When Yang Feng found Xia Dayan, he was having dinner in his back hall. When the maid told him that Yang Feng had arrived at the outer hall, he quickly put down the bowls and chopsticks, grabbed the scarf handed over by the maid, wiped his mouth randomly, and quickly greeted him.

Soon, Xia Dayan's voice came from outside the door: "Hahaha... Why do you think that the magpies outside the courtyard are screaming constantly? The feeling is that the Marquis is about to arrive."

Yang Feng, who walked side by side with Xia Dayan, smiled: "Mr. Xia has been too much, but this time I came abruptly. I hope Mr. Xia will not be disgusted."

While talking, the two walked to the backyard and heard it. Seeing the three dishes and one soup that had not been finished on the table, Yang Feng was slightly stunned, then nodded and said, "I didn't expect that Lord Xia, as the governor of a province, lived so frugal, and could be called frugal."

Xia Dayan waved his hand, "The Marquis is so honorable. Life is full of grass and trees. Eating and drinking are just small matters. You can fill your stomach. You don't care much about wanting to be in power... The Marquis asks you to sit down!"

"please!"

After the two sat down, a graceful maid quickly presented fragrant tea, and then stood behind Xia Dayan. It was obvious that this was Xia Dayan's personal maid.

When Yang Feng took the Xiangming, he looked at the maid more. With the eyes that Yang Feng had learned in the flowers over the years, he could tell at a glance that this maid who was only fifteen or sixteen years old was no longer in her perfect shape.

Yang Feng glanced at Xia Dayan with a smile. Unexpectedly, Xia Dayan was already fifty or sixty years old. However, he was old and could still take action, which made people look at him with admiration.

Xia Dayan, who was almost a mature man, naturally understood the meaning of Yang Feng's gaze, and coughed twice awkwardly: "Mr. Marquis, I don't know what you are doing today?"

"It's true that there's something I want to discuss with Lord Xia."

Yang Feng withdrew his gaze and his expression became serious: "Mr. Xia, I believe you also know that I am going to be ready to lead the Fujian Navy to expedition to Southeast Asia. What I am worried about is that there will be changes in Fujian after I leave, and then I will be far away in Southeast Asia, so that some unpredictable consequences will occur."

Xia Dayan understood as soon as he heard this. He immediately said: "Marty, I don't know about the officials in other places, but I still have some binding force on the confidence of the officials in Fujian local governments. Lord Ding and Lord Tu are also sensible people. We have cooperated happily over the years, so the officials think there will be no chaos."

Yang Feng shook his head: "I naturally trust several adults, but nothing is absolutely true. What I am worried about is that after my husband leaves, there will be changes in the court. You must know that in a few months, the Beijing inspection will begin."

"hiss……"

When Xia Dayan heard this, his expression froze, and then he slapped his thigh, "Why did the Xiaguan forget this?"

The Beijing Chase mentioned here is an assessment system for officials in the Ming Dynasty.

Just as modern civil servants often write work reports and year-end summary, officials in the Ming Dynasty also faced pressure from KPI assessment. In order to strengthen the management of officials, the Ming Dynasty stipulated that officials from the north and south, and from various places should be inspected every six years, which is called "Beijing Inspection". During the Beijing Inspection, officials of the fourth rank or above were personally inspected by the emperor, and officials of the fourth rank or below were inspected by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate. If officials who failed the assessment would be directly dismissed and demoted to the people.

The system's idea is beautiful, but it is very skinny to implement. In particular, the investigation of officials above the fourth rank has become a form of total failure, because the way of the Beijing inspection is very problematic. The Beijing inspection mainly uses the form of "self-examination of the ministers", and the ministers themselves report to the emperor various shortcomings in their work in the past six years, hoping that the emperor can abolish Guizhou and depose himself. After reading the self-examination of the emperor, the emperor usually encourages his ministers and then keeps him in office.

In the end, the Beijing Prefecture system evolved into a farce that was staged every six years. Ministers resigned desperately, while the emperor refused to let go. Under normal circumstances, the Beijing Prefecture was just a joke.

But nothing is absolute, everything has two sides. When the above intentionally wants to move you, Jingcha will become a sharp blade, which will be fatal.

Although Fujian was surrounded by the sea, it was hilly, with poor thalassin and sparse people, and its economy was very underdeveloped, so the big men of the court looked down on it. But today, Fujian is different. After Yang Feng’s construction in the past two years and the establishment of customs, several coastal cities along the coast of Fujian, such as Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, etc., have become important ports for merchants such as the Ming Dynasty, Nanyang, Fusang and Obaro. Every year, the customs taxes alone make governments in various places feel lenient.

According to statistics, the commercial tax received by Fujian Customs last year was more than 12 million taels. In addition to the 70% handed over to the court, and the Jiangning Army and the Fujian Navy to Yang Feng's subordinates were intercepted by 20%, the remaining 10% was the welfare returned to governments in various parts of Fujian.

