Chapter 838: If It Really Doesn't Work, Let the Overseas Barbarians Suffer a Little More

The Great Ming has a certain public opinion censorship system.

For example, rumors about the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the imperial clan will be visited by secret agents; for example, beautifying Japanese pirates or slandering the Great Ming army that pacified the Japanese pirates will be beheaded; for example, false accusations will definitely be punished in reverse. In the Great Ming, writing small essays, that is, "demon books," as long as they are caught, they will be punished with thirty or fifty strokes of the cane, or exiled or beheaded.

This is all done to maintain the most basic public order and good customs. The Great Ming's public opinion censorship has not reached the point of "the breeze turns the pages."

After all, the Great Ming is a Great Ming that can directly say "Jiajing, Jiajing, every family is clean" in a memorial. During the Wanli years, another Lin Fucheng jumped out and shouted loudly: "Wanli, Wanli, every family is resentful." He wasn't beheaded by Zhu Yijun, but was sent to Nanyang to investigate the plantation economy.

The most terrifying thing about the literary inquisition is the self-castration of the ruling class and the castration of those below.

The castration of those below is obvious: cold registration, the massive closing of book firms, having to copy books to read and learn, and scholars using all their strength to avoid talking about politics.

In the Qing, being a scholar, if you are literate, any article you write casually may be deliberately misinterpreted by others; even if you are illiterate, if your ancestors were scholars, it is not guaranteed that there won't be one or two old books passed down from your ancestors that will become a disaster for your family.

The best way is to burn all the books in the house and then become an illiterate. In this way, there will be no disaster.

Dai Kun wrote a sentence: "It is easy to get a long life, but the short hair causes long hatred." He was dug up after he died, and his whole family was beheaded.

Shi Zhuohuai wrote: "The merit of a servant is not enough to be strange, the clothes are all made of gold and silver." He was labeled with the crime of "overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming," was executed by slow slicing, and his family was implicated.

Xu Shukui wrote: "The Ming dynasty expects to flap its wings, and in one go, it will go to the Qing capital." His whole family suffered, and even his close friend Shen Deqian, who had died many years ago, did not escape the disaster and was dug out from the soil, and his family was exiled.

The literary inquisition reached its peak after the fortieth year of Qianlong after the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns.

In the official workshops, everyone hunted for "words" to become officials, studying hard and pulling together, connecting everything that could be connected to "overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming," reporting to the Emperor, and reporting "talent for the Ming" to be promoted. This eventually led to the entire officialdom, where everyone had to be extremely careful when speaking. Kowtowing more and speaking less was the truth. Once someone caught your pigtail, you would die.

Today they were still close friends, and tomorrow they became stepping stones for others to be promoted.

This wind of informing spread rapidly, eventually completing the self-castration of the Qing ruling class.

Therefore, it can only be said that An Xifan and Zhao Nanxing and these pedantic Confucians were born at a good time. That is to say, they lived in the Great Ming, so they could point fingers at the Emperor and the imperial court, turn black and white, and finally be exiled to the Golden Pool Viceroyalty and Chonggu Fort, instead of being exterminated.

Popularizing education is like planting trees. The best time to plant a tree

is ten years ago, followed by now.

Because the Great Ming intends to popularize education at any time in the future, it must start from planting the first tree.

Engaging in "guilt by speech" will affect the promotion of universal education.

An Xifan is a very smart scholar. He can pass the provincial examination. It is not that the Emperor is deliberately targeting him. An Xifan could also pass the jinshi examination, but he likes to take shortcuts. Taking Gu Xiancheng as his teacher is like this, and relying on being beaten to become famous is also like this.

That is to say, the imperial cane really kills people now; otherwise, An Xifan would definitely have cheated the imperial cane.

Today, scholars throughout the world deeply understand one truth: His Majesty kills without blinking. Do not run to the Huangji Gate to fake a request for a court beating; His Majesty will view it as an attempt to coerce the throne, and even if you are beaten to death, no one will dare to say a word for you.

During the time of the Shizong Emperor, several pure officials were beaten to death at the Left Left Shunmen, which caused no small trouble.

