The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yang Tinghe hurried into the palace, fearing that if he didn't keep an eye on him, he would cause trouble.

After serving the prince in his studies for several years, he was about to join the cabinet.

But if Yan Chengjin wants to impeach him now, there is only one possibility: this kid also wants to join the cabinet!

The cabinet quota has always been only three people.

If Mr. Liu becomes an official, he will free up a place in the cabinet. Li Dongyang and Xie Qian will definitely nominate him to the cabinet.

If Yan Chengjin wants to join the cabinet, he must remove himself from Zhan Shifu.

When you are an official in the government, you use various means to get promoted, just like people fighting for land, there is nothing to say.

"Your Highness, don't listen to Fei Hong's nonsense. I am sincerely sincere, and the sun and the moon can serve as a reference."

Zhu Houzhao blinked.

The reason why he likes Fei Hong is that when asked why birds can fly, Fei Hong always says seriously: Let Chen think about it.

Although he couldn't give a satisfactory answer in the end, what he valued was attitude.

When asked about Yang Tinghe, he was always scolded: Your Highness, listen carefully and don't be distracted. Whether a bird can fly or not, what does it have to do with Your Highness?

"Fei Hong complained to me, is Master Yang making things difficult for him?"

"It's all a misunderstanding, nothing like this!

I was in charge of Zhan Shifu and always made clear rewards and punishments. Fei Hong made mistakes in his lectures, so I asked him to copy the lecture notes for reflection. "

"How about you make peace with Master Fei while I'm serving wine in the East Palace?" Zhu Houzhao said nonchalantly.

Yang Tinghe looked confused.

Is this the language and skills I learned from His Majesty?

When Zhou Yu and the Zhang brothers were fighting, His Majesty often held banquets in the side hall to reason with Zhou Yu and the Zhang brothers.

Yang Tinghe's expression became much more relaxed: "Your Highness, I have nothing to do with Fei Hong, but Fei Hong hates me. It would be great if I could ease his knot."

Zhu Houzhao ordered the young eunuch to prepare a banquet. Not long after, Fei Hong came to the East Palace.

When they met, both of them looked embarrassed.

Yang Tinghe forced a smile: "You have no grudges against me, how dare you come here to trouble His Highness?"

Fei Hong's eyes moved slightly and he nodded: "Mr. Yang is right, I am being reckless."

Zhu Houzhao looked at the door. Lao Gao, a dog official, asked me to serve wine, but he himself didn't come.

If I drink, I will be beaten by my father.

At this time, the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Yan Chengjin saw a sparse memorial, which was sent back by Tang Xianzhang, the censor of Yangzhou.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was extremely important to the Ming Dynasty. Freight transportation from north to south was mainly completed through waterways. This was an important reason for the prosperity of Jiangnan.

"The weather during the Little Ice Age was erratic. Without waterway access, the cost of freight would have increased by more than 30%."

There is little rain and snow in the south of the Yangtze River, and ships cannot be opened after the beginning of spring, so the customs will not be able to collect tax money.

The imperial court had huge expenditures that needed to be supported by commercial taxes, such as military pay for the Nine Borders and salaries for officials.

At the other end of the cabinet courtyard, a clerk walked into the duty room with an urgent report.

Xie Qian opened the memorial and glanced at it for a few times, then suddenly became serious: "Chen Liangfu of Yangzhou sent back the memorial, asking for a 50% reduction in business taxes and taxes in Yangzhou next year."

Li Dongyang's expression changed slightly: "Why?"

"After autumn, there is less rain from North Zhili to Jiangnan." Xie Qian said.

At this moment, the civil servant walked in quickly and handed the memorial to Liu Jian.

Liu Jian's old face was wrinkled as ugly as a chrysanthemum: "Huai'an Zhangju sent back a memorial, asking for a 40% reduction in Huai'an government's business tax and tax next year."

The two governments in Jiangnan requested a tax reduction!

Li Dongyang's frown deepened: "Why does the lack of rain and snow affect business taxes?"

He understands that rain and snow affect farmland cultivation.

If there is less snowfall, the land will dry up and the yield per mu will be reduced. But what does this have to do with commercial taxes?

Xie Qian's family had business, and he quickly gave Li Dongyang the answer: "The Huaiyang Canal is good for boats when it rains. If there is a drought this autumn, I am afraid that the water will dry up next year. Only by storing water can we facilitate water transportation next year."

The Ming Dynasty's commerce relied heavily on water transportation.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the life of the gentry! Connected with transportation between the north and the south, Liangxiang in particular has become a commodity gathering place in North Zhili.

There are more merchant ships coming and going than before.

But the narrowest section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is only more than ten meters wide.

