First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Li Shanchang frowned, his heart was beating wildly.

He participated in previous discussions, but to be honest, Li Shanchang didn't listen to much. What he said directly was the fantasy of a few literati, and what he talked about was just to deceive the people and buy people's hearts.

But today, Li Shanchang suddenly discovered that these are not empty talk, but real things, which will really affect Zhu Jiajun's choice of path.

What should I do?

Is it to continue to fight?

Li Shanchang was a little scared. After all, he didn't see through Zhu Yuanzhang's mind, and he was facing the fate of being eliminated. Zhang Ximeng may not be as good as him...

The more Li Shanchang thought about it, the more frightened he was, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Zhang, Zhang Xiang... I, I'm not inflexible and don't know how to adapt. I've said everything I should say. There are indeed many things that are not suitable for women to be officials. The six ministries are procuratorates, and nowhere is suitable. If you force For this, I'm afraid it will ruin the big thing!"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, "Li Xiang, it's not convenient for me to say something to my lord... But between the two of us, we might as well make it clear. The six departments are really not suitable for women to be officials? Let's take the official department." Said, although responsible for the selection of officials, the authority is the heaviest, it seems that women are not suitable. However, the Ministry of Officials also needs to master the files of hundreds of officials, the evaluation of officials, and the awards and rewards, and even the list of meritorious soldiers. After the Ministry of War is determined, the official The Ministry has to verify it before issuing a complaint... With so many things, is it true that no woman can do it?"

"I won't go into details about the other ministries. If Li Xiangfei wants to find out things that women can't do, so as to prevaricate the lord, isn't he afraid that the lord will wake up and take revenge on Li Xiang?"

Li Shanchang's old face was pale, and his hands in his sleeves were trembling... Zhang Ximeng didn't seem to want to let him go, and said with a smile: "The so-called defense between men and women is not a big deal, as long as they work separately, I still don't believe it. Which blind person dares to moles a powerful official?"

Zhang Ximeng paused, and then said: "Li Xiang, if you want to block it, you can find a hundred excuses, but as long as you sincerely let it go, it's only a matter of one thought! It's not so difficult to recruit people based on their abilities. What's more, after passing the examination of the Academy of Sciences, you have to go through the history of various ministries, and you will be awarded an official position if you are really competent. Will there really be so many inconveniences?"

Chapter 231 The Fall of the Giants

Jiang Nan wandered around Jinling for several days, and she was also very curious about what kind of place it is, where women are allowed to take the exam, and there is even a proposal to let women be officials.

But when she was walking on the streets of Jinling, she gradually realized that maybe it really wasn't, this city was different from what she remembered...

"Uncle Qi, don't you feel that something is missing?"

Uncle Qi took a serious look, and then said with a smile: "Girl, the casinos are closed!"

"casino?"

"Yes! Not only casinos, but also brothels. It seems that there are not many pawn shops."

Jiang Nan frowned slightly, it was indeed a lot less.There is no doubt that casinos and brothels are harmful places, and even pawnshops are places that suck the bones.

"It's really gone! Seventh uncle, are they all from the Zhu family's army?"

"Yeah!" Uncle Qi nodded, "I've inquired about it. The Zhu family's army is really unusual. They dare to do things that others can't. A wave of vigor!"

Jiang Nan smiled slightly, "Seventh Uncle, tell me, which Jinling is better?"

Uncle Qi sighed: "Does it need to be said! Naturally, the current one is better, but in Jinling today, there are a lot of opportunities to sit back and enjoy the benefits. I'm afraid it's a rich and powerful family, so they may not like it!"

Jiang Nan blinked, and suddenly said: "Then Uncle Seven, do you think our Jiang family is a wealthy family?"

Jiang family?

It seems that it is really hard to say, the history of the Jiang family is not short, and it can be traced back hundreds of years. It is not a top wealthy family, but it is also a wealthy family.

It's just that the Jiang family has not been very prosperous. When the Song Dynasty fell, the Jiang family lost a lot of people. Over the past hundred years, it has become more and more sparse. There are no official officials in the court. They are just ordinary Anhui merchant families. Bar!

Thanks to the signing of the order with Zhu Jiajun, the family showed signs of re-development. .

"Girl, the Jiang family's family style is upright, and the master treats others generously. If you ask me, sooner or later, the Jiang family will be rich and powerful! No matter how they catch up with the uncle's family!"

Jiang Nan couldn't help laughing, "Seventh Uncle is really good at talking. Uncle is from a scholarly family. Half of Suzhou belongs to their family. Unless they have the ability to buy half of Jinling, why should they be compared with Uncle? What's more Uncle is a first-class figure in the world, married to a wife who is the best in the world, he is like a god among gods, who wouldn't envy him?"

When the uncle's house was mentioned, Jiang Nan's interest suddenly came, and he kept talking.

Uncle Qi smiled, "Girl, if you pass the exam this time, if you become an official, you will be able to meet your aunt."

Jiang Nan's heart moved, but she had an idea, but she shook her head, "Suzhou is currently in Zhang Shicheng's hands. I heard that his reputation is far inferior to Zhu Jiajun. Now that there is no news, it is better not to cause trouble."

