Chapter 167: The Truth

The pacification of the Manjun Rebellion could not solve the predicament of the Ming Dynasty in the Western Regions.

It was only the first step in the recovery of the Ming Dynasty, and the war situation in the Western Regions was still in a brutal stalemate. Luntai, Gaochang, and Yizhou are not bad.

No matter how cruel it is, it has a firm foothold.

The armies of the Western Regions, led by the tile spurs, could not shake the defense of the Ming Dynasty.

But Ili has not heard anything for three months in a row.

The Ming Dynasty didn't know what was going on with Yili.

Zhu Qizhen can only comfort himself, no news, it is good news.

Wang Yue has already sent troops.

It's just that the ice and snow in Beijing have melted now, but further northwest, there is none. Because of the road, the march was not fast.

It was probably in March or April that they were able to resist the Western Regions.

Zhu Qizhen couldn't worry anymore, so he could only wait.

After Zhu Qizhen dealt with these matters. It is also necessary to pay attention to the drought situation in various places.

Especially in Shandong, when problems such as the increase in locust reproduction were discovered, Zhu Qizhen immediately ordered the magistrates to exterminate the larvae of these locusts, and not wait for them to grow wings.

They even prepared in advance to transport some grain to places where there could be a great drought.

These affairs have been discussed by Minister Zhu Qizhen for a long time.

Guozijian's case cannot be said to be unimportant, but compared to these things, it will not be too important.

Zhu Qizhen summoned Liu Dingzhi at this moment.

After talking about other things, he turned over this matter, and Zhu Qizhen said: "Guozijian's case, what do you think Mr. should do?" ”

Liu Dingzhi has been a little busy lately.

The westward march of the army, the local famine, and the most severe Jingcha of the imperial court, all these things must be implemented by Liu Dingzhi in the end, and Zhu Qizhen is just deciding.

He didn't look very good.

Speaking of which, Liu Dingzhi is also more than ten years older than Zhu Qizhen, and now he is sixty. It's just that everything is busy, and it makes him look several years older.

Liu Dingzhi naturally watched the case of Guozijian, he knew that Zhu Qizhen actually had a fixed opinion, and he had no intention of Zhu Qizhen to be hard topped, at least not for the matter of Guozijian.

Guozijian is not his man.

He has some actions towards Zhu Qizhen, and he is also happy to see them happen.

He pondered for a moment and said: "Supervisor Chen's rule is not strict, it should be severely punished, and this case is the first case in Jingcha this time, so naturally we have to set a tone." The minister thought that he should demote Supervisor Chen. ”

Zhu Qizhen sneered and said, "This is too light. ”

Liu Dingyi was a little stunned for a while, this is not light.

In the final analysis, this incident may not have been committed by Supervisor Chen, he was just guilty of negligence. It's not a big deal, generally speaking, fines are more appropriate,

Demotion is already an extrajudicial sentence. Liu Dingzhi had already considered Zhu Qizhen's thoughts.

Zhu Qizhen seemed to understand Liu Dingzhi's thoughts, and said: "Sir, who do you think are the people who oppose the new law?" He didn't wait for Liu Dingzhi to speak, so he asked himself and replied: "Those who oppose a whip law, I know, it is nothing more than a big squire, a whip law, wide and strict, they are naturally unhappy, and some are poor places, a whip law, rich places are more happy, I also understand, but who oppose the abolition of Xu officials, what kind of people?" Can you help me with my doubts? ”

Obedient and listening, Liu Dingzhi can naturally hear that Zhu Qizhen has something to say, so he will not really return to this question, but immediately salute and say: "The minister is ignorant and does not know the mystery. ”

Zhu Qizhen smiled lightly, he also knew that Liu Dingzhi didn't really understand. Of course, the same question, from different angles, has different answers.

Of course, these answers are not wrong.

However, what Zhu Qizhen wants to say at the moment is just his own thoughts.

Zhu Qizhen said lightly: "Someone said that the Ming Dynasty was overwhelmed by financial resources, and I believe that he was telling the truth, but the question is, are there really many people who have such thoughts?" ”

"Or rather, how many people are really worried about the financial burden of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Do all the officials think so?"

