Zhang Weixian glanced at Ceng Shengwu, then said with a smile, "His Majesty didn't say anything, but he did summon me before leaving. His Majesty still misses Lord Ceng very much."
Speaking of this, Zhang Weixian suddenly smiled, "His Majesty is very concerned about Lord Ceng's safety. He also asked me to write a letter back to the capital to report Lord Ceng's safety. If anything happens, I should try my best to help Lord Ceng."
Although Zhang Weixian said it very seriously, Ceng Shengwu still felt very embarrassed.
Obviously, he hadn't submitted a memorial since he left the capital, let alone writing a letter to the Emperor.
He was throwing a tantrum!
Of course, Ceng Shengwu was doing this to show his dissatisfaction with the Emperor. More importantly, it was an expression of "a naughty child gets milk".
However, being seen through by Zhang Weixian, Ceng Shengwu was naturally a little embarrassed at such an old age.
Zhang Weixian didn't care. He had seen everything. He had heard of all the dirty jokes written to the Emperor in memorials.
Ceng Shengwu's behavior was just a small matter. His grandfather once said that the relationship between a ruler and an official was sometimes really like that of a husband and wife.
"Lord Ceng, I think it's more appropriate for Lord Ceng to write this letter himself!" Zhang Weixian said lightly and didn't say anything else.
Ceng Shengwu was also an old official. The embarrassment only lasted for a moment. At this time, he said with a face full of emotion, "His Majesty is a wise person. He is so lenient and caring for an official. It really makes this old man feel very ashamed."
"Nephew, what you said is reasonable!"
Ceng Shengwu said with a sigh, "It's not the way of an official to make His Majesty worry. I will write a memorial to His Majesty to ask for forgiveness!"
Seeing Ceng Shengwu hurriedly run to write the memorial, Zhang Weixian sighed helplessly.
Before he came to the northwest, his grandfather repeatedly told him not to force himself into anything and only to watch.
Unless there was a rebellion in the northwest, other things had nothing to do with him. He must not get involved.
At that time, he was still a little unconvinced, but now it seemed that it was better to stay obediently!
These old guys were all kind, thick-skinned and black-hearted.
Zhang Weixian sighed in his heart. I still have to practice!
That afternoon, the people who had gone out to arrest the people began to return to the Datong Residence in groups.
The Ming Army in various places were also under martial law. Without orders, they would not leave the barracks. The Inspector-General yamen and the Zongbing yamen also sent people to be stationed at each Wei station and began to stabilize the situation.
Although it was very noisy, there was no trouble.
The border town was different from other places. There were no scholars or students here, so the so-called public opinion did not exist.
There were battles here every day, and everyone had seen the dead. They had a deep understanding of the way of survival. Those who didn't have a deep understanding would have lost their heads.
In addition, this was a military town after all, and military law was enforced here, so the discipline of the people here was better than in other places.
Ceng Shengwu looked at the file in his hand and began to prepare for the public hearing. This was brought to him by Zhang Cheng, who said that it was the emperor's instruction.
"Hold public hearings and criticism meetings in various places, and then publicly announce the verdict."
Ceng Shengwu looked at the rules and started to ponder. Ceng Shengwu was very interested in these things and looked very serious.
Later on, it introduced in detail the role of the public hearing in rallying people's hearts and stabilizing the army's morale.
At the same time, it proposed small punishments for the other officers who had not been found out. Most of them would be forfeiting their salaries. At this time, it was not appropriate to pacify them, but to punish them.
This was because punishment meant that the matter was over. If there was no punishment, it would instead cause people to worry.
"Let bygones be bygones!" Ceng Shengwu looked at the words that Zhu Yijun had personally written and sighed.
In reality, the entire border army had very serious problems. This time, the great purge had only purged the serious ones, but this would inevitably cause the people to panic and the army's morale to be unstable.
By letting bygones be bygones, it could be said that the people and the army's morale had been completely pacified, and it was beneficial for the military reform later on.
Ceng Shengwu put down the document in his hand and began to think about what to do.
At this time, Zhang Cheng and Ma Lu also walked in from outside. The two of them were covered in dust and looked very tired.
However, the two of them were in good spirits. Clearly, the matter had been settled, and the two of them let out a big sigh of relief.
"Servants, serve tea!" Ceng Shengwu stood up with a smile and said loudly.
"Thank you, sir!"
Ma Lu bowed. Zhang Cheng, who was beside him, was not so polite. He sat down on a chair and said with a smile, "I'm so tired. I'll leave the rest to you, Sir Ceng!"
Ceng Shengwu nodded and said with a smile, "Eunuch Chang, don't worry. No problem."
At the government office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Li Zhonghang, who had been busy for the whole day, was also sitting on a chair and resting. He was drinking tea slowly.
In front of him, there was also a document. It was a document about the establishment of the Datong Wool Textile Base.
This document was also obtained by Li Zhonghang from the emperor. It recorded the general idea of establishing the wool textile base.
Since leaving the capital, Li Zhonghang had been researching this and could be said to have benefited a lot.
