Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Who wants it?

The fourteen prefects and four prefects who were kneeling on the ground suddenly raised their heads, their eyes flashed with ecstasy, but there was also a trace of confusion.

The officialdom has a very clear promotion system. Let alone the fifth-rank magistrate of Xuzhou, even the fourth-rank Songjiang magistrate like Xu Hong cannot be directly promoted to local governor.

The governor inspects a place on behalf of the emperor. This is a very powerful official position, and he is usually the highest official of a province.

Although the Governor of Fengyang usually conferred the rank of Imperial Censor Youqian of the Imperial Court, the fourth rank, the imperial official was always three levels higher than the local officials, not to mention that the Governor of Fengyang was in charge of the northern region of South Zhili.

That's why it's unprecedented for a local prefect to be promoted to governor of Fengyang. If these underappreciated prefects can seize this opportunity, they will reach the sky in one step.

But faced with such a dreamlike temptation, they were also puzzled. Why did the emperor suddenly offer them such a tempting official position?

Since the emperor's southern tour, they had been anxious and uneasy, and they had just taken off their black gauze hats, and they were already wondering whether the emperor was going to remove them all.

Other emperors may not have such courage, but since he ascended the throne, the emperor in front of him has not only used blood to cleanse the clean faction of the court, but also has always done things vigorously and resolutely.

"Your Majesty, I have so many virtues and abilities, I don't dare to have such delusions!" Fang Bosong, the magistrate of Huizhou, knew that it was lucky that they would not be punished, but he said cautiously.

In fact, this is also a kind of temptation. No one is stupider than the other. No matter how much they covet the position of Governor of Fengyang, they still have to figure out the reason.

Zhu Youtang has always believed in conspiracy, and he also opened the skylight to speak out: "Some of you are indeed immoral and incompetent. Have my ban on silver been implemented seriously? What results have it achieved so far?"

Although after Wang Yue took action, in order to cooperate with the plan to seize Kyushu Island, he did intend to indulge these prefects. Just because the court doesn't put pressure doesn't mean they can take advantage of it.

Even if he really removes fourteen prefects and four prefects from their posts now, these official positions can be regarded as self-inflicted.

"I am guilty!" Fang Bosong, the magistrate of Huizhou, and other officials had already realized their mistakes, and they lowered their heads and confessed.

Zhu Youtang looked at the officials present jokingly, and said with a half-smile, "Aren't you going to ask me to punish you?"

Liu Jin was an eunuch who was good at guessing people's hearts, but he knew that these officials were telling the truth. Now that the black gauze hats were taken away, they were all uneasy and did not dare to say anything that could easily be delegated to the emperor.

"I am willing to serve your Majesty, even if I die, I will have no regrets!" Huizhou Magistrate Fang Bosong and other officials expressed their opinions authentically.

If the black gauze hat had not been taken off, they really did not want to swim in this muddy water, and would rather stay in their positions and continue to act stupid and enjoy themselves.

It's just that the situation is obviously different now, and they are suffering inside.

At this moment, even if I die, I still have to keep my black hat. In the past, they were more or less afraid of those officials and gentry, but compared with their own black gauze hats, they were nothing.

Zhu Youtang was already considered a master of the emperor's mind, so he changed the subject: "I am not an unreasonable person! Since ancient times, the law has not punished everyone. You fourteen prefects and four prefects cannot all withdraw. Mr. Wangge also Therefore, I have to fight with you, and I also think what Mr. Wang Ge said is reasonable!"

"I...I am guilty!" Huizhou Magistrate Fang Bosong and other officials said although they felt lucky, but they also felt chills running down their spines.

Ordinarily, they should be happy at this moment. After all, the emperor's attitude is very clear now and he will not beat their fourteen prefects and four prefects to death with a stick.

It is both a fluke and a tragedy to keep the black hat just because of this!

What's more, they also understood the implication. Although the emperor had some concerns, it was not impossible to beat their fourteen prefects and four prefects to death with a stick.

The corners of Zhu Youtang's mouth raised slightly, as he proposed his own plan: "Although you will not all be dismissed from your posts, you cannot let some incompetent officials make up their jobs. Now, using the effectiveness of the ban on silver as the target of inspection, you fourteen The prefect and the four prefects will report the number of merchants in the prefectural and county towns under their jurisdiction. I or Wangge Lao will send people to pretend to be customers and buy silver, and all cashiers will be black shops. If the Hei Family ranks among the top two in the jurisdiction, they will be dismissed from their official positions immediately!"

The last-place elimination system is the most effective means for future generations to stimulate employees' work enthusiasm.

