As soon as Zhang Yixian and the others left, Shangguan Zhixian climbed to Xu Congzhi's side, and pleaded with tears in his eyes: "My lord, save me, the lower officials are all acting according to the will of the adults participating in politics." ”

Xu Congzhi, who was thinking about countermeasures, was dizzy by the noise of Shangguan Zhixian, and he couldn't help but scold angrily: "Shunyi County, leave yourself some dignity as a scholar." Look at what you look like now, like what's the word? ”

Xu Congzhi's anger suddenly made Shangguan Zhixian stop crying, he sat on the ground with his hair scattered, and muttered: "Within the three clans, among the three generations, you can't participate in the imperial examination, and the cultural context of our clan is broken." Once the context is broken, what is the difference between my family and the villager after three generations? ”

Seeing Shangguan Zhixian's crazy appearance, Xu Congzhi also had a headache. Of course, he can understand the mood of Shunyi County, there is nothing to remove from official positions in this era, as long as he can keep his status as a scholar, he will not lose his privileged status after returning to his hometown.

However, the emperor's method of expanding the chain was to expel Shunyi County from the gentry class as a whole. Without the protection of the gentry's identity, Shangguan's family believed that they would soon become the prey of other gentry in their hometown.

From the emperor's approach, Xu Congzhi smelled a hint of danger. The emperor treated Shunyi County in this way, and the cabinet actually passed the decree, which at least shows that the cabinet and the emperor have reached a consensus on the matter of land reform.

If he just let the emperor kick him far away, I'm afraid his career will end here, which is obviously not the end he wants.

Looking at Shangguan Zhixian who was in a daze, Xu Congzhi gritted his teeth and said, "Hurry up and stand up, it's not the time to give up, we still have a chance to turn over." ”

Shangguan Zhixian suddenly came back to his senses, got up with a grunt, walked up to Xu Congzhi, looked at him directly, and said, "Lord Participating in Politics, what chance is there left?" ”

Xu Congzhi said with a hideous face: "Originally, we were only against Your Majesty's use of brocade clothes to govern the country, not against land reform. Since His Majesty has disposed of Jinyiwei, we should write in favor of land reform. ”

Shangguan Zhixian was a little stunned when he heard this, and he had to remind carefully: "Lord Counselor, we have already offended Jinyiwei, and now we are writing to support the land reform, isn't it that even the gentry have been offended..."

Xu Congzhi glanced at him and said, "We offended the Jinyi Guards for the gentry, but now can they keep us?" The princes of the court allowed the emperor to issue such a will, which is obviously intended to abandon us.

It's all come to this point, don't we need to find a way out for ourselves? If you don't want to, then it's better to be the official who didn't say it. ”

Shangguan Zhixian suddenly stopped Xu Congzhi, who wanted to leave, and said with a flattering face: "Xiaguan listens to the adults for everything..."

Zhuozhou Dulu Mountain House, the home of Feng Quan, the former Dongge University scholar, the 33-year-old university scholar, because of the party's attachment to Wei Zhongxian, entered the cabinet before the age of 30. But because of power and good property, he was driven home by Wei Zhongxian.

However, Feng Quan did not give up and returned to the court. After hearing about Xu Xianchun, who had come to Zhuozhou for inspection, he specially hosted a banquet at his home today, hoping to learn about the internal affairs of the DPRK and China from this person, and trying to find a way for his recovery.

When the banquet was over and Xu Xianchun was sent away, he had already prepared a draft to the emperor in his heart. The next day, a letter of enthusiastic support for land reform was sent from Feng Quan's mansion to the Beijing General Administration.

On this day, in the Huitong Pavilion, according to the arranged itinerary, Chongzhen summoned Ni Yuanlu. Zhu Youjian asked him directly: "I have already read the book "East and West Foreign Examinations" last night, who is the author Zhang Xie?" Where are you now? ”

Ni Yuanlu breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, after the new emperor ascended the throne, he didn't like the Four Books and Five Classics, and he didn't get close to the Donglin Party.

Let the remnants of the eunuch party control the government, and like to be with the craftsmen. It seems that he is more like a model of a faint monarch than the first emperor.

But the difference between the new emperor and the first emperor is that Chongzhen actually set up a newspaper to speak for himself. Public opinion, which was originally controlled by Qingliu, was divided by this newspaper with most of its influence.

Especially in the Gyeonggi area, the way people learned about the government has shifted from the Di newspaper to the newspaper.

Although the Donglin Party members were eager to bring the newspaper under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, the emperor refused several requests.

After that, the Donglin Party wanted to run a newspaper by themselves, but they were stopped by the News Censorship Department after the reorganization of the Dongchang Factory.

Originally, the era when the Donglin Party members randomly found a few officials and supervisors to release rumors and set off a storm of public opinion in the capital is gone forever.

Ni Yuanlu felt that if this continued, it would be even more difficult for the Donglin Party, who could not even control public opinion, to exert influence on Chongzhen.

Therefore, it is necessary for them to change their way of doing things, to approach and win the trust of the emperor, so as to change the current unfavorable situation of the Donglin Party in the court.

Ni Yuanlu found through careful observation that the people Chongzhen likes to get close to are all characters who pay attention to the world, such as Xu Guangqi, Sun Chengzong and others.

Although Sun Chengzong is also a member of the Donglin Party, he does not like to participate in party struggles, nor is he willing to open his eyes for the Donglin Party.

