Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian came to the main hall of Qianqing Palace.

The three gentlemen saw Emperor Zhengde's face full of anger, and Chang Feng, Chen Qing, and a seven-rank official whose name they didn't know fell to their knees (Xu Chen). They thought that Chang Feng had sued Chen Qing for his misfortune.

Chen Qing was recommended by the three gentlemen, so they naturally made up their minds to protect it.

Liu Jian put on the posture of a teacher: "Your Majesty, a gentleman should control his anger." You need to know that if you are angry, if you are happy, you can nourish your heart; If you don't make friends with the vulgar, you can't get into the evil party, you can stand up; Small profits are not disputed, small anger is not made, and you can be with the public. ”

Xie Qian said: "Shoufu is really a golden and jade good word. The emperor should listen, accept, and remember it. ”

Li Dongyang was silent. After Emperor Zhengde ascended the throne, he began to consciously no longer teach Emperor Zhengde in the tone of his husband.

Compared with Liu Jian and Xie Qian, Li Dongyang is much more measured.

Emperor Zhengde was laughed at by Liu and Xie: "Ha." What a good thing the two gentlemen said! ”

As soon as the words fell, Emperor Zhengde directly threw Chen, Chang, and Xu to the ground.

Liu Jian frowned: "Your Majesty, if you want the ministers to watch the music and give the vote to draft an opinion, you should let the eunuch pass it on." The gentleman does not eat the food that comes, and the virtuous minister does not pick up the ground and play the sparse. ”

Xie Qian sang and harmonized with Liu Jian: "Your Majesty, respecting virtuous ministers is what virtuous monarchs do. You should learn from the emperor and be a virtuous gentleman who respects teachers and respects the virtuous and treacherous. ”

Emperor Zhengde restrained his smile: "Okay, good!" The two gentlemen are virtuous ministers! It's a gentleman! It's a famous teacher! I want to ask you one thing, how much silver does Taicang have in the treasury? ”

Liu Jian was stunned: "Uh, this. The treasury has 8.8 million taels on its books. There is so much silver, which is exactly the work of the emperor's relatives and ministers to create a prosperous era. ”

Chang Feng couldn't help it. He said: "Dare to ask Shoufu, there are 8.8 million taels in the account, what is the reality?" ”

Liu Jian glared at Chang Feng: "The emperor and the auxiliary minister are talking about the country's financial plans, and the royal family slaves are not worthy of interjecting." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "Mr. Liu, Chang Feng is not worthy to ask you. Do I deserve it? His problem is my problem. Tell me, how much is the real number of silver in the treasury? ”

Liu Jian hesitated: "Oh, this. Since the founding of the country, the treasury of successive generations has been in deficit. It is not uncommon for there to be discrepancies between the book deposit and the actual deposit. ”

"It's like a people's house. In a good year, a bumper harvest will be harvested, and eating more accumulated grain will not hinder major events. ”

When Liu Jian was talking, he guessed in his heart: Chang Feng should have learned about the deficit of five or six million taels in the national treasury. sued Chen Qing in front of the emperor. After all, the Taicang treasury is under the jurisdiction of Chen Qing. If this matter can't be prevaricated, you can only abandon the car to protect the handsome and let Chen Qing carry the black pot.

He was wrong. It was not Chang Feng but Chen Qing who took the lead in exposing the huge deficit in the national treasury. Chang Feng only helped Chen Qing beat the side drum.

Emperor Zhengde rubbed Liu Jin on the bronze bowl that he had just picked up on the dragon case: "Shoufu's words are really good, what he said is equivalent to not saying it." I only want to know the actual number of silver deposits in the Taicang treasury. ”

"Don't say you don't know. If you don't know, I will personally go to Taicang Warehouse! ”

Liu Jian said: "This, this." Chen Qing is the governor of the warehouse and is in charge of Taicang. The numbers should be reported to the emperor by him. ”

Emperor Zhengde said angrily: "I am asking about you!" I don't believe it, the first assistant of the imperial court and the assistant government of Tuogu don't know the actual amount of silver accumulated in the treasury. ”

Liu Jian can't say any more high-sounding nonsense to avoid the problem.

He said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Taicang has accumulated silver, which is about more than 3.2 million taels. ”

Emperor Zhengde asked: "What about the deficit of 5.6 million taels?" Wings flew? Was stuffed into the valley road by the Ku soldiers and stolen? Or was it greedy for ink by which bold official or official of the household department? ”

Liu Jian was silent.

Emperor Zhengde sneered: "Heh, Shoufu is embarrassed to say." I said! Since the first emperor ascended the throne, the expenses for banquets in various offices in Beijing have been diverted from the treasury. ”

"In the early years of Hongzhi, the treasury revenue was small. Officials eat and drink less. With the advent of the prosperous era, the revenue of the state treasury gradually increased, and the officials became more and more unable to control themselves, and the pomp and circumstance of the banquet became larger and larger. ”

"The first emperor reigned for eighteen years. On average, the Beijing government diverted nearly 300,000 taels from the state treasury every year. No one will make up for it. Over time, the deficit accumulated to 5.6 million taels! ”

Liu Jian and Xie Qian didn't say a word.

Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty, in fact, the more than five million taels of silver are not only used for eating, drinking, and feasting. When officials travel to talk about pomp, they have to change to more elaborate official sedan chairs, and the silver is diverted from the state treasury. ”

"For example, a high-ranking official is promoted. Officials who have been friends should not only send congratulatory gifts in their personal names. I also have to send a 'public congratulations' in the name of the official office. ”

"Even the office affairs between the yamen and the yamen need to be dredged with silver."

"The money will be diverted from the state treasury under various names."

"This is a big bad rule of the Ming officialdom, which directly leads to the emptiness of the treasury. It's a pity that this matter involves almost all Beijing officials. Therefore, everyone knows the big disadvantages, but everyone does not say anything. ”

Li Dongyang did not protect his shortcomings, but told the truth.

Emperor Zhengde said: "I see! When the first emperor re-ascended the throne, the civil officials in Beijing made a joint performance at every turn, what made the first emperor stop repairing temples and Taoist temples, and what made the royal family not to build gardens and civil engineering. ”

"My father repaired a few Taoist temples and gardens, and it only took 108,000 taels of silver to support his death. It is still the inner treasury silver. ”

"What about these civil servants who profess to be frugal? In order to eat, drink, feast, and socialize, more than 5 million taels of national funds were embezzled! ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Zhengde ordered Liu Jin: "Go, pick up the song, and hand it over to the auxiliary ministers for circulation." ”

Liu Jin picked up the song and handed it to Liu Jian.

After Liu Jian saw it, a nameless fire burst out in his heart.

The signature of this letter turned out to be Chen Qing, Chang Feng and Qipin to Xu Chen?

The person who raised the deficit was actually the person promoted by the cabinet?

Isn't this a typical example of eating inside and out, colluding with factory guard eagle dogs?

But Liu Jian didn't take care of this matter, he didn't have a good seizure.

Liu Jian gave Xie Qian and Li Dongyang to pass it on.

Xie Qian changed the subject: "In fact, the civil officials in Beijing used some state funds for social entertainment, which shows that the officials have no private treasury. Unlike Jinyiwei, it is rumored that Jinyiwei's private treasury is the largest Shangbei Zhili Domain. ”

"Officials are the face of the imperial court. If the officials are shabby, won't they make the court lose face? How can Daming talk about the prosperity of the times? ”

"For the sake of the face of the imperial court, it is harmless to transfer 300,000 taels of silver every year."

Chang Feng said-for-tat: "Xie Ge's words are wrong. A few days ago, you led the civil officials to jointly play a concert to advise the emperor to be diligent in government. I remember that there was a saying in the song: 'A thousand miles of embankment is destroyed in an anthill'. ”

"The deficit of the treasury of 300,000 taels every Chinese New Year's Eve is not an anthill, but a bottomless giant hole!"

"In addition, you said that Jinyiwei has a private vault. Since the ninth year of Hongzhi, the accounts of the cabinet and the household department have been checked once or twice? Have you ever found out the true evidence of Jinyiwei's private treasury? ”

"You are the auxiliary minister, and there must be evidence to accuse the emperor of pro-army!"

Chang Feng slapped Xie Qian's face with Xie Qian's words. Lao Xie was speechless by him.

Emperor Zhengde flicked the copper with his hand: "The treasury is in deficit by sixty percent, which is the fault of the cabinet!" The three gentlemen don't want to refute the lotus flower! ”

Liu, Li, and Xie knelt down and said in unison: "The minister has been." ”

This time, the faces of the three teachers were thrown to grandma's house. The three old men used to advise the emperor to be frugal all day long. Now all day long to advise Emperor Zhengde to be thrifty.

However, the civil servants under them used state funds to put on a show and were extravagant.

When this matter was revealed, they couldn't wait to find a crack in the ground to get into.

Emperor Zhengde said: "The treasury is so empty, now we have to come up with a way to make up for the shortfall." ”

Emperor Zhengde looked at Chang Feng: "Chang Qing, the first emperor often said during his reign that you have the talent to govern. If you have a reputation for two lists, the emperor will definitely make you a minister of the ministry. ”

"Tell me, how to make up the shortfall?"

The opportunity to show your abilities in front of the new emperor has arrived! Chang Feng said without thinking: "Making up for the deficit is nothing more than opening up sources and reducing expenditure." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "It's the same as what I saw." Say how to do it. ”

Chang Feng replied: "In terms of throttling, the emperor should issue an order to worship frugality, cut redundant food, and save redundant expenses in the Beijing Yamen." From today onwards, all daily expenses in the Beijing Yamen, such as pen, ink, paper, inkstone, and repairs to the Yamen, should be budgeted for every year. Reviewed by the Household Department. ”

"If the budget is too high, the household department can reject it. The expenditure was higher than the budget, and the household department no longer pursued the silver taels, and the officials paid for it out of their own pockets. ”

"In terms of social interaction, if the official pays his own money, the court allows it. If official money is used, it will be punished as corruption. ”

"In addition, the Ministry of Officials will include whether officials are thrifty or not in the criteria for the evaluation of the Beijing Inspection."

