The emperor's ideological work is still being done, and the Great Investigation is in full swing.

For the Ming merchants, it has been seven or eight good years.

Since His Majesty summoned representatives of the world's commercial houses on the 12th year of Jiajing's Wanshou Holy Day, it has always been good for businessmen.

A larger scale of border trade, a higher status of merchants, and a more prosperous domestic market.

But who knew that this official inspection would implicate businessmen?

The storm blew first to Shanxi, and the Jin merchants were like pins and needles.

"Isn't it that the imperial court wants to rely on the ten-year treasury bonds?"

Wang Chonggu's uncle Wang Xian said.

He was most anxious now, and spread his hands to his younger brother and nephew: "Although only the Metropolitan Procuratorate can visit more than three grades, but now, many four or five grades have been passed to the Metropolitan Prosecutor and the Criminal Division!" Xuefu, what did Xu say about participating in politics? ”

"Xu participates in politics," Wang Chonggu also frowned now, "I'm afraid that no one in the Manchu Dynasty would expect His Majesty to investigate hundreds of officials because ......of this matter, especially industrial and commercial affairs." Pujin Bridge, after all, did not cause a catastrophe. ”

“…… Regret not being at the beginning! Regret not being at the beginning! Wang Xian patted his legs, sat down and stood up again, "If you are still only trading in salt, grain, sheep and horses, and have not touched the iron, how can you be involved in this great disaster?" ”

After that, he glanced at Wang Chonggu and his son: Let this good business be done by their own branch, did their father and son have long thought that there might be hidden worries?

Wang Xian didn't have a son as smart as Wang Chonggu.

From the first imperial expedition to the north and Tang Shunzhi was responsible for the sale of special treasury bonds, Jin merchants were the first merchants in the Ming Dynasty to taste the sweetness.

Later, the permission of border trade and sea trade, and even the two major factory parks of Huailai and Puzhou, which emerged from Datong after the establishment of Hetao and Xuanning border areas, made Jin merchants eat enough sweetness.

One of them is the large and small iron works set up here in Puzhou to rebuild the Pujin Bridge.

There are not only factories of the Baojin Bureau, but also small private iron factories that have been licensed.

The Wang family naturally has this permission, but it is placed on the side of the big house Wang Xian. And Wang Chonggu's father, Wang Yao, is still only doing the old business in the past.

Thanks to the convenience of the iron factory, De Daming has allowed the takeaway policy of iron pots and other takeaways, and has a border trade and sea trade license, Wang Xian has made a lot of money over the years.

Now woe has come.

Wang Xian stood in front of Wang Chonggu again: "Xuefu! You still have to go to Puzhou! What if someone comes to visit me, do I say yes or no? What to say? Xu participated in politics over there......"

"Uncle!" Seeing that he didn't continue, Wang Chonggu opened his mouth to reassure, "The matter of Pujin Bridge is not a big disaster, which shows that Xu is very strict in participating in politics and supervising. Now that the Doctoral Research Institute has gone to Puzhou for a re-investigation, Xu is busy with official business. If the matter is critical, how can he not send someone back to Taiyuan to give him a first advice? At this time, it is better to be still than to move! Xu Shenzheng is an old protégé of Yan Guo, the court has new money, and the trust is the best, how can he take advantage of this life to rely on any national debt? ”

"......"

"Big brother." Wang Yao also opened his mouth, "Your iron factory, as long as the iron supply is fine, what are you afraid of?" ”

"Iron naturally doesn't dare to slack off!" Wang Xian said, "The iron needed for Pujin Bridge cannot be used to make and sell ironware, so it is smelted in separate furnaces." But this time the accident was the bridge pier iron boat, this boat is covered with iron, some of it was made by the Zhang family on the fourth sister's side, and the iron was also taken from our Wang family......"

Wang Chonggu's heart was clouded and he was silent.

Xu Jie, who had stayed in the imperial study, had long known that the Institute had studied a variety of new things. The kind of bridge that can cross a large river is a kind of research direction. The first bridge of the Yellow River in the world, since it can be built here in the Tang Dynasty, it will be improved on the basis of it, that is, a clear project that can be specifically studied.

It's just that the cost is not small, and it has never been really implemented.

