The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Emperor Hongzhi still didn't believe it.

The gentlemen had no intention of attending the morning court, they just wanted to see if what the Jinyiwei said was true.

What method did Yan Chengjin use to attract so many gentry?

Han Wen was relieved, knowing that this guy only said half of what he said, and he still had a backhand.

"One million taels, enough to build two hundred mansions." Cao Yuan sighed.

The mansions in the capital are very expensive, and they cost 50,000 or 10,000 taels at a time, but they are expensive in the location and are rare, so the cost is far less expensive.

In addition, the land belongs to the court, so there is no need to spend a penny.

The location is still in the outer city, and in just one morning, one million taels were collected. This guy must have used an extraordinary method.

When I came to the Hongzhi business, I saw many gentry queuing up and squeezing into the business.

Seeing this scene, Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help asking: "Where is Yan Chengjin?"

Although they had heard about it beforehand, when they saw this scene, Emperor Hongzhi and the officials wanted to know more about how Yan Chengjin got the silver?

Soon, Yan Chengjin appeared in sight: "I didn't collect the silver directly, but asked the gentry to deposit the silver into the business. When the land deed is obtained, the business can get back the deposit certificate."

In this way, the business became the guarantee of the court.

Even if the gentry couldn't get the house, the silver was only in the business, and there was no loss.

"But why are the gentry so anxious?" Liu Jian saw something unusual.

Even if there was a guarantee, they wouldn't be so anxious, as if they would get rich if they bought it.

Yan Chengjin pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve: "The land I started to build is the land south of the capital. Gentlemen from all over Jiangnan will definitely pass by here when they enter the city."

There are four directions in the capital, namely, the north is Xuanfu, and there are few people.

The west faces the northwest, and there are not many people either, and the east is okay.

The most people flow to the south, Baoding, Hejian, Jiangnan, and even Guangzhou and Fujian, all enter the city from here.

Although it has not been expanded yet, there are countless people entering the city every day.

Yan Chengjin divided the mansions into eight levels, 200 taels, 500 taels, 1,000 taels, and the highest 20,000 taels.

Liangxiang engineers drew blueprints for the people to choose from. There are limited mansions with good locations, and the closer to the main road, the more expensive they are.

After the completion, the price will be 20% higher. There is only one requirement, no credit, and the full purchase.

"I have something to report to your majesty, some buildings may be higher than the imperial city."

The buildings around the imperial city should be lower than the imperial city.

First, no one is allowed to be above the emperor, and second, being higher than the palace wall can overlook the palace, burying the hidden danger of assassination.

These are not in line with the etiquette, Zhang Sheng retorted: "The imperial palace does not need such a towering palace."

Emperor Hongzhi said indifferently: "What do you want to build?"

"Build the Wucheng Bingmasi Yamen."

As the number of buildings in the capital increases, fire prevention and control becomes extremely important.

Wucheng Bingmasi is responsible for transportation and firefighting. This decision seems simple, but it will play an important role after it is completed.

Just depends on whether your majesty allows it?

Wucheng Bingmasi is not a private residence. Emperor Hongzhi thought about it and agreed.

Wang Ao and others also wanted to buy a mansion, but they were a little embarrassed.

Yan Chengjin returned to the mansion, but saw Zhang Fuhua with his hands behind his back, looking at his mansion calmly.

Zhang Fuhua also saw Yan Chengjin and smiled: "When I entered the capital, I looked down on Lord Yan because he was young. Recently, I have read many of Lord Yan's family files, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he has made great contributions."

Are you sure you are not here to buy a mansion?

Yan Chengjin was on guard: "Master Zhang, do you want to curry favor with me so that you can do something for your own benefit?"

I thought Yan Chengjin would greet him with a smile, but he was so frank that Zhang Fuhua spat out a mouthful of blood: "I just admire your talent!"

"Master Zhang, please go back."

Zhang Fuhua came from Nanjing and asked for guards for King Ning. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, Yan Chengjin had to be on guard.

But if Zhang Fuhua also supported the reform, the resistance would be smaller.

