Chapter 80

The Great Ming Dynasty has never lacked smart people.

Those who can reach the position of Grand Secretary of the Zhongji Hall are even smarter among the smart.

The difference lies in where the wisdom is used.

The wisdom of Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong was used in planning for the country.

And the wisdom of Xu Jie and Li Chunfang was used in planning for themselves.

Xu Jie was forced by the dual pressure of Hai Rui and Gao Gong, and had to choose to act fiercely to seek life in death.

And at that time, Hai Rui had not yet investigated Li Chunfang, so the latter seemed much more at ease.

Li Chunfang quietly watched Xu Jie charge into battle, waiting for the Emperor's choice, waiting for Xu Jie's result, waiting for the surging situation in Nanzhili.

Until... seeing the Emperor's self-reproach edict.

The Analects say, the will of a common man cannot be taken away.

He didn't know how the Emperor, at a mere eleven years old, read the Analects into his bones.

But the fact is, the overall situation cannot kidnap this Holy Venerable; this Holy Venerable is the overall situation himself.

In Li Chunfang's view, it is not because the Emperor is so talented, nor is it as Qin Minglei said, how spirited he is.

It is just that he is the Emperor, that's all.

Under the national system, it hasn't been long since ministers were regarded as family slaves by the Founding Emperor.

It can be said that as long as the Emperor acts arbitrarily, he can have this kind of momentum effect.

Emperor Wuzong was so frivolous back then, the Emperor used a pseudonym, involved himself in the battlefield, and no one could stop him.

Emperor Shizong inherited from a side branch, and could also force back the Grand Secretary, and could also act arbitrarily, making people measure fields and coerce Zhejiang.

This is the awe-inspiring trend, the system is like this!

No matter how Li Chunfang sighs, he cannot change the status of superior and inferior.

Whether tyrant or benevolent ruler, in short, no single person can compare their determination with an Emperor whose "will cannot be taken away."

In this case, either hide in the whole system, hoping that when doing bad things, the Emperor won't see.

Or just kneel and beg for mercy.

It is a pity that for someone as tall as Li Chunfang, there is no extra choice.

Just as Hai Rui said, Wang Ruyan was promoted by him, and the subsequent stolen money was also sent to his home according to custom; just this point alone, he could not get away.

Not to mention that he privately set "Village Agreement Matters," replacing the national law of the county yamen, playing a set of autonomy; strictly speaking, setting a crime of disrupting the law really has no room for maneuver.

Therefore, Li Chunfang can only bow his head to the Emperor to preserve his family.

Coincidentally, the chips he has to bow his head to the Emperor are much more than Xu Jie's.

Not to mention anything else, he is at least the spokesperson pushed out by Nanzhili now.

These people use him, want to use him to come forward, and why doesn't he need to borrow the momentum of these people?

Following the Duke of Wei's plea for mercy and the Marquis of Huaining's submission, a single person can no longer resist the Imperial Envoy.

Even without the qualifications to bargain with Hai Rui.

That Hai Yushi-in-Chief was like this; as soon as they met, he was directly escorted to the capital.

No one can face the Imperial Envoy, and no one is willing to be the first bird.

This is why they had to push out a spokesperson to barely move forward and retreat together, so as to obtain the qualifications to negotiate with Hai Rui and others.

After Xu Jie failed, Nanzhili only had the former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang who could have this prestige and seniority.

Coincidentally, Li Chunfang also has his own plans.

He just needs to borrow the momentum of these people to gain the influence to stir up the situation in Nanzhili, and then... sell a good price to the Emperor.

Li Chunfang quietly watched Hai Rui, waiting for his reply.

Hai Rui frowned, unable to keep up with the rhythm of these people guessing the Emperor's will.

What splitting Nanzhili?

How did you see that the Holy Venerable had this intention?

Xu Jie suddenly coughed lightly and interjected: "Shi Lu is afraid he forgot, Hai Gangfeng has never entered the Cabinet."

Vision has nothing to do with wisdom; ministers who have not entered the Cabinet are hard to have a perspective that overlooks the world.

He smiled apologetically at Li Chunfang.

Then he pulled Hai Rui aside: "Hai Gangfeng, this matter is slightly obscure, but I believe that what Li Chunfang said is definitely what the Holy Venerable needs."

"Let me talk; it will definitely make the Dragon Face happy."

Hai Rui looked at Xu Jie vigilantly: "Junior Tutor Xu might as well make it clear."

He was just here to handle the case and had not received any instructions from the Emperor to split Nanzhili.

But the situation was changing rapidly, and he couldn't grasp whether what Li Chunfang said was true or not.

Xu Jie whispered: "Hai Gangfeng, believe me once; my life is in others' hands, so I will definitely not lie to you."