"Extravagant officials will not only not be promoted, but will also be demoted or dismissed."

Emperor Zhengde said: "Good! Brilliant idea! What about open source? ”

Chang Feng said: "In terms of open source, the minister thinks that the stolen goods should be punished. The stolen money and goods confiscated by the various government offices have always been treated as their own subsidies. It is not handed over to the household department. ”

"The Ming Dynasty, the two capitals and thirteen provinces, the annual penalty is a huge amount. Xie Ge Lao just said that there is no private treasury in each office. In fact, the punishment of this large amount of money is equivalent to the private treasury of each government. ”

"If this large amount of money can be handed over to the treasury of the Ministry of Households, then the treasury will have a big input."

Liu Jian objected: "Actually, Grandmaster Xian and Grandmaster Xiao have both thought about the punishment of the Ministry of Stolen Goods. It's just that there is a lot of resistance, and the officials in various places are in defiance of the yang and the yin, and it is difficult to implement it. Chang Feng's suggestion is on paper. ”

Chang Feng said: "It is difficult to implement because the two emperors were kind and generous, and did not seriously consider the civil officials below. We, the Jinyi Guard, can send a robe of a thousand households to the provinces and provinces. Specifically staring at the affairs of the Ministry of Stolen Punishment and Punishment. ”

"Which yamen dares to disobey the yang and the yin, and privately intercept the stolen goods and punish them, the brocade guard will take off the official hat of the official of the main hall of the yamen!"

Chang Feng's suggestion made Emperor Zhengde look at this godfather with admiration: it seems that my uncle is not just a bloody butcher who plays with the sidelines. He has a real talent for governing the country! Much more clever than the corrupt people in the court.

Emperor Zhengde said: "According to what Chang Qing said, the dirty punishment department!" ”

In the discussion of solving the deficit of the national treasury, Chang Feng made a good start.

Chen Qing was not to be outdone: "Your Majesty, regarding open source, the minister has a suggestion to check the salt affairs. ”

"Daming Salt Field is nothing more than Changlu, Shandong, Lianghuai, Liangzhejiang, Hedong, and Fujian."

"The Changlu Salt Field has been secretly plundered by the emperor's relatives over the years. The emperor's relatives made a windfall, resulting in a huge loss of salt tax in the imperial court. ”

"Shandong Salt Farm was touched by the Confucian family of Qufu Yan Shenggong; The two Huai, two Zhejiang and two salt farms were touched by the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River; The Hedong salt field was touched by the local town guards and eunuchs; Fujian's salt farms were touched by several wealthy merchants. ”

"I am afraid that three or four percent of the salt tax of the imperial court will be secretly divided by these people. If you can check the salt, you should use the salt method. The treasury will have a huge amount of extra revenue every year. ”

Boy. Lao Chen, this is a map cannon!

His suggestion was like a giant cannonball fired from a Hongwu iron cannon. The imperial relatives, Yan Shenggong, Jiangnan gentry, local town supervisors, and maritime merchants were all bombarded.

The magnates in the court almost offended Lao Chen.

Chen Qing has a simple concept: what if he can benefit the lives of the people of Li, sacrifice his life for righteousness, and blood is like a spring? Offending people counts as a fart.

Chang Feng admired in his heart: Chen Qing is not afraid of the powerful, he is outspoken and dares to admonish, and he is really righteous!

After Chen Qing finished speaking, Xie Qian's face changed: "Absolutely not!" ”

Emperor Zhengde asked, "Why not?" ”

Xie Qian said: "This is a big matter. The ills of salt are wide-ranging. The emperor first ascended to the throne, and what the court needed was stability. The big picture should be put into account. ”

Emperor Zhengde looked at Chang Feng.

Chang Feng understood and argued with Xie Qian for Emperor Zhengde: "The overall situation is indeed important. However, cleaning up the salt is precisely for the overall situation of the imperial court. ”

"Salt was one of the pillars of the imperial court's finances. If we look ahead and turn a blind eye, we will allow those high-ranking officials, magnates, and wealthy families to erode the financial pillars."

"Use an inappropriate analogy. If one of the pillars in the hall of Xie Ge's old mansion was eaten by moths. Will you let it go? Aren't you afraid that one day the pillars will be hollowed out and the house will collapse? ”

After saying this, Chang Feng suddenly felt that his face was a little hot. Over the years, many of the errands he has handled have been hindered by the words "the overall situation is important", and in the end, the big things have been turned into small things, and the small things have been turned into nothing.

Xie Qian's speech.

Emperor Zhengde slapped the bronze out: "I have made up my mind!" Send a messenger to check the salt affairs of the world. Ordered Jinyi Wei to command Zuo Tongzhi Wang Miaoxin to patrol the salt and inspect the five major salt fields. ”

Chang Feng was stunned. The emperor asked the broken slave to be the deputy commander of the salt patrol?

