First Minister of Ming Dynasty

The clever officials came up with an excellent idea, that is to prepare several chapters of blank official documents with big seals in advance, and fill in as many as they actually shipped, so as to avoid trouble.

perfect!

Wait, is there no problem with such a genius idea?

The problem is big, because the officials fill it in casually, and there is no basis for it. How much is shipped from the place, and how much is lost along the way... How much difference in the middle depends on the mood of the handling official.

This is not the most terrible thing. These officials have a lot of blank official documents in their hands. If he said that they were lost on the road, can they collect them again?

Zhu Yuanzhang talked about the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes he encountered when he was a child, and they were collected over and over again, which is how it came about.

Knowing these things, when Zhu Yuanzhang established the tax system, he used the grain chief to collect it, so as to prevent local officials from taking the opportunity to blackmail the people.

Whoever owns Wan and you owns the whole world

Although the head of grain may not be foolproof, it is much better than officials messing about casually.

It stands to reason that under Zhu Yuanzhang's rule, the situation of "empty seals" no longer exists.

But this time, in order to build Yingtian, the amount of bricks, tiles and wood that needs to be purchased is very large, as well as raw lacquer, tung oil, brass, etc., which are all amazing.

The construction period is only a few months, and the Ministry of Industry sent many people to buy...and it is required that the purchase must be sufficient, and no secondary purchases are allowed.If it affects the progress of the project, it will cost your head.

Therefore, many blank official documents appeared on the Ministry of Households side, in order to facilitate the purchase of officials to write off the accounts.

"Li Xiang, I, I swear to God, it is all to speed up the progress of the project and to ensure that Yingtian City is repaired. There is absolutely no selfishness. Just do it well, and turn around and kill the donkey, and take the household department to sacrifice the flag! How can anyone do more, and they will be charged with a big crime! If this continues, the hearts of loyal ministers will be chilled!"

Ruan Hongdao was heartbroken and begged earnestly.

However, in Lao Li's eyes, his various performances were completely undisturbed.

"I didn't participate in the preparations for the grand ceremony this time. Prime Minister Zhang is also in charge of the process and etiquette, focusing on the overall situation... As for the specific work, it is the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Industry, and Honglu Temple... Among them, your department of households has done a lot The most, and the most money in your hands. Why are you so careless? Now there are rumors that the branch office is watching, and you come to me. What can I do? Something happened to the household department, and I will go to plead guilty. The superior wants to kill I deserve what I deserve, so can I still cover criminals?"

Hearing this, Ruan Hongdao was out of his wits. Li Shanchang, is he planning to ignore himself?

"Li Xiang, in the final analysis, we are all doing things for the superior, for the sake of the superior's face, we must be beautiful and decent. Now the Du Branch Bureau is staring at us, maybe Zhang Xiang instructed us behind it. Li Xianggong, he Zhang Ximeng To be a sage, you have to let people live! He bullies people like this, Li Xiang can't ignore it..."

"Shut up for me!"

Li Shanchang jumped up, his eyes were red with anger.

"Okay! Not only are you greedy for ink, but you even dare to instigate my relationship with Zhang Xiang and drive apart important court officials... I think you are impatient. I am too small to tolerate you. Please You go out now, go to Fengtian Hall, and find the superior. If you can explain the truth clearly and convince the superior, not to mention a mere difference in money and food, even if you are given the position under the Zhongshumen, that is also true. Of course! I, Li Shanchang, and Zhang Xiang will go to Jimin Academy to teach, and I will be happy and carefree!"

Ruan Hongdao's old face was flushed and restless, and he hurriedly said: "Li Xiangming, I'm an official, that's not what I mean by being an official... I'm saying that it's difficult to do things, and Zhang Xiang doesn't eat the fireworks of the world. , was deceived."

Li Shanchang looked at Ruan Hongdao coldly, and suddenly smiled coldly, "You said Zhang Xiang was cheated, so let me ask you, how can you prove that you didn't lie to me? How can you prove that the people below didn't lie to you? The last time the tax department was established, I reminded you to check the people below, and those who play monkeys should not be fooled by monkeys!"

"I, I can't deal with many people. You know Li Xiang." Ruan Hongdao argued in a low voice.

"Bah!" Li Shanchang spat: "The ones you have dealt with are not dealing with official business? The tax department has just been established, and it didn't reach out to Yingtian, but first collected taxes on the Ganjiang River... This is both training and I'll give you a moment, if you can correct your mistakes, conduct strict self-examination, and clarify the problem, you won't be in a hurry and make mistakes one after another! It's good now, even the enthronement ceremony of the superior, you dare to do anything wrong, what else are you Don't dare!"