It wasn't until Xu Jie arrived in Shanxi, and the construction of the Beijing-Guangzhou Straight Road was nearing completion, and Daming's iron production had a lot of surplus worries, so Xu Jie asked to start doing this.

Although there has been a preliminary study, the reconstruction of the Pujin Bridge is really fast.

Wang Chonggu is now deeply worried that because the project is progressing too quickly, there are many inside facts.

If the Wang family is really implicated in this case, his future will be unpredictable.

Now Wang Chonggu whispered: "A lot of the iron sold to foreign domains is actually what the way to go, and everyone knows it in their hearts. The Zhang family's business in Xining is not small, will they ......?"

Wang Xian shuddered, as if the shackles of a "capital enemy" had pressed on his shoulders.

"What I gave to the Zhang family is all the good iron needed to build the bridge!"

Wang Xian's words were conclusive, but Wang Chonggu was helpless: "I can only wait and see." At this time, he was in a hurry, but he was suspicious. ”

At this moment, Wang Chonggu especially felt the fragility of the wealthy merchants.

When there is a situation, it is passive.

He strengthened his belief: no matter what, someone from the Wang family must enter the officialdom and be listed as an important minister!

……

At this time, Xu Jie knew that it was calm before the storm.

When the PhDs from the Institute of Liberal Arts arrive in Puzhou, they will not be held accountable, but the results of their inquest will determine how the matter will develop next.

As far as Xu Jie is concerned, he has already thoroughly investigated the interior.

But he knew that no matter how much he paid attention to the quality of the project before, there were officials who handled it big and small after all.

And the construction bureau that undertook the construction of the Pujin New Bridge, Xu Jie could not directly manage it.

It is even less likely that he had been squatting here during the previous construction and later passage.

Therefore, whether there is a problem or not, Xu Jie's heart is bottomless.

But one thing is certain: as long as there is a problem, he is responsible.

Now Xu Jie can't come up with a good way, so he can only greet these people who came to inspect while fully cooperating.

At the same time, he naturally had to write a letter to Yan Song.

It's not just Yan Song. In the past few years as the chief of the imperial study, with this special position, Xu Jie is not without other important ministers in the court who can ask for one or two.

Between the lines, it is a euphemism to indicate that the superintendent has exhausted his efforts, and euphemistically asks what the Dacha industrial and commercial sword is pointing at.

Like Shanxi, another gathering place for this Dacha turmoil is the Prime Minister's River Yamen.

Tang Shu's mood was very heavy, and he thought that it was because someone in the court was dissatisfied with Liu Tianhe. Several major events that cost people and money are extremely large, and it is very easy to find loopholes.

But how difficult these things are, doesn't Your Majesty know in your heart?

When the emperor drove the southern tour, Gong Hong, who was the former head of the river, bluntly said in front of the emperor that it was difficult to govern the river. The difficulty has never been the river control project itself, but the people's hearts and minds during the duration of the river control project. The selfishness of the upper and lower bureaucrats to seek profit in the middle, and the selfishness of colleagues in the court to fight for power......

Since His Majesty had already understood it back then, why did he have to investigate industry and commerce now?

If someone wants to move Liu Tianhe, doesn't Your Majesty want to protect it?

The British public said that he would help to contribute, will he still come out?

Tang Shu thought about it, and finally mustered up the courage to give the emperor a dismissal.

This big inspection, at least in the Prime Minister's River Yamen, can't be done in a big way!

Compared with Xu Jie and Tang Shu, it is the Huangming Assets Bureau that feels the most pressure on Dacha now.

If you talk about the chaos of government and business, where is there more than the enterprises under the Huangming Assets Bureau?

They themselves are both officials and businessmen.

And the undercurrent in this direction finally quickly formed a public case and presented it to Zhu Houxi.

It was the incident in which the pastoral superintendent said that the Ministry of Culture and Education had been in arrears for nearly two years.

"Your Majesty, there is a holy decree that the herdsmen will set up grazing stations in Zhufu County to raise cattle and sheep with fresh grass and hay."

The president of the group of pastoral supervisors is Zhang Wei, the Marquis of Longping, who has been a knight since the thirteenth year of Zhengde, and is now also a dying old man.

