Father can be an enemy to the country

On the last day of his trip to Jingdezhen, Zhu Zhen hosted a banquet for Sun Zhifu, the prefect of Raozhou, as well as Zhou Ji, Ji Ming, and Cheng Qian in the hotel where he stayed to thank them for their hospitality.

The few people were naturally flattered, but they also knew that His Highness invited them to this meal because he had serious business to discuss. That was all foreshadowing before.

After the five flavors of the dish were cooked, Zhu Zhen said to Ji Ming, the magistrate of Fuliang County: "I feel sorry for delaying your county for so many days."

"Your Highness is serious. It is our county's greatest honor that His Highness can come to Jingdezhen to leave his footprints and take a look around." Ji Ming said, feeling flattered.

"Yes, His Royal Highness King Jiahai of Chu came to Bi County. It will be a top priority that will be recorded in the county history and government annals in the future." Magistrate Sun also hurriedly agreed.

"Hahaha, I'm serious." His Royal Highness King Chu waved his hand and said:

"I know that local officials are very busy right now. They have to clear land, compile yellow books, implement Lijia, and arrange various immigration matters. It really makes your head hurt just thinking about it."

"It's okay, it's okay..." Sun Jia and Ji Ming laughed, but secretly shouted in their hearts, aren't they all sent by you?

"Oh, by the way, these are all tasks assigned to you by this king." Zhu Zhen slapped his forehead and pretended to say: "Oh, when I started playing, I forgot all about the business."

"Your Highness has worked hard day and night. It's too hard. It's time to relax for a few days." The two officials could only smile bitterly, which made it impossible for him to escape. This time it was finally my turn.

"That's true, but now that I remember it, let me just ask you a few questions." Zhu Zhen picked up the handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"Excuse me, Your Highness." The two people hurriedly sat upright.

"Don't be nervous. This is not a formal question. Just treat it as a casual chat." Zhu Zhen smiled and asked, "Prefect Sun, how is the progress in Raozhou?"

"Back to Your Highness, the work team has completed all the work in Poyang County; the Qingzhang of Yugan County has also been completed, and is stepping up the preparation of the yellow book. Over in Leping County, the official has also urged to start preparations. It is expected that next month, too It will start in July. Then it will be Fuliang County's turn." Sun Jia hurriedly reported respectfully.

"Oh, half of this year has passed, time flies so fast." Zhu Zhen couldn't help but sigh. Last month, his two brothers had already passed away. Next month, Zhu Gaochi...oh no, the fourth brother's eldest son should also be born.

"Haha, it's not too fast..." The two officials had different feelings. They both felt that this year was really like a year. Every day I was in fear, not knowing which day my head would move.

"You in Fuliang County can't just sit back and wait. A lot of preliminary work can be done first." Lao Liu said to the county magistrate Na Ji: "For example, you can survey the population and fields in advance. This can reduce the work at that time. Quantity, and it can leave a good impression on the work team.”

"Yes, yes." Ji Ming nodded quickly to show that he was taught, and just took a small notebook to write it down.

"Actually, the government has ordered all counties to start these tasks in advance." Magistrate Sun said while taking credit.

"Oh? That's good. But how is the implementation below?" Zhu Zhen asked Jizhi County Road: "I am here to test you. Let's just talk about Jingdezhen. How many registered residents are there?"

"Back to Your Highness." Jizhi County quickly replied: "There are 2,103 households in Jingdezhen, with a registered population of 16,206."

"Not bad, not bad. The answers are fluent. But from what I've seen in the past two days, there are more than just these people." Zhu Zhen praised first and then asked.

"Back to Your Highness, the situation in Jingdezhen is special. As Your Highness can see, there are more than 500 kiln households here, each of which employs many workers. Small workshops have hundreds of people, and large ones even have as many as one or two thousand people." Ji Ming hurriedly explained. road:

"So there must be as many as 120,000 to 30,000 workers in the entire county. How can there be so many people in the town? Most of them come to work elsewhere in the county."

"Are they all from Fuliang County?" Zhu Zhen asked calmly.

"No." Ji Ming's heart tightened, and he answered honestly: "Because the wages here are high, and there are people from the surrounding counties coming to work, with the largest number coming from Duchang County."

"Do these people from other counties have road guides?" Zhu Zhen asked unkindly.

"this……"

Although there were ice buckets placed in the four corners of the room, and a maid nearby kept fanning herself, bringing in a cool breeze, the dining room did not feel the heat at all. But the two local officials, as well as Cheng Qian, who had a bruised nose and swollen face, all started to sweat after hearing this.

"Don't be stunned and answer quickly." Magistrate Sun quickly urged Magistrate Ji: "Just answer truthfully and don't play tricks with His Highness."

"Hey, your highness is kind." Ji Ming wiped his sweat and had to bite the bullet and said: "Because they are neighboring counties and not far away from each other, we don't force anyone who comes to work to have a road."

"Your Highness, with so many people coming out to work, it's impossible for the county to provide so many road diversions." Cheng Qian was quite generous and knew that the county magistrate couldn't handle this matter alone, otherwise Ji Ming would definitely deal with him when he came back.

"But our guild also has requirements. Whenever workers want to come to work, they must have a fellow villager as a guarantor, and they must leave their household registration with us. Our management is much stricter than the government."

"You still have the nerve to say it. Who gave you such power, and you dare to deduct people's household registration? Who issued the household registration? You dare to deduct it?" However, His Highness gave him a slap in the face.

"Yes, I was wrong..." Cheng Qian lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

"This is a dereliction of duty, please punish me, Your Highness." Ji Ming quickly stood up and knelt down at the table.

"..." Cheng Qian originally wanted to kneel down, but then he thought about it, doesn't this prove collusion between government and businessmen? More troublesome. I had no choice but to sit there on pins and needles, wishing I could find a crack in the ground to crawl in.

The atmosphere in the hall dropped to freezing point, which was much better than an ice bucket.

"Hahaha." Lao Liu then put away his stinking face and said with a sweet smile: "Get up, Magistrate Ji, I didn't say anything before, it's just a casual chat, why are you so serious?"

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." Ji Ming was as if he had been fished out of the water. He had been completely ruined.

"Jingdezhen is different from other places. This is a rare pearl of handicraft industry in Ming Dynasty." Zhu Zhen continued to speak in a slower tone: "We must care for it, and we must protect it, so you don't have to worry that I will burn the harp and cook the crane. Not only do I not Yes, and I won’t allow anyone to destroy Jingdezhen’s hard-won prosperity!”

"Oh, Your Highness, you are so, so madam..." Everyone shed tears, half moved, half dumbfounded. Why do people always get upset when they do this?

After everyone thanked them, Zhu Zhen once again let them experience a roller coaster ride and said: "However, we can't be too self-conscious and ignore its problems. After all, Jingdezhen is just a town, and as a result, there are more people gathering here than in the provincial capital. It’s obviously inappropriate. This is too misleading!”

"Yes, your Highness, tell me what to do..." Everyone was no longer able to pursue his ideas and could only let him control them.

"Let's split them up." Zhu Zhen then said: "If some people go out, wouldn't it be okay?"