When the governor first arrived in the jurisdiction, he had to take care of a lot of work.

In addition to meeting the main officials of the prefectures and counties under his rule, he naturally had to show his face in front of the people.

Shao Xi's expression was solemn.

Yang Shen was visiting the gentry in Guangdong, and what did Yan Song, the governor, mean by personally going to the fields to care about the harvest of the people?

As an official in the Ming Dynasty, unless he was promoted to the court to try a case or some other temporary circumstances, he rarely took the initiative to deal with the poor people directly above the seventh grade.

Now Yan Song's appearance, it is difficult not to remind people of Yang Shen's squatting in the field in the "Lingnan Travel Collection" that has been published by the three great talents of Wuzhong.

The news that came back from Jiangxi was not Yan Song having a good conversation with the gentry from all over the country?

Yan Song is the governor, as long as he doesn't do anything out of line in Zhejiang, no one can stop him. What's more, he only took people to the outskirts of the county "on a temporary basis", and when he met the first old farmer working in the fields, he summoned him to ask.

This large and small officials and their entourage are surrounded by a picture of a trembling and cowering old peasant, too Guangdong.

Yan Song looked at the farmland in front of him that was about to start harvesting and nodded with a smile: "Don't panic, brother, you didn't say the wrong thing, and you didn't talk nonsense." Next year, I will come back to Jiangshan County and ask you how your life is doing, and whether anyone is bullying you. ”

After finishing speaking, he glanced at the officials in Quzhou Mansion and Jiangshan County.

Back in the county seat, the governor is going to rest in Jiangshan County today.

Yan Song, who made a gesture, did not continue to put on a high shelf at the dinner.

He calmly accepted the arrangements made by Quzhou Prefecture and Jiangshan County.

During the banquet, when Shao Xi asked him to declare his holy will and admonish the local officials in Zhejiang, Yan Song sat and muttered for a moment before speaking: "Zhejiang, a place with seven mountains, two rivers and one field, is smaller than Guangdong, but the annual tax that should be shipped and delivered is more than three times. The difficulties in this cannot be said that Zhejiang has not done its best. ”

From Shao Xi down, everyone couldn't help but feel relieved when they heard it, but they didn't dare to let go of it all.

Because Yan Song hasn't finished speaking: "In addition to supplying the military salaries of the guards and the food of officials, the remaining grain in Zhejiang also has the rations of the orphan priest and the teachers and students. The income from miscellaneous work should be sacrificed, imperial examinations, transportation, handicraft food, support, and relief...... In this township, drinking ceremonies, celebrations and send-offs cannot be paid for by the reserved grain, but can only be paid for with the reserved money. Nowadays, there are miscellaneous offices, money, banknotes, and silver, and the total number is not large. ”

“…… Futai entered Zhejiang from Jiangshan County, observed the situation and cared for the township. Jiangshan County is heartily happy, a little thin wine, not enough to be called a broken fee. ”

Yan Song smiled slightly: "If the law on the treatment of officials can be implemented in all provinces, there will be no need for the gentry and wealthy households to spend a lot of money between the upper and lower levels of the government." As the saying goes, the mouth of the eater is short. The difficulties of the place are well known. Come, this first glass of wine, first of all to the hosts. ”

"Don't dare! Can't! Futai is serious! ”

The representatives of the gentry and wealthy households of Jiangshan County, who were "lucky" to sit at the table and went out of the place and silver, hurriedly got up.

Officials from top to bottom in Zhejiang couldn't help but ponder in their hearts: The governor knows the place very well.

So is it just that he understands, or does His Majesty and Yang Ge also understand?

Yan Song made clear the difficulties in local operations in just a few sentences, and it was another reason why the gentry were not called upon to pay taxes and were not subjected to forced labor: the local gentry and wealthy households often came to help bear the local financial expenses.

To put it bluntly, the taxes that can be collected by the local government are two types of currency: physical goods, copper coins, and treasure money. To be serious, the Ming Dynasty now prohibits the circulation of silver.