Chang Feng knew that this was a double-edged sword for his son. On the one hand, this year's new science and technology scholars have taken on such an important responsibility. If the errand is done well, you will be able to rise high when you return to Beijing.

On the other hand, offending people is certain. And those who offended were all the top magnates of the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Zhengde said again: "I know that the salt profits on the side of the Changlu Salt Farm have been usurped by my two uncles. ”

"I will spit it out honestly in my ward. If they regard wealth as their life, they will not return it to the court. Well, don't ask for their marquis and earl titles! I will make a decree to take it! ”

Emperor Zhengde has long been disused to Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling's two uncles.

These two benevolent brothers can be called the moral swagger of the foreign relatives world, and what they do is really despicable.

What encroaches on people's land, competes with the people for profit, sells illegal salt, and arsons to slavery are not talked about for the time being.

Even Emperor Hongzhi's coffin board money, they both dare to be greedy for ink!

When Emperor Hongzhi was seriously ill, the Ministry of Rites prepared longevity materials as usual. The two brothers begged Queen Zhang and snatched the errand from the Ministry of Rites.

The golden silk nanmu coffin that cost 8,000 taels was falsely reported to be 28,000 taels.

Zhu Houzhao, who was the prince at the time, was not deaf, blind, or stupid. He'd heard about it.

When he learned that the two uncles even dared to reach out for the money of their father's coffin. That's really Cao Pi and his father-in-law didn't speak, and Zhen Ji's father was speechless.

Because of the royal face, Zhu Houzhao did not pursue the matter.

A digression. Where could Zhu Houzhao have imagined that after his death, the two uncles painted the scoop according to the gourd, and made a lot of money from his nephew's coffin board money.

The Zhang brothers can be called the emperor's coffin board killers.

To get back to the point, this time Emperor Zhengde decided not to protect the two uncles anymore. First take your loved ones and check the salt affairs of Changlu.

Look, I don't even spare my own uncle. You can't cover up your protégé anymore, can you?

Emperor Zhengde turned his head to look at Liu Jin: "Liu Jin, the town supervisor of the Hedong Salt Farm went out of the palace. You have to greet them and spit out what you have eaten. Otherwise, I will leave them with no bones! ”

Liu Jin arched his hand: "Obey." ”

Emperor Zhengde looked at the three gentlemen again: "The gentry of the two Huai and Zhejiang have always had a good relationship with the three gentlemen. You have to say hello. Let them cooperate with the salt patrol. Otherwise, Hugh blames the ruthlessness of national law. ”

"As for the Fujian salt farm. Mr. Xie, you have a deep friendship with several merchant families in Fujian. Bear your heart to write to them. ”

The three gentlemen were embarrassed and were about to pick the courtyard. In unison, he said, "Obey." ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "In terms of throttling, Chang Feng proposed to advocate frugality, cut redundant food, and save redundant expenses. In terms of open source, Chang Feng proposed the return of the stolen goods to the ministry, and Chen Qing proposed the inventory of salt. ”

"I should lead by example. In terms of throttling, the expenditure of Guanglu Temple was reduced by fifty. ”

Guanglu Temple was in charge of the emperor's banquet. Emperor Zhengde directly reduced the cost of his banquet by half.

Liu Jian praised: "The emperor is really a virtuous monarch."

Emperor Zhengde waved his hand: "Mr. Liu, don't be in a hurry to be happy, I am about to say that you are unhappy!" ”

"The deficit of 5,600,000 taels in the national treasury is caused by the extravagance of the Beijing officials. Don't think that the law doesn't hold the people accountable, I can't hold the tens of thousands of Beijing officials accountable. ”

"The purpose is to be three years from today. Forty percent of the civil officials in Beijing are offset by treasure money! According to the official price! ”

Treasure money, wipe the ass paper also!

The Ming Dynasty was founded, and the grandfather was affected by cultural limitations and felt that the treasure money was a good thing. Feel free to print, feel free to spend. Printing him is 100,000 yuan, and he will never spend it in his life.

So he ordered the household department to print and distribute a large number of treasure money.

There's a problem here.

Huaxia banknotes began with the Jiaozi issued by Sichuan merchants in the Northern Song Dynasty. However, Sichuan businessmen Yin Jiaozi have reserves, that is, Sichuan iron money. The ratio of Jiaozi to reserves (Sichuan iron money) is roughly 100 to 28.

Jiaozi can be exchanged for Sichuan iron money at any time. The value of the currency is naturally stable.

From the perspective of later financial science, reserves are the credit support of paper money.

Grandpa Tai arbitrarily thought. I am the Ninety-Five, the co-lord of the world. I am the greatest credit. What kind of reserve do you want, and the printing is done!

The indiscriminate issuance of banknotes without reserves will naturally lead to a crazy depreciation of banknotes.

In the first year of Hongwu, it was customized, and the treasure banknote was always exchanged for one or two silver, which was the official price.

In the Zhengde period, the official price was still the same as the treasure banknote for one tael of silver. The market price is a thousand treasure banknotes to one tael of silver.

