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

Chapter 242 The world actually depends on Zhang Shiyuan alone?
Zhao Rui was following closely behind when he was suddenly met with Hai Rui's gaze.

"what?"

He never expected that this world-renowned upright official would actually ask him for advice.

"This little person, little person."

Zhao Rui was a little nervous, his face a mixture of rain and sweat, and he hesitated for a long time before speaking.

"I think it might be better to start from scratch?"

"What do you mean?" Hai Rui asked, puzzled.

Zhao Rui scratched his head, looking quite embarrassed.

"The word just popped into my head, but I don't know how to explain it. I'm sure Magistrate Zhang knows it."

He paused for a moment and then continued.

“In the past, when he was in the capital, Zhang Tongzhi often went against the tide, but he always managed to turn danger into safety and achieve great things.”

"Speaking of which, the person I admire most is Magistrate Zhang. He is an outstanding young man in the capital, possessing the wisdom to govern the world."
With Magistrate Zhang's assistance, it seems certain that this calamity in Jiangnan will be a resounding success, effectively curbing the arrogance of these Jiangnan gentry!

Hai Rui couldn't help but chuckle.

What kind of spell did Zhang Yunxiu cast on Zhao Rui to make him so devoted?

However, after thinking about it, he realized that from the Renmin Medical Hall's efforts to save the common people, to the Xishan's shelter of refugees, and the Jiangnan's policies to benefit the people, he was impressed.

One by one, even though Hai Rui disliked Zhang Yunxiu's style of doing things, he had to admit that this man was exceptionally talented!

Hai Rui's expression was complicated, and he had some plans in mind.

If I have the chance, I will definitely go to the capital to set things right for Zhang Yunxiu!
But when it came to the matter of Jiangnan, he sighed deeply, stared intently at Zhao Rui, and asked a heartfelt question.

"Could it be that the entire world depends on Zhang Shiyuan alone?"

"This"

Zhao Rui smiled.

"Hai Xiantai is wise to see that Zhang Tongzhi's strength is certainly limited."

But there are still tens of thousands of people in Xishan, as well as Prime Minister Zhang, Vice Commissioner Zhang, Governor Yin, and Magistrate Hai.
With everyone pooling their wisdom and efforts, and with His Majesty's support, what in this world cannot be accomplished?

Hai Rui's expression froze, but he couldn't help but smile and shook his head repeatedly.

"Alright, the rain is getting heavier. Let's go back to the governor's office first and then make a decision."

It's getting dark.

On the Qinhuai River.

The floodwaters had just receded, but the pleasure boats and painted barges on the river were already floating on the water.

For a time, the Qinhuai River at night was a scene of dazzling lights and revelry.

Accompanied by the sound of the gently flowing river, the traditional Chinese string and wind instruments began to play again, and the soft, melodious voices of women singing in the Wu dialect flowed across the river.

There was a painted boat with carved beams and painted rafters, from which one could occasionally hear loud conversations.

"In the past, Wang Anshi promoted the Green Sprouts Act, wantonly changing the laws of our ancestors. This was the beginning of the decline of the Song Dynasty. In my opinion, the Green Sprouts Act and the conscription policy were all acts that brought disaster to the country and the people!"

On the carved mahogany chair, Wang Xijue gently grasped the wrist of the maid in his arms, held her hand, and brought the wine cup to his lips, drinking it all in one gulp.

Wang Shizhen, standing to the side, had flushed cheeks and was quoting classical texts while shaking his head.

"The History of Song records that the Green Sprouts Money was made from the funds raised through the Ever-Normal Grain Reserves program, distributed to households, and required to pay a 2% interest rate, distributed in spring and collected in autumn."

Before he could finish speaking, he slammed his wine glass down on the table with a loud thud.

"Wang Anshi's reforms were the root of all evil!" Wang Xijue could not hide the anger in his eyes. "The court should have allowed the people to rest and recuperate. If it had followed his example to amass wealth and used the Green Sprouts Act to wreak havoc on the people, it would have repeated the mistakes of the Song Dynasty. Our Great Ming Dynasty would have been in grave danger!"

Wang Shizhen's eyes were also filled with resentment: "Zhang Jiangling's reforms were even better than Wang Jiefu's, and now Zhang Shiyuan is imitating the Song Dynasty's 'Green Sprouts Law', using the guise of loans to carry out exploitation!"

When the time comes, government officials will forcibly impose levies, forcing the people of Jiangnan to sell their land and children, leading to the destruction of families and even death!

Even a few days after the Jiangnan Textile Bureau began offering loans and borrowing textile machines, these old foxes were already on high alert.

He claimed that the "new law" and "Wang Anshi's reforms" would both fail, and that this law would bring disaster to the people.

