Bright Spring

Gao Xianning poured tea by himself, and said directly: "This Liu Ming is not in the same way as us; nor is he in the same way as Hou Hai, Pei Youzhen, and Qian Xun, but there are signs of alliance."

Qi Tai was noncommittal, but he admired Gao Xianning's clear mind, and he got to the point in a concise manner.

Qi Tai nodded, and said: "You and I have been ranked in the Jiuqing, how much more can we be officials? Liu Ming and others are different, and now there is no chance to learn from the dragon.

If you want to be a minister of Jiuqing, you don't necessarily have to live until you are old. "

Gao Xianning said coldly: "The Holy Majesty wants to implement a new policy, it is really a great opportunity. Liu Ming dealt with Hou Hai and others in Annan Kingdom and Japan, and I am afraid that they made friends very well. A confidant and hero who conquered crimes, suffering from being weak in power in the court, he hit it off with Liu Ming. In the future, if Liu Ming wins the banner of the reform, it will not be difficult to attract a group of classmates, fellow villagers, or like-minded scholars to gather under his command. "

He was silent for a moment, and then he said with entanglement: "Is it for helping the common people, getting promoted and getting rich, or some of both?"

Qi Tai said calmly: "Not all scholars are as wealthy as Xianning. Most officials in the capital are still powerless, with meager salaries, and are struggling to eat and dress. Not all scholars As an ascetic monk, it is inevitable that he has the idea of ​​being promoted and making a fortune, and if the scholars follow the teachings of the sages, the official way is definitely not what it is today."

Gao Xianning pondered and said: "But the vast majority of people don't have the courage of Liu Ming. I see him carrying his head on business in Annan Country and Japan, and he had a near-death experience. I'm afraid he can see it and be willing to let it go. "

Qi Tai said worriedly: "If the person in charge of the New Deal has the motivation of getting promoted and getting rich, and the party|community | cutting down dissidents, it must be a bad thing for the court and the New Deal. You and I can see through a little bit, how can the Holy One not notice?"

Gao Xianning didn't say a word, and seemed to be in a daze.After a while, Gao Xianning said in a deep voice, "The Holy One knows."

His tone was very certain, without guessing, as if he had already made a decision.

Gao Xianning said: "But this kind of person is rare, one has to be bold, be indifferent to life and death, and have selfish desire|seeking, or it can be tolerated. I predict that the Holy Majesty will really dare to use this person."

Qi Tai inadvertently sighed, and said a little frustrated: "I'm old, and I can no longer go forward for the Holy Lord, and repay the kindness of knowing you."

Gao Xianning smiled and said: "The lower officials feel young, but they still support Qi Butang's proposition. The imperial court has changed from a pool of stagnant water to turbulent currents, which is not the way of Fengshui. In the end, you have to hold important officials like Qi Butang to be a national scholar. "

Qi Tai turned around abruptly, and said, "I still want to speak to the Holy Majesty and remind you a few times, so as to fulfill the responsibility of a minister."

Gao Xianning thought for a while, then nodded and said: "That's fine, let the Holy Majesty know clearly Qi Butang's thoughts and opinions, so as not to make discrepancies between speculations. A wise man is always worried, and there is still a mistake. In case the Holy Majesty is also negligent, The courtiers should check for omissions and make up for the vacancies."

His voice was slightly softer: "I think that the ones who hate Liu Ming the most may not be us. There are people sitting on the high places, and Liu Ming wants to bring a group of people to squeeze up. Who are most likely to be forced to give up their seats?"

Qi Tai was beside the chair, walking back and forth slowly.

At this time, Gao Xianning's voice said: "The student should leave."

Qi Tai sent Gao Xianning to the door, Gao Xianning bowed again, then turned and left.While returning the salute, Qi Tai saw the officials walking in the corridor, they seemed to be watching the movement of the teacher and the student intentionally or unintentionally.Qi Tai generously nodded to an official, and the official bowed quickly.