Emperor Zhengde said that using treasure money to discount forty percent of the civil officials in Beijing at the official price was equivalent to reducing their forty percent of the salary.

Liu Jian is the head of the civilian-bureaucratic clique. Naturally, it is necessary to safeguard the interests of civil officials.

But now Emperor Zhengde occupies a "reason" character. He was not good at raising objections, so he had to reluctantly give his hand: "The emperor is sage, and the ministers obey the order." ”

Li Dongyang said: "The minister also has a strategy to reduce expenditure. ”

Emperor Zhengde said: "Oh? Mr. Li said. ”

Li Dongyang said: "The minister has correspondence with Yang Yiqing, who is in charge of Ma Zheng in Shaanxi. Yang Yiqing once said that raising horses requires grassland. The grasslands on the nine sides are mostly occupied by local governors, military envoys and other officials. ”

"The imperial court raised horses in the pasture, and had to pay a huge amount of pasture silver to the officials of the Nine Sides, large and small, in private."

"The grassland is the grassland of the imperial court. How did it become the private property of the civil officials of the Nine Sides? ”

"The minister suggested that the nine-sided grassland be cleared and returned to the imperial court. In this way, the treasury can save 100,000 silver per year. ”

Liu Jian and Xie Qian were unhappy in their hearts: Li Dongyang, we know that the grassland is the private money of the civil officials of the Nine Sides. The nine sides are where birds don't, and our protégé is an official there, so he always has to have some extra income as compensation.

Isn't your suggestion to the emperor tantamount to taking a knife at the nine-sided civil officials?

Okay, it seems that you deliberately fall to Chang Feng and the Eight Tigers behind him! When the Queen Mother gave marriage and let your daughter marry Chang Feng, we were suspicious! Sure enough, you're going to be a traitor!

If you take the nine-sided civil official, it is your vote for the Eight Tigers!

At this moment, Liu Jian and Xie Qian became wary of Li Dongyang.

In fact, Liu and Xie thought too much. Li Dongyang made this suggestion for the sake of the imperial court. Didn't think about anything else at all.

Emperor Zhengde readily agreed to Li Dongyang's suggestion. He said: "I see, there is nothing difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to work hard." The deficit of more than 5 million taels in the national treasury seems to be a huge amount that cannot be made up. ”

"However, I have a deep conversation with Zhu Qing and express my own opinions, won't I find a way to make up for the shortfall?"

Chen Qing echoed: "Your Majesty, the minister has made a rough estimate. If the measures discussed today to increase revenue and reduce expenditure are implemented, it will be possible to make up for the shortfall in the national treasury in about five to eight years. ”

Historical records: At the beginning of Wuzong's accession to the throne, the governor Chen Qing, the head of the Cangchang Household Department, and Xu Chen, the military department, pointed out that the warehouse was empty. Said: The Beijing treasury has two taels of silver, and the annual income is 1.49 million taels, and it is strange to use one million taels per year. However, the accumulation of Taicang, less than half. In recent years, the income has been eliminated by the accumulation of debts, and the loss is due to the original amount, and the income is too constant. If we do not punish extravagance and save money, how can we turn splendour into abundance and help the urgent needs of the moment!

Wu Zong and the officials gathered to discuss, because of the rules and regulations of the eight things: advocating frugality, cutting redundant food, saving redundant expenses, disposing of the salt law, reducing the use of the Lu Temple, converting money into silver, and clearing the grassland.

As for why the history books don't mention the common style of joint writing, I have to make it up later, and I will talk about it in detail later.

The financial turmoil at the beginning of Emperor Zhengde's ascension to the throne disgraced the three auxiliary ministers.

The huge deficit was incurred during their tenure in the Cabinet. It was their protégés and old friends, and their confidants. They have an inescapable responsibility.

They taught the two emperors Hongzhi and Zhengde all day long to be frugal. In the end, it was the civilian bureaucracy under them that was the least thrifty.

The first emperor Xiaozong was criticized by them for repairing temples and Taoist temples. But the little money spent by Xiaozong is really small compared with the civil official group.

That night, Changfu.

Chang Feng and his son Chang Ponu sat opposite each other in the study and drank tea.

Chang Feng asked: "Do you know why the emperor appointed you as the deputy commander of the salt patrol?" ”

Chang Ponu thought for a moment and replied clearly: "First, I am the emperor's companion when he was a child. The emperor trusts me very much. ”

"Second, the salt patrol will offend a large number of people. If someone else is a deputy minister, he will definitely be suppressed and retaliated by several powerful factions afterwards. ”

"I'm different. Liu Jin, the head of the Eight Tigers, is a close friend of the Chang family. The eunuch faction behind the Hedong Salt Works did not dare to retaliate against me. ”

"I am the future son-in-law of the second assistant Li Dongyang. The civilian forces behind the two Huai and Zhejiang salt farms did not dare to retaliate against me. ”

"The Chang family is the life-saving benefactor of the two uncles. Chang and Zhang are relatives again. The royal forces behind the Changlu Salt Farm did not dare to retaliate against me. ”