What truly stung them was the "Heavenly Weaving Machine," which was ruthlessly undermining the foundation of the Jiangnan gentry!

Even if this method is the best and can help the people, he still won't get better!
"Please have some wine, sir."

A maidservant, who looked timid and appeared to be no more than the age of fifteen, offered a cup of wine to Xu Jie, who was in the first seat.

Xu Jie glanced at it, took the wine, and drank it all in one gulp, his eyes seemingly spitting fire. "What exactly does Zhang Jiangling intend to do?"

The veins on his forehead bulged.

Jiangnan was the main region for the production of silk and cloth during the Ming Dynasty, not to mention Songjiang Prefecture, which was known as "clothing the world".

The aristocratic families, operating as clan units, collected cotton and silk from the common people and established various textile workshops, shops, and brokerage firms. They effectively controlled the textile production in the entire Jiangnan region and reaped enormous profits from it.

But Zhang Yunxiu, that kid, didn't even say hello before trying to snatch their jobs.

Destroying people's wealth is like killing their parents!
Xu Jie, in particular, had been tricked by Zhang Yunxiu before, and this time his sore spot was touched again.

"grown ups."

The maid tried to serve Xu Jie some food, but he knocked her chopsticks away.

"Go away!"

He pushed aside the maid who was as old as his grandson and slammed his hand on the table.

"This is outrageous! Do they really think I, a local gentry from Jiangnan, am easy to bully?"

"When Zhang Jiangling wanted to implement reforms, I wholeheartedly assisted him in everything from 'land surveying' to 'the Single Whip Law.'"

Although the three were united in their hatred of the enemy, Wang Xijue and Wang Shizhen both looked somewhat embarrassed after Xu Jie said this.

That could be considered a great help, right?
Wang Xijue glanced at the kneeling maid begging for mercy, waved her away, and thus saved her life.

Despite his years of experience navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, Xu Jie remained completely unfazed.

His hair and beard stood on end, and he spoke angrily.

"I have always disagreed with the affairs of Xishan. Since ancient times, the affairs of the imperial court should be based on 'valuing righteousness over profit' and 'respecting the past and belittling the present'."

Zhang Shiyuan's constant pursuit of profit goes against the tide, yet Zhang Jiangling tolerates it—it's truly pathetic and lamentable.

The power of our Great Ming Dynasty has been usurped by this father and son; disaster is imminent!

The loss of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver is like a scar on his heart, which still makes Xu Jie feel a dull pain to this day.

Despite his anger, Wang Xijue maintained a serious expression and looked at Xu Jie.

"Master Xu, the Zhang family father and son have acted perversely and will surely be intolerable to the people of the world."

However, their methods were also extremely ruthless. Their "Heavenly Weaving Machine" was incredibly magical, capable of doing the work of ten people with just one person.

The Jiangnan Textile Bureau disregarded costs and leased the machine to the people at low or even no interest rates.

We can still keep it under control for now, but if this continues, it's inevitable that some people will have ulterior motives."

Wang Xijue hadn't even mentioned a single thing, but the impact of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau was unprecedented.

In the past, the imperial court implemented a series of reforms, which were nothing more than assessing the performance of officials, surveying land, and replacing taxes with silver, etc.

Even if Zhang Juzheng was tough and had the emperor's trust, could he really extend his reach to the fields and villages of Jiangnan?
The gentry of Jiangnan only need to unite in their hatred of the enemy.

He could write books and establish theories, uphold righteousness, and use ancestral laws to exert pressure on the court.

They could also collude with local officials to put on a show and fabricate achievements for the court. The "Bow Measurement Case" was born out of this very situation.
When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. Following the old methods, the Jiangnan gentry have a hundred ways to outmaneuver their opponents.

But now things are different. Zhang Yunxiu has taken a different approach and set up the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, starting directly with the common people and wanting to thoroughly dig into their roots!

How can we just sit here and wait to die?
"Hmph!" Xu Jie snorted coldly. "If Zhang Jiangling wants to overturn the table, then we naturally don't need to be polite to him."

Wang Shizhen's eyes lit up and he asked in a low voice, "Does Master Xu have another plan?"

Although his teeth were scattered and broken, Xu Jie still managed to chew them so hard they made a crunching sound.

He said decisively.

"The Zhang family father and son are unrighteous, so don't blame us for being unjust. In this Jiangnan region, I, Xu Jie, have never been afraid of anyone!"

"Xu Gong's intention."

Wang Xijue lowered his voice and immediately dismissed all the maids in the private room.

For a moment, the surroundings fell silent.

Only the sound of flowing water and the faint, distant singing in the soft Wu dialect could be heard.

Xu Jie's gaze sharpened as he spoke.

"First, to form an alliance; second, to spread the message; and third, to provide joint support!"

(End of this chapter)