my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 296

After Zhu Di listened, he stared at Gao Xiang.

This plain-looking, not-so-good-looking person in front of him speaks very methodically.

He took two steps.

At this moment, Chen Li hurried in, saluted Zhu Di and said, "Your Majesty, the officials from the Jian Department Hall and the Ministry of Officials have arrived."

He paused, and added another sentence: "All officials are asking to see you."

This is too big a deal.

The bureaucracy was overthrown, and the court was shaken.

At this moment, no one can sit still.

After hearing this, Zhu Di showed a sneer, and said one by one: "It's just in time, let's call everyone in."

After a while, Jian Yi, some ministers of the official department, together with the scholars of Wenyuan Pavilion and various ministers, arrived one after another.

Everyone was depressed and was about to salute.

Zhu Di just glanced at them coldly, then waved his hand: "There is no need to salute, anyway, in your heart, I am nothing more than a thief."

As soon as these words came out, everyone turned pale in fright, and quickly fell to the ground, not daring to vent their anger.

Zhu Di ignored them and continued to stare at Gao Xiang.

Gao Xiang and the others were lying when they said they were not nervous, but at this point, if there is still something wrong, then they really deserve their luck.

Zhu Di said: "You said just now that everyone calculates their own accounts, why?"

Gao Xiang made up his mind and said: "Clearly distinguish the rights and responsibilities, the transporter manages the transport well, the account is given to them, and they only need to guarantee the delivery. And the grain requisitioner collects his grain, as much as he collects, he has to put in the warehouse. In this way, it prevents the storage, collection, and transportation from being controlled by local officials, not only to ensure that they will not levy additional grain in the name of loss, but also to ensure that the accounts of grain are clear.”

Zhu Di frowned. He pondered, and after careful consideration, he said, "Stop adding more factions?"

The addition of factions has always been a long-standing problem in the Ming Dynasty.

The biggest variable here is the fire consumption.

When Emperor Taizu Gao was here, the taxes paid to the people were extremely low.

How low is it?

The tax system at that time was: the Taizu set the tax on official and private land in the world, the tax per mu of official land was five liters, three liters and five scoops, private land was reduced by two liters, heavy leased land was eight liters, five inclusive and five scoops, and no official land was one dou and two liters.

Logically speaking, the normal civilian farmland is just a little more than three liters of grain, which is almost equivalent to a tax of one thirty.

But although Emperor Taizu Gao's tax system is like this, it is actually not like this, because it involves wastage.

When the government collects grain from the people, it will ask the people to pay more in the name of loss, plus other names, which leads to the fact that the grain received by the people may be five liters or ten liters.

Of course, the government will not send the five or ten liters of grain to the court as three liters.

Maybe only two liters were actually sent to the court, because they also reported the loss to the court at the same time.

This is almost since the Han Dynasty, there has been so-called sparrow food, or fire consumption food, which can be said to be a reasonable and legal income that everyone tacitly understands.

Gao Xiang said: "The terrible thing about the increase in dispatches is that there is no fixed number. If you are a good official, you will send less. If you encounter greedy officials, you will send more. With this name, you will be extorted. The Taiping Mansion will clarify the account." Now, after the separation of powers and responsibilities, everything will be settled, and things will be easy to handle."

Zhu Di continued to ask: "What is easy to handle?"

Gao Xiang said: "In the past, officials and gentry did not pay grain, and hidden land did not pay taxes. Therefore, most of the taxes were collected from the common people. Most of the common people did not know the Chinese characters, and they did not understand the laws and regulations, so they obeyed them. So this increase, they Since you dare to be angry, you don’t dare to speak, even if you dare to speak, you don’t know how to speak.”

Gao Xiang paused for a moment, then continued: "But in order to attack the White Lotus Sect, the Taiping Mansion has investigated Yintian, and the officials and gentry must work together with the government. In order to eliminate the remnants of the White Lotus Sect, they need to pay for it together..."

Zhang Anshi stood aside, deeply moved by what he heard, Gao Xiang really...

