The Ming Dynasty had severe punishments and strict laws, strict frugality, strict laws, and low treatment of officials, which were unprecedented.
Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang's law is not a decoration. He will really mess with you if you commit a crime, and he will not let you off the hook just because you are a scholar.
Because Boss Zhu came from a poor background and knew how ordinary people lived. The treatment he gave officials was still much more comfortable than the ordinary people's lives.
If you still think the pay is low and there are too many rules, then don’t do it. Whether you do it or not, there are plenty of people competing to do it!
In addition, because Boss Zhu has no education, he has been discriminated against by scholars since he was young, so he hates scholars in his heart.
Even though he had become a prince, or even became an emperor, he still felt that they would ridicule him whenever they saw the opportunity.
Therefore, it is difficult for scholars to get along under his hands. They spend all day carrying their eggs across the river, and they still get offended at every turn.
What was most unacceptable to them was that Zhu Yuanzhang actually cut off the Tongtian Bridge for scholars - in the sixth year of Hongwu, he stopped the imperial examination that had lasted for more than 700 years on the grounds that the people who obtained the imperial examination were all nerds who lacked the ability to work.
The imperial examination was replaced by local recommendation and the Imperial College itself cultivated practical talents.
This is tantamount to digging into the lives of scholars. Which scholar in the world does not hate Zhu Yuanzhang with itch to his teeth?
Especially the Zhejiang literati who monopolized the country's cultural resources and almost included the Zhejiang literati who passed the three imperial examinations before the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Due to various reasons, they naturally missed Zhang Shicheng one after another...
How could Lao Zhu stand it now? He thought that the literati in eastern Zhejiang were not well educated, so he used the Wei Guan case to scare the monkeys and sentenced Gao Qi, who took the lead in remembering Zhang Shicheng, to be chopped in half!
The scholars did not expect that Boss Zhu would dare to be so cruel to the most talented person in Jiangnan after he became the emperor. For a time, the literati in Jiangnan were silent, and anyone who had anything to do with Zhang Shicheng was in danger.
For people like Luo Guanzhong and Shi Naian who had served as Zhang Shicheng’s staff, of course no one would dare to have anything to do with them. And publish books for them?
Isn’t that ‘King Qin Wu is playing tricks – he’s tired of living’?
~~
In a single room in a tavern.
The myopic Luo Guanzhong finally gave up using chopsticks, reached out and grabbed a handful of broad beans, put one in his mouth and ate it. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"Actually, it wasn't me who went to find your master. Luo has been a deformed person for most of his life. He owes a lot to his family, but he has never been sorry to his friends."
Han Yike nodded, he believed this. Otherwise, he would not risk his relationship to see Luo Guanzhong.
"When I sent the manuscript to your master, but there was no reply for several years, I didn't have any hope." Luo Guanzhong then said calmly: "Who would have thought that at the end of the first month, I suddenly received a letter from your master, inviting me to come to Beijing for a visit.
Meet."
"Did my master invite you?" Han Yike was surprised. For the past two years, Liu Bowen had closed his door to thank guests, and even he, a former student, was not allowed to come, so no one knew about their relationship.
Why did you suddenly make a U-turn?
"Yes, he promised me that as long as he helps you with this matter, he will help me publish a book." Luo Guanzhong nodded.
"How can I help?" Han Yixiao asked.
"Your five highnesses are in your county, you don't need help?" Luo Guanzhong asked in rapid succession: "The Ming Cult is resurrecting in Fengyang, you don't need help? The immigrants from the south of the Yangtze River and the people in Xiuzhongdu are in rebellion, don't you?
Need help?"
"What five Your Highnesses?" Han Yike subconsciously pretended to be confused.
"Hong Hao, Hong Bin, Hong Ji, Hong Yan, Hong E." Luo Guanzhong reported five names that made Han Yike's scalp explode, and commented with interest:
"Hong, it should be Zhu Hongwu's Hong, or it could be Zhu Zhehong. This surname is not bad. This name seems to have no culture at all. It was made up to make up the five elements."
"Of course, it's not completely made up. The King of Qin sealed it in Xi'an, which is called Hao for short, so he was called Hong Hao; the King of Jin sealed it in Taiyuan, which was called Bing for short, so he was called Hong Bin; the King of Yan sealed it in Beiping, which was called Ji for short, so he was called Hong Ji.
"The king of Chu was granted a title in Wuchang, which was called E for short, so he was called Hong E."
After Luo Guanzhong finished speaking, he felt that he had missed one. He paused for a while and then added: "Oh, by the way, there is also a King of Wu. He was sealed in Suzhou and was called Wu for short, so he was called Hong Yan... Haha, Hong Yan and Hong Wu, just like
His bans are just as random."
"..." Han Yike completely believed that he was invited by the master. Otherwise, it would be easy to say, how could he even know the top secret of the five highnesses in Linhuai and their pseudonyms?
Seeing Han Yike's expression change, Luo Guanzhong smiled teasingly and said: "Bo Shi, you are sitting on a cannon that can collapse you into the sky at any time, and you still pretend to be nonchalant. This strength really puts Brother Yu to shame." "Why can't I pretend to be nothing?" Han Yike forced a smile and said: "Those troublesome things you mentioned all happened in Zhongdu City, in Fengyang County, what's the difference with Linhuai County, which is twenty miles away from me?
Relationship?"
"Zhu Hongwu gave you the right to secretly report, are you so negative?" Luo Guanzhong looked at him in confusion, and then threw out a trump card:
"Your teacher also asked me to tell you that next month, Zhu Hongwu will officially issue an edict, announcing that gold and silver will be scrapped and paper money will be used throughout the country. Everyone must exchange the gold and silver they hold into paper money within the specified time.
You, Linhuai County, can’t be alone in this matter, right?”
"So fast?" Han Yike gasped.
He naturally knew that the imperial court had set up a treasure banknote lifting department last year to prepare for the issuance of treasure banknotes. But at that time, the government and the public generally believed that this was a serious matter and must be treated with caution. After all, the consequences caused by the excessive issuance of banknotes in the late Yuan Dynasty were all
Everyone has experienced it firsthand.
According to the emperor's rigorous style of governing the country, it must be tried out first and then revised. It will take several years before it is really implemented. Why is it that it is only now in the new year that it is implemented nationwide?
"That's not the case. There are six types of denominations, ranging from one hundred coins to one hundred coins. One thousand coins are exchanged for one thousand coins or one tael of silver, and four coins are exchanged for one tael of gold." Luo Guanzhong said with a smile: "In other words, the court has to take a piece of paper money.
, in exchange for one tael of silver in your hand; if you take four, I will exchange you for one tael of gold."
"This, this is not..." Han Yike swallowed back the word 'nonsense' and changed his words: "There will probably be trouble."
"I don't know if there is chaos elsewhere, but Fengyang is definitely in chaos!" Luo Guanzhong said with a gloating smile: "Those wealthy families from the south of the Yangtze River who were forcibly moved here exchanged all their houses and properties for gold and silver. Now Zhu Hongwu
They want to turn their gold and silver into paper again, tsk tsk, this is really like peeling off the skin and eating the flesh, but also breaking the bones and sucking out the marrow..."
Looking at Han Yike again, he was already sweating and drinking one cup after another.
"I know that you have concerns and are responsible for the safety of the five His Highnesses; you don't have irrefutable evidence and are afraid of being thrown into jail again; you feel that even if you have evidence, you will definitely not be able to win against the Korean public..." Luo Guanzhong first understood.
I asked him a few words, and then changed the subject, word by word:
"But can you really harden your heart and do nothing? Are you just waiting to die together in the end?"
"I can't turn a blind eye..." Han Yike shook his head in pain and said, "But the matter is too big, and I really can't bear it alone."
"Who asked you to bear the burden alone? Besides, if the sky falls and someone is taller, don't you have five princes in your county? Why don't you guide them to discover the truth?" Luo Guanzhong gave him an idea. p>
"This..." Han Yike was obviously moved. In fact, it was not that he had never thought of this method, but he did not dare.
"What if one of your Highnesses has something wrong? My whole family doesn't have enough to compensate."
"What are you afraid of? Zhu Hongwu asked them to dress up as white dragon fish and go out to the private sector to practice. They are well prepared in case something happens." Luo Guanzhong was very open-minded about Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Aren't you afraid that the world will be in chaos?" Han Yike looked at him suspiciously, suspecting that this guy had no good intentions.
"I'm not that gloomy. The general trend of the world will divide if it is united for a long time, and it will unite if it is divided for a long time. Since the destiny belongs to Zhu Hongwu, I don't want the world to be divided again, otherwise the people will suffer again." Luo Guanzhong said lightly.
"Oh, let me think about it..." Han Yike fell into a dilemma.
