The first dude in the Qing Dynasty

... Kneeling here, I want the emperor to speak and forgive your debts. In the future, the national treasury will be opened for you, otherwise I will force you to death?

These words are quite embarrassing.

The minister's lips trembled, he knelt down again, and said: "Long live, the old minister has no such intention."

Kangxi said indifferently: "Since you have no such intention, what are you still kneeling for?"

He actually recognized Yinzuo's words.

As soon as the words came out, the minister stood up as if kneeling on a nail.

When he stood up and looked at the people kneeling all over the ground, he felt wrong: he really got up too hastily, as if he was responding to what Kangxi and Yinzuo said—the minister had no such intention, so he didn't continue to kneel down Well, the one who is still kneeling now is deliberately forcing Kangxi to forgive his debts?

Although everyone has these thoughts in their hearts, it is absolutely unacceptable to say it directly...

What can we do now?

I dare not kneel down again, but everyone is kneeling and standing alone, which is too ugly...

Fortunately, he was not the only one who was in a dilemma. The same was true for the people who were kneeling now. After him, people stood up one after another.

"Long Live Lord." Chen Zhuangyuan, who had been lying on the ground, raised his head, his face covered with tears, and choked up: "Long Live Lord ordered to clear up the debts of the household department. It's just that the Ministry of Household Affairs acted arrogantly and recklessly, but it is also the truth. Even though the officials who passed away were not thrifty in their daily lives, they borrowed money from the Ministry of Household Affairs, but they were not guilty of death. I will go to a dead end... I hope the Lord Long Live will see clearly."

Kangxi frowned slightly, and said, "Fourth Brother, tomorrow you will personally go to these people's residences to express your condolences."

If he is so persistent, isn't he asking him to explain to him?The prince personally came to express his condolences. Is this enough?

Yinzhen responded readily, and asked again: "Then Huang Ama, how should we deal with their debts?"

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to look at him, completely inconceivable: This person is dead, and he still asks what should I do if he owes the money?Do you still have to ask the dead if they are in debt?It's just too inhumane!

Before anyone questioned him, Yin Zuo said in surprise: "Fourth brother, you are asking such a strange question. This man will die, but Qian will not die. So what should I do!"

Yinzhen smiled and said: "I'm confused...Huang Ama, these officials left suddenly, and there is no one in charge at home. Why don't I let my ministers arrange people to deal with their descendants, and count their properties and pursue them?" How about handing over the rest of the property to the relatives after the debt is owed by the household repatriation department?"

Before Kangxi could speak, Chen Zhuangyuan couldn't bear it anymore, and said, "This, this is really...too..."

Yinzhen didn't wait for him to finish, and said again: "Huang Ama, my son wants to ask for a favor for them."

Kangxi nodded, and said lightly: "You say."

Yinzhen said: "If their property is unable to repay the debts, the sons and ministers would like to ask the Emperor Ama to forgive their debts... Although they did not know how to live frugally, squandered the treasury, and left their wives, children, and mothers alone, It is really disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous to leave them with debts after I die, but in the end, death is the most important thing, and their family members are innocent... I implore Emperor Ama for permission."

Kangxi hummed and said, "Sure."

Chen Zhuangyuan looked at the father and son, his lips trembled and trembled - how shameless, how shameless?These three talking to themselves, they were forced to death by you and they still didn't let go, and they became the ones who gave grace...

"Long live, my minister Wang Qian has a book to play."

Kangxi seemed to have forgotten the people who were still kneeling below, and he never said anything about telling them to stand up, and nodded, "Zou."

An official in his thirties stepped forward unhurriedly, first knelt down and kowtowed, and then said loudly: "Just now what King Yongjun and Hejun said, officials who borrow money and don't repay it, or have no money to repay, are all squandering. It is caused by excessive, I think it is not the case..."

Wang Qianzheng was young and strong, articulate, fluent in language, and neat in his words. He was Kangxi's favorite type of courtier, but now listening to his words, Kangxi's calm face gradually sank again.

Wang Qian's words, to put it simply, is that it is not easy to live in the capital. The reason why these officials borrow money is not because they are not frugal, but because they really can't live on. have no choice.

Yinzuo just wanted to laugh after hearing this: what he said really makes sense, a first-rank official only has 180 taels of silver in his annual salary, what can he do with 180 taels?A few meals at a fancy place and it's gone.

But I still have to raise a big family, and I still have to reciprocate... How can I live without borrowing money?

Yin Zuo was speechless. On the one hand, the salaries given by the imperial court to officials were not too much, only several times the income of ordinary people, but on the other hand, there was a saying that "three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflakes in silver".A magistrate, with a yearly salary of only 80 taels of silver, but gray income of 3000 taels, that's it, it's still called "Qing magistrate"!Isn't such a court rotten to the root?

However, the whole country is accustomed to this kind of thing, and completely acquiesces in the officials' actions to extract money from the common people - even Kangxi, after spending the money of Cao Yin and others, will give the rich vacancies such as inspectors and censors to the officials. They as compensation, not to mention others?

