowhere made more people gather here, and for a while the small merchants and vendors were also recruited, and before they knew it, the copper plate and silver dollars came out of the trouser pockets of many people and shuttled between the palms of each person.

Zhu Yijun happened to see this scene, and couldn't help but smile, and said to Qi Jiguang, Wang Xijue and others who were accompanying him:

"Only when the people don't have to worry about their livelihood will they be so leisurely, and only when the people are full of food and drink and have spare money, will there be so many people who make a living by performing arts, and there are many small merchants and hawkers, it can be seen that I and Zhuqing have benefited many people after so many years of restructuring."

According to Zhu Yijun's arrangement, after he left Beijing, he was supervised by the crown prince, and was assisted by the first assistant Shen Shixing, the cabinet minister Shen Li, the cardinal Li Chengliang, etc., and the ministers Qi Jiguang and Wang Xijue were entouraged.

"Your Majesty said yes!"

"But in the humble opinion of the ministers, this also has a lot to do with the good government that will never be spared from servitude in the world."

Wang Xijue spoke at this time, and then added:

"In previous years, at this time, the government would use civilian power to serve, not only regular service, but also all kinds of miscellaneous service!"

"In short, we can't make the small people idle, but the intention is not to make them lazy and waste money and food."

But because of this, often at this time, the small people will be busier, and even die of illness and exhaustion on the way to service! Bai Lotian has a poem: 'The farmer has less idle month, and the people are busy in May', in the humble opinion of the minister, the wax moon should also be busy, but fortunately, the small people of this dynasty have to meet the holy monarch, in this prosperous era, and finally in the New Year's season, get some leisure, and earn some spare money by working and trading. ”

Zhu Yijun deliberately did not mention the role of permanent exemption from forced labor, that is, he was sure that Wang Xijue and these bureaucrats would take the initiative to analyze to himself, the emperor, that many of them still carried out the decree of permanent exemption from forced labor, so they let the people be so leisurely this winter.

But Zhu Yijun just nodded after hearing what Wang Xijue said, and didn't say anything more.

Because the more Wang Xijue wanted him to boast that the current government was already very good, the more Zhu Yijun didn't want to mention that the decree of permanent exemption from forced labor had been implemented very well, and the rule of officials was obviously good.

At this time, Zhu Yijun only turned around and asked Wang Yongji, who was transferred to local training and appointed as the governor of Beizhili: "Wang Yongji!" ”

The king hurriedly threw out his hand: "The minister is here!" ”

"After the world is forever exempted from forced labor, such as repairing the city wall, dredging the river, transporting grain and relieving grass, and other public things, you need to hire small people to do these things through employment.

Zhu Yijun asked suddenly.

Wang Yongji replied: "Your Majesty, the people's power is enough!" Because there are still many small people in the world who need money, especially those with a large family population and less land, many are still willing to serve to earn money, and unlike many small people in previous years who are still forced to serve, this year because there is a salary to earn, so there are fewer people who desert from service, but they are all vying to grab this job, and some do not hesitate to bribe the government in advance, so there is no shortage of people, but the local government is still because it has to pay people to serve, and the shortage of money is serious, so there are still many small people who do not have the opportunity to serve. can only eat, drink, gamble, and even fight cocks and lackeys. ”

"The government didn't think about using the Yi slaves that were bought?"

"This will significantly reduce the cost of wages even more."

Zhu Yijun asked.

Wang Yongji replied: "Your Majesty, most of the cheaper slaves have been divided by the coastal clans before they have entered the mainland, and even if a small number of them enter the interior, they have been divided into slaves by the wealthy clans in the interior, where has the government ever competed?" ”

"Basically, if the government wants to do things, it can only hire its own small people to serve, not to mention that its own small people are now short of work to do, which is related to the fact that after His Majesty ascended the throne, the world is prosperous and the population is prosperous, so the court is not short of manpower, only lack of money, after all, now the small people do not have to work, if the salary is too low, can not meet the expenses, can not have a surplus of savings a year, naturally would rather rest than work."

"In this way, the exemption from the world's conscription not only reduces the government's revenue, but also increases the government's expenditure, so the local government is very reluctant to accept such a policy."

Zhu Yijun asked, "But why did your Wang Yongji accept it, and let me see so many scenes of leisure and entertainment for the small people?" ”

Wang Yongji glanced at Wang Xijue at this time, and then replied: "Your Majesty, the eternal exemption from forced labor is a great good government for the benefit of the people, and the minister, as a protégé of the Son of Heaven, how dare he use the silver of the treasury for the sake of saving money, and not let the emperor's favor descend on the common people, so wouldn't it be a deception to the Son of Heaven and the people?" ”

"Therefore, it is impossible for the minister not to accept it, as for the increase in government expenditure, it is necessary to find another way to open up, whether it is to run more industries, or to promote industry and commerce, you can! And should not deliberately resist the decree for the sake of saving the money of the treasury. ”

Zhu Yijun only smiled after hearing Wang Yongji say this: "If the bureaucrats in the world are as up-to-head as Wang Qing and love the people, how can there be a rebellion?" ”

After Zhu Yijun said this, Qi Jiguang, Wang Xijue and other officials' chests rose and fell for a moment, and then arched their hands and said, "Your Majesty said yes!" ”

Then, Zhu Yijun asked Wang Yongji again: "So, now most of the people who carry the baggage for the army are the small people of their own country?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, yes."