Jiang Nan chatted with Uncle Qi, and walked to the front of a tavern. It was almost noon, and they asked for two dishes and something to eat. They walked in, only to find that two waiters were walking out with a person.

The person who was carried tried desperately to explain, "I was wronged, then, why is that a fake treasure?"

The buddy sneered, "It's true, we know each other, you don't have much money when you come to eat, even if you let you eat for free, it's nothing. But you shouldn't deceive people with fake treasures, let me tell you." , this is not a small matter, if you don’t make it right, I’ll cut off your head!”

"what!"

The man yelled in fright, "You, you can't treat me like this. Zhu Jiajun is a teacher of benevolence and righteousness. How could he frame a good person... I am wronged! I am wronged!"

Encountering this kind of thing head-on, Jiang Nan planned to slip away, but just as she turned to leave, she suddenly felt that this person's yelling voice was so familiar.

She turned her head, took a closer look, and suddenly exclaimed, "Uncle!"

When he yelled out, the man suddenly turned his head and saw Jiang Nan. He didn't recognize the girl, but he found Uncle Qi... He subconsciously turned his head to the side, afraid of being recognized, with an old face , has become as popular as fire!

Seventh Uncle also recognized at this time that this person was the uncle they had been talking about for a long time. If it was a coincidence, it was a coincidence. How did he end up in Jinling?

They can't be two identical people!

After all, the master of the Zheng family, no matter how down-and-out he is, he wouldn't look like this!

But at this moment, a few patrolling soldiers came over.

When the man saw it, he immediately went up to meet him, and handed a treasure note to the soldier.

The soldier took it in his hand, and after just looking at it, he recognized that it was indeed a fake.

"This person uses fake treasure notes?"

The buddy nodded, "I don't know if he still has it on him!"

The soldier came over, grabbed the man, tore open his skirt, and a thick pile fell out of his arms.The soldier leaned over to pick it up, and after only a cursory look, his face paled in shock.

"There are so many fake banknotes, it's really cowardly, send him to the government office, look, this head can't be kept!"

The soldiers grabbed the man and walked straight to the yamen.

This person is already in a daze at this moment, he is struggling desperately at this moment, and keeps defending, but it is of no use at all.

Seeing his uncle being taken away, Jiang Nan's expression changed with fright, "Uncle Qi, no, did you admit your mistake?"

Uncle Qi shook his head, "Girl, it is indeed Uncle, why did he take so many treasures? He was arrested? We can't just ignore it!"

Jiang Nan pondered for a moment, then hurriedly chased after him.

By the time they arrived at the government office, the news had already spread.

As the biggest counterfeiting case since the issuance of treasure banknotes, the Chief Mint Master Lu Zhou was called over, along with Zhu Ying.

He is also very curious, who is it that is so bold that he doesn't want to live anymore?

When they saw it, they were a little discouraged.

The person who committed such a major crime turned out to be just a down-and-out middle-aged man who looked like he was literate.

Lu Zhou looked at it seriously, and then said: "You have two thousand coins in your body. Such a large amount is enough to cut off ten of your heads! Please explain clearly as soon as possible, where did these treasures come from?"

The middle-aged man was stunned for a long time, and finally heaved a long sigh. He suddenly raised his slap, and slapped his face hard several times. Blood flowed down the corner of his mouth.

"I, I deserve what I deserve, kill me!"

He was so desperate that he wanted to die.

But at this moment, there was a sudden noise outside, and Jiang Nan walked in after a while.She rushed straight to the man.

"Uncle, do you still recognize me?"

The man was stunned again, he turned his eyes with difficulty, looked at Jiang Nan, tears welled up, and couldn't stop it.

"Uncle is a waste, uncle is useless!"

Jiang Nan could only keep comforting, and said to the man: "Uncle, I, I just took the exam for the Academy of Sciences, what's the matter with you, just tell me, maybe, maybe I can help you!"

After Jiang Nan finished speaking, the man was fine. Zhu Ying was stunned. Oh my god, it was you? Are you the female food chief who made everyone quarrel?

This thing is getting more and more interesting.

What the hell is going on?

After a while, the man seemed to calm down, and finally spoke... His name is Shi Boren, and he is Jiang Nan's uncle. The city belongs to Shi Boren's daughter-in-law.

That's right, his daughter-in-law is a well-known talented woman named Zheng Yunduan, not to mention both talent and beauty, but also a huge family fortune.

When these two families get together, the money and wealth are equal, a scholarly family, and a talented woman in the world, when they get married, no one will say envy!

At that time, Jiang Nan was still young, but it was still engraved in his heart and unforgettable.

What is a golden jade match!

But all the good things don't last long.

With the rise of the Red Turban Army, both the Shi family and the Zheng family suffered catastrophe... First, Monk Peng attacked Hangzhou, and they lost a lot of money. Then, they organized townships in various places. Chen Ye first took 30 taels from the Shi family.

Fortunately, the two companies have rich backgrounds and can still support them.

But when Zhang Shicheng crossed the Yangtze River and took Suzhou City, the bad days for the two families came.

