From the Spring and Autumn Period, salt was a monopoly patent of the government. This was still the case in the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty established six major salt transfer departments to take charge of national salt affairs. Among them, Zhejiang was under the jurisdiction of the two Zhejiang salt transfer departments.
its jurisdiction.
From a status point of view, the Transportation Department and the Chief Secretary are at the same level as the Chasi, and they are directly responsible to the court, so no one can control the other. And because Zhejiang is only part of the transportation jurisdiction of the two Zhejiang provinces, it feels like the Director of the Transportation Department is
I feel like I am the Chief Secretary and the superior of the Chief Inspector.
Therefore, even though the Zhejiang Chief Minister and the Inspectorate issued several official documents to negotiate, hoping that the Transportation Department would be accommodating, the other party refused to understand, saying that the sale of salt in separate zones was a rule set by the ancestors and no one could violate it. Selling it across the border was selling illegal salt.
, should be executed according to law.
"This matter is more troublesome, because after searching the regulations, I found that in the early years of Hongwu, it was indeed stipulated that the transshipment branch should be sold exclusively in separate areas." Zhou Xin frowned slightly and said: "But that refers to before the implementation of the Kaizhong Law. At that time, salt was handled by the transshipment division.
This is the only reason why the subordinate branches sell exclusively. However, after the opening of China, merchants across the country can get salt from the transshipment department through grain transportation. Merchants in western Zhejiang can get salt from the salt fields in eastern Zhejiang.
, but it can’t be transported back to western Zhejiang for sale, isn’t it ridiculous?”
"In order to monopolize the salt in western Zhejiang, the Transportation Department wants the Supervision Department to act as an accomplice. This is something I absolutely do not want to accept." Zhou Xin continued: "But the Transportation Department refuses to give in. To resolve this matter, it will take a lot of effort to break through.
Bad rules. But it is not easy to get rid of the old rules. You also know that the court is very short of money now, and Emperor Yongle has always been very partial to the yamen that can find money for the treasury. Therefore, if they really go to the court, they will win 80% of the time."
After Zhou Xin finished speaking, he looked at the two of them and said: "This matter has nothing to do with you two. It's just that I have been thinking hard. I saw your county's superb methods today and I have some enlightenment. So I will tell you to see if you can do anything."
idea."
The magistrate of Wei County said to Wang Xian: "You must think carefully and don't cause trouble to Zhitai."
Zhou Xinwen said with a smile: "You two can just say whatever you want. Whether it's right or wrong or what the consequences are, it has nothing to do with you."
"You still have to be cautious and don't make any dangerous moves." Weizhi County regarded Zhou Zhitai's words as golden rule, "This is a conflict between the two companies, not our little Fuyang County!"
"Yes." Wang Xian said helplessly, you think Zhou Zhitai is just like you, you believe whatever others say, what should you do?
"Haha..." Zhou Zhengtai smiled and signaled Wei Zhixian to shut up.
After thinking for a while, Wang Xian raised his head and said, "Sir, sir, I have an immature idea, but I can't guarantee whether it will succeed..."
"Just talk." Zhou Xin said solemnly.
"I'll write a letter to the Salt Secretary on behalf of my lord." Wang Xian said softly, "Maybe it will work."
"Okay." Zhou Xin nodded.
Official papers of various sizes are always available in the signing room. Magistrate Wei immediately took out a stack of red-checked letterheads and placed them on the desk. The ink in the inkstone box was soaked with fine silk, so you could write directly.
At this time, Wang Xian had already typed up the manuscript. He took the pen from the magistrate with both hands and started writing stroke by stroke.
Wei Zhixian watched from the side and found that although it had only been a month, Wang Xian's handwriting had improved a lot. Originally, he was swaying like a strong wind, but now he can at least stand firm and spread out. Obviously, he has put in a lot of effort.
Wang Xian also deliberately wrote more neatly. In addition, he had to carefully consider every word and sentence, so he naturally wrote slowly. It took him a meal to put down the pen. He dried the ink and presented it to the great master.
Weizhi County forwarded it to the boss. Zhou Zhitai took it and read it, and saw that although the sentence in the letter was straightforward, it was very powerful. In the letter, Wang Xian analyzed the unreasonableness of salt distribution in a province, and emphasized the eradication of old habits.
The necessity of regulations is clearly explained and organized!
But Zhou Zhengtai was not happy. Even his staff could write such words, so how could they possibly impress those salt officials who fell in the eyes of Qian?
It wasn't until he turned to the second page and saw the sentence above - "There are disputes among the countries, but even immigrants and grains are moved; if the heaven is unified, how can we divide the east and west of Zhejiang?" Zhou Zhitai couldn't help but be moved. This Wang Xian is indeed extraordinary!
The ancients said that one word is worth a thousand gold, and these twenty words are definitely worth more than 20,000 gold! Because of this passage, even if the lawsuit was brought to Emperor Yongle, he would not worry about losing.
Because what this means is that during the Warring States Period, when the country was divided into two parts, the movement of people and materials was not restricted. However, the territory of a province in our Ming Dynasty was still divided into eastern Zhejiang and western Zhejiang, and no travel was allowed. Is it possible that our unified Ming Dynasty was worse than the Ming Dynasty?
What’s worse than the divided Warring States period?
The power of these words lies in the fact that Shang Gang has reached the red line of Emperor Yongle. You must know that the current Emperor Yongle is one of the most majestic lords in history. To put it bluntly, he is very happy with his achievements and is striving to be the emperor for eternity.
