That night, some of the officials who had previously appeared on the Jiajing list had their homes confiscated without warning, causing shock to both the government and the public. The ministers in the government were deeply disturbed by this and went to inquire about the news from their patrons.
Today is the day for the cabinet meeting. Although the news of changing rice to mulberry has been released, the procedures that need to be followed still need to be followed! At that time, Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, will take the lead. After the proposal he submits is approved by the Chief of Ceremonies and approved by His Majesty, it can be officially implemented.
Early in the morning, Lu Fang came to the Yangxin Hall to serve Jiajing in dressing.
"Your Majesty, last night I ransacked the homes of eight officials according to the list. The crimes they committed were all unforgivable!"
"My servant confiscated a total of 5,600,000 taels of silver from the homes of these officials. I took it upon myself to send 5,000,000 taels of silver to your majesty. Please forgive me!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he knelt on the ground and apologized to Jiajing.
"Oh, you, you, let me tell you what you want."
"I told you before that you should keep the money you didn't copy for yourself! Oh, forget it, I'll spare you this time, but I won't do it next time."
Jiajing helped Lu Fang up from the ground, looking like he hated iron.
"Slave, thank you for your grace."
After Lu Fang was helped up by Jiajing, her face was filled with tears of gratitude.
"Okay, it's almost time, come with me to the cabinet!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he didn't even look at Lu Fang and walked straight ahead.
Seeing this, Lu Fang quickly followed Jiajing step by step. Judging from Jiajing's pace, he was in a good mood today.
…
In the cabinet, several ministers were discussing what happened last night.
"Mr. Xu Ge, do you know what happened last night? Why did the people from Dongchang go out?"
Yan Song turned his gaze to Xu Jie and asked.
"I don't know. Last night, out of nowhere, I got news from my subordinates that Dongchang was dispatched! I heard that they have a list in their hands and are knocking on the door according to the names on the list."
At this time, Xu Jie also frowned, thinking about the meaning behind it.
"A total of eight officials had their homes confiscated last night, and the people whose homes were confiscated had various official positions, and they didn't have much interaction with each other. Could it be that there was some major case happening in the capital?"
Yan Shifan on the side also followed closely and analyzed.
"Well, a few days ago it was the Jin Yiwei, and recently the Dongchang has also appeared. It's really weird. If we continue like this, it will definitely make the civil and military people of the whole court panic!"
Gao Gong rubbed his neck and said.
Zhang Juzheng on the side was just sipping tea and didn't pay attention to what everyone said.
"Your Majesty is here!"
As a high-pitched voice sounded, everyone stopped discussing and knelt on the ground, waiting for Jiajing's arrival.
After Jiajing's figure appeared in front of everyone's eyes, they all said in unison: "I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
Jiajing was in a good mood today. The corners of his mouth raised slightly and he said loudly: "Get up, everyone, get up!"
"Your Majesty is in a good mood today. Is it because of what happened last night?"
This was the consensus of the five people kneeling on the ground at this moment.
With such questions in mind, everyone sat down in their respective seats.
After Jiajing sat down behind the bead curtain, Yan Song stood up first, raised the memorial in his hand high above his head, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask your Majesty, Yan Song, to officially implement the conversion of rice into mulberry in Zhejiang!"
After Yan Song stood up, the other four people knelt on the ground and begged Jiajing: "I sincerely request your majesty to officially implement the conversion of rice into mulberry in Zhejiang!"
Jiajing stroked the carved dragon head on the dragon chair and whispered to Lu Fang, who was standing beside him: "Lv Fang."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang bowed slightly to Jiajing, she came to Yan Song, took the memorial and handed it to Jiajing.
Jiajing took the memorial from Lu Fang and looked through it briefly. After seeing that the content above was no different from the previous one, he put it aside.
"Well, everyone, please get up. I have agreed to what you all have asked me to do!"
Jiajing looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground and said calmly.
"Lu Fang, please let the Supervisor of Ceremonies approve this memorial later!"
