Chapter 331: Uncle, I want to go home

It's noon now.

Before Yingtian Mansion had cleared the snow on the roads in the city, the twenty-four chamberlains in the palace, Gong'e, had already cleared all the snow in the palace.

A series of winding snow-covered passages connect various palaces in the palace.

Then there were people left everywhere, holding brooms in their hands against the falling snow like rain above their heads, constantly sweeping the cleared passage to avoid the falling snow that would never stop, and finally clean it up again.

The passage out was flooded again.

Zhu Yunxi stood behind the Meridian Gate and looked in front of him.

Starting from Fengtian Gate to Fengtian Hall, the Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Ciqing Palace, and White Tiger Hall on both sides, everywhere in the palace is a vast expanse of white.

The red and yellow glazed tiles of the past are now buried under layers of snow, losing their former splendor. Only the deep red walls remain, quietly recording everything that happened in the palace.

He hasn't returned to the palace for a while recently, so Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but stay for a while, watching the continuous palaces in front of him.

Behind me, there was a squeaking sound of feet stepping on the snow.

Tian Mai, who had gone to do some business before, came here in the snow: "Your Highness, Sun Qianhu has sent people from Beizhen Fusi to Jintan County. It will not take a few days to bring the Jintan County magistrate back to Beijing.

”

"Grain merchants in Yingtian City have no signs of stocking up and raising prices. They are still selling rice grains to the people. Merchants selling charcoal fires have not increased their prices. It's just..."

Zhu Yunxi raised his eyebrows: "It's just that the situation outside Yingtian City is not optimistic, right?"

Tian Mai nodded silently: "Except for Shangyuan and Jiangning counties in Yingtian Mansion, grain merchants and charcoal merchants in other counties have not raised prices yet. However, my subordinates found out through investigation that they are reducing the quantity sold to external parties. According to my subordinates,

I speculate that if the snow keeps falling for a long time, price increases will be inevitable."

This is trying to make money for the country.

No matter the time, no matter the region, no matter who owns the world!

Zhu Yunxi snorted coldly: "This is Yingtian Mansion's matter, how do they handle it?"

"Ying Tianfu just issued a document to each county today, requiring each county to supervise the handling of private prices. However, my subordinates believe that this matter may be just a big deal for Tianfu and the county officials."

"They only do things under the emperor's feet and in front of Gu's eyes. After leaving Yingtian City, this is the case in all parts of Yingtian Prefecture. So, after leaving Yingtian Prefecture, people's livelihood must have been very difficult." Zhu Yunxi muttered quietly, his eyes darkened.

A hint of murderous intent arose.

Tian Mai didn't know how to answer, so he could only say truthfully: "Outside of Yingtian Mansion, my subordinates have not received the news yet. I'm afraid it will take a few days to know."

Zhu Yunxi hummed again and said in a deep voice: "Inform Sun Cheng and ask him to cooperate with your secret guards, continue to expand the number of personnel, and go to various places to conduct secret investigations."

This is to expand the secret guard.

Tian Mai was naturally happy to see the success and immediately bowed: "I accept my order."

Zhu Yunxi shook his head and sighed, looking at the Fengtianmen Square behind the Meridian Gate, his eyes gradually moved to the Youshun Gate on the left.

That is the palace gate leading to Wuying Hall, Liuke Corridor, and the Taxation Office.

"Do you really want to use the Beijing troops guarding Yingtian?"

In the tax office, Zhu Gaochi asked Zhu Yunxi again, who had just arrived, with some uncertainty on his face.

Zhu Yunxi nodded and looked at Feixue outside the window, who seemed to have become smaller at this time: "It has reached the point where it has to be used."

Zhu Gaochi opened his mouth and whispered: "You don't believe the civil servants at all now?"

"I don't believe anyone."

Zhu Yunxi said loudly, glanced at Xiaopang lightly, and then lightly picked up the steaming tea cup in front of him.

Take a sip.

Zhu Yunxi frowned: "Is it melted snow?"

Zhu Gaochi brought a pot to pour tea for Zhu Yunxi, nodded and said: "The heavy snow blocked the road, and there was no manpower to get the spring water back to the palace. Only a little water from the Pearl Spring was brought back and forth, but it was still close to the emperor's grandfather, uncle, and the empress of the harem.

They use it."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Gaochi's arm shook.

A few drops of tea fell on the desk on the table. Zhu Gaochi also forgot to wipe the water stains, but frowned and put down the teapot, clasped his hands on his chest, and fell into deep thought.

Zhu Yunxi drank the second cup of tea, and then drank another cup for himself.

After drinking three cups of tea, he looked out the window silently.

I don’t know how much time passed, but Zhu Yunxi heard some sounds in his ears.

Then, Zhu Gaochi frowned and sighed: "It's really time to use the Beijing army."

