Yan Song didn't expect that the idea he had when he was in Zhejiang was officially mentioned by Zhang Fujing at this moment.

In the flower hall where Yan Mansion met guests, there were four people sitting tonight.

Two of them and Yan Song have a bit of a protégé relationship in it, one is Xu Jie, who was promoted to the general department of the Beijing Ministry of Officials after the general change of office at the end of last year, and the other person is Nie Bao, who went to Guangdong City to serve as a promoter and is now promoted to the general director of the Zhejiang Qing Officials Division of the Ministry of Household Affairs in Beijing.

The two of them have the lowest official qualities among the people tonight.

Yan Song is the host, and everyone else is a guest. But Ngo Dinh Ju was the Minister of State who led the Ministry of Works, and he sat next to Yan Song.

The other person is Li Mo, who was the leader of the Dingguo Security and Civil Section and was awarded the title of Changping Bo with Tang Shun, who was promoted from a director to the right of the Metropolitan Procuratorate of the Fourth Grade, and now he is the right deputy imperial envoy of the Third Grade.

In addition to his extraordinary talent, this is also the compensation for the fact that he has served as the chief of the Guangdong Qing Officials Division of the Ministry of Household for so long, and has been reluctantly promoted by Wu Ting.

"So, Wu didn't know about it in advance? Zhang Guowu used the reason of governing the river, and I thought that at least Wu Guowu knew about it......"

Recalling that the other state affairs at the court meeting seemed a little stunned, Yan Song's guess was confirmed in Wu Tingju's answer.

Wu Tingju's unhappiness in his heart was not shown on his face, but he said lightly: "Your Majesty has said it, and the matter is serious. Now, it's just a matter of throwing stones and asking for directions. Even the ministers of state are afraid that they do not fully approve of this move. ”

Yan Song only echoed on the surface: "It's just throwing stones to ask for directions, it's just shocking......"

The turbulent waves in his heart were not because of this, but because of the confirmation confirmed by Wu Tingju: This matter was probably only discussed by Fei Hong and Zhang Fujing in advance.

Fei Hong is the current chief juggernaut, and he has been re-elected for one term. Previously, everyone judged that Fei Hong would definitely resign, but this time he was re-elected, and everyone still firmly believed that Fei Hong would definitely resign in two years - this time, no matter how much the emperor persuaded him, he would not dare to continue to stay in office. In just one session, so many old ministers were boiled away. In another three years, what hope do Mao Ji, Zhang Zilin, Wu Tingju, and Wang Xian have?

However, Fei Hong is now promoting such a major event with Zhang Fujing, and he simply wants to use this matter as a starting point for the handover between the old and new first assistants.

Everyone counts their age, Zhang Fujing is already fifty-five years old, and he will be fifty-seven in two years. Although the possibility of him taking over as the ruler is quite high, don't the others have ideas?

Yan Song is okay, he feels that his body is not bad, and he is just fifty years old this year, so he feels that he can wait for another five or even eight years.

Wang Xian and Chen Jiuchou are okay, but they are afraid that they will become ministers of state more because of the preparation for the future Northern Expedition, one consular ministry and the other leading military ministry. But what about Mao Ji? What about Zhang Zilin and Wu Tingju?

Wu Tingju said calmly at this time: "Naturally, it is shocking. Meng Yuan Khan died in the Ming Dynasty, and sooner or later there was a life-and-death battle between the two countries. After Qinghai changed hands, the discussion of Nanjing Guoben was endless. At this time, there was even a discussion of removing the southern direct subordinate and setting up a political envoy. In three or five days, the news reached Nanzhili, and it was lively. ”

By the end of his speech, his tone changed from calm to smiling.

Yan Song just smiled, and then asked the others: "Chang Pingbo, Zisheng, Wen Wei, do you think this matter can be done?" ”

"I'm afraid this matter must be done."

It was Li Mo who spoke. When he was the head of the Qing Officials Department in Guangdong, the three Hubu Shangshu at his head were Yang Tan, Wu Tingju and Zhang En, Wu Tingju later went to the governor of Guangdong, and Zhang En was promoted from the Guangdong Zuobu political envoy to the Hubu Shangshu. It can be said that Li Mo's career is closely bound to the new law, and even to the Guangdong faction that is faintly formed today.

If it is really necessary, Wu Tingju should be an important member of the Guangdong faction, and Zhang Fujing should go all out to win the support of Wu Tingju. But now, Wu Tingju is in Yan Song's mansion to communicate with him about the trend of this matter.