Kneeling in front of the emperor, Zhang Wei said aggrievedly: "Now that I have found out that Jiangxi has actually received fresh milk and fresh meat, it has been deducted and sent to Zhuxue Ten Middle School Two or Three, but they have all been sold to restaurants, tea shops and rich and noble families. Even so, not only did they default on the payment, but the fresh milk and fresh meat sent by the Polluted Ministers and Pastoral Prisons were not clean, which harmed the students and wronged the ministers! ”

Fang Xianfu, the secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Education and Yan Song's successor, kowtowed to the side and pleaded guilty: "The ministers are not effective, please ask Your Majesty to surrender." ”

Zhu Houxi only looked at them coldly.

Although this matter is a unified procurement by the Ministry of Culture and Education, the accounts are here in the Ministry of Culture and Education. However, at the local level, the yamen, which is in charge of culture and education, is still under the control of local officials.

Fang Xianfu is not directly responsible.

On the contrary, this time the bad debts were finally turned in front of the emperor: it is only now reported that over the years, many children in local schools have fallen ill by drinking fresh milk or eating meat sent by herdsmen, and some have finally died because of untimely treatment.

Therefore, first of all, there are some places that make it more difficult for herd herdsmen. Defaulting on the bills and waiting until there is no accident to pay before it is a small means. Ask to send more, and each batch will let people check the food and drink for future reference to avoid responsibility, which is the beginning of the gradual distortion of the development of things.

On the one hand, on the grounds of fear of further problems in schools, the frequency of meat and milk supply has been reduced. On the other hand, it is inevitable that there will be an additional meat and milk channel to flow to the commercial market, or as a "welfare" for the large families of the local gentry: the inspection of food and drink, which is justifiable.

It has come and gone that the longest arrears have now been in the past two years.

Zhu Houxi understands very well that the child who eats the meat and milk of the herd supervisor must indeed have an accident, otherwise the herd supervisor would not have been pinched.

But the local government sees this opportunity and huge interest space to grasp the fresh supply giant, and wants to be a meat bully and a milk bully, but I am afraid that the motivation is not small.

And in this matter, the herd supervisors can even complain to the emperor: With the current quarantine methods, how can we ensure that the meat and milk are spread in this way, and there will be no problems in the long run?

Zhu Houxi knew that he couldn't give up eating because of choking. Because fresh meat and fresh milk may contain some disease-causing bacteria, do you not do it at all?

Besides, it's not for students to eat raw, there is always cooking. Even if there are still some problems, what is the purpose of the other nursing homes? Do you only treat patients from wealthy families?

The fundamental point is that these are already "luxury", and the profit margin is not small.

"This is a good act for the benefit of the country and the people, and I don't think about preventing trouble, I only know how to make profits!" Zhu Houxi looked at Fang Xianfu, "You are in the provincial capitals, education is the foundation of the Ming Dynasty in the future, and those who put your hand in here will all be chopped off!" If the governors of the provinces do not arrange this matter properly, they will not have to go to Beijing to participate in the Great Power Policy Conference! ”

“…… Obey the order. ”

Waiting for Fang Xianfu to leave, Zhu Houxi looked at Zhang Wei again: "Don't think I don't know. Is it true that good meat and good milk were sold in collusion with the local authorities, and that sent to primary and secondary schools was not good? I hope to do this well, but my son is still on the throne, so I am afraid that the people below will say bad things about you, and turn a blind eye! Since you know about these problems, why don't you report them, and when you are implicated and can't hide it, what's the use of crying? ”

“…… Minister......"

Zhu Houxi slapped the table: "Returning to the Mongolian people, almost sixty percent of them are now grazing for your herdsmen!" I have implemented this policy, and you have become the largest supplier of meat, eggs and milk in Daming, all over the prefecture and county! The poor people really can't afford it, and they can raise chickens and pigs themselves, and your customers are all the government and the rich! Don't you dare to hate them, but don't you know what I'm asking you to do this for? Ordinary people can't afford to eat, there's no way around it. But as long as their children are self-motivated and enter school, I want them to be able to afford to eat and grow well! ”

“…… The minister is guilty. ”

"Is it shoddy or not, you have to check yourself!" Zhu Houxi paused and then said coldly, "Don't think about still being perfunctory, in addition to your self-examination, I will naturally arrange an unannounced visit." ”

Zhang Wei trembled and left, and Zhu Houxi was upset.

