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

Chapter 255: Establish a Super Role Model

"No! Never!"

After the initial twists and turns of investigating the "Bow Measurement Case," Yin Zhengmao had a clear understanding of the situation in Jiangnan, but at the same time, he became much more conservative.

He sighed and said.

"We have no concrete evidence, so we must not act rashly. Otherwise, we might alert them and give them ammunition to criticize us. The Grand Secretary has been a great help to us in the court. If we act rashly now, it will only ruin their grand plan."

Hai Rui gritted his teeth until they bled: "Concrete evidence? If we don't investigate their families, how can we find any evidence? Do you really expect the officials in Southern Zhili to be able to find any evidence? These people are just in cahoots."

He glanced at Zhang Jianxiu, who was sitting silently in the corner, and said very seriously.

"In my opinion, stabilizing prices is of utmost urgency. We should immediately dispatch our officers to inspect all the major shops!"

Alternatively, General Hou, who is stationed at Jinshanwei, could be invited to take command.

Hai Rui said to Zhang Jianxiu, "As for the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, I ask Vice Commissioner Zhang to send a fast horse to the capital to report on the matter. This matter cannot be delayed; the later it is, the less suffering the people of Jiangnan will endure."

Yin Zhengmao also turned his gaze to Zhang Jianxiu.

Zhang Jianxiu, bearing the title of Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to Jiangnan, undoubtedly making him an "imperial envoy" of the emperor. In a sense, he was also the eyes and ears of Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Yunxiu, and all decisions still had to be made in consultation with him.

Zhang Jianxiu had always enjoyed this process. Both of them were high-ranking officials in the court, with Yin Zhengmao being a second-rank governor.

But today I feel a chill run down my spine.

"Cough cough~"

He coughed, covering his mouth, thinking of offering some insightful observations, but couldn't come up with anything after thinking for a long time.

Left with no other choice, he secretly pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket. It was a letter from the capital, sent through a secret channel of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhang Jianxiu held the letter in his hand, like a student cheating on an exam, and pretended to be very serious, mimicking Zhang Yunxiu's tone as he spoke.

"Both of you are wrong."

"You can't get anything done if you're this impatient."

"We must believe in the boundless power of the people!"

Hai Rui couldn't help but chuckle, wondering what had gotten into Zhang Qianshi, but he still agreed with the last sentence.

He frowned deeply and said, "The vast ocean of the people?"

"Exactly!"

Based on some of the contents of the letter, Zhang Jianxiu began to improvise.

He began pacing around the lobby with his hands behind his back, shaking his head as he spoke.

"As the saying goes, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The kings and generals under heaven are always high above others and can command others, but they seem to have forgotten that the millions of ordinary people under heaven are the real majority."

"If they remain silent until the moment of truth, they will astound everyone. If they can unite the power of those millions of people, even the most powerful gentry of Jiangnan will be nothing more than clay chickens and earthen dogs."

Hai Rui couldn't help but feel a little helpless, thinking that the other party's remarks sounded so strange.

It doesn't seem like they're trying to reform Jiangnan; it's more like they're about to rise up in rebellion.
Zhang Jianxiu also sensed something was wrong; his words had come across as quite dangerous.

Without being subconsciously influenced, he was actually made to behave "rebelliously" by that brat Zhang Yunxiu.

He quickly brought the conversation back on track.

"Ahem~ Therefore, if we want to resolve the crisis in Jiangnan, it would be a bad idea to rashly send out government officials and soldiers. Only as a last resort should we act so recklessly, as that would be handing over the power to others!"

"What is the general trend?" Yin Zhengmao couldn't help but ask in the hall.

“Simple,” Zhang Jianxiu chuckled. “The Jiangnan gentry took advantage of the floods to exploit the people of Jiangnan, which has already sown the seeds of disaster. Now, in order to resist the imperial court, they are hoarding goods and speculating on prices, which is a recipe for disaster!”

