Zhu Qizhen looked a little surprised after reading Chen Shiqing's dossier.
"Are you from a Juren background?"
Chen Shiqing replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, I passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen, but failed three times in succession, so I gave up taking the exam again, passed the election and became the county magistrate, and later was promoted to the county magistrate, and later became the magistrate's fellow magistrate.
In the 13th year of Zhengtong's reign, he was transferred to Yongping Prefecture and became the magistrate. Due to his unfavorable performance in Caijiagou, he was demoted to the magistrate of Qian'an County."
He is not shy about his origins and experiences.
If you pass the national examination at the age of eighteen, you can be regarded as one of the best among people.
What followed was three missed shots, which was a big setback for him.
Spring is the exam, once every three years, three times is nine years. How many nine years are there in life, and they are still the most prosperous nine years!
Being an official as a juren should be a helpless move, but being able to rise from county magistrate to prefect is considered a leader.
Zhu Qizhen put down the file and asked: "Tell me what you think of the New Deal."
"Wei Chen believes that the foundation of the New Deal is to benefit the people..."
"Don't talk nonsense, I want to hear some real words."
Chen Shiqing paused, thinking quickly, and then said: "In my humble opinion, the New Deal is basically to break the monopoly of the gentry, and the people will definitely applaud it. Therefore, the biggest difficulty is how to solve the dissatisfaction of the gentry class.
Since the founding of the country by Emperor Taizu, the Ming Dynasty has been ruled by the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats. If there is a problem with the gentry class, it will be directly related to the stability of the regime."
Zhu Qizhen nodded secretly, his words were on point, and they were very bold.
Even if most people see this level, they would not dare to say it casually, especially in front of themselves.
"Tell me more about how to eliminate the dissatisfaction of the gentry class?"
"Back to the emperor, this...cannot be realized!"
"Oh?"
"Since it is a new deal, it must be drastic and must be cut when necessary. We cannot always try to be harmonious and satisfy everyone. Otherwise, it will just change the soup without changing the medicine, and this new deal will be meaningless."
"You just said that if the problem of eliminating the gentry cannot be solved, the government will be unstable?"
"Yes, but..."
Chen Shiqing changed the subject and said: "The emperor is already doing it. It is exactly what the art of war says in the art of war: don't contain the enemy when they return; besiege the enemy when they are surrounded; don't force the enemy when they are poor."
Zhu Qizhen smiled and asked: "How do you say it?"
Chen Shiqing continued: "The enemy surrounds them on three sides and blocks one side, so they show a way out. Nowadays, the gentry regards the New Deal as the enemy, and they are the emperor's enemies, but they cannot really kill all the enemies like that, so,
This is a strategy that surrounds three and lacks one. It not only prevents the gentry from annexing, but also allows the gentry to earn money by running workshops."
"In the past, the gentry regarded land as their foundation and would hoard land as long as they had silver in their hands. In recent years, the price of silver has been depreciating, which has accelerated the speed of land annexation..."
Before the imperial court officially opened the sea, a large number of private ships participated in maritime trade. From then on, silver began to flow into the territory. Later, the sea was opened, and the surrounding territories were exaggerated, and the money poured in crazily.<
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Almost every once in a while, the silver in their hands becomes worthless. At this time, those gentry who have a lot of silver in their hands will tend to buy land like crazy, because land will not depreciate in value.
"...So the top priority is to find a new profit point. When it comes to land annexation, we must not show mercy. We must fight to the death to block their path to annexation. At the same time, encourage those who have money in their hands."
people to invest in workshops."
"So the county has taken many measures, such as giving land to kilns and workshops at low prices to help them improve their craftsmanship. In short, we will help as much as we can. Among them, most of the people who are willing to invest in workshops are some
People who own assets are just like the person named Xia Wenhui."
"To put it bluntly, Xia Wenhui is also a gentry, but he is very different from the gentry in the past. They are knowledgeable and insightful, easy to accept new things, and good at studying policies. They know what the court needs, so they can make money." "I am actually here to let these new gentry class set an example and tell the world that besides land, there are other things that are profitable. When this group of people earn money, sooner or later there will be more and more people in the future.
The more people are willing to participate."
Zhu Qizhen suddenly asked: "I don't understand something. You also belong to the gentry class. Don't you have any complaints about the New Deal?"
