Domineering Daming

Fang Kongxuan and the others were startled, the person who was supposed to take the lead didn't move, but they didn't expect the salt merchant to move first.

The "New Deal" of the imperial court is a very complex and systematic innovation, including the salt administration. It is hoped that "single salt merchants" will be established in each province to ensure the income and controllability of the salt administration.

Among them, the most important locations of the Salt Administration are Lianghuai and Yangzhou. This is the center of salt transportation. All the salt in the Ming Dynasty is transferred here, and Nanzhili is the place with the most income, accounting for about [-]%, which is very important. , must not be underestimated.

Fang Kongxuan, Shi Bangyao and others were in a hurry and gathered together to discuss.

If this incident becomes a big issue, not to mention affecting the whole of Nanzhili, the upper and lower levels will not agree, and the cabinet and the emperor will inevitably make a decision.

With the intensive occurrence of several incidents, the whole of Nanzhili gradually became unstable, and some people and forces jumped out one after another to make troubles.

In a house not far from the outer river of the Qinhuai River.

Zhu Xu and Cao Wenzhao soaked in the open-air pool, with their arms propped up on the steps, they both let out a long and comfortable breath.

It took a while for both of them to get used to it, before Cao Wenzhao turned his head to Zhu Xu and said with a smile, "Dian... Your Majesty, how are you? Are you comfortable?"

Zhu Xu leaned his head on the steps, feeling hot all over his body, covered his mouth with a towel, exhaled comfortably, and said, "Yes, this is an artificial hot spring, right?"

Cao Wenzhao sat on the lower reaches of Zhu Xu with light on his shoulders, and said with a smile: "Yes, my subordinates discovered it by accident, and I came here once before."

Zhu Xu's skin was quite sensitive, and he didn't dare to move when he was half lying in the water. He felt the heat smear his face, and smiled, and said, "It's really good. After returning to Beijing, I will also get one in the palace. If you have nothing to do, make bubbles. It's more comfortable than being in a tub."

"I'll have someone find the craftsman later, and prepare the blueprints for the emperor..." Cao Wenzhao said immediately.

Zhu Xu said "um", lay there, closed his eyes, relaxed his whole body, and took a comfortable bath.

Not long after, Cao Huachun came over, stood behind Zhu Xu and said, "Your Majesty, the more trouble is getting more and more outrageous."

Zhu Xu raised his hand to straighten the towel on his face, and said calmly, "Say."

Cao Huachun said with a worried look on his face, "Salt merchants from all over the world have agreed to raise the price, and the price has increased by more than ten times. People are hoarding salt crazily, and other rice grains are also skyrocketing. Rumors and panic are everywhere. , the branches and sub-branches of Royal Banks all over the country have been run on, and some people took the opportunity to cause chaos, burning, killing and looting, which has a tendency to expand, and Ying Tianfu's soldiers have already launched suppression..."

Zhu Xu lay motionless in the water, and after a while he exhaled lightly, and said slowly: "Old Cao, you said it's been so many years, why do so many people still think I'm easy to bully, and take me at every turn? Exhale, is it because I haven't killed enough people..."

Cao Wenzhao could hear that Zhu Xu's tone was a bit erratic. This was a manifestation of his anger. His heart moved, and he said with a smile: "The emperor is wise and powerful, and he went after Taizu Taizong. Why did he kill anyone? These people are bold and reckless, ignoring the court. The law and the majesty of the emperor will be severely punished by local officials, so the emperor doesn't have to worry too much..."

Zhu Xu laughed out loud immediately, and said, "It's still you, old Cao, who understand me."

Cao Wenzhao smiled and didn't say much.

He really knew Zhu Xu. Zhu Xu would never push himself into an "unreasonable" position. The situation in Nanzhili was complicated.

Zhu Xu was soaking in the water, his mind was racing with thoughts.

Without Dongchang, some things are really troublesome, and there are no sharp enough knives.

"You have to live and suffer to save face..."

Zhu Xu muttered, sometimes he really hates the "uprightness" advertised by the Ming Dynasty, and everything must be upright.Although the abolition of the East Factory is the general trend of building a new Ming Dynasty, it is not forced by the inertia of the Ming Dynasty.

"How is that Gong Dingzi?" Zhu Xu asked again after a long while. This man is another knife he cultivated. Different from Dongchang, he came from within Shilin.

Cao Huachun said: "I just took over the Zhenfu Prison, and I am currently in the preparation stage. I have also done some things, but the results are not great."

For Zhu Xu's jaw, it takes enough time to sharpen a knife, and he has the patience.

"Old Cao, how are your preparations going?" Zhu Xu took away the towel, washed it in the water, and then covered his face again.

Cao Wenzhao was stunned for a moment, but he came over immediately and quickly said: "It's all ready, and I can show those adults at most two days." He already understood that Zhu Xu had a plan for Nanzhili, that is, through the powerful The military exercises and so on, show the determination to reform, and put strong pressure on the top and bottom of Nanzhili!

