The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The reason why Cui Yan from Nanzhili was recommended was because Yan Chengjin had his family files.

The gentlemen looked over reflexively. With this boy's personality, he must have prepared for this.

Cui Yan was the Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief, the Governor of Datong and Shaanxi, and later became the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, in charge of the river.

It was precisely because of his contribution to the widening of the Grand Canal that Jiang Mian later entered the cabinet and was promoted to the Minister of Personnel in Nanjing.

In fact, he was a person from the Censorate.

How could this be a step back?

Without waiting for the retired emperor Hongzhi to speak, Jiang Mian bowed first: "With Han Wen and Wang Ao by my side, why bother to move officials from Nanzhili?"

Zhu Houzhao was unhappy, "Masters have repeatedly regretted, how can I hand over Weiwu to you masters to teach?"

The retired emperor Hongzhi closed his eyes, pretending to rest his eyes, but his mind was thinking quickly.

Cui Yan not only served as the governor of too many places, but also served as the Left Governor in Henan.

Compared with the masters in the cabinet, he is a minister with local experience.

"Then let's do as Mr. Yan said. Let's take a step back. The masters don't need to argue anymore. Mr. Yan will draft the decree?"

After stepping out of the main hall, Zhu Houzhao came up impatiently and asked with a smile: "Lao Gao, is Cui Yan your man?"

Liu Jian and Jiang Mian beside him paused and looked at the two without leaving any trace.

Yan Chengjin didn't dare to answer directly, "You gentlemen, listen carefully, and we'll talk about it in the East Warm Pavilion."

This stingy guy, Liu Jian and others snorted coldly and left with a wave of sleeves.

...

Songjiang Prefecture, on the official road.

A two-horse carriage was running, with four officers and soldiers on each side.

After turning into the small road, the carriage bumped left and right, and the road gradually became deserted. It was obvious that the place they were going to was very remote.

Arrived at an open flat land, where there were strong men carrying wooden boards to build a port.

The house gradually appeared in sight, surrounded by dense forests.

There was a vast ocean in front of them, with large and small ships moored here.

"Stop fighting, Lord Cui is here!"

The two groups of sailors who were fighting gradually dispersed, and the merchants were in dishevel, secretly looking up at the carriage.

The people in the carriage lifted the curtain, and an official in a pheasant-shaped red robe stepped down.

Cui Yan frowned and said angrily: "Who asked you to fight? All of you will be arrested and put into the prison of the Ministry of Justice!"

At this time, Zhang Zhong, the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, hurriedly came up, "Sir, merchants can be arrested, but sailors cannot be arrested. They are the people of Changning Bo and Shouning Hou."

Cui Yan thought for a while and considered carefully. Since the opening of the port in Songjiang Prefecture, it has been a mess.

In order to moor the ship, the sailors have had conflicts over time.

I don't know who spread the rumor that the land around the port of Songjiang Prefecture has risen in price, and the gentry are scrambling to buy the land from farmers.

One acre of wasteland cost ten taels of silver, but now it has become thirty taels, and it has been hyped up to a sky-high price.

It is comparable to the price of fertile land in Songjiang Prefecture.

Wang Bushui stepped forward and said with a smile: "Sir, merchants cannot be arrested. I am a merchant of Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce."

Two foolish dukes fought for the port, while he fought for the land.

Yan Chengjin's people?

Cui Yan stroked his goat beard and stood calmly. He had been the right assistant censor of the Censorate and submitted memorials to Yan Chengjin, but this guy never submitted them to the emperor.

He was a little unhappy.

At this time, several fast horses galloped over, and Gao Feng dismounted and unfolded the imperial edict:

"The Emperor of Heaven and Mandate of Heaven, decrees..."

After receiving the edict, Cui Yan looked surprised.

He entered the cabinet?

It's not that he was self-deprecating, but there were Han Wen and Wang Ao in the court, how could it be his turn?

"I am favored by the emperor, but my current status is not as good as Han Wen and Wang Ao. How can I enter the cabinet? Please give me some advice, eunuch."

The Minister of Personnel in Nanzhili is not as good as the six ministers in Beijing.

There is a queue, so it will never be his turn.

"You look alert. It was Lord Yan who recommended you." Gao Feng was calm and happy now that Yan Chengjin would not harm him.