Cry to death... This guy is still thinking about the attack on the White Lotus Sect, Zhang Anshi almost forgot.

Gao Xiang continued: "These officials, gentry, and scholars want to pay food, especially after checking their hidden fields, and then they must follow the rules, and they must not give others a handle. It’s fair and just, if you can’t stop their mouths, there will be endless troubles, they will have to instigate the people in the village, or incite people to sue everywhere, causing chaos.”

After hearing this, Zhu Di suddenly came to his senses.

"This rule must be in place. With rules, as many as others are, they are as much as they are. What belongs to them belongs to them. What belongs to the government belongs to the government. Everyone does what they want. Only in this way can people have nothing to say and let things go Get on with it."

Zhu Di scrutinized Gao Xiang.

He immediately raised his eyebrows and said: "But there is no loss, will the government pay a large sum of money?"

"Yes." Gao Xiang said: "This is Duke Wei's idea, but this sum of money is neither big nor small. In the past, this amount of money could be described as an astronomical figure. If so many people were hired to transport food, There are also the expenses of transportation and boats, which the government cannot afford at all. However, in order to attack the White Lotus Sect, the Taiping government imposed a commercial tax, and with the commercial tax, this is a small sum of money."

"This is tantamount to subsidizing some food taxes with commercial taxes, and it is not easy to collect commercial taxes. First, we must ensure that the merchants in Taiping Prefecture can operate stably in Taiping Prefecture. The Tongzhi Office now has an additional responsibility, which is to occasionally solve problems for the workshops and provide them with some convenience, such as adding some roads and bridges to the gathering area of ​​the workshops, and building some docks. In addition, I tried my best to prevent the guards from disturbing the merchants, and the untouchables can hardly explain all the details."

After Zhu Di heard this, he felt that the chains were intertwined: "In order to collect grain from the gentry, we must abolish the loss and ensure fairness and justice. To solve the loss, we need a commercial tax, and we must prevent merchants from fleeing because of the commercial tax." Going to other places, and try not to disturb them, to appease them... Is this...workable?"

Gao Xiang said: "In this regard, the Tongzhi Office needs to be safe and make no mistakes. In addition, there is also the Tuiguan Office. The Tuiguan Office must be able to collect public opinion feedback from the people in time to ensure that there will be no changes. Yes, There is also Zhaomosuo, Zhaomosuo must restrain officials so that they dare not cross the thunder pool. Then there are counties below, the magistrates and county magistrates of each county, even the master book and pawns, even civil servants and servants. It takes effort.”

Zhu Di said: "When you were a co-prefect, did you know anything about the first three counties?"

Gao Xiang said, "I know a little bit."

Zhu Di said casually, "Who is the county lieutenant of Wuhu County?"

Gao Xiang immediately said: "Liu Wudao, this man is old and in poor health, but since Wei Guogong attacked the White Lotus Sect, he has done a lot of things with all his heart, led the county guards, and stopped several times caused chaos."

Zhu Di was a little surprised, and said again: "Then who is the director of Dangtu County?"

Gao Xiang said again without thinking: "The surname is Chen Mingzhou. Chen Zhou is very cautious in his work. He is responsible for money and food. Among the three counties, Dangtu County has the most clear accounts. So the untouchables at the beginning, all Let the masters of the counties learn from this master Chen. But this time, he was also dismissed."

Zhu Di gasped, and the more he listened, the more incredible he felt.

"You are so capable..." Zhu Di looked at Gao Xiang's words, and his eyes couldn't conceal his appreciation. Then he murmured, and said in his mouth: "I know everything about this mansion well. Why did no one... Recommend you?"

This is a talent!At least such a person, logically speaking, shouldn't be just a co-instructor living in a mansion.

"The untouchables are not some virtuous talents. They used to be the same as the vast majority of colleagues. They didn't have any special talents." Gao Xiang didn't have a trace of complacency on his face. Since Wei Guogong took office, in order to attack the White Lotus Sect, the subordinate officials had to understand and visit. The entire Taiping Mansion, unlike other mansions, must effectively solve the problems caused by military orders. In fact, most of them are the same as the untouchables, and there is not much difference."

