Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather

In the Taiji Hall, the ministers left the palace in silence, but when they were far away from the palace, they were talking about it.

Some people thought Yang Zhengshan was reckless, some people thought Yang Zhengshan was too reckless, and some people thought Yang Zhengshan was upright.

Yang Zhengshan deliberately walked a few steps late and fell behind Zhou Yunsong and Song Yuange.

Zhao Gongqing walked quickly behind Zhou Yunsong, looking back at Yang Zhengshan from time to time.

Three or five officials gathered around Song Yuange, talking in low voices, and no one knew what they were discussing.

Seeing this, Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

"You have stirred up a hornet's nest this time!" Liang Chu said softly.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "Do you think there will be more memorials impeaching me or more memorials impeaching Zhou Yunsong tomorrow?"

"You can still laugh?" Liang Chu shook his head with some amusement.

"Why can't you laugh? At most, I can be fined. Can I be demoted?" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

The two left Taiji Hall together, and after the morning court, the officialdom of Kyoto was in turmoil.

Yang Zhengshan's impeachment seemed to have no effect on Zhou Yunsong, but Yang Zhengshan impeached the cabinet's deputy assistant, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the leader of the new party in the court. In the past, the struggle between the new and old parties mainly revolved around the power of various ministries and offices, and the attacks were all high-level officials in various ministries and offices. No one had ever impeached the cabinet elders.

Yang Zhengshan's impeachment was more like a start, opening Pandora's box.

For a time, many officials in Kyoto began to connect, and many officials even gathered together to discuss blatantly.

As for the content of their discussion, it was nothing more than whether to take the opportunity to pursue Zhou Yunsong or to launch a counterattack against Yang Zhengshan.

The old party wanted to deal with Zhou Yunsong, and the new party wanted to fight back against Yang Zhengshan.

The so-called old party and new party were originally just the old officials during the Chengping period and the court officials promoted by Emperor Yanping. However, in the past few years, the old party and new party have become different.

The new party has become the Long Party, which is mainly composed of officials from Longyuan and Longnan.

The old party has become the Jiangnan faction, which is mainly composed of officials from Jiangnan scholars.

Longyuan and Jiangnan are the two regions with the best literary style in Darong, and they are also the two regions with the most officials.

In the court, the two parties are fighting, and some officials belong to the neutral faction, but the neutral faction is leaderless, and most of them serve in some idle government offices. The reason why Lu Wenyuan chose to be sent out is because he was isolated by the two parties everywhere in Kyoto, which made him feel constrained when he wanted to do something practical.

Lu Wenyuan is a talented person. He came from a poor family. Although he has Yang Zhengshan as a support, he has always wanted to establish his own achievements.

But in these years in Kyoto, although his official position was promoted, he did not accomplish anything, so he chose to be sent out to govern a region.

Officials like Lu Wenyuan are not unique in the officialdom of Darong, because the struggle between the two parties in the court is becoming more and more fierce, resulting in many talented officials not being reused and promoted.

The most typical example is Zheng Xiao. In Yang Zhengshan's view, Zheng Xiao is definitely a great talent. When he was the inspector of salt in Liaodong, he managed the Salt Transport Bureau in an orderly manner. Not only did he collect a large amount of salt tax for the court, but he also reduced the price of salt in Liaodong a lot, so that ordinary people could afford salt.

After Zheng Xiao inspected the Liaodong Salt Industry and the Maritime Customs, he took advantage of the advantages of Tenglongwei to further expand the scale of maritime trade of Liaoan Maritime Customs and Jizhou Maritime Customs.

In the past, Tenglongwei was the only one in Liaodong, but now there are countless sea merchants of all sizes in Liaodong, which has greatly developed the economy of Liaodong.

The people of Liaodong who had experienced the drought have gained a lot of benefits, which is also one of the main reasons why the people of Liaodong can survive the most difficult recovery period after experiencing the drought.

Although the people's livelihood in Liaodong is not as good as when Emperor Chengping was in power, Liaodong has already seen the beginning of vigorous development.

Zheng Xiao has contributed to all these things.

So in Yang Zhengshan's eyes, Zheng Xiao is an able and capable official.

But Zheng Xiao has been wandering around in Liaodong. After a few years, although his official position has been promoted, he himself has not been reused by the court.

The struggle between the two parties will only promote their own people to important positions in Beijing. Officials like Zheng Xiao and Lu Wenyuan have no room to do anything in the court of Kyoto.

This is the situation in the current court of Darong.

In this regard, Yang Zhengshan's attitude has always been that as long as they don't do too much, he will pretend not to see it.

