First Minister of Ming Dynasty

He didn't dare to assassinate Zhu Yuanzhang now. If he went back and was caught by Zhu Yidou's minions, his fate would be miserable.

Just do it!

If I surrender myself, I can also add another crime to Zhu Yidou. This can be regarded as my voluntary surrender, and I have done meritorious service.

This assassin's thinking is also powerful!

If it was an earthquake when Zhu Yuanzhang marched into Jinling more than a month ago, then the victory of Zhu Yidou this time was a catastrophe, and the suppressed public opinion gushed out like magma from the ground!

People flocked to the yamen to report, and there were more and more cases of various kinds.Zhang Ximeng had no choice but to call Yang Yuangao and Ruan Hongdao over, and even greeted Li Shanchang, asking him to help clarify the case.

After almost half a month of tossing, both Li Shanchang and Zhang Ximeng agreed that this case would never be investigated.

"My lord, according to the report, there are no less than three hundred confirmed human transactions, which are directly related to Zhu Yidou, and there are dozens of male transactions among them!"

Old Zhu was taken aback, "He buys and sells girls, why is he also buying and selling boys?"

"This..." Zhang Ximeng grinned, and Li Shanchang coughed lightly, "Your Majesty, there are quite a few Mongolian nobles, wealthy businessmen, and even scholars, and there is a book boy by his side... All in all, it was quite a fun time. "

Only then did Lao Zhu realize that these grandsons of Ganqing really have a wide range of hobbies!

"Should be killed! Everyone should be killed! One cannot be kept!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was really angry, didn't he say that Zhu Yidou was righteous?Do you take care of your fellow countrymen?Is this the care method?

In fact, this nonsense can be easily explained. Zhu Yidou is so kind to his fellow villagers, and he can give Yuan Ting a lot of food and grass. He also has a huge family business... Could it be that he has a cornucopia?Can money be conjured out of thin air?

If not, then there must be something wrong, where is his money coming from!

According to Zhang Ximeng's investigation, Zhu Yidou's industries include but are not limited to human trafficking, casinos, brothels, pawnshops, banks, commercial firms, docks, private salt... A book of criminal law, except for the cover, he did everything, Zhang San's book belongs to yes.

In name, he helped the suffering folks, but once he accepted his help, he basically became a servant of the Zhu family, who would be crushed to the bone and squeezed to death.

"My lord, Zhu Yidou also sponsored many people to study."

"Reading? This is a good thing!"

Li Shanchang said with a dark face: "Master, these people who can read and write were all put into the yamen by Zhu Yidou and became scribes!"

In an instant, Lao Zhu was so angry that his facial features moved, and his chest was full of anger!

bastard!

"There are also many people from Zhu Yidou in the Yamen?"

Li Shanchang nodded, "At least [-]%, especially those who collect taxes, are almost all arranged by him!"

Now, Lao Zhu has nothing to say.

This Great Yuan Dynasty is really worthless, and let a gangster run rampant to this extent!

With such a court, there is no natural justice if it does not die.

"It must be thoroughly investigated. Anything related to Zhu Yidou must not be kept!"

Li Shanchang shook his head, "Superior, I'm afraid it won't work!"

"No?" Old Zhu raised his brows, "Mr. Li, explain it to us!"

Zhang Ximeng hurriedly said: "My lord, don't get me wrong, I discussed it with Brother Baishi, and our consensus is to overthrow it completely and recruit officials again!"

"What do you mean?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked puzzled.

Li Shanchang bowed and explained, "Superior, I mean to abolish Jiqing Road, change Jinling to Yingtian Mansion, and then from top to bottom, recruit officials again. Only [-]% of the original people will be retained, and some will be transferred from the army, and then passed on from the people. A group will be selected through the examination. Only in this way can the cancer be completely eradicated, the bad government be cleaned up, and the people of Jinling be restored to a bright future!"

It is really rare that Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang have achieved a high degree of agreement.

Yuan Ting's system is already rotten, and Jiqing Road, as the center of Jiangnan, is even more short of a collection of hundreds of schools, without any merits.

This also proves that only when the order of the imperial court collapses can there be room for people like Zhu Yidou to grow barbarously.

After Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it, he decisively ordered that the case of Zhu Yidou, judging from the crimes that were found, was too numerous to write down.

It must be dealt with seriously and quickly. There may be many things that have not been investigated clearly, but this does not prevent immediate execution. The request of the people must be responded to as soon as possible.

On the contrary, this kind of heinous crime, because it is limited by the official files of the case, has no results for a long time, and that is the greatest injustice.

In troubled times, use heavy codes to cut through the mess with a sharp knife.

Zhu Yuanzhang circled one hundred and seven names in one breath.

Among them, Zhu Yidou was sentenced to be hanged, and Lao Zhu also specifically explained that he should peel the real grass and hang it in the Temple of the City God to alert the world.

After this notice was posted, Jinling City was boiling.