In the current era, whoever dares to prostrate and petition at the Left Left Shunmen, the Emperor will beat these pure officials to death, exile their families overseas, and clear out all the teachers and students who have relationships with them to Liaodong to reclaim wasteland. Whoever dares to climb up the nose and chatter incessantly, the Emperor will really send troops to raid their homes.

This set of smooth clearing, melon-vine-linked joint liability small combos of the Emperor is no weaker than the Taizu's heroic style.

The Emperor doesn't care about the bad reviews of a tyrant at all, especially the bad reviews behind him.

If one could study the theory of contradictions carefully earlier, An Xifan would know that everything has its two sides.

Wanting to rely on the Ningyuan Marquis to beat people to become famous, one must be able to withstand the iron fist. Obviously, An Xifan couldn't withstand it. He went to the Golden Pool Viceroyalty, and even implicated Zhao Nanxing to the Chonggu Fort on the other side of the ocean.

The plan for the New Sun Canal is still in progress. First, build the castle well, and then repair the cobblestone road into an official road and post road. The construction of the New Sun Canal has no very detailed plan, and there is an absurd feeling of stepping on a watermelon skin and sliding, sliding wherever it goes.

"Your Majesty, the

Zhu Yijun opened the memorial and asked casually, "Hmm? Why?"

Feng Bao whispered, "In case they start arguing, it would be a loss of the great nation's grace. The Korean envoy Li Houbai pulled a 'civet cat for the crown prince' trick and swapped the state letter, causing the high-spirited officials of the Ministry of Rites to lose a great deal of face, so they thought of this compromise method."

Sometimes, people will just inexplicably start arguing with each other.

Feng Bao had even seen His Majesty and the Empress argue until their faces were red over some small matter. Once they calmed down and looked closely, it wasn't actually a big deal; if someone had mediated in the middle, this whole thing wouldn't have happened.

For example, His Majesty and the Empress had a few words over the matter of Zhu Changzhi.

If a husband and wife don't argue, then they aren't a husband and wife.

When the interpreter translates, giving both sides a moment to calm down,

they won't let one word lead to another and start arguing, and everyone can remain dignified.

"Approved." After reading it, Zhu Yijun felt there was no problem and chose to grant it.

"Has Li Houbai returned to Korea?" Zhu Yijun asked about Li Houbai's whereabouts. He hadn't died in the Wenhua Hall, and he hadn't committed suicide when he got home; he wondered if he had returned to Korea.

Feng Bao shook his head and said, "No."

Li Houbai provoking the Emperor was not without the idea of making himself a "Korean Wen Tianxiang." Unfortunately, the Emperor was not angry at all, and Li Houbai himself did not dare to die. Li Houbai didn't even want to return to Korea; if Korea was in a mess, his advocacy for restoring the country could still be considered pleading for the people, but Korea was doing perfectly well, and Li Houbai's advocacy was bringing disaster to the Korean people.

The news coming from Korea was all good news: how many miles of canals had been repaired, how many miles of official roads and post stations had been built, new homes had been completed, and so on.

In the end, Li Houbai chose the usual method of a scholar: he reconciled with himself. This was undoubtedly an act of cowardice.

Zhu Yijun picked up the next memorial. The governors of Fujian, Jiangxi, Huguang, and other places had jointly submitted a memorial. The matter was very simple: they requested to implement the "Return Land Order" in wealthy areas.

These governors weren't looking for trouble; if they didn't implement the "Equal Field Order," the corvée labor would be completely drained away by the wealthy and overseas!

"Have Xu Jue summon the Master." Zhu Yijun was a bit indecisive after looking at the memorial and planned to ask for Zhang Juzheng's opinion.

Ever since the Jinchi Viceroyalty brought back a ship of gold sand to Great Ming, and the Emperor had it made into bright gold ingots and placed in the Imperial Manor for public display, no one doubted the authenticity of the gold from the Jinchi Viceroyalty anymore.

The Jinchi Viceroyalty needed people, but those who wanted to get rich were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river.

