The day after Yan Song received the secret letter, Xu Hai and others also returned to the capital to resume their lives. Emperor Jiajing took the time to summon Xu Hai, Peng Cheng and others in the East Warm Pavilion of Wuyi Palace, and Yan Song, the first assistant of the cabinet, and Xu Jie, the second assistant, and others were on the side.

"Ministers meet the emperor, long live my emperor, long live long live......

After Xu Hai, Peng Cheng and others passed on the eunuchs, they walked into the Winter Warm Pavilion and respectfully bowed to Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing was still dressed in a blue cloth gossip robe, sitting on a dragon chair, on which a gossip mat was spread, his figure was thin, but he was full of majesty. After Xu Hai and the others made a big salute, Emperor Jiajing flicked his sleeves, put his hand on the dragon chair, and asked lightly: "Excuse me, what is the situation with you waiting for this inspection?" ”

Xu Hai, who was in charge of the inspection team, replied respectfully: "Back to the saint, the impeachment is not true." Zhu Ping'an did not collude with grain merchants or accept bribes in Jingnan, not only did he have no fault, but he had merit. Most of the south of the Yangtze River is full of sorrow and misery, but the Jiangnan under the rule of Zhu Ping'an has sufficient grain and rice, like a paradise. ”

When Xu Hai returned, Peng Cheng, Zhang Wenbo and others stood aside respectfully, lowered their heads, and looked at their toes. This is the rule, when many people participate in the summons, only the leader can answer the holy question, and the rest of the people are not allowed to interject, let alone talk to each other, and they can only speak when the holy person specifically asks them.

"Oh?" When Emperor Jiajing heard this, he was slightly surprised, and asked with great interest, "How did Zhu Xiaozi do it?" ”

"Returning to the saint, Lord Zhu has already made preventive ...... before the flood came," Xu Hai briefly reported Zhu Ping'an's early prevention, defining grain prices, fundraising publicity, and cash-for-work in Jingnan.

"The hustle and bustle of the world is all for profit, and the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit. Zhu Xiaozi took profit as bait and led grain merchants into the city, and he was deeply attracted to the mystery of the word "profit", and he was a ghost. Emperor Jiajing commented on Zhu Ping'an's behavior of defining grain prices.

"What you just said, the grain merchant donated 110,000 taels? Can the numbers be true? Zhu Ping'an is indeed not greedy for ink? ”

Emperor Jiajing asked again.

"Back to the saint, the numbers are true, Zhu Ping'an is indeed not greedy for ink. There is a donation letter and a donation announcement as evidence, and the minister has copied it. Xu Hai replied respectfully, and as he spoke, he took out several donation books and transcribed donation announcements brought back from Jingnan from his arms.

Huang Jin went down to take the relevant documents from Xu Hai's hand, and respectfully handed them to Emperor Jiajing for review.

After Emperor Jiajing read it, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile, "Zhu Xiaozi even announced that Zhang San donated 5 eggs and Wang Wu donated 2 catties of green vegetables...... Every donation and expenditure is recorded, and it seems that it is indeed innocent, which reminds me of Zhu Xiaozi's bare-ass inspection of Taicang. ”

"But in the middle, you can also take a look."

Emperor Jiajing said to Yan Song and Xu Jie, and motioned for Huang Jin to pass the relevant documents to the two of them to browse.

"Transparency and ingenuity...... A donation publicity form, a donation use form, the ins and outs of each donation are clearly recorded, and Zhu Ping'an's innocence can also be seen. After Yan Song read it, he did not hesitate to praise Zhu Ping'an, and he was completely an elder who appreciated and promoted his juniors.

