"Bring him to the capital. Don't kidnap him!" Zhu Yijun looked at Xu De and said.
"Imperial Majesty, I understand!" Xu De quickly answered.
In fact, Zhu Yijun wanted to meet Li Zhi and listen to his thoughts, just like how Emperor Wu of Han listened to Dong Zhongshu's thoughts and dismissed all schools of thought and revered Confucianism.
Confucianism had many good points, but Neo-Confucianism was far from it.
Zhu Yijun wanted to see Li Zhi's thoughts. Firstly, he was a scholar of the mind. Secondly, his thoughts had a clear germination of capitalism.
From the beginning to the end, Zhu Yijun felt that if he wanted to change a country or a people, he must change not from the system, but from the ideology.
In the history of the world after the end of the Ming Dynasty, Cheng and Zhu's Neo-Confucianism was obviously not suitable.
Daming needed a more aggressive culture and a more profit-oriented belief.
The ideology of Li Zhi and the Taishan School could basically meet Zhu Yijun's needs. Maybe there were some parts that were not suitable, but it didn't matter.
Plus, the current officialdom was stagnant, and some new things were needed.
How could there be no ideological reform? How could there be no collision of ideas?
However, as the emperor, Zhu Yijun couldn't have too deep a communication with Li Zhi for the time being.
But Zhu Yijun was willing to give Li Zhi a chance. If Li Zhi's ideas could really be used by him, he would give it a try.
Even if it developed into a monstrous ideology in the end, Zhu Yijun thought it would be much better than the current situation.
After arranging Li Zhi's affairs, Zhu Yijun was ready to meet Chen Lin, the general he had kidnapped from Hangzhou.
At the gate of the Qian Family in Hejian Prefecture.
These days, the Qian Family had been in a panic because they found that their contact with the outside world had been cut off.
The Imperial Bodyguard and Dongchang's people were all outside. They couldn't go out at all.
News from the outside also couldn't come in. No one knew what was going on.
On this day, the gate of the Qian Family was smashed open. Countless people rushed in and began to arrest people.
Zhang Jing stood at the door with a string of rosary beads in his hand. He rubbed the rosary in his hand expressionlessly and glanced at Qian Liu, who was pressed beside him. He said plainly, "This is your Qian Family, but from today onwards, it's gone."
Qian Liu turned around and glared at Zhang Jing, cursing loudly: "Eunuch Quan, you will die a horrible death!"
Seeing that someone had pushed Qian Liu's mouth to the ground, Zhang Jing smiled and shook his head. "Buddhists talk about karma. You reap what you sow. Do you need me to tell you what your Qian Family has done?
Do you know why I'm talking to you? "
Qian Liu stared at Zhang Jing angrily. His eyes were wide open as if he wanted to bite Zhang Jing to death.
"It's because I'm bored. I've always been curious about one thing. Take your Qian Family for example. After earning so much money, you were raided. Tell me, do you regret it?"
"Is it so hard to do things properly?
Your Qian Family has money and people. You're one of the best in Hejian Prefecture, right? "
"Why do you have to sell salt?
You're insatiable! "
Zhang Jing waved the rosary beads in his hand. "I'm different from you. I know how to be content. Look, I won't touch your Qian Family's things."
"That's not mine. Of course, it's not yours either. It belongs to Her Majesty."
Zhang Jing was obviously a petty eunuch. He didn't forget to anger Qian Liu at this time.
However, he soon felt bored. He turned around and glanced at Sun Piyang and the others not far away. A smile appeared on his face.
"Lord Sun, you've really made a great contribution in solving the Hejian Prefecture's salt smuggling case."
"I'll congratulate Lord Sun first. After returning to the capital this time, you'll definitely be promoted." After saying this, Zhang Jing smiled and cupped his hands at Sun Piyang. His face was full of smiles.
Zhang Jing's voice was not soft. Many people turned to look at Sun Piyang when he spoke.
Although Sun Piyang was expressionless at Zhang Jing's words, he could only smile bitterly in his heart.
Was this all thanks to him?
From the beginning to the end, he didn't do anything. Everything seemed to be arranged.
"Lord Sun, the blood of Hejian Prefecture was poured on the official road for you. Be careful not to slip on it!"
At this time, an angry roar suddenly came from the Qian Family. The voice was hoarse and full of resentment.
"Tsk, tsk. These words are really unpleasant to hear. Someone, slap his face!" Zhang Jing stood at the side and said.
Very quickly, the sound of slapping came from the other side. Sun Piyang finally showed a bitter expression. He turned to look at Zhang Jing and said, "Eunuch Chang, I'm not feeling well. I'll take my leave first." After saying this, he turned around and left.
In reality, Sun Piyang knew that after this incident, his reputation would truly be ruined.
The gentry would definitely empathize with the Qian Family. These days, which family didn't have some shady business dealings? However, everyone was a disciple of the Confucian Sect, so they should give face to the Qian Family.