Even if one couldn't dig up gold in the Jinchi Viceroyalty, a place very suitable for farming had a huge attraction for the people of Great Ming. In the first half of the sixteenth year, the population transported to Nanyang, Jinchi, the Great Tie Ling Guard, and other places had already exceeded 57,000, and the annual estimate was to exceed 100,000.

These 100,000 Han people were all strong laborers.

Fujian had the most serious population outflow, followed by Jiangxi. Jiangxi had a net population outflow to Guangzhou and Zhejiang, while the Huguang area was flowing out to the Southern Yamen, Songjiang Prefecture, and the Luzon Viceroyalty.

"I went to listen to a discussion today. Cai Xianchen said that we should issue twelve strings of treasure notes to the people every year. After listening, I felt his idea was very good, but I am very poor and don't have that much gold, nor can I afford to issue that many treasure notes."

"What he was talking about is actually a support mechanism."

"But the copper towns and Han townships built in Nanyang today are providing basic living security for the Han people who go to sea, just like Hou Yuzhao's 'Five Matters of Farming' memorial and the Liaodong Farming Bureau, providing basic living security to attract population inflow." Zhu Yijun spoke about the discussion he had heard.

Zhang Juzheng immediately said, "Regarding the Zhao Nanxing incident last time, I submitted a memorial saying,

Of course, if one contracted a serious illness, one still had to prescribe the right medicine. If one resisted, the longer the delay, the bigger the problem. In the process of moral reshaping, the imperial court had to fulfill its duty of mediating contradictions. In fact, the Great Ming officials had expected moral anomie and moral reshaping from the very beginning.

"Your Majesty was lenient and did not pursue it, but today An Xifan followed suit, imitating Zhao Nanxing, and even spoke of Yue Wumu and Wen Zhonglie. Your Majesty applied a slight punishment, which was only exile. I feel that when the Gugu inspection opens next year, it would be appropriate to parade the two of them around and then behead them to show the public."

Wen Zhonglie is Wen Tianxiang. In the seventh year of Jingtai, the Jing Emperor Zhu Qiyu gave Wen Tianxiang the posthumous title: "To face danger without forgetting the country is called 'Zhong' (Loyalty); to uphold virtue and follow the cause is called 'Lie' (Ardor)."

Zhang Juzheng was slightly dissatisfied with the Emperor's handling of the matter. The punishment for Zhao Nanxing last time was too lenient. Although the punishment was increased this time, it looked like exile to Jinchi and Chonggu Fort, which was truly exiling them to the ends of the earth.

But Zhang Juzheng was very clear that once these two arrived at their destination, they would only be "people above people."

They were well-read and very intelligent; once they arrived, Deng Zilong would also need An Xifan to offer advice.

Zhang Juzheng cared very much about this matter. This was related to the "narrative of gratitude" he was constructing. In his view, deconstructing Yue Fei and Wen Tianxiang as "blind loyalty" was deconstructing the "narrative of gratitude" that Zhang Juzheng was promoting.

Zhu Yijun was very clear about the reason Zhang Juzheng said this, but he actually didn't like the "narrative of gratitude," as it would alienate the contributions of reformist ministers like Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang.

The Wanli Reform was not achieved by his Zhu Yijun alone.

"Next time someone imitates them, I will kill them." Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and gave a promise.

Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhao Nanxing had already been punished retroactively this time, which meant that next time someone wanted to fake a request for a court beating, they would be beheaded. His Majesty was very principled in his actions; "once, twice, but not a third time"—it had always been this way.

Zhang Juzheng frowned and said, "I heard Cai Xianchen's discussion; his idea is very good, and what Your Majesty said is very true."

"The attraction of Han townships, copper towns, Yehai City, Great Tie Ling, and the Jinchi Viceroyalty to the poor people and bitter laborers in the Great Ming hinterland is basic living security similar to issuing treasure notes, which is why the people are willing to travel over mountains and through water to go there."

"Fujian, Jiangxi, and Huguang have jointly submitted a memorial asking about population loss and whether they can prevent migration. If the imperial court still does not allow preventing migration, then they can only implement the 'Return Land Order'."

