In the Royal Palace Conference Hall, Zhou Shuyuan was reporting to Wei Zheng about the gains he had gained in the past few days with excitement on his face.

After that, the topic was directly transferred to the descendants of these businessmen who had passed the assessment.

Under the gaze of Wei Zheng with a smile on his face, Zhou Shuyuan's face was quickly covered by seriousness. Then, he asked Wei Zheng: "Prince, the entire Beizhili and Shandong governments are almost in a state of suspension. Since the examination has been completed, will the royal government immediately appoint its official positions and let the governments in various places operate quickly..."

"Yes, and the faster the better..." Wei Zheng answered without thinking about this idea.

Then, he continued to add to Zhou Shuyuan and others: "King Wang Peng, you are specifically responsible for the promotion of all civil and military officials in the Northern King's Palace. If you are placed in the court, you are the so-called Minister of Personnel. Therefore, you will take the lead in this matter. Within five days, you must come up with a specific plan. Of course, if there are any difficulties in the middle, you will directly report it to the Prime Minister or the King, and we will definitely cooperate and support you unconditionally..."

"Please rest assured, I will come up with a specific plan within five days... but..." Wang Peng made a loud promise while hesitating, and a hint of hesitation also appeared on his face.

Faced with this situation, Wei Zheng said directly: "It's just what?"

"Prince, most of the people who passed the exam have businessmen's backgrounds, are descendants of businessmen, and have no experience as an official. I am worried that suddenly entrusting them with important tasks will lead to problems..." Wang Peng asked with a worried look on his face.

As soon as the words fell, Deputy Prime Minister Wang Yang, who was on the other hand, followed and added: "Prince, I have this worry too. We all know that businessmen are the group of people who pursue interests the most. They rashly assign important tasks to them. Not to mention whether they have the ability. I am worried. They will use their business sets to the government, use their power to facilitate their own business, and even directly embezzle and make money..."

"It is very likely... in the eyes of businessmen, as long as they can earn money, they can do anything..." In the huge meeting hall, except for Zhou Changjun, who was a businessman, Zhou Shuyuan, all raised concerns about their value of businessmen, and even directly raised their own objections.

Seeing this, Wei Zheng directly showed a meaningful smile on his face.

Because, as the Tiger and Leopard Army became stronger and stronger, it occupied more and more territory. The people under its command gradually began to have their own factions.

Just from the words just now, Wei Zheng clearly felt that these confidants under his command had been divided into at least three factions...

The elder faction, headed by Zhou Shuyuan, has always followed him to conquer the world...

Officials led by Wang Peng and surrendered from the court...

As for the last faction, it was led by Mr. Zhou. In order to enhance the status of merchants, Wei Zheng specially promoted some descendants of merchants...

Among these three factions, the veteran faction led by Zhou Shuyuan is undoubtedly the largest faction under his command because it controls most of the military strength of the Tiger and Leopard Army and many key positions in the royal palace.

Although the former imperial officials headed by Wang Peng did not have very good positions, because they were too many people and were all grassroots and middle-level officials, they were also an indispensable and powerful force that could not be ignored.

As for the faction led by Mr. Zhou, because of its small number and its concentration in the economy and taxation, it is undoubtedly the weakest among the three factions.

However, this situation is obviously going to be broken at this moment.

Because most of the people who passed the assessment have businessmen's backgrounds. Once they become officials and are entrusted with important tasks by the royal palace, then they will follow Mr. Zhou without hesitation and be classified as Mr. Zhou's faction.

Under such circumstances, the strength of the faction of Mr. Zhou will undoubtedly increase greatly, even surpassing the faction led by Wang Peng...

Of course, Wei Zheng did not object to this situation.

Because Wei Zheng clearly remembered that Taizu once said that there would be struggles wherever there were people, let alone such a big palace. If the lower place was really united and there was no struggle, then the person who really had to worry about was himself.

Thinking of this, Wei Zheng's thoughtful expression was directly covered with a smile.

After glanced at his subordinates with different expressions in front of him, he asked directly...

"What you mean is that as long as the merchants become officials, they will definitely embezzle and make money for themselves... In this case, then I will ask Mr. Zhou... As far as I know, Mr. Zhou is also a businessman, see how much money Mr. Zhou has made in total in the position of Deputy Prime Minister, because he is an official, he provides his family's business with many conveniences..."