In terms of system, except for the part of the grain collected that is handed over to the imperial court, the rest of the grain is useful; The government's expenses can only be calculated from the copper coins and treasure money that have been saved. Under the system of folding colors, some physical objects are converted into copper coins and silver, but no one dares to say that they do not fold treasure money or receive treasure money in the official process.

How worthless are the Cobao banknotes now? Over the years, if the localities have not set up many items to increase the number of miscellaneous taxes, the real purchasing power of the miscellaneous taxes collected has been declining.

With the longer and longer peaceful days, there will only be more and more send-offs, and the wind of comfort and extravagance will naturally flourish. As long as there is such a banquet and ushering in the send-off, the people who pay are the local gentry and wealthy families.

Yan Song only said that he had a short mouth to eat others, but he didn't say that he was soft on others.

Over time, the present situation naturally took shape: although the wealthy gentry did not bear all the taxes, their actual expenses were also quite large.

It's just that when you calculate this account, it's nothing more than that they finally got more land, industry, and manpower, and the input is greater than the output.

In the end, the cost was transferred to the poor people and to the imperial finances.

Now Yan Song toasted to the gentry and wealthy households, and everyone listened to him talk about tax expenses, but their hearts were full of confusion.

"Your Majesty is actually broad-minded." Yan Song talked about other things, "Zhu Yunming wrote "Wild Notes" after drinking in the past, and it was used by traitors many years later. Although the Jiangnan scholars discussed the old affairs of Taizong in vain the year before last, His Majesty only made Zhu Yunming admit his fallacy to the world, and still gave him the same Jinshi background. In the preface of "Lingnan Travel Collection", Zhu Yunming expressed his thoughts and was really admired. Ben Fu went south, and even when he was in Jiangxi, he heard that some scholars ridiculed the three talents of Wuzhong for missing the late festival, and the song was flattering. ”

“…… This generation is ignorant and fallacious, and it makes people laugh. Shao Xi didn't understand why he was talking about this again, and echoed a sentence, which seemed to be a statement.

Yan Song just smiled and arched his hand to the north: "When this Fu Ren Day talks about living and paying officials, His Majesty often says that right and wrong will have its own public opinion after thousands of years. However, whether it is Benfu, or the rest of the counselors, or Taihebo, they are actually clear. His Majesty has the Ming Dynasty and the trillions of people in the two capitals and thirteen provinces in his chest, which is real. Although His Majesty disdained to deal with some ignorant scholars, he was also disappointed that the Confucian disciples had forgotten the teachings of the sages. ”

After a pause, he sighed: "After His Majesty was extremely angry and slashed Zheng Cunzhong, the son of Guangdong, this Fu Cai asked His Majesty to welcome the Zhongwu Gong to enjoy the Taimiao." ”

The house full of officials and gentry was suddenly solemn, and they stood up together and saluted him: "Futai is a move to ask for the life of Confucianism, and the merit is to chase the sages, and the virtue will be eternal!" ”

Yan Song raised a hand and asked them to sit down, shook his head and said helplessly: "Your Majesty is a young hero, but Da Ming is already riddled with ills. Yang Ge Lao advocated changing the law, and His Majesty earnestly hoped that the Ming Dynasty would be renewed, the people would live and work in peace and contentment, and the soldiers would be able to fight well. This time, the thieves are only more than 100 people in Zhejiang, how can Your Majesty not be angry? Yang Ge Lao reprimanded Zhejiang's erosion may not be inferior to Guangdong, Benfu came this time, I only hope that you will work together to solve the king's worries and settle the people's livelihood. ”

The officials immediately expressed their positions, and at the same time pondered his demeanor and words today.

Then Yan Song had a new demeanor, and after toasting the officials with a second glass of wine, he led everyone to toast the poor people of Zhejiang with a glass of wine, and then left the post house to rest.

For this well-prepared banquet, he only drank three glasses of wine, which ended his first appearance in Zhejiang.

