Chapter 576: Changing Customs and Educating People
The visitor was none other than Liang Wei, an eighth-rank recorder of the Taichang Temple. His other identity was the clerk of Cai Maochun, the chief minister of the Taichang Temple.

In the new official system of the Ming Dynasty, the chief secretary was the secretary of a government office, and the clerk was the secretary of the head of the government office. Therefore, Liang Wei’s status in the Taichang Temple was very delicate.

Reporter Deng knew him because after he was recruited into the Luanhe Daily, he attended the Newspaper Practitioner Training Class held by the Taichang Temple as usual. Liang Wei gave a speech and taught a class in the class on behalf of the Taichang Temple.

“Ruchun, how can you be so generous today that you actually invited me to Taibai Tower?” Liang Wei, who had gained weight compared to when he was in the Shuntian Prefecture prison, said with a smile.

At that time he was like Living Buddha Jigong, but now he is almost catching up with Maitreya Buddha.

“Brother Cen Xiu, I don’t have the money to treat you. Today I am just offering you flowers to you.” Wan Ruchu bowed and said, “Let me introduce you. This is my junior from Chongyi Public School, Deng Wenliang, a reporter from Luanhe Daily. His name is Taifu.”

“Jingxian, student Deng Jingxian meets Liang Lushi.”

Deng Wenliang bowed and saluted.

“Do you know Brother Cen Xiu?”

Liang Wei returned the greeting with a bow: “He must have seen me when he attended the Newspaper Practitioner Training Course.”

“That’s right. If you want to make a living as a reporter or editor in the newspaper industry, without this graduation certificate from the Taichang Temple, it’s illegal and you’ll be sued.

Liang Wei, Liang Cenxiu, my cousin’s husband.

Cousin-in-law?
Brother Wan is from Wanping County. Liang Lingshi introduced himself in class and said he was from Laizhou, Shandong. How are they related?

Liang Wei said with a smile: “After receiving instruction from Master Zhuo Wu and Master Jiu Wo at the Imperial Academy, I was admitted to the Taichang Temple, and after being introduced by someone, I got married and started a family.

My wife happens to be Ruchun’s cousin, who is four years older than her.”

Wan Ruchu chuckled, “Brother Cen Xiu, I am still your sister in my senior year.”

Liang Wei laughed loudly and then asked, “By the way, are you going to my second uncle’s birthday party?”

“Brother Cen Xiu, are you going?”

“The Zheng family is a big clan in Tongren Township, Daxing, and they have many relatives. They will definitely make a big fuss about the event. It may not be convenient for me to go, so I will ask your cousin to take Ling’er with you.

By the way, how many sons and daughters does my second uncle have? I can ask someone to buy some gifts for him.”

“My second uncle has a son named Guotai, and in the second year of Longqing, he had a daughter. A son and a daughter, good things come in pairs.”

Liang Wei nodded, kept it in mind, turned to look at Deng Wenliang, and glanced at Wan Ruchu.

“You’re inviting me to dinner today. It can’t be a Hongmen Banquet, right?”

“Come on!” Wang Ruchu said with a smile, “You are Cai Zhengqing’s secretary, even if we are the editor-in-chief of Shuntian Political Newspaper, we still have to queue up to invite you to dinner.

We two poor reporters invited you to dinner, and it turned into a Hongmen Banquet. You are too paranoid. “

“Be careful. Prime Minister Zhang has been very strict with the implementation of the College Entrance Examination Law these days. The dozen or so search teams from the College Entrance Examination Law Steering Committee are running around like wild dogs on the loose.

In the government office, they caught people who were lazy and idle; outside the government office, they caught people who were eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and everything else. If they were caught, they would be notified. For minor offenses, three months’ allowance would be lost; for serious offenses, they would be directly dismissed from their posts and sent home to bake bread.

Many old officials in the government office complained that even Emperor Taizu didn’t have such a hard time as an official.

Wan Ruchu sneered twice: “Nonsense, when Emperor Taizu was alive, sixty taels of silver were enough to skin and stuff them with straw, and they had fewer worries.”