And Nie Bao, who has been promoted in Guangdong City, is also the same, and he is naturally considered a Guangdong faction.

Yan Song heard Li Mo say this, "Oh", "Why does it have to be?" ”

"Nanjing and the three provinces are in charge of supervising grain." Li Mo, the right deputy imperial envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, calmly explained his views, "I am also responsible for the investigation of the disaster situation in Suzhou Prefecture. I won't go into detail about the situation in Nanzhili, Wu Guowu and Da Zongbo, as well as General Secretary Xu and General Secretary Nie are all clear. Sooner or later, there will be a life-and-death battle between the two captives and the Beiyu, how can the problem of money and food not be solved? If you take Nanjing's national capital as the reason, you don't think about winning and losing first, I'm afraid you will really lose. ”

Wu Tingju and Yan Song were noncommittal, and looked at the other two.

Nie Bao just sighed: "Xia Guan has been a magistrate in Huating, and General Secretary Xu is from Huating. Xia Guan can only say that this matter is difficult to achieve. ”

Xu Jie also shook his head slowly and sighed lightly: "When the lower officials were in the Nanjing Ministry of Officials, they were also deeply touched. Most of the problems of Nanzhili are the problems of Nanjing. Nanjing's problems are all problems of more than three grades and honorable relatives. ”

Wu Tingju and Yan Song glanced at each other, and then silently picked up their cups and drank tea.

There is only one position for the governor, and there are only so many positions for the State Council and the counselor. But from the fourth to the third, from the third to the second, how many more officials are there?

Although they all wore red robes, everyone wanted to climb up again. Even if they can't climb up to the Counselor and the State Palace, Nanjing still has some positions for them to obtain corresponding official qualities and some considerable power.

If the Nanzhili is withdrawn, even if the Nanjing Sixth Department is retained for special reasons in Nanjing, what is the point of those positions having quality and no rights?

"State Wu Wu, after the New Year, I'm afraid that this matter will be discussed at the national policy meeting." Yan Song took the lead in putting down the teacup and looked at Wu Tingju respectfully, "At that time, we all have to have an attitude." Whether to seconded or refuted is not trivial. ”

Wu Tingju thought about the silence in the Wenhua Hall after the dispersal of the dynasty. At that time, no one opened their mouths and did not discuss the matter.

He just sighed again: "I'm afraid that in the middle of the day, the impeachment of Mao Gong will be full of political envoys." To second the matter, but is it afraid? ”

Yan Song smiled lightly: "I went to Zhejiang from the imperial study, and then served as the Ministry of Rites, but I am not afraid of some attacks." ”

Wu Tingju paused for a moment before saying, "Let's take a look first." This matter, after all, is a meeting after the New Year. ”

……

In the court, in addition to some people who want to pull down a few people above and climb up again, there are also a large number of people who know that the end of their career in this life is probably some positions in Nanjing.

Outside the temple, the existence of Nanzhili is also related to the selfish interests of Jiangnan and even the entire Ming Dynasty.

The ripples caused by Zhang Fujing's proposal were spreading outward, but the strange thing was that in the last period of time before the Chinese New Year, there were not many impeachment notes against Zhang Fujing.

"It's very diligent."

Zhu Houxi finished reading the daily report of the 100 officials in Beijing sent by Lu Bing.

Lu Bing stood there, waiting for the emperor's order.

"The most important thing is the movement in Nanjing." Zhu Houxi raised his head and looked at Lu Bing, "You ask Wang Zuo to send some more people to Nanjing." This year, I will work hard for the people in Nanjing. ”

"Command!"

After letting Lu Bing go back, Zhu Houxi stood up and walked to the new version of the Daming map: "Mao Yu, read Zhang Fujing's recital again." ”

"Yes......"

Jiang Rubi picked up the note submitted by Zhang Fujing, which contained his conception and analysis of the pros and cons of setting up the Huaiyang Political Envoy Department.

Zhu Houxi had naturally seen it several times, and now he just continued to think.

On the map, the territory of the Ming Dynasty is not as large as in the previous versions, and many areas that cannot actually be controlled are also included.

Therefore, the proportion of Nanzhili is even greater.

The words Nanjing Guoben are actually not just talking.

At a time when transportation is not convenient, what is the economic and population center is actually the most suitable place to become a political center.

The southward shift of the economic center of gravity took quite a long time. By this time in the Ming Dynasty, theoretically speaking, the most suitable capital for the Ming Dynasty was really Nanjing. Beijing, on the other hand, is actually just an "enclave" in the north of Nanjing through the Grand Canal.

