Chapter 230

The eighth year of Wanli, the ninth day of the second month.

For the Metropolitan Examination of the world's scholars, the Minister of Rites Wang Zongyi and the Left Vice Minister of Rites and concurrently Reader-in-Waiting of the Hanlin Academy He Luowen of the Establishment of the Heir Apparent were appointed as examiners.

The Left Vice Minister of Works and Viceroy of River Control Pan Jixun memorialized that the Wusong River, Maotang, Xiuzhou Tang, Puhui Tang, Mengdu River, Shun River, Qingyang Port, and other places had all been set up and the work completed. There were still dozens of tributaries in Su Song, and he requested to divert one hundred thousand catties of cement stored by the Ministry of Works for testing as auxiliary material. His Majesty granted it.

His Majesty, because the river works were completed on schedule, rewarded the officials who had labored. He added the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent to the Viceroy of River Control Pan Jixun, promoted him to Minister of Works and concurrently Left Vice Hai Yushi-in-Chief of the Censorate, and granted the privilege of hereditary rank to one son. The Viceroy of Grain Transport Jiang Yilin and other officials were rewarded according to precedent.

The Shaanxi Provincial Governor and Surveillance Commissioner Zhang Ren and others, because the postal relay system in Xi'an and other prefectures was exhausted and the people could not bear the burden, discussed and proposed reductions. His Majesty did not grant it, and ordered Xi'an and other prefectures to clearly display the accounts, collect in advance, and distribute the levies appropriately.

The Censorate memorialized that the Prefect of Lintao Cao Shipin, the Mobile Corps Commander of Miyun Wei Kongyu, and the Assistant Regional Commissioner of Henan Cui Jingrong had violated the ban on using the postal relay system.

The morning court decided that Cao Shipin and Wei Kongyu were to be stripped of their offices and made commoners. Cui Jingrong had already retired, so he was not pursued. Censors, officials from the Imperial Horse Directorate, and officials from the Ministry of War were dispatched to Xi'an and other prefectures, and the provincial governor and surveillance officials were ordered to investigate those using public carriages for private purposes and those issuing passes to gallop through the relay stations.

The Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice Wu Zhongxing memorialized that the administration of officials was ruined by the pursuit of fame, and human sentiment was corrupted by the loss of integrity in later years. As for those who used connections to retire, they never gave a thought to the pros and cons of reform, and were greedy and corrupt as they pleased. He begged to open the precedent of investigating retired officials. His Majesty kept the memorial in the palace and did not issue it.

Zhou Ziyi, Equerry of the Secretariat and concurrently Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, was promoted to Right Vice Administrator of the Office of Transmission, in charge of the News Publishing Bureau.

The Left Hai Yushi-in-Chief Wen Chun was transferred to be Minister of War and Provincial Governor of Guizhou.

The Right Vice Hai Yushi-in-Chief and Provincial Governor of Sichuan Hai Rui was promoted to Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief, in charge of the Censorate.

The secluded water palace of the other hall is deep, the Emperor's son of the Han family has a storied boat.

The weather after the beginning of spring is usually quite good; even the imperial family must organize one or two family-fun activities.

Northeast of the Qionghua Hall in the Wang Xiyuan, there is a water palace across the weir, which houses exquisite dragon boats and phoenix barges. Emperor Wuzong disliked them for being too small and had a black dragon storied boat built. Before he could enjoy it, he was simply satirized by Wen Zhengming for it. Now, it happens to be convenient for Zhu Yijun's family.

The spring breeze brushes the face, and the sunlight is warm.

For family fun, naturally, only the harem and household servants were brought along.

With the civil officials who stare at one's demeanor and speech all day absent, the atmosphere was leisurely and comfortable.

Empress Dowager Chen, Empress Liu, and the concubines were playing mahjong upstairs, and Empress Dowager Li was exchanging pregnancy experiences with Lady Wu.

Imperial Consort Li was accompanying the Emperor, sitting dully on the deck.

Zhu Yijun was lying leisurely on a lounge chair, holding a fishing rod in his hand; it was a rare occasion to play the game of fishing from a pleasure boat: "What did the maternal grandfather say in his letter?"

Li Baiyang rested her elbows on her knees, cradling her cheeks with both hands:

"Just some idle chatter about family matters."

