Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 241 The aristocratic class is like a vermin, or a tumor on the head!
Hai Rui's expression grew increasingly serious, while Zhao Rui, who was promoting the rental of textile machines, became even more nervous, with sweat pouring down his forehead.

I racked my brains but still couldn't figure out what the problem was.

Seeing that Hai Rui and Zhao Rui looked very nervous, the cotton farmer Wang Wu quickly waved his hand and said.

"Your Excellencies misunderstand. Xishan and the government have already taken great care of us. How could we possibly have any complaints?"

Hai Rui frowned deeply and asked with great curiosity, "What does the old gentleman mean?"

"A despicable person."

Wang Wu was a little embarrassed, and he tugged at the corner of his clothes.

"There are some concerns, but they are too good to be true concerns."

He nervously rubbed his calloused hands together.

"To be honest, given the circumstances, the fact that Xishan Money House can provide us country folk with a monthly loan of five taels of silver is already a great kindness."

In previous years, this would have been unimaginable.

But now, they can still rent this 'Heavenly Craftsmanship Weaving Machine' to us, and the first month is even free!
In my fifty-odd years of life, I have never seen an official so willing to make concessions for us commoners. Therefore…”

The more Wang Wu spoke, the softer his voice became.

Hai Rui's mind worked quickly, and he immediately figured out the crux of the matter. He frowned slightly.

"The old gentleman's meaning is one of concern: is there something fishy going on here? Or is it another form of exploitation by the government?"

"Don't dare."

Wang Wu staggered back two steps, waving his hands repeatedly to stop the urge to kneel. He looked ashamed and sighed.

"Or perhaps the hearts of petty people are too filthy."

"This is not your fault."

Hai Rui abruptly interrupted, his face gradually turning cold.

"This is due to past corruption in officialdom, which has caused the people to fear the government even more than wolves and tigers. Any benevolent or effective policies have instead become..."

He suddenly fell silent, and the coldness on his face turned into a hint of sorrow.

I had assumed that, like the officials of the past, Xishan had devised some method to exploit the people.

What difficulty is there in punishing those merchants for their corruption and abuse of power?
But now the result is that this policy is really too good.

It was so good that it was hard to believe that this was a policy implemented by the Ming government.

However, this made Hai Rui even more saddened.

Doesn't this just illustrate how ruthless the officials in Jiangnan were in the past?

Zhao Rui stepped forward, smiled at Wang Wu, and explained softly.

"Sir, there's no need to worry. My Xishan Money Exchange and the Weaving Bureau lend money; we wouldn't be foolish enough to do anything that would lose money."

Every time a loan is granted, a specialist must verify the family's assets.

Those who are penniless can be placed in the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and receive unified arrangements.

If one has some wealth, one should marry a kind and honest family who is law-abiding.

This not only requires a guarantor, but also land deeds and house deeds as collateral. In addition, the governor's office has a triple inspection system, which will ensure that the people will not suffer losses or cause any trouble.

Please rest assured, sir.

His introduction was extremely sincere.

Wang Wu couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Both of you are benevolent and virtuous, and I naturally trust you."

But recently, rumors have been spreading in the village, and many farmers are worried. They say that the government is trying to use these things to cheat us out of our land.

Wang Wu claimed to be offering suggestions, but in reality, he was reminding the two of the problems that had arisen in the suburbs of Nanjing in recent days.

Zhao Rui shook his head helplessly and said, "This is utter nonsense. The money shop lends out five taels of silver every month, plus the cost of this spinning machine, which can offset the cost of your land and property. This has been calculated meticulously."

There's no reason in the world to cheat someone out of land and then give them equivalent goods and money in return.

"The petty person naturally understands."

Wang Wu also looked distressed and sighing.

"But most people in the countryside have never been to school. Those like me who have attended a private school for a year or two are extremely rare. You two gentlemen should know that in our Jiangnan region, the rural people have to live off the masters."

The officials spread rumors that there was a scam involved, preventing the common people from receiving any benefits from the government.

Adults, think about it: did they trust the government officials, or the local clansmen?