Zhang Shicheng urgently needs money to expand his army and support tens of thousands of people.He didn't learn Zhu's army's equal distribution of farmland, but he learned how to fight against the powerful.

The Shi family and the Zheng family are both rich and wealthy, but the two families have married again.

That's you!

With Zhang Shicheng's big sword held high, sustainable fishing began.

10 taels today, 20 taels tomorrow... Don’t worry about the fatness of the sheep, as long as you squeeze it hard, within half a year, the two families will be difficult to maintain, and the situation will be exhausted.

What's more terrible is that Zheng Yunduan is still ill. This famous talented girl just passed away when she was just in her thirties.

In grief, Shi Boren buried his wife, spent the last bit of family property, and even sold the house.After he had no choice but to take his wife's manuscript and some antique calligraphy and paintings, he escaped from Suzhou and arrived in Jinling.

Jiang Nan was shocked when he heard this. The fairy-like aunt died young?

Zhang Shicheng, this bastard, is too hateful!

"Uncle, you, why did you get together with Baochao? Who gave it to you?"

Shi Boren was startled, and suddenly sighed, tears streaming down his face, "I, I'm so confused! When I arrived in Jinling, I rented a house and sorted out your aunt's manuscripts. I was afraid that all my hard work would be in vain... A few days ago, I, I took out a few antiques and asked someone to exchange them for precious banknotes. He has exchanged them for me several times. He is very honest. I am thinking about exchanging more this time. The manuscript is printed. Yes, but why is he not faithful?"

Hearing this, Zhu Ying couldn't help laughing and said: "Sure enough, I have stayed in the Shenzhai compound for a long time, and I don't know that people's hearts are sinister. Why don't you go to Baochao Bank by yourself?"

"I, I..." Shi Borennuo was speechless, with his background, he had never done anything by himself in the past many years, so it was really hard for him to show his face.

Moreover, Zhu Jiajun also closed many pawn shops in Jinling. He had no place to pawn his antiques and treasures, so he could only ask others for help.

Once or twice, people saw that he was too easy to bully, so they did the trick.

After listening to her uncle's statement, Jiang Nan felt really sympathetic, and thinking of her aunt's tragic death, she couldn't help weeping. She looked up at Lu Zhou and Zhu Ying, and said eagerly, "I, what my uncle said is absolutely true. , I, I am willing to compensate him, and I hope to spare his life!"

Lu Zhou hurriedly said: "No, if it's true what he said, not only is he not guilty, but we will catch the real culprit and bring back those antiques."

Zhu Ying nodded, "That's right, let him tell me, who is the wicked one?"

Jiang Nan turned to look at Shi Boren, "Uncle, hurry up!"

Shi Boren was startled, and then said: "This man is said to be my landlord's nephew, and there is a mole on the corner of his mouth... I, let me draw a picture for you!"

A quarter of an hour later, a lifelike portrait fell into the hands of Lu Zhou and Zhu Ying.

Really worthy of being a great talent, the painting is so good!

"It's done, just wait, it will be caught soon."

Chapter 232 Equal Opportunities

"Don't plant flowers by the side of an official road, and marry a daughter not to marry a prince. The officials and passers-by who plant flowers will take them, and the queen will soon be married. The flowers fade, the color changes, and the separation from the Luan breaks the mirror. It is better to marry Tian Shelang, the Prime Minister Bai I can't see the hall."

Holding the manuscript of the poem, Ma recited it silently, and couldn't help but sighed, "This person is not only a talented woman, but also a sage. It is really unexpected that such a person died young and was killed by Zhang Shicheng! Chongba, how can you Can't let Zhang Shicheng go!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded quickly, even if there was no such thing, he would not make Zhang Shicheng feel better.

"Don't worry, sister, we just didn't expect that this Jiang Nan has such a good relative."

Mrs. Ma chuckled, and closed the poem in her hand, "It's nothing difficult to guess. She's a girl who dared to send food to Jinling, and took the exam for the Academy of Sciences. She was well-organized and calm. Her family background is unusual.. It is said that children from poor families have long been in charge of the family, but it is actually nonsense. I have never seen it, I have never been taught, and I don’t understand anything, so how can I be in charge of the family?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in praise and said: "Madam is wise...but that Shi Boren is a little confused. He lived a life for nothing, let alone ruined his family, and was cheated by people with precious money. It's really pitiful."

Ma sighed softly: "This is because you are used to being high above the ground, and you can't bear the sudden fall... Those few money dealers, but you caught them?"

"I caught it. They found a hundred thousand guan banknotes... Fortunately, they found it early, otherwise it would be a major disaster if it entered the market. So, Shi Boren has done a great job."

……

The couple were chatting, and on the other side, Shi Boren, who had washed away his grievances, had lost all hope. Although Zhu Jiajun would not kill him, what face did he have to live now?What do you live on?

"Uncle, how can life be smooth sailing in this world? It is true that the blow this time is too great, but there is no need to give up on yourself. I think Zhu's army has strict laws, officials are clean, and can distinguish right from wrong. Uncle might as well find a way to do things for Zhu's army. When he returns to Suzhou in the future, he will also be able to fight against the enemy. To avenge my aunt!"