Chen Shiqing hurriedly replied: "I don't have any lofty ambitions. I just hope to do more for the local people. As for land and money, I have already got enough. If I don't bring this to life, I will die."
If you don’t take it with you, what’s the point of having so many?”
Zhu Qizhen now appreciates this person more and more. Fortunately, except for things like Caijiagou, otherwise, such talents would have been buried.
There is no shortage of good officials in the Ming Dynasty, but the problem is that when the interests of a class are tied together, if you don't follow the trend, you will become the target of suppression.
In this situation, the more officials who think about the people and do not follow the crowd, the more likely they will be squeezed out. Chen Shiqing became an official at the age of 27 and has been for more than 20 years. He must be capable and have achievements.
, but he only served as magistrate and was demoted, where can he go to reason?
"Okay then, tell me what you think of the gentry."
Chen Shiqing nodded and said: "In the past hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the problem of gentry has become a huge hidden danger. For example, if a landlord owns a large amount of land in the countryside, they will of course conceal their population, as much as they can.
No matter how much they concealed, after all, the vast majority of these manpower became their slaves. But the New Deal required an inventory of hidden households. In this way, these hidden households and slaves were freed, and the new workshop owners could use more
Hire this manpower at a low price. If this manpower is still in the hands of the gentry in the countryside, where will the hundreds of workers in a workshop come from?"
"Besides, in the past, food was in the hands of certain large households. Although some of the rest of the people had land, most of them could barely grow enough food to satisfy their hunger. Therefore, it was easy for these gentry to
If food prices fluctuate too much, it will not be a good thing for these gentry workshop owners who work together to control food prices."
"In addition, the interest orientations between each other are different. Naturally, there will inevitably be disputes over ideas. It is not easy to stop this dispute. The final result is that they will turn against each other.
As an official at the grassroots level, I clearly discovered that it was not enough to deal with the gentry with the power of the county government. There must be strong pressure from the imperial edict. But can such high pressure continue? Therefore, in the future,
Sooner or later, we will have to rely on the gentry who have left the countryside for help."
"Furthermore, there are actually officials and gentry who are engaged in business. However, most of them do not produce and only rely on their privileges to simply sell. However, unlike Xia Wenhui, the gentry who are engaged in production have lost their assets.
Yes, a large number of people need to be recruited to work for it, which can alleviate some of the problems of refugees. The products produced will also have many benefits in the world. I dare not say that there are 100 benefits and no harm, but at least now the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
."
Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen sighed with emotion from the bottom of his heart: "I didn't expect you to think so far, well, it's amazing!"
Chen Shiqing saluted and said: "When I implement the new policies in the local area, I always sigh that the emperor is really great. Only by working conscientiously and abiding by my duties can I be worthy of the kindness of the emperor and the people below."
Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but stood up and shouted: "Fan Zhong, call Cao Nai over!"
"Yes!"
Fan Zhong agreed at the door, and Cao Nai arrived not long after.
"Your Majesty, Cao Nai, wishes to see my Emperor long live!"
"Cao Qing's family please get up!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand at him and went straight to the topic: "Have you chosen the official minister?"
Since Chen Rong was demoted, the candidate for Minister of the Ministry of Personnel has been vacant. Currently, the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel are fully responsible for Zuo Shilang.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that Chen Rong has been operating in the capital for many years and has students all over the court. It is only a matter of time before he is reinstated.
Cao Nai said: "Master Chen is a Jinshi of the Yongle Dynasty and a veteran of the Four Dynasties. I thought he was implicated and was sent to Yongping Mansion for training for a period of time... Alas!"
Having said this, he sighed heavily.
When I saw him today, Chen Rong seemed to be out of his mind. He couldn't tell that the emperor liked Xia Wenhui very much, but he insisted on using his words and quarreling with others, but in the end... he couldn't quarrel!
With such virtue, do you still want to be reinstated?
Go ahead and dream!
Zhu Qizhen pointed to Chen Shiqing on the side and asked: "Do you think he can do it?"
Cao Nai suddenly felt a little confused. What's going on?
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you mean...him?"
"Yes, that's him!"
Chen Shiqing was also a little confused and didn't know what to do for a while.
Cao Nai scratched his head and asked: "Isn't this... afraid... inappropriate?"
Zhu Qizhen was unmoved and asked: "What's inappropriate?"
Cao Nai looked at Chen Shiqing, his expression a little distorted: "The county magistrate Chen... has made great achievements in governing the place, but he is only a seventh-rank magistrate, and the official minister is a second-rank official, which is a bit far behind..."
