First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Zhu Yuanzhang was upset, "How can he compare with you? Don't think we listened to some of his words and asked him to divide the land, but for the big strategy, we still listen to you. He Li Shanchang wants to replace you, it's a dream!"

Lao Zhu was unceremonious and directly explained the matter. It was self-evident who was the person he relied on the most.

Apart from thanking Zhang Ximeng, what else could he say.

In fact, it is impossible for him to be the shopkeeper, Ma Shi is coming from Linhuai, Mu Ying is also in the army, Zhang Ximeng still has a lot of things to arrange!

But at this moment, a landlord surnamed Mu came to visit, claiming to be Mu Ying's distant uncle, and asked to see him...

Chapter 52 My name is Zhu Ying

Mrs. Ma led a group of family members to Lvpaizhai, and naturally Mu Ying followed her...Children are really a kind of amazing species, like bean sprouts, they can grow very tall in a day.Since following Lao Zhu and his wife, Mu Ying has had good luck.

Eat well, wear warm clothes, clean up, and in just a few months, he has grown a lot, and the little guy has also begun to study and enlightenment, and he is dancing swords and swords with some adults.

Seeing Zhang Ximeng, he rushed over happily, but when Zhang Ximeng stretched out his hand and wanted to touch his head, Mu Ying quickly turned around and said with a stern face: "Don't touch it, you won't grow up!"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, this is the kid who grew up, how could he forget when he curled up on his lap?

Fortunately, Zhang Ximeng also knew what the little boy was thinking, so he smiled and said, "Okay, well said! Grow up to be a big man, so that he can be a fierce general who can charge into battle!"

Hearing what Zhang Ximeng said, Mu Ying immediately smiled, and stood beside Zhang Ximeng, feeling very happy and proud.

At this time, Mrs. Ma also came over with a smile, and asked, "How is the current situation? Why is Mr. Xiao free?"

"Don't worry, ma'am, I don't dare to be lazy... Now there is another talented person in the army, and he will take care of everything big and small, and everything is getting better..."

Zhang Ximeng introduced Ma Shi with a smile, and then invited them to the tent to rest.Lao Zhu is still patrolling outside, and he has to guard against the Yuan army in the direction of Hengjian Mountain, so it will take some time before he can come back.

Zhang Ximeng called Mu Ying over and asked curiously, "You, is there anyone else in your family? I mean the original one."

Mu Ying frowned, "My father died a long time ago. At that time, I wish I was only five years old. I remember that when my father was alive, he often bought me meat... Later, when my father fell ill, A lot of people came to our house and took everything away. Then my mother took me and hid, and then she died too."

Recalling these painful pasts, Mu Ying's face turned pale, her fists were clenched tightly, and her whole body trembled involuntarily.Seeing it, Ma felt distressed, and couldn't help pulling him over, holding him in his arms, and then said to Zhang Ximeng, "What's going on? Could there be any news?"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "Ma'am, a member of the Mu family just came and said he was his distant uncle."

Hearing this, Mu Ying's face suddenly changed, and she shouted in panic, "I, I won't go with him!"

Mrs. Ma hurriedly said: "Don't be afraid, with your mother here, no one can take you away. Your brother Zhang will not send you out either."

Zhang Ximeng explained: "Of course I didn't want to send you away... It's your uncle who wants to make love to their family. The Mu family is also considered a big family, and there are not a few people in the field. Give them a little convenience."

At first, Mrs. Ma thought it was a poor relative who took refuge in him, but when she heard that the Mu family was quite rich, she immediately lowered her face, "What's the matter? Since the Mu family is rich, why don't they even support their mother? They are still relatives." Is it? Now they are licking their faces and begging for mercy, their family members are too shameless!"

Ma Shi didn't say anything polite, and directly tore the face of the Mu family.

Although Xiao Muying didn't have many memories, subconsciously she also looked down on this family very much, her little face was tense, and she didn't smile at all.