This guy is telling the truth.

Zhu Di couldn't help but glanced at Zhang Anshi.

Then, Zhu Di said: "Do you know why you were rated as inferior in the Jingcha?"

"The untouchables don't know." Gao Xiang is not a pure and honest person. At this time, he knew that he could not answer this kind of question.

Zhu Di smiled coldly, instead of being furious at this moment, he looked at the officials of the Ministry of Officials and said coldly: "What about you, why do you rate him as inferior?"

Jian Yi and the others just knelt down and remained silent.

A trace of sarcasm flashed in Zhu Di's eyes, and he turned to ask: "Who is in charge of the Beijing inspection?"

After a brief silence.

Liu Rong, the official secretary of the Qing Dynasty, kowtowed tremblingly and said, "Yes...it is a minister."

Zhu Di stared at him firmly: "Do you know Gao Xiang?"

Liu Rong tremblingly said: "No... I don't know."

Zhu Di immediately asked: "I don't know him, why is he inferior?"

"He... they... have been reported..." Liu Rongdao: "Many people complained, saying that they are domineering and exploiting the people in Taiping Mansion..."

Zhu Di said, "Who reported it?"

"It's... it's Yang Dan from Dangtu County and Deng Cong from Wuhu County..."

Zhu Di turned around at this moment, looked at Gao Xiang and said, "Who are they?"

Gao Xiang said truthfully: "He is a wealthy local family. Deng Cong was a scholar in the Zhizheng period. He has a son who has also been selected. The hidden land that came out of his family this time is more than [-] mu. As for Yang Dan, this person has more than a thousand acres of hidden land."

Zhu Di nodded, looking calm.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly said to Chen Li: "Send people... to surround these two families. The two families made false accusations, and the false accusers will sit back. Yang Dan and Deng Cong will be killed immediately. Their records will be confiscated." The property and the rest of the family will be exiled to Xinzhou."

Chen Lidao: "Observe the order."

Then he came out with a knife.

When Liu Rong heard this, he felt like he was getting an electric shock, and he seemed to be out of his wits with fright.

The few households that were reported all ended up like this, so...people like him...I'm afraid...

He was so startled that he was trembling all over, and without even thinking about it, he immediately kowtowed to Zhu Di, kowtowing like garlic, and his mouth was full of grief: "Your Majesty...Your Majesty..."

Zhu Di continued to ask calmly, "Have you verified after receiving the report?"

"Verified... verified... no, not verified... yes... verified..." He began to speak incoherently.

Because he sadly found that whatever he said was wrong.

Verified, so why is this happening?

No verification?How dare you discriminate between right and wrong without verification?

Zhu Di seemed to be trying hard to hold back his anger, and said sharply, "Have you verified it?"

"Your Majesty, their official reputation is extremely bad, and their influence is very bad. I... I also heard about these things at the time, so I... then..."

"The official voice is extremely bad?" Zhu Di said: "Who is it that says their official voice is extremely bad?"

"Yes Yes……"

Zhu Di said: "If you don't say it, you are covering up!"

"At that time, I was in the hall of the Ministry of Officials, and I heard the two principals, Liang Shangshi and Wu Kaisheng, talk about this matter..."

Zhu Di said: "These two...take them down."

"Here."

Zhu Di continued: "Is it just these two people? What else? Just rely on the words of these two people?"

"There are also the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple. They assisted in this matter... They also have quite a few complaints about the officials of the Taiping Mansion."

"There are some criticisms?" Zhu Di raised his eyebrows indifferently: "What criticisms?"

"They said...the people are so cruel to the people that they can't live anymore. This is to force the people to become robbers, it's..."

Zhu Di said impatiently: "The officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple who co-organized the Beijing Procuratorate will take it immediately and show it to the public."

