Chapter 506: Sailing Down to Yangzhou

When people from the north speak of the Jiangnan region of Wu and Yue, most will think of the hazy, ethereal imagery of "four hundred eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers in the mist and rain"; the bright and lovely scene of "at sunrise, river flowers redder than fire; in spring, river waters green as blue"; and the melancholy musings of "a river of misty grass, the city full of drifting catkins, the sorrowful thoughts of the yellow-plum rains"...

And Yangzhou has been a very famous city since ancient times. There are many such descriptors as "in the misty third month, sail down to Yangzhou" and "with a hundred thousand strings of cash at the waist, ride a crane down to Yangzhou," and there are also many poems about Yangzhou.

However, Zhu Youxiao had no desire to do any sightseeing when he arrived in Yangzhou at this time. Coming to Yangzhou meant coming to stir up trouble—how could he possibly go wandering around?

The reason he had rushed to Yangzhou so quickly was simply that he was afraid news from Nanjing would leak out.

Once news from Nanjing got out, things would become difficult to handle. Under such circumstances, coming straight to Yangzhou was the best choice.

When Zhu Youxiao arrived in Yangzhou, no one knew about it yet—one could say he came in complete silence.

Zhu Youxiao rode on a boat, dressed as a wealthy young gentleman out for pleasure, and came directly to Yangzhou.

After arriving in Yangzhou, naturally the first thing he did was take up residence in Yangzhou's Lichun Court.

As one could tell from the name, this Lichun Court was property of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Yangzhou—or rather, it was Chen Hong's property in Yangzhou.

At the same time that Zhu Youxiao took up residence in Lichun Court, people also began to trickle into Yangzhou one after another. Besides Zhu Youxiao's own guards, there were also the forces he had transferred in.

For Zhu Youxiao, nothing was more important than his own safety.

As night fell, Yangzhou also became brightly lit. Compared to the city of Nanjing, Yangzhou's bustle could be said to surpass it rather than fall short.

But Zhu Youxiao had no mood to appreciate it. Standing by the window on the second floor, a cup of tea in hand, Zhu Youxiao took an occasional sip.

Behind Zhu Youxiao stood several people, standing properly at attention. Besides Chen Hong and Wei Chao, there were also Qi Yuangong and Xu Xianchun.

In addition, there was one relatively unfamiliar person.

This person was naturally the manager of Yangzhou's Lichun Court, and his name was Wei Changsheng.

He was in his thirties, quite portly, with a pair of handlebar mustaches.

At this moment, Wei Changsheng's body was slightly bent, hands placed before him, standing there with a solemn expression, his face full of reverence.

He truly had no choice but to be reverent—there was not a single person here he could afford to offend.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the people behind him and asked, "Are all the arrangements made?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, all the arrangements have been made." Wei Chao hurriedly said, "The people from the Bureau of Justice are staying in the rear courtyard, and the several gentlemen have been separately placed in the inns on both sides. No one has noticed."

This trip to Yangzhou was not just to investigate those merchants—the main targets were the officials.

Under such circumstances, it was naturally impossible for Zhu Youxiao to come alone, nor could he have the Embroidered Uniform Guard conduct the investigation.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for arrests and interrogations—that was something they excelled at—but in other areas, they were inadequate.

Professional matters should be left to professionals—Zhu Youxiao understood this principle very well.

Now that he heard the officials he had brought were all properly arranged, Zhu Youxiao nodded.

This matter could now begin.

Zhu Youxiao turned around, looked at Wei Changsheng, and said, "Yangzhou is a good place—just looking at you tells me that. You've been living quite well here these past few years, haven't you?"

Upon hearing these words, Wei Changsheng hurriedly stepped forward, his heart pounding wildly.

When His Majesty says you've been living well, that's something to ponder. Does it mean you haven't been diligent in your work?

If His Majesty were to get that impression, never mind his future prospects—he might not even keep his life.

Wei Changsheng hurriedly said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, since your servant came to Yangzhou, I have not dared to be the slightest bit negligent. I have worked day and night without cease. I beg Your Majesty to investigate and see clearly."

"I never look at such things." Zhu Youxiao said in a calm tone, "What I look at is results."

"If you can accomplish this matter, then that will be fine. As for Chen Zhenglin, the Salt Transport Commissioner of Yangzhou—how much do you know about him? Has this man committed any crimes or violations, has he accepted any bribes?"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Changsheng and said in a very casual tone, "You'd better not tell me that after all these years in Yangzhou, you know nothing."

Many things in this world are concealed from those above but not from those below—what those above don't know doesn't mean those below don't know either.

Moreover, after Wei Changsheng arrived in Yangzhou, with the cooperation of the Imperial Household Department and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, if he couldn't find out anything, then something was wrong.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Chen Zhenglin is fairly clean and upright as an official—he never accepts silver. However, this man has always loved to ape refinement and culture. He has virtually no resistance to famous calligraphy and paintings, antiques, and such things. So the salt merchants started working from that angle and have given him many fine gifts over the years."

