Fang Congzhe, Xu Guangqi and other civil servants trusted by Zhu Youxiao were also called to Qianqing Palace by Zhu Youxiao, and were asked by Zhu Youxiao to hide behind a screen and listen to the conversation between Zhou Yanru and him.
Fang Congzhe and others were therefore quite curious, wondering what His Majesty was going to do.
At this moment.
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhou Yanru, raised the corner of his mouth, and said: "Zhou Yanru, you are still deceiving me now. Do you really think I am so easy to fool? Or do you still not take me seriously?!"
Zhou Yanru was stunned for a moment.
Immediately, Zhou Yanru's lips trembled, as if he was about to cry, and tears burst out: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die! But I really have no intention of regicide! Moreover, I only followed the instructions of Miao Xueshi and others I just did things according to the arrangements. I didn’t dare to do it at first, but they said that I can do this, and it will be okay. They said that I am the number one scholar, and those who will join the cabinet in the future will make friends in the inner court before joining the cabinet. Otherwise, How to govern in the future was already known in the Mu Temple."
Zhu Youxiao asked: "In addition to placing spies to monitor me and other members of the inner court, what else do you plan to do? What purpose do you want Ming to achieve in your hands?"
Zhou Yanru was a little confused at first about what Zhu Youxiao wanted to ask, but he was the number one scholar and the first person in history to be the first assistant, so he quickly guessed what Zhu Youxiao wanted to know.
And now he did not dare to be disrespectful to Zhu Youxiao anymore. He only replied truthfully: "I and other officials in Donglin have always had quarrels with the Qi, Chu and Zhejiang parties, and they don't want the power of the court to fall into their hands, so that taxes and taxes will be reduced." If the situation increases, the people's interests will decrease sharply, so I originally wanted to drive Fang Congzhe away and welcome Ye Xianggao into the cabinet!"
Fang Congzhe clenched his fist slightly when he heard this.
Here, Zhou Yanru continued: "However, after His Majesty came to the throne, he had the intention of attaching great importance to Fang Congzhe. Therefore, we did not dare to directly target Fang Congzhe. We had to seize the power of Liao affairs first, let Xiong Tingbi step down, and support Yuan Yingtai, the governor of eastern Liaoning, as the governor. strategy, and then jointly criticized Fang Congzhe internally and externally, causing Fang Congzhe to step down!
It just so happened that Xiong Tingbi treated the refugees in the Liao area very harshly. He did not allow the refugees to enter the city, carried out a policy of clearing out the wilderness, cracked down on smuggling, and made it impossible for business travelers to pass. We were already dissatisfied with Xiong Tingbi, and most of the civil and military officials in the Liao area were also very dissatisfied with Xiong Tingbi. They are dissatisfied, so Xiong Tingbi's resignation is what all the officials and gentry at home and abroad want!
It's just that Fang Congzhe has no choice but to protect Xiong Tingbi. Your Majesty, you only listen to Fang Congzhe's words!
Moreover, Your Majesty also used the eunuchs of Dongchang to make Wei Zhongxian kill the officials and punish him with the decree. China and foreign countries have long been dissatisfied with Your Majesty, so they are preparing to restart the previous plan and directly find a way to make Fang Congzhe