"I am willing." After thinking for a while, Lian Zining agreed.
"Okay!" Yunxi said, feeling relieved. Although he felt that Lian Zining would probably agree based on his character and usual behavior, he couldn't feel at ease until he agreed. Now he felt completely at ease.
"Qing Lian, since Aiqing has agreed to this matter, it would be better to go to the Ministry of Rites and take up his post tomorrow sooner rather than later," he said again.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that Chen Shangshu will not be willing to give up the position of Minister of Rites at this time, and will delay it until after the provincial examination." Yingtian's rural examination is also organized by the Ministry of Rites. This is one of the few real powers of the Ministry of Rites that can be seen with the naked eye. Even the rural examination follows the example of the imperial examination general. The marking officer, the question examiner and the invigilator are all in conflict. It is impossible to have the master-disciple relationship with the students as before, but the Minister of Rites is absolutely unwilling to give up his position before the provincial examination. Moreover, a yamen affairs It's complicated, and you can just pick something and delay it with confidence. No matter how explosive Lian Zining's temper is, it's useless to argue with others.
"That's easy to say. Tomorrow morning after the court, I will announce that Chen Di will come to Qianqing Palace to tell him about the matter, and tell him that if he wants to preside over the provincial examination, this matter must be done by you." Yunxi said calmly. .
However, Lian Zining couldn't help but smile after hearing his words. Chen Di was born in a military household, and because he was good at studying, he was appointed as a tutor in the government school. One year, Zhu Yuanzhang celebrated his birthday, and Chen Di was chosen to congratulate him on his birthday. Drafting. Chen Di's "Congratulations on Wanshou Biao" was very well written. Historical records record that "Taizu was different" and was called into the court as an official. After that, Chen Di also had a prosperous official career, but he never became the chief seal officer of a powerful yamen. , I'm afraid I can't bear such great pressure. Once I hear Yunxi's words, I will probably agree to quickly give up the post of Minister of Rites and take up the post of Minister of Household Affairs.
Even if Chen Di bites the bullet and still insists on waiting for the provincial examination before handing over the post of Minister of Rites, then he must take up the matter that His Majesty ordered, and Lian Zining will not suffer a loss. Although he resists this matter It can indeed improve one's position in His Majesty's mind, but it may not be worthwhile if the pressure is too great.
But he immediately put away his smile. It was not good to gloat about misfortune in front of the emperor.
Yunxi also saw his smile, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he said: "In the five years that Lian Qing has been an official in Zhejiang, I know everything he has done and the results he has achieved, and I have seen them all. Here, I would like to say to Lian Qing, thank you for your hard work."
"It's not hard for me to do errands for His Majesty." Lian Zining said immediately, and he was quite moved in his heart, as if all the hard work of serving as an official in Zhejiang for the past five years and his dissatisfaction with being given such a stressful job by Yun Xi had disappeared. .
This was the era of feudal imperial power. The emperor had to be the minister with the highest status, not to mention apologizing, but even to say "hard work". Lian Zining's current status was still a bit lower. It was very touching to be able to receive a word of "hard work" from the emperor.
Yunxi waited for him to finish being moved, and then continued: "But even though I have read all the documents and memorials submitted one by one, and all the dear friends have written them in great detail, there are situations that are difficult to describe in words. There are some things that I want to Ask your beloved."
"What do you want to ask your Majesty?" Lian Zining said.
"In your opinion, which one, Xia Yuanji or Hu Guang, is more suitable to take over the post of Zhejiang Zuo's political envoy?"
"Your Majesty, it seems to me that if one of these two people must be selected to serve as Zuo Bu's envoy, Xia's envoy will be more suitable."
"Why, after so many years of experience, Hu Guang still can't do it?" Yunxi asked. Five years ago, shortly after Lian Zining became Zhejiang's Zuo Bucheng, he toured Jiangsu and Zhejiang and asked Lian Zining similar questions at that time.
To the question, Lian Zining answered, "Hutong Zhi and Xia Yingcha are smart and good at managing affairs. If they have a year or two of experience, they will be able to stand alone." In fact, they were not capable enough to be palm seal officials at the time. But in the past, these two
In 2007, Xia Yuanji's abilities were improved, but Hu Guang was still not good enough?
"Your Majesty, it was only two years after Hutong Zhi Jianye passed the Jinshi examination and became an official in the court. It has only been five years. The time is still short. Although the affairs of the Hangzhou government have been properly handled, I am afraid that I am still unable to take charge of Zhejiang Province." Lian Zi.
Ning replied.
"How about ordering Xia Yuanji to take over as the governor of Zhejiang and Hu Guang to officially take over as the governor of Hangzhou?" Yunxi asked again.