Having attended a private school, Wang Wu naturally spoke in a much more organized manner.

This is why Hai Rui sought him out for answers; someone who was illiterate would have had a hard time explaining the situation.

But it was precisely because of this that the most thorny problem in Jiangnan was placed directly in front of the two of them.

That is, the Jiangnan gentry have cultivated their local communities for a century, and their networks of relationships have long been deeply entrenched.

Even if the court has good policies, it is difficult to implement them. Even if it can implement them, what can be done if the people do not trust the court?

In the course of repeated back and forth, even benevolent and virtuous policies cannot be implemented.

Hai Rui's expression grew increasingly solemn and serious, and he asked in a deep voice.

"Those powerful clans and gentry, it's not just that, is it? Besides inciting people, they also tampered with the sale of cotton cloth and the purchase of raw cotton bolls?"

Wang Wu understood what the other party wanted to ask, and a trace of worry appeared on his face.

"The old man didn't know either, but he heard that the gentlemen wouldn't accept any cotton from the 'Heavenly Craftsmanship Weaving Machine.' If you wanted to sell cotton or cotton cloth, you'd have to go to the Jiangnan Textile Bureau."

His eyes flickered as he stared intently at Hai Rui and spoke.

"Lord Hai, is the Jiangnan Textile Bureau able to survive? Can I continue this business indefinitely?"

As we emerged from Wang Wu's thatched cottage, a light drizzle began to fall again along the Qinhuai River.

Hai Rui looked at the gradually receding water level and couldn't help but sigh.

"The imperial court put in a great deal of effort to relieve the floods in Jiangnan. With Minister Pan of the Ministry of Works in Nanjing leading the water management efforts, and with many effective solutions from Xishan, the floods have finally been resolved after months of work."

He looked up and saw rows of thatched huts that had been rebuilt not far away, and his voice gradually grew angry.

"The natural disasters have been resolved, but the man-made disasters remain unresolved."

"I don't understand. It is clearly a good way to govern the country and a benevolent policy to benefit the people. Why can't it be implemented?"

Has my great Ming Dynasty truly degenerated to this extent?!

When he said this, Hai Rui was even somewhat resentful.

He is nearly seventy years old this year, but his hair is already completely white.

Since taking up the post of instructor in Fujian in the 28th year of the Jiajing reign, he had been involved in the ups and downs of officialdom for more than 30 years, witnessing too many sordid and disastrous events.

He was able to infuriate the Jiajing Emperor with a single memorial on public order.

Yet, after Jiajing's death, he could also weep bitterly for an entire night.

Later generations may criticize Hai Rui as "pedantic and rigid," "tyrannical and selfish," and "seeking a good reputation," but they cannot ignore his pure love for the people and his dedication to the country.

He may lack ability, but he genuinely wanted the Ming Dynasty he lived in to restore order and for its people to live in peace and prosperity.

However, during the Longqing era, the government rectified land annexation in Jiangnan and redressed the grievances of the people.

And today, it has promoted the implementation of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and money shops.

Every time, they encountered setbacks and faced strong resistance from the Jiangnan gentry.

Just when things were about to start to look up, they ran into this stubborn obstacle.

At first, Hai Rui even thought that the merchants sent by Xishan might take advantage of this "official loan" policy.

But as it turns out, those merchants who Hai Rui once considered to be solely profit-driven were actually more capable of understanding the hardships of ordinary people than those self-proclaimed enlightened gentry and powerful figures.

There are no problems with Xishan, no problems with Tiangong Textile Machinery, and even fewer problems with government orders.

There was only one problem.

That is—the aristocratic families, like termites clinging to bones, or tumors weighing down the head, have occupied Jiangnan, devouring the people's marrow without ceasing!
Hai Rui looked both angry and sad. He walked in the drizzle without an umbrella, his face wet with what appeared to be rain or tears.

As he walked, he suddenly turned his head to look at the merchants behind him.

"Manager Zhao, if it were you, how would you resolve this calamity in Jiangnan?"

(End of this chapter)