In the evening, in the residence of the right minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Minister Han was in the study, pouring himself a glass of wine in a depressed manner. After being drunk, he couldn't stand up and fell to the ground with the wine cup. The sound of breaking porcelain attracted the servants waiting at the door.
The servant helped Minister Han up and quickly picked up the debris on the ground.
Serving hot tea, he said softly: "Sir, it's late at night, and you have to go to court tomorrow, so you'd better rest early."
Minister Han was so drunk that he waved his sleeves and shouted loudly:
"Going to court? Is that going to court? In recent days, how can there be any serious business in the court? It's all about two parties fighting for the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and for their own selfish desires, making the court a mess. ! It doesn’t matter if you don’t serve in this court! It doesn’t matter if you don’t deserve to be an official!”
The servant supported Han Shilang's swaying figure, helped him sit down, and comforted him:
"Sir, you are appreciated by His Majesty. You will have a bright future in the future. If you endure the present, you will be able to do more for the people."
Minister Han slapped the table, his eyes closed and his face full of sorrow:
"Being an official is for the sake of the future, but if everyone is just for the future, the people will be in danger! Tianchu will be in danger! Why don't I want to repay Your Majesty's great kindness, but even though I have full ambitions, I have nowhere to use them! It's really In response to that sentence, no one in the court should be an official."
Having said this, Minister Han stood up and could no longer hide his grief and anger:
"Among the recommended candidates, there are either the prince's confidants or the third prince's confidants. After taking office, they are just the second Gao family! They are all for selfish desires. Have you ever thought that the duty of a minister is to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic? Who will take over Tianchu in the future? That is It is up to His Majesty to decide. If they stand in line like this, where does that leave His Majesty?"
After hearing this, the servant hurriedly advised: "Sir, you don't dare to discuss the matter of establishing a heir."
Mr. Han pushed his servant away, stumbled towards the desk, picked up the ambition he had written on the paper, and raised his hand to tear it in half:
"I will continue to be subordinate to others, follow orders, and do things that harm the country and the people. What's the use of writing it? What's the use, hahaha..."
After laughing, his swaying figure fell to the ground, and he cried repressedly, venting his frustration.
As the wine got stronger, the servants scrubbed Han Shilang clean and carried him back to the inner room, where he finally returned to peace.
The servant cleaning the study unfolded the crumpled paper that Minister Han had torn up, smoothed it, folded it in half and put it in his arms.
At court the next day.
The prince and Chu Chengye were still quarreling over the choice of the Minister of Household Affairs.
The emperor just frowned and watched impatiently, but did not stop him. After going to court, he sent someone to call back Minister Han alone at the palace gate.
"See Your Majesty."
The emperor rubbed his swollen forehead and called Minister Han.
"Your Majesty seems to be feeling unwell, would you like to be informed of the imperial doctor's appointment?"
The emperor waved his hand: "As I get older, I always have some old problems that even the imperial doctors can't fix. It doesn't matter. I called you here because I think you come from the private sector and are quite familiar with the government affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs. I want to hear what you know about the salt merchants. What do you think, who else can take over the Xue family?"
After Han Shilang thought for a moment, he took a deep breath and said word by word:
"Weichen boldly suggested that the salt merchants should be abolished. The Xue family has learned from the past, and the salt merchants should no longer exist."
The emperor's eyes were calm, but there was a look of doubt on his face:
"Abolish salt merchants? So how does salt and salt tax work?"
"Throughout the dynasties, the imperial court would support the imperial merchants who obeyed orders to control salt. Although food is the most important thing for the people, there are many kinds of grains and grains to choose from, but salt is a necessity. This kind of thing that everyone needs should be in hand. It’s in the hands of the imperial court.”
(End of chapter)