The purpose of implementing the "Return Land Order" is to let the people have children; only when they have a home, a business, food, and drink are the people willing to have children and have the conditions to have children.

Without means of production or tools of production in their hands, even if they obtain some wealth briefly, they dare not have children, because not mastering the means of production means there is no substantive guarantee for their future life.

Even if they receive five mu of land, if they are diligent with their hands and feet, their children and grandchildren will not starve to death in the future.

Zhu Yijun frowned and said, "If we don't implement land return, no one will have children; if we implement land return, we need a foundation. At the very least, the output and income of the land must decrease; otherwise,

these landlords and gentry will all recruit vagrants and form those 'returning home bandit groups,' and the people will still be the ones suffering. The Wanli Reform has turned a straightforward matter into a dilemma."

"We can't return the land, and the population is still flowing away."

Zhang Juzheng whispered, "The 'Yingzhuang Method' in Liaodong and Jiangxi is just right."

Before leaving office, Wang Guoguang left the Great Ming court with a "Yingzhuang Method," which was the solution after the peasant uprisings in Ruijin, Ninghua, and Ningdu counties.

The "Yingzhuang Method" is a collective production system; Han dynasty's military colonies, Tang dynasty's militia system, and Ming dynasty's guard system are all systems of the same nature.

In the early days of stability, family-style agricultural management could not bear the huge labor investment of land reclamation, reservoir construction, irrigation, roads, and bridges, so collective agricultural production became an inevitability.

Once the work was finished, the "Yingzhuang Method" would naturally dissolve.

"This is the only way." Zhu Yijun finally chose a compromise. Population loss must be solved, and land return must also be solved; only by compromising like this can we move forward.

Engage in production; once production is done, the small-scale peasant economy gradually disintegrates, the commodity economy is established, the output of land becomes low or even dispensable, and the "Yingzhuang Method" will have completed its historical mission and gradually dissolve.

"Will the 'Yingzhuang Method' definitely dissolve?" Zhang Juzheng frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this kind of centralized production has many advantages. It can allow the countryside to provide agricultural raw materials, melons, fruits, and vegetables to towns. These cannot make one hugely wealthy, and life cannot be called rich and noble, but it can absolutely ensure one has enough food and clothing."

"If this 'Yingzhuang Method' is done well, isn't it equivalent to issuing twelve strings of notes every year?"

Cai Xianchen's statement was very outrageous, and the method he came up with was very childish, but after Zhang Juzheng finished reading the "Taibai Tower Daily Lectures," he thought of the "Yingzhuang."

As long as this "Yingzhuang" is managed well, it is no worse than issuing twelve strings of notes every year!

Cai Xianchen is a student and can talk nonsense, but Zhang Juzheng is a Grand Secretary; what he wants is implementation and realization.

"Your Majesty, the population of Great Ming is actually not large, only 130 million-plus. The 'Yingzhuang Method' concentrates the production of the world's 900,000 qing of land, and its output is enough for the people to have plenty of food and clothing." Zhang Juzheng leaned forward, which meant he extremely wanted to persuade the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun looked up and said to Feng Bao, "Feng Banban, refill the Master's tea."

This was just to interrupt and let Zhang Juzheng calm down.

Zhang Juzheng continued, "The 'Yingzhuang Method' collapsed, and the tools of production and livestock were all given to village bullies and local gentry. The small people only have a few mu of land and two hoes, and the local gentry are still harming the countryside. What is the use of this?"

"Lin Fucheng went to Baoding Prefecture and saw the He family, local gentry of the Seven Tuns in Gaoyang County. In a disaster year, they didn't reduce the rent. The villagers opened the gates to welcome the bandits, let the bandits into the He family, and wiped out the He family. Blame the villagers for not knowing gratitude? Wasn't it because the He family was pressing them so hard that the villagers couldn't live and were forced to do so?"

"The Yan family of Qizhou had the tenants kill an entire family to use as fertilizer, just to threaten and intimidate, to make the tenants harm each other, to make the tenants not dare to resist!"