"Ma'am, I have inquired about this matter, and I have really figured out some reasons." Zhang Ximeng sighed deeply. Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite. In this troubled world, everyone has their own misfortunes... In Dingyuan , the Mu family is not a small surname, and it can even be said to have a long history. The Mu family originally originated from Duanmu, but was later omitted as wood, and then three points of water were added later.

There seems to be a saying that Mu Ying changed her name later on, and the original name is no longer verifiable.There is nothing wrong with this, after all, an eight-year-old child was adopted, and it coincided with the war. At that time, Lao Zhu was still under Guo Zixing, and he had no influence. When Mu Ying grew up, Dingyuan had already been plowed by rebels Knowing how many times, it is reasonable to find out.

However, due to Zhang Ximeng's participation, Lao Zhu is obviously stronger and more famous than in history.

Coupled with the determination of the strategy of dividing the land, the interests of a group of people were touched. They racked their brains to find connections, and naturally found out about Zhu Yuanzhang's godson.

Zhang Ximeng also took advantage of the opportunity to find out about the Mu family... When Mu Ying was very young, his father was indeed rich and had a lot of land.

"About the year when the Lord's family was hit by a disaster... Father Mu was very happy when his son was born. The sharecroppers are grateful, thank you for your kindness."

Even Mu Ying didn't know about this, and he was pleasantly surprised to hear that his father was a good man.

"Brother Zhang, what happened next?"

Zhang Ximeng was helpless, "Later, the other houses of the Mu family joined forces with the local gentry to force the palace to ask your father to raise the land rent."

Mu Ying was dumbfounded, and the Ma family next to her was also angry, "What's the reason? In the year of the catastrophe, the people have no means of living, so how could it be a mistake to lower the land rent?"

"It is precisely because of the disaster year that the surrender cannot be made. Not only can it not be surrendered, but it is also forced to pay more land rent!" Zhang Ximeng said helplessly. Mrs. Ma was stunned for a long time, and indeed remembered that there was such a thing. Son.

During the Taiping period, landlords could only earn some land rent,

But in a disaster year, it will be different.

First of all, if ordinary people want to live, they need to borrow money. Whether it is money or food, they always wait for the rice to be cooked, and the interest will not be low, or even put simply, it is the interest that you cannot afford to pay.

Because only in this way can you press for debts and drain your property.Some tenant farmers have their own several acres of land, and they only rent land because they think it is profitable to rent land.

Therefore, the last bit of land can be taken away by pressing debts in bad years.

Don't be afraid if you don't have a field, don't you have a house, and a daughter!

What does it mean to eat dry and wipe clean, knock the bones and suck the marrow!

Do you think there are no good people in landlords, and they are all like this?

Of course there are good people.

For example, Mu Ying's father, he took the initiative to lower the land rent to help the tenant farmers through the disaster year.

But it was his kindness that brought about great disaster...you pity the poor, we are not pity!We still want those fields!If you dare to smash our business, we dare to risk our lives with you!

Almost overnight, Mu Ying's father became the target of public criticism. Outsiders scolded him, but his family did not tolerate it. Even Mu's family took the lead, ran to curse, threw stones, and threw dog blood.

In the end, she clamored to expel Mu's father from Mu's house.

Father Mu really couldn't bear it, so he could only agree to divide the family... But at this time, something went wrong. Those officials who colluded with the county government gave the most valuable land to those few house, leaving only some floating money for Father Mu.

Anyway, you don't know how to manage it, and you don't know how to cherish the fields, so what else will you do!

The officials of the county government also stood by the Mu family.

Just like that, Father Mu paid out a little money, but got nothing.

Not convinced?

What can I do if I am alone?

Father Mu didn't want to tear up his face with his family, and he didn't want to sit and eat, so he just wanted to do some business and earn some money.