If the river dries up, not only will the number of ships sailing be greatly reduced, but the same ship will not dare to carry more cargo than before for fear of insufficient draft.

As a result, business taxes have been significantly reduced.

Li Dongyang thought about it and hesitated: "If the tributaries are blocked to store water, how will the people divert water to irrigate their farmland?"

Liu Jian had a sad face and stroked his beard unconsciously.

At this moment, Han Wen hurriedly walked in: "Did Liu Gong read the memorials sent back from Huaiyang? I want to reduce the tax!"

The Ministry of Household Affairs was in charge of taxation, and Chen Liangfu and Zhang Tu each wrote a memorial to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Cabinet.

The Li Canal is only a section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and I am afraid that the entire Jiangnan will be affected. However, no warning has been reported yet.

"We don't dare to reduce the tax easily. Let's see your Majesty first."

Liu Jian picked up his official hat and put it on his head, and walked vigorously to Fengtian Hall. After the announcement, he entered the main hall.

Emperor Hongzhi felt a little bad when he saw the cabinet and Han Wen coming together. It was probably related to the treasury.

Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty, the magistrates of Huaiyang and Huaiyang have sent back a memorial, asking for a half-and-half reduction in business taxes and taxes."

Huai'an Mansion and Yangzhou Mansion are prosperous places in the south of the Yangtze River. Emperor Hongzhi shuddered in his heart: "What's the matter?"

"There is little rain this autumn and winter, and I am afraid that water transportation will not be possible next year, let alone irrigating the fertile fields." Xie Qian's words were concise and to the point.

Rain is beyond their control.

Even if he knew it, it would be of no use and he could only reduce taxes to Huaiyang and Yangzhou.

The Ming Dynasty has a clear bottom limit for commercial taxes. Each banknote office must collect the bottom limit to avoid tax arrears.

A trace of worry flashed across the eyes of Emperor Hongzhi. Although the treasury was becoming more and more full, the expenses were also huge.

Just maintaining the fleet to mine silver mines in the island countries was an astronomical figure.

Liu Jian said: "If the outlet of the canal is blocked, the people will have no water to farm. If the outlet of the canal is opened, merchant ships will not be able to pass."

At this time, outside the palace gate.

Yan Chengjin held a memorial and stood in front of the palace gate waiting for Emperor Hongzhi to meet him.

Under the imperial steps, the little eunuch of the East Palace ran over breathlessly: "Lord Yan, the prince said that the banquet is ready and asked you to go to the East Palace."

"I have more important things to do now, so let the prince wait."

The little eunuch was embarrassed and stamped his feet and said: "Oh, Lord Yan, I can't wait any longer. Lord Yang and Lord Fei are fighting!"

Zhu Houzhao, you dog, I asked you to play truth or dare, not fight.

Yan Chengjin thought about it carefully and decided to go to the East Palace first.

Fei Hong hated Yang Tinghe to the core, and Yang Tinghe had a hot temper.

He knew to be restrained when wearing official clothes, but if he drank too much, he might kill someone.

When he walked into the East Palace, Zhu Houzhao was clapping his hands and cheering: "Master Fei, you are awesome!"

A group of young eunuchs cried and tried to dissuade him, but Yang Tinghe did not allow them to come.

Yan Chengjin glanced at the imperial platform and found that there was only a plate of peanuts. No wonder he drank so much.

"Master Fei and Yang Zhanshi are fighting, why don't you stop them?"

Zhu Houzhao blinked: "I saw that Master Yang could not beat Fei Hong, so I didn't try to stop them."

Fei Hong was younger and stronger than Yang Tinghe, and he rode on Yang Tinghe and attacked like crazy.

The Jinwu Guard followed Yan Chengjin into the side hall, and panicked when he saw this scene, and quickly pulled Fei Hong and Yang Tinghe apart.

"You hit me! I will file a petition to dismiss you from your post!"

"You are so domineering in the Zhanshi Mansion that you don't deserve to be in this position!"

Although the two separated, their hands and feet were still waving, and the Jinwu Guards could hardly stop them.

"Lao Gao, what should we do? Father will definitely extend my confinement." Zhu Houzhao was afraid that he would not be able to leave the palace for a year, and he was a little scared.

Who told you not to add a few more dishes!

Yan Chengjin rolled his eyes at him, thought carefully: "Send it to Fengtian Palace, His Majesty will know sooner or later."

"How does Father feel today?" Zhu Houzhao asked seriously.

"There is a lack of rain in Huaiyang, and His Majesty is discussing with the cabinet master. Your Highness should be prepared. His Majesty may want to vent his anger."

Zhu Houzhao was a little timid.