So he didn't help Lu Wenyuan and Zheng Xiao, but this time the matter of Bao Lang and Sun Anyang made him unable to pretend not to see it.

So he decided to stir up the muddy water in the court.

However, he was a nobleman after all, and could not intervene too much in the fights between civil officials.

It was okay for him to stir up trouble, but he could not really fight with civil officials.

After leaving the imperial city, Yang Zhengshan ran home and hid.

His work was done, and no matter how big the storm was in the court, it had little to do with him.

Yang Zhengshan was just a nobody, only responsible for lighting the fire, and did not care how big the fire would burn.

In the Jing'an Marquis's mansion, everyone still did what they should do, and was not affected by the undercurrents in the court.

As soon as Yang Zhengshan returned to the mansion, Lu Shou came to report: "Marquis, Luo Guanshi is back!"

"Where is he?" Yang Zhengshan walked to the study and asked.

Lu Shou said: "The old slave arranged a guest room for him to rest!"

Yang Zhengshan entered the study, "Let him come over, and bring the list you compiled some time ago!"

Lu Shou responded and went to call Luo Jinsong.

A moment later, Luo Jinsong came to the study, and Lu Shou also came with a booklet.

"Meet the Marquis!" Luo Jinsong said happily.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "How is it? What is the situation on Xingyue Island now?"

Luo Jinsong replied, "Everything is fine on Xingyue Island. According to the Marquis's instructions, I have moved some islanders to Xingyue Island."

"Currently, there are more than 3,000 islanders on Xingyue Island. I have allocated fields and houses to them. This year's harvest is not bad, and those islanders will have no problem eating enough!"

"In addition, according to the Marquis's instructions, I have contacted the Zhu family of Dihuo Island. The Zhu family has recognized our right to rule over the islands around Xingyue Island, and is willing to transport all kinds of materials for us."

Yang Zhengshan nodded with satisfaction.

Xingyue Island is the retreat prepared by Yang Zhengshan for the Yang family, so it naturally cannot be abandoned.

He left Luo Jinsong on Xingyue Island because he wanted to develop Xingyue Island. Even if it could not be restored to the period when Xingyue Sect controlled Xingyue Island, Xingyue Island should be self-sufficient.

As for the Zhu family's willingness to recognize the Yang family's ruling right over Xingyue Island, this was also expected.

As long as the Zhu family is not stupid, they will not be hostile to the Yang family, and they will even try their best to please the Yang family.

The reason is very simple. Tenglongwei has already started cooperation with the Zhu family on Dongyang Island, and the Zhu family has gained huge benefits in just one year.

They know how to choose.

"These are tenants and slaves who are willing to move to Xingyue Island. I have already made an agreement with Tenglongwei. They will transport these people over. You will settle them well when the time comes!"

Yang Zhengshan pointed to the book in Lu Shou's hand and said.

Lu Shou handed the book to Luo Jinsong. Luo Jinsong opened it and glanced at it, and saw many familiar names.

"Don't worry, Lord, I will make arrangements!"

The book not only includes tenants and slaves, but also the wives and children of some of the Yang family's guards, including Luo Jinsong's wife and children.

These people will settle on Xingyue Island in the future. Xingyue Island will be the main development direction of the Yang family in the future. The Yang family will gradually move tenants and slaves to Xingyue Island.

As for whether the slaves and tenants are willing to move, they are naturally willing.

Because as long as they move there, the Yang family will give them land, and Yang Zhengshan has personally formulated a relatively low land tax.

In addition, the Yang family's generosity to slaves and tenants over the years has also made them very loyal to the Yang family.

At present, the Yang family has about 2,000 tenants and slaves, including 600 slaves and about 1,500 tenants.

Needless to say, the slaves are mainly based on the Yang family, and the tenants also rely on the Yang family for their livelihood.

Yang Zhengshan has decided to move the slaves and tenants in Liaodong to Xingyue Island in batches, and the slaves and tenants in Kyoto will also be gradually moved.

These slaves and tenants have a population of about 10,000, plus the wives and children of the Yang family guards, a total of about 13,000 people.

The fields on Xingyue Island and its surrounding islands are enough to make 30,000 people self-sufficient.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan's plan is to let Xingyue Island absorb 30,000 islanders and make it completely the private territory of the Yang family.

Luo Jinsong hesitated for a moment and said, "My Lord, should we form a navy?"

"Why? You want to form a navy?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Luo Jinsong grinned, "Brothers are too bored on the island!"

Yang Zhengshan thought about it and said: It's not impossible to form a navy, but we can't form too many navy like Xingyuemen. "

"How about this, you train the young and strong first, buy a few more ships, build the framework first, and when I have time, I will go and see it myself! "

It is not difficult to form a navy, as long as someone has a ship.