But the business was so easy to do, and since then, there have been continuous famines and refugees everywhere. Father Mu quickly lost most of his family property, and he couldn't afford to get sick.

And after Mu's father died, the Mu family came to the door again, trying to take away the remaining money.

They spent a lot of money on the funeral, they had banquets and banquets, and asked Mu Mu to pay for it, clearly wanting to eat them up.

Mother Mu dared to be angry and dare not speak out as a girl. These people clearly had no family, but she also had a son, so she couldn't just be harmed by these people.

After her husband was buried, Mu Mu secretly took the only money she had and escaped with her son on her back.

This is the fate of wanting to be a good landlord!

All these things happened before Mu Ying was five years old. Although her mother occasionally talked to her, Mu Ying was still young after all, she didn't know much, and she couldn't even talk about a complete memory. Now let Zhang Ximeng tell the cause and effect, little guy His lips were blue with anger.

Ma Shi was even more furious, "What kind of relatives are these? They are clearly a group of white-eyed wolves! Now they dare to come to the door, no matter what, we can't spare them!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, but turned his attention to Mu Ying. Mrs. Ma also understood that after all, this is still the Mu family.

She grabbed Mu Ying's arm and asked softly, "My son, what do you think?"

Mu Ying's eyes widened, tears rolled around his eyes in anger, he was wronged for his parents, he gritted his teeth, and said angrily: "My name is Zhu Ying, I don't recognize them!"

Madam Ma hugged her son distressedly, tears welled up, then raised her head and said to Zhang Ximeng, "What are you still doing in a daze? He's not your brother? Get out of your anger for my son!"

Chapter 53 Not only did the Mu family not surrender, they even dared to sneak attack!

It was the first time Zhang Ximeng saw Ma Shi so angry.

Madam has already spoken, this is more effective than Zhu Yuanzhang's words, who dares to neglect?

Zhang Ximengxing came to Li Shanchang in a hurry, and found that Mr. Li's desk was full of albums and lists, and he was very worried about the division of land.

"Mr. Li has worked hard."

Li Shanchang laughed hastily and said: "It's nothing, if you do something for the superior, you should do it perfectly so that you can be worthy of the trust of the superior."

Zhang Ximeng sat down casually, smiled and praised: "With Mr. Li's heart, there is nothing that can't be done. Mr. Li, I'm here to inquire about the Mu family. They have also looked for me. There is a conclusion to this matter." gone?"

Li Shanchang didn't dare to be negligent, but he felt a little embarrassed: "The affairs of the Mu family are not that simple, I'm afraid it will be difficult to handle!"

"It's difficult? Just because they are of the same clan as the son of the lord?" Zhang Ximeng mused.

Li Shanchang was taken aback, is there even a need to ask?

However, Li Shanchang has learned to speak nonsense with his eyes open for a long time in Gongmen.

So he explained with a smile: "Of course there is this reason, but the Mu family should not be underestimated. In the pre-Qin period, there was the Mu family, and it was considered a big family in Dingyuan. There are more than a dozen houses and several villages, and the Mu family has the final say."

Why does Zhang Ximeng feel that something is wrong.

"Mr. Li, isn't the purpose of our plan to divide the land to attack such wealthy families? Why? When we met the Mu family, we tied our hands and feet instead?"

Li Shanchang was startled again, feeling embarrassed.

How do you think what Zhang Ximeng means is to attack the Mu family?

Isn't he on good terms with Mu Ying?

Did I get it wrong?

Li Shanchang was a little messy, he could only think carefully: "As the saying goes, it is difficult for an upright official to break up housework. The Mu family also said that no matter whether Mu Ying's mother and son were at fault, they are all Mu's family after all. They are willing to admit their mistakes and make amends." As for the field mu, the Mu family has a lot of people, and their village doesn't have enough land, as long as they can be divided equally according to the head, not only do they not have to pay, but I'm afraid they have to be compensated!"