Li Shanchang cursed, suddenly, he realized something.

Immediately rushed to Ruan Hongdao, glared at him, gritted his teeth and said, "You, tell me the truth! Are you looking at the tax department's meritorious service just now, and Hu Weiyong is ambitious, and wants to attack your household department... Are you anxious? If you want to fill in the shortfall, you will do everything possible to count the shortfall into the enthronement ceremony? Thinking about making the grand ceremony beautiful, you will have nothing to do, and you can pass the test safely, right?"

Li Shanchang asked continuously, Ruan Hongdao was dumbfounded by the question, and the sweat flowed down his temples.

"Li Xiang, I, I was wronged!" Ruan Hongdao's voice was almost crying.

When Li Shanchang saw this, he already knew it.

There is no need to talk any more nonsense, this bastard wanted to die by himself, and no one could save him.

"You can step down now! I still have to write an apology to my superior!"

Pfft!

Ruan Hongdao knelt down on the ground, weeping, "Li Xiang, we are all old friends from Chuzhou... Right now, most of the people around the superior are Zhang Xiang's people, and there are so many literati from eastern Zhejiang, they are colluding with each other. Although Li Xiang is called the head of all officials and the number one hero, who doesn't know that Zhang Xiang is the most trusted by the superior! If things go on like this, I'm afraid that Li Xiang will be alone and helpless!"

Li Shanchang's face was already dark, he didn't even bother to say a word, he just waved his hand to tell Ruan Hongdao to go away... Even if he is alone and helpless, he can't stay with these insects!

Chapter 414 Lingnan Industrial and Commercial Imagination

Zhang Ximeng and Jiang Nan found many problems simply by summarizing the accounts of the household department.This is not to say how smart the two of them are, but to this day, the accounts of the Ministry of Accounts are still very messy, and the huge fiscal and taxation system is attributed to one department. Income and expenditure... All power is in the hands of one set of people.

It is no exaggeration to say that this cannot be supervised at all.

The difference between good and bad is nothing more than whether it will affect the country's affairs... If you can ensure that more than half of the expenditure is implemented, you can probably recite Amitabha.

If you can't do anything, you can almost prepare a rope and find a crooked neck tree to wait.

In the past few years, Zhang Ximeng has been working hard... He first created a food bank, then issued treasure notes, and then created a branch bureau. Recently, he broke through the restrictions of the six departments and created a tax bureau department.

That's how it is, facing this greedy ink, I can barely start to investigate, otherwise I don't even think about it.

Zhang Ximeng seems to have suddenly realized it, no wonder the censor Yanguan likes to start with personal virtues so much!It's not that they don't want to check serious things, but that they don't have the authority at all, and even if they are asked to check, they won't understand.

So I can only focus on a person's virtue.

Then this person's virtue is better, and he does not do bad things. As for how to evaluate this person's virtue...it depends on the scholars.

It turns out that there is also a scientific basis for judging people based on morality. Sure enough, things that seem obviously unreasonable actually have inherent rationality...

Hahaha!

Zhang Ximeng's hand holding the chopsticks stopped in the air, with a faint smile on his face... Jiang Nan raised his head, glanced at him briefly, then lowered his head, and continued eating noodles.

The noodles in Zhang's house were good today. Zhang Ximeng slaughtered a goat that didn't produce milk, boiled the bones for a long time, put it in broth, and served it with green vegetables. The taste was extraordinarily mellow.

Jiang Nan finally discovered that Zhang Ximeng actually has a luxurious side, such as killing a sheep, cooking a pot of soup, and finally just for a bowl of noodles... and this guy is also very weird, he often falls into deep thought and frowns for a while head, grinning for a moment.

Sometimes I go to the pile of old papers, sometimes I scribble and write some messy things.

He is also very boring. For example, there are a few turtles in the well of Zhang's mansion. It was originally used to verify the water quality. Zhang Ximeng likes to sit by the well with a fishing rod, like Jiang Taigong.

All in all, the more you know, the clearer you are that Mrs. Zhang in the eyes of the world is actually a young man with some weird hobbies, and he is really not that great.

At least when he was doing the accounting, he was negligent several times. All in all, he is just an ordinary person!

"Zhang Xiang, you should urge the Ministry of Industry to get out of the Menxia Provincial Yamen as soon as possible, and then I can go to work in Menxia Province." Jiang Nan suggested watching Zhang Ximeng eating noodles and returning to normal.

Zhang Ximeng was slightly startled, and then said: "That's right, otherwise you'd always be busy working in my house, and it wouldn't look good. It's really inappropriate if it's public or private. What if... that would be even worse." He finally realized Here comes the problem.