The king replied.

Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "The heroes of this dynasty are still very short of slaves, so the slaves from outside can't reach the hands of the government, the government can only use its own small people, use its own small people, the imperial court and the government need to bear a lot of pressure on money and food, if you want this pressure to be solved or reduced, it seems that you still have to step up foreign development." ”

"What do you say?"

Zhu Yijun then asked Qi Jiguang, Wang Xijue and others.

Qi Jiguang replied first: "What Your Majesty said is true! After all, before His Majesty ascended the throne, there were people in the world who were so poor that they had no way out and had to sell their children, and the harvest year was only one or twenty taels of silver to buy a thirteen-year-old girl, and if there was a famine year, five taels or even two taels could buy people who could be slaves, and now the lack of servants and maids is serious, all because after the new policy benefited the people, the people were safe, so there were fewer and fewer people who were willing to be slaves; And the people's ability to be safe is all the work of His Majesty's hard work! ”

"Your Majesty, the minister seconded what the cardinal said!"

"If the new policy had not been implemented, I don't think there would have been the situation that Wang Butang said, that is, the lack of slaves in the big families of the wealthy and right, so the government also had to spend more money to hire people with the lack of slaves."

Wang Xijue followed and said.

"I know that what you mean in and out of your words is to tell me that the new policy is implemented very well, the taste is not so serious, and most of the courtiers in the world are still loyal and virtuous, and most of them are honest and honest, so I believe it."

Zhu Yijun said a word at this time, and then suddenly said with a wronged face: "But why didn't I believe in the princes and the hundreds of officials in the world?" ”

"If I don't believe it, I will give out the prize every year without hesitation, instead of directly saying that they are cheating me, fooling me, or even refusing to give the prize money?"

"Your Majesty doesn't disbelieve in your ministers, but it's just that Your Majesty never seems to be shocked by the evil things that some officials in the world have done, and because of this, you are angry, which makes your ministers feel sad, and they feel that your majesty doesn't seem to have completely let your majesty treat your ministers as gentlemen."

Wang Xijue said bluntly at this time.

After hearing this, Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "How can I have it! ”

"I have always regarded Zhuqing as a gentleman, so I have always treated the Qing and others with courtesy, there are rewards for festivals, gifts for years, and even Qing and others have never stopped them.

"Even what Wang Qing says now, I also believe it, but I trust Zhu Qing, it doesn't mean that I will be angry with those who are disloyal to the hundred officials, and even blame Qing and others for not knowing the recommendation, and I am also angry with Qing and others, saying that I am also disappointed in Qing and others."

"I've been in power for almost ten years, so why should I be too harsh on the secretary?"

Zhu Yijun said that Wang Xijue was speechless, and his face turned purple.

Zhu Yijun then said: "I am even very willing to believe that all places have completed the new policies of the imperial court very well!" ”

"Therefore, I decided to take a small team of officials and schools with me when the army of the post station in front was camped and rested, and then go to other places in micro-clothes, and then Wang Ge Lao and the Marquis of Nanchang will go with me, and Wang Yongji, the governor of Beizhi, will also bring a team of people and horses in civilian clothes to go with me, so that I can see from the perspective of ordinary passers-by how the local courtiers who advocate the study of Xinli Xian Taishi's governance are benefiting the people for me."

Wang Xijue's color suddenly turned white as snow after hearing this, and he looked at Wang Yongji.

Wang Yongji first said yes, without the intention of admonishing.

Then, Wang Xijue had no choice but to say yes.

"I have always believed in the loyalty and ability of your courtiers, especially those from the eunuch family, after all, the so-called permanent property has perseverance, naturally they will not do anything that violates their family reputation, and their ethics are basically there, at most they are lazy, but they are often not bad."

After the army camped in Zhending Mansion, Zhu Yijun really changed his clothes with Wang Xijue, Liu Wei and others, and walked along the trail in the direction of Xiping Mountain, and while walking, he deliberately said something to Wang Xijue, Wang Yongji and others that he trusted the bureaucrats and doctors.

But as soon as Zhu Yijun arrived in a village, he saw that an official was arresting people, so he took the locks from more than a dozen strong women and handed them to the three scholars who were sitting in a grass pavilion.

One of the gentlemen got up and said, "Let's go, go and choose a beautiful village woman to taste the wild fun, and the rest, the women let them cook for us, and the men will carry us up the mountain to watch the scenery later." ”

Seeing this, Zhu Yijun rode over first and asked, "Why do you take people?" ”

At this time, the official who took the people saw that Zhu Yijun and the others were all mighty and majestic, and thought that it must be a caravan with a background, so he said for the three scholars: "We are serving for the government, and the merchants are not nosy!" ”

Zhu Yijun immediately frowned at this time, and pretended to be annoyed and said to Wang Yongji:

"Wang Qingjia, what's going on, isn't this person forcing me to take back what he just said!"

(End of chapter)