"My brother-in-law is You Jingwu. You Jingwu's father, You Tianjue, was the confidant and favorite general of Liu Chengan, the governor of Fujian, during his lifetime. Liu Chengan has been in Fujian for more than ten years, and he has said nothing in Fujian. The wealthy families of several large seas behind the Fujian salt works did not dare to retaliate against me because of this relationship. ”

Chang Feng sighed: "Shibei should be impressed for three days." My son has only been in the officialdom for less than two months, but he can see the emperor's mind and know the current situation well, and my son is only nineteen years old! It's a promising future! ”

"However, on the other hand, you have a constant relationship with the powerful forces behind the five major salt works. When patrolling the salt, will you follow the path and open the net? ”

Chang Ponu said: "Father despises me too much!" Scholars should take it as their responsibility to support the community and benefit the people. If I had protected those powerful people who had usurped the salt profits, I would have read all the books of the sages in the dog's stomach in those ten years! ”

Chang Feng said with a smile: "This is the third reason why the emperor made an exception to appoint you as the deputy minister. Young people who have just entered the career will not be like the old oilmen of officialdom, looking ahead and backward in everything, playing tricks, and mud. ”

"Cleaning up salt is such a sharp and sensitive thing, and it is not possible to look ahead, play tricks, and thin mud."

Chang Ponu said: "Dad, I'm still young. Didn't think about this layer. Or are you cunning and cunning, no, you are old and thoughtful. ”

Chang Feng took a sip of tea and said with emotion: "The emperor knows people and uses people. Where is like a fifteen-year-old boy Tianzi, clearly like a fifty-year-old Mingjun! ”

Chang Ponu said: "However, there are people in the court who regard the emperor as a yellow-mouthed child!" ”

Chang Feng said: "Those people are cutting off their official careers and killing themselves!" Look, it won't be a few months, and there will be times when they cry. ”

At this moment, the servant Li Dongyang came to the house.

Chang Feng hurriedly took Chang Po Nu to see his future father-in-law.

Li Dongyang sat on a chair in the living room, full of resentment.

At the end of the day in the cabinet today, Liu Jian and Xie Qianming mocked and mocked him, and they were quite dissatisfied with him.

Xie Qian even said: "Brother Bin and the Chang family are married, and there will be one more big backer in the future!" ”

These words made Li Dongyang more disgusting than eating flies.

Okay, you talk about the marriage of Li and Chang. I prefer to be a good pair of relatives with the Chang family.

Not to mention, in officialdom, there is one more in-law and one more way. Whether you are resentful or jealous, that's your business.

I'm not ashamed!

In fact, Li Dongyang has long seen through one thing. Liu Jian and Xie Qian want to fiddle and manipulate Emperor Zhengde like a puppet, it is impossible!

They are playing with fire, and sooner or later they will set themselves on fire.

Before the big ship catches fire and sinks, abandon ship to survive. It's a wise choice.

Only by abandoning ship to survive and staying in the officialdom and the cabinet can we realize our lofty ambition of benefiting the livelihood of the Lebanese people.

Chang Feng and his son came to Li Dongyang.

Chang Feng arched his hand: "Second auxiliary." ”

Chang Ponu arched his hand: "Sir." ”

Li Dongyang returned the salute and said with a smile: "In the future, I will change my name to my family and virtuous son-in-law." ”

The three of them sat down. Li Dongyang said: "The emperor instructed the queen mother to give marriage." This is a great grace. ”

"However, this trip to patrol the salt of the slaves has to be done from Changlu to Fujian. Back and forth, at least two years. ”

"This year, the slave is nineteen, and the little girl is sixteen. The marriage has been delayed for two years, I'm afraid it's not appropriate. ”

Chang Feng said wistfully: "Yes." But he can't get married before he breaks the slave out of Beijing. The emperor's funeral was only two months, and marriage was forbidden for three months. ”

"If the children of the second assistant of the cabinet and the commander of the cavalry are married within three months of the emperor's funeral, I am afraid that the impeachment of the imperial historians will be full of dragon cases."

Li Dongyang said: "Yes, it's really sad. ”

Chang Feng thought for a moment: "That's it." Three days after breaking the slaves, he left Beijing. In August, he should be in the Shandong Salt Works. ”

"I sent dozens of robes to escort Ling Ai to Shandong in August. The marriage is simple, let them get married and round the house in Shandong. ”

"The imperial historians are in charge of the heavens and the earth, and they can't care about the simplicity of our two marriages, and our parents are not present."

Li Dongyang smiled: "Good idea! It's still a family member's mind. ”

Chang Ponu said: "It's just that Ping'er is treated badly by doing this." ”

Chang Feng said with a smile: "Look at the in-laws, the dog is a good husband who loves his wife!" ”

Li Dongyang said with a smile: "The student becomes a son-in-law, kisses and kisses, breaks bones and tendons." The little girl is entrusted to the broken slave, and I am a hundred relieved. ”

Speaking of this, Li Dongyang's words changed: "Broken slave, this time you follow Wang Miaoxin out of Beijing to patrol salt, you must be cautious in everything, and at the same time, you must be selfless." Don't take into account the intricacies of the various forces. ”

"If you look ahead, you won't be able to do your errand."