This is the prevailing trend! We, possessing this trend, will act righteously. As long as we can mobilize the masses, we will naturally be invincible.

But Hai Rui didn't think so. He was known for his compassion for the common people, and it was precisely because of this that he understood the nature of the common people very well.

"As the Analects says, 'The people may be made to follow a path, but they may not be made to understand it,'" Hai Rui said, his gaze sharp as he stared at the other man.

"The power of millions of people gathered together is indeed great, but most of them are uneducated and like headless flies, easily manipulated and coerced. How can you mobilize them?"

That's utterly delusional!

In his view, the reasoning the other party was talking about was commonplace; anyone who is well-versed in history knows the importance of "popular sentiment."

But "public opinion" is the most blind and easily swayed thing, and it is extremely difficult to control.
Sitting upright, Yin Zhengmao had different thoughts. After careful consideration, he spoke.

"I suppose it follows the method of the Wanli Xinbao?"

He stroked his beard and analyzed.

"The gentry of Jiangnan are difficult to deal with, not only because they are deeply entrenched, but also because they have been scholars for generations. These scholars can write books, establish their opinions, and lecture around the world. They can win over the people and manipulate public opinion through their writings."

Since the establishment of the Wanli Xinbao newspaper, the world has been completely transformed and is vastly different from what it used to be.

Yin Zhengmao sighed, deeply moved by the changes brought about by newspapers.

In particular, during the implementation of the "single whip" policy, decrees that previously required a great deal of verbal explanation to be clearly explained to the people could gradually take root in their hearts simply by having storytellers read newspapers aloud.

This is undoubtedly a huge step forward.

But Hai Rui didn't think so, and he shook his head and said.

"The newspaper was indeed very effective in governing the people, but that was in Beizhili. Beizhili was close to the capital, and with the control of Zhang Tongzhi and Yuanfu, plus the ability to deliver information immediately, there was a strong atmosphere of storytellers and teahouses."

Having visited Jiangnan twice, Hai Rui had a thorough understanding of the area.

"In Jiangnan, clans are the foundation, and whether they are commoners or wealthy families, they all have a very deep concept of clan bloodline."

How can this be solved by relying on newspapers?

"In my opinion!" Hai Rui, his white beard swaying, his lips pressed tightly together, said resolutely, "We must use overwhelming force to completely wipe out these stubborn resisters!"

Over the years, he has constantly reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of his rule in Jiangnan. Others said he was too "ruthless", but Hai Rui himself did not think so at all. On the contrary, he felt that he was too soft-hearted.

He used to dream of giving the Jiangnan gentry a way to coexist peacefully.

Looking back now, it would have been better to go even further and emulate Emperor Taizu Gao, slaughtering them all and leaving no survivors. Only when these people are terrified will there be any chance of a real comeback!

"Hai Xiantai's words make sense."

Zhang Jianxiu wasn't stupid; he naturally knew the crux of the matter. He had also come into contact with and heard about it during his time in Jiangnan.

But he glanced at it and shook his head, saying...

"However, in my opinion, there is another way to go."

"What?" Yin Zhengmao asked curiously.

Zhang Jianxiu held up one finger and said, "The people of Jiangnan have grievances. As long as we can spread the information everywhere and promote the principles of the new policy, they will understand and see through it."

Most importantly, it can establish a well-known role model, allowing the people to trust and love him.

Then it was spread through storytellers and operas.

Following this, with the futures market as a foundation, and with the support of the people and economic measures, the problem can naturally be solved.

"Easy for you to say," Hai Rui said with a sneer. "Where are you going to find such a person? You'd probably only find him in plays and temples!"

Zhang Jianxiu remained silent, staring intently at Hai Rui, his eyes unblinking.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Hai Rui felt a little uneasy under his gaze, so he flicked his sleeve and turned his head away.

In that instant, he suddenly realized what was happening, turned around, and said with some anger.

"That brat Zhang Yunxiu! He's trying to use me as a pretext?!"

(End of this chapter)