"I returned home under the pretext of illness in the thirty-third year of Jiajing, traveled to famous scenic spots, and finally returned to the capital in the thirty-sixth year."

"In Huguang, those local gentry, in order to press for rent, broke into the homes of farmers, slit the throats of all the livestock raised in the homes, hung them on the door beams, and threatened the people: 'If you don't pay the rent, we will kill your whole family!'"

"Your Majesty, the world is troubled by land annexation. This 'Return Land Law' will eventually lead to annexation. If the output of the land is too low, the people in the countryside will still flow away."

"It is not as good as the 'Yingzhuang Method'."

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Master, don't be anxious, don't be anxious."

Although Zhang Juzheng was promoting the "narrative of gratitude," it was only because of political necessity. His background and the Emperor's were exactly the same—they were both the number one rebels in the world!

If Zhang Juzheng were not a rebel, he would not have said that sentence: "I am not a minister, but a regent."

Zhang Juzheng didn't drink tea, nor did he pause, continuing, "Your Majesty, counting back three thousand years, it has all been 'returning land'! The people have never been full for a single day!"

"Returning land to the end still falls into the trap of annexation!"

"In my view, this compromise 'Yingzhuang Method' is the only solution!"

"Gathering manpower to develop water conservancy, canals, building grain reserves together to resist disaster years, recommending local talents to enter normal schools, entering the Nine Dragons Academy to study medicine, and investing the agricultural surplus from the 'Yingzhuang Method' into the purchase and renewal of production tools to increase grain production, repair bridges, and build roads."

"Only by this can we find the only solution to annexation!"

"Yes, what the Master says is all correct, I know." Zhu Yijun sat up straight and said, "Master, Xu Chengchu previously submitted a memorial saying that the hinterland paid a huge education cost, but it was all to cultivate talent for the wealthy coastal areas. If there is no horizontal transfer payment, who in the hinterland would be willing to pay to popularize education?"

"The problem is the same. For example, local talents enter normal schools and the Nine Dragons Academy. After they graduate, are they willing to return to the countryside? They are unwilling. Craftsmen let their children study, and they don't want them to continue to engage in 'base occupations'."

"Drink tea, drink tea."

Zhu Yijun didn't want to argue with Zhang Juzheng about this matter. Zhang Juzheng was running and shouting for the people, but as long as he thought about it a little more deeply, he found a huge problem.

Zhang Juzheng frowned, then leaned back in his chair, thought for a long time, and then picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea before saying, "I was a bit lacking in consideration."

Zhang Juzheng had thought of the problem too simply.

His idea was for the "Yingzhuang" to recommend local talents to enter normal schools and the Nine Dragons Academy to study, and then return to their hometowns to manage the "Yingzhuang" distribution, letting local talents replace the past local gentry. When there were enough scholars in Great Ming, the Great Ming court could appoint local officials to manage all directions.

Imperial power reaching down to the countryside, penetrating the county level, pushing the court's power to the countryside.

To a certain extent, Zhang Juzheng, like Cai Xianchen, was looking for a method that would remain unchanged for ten thousand generations. When the logic could be followed, he was quite excited.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment, then suddenly sat up straight and said, "Master, I still feel that the 'Yingzhuang Method' is extremely reliable! At the very least, we can try it. If it really doesn't work, we'll just make the overseas barbarians suffer a bit."

"Ah? Make the overseas barbarians suffer?" Zhang Juzheng was stunned and a bit confused. His Majesty had clearly denied it, and Zhang Juzheng had even been a bit persuaded, but His Majesty changed the subject, and it seemed he also had some ideas about the "Yingzhuang Method."

Zhu Yijun's fingers kept tapping on the table, and he whispered, "Master, have you ever thought about why the centralized production systems like the Han military colonies, Tang militia system, and Ming guard system ultimately failed?"

"Human nature is inherently selfish?" Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and gave a tentative answer.

Zhu Yijun nodded and shook his head, saying, "It is indeed that human nature is inherently selfish. The Han military colonies, Tang militia system, and Ming guard system are similar. Poor people and bitter laborers all need to bear military service, and while bearing military service, they also have to bear the court's taxes."