"After the beginning of spring, the great-grandmother gradually recovered, so she told me not to worry; he also said that he is old and will not come to the capital to visit this year, and that I should just send my uncle to bring some things; as well as how the studies of the brothers and sisters are going."

Zhu Yijun lay on the chair, listening with his eyes closed, echoing a word or two from time to time.

"Oh right, the grandfather asked me to convey his regards to Your Majesty on his behalf."

Bored to death, Li Baiyang fiddled with the fishing rod in her hand, the float bobbing aimlessly on the water.

"He said that the manuscript fee Your Majesty entrusted the grandfather to pass on to Wu Chengen was finally picked up by him in person this year."

"Regarding the memorial for selecting people to fill vacancies in the Nanjing News Publishing Bureau, he hopes Your Majesty will not keep it in the palace indefinitely. The grandfather is sincerely looking for someone to take over, not just dealing with the impeachments of the remonstrating officials."

"The grandfather also said that the ten taels of gold, which the family of the old friend the Zhang family gave as a courtesy for being transferred to the position of Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song, was also entrusted to someone to be passed on to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun rocked the lounge chair, bending one leg and resting the ankle of the other leg on his knee, shaking it leisurely without any decorum.

Hearing the end, he slowed the frequency of his shaking leg and looked at Li Baiyang to confirm: "Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song?"

Li Chunfang would not go so far as to put on a show of integrity for ten taels of gold.

This was snitching.

Li Baiyang met the Emperor's gaze, her expression puzzled as she nodded: "Your Majesty, is there something improper?"

Zhu Yijun curled his lips: "Nothing, the position of Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song was abolished the year before last."

There is a reason why Zhang Juzheng is hated.

Besides the Method of Assessment, he often took a knife to the livelihoods of millions of canal workers.

A few years ago, he said something about how in recent years, domestic and foreign officials had increased the old quotas from the beginning of the dynasty several times over, disregarding the hardships of the people and causing constant disturbances, and that this was not an isolated case.

Consequently, the Cabinet and the ministries pressed down layer by layer, pushing a play of simplifying administration—"Order officials in all provinces to investigate, discuss, and memorialize the abolition of all redundant personnel added."

The position of Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song was removed the year before last.

However, judging by Li Chunfang's snitching, it was clearly another case of "there are policies above, and countermeasures below."

Li Baiyang had been in the palace for many years and had seen and heard so much that she was long since unperturbed, and even had the mood to tease: "Who told Your Majesty that the Emperor is far away."

Zhu Yijun rolled his eyes at her: "Which sacred path is this old friend the Zhang family you mentioned just now?"

Since the yamen system was established, it began to have biological instincts—the first priority for the entire yamen, from top to bottom, is to ensure its own survival.

But this vital sign is also rooted in human nature.

To speak plainly, the civil servants in Sunderland cannot be fired because they have Humphrey's protection, and the Su Song grain management yamen remains a corpse in a position of power, which probably falls on the Zhang family in Li Chunfang's words.

Since they are called old friends, Li Baiyang naturally knew better than anyone.

She said eloquently: "It is the Zhang family of Taicang, Zhang Fang's family, known for filial piety and righteousness. Their three sons were all jinshi and juren during the Jiajing period, collectively known as the 'Three Zhangs of Taicang'."

"The eldest son, Zhang Qing, served as a Director in the Nanjing Ministry of War; the second son, Zhang Yi, is the Vice Prefect of Taicang Department; the third son, Zhang Xing, was originally an Assistant Prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture, was demoted two years ago, and is also the Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song who is taking office this time."

Zhu Yijun's brows furrowed tightly.

He put down his shaking leg and sat up slowly: "Without even a high-ranking official in red robes, a mere fifth-rank Director or Vice Prefect actually dares to hold onto an official position that the central government wants to abolish. Truly, the Emperor is far away."

Li Baiyang shook her head somewhat helplessly: "Your Majesty has never been to Jiangnan; that place is completely different from the capital."

Seeing the Emperor's gaze shift over, Li Baiyang paused and explained: "Take this Zhang family, for example. Although Zhang Fang has no official position, he built charitable estates, opened Confucian schools, and provided disaster relief, and has long had a reputation among the literati and the people."

"By the generation of his sons, the 'Three Zhangs of Taicang,' they gradually had literary exchanges with Wang Shizhen, Gui Youguang, and others. After the 'Loudong Poetry Anthology' was published, those who came to study under them were as numerous as a marketplace, and they gradually became known as the Loudong School, with the posture of founding a school."