"Not necessarily."

Liu Dingzhi heard this, and sighed slightly in his heart.

He knew that what Zhu Qizhen said was not bad.

Among the hundred officials of the Ming Dynasty, there are people who take the world as their own responsibility, and there are also people who commit great treachery and evil, but the most are ordinary people. Most ordinary people, they don't pay attention to things that are too long-term.

There is an example, that is, during the Qianlong period, when the Manchu Qing Dynasty was at its peak, Qianlong made a decision, that is, to increase the green battalion soldiers, which suddenly increased the regular expenses of the Manchu Qing by several million taels.

But some people know that this matter cannot last for a long time, because the Qing court cannot afford it.

As a result, before Qianlong could breathe, this overspending dragged the Qing court's treasury enough.

Of course, the decline of the Qing court's national strength is naturally not a matter of decision-making, but it can also be seen that the hundred officials seem to be righteous and awe-inspiring, but it is rare to speak out for what may happen in the future.

And if you really have to calculate it, although the expenditure of the Ming Dynasty and the present is a little tense to support the reform, it is not that it cannot be adhered to, but there are some finances that are unsustainable, such as the Japanese silver mines, which add millions of taels of silver to the inner treasury every year, but how many years can it be maintained, not to mention, the Japanese silver mines have dried up, and just saying that the situation in Japan has changed, this money may not be able to arrive.

Zhu Qizhen continued: "So why are so many people opposing? Nature is for your own pleasure? Qing has been a magistrate, why is Xu an evil official? ”

"I have asked most of the magistrates this question,

There are all kinds of things to say, so it can be seen that everyone has their own experience. ”

I asked again how I could keep the officials from being evil. They also have their own experiences, but when I think about it, it is nothing more than diligence.

Many officials can't do this, what do you think? ”

"Your Majesty is wise, you see thousands of miles, and you admire." Liu Dingzhi's throat moved slightly, and finally said.

Liu Dingzhi wanted to refute it very much, but he came up step by step from below, and he also managed the officials, how could he not know that what Zhu Qizhen said was the truth.

It's like today's case of Guozijian, if you really want to study it carefully, there is a question, for several years, two terms before and after, these two Guozijian priests, have they checked this account?

Have you seen it?

Not to mention, can an official from Confucianism be proficient in accounts, even if he can understand it at a glance, but has he seen it?

The answer is no.

Because this is not the work of Confucian ministers.

When the Ming Dynasty first opened the country, many ministers were born as officials, and even reached the position of ministers, but now there are very few such things.

In fact, most of the officials are unqualified. The imperial examination system does not teach a qualified official, it can only select a smart person and a moral person.

Even the question of morality is questionable.

The increase in the power of the officials is actually due to the unqualified officials. A large number of officials are not familiar with the rules and regulations of the imperial court, and all kinds of rules and regulations are the foundation of a political regime and an organization.

He needs a helper to get things done.

This is also the reason for the rise of many masters.

If everything is changed to clerks, these officials will face the problem of competing with these officials who are proficient in these matters.

Not to mention anything else, after all, Zhu Qizhen selected officials, but they are not lowly officials, they have the qualifications to rise all the way to the center.

Of course, if you really want to achieve this qualification, you need to endure a lot of suppression.

However, it is okay for a large number of middle- and lower-level officials to use these people, and it has even become a fact.

Why is Guozijian resolutely opposed?

It is because the inmates are qualified to be officials.

Although after the rise of the imperial examination, the qualifications of the inmates to be officials were greatly reduced, but there were still some inmates who could exist as low-level officials, and now this way has been robbed by these officials.

This natural conflict of interest is naturally the foundation of Guozijian's opposition to this system.

There are even some reasons that are hard to say.

Why did the emperor like to use eunuchs?

Naturally, the ministers are not at the mercy of the ministers, but the eunuchs are the slaves of the Son of Heaven, so naturally they can do whatever they want, and if they don't say a word, they will take his life, which is nothing.

But with the change of minister, it is not very easy to do. After all, these ministers have their own principles of conduct and networks, and they need to be aware of their influence.