"There is no objection to the appointment of Xia Jingcha Envoy as Zhejiang Zuobuzheng envoy, but I think that although Hutong Zhizhi is capable of taking charge of Hangzhou Prefecture, it would be better to transfer him back to the capital."
"Why?" Yunxi was really a little surprised this time. It's not strange that you said that Hu Guang's talents are not enough to take charge of a province in Zhejiang, but you thought that he could take charge of a government, and you suggested that he be transferred back to Yunxi.
Very puzzled.
"Your Majesty, I am brave." Lian Zining said this first, and then said: "Zhejiang's population tax is second only to Zhili. Your Majesty has also set up an industrial park in Hangzhou to encourage the development of local industry and commerce. Wei Zhe (Xia Yuanji)
He had been an official in the court for a long time and had many contacts with His Majesty during the Hongwu period. His Majesty also used him very much after he succeeded to the throne. Therefore, Wei Zhe could understand the purpose of His Majesty and get twice the result with half the effort."
"Ke Guangda (Hu Guangzi) did not pass the Jinshi examination until the second year of Jianye and entered the court as an official. Although he was with His Majesty as a member of Zhongshushe, within a few months, His Majesty ordered Guangda to be the magistrate of Hangzhou Prefecture and stay with His Majesty.
, His time as an official in the court was too short, and I fear that sometimes it will be difficult for him to understand His Majesty’s deep meaning.”
"However, Guangda is indeed very talented. His talent is far superior to that of the minister, and he will definitely become a member of the court. Therefore, I request your majesty to recall him to teach in the court, and to put him to great use in the future."
"Hmm." Yunxi began to think deeply. After listening to Lian Zining's words, he realized that although Hu Guang had been with him as a member of the Zhongshushe, it was only for a short time and he didn't know how much he understood his thoughts.
You can't comprehend it by reading the newspapers by yourself, but it's far inferior to being by your side. It's not surprising that if you comprehend the decree wrongly by yourself, you will do the opposite.
Moreover, my thoughts these years are different from those in previous years. Although the difference is not big, it is still a difference. The cronies sent to the local areas in previous years may not be able to understand what I mean. Should I recall them all to Beijing?
'
'That's all, my ideas have not changed much, and my governance in most places has not changed. This may not be a good thing.'
As for Hu Guang's ability to be cultivated, there is no need for him to remind him. Although Yunxi's memory of his previous life has been very vague, but because he has been writing down the memories of his previous life in the past few years, he writes whatever comes to mind and straightens it out later.
So I still remember that in history, Hu Guang became the chief minister of the cabinet and died well. He must be very capable, both in terms of IQ and EQ.
"In this case, I will recall Hu Guang to the capital and find a government office to make arrangements; appoint Xia Yuanji to succeed you as the Zhejiang Zuo Chief Envoy." Yunxi finally said.
"I obey the decree." Lian Zining said subconsciously.
"Haha, Qing Lian, you are not the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, so what did you promise to do?" Yunxi said with a smile.
"I made a mistake," Lian Zining said with a smile himself. He used to be the political envoy to Zuo of Zhejiang, and he was responsible for handling all affairs in the province that had nothing to do with the military. He was also the first to listen to and receive imperial edicts from Yunxi, so he was used to it.
Already.
"I beg your Majesty to forgive me," he said again.
"That's all, it's just an unintentional mistake to love you, I won't criticize you harshly."
Later, Yunxi asked him what he thought about Zhejiang Provincial Yamen and the prefectural officials. Lian Zining answered them one by one, who should be promoted, who is more suitable for which official position, who has no faults and faults, and who should be promoted even though the evaluation is acceptable.
Even those who were demoted said it very seriously.
Yunxi also listened very carefully. As the highest administrative official in a province, Zuo Buzheng had an unparalleled understanding of the provincial officials, which was very valuable. Yunxi would use it to combine with the evaluation and Jinyiwei's secret report
From a practical perspective, determine how officials should be appointed and removed.
After saying this, Yunxi read it to himself silently in his mind, wrote down some key points on the paper, folded the paper in half and put it away.
Lian Zining said these contents in one breath, feeling a little thirsty, he picked up the tea cup and drank the whole cup of tea. The young eunuch hurriedly came forward to add more tea.
Lian Zining saw that Yunxi was deep in thought and thought of his own affairs. "Having said this, Your Majesty shouldn't have anything to ask, right? Even if there is, it's already late now. It's said that there are still people in Jinshen Palace."
We should wait for His Majesty to summon them, and we should summon them first. After all, Your Majesty has already known what I said, but he just doesn't know the details.'
Just as he was thinking about it, Yunxi had come to his senses and said to him again: "Lian Qing, it's not too early now. I have one last thing to ask Aiqing, and then I will ask Aiqing to return home. Love.