He looked at Hai Rui, sincere and earnest: "Hai Gangfeng, I can also talk, I can also be the Emperor's confidant."

As soon as Li Chunfang spoke, Xu Jie suddenly discovered a glimmer of hope for survival!

There were no chips before, but aren't the chips here now!

Li Chunfang now represents a large group of high-ranking officials and nobles behind Nanzhili, both those who show their identities and those who don't.

Since he took the initiative to find Hai Rui to talk, he must be prepared to cut flesh and bleed.

As long as he takes the order in a time of crisis and negotiates a satisfactory result for the Emperor, it is a merit! It is not impossible to survive!

Hai Rui was also in a dilemma.

The situation in Nanzhili is complex, and former Grand Secretaries jumped out one after another, repeatedly exceeding the limit of what Hai Rui could handle.

Xu Jie's problem was just handled, and another Li Chunfang jumped out.

Splitting Nanzhili... he vaguely felt something, but couldn't think it through.

Hai Rui pondered for a long time.

Then he looked at Xu Jie: "Junior Tutor Xu, I will tell the Emperor every word of what happened today; Junior Tutor Xu, don't mislead yourself."

Xu Jie let out a long breath; this meant he agreed.

He bowed in thanks and returned to Li Chunfang with Hai Rui.

Xu Jie looked down at this junior: "Li Shilu, don't look left and right; this official and Hai Yushi Hai are here to handle the salt administration case."

"If you have the heart to guess the Holy Venerable's will, you might as well assist this official in handling the case."

Seeing that in the time of a turn, Hai Rui and Xu Jie changed their primary and secondary roles, Li Chunfang was not surprised.

He also understood Xu Jie's meaning.

Before he could offer conditions to the Emperor, he needed to get the things that should have been given, so he would have the qualifications to sit down and talk.

Li Chunfang deliberated for a moment and said: "I happen to know some things about the Huai salt administration case; the involved Wang Ruyan once visited my home."

"At that time, he mentioned... Huai salt can produce 1.53 million yin every year."

"By the way, the detailed account books of the various branch transport offices and salt fields in Huai are also said to be filed in one of his other mansions; I know the location and will tell the two Imperial Envoys later."

1.53 million yin is the actual amount produced by Huai salt.

This is the compromise of the people behind him, and it is also Li Chunfang's sincerity; he threw this number out directly without reservation.

Of course, the center cannot collect so much, and there are many losses that cannot be reduced.

For example, the lowest-level clerks, salt workers, and laborers take their share, and small officials at all levels take their cuts; these are problems that even so-called big figures cannot solve.

The center can collect at most 1.3 million yin, and it will even decrease year by year in the future.

But no matter what, his sincerity was given.

Hai Rui couldn't help but sigh.

This is the errand he came for this time, lasting three months, beheading dozens of salt officials, raiding countless homes, offending big officials—what former Grand Secretary, what Duke. Others of the third rank don't even count. It was also interspersed with dangers like arson and hidden arrows.

Now that he has Li Chunfang's words, the matter is finally complete.

He was about to open his mouth to ask about the account books when Xu Jie grabbed him.

Xu Jie shook his head coldly: "The Huai Transport Office has account books; no need to take another trip."

This means it's not enough.

Luo Sigong, who was behind Hai Rui, couldn't help but glance at Xu Jie.

Heaven have mercy, this is the first time he has seen someone take on a role so quickly; those who don't know would think he is the Holy Venerable's confidant.

Li Chunfang seemed to have expected this, and without hesitation, said: "I heard that it also involves the Salt Merchants Association; the two might as well investigate it, maybe there are some clues."

Hai Rui couldn't help but look at Li Chunfang.

He naturally understood Li Chunfang's meaning; the Salt Merchants Association was directly abandoned at this moment.

Hai Rui had just raided seven large salt merchants and more than ten small salt merchants, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard found 390,000 taels.

If all thirteen large salt merchants of the Salt Merchants Association were raided, there would probably be 600,000 taels!

The national treasury only receives 3 million taels a year. This is already 20 percent!

He was already prepared to agree.

Xu Jie shook his head again: "I already raided seven large salt merchants before and have clues; no need to trouble Li Shilu to remind me."

Clearing up salt taxes and raiding salt merchants—these are the Emperor's expectations.

Just doing this degree cannot be considered selling a favor to the Emperor.

Li Chunfang continued without stopping: "Then I must congratulate the two Imperial Envoys for their merit; I heard yesterday that the Nanzhili Ministry of Revenue is verifying the grain tax for the two seasons, and I heard that this year, it has risen, so that is double happiness."

This is Cao Bangfu's chip, which Li Chunfang threw out together.

