After Yan Shifan read the content of the confession, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. The content recorded above was consistent with what Lu Fang had just read. It was that Li Xuan, the river supervisor, and his godfather, the eunuch Yang Jinshui, the chief eunuch of the Weaving Bureau, formed a partnership to commit corruption. Confession of project funds.
"This Hu Zongxian is a kind man!" Yan Shifan couldn't help but think.
After Yan Shifan read the confession, he circulated it to other pavilion elders. Soon, all five pavilion elders had finished reading the confession.
"After reading it all, do you have anything to say?" Jiajing asked softly with a calm tone, looking around the ministers.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Yan Song took the lead and knelt on the ground, tremblingly pleading guilty to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, I am also guilty!" After Yan Song knelt on the ground, Xu Jie followed suit.
As early as the moment Lu Fang finished reciting the confession, Yan Song understood that the emperor knew everything!
Seeing that both the first and second ministers of the cabinet knelt down, the remaining Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also knelt down, leaving only Yan Shifan who was still in the dark and looked at a loss.
Yan Shifan looked around and quickly knelt down.
Yan Song knew very well in his heart that His Majesty should have found out the inside story of the damage to Zhejiang's dams long ago! Previously, His Majesty sent Jin Yiwei Zhu Qi and others to Zhejiang to investigate. With their methods, it is not difficult to find out the truth. He is not dealing with him at the moment, just because the conversion of rice into mulberry has not yet been implemented, he still has some use, and he does not want to attract the attention of the government and the opposition. Just turmoil.
"My dears, why are you like this? It's just a confession, and I've scared you into this. I just wanted to ask you what to do next, but why are you all kneeling down to apologize?" Jiajing's face With a mocking look on his face, he slowly spoke.
"Everyone, get up. I don't want something like today to happen again. Do you understand?" Jiajing said coldly, looking at the trembling elders kneeling on the ground.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace. I would like to thank Your Majesty. Long live my Emperor!"
After thanking him, all the ministers got up from the ground one after another. However, when Yan Song got up, he staggered and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yan Shifan on the side had quick eyes and quick hands and hurriedly reached out to support Yan Song. Otherwise, Hu Zongxian would not be able to enter the cabinet the day after. It has to be much earlier.
Everyone present understood that the emperor was holding a blockbuster in his hands, and the emperor could detonate this bomb whenever he wanted! The emperor's righteousness is at hand, and no one can resist bringing this matter to light. Even if the nine tribes are not punished, they will still have to leave a mark in the history books in the future, and they will be infamy for thousands of years.
"In a while, it will be the day to collect the salt tax. Have you decided on the candidates for your cabinet?" After everyone calmed down, Jiajing said calmly.
"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend someone to collect the salt tax," Yan Song said slowly after bowing to Jiajing.
"Who?" Jiajing became interested in the person Yan Song wanted to recommend.
"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend Yan Maoqing to be the person who collects the salt tax this time!"
"Yan Maoqing?" Jiajing thought for a moment and had no impression at all.
"Your Majesty, Yan Maoqing is the censor of the Zuo Deputy Capital." Lu Fang, who was beside Jiajing, reminded him softly.
"Oh, in that case, I'm sure! Let Yan Maoqing collect the salt tax." Jiajing waved his hands indifferently, agreeing with Yan Song's suggestion.
"It's just that since the Hongwu period, the salt tax collected by the court has become less and less. Last year, it only collected 1.2 million taels of silver. I hope this Yan Maoqing will not disappoint me..." Jiajing pretended to sigh, and then Turning his gaze to Yan Song.
"Your Majesty, this person is quite talented and will definitely be able to successfully complete the task of collecting salt tax." Yan Song lowered his head and said in a deep voice without daring to make any move.
"Well, that's good, I'll be waiting for your good news then."
Jiajing was very satisfied with Yan Song's performance. He then picked up the teacup on the side, took a few sips, and couldn't help but admired: "What a good tea!"
Soon, Xu Jie also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I have my own notes!"
Jiajing looked at Xu Jie with interest and said softly: "Speak!"
"Your Majesty, the treasury is now full. The Longevity Palace where Your Majesty previously lived has not been repaired since it was destroyed by thunder and fire. For the sake of Your Majesty's dragon body, I kindly ask Your Majesty to rebuild the Longevity Palace."
After Xu Jie said this, he knelt on the ground and knocked his head on the ground with a thud.
Yan Shifan on the side was shocked by Xu Jie's sudden operation. For a moment, he couldn't formulate a complete sentence.
If things were as usual, as long as the emperor showed the slightest intention to repair the palace, he would be ruthlessly criticized by Xu Jie, who would use the old tricks of emptying the treasury, citing scriptures, and refraining from extravagance and impetuosity to make the emperor retreat.
Now, in order to please the emperor, Xu Jie actually offered to repair the Longevity Palace for His Majesty.
"This Xu Jie is really a shameless villain!" Yan Shifan thought in his heart and moved a step to the side without leaving any trace.
"Ahem, Xu Aiqing is thinking about my dragon body. This is good! But the palace will not be repaired for the time being. I live very well in Yangxin Palace. You should not mention this matter again in the future." Jiajing coughed twice. , righteously rejected Xu Jie's suggestion.
"Now that the candidate to collect the salt tax has been decided, it's time to consider the candidate for the examiner of the imperial examination. Do you have anyone to recommend?"
"Your Majesty, as usual, the examiners for the imperial examinations are usually appointed by the Ministry of Rites. This year, the Ministry of Rites is unwilling to appoint anyone else." Xu Jie was the first to speak and responded.
"Your Majesty, you don't know. The examiner of this imperial examination is a hard worker!"
"I have served as an examiner once before. I had to make complete countermeasures before the exam started. I also had to go to the exam place to prepare in advance. There must be no mistakes in the whole process! And after the candidates completed the answer sheet, Specialized people copy the names and send them to the examiner for correction. This correction lasts all night. Only after the names are announced can you regain your freedom. The whole process can be said to be very laborious and laborious."
As Xu Jie talked, he began to pour out his bitterness.
"Then, do you think, who will be the examiner this year?" After hearing Xu Jie's complaint, Jiajing did not comment, but just threw the problem back.
"Your Majesty... Otherwise, the Ministry of Rites will select the candidates for the examiners of this year's imperial examination. After all, they have been there for so many years, and they will be the same once or twice." After hesitating for a moment, Yan Shifan gave his answer. .
"No, the Minister of Rites has complained to me many times! Let's change the ministry this year, and we can't always let people come from the Ministry of Rites." Xu Jie did not think twice and flatly rejected Yan Shifan's proposal.
"Who should I replace? The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Personnel are too busy. Needless to say, the Ministry of Works. Recently, the Ministry of Punishment is also busy verifying cases, and it is even harder to find people..." This question stumped all the cabinet ministers, and they all said Thoughtful.
"Your Majesty, I do have a candidate for your position!" After thinking for a long time, Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up and he bowed to Jiajing.
"who?"
"Li Chunfang is currently serving as Taichang Shaoqing. Like Chen, he was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing. He was the number one scholar in that year, while I was only the ninth Jinshi in the second class."