The shadow of the sun under the eaves is different from when he just returned to the study.Just now the teacher and the student stayed in the same room for a long time, and it passed without knowing it.

Chapter 828 The Responsibility of Assistance

It is very easy for Qi Tai to have an audience.Every morning, after the imperial court and the imperial gate listened to the government, the emperor was either in the Rouyi Hall or in the Dongnuang Pavilion; the ministers would usually be able to see them as long as they let the eunuchs inform them.The emperor maintains closeness with courtiers, which is conducive to political harmony and harmony, so as not to block the audience.

Looking back on what the current emperor has done since he ascended the throne, he has a clear mind and a clear hierarchy in terms of eradicating the enemy's leader and forgiving the majority.Qi Tai often felt that if the emperor only wanted to be a wise king and maintain the government, it would not be difficult. Today, he can even gradually win over most civil servants, describing himself as a king of Yao and Shun who is diligent in governing and loving the people, and as wise as Tang Taizong.

In addition to the actions of the emperor himself, the most important thing is that everyone lives in a good world.The justifiable Ming Dynasty was founded for decades, the wars gradually subsided, there were no strong bandits outside, the country was generally smooth, and the arable land was abundant;

But today is clearly dissatisfied with this.Qi Tai also knows that if he wants to repay the kindness of his superiors, it is not enough to be a loyal minister.

Qi Tai stood respectfully for a while on the brick floor outside Rouyi Hall.Then the eunuch Wang Gui, the supervisor of ceremonies, came back and invited Qi Tai to come in for an audience.Qi Tai walked through the main gate and came to the six doors of the main hall of Rouyi Hall. He kowtowed outside the hall first, and then went inside to worship Ruyi; everything was the etiquette system set by Taizu.

Zhu Gaoxu, who was wearing ordinary clothes, was sitting behind a large table, behind Qi Taiping, his gaze stayed on Qi Tai's face for a while.After Qi Tai finished speaking the etiquette, he didn't say anything more.

Zhu Gaoxu immediately put down the book in his hand, stood up, and looked sideways at Wang Gui.Wang Gui immediately bowed and beckoned the surrounding court ladies and eunuchs to retreat together.

"It's been a long time since I talked to Qi Butang like this. Compared with the way of conversation that is too subtle on the stage, I still think that heart-to-heart communication is more useful." Zhu Gaoxu said.

"My sage, my sage." Qi Tai said with a bow.

"Come and sit." Zhu Gaoxu said.He walked to the northwest corner first.

The bright and spacious main hall has wide doors and window lattices at the front and back, and the ventilation and lighting are good.There are no windows in the northwest corner, and bookshelves are placed against the thick wall.A coffee table, tandoor, chairs, etc. were newly installed there.

Zhu Gaoxu sat down on a chair, waved to Qi Tai, and then put a kettle on the stove.The tea set on the coffee table, Qi Tai could tell at a glance that it was Kung Fu tea.

He sat down on the opposite side as promised, and said, "I come to make tea."

Zhu Gaoxu smiled: "You come."

This place is also ingenious, there is no need to say anything like "but it's okay to say, I'm not guilty", just this kind of friendly atmosphere dilutes the rigid hierarchical etiquette.

"In the few years since I passed the Jinshi examination, my family has let go of the loan and obtained the mortgaged land." Qi Tai was fiddling with the tea set while speaking.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded: "It is estimated that most of the officials in the court have done this kind of thing, it's nothing unusual."

Qi Tai said: "It is actually easier for the gentry to lend money.

According to the constitution of Taizu, county magistrates were not allowed to go to the countryside to disturb the people; at the end of Hongwu period, the court didn't care much about such things, but officials were not willing to leave the city easily, and the rules remained the same.When the county magistrate wanted to see the villagers, he issued cinnabar tickets and ordered the servants to go to the countryside to summon them.As a result, the villagers seldom deal with the government directly, unless there is a serious incident such as a homicide.The countryside is mainly governed by the elders, and the ownership of the land is often testified by the elders, and there is no need to establish a loan, pawn, or even a written certificate.The elders themselves are squires and elders of rich clans. They pay attention to the reputation of their contacts and have good relations with local gentry.This guarantees the performance of loans and pawns; only the gentry dare to lend in large quantities without worrying about the debtor's repudiation.