Jiaozhi in the south, Meng Yuan in the north, Japanese pirates in the east, and Tubo in the west. Anyone who dared to invade the Ming Dynasty's territory would be punished by him without hesitation!
How could such a unified emperor allow his country to be divided into pieces and not be as good as the conflicting Warring States? Although it is just a metaphor, the metaphor is unacceptable!
Immediately afterwards, Wang Xian listed the famine and banditry that had occurred in western Zhejiang in recent years, creating a strong causal relationship, as if the price of salt in western Zhejiang was abnormally high, which made people's livelihood difficult. The transfer of both Zhejiang and Zhejiang made it clear that
It is impossible not to be nervous about such a letter... If he does not compromise, he will take the case to the emperor. With this text that can touch Emperor Yongle, Zhou Xin is very confident.
.
"The power of the sword and pen is as great as clumsiness." After reading it, Zhou Xin sighed softly and said to Wang Xian, "I have written about Little Brother on behalf of those businessmen and the people in western Zhejiang."
Wang Xian immediately stood up and said respectfully: "I am from Zhejiang, so I should do my best for my father. What's more, I have orders from the boss."
"Haha, you are very good." Zhou Xin twisted his beard and praised him: "But you helped me, how should I thank you?"
"I don't know if this method will work yet. I'm not in a hurry to reward him." Wei Zhixian said hurriedly: "Besides, it's my duty to share the worries of Zhitai. How can I ask for any reward?"
"One code equals one code." Zhou Xin shook his head and said with a smile: "But I have always been poor and cannot afford much money to polish my pen. Why not, I will also be arty and give you a few words."
"I'm so honored, little man." Wang Xian said hurriedly and respectfully.
Wei Zhixian cut a piece of Yuan calligraphy paper into a banner, placed it on the writing desk, and pressed it with a paperweight.
Zhou Xin picked up his pen and wrote five big characters that could penetrate the back of the paper.
"Jiang Nan, the first official!" Wei Zhixian read word by word, "Taiwan is really going to kill him, this kid can't afford it..."
"Zhe Tai's ridiculous compliments should not be taken seriously. The villain is so arrogant and stupid, I beg him to take it back." Wang Xian was a little confused. What does Zhou Zhentai want to do? Is he going to set an example?
"What's wrong with me?" Zhou Zhengtai put down his pen and said with a faint smile: "Even if he is the best official in the world, he is still a small official, worse than a low-ranking miscellaneous official."
"..." Wang Xian was so sweaty that his sincerity might have disappeared immediately.
"Don't be discouraged." Zhou Zhengtai looked at him funny and said: "You are only sixteen or seventeen years old, you have a long time to live..."
"That's right. If you pass the exam at the end of the term, you can become an official." Weizhixian hurriedly agreed. It turns out that there is a loser in everyone's heart.
"You still need to study more." Zhou Xin looked at Wang Xianda and said: "You are so smart and you are not too old. You may succeed after studying hard for ten years." He paused and said, "Even if you can't go to school, you still have to study wisely, otherwise
Just be the number one official in Jiangnan for the rest of your life."
"Young man, please follow your instructions." Wang Xian responded hurriedly.
.
Zhou Zhitai still had something to say with Magistrate Wei, so Wang Xian resigned with the inscription in hand.
As soon as he came out of the signing room, Sima Qiu came up to him. He looked at the words in Wang Xian's hand and then looked at the payment. He was immediately envious and said, "Boy, how virtuous are you to be praised like this by Zhentai?" Although in Zhou Zhentai's eyes,
Here, this title is nothing, but in the eyes of the people below, it is very valuable.
This is the cold-faced Tiehan Gong's comment. It is the most arrogant and innocent thing to say!
The two guards also saw the inscription and said with a smile: "Congratulations, little brother, with this amulet, who will dare to touch you in the future?"
After hearing this, Wang Xian, who had been shrouded in mist, finally understood Zhou Xin's intention... Those wealthy families had suffered losses and must try to find their way back. Weizhi County was a county official, so they did not dare to touch him, but
He is just a green-shirted petty official with no reputation to protect himself. It would be too easy to attack him. Moreover, even if Wei Zhixian wanted to protect him, he might not be able to protect him.
For example, his superiors Zhang Hua and Xun Sancai fell victim to the gentry to save their dignity and the Weizhi County to appease the wealthy family precisely because of their own insignificance...
Now that he has Zhou Zhitai's inscription, he can be regarded as a role model. Anyone who wants to touch him must consider Zhou Zhitai's face. With Zhou Xin's illustrious reputation, it is no problem to protect a small scribe.
Therefore, this inscription is probably an amulet given to him by Zhou Zhengtai.
Of course, it could also be that he is being sentimental...
When he returned to his room, the clerks were even more flattering when they saw the inscription. They immediately asked craftsmen to frame it and hang it in his duty room.
Wang Xian didn't want to show off, but if he solemnly followed the envoy's inscription and didn't frame it and hang it up, wouldn't it be disrespectful? He had no choice but to let them go.
Shaking his head, he opened the curtain and entered the room, but saw that the table was empty. He couldn't help but wonder: "Where are my things?"
"Your Excellency, you are confused or something," the clerks said with a smile, "You have to move to the clerk's room to work..."
"Oh..." Wang Xian then remembered that he was now the clerk of the household, which was Zhang Hua's original job. Of course, as soon as the new clerk arrived, he had to take over the job. Thinking of this, Wang Xian secretly scolded them.
If you flatter me randomly, if I move out in two days, wouldn't it be a personal loss?
Then he lowered his face and said, "What a nonsense, move it back here!"