Now that the Qian Family had ended up like this, he was probably on par with Lai Junchen.
Sun Piyang had already made up his mind. After returning to the capital, he would resign from his position.
If he was promoted by the emperor after returning, then he wouldn't be able to explain himself. No matter what, he wouldn't be able to continue being an official.
Sun Piyang's footsteps became heavier as he listened to the Qian Family's women sobbing behind him.
Cao Yikui was the complete opposite of Sun Piyang. At this time, he was expressionlessly standing there as he watched the Qian Family's property being searched.
Zhang Jing glanced at Cao Yikui, but he didn't expect Cao Yikui to speak first. "Eunuch Chang, you better keep an eye on your people. If I find out that they did anything illegal during the search, I will definitely impeach you."
After saying this, Cao Yikui turned and left, his face still expressionless.
Wang Yongji followed behind Cao Yikui and said with some melancholy, "Isn't the Qian Family too pitiful?
Should we ask the court for mercy? "
"The Qian Family is involved in a total of 16 homicide cases and over 40 other cases. In my opinion, the emperor is already being merciful.
I will write to the emperor that anyone involved in a homicide case will be executed on the spot. "
Cao Yikui glanced at Wang Yongji and said, "If you can't steel your heart, then come with me to the homes of the 56 victims."
"Look at their lives and see what they've suffered. Daming, it's because the Qian Family has too many people that the common people can't survive.
If the Qian Family can't survive, then the common people can't survive either. If I have to choose between the two, I choose the common people. "
"I grew up poor and know the hardships of the common people. I also know how difficult their lives are. Compared to the common people, these people live in luxury, but they don't think about serving the country.
They are shameless and oppress the common people all day long. They deserve to die. "
Wang Yongji looked at Cao Yikui in silence. After a long time, he raised his head and said, "When you finish writing the memorial, give it to me. I will also sign it."
The confiscation and arrest of people in Hejian Prefecture were carried out in an orderly manner. Every day, people were beheaded outside the city. For a time, the smell of blood permeated Hejian Prefecture.
In the Hall of Wenhua in the Forbidden City.
Zhu Yijun looked at Chen Lin, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "Get up!"
Chen Lin stood up from the ground and stood aside respectfully, not daring to move.
After looking Chen Lin up and down, Zhu Yijun found that he was in his thirties. He wore a long robe and looked somewhat elegant.
Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "You look good. You look like a scholarly general."
"I have seen many Daming generals, and many of them can fight. I have seen Yu Dayou and Ma Fang, but they are all old."
"I wanted to see if there were any young people in the Great Ming Dynasty who could still fight, and then I saw you.
I asked someone to investigate and found out that you were removed from office because of greed. So I asked Dongchang to find you. "
"Do you know why I didn't summon you to the capital?"
Chen Lin shook his head, "I don't know!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Chen Lin, who claimed to be a sinner, and suddenly laughed. He was quite an interesting person, "Because I feel ashamed. The dignified Commander of Daming's army has to rely on blackmailing subordinates and embezzling food and salaries to make money. I feel ashamed."
"I am ashamed!" Chen Lin hurriedly bowed and said. He never thought that he was kidnapped because of this.
"You should feel ashamed. Not only did you lose your face, but you also lost my face. But there is one thing I don't understand. You pacified Dongan and should have a lot of money in your hands. Why did you blackmail subordinates?"
"Those people followed you through fire and water to pacify Dongan, but you blackmailed them. What were you thinking?
If you want to rob some natives, I can understand. Come and tell me, I'm really curious. "
Chen Zhao raised his head and looked at Zhu Yijun. After a while, he said, "Your Majesty, actually, the soldiers' food and salaries were embezzled."
"What do those natives have to steal?
They eat wild fruits all day. I brought my subordinates to steal their fruits?
The soldiers had no choice but to rebel because the food and the rewards from the court were embezzled. "
"I was also young and couldn't control my subordinates, so I let them steal."
Zhu Yijun laughed. Was this the legendary "letting soldiers steal food"?
"Your Majesty, this is very common in the army. Usually, only 40% of the government's food and salaries are left. The remaining 60% is all taken away.
It's the same for the court's rewards. If it's good, they can get 40%. Sometimes, they can't even get 40%. "
"If we let the generals share some of the spoils, the soldiers will get even less."
"There's no reward if you win, but there's punishment if you lose. Many soldiers think that fighting is boring, so it's better not to fight. There won't be any casualties if you don't fight. Anyway, there's not much reward. If you lose, there's punishment, so you don't fight."
Chen Lin couldn't care anymore. He'd been holding it in for so long. Anyway, the emperor had called him here. He couldn't kill him just because he said this, right?
At most, he'd be chased back.
Zhu Yijun looked at Chen Lin with complicated feelings. He could understand what these people were thinking. People would die in war. They didn't get anything and there were no rewards. If they lost, they would be punished. What was the point of fighting?
These people weren't warriors with ideals. They knew that fighting for the country was meaningless to them.