"The imperial court always points to one collective to bully. Including the guard system, more than half of the output of the military colony guard soldiers' land had to be handed over. If I were a military household, I would only be able to flee the guard."

"The court wants really too much, no matter what it is for. If it wanted less, it wouldn't have rotted so quickly. But if it didn't want any, it would also rot, because if it doesn't collect taxes, it can't reach in to manage."

"The Master is the Grand Secretary, so naturally you understand what I am saying."

The selfishness Zhang Juzheng spoke of is the selfishness of "not worrying about scarcity but worrying about inequality." The selfishness Zhu Yijun spoke of is for the sake of living, having to flee the military colony guard.

In Zhu Yijun's view, the biggest reason for the corruption of the military colony guard system is that the court took too much, leading to the people being unable to continue living, eventually leading to corruption.

Zhu Yijun continued, "Master, why are these local talents unwilling to return? Isn't it because they dislike the remote countryside and have no future? 'Selfish' is a neutral term; people are all selfish and consider their own future."

"Make the barbarians suffer, I will bear the infamy. Use the overseas income to subsidize the countryside. I can't say much about the villages, but the townships can still be managed well. And there is a channel for promotion; why worry about no one going?"

"Transport water and fertilizer to the townships, transport farm tools to the townships, build roads to the fields, and build community schools to the village heads. This is the 'oil and water'—there is oil and water to fish for. Although it's not much, more people will go."

"I plan to do this: first reduce the straw tax, implement the 'Yingzhuang Method,' and exempt half the straw tax—that is, the court takes one-tenth, and the 'Yingzhuang' takes at most one-tenth. In this way, the people get eight-tenths. As for the lost land tax, it will be made up from overseas."

"Try it first. If the 'Yingzhuang Method' really can't hold up, then execute the Return

Land Law. Anyway, the original plan was to let the 'Yingzhuang Method' serve as a transition. If it succeeds, that's best; if it doesn't, it's no loss."

The "Yingzhuang Method" itself was one part township, two parts public, seven parts people. Now it becomes one part township, one part public, eight parts people. The local gentry's land rent remains unchanged, and the court reduces one-tenth to benefit the people. The deficit is made up from overseas trade.

"Your Majesty, once this tax is reduced, it won't be so easy to collect it again." Zhang Juzheng reminded His Majesty that taxes are easy to reduce, but if you want to collect them again, you will face the problem of armed resistance to taxes.

"The proportion of commercial tax in the fifteenth year has already exceeded 60%, and it is still increasing year by year. The Wanli Reform has been ten..." Zhu Yijun's hand tapping the table stopped. The Great Ming's fiscal revenue is increasing year by year, and the proportion of land tax is getting smaller, allowing the court to be more flexible with land tax.

To a certain extent, the proportion of land tax is also a barometer of the court's fiscal health. The lower the proportion of land tax, the healthier the court's fiscal health.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said.

To make local talents return to their hometowns, they need a future and a "money future." For the former, one can refer to the system of supervisory officials; official status and examination performance can all be written about.

But for the "money future," one needs real gold and silver to smash into it. In the end, going around and around, reduce taxes in the hinterland and find compensation overseas.

The price of the Wanli Reform still has to be borne by the barbarians. With the Shipping Office as a fulcrum, the seesaw between the hinterland and overseas is still continuously exerting force.

The price of the Wanli Reform should have been borne by the people of Great Ming, and then because of the discomfort caused by the drastic social changes, the pain encountered in bearing the price, and the widespread opposition to the new policy, all of this was because of the existence of the seesaw, making the birth pains of the Great Ming Wanli Reform not so painful.

"Master, accompany me to the Qingqin Garden tomorrow." Zhu Yijun paused before saying, "While Grand Censor Hai is still conscious, I and the Master will see Grand Censor Hai off."

Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "I obey the decree."

"How is Grand Censor Lu?" Zhu Yijun asked about Lu Guangzu's situation. This new Grand Censor had also been in office for a long time, and Zhang Juzheng had been watching for a long time.