Zhu Xu didn't make a sound, but moved his body downwards, burying his entire neck in the water.

War in the South was imminent, and he had to see it for himself.He can't scrape the bones to cure the poison in the matter of Nanzhili, and can only perform simple and quick surgical operations, waiting for the future.

When Zhu Xu and the others returned from the hot spring after soaking in the hot spring, the prefects from all over the country finally arrived at the governor's office belatedly.

As the acting governor, Fang Kongzhao summoned several people to discuss the "New Deal".

But before he could open his mouth, Bi Zikang, the prefect of Suzhou, looked serious and said in a deep voice: "My lord, I believe that the most important thing at present is to solve the chaos that is happening before us."

The "chaos" in Bi Zikang's mouth was caused by the salt merchants, and the riots spread throughout Nanzhili.

Cao Bushan, the prefect of Yangzhou, also agreed, saying: "Lord Fang, regarding the salt administration, I think the court is still too hasty and should reconsider."

Others followed suit one after another. The new salt policy harmed the interests of most salt merchants, and they would never agree.

Fang Kongxuan knew this a long time ago, and with an extremely firm expression, he said forcefully: "This is part of the 'Jingzheng New Deal', and everyone must follow it! This official is, and so are all of you, and those salt merchants are even more! If someone Because I am dissatisfied with the new policy of the imperial court, I wantonly agitate and disturb Nanzhili, and this official will never agree!"

Bi Ziyan, Cao Bushan and the others all frowned slightly and could not help but look at each other.

They had met before they came and reached a tacit agreement on some matters, and wanted to persuade Fang Kongzhang to write to the imperial court to change the "new salt policy" of the imperial court.

However, in the face of Fang Kongxuan's tough attitude, they all hesitated.

If it was before the apocalypse, they could be desperate, whether it was a Shangguan or an adult in the court, they could jointly write a memorandum to make things bigger and force this matter to end.But now it is completely different, the governor's office has a lot of power and influence on the court, most of their promotions are decided in the governor's office, so unless it is a last resort, they must not be offended!

Ying Tianfu Yin Shi Bangyao supported Fang Kongzhang very much, and said directly: "What Mr. Fang said is that we must earnestly and fully fulfill the requirements of the imperial court! There are too many aspects that need to be innovated in Jiangsu, and the salt merchants are so unrestrained and wanton. Reckless deeds shall be severely punished!"

Cao Bushan, Bi Zikang and the others were uneasy. In the past, the governor's yamen would take care of their reputation and take care of the place, and would not be too harsh, but now they are aggressive and seem to be coercive.

As the magistrate of Suzhou, Bi Zikang has a complicated network of relationships. He is unwilling to offend the local government and affect the official voice. He hesitated and said, "Lord Fang, everything must be done step by step, and you must not... act recklessly..."

When Cao Pushan heard this, he hurriedly said: "My lord, Chen Ke's old problems need to be rectified slowly. Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. We should be patient. The matter of today's salt merchants is because the imperial court acted too hastily..."

"Yes, Mr. Fang, you have so many things to think about, you have to give us time..."

"The 'New Deal' is too urgent, we still need to make more plans..."

Fang Kongzheng had a sullen face and stern eyes.He finally understood that few of these people were sincerely willing to support the court's new policy, and they were all looking for excuses to delay their responsibilities.

Shi Bangyao could also see that the governor's yamen seemed to be isolated.

He vaguely understood that, as the Governor of Yingtian Mansion, the emperor told him to go over, and he was probably needed to support Fang Kongxuan at this time.

His expression remained unchanged, his chest puffed up quietly, and he said in a deep voice: "My lords, what you said is wrong! Although the imperial court's new policy was promulgated this year, it has been quietly promoted in the past few years. Who here really cares? It was promoted a few years ago, so why 'plan' now?"

The corners of the mouths of the group of people present twitched, they didn't slap people in the face, and this Shi Bangyao just poked them in the ribs.

"What is Master Shi's intention? I have done a lot before waiting, but I have not yet reached the point of reforming the imperial court, so I need to discuss it in detail..."

"Now we are talking about the salt administration, Mr. Shi, please don't change the subject. Mr. Fang, what should the salt administration be?"

"That's right, my lord, rumors are flying around outside, the common people are living in dire straits, and a decision needs to be made early..."

"Lord Fang, what is the salt government going to do? How can it be resolved with one word? Please be careful..."

Fang Kongzheng nodded slightly at Shi Bangyao, who was considered his ally in Jiangsu, then looked at the others coldly, and said in a deep voice: "You are the prefects of a prefecture, and you should serve as governors of the yamen and relieve the court's worries. This officer asks 'what to do', and others will too, without you needing to come in person!"