Tenglong Guard can provide warships, Yang Zhengshan can buy them directly from Tenglong Guard, of course he can also ask for them for free, I believe Yu Tonghai and others are willing to give them for free, but Yang Zhengshan is embarrassed to ask for them for free.

As for people, after the tenants and slaves are moved over, it is not a problem to form a navy of 3,000 people.

But Yang Zhengshan will not want a group of rabble, the navy he wants to build must be the elite of the elite.

But if you want to train the elite, you can't do without Lingquan water, so Yang Zhengshan has to go to Xingyue Island in person.

"Yes!" Luo Jinsong replied happily.

Yang Zhengshan stood up and said with a smile: "You can handle the rest of the things, go to Yu Tonghai if you need warships and supplies. "

Then, Luo Jinsong left the Marquis' Mansion and went home to reunite with his wife and children.

Next, he will take his wife and children to Xingyue Island, where they will celebrate the New Year this year.

...

The next morning.

In the imperial city, in the imperial study.

Zhang Mingzhong led two young eunuchs and brought a large pile of memorials to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, these are today's memorials!"

Emperor Yanping looked at the memorials with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"What are they?"

Zhang Mingzhong replied: "They are all memorials impeaching Lord Zhou and Marquis Jing'an!"

"How many impeachments are there for Marquis Jing'an?" Emperor Yanping asked.

Zhang Mingzhong took out the four memorials on it, "Only these four!"

"So few?" Emperor Yanping said in surprise.

He thought it would be half and half, but he didn't expect there would be only four. Wouldn't the remaining dozens of memorials be impeachments against Zhou Yunsong!

He opened the memorial and glanced at it, "Impeaching Marquis Jing'an for raising private soldiers! This is a serious crime! ”

Yang Zhengshan had three hundred guards, and this was no secret, so Emperor Yanping was naturally very clear about it.

Two hundred of the three hundred guards were Yang Zhengshan's former personal guards, and one hundred were guards trained by the Yang family, which Emperor Yanping was also very clear about.

Emperor Yanping even knew that many of the Yang family's servants were warriors.

But this was a very common thing among the noble families and official families in Kyoto, except that the Yang family's guards were stronger.

Emperor Yanping even knew clearly that the Yang family occupied Xingyue Island and was migrating tenants and slaves to Xingyue Island.

Emperor Yanping didn't care about this.

How to say it?

First, it was because Yang Zhengshan followed the rules and did many things openly without any intention of concealing anything.

The more open and aboveboard Yang Zhengshan was, the less suspicious Emperor Yanping would be of Yang Zhengshan.

The second was that Yang Zhengshan had made great military achievements in the court, and he was not power-hungry and did not personally hold military power, which was undoubtedly the most reassuring thing for Emperor Yanping.

As for Yang Zhengshan raising hundreds of private soldiers, it is not a big deal at all.

And Xingyue Island was also deliberately given to the Yang family by Emperor Yanping.

It is not very useful for the court to occupy Xingyue Island. Instead of letting other forces in the southeastern sea area occupy Xingyue Island, it is better to let the Yang family occupy it.

Of course, there are things that Emperor Yanping does not know, such as how strong the Yang family guards are, and how many warriors the Yang family has trained over the years.

In fact, Yang Zhengshan does not have an accurate number of how many warriors the Yang family has trained over the years.

All adult males of the Yang family's slaves will enter the guard camp for three years of training, and there are about a thousand warriors who have walked out of the guard camp in recent years.

And these warriors are all slaves of the Yang family. They are mainly responsible for managing the Yang family's industry and have no opportunity to show their strength on weekdays.

Let's put it this way, if you go to the Yang family's farm and find a young man at random, there is a one-third probability that he is a warrior, and the other two-thirds probability is that this young man belongs to the Yang family's tenant, not the Yang family's slave.

Yang Zhengshan's intention in training these slaves was not to raise private soldiers. He just thought that young people should study hard and practice well.

Training in the guard camp is not only to practice martial arts, but also to learn to read and write, establish three views, and cultivate loyalty.

Emperor Yanping picked up another memorial and opened it, "Impeaching Jing'an Hou for embezzling military rations, this is a bit nonsense. Jing'an Hou has money provided by the Luo family. Is it necessary to embezzle this little military ration? This is a false accusation and he should be punished!"

"Impeaching Jing'an Hou for killing indiscriminately! Well, this is still reliable. Jing'an Hou's murderous intention is indeed heavier!"

"Impeaching Jing'an Hou for framing loyal officials in Fuhai Province!"