And those who have fame and fame only need to pay grain for the land under their name and do not need corvee. They can often shelter tenant farmers from corvee.This also made farmers more willing to mortgage their land to gentry.In the decades since the founding of our dynasty, the number of households must have increased, but the number of peasant households undertaking corvee labor has not increased, which is the result of the gradual annexation of a large amount of land. "

Qi Tai paused for a while, and continued: "If the imperial bank and the big business bank suddenly release low-interest loans. I estimate that the situation of land annexation will not only not improve, but will become more severe.

Originally, the gentry was limited by the lack of funds and could only slowly accumulate the principal; but with the low-interest loans from the bank, the funds flowed into the hands of the gentry, and they would use the money to continue to lend at high interest.Because the people are illiterate, they can only borrow money from the elders and gentry. "

The water in the kettle was already boiling, Qi Tai didn't say anything for the time being, he picked up the kettle and rushed down along the wall of the purple clay pot.His technique is very skillful, and he does it in one go, which is pleasing to the eye.

After a while, Qi Tai started to brew tea and wash the cups with the first one.He opened his mouth again and said, "I don't know if the sage understands the details of the various expenses in the palace. The sage's daily meal, four dishes and one soup, if the cost is actuarially calculated, it is more than ten times more expensive than the price of high-end restaurants in the capital. The internal treasury pays. The same is true for the various expenses.

Taste the various expenses of the Beijing camp, the troops stationed in various places, and the needs of the yamen, and use the money to purchase and distribute them uniformly; I am afraid that the price will be so high that it is difficult to estimate.The huge amount of cash allocated by the Ministry of Accounts every year must be shocking.

The reform is too radical and may turn into partisan struggle.In order to resist the opponent's criticism, the old and new parties have formed a party and strengthened themselves.In the end, no one could take into account whether the various policies were in line with reality, but only cared about the same party and the difference.Each fights for profit, generally black and white.The harm to the country is difficult to deal with. "

Qi Tai let out a breath, then picked up the small cup and handed it over with both hands.

The two stopped talking for a while, and Zhu Gaoxu also held his teacup with a thoughtful expression.Qi Tai himself picked up one, put it in front of his nose and smelled it, looked at the color|condition of the tea, and then drank it in three sips.

"Exquisite." Zhu Gaoxu glanced at him.

Qi Tai said: "The minister is the one who handles the axe."

Zhu Gaoxu put down his teacup and said: "That day Jian Yi said that 'coins are repeatedly handled in various yamen, there may be treacherous people seeking profit, and greed for ink has become common', which is in line with Qi Butang's words."

Qi Tai said: "Jian Yi has gone through the five dynasties of Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, and Wude. He knows the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty like the back of his hand. He is a stable minister. It is a pity that such people may be stubborn and conservative."

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly said: "Qi Butang supports the reform."

Qi Tai was stunned for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "The Holy One is the Lord of the Ming Dynasty. Since he has a great plan to make great efforts to cure and relieve the common people, how can I not fulfill my duty of assistance?"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, "Xia Yuanji thinks that you belong to the former official of the Han Palace, and is often still willing to discuss matters with Qi Butang, because Xia Yuanji thinks that you have a prudent, realistic side and can communicate. I also need Qi Butang to help you Reconciliation, so that good things do not turn into partisanship that harms the country."

Qi Tai turned his worries into joy, and clasped his fists in worship: "The Holy One is wise!"

Zhu Gaoxu asked: "I am also a person who can communicate, isn't it?"

Qi Tai said: "The Holy One is in power, and the common people are blessed."