"In addition, there are various marriages; for example, Zhang Qing's wife is a clanswoman of the Minister of Personnel Wang."

"Zhang Xing, who is taking office as the Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song this time, has a wife who is a clanswoman of my family, which is why he specifically came to the grandfather to perform the courtesies."

Zhu Yijun stood up and sat straight, tapping his knees with his fingers, listening quietly to the Imperial Consort Li popularize the political ecology of Jiangnan.

Truly, the tree is big and the roots are deep, intertwined and knotted.

A phrase suddenly jumped into his mind—the combination of production, academia, and officialdom.

The first generation accumulates initial wealth, then distributes family wealth and bestows favors to whitewash themselves.

The second generation begins the imperial examinations, builds academic cliques, marries widely, and squeezes into the ecology of the local literati and officialdom.

The third generation, I fear, will exert force in the central officialdom based on their accumulation.

At that time, as long as one jinshi is produced, they have money, background, connections, and even a reputation endorsed by the so-called "Loudong School." For such a person, a starting point as a Shujishi is definitely indispensable.

Wait, Loudong School...

Zhu Yijun suddenly remembered something.

He turned his head to look at Li Baiyang: "Does the Zhang family have a descendant named Zhang Fuzhi?"

Li Baiyang looked at the Emperor suspiciously, not knowing where the Emperor had heard of him.

She recalled for a moment and confirmed firmly: "There is indeed such a person. He is Zhang Xing's son. He passed the juren examination two years ago, and it was celebrated together with the thirtieth birthday banquet. My father even went at the time."

"Speaking of which, Zhang Fuzhi should be in the jinshi examination hall today."

Zhu Yijun showed a look of sudden realization upon hearing this.

This Zhang family is actually that Zhang family!

In this way, it is basically no different from what he had thought.

The third-generation Zhang Fuzhi, even if he only passed the jinshi examination at the age of forty in history, was still appointed as a Secretary, rising all the way to Temple Minister, Vice Minister, and Minister. His official career could not be called anything but smooth.

However, I still missed a generation.

By the fourth generation, Zhang Pu, only the cultivation of reputation remained—the ultimate cultivation of reputation.

Zhang Pu received the entire legacy of the Loudong School, building the personal brand image of the "Two Sons of Loudong." Then, relying on his adoptive father, the Minister, he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed as a Shujishi, served in the Hanlin Academy, and improved his resume.

And all the things that followed: abandoning office to return home to gather famous scholars to form societies, leading anti-tax movements to expel eunuchs, and developing student parades to storm the yamen.

Relying on a massive network of relationships, until he cultivated a great reputation throughout the world, with hundreds of thousands of students viewing him as their leader; until he developed the society into the imperial court, causing scholars and the Confucian school to serve him as their second master; until he remotely controlled the current Chief Zhang Gelao, held the imperial examinations, and usurped the title of the people's Emperor...

This is the history of the rise of the Fu Society.

No wonder, it actually started operating as early as the Jiajing period.

The climax of the mass movements in the Ming Dynasty turned out to be walked out step by step like this.

Zhu Yijun stood up slowly and paced on the deck.

The seemingly insignificant matter before his eyes unexpectedly corresponded to the records of later generations.

It was as if the fog of history had been cleared away, and the context and direction of it all suddenly became clear.

Peering through a tube at a leopard with this one example, Zhu Yijun suddenly had a real sense of the political ecology of Jiangnan that Li Baiyang had spoken of.

This was no longer just a problem of a mere Assistant Administration Commissioner in charge of grain in Su Song.

Jiangnan scholar-clans... literati societies... social forms... popular trends of thought...

The Emperor walked back and forth, looking like he was lost in thought.

Seeing this, Li Baiyang couldn't help but call out: "Does Your Majesty need to deal with official business?"

Although she said it this way, her tone was inevitably a bit resentful; if she had known, she would have relayed the official business her grandfather mentioned next time.

The soft whisper rang in Zhu Yijun's ears, and he subconsciously turned his head back.

He met the Imperial Consort Li's aggrieved expression and realized belatedly that he had been too absorbed in his thoughts.

Absorbed was absorbed, but it was not an urgent matter.

Zhu Yijun kept the official business in his heart and shook his head: "Just a small matter, it's not that urgent."