Although your family has not arrived in the capital yet, the mansion I gave to Aiqing needs to be tidied up before you can move in. It is just in time for Aiqing to return home and arrange for the servants to clean the mansion first."
"How is the development of the newly established Hangzhou Industrial Park?"
"Your Majesty," Lian Zining felt that he had already written about the Hangzhou Industrial Park in the memorial, and there was nothing more to say. However, when the emperor asked him, he had to answer, so he could only say: "The development of the Hangzhou Industrial Park is very rapid.
Well, now many businessmen have moved their businesses into industrial parks, and the royal court's taxes have increased a lot."
"In the second year of Jianye's reign, Hangzhou Prefecture's annual commercial tax amounted to more than 17,600 Guan. By last year, in the sixth year of Jianye's founding, Hangzhou Prefecture's commercial tax amounted to more than 25,700 Guan. However, it doubled in four years.
many."
Although the Ming Dynasty was dominated by land taxes, supplemented by commercial taxes and other taxes, it was not completely absent. In the early Ming Dynasty, the commercial tax limit set nationwide was more than two million taels of silver. Compared with the grain of more than 30 million shi, it was equivalent to copper coins.
Of course it can't compare to the land tax of more than 5 million yuan, but it is still an important income for the court.
In terms of commercial taxes, the capital accounts for the absolute majority, with hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, followed by more developed cities like Hangzhou, which originally cost around 100,000 dollars a year.
"I already know these, tell me something else." Yunxi said. Of course he knew these numbers.
"The rest," Lian Zining was a little confused. He was the political envoy to Zuo, Zhejiang Province, not the Hangzhou government official in charge of the industrial park. He only knew the broad outlines and didn't know much about the specific details.
He could only desperately recall the only two times he inspected the industrial park, one of which was an unannounced visit disguised as a study tour in Hangzhou. "Your Majesty, there are naturally people in charge of the industrial park, as well as police to maintain law and order.
However, because the park is where merchants and industries gather, the officials in charge have strict management, which basically prevents the police from accepting bribes from merchants, and all kinds of bad rules have been eliminated one by one. Therefore, the burden on merchants in the industrial park is much lighter.
Therefore, many businessmen are willing to move their properties into the park."
"Among them, merchants engaged in embroidery are the most active, and almost all of them have moved their industries into the park. Because some merchants told the officials in charge that different industries have different working hours, and the messy placement has had an impact, the industrial distribution in the park was changed, and the same industry was
Put it in one place, embroidery occupies the largest part of it. Every day when I walk there, the sound of women talking fills my ears and never stops..."
"Since the opening of the shipping company in Shanghai, although the shipping company has not opened in Hangzhou, many merchants from Hangzhou have gone to Shanghai to do business. The embroidery of the Ming Dynasty is very popular among foreign merchants, especially when they heard that Hangzhou embroidery is
It is the most famous embroidery in the Ming Dynasty. As long as it is produced in Hangzhou, it will be bought regardless of its quality. Hangzhou embroidery was once in short supply in Shanghai, and it was even difficult to find high-quality Hangzhou embroidery in Zhejiang."
"In order to make more money, various embroidery families had to change their previous rules. They handed over some unique embroidery methods to the recruited female workers and asked them to embroider. They only kept the most complex embroidery skills secret.
To the working women.”
"In this way, the number of female workers who can embroider has greatly increased, and the production volume of Hangzhou embroidery has also greatly increased, and it can gradually supply the domestic demand of the Shanghai Maritime Bureau and the Ming Dynasty."
“Not only that, because female workers go out to work in public, many people are unwilling to do so. They even go to the entrance of the industrial park to block the door to protest. If they see anyone who looks like an embroidery merchant, they will beat them up. The police are exhausted..."
"And the embroidery merchants are unwilling to hand over the silk and satin to female workers to go home to do the work, so I don't know how to solve this problem. After discussing with my colleagues in Zhejiang, they don't know what to do, and I ask your Majesty to teach me."
He paused for a moment when he said this, and seeing that Yunxi was still listening and had no intention of speaking, he continued: "In addition, because of this matter, the number of female workers that merchants can recruit is not very large. Although for the time being, the supply can be supplied to the Shanghai Shipping Division and
The domestic demand in the Ming Dynasty is huge, but on the one hand, various merchants continue to recruit female workers, and on the other hand, they are also thinking of other ways to solve the problem."
"Some merchants have come up with the idea of leaving the cutting of fabrics to a few female workers. They only cut fabrics and nothing else; while the rest of the female workers only do embroidery and no longer cut fabrics. Some merchants even want to let male workers do the cutting.
Fabric, but if it’s not made well, that’s all.” (To be continued)