Zhang Juzheng did not hesitate: "Grand Censor Lu is a bit impatient, but that is also normal. A new official takes office with three fires. If these three fires are not burned well, Lu Guangzu won't be able to stay for many days before he has to leave office."

When taking office, you must first do a few big things to show your talent and courage, so that His Majesty trusts you and your subordinates are convinced. If only one of the three fires burns brightly, leaving office is right in front of you. If two fires burn brightly, you can stay for a period of time to see the follow-up.

If not even one fire burns brightly, then just get out.

Recently, Lu Guangzu cooperated with Zhang Juzheng's cleanup, which was done with great momentum and quite effective. Lu Guangzu can be considered to be able to sit firmly in the position of Grand Censor.

The autumn of the sixteenth year of Wanli came earlier than usual. The autumn wind seemed more desolate, and the hazy autumn rain at night

suppressed the noise of the capital, bringing a lot of coolness. One autumn rain, one cold; the leaves on the branches in the Great Ming capital began to drift down with the autumn wind.

The Great Ming Emperor's carriage slowly stopped at the Qingqin Garden outside the West Earth City.

Hence Hai Rui's niece's husband, Xue Yunlong, waited respectfully at the gate for the imperial carriage. He brought an eleven or twelve-year-old child, whom the Qiongzhou Hai family had sent to the capital to be adopted under Hence Hai Rui's name.

"What is your name?" Zhu Yijun stood before the gate and asked the child's name.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the student's name is Hai Zhongpeng. I am eleven years old this year. I passed the child examination in Qiongzhou Prefecture and am now a scholar of Qiongzhou." Hai Zhongpeng introduced his background neither humbly nor arrogantly. He had been intelligent since childhood, had already passed the scholar examination, and had always taken Hence Hai Rui as his role model.

"Hmm, not bad. Don't disgrace your father's prestige." Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "Study hard."

"The student obeys the decree." Hai Zhongpeng bowed again, retreated three steps, and retreated behind Xue Yunlong.

"Teach the child well and don't let him go astray." Zhu Yijun exhorted Xue Yunlong before walking into the Qingqin Garden.

As long as Hence Hai Rui's funeral affairs were taken care of, Zhu Yijun would not treat Xue Yunlong badly. When working for the Emperor, the Emperor had never treated anyone badly. Of course, if it wasn't taken care of well, Zhu Yijun would look for Xue Yunlong's trouble.

If Hence Hai Rui's daughter and son-in-law came to do this, and something went wrong, Zhu Yijun would find it difficult to hold them accountable, and the son-in-law had no official rank and couldn't protect Hence Hai Rui's funeral affairs.

Hence Hai Rui sat in a swivel chair, the chair stopped under a tree. He half-raised his head, quietly watching the yellow leaves constantly drifting down, dancing in the air, just like his life, which was coming to an end.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Hence Hai Rui wanted to stand up, but after using his strength several times, he found he couldn't do it, so he bowed his head to pay his respects.

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities." Zhu Yijun walked over and sat beside Hence Hai Rui.

"I heard from the Grand Physician that Grand Censor Hai has been exceptionally spirited these past few days, so I hurried over to see, and indeed, there is a great improvement." Zhu Yijun said with a face full of smiles.

Hence Hai Rui shook his head and said, "It is just the 'return of light before sunset.' Your Majesty, I have a few unfinished matters. Since Your Majesty has come, please grant my uninvited request."

"Oh? What is it?" Zhu Yijun's smile did not change. Hence Hai Rui would not make any excessive demands. This divine sword had protected Great Ming for sixteen years, making the Great Ming officialdom and administration much clearer.

Hence Hai Rui said quite solemnly, "Your Majesty, I heard that Lu Guangzu has been promoted to Grand Censor. Lu Guangzu is also extremely suitable."

"My first matter is about Wang Qian. He is a good child. If there is an opportunity in the future, I implore Your Majesty to give him a chance for promotion."

"I have been catching corruption for thirteen years, and he has cooperated with me in catching corruption for eleven years. Being a 'solitary minister' is a bit of a waste."