Chapter 331 Yan Shaoting: Brother Taiyue, let’s make things bigger
In the carriage.

After playing a joke in front of Zhang Juzheng.

Yan Shaoting stopped smiling and fell silent.

Clerks have been corrupt and committing fraud since ancient times.

In addition, all dynasties had implemented a system of itinerant officials, but there had never been a system of itinerant clerks. This led to the local clerks gradually becoming a hereditary existence.

As long as a few wealthy families in the area spent some money, they could occupy the positions of those inconspicuous clerks in the yamen, and then develop these ideas in such a complicated way that a government yamen, except for the officials appointed by the court, became the embodiment of the will of those wealthy families in the area.

It has been two hundred years since the Ming Dynasty was founded by Emperor Hongwu. Over the years, the officials who hold seals in the local prefecture and county government offices have been replaced one after another.

But if you look closely you will find out.

In those government offices, the ones who really have the say are always the few people who represent the local gentry and wealthy families and serve as clerks, holding power in the area.

And in this dynasty.

As the old Taoist priest entered Beijing and ascended the throne, he waved his hand.

Under the will of the old Taoist priest, the clerks in the yamen, which originally had a quota limit, suddenly started a wave of expansion.

Such a great opportunity.

How could we miss this opportunity that would help everyone further control local power?

As a result, the number of clerks in local government offices increased dramatically.

This situation is naturally seen by people.

Some people even complained: "The number of clerks in government offices used to be fixed. But now the number of clerks in counties and towns has increased by more than ten times. They come in in the morning wearing green clothes and go home in the evening with gold in their hands."

You can get a glimpse of the grand occasion at that time.

And those who entered the yamen and became government clerks used their own means to collect money for their own use.

There are naturally countless means of doing so.

As for where to get the money.

It was naturally impossible to ask the superiors for money, so the only way was to squeeze money and grain from the poor people in the area by various means.

This scene was also described in detail and vividly in Jiting Complete Book.

This book says: "A messenger with food coupons went to the countryside... He opened the gate in the dark, and captured the people on the bed. The whole family was terrified, and they set up wine to send them off. But when he left, he was left with nothing but clothes and chickens. If he owed five taels of silver, he would have to spend two or three taels this time. The more money he had, the harder it would be to pay for the food.

This is nothing more than a means of exploiting local people in the name of collecting taxes.

There are countless methods like this.

Yan Shaoting made a joke.

But Zhang Juzheng didn't know this.

He looked puzzled, but still frowned and said, "I don't have the money now, and I won't have it in the future."

Yan Shaoting was also stunned for a moment when he heard Zhang Juzheng say this.

But Zhang Juzheng was not wrong. Compared with most people, even compared with his teacher, he had a clean record since he became an official.

Just when he was about to explain that this was just a joke.

Zhang Juzheng said, "But if this matter is not resolved immediately, once it becomes a serious matter, I am afraid that this canal will be difficult to dig for a while."

After finishing speaking.

Zhang Juzheng raised his chin calmly and looked at Yan Shaoting.

Want money?

No!

Not doing anything?
Then don’t even think about it!
Yan Shaoting, who was about to explain the epoch-making joke to Zhang Juzheng, was stunned for a moment.

Then he looked at Zhang Juzheng with a vague look and some dissatisfaction.

I understand it now.

Zhang Juzheng wants to get something for free!
But after thinking about it, Yan Shaoting didn't care.

Anyway, he also wanted to take advantage of what happened to Zhang Juzheng this time, and then facilitate the big thing he had planned before.

If Zhang Juzheng disagrees.

It's really not easy for me to get him for free.

After all, it was exactly the same as what Zhang Juzheng had just said in front of Chengtian Gate.

He could use Shuntian Prefecture to make demands on himself, the Changping Public Security Bureau, but he did not have the authority to make demands on Shuntian Prefecture.

Now it just depends on who can get more for free.

Seeing Yan Shaoting didn't say anything, Zhang Juzheng smiled.

He spread his hands, and said in a more relaxed tone: "Actually, I didn't want to trouble you with this matter, but I thought about it and found that you and Lord Yuan seem to have a close personal relationship, and Lord Yuan and the Ministry of Personnel..."

Yan Shaoting raised his eyebrows.

What Old Zhang meant was that he wanted the Minister of Personnel Guo Pu to take action.

It's been such a long journey.

Yan Shaoting asked in a low voice, "Brother Taiyue, your words are too kind. I have only had a few words with Lord Yuan because I was ordered by His Majesty to serve in the cabinet. As for what happened between Lord Yuan and the Ministry of Personnel, that is Lord Yuan's business. I just don't know why Brother Taiyue mentioned this matter, and how it is related to the current situation in Shunyi County under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture?"