After chatting and laughing for a while, Deng Wenliang ordered four dishes and a soup. He wanted to order two main dishes but was stopped by Liang Wei.

“If you don’t eat seafood, why would you eat seafood for lunch? If there’s a chance, let’s get together next time and have dinner in the evening and order seafood again. It would be unreasonable not to have some wine with such a hard dish.

I have to work in the afternoon and accompany Zheng Qing to a cabinet meeting. I can’t stand the smell of alcohol, so I dare not drink.”

Wan Ruchu took the menu from Deng Wenliang and said, “Alright, just four dishes and one soup, that’s enough. No need for alcohol, but three glasses of iced sour plum juice to whet your appetite.”

While they were chatting, the waiter brought the food and plum juice. No one came in to disturb them, so Wang Ruchu started talking about business.

“Brother Cen Xiu, Jingxian and I just went to Shuntian Prefecture Yamen and listened to the trial of Shuntian Yuan Tongpan.”

“The case of Lin Youcai being poisoned?”

“Exactly.

After listening to it, we were both very inspired. Jingxian came up with a title, “Is it better to have complex laws or simple laws? Thoughts after watching the trial of Lin Youcai!” However, this title was a bit broad and he was not sure.

I just happened to invite you to have lunch with me, so I called Jingxian to come over and ask you to take his pulse.”

Liang Wei’s eyes moved around Deng Wenliang and Wan Ruchu’s faces several times, revealing a look of approval.

“You have chosen a good topic.” Liang Wei said slowly, “The Imperial Ming Dynasty Newspaper is affiliated with the Imperial Household Department, the Shuntian Government Newspaper is directly under the Imperial Household Department, and the Luanhe Newspaper is nominally a private newspaper, but in fact it is one of the newspapers affiliated with the Imperial Household Department.

According to the emperor, you are the mouthpiece of the court, and you must know who you are speaking for. “

Deng Wenliang and Wan Ruchu looked at each other and nodded repeatedly.

“Ruchun, you said this topic is a bit big, it is indeed big. Zhao Zhongcheng was ordered to carry out judicial reforms. Although it is not as earth-shattering as the cabinet, it is also an earth-shaking change.

How should you write your report? I suggest that you don’t rush to write it, but go to the Censorate first and talk to a few officials you are familiar with.

Go to the Court of Justice again. Shi Lugong is in charge there. Any new policy reform will inevitably involve legal amendments. If you can understand it together and thoroughly understand it, the articles you write will be more thorough than those written by others.

As long as you write well, don’t be afraid to write late.”

“Brother Cen Xiu, fortunately I asked you for advice. We found the direction right away.”

“You’re welcome. Let me give you another suggestion. You two belong to two different newspapers. The views of your articles can be roughly the same, but controversial. For example, the law should be complex and cautious. How complex should it be? You can have a dispute, and then argue and quarrel with each other, or even curse at each other.

The more you argue, the more heated your quarrels become. The more you curse, the more angry you become. Won’t you two become famous all over the country?”

“Brother Cen Xiu, you are really the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, the rebirth of Kong Ming.” Wan Ruchu leaned over and whispered, “Brother, I heard that the Taichang Temple is holding a meeting to convey the new decree of the Western Garden.

We dare not ask around, we just ask you to give us a clear idea so that we can have a rough idea.”

Liang Wei thought for a moment and said softly: “Change customs and habits, and then establish education!”

hiss!
Wan Ruchu and Deng Wenliang couldn’t help but gasp.

Change customs and habits, and re-establish education!
It looks like we will have a lot to do in the future! At the same time, Zhu Yijun, who was in the Western Garden, read the report of the East Factory on Yuan Xian’an’s trial of Lin Youcai’s case, and invited Zhao Zhenji and Zhang Juzheng to have lunch in the side hall of Ziguang Pavilion.

Lunch is served in a separate portion system, with each person having four dishes and one soup, one plate for each dish, no more and no less, plus a bowl of soup.

The rice was replaced with rice from the shores of Dongting Lake.

“Mr. Dazhou, Master Zhang, this is the tribute rice from Huarong County, the Dongting No. 4 late indica rice cultivated by the Wuchang Agricultural Science Institute. The rice grains are slender and slightly flat, fine and crystal clear, with a smaller belly, hard and large grains, and a lot of oil. How is it? It tastes good, right?”