Zhang Ximeng found it even more funny, and couldn't help but sneered: "Mr. Li thinks what they said is right?"

Li Shanchang was at a loss for words again. After all, he came here for too short a time, and he didn't understand the things inside, so Li Shanchang leaned forward, pretending to be modest, and said in a low voice: "The words of the Mu family are certainly deceiving. But they It is the young master's family, and now the lord only has such an adopted son, the Mu family's property is still the young master's property, can you make an exception for the convenience? Besides, even if it needs to be disposed of, do you need to report it to the superior?"

Zhang Ximeng laughed, "Mr. Li, do you know what the young master said just now?"

Li Shanchang shook his head, "I don't know."

"Young Master said that his surname is Zhu but not Mu!" Zhang Ximeng said calmly, "Mr. Li, do you know what to do?"

Li Shanchang was instantly stopped by the question, and was speechless.

His heart was beating wildly, he didn't dare to hesitate, and hurriedly said: "I'll send someone to call the Mu family right now? Tell them not to wishful thinking!"

Zhang Ximeng shook his head, "You don't have to worry about Mr. Li, I'll just do it. I just want to remind Mr. Li that the Lord's land distribution order must be fair and just. When implementing it, you can't learn from Yuan Ting, and you can't be full of loopholes." , favoritism and fraud."

Li Shanchang was horrified, and immediately stood up, bowed deeply, and when he raised his head, Zhang Ximeng had disappeared.

Li Shanchang touched the cold sweat on his head, and said to himself that Zhang Ximeng is so powerful, he is playing for real and showing no favoritism!

Li Shanchang remembered one more thing and shouted that it was not good.

Hastily asked people to seal the two boxes, and sent them all to Zhu Yuanzhang's handsome account.After finishing, Li Shanchang secretly wiped his sweat, his heart was pounding.

He finished speaking for the Mu family, Mu Ying is on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is naturally profitable.

It is customary to collect money to do things.

I have been in the Yuan court for too many years, and obeying the law has become an outlier.

Take this land distribution as an example, the regulations are clear, and Li Shanchang is also clear about it.

But he always felt that a discount could be given, even if he handed over all of his family's fields, he still felt that someone could make an exception.Since Mu Ying is Zhu Yuanzhang's only adopted son, she should be different.

He charged some favors and said a word for the Mu family. It is impossible for Lao Zhu not to feel sorry for his godson. He might even think that he can handle things and is a talent!

It's a win-win to get the benefits and the appreciation of the lord, and Mu Ying and the Mu family will naturally rely on him in the future, so it's a big win!

But obviously he was wrong, what kind of bullshit family, Mu Ying didn't like this at all, and Zhang Ximeng even warned him directly... Li Shanchang finally realized that the team he joined was indeed somewhat different.

It's time to curb the problems I had contracted in the Yuan court yamen.

As for the Mu family, let's hope for good luck!

Li Shanchang thought about it again and again, and felt that what he had just done was not enough.

He still needs to meet Lao Zhu, confess himself, and explain clearly the Mu family's bribery of him.

After Zhu Yuanzhang listened carefully, his complexion was deep, and his sharp eyes swept across Li Shanchang's body, making him tremble with fear.

Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Mr. Li, if the Mu family did not disappoint Mu Ying, what do you think we should do with this matter?"

Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment.

This question is not so difficult, he is still a rookie, please don't use this to test him!

The family of the lord and righteous son is roughly equal to the lord's family, and it seems that there should be an exception, but judging by Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, it doesn't mean that...

"If you go back to the top position, the laws of the country are nothing more than human feelings. I thought that the young master is pure filial piety, and it seems that he should take care of his family..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened suddenly, and he sneered slightly: "Mr. Li, you have been working in Yuanting for too long, so it's not surprising to think so, but it's just not an example! You remember what we said, from now on, even if our relatives want to take money and pervert the law , act recklessly, we will not agree!"