He took the opportunity to sit back on the lounge chair: "What else did Grand Tutor Taiyue say?"

Li Baiyang wrinkled her nose, suppressing a laugh: "That's all."

She suddenly thought of something else and looked at the Emperor somewhat helplessly: "At the end, he also mentioned that I am not young anymore, and if there is any ailment, I should not avoid the doctor out of fear of the illness."

Zhu Yijun touched his nose awkwardly.

Old Li probably saw that Lady Wu, who entered the palace later, was already pregnant, and was anxious for his granddaughter.

This matter is really hard to talk about.

Suddenly, the fishing rod moved, and Zhu Yijun changed the subject as if granted amnesty: "Ah! The float moved!"

Li Baiyang curled her lips and echoed: "Oh my, there's another fish bladder for Your Majesty to use!"

Zhu Yijun was pretending to lift the rod.

Hearing such tiger-wolf words, he instantly became so embarrassed that his face turned red, and in the biting lake wind, he gradually broke into a sweat.

The Taiye Pool rippled with sparkling light, and a few small boats came from far to near.

"Your Majesty, Imperial Consort, the Empress Dowager says it is about time for the meal." The eunuch's voice interrupted the world of the two.

The colorful clouds hung down from the blue sky like a jade rainbow, curling and winding.

The bright spring light shone on the dragon boat, and figures of all sizes were busy with their own things.

Some people are leisurely and comfortable, but Shen Shixing over here is miserable.

Everyone outside says he is now the sole Zhang Gelao, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom, with power weighing heavily on the master.

Little do they know.

A sole Zhang Gelao with power but no responsibility is sweet dew from heaven; a sole Zhang Gelao with both power and responsibility is destined to be worked to death.

Every day, he has to look over hundreds of memorials, no matter how small, and complete the tasks added by the Emperor. Not having his feet touch the ground is an understatement; Shen Shixing feels that his soul is already about to leave his body, drifting toward immortality.

Cabinet duty room.

By noon, Zhang Gelao Shen hadn't even moved his buttocks, only hurriedly eating two bites of food.

He threw the newspaper under his tableware aside, waiting for the stacks of memorials for ticket drafting to fill the desk again.

Shen Shixing sighed, covered his face with both hands, and rubbed hard to wake himself up.

Zhang Juzheng will return to the capital next month, and Wang Xijue will also enter the Cabinet then; life should be much easier.

One more month.

Thinking of this, Shen Shixing braced his spirit, grabbed the memorials, and began to draft tickets one by one.

"Surveyed the ponds of officials and people in sixty-six departments and counties in Jiangxi; besides the original quotas, 6,145,954 mu of land were surveyed."

Ponds are one of the types of land classification, referring to artificially excavated or naturally formed water-storage ponds, as well as land directly related to ponds such as embankments and beaches by the ponds, which is the so-called pond-field.

The land survey has been going on for quite some time, and all provinces have made certain progress.

Jiangxi finished surveying the dry land last year, and after half a year, it has finished surveying the ponds; cultivated land, dry land, etc., are still continuing.

Shen Shixing wrote down "compensate for the virtual grain that the small people have been forced to pay for years" without hesitation and placed it on his right hand—this is a matter that has already been discussed in court or does not need to be discussed in court, just waiting for the Emperor to look over it and approve it in red, and it can be replied to Jiangxi directly.

"Surveyed 47,300 shi of rented land in Nanfeng County, and 371 mu of un-sold government land in Wuning County, obtaining 36,490 taels of silver in recognized value."

Rented land and confiscated land that has not yet been sold are all state assets.

Shen Shixing thought for a moment, wrote the four characters "relieve the border with the Ministry's funds," and placed it in the box behind him labeled with the Ministry of War—using it in a military direction is definitely no problem, but as for how to distribute it specifically, the Ministry of War must have priorities.

"First is the land survey in Shanxi; the Jin Prefecture and the Ninghua Prince's Prefecture are fighting over land. The Jin Prefecture's manor land is located in Taiyuan and other places, with 720,350 mu of actual land; the Ninghua Prefecture's land is located in Nieying and other garrisons, with 57,552 mu of actual land."

Clearly, this stack is a special topic on land survey.

The Shanxi imperial clan is fighting over land and is deadlocked. A censor was specifically sent, and this is already the second reply; at least there is a conclusion.

