When the imperial edict was sent to Ningbo, Qin Dewei sighed, his term as governor was about to end again.
Given the nature of the Ming Dynasty's system, it is not bad for a frontier official with such great power to be able to serve for a year.
During this year, taking advantage of the window period when the emperor was in coma and no one was checking him, he made a big hole in the southeast sea ban issue, broke the original interest pattern, and initially completed some new arrangements.
The maritime trade was changed from a wealthy family's monopoly on smuggling to government supervision and private voluntary control, and a system similar to salt distribution was established, which allowed Emperor Jiajing to taste the benefits.
To deal with the problem of Japanese pirates, which started to become rampant, a combination of economic and military measures was adopted to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties.
Although Japanese pirates have not been completely eradicated, after the crackdown, the degree of harm has been much less than in recent years.
July is now past the peak period for the arrival of Japanese pirates, so at least this year there should be no major problems.
Any reform, improvement or groundbreaking system cannot be fully matured in a short period of time. It is not bad to achieve such a state in one year.
If Qin Zhongtang could be given an extra three to five years, various emerging architectural designs could be more stable and complete.
Now what Qin Zhongtang needs to consider is the issue after he leaves. He must avoid the problem of people leaving the government and leaving people with tea, and continue to make his own improvements.
At this time, staff Wu Chengen came in and asked Qin Zhongtang: "I heard that the teacher's term is about to end?"
Qin Dewei knew that Wu Chengen came to ask on behalf of all the officials in the shogunate, so he answered truthfully:
"In about two months, the new governor will arrive, and the main court will leave for the court, and all officials in the shogunate will do so according to their own free will.
Those who are willing to stay and wait for the new governor will stay, and those who are willing to re-elect officials, I will recommend them to the Ministry of Personnel."
Then Qin Dewei asked curiously: "What are your plans?"
Wu Chengen thought about it in his mind. He had accumulated a lot of achievements with Teacher Qin in the past two or three years, and he did not have the title of Jinshi. There was no point in going elsewhere.
It's better to continue hugging Teacher Qin and wait until the 23rd Jiajing Examination. If you can pass the exam and get the Jinshi, you can take off with your merits.
So Wu Chengen said firmly: "As a student, I have benefited a lot from the teacher and I am willing to continue to follow the teacher!"
Qin Zhongtang nodded and said happily: "I have not taught you all these years in vain. Since you continue to follow me, from now on, you can put aside the work at hand and then pick up "The Prehistoric Chronicles" again.
Keep writing!"
Wu Chengen: "."
He recalled the days when he was in the capital and was ordered by his teacher to write novels.
It's okay to just write essays, but the teacher was so picky that when I think about it, I feel like I'm going crazy.
At one moment, I said that this part was not enjoyable enough, at another time, I talked about the sadistic part, at another time, I said that there was no ups and downs in this peaceful period, and at another time, I said that there was no suspense at the end of the chapter.
Moreover, he was extremely rebellious and allowed himself to write Yuanshi Tianzun in the image of an emperor. This was simply outrageous!
The key is that every time an "update" is written, it is put away by Teacher Qin and is not spread out for others to see. This makes Wu Chengen feel no sense of accomplishment, as if he is doing something meaningless and completely worthless.
"Teacher, I don't want to write a novel!" Wu Cheng'en begged so hard that he almost knelt down.
Qin Dewei said categorically: "Write to me! Unless you don't recognize me as your teacher, then you must write!"
And starting from today, every time you finish writing, after my review, it will be immediately sent to the capital via post!"
Hearing this update rhythm, Wu Chengen almost collapsed mentally, "What does this mean? Why do you have to send it to the capital so frequently?"
"Because the emperor wants to pursue it!" Qin Dewei still revealed, mainly because he was afraid that Wu Chengen would not have the passion for writing and the desire to create.
Anyone who knows the art knows that without passion for writing, the quality of what is written will definitely decrease.
Wu Chengen's knees softened and he almost fell to his knees. Sure enough, there was nothing that this teacher could do that a normal person could do.
From Ningbo to the capital, the official document delivery speed was about ten days. After more than ten days, Emperor Jiajing could hear the new chapter of "Ancient History" again.
There was a poem at that time that goes like this: The saliva of the sinking water burns all night long, and the auspicious clouds form in the Gui Palace and Zhi Pavilion. When cultivating one's character, one does not care about family and state affairs, and when one has traveled a thousand miles, one has to rush into the famine.
It is said that this poem was written by a certain Jiangxi Ge Lao's retainer after he retired and returned home to express his feelings about the world.
Qin Zhongtang was a very busy man, and people queuing up outside the gate to see him were crowded one after another, making the whole street blocked.
If you want to meet everyone, you won't be able to meet them all. Generally, you can only choose a few important people to meet every day.
After sending Wu Chengen to continue writing the novel, Qin Zhongtang began to interview the characters. The first person to come in was Lu Bor, who had fulfilled his wish and became the chief military officer of the Fujian garrison.
