Chapter 1537

Jiajing's coming out of seclusion was, of course, because all kinds of matters could be considered settled.

After the attempt to use armored soldiers to assassinate him failed, the action of clearing fields and checking households had already succeeded; no one could stop it, and no one could resist it.

Added to that was Hu Zongxian being impeached and brought to the capital under guard, so Jiajing could no longer stay in seclusion. He had to come out and discuss state affairs with the ministers of the Cabinet...

In the past three months, Wang Yan mobilized a large amount of manpower and material resources to thoroughly clear fields and check households within the entire Daxing jurisdiction, from eighty-year-old elders down to newborn infants, and then to the tenant farmers and servants of wealthy families, and even legally registered Daoist priests and monks within the jurisdiction, slaves not yet sold in the tooth-brokerages, etc., all were registered.

In the household registration information of the Daxing yamen, every person within the Daxing jurisdiction could be found. In the land information, every acre of land within the Daxing jurisdiction could be found.

Wang Yan directly issued notices and also had the people clearing fields and checking households publicize it, telling the common people that in the territory of Daxing, buying and selling land was prohibited. Private transactions were all illegal and would be dealt with by the government. At the same time, he also said that in the future, local miscellaneous taxes in Daxing would be gradually reduced until there were none. Even land rent would be reduced in the future.

After all, in Great Ming, land tax was actually one in thirty; one in ten could truly be considered a heavy tax. But while it looked like one in thirty, in reality, there were not a few messy taxes; in ancient times, most were like this.

And Wang Yan had already canceled a considerable portion of Daxing's local miscellaneous taxes, collecting only on land tax. In and out, the common people actually had their burden reduced, allowing them to earn more.

On the other hand, the taxes the common people paid less were all doubled back in cleaning fees. At the same time, the common people could also participate in Daxing's various construction projects to earn silver, and their lives were not just a little bit better than before.

Especially for many families with many people who hadn't divided the family, the old father was the master of the house, letting one or two people from the family go to the construction site to earn money, while the remaining people took on more farm work. This way, nothing was delayed, and the family earned even more silver.

On this point, Wang Yan put in the effort to calculate the expenses and income of farming and engineering, and only then set the wage, making the income from working at the construction site slightly higher than the income from farming, without having such a large gap that people completely abandoned the land, maintaining this balance.

It was currently June, and the land had long since been planted, so there wasn't much farm work. The labor force all went to various construction sites to earn money, and some even brought their own dry rations.

Resources were limited, and Wang Yan didn't provide meals, but the silver paid actually covered their food and drink, so it was all profit. At the same time, the common people went to buy grain, which could also be considered a kind of consumption.

The grain merchants within the Dongcheng had long since been subdued. Whatever grain price Wang Yan said, that was the grain price. Of course, this was when there were no natural or man-made disasters leading to local grain production reduction and a sharp rise in grain prices. If it really came to that time, if Wang Yan didn't kill their whole families, his words wouldn't be effective.

After all, 100% profit makes people not want their lives, let alone when it doubles or triples...

In short, from the five months from when Wang Yan took office as Daxing Magistrate at the end of the first month of the 41st year of Jiajing to mid-June, after a set of processes including collecting cleaning fees, sweeping away black forces, clearing fields and checking households, and vigorously engaging in engineering construction, the finances were abundant, land and households greatly increased, tax revenue soared, and construction was getting better and better; Daxing was directly well-governed.

The entire Daxing was striding forward, and as long as people weren't blind, they could clearly feel the difference.

Not to mention the various vigorous construction sites outside the city, just speaking of the Dongcheng.

The streets were cleaner and smoother; broken stone slabs were all replaced with new ones, and some small pits and even muddy streets and alleys were all repaired with stone slabs mixed with cement.

Every day, various garbage and sewage were collected by people specifically for that purpose. In some places, public latrines had begun to be built, allowing people to go to the toilet conveniently when traveling, and also solving the difficulty of going to the toilet in daily life.

There were more people on the streets every day, and the market was more lively. The most intuitive manifestation was that the cleaning fees collected were gradually increasing, fully demonstrating economic prosperity.

And behind the increase in cleaning fees was naturally the increase in labor needed for various related industries, and naturally more people earned money. The situation in the entire capital was improving, and it was visibly more imposing.

Others didn't feel this deeply, but besides Wang Yan, Jiajing, Lü Fang, Huang Jin, and others understood what stage the capital had reached.

This was what Wang Yan told Huang Jin. Huang Jin was a factory official, so he had to know about big and small matters. Wang Yan had him record and summarize various prices, the flow of people in various markets, the entry and exit of city gates, cargo ships and passenger ships at the docks, commoners' income, etc., every day, and compare them daily.