Xu Jie shook his head helplessly: "There is joy and there is worry; besides this case, there are several others—what crossbows harming the Imperial Envoy, soldiers disguised as arsonists burning the yamen; it just gives people a headache. Other cases are fine, but this kind of rebellion case is too exhausting."

Xu Jie spoke with great emotion, and Li Chunfang listened in silence.

This means money is easy to talk about, but involving secret mobilization of troops and distribution of crossbows must give the Emperor an explanation.

This kind of righteous and stern talk made Luo Sigong turn his head away and stop looking at Xu Jie—he had never seen such a person.

Li Chunfang pondered for a while and sighed: "This matter involves the Ministry of War, so it is not something I can know. Junior Tutor Xu might as well go and ask the Vice Minister of War Ji Lian, the experience of the Central Military Governor's Office, and others."

"For such madmen, it is better to send the criminals to the capital as soon as possible."

The previous Minister of War for Nanzhili was Wang Zhi.

After the center promoted him to Minister of Justice, the vacancy has not been filled.

This Ministry of War is now controlled by the Vice Minister of War Ji Lian.

Now Ji Lian was abandoned by Li Chunfang and the group of people behind him without knowing anything.

Xu Jie nodded with satisfaction and added: "Then Li Shilu, do you know about the Taizhou incitement of the ignorant case?"

Li Chunfang wanted to speak but stopped, his expression gradually becoming difficult.

Xu Jie's expression was calm, and he said nothing, quietly watching Li Chunfang.

Xu Jie said indifferently: "After all, it is a major rebellion case; the Emperor is waiting for the result."

Li Chunfang closed his eyes and nodded slowly: "In my estimation, the Yingtian Prefect Zhu Gang, the Taizhou Prefect, and others must have clues."

This is selling Zhu Gang as well.

Xu Jie stepped forward: "What about the tea tax!"

Li Chunfang's expression was already ugly to the extreme, and he couldn't help but flick his sleeves: "Junior Tutor Xu, I live in seclusion at home, where could I know so many things."

"Even if it's idle chat in the countryside, it has to reach my ears."

Up to here, he couldn't agree to Xu Jie anymore.

If he cut too much of his colleagues' flesh, he, the spokesperson, would not be considered to have made a merit.

If he couldn't take this opportunity to win a favor and accumulate prestige, how could he do things for the Emperor?

Xu Jie stepped back and said: "No need to understand the whole picture; peeking at the leopard through a tube, having a 50 percent understanding is fine."

"If you don't even have this insight, how can you be famous in the countryside?"

People in the middle must be authorized.

If you can't decide anything, what do you need Li Shilu to be this middleman for?

Li Chunfang shook his head: "Junior Tutor Xu, the Imperial Order is urgent; don't waste too much time here."

This is warning Xu Jie not to ruin the Emperor's major affairs just to save face for himself.

If he didn't leave himself some room to save face in front of the group of people behind him, he couldn't do the Emperor's work.

Li Chunfang did not give an inch.

Xu Jie also remained silent.

The two confronted each other for a long time.

Then they raised three fingers at the same time and retracted them in a flash.

Both sides let out a sigh of relief; 30 percent, both could accept.

Talking to here, it is almost enough to give Nanzhili a decent ending.

Xu Jie nodded: "Li Shilu just said, want to share the worries for the Holy Venerable?"

Seeing that Xu Jie did not force him again, Li Chunfang let out a long breath.

He deliberated for a long time and said slowly: "I spoke out of turn just now; I shouldn't have guessed the Holy Heart."

"However... observing the handling of cases by everyone these days, I feel that Nanzhili is too big to be managed, so I boldly have words to present to the Emperor."

Xu Jie asked: "Li Shilu, please speak; I will naturally report it to the Emperor."

Li Chunfang nodded: "Heaven has no two suns, the country has no two masters, but the country now indeed has two capitals."

"Policies coming from two heads is the beginning of chaos."

"I will request the Emperor to split Nanzhili!"

Hai Rui, on the side, suddenly realized why these two Grand Secretaries guessed that the Emperor had the intention to split Nanzhili.

Nanzhili now has a center that is not a center.

It occupies the most prosperous territory and controls 60 percent of the world's tax revenue.

The Six Ministries, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review all have the same official order in Nanzhili as in the center.

In addition, academies and the imperial examination produce the most jinshi.

Now some people in Nanzhili even publicly clamor that they have studied the imperial examination thoroughly.

Thus, in the center, a situation where there are many people from Nanzhili has gradually formed.

This is the reason why the salt administration case he is handling now is so tricky.

A mere salt tax case has already involved three Grand Secretaries!

Other big and small Dukes, Earls, Marquises, and scarlet-robed officials are countless.

Hai Rui's wisdom is not bad, just lacking the perspective of a Cabinet Minister; now that he is awakened, he immediately realized and grasped the key point.

