eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 578

The Fengtian Temple fell into absolute silence. Except for the still burning ambergris, even the sound of breathing became much softer.

It has been many years, really many years, and no one dared to be a courtier who still stood up to the bull after the emperor scolded him for being "presumptuous".

If the previous important ministers such as Min Gui and Zhang Fuhua were not counted, among the officials below the third rank in the court, Li Mengyang was the first in several years.

Because Zhu Houzhao knew them, and they also knew Zhu Houzhao. This emperor didn't like civil servants forcing him to do things, and said something disrespectful: wise enough to refuse advice, and literary enough to cover up wrongdoing.

However, Li Mengyang, the protagonist, did not show any fear. He only felt that the suzerain-vassal dilemma must be resolved. If he hadn't had this kindness, he would have had a better choice today.

Everyone present also understood this.

That's why I can say that I am worthy of being Li Mengyang.

After an unknown amount of time, the emperor on the dragon chair suddenly made a sound.

"It seems that my cultural heritage of the Ming Dynasty is still there and has not been cut off."

There was no anger in the words, and some other ministers also let go of the tension in their hearts.

"Your Majesty." Yang Yiqing said: "Li Mengyang's words are rebellious, but I feel that what he said is not completely unreasonable. There are more and more suzerains and vassals in the world, but money and food are fixed. Some places are already overwhelmed, and the people are displaced. Your Majesty Do you still remember those letters from Xie Yuqiao, the governor of Huguang, asking for food?"

"Remember. Huguang was originally the granary of the world, but now it is short of food year after year. It is really strange."

Yang Yiqing has been planning for Huguang for a long time.

"Your Majesty, I would like to send an official from the cabinet to investigate the food shortage in Huguang and make it known to the world."

The emperor asked: "Is the investigation of Huguang related to what Li Mengyang reported?"

"related!"

"What's the matter?"

Yang Ge said loudly, "Huguang has the most feudal vassals!"

This simple question and answer seems easy, but it is more difficult than reaching the sky to be able to say it.Now Li Mengyang has turned the mountain over.

The predecessors planted trees and the descendants took advantage of the shade. Many people immediately knew what to say.

Wang Bing was also impatient and said: "In addition to Huguang, there is also Henan. It's not that the kings of Henan violated the court's laws. It's really that the burden of Zonglu is too heavy. The ministers are in the cabinet. I also heard that the rice grains in Henan are not enough for the Zong and vassals. The matter of salary is still the same in the Central Plains, so it is not surprising that such things will happen in frontier wastelands like Gansu."

Zhu Houzhao continued to listen to them.

At the same time, Han Wen, who had been away for a long time, also led his two servants and walked in quickly with their heads bowed.

"Have you figured it out?"

"If you go back to His Majesty, you can roughly frame the number. The old minister is not familiar with the affairs of the Ministry, please punish him by Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao skipped the nonsense and asked directly: "How much?"

"The imperial court needs to spend more than 260 million stones of Zonglu every year. As for the lack of Zonglu, since the Cheng and Hong years, it has become more and more intense. Those who can make a big impact, except for the princes favored by the late emperor, most of the rest are not enough."

"Then what if we want to make up for all the salaries of the sects and vassals in the world? How much is needed?"

"Because of the short time, I didn't have time to check carefully, but it is roughly estimated that 100 million shi tax and food are still needed."

"Does the household department have it now?"

"Yes. At the end of the year, the household department has not much left, and there are more than 130 million shi of grain storage left."

Don't underestimate this number. It is already a great achievement to be able to make a balance instead of a deficit.

Mainly because sea trade has helped a lot in the past two years.

Moreover, Zhengde did not go to war for two consecutive years for three and four years, and the financial situation did greatly improve.

But if the money is sent out, then the treasury is really running a mouse.

Zhu Houzhao sighed, "The imperial court always owes people money, which is probably not good..."

"Your Majesty!!" After Hanwen turned sideways, Wen Tingxin, the servant of the household department, hurriedly said, "The problem of refugees in Huguang has not been resolved, and ten months ago, Shandong and Shaanxi reported drought. As usual, Your Majesty is going to allocate food for disaster relief. In recent years, the imperial court should also issue another official salary. Judging from this, the imperial court will always owe people money. It is nothing more than a choice to owe money to the vassal clan or to owe money to the disaster victims."