"Especially since Chen Zhenglin enjoys the company of beauties attending to him—over the years, the salt merchants have catered to his tastes, sending several people to his residence every year. Within Yangzhou city, this has long ceased to be any secret."

As Wei Changsheng spoke, he carefully watched Zhu Youxiao.

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao's expression showed no change, Wei Changsheng continued, "The prevailing customs here in Yangzhou are like this. Those salt merchants live in extreme extravagance, and they do quite a lot of things in their daily lives."

"When poetry gatherings or literary assemblies are held, these salt merchants will also fund them. Every year during the imperial examination season, they are quite busy. And whenever a talented scholar emerges somewhere, they will also send some silver, and they'll also send a person over—basically, beautiful women they have trained up."

"These women are cultivated from a young age, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as poetry and verse—all of it mastered. Their looks are also top-notch. In their daily comings and goings, they are also very measured in their conduct—one could say they are no less refined than young ladies of great families. Such delightful pleasures as beauties attending to one's studies are quite common in Yangzhou city."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Changsheng and said, "You have some insight. Is there anything else?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wei Changsheng said, "There is more. These people not only do such things, but they also give officials gardens, women, farmland, and mansions. Whatever you can think of, they've thought of it too. As long as there's the slightest hint of interest on your side, they'll send the things over."

"Besides that, they also maneuver within official circles. For example, if an official gets into some trouble, they'll help pull strings and find connections. After all, they have far-reaching influence—there are many matters they can smooth over."

"In addition, when officials are due for promotion, they'll also send silver; if someone wants to be promoted, they'll help as well, and they also participate in matters of entrusting favors and making requests."

"In short, if a scholar latches onto them, then during his studies he'll live a good life—silver without end, beauties attending to his studies, excellent ranking in the imperial examinations; and after becoming an official, his family will also receive their care—mansions, farmland, and shops, all provided."

"And for the man himself in official circles, they'll also help—whenever there are evaluations or promotions, they'll handle it. So their power is very extensive."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Changsheng and said with a smile, "What you've described is missing one thing. If I were to do this, I would also seize control of the imperial examinations."

"I would achieve this goal through all sorts of methods—whether bribing the examiners or buying off the local yamen runners. In short, no matter how much money it cost, it would be done."

"If they could truly reach that level, then scholars who wanted to pass the imperial examinations would have to submit; if they didn't submit, they could forget about passing."

"Only by submitting would they have any future. In this way, it would be a combination of carrot and stick. Follow me and you'll have benefits; don't follow me, and you'll get nothing at all."

Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the several people in the room all turned somewhat strange.

No one had expected Zhu Youxiao to say such things—clearly, this was beyond their expectations.

Your Majesty, is it really appropriate for you to say such things?

But in fact, upon hearing these words, everyone's minds were shaken.

If these people could truly accomplish what Zhu Youxiao had described, then this matter would be enormous. In that case, the things they held in their grasp would be very, very many.

In fact, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this was exactly what the Donglin Faction had done back in the day. The financial backers behind the Donglin Faction paid for them to build academies, then they extensively collected and cultivated scholars, building momentum for them, giving them money, spreading their fame, sending them women, and helping them become officials.

Whether they could buy off the examination itself was uncertain, but Zhu Youxiao believed that cheating was something that could never be completely eradicated.

Besides, in this era of the Great Ming, with that much money, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish.

In later-era America, money could buy admission to prestigious universities—so how much more so in the Great Ming?

America's political environment was surely better than the current Great Ming, wasn't it?

But what was the result? Wasn't it the same?

The civil examinations send their own people up, the officialdom promotes their own people, officials in front promote the officials behind, and officials behind support the officials in front—a complete closed loop forms.

At the same time, within the academies, everyone could critique current affairs and develop a complete body of theory. Our administrative policies and political thought were all the sort of thing that "sounds useful, but can't actually be implemented."

After all, criticizing and playing keyboard warrior—wasn't that easy?

All you needed was a loud voice.

"Why is no one speaking?" Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept across everyone as he spoke.

Who would dare speak recklessly on a topic like this?

The Emperor could talk nonsense, but could they?

Several pairs of eyes all fell upon Wei Changsheng.

Wei Changsheng didn't dare speak either.

The things he had said before, he knew about—but what His Majesty was talking about now, he didn't know. He couldn't spout nonsense before His Majesty.

Besides, among those present, he held the lowest position, so saying nothing at all was the best course.

But those people were all staring at him.

Can't you all stop looking at me? Take back your gazes!

No good—the pressure was too great! He still had to say something.

Wei Changsheng stepped forward and said, "To answer Your Majesty, on this matter, your servant is not clear. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."