In fact, it is not that many tasks cannot be completed, but the pressure on them is not high enough. Now Zhu Youtang decided to use this system to spur his ministers.

"I obey the order!" Wu Xin, the magistrate of Chizhou, and other officials secretly complained, but they could only speak politely.

Although they secretly complained in their hearts, the hanging stone finally fell. After all, they did not do a good job, and now the emperor only got rid of the two officials who had the worst effect of the silver ban, which was already a kind of mercy.

However, they also feel an invisible pressure. If they really become the two with the worst grades, then they may not only face losing their official positions.

Under the current situation, the worst performance is probably inseparable from the protection of local gentry, and they are even in cahoots with local officials and gentry in the first place.

Zhu Youtang was very satisfied with the reaction of these ministers, so he smiled slightly with the black gauze hat in his hand: "With punishment, there will be reward! If there is no banker in the jurisdiction, or you are the one with the best performance, this Fengyang Governor's The black gauze hat belongs to him!"

After a long detour, things came back to Governor Fengyang's black gauze hat.

ah?

If it was just a feeling of nervousness from the performance appraisal, then seeing the black gauze hat on Zhu Youtang's fingertips, now he felt a burst of ecstasy in his heart.

"Your Majesty, I am the governor of Xuzhou, so I dare not have such delusions!" An imperceptible light flashed in the eyes of Xu Wangxiang, the governor of Xuzhou, but he expressed his attitude honestly.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at this honest and fat official, and also expressed his position: "I treat your prefects and prefects equally! It's just that the prefects' jurisdiction is not as good as that of the prefects, and the number of merchants is even more different. If a prefecture and a prefecture have jurisdiction There is no one to bank, the big government can appoint Fengyang governor, but the prefecture can only be promoted to the fourth rank of prefect!"

"Your Majesty is as bright as a candle. Even though I have few talents, I am willing to do my best for Your Majesty!" The four magistrates of Xuzhou, Xu Wangxiang, seemed to have seen the bright road, and expressed their opinions with joy.

Not to mention that they can compete for the high-ranking governorship of Fengyang, even if they are from a local magistrate to a fourth-level magistrate, this step is not small.

Holy King!

When Wu Xin, the prefect of Chizhou, and other prefects saw Zhu Youtang's statement, they couldn't help but secretly admire the emperor in front of them.

It is said that the current emperor has clear rewards and punishments, and it is true at all. This time there are both punishments and rewards, and the key is a relatively clear judgment standard.

Even for small prefectures, the right to compete was not deprived, but clear qualifications were given, taking into account special circumstances.

Fang Bosong, the prefect of Huizhou, also figured this out and looked at Xu Hong thoughtfully.

If the emperor hadn't valued officials' ability and political performance, how could Xu Hong, a rookie in officialdom who had only been in the officialdom for a few years, become the fourth-rank Songjiang prefect?

The emperor's southern tour was not only a test for their local governors, but it was also an opportunity.

For a moment, the only sound in the audience was the sound of their own breathing. They had already begun to weigh their own interests and focus on this test and opportunity.

Zhu Youtang threw the black gauze hat in his hand on the case and said calmly: "Your black gauze hats are all left here. I allow you to handle official business without wearing the black gauze hats during this period. Do you want to keep the black gauze hats here forever, or do you want to leave them with me?" Come back to get it when you return to the capital, or maybe you want Governor Fengyang's black gauze hat, and it depends on what you do next! I'm tired, so all of you should retreat!"

Xu Hong, the prefect of Songjiang, acted like a bystander throughout the whole process and bowed to the emperor in a polite manner.

Zhu Youtang was not too picky about his residence. Although this inn was far inferior to the Forbidden City, the upper room here had a Jiangnan style, and it was constantly surprising.

Concubine Jing was wearing a long dress and sitting outside the window, playing with her delicate jade fingers. She was in a very good mood at the moment.

Once, as the daughter of a merchant, she went north, she never thought that she would not be able to come back. After all, her status made it difficult for her to stay, so she thought she would return to Jiangnan.

It was just a twist of fate that not only did she stay, but she was also a high-ranking concubine, so she was destined to stay in the Forbidden City for the rest of her life.

Who would have thought that in just a few years, she would be able to return to the south of the Yangtze River and follow her imperial husband back home in glory.

Zhu Youtang told the palace maid not to be alarmed, and came to Su Yuner like an ordinary husband and said: "Concubine Jing, why are you so elegant today?"

Seeing Zhu Youtang appear, Concubine Jing stood up and bowed: "In reply to Your Majesty, when I saw the elm tree outside the window, I felt happy in my heart, so I made this tribute!"