Zhao Zhenji laughed and said, “It’s delicious, but it’s not as delicious as the rice in my hometown, Sichuan.”

Zhang Juzheng pursed his lips, his expression a little serious, “I think it’s delicious, sweet in the mouth.

Huarong is not far from my hometown, Jiangling, and both are near the Yangtze River and the lake. The water and soil are similar. If Huarong can grow crops, Jiangling can also grow crops. “

Zhu Yijun smiled and replied, “Of course it can be grown.”

“Huguang is a land of fish and rice. Hubei has developed 60% to 70% of it, while Hunan has only developed 30% to 40%. Now Prince Wang Yi’e is appointed as the governor of Huguang, and Cao Gong is desperately trying to fill him with people in the northwest.”

Zhang Juzheng said while eating.

“In the third year of Longqing’s reign, we tried to relocate less than 1,000 households and more than 6,000 people. This year, we plan to relocate 10,000 households and more than 70,000 people. This is a huge amount of money, which made Wang Jianchuan complain and say that the budget has been exceeded again. He wants to find money from somewhere.”

Zhu Yijun replied: “Since the founding of the country, the nine frontiers have shouldered the military mission. In order to solve the problem of military food locally, the court has been constantly relocating people to the nine frontiers over the years.

But most of the Nine Borders are drought-stricken and barren. Shanxi, Jizhou, and Liaodong are relatively good. Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Gansu are much worse. Especially Yulin, Yansui, Ningxia Guards, Qingyang, Pingliang, and Jinglu Guards, where it is difficult to grow grass.

The people in border areas suffered generation after generation for the sake of the Ming Dynasty’s border wars and the peace in the hinterland.

Now that the left and right wings of Mongolia have surrendered, and the Nine Frontiers are no longer borders, it is time to let them live a good life. Move them to the land of fish and rice in Huguang, allocate cultivated land to them, let them settle down, and then encourage them to form mutual aid societies, reclaim wasteland, and give them preferential treatment and exemption from land tax for five years.

Wang Yi’e also did a great job in Huguang.”

Zhao Zhenji asked, “Your Majesty, I heard that Prince Jian transferred 3,000 elite Miao soldiers from Yang’s family in Bozhou under the pretext of suppressing the Wugang rebellion. After some persuasion, most of the 3,000 Miao soldiers were unwilling to go back. They only asked Prince Jian to bring their families with them and were willing to settle down in the basins along the Yuanshui and Zishui rivers.”

Zhu Yijun laughed loudly, “That’s right, Wang Yi’e played a trick on Yang Yinglong like Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou. Yang Yinglong was furious and threatened several times to rebel against the Ming Dynasty and establish himself as king.”

Zhang Juzheng had just finished his meal and put the bowl, chopsticks and dishes aside. Immediately, a eunuch came forward to clean up the mess, brought a teacup and a copper basin, asked him to rinse his mouth, and then brought warm water, asked him to wipe his face.

Zhang Juzheng put down the towel and said, “Your Majesty, the chieftains of Anlong and Shanglin in Guangxi have been pacified, and the rebellion of Luo Bangyao in Guangdong is being put to an end by Yin Zhengmao, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.

The southwest has been pacified, and tens of thousands of tiger-army troops are ready for battle. If the Yang family of Bozhou wants to rebel, let them rebel.

Your Majesty, I think now is a great time.

The Yang family has 3,000 elite soldiers outside, and their strength has been greatly reduced. They are forced to rebel hastily, and their food and supplies will certainly be insufficient. At that time, Yin Zhengmao and Liu Xian will lead their troops directly through Guizhou, and move another capable official to Sichuan to block the Yang bandit in the north, and Wang Yi’e will be in the east. With a joint attack from all sides, we will surely be able to wipe out the Yang bandit in one fell swoop and eliminate this local chieftain who has been separatist for 600 years. “

When Zhao Zhenji heard that Zhang Juzheng was planning to appoint Yin Zhengmao as the commander-in-chief of Pingyang, he said, “Your Majesty, the Guangdong governor Yin Yangshi has made outstanding contributions in pacifying the two chieftains of Anlong and Shanglin and Luo Bangyao. According to the law, he must return to the capital first to receive his position.”