The capital began to build a large-scale project, and timber was transported from south to north. Many laborers gathered in the capital.

In just three months, you can see that the land outside the south gate of the capital has been flattened by loess.

The laborers dug a solid foundation and built a house after house. Seeing this, more and more gentry came to Beijing to buy houses.

Emperor Hongzhi was reading memorials in the main hall. Thinking of the plans outside the capital, he was overjoyed: "Soon, the capital will be comparable to Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty."

Yan Chengjin lowered his head. In addition to the capital, there were many impoverished places in the Ming Dynasty.

Today, he saw a memorial from Jiang Xin of Changle County, Shaoxing Prefecture, requesting the reduction of silk taxes and the cultivation of grain instead.

Cao Yuan looked happy: "Your Majesty, I received a memorial from Wang Yuncheng of Shaoxing Prefecture. Changle and Sheng County disobeyed the imperial order and refused to pay silk taxes."

The festive atmosphere in the hall dissipated.

Emperor Hongzhi's expression became silent. There are such rebellious things in the court under my rule.

Liu Jian showed a puzzled look: "The parents of the two counties joined forces to resist the exemption, but is there a hidden story?"

"According to Wang Yuncheng, it was because the silver mine was discovered in Taibai Mountain. The two relied on their merits and refused to pay taxes to the court." This is what Cao Yuan read in the memorial.

The discovery of silver mines in Taibai Mountain brightened the eyes of Emperor Hongzhi and Li Dongyang.

Liu Jian felt strange: "Why didn't you send a memorial to the cabinet?"

"It was a memorial sent to me."

This was to let Cao Yuan make merit. Taibai Mountain is in Changle County. With just one sentence of self-righteousness, the merits of Jiang Xin and the others were wiped out.

Yan Chengjin couldn't help but look up. Wang Yuncheng's Taoism was too low. He used such words to confuse the gentlemen.

As expected, Li Dongyang asked: "Please exempt the silk tax for the people. Why are you so self-reliant? This memorial is suspicious."

Liu Jian and others nodded. As soon as they heard it, they knew that it was to deceive the emperor to gain merit.

Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Why is there no one coming to the Censorate?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no one in the Censorate."

After Wang Shouren was appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, the positions of the Chief Censor and the Minister of Rites have been vacant.

The gentlemen wanted to know what happened in Shaoxing Prefecture, but they didn't know where to start.

Cao Yuan's back was hot. The gentlemen said that this memorial was suspicious. The implication was that Wang Yunshi deceived the emperor.

"I want to impeach Cao Yuan, the Minister of Works." Yan Chengjin said.

The gentlemen's hearts skipped a beat and were caught off guard.

As if they smelled a crisis, they stared at Yan Chengjin's cuffs.

This kid is holding two booklets!

Yan Chengjin said, "I also have a memorial here, please approve it, Your Majesty."

Xiao Jing trotted down and handed the memorial to Emperor Hongzhi.

This is a completely opposite memorial. Jiang Xin exposed Wang Yuncheng, favored his party members, and falsely accused him of crimes.

After reading this memorial, Emperor Hongzhi looked gloomy: "Why are there two arguments? What about the censor of Shaoxing Prefecture?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after Qiu Zhong resigned, no one has been appointed."

The appointment of censors is nominated by the Ministry of Censors of the Censorate and sent to the Ministry of Personnel for appointment.

But the Censorate has never had a hall official.

Yan Chengjin's intention to impeach Cao Yuan is precisely this, to serve as the Chief Censor concurrently.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin: "Didn't I let Yan Qingjia serve concurrently?"

"Your Majesty said that when Wang Shouren went north, I served concurrently. Now, Wang Shouren has returned to Beijing." Yan Chengjin said.

The gentlemen guessed Yan Chengjin's intention, but the mansion in the capital will be put on the market soon. If they stop him now, he will be in trouble if he buys the mansion at that time.

Suddenly, he hesitated.

Emperor Hongzhi saw at a glance that this boy was asking him for an official position, "The Censorate will continue to be managed by Yan Qing's family."