After the guests and hosts sat down, Qin Dewei said: "You came just in time, I was just about to call you over."
Lu Boring asked quickly: "What are the orders from the central hall?"
Qin Dewei replied: "After the trade winds turn in autumn and winter, I want to send you to lead thousands of officers and soldiers to the southwest of Japan."
After Lu Ti heard this, he was not very interested in this job. What was there to do in Japan? And he didn't know anything about it, so what could he do if he went there?
Moreover, bringing the officers and soldiers there would look like an expedition. If there is a slight setback, wouldn't all the previous efforts be wasted?
But because of Qin Zhongtang's face, he had to leave. After all, he did not have the guts to disobey Qin Zhongtang's order.
Qin Dewei could also guess Lu Dao's mood, and added calmly: "The naval fleet setting out for the Japanese country is allowed to carry 30,000 or 50,000 pieces of silk."
"I'll go!" General Lu Borong said without hesitation and without any hesitation.
After Wang Zhi was "annihilated", many of Wang Zhi's ship owners were recruited. This year, there was a huge gap in the products smuggled to Japan in the Ming Dynasty.
If you take 350,000 to 50,000 pieces of silk to the Japanese country, you will make up for this gap. You can sell it for at least hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. Even if you give yourself 10%, it will still be 10,000 to 20,000.
People die for money and birds die for food. This is enough to make Mr. Lu work hard for his life!
Qin Zhongtang, who used benefits to impress people, never worried about motivation, so he also asked: "As for the officers and soldiers going to raid the Japanese country, I will state three principles.
First, teams with outstanding performance in the anti-Japanese war were selected to go to the Japanese country. Part of the profits from the silk carried by the fleet could be used to distribute the profits to all officers and soldiers, which was regarded as a welfare for them.
Second, after you go to the Japanese country this year in the name of suppressing Japanese invaders, don't make enemies everywhere, just target one vassal state. For example, Satsuma Domain, it is enough to show the power of heaven a little.
Thirdly, this year’s trip to Japan is more of a road-exploring purpose, and we need to collect more information about Japan in all aspects. In the future, official and military raids on Japan may become normal, and we need the latest intelligence support.”
Lu Boring agreed happily just now, but when he thought about the specific implementation, he felt that there were many difficulties, "But now I still have a dark eye on the Japanese country, and what should I do about the supply problem?"
Qin Zhongtang casually gave some advice and said: "There are always more ways than difficulties. If you want to make money and do meritorious deeds at the same time, it's not that easy! If you are not familiar with the Japanese country, you can ask Wang Zhi's group to board the ship to lead the way and give guidance."
There is a feudal lord on the southwest island of Japan, and he does a lot of business with Wang Zhi. You can naturally accept this relationship and use it as a supply base."
After saying a few more words, Qin Zhongtang, who had many important things to do, sent Mr. Lu away and let him use his own initiative to think about it slowly. Anyway, he had two or three months to prepare, which should be enough.
Later, Qin Dewei asked his staff: "Where is Yan Shifan? Why haven't I seen this person recently?"
After the question spread, the officer responsible for monitoring Yan Shifan came and answered: "Master Yan has been hanging out with the Japanese stranded in Ningbo recently, and he is still learning the Japanese language."
Qin Dewei had Yan Shifan arrested and asked directly: "What are your plans?"
Yan Shifan stood with his hands behind his hands, looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside, and replied leisurely: "I am not good at it. I want to float on the sea on a boat, and I heard that there is Japan in the sea."
"Ah, okay, okay!" Qin Dewei interrupted Yan Shifan impatiently, "No matter what you want to do in the future, there is a task that you need to complete now. After the task is over, I will let you go free!"
Yan Shifan said tentatively: "You are about to finish your errand and return to the capital anyway, can you continue to coerce me?"
Qin Zhongtang did not waste any nonsense and said straightforwardly: "There are not only Japanese countries overseas, but also Luzon!
If you do not accept the mission of this Central Hall, this Central Hall will issue an order ordering you to go to Luzon Island to find new crops!"
Qin Zhongtang was not teasing Yan Shifan. If Yan Shifan really dared not to cooperate, Qin Zhongtang would really dare to order Yan Shifan to go on a business trip to Luzon Island.
In the original history, sweet potatoes were brought to Luzon in Southeast Asia by the Spaniards, and then brought back to the Ming Dynasty sixty or seventy years later.
Qin Dewei calculated the time and found that the Spanish began to colonize Luzon twenty years ago, and he did not know if there were any sweet potatoes on Luzon Island now.
If there is a chance, people should be sent to Luzon Island to explore and collect crops.
If no one is willing to go, we can only entrust maritime merchants with footprints as far away as Southeast Asia to look for clues in this regard.
But Yan Shifan didn't want to continue discussing with Qin Zhongtang about going to Luzon Island, so he quickly changed the subject, "What mission does Zhongtang have?"
