Su Muzhe

Three years later, in the spring of the 33rd year of the Ye calendar, the third year of tax reduction and exemption for the Yexi Kingdom, the treasury gradually began to run short.In addition, because only the children of officials were allowed to participate in the examination, the bureaucratic atmosphere in the court became more and more serious, and the emperor was helpless.

"The Secretary of the Ministry of Households issued a memorial again, and the national treasury was short of money, saying that the tax could no longer be reduced or exempted, but news of the drought in various places continued to spread. In addition, a group of newcomers who were selected in the trial last year were repeatedly impeached , not doing business properly, doing nothing. This one after another is really a headache."

In the imperial study room, Ye Xuanli was holding a pile of memorials and talking to Su Jin on the side.In the past three years, Su Jin has gained the emperor's appreciation step by step with his own efforts, and up to now, he has sat in the position of You Cheng.However, Ye Xiguo regards the left as the most respected, and there is a Zuo Cheng on top of him.

Su Jin felt relieved after hearing Ye Xuanli's words.Three years ago, he proposed tax reduction and exemption, in order to see that one day Yexi's treasury would be short of money and the people would be able to live a better life.

Now the emperor has brought up the matter of the examination, and it is precisely through this matter that the court is in chaos again.

"Your Majesty, according to my ministers, this year's severe drought will indeed have an impact on the people and the treasury, but this is not the main reason. Only the children of officials and eunuchs can participate in the examination. Any pressure, no business, thinking about using the power of the family to find an official position. Therefore, the quality of newcomers is getting worse and worse every year."

Su Jin looked at Ye Xuanli's face, seeing that he didn't intend to refute, and continued: "The sons of officials don't have the heart to sympathize with the people, and they don't have the experience of working hard at the beginning of the battle, so they only know how to enjoy themselves all day long. Fish and meat people. The people have no surplus food, officials continue to collect taxes, and when the court asks for it, they cry and say no. The accumulation of generations has led to the current situation. Therefore, I think that the most important thing is to change the test system."

After Su Jin finished speaking, Ye Xuanli did not speak, but just read the memorial a few times again. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, Su Jin continued to speak: "Your Majesty, I dare to say that the current system of examination is only It will make Ye Xiguo worse and worse."

"In your opinion, how should the examination system be changed?" Ye Xuanli asked.

When Su Jin was asked about it, he took two steps back, saluted, and then said: "Before I returned to Duke Wen's mansion, I once complained about Yexi's National Examination System. Participate in the examination to enter the imperial court and serve the emperor and the people. I have met many talented people in the ordinary people in the market, and because I was born in the market, I can understand the suffering of the people. Therefore, I boldly propose, Let all talented people participate in the test, regardless of the gap in status."

Ye Xuanli listened to Su Jin's proposal, picked up the ink pen and wrote a few words on the memorial, and then said: "The proposal is good, but this matter still depends on the opinions of other ministers."

Su Jin felt that if he listened to the opinions of the ministers, this matter might not be possible.

"Your Majesty, I feel that...this trip will definitely attract opposition from many ministers, after all, it will touch the interests of each family. Once the system is changed, the children of officials and eunuchs will not be able to directly enter the court as officials, and the future of the family cannot be guaranteed. So , I feel that this is inappropriate."

After hearing what he said, Ye Xuanli said to him: "Your younger brother Murong Yun has just been appointed as the Imperial Academy Jijiu this year. I have also mentioned the matter of talent selection to Zheng once, and it seems that it really needs to be changed. If Zheng Now that I’ve said it, those old stubborn people in the court will definitely try their best to recommend it again. How about this, you draft a decree for Zheng and promulgate it first, and wait for them to have any opinions, and then it will be too late.”

"The minister obeys the order."

Now Su Jin is quite appreciated by the emperor, so every day when reviewing the memorials, Su Jin would be allowed to enter the imperial study to review with him.This action greatly harmed the interests of the prince, and the prince has always troubled him in recent days. Su Jin thought that it was time for Ye Lingmo, who was far away in Yingzhou, to come back.

What happened three years ago seems to have become a taboo, no one mentions it anymore, three years have passed, the Duke of Wu's mansion has been abandoned for a long time, and no one lives in Chengwang's mansion.The prince's dominance in the court made the other ministers panic all day long, fearing that he would become the second Duke of Wu.

What's more, all the ministers now know in their hearts that the emperor's health is getting worse day by day, and once the crown prince succeeds, he must be a tyrant.

Su Jin picked up a memorial that had already been prepared, and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the examination system has just been reformed. Even if it is promulgated sooner than the examination, it will take a year and a half to receive actual results." .But the Yexi Kingdom suffered a severe drought this year, and the people’s harvests are not good, so we have to solve this urgent need first.”

"In your opinion, what should we do?" Ye Xuanli asked.

"I was terrified and couldn't think of a solution for a while. However, I read a memorial, which was sent by the governor of Yingzhou, saying that the drought in Yingzhou was worse than that in the capital. But because King Ying couldn't take off his clothes every day, the leader The people tried various methods and finally found a solution. Now, Yingzhou has successfully started spring plowing, and this year's taxes can be paid according to the amount three years ago. Why don't you let King Ying come back and pass it on to all places? The common people, the solution to the drought." Su Jin said.

Just as Su Jin finished speaking, Ye Xuanli threw a memorial in front of him.

"You should take care of yourself first. The Minister of Rites impeached you again, set up porridge sheds and distributed food, causing chaos."

Su Jin picked up the memorial and glanced at it, and then said: "I couldn't bear to look at those refugees, so I took some surplus food and distributed it to them."

"It seems that the drought needs to be resolved urgently. King Ying has been in Yingzhou for three years, and it's time for him to come back. I just don't know if his impatience has changed." Ye Xuanli said.

"I shouldn't have talked about King Ying, but judging from the solution to the drought this time, King Ying has calmed down a lot."

Ye Xuanli thought for three minutes, drew up an imperial decree, and ordered the eunuchs around him to send someone to Yingzhou.

Before the court, there was a lot of wind and rain, and when Ye Lingmo came back, Su Jin had a big help.As soon as the examination system is promulgated, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among many people, and open and secret struggles are even more indispensable.In this way, the peace above the court will be completely broken, and there will be chaos at that time, with various families and factions attacking each other, and it will be too late to regret it at that time.

At the same time, the territory of Nanliang Kingdom was also a bloodbath.