How else do other people eat it?

Yan Song asked them to figure it out on their own, and when they returned to the post house, they called Xu Jie.

"The newlywed Yan'er can't go back to Beijing to enter the Hanlin Academy, but I was invited to Zhejiang to have an experience, are you unhappy?"

Although Xu Jie was put in the first class by Yan Song this time, he was then changed to the second class by His Majesty for some reason, which was the same as his ranking in Yan Song back then. In the last subject, His Majesty did not move the ranking at all, and this time it only moved the ranking of Xu Jie.

Yan Song felt that the emperor was saying that he knew the relationship between Xu Jie and him, and deliberately pointed at him, although Yan Song still didn't understand what the emperor wanted to point out.

For Xu Jie, it is already quite okay to be able to take the second high school in the second grade. Originally, he could indeed go directly to the Hanlin Academy to be a scholar, but now Xu Jie just said gratefully: "How can the student not be happy? The experience of the political envoy is from the sixth grade, and he can already be called the champion award. The students are afraid that they will not be able to do their errands well, which will make the experienced officials uncomfortable. ”

"One is a clear stream, the other is in the place, it's impossible to say which one is better." Yan Song said with a smile, "There is only one member of the Experience Division under you, and the things you are in charge of are only the sending and receiving of official documents, and the examination and approval of the documents sent to Beijing such as the patrol press and the salt inspection imperial history, what are the worries?" ”

Xu Jie replied modestly: "With the support of the teacher, the students only hope to live up to the expectations of the teacher and learn more." ”

"The first thing you need to learn is that you shouldn't come today." Yan Song put away his smile, "Since you have already served in the Yamen Department of the Domain, how many official documents have been exchanged in Zhejiang, and you came to greet me with Shao You's envoy as soon as you arrived?" ”

Xu Jie was stunned, hesitated and said, "Ran Fan Tai has a life......

Yan Song sighed: "Although you are recommended by me, I don't know how to shirk and avoid suspicion, first, you have been used, second, you have delayed official affairs and added some reputation to yourself, and third, it has made it impossible for me to investigate the affairs of Zhejiang as soon as possible, and it has left a reason for impeachment in the future." ”

Xu Jie, who had just entered the officialdom, was suddenly a little panicked.

"It's just a matter of telling you, and it's not a big deal." Yan Song smiled again, "Can you figure out these three points?" ”

If Zhu Houxi knew that Yan Song was teaching Xu Jie, he would probably be very strange in his heart.

But for Yan Song, except for Xia Yan, Nie Bao, Xu Jie and others, his accumulation is not deep after all. As for Xu Jie's potential, he is quite optimistic, so he wants to give it a little more.

Now Xu Jie thought about it carefully for a while before he said: "In addition to being used, in addition to supporting the students, let the people in Zhejiang take advantage of the time when the teacher has not arrived, and also want to test the attitude of the teacher after the arrival of the teacher through the students?" ”

Yan Song nodded: "I didn't have anything to say to you during the day, and now that I have summoned you, I might as well tell them clearly that Benfu just doesn't worry about anything bad in Zhejiang for so many years." You Xu Jie, you are the nail that I put into the yamen of the domain! ”

The words were quite domineering, and Xu Jie couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

"Can you understand why the teacher only summons you at night?"

Xu Jie didn't shake his head for the first time, and thought about it carefully.

Yan Song waited patiently for him to think, and after a while, Xu Jie replied: "If you don't show this in front of the gentry during the day, it is to make the gentry think that the gentry did not intend to sweep and promote new officials in Zhejiang." Summoned at night, I just told Zhejiang Sansi that there are some things that don't have to be avoided, so you might as well discuss with your teacher in private? ”

"Very savvy." Yan Song nodded approvingly, "Don't dislike the place, it's not as expensive as the Hanlin Academy." In the future, without the experience of governing the local government, I am afraid that there will be no opportunity to participate in national policies. ”

Xu Jie's heart was shocked: "Students are taught. ”

This was Yan Song's own judgment. In addition to the chief counselor of the imperial study and the accompanying reading audit, the team that the emperor really cultivated from the bottom had to be sent to the local calendar, instead of going around the capital all the time.

