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He did not get angry, but looked at the three assistant ministers calmly and asked: "The capital needs a lot of grain, and the capital has been severely damaged, so it also needs a lot of grain. The amount is too big, why don't you ask the people to hand over so much more?" Food is just compensation afterwards, how can they wait until afterwards?”

Hu Guang said this, after a pause, he raised his voice and said seriously: "My attitude is to try not to disturb the people, otherwise in order to solve the people's livelihood problems in one place, it will cause people's livelihood problems in another place, and this will happen again." What’s the use?”

"Perhaps you can tell me how to avoid this problem without affecting the salt tax?" When he said this, his tone was a little harsh.

After hearing this, Wen Tiren bowed and echoed: "Your Majesty is kind and considerate. I am deeply ashamed of it. I can only obey your Majesty's orders!"

You're a flatterer, Cheng Jiming couldn't help but slandered you after hearing this. The chief assistant surrendered to the holy will and had no shield.

Hu Guang nodded in response to Wen Tiren's words, then looked at Cheng Jiming and Zhou Yanru and said, "Why are you two teaching me?"

The words were already a bit rude. Cheng Jiming and Zhou Yanru looked at each other. They had learned about the emperor's methods, and they probably would have objected for the sake of opposition. If they couldn't provide a solution, they might be called old men.

With this thought in mind, the two of them bowed together and said, "I am stupid, but I can only obey His Majesty's orders!"

Hu Guangjian agreed, and when he really wanted to speak, Wen Tiren said again: "Your Majesty, there is no precedent for this matter. The amount of salt is so large, how can it be distributed to the people?"

This is a detail. It’s no problem to bring it up to check for omissions and fill in the gaps. Hu Guang thought for a while and then said: "The amount of salt per serving is indeed too large for ordinary people. Let's do it like this. We will receive salt on a per-future basis, exchange it for salt and distribute it to each county, and then each county will distribute it to Just hand over food to the people!”

Having said this, he turned to look at Cao Huachun and said: "In addition to letting the Metropolitan Procuratorate send a censor to supervise this matter, your East Factory should not be idle and send people to supervise secretly. If there is any violation of law or discipline or difficult to solve problems, , report it to me immediately."

"My servant obeys the order!" Cao Huachun did not have the concerns of their civil servants and immediately agreed respectfully.

When Hu Guang said this, he thought of something, but it was inconvenient now, so he suppressed his thoughts and waited until the discussion was completed.

Then, he thought for a moment and then said: "My Ming Dynasty has suffered from disasters one after another. In addition to the disaster of building captives, the northwest has suffered from severe droughts for many years. The demand for food cannot be excessive no matter how big it is. You should know about the miserable situation in the northwest." Therefore, I decided..."

Upon hearing this, several ministers below stood up straight and looked at him, waiting for him to announce the matter.

Hu Guang glanced at them, and then said slowly: "Send angels to various countries in Southeast Asia to ask them to pay tribute to food. The amount required should not be just a show, but should be done to the best of your ability..."

"Ah, Your Majesty, this...isn't this bad?" Zhou Yanru was the youngest and couldn't hold his breath after hearing this. He interrupted the emperor before he could finish his words.

Hu Guang wasn't angry at all, he just looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, I, the Ming Dynasty, is a kingdom of heaven and a state of etiquette. Isn't it inappropriate to ask for... from a vassal country like this?" Although Zhou Yanru was not sure about his words, his expression was very clear. It’s expressed, but it’s inappropriate.

Cheng Jiming also bowed and saluted, and then said: "Your Majesty, the tribute set by our Ming Dynasty is actually just a formality. Its purpose is to make the countries in the four directions regard our Ming Dynasty as the suzerain country. The replacement of their kings must have my Ming Dynasty." The dynasty canonizes people. Maintaining etiquette is fundamental, and promising them benefits and enticing them with benefits are the means. Throughout the dynasties, there has never been a suzerain state that asked for tribute from its vassal states, let alone designated food items. "

"Yes, we have a vast country in the Ming Dynasty. It has a vast land and abundant resources, so what do we not have? If we ask for ordinary things like food from the surrounding countries, we will be laughed at by the barbarians, which is unworthy of the style of a great country!" Zhou Yanru nodded in agreement.

The two of them spoke actively, but Wen Tiren remained silent.

He knew in his heart that what these two people said was generally speaking. Throughout the dynasties, the so-called tribute had more of a political significance. However, the current emperor is a pragmatic person. This argument is definitely not in line with the holy will, but it does not mean that the emperor is young and does not understand politics.

Sure enough, after hearing what they said, Hu Guang frowned again. As soon as they finished speaking, he heard him shout categorically: "The Ming Dynasty is now a troubled year. There are floods in the south and drought in the north. There are also raging rebels everywhere. In disaster relief, money and food must be used everywhere. I don't ask them for money, which is already the behavior of a great country. In Southeast Asian countries, food is harvested three times a year, which is a common thing. Let them only have food, but it is for their consideration. Just Is there anything to argue about such a thing?"

"Your Majesty, the family scandal must not be made public!" After hearing this, Cheng Jiming hurriedly advised again, "If the foreign countries from all over the world know the inside story of our Ming Dynasty, we may have different intentions!"

Haha, I have already said that family scandals should not be made public. It is really a shameless rhythm. Hu Guang sneered in his heart. When Wen Tiren didn't say anything, he looked at him and asked with a cold face, "What do Wen Qing think?"

"I believe that your Majesty's words are reasonable. The current plan must be to appease the country." Wen Tiren replied calmly and calmly.

As soon as these words came out, they immediately attracted puzzled looks from the other two people. Then when they saw the emperor showing a hint of relief, they immediately slandered Wen Tiren, a sycophant, in their hearts.

Hu Guang felt that his decision to promote Wen Tiren as the first assistant was the right thing to do. After he nodded in response to Wen Tiren, he turned to look at the other two people and said seriously: "You have also said that the Yi countries in the four directions know that our Ming Dynasty is weak and are afraid of disloyalty. This is the real relationship between countries. In fact, That is, the relationship of interest, everything else is illusory.”

"Let me put it simply and straightforwardly. Between countries, whoever has a stronger fist will be the boss. If a weak country wants to be recognized and protected by a strong country, it must pay protection fees. The kind of tribute that used to be paid will no longer be possible from now on. , throw them all away, I only want benefits, not face!"

"..." The Wenhua Palace was very quiet, everyone seemed to be frightened by the emperor's naked and straightforward words.

"Your Majesty, this is what barbarians did. Our country is a country of etiquette..."

Before Zhou Yanru could finish his words of advice, he was interrupted by Hu Guangda: "What do you mean, you would rather give the benefits to your friends than to the people of the Ming Dynasty? Seeing the people of the Ming Dynasty crying for food, you would rather they go hungry. Even if you die, become a thief, rebel, and overthrow our Ming Dynasty, you don’t want to lose that face, right?”