Facing Wei Zheng's bloody question, Wang Peng and others immediately showed a very embarrassing expression on their faces. Because they clearly felt from Wei Zheng's question that Wei Zheng had already understood the reason why they had just raised their concerns.

Of course, at this moment, there is no time or opportunity to let him regret it.

Old Zhou, who was already covered in white hair, stood up directly after Wei Zheng asked, and replied loudly: "Prince, I dare not say anything else. However, there is one thing I can guarantee that since I was reused by you, the prince, my Zhou Changjun has never taken one tael of silver in the palace. Not only has I not taken one tael of silver, I have also put about a thousand taels of silver in it for more than a year..."

"According to the regulations of the royal palace, when I go out to work, all the funds will be paid by the Governor's Office. However, in many cases, in order to avoid trouble, I use my own money..."

"As for providing convenience to the Zhou family's business, this is even more ridiculous. Now, the Zhou family's business is basically outside the control area of ​​the royal palace. I just want to provide convenience to the Zhou family's business, and there is no way..."

"Finally, I would like to add that the Zhou family can earn at least 300,000 taels of silver every year from all over the Ming Dynasty. As the head of the Zhou family, I have silver flowers, so there is no need to embezzle the silver from the royal palace..."

After Mr. Zhou finished speaking, Wang Peng and others' faces were already embarrassed, and at this moment, they became even more embarrassed.

However, in order to teach these subordinates a lesson and to further improve the strength of the Zhou clan's faction in the royal palace, Wei Zheng, with a smile on his face, did not intend to just pass this matter.

As soon as Mr. Zhou finished speaking, Wei Zheng continued to ask.

"Old Zhou, as far as I know, many people now study for promotion and wealth, and glorify their ancestors. Since you are not for promotion and wealth, what is your purpose of becoming an official?"

Mr. Zhou answered without thinking: "Glorious family and leave a good reputation..."

"The prince should know that before the Tiger and Leopard Army came, in the Ming Dynasty, although we merchants were rich, they were the least identifiable and had no status. A small yamen runner in the government could bully us merchants..."

"It is because of this that we always want to ask for the identity of a businessman. However, because of the imperial system, this is almost impossible..."

"At this moment, your arrival gave us businessmen a hope, so that we can have status and status, and no longer be inferior to others..."

"So, the reason why we become officials is only one. Please ask the businessman to be inferior to others, to honor his ancestors, and to leave a good reputation..."

After Mr. Zhou finished speaking, Wei Zheng's eyes directly turned to Wang Peng.

Regardless of Wang Peng's increasingly embarrassed face, he asked directly: "Mr. Wang, except for the appointment and removal of all the officials in the royal palace, the officials violated the law and discipline, and embezzlement... it seems that everything is under your control. Not to mention anything else, I will ask you how many officials have been won in the past six months, and what are their origins... You should know that in the past six months, the various salaries I gave to these officials were more than three times that of the imperial court. In this case, it proves that the purpose of these people's desire to be officials is to get promoted and make money and make money, not to glorify their ancestors and do things for the people..."

After Wei Zheng finished speaking, Wang Peng was stunned on the spot and couldn't speak for a long time.

At this time, Wei Zheng's voice sounded again: "Why, Lord Wang, is there anything you can't say... Or is it because in the past six months, no civil and military officials in the entire Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces have been investigated for corruption?"

"No, there are people, and there are many people..." After Wei Zheng's series of questions, Wang Peng's forehead was already filled with sweat due to nervousness, and then he subconsciously answered.

"Prince, in the past six months, a total of 85 civil and military officials of seventh rank and above were imprisoned for corruption. Among them, 79 civil officials, 29 seventh rank and 31 sixth rank and 6th rank, 16 fifth rank and 5th rank, 8 fourth rank and 4th rank, 1 third rank and 3rd rank and 1 third rank…"

"Among these people, there are 19 people in the county magistrates, 11 people in the prefectures, and 6 people in the prefectures..."

"As for their origins, except for the two who followed the prince to enter the pass through Zunhua, the others were all official positions appointed by the court, and they were scholars who passed the imperial examination, which is what the prince said to be scholars."

After hearing the answer he wanted, he sneered and sent it directly from Wei Zheng's mouth.
Chapter completed!