"Slave, I obey."
After hearing what Jiajing said, Lu Fang on the side quickly responded respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that the necessary procedures have been completed and the matter of changing rice to mulberry has been completely finalized, Yan Song also breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Xu Jie stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
"Oh, what does Mr. Xu Ge want to report to me?"
Jiajing was a little surprised when he saw Xu Jie standing up suddenly. He raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Your Majesty, I want to expand the national treasury!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, he raised the memorial in his hand high above his head and said in a deep voice.
"Why expand the treasury? Isn't there almost no money left in the treasury?"
Jiajing couldn't help but joked when he saw Xu Jie suddenly proposed such an idea.
"Your Majesty, yes, the treasury is almost out of capacity now!"
Xu Jie didn't realize that Jiajing was joking, but said solemnly.
"It's true! Is there so much money in the treasury? Why don't I remember?"
Jiajing looked at the expression on Xu Jie's face and said silently to himself, with a hint of surprise on his face.
"Here is the plan designed by Wei Chen to expand the treasury. The specific cost has been estimated, about one million taels of silver!"
"Lu Fang, go and get Mr. Xu Ge's memorial for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang responded, he took the memorial from Xu Jie and handed it to Jiajing.
Jiajing then opened the memorial handed over by Xu Jie and browsed it carefully.
It has to be said that the plan designed by Xu Jie is perfect. It not only increases the utilization space of the treasury, but also greatly saves costs. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone!
"Well, the plan proposed by Mr. Xu Ge is very good! Let's implement it according to the plan when the time comes."
After Jiajing read the memorial submitted by Xu Jie, he waved his hand and said.
"this……"
Seeing that the emperor agreed to Xu Jie's request so readily, Yan Song on the side felt a little embarrassed. After all, he had just agreed yesterday, and he would do his best to persuade His Majesty. He did not expect to achieve his goal so easily.
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that his suggestion was adopted by His Majesty, Xu Jie was a little excited for a moment, and his body trembled slightly uncontrollably.
"Mr. Xu Ge, you should come up with more plans like this in the future! As long as they are reasonable, I support them."
Jiajing had a panoramic view of Xu Jie's performance and did not forget to encourage him.
"Your Majesty, Xu Jie, thank you very much! I will definitely die for Your Majesty, even if I die!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, he returned to his seat and sat down.
"Well, there are only two things discussed in today's cabinet meeting. Do you have anything else to report to me? If not, then let's adjourn the meeting!"
Jiajing said, sweeping his eyes over several people one by one, and said calmly.
"Your Majesty, I have my own personal report!"
Yan Song stood up from his seat tremblingly and spoke to Jiajing.
"Oh, does Mr. Yan Ge have anything to report to me?"
Jiajing said, picked up the teapot on the side and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Just last night, without any warning, the homes of many officials in the capital were raided by Dongchang! This move caused the ministers in the DPRK to panic all day long."
"Therefore, I want to ask Your Majesty, are these people guilty? Have they violated the laws of the Ming Dynasty?"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he knelt down tremblingly on the ground and begged Jiajing.
"Oh, I heard that Mr. Yan Ge is here to ask me for an explanation, right?"
"Wei Chen doesn't dare, Wei Chen just wants to give an explanation to the other officials!"
After Yan Song heard Jiajing's words, he seemed to be frightened. His body trembled suddenly, and then he mustered up the courage to speak.
In fact, if he had a choice, Yan Song would not want to stand up and question the emperor, because in this way, the probability of offending the emperor is very high, but Yan Song is the chief minister of the cabinet and the head of hundreds of officials! At this moment, even though he was reluctant in his heart, he had to stand up.
"Well, I can tell you clearly that those officials whose homes were confiscated are all criminals!"
Jiajing glanced at Yan Song and explained.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for clarifying my doubts. Long live my emperor!"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he bowed again.
"Okay, I'm tired too. That's it for today's cabinet meeting."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he took Lu Fang and left the cabinet without looking at the crowd.
(End of chapter)