This guy is really good at attacking.

Wang Jia, who hadn't spoken for a long time, said with a smile: "I have heard a saying since I was a child. Since ancient times, the foolish kings have searched the world's wealth, so they are always not short of money. It is the worry of Mingjun. I want to thank Your Majesty for loving the people and loving the people for the people of the world!"

Wang Bing turned his mouth straight, damn it, pretending to be so noble, flattering is more nasty and disgusting than us.

"...This is the first. Second, the imperial court's money is not enough to spend. There are two ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. The strategy for increasing revenue is to open the sea and clear the village. Both of these two items are already being done. The key is to reduce expenditure. The veteran believes that His Majesty and all of you here are shocked by the number of suzerains and vassals just now, and what is even more shocking is, what will be the Zonglu after a hundred years? Where will it come from?
Nowadays, the king is wise and the ministers are virtuous, and everything in the world is renewed. Zonglu can still afford it. Even if he makes up for what he owes, he can grit his teeth and get through this year.However, as the old saying goes, if you don't plan for the eternity, you can't plan for a moment; if you don't plan for the overall situation, you can't plan for a region.Since Your Majesty is the king who will carry on the past and usher in the future, you should plan for the future of our Ming Dynasty! "

"Old Yang Ge, Old Wang Ge, and all the ministers and workers, I have already understood. It is this Zonglu, the court will not be able to afford it one day! Ah..." The emperor pinched his waist, shook his head and laughed at himself He smiled and said, "Don't say it will happen one day. Even today, I still owe a lot of money to my relatives. But I have to live this life forever, so be it, Mr. Yang Ge."

"The old minister is here."

"You are responsible for the affairs of Huguang. Huguang does have many sects, but it seems that it will not reach the point where it is today. Send someone to take a look, and send someone capable."

Yang Yiqing thought for a moment, "Your Majesty, isn't there just someone right in front of you?"

Li Mengyang's body tightened, so, is the time turning around?
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while, thinking in his heart that Ge Lao is still Ge Lao.

Li Mengyang is indeed very suitable, because after this 'battle', Li Mengyang's reputation has become very famous. With his reputation among scholars, he is the least likely to make peace with the vassal king. Now he reckons that even if he dies, he will not ignore himself reputation.

It would be most difficult for the vassal kings in Huguang to hunt him.

For Zhu Houzhao, appointing Li Mengyang can also win the hearts of scholars.After all, when reaching out to Zongfan, it is best for the scholar-bureaucrat to retain his heart.

"Li Mengyang, are you willing to go?"

"Sir, please follow the imperial decree!"

"Okay." Zhu Houzhao felt comfortable. After all, it would be a good thing to add some trouble to these princes. In any case, he could get some land, money and food.

Of course, he won't do it like Zhu Yunqi's cutting down the vassals, and he doesn't want to kill the vassals all over the world, which will destroy his own foundation. He just wants to spend less money, so he has to tell Li Mengyang privately, on this occasion There are still too many people and it is not suitable.

Pressing down on these thoughts in his mind, Zhu Houzhao continued: "Let's go back to the point that Mr. Wang just mentioned, we must seek for the future. The ancestors handed over the country to my hands, and I can't stand by and watch it hard to continue after a hundred years. Zong Lu There must be an explanation for the matter. The court can still afford to pay for 3000 people, but if it continues like this, there will indeed be 3 or 10 people. If this point is to be resolved, how do you think it will be resolved?"

In fact, all the ministers had their own ideas in their hearts. What Zhu Houzhao had to do was to draw them out!

So he asked directly: "Li Mengyang, you didn't show your official position in the past, but you should also know my rules. If you ask a question, there must be a solution. What do you think?"

Li Mengyang clenched his fists inadvertently.

Sunlight came in from the door, forming a square frame of light in the hall. He knelt between the intersection of light and shadow, with court officials on both sides beside him.

As the emperor asked these words, it seemed that all the light fell on him.

Slowly, slowly... He pressed his hands on the ground and kowtowed to the emperor. The sound of 'bang' seemed to hit everyone's hearts.

"You humble minister, be brave! Your Majesty should not regard one family as a family, but should regard all the people in the world as your subjects..."

(End of this chapter)