Ni Yuanlu thought about it for a long time and decided to recommend Zhang Xie, a realist, to the emperor to cater to the emperor's interest in overseas countries.

Ni Yuanlu's guess was very accurate, and Chongzhen really became interested in the author of "East and West Foreign Examination". He introduced the personal situation of the author Zhang Xie to Chongzhen in 1510.

According to what Ni Qing said, He Qiaoyuan recommended Zhang Xie to enter the dynasty to edit the "Records of the Divine Sect", but he couldn't resign. It seems that this is a figure similar to a hermit, can Ni Qing really invite him to Beijing? Zhu Youzhen pondered for a long time and asked him.

Ni Yuanlu replied respectfully: "Although Zhang Shaohe is indifferent to fame and fortune and hates party struggle, he is friendly with Huang Shizhai and He Qiaoyuan. ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at Ni Yuanlu and thought for a while, then said, "Okay, leave this matter to Ni Qing." Then you told him that the naval school I had set up lacked a headmaster, and if he was willing to go to Beijing, I would be waiting for him. ”

Ni Yuanlu didn't care what position the emperor would arrange for Zhang Xie, he just wanted to gain Chongzhen's trust by recommending Zhang Xie.

Therefore, he agreed without hesitation to the position of naval principal arranged by Chongzhen for Zhang Xie.

When Ni Yuanlu was about to retire and go to Huang Daozhou to discuss how to persuade Zhang Xie to go to Beijing, Zhu Youzhen stopped him and said: "Since I am inviting scholars, then I will also write a few words to show my sincerity, lest this Zhang Shaohe continue to resign." ”

When Zhu Youzhen said this, he was full of confidence. But when Wang Chengen served the pen and ink and faced the blank rice paper, Zhu Youzhen realized that he did not have the ability to write with a pen.

dug a hole for himself, but couldn't fill it, and this scene was a little embarrassing. Wang Chengen, who knew Chongzhen's talent, lowered his head and sharpened the ink, as if he had a grudge against a piece of ink in his hand.

And Ni Yuanlu and the others were still looking forward to what article Chongzhen would write, Zhu Youzhen froze for a long time, and finally thought of two sentences.

He didn't hesitate to write two lines, then dropped the brush and said, "Ni Qing, you just give these words to Zhang Shaohe, this is my sincerity in inviting him." ”

After Zhu Youzhen finished speaking, he turned around and hurriedly fled, a place that made him a little embarrassed. Ni Yuanlu lowered his head, bent down and bowed away from Chongzhen before turning his gaze to the rice paper placed on the table.

"If the country lives and dies for profit, will it not be avoided because of good and evil?" Ni Yuanlu's gaze suddenly froze, and he subconsciously read it out of his mouth.

He stood in front of the rice paper for a long time before rolling up the paper with a solemn face. He knew that it would be difficult for Zhang Shaohe, who saw this pair of words, not to think about Beijing, otherwise the reputation of this benevolent brother would be ruined.

After leaving the door, Wang Chengen asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, do you want to talk to the merchant representatives of that province today?" ”

Zhu Youzhen stopped, thought for a while and said, "Let's talk to the representatives of businessmen in Zhejiang first. ”

The officials of the Huitong Hall immediately stepped forward and led the way for Chongzhen to the venue of the representatives of Zhejiang businessmen.

Facing these representatives of Zhejiang businessmen, Zhu Youzhen thought for a long time, but he didn't feel that he could draw a big pie to lure them to support him.

Zhejiang people have never been the model of following the rules, and if the rules get in their way, they can always find a shortcut to bypass the rules.

However, they are different from the Jin merchants, they are patriotic, and there are few merchants who can even sell their compatriots for money.

Although Zhejiang is a small place, the temperament of the people in each region is very different. However, the representatives of the merchants who went to Beijing this time were all businessmen from the Qiantang River area.

Zhu Youzhen listened to the complaints of these businessmen, and knew very clearly that these businessmen did not refuse to pay taxes, but refused to pay taxes without any return.

After thinking about it for a while, he decided to have an honest conversation with these merchants.

"I have just heard the reasons for not paying taxes that you have said, so I will also talk about the reasons why you should support the imperial court for taxation.

The tide of the Qiantang River is the largest tide in the world, and the spectacular scenery is unparalleled in the world. I have heard that the annual high tide is also a day when the people on both sides of the strait are worried. lest the tide break the embankment and flood the fertile fields on both sides.

You are all from Zhejiang, and you still live on both sides of the Qiantang River, so are you indifferent to this? ”

Sun Chunyang, a businessman from Ningbo, suddenly said: "I am here with all my net worth, how dare I not care?" Every year, we contribute money and effort to build the sea pond. ”

Zhu Youzhen smiled and said: "It is not enough to build a sea pond to rely on the soil pond. If you want to resist the tide of the Qiantang River, you can only build a stone pond, and set up a breakwater outside the stone pond. Only in this way does it not necessary to repair the pond every year, but it breaks the embankment every year. ”

Sun Chunyang's eyes suddenly lit up and said: "Could it be that Your Majesty is talking about the construction method of five vertical and five horizontal fish scale stone ponds created by Huang Guangsheng, the former Zhejiang water conservancy officer?" ”

Another businessman immediately interrupted him and said, "Although the method of fish scale stone pond is good, the cost of each stone pond is as high as 300 taels." ”