"The emperor gave you an exam question this time. If you answer the questions successfully, the future is limitless. If you can't hand in a qualified answer sheet, the emperor will abandon you as if you were a shoe. ”

"Qin Cha is making Wang Miaoxin a national player of the Tao and thoughtful. He's your father's old subordinate again. In everything, you have to consult with Wang Miaoxin a lot. ”

"I am your mentor of enlightenment. Before leaving, I would like to send you a word - as an official, you must always keep the well-being of the country and the people in mind. ”

Chang Ponu got up and saluted Li Dongyang respectfully: "Sir's teachings, keep in mind the slaves." ”

Li Dongyang said: "Okay." Go out and pack your bags. I have a few words to say to your father. ”

After Chang Ponu left, Li Dongyang said: "In-laws, I hope you can protect someone." ”

Chang Feng asked, "Who?" ”

Li Dongyang replied: "Chen Qing." ”

Chang Feng frowned: "Liu Jian and Xie Qian want to rectify Chen Qing?" ”

Li Dongyang nodded: "The letter that made the cabinet lose face was led by Chen Qing. His student, Xu Chen, signed his name. ”

"At the end of the day, Liu Jian, as the first assistant of the cabinet, rejected the minister's decision to promote Xu Chen to the Zhejiang Senate."

"In addition, Liu Jian also proposed in the cabinet room that Chen Qing be promoted to the secretary of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing."

Nanjing No. 6 Department is recognized as a pension yamen. The promotion of the left servant of the household department to the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Industry is a typical promotion and debasement.

Li Dongyang continued: "Liu Jian prevents Xu Chen's promotion, and there is nothing we can do. But at least Chen Qing must be kept in the household department. ”

"Chen Qing is an expert in financial management, and he can speak out. He was the left hall of the household department, which was a blessing for the court. ”

"As for how to protect it, I haven't figured it out yet. I think the in-laws are good at officialdom, and there should be a way. ”

Li Dongyang is actually quite a chicken thief. He didn't want to tear his face with Liu Jian and Xie Qian on the bright side. pushed Bao Chenqing's matter to Chang Feng.

Chang Feng naturally knows it.

But he still decided to listen to Li Dongyang and personally took action to protect Chen Qing.

Eighteen years ago, before his death, Wynne taught Chang Feng: "A qualified horseman must not only get rid of traitorous ministers, but also protect virtuous ministers." ”

The old minister's earnest teachings have never been forgotten by Chang Feng for eighteen years.

Thinking of this, Chang Feng smiled and said: "It's better for my in-laws to directly say that I am proficient in the side door." Don't worry, I'll take care of Chen Qing's affairs! ”

"If I can't protect Chen Qing, I'll be the leader of the Tiqi for so many years!"

"I don't just want to protect Chen Qing. It is also necessary to ensure that Xu Chen gets the position of senator in Zhejiang. If a good official loses the opportunity to be promoted because of direct advice and maladministration, is there still light in the court? ”

Li Dongyang said: "I see that my in-laws are confident, and it seems that they have already come up with a way." Can you tell me? ”

Chang Feng smiled slightly: "If you don't keep it secret, you will lose your minister, if you don't keep it secret, you will lose your body, and if you don't keep it secret, you will be harmful!" ”

Li Dongyang blurted out: "This sentence is from "Zhou Yi Dictionaries". It's me who is too talkative, I shouldn't ask. ”

Chang Feng has a big bag: "You just have to put your heart in your stomach." Chen Qinghui still sits in the seat of the left hall of the household department. Xu Chen will also be promoted to the Zhejiang Senate as he wishes. ”

Chen Qing and Xu Chen directly admonished the deficit of the state treasury, resulting in a loss of 40% of the civil officials in Beijing within three years. It also cut off their convenience for misappropriating state funds.

Naturally, the civilian clique could not accommodate these two people.

First, Xu Chen's promotion was rejected by the cabinet.

Two days later, Liu Jian, the first assistant of the cabinet, Xie Qian, a cabinet member, and 16 ministers of ministries and courts, and 100 civil officials of the fifth grade and above jointly played: Chen Qing, the left attendant of the household department, directly admonished that the financial malpractice was meritorious, and he should be promoted to the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Industry.

After the music is sparse, it is the kneel of the Qianqing Palace. The civil official group has the posture of "if the emperor does not 'promote' Chen Qing, we will kneel to death at the gate of the Qianqing Palace".

For the civil officials to kneel and admonish, Emperor Zhengde was annoyed and helpless.

Chang Feng took the initiative to meet Emperor Zhengde.

Emperor Zhengde looked irritated: "Do you see those people kneeling outside the hall?" They are bullying the people, bullying the king, bullying the bullying! ”

Chang Feng smiled slightly: "The emperor might as well approve their advice and order to promote Chen Qing to Nanjing." ”

Emperor Zhengde frowned: "Uncle, you shouldn't be soft on them, right?" ”

Chang Feng hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, the minister has a plan, but the will to be promoted cannot be implemented." ”

Chang Feng said this and this, and so

Emperor Zhengde smiled after hearing this: "Uncle is so treacherous, right, so resourceful!" ”

Chang Feng's method is very ingenious. He took advantage of a procedural loophole in the appointment and dismissal of Ming officials.