Xu Jie, needless to say, pretended to be enlightened: "What is the plan?"

Li Chunfang nodded: "This matter is long-lasting; if the Emperor follows my discussion and uses the center's momentum to press, peeling the cocoon, it will probably take at least decades of work."

Involving cultural origins and humanistic identity, it is not simple to divide areas or set up a few yamen.

Above, it needs the momentum to force, and below, it needs subtle influence.

It won't work without twenty or thirty years.

Li Chunfang paused and continued: "But... if Nanzhili realizes the Holy Heart, thinks what the Emperor thinks, and is anxious for what the Emperor is anxious for, it can at least save ten years of work!"

There are only so many people with faces in Nanzhili.

Xu Jie is already the target of public criticism, so Li Chunfang is duty-bound.

As long as he acts as this middleman today and can eliminate a killing disaster for the large group of people behind him, he is the undisputed spokesperson.

Compared to the center's inability to reach, he, the local spokesperson, appears precious.

As long as he is willing to split Nanzhili for the Emperor, the weight and effect are self-evident.

Xu Jie asked: "How to be anxious for what the Emperor is anxious for? Li Shilu, do you have a good strategy?"

Li Chunfang had a draft: "The division will not be changed for the time being; this matter should be done when the time is ripe."

"You can first divide Nanzhili into two in fact."

"Permanently set up a Hai Yushi-in-Chief and Minister of Revenue, patrolling Fengyang Prefecture, Luzhou Prefecture, Anqing Prefecture, Taiping Prefecture, Chizhou Prefecture, Ningguo Prefecture, Huizhou Prefecture, Chuzhou, Hezhou, Guangde Prefecture, etc., seven prefectures and three departments."

"Although it is only a patrol, as long as you add the Minister of Revenue and Hai Yushi-in-Chief, you can handle local taxes and reach the heavens."

"Grind for four or five years first, and then turn the patrol into a Provincial Administration Commissioner, open a Surveillance Commission, and slowly collect the power of civil administration and prison."

"Borrowing the east wind of salt administration, the voice of opposition will not be too loud; as long as we loyal ministers who cherish the Holy Monarch reconcile in the middle, it will be done when the time is ripe!"

As soon as Li Chunfang finished speaking.

Xu Jie clapped his hands in praise: "Good! Steady and prudent, inherited in one line."

"The world says Shi Lu is a Qingci Prime Minister; now it seems that Shi Lu is just catering to the preferences."

"The current Emperor is reforming and striving for governance, so Shi Lu can hit the current ills and talk about them eloquently."

"Shi Lu, great talent!"

"I will definitely report this discussion to the Holy Venerable."

Li Chunfang declined Xu Jie's praise and continued: "In addition, the Emperor's edict mentioned opening maritime transport."

"Then the 'Shanghai Shipping Commission' in Chongming, I can also do my best."

Xu Jie nodded frequently.

He approved: "Shi Lu is indeed a great talent, but patrolling Fengyang's seven prefectures and three departments plus the Minister of Revenue is directly grabbing tax revenue from Nanzhili's hands; I'm afraid it's not an easy thing."

Li Chunfang nodded: "This is natural; even with the help of loyal ministers, it needs to be strong enough."

Xu Jie fell into deep thought.

He seemed to have gained something, thought for a while, and looked at Hai Rui: "Hai Yushi Hai, what is my position now?"

Hai Rui was stunned, recalled for a moment, and said: "Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief, patrolling Fengyang, Yingtian, and other fourteen prefectures."

Xu Jie grunted and stopped asking; he hoped the Emperor could understand his meaning and give him a way to live.

He paused and looked at Li Chunfang: "Then, what does Li Shilu want?"

Li Chunfang is different from him; his butt is much cleaner.

The Emperor said he was willing to bow his head, so he wouldn't hold him accountable, so Li Chunfang didn't need to do this step.

So, he must be asking for something else.

He quietly watched Li Chunfang, waiting for his answer.

Li Chunfang was silent for a moment and said slowly: "I have a granddaughter, fourteen this year, intelligent and beautiful..."

He looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind Hai Rui, as if saying to the Emperor from afar: "Perhaps she can enter the palace and serve the two palaces."

February 17th, just after the Awakening of Insects, everything is recovering.

But it is inevitable that spring thunder will move, disturbing the world.

Just after noon, the sky was overcast, and a light rain began to fall.

Boom.

A spring thunder broke through the sky with a muffled sound.

Outside the Wanshou Palace in the Western Garden.

The passing eunuchs could hear the symphony of thunder and chimes, endless.

In the Wanshou Palace, Zhu Yijun sat cross-legged on a cushion, holding a report.

He looked at the left and right with a stunned face: "I'm only eleven years old, and Li Chunfang wants to send me a concubine!?"

(End of chapter)