Beijing's maintenance depends on the transshipment of money and grain centered on Nanjing.

Nanjing was the economic and cultural foundation of the empire, while Beijing was actually a front-line military command.

Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing, to be precise, only partially. Beijing plus Nanjing is a complete capital in this era.

Nanjing is not like the "accompanying capital" in some previous dynasties. Nearly 30% of the world's taxes and nearly half of the talents in the imperial examination are the strength of Nanzhili.

From the perspective of efficiency, the downgrading of Nanzhili to a province like other political envoys was conducive to the Ming Dynasty to improve its control over Jiangnan taxes.

But from another point of view, this is indeed digging Daming's own foundation.

The reason why the later Qing Dynasty had to split the Nanzhili was because of their foreign status, and the overly powerful Nanzhili was a greater internal worry for the rule of the Qing Dynasty. For the Ming Dynasty at this time, it is nothing more than spending a little more to allow Beijing to obtain great stable support.

Now that Zhu Houxi is the emperor, he thinks about these issues from the height of the emperor.

Now that Zhu Houxi is the emperor, he thinks about these issues from the height of the emperor.

In such times, the highest political task of the dynasty was to protect the cultivated land. Zhu Di had to move the capital to Beijing at that time, because under the pressure of the grassland tribes, he had to protect the Ming North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River from the north.

As soon as this land is lost, the Ming regime will have no foundation, and will only survive like the Southern Song Dynasty and eventually die.

Another reason is that since the Northern Song Dynasty lost the sixteen states of Yanyun, the north has actually been under foreign rule for more than 400 years. If we do not shift the political center of gravity to the north, the north will definitely be Hu in the end. The concept of a unified dynasty is not so unbreakable, and the power of time is terrifying. If the Ming Dynasty had always set its capital in Nanjing, the north would not have been as firmly committed to the Ming Dynasty as it is now.

How easy is it to transform the minds of people in a place that has been lost for more than 400 years?

Imagine if the capital was still in Nanjing at the time of the change of Tumubao, and now it is the pattern of dividing the river and ruling again. Meng Yuan has been blessed with the land resources of the north and the farming and craftsman skills of the Han people, and it will be many times more difficult to deal with than now. And entered the era of not belonging to the same country as the south, and after many years, there was no great unification and the understanding of the same China.

From this point of view, Zhu Di's contribution to Huaxia is huge.

From this point of view, Zhu Houxi now has to make a good decision: how to deal with the problem of Nanzhili?

Continuing to guard the country, strengthening the strategic depth of the Ming Dynasty from the north, and transforming and naturalizing more Han people in the north and even the thoughts of all ethnic groups are the foundation of eternity.

However, Jiangnan, as an economic and population center, must also be dealt with.

The main problem, of course, is stability.

"The shipping bureau transports grain from the south of the river to the north, and now how many of them can reach the river transportation bureau?" Zhu Houxi suddenly interrupted Jiang Rubi.

"Back to Your Majesty, just over two percent."

"Twenty percent...... That is, it will not reach a million stones. Zhu Houxi nodded, and then asked, "To renovate the straight road from Beijing to Changsha, the Ministry of Industry has a preliminary estimate of how much silver will it take, and how many years will it take?" ”

Jiang Rubi couldn't answer this question, and after seeing him pause, Yang Bo opened his mouth: "There is no exact number yet, but it will not be less than forty million taels, and it will not be less than eight years." ”

Zhu Houxi glanced at Yang Bo, and then at Jiang Rubi and Wang Shenzhong, who looked a little embarrassed.

"For eight years, we must prepare at least five million taels of silver every year." Zhu Houxi silently pondered in his heart.

After the completion of the land clearance, taking into account the tax reduction and exemption due to the disaster every year, Zhu Houxi had to calculate how much private interests the wealthy gentry in Jiangnan could tolerate and how far the financial level of the Ming Dynasty could be improved. In the process of improvement, can it support the imperial court to do many short-term and long-term things, and further strengthen the control of the entire Ming Dynasty.

These things need to be considered for a long time.

Zhu Houxi is not in a hurry to find a courtier to discuss the staff, this is something that does not need to be in a hurry and cannot be rushed.

He also needs to see where the wind is going.

……

The news reached Nanzhili, and this was the real uproar.

At the end of the year, there are many opportunities to reunite and move around, and in addition to normal interactions, many people with interests will inevitably talk about this issue.

Nanjing officials and Jiangnan gentry naturally paid more attention to this point.

