The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 17: What I Saw and Heard, the Prince of Yan

The Ji River flows north and south, and peach blossoms bloom at the ancient ruins.

Li Jinglong and his two censors stood at the bow of the boat, taking in the scenery along the canal.

"Censor Zheng, Censor Li, have you ever been to the North?" Li Jinglong smiled and looked at the two censors beside him, chatting casually with them.

"Your Excellency Cao, I visited once last year when I was escorting exiled prisoners!" Zheng Ci replied, bowing.

"Reporting to Duke Cao, this is my first time in the North!" Another censor, Li Gui, also bowed and replied.

Li Jinglong nodded slightly, gazing into the distance, and said calmly, "In the fourteenth year of Hongwu, I came here once with my late father. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Back then, I was just a thirteen-year-old boy!"

Although he said that, he was referring to the original owner of the body, Li Jinglong, who was setting foot in the northern part of the Ming Dynasty for the first time after transmigrating.

Although the crops on both sides of the strait are lush and green, Li Jinglong feels a sense of heaviness that is hard to describe.

It was May, and many farmers were working in the fields. Whether adults or children, many of them were pale and thin. Li Jinglong knew very well that this was due to long-term malnutrition.

Even though the Ming Dynasty has been established for nearly twenty years and the world is at peace, for ordinary farmers, being able to make ends meet is still considered a good life. This made Li Jinglong's heart waver.

Upon arriving in the Ming Dynasty, Li Jinglong's initial thought was simply to remain invisible. As for the reason? Of course, it was the original owner's fate that made Li Jinglong hesitant.

But only after seeing and experiencing it firsthand did Li Jinglong realize that he couldn't remain indifferent.

Although one may be insignificant in the grand scheme of history, what man does not have the ambition and aspiration to benefit all under heaven when he achieves success?

Zheng Ci shook his head slightly, his tone filled with admiration: "Duke Cao joined the army at a young age and followed the late Prince Qiyang in battle. Thinking back to those days, I was still a mischievous child in the streets. I am ashamed, ashamed!"

"Lord Zheng, you flatter me!" Li Jinglong waved his hand casually and said with a smile, "Civil and military officials may take different paths, but they all ultimately serve the country. There is no distinction between high and low ranks, nor between those who served first and those who served later!"

When Li Jinglong set off from Nanjing, he was somewhat surprised that Zheng Ci was one of the two imperial censors who accompanied him to Beiping.

This Minister of Works, who led troops against Zhu Di during the Jianwen era, also served as Minister of Justice during the Yongle era. He remained in office through two reigns and was truly an outstanding figure.

"What the Duke of Cao says is true, I have learned a lot!" Zheng Ci bowed with his hands clasped.

Li Jinglong waved his hand, abandoning the formalities, and asked, "You two censors, what are your plans for the investigation once you arrive in Beiping?"

Zheng Ci pondered for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Duke Cao, this humble servant plans to start with the border warehouses and the salt transport office to understand the specific effects of the opening-up policy and whether there were any illegal acts in the process."

"Your subject is also prepared in the same way!" Li Gui echoed from the side.

Li Jinglong pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Merchants report their grain taxes and exchange them for an equivalent amount of salt permits. Simply checking the account books will probably have little effect!"

Li Jinglong knew that the purpose of this trip was to help Zhu Biao assess the effectiveness of the Kaizhongfa implementation. The accounts could indeed show the results, but the process itself could not be determined by the accounts.

"This..." The two exchanged a glance and realized the difficulty of this method.

Seeing that the two remained silent, Li Jinglong shared his analysis with them:

"In my opinion, the grain storage ledger and the salt certificate issuance ledger should certainly be checked and carefully verified, not only for the quantity, but also to see if the salt certificate was taken away by the grain merchant."

Furthermore, it's also necessary to understand the situation of grain and salt merchants; otherwise, it would be impossible to detect whether officials were embezzling funds or engaging in collusion during the distribution process.

Zheng Ci hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency's words are reasonable, but it might be inappropriate to only listen to the merchant's side of the story!"

"Of course not. A businessman's testimony is important. Only with a testimony can we further verify the facts. Otherwise, how can you make an assessment?" Li Jinglong countered.

Zheng Ci and Li Gui exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

Beiping, the residence of the Marquis of Yichun.

A letter, delivered day and night from Nanjing, was hurriedly handed to Marquis Huang Bin of Yichun by the steward of the Marquis's residence.

After reading the letter, Huang Bin frowned and paced back and forth in the main hall.

"My lord, has something happened in the capital?" the steward, Huang Bin's confidant, asked cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Huang Bin handed the letter in his hand to the steward, stood with his hands behind his back, and a hint of anger appeared on his face.

The letter contained a notification regarding Li Jinglong's appointment as imperial envoy to inspect the implementation of the reforms in Beiping.

After reading the letter, the steward was taken aback: "This...My lord, is it because of what happened some time ago?"

"Hmph!" Huang Bin sneered, sneering, "That Li Jiujiang, a mere greenhorn, is prepared to personally take action after suffering a little injustice. But since he dares to challenge me, then let him come!"

Seeing Huang Bin's anger, the steward advised from the side, "My lord, Duke Cao has come with an imperial edict, carrying out the emperor's mission. You must not act rashly!"

"Li Jinglong is just lucky. He's only a duke who was granted a title through hereditary privilege. If I don't teach him a lesson, I'll become a laughing stock," Huang Bin sneered.

In Huang Bin's eyes, this was just Li Jinglong's revenge.

"My lord, Li Jinglong has somehow managed to bewitch the Emperor and be appointed as an imperial envoy. Why don't we wait until he arrives, find out his mistakes, and then you can impeach him to His Majesty?" The steward suggested to Huang Bin, stroking his chin.

Upon hearing this, Huang Bin pondered for a moment and agreed with the manager's assessment. He then instructed, "Arrange for two quick-witted individuals to keep an eye on him and report back immediately if anything happens!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Huang Bin's eyes as he continued, "Call back those from our household at the border post first. If...

Upon seeing Huang Bin's gesture, the manager was startled and quickly nodded in agreement.

After four days of sailing, Zhuozhou Wharf finally came into Li Jinglong's view. Before they even docked, Li Jinglong was drawn to a group of people on the shore.

Behind the officials who came to greet them were several imposing and robust men. The one in the lead had a square face, a dark chest, a long beard, and sharp eyes. He exuded a powerful and resolute aura. He was none other than Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who was guarding Beiping.

As soon as the ship docked, before Li Jinglong and his two companions could disembark, officials from the Provincial Administration Commission came to greet them.

"This humble official, Li Xin, Councilor of the Beiping Provincial Administration Commission, pays respects to Duke Cao and the Censor-in-Chief!"

"Counselor Li, no need for formalities!" Li Jinglong helped Li Xin, who was bowing respectfully, to his feet, and said with a smile, "I am here on His Majesty's orders to inspect the opening of markets in the border towns. I will need Councilor Li's careful cooperation at that time!"

"Your Excellency is too kind. Please feel free to give me any instructions, and I will do my best to cooperate!" Li Xin said respectfully.

"Excellent!" Li Jinglong nodded, glancing at Zhu Di behind Li Xin, whose eyes held a smile, and said, "Counselor Li, please take Imperial Censor Zheng and Imperial Censor Li to the post station to rest first. I have an old friend visiting; I will go there later!"

"Your humble servant obeys!" Li Xin bowed and then led Zheng Ci and Li Gui to the side.

Just as Li Jinglong was about to walk towards Zhu Di, the latter had already walked over:

"Nephew! How have you been?"