In Li Zhonghang's opinion, this was simply a genius idea. If His Majesty was a businessman, he would definitely be the number one businessman in the world.
Of course, Li Zhonghang only dared to think about this idea. He said that he could not say it to anyone.
"Father, eat something!"
Li Xi walked in from outside with a plate in his hand. There were a few bowls and plates on it. All of them were Li Zhonghang's favorite dishes.
Seeing his son come in, Li Zhonghang smiled and said, "Put it down!
Have you eaten? "
"I have already eaten!"
Li Xi replied and began to serve Li Zhonghang. He picked up the wine pot and poured a cup for Li Zhonghang. Then he said, "Jiangnan's Huadiao. I have already scalded it. Father, have some to relieve your fatigue."
Looking at the pot of wine, Li Zhonghang did not feel strange. In the northwest trade, wine and tea had always been the main products. Li Zhonghang picked up the wine cup and drank a cup. He smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad at all!"
After drinking the wine, Li Zhonghang was in a good mood. He chatted with his son for a while and went to sleep comfortably.
The next morning, Li Zhonghang woke up in high spirits. Just as he ate breakfast, a subordinate came to report that Deputy Cao Yuan of Xuan University's tax department was asking for a meeting.
Although he did not have much contact with the tax department, Li Zhonghang knew that these people were difficult to deal with.
Not to mention those who came from the inner factory, just the accountants of the tax department were not to be trifled with.
Li Zhonghang had heard some rumors about this. It was said that there was a place in Wu Qingbo's mansion that specialized in training accountants. That place had existed for more than ten years and had many experts. Now, that place had fallen into the hands of the Emperor.
Many accountants of the tax department came from that place. It was very mysterious, but their strength was extraordinary.
In fact, Li Zhonghang had seen the accountants of the tax department before. They were much stronger than the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"Invite him in!" Although he did not know why the tax department was here, Li Zhonghang still had to meet them.
There were many yamen in the court, but not many were personally looked after by the Emperor. His own Ministry of Internal Affairs was one, and so was the tax department.
As for status, Li Zhonghang felt that he could not compare to the tax department.
Cao Yuan was a man in his forties. He had a sturdy figure and wore a civil official's uniform. No matter how one looked at it, it looked very awkward on him.
Coupled with his big flat face, it made people feel that it was a bit funny. However, Li Zhonghang did not think so. The moment he saw Cao Yuan, Li Zhonghang was sure that this Cao Yuan came from the inner factory.
"Great Xuan Tax Department's Cao Yuan greets Chief Steward Li!" Cao Yuan was very polite and said with a smile.
Li Zhonghang nodded and said, "Lord Cao, please sit!" After tea was served, Li Zhonghang said, "Lord Cao, why did you come this time?"
"This lowly official came this time to discuss something with Lord Li!"
Cao Yuan's tone was very light, but the words he said were not light. "I believe Lord Li knows what our tax department does. I came this time to discuss tax collection with Lord Li."
Damn!
Li Zhonghang knew that nothing good would come from the tax department. Right now, there were already people in charge of the tax department to collect debts.
Cao Yuan did not care what Li Zhonghang thought and said, "This time, the market and the woolen mill in Datong City is an opportunity. Our tax department is preparing to implement a new commercial tax here. It can be considered a pilot."
"Of course, Lord Li can rest assured. This is not a decision made by the tax department. We have already submitted a memorial to the imperial court and received an imperial edict from the emperor.
Part of this involves the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and part of it involves the governor's office. "
Li Zhonghang choked back his words. The emperor's imperial edict was more effective than anything else.
"Then how does Lord Cao require the Ministry of Internal Affairs to cooperate?" Li Zhonghang said directly.
"Very simple!"
Cao Yuan said with a smile, "Our tax department will implement a business license in Datong City. All merchants who come to Datong City to do business must register for a business license.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will establish a large market and woolen mill base. Our tax department will take the lead in implementing commercial tax in these two places. "
Li Zhonghang nodded and said, "Good. Is there anything else?"
"That's all!"
Cao Yuan shook his head, and then added, "The rest is our tax department's matter!"
In reality, both Cao Yuan and Li Zhonghang knew that things were definitely not as simple as they sounded. Of course, they could only say it now. After all, nothing had yet to start.
However, seeing Cao Yuan's smiling face, Li Zhonghang felt that nothing good was going to happen.
"This official is going to the governor's office to see Lord Ceng to discuss the establishment of the large market and woolen mill base." Li Zhonghang looked at Cao Yuan and said, "Lord Cao, do you want to come along?"
"Of course!" Cao Yuan smiled and nodded, "This lowly official is also going to the governor's office."
In any case, there would be a three-way discussion sooner or later. Li Zhonghang was also sincerely inviting Cao Yuan. Seeing that Cao Yuan had agreed, he nodded and stood up to walk outside.
Governor's office.
Ceng Shengwu listened to the report from his subordinates and smiled bitterly with a sigh. He was currently extremely busy. He did not know what the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the tax department were doing at this time.