So the Beijing officials who have too few opportunities to make money are not flat, "difficult", and can't get money from the people, so let's get money from the treasury...

Yin Zuo has the desire to cover his ears and leave from the top. He is not a person with great ambitions. He knows that he has no ability to change this situation at all. Moreover, no one needs him to change all this—he simply doesn’t want to. Listen, don't look, don't want to.

Kangxi leaned on the back of the chair. People familiar with him knew that this was a sign of his impatience and displeasure. The young people below were still talking freely, but Kangxi's gaze had already left him and landed on Yinzuo—— This kid was still in high spirits just now, why did he suddenly lose his spirits?

Wang Qian finally finished speaking, and many people responded. Kangxi listened absent-mindedly, stretched out his fingers and pinched the acupuncture points at the corners of his eyes - Xiao Liu'er did not know where to find it, and told him that he was fine. Just press more, it's good for your eyes.

Sighed again: things today are hard to be kind.

First, the censor impeached Yinzuo's extravagance, then the respected old minister cried and complained that the household department was cruel and cruel, and killed people, and finally a little-known kid came, arguing that the official borrowed money from the treasury as a last resort...

When things got to this point, according to his old habits, he should let go of his mouth, but once he let go of this matter, Yinzhen and the others did their previous work for nothing, and the matter of killing people was also held to their heads up.

If he really pushes Yinzhen or Shi Shilun out, others will forget about it, and that boy Yinzuo will definitely lose his temper again.

Somewhat embarrassed, Kangxi looked at Yin Zuo, and found that he was lowering his head, drawing circles on the ground with his toes in boredom. Obviously, he didn't care about what these people said.

Kangxi suddenly thought of playing a prank, coughed dryly and said, "He Junwang!"

no response.

"Yin Zuo!"

Yin Zuo raised his head blankly: "Huh?"

"How do you feel?"

"Well?"

What do you mean?

Yinzhen laughed and said: "Huang Ama asks you, what do you think of what Mr. Wang said?"

"Oh," Yinzuo hurriedly said, "That's pretty good!"

Do you know what they said?It's also very good!Kangxi is not going to let Yinzuo go easily, he will be in trouble now mostly because of him, but this kid himself is still confused, snorted coldly, and asked: "What's a good way?"

Yinzuo blinked, well, let me just say it, anyway, speaking is not against the law - oh, no, speaking is also against the law in this era, fortunately, he has the status of a prince to protect him.

With a dry cough, he said, "I just listened to Mr. Wang's analysis of why the Beijing officials borrowed money. My son thinks it makes sense. First, the Beijing officials want to support a large family."

"Everyone in the world is raised by their parents, and officials are the same. I have never heard that the bigger the official, the more fathers. No matter what, the upper level supports fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers, and the lower level supports wives. Son. But why can the vegetable choppers and cart drivers on the street support their families, but they can’t? My son thinks that Jomo is the reason for the large number of people in the family. He married seventeen or eight concubines and gave birth to two concubines. Thirty children, and buying hundreds of girls, wouldn't it be impossible to support them?"

"This point, Huang Ama, I think, is too reasonable! Ordinary people are satisfied if they can marry a wife and have enough food, but how can they be like ordinary people when they become officials? There are no hundreds of slaves to serve them. , but how can you survive! How can you sleep with only a yellow-faced woman every night! So I have to borrow Ku Yin!"

"Pfft!" Elder Brother Yin burst out laughing, and after being glared at by Kangxi, he hurriedly covered his mouth.

Kangxi hummed noncommittally, and said, "And then?"

"Secondly, it is naturally too much to spend in etiquette." Yinzuo said: "My son was shocked when he heard Mr. Wang talk about the annual honors of the ministers. I don't know the other side. My son remembers that last year his son opened When I was in the government, I received congratulatory gifts from all the adults, and none of them were worth less than 50 taels. At that time, my son didn’t think there was anything, but now I know that the 50 taels are the one-year salaries of the ministers! It’s really strange Now, ministers, you have given Yinzuo all your salary for one year. What do you eat this year? If this year, there are other princes who marry Fujin and give birth to elder brothers, etc. What can I do?"

"Walking among the common people is just a matter of a few eggs and pieces of cloth, but since you have become an official, you can't be so stingy. You need 50 taels or 100 taels to get it. So, if you don't borrow treasury silver, But I really can't make it through..."

Kangxi hummed again, and said, "Is there a third one?"

Yin Zuo said: "The third is that the magistrates are too rich! Mr. Wang kept saying that the officials in Beijing are poor. Doesn't that mean that the magistrates are rich? People don't suffer from widows but from inequality!"

He really didn't want to talk anymore, he didn't even want to continue such cynicism, he just felt deeply powerless: After all, isn't it just greed?But the times are like this, what's the use of talking?

In modern times, many people think that corruption is serious, but can you imagine that every Chinese New Year, or wedding banquet or birthday, everyone gives a year's salary to their superiors?And there are many, many tops.

When Kangxi went to the south of the Yangtze River, these local officials and salt merchants all sent valuable things. Who ever asked——Is your ten-year salary enough to buy one?