Over the past few decades, the big guys have seen too many big people's ups and downs, but what do these high-ranking officials have to do with the common people... Anyway, no matter who they change, it is the common people who are bullied, and people like Zhu Yidou will always be bullied. The accomplice of the superior, stands firm.

However, the Zhu family's army did not believe in evil, so they wanted to execute Zhu Yidou and change the decades-old rules!

How can the people not be excited?

Perhaps the change they were looking forward to had really come!

When the day of execution came, considering that there might be a large number of people, it was chosen to be executed outside the city.

But even so, the crowds were still underestimated.

Perhaps no one would have imagined that the first ones to come were the girls from the brothels. They were different from the gorgeous girls in the past. They were all dressed in dark clothes, and most of them had clean faces, without any attire. When they arrived, they just stared at With the gallows.

"Yes, will he be executed? Don't let the old thief hide!"

A woman said in a low voice.

The rest of the people also clenched their teeth, stared wide-eyed, held their breath, and were too nervous to speak out.

Finally, the soldiers of Zhu's army escorted the prisoner to the execution ground. When they saw Zhu Yidou, who was limp as mud, everyone was overjoyed, and the women in the brothel cried out with tears in their eyes!

"Kill! Kill him!"

"Kill the old thief!"

The voice is higher than the wave, the human heart is so, so is God's will!

The time came quickly, and there were no accidents, Zhu Yidou was sent to the gallows, and the old man died of exhaustion after struggling for a while.

Afterwards, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's instructions, he peeled off the skin... Immediately, they all praised and applauded in unison!

A Master Zhu is dead, and a Marshal Zhu is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people...

Chapter 176

Zhu Yidou's group was completely destroyed, and Zhu Yuanzhang immediately dealt with the original Jiqing Road officials. More than 80 people were sentenced to beheaded for taking bribes and breaking the law, or even killing people.

Later, among the captives, he identified more than 170 generals and officials who had committed evil deeds such as killing good men and robbing women, and executed them all.

There were more than 300 heads, dripping with blood, more than the sum of executions in the past three years. Everyone in Jinling was horrified.

Zhu Yuanzhang was quite satisfied, "Mr. Zhang, it's thanks to you that you didn't start a massacre!"

Zhang Ximeng grinned, you can really talk, people call you a butcher, what exactly is a head roll?

Obviously, Zhu Yuanzhang's understanding of mass murder and Zhang Ximeng is not in the same dimension.

But there is one thing neither of them can ignore, and that is the urgent need for talents, especially those who manage the place.

Zhu Yuanzhang has already issued an order to change Jiqing Road to Yingtian Mansion and Taiping Road to Taiping Mansion. Other places are also being adjusted. This is not just as simple as changing a brand. came.In a word, push to rebuild!

In the past, most of the officials of the Yuan court had to be recruited from outside, except for a few who could continue to use them.

In a word, it is necessary to obtain a doctor.

"Sir, what do you think we should do this time? Do you want to imitate Yuan Ting and hold a lively imperial examination?" Lao Zhu asked seriously. The Zhang family was considered authoritative in the Yuan Dynasty regarding the imperial examination.

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "My lord, the imperial examination is actually just a formality. It is nothing more than gathering people together, passing a relatively fair assessment, finding some talents from them, and enriching them to the corresponding positions. So the real key is who can come to participate. The exam, the Lord plans to pass the exam, how many talents will he absorb?"

As soon as Zhang Ximeng opened his mouth, his argument was different from others... Lao Zhu also asked Li Shanchang about this matter, and even Jia Lu and Zhu Sheng. Doctors, etc., all of them are quite good, but they are not so meaningful.

Talking with Zhang Ximeng now, Lao Zhu suddenly became enlightened. He seems to understand that they are all recruiting talents by opening courses, but there is a basic question, what is talent?

Really, when you read ancient prose, many poems and essays are often lamented by people who have not met their talents, but if you study carefully, they really have no talent except for writing poems and essays.

It's not that you don't have talent, but that you don't have talent!

In history, Zhu Yuanzhang's talent problem in the early days was generally recruited and actively sought refuge.

For example, Li Shanchang met on the way to Chuzhou. After crossing the Yangtze River, he took in Su Ru Tao An and Li Xi, and then Wang Guangyang, Yang Xian and others took refuge in him. Relying on these people, the early overall situation was supported.

It wasn't until the first year of Wu, that is, when Lao Zhu basically established his status as the king of the southern region, and was preparing for the Northern Expedition to compete for the national championship, he announced the establishment of the second civil and martial arts department to recruit talents through examinations.

After officially enthroned, it was not until the fourth year of Hongwu that there was the first official examination. Only 120 people passed the examination.

With Zhang Ximeng's intervention, Lao Zhu was ready to take the imperial examination more than ten years in advance.

From the perspective of the site, Lao Zhu is not much bigger than in history, but from the perspective of internal construction, it is completely different.

"My lord, there are two types of talents. One is the talent in people's eyes, and the other is the talent that the country needs. It depends on how the lord chooses."