Zhu Yijun glanced at Zhao Zhenji and knew what he meant.

Yin Zhengmao was a capable minister who could command the army and suppress rebellions when on horseback, and govern the country and comfort the people when off horseback. However, some memorials said that he was violent, murderous, and embezzled military funds.

Zhao Zhenji secretly asked Zhu Yijun for permission to form a special task force under the Central Supervisory Office of the Censorate to investigate him secretly and requested the assistance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhu Yijun agreed at that time.

Now hearing what Zhao Zhenji said, I immediately understood what he meant.

“Yunnan, Guizhou, Huguang, I plan to entrust Wang Yi’e with the affairs. Yin Zhengmao has done a good job in Guangdong and Guangxi. After the Luo Pangyao rebellion is completely quelled, I will summon him back to Beijing to take up his post.

Guangdong and Guangxi are the foundation of the South China Sea strategy. Now that Annan has been newly recovered, the affairs are extremely complicated. We need to transfer a capable minister to take over the leadership.”

“Your Majesty, I think Ling Rucheng (Ling Yunyi) is the right person to be appointed as the governor of Fujian.”

“After the frost and snow, there will be spring. Now in Guangdong, Guangxi and Annan, the country’s prestige has been established, so it is better to be peaceful and lenient. Ling Yunyi did a good job in Fujian, but he is arrogant and likes to kill, and his methods are cruel. He is not suitable to go to Guangdong and Guangxi. Well, send him to be Wang Yi’e’s assistant.

The governor of Guangdong will be replaced by Mao Kun, the governor of Jiangxi.”

Mao Kun?

Zhao Zhenji and Zhang Juzheng were moved and looked at each other.

Mao Kun was from Gui’an, Huzhou, Zhejiang.

He became a Jinshi in the 17th year of Jiajing, and has a long history.

In the 27th year of Jiajing’s reign, he served as the military governor of Guangxi.

At that time, the Yao people were in rebellion in Yangshuo, and the commander-in-chief of the Guangdong-Guangxi military affairs Ying Ji entrusted the suppression task to Mao Kun.

He thought hard and came up with a plan to destroy the enemy.

“When attacking with an eagle, the army does not move, but rushes in and out suddenly, like an eagle catching a rabbit.”

That is, imitate the hunting posture of an eagle, find out the intelligence, choose the right time, attack quickly with a small number of elite troops, kill the bandit leader, and evacuate quickly after success.

The rebellious Yao people were leaderless and collapsed without a fight, and they surrendered one after another.

Mao Kun used the strategy of slaying and destroying 17 Yao villages in succession. The killing was not severe, so the Yao and Han people were all convinced and built a shrine for him.

Later, he was appointed as the military commander of Daming, and he made box-carriages to control the northern barbarian cavalry, which won the praise of Yang Bo, the governor of Ji and Liao.

In the 37th year of Jiajing, he was accused of corruption by his political enemies and was dismissed and returned home. Hu Zongxian was in charge of the southeastern defense against Japanese pirates and invited him to come out of retirement to discuss military affairs. He was recommended as the governor of Zhejiang and later transferred to the governor of Jiangxi.

Mao Kun also dominated the country with his ancient prose and was known as Mr. Lumen in the world.

Counting on my fingers, Mao Kun is indeed the most suitable candidate for the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi.

But he is not only a descendant of Hu Zongxian, but also a contemporary master of classical Chinese literature, a well-known literary figure, and a talented poet.

The emperor launched several trials, and many of the court officials who were good at literature were beaten to the point of being on the verge of death.

The Lin Youcai case that has just been concluded is just a small episode in the continuation. The storm that is about to arise in Jiangnan will also sweep away a large number of famous scholars and officials who are good at studying classics and excelling in literature.

At such a delicate moment, the emperor suddenly appointed Mao Kun, an old poet in his sixties. What was the profound meaning behind this?
(End of this chapter)