There is an important procedure to go through in the appointment and dismissal of officials, and that is the handover.

For example, the will is to let Chen Qingsheng be the secretary of the Ministry of Industry in Nanjing. He accepted the order and could not go to the post immediately.

Chen Qing needs to wait for his successor to arrive at the household department, complete the handover of errands, and hand over the official seal. After everything was done, Chen Qing was able to officially step down from his post as the left attendant of the household department and go to Nanjing.

The official position of the imperial court, a radish and a pit. A few days later, the civil official group had an internal consultation and drew up a candidate to take over the left hall of the household department, and the current left deputy capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Lin Yuan.

That night, Chang Feng took a secret file and found Chen Qing's student Xu Chen.

In this secret file, more than a dozen illegal affairs of Lin Yuan were recorded. The evidence is conclusive and the content is detailed.

Xu Chen is one of the officials in the science and technology. It is his job to participate in people.

In the early morning of the next day, Xu Chen played a sparse performance and participated in the impeachment of the sixth crime of dereliction of duty, the fourth crime of favoritism, and the third crime of embezzlement of ink.

Every crime is full of human and material evidence. The cabinet wanted to protect Lin Yuan, but could not do anything.

Lin Yuan lost his official position and resigned. Taking over the matter of the left servant of the household department, it is naturally yellow.

The civil official group discussed again and drew up the second candidate for the left hall of the household department, Honglu Temple Qing Gao Youde.

Chang Feng once again took a secret file and found Xu Chen.

Xu Chen played again and impeached Gao Youde of Honglu Temple for fornicating with a maidservant, and his private morality was lost.

There are not only witnesses to this impeachment - the servant girl who had an affair with Gao Siqing. There is also physical evidence, dirty pants stained with dirty things, or a whole three.

Gao Youde was demoted two levels and retained in his original position. The matter of being promoted to the left hall of the household department was in vain.

The civilian-government clique continued to deliberate. The third candidate for the left hall of the household department was formulated. Governor of Henan, Wu Zhize.

Chang Feng took the secret file for the third time, and met Xu Chen at night.

Xu Shen played the song for the third time. During his tenure of office, Wu Zhize annexed 2,763 acres of land in Luoyang, with a total number of zero and whole. The evidence is also conclusive.

Wu Zhize was dismissed from the post of governor of Henan and was never reinstated.

With the secret support of Chang Feng, Xu Chen participated in the impeachment three times and overthrew three successors of Chen Qing.

Things have come to such a point that even a fool can see it. Someone wants to protect Chen Qing, and whoever takes over Chen Qing will be unlucky.

Liu Jian and Xie Qiantou are almost big! At present, no one in the entire civil official group is willing to be promoted to the left waiter of the household department.

No one wants to follow in the footsteps of Lin Yuan, Gao Youde, and Wu Zhize.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian had already guessed that there must be a factory guard and Chang Feng standing behind Xu Chen.

Otherwise, how could a small giving thing be so powerful? Whoever picks up his teacher's errand, whose black material will he have? And the evidence is conclusive!

No one dared to take over the civil service. Chen Qing's appointment and dismissal procedures will not be completed.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian had no choice but to give up the idea of squeezing out Chen Qing.

Liu Jian wrote a letter to end this unwinnable battle. The content of the note is: There is no suitable successor to the left servant of the household department. It was suggested that the emperor order Chen Qing to stay in office. After finding a suitable candidate, he will be transferred to Nanjing.

Chen Qing was successfully protected by Chang Feng.

Immediately afterwards, Chang Feng began a more sassy operation.

He found Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the ministry. Let Lao Ma give Emperor Zhengde a lesson as a heavenly official.

The content of the note is: Xu Chen was given to the military department, and he participated in the impeachment of two ministers and a feudal official. It should be promoted. It just so happened that there was a vacancy in the Zhejiang Senate. Xu Chen can be promoted to Zhejiang Senate.

For the Ming Dynasty's officials, their greatest credit is to participate in the overthrow of high-ranking officials. The greater the number of officials who have fallen, the greater the merit.

Within seven days, Xu Chen participated in the defeat of a left deputy capital Yushi, a Honglu Siqing, and a Henan governor. That's a lot of credit. It was only natural to be promoted to the Senate of Zhejiang. What's more, there is also the sponsorship of the officials of the ministry?

The Cabinet didn't want to say anything more.

As a result, Xu Chen successfully got the Zhejiang Senator hat that belonged to him.

However, Xu Chen has always offended the powerful civilian-bureaucratic group. He has no promotion in this life, and he has achieved the highest position in the senate in his life.

At least in the short term, Chang Feng won a big victory in this confrontation with the civilian clique. Changfeng Tianxiu, show numbness.

(End of chapter)