"Is there no talent that people think the country needs?" Old Zhu asked in a deep voice.

"Maybe there is, but fame is one thing, and ability to do things is another. And since ancient times, there is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts. There may be only a few people who are famous in the world. Ten, twenty One? But governing a country is different. Thousands of people are needed. Among these people, there must be many unknown people. .”

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, "Your words are also reasonable. Candidates must have both ability and political integrity?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled again, "That's certainly true, but how rare are people with both ability and political integrity! My lord, how many officials do you think we need to manage Ying Tian well?"

Old Zhu paused, "Yingtian Mansion has a population of 10, at least a thousand officials!"

"Then the lord is going to pass the assessment, how many people to choose?"

"This..." Lao Zhu pondered.

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "My lord, it is true to have both ability and political integrity, but the sage also said that human nature is inherently good. Except for a very small number of treacherous and evil people who cannot be used, there are no small people with no virtue." How many people are there? And the so-called selection of those who have both ability and political integrity, if there is no supervision and review, who can control their own hands and feet?"

"That's why it is said that a gentleman is cautious and independent. There are not many real gentlemen in the world. Most people are just ordinary people. If they are given opportunities, strict management, and clear supervision, they will make fewer mistakes. On the contrary, they will be more serious. That's all. "

Zhang Ximeng lowered his voice, "My lord, let me say a few more words that are too much. The so-called selection of talented people who are famous all over the world, and talents with both ability and political integrity. According to this standard, the current lord can only select dozens of people... these dozens What can an individual do, fill up the magistrates in several prefectures, fill up the county magistrates, arrange some supervisors, leave a few councilors with the army, help the lord plan military affairs, supply military supplies, and that's all. "

"The government office, the county government office, and the people who work in the army, how to select and enrich them? Shouldn't these famous people from all over the world who have 'both political integrity and ability' choose? Do you think so?"

After Zhang Ximeng said a few words, Lao Zhu suddenly changed color!

He quickly realized the root of the matter... In fact, this is not a question of virtue or talent, but a question of how many talents he, the lord, can directly use.

More fundamentally, it is the fundamental question of how much power he can have!

Old Zhu became serious, and after a long time, he sighed, stretched out his hand, put it on Zhang Ximeng's shoulder, and said from the bottom of his heart: "Sir, only you can tell us this kind of thing!"

Needless to say, Zhu Yuanzhang already knew it well.

In fact, if you think about the imperial examination a little bit, you will find a very interesting situation. Taking the Ming Dynasty as an example, the imperial examination held every three years admitted 400 people, and one to 200 people.

Conversely, looking at the official positions of Ming Dynasty, there should be only a few thousand people above the seventh rank, from the county magistrates, prefects, inspectors, and political envoys outside to the six ministries and nine ministers in the capital.

In other words, ten imperial examinations, 30 years, just rotate these official positions once.

If the average age of Jinshi is 30 years old, and the average life expectancy of the ancients is 60 years old... what will happen?

The logic is closed!

That is to say, once a person is admitted as a Jinshi, even if he is a top three Jinshi, he can also be released as a county magistrate. If he has no pursuit, does not seek meritorious service, but only seeks no merit, he can live in peace for 30 years and enjoy lying in bed. Win the perfect life!

Before you are admitted to Jinshi, you may have a hard time for ten years, and you may be tempted to endure, but as long as you pass the exam, you will only be happy.

No disease, no disaster, chic and unrestrained, if you are a master for a lifetime, your descendants will still be able to enjoy the blessings.

Look, the imperial examination is such a beautiful thing!

Of course, the rivalry between the DPRK and China, and open and secret arrows against each other, are naturally indispensable.But I'm sorry, this is just the ups and downs of the scholar group. Even those who lose the struggle, whether they go to the Sixth Department of Nanjing or return to their hometowns to become homeboys, are ten thousand times more expensive than ordinary people.

People just dropped from 33 days to 30 days, which is just as ungrounded.

In a word, the imperial examination seems to be a grand ceremony for the imperial court to select talents for the country, and all those who come out of the exam are the disciples of the emperor.

But after a little analysis, you will find that the imperial examination is nothing more than the metabolism and replacement of officials.

Moreover, through the limitation of the number of people, the intensity of competition has also been greatly reduced.

What is protected is only the interests of elite scholars who can be admitted to Jinshi.

It is roughly the same as other universities except Oxford and Cambridge are not considered universities, and scholars who fail to pass the Jinshi examination are not considered scholars.And once admitted to Jinshi, you can guarantee a lifetime of prosperity and wealth, as long as you don't risk your life, you can live a good and comfortable life, Humphrey per capita is yes.

Except for Zhang Ximeng, no one really would tell Lao Zhu about this kind of thing.

With the exception of Lao Zhu, the rest of the emperors had no other way to deal with the perfectly closed-loop imperial examination system and the civil service group, except to shout out.

The slightly promising emperor could only release the factory guards, relying on domestic servants and vicious dogs to fight against the mature civil official group, the result is self-evident.