After a while, he still called King Rui first.

Zhu Zaiyan didn't know what was going on, but Zhu Houxi said directly: "Now that you have a microscope and can see bacteria, there is one thing you can ponder." ”

"Your Majesty, please."

Zhu Houxi also remembered because of this incident in front of him, and it was only a vague direction: "A lot of food in the mouth contains bacteria. Some bacteria are deadly, while others are beneficial. You study it with the imperial doctors of the hospital over there, and I think that since the water is much safer after boiling, this must be the reason. To study this sterilization method, there should be a way to make it no longer disease-causing without losing nutrition. ”

He only knew that there was a so-called pasteurization method, which seemed to be quite simple, that is, boiling, but he did not know the specific method.

But now that microscopes are available, one of the uses can be developed.

Zhu Zaiyan took the order to leave, and Zhu Houxi's attention returned to the main issue.

Nowadays, the biggest problem of the chaos in government and business is the use of new policies and unspoken rules and connections to make profits.

Human nature is there, and these things cannot be cut off.

But that can only be said that the law is not strict enough, and the cases are not enough to wake up most people.

It's just that the "merchants" are slightly loosened, and there are so many problems, no wonder the emperors and ministers of all dynasties have prejudices against merchants who are too profit-seeking.

If you want to integrate and accept them into the core circle, now the first thing is that they themselves are not competitive.

Because power has nothing to do with them, only wealth is their lifeblood, so they don't care about collecting money?

The problem is that the best of them are all behind the shadows of officials.

It is the officials who benefit the most, and most of the businessmen will become the backstabbers.

"A raccoon dog ......" Zhu Houxi muttered in a low voice, "The so-called coat of both ability and political integrity should also be stripped off." ”

Stripped off the coat of the past "knowledgeable and gifted", they needed a new coat.

Zhu Houxi then threw this question to the "preparatory meeting" before the major power policy conference.

To put it bluntly, it is to determine the core of the cake drawing meeting of the nine ministers of the State Palace.

Zhu Houxi asked Zhu Kun, the chief of the imperial study, to read a lot of newly investigated cases first, Gui Cao looked at the forty-seven-year-old Zhu Kun reading the case with a straight face, and remembered that he first saw him and asked him about his life's ambitions.

Zhu Kun said: There are many officials and gentry in Jiangnan, and all the miscellaneous servants belong to the people who are struggling to survive. Natural and man-made disasters are sometimes displaced. The younger brother has no great talent, but he is willing to do his best to defend the land and the people.

Now, Gui Cao, who is close to retirement, still has a bad temper, and Zhu Kun asked him at that time, "Not like the predecessors said that he is the same as the light, but because of this, he has repeatedly offended Shangguan."

Now the content that Zhu Su has read out is to make clear the chain of interests of the local "light and dust" before the imperial court and the public counselor.

Gui Cao's temper is very bad, so his popularity is also extremely poor.

Being able to become a minister of state, Gui Cao believes that this is the emperor's appreciation for his "not being in harmony with the light and dust".

He looked at the emperor, pondering in his heart the emperor's intention in arranging this play.

After being quiet in the National Policy Palace, Zhu Houxi opened his mouth: "The construction quality of the Pujin New Bridge is fine, but it is caused by the rust of the sewage discharged into the Yellow River by the Puzhou factories. This is not the case with the secret report I received. It is said that the iron and steel of the iron factory has been unsalable, and there are still three adult families who can't afford the iron and farm tools of the Daming farmers. Farmers can only sell some of the things produced in the field for some silver, but after autumn, many grain ships return from overseas, and when the price of grain falls, they buy it first, and sell it wherever there is a disaster. ”

The emperor glanced at the ministers and said lightly: "In-laws, clansmen, fellow villagers, have protégés who are not officials. Who are the real proprietors behind the Ming enterprises, companies and stores registered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce? The clues are all there, and now that the Great Investigation has just begun, how many old and serious courtiers have been sparse and advised me not to make a big move, so as not to panic? ”

"Your Majesty." Zhang Bi opened his mouth, "The government and many enterprises, companies, and stores have more dealings than before. At present, some local officials do not cultivate their morality, and they do have unforgivable crimes, which should be severely punished. However, in recent years, the finance and taxation have increased greatly, the national treasury has gradually increased, and there is also a reason for the prosperity of industry and commerce. If this big inspection makes officials and businessmen afraid, I'm afraid it's not beautiful. set an example for a group of people, and the minister thought it would be enough. ”

As for the opinions of the prime minister and the minister of state, Zhu Houxi naturally still has to be respected, not to mention that it is impossible to investigate and deal with them indefinitely.