Shen Shixing shook his head and did not draft a ticket, just placed it on his left hand—involving the imperial clan, it must go through a court deliberation.

"Zhang Gelao, the Left Administrator of the Office of Transmission Ni Guangjian and the Right Administrator Zhou Ziyi request an audience."

Shen Shixing was burying his head in hard work when a voice sounded outside the duty room.

His work was interrupted; he stopped his pen helplessly, looked up, and instructed the Cabinet Secretary in the room: "Invite them to the main hall; I will go out right away."

After speaking, Shen Shixing closed the memorial, set aside his pen, and stood up slowly.

He blew into his hands, wiped his hands toward his temples, looked at himself in the bronze mirror, and then pushed the door out.

The side rooms with bronze incense burners and potted flower arrangements are the elegant interests of the Grand Secretaries' duty rooms; the main hall used specifically for meetings and receiving guests is much more solemn.

With blue bricks and gray tiles, the depth is wide, and sandalwood chairs are lined up on both sides for people to sit.

As soon as Shen Shixing walked out of the duty room, he saw Ni Guangjian and Zhou Ziyi already seated in the main hall.

When the latter two saw Shen Shixing, they both stood up and performed the courtesies first: "Disturbing Zhang Gelao Shen's noon rest."

Shen Shixing shook his head with a bitter smile: "The life of a hard-working official in the court, why speak of such strange words as noon rest."

Saying this, he returned the courtesies to the two and signaled them to sit.

Shen Shixing sat in the main seat as a matter of course and looked at Zhou Ziyi: "I haven't congratulated Yifang on your promotion yet."

Zhou Ziyi sat down half a buttock behind Ni Guangjian and picked up Shen Shixing's words: "Thanks to His Majesty's trust, allowing a foolish person like me to take charge of the News Publishing Bureau. In the future, if there are any mistakes, I hope Zhang Gelao Shen and all my colleagues will bear with me."

The three of them exchanged pleasantries.

Shen Shixing finally asked about the official business: "The Silver Terrace is also a rare guest in the Cabinet; it is rare for you to visit. I wonder what the matter is?"

The Office of Transmission is naturally a rare guest.

Ever since its authority was encroached upon by the Cabinet, the Office of Transmission's ranking in court deliberations has plummeted; standing further forward might even get one beaten.

With so little real power, there is no reason to run to the Cabinet.

It is only because of the additional authority added in recent years that they can occasionally appear in the Cabinet. Ni Guangjian and Zhou Ziyi looked at each other.

The former took the initiative to explain the purpose of their visit: "Today, Yifang was promoted and took over the News Publishing Bureau from my hands. There are some thorny matters that still need to be handed over, so I came to seek Zhang Gelao Shen's idea so that we can make a conclusion."

Ni Guangjian had worked in the Office of Transmission for ten years and was the Left Administrator of Transmission who had risen through seniority.

A person accustomed to handling government affairs in a routine manner truly could not keep up with these new things—the so-called new laws, new learning, and new newspapers.

Zhou Ziyi's division of power was also the result of Ni Guangjian's repeated pleas to the Emperor.

Precisely because of this, the Office of Transmission now has quite a few thorny problems accumulated, so he just happened to bring Zhou Ziyi to seek a tone from the Cabinet.

Shen Shixing did not agree immediately and asked noncommittally: "Why not go to the Wang Xiyuan to seek His Majesty?"

If Ni Guangjian and Zhou Ziyi feel it is thorny, it must not be a matter that is easy to decide.

Each ministry and academy has its own affairs.

What is the point of running to the Cabinet whenever a problem is encountered? Do they really think it is the Prime Minister's mansion?

Ni Guangjian arched his hands: "His Majesty is boating today and has no time for an audience, so he told me to seek Zhang Gelao Shen, and if we still can't decide, we will bring it to tomorrow's court deliberation."

The fist in Shen Shixing's sleeve subconsciously squeezed.

Only then did he nod helplessly: "Administrator Ni, please speak."

Ni Guangjian collected his expression and looked serious upon hearing this: "It is mainly two thorny matters."

"The first is the loose ends left behind by Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Justice before he left."

Shen Shixing was somewhat puzzled.

Zhang Han handed over to Pan Cheng peacefully; according to his character, he shouldn't be the type to actively bury a pit.

Moreover, even if there were, what does it have to do with the Office of Transmission?