Cui Yan was silent for a moment, and did not say much. He got on the carriage and went back to the mansion to prepare and immediately went to Beijing to take up his post.

I can't say I am happy, but I feel a little uneasy.

...

Forbidden City, Zhanshi Mansion.

Yan Chengjin sent Yan Fang to Zuochunfang to study. Zhu Houzhao came early with Zhu Zaikun and Zhu Houcong.

Not long after, another ceremonial guard came. Walking in front was Princess Taiping, with a small face like a porcelain doll and black hair. She was a beauty.

Zhu Zaikun whispered into Yan Fanglai's ear, "She is my aunt."

Yan Fanglai's big eyes were fascinated, as if he was possessed by a demon.

Princess Taiping was only two years older than Zhu Zaikun, and they looked more like siblings. She said in a crisp voice, "Weiwu, my mother said that you were wronged when you left the palace, so she asked me to bring you some ginseng soup. Drink it quickly."

Zhu Zaikun didn't want to drink it, and blinked his big eyes as if thinking about it.

Zhu Xiuyun's crescent-shaped eyebrows moved slightly, "My mother said that I must watch you finish drinking before I can go back."

"Then I'll drink it..."

Yan Chengjin saw Zhu Zaikun smacking his little mouth, and the soup was not missing at all, so he handed it to Zhu Houcong, "Houcong was wronged, so he has to drink it too."

Zhu Houcong drank all the soup, stroked his little belly, and burped.

"..."Zhu Houzhao

"Aunt, this is Yan Fanglai."

Princess Taiping glanced at the little kid next to her, and Yan Fanglai's face turned slightly red.

Zhu Houzhao's heart moved and he fell into deep thought.

After Zhu Zaikun and the other two entered Zuochunfang, Zhu Houzhao looked at Yan Chengjin, "Lao Gao, Cui Yan is about to arrive in the capital. Should I summon him, or let my father summon him?"

Whoever meets the emperor will be loyal to him in the future.

Yan Chengjin guessed that Cui Yan would maintain a moderate attitude and whispered a few words in Zhu Houzhao's ear.

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up, "Then let this old guy choose for himself."

After noon,

Just arrived in the capital, Cui Yan had no time to go to the new mansion to wash up, and was worried about who to see first today. This is a question of position.

The retired emperor and the new emperor each have their own political achievements and ministers.

With the retired emperor's temperament, no matter who he sees first, he will not blame him.

But the gentlemen are not like that.

If he goes to see the new emperor first, his position will be very obvious.

After having a grudge, it will be difficult to integrate into the circle of gentlemen in the future.

If he goes to see the retired emperor first, Yan Chengjin and the new emperor will regard him as the same as Yu Liugong and others.

"Please help me, eunuch Gao, inform me that I am tired of the journey and will come to the palace to see the emperor tomorrow morning."

Seeing the two emperors in the morning court, no one will be offended.

Gao Feng rode to the Meridian Gate and entered the palace to submit the imperial edict.

After hearing this, the retired emperor Hongzhi and the other officials did not say much.

After hearing this, Yan Chengjin left the palace and sat in a sedan chair and came to Zhang Cai's mansion.

"Mr. Zhang has become more handsome, how is your health?"

Zhang Cai walked into the main hall with a bitter face. This guy was looking for him for no good, "Mr. Yan, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."

"Mr. Cui has entered the palace."

"I know that Mr. Yan came to inform you of this matter?"

"I want to increase the commercial tax and adjust it to 30 and 5% tax."

The first reform of the commercial tax was to change from collecting goods to collecting money.

Now that the world's trade is prosperous, the gentry are getting fatter and fatter. It's time to increase the commercial tax, which is delayed by one year than planned.

Zhang Cai's eyes were as big as copper bells, and he pointed at Yan Chengjin in disbelief and said coldly: "You don't want me to beg, do you?"

"Mr. Zhang is indeed talented and beautiful."

This is a suicidal thing. Most of the officials are gentry.

I don't know how many people came to kill Zhang Cai, but this is none of his business.

"Please keep it a secret, Master Zhang, and don't reveal that I have been here."

Yan Chengjin took out Zhang Cai's original contract, shocked Zhang Cai, and then put it back.

"Would the emperor and the officials not know?"