The scholars of the Hanlin Academy and even the scholars of the Hanlin Academy, in addition to studying history and waiting for edicts as in the past, are not much more noble now—His Majesty even selected three people to learn arithmetic from Wang Wensu before.

Outside the imperial study, it is not clear that the emperor himself is the most open-minded and the real source of the new law.

He's just too young to be able to dominate the world on his own. As soon as Guangdong's official system was changed, it was obvious that those who could go up and those who couldn't go down. In the future, the literary name, reputation, and prestige may still be useful, but in the face of His Majesty's ambitions, talent definitely comes first.

His Majesty has always protected Wang Qiong and them, not without reasons because they can do things.

Being able to do things is the key. And if he wants to do a good job in the many major things arranged by His Majesty in the future, Yan Song can't rely on himself alone.

So he continued to ask Xu Jie: "Today's teacher's deeds, words, what do you understand?" ”

At this moment, Shao Xi is also pondering. The paper was spread out in front of him, and the pen had been dipped in ink, but he frowned again.

I went to inquire about the agricultural affairs and reminded the people of Quzhou not to trouble the old farmer. said that he would come again next year, that is, he would stay in Zhejiang for a long time, not just for the Japanese mission to fight for tribute and loot.

First respect the gentry, then the Zhejiang magistrate, and finally the people, and then take advantage of the fatigue of the journey to rest. The profound meaning of the words spoken during the banquet may not be as simple as I thought before.

Now he has summoned Xu Jie, a new science and technology jinshi who he recommended to Zhejiang, separately.

The gentry are important, so come first? No, he pointed out that the gentry and wealthy families paid for the greeting and sending-off in various places, and he understood that it was difficult for them, but in fact, he still told them: The gentry and rich families paid more, so they naturally wanted more. Zhejiang's seven mountains, two rivers and one field, the people can get less and less nature.

What about the officials caught in the middle? He said that His Majesty was open-minded, said that Wuzhong was one of the three great talents, said that His Majesty was disappointed in Confucianism, said that Yu Qian was invited to enjoy the Taimiao, and also mentioned the law on the treatment of officials...... Shao Xi was really in a fog.

Does Your Majesty's mind mean not to ask about the past and to be considerate of the difficulties? He only mentioned Yang Ting and Zhejiang once, and only mentioned the law on the treatment of officials in the new law.

The foothold is the people again. The implication is that His Majesty really cares about only two things: whether the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and whether the Ming soldiers can conquer and fight. Naturally, it also includes whether the Ming Dynasty is rich or not, and whether it can ensure that the Ming soldiers can fight in terms of money and food.

The young hero must seek change......

Judging from his Yan Song's situation in Jiangxi, I am afraid that he is really not a complete new party. Did Yang Tinghe take advantage of His Majesty's desire to enrich the country and strengthen the army?

Shao Xi pondered: The new party is entrenched in the national policy meeting, and the new party does not go, and it may be difficult for a person like Yan Song, who was personally promoted by His Majesty, to enter the cabinet - the current cabinet is not as good as the original. Although there are more people involved in the discussion of state affairs, the real power has been obtained to review many internal affairs of the six ministries.

He finally picked up his pen again and began to write coherently.

Yan Song arrived in Zhejiang in the golden autumn, and he was indeed ready to pay attention to the autumn grain again.

Of course, when he was in Ningbo and Shaoxing, he also inquired about the beginning and end of the Japanese tribute envoys' tribute and looting, as well as the handling of the people in distress in the two places.

No one knows if he has already handed over the situation to Kyosato.

This string is tight, and Zhejiang does not dare to have problems in the autumn grain.

And at the end of October, a team of very special people came to the city of Beijing.

