When people in northern China talk about the Wuyue area in the south of the Yangtze River, they most likely think of the 480 temples in the Southern Dynasty, and the hazy and ethereal buildings in the mist and rain; the sunrises, the flowers are redder than fire, and the river water is as bright as blue when it comes to spring; the river is as bright as blue as tobacco; the city is full of wind and catkins, and the melancholy and sorrowful as plums when they are yellow...

Yangzhou has been a very famous city since ancient times. There are many adjectives such as "fireworks in March," and "peace of a crane to Yangzhou" and many poems about Yangzhou.

However, when Zhu Youxiao arrived in Yangzhou at this time, he didn’t have the intention of strolling around. He came to Yangzhou just to cause trouble, so how could he wander around?

The reason why I ran to Yangzhou so quickly was that I was afraid that news from Nanjing would spread.

Once the news spreads in Nanjing, things will be difficult to deal with. In this case, it is best to go directly to Yangzhou.

When Zhu Youxiao arrived in Yangzhou, no one knew it, so it could be said that what came was silent.

Zhu Youxiao was riding a boat, dressed as a rich young man who was having fun, and came to Yangzhou directly.

After arriving in Yangzhou, I naturally moved into Lichunyuan in Yangzhou as soon as possible.

You can tell from the name that Lichunyuan is the industry of Jinyiwei in Yangzhou, or Chen Hong in Yangzhou.

While Zhu Youxiao moved into Lichun Academy, people began to enter Yangzhou one after another. In addition to Zhu Youxiao's escort, there were also people transferred from Zhu Youxiao.

For Zhu Youxiao, nothing is more important than his own safety.

As night falls, Yangzhou becomes brighter and brighter. Compared with Nanjing City, Yangzhou is even more lively than ever.

But Zhu Youxiao didn't feel any appreciation. Standing by the window on the second floor, holding a cup of tea in his hand, Zhu Youxiao took a sip from time to time.

Behind Zhu Youxiao, there were several people standing honestly. In addition to Chen Hong and Wei Chao, there were Qi Yuangong and Xu Xianchun.

In addition, there is a relatively good person.

This person is naturally the person in charge of Lichunyuan, Yangzhou, and his name is Wei Changsheng.

He is in his thirties and is very rich, with a mustache.

At this time, Wei Changsheng bent his body slightly, put his hands in front of him, and stood there with a serious face, with a look of respect on his face.

It's really disrespectful. No one here can afford to be provoked by him.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the person behind him and asked, "Have everyone arranged it?"

"Go back to the emperor, everyone has already been arranged." Wei Chao said quickly: "The people from the Qinglisi Department live in the yard behind, and several adults are also arranged in the inns on both sides, and no one notices it."

This time I came to Yangzhou, not only those businessmen were the main ones to investigate, but the officials were the ones to investigate.

Under such circumstances, it is naturally impossible for Zhu Youxiao to come alone, nor can he let the Jinyiwei check it out.

The Jinyiwei is responsible for arresting people and interrogating people. They are very good at this, but they are not good at other aspects.

Zhu Youxiao understands the truth of this sentence very well when leaving professional matters to professionals.

Now that I heard that all the officials brought were arranged, Zhu Youxiao nodded.

This thing can begin.

Zhu Youxiao turned around, glanced at Wei Changsheng and said, "Yangzhou is a good place, you will know. Have you lived well in Yangzhou in the past few years?"

After hearing this, Wei Changsheng quickly took a step forward, his heart pounding.

Your Majesty said you are doing well, but you have some thoughts. Are you not attentive to do things?

If His Majesty had such an idea, he might not be able to save his life, let alone his future.

Wei Changsheng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have never dared to be lazy since I came to Yangzhou. It can be said that it has been day and night. Please ask Your Majesty to observe clearly."

"I never look at these." Zhu Youxiao said calmly: "I'm looking at the result."

"If you can do this, that's great. How much do you know about Chen Zhenglin, the Yangzhou Transportation Transportation Commissioner? Has this person committed a crime and accepted bribes?"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Changsheng and said in a casual tone: "Don't say that you didn't know anything for several years in Yangzhou."

Many things in this world are deceiving the superiors and not hiding the subordinates. Things that the people above do not know do not mean that the people below do not know them either.

What's more, after Wei Changsheng arrived in Yangzhou, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Jinyiwei, if he couldn't find anything, there would be something wrong here.