In fact, a considerable portion of this data was already statistically recorded, but Wang Yan added more data, expanded the scope of statistics, and included all aspects. Thus, there was a relatively clear understanding of the actual situation in the capital.

However, a clear understanding did not equal a clear recognition.

Jiajing, if he weren't the Emperor, would also be a wealthy prince. Lü Fang and Huang Jin were both people who had been in the palace for decades, and they might not remember the poverty of their childhood.

But knowing some generalities, clearly knowing that the capital was progressing, getting better, the commoners of the capital were becoming wealthier, and the market was becoming active, ultimately made Jiajing happy. It made Jiajing feel more clearly that besides sending him two million taels of silver, Wang Yan had outstanding ability...

Now Wang Yan had nothing to do; general problems were all handled well by Ma Defu with the newly arrived County Assistant. Now there were no unusual problems in Daxing.

After all, they had all been subdued by him; the powerful didn't dare to cause trouble under him, Yan Shifan had been beaten, Xu Jie's second son had also been slapped, and Jiajing clearly supported him, so where could there be anyone blind? In addition, local ruffians, hooligans, beggars, etc., all disappeared, the people walking on the street were all very kind, and merchants were very honest in their operations.

If it weren't for some daring illegal criminals causing some theft and robbery, and some commoners being shameless and taking advantage, the Dongcheng range could be called Great Harmony.

As long as Wang Yan ensured the normal operation of the Daxing yamen, ensured the ideological unity of the team, ensured a certain degree of integrity of the personnel, and controlled the direction of development, he could lead Daxing to new brilliance.

So on weekdays, he just took a few yamen runner guards and swaggered around, seeing who still couldn't think straight and wanted to kill him. At the same time, while strolling, he was also perfecting various plans.

He also organized doctors to establish a hospital, organized midwives, recruited girls, studied childbirth, let infants survive, etc...

In short, it was to vigorously promote various public construction, continuously increase investment, launch projects, drive employment, expand domestic demand, and promote consumption.

For example, the royal monopoly cement, the Daxing yamen purchased a lot, and it was used for building houses and repairing roads. Other various tools and materials were all bought with money.

And it was purchased from these large and small merchant houses in the Dongcheng, because they were all operating here, and the Daxing yamen could collect taxes, and a considerable portion could flow back.

Otherwise, if it were given to others, the silver they earned would probably be hoarded directly, and that would be another kind of trouble...

This day, there was a drizzle, very much in the spirit of "the morning rain in Weicheng moistens the light dust."

Wang Yan didn't go out for a stroll, but very arrogantly had the yamen runners set up a large umbrella at the entrance of the county yamen and started a hot pot.

"Master, this pot is still hot to eat in winter; it's very dry to eat now." The head of the kitchen, Wang Da, was cutting mutton on the side to serve.

"Otherwise, why eat it while it's raining today?"

Wang Yan used chopsticks to turn the meat in the pot, then picked up a large chopstick of meat into his bowl and dipped it in the sauce; it was already not much different from many later ones, and there were quite a few varieties of dipping sauces.

Wang Da could now be said to be Wang Yan's full-time cook, changing the patterns every day to cook dishes for Wang Yan to eat, from buying vegetables to cooking, never letting others do it.

Because someone had once looked for Wang Da, asking him to poison Wang Yan, but Wang Da firmly opposed it and wanted to kill the person who came to him. As a result, there were two people on the other side, he didn't win, and almost got killed himself. After that, he was very careful, watching the people under him like thieves, afraid that someone would poison Wang Yan.

Wang Da deeply understood that everything changed after Wang Yan took office; only if Wang Yan lived could he have a good life, could his backbone stand up, and there was no one in Daxing he was afraid of; he was very proud.

"Yes, Master, I was just saying." Wang Da laughed honestly.

He kept Wang Yan's instructions in mind; over these few months, he had gained a circle of fat, his face was ruddy, and he looked like a good cook.

"Is your grandson's schooling settled?"

"Settled, settled, as soon as they heard I was the one cooking for Master, the little official handling the matter was so scared his face turned green..."

While the two were chatting, a group of people walked over not far away.

Wang Yan took a look, still very politely stood up, and when the people reached him, he cupped his hands and said: "Greetings, Minister."

This time Hu Zongxian did not correct him again, and he also paid his respects to Wang Yan: "I am about to return to my hometown, so I have come to bid you farewell."

Zhu Qi said: "How could I have stayed at your place for a period of time, and Dazhu also guarded the camp for Minister Hu, so I should see you off."