Zhu Youtang looked at the elm money trees outside, and then thought of being in Yangzhou, so he smiled slightly: "The boat rides on the spring dawn smoke, and the city is full of silk pipes to brush the elm money. The adopted daughter of a thousand families teaches music first, and planting flowers ten miles away counts as farming. After the rain in the Sui Dynasty, The embankment is not wet, and the wind blows the red sleeves to the point of immortality..."

"If Your Majesty were not an emperor, he would be the most popular talent in the brothel!" Concubine Jing had already experienced Zhu Youtang's various abilities and couldn't help but smile softly.

Zhu Youtang hugged the beautiful woman habitually, but he tried to test it: "I heard that this year's Suzhou courtesan is a once-in-a-century beauty. She is top-notch in all kinds of skills. She is still a virgin. I only hope that I can go and pick it up." . You said that I accompanied you to Suzhou, should you go there?"

"Your Majesty, why do I think you are scheming again?" Concubine Jing put her arms around Zhu Youtang's neck, but she tilted her neck and said with a half-smile.

Zhu Youtang looked at the beauty in his arms and couldn't help but be stunned: "Am I planning something?"

"Your Majesty is neither worried about your heirs nor is he a lecherous king. Doesn't he have other agendas?" Concubine Jing's eyes were very beautiful, but there was a hint of intelligence flashing through her eyes.

"I just want to see if you are jealous?"

"I think I am not inferior to her!"

Zhu Youtang's desire was ignited, so he picked up Concubine Jing and walked towards the dragon bed that had been arranged: "Really? I want to see if Concubine Jing has made any progress today!"

The words were divided into two parts, and a group of prefects and magistrates walked out of the gate of the inn.

His face, which was slightly tired from having just met the Holy Spirit, was instantly shocked by the scene in front of him. His footsteps stopped involuntarily, and he immediately became as pale as paper.

Their eyes invariably focused on the decapitated corpse not far away. The blood around the corpse had not dried up, forming a shocking river of blood.

The head that fell on the ground was both familiar and unfamiliar. It was Li Mu, the governor of Fengyang who had just followed them in. This group of usually majestic prefects felt an inexplicable chill.

"This... is really dead!"

"Do you think such a villain deserves sympathy?"

"The women of our tribe are bullied by foreign barbarians. These are simply beasts and should be killed!"

…

After a period of panic, Huizhou Magistrate Fang Bosong and other magistrates quickly adjusted their mentality and condemned the beheaded Fengyang Governor Li Mu.

Although the emperor's violent beheading was shocking, to be fair, a beast like Li Mu who acted as a protective umbrella to allow the women of our tribe to be bullied by foreign barbarians would simply not be a pity to die.

"My lords, there are still some urgent matters to be dealt with in the lower official area, so I will take my leave first!" On the contrary, Xu Wang, the magistrate of Xuzhou, saw that the emperor's rewards and punishments were clear and resolute, so he took the lead to say goodbye.

Yangzhou is considered the center of South Zhili, but Xuzhou is at the northern end of South Zhili, but it is quite a distance away.

"He is so impatient!"

"Everyone says that Xu Wangxiang is a fan of officials. Today's meeting is indeed true!"

"Let's stop talking here and work hard. Don't let him get a bad thing!"

…

Huizhou Magistrate Fang Bosong and other magistrates looked at Xu Wangxiang who was eager to leave, but they had already guessed Xu Wangxiang's thoughts, and they couldn't help but belittle and warn him one after another.

Xu Wangxiang was like an eel, and all the officials present could not sit still.

Based on their understanding of Xu Wangxiang, they must go all out this time, and even make sure that no shop in the area dares to accept silver anymore.

Not to mention that they all want to win the position of governor of Fengyang. They are facing pressure from two dismissal quotas this time, so they all want to target Xu Wangxiang.

If they succeed in banning silver this time, they will be able to seize the governorship of Fengyang with the advantage of their jurisdiction. However, the larger the jurisdiction, the greater the vulnerability will be.

Just like this, they have advantages and disadvantages as prefects, so they can only go all out.

"Walk!"

The officials present all came lightly dressed this time. Now they knew it was a race against time. Especially when they saw Xu Hong riding back to Songjiang, they rushed back to their jurisdiction.

It was already dusk, and except for the Yangzhou prefect who returned to Yangzhou City to run errands, everyone returned to their jurisdiction with a death-defying determination.

They felt the coldness on their heads and felt so uncomfortable, but it was like a tight spell, letting them know that they would either be bullied by the local squire, or they would fight to their death.

In Southern Zhili, the 14th prefect and the four prefects were all beaten to death and were destined to create a big storm. (End of chapter)