"When you go back to your Majesty, Chen Zhenglin is a fairly honest official and never charges cash. However, this person has always liked art and has basically no resistance to famous calligraphy, paintings, antiques and other things. So the salt merchant started from this aspect and gave him a lot of good things over the years."

"Especially, Chen Zhenglin likes Hongxiu Tianxiang. In recent years, salt merchants can be regarded as devoting their preferences. They send a few people to his mansion every year. It is no longer a secret in Yangzhou City."

Wei Changsheng said while looking at Zhu Youxiao carefully.

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao's expression had not changed, Wei Changsheng continued: "The atmosphere in Yangzhou is like this. The salt merchants have a very luxurious style and do a lot of things on weekdays."

"The salt merchants will also pay for sponsorships when holding a poetry and literary party. Every year during the imperial examination system, they are busy. And once there is a talented man, they will also give some money and send him to someone. Basically, they are beautiful women they have trained."

"These women have been trained since childhood, and are proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, songs, and appearances. They are very sensible when welcoming and sending each other on weekdays, and can be said to be no less than everyone's ladies. Beautiful things like Hongxiu Tianxiang are very common in Yangzhou City."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Changsheng and said, "Is there anything else?"

"Reply to Your Majesty," said Wei Changsheng: "There are still some. These people not only do this, but also send gardens, women, fields, and houses to officials. There are only those you can't imagine, and there are no ones they can't imagine. As long as there is a little noise from your side, they will send things up."

"In addition, they will also mediate in the officialdom. For example, if an official has something to do, they will help to connect with each other. After all, they have great supernatural powers and can settle many things."

"In addition, when officials are promoted, they will also give away money; if someone wants to be promoted, they will also help, and they will also participate in things like asking for help."

"In short, if a scholar gets along with them, then he will live a good life while studying, and he will not use all the money, and he will also have a good ranking in the imperial examination. After becoming an official, the people in the family will also receive their care, including houses, fields, and shops."

"And they will also help him in the officialdom. When there is an assessment and promotion, they will deal with it. So their power is very huge."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Changsheng and said with a smile: "There is still one thing you said. If I were asked to do this, I would also hold the imperial examination in my hand."

"I will use various methods to achieve this goal, whether it is bribing examiners or bribing local yamen runners, in short, no matter how much money it costs, it must be done."

"If you can really do that, if scholars want to pass the imperial examination, they must obey; if they don't obey, they don't think about passing the examination."

"Only by obedience, they will have a future. In this way, they will be kind and do good. Follow me will be good. If you don't follow me, you will be unable to get anything."

After hearing this, the people in the room all looked a little weird.

No one expected that Zhu Youxiao would say such words, which was obviously beyond their expectations.

Emperor, is it really good to say this?

But in fact, everyone was shocked after hearing this.

If these people can do this according to what Zhu Youxiao said, then this will be a big deal. In this way, they will hold a lot of things.

In fact, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this was what the Donglin Party did back then. The financial backers behind the Donglin Party paid money to them to build academies, and then collected and trained scholars, created momentum for them, gave them money, made them famous, gave them women, and made them officials."

I don’t know if I can bribe it during the exam, but Zhu Youxiao believes that cheating cannot be stopped at all.

What's more, in the Ming Dynasty, they were so rich that there was nothing they could not do.

In the United States in later generations, even if you have money, you can buy famous universities, let alone in the Ming Dynasty?

Why is the political environment in the United States better than the current Ming Dynasty?

But what's the result? Isn't it the same?

The imperial examination sent his own people up, and in the officialdom, the officials in front promoted the officials behind, and the officials behind supported the officials in front, and a complete closed loop was formed.

At the same time, in the academy, everyone can criticize current problems and develop a complete set of theories. Our policy and current affairs ideas are all things that "sounds very useful, but cannot be done."

Anyway, it’s not easy to be a keyboard warrior?

Just have a loud voice.

"Why don't you talk?" Zhu Youxiao said with his eyes swept over everyone.

Who dares to talk about this kind of topic?

The emperor can talk nonsense, can't these people do it?

The eyes of several people all fell on Wei Changsheng.

Wei Changsheng didn't dare to speak either.

He knew all the things he said before, but he didn't know what His Majesty said, so he couldn't talk nonsense in front of His Majesty.

Moreover, he has the lowest status among the people on the scene, so it is best to say nothing.

But all those people looked at him.

Can you please stop looking at me? Retract your gaze!

No, the pressure is too great! I still have to say something.

Wei Changsheng took a step forward and said, "Go back to Your Majesty, I don't know anything about this. Please forgive me."

n.
Chapter completed!