But Jiang Nan chuckled, "Zhang Xiang, don't think so much, I just don't want to eat noodles... Even if you are from Shandong, you can't eat the same thing every day?"

Zhang Ximeng was also in a hurry, "How can you say that what you ate yesterday was noodles with fried sauce, the day before yesterday it was sliced ​​noodles, and today it's noodles in hot soup...how can they be the same thing?"

Jiang Nan couldn't help laughing and said, "Then you won't do anything else?"

Zhang Ximeng blinked his eyes, and said helplessly: "Yes, I can. In fact, I can do everything from Wensi tofu, crab noodles and lion's head, to boiled dried shredded rice. Just think about it. When I want to cook, I have to cook, cook. , I just want to drink... Although the lord can't help fruit wine, there is still a prohibition on alcohol after all."

Zhang Ximeng's voice was obviously getting softer, after all, he was still too lazy.

"Okay, I'll show you something. The big meal will wait until the work here is over. I'll catch a turtle first and try making some tortoise jelly."

This Mr. Zhang really did what he said, and immediately went to the well. After a while, a tortoise the size of a basin was brutally torn off its shell...

Needless to say, Zhang Ximeng's craftsmanship is really good. Before leaving get off work, with another batch of accounts sorted out, Jiang Nan had a big bowl of Guiling jelly in front of him.

Jiang Nan took a sip, and it was very smooth, with the sweetness of honey in the bitterness, "Zhang Xiang, you can go out to set up a stall with this craft."

Zhang Ximeng laughed triumphantly, "This means that Yiduo is not overwhelmed, but when we move to Menxia Province, we don't have to think about it. When we get to Menxia Province, we can eat imperial food. What is the standard of Zhongshu Province for a day now?"

"Three hundred Wen." Jiang Nan said simply: "Li Xiang is three hundred a day, Zhu Shenzheng is 270, and the lowest for the rest is 120 Wen."

Zhang Ximeng was slightly stunned, "It's enough to buy hundreds of meat buns. In fact, there are quite a few ministers in various ministries. They are given these salaries and some subsidies. They all say that the lord treats the officials meanly and the salary is too little. But in reality If it’s just eating and drinking, how can it not be enough? If you think about messy things, how much salary can stop their greed for ink!”

Jiang Nan thought it was true, nodded vigorously and said: "Master Zhang is right, the people are fat and the people are rich, these people should pay the price!" Gu Wu

Zhang Ximeng smiled slightly and didn't say anything else. He just asked Jiang Nan to go back and rest first, and be busy tomorrow.

Investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials, and being jealous of evil, these are naturally good.It's just that if you want to run the household department smoothly, you need some preparations.

When he was sending Jiang Nan away, Zhu Ying came suddenly.

The little guy looked very tired and haggard, and he didn't sleep well for several days.

"Brother, I'm here to hand in my homework."

Only then did Zhang Ximeng remember that he did let the little guy think about what he was afraid of...

"Tell me, what have you figured out?"

"I'm afraid of chaos." Zhu Ying said bluntly: "I was afraid when I was a child... At that time, I hadn't met my eldest brother, and my mother always complained, saying that the world is in chaos, people's hearts are in chaos, and there are no good people in the world..."

This is the first time in a long time that Zhu Ying took the initiative to recall the events of his childhood. Although almost ten years have passed, he still remembers it vividly and cannot forget it.

"Brother, you said that I obviously like to cause trouble, but in my heart, I really hope that there are rules, do you believe it?"

"Believe it! Why don't you believe it!" Zhang Ximeng laughed and said, "You probably want rules too much, so you have to use trouble to verify the existence of rules. Whenever the board falls on your butt, you feel relieved, right?"

Zhu Ying's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but said, "Brother, you are amazing, that's what happened! What do you think happened to me?"

"What's the matter? It's not that simple, what a shame!" Zhang Ximeng snorted coldly, "Don't tell me what you have or what you don't have, just tell me what you plan to do?"

"I, I want to set rules for them!" Zhu Ying shook her head, cheered up, and said to Zhang Ximeng: "I went to Lingnan, so I have to set rules. No matter what happens, I must strictly follow the rules. The sky is big, whoever breaks the rules will be severely punished!"

Zhang Ximeng looked at Zhu Ying who was very serious, and there was a hint of surprise in his eyes... The little guy had such an idea, it was really unexpected, and there were many surprises.

"Are you planning to rule Lingnan by law?"

Zhu Ying nodded, "That's what I think, but, but I don't have so many people who understand laws and regulations, and I don't know how to make rules..."

Zhang Ximeng laughed happily, "It's not a problem, you just need to remember to focus on the law, that's all. Let me help arrange the rest."

