amaotonovel Chapter 1097 It’s not easy to learn well, but it’s hard to learn bad things
Chapter 1097 It’s not easy to learn well, but it’s hard to learn bad things
There's an old saying in the Central Plains: "It's hard to learn good things, but it's easy to learn bad things."
Mosha and Manlahafis seem normal now, but they still think about the Timurid Khanate to some extent.
I wonder if, after visiting the border market, witnessing its prosperity, and seeing its clubhouses, they still think about the Timurid Khanate.
Or will they, like Park Sung-sung and the others, become addicted to the market once they enter?
Yang Shaofeng shook his head slightly, intending to browse the shop properly, but then inexplicably stopped in his tracks.
The Dengzhou government was able to find a large number of maritime merchants smuggling goods by sea.
What about Jiangnan?
Dengzhou Prefecture has only been developing for a few years, yet there are already countless maritime merchants who dare to engage in smuggling.
Jiangnan had already begun developing maritime trade since the Song Dynasty, so how many maritime merchants dared to smuggle goods?
Or we could try a different approach.
For example, this time, the "purging of the emperor's inner circle" was carried out.
On the surface, the cause of "purging the emperor's inner circle" was that the Zhang Liuliu case had become a big deal, and he went to Yangzhou Prefecture to arrest and kill people, and even sent an opera troupe to provoke the officials and gentry.
But actually?
When the policy of "each adult male being allocated 15 mu of land, with a progressive tax system applied to any excess" was first proposed, the gentry did not raise the slogan of "purging the court of corrupt officials".
When the cases of the plowshare, ironware, illegal laborers, child abduction, and even blank seals came up, the gentry and officials did not shout the slogan of "purging the court of corrupt officials".
Despite a whole host of other problems, including later changes to the imperial examination system, reforms of the imperial court and local government, and the reform of the Censorate, the gentry remained silent.
They give the impression that they are a flock of silent, fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
Even their instigation of certain chieftains and local barbarians to rise up in rebellion felt like nothing more than the dying struggle of fat sheep, lacking any real strength.
However, the slogan "cleansing the emperor's inner circle" is different this time.
Because these people not only shouted slogans, but also took actual action. All sorts of demons and monsters, such as the White Lotus Sect and the Zoroastrian Sect, emerged, and the rebel armies in various places were like trying to suppress one problem only to have another arise.
It felt as if their sore spots had been touched, forcing them to fight back desperately.
Yang Shaofeng had always had a vague feeling that something was wrong. He thought that the officials and gentry would not raise a flag to rebel just because of the Zhang Liuliu case and because the "Hongwu Great Proclamation" allowed the people to bind the officials and go to the capital to file a complaint.
To put it bluntly, there are many ways to invalidate or discredit the "Hongwu Great Proclamation," so there's really no need to raise the banner of rebellion for it.
For example, they could work together to create a facade of a corrupt but honest official who is truly dedicated to serving the people, and then incite the people to arrest him and take him to the capital to file a complaint. They could even silence him while the people were arresting him.
If this happens, the reputation of the "Hongwu Great Proclamation" will be ruined, and Lao Deng might even question his life.
The same principle applies to things like opera troupes performing "The White-Haired Girl," which thoroughly exposes the true colors of officials and gentry.
Officials and gentry should have plenty of ways to deal with this.
Unfortunately, these officials chose the least desirable and riskiest approach.
Just like how Hong Xuanye could explain "this is eight years old", "Huang Zhuowu", "Ao Bai was loyal in the early stage but rebelled in the later stage", "Ma Zi dared to use Fujian rattan armor soldiers as personal guards", and even extend to explain the "Crazy Empress Case" during Qian Long's time, as well as "why Qiong Yao wrote Huanzhu Gege", "why Cha Yong was the most satisfied with The Deer and the Cauldron", and so on and so on.
If we connect the officials and gentry of Jiangnan with the phrase "maritime smuggling," then we can find the answer to almost all of their actions.
Why did the plow case, the ironware case, and the illegal laborer case occur?
Because smuggled ironware could be sold at high prices, officials and gentry wanted to further reduce costs.
Why do the garrisons in the capital and other places always inexplicably catch fire?
Because maritime merchants, who were controlled by officials and gentry, needed weapons to protect themselves.
Why wasn't the emperor's inner circle cleared out before, but is it being done now?
Because there was no Dengzhou Fleet before, let alone a Maritime Inspection Office, and now the Dengzhou Fleet is about to be split into the South China Sea Fleet and the West China Sea Fleet, and Maritime Inspection Offices will be established in various places, the risk of continuing to smuggle by sea is increasing infinitely. If we do not resist, it is as if the last way to make money will be cut off.
This is something that officials and gentry could never accept—first they lost the income from the tax farming system, then they lost the way to make money by annexing land, and even the commercial tax was being targeted. Now they are about to lose the most profitable maritime smuggling business. How could officials and gentry not rebel?
Yang Shaofeng pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhu Biao and said, "I plan to make another trip to Yangzhou Prefecture, and also to take a look at the Jiangzhe and Fujian areas."
Zhu Biao was slightly taken aback. "Brother-in-law, do you mean you're not planning to take my younger brother with you?"
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement, and while considering the matter, said, "If Your Highness were to go, the risk would be a bit too great."
"In fact, I only intend to bring Krupp and Commander Xia. In addition, I also need to bring the royal command flag and the personal guards of the Prince Consort's residence."
Upon hearing the words "royal command flag," Zhu Biao knew that this matter was no small thing.
According to the existing garrison system of the Ming Dynasty, the mobilization of ten soldiers must be reported to the Grand Military Commission. The only means of mobilizing troops directly without going through the Grand Military Commission are the tiger tally of the Crown Prince and the royal command flag.
Moreover, the royal command flag served more than just troop deployment; more importantly, it allowed for the direct arrest and even trial of local officials.
It was precisely because the power of the royal command flag was so great that her brother-in-law never used it on his own initiative.
Now he has to use the royal command flag, bring along the imperial guards, and even Krupp and Xia Yu—which means he no longer trusts the local government or even the garrison.
and so……
Just when it seemed like a huge, earth-shattering case was about to unfold, you, as the brother-in-law, wanted to get rid of your brother-in-law.
Just as Zhu Biao was secretly pondering how to sneak out of the capital, Yang Shaofeng changed his mind again.
"Your Highness, please come with me."
Sending the black sesame dumplings along to the coast might be risky, but not too much. The Prince Consort's residence and the Crown Prince's personal guards would be enough to ensure their safety.
However, keeping the black sesame dumplings and Lao Deng in the capital could greatly increase the risks involved.
Moreover, having black sesame dumplings along with the rice balls has another benefit.
That is, when necessary, black sesame dumplings can be used as bait.
Just as Yang Shaofeng was pondering this, Zhu Biao suddenly spoke up: "Then how about this, I'll go back to the palace first to get the Imperial Sword, and while I'm at it, I'll also call Chang Mao, Chang Sheng, Qi Ge'er, and Lian Ge'er."
"By the way, let's meet at the Prince Consort's residence later, and then leave the city before evening, otherwise, my father might catch us and take us back."