Don’t underestimate this percentage. Even if it is 10%, it will be 1.2 million taels of silver. You should know that when Yang Feng first came to this time and space, the annual tax on the Ming Dynasty was only more than 5 million taels of silver.

Now 1.2 million taels of silver are distributed to government officials in various places, which is enough to make officials in government officials in various places eat their mouths full of oil. More importantly, this is the legal income of the government and can be spent openly, so the official position in Fujian is now a fat man that many people yearn for.

But since ancient times, official positions have been a single radish and a pit. If you occupy a seat, others will lose one seat. In the past, when Yang Feng was there, he could still suppress those greedy people with his "bad reputation", but if Yang Feng was not there, it would not be necessary.

Xia Dayan thought for a moment, and maybe he, the governor, would have to be beaten down. After all, the old saying goes, "A good wine is so popular, and wealth is moving." The income of millions of taels of silver every year is enough to make countless people crazy, and he will be jealous if he is.

When Xia Dayan thought of this, he was shocked. The problem now is not only the problem of someone extending his hands to the Jiangning Army and the Fujian Navy. If one is not good, he may not even be as the governor.

He arrived quickly: "Mr. Marquis, this matter is of great importance. We have to invite Lord Ding and Lord Tu to come and discuss together."

“That’s right!”

Half an hour later, Fujian governor Ding Youwen and Censor Tu Hongliang also arrived here. These two old dough sticks who have also worked hard in the officialdom for half their lives were so smart that they immediately understood what Xia Dayan said about the Beijing Administrative Office in a few months.

Xia Dayan stroked his beard and said slowly: "I am about 60 years old this year, and I will retire and return home in five years. Over the years, I have been used to staying in Fujian and don't want to move anymore. I wonder what the two adults think?"

Ding Youwen also nodded: "I have been away from retirement and returning home for more than ten years, but the situation in Fujian is now the result of the joint efforts of my officers and colleagues. If someone wants to pick peaches, I cannot agree."

Tu Hongliang followed and said: "What the two adults are talking about is exactly what the officials are thinking. Anyway, the officials will not go anywhere, so they stay in Fujian."

Yang Feng glanced at him: "I'm afraid you won't be able to do it then. If the imperial court issued a transfer order, would it be possible that Lord Tu still want to resist the order?"

"I……"

Tu Hongliang was a little speechless for a moment. The reason why no one snatched this position with them in the past was because Fujian was a poor place and no one could look at it. But now it is different. Fujian has become a hen that can lay golden eggs. I wonder how many pairs of greedy eyes have set their eyes on this. Can they really stay here?

But after all, it was an old fry. Tu Hongliang's eyes lit up when he saw Yang Feng sitting aside leisurely. They could not withstand the pressure from the court, but the person in front of him could. With his personal friendship with the emperor, if he was willing to speak for them, no one would be able to shake their position.

What Tu Hongliang could think of, Ding Youwen and Xia Dayan could naturally think of it too. Soon the three of them looked at each other, and Xia Dayan coughed lightly and said to Yang Feng.

"Mr. Marquis, I believe you are here today to come here to entertain the three of you. You can just give me any instructions."

Yang Feng smiled slightly, and it seemed that Lao Xia was a sensible person. He said seriously: "Since Lord Xia has spoken out, I will just say a few words. Now everyone knows the form of Fujian. The annual customs taxes are not a small amount, and there are many people who are jealous.

I have heard that a few days ago, someone in the court submitted a memorial saying that the three lords had been in Fujian for a long time. Did they transfer the three lords to another place to serve? Your Majesty had asked me about this matter. I said that the three lords had been in Fujian for a long time and knew the situation in Fujian and were very supportive of my lords, so Your Majesty kept the memorial for the time being.

Let’s do this. I will present a memorial to Your Majesty tomorrow to talk about the relationship for the three adults. But if it is successful or not, I cannot guarantee it.”

Hearing this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Yang Feng was willing to plead for them, there would be no problem.

"But that's it!"

Then Yang Feng said again: "I have something to do and want to ask some adults for help."

"Mr. Please speak!"

Xia Dayan also said seriously.

I will be on an expedition to the South Ocean in a few days. At that time, I will not be there, and many families of Jiangning Army and Fujian Navy soldiers are in Fujian. I hope the three adults can help take care of them. I wonder if it is possible.

It turned out that this was the case. The three of them breathed a sigh of relief. Tu Hongliang patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, they are all the families of the Ming soldiers. The local government has the responsibility to protect their safety. As long as the officials still serve in Fujian for one day, they will be able to ensure their safety for one day."

"There is another thing." Yang Feng said solemnly again: "It's about customs. Customs is about whether the Ming Dynasty's treasury is full. I don't know how many eyes are staring at it. If someone dares to make an idea about it, do some adults know what to do?"
Chapter completed!