Zhang Ximeng has rarely been so happy. For Zhu Ying, he has always adopted a free-range attitude. In fact, he doesn't know how to teach this child.Zhang Ximeng was always worried that because of his involvement, Zhu Ying would not be able to take charge on his own.But as he gradually grew up, this kid's academic performance was sloppy, he also jumped out, his mouth was very annoying, and he liked to cause trouble... Yingtian may not have many dudes, but this kid is definitely among them.

This became Zhang Ximeng's heart disease for a while, did he ruin Zhu Ying?

But the recent changes made Zhang Ximeng overjoyed. First, the battle of Fuliang Prefecture, and then the current enlightenment... all of them gave Zhang Ximeng a kind of surprise of regaining what was lost.

It can even be said that he just wanted to grow a radish, and it turned out to grow ginseng!

This harvest really made people happy, Zhang Ximeng couldn't wait, and went to find Li Shanchang.

Zhang Ximeng came to Zhongshu Province to meet Li Shanchang, but Lao Li was not surprised at all, and even felt a little rushing in both directions... Sure enough, he came!My guess is not wrong at all!

"Zhang Xiang, if you don't come, I will still look for you!"

Zhang Ximeng also said, "Brother Li, I'm actually here to beg you."

Li Shanchang remained calm, what do you beg me for?Ask me to start with the household department?You don't want to get your hands dirty?

"Zhang Xiang, what do you have to do, just ask, is it enough trouble?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Brother Li, it's like this. I encouraged the lord to set up a special commercial department. This time, I would like to ask Brother Li to help me set up a special criminal department."

Li Shanchang was taken aback, it wasn't the matter of the household department?

"Zhang Xiang, what is this for?"

"I don't do anything, I just want to pick a group of talents to go there, help Zhu Ying, and govern Lingnan." After a pause, Zhang Ximeng added: "Brother Li, we have been promoting land equalization in the past, and the land has been divided. Adjustment is difficult. Lingnan is vast and sparsely populated, and there are large tracts of land around it that can be used. Zhu Ying jumped a little, but I think he is fully qualified for the task of governing Lingnan... If nothing else, he can explore A development path that is completely different from that of the Central Plains, our Daming has two systems, one is the basics of agriculture, and the other is Lingnan, where industry and commerce are booming, complementing each other, learning from each other, our Daming has a lot to do!"

Chapter 415 Great Future in Lingnan

Faced with Zhang Ximeng's assumption, Li Shanchang was a little bit astonished.Everyone knows that Zhang Ximeng's core idea is to equalize the land, and it is completely equal, without any impurities.

Cracking down on aristocratic families, cracking down on tyrants, overthrowing Confucianism, advocating the establishment of schools...all of these point to two words: fairness!

A person who has such an idea suddenly mentions the development of industry and commerce, which really makes Lao Li unable to keep up. Isn't he just joking?

Do you want to dig a hole for yourself again?

Is it because you dislike the household department for not being enjoyable enough, and you want to pull yourself into it?

Li Shanchang was thinking wildly and restlessly, so he could only hold his breath and concentrate, and said seriously: "Mr. Zhang, isn't it good to promote land equalization in Lingnan?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled helplessly: "It's not that it's impossible, it's just that such a good place is ruined just to equalize the land."

"How to say?" Li Shanchang asked puzzled.

"Brother Li, please think about it. Lingnan is vast and sparsely populated, and the road is far away. If it is just an average farm, how much food can be provided every year? How much will this food be consumed on the road? We will send troops to Lingnan to maintain the operation of the government and handle various government affairs ...It's all expenses, to put it bluntly, if it's just agriculture, we are likely to lose money in Lingnan."

Li Shanchang took a deep breath, contemplating, and finally he had to nod.

"Ms. Zhang can see clearly that this is indeed the case. In fact, our control of Lingnan is more about guarding against Annan. Otherwise, if Lingnan is handed over, the land of the Central Plains will have endless troubles."

As a prime minister, Lao Li did not dare to say that he was farsighted, but his basic common sense was still clear.

Zhang Ximeng also sighed: "Brother Li is very wise. In fact, I have said so much, but I have also touched on a problem... We have talked so much, and the lord also has ambitions to achieve great things. But just relying on the average land, how much territory can be maintained? Or Said that relying on the agricultural land tax, how much can we support us?"

Li Shanchang thought more seriously, Zhang Ximeng's words were a bit deep, and after a long time, he said: "What Zhang Xiang meant was that there are some places that are too remote and desolate, where the birds don't shit, there is no output, and it's useless for us to ask for it? "

Zhang Ximeng smiled, not bad, that's what he meant.