The Korean king Li Yi, who had been canonized by Zhu Houzhao's envoy, sent an envoy to send a group of members of the delegation under the command of Zong Se Qiandao. After encountering a storm at sea, they broke away from the group, drifted to the surface of the Korean sea in a daze, and were caught.

Months have passed since the incident, and there is no news exchange between the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, so Li Yi hurriedly sent them to the capital to show goodwill to the new monarch of the Ming Dynasty.

"This case still needs to be tried well?" Zhu Houxi said lightly in the imperial study, "Loot the place, these people will be escorted to Zhejiang to be beheaded in public." ”

"Then Song Suqing is also escorted?" Li Chongsi asked, "After all, he still came with a congratulatory watch from the King of Japan." Besides, Ryan and the others were sent to Beijing, and the people in Zhejiang were probably worried that he would confess something else. This case might as well be dragged out first. ”

"The city has been abolished, what are you doing dragging it on?" Zhu Houxi glanced at him, "There is no need to say much about the king of Japan here, and the Ashikaga shogunate can no longer restrain the daimyo from all over the world, so let's wait for them to compete for the top." If you want Yan Song to do a little better in Zhejiang, and only punish Ryan and them without killing their heads, they are already sorry for the people who died in Zhejiang, so they can use the heads of these widows and Song Suqing, who have no home in their hearts, to comfort one or two, and also make Yan Song more prestigious in the eyes of the people of Zhejiang. ”

Song Suqing thought that he would be able to speak skillfully when he arrived in the capital, but Zhu Houxi directly handed him over to Luo An.

After a torture, Song Suqing's purpose for doing things was already clear: what Ogata Muyi is nonsense, then Tao Yiqing is a native of Japan. He just wanted to use this incident to make Daming nervous and give the new dynasty Kanhe to the Hosokawa clan. The Ouchi clan lacked the benefits of tributary trade in the Ming Dynasty, and then had to face the siege of the Hosokawa clan and the Mori clan.

The Hosokawa clan relied on the ease of controlling the Ashikaga shogunate, and had great ambitions to unify Kansai first and then overthrow the Ashikaga shogunate. In addition, Iwamiyama was really involved, because Ming people like Song Suqing were active in Japan, and they were already planning to use the ash blowing method to increase Iwamiyama's silver production, which became another focus of disputes. Iwami Mountain is located in the territory of the Mori family, and the Hosokawa clan sits on the mountain to watch the tiger fight.

Zhu Houxi only hoped that they would consume each other a little more now. As for fighting more wars, the Japanese soldiers will be more brave in the future, won't the weapon technology of the Ming Dynasty improve?

The benefits of cutting off the tributary are numerous.

Now, Zhu Houxi, who has finished the national policy meeting, called Xie Changjie over.

"Did I figure it out what I told you before?"

Xie Changjie stood there: "Although the minister hasn't figured it out yet, I will listen to Your Majesty's orders." ”

"It's normal that you can't figure it all out." Zhu Houxi looked at him, "I didn't become the master of the market, but the punishment I received was even heavier, and I won't care about the past anymore." While going to Zhejiang, while helping Yan Song, also let the Zhejiang officialdom see that you are staring at him. With this sense of proportion, if you don't know the bottom of your heart, ask Yan Song. ”

Xie Changjie didn't care that he had now become a seven-rank patrol according to the imperial history, and among the old ministers of the Qiandi, he was getting worse and worse.

He asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, then you let the minister really stare at Yan Song, the minister...... Don't understand. ”

After all, it sounds like it's just a performance with Yan Song.

Zhu Houxi smiled: "Where you really stare at him, is whether he will be really greedy because of acting." ”

“…… Chancellor understood. Xie Changjie knew that the task of being promoted by the market director was handed over to Yan Song.

But is Your Majesty not at ease about Yan Song's integrity? He is now emulating his great-grandfather, Yan Qingcai.

Recently, I have been too busy with work, and I have to be a little less in the past two days, and I will make up for it at the end of the month.

(End of chapter)