Another person led the order and left.

After making this decree, his anger seemed to subside a little, but he stared at Liu Rong, and said firmly, "Is it just these people? Just because of these people, you don't ask right from wrong?"

Liu Rong raised his head cautiously, and then looked sideways at Jian Yi, who was kneeling beside him, in trepidation.

His lips were trembling and trembling, and the fear in his heart was constantly swelling, and he said with tears like rain: "No...there is no one else, it's because I didn't notice for a while."

"It's good that you don't notice for a while." Zhu Di said: "Just because of your so-called neglect for a while, you want my capable officials in Ming Dynasty to be exiled to Qiongzhou and serve as officials for generations. People who are corrupt and break the law are judged as superior and get promoted. Is this your ignorance?"

"Million death, ten thousand death..." Liu Rong had already smashed his head, his pupils kept shrinking, and Qiqi Ai said: "I... I am guilty of ten thousand deaths. Your Majesty, please depose me."

With his hands behind his back, Zhu Di said coldly, "Dismiss? Why do you have such an idea?"

Liu Rong trembled, raised his head, and looked at Zhu Di imploringly.

Zhu Di said: "If I only depose you, what will other people think? They will think, it's no big deal, if you make a mistake, the big deal is just to dismiss you. What's more, if you are deposed, those who are collaborating with you must also You will think that you are dismissed from office to protect their interests. I am afraid that they will offer you up like a Bodhisattva. They are grateful to you and thank you. You have returned to your hometown, those gentry , I'm afraid I still have to respect you like a god!"

Zhu Di stared straight at him, as if he wanted to see through him, and then laughed mockingly: "Haha...is there such a good thing in the world?"

Liu Rong said: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Zhu Di said: "Destroy the three clans and kill him."

Liu Rong: "..."

Liu Rong froze completely. He thought that he might cause a murder, but he never expected that Zhu Di would be so ruthless.

He only felt his brain buzzing, as if because of the desire to survive, before the guards came to arrest him, he suddenly said hysterically: "What is my crime?"

He roared: "What is the attack on the White Lotus Sect? It is clearly through the attack on the White Lotus Sect... to harm the people! The people in the three counties of Taiping Prefecture, especially Deng Cong and Yang Dan, are all local elders and sages in the field. The people of the Taiping Mansion have forced them to such a degree. What is the difference between Gao Xiang and others and the cruel officials? Your Majesty... If you kill the officials today, there will be big troubles. From now on, I am afraid that the people of the world will If you want to be alienated from His Majesty, doesn't Your Majesty have any scruples about this?"

Suddenly a trace of awe-inspiring flashed across Zhu Di's eyes. He sneered and said, "Emperor Taizu Gao relied on the courageous soldiers on the battlefield to win the world, and the people of Li who could not stand the violence. I won the world today because of The three armed forces are fighting bravely, and they are those kind people who pay their taxes honestly. Those people you mentioned, what are they?"

"Back then...they were appointed by the Mongols, but they saved the Yuan? Today...these people have been treated so favorably by the dynasty, but they dare not be satisfied. They dare to coerce the people and use the so-called public opinion Threatening me, today I found out their hidden fields, and taught them to share food with the common people, yet they dare to collude with beasts like you to attack dissidents."

Zhu Di looked at him disdainfully and said: "If this is the case, you will be dissatisfied. Do these bastards dare to rebel? If you want to rebel, then rebel early. I want to teach them whether my sword will pay off."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Di opened his eyes suddenly, pointed at Liu Rong, and said in a very cold voice, "Execute Ling Chi, kill his whole family!"

Without hesitation, the imperial guards dragged Liu Rong away.

At this moment, Liu Rong no longer had the courage he had just now, and he was already scared to pee, and shouted: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have already repented, spare my life, spare my life..."

Zhu Di didn't even look at Liu Rong, but looked at the ministers kneeling on the floor.

His eyes burst into flames, and he suddenly said: "Jian Qing's family..."

Jian Yi kowtowed: "The minister is here."