Qin Zhongtang then ordered: "I heard that some local scholars are dissatisfied with me and need you to help them give them advice."
Yan Shifan: "."
Are you, Qin Zhongtang, afraid that after you leave, the policies you implemented will be backlashed and the benefits you gained will be taken away again?
So I want to lure the snake out of its hole again, and then eliminate the weeds?
Please Qin Zhongtang, please be a human being. Even if you are not a human being, don’t always drag him, Uncle Yan, into being a human being!
Last time you, Qin Zhongtang, asked Uncle Yan to help the four major families with advice, but in the end, all the officials from three of the four major families were imprisoned.
Even those who were not imprisoned were placed under house arrest, some committed suicide, and some were moved to other places. The families were almost disintegrated.
This time, he asked Uncle Yan to help with advice. It was obvious to everyone that Qin Zhongtang's intentions were clear! Besides, after the last "accident", could anyone in the local area believe in him, Yan Shifan, this time?
"I think this is unlikely." Yan Shifan said honestly.
Qin Zhongtang said domineeringly: "I don't want you to feel it, I want me to feel it! Just go and give full play to your eloquence!"
The next day, the shogunate posted a notice saying:
"Since I took office, I have been worried about the injustice of the sea, and I have been anxious and concerned. Looking back on the past, I have consciously acted harshly and forced my neighbors, which has many shortcomings.
Today, officials, soldiers and civilians who can criticize the faults of Ben Zhongtang will receive high rewards; those who write to Ben Zhongtang will receive middle rewards; those who can slander and ridicule the city and court and hear the ears of Ben Zhongtang will receive lower rewards.
I wish to see a hundred schools of thought contending and a hundred flowers blooming, demonstrating our great Ming Dynasty's unimpeded virtue and governance!"
After this announcement was posted, it immediately shocked the entire city of Ningbo. It was hard for everyone to imagine that Qin Zhongtang would issue such an announcement with his strength and domineering power.
Could it be that this is a person who is about to die and his words are good?
In the county school, several young generation scholars gathered here to discuss the new announcement.
Anyone who is familiar with the local reading circle in Ningbo can immediately tell that among these young scholars there are several former local figures of the young generation, such as Tu Ludao, Zhang Shide, Lu Mengguan, Yang Chengmin and others.
In the storm caused by Qin Zhongtang, the backbone of the management of the four wealthy families were basically destroyed, and many people were imprisoned.
However, these young scholars were spared, mainly because their tasks in the family were mainly to study and become officials, and generally did not deal with illegal and criminal matters.
Therefore, under the cover of fame, the crime cannot be implicated on them, and Qin Zhongtang does not have the power to implicate the nine clans unconditionally.
In fact, this is also the privilege of scholars. Even though Qin Zhongtang is extremely powerful, he must abide by the unspoken rules of maintaining the dignity of scholars.
While the young people who intended to revive the family were discussing today's announcement, someone suddenly shouted outside Minglun Hall: "Do you dare to listen to me?"
These people stood at the door and looked out, only to see a fat man with one eye being stopped in front of the hall by a servant.
With such an image, you don’t need to look carefully to know who it is!
In the "anti-crime storm" set off by Qin Dewei, Zhang Shide, the Zhang family who suffered the most losses, couldn't bear it and stepped forward angrily: "Master Yan! How can you still have the nerve to show up here!"
If it weren't for you, Yan Shifan, who repeatedly came up with ideas about how to form rural soldiers to fight against the shogunate and how to attract Japanese pirates into the city to plunder, then those in charge of the family believed in your evil ideas and were taken directly to the ditch by you. How could the family have done this?
To end up like this?
Yan Shifan said proudly: "Don't be surprised, gentlemen, I'm here specifically to rectify my name!"
Another scholar, Tu Ludao, was also angry, "What name do you want to correct?"
Although in the anti-gangster storm, the Tu family suffered the least loss due to the absence of a solid weapon to seduce the Japanese pirates, the four major families advanced and retreated together, and Tu Ludao also had to show loyalty to his fellow members.
Yan Shifan sighed and said to Tu Ludao sincerely: "I want to say that you really can't blame me for what happened to your family, and my calculation is not wrong. Do you believe it?"
"Don't believe it! Just leave!" Yang Chengmin said angrily.
Yan Shifan laughed loudly: "It's a pity that you are already in a dead end, but you don't know it! And you still reject unfavorable advice!"
However, Yan Shifan still murmured in his heart that with his strength, it would be easy to deal with these young people, but he didn't understand what Qin Dewei wanted to do?
These young men pose no threat to Qin Dewei. Even Yan Shifan could be crushed to death with one hand. Why does Qin Dewei need to continue to target him?
Happy New Year to everyone!!! I’m still writing on New Year’s Eve. This kind of spirit is worth a monthly ticket! It will continue during the Spring Festival!!!