"It is a murder case in Hangzhou Prefecture six years ago; the yamen sentenced the criminal to death."

"When the Three Judicial Offices reviewed it, the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review were quite hesitant and rejected the Ministry of Justice several times, once stalling for two years without reaching a decision."

"Later, Minister Zhang learned of it and felt that the Court of Judicial Review was dilatory and derelict in its duties, so he pushed aside all dissenting opinions and first sent a document to Hangzhou to review and sentence to death, then forced the Court of Judicial Review to sign the official document, after which the prisoner was executed after autumn."

Whether it is Confucian education or the Great Ming Code, both advocate caution regarding the death penalty.

Once a death sentence is passed, it must be reviewed by the Three Judicial Offices.

"Originally, the matter would have ended there, but as a result..."

Speaking of this, Ni Guangjian paused.

Shen Shixing had a bad premonition as soon as he heard this.

Ni Guangjian met Shen Shixing's gaze with a dramatic expression and spoke slowly: "On New Year's Eve last year, the victim of the case returned home for the New Year."

"In other words, there was no murder case; the prefectural yamen forcibly found a criminal and executed him according to the law!"

Shen Shixing finally knew what it had to do with the Office of Transmission.

Zhou Ziyi, who was to the side, smiled bitterly and added at the right time: "Now the Ministry of Justice has been drafting memorials for half a month, and there is still no sound in the court, but the literati in Zhejiang are already in an uproar."

"Major societies in the literati circle are running around telling each other, and the common people are filled with righteous indignation."

"The Hangzhou prefectural yamen forcibly suppressed the matter and arrested a group of literati who published newspapers and posters, charging them with spreading evil words and deceiving the public."

"The newspaper offices that had been filed with the Office of Transmission were also sealed up together."

Shen Shixing's gums ached faintly.

No wonder the Office of Transmission felt it was thorny and insisted that the Cabinet make a decision.

The Three Judicial Offices probably wanted to wipe their own butts in private, otherwise it wouldn't have reached the point where it was making a huge noise among the people while there was still no news on the official side.

It is hard to say whether the retired Zhang Han has any responsibility, and this also involves the question of whether retired officials should be held accountable.

Needless to say about the prefectural yamen—causing such a huge matter, Shen Shixing wished he could slap this group of people to death!

But it just so happens that this matter has risen from the affairs of a few individual constables and jailers to the political stance of the entire prefectural yamen, and even the provincial Three Judicial Offices.

The dead cannot be brought back to life; to appease the public anger, one must inevitably adopt a lower posture, involving more people.

It is complicated and chaotic to this extent.

Although the Office of Transmission is now ordered to publish news and handle public opinion, it also goes black in the eyes when encountering such things.

Shen Shixing rubbed his eyebrows and did not answer immediately: "The Office of Transmission should not express its stance for now; wait until tomorrow's court deliberation."

Since the Emperor said to bring it to court deliberation if one is not sure, Shen Shixing, even if he felt nauseated, was not reckless enough to make a decision directly.

"What is the other matter?"

Although Shen Shixing asked the question actively, he had already made up his mind to throw it into the court deliberation as well.

Ni Guangjian signaled to Zhou Ziyi on the side.

The latter took the opportunity to pick up the conversation: "Zhang Gelao Shen, it is about the Land Survey Provincial Governor's Yamen. In the middle of last month, after Shen Li and his party arrived in Shandong, He Xinyin published the article 'The Sinful Kong Family,' which immediately stirred up a huge uproar."

Shen Shixing sighed: "Another uproar?"

Public opinion, public opinion—if things aren't intense to a certain degree, they wouldn't be called that.

If things aren't stirred up to a certain degree, the News Publishing Bureau wouldn't even bother to pay attention.

Zhou Ziyi also couldn't bear to look at the mess he had taken over; he nodded helplessly: "The provincial Three Judicial Offices in Shandong, the Duke Yansheng, and even the Viceroy of Salt Administration Yin have all sent letters asking whether it was instructed by the Office of Transmission."

"In addition, the reaction of the literati is even more intense now. The Office of Transmission has been flooded with letters, all blaming us for publishing evil books for He Xinyin, asking if we intend to insult the Sage, and wanting to expel us from the Confucian school."

"I heard there are already signs of crowds gathering to parade and storm the Land Survey Yamen."

Shen Shixing clicked his tongue and laughed at himself: "I said it would poke a hornet's nest."

