On the last day of his trip to Jingdezhen, Zhu Zhen hosted a banquet for Sun Zhifu, the prefect of Raozhou, as well as Zhou Ji, Ji Ming, and Cheng Qian in the hotel where he stayed to thank them for their warm hospitality.
The few people were naturally flattered, but they also knew that His Highness invited them to this meal because he had something serious to discuss. That was all foreshadowing.
After the five flavors of the dish were cooked, Zhu Zhen said to Ji Ming, the magistrate of Fuliang County: "I'm really sorry that I have delayed your county for so many days."
"Your Highness is serious. It is our county's greatest honor that His Highness can come to Jingdezhen to leave his footprints and take a look around." Ji Ming said, feeling flattered.
"Yes, His Royal Highness King Jiahai of Chu came to Bi County. It will be recorded in the county history and the government's annals in the future. It is a top priority." Magistrate Sun also hurriedly agreed.
"Hahaha, I'm serious." His Royal Highness King Chu waved his hand and said:
"I know that the local officials are very busy right now. They have to clear land, compile yellow books, implement Lijia, and arrange various immigration matters. It really gives you a headache just thinking about it."
"It's okay, it's okay..." Sun Jia, Ji Ming said with a smile, but secretly shouted in his heart, isn't this all a ghost job sent by you?
"Oh, by the way, these are all tasks assigned to you by the king." Zhu Zhen slapped his forehead and pretended to say: "Oh, when I started playing, I forgot about the real thing."
"Your Highness has worked hard day and night. It's too hard. It's time to relax for a few days." The two officials could only smile bitterly, which made it impossible for them to escape. Now it was finally their turn.
"That's right, but now that I remember it, I just want to ask you a few questions." Zhu Zhen picked up the handkerchief and wiped his mouth.
"Excuse me, Your Highness." The two people hurriedly sat down at attention.
"Don't be nervous. This is not a formal question. Just treat it as a casual chat." Zhu Zhen smiled and asked, "Prefect Sun, how is the progress in Raozhou?"
"Back to Your Highness, the work team has completed all the work in Poyang County; the appointment of the governor of Yugan County has also been completed, and the preparation of the yellow book is being stepped up. Over in Leping County, the official has also urged to start preparations. It is expected that next month, too
It will start in July. Then it will be Fuliang County's turn." Sun Jia hurriedly reported respectfully.
"Oh, half of this year has passed, time flies so fast." Zhu Zhen couldn't help but sigh. Last month, his two brothers had already passed away. Next month, Zhu Gaochi...oh no, the fourth brother
It's time for the eldest son to be born.
"Haha, it's not that fast..." The two officials had different feelings. They both felt that this year was really like a year. They were nervous every day, and they might not be able to move their heads one day.
"You in Fuliang County can't just sit back and wait. A lot of preliminary work can be done first." Lao Liu said to the county magistrate Na Ji: "For example, you can do a thorough survey of the population and fields in advance. This can reduce the work at that time.
Quantity, and it can leave a good impression on the work team.”
"Yes, yes." Ji Ming nodded quickly to show that he was taught, and just took a small notebook to write it down.
"Actually, the government has ordered all counties to start these tasks in advance." Magistrate Sun said, taking credit.
"Oh? That's good. But how is the implementation below?" Zhu Zhen asked Jizhi County Road: "I'm here to test you. Let's just talk about Jingdezhen. How many registered residents are there?"
"Back to Your Highness." Jizhi County quickly replied: "There are 2,103 households in Jingdezhen, with a registered population of 16,206."
"Not bad, not bad. The answers are fluent. But from what I have seen in the past two days, there are more than just these people." Zhu Zhen praised first and then asked.
"Back to Your Highness, the situation in Jingdezhen is special. As Your Highness can see, there are more than 500 kiln households here, each of which employs many workers. Small workshops have hundreds of people, and large ones even have as many as one or two thousand people." Ji Ming explained hurriedly.
road:
"So there must be as many as 120,000 to 30,000 workers in the entire county. How can there be so many people in the town? Most of them come to work elsewhere in the county."
"Are they all from Fuliang County?" Zhu Zhen asked calmly.
"No." Ji Ming's heart tightened, and he answered honestly: "Because the wages here are high, and there are people from the surrounding counties coming to work, with the most coming from Duchang County."
"Do these people from other counties have road guides?" Zhu Zhen asked unkindly.
"this……"
Although there were ice buckets placed in the four corners of the room, and there were maids fanning themselves nearby, bringing in a cool breeze, the banquet did not feel the heat at all. But the two local officials, and Cheng Qian, who had a bruised nose and face, heard this.
Everyone was sweating profusely.
"Don't be stunned and answer quickly." Magistrate Sun quickly urged Magistrate Ji: "Just answer truthfully and don't play tricks with His Highness."
"Hey, Your Highness, please." Ji Ming wiped his sweat and had to bite the bullet and said: "Because they are neighboring counties and not far away from each other, we don't force anyone who comes to work to have a road."
"Your Highness, with so many people coming out to work, it is impossible for the county to provide so many road diversions." Cheng Qian was quite generous, knowing that the county magistrate could not handle this matter alone, otherwise Ji Ming would definitely deal with him when he came back.
"But our guild also has requirements. Whenever workers want to come to work, they must have a fellow villager as a guarantor, and they must leave their household registration with us. Our management is much stricter than the government."
"You have the nerve to say it. Who gave you such power, and you dare to deduct people's household registration? Who issued the household registration? You dare to deduct it?" However, His Highness gave him a slap in the face.
"Yes, I was wrong..." Cheng Qian lowered his head and did not dare to speak.
"This is a dereliction of duty, please punish me, Your Highness." Ji Ming quickly stood up and knelt down at the table.
"..." Cheng Qian originally wanted to kneel down, but then he thought about it. Doesn't this prove collusion between government and businessmen? It would be more troublesome. He had to sit there on pins and needles, wishing to find a crack in the ground to crawl in.
The atmosphere in the hall dropped to freezing point, which was much better than an ice bucket.
"Hahaha." Lao Liu then put away his bad face and said with a pleasant smile: "Get up, Magistrate Jixian, I didn't say anything before, it's just a casual chat, why are you so serious?"
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." Ji Ming was as if he had been fished out of the water. He had been completely ruined.
"Jingdezhen is different from other places. This is a rare pearl of handicraft industry in Ming Dynasty." Zhu Zhen continued to speak in a slower tone: "We must care for it, and we must protect it, so you don't have to worry that I will burn the harp and boil the crane. Not only do I not
Yes, and I won’t allow anyone to destroy Jingdezhen’s hard-won prosperity!”
"Oh, Your Highness, you are so, so madam..." Everyone shed tears, half moved, half dumbfounded. Why do people always have to do this?
After everyone thanked them, Zhu Zhen once again let them experience a roller coaster ride and said: "However, we can't be too self-conscious and ignore its problems. After all, Jingdezhen is just a town, and as a result, there are more people gathering here than in the provincial capital.
It’s obviously inappropriate. This is too misleading!”
"Yes, yes, please tell me what to do..." Everyone was no longer able to pursue his ideas and could only let him control them.
"Let's split them up." Zhu Zhen then said: "If some people go out, wouldn't it be okay?"