In the carriage.

Yan Shaoting practiced Tai Chi.

He saw Zhang Juzheng's expression clearly.

He immediately patted his chest and said, "But as for Brother Taiyue's matter, I will naturally do my best!"

Then these words came out.

Zhang Juzheng fell silent.

He looked at Yan Shaoting with scrutiny, and after a long while he slowly moved his lips.

“It’s actually not that difficult.”

"If a local official acts illegally, this government can execute him with a single official document."

"But the incident in Shunyi this time may be caused by the dereliction of duty of the entire county. If this government wants to arrest the Shunyi County Magistrate, County Deputy, Chief Clerk and others, it needs a written order from the Ministry of Personnel."

Yan Shaoting frowned.

He didn't expect that Zhang Juzheng had such big ambitions.

As soon as the news of corruption and fraud among clerks in Shunyi County came out, he wanted to eliminate the entire Shunyi County government.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but ask: "Brother Taiyue should know that the so-called imperial power does not extend to the countryside. At present, Shuntian Prefecture wants to use all of them as local errands to accumulate experience and implement the reforms that Brother Taiyue is planning. If we clear the entire Shunyi County, who can be dispatched by Brother Taiyue?"

After all.

Today, politics inside and outside the court still has to rely on human rule.

Everyone is gone.

Even if Zhang Juzheng had a letter from the Ministry of Personnel, how could he influence Shunyi County?

Zhang Juzheng sneered.

It was at this time that the carriage stopped.

The voice of the coachman driving the carriage outside also came in.

"Master, I'm back to the government office."

Recalling Zhang Juzheng's sneer just now, Yan Shaoting was extremely curious. What exactly did he want to do? How to break the situation in Shunyi County?

I heard the noise of the groom outside.

Yan Shaoting immediately rushed out with a quick step, landed on the ground, and stared at the groom with a fierce look.

However, the groom looked embarrassed and had some uneasiness in his eyes.

What happened? Did I offend this prince guest?
The groom put the horse stool aside and waited by the side, looking eagerly at Zhang Juzheng who was slowly walking out.

Zhang Juzheng just glanced, waved his hand, and turned to look at Yan Shaoting.

"Although our tea is not as good as the tea that Guest Yan keeps in Wenyuan Pavilion, I think it will be acceptable to Guest Yan."

Yan Shaoting glanced at Zhang Juzheng indifferently.

This guy did it on purpose.

Everyone in Beijing knew that Zhang Juzheng was an expert in tea ceremony.

Let the panicked groom go.

Yan Shaoting followed Zhang Juzheng into Shuntian Prefecture.

In the government office, Yan Shaoting sat upright in his seat, looking at Zhang Juzheng who had already started brewing tea, and then he figured it out.

Zhang Juzheng was not without a solution regarding the matter in Shunyi County.

But he insisted on taking me on this trip.

And this is the reason that I don’t know at the moment.

Just thinking about this.

A white teacup has already fallen in front of him.

Yan Shaoting looked up at Zhang Juzheng who was staring at him and smiled faintly: "I think Brother Taiyue already had a plan for Shunyi County when he got the news."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head: "I can't say for sure, but I am quite curious about the feasible method Runwu mentioned."

The white teacup was held in his hand.

Yan Shaoting looked down at the clear tea and took a sip.

"Why don't you speak first, Brother Taiyue?"

Zhang Juzheng was turning the teacup gently in his hand and couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

He laughed and said, "In fact, as long as Runwu can talk to the Minister of Personnel Guo Zhifu and issue a written document, this government can use the Shunyi County incident to clear out the Shunyi County government.

"The court is currently in the early years of rectifying the administration of officials, and Gao Ge Lao is in charge of all matters. I believe he will be happy to see this happen, as it can be used to deter other places.

Although Shunyi County has been rectified, this government can send officials and clerks to Shunyi to temporarily take over the affairs of Shunyi County Government. "

Ok!

At this moment, Yan Shaoting finally understood Zhang Juzheng's plan.

He couldn't help but look at Zhang Juzheng with a deep gaze.

This man, who would be in charge of the Ming Dynasty's court for ten years in the future, indeed had a long-standing cruel character.

The entire Shunyi County was swept away.

It was to allow his people from Shuntian Prefecture to temporarily take over Shunyi County.

When the people from Shuntian Prefecture went to Shunyi County, Zhang Juzheng could justifiably bypass the original Shunyi County magistrate and other officials and take direct action against Shunyi County.

The government officials and clerks went to Shunyi County.

Do I need to be familiar with county government affairs?

Then what things to be familiar with is a question worth considering.