Ni Guangjian and Zhou Ziyi laughed bitterly.

Shen Shixing waved his hand: "Bring it to the court deliberation together."

"This is no longer a matter of public opinion guidance; the Office of Transmission should not worry about it for now. Stop the new newspapers and wait until a result is discussed before making a response."

After speaking, he picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

This was a signal to send the guests away.

The two from the Office of Transmission were not lacking in discernment and immediately stood up to take their leave.

Shen Shixing felt somewhat irritable, just standing up to see them off without moving to the door.

Watching his two colleagues leave, Shen Shixing sat down slowly, feeling somewhat tired.

The Office of Transmission doesn't know how to express its stance, at most feeling it is thorny; the Cabinet, which coordinates government affairs specifically, is the one that feels the scorching fire.

Literati in folk societies, wealthy families who storm the yamen at every turn, and students who parade frequently.

The world has been like a powder keg since the land survey, with officials losing their virtue, the north and south being alienated, and the gentry destroying embankments and flooding fields to block the survey.

Coupled with the public opinion means of newspapers spawned by the Emperor.

This situation is truly ready to ignite at the slightest touch.

Let's hope nothing really goes wrong.

Thinking of this, Shen Shixing stood up abruptly and shouted to the duty room of the Cabinet Secretary next door: "Prepare a sedan chair for me; I'm going to the Ministry of Personnel!"

The Cabinet Secretary in the room responded and went.

Shen Shixing glanced at the duty room; sunlight poured in from outside the window, and the light and shadow of the mountain of memorials intertwined.

He shook his head, reached out to close the door of the duty room, and walked out slowly.

Shandong Provincial Administration Commission, Jinan Prefecture.

After Yin Shidan retired from his position as Zhang Gelao of the Cabinet, he built a hut on the banks of the Luo River, teaching and writing books. For a time, followers were like clouds, so he named the garden "Tongle Garden."

And after Zhang Gelao Yin was reinstated as Viceroy of Salt Administration, the garden was handed over to his son Yin Gao to manage. Although Yin Gao is the Prefect of Jinan, his reputation in the literary world is not prominent, and literati have never come to Tongle Garden to enjoy themselves with him.

But today is clearly different.

Beside the Baotu Spring, a group of literati and Confucian scholars, more than a hundred, sat on the ground, forming three circles inside and out.

Yin Gao, the host, sat openly in the innermost circle.

Besides those who occupied the geographical advantage, the innermost circle was mostly celebrities.

One of the Three Zhangs of Taicang.

Two of the Five Gentlemen of the Southeast.

The families of the Sages Yan and Meng gathered together.

And even Zhao Nanxing, Zou Yuanbiao, and others who retired during the sacrifice to heaven in the southern suburbs.

It can be said that all the sages have arrived, and the young and old have gathered.

The group was reading a booklet, whispering to each other, and discussing heatedly.

Things like the Kong family's land spanning five provinces, including garrison land, sacrificial land, and official manors, were roughly listed, and just by estimation, it exceeded one million mu.

Things like the Kong family's generations of submitting surrender documents, the struggle between the Southern and Northern Kong families, and how the two Kong families performed since the Mongol Yuan entered the Central Plains, were like being there in person.

Things like using the name of running schools and sacrificing to Kong Qiu to use local officials to dominate land, taking advantage of the crisis of farmers' bankruptcy to buy and cheat, and even directly enclosing and unreasonably swallowing land.

It even made public how the Kong family increased rents and used means like "pointed measures" and "land skin" to exploit farmers.

Its appendix seemed to have interviewed local people, citing the miserable state of being exploited by the Kong family.

For example, Li Xianke of Jining, in his genealogy, had an ancestor named Li Jing during the Xuande period, who happened to have the same name as a "household person" of the Kong family during the Hongwu period.

Consequently, the Kong family accused Li Xianke of being a fugitive and forced him to attach his household registration to perform corvée labor.

The government helped the tyrant, actually leaving Li Xianke with nowhere to seek justice, and he was truly forced to become a "household person" of the Kong family.

All kinds of such words were recorded on this booklet.

Everyone whispered and vied to read it.

Just as it was passed to Kong Chenghou, he tore the booklet to pieces!

Kong Chenghou was furious: "Insulting my ancestors—if this can be endured, what cannot!?"

As soon as the words fell, there were echoes one after another.