"Zhu Ping'an is indeed innocent." Xu Jie simply agreed, and there was a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"How can a businessman have such financial resources? A grain merchant in Jingnan donated 110,000 taels? The grain merchants are especially rich, and the salt merchants are even worse?! Emperor Jiajing's fingers lightly tapped on the armrest of the dragon chair, his face was cloudy, and he glanced at Yan Song and Xu Jie, "Weizhong, Huating, and you turned back to the Household Department, the Military Department, and the Imperial History of Salt Patrol, and then discussed the copy of the "Proposal to Reform the Salt Law" on Zhu Bochen in the matter, and took out a new charter the day after tomorrow and reported it to me." ”

Last month, Zhu Bochen proposed to change the salt law in the matter, and solve the problem of insufficient military pay caused by the northern and southern Japanese in recent years by adding normal salt to the surplus salt, and Zhu Bochen suggested that all businessmen should report one quotation of positive salt and allow them to bring two quotations of surplus salt, each with one package, with a total of 285 catties. The salt is open, and the Nanjing household department gives the introduction, and the surplus salt is paid, and the transportation department gives a small receipt. The price of surplus salt and salt is silver, Huainan is set at five coins and five cents, and Huaibei is five cents. Every year, about 1.1 million taels of salt and silver can be obtained from regular salt and surplus salt to make up for the soldiers' salaries.

Emperor Jiajing was still very satisfied with 1.1 million taels of salt and silver, and intended to approve the implementation, but now judging from the number of donations from grain merchants in Jingnan, this 1.1 million taels of salt and silver is still less.

In terms of profitability, selling salt is much more profitable than selling grain, and with comparison, how can Emperor Jiajing be satisfied.

"Obey." Yan Song and Xu Jie bowed down to receive the order, and they knew what Emperor Jiajing thought.

"By the way, Zhu Xiaozi engaged in work-for-relief in Jingnan, and you will talk to me in detail." Emperor Jiajing said to Xu Haidao again.

"Yes. In Jingnan, Zhu Daren organized the victims of the disaster to carry out project construction, including the construction of water conservancy, the construction of city walls, the reclamation of wasteland, and the construction of anti-Japanese outpost forts, etc., in the form of payment of wages, in lieu of direct relief. Master Zhu said that this will not only enable the people to support themselves and live a more dignified life, but also form a number of projects that will be beneficial to the long-term peace and stability of Jingnan......." Xu Hai gave a detailed report on what he had seen and heard in Jingnan.

Emperor Jiajing nodded when he heard this, and asked how the flood situation in Jiangnan was, and Xu Haiyi replied truthfully.

"What else do you have to tell you about this trip?" After learning about the relevant situation, Emperor Jiajing asked again.

Xu Hai pondered for a while, and truthfully reported the secret fold proposed by Zhu Ping'an to Emperor Jiajing.

"Back to the Holy One. After this incident, Master Zhu had a feeling and put forward an idea. Xu Hai said.

"What thoughts?" Emperor Jiajing asked with interest.

"Back to the Holy Place, it's a secret fold! Lord Zhu conceived that the courtiers who were granted the right to fold the secret fold by the saint, after the courtiers wrote the secret fold, sealed it in a specific box, and sent a special person to send it to the capital. The content of the secret fold is known only to the Holy Lord and the Shangshu courtiers. There is no limit to the content of the secret fold, including impeachment recitals, suggestions and suggestions, government affairs reports, etc., and all information can be reported, so as to broaden the channels of speech and expand the channels of information......"

Xu Hai replied respectfully, and truthfully reported Zhu Ping'an's ideas on secret folds to Emperor Jiajing.

As smart as Emperor Jiajing, he instantly understood the function of the dense fold, and his eyes suddenly lit up, and he nodded quietly.

After Xu Hai finished his report, Emperor Jiajing didn't say anything, looked at Peng Cheng, Zhang Guyi and others and asked, "Do you have anything to add?" ”

"Back to the saint, what Lord Xu said was detailed, and he said that there was nothing to add." Peng Cheng and the others replied.

"In that case, stand down, but you remain."

Emperor Jiajing waved his hand to Xu Hai and the others, signaling them to retire, and ordering Yan Song, Xu Jie, and others to stay.

"The ministers are leaving." Xu Hai and others retired.

"Weizhong, Hua Ting, what do you think of the secret fold proposed by Zhu Xiaozi?"

When Xu Hai and the others walked out of the Winter Warm Pavilion, they heard the voice of Emperor Jiajing behind them asking Yan Song and Xu Jie.

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