Things like the population and household registration of Shunyi County, registered and unregistered farmland, and taxes on merchants' transactions could all become targets of investigation by officials and clerks sent down from Shuntian Prefecture.

And as long as Zhang Juzheng finds out something through Shunyi County.

Then we can use these things to investigate other prefectures and counties under Shuntian Prefecture.

Wait until then.

For example, if the population and household registration in Shunyi County are not correct, then can the population and household registration in other counties be correct?
As long as you have this question.

Zhang Juzheng could start from Shuntian Prefecture and investigate them one by one.

But first.

This problem must exist so that Zhang Juzheng would have a reason that no one else could accuse him of to investigate other prefectures and counties.

As for all the officials in Shunyi County from the magistrate down, are all of them corrupt and embezzling, or are there some who are doing things with integrity?

unimportant.

What Zhang Juzheng needed was an official document from the Ministry of Personnel, and what he needed was for someone to go to the deserted Shunyi County.

Cruel!

This is the real Zhang Juzheng!
but.

This does not conflict with what I want to do.

even.

The more trouble Zhang Juzheng made in his little piece of land in Shuntian Prefecture, the more beneficial it would be for what he wanted to do.

Immediately.

Yan Shaoting put down his teacup and said solemnly, "Brother Taiyue, I will do my best to help you with your request! I will send someone to deliver the visiting card today, and visit Minister Guo tomorrow to facilitate this matter and help Brother Taiyue achieve his wish!"

I heard the answer I wanted.

Zhang Juzheng smiled immediately. He picked up the teapot and poured another cup of tea for Yan Shaoting.

He smiled and said, "You are loyal to the country and are worthy of your majesty's praise for your loyalty to the country."

In this regard.

Yan Shaoting just smiled back.

Zhang Juzheng turned his eyes and spoke slowly, probing: "I just don't know what Runwu said before. If you want to solve this matter, what will Runru do?"

I now want to revitalize the entire Shuntian Prefecture through Shunyi County.

In order to gain the upper hand, he took action against all the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture from the perspective of morality and justice of the court.

But he still wanted to know, if Yan Shaoting was the one to solve this matter, what would he do?

Yan Shaoting glanced at Zhang Juzheng.

See it.

He said he wanted to get it for free.

I just got a letter from the Ministry of Personnel for free.

Now I want to get my own ideas for free.

but……

Yan Shaoting smiled slightly, revealing a smile: "Make a big fuss!"

Under Zhang Juzheng's gaze, Yan Shaoting said the words "make a big fuss" in a decisive manner.

Zhang Juzheng's eyes flashed instantly.

He asked uncertainly, "A big fuss?"

Yan Shaoting smiled and nodded, "Yes! Since Brother Taiyue's goal is to rectify the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, he can use Shuntian Prefecture, a place close to the capital, to promote his own reforms in the future. Now that we have the opportunity to go to Shunyi County, why not send the confidants of the prefecture to the prefectures and counties under its jurisdiction, just like the time before when Lord Xu reprimanded the officials of various ministries and departments for their laziness in the court."

Yan Shaoting had a gloomy look in his eyes and mentioned Xu Jie in front of Zhang Juzheng.

However, Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up.

I know very well what my good teacher did in the court some time ago.

In order to promote the Minister of Rites Yan Ne to the cabinet, he did not hesitate to cause a commotion in all the ministries and government offices, and then took advantage of the complicated government affairs of the court to make the officials overwhelmed and slack off.

In this way, Lord Xu had a legitimate reason.

Then he took the opportunity to suggest that the cabinet needed one more person.

Although the final outcome may be somewhat contrary to what Lord Xu had originally thought, Yan Ne was not able to successfully enter the cabinet, but Li Chunfang did.

If there was no loyal and patriotic Lord Xu.

How could Li Chunfang enter the cabinet at such a young age?
If there was no Lord Xu.

I'm afraid that everyone in the Ming Dynasty's cabinet must be exhausted.

Yan Shaoting continued quietly, "Using the incident in Shunyi County to rectify the counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, although it may be suspected of fanning the flames, it is also a foolproof strategy. After the incident in Shunyi County is completed, Brother Taiyue can take advantage of the situation and continue to thoroughly investigate the counties. In this way, all of Brother Taiyue's ambitions can be achieved!"

His tone was full of temptation.

It's glaring, with no disguise at all.

How could someone as smart as Zhang Juzheng not hear it?

But.

Such enchantment is indeed full of temptation!
Zhang Juzheng's eyes flickered several times.

See it's still undecided.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but speak again: "Brother Taiyue, will you do it?"

Zhang Juzheng raised his eyebrows.

"manage!"

…………

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(End of this chapter)