Zhu Yunxi turned around with a smile and looked at the stern-faced little fat man: "Do you understand?"

Zhu Gaochi nodded.

Then he pushed everything on the table between the two of them around, and placed a cup of tea in the middle.

Zhu Gaochi stretched out a hand and stuffed it into the teacup, then drew a circle on the table with the tea.

"The use of the Beijing army is a warning to the civilian officials. The rule of the Ming Dynasty does not rely solely on civilian officials."

Zhu Yunxi nodded and said, "This is one of them."

Zhu Gaochi dipped his finger in water again and drew another circle on the table.

"Using the Beijing army can speed up the rescue of the people, shorten the time, and reduce the suffering of the people. It can save manpower and material resources for the local government, and can concentrate on the disaster within the local jurisdiction."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Gaochi moved faster and faster, and drew a third circle on the table: "Use the Beijing army. They are not subordinate to the local area. They are sent to Beijing to transport food and grass and clear the roads. They are naturally led by meritorious generals from Beijing."

, but are not subject to local control. Being unrestrained means that they can do many things that local officials are unwilling, dare not, and cannot do!"

Zhu Yunxi raised the corners of his mouth and raised his brows: "Tell me about the third circle."

Zhu Gaochi raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yunxi, then immediately lowered his head and drew a vertical line under the third circle, connected with a dot: "First, if the local government is greedy for money and withholds food and grass, the Beijing generals who go there can use it.

The officers and soldiers of the Beijing government can intimidate the government. If local people riot and rob food and grass, they can also suppress it."

Then, Zhu Gaochi drew the second vertical line and dots.

"Secondly, sending the Beijing army to various places will naturally let the people know that the imperial court will never forget the people of the world. As long as the Beijing army brings grain, grass and coal to the place and delivers them to the people. No matter how great the impact of this natural disaster, the people

Most people will not complain about the imperial court. This move can be said to be a way for the imperial court to win over the people."

"Finally..."

When Zhu Gaochi said this, he paused.

Then he looked up at Zhu Yunxi and saw that there was no change in his appearance, but he was waiting for him to continue speaking.

He then said softly: "The last thing is to scare the local gentry and merchants. If such heavy snow continues, it will definitely cause a disaster. Under a major disaster, the gentry and merchants will inevitably hoard money and close shops to wait until the disaster comes.

When they are under control, they will increase prices wantonly and exploit the people's meager money, even their wives, children and fields!"

At this time, Zhu Yunxi gently placed his palm on the table and asked with a smile: "Now that the imperial court has begun to transport grain, grass and coal, they can then be sent to various prefectures and counties one by one. Why are the gentry and merchants hoarding goods and raising prices?"<

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It seems that Zhu Gaochi has already thought about this issue.

He looked more solemn and said: "Time! Location! If everything develops in the worst direction, even if the imperial court sends out the military guards directly, I am afraid it will be too late to transport grain, grass, and coal to all the prefectures on both sides of the Yangtze River.

County countryside.

It's only been three to five days now, and the palace has already started to use melted snow water. What will happen to the people? I'm afraid that by this time, some people are already facing difficult choices."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Gaochi let out a long breath and said with a faint look: "Not every common people's home has enough rice and firewood for the winter..."

Poverty is the main theme of the moment.

The people in Yingtian City have rice and grain that can support the government's relief, and coal and firewood that they dare not increase in price because they are in the capital.

But it does not mean that people in all parts of the Ming Dynasty can live like this.

Due to the time difference and being far away from both sides of the Yangtze River, the time it takes for the people to receive relief from the imperial court will be infinitely longer.

And this gives opportunities to those who are blinded by money.

They plundered by force, forcing the people to sell their wives and children, and sell off all their family fields.

"This is why I must use the Beijing army." Zhu Yunxi said silently, his face not very pretty.

Throughout the ages, the struggle between the central dynasty and local officials and interest groups has been repeated. If the people are deliberately guided by bad people in the case of local natural and man-made disasters, the final spearhead will be directly pointed at the central court.

However, the imperial court is far away from the place and can never cover everything. If possible, no ruler would not want to be able to personally connect with each of his subjects.

Precisely because it is impossible.

Therefore, opportunities are given to those who share power.

Zhu Gaochi took a rag from somewhere and wiped off the water stains on the table: "Now that the tax office has completed the restructuring of Yingtianfu's grain chief and tax collectors, after this snow situation, will it be promoted to Zhili, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi?

, Huguang, Henan and other places?"

"Gao Yangzhi's previous letter stated that the general is preparing to wait for the return of a batch of Beijing troops and wounded soldiers after the spring." Zhu Yunxi said softly: "At that time, Zhili will now promote the restructuring of grain chiefs and tax collectors."

Zhu Gaochi nodded: "Then I will start to select the right people now. When the time comes, the old will lead the new and they will go to various places to establish tax office branches."
To be continued...