"Right, we should see the Minister off." Qi Dazhu echoed.

Wang Yan waved his hand: "It was I who should have seen the Minister off, but I didn't want the Minister to get out of trouble so quickly. Sit down quickly, I guess you haven't eaten much oily food these past few days."

Hu Zongxian sat down happily, watching the sensible little official bring bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups, and said: "Now it seems it's better to eat a little lighter."

"I just love eating meat."

"Eating too much meat is not easy to digest." Hu Zongxian shook his head, "You once said that a combination of meat and vegetables is the most appropriate."

Qi Dazhu took two plates of freshly cut meat and poured them all into the pot. Wang Yan used chopsticks to turn the pot: "I am still young, my stomach is good, so I eat a lot of meat. The Minister already calls himself an old man, so eat less meat and more vegetables; it's good for your health."

Zhu Qi sighed and started trouble: "Then, Brother Wang, what about the Emperor?"

"The Emperor practices immortal cultivation and profound arts, so naturally he uses less of this human food." Glancing at the grinning Zhu Qi, Wang Yan turned and said, "What does the Minister plan to do after returning to your hometown?"

"Didn't you advise me to distribute my family wealth and settle down to farm and read?"

"Farming and reading is farming and reading, but you can't just farm and read."

"How is that to be understood?"

Wang Yan said: "That old thing Xu Jie is sinister. I heard his son actually cut his own biological daughter who was a concubine for Yan Shifan; this family has nothing good. Xu Jie and his gang will certainly not let you go easily. I fear they will find an excuse later to frame you again."

Hu Zongxian did not dwell on Wang Yan calling him "you" directly; after all, Wang Yan called Yan Song an old dog and Xu Jie an old thing; he was truly reckless, thinking of nothing and fearing nothing. Not to mention he was a disgraced official.

"Then in your opinion, what should I do?" He sincerely asked for advice.

Everyone knows that as of now, his political life has ended. And considering the style of Xu Jie and the others wanting to kill him this time, he is not optimistic that Xu Jie and the others will let him go later. At this point, he really has no good way.

Even if the Yan faction was not dealt with, the leader had already fallen, and Hu Zongxian, the number three figure of the Yan faction, was also in trouble. At this time, others were even more unable to take care of themselves; where was there any unity? Everyone was just sweeping the snow from their own doorsteps, and no one was helping him.

Or to put it another way, small favors could be done, but for matters at the top of Great Ming like his official position, no one dared to intervene.

It really was Wang Yan who was iron-headed, and his position was also unique.

Wang Yan said: "The Emperor has promoted you to this point, and this time he even saved your life. With such great virtue and such holy grace, how can the Minister forget?"

Without waiting for Hu Zongxian to pursue the question, Wang Yan continued, "Even if the Minister returns to your hometown, you must still resolve worries for the Emperor. After returning to your hometown, the Minister should recruit some people for maritime trade. First, continue to watch the sea borders for the Emperor; second, look for good things from overseas for the Emperor; third, maritime trade is very profitable, and you can also earn more silver to show filial piety to the Emperor; fourth, the Minister will also have some things to do.

As the saying goes, the land of gentleness is the hero's grave. If you really settle down to farm and read after returning home, I fear the Minister's spirit of loyalty to the country will be worn away."

"Our Great Ming has a sea ban..."

"How did the Minister become so timid after going through such a thing? You are the one who fought the Japanese pirates; why say so much? Only those who don't love the Emperor would be banned. You are working for the Emperor, so naturally, it is not banned.

It was not easy to beat the Japanese pirates until they had no momentum, and to beat out a peaceful sea. Naturally, we must make good use of it. We can't just let the Japanese pirates earn silver while we can't. Furthermore, the coastal areas are mostly your old subordinates, so it is very convenient to do things. Who else understands maritime trade better than you?"

Wang Yan picked up a large chopstick of meat for Hu Zongxian, "Minister, I will give you 50,000 taels of silver later to buy shares; this matter will be done by the two of us. I will provide the ideas and the silver, and you will handle the matters. As for the benefits, the two of us will take half a percent each, totaling one percent, and the rest will all be given to the Emperor as filial piety.

Later, I will ask the Emperor for instructions, find a leading sea merchant to confiscate their family, and then we will take the ships, and then let Qi Jiguang transfer some people to go out to sea for protection. We will turn one ship into two, two into four, and bring back all the wealth from overseas. This is truly benefiting the country and the people, and it is an even better good deed of loyalty to the Emperor."

Hu Zongxian looked at Wang Yan with eyes that were amazed; he was truly daring to think and daring to say...

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