"Well said!"

"He Xinyin is a mere criminal; he should be beheaded for the crime of evil words!"

"That's easy to say; look at the thousands of cult followers around him and see if you can catch them to convict them."

"In the end, it's still a dog released by Shen Li to bite people."

"Sigh, Shen Li has always had a good reputation in the literati circle; why bother?"

"That's asking the obvious; who isn't a dog released by someone?"

"Be careful with your words."

"Careful with what? Retreating again and again, the family assets of several generations are behind us; where is there any room to retreat? Even if it's a dog released by that person, it's time to cut off its claws and teeth!"

Everyone gathered in Tongle Garden today in the name of enjoying the spring, but the reason was clear to everyone.

If it were just local land survey, they would still have room to collude with the prefectural yamen; everyone could spit out thirty percent to send the Emperor away, and they could still endure it.

What is the point of releasing Shen Li to patrol the fields?

And even wanting to take the Sage's family to kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

It truly forces people to a dead end!

Yin Gao listened to the discussion and sighed: "The salt administration case was in an uproar in Nanzhili, and everyone knows the result."

"Now, even if it bites the Sage, what can be done?"

He looked at his garden mansion somewhat dejectedly.

His gaze seemed to pass through the courtyard wall and see his ten thousand mu of fertile land that was about to be confiscated.

Such a good mansion—does it really have to be shared with the people?

The land accumulated through hard work and the hidden tenants—do they really have to be returned in full?

Distributing silver to the poor—what a sin!

But even so, what can be done?

It's no wonder Yin Gao is depressed.

This group of people, compared to the lineup of the Nanjing Six Ministries and the nobles led by Xu Jie, are not even fit to carry their shoes.

If they were defeated, what can this group of people do?

"This is wrong; the salt administration case was not like this moment at all."

Yin Gao turned his head.

He saw that the speaker was Zhang Yi, one of the Three Zhangs of Taicang.

Before Yin Gao could ask, Yan Sishun took the lead in asking: "How do you explain this?"

Zhang Yi stroked his beard: "You must know that the salt administration case was nothing more than a few court officials and nobles colluding with wealthy merchants."

"Their power was rooted in the official side; once the strong power pressed down, they naturally became powder, even Grand Tutor Xu was no exception."

"As for now..."

He paused lightly, and someone immediately became dissatisfied: "Don't sell the punchline; continue."

Zhang Yi was about to explain, but was interrupted.

"Brother Zhang means that the new policies today, whether it is the land survey or insulting the Sage, are the affairs of all the people in the world."

Everyone turned their heads and saw that the speaker was Zhao Nanxing.

This person scolded the Chief Zhang Gelao for being unfilial during the sacrifice to heaven in the southern suburbs, and his younger brother even pierced the Emperor's faults with a poster; the whole family was loyal, and his reputation in the literati circle was naturally not low. As soon as he spoke, he was the focus of everyone's attention.

Zhao Nanxing talked eloquently: "Power is rooted in the officialdom; the Emperor's strong power naturally shatters at a single press."

"If all the people in the world oppose it today, can he slaughter all the people in the world?"

Everyone realized it upon hearing this.

Yin Gao hesitated for a moment and reminded: "Brother Zhao, although we are all models of the literati circle, we have not yet reached the point where we can wave our arms and have the world follow."

Boasting is fine, but no one would really believe such words, right?

"Hahaha!"

A burst of wild laughter.

Kong Chenghou was in a bad mood, flicked his sleeves, and interrupted: "Speak properly; what kind of famous scholar style is this? Noisy!"

Zou Yuanbiao paused.

Immediately, he gave a cold snort, did not quibble with the Kong family, and held his head high: "The outer provinces are not like the capital and frontiers; in places where the literati gather, what can the Emperor's power add?"

"If we lead the way, how can the people of the world not follow?"

Meng Yanpu's expression moved: "Brother Zou means..."

As soon as he asked, before he could finish, someone couldn't wait to answer.

"The Hangzhou matter this month can perhaps be used as a reference!"

"The common people are blind; it is not impossible to drive them slightly!"

Zhang Yi and Zhao Nanxing spoke out at the same time, and the two looked at each other and laughed.

The rest of the people understood, and then clapped their hands and laughed.

For a time, the laughter resounded throughout Tongle Garden and beyond.

The Baotu Spring water gurgled out, as if echoing in response.