The governors of Yingtian and Huaiyang have just been removed, and the officials of Nanzhili have been doing well this year, after all, there are two big people staring at them missing.

But in the future......

"Demolishing Nanzhili and setting up a Huaiyang political envoy, is it better than now?"

Restaurants, tea shops, and fireworks are everywhere.

A certain gentleman looked puzzled.

"Huh." Another scholar hugged Jiao'e, put on the charcoal basin in the house, and said with a sneer, "It depends on who is good, and it must be bad for you and me." Just to say one thing, the provincial township examinations are already the main exams of the Beijing Ministry of Rites, and Nanzhili is not! In the future, the officials of the prefectures of Nanzhili will be selected and tested by the Beijing officials, and it will not be as easy as before for the heirs of my life to take the examination of a student's background! ”

A few people were thoughtful.

It is true that the Nanjing officials are no longer qualified to be selected as officials of the prefectures and counties of the Southern Zhili, but they still have the right to inspect. And in the same way, if they don't have the right to vote, don't they have the right to recommend? As officials in the same dynasty, for many low-grade officials who were selected and appointed by the Beijing officials, would they all refute Nanjing's face?

Most of the officials in Nanjing are already focusing on managing their own connections and doing something for the future of their relatives and friends. You help me, I help you, Nan Zhili is self-contained in many things.

"The southeast kills officials, the Hui'anbo rebellion, the southern tour, the Jingcha, and the grain endowment direct expedition......" someone sighed, "Since Your Majesty reigned at the pole, Nanzhili really hasn't been afraid for a year." The land of Jianghuai Longxing, the foundation of the Nanjing country, what is Your Majesty suspicious of Nanzhili? ”

They couldn't figure it out, and neither could many of the officials who served in Nanjing.

And Nanjing Wuchen is now led by two young people, Xu Pengju and Qiu Luan.

They were nervous because it was something extraordinary.

In Huating County, Xu Jie's father would ask the housekeeper every day: "Is there a letter?" ”

"Master, if the young master comes to the letter, it will naturally be sent to you immediately."

"Hey......"

He is just a microcosm, how many people in Jiangnan have raised people and jinshi as officials in the court? Their relatives who are officials are concerned about their careers, and their families and clansmen are concerned about their future enlistment.

In Sichuan, Yang Tinghe, who was already at home, frowned, and his expression was incompatible with the joy arranged at home for the Spring Festival.

After a long time, he just sighed: "I won't be chaotic now, but if the war is unfavorable in the future, or if there are more complaints about the war in the future, it will be a big trouble......

“…… What did my brother say about Nan Zhili? His younger brother Yang Tingzhong was very worried, "He used to repair the head of the household, but he was on the cusp of ...... storm."

Yang Tinghe was silent for a long time, and could only say leisurely: "I have already sent a message, his way, he should go by himself......"

Jiangxi Lead Mountain, before the end of the year, there is an endless stream of people who come to visit the Fei family, and everyone wants to explore the tone of the Fei family.

In the northeast of Lead Mountain, Huizhou Mansion is now subordinate to Nanzhili, and the people who are in the laymen have also returned home for the New Year.

The Ming Dynasty has a large number of merchants, and the Hui merchants are also one of the most weighty ones.

"This year is the food supply, and next year I am afraid that there will be taxes. When you come back from Zhejiang to the sea, you have to buy some struvite from the sea trade company. Both spent money and occupied the cabin! There is no way to make more money in Zhejiang City, and the taxation of Jiangnan, Beijing, and three provinces cannot be the same as before. Brother Fang, you are a Xiapin County Wanglang, you have to say something? ”

One person who was stared at by everyone could only smile bitterly: "Although I am a county wanglang, Nanzhili does not have a Xiangxian Academy!" ”

"Saxian Lang will be able to send a letter to His Majesty, Brother Fang ......"

The man's face changed drastically: "Such a big thing, I am a village sage, even if it is a county wanglang, how can he come out and talk nonsense?" ”

"Is that ......?"

“…… Let's have a good New Year first, let's take a look first, isn't the court still inconclusive? For such a big matter, you will discuss it first. ”

"Is there anything Song Shilang's family has to say?"

"Secretive as ......"

"Hey......"

The ninth year of Jiajing came in such an atmosphere, and the whole Jiangnan will never forget tonight.

Chinese New Year's Eve in the Forbidden City is bustling.

Today is the most neat time for the clan and relatives to enter the palace to celebrate the Spring Festival.

(End of chapter)