"I know that with the current situation, this is the only way." Zhu Houxi lowered his voice, "I just realized that once I want to investigate the industry and commerce, it turns out that the clan, the honorable relatives, the civil and military, the gentry and the sages, as if they are all united, persuade me to stop." ”

Zhang Bi shuddered suddenly.

The emperor has not buckled the big hat for many years, but now the hat is dangerous.

What do you mean by unity? What does it mean to stop in moderation?

"Naturally, everyone is dedicated to the country, and they are worried about the chaos of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Houxi said again, "I just don't understand, why don't I worry about it on weekdays? Do you think that making a small mistake for a while and yourself can't harm the Ming Dynasty, or do you think that everyone is like this and the law is not responsible for the public? In all dynasties, each has its own party disputes, as if everyone's political views are still quite different. However, as long as it involves industrial and commercial affairs, the government and the opposition are unanimous, and it is not conducive to state affairs to expand the scope of investigation. ”

Gui Cao's eyes narrowed, and after opening them, he said categorically: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the scope should be expanded and investigated!" ”

"Does it work? Can it cure the root cause? Zhu Houxi looked at him.

"As Your Majesty said, human desires are inexhaustible, so selfishness must follow morality, etiquette, and laws. It is not expected that everyone is a virtuous man, so it is natural to resort to the law. If you can't abstain from it, you will make it fearful! ”

"This batch of things will be severely punished!" Zhu Houxi paused for a moment after emphasizing his attitude, and then continued calmly, "I have three questions, not only for the Qing and others, but also for the officials of the world. ”

All the counselors looked at the emperor, and the great emperor asked three questions very calmly: "After becoming an official, how should I continue to cultivate myself, how should I work together under my new identity, and what should I do to govern the country as the starting point is to really help me govern the Ming Dynasty." ”

Zhu Houxi looked at Zhang Bi: "Dacha can only stop the batch that has been identified, but before the Wanshou Holy Day, everyone from the first product to the ninth product will answer these three questions and enter Beijing in a clear text." How do the Ming officials think about the six words of self-cultivation and family governance after becoming officials, I want to count the actual standards of loyal and virtuous ministers in the minds of Ming officials. ”

Zhang Bi: ......

Zhu Houxi looked at the others again: "I value practice, and the world knows it." Remind me, don't prevaricate with false words, and give standards that are realistic, achievable, and should be done. I will not explicitly formulate this standard, and the standard generally agreed upon by Ming officials is the standard in the future. If everyone generally agrees that these standards should be met, then if there is anything that cannot be done in the future, it means that it does not meet the literacy required by Ming officials. ”

Standard standard, Zhang Bi's head is a little dizzy.

This is the common "attitude" formed by officials all over the world, and it has become the moral and legal shackles for Ming officials to become officials in the future, right?

Not the upper limit standard advocated by the sages and sages, but the lower limit standard extracted from the twisting and twisting statements of the entire group of officials?

If the lower limit can't be achieved, then what kind of brutes and Confucian scum are they?

And the emperor was not finished, and then said: "When this standard comes out, it is the purpose and creed of the Ming scholars to become officials in the future, and it is the criterion for the life of Ming officials." Those who agree with this standard are my comrades, regardless of their political views! I am not afraid of any party disputes, and the more I argue, the clearer the reasoning becomes. As long as they are dedicated to the country, for the sake of the sages in the mouth of everyone for the public, the selection of talents and abilities, and the cultivation of faith and harmony, then they are all the same as me, and they are all the same as me, and they are the same party as officials for the sake of the great harmony of the world! ”

"I said a long time ago that I can tolerate the selfishness of the people of the world." Zhu Houxi said solemnly, "Outside of selfishness, how is the public heart? This time, I will see what the officials of the world think of as public intentions. Explain and settle down what this public heart should do. In the future of the Ming Dynasty, if you are not the party of the world, you don't have to be an official! ”

(End of chapter)