Zhu Qizhen said: "He was demoted from the prefecture. Wouldn't it be enough to reinstate him first and then join the civil service department?"
"Even if the official is reinstated and the magistrate is the fourth rank, and he is directly promoted to the second rank as minister, I'm afraid...it will be difficult to convince the public."
The first-rank officials in the Ming Dynasty were only fictitious, and the second-rank official was the highest official. It was indeed unethical to be promoted directly from the prefect to the minister.
Chen Shiqing finally realized at this time that the emperor had just asked him so many opinions about the New Deal. It turned out that he wanted to promote himself, and moreover, he should be directly promoted to a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Such a good thing is something that he would never dream of in ordinary times.<
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"Your Majesty, everything you do is within your bounds. Lord Cao is right, you can't break the rules."
Zhu Qizhen saw that it was rare for Chen Shiqing to take credit without being arrogant, so he asked Cao Nai: "How does the cabinet decide on the candidate for the Minister of Civil Affairs?"
Cao Nai said truthfully: "I have discussed this matter and believe that the most suitable candidate is Yin Shangren of Yingtian Mansion."
The prefect and the prefect are different. In the Ming Dynasty, only Shuntian and Yingtian had the third rank of prefect.
Logically speaking, a third-rank official should first be given a second-rank minister, and then go a step further and become a minister.
But Shang Ren was different. He was in charge of the New Deal in the six southern provinces in Nanjing, especially the Jiangnan area, which was the most important source of tax revenue for the Ming Dynasty. Whether the New Deal could be successfully implemented across the country, his position was very important.
Since Da Shang Ren took office, the New Deal in the Jiangnan region has been on the right track. Even if he skips a level for such achievements, it is completely justified. Even if others have complaints in their hearts, it is hard to say anything.
If Chen Shiqing, the prefect of Yongping, is still just a magistrate, it would be a big mistake to directly become a minister.
Zhu Qizhen thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Since it has been decided, let's issue a transfer order to Shang Ren. Regarding Chen Shiqing... the first official will be reinstated, and then he will be transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs. Is it okay for you to be the right minister?"
Cao Nai secretly thought that since Chen Shiqing was a talented person and was deeply appreciated by the emperor, he must be promoted.
When the official is restored to his original position, he will be the fourth-rank magistrate, and then transferred to the household department as the right minister. Although the step is a bit big, it is still more reliable than the promotion of magistrate to minister.
"Veteran ministers cannot make hasty conclusions about this matter. We need to go back and discuss it with other cabinet ministers, as well as the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Zhu Qizhen nodded. If Cao Nai said this, he agreed.
As for him saying he would go back and find someone to discuss it, it was just a formality.
Chen Shiqing is also a sensible person. Hearing this, he quickly kowtowed.
"I thank you for your holy grace!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said: "There is no need for polite words. I am transferring you to the Ministry of Household Affairs to continue to implement the New Deal. By then, what you will face will not be a mere Qian'an County or a Yongping Prefecture, but a mere Yongping Prefecture."
All the gentry in the world, I want to ask you, are you ready?"
Chen Shiqing kowtowed and said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will not hesitate even if my body is shattered to pieces!"
Zhu Qizhen thought of another thing and said: "That Xia Wenhui is not bad, he is a talented person. After you leave, how about letting him serve as magistrate of Qian'an County?"
"This..."
Chen Shiqing looked troubled and looked at Cao Nai beside him.
Cao Nai also had a sad face and said: "Your Majesty, Xia Wenhui is a good hand in running a workshop, but after all, he is just a scholar. There is no reason for a scholar to be an official in our court."
Zhu Qi smiled calmly and said: "This is easy to handle. In order to commend this person for daring to be the pioneer of the New Deal, he will be given the status of Juren, and he can be an official by Juren. Isn't Chen Qing's family the same as Juren?" Cao Nai couldn't help but sigh in his heart, Chen Shiqing was born in a serious family, not a gift.
Moreover, he started as a county magistrate and worked his way up step by step.
It would be better for you now, first give people a title, and then directly appoint the county magistrate. This... makes it difficult for me to do it!
When Zhu Qizhen saw that he was silent, his face suddenly fell and he asked: "Is there any problem?"
Cao Nai was helpless and had to reply: "No problem, I will draft the decree when I get back!"