Zhu Di said: "The Jingcha report came to your Shangshu, did you verify it?"

Jian Yi has always kept silent, but now, he knows that he can't keep silent.

Jian Yi said, "I've verified it."

As soon as this remark came out, Zhu Di frowned deeply: "What's the result of the verification?"

"It's not wrong with the one reported by the lower level." Jian Yi said, "I won the heart of the old minister."

Zhu Di looked at Jian Yi with a strange look and said, "So the matter of Gao Xiang and others is also related to you?"

"It is indeed closely related." Jian Yi said.

"Why?" Zhu Di was furious.

Jian Yi said: "The imperial court gave preferential treatment to the gentry and scholars, and the gentry and scholars served the court. This has happened in all dynasties. Even the violent Yuan mentioned by your majesty knows how to win over the gentry and scholars to win the hearts of the people. Peace the world When you really need soldiers, you can get off your horse and sit in the world, but you must not rely on them. I think...the things that the Taiping Mansion...does are really hidden dangers for my Ming Dynasty, and I made such a bad plan for the sake of the country and society."

Zhu Di looked at Jian Yi coldly: "So, you did all this on purpose?"

Jian Yi said: "Yes, so please don't embarrass Liu Rong, Deng Cong, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Dali Eunuch, etc. Your Majesty, it is enough to punish the three clans of officials."

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was moved.

I saw Jian Yi continued: "I also cherish my own life and care about my people. I have been studying since I was a child, and I dare not slack off. What I have learned... is nothing more than the principles of governing the country and the world. Some monarchs have abandoned them as if they were worthless, and some have regarded them as a standard. But dare to ask your majesty, where are those who abandoned them like worthless things now?"

Zhu Di sneered and said, "Well, you're a shame!"

Jian Yi, as if he couldn't feel Zhu Di's anger, calmly said: "Taiping Mansion is just collecting grain. With the help of Taiping Mansion's grain collection, the world's money and food are sufficient, but I dare to ask Your Majesty... how about people's hearts?" ? Your Majesty, is it possible to gain people's hearts just for these money and food?"

Zhu Di pursed his lips, the anger in his eyes lessened a little, and he said angrily: "The words are unreasonable."

Jian Yi said: "Your Majesty...knows that death is not a fluke. What I said today is not arrogance. I just think...Your Majesty can't trust only one person. I don't have any prejudice against Duke Wei. He is a military minister. Although he is a foreign relative, he has made great contributions to the court several times, which is by no means a lucky minister. But if the minister is fair, Wei Guogong is really not suitable for governing the world, and governing the world is not about marching and fighting, and it is by no means simply caring about the amount of money and food. Throughout the dynasties, Only when the sage is ruled by the bow, and the ruler and his ministers are in harmony, can there be a peaceful and prosperous world, is this also wrong?"

He continued to kowtow, and continued: "If your Majesty thinks that the old minister is wrong, but the old minister firmly believes that the amount of money and food for a while will not bring much benefit to the world, but will cause endless harm. This is all I have said. Please His Majesty... punish the ministers."

After that, he didn't say another word and fell into silence.

Zhu Di also fell silent.

What Jian Yi said seemed to be reasonable and well-founded, but Zhu Di was still full of resentment. He hated what Jian Yi said to the extreme.

But he glanced at the various ministers kneeling at his feet, only to notice that almost all of them looked sad.

Zhu Di was silent for a while, and finally fixed his eyes on a person, and said, "Hu Guang, how do you think I should deal with it?"

Hu Guang was silent for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, I have been studying since I was a child. What is said in the book is indeed true. I... I hope that your majesty will be magnanimous. Jian Yi is an old minister, and the merits are in the community. Please read him old... ..."

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows, fixed his eyes on the other person impatiently, and said, "You come to Yang Qing's family."

Under normal circumstances, when the emperor is not satisfied with one person's answer, he will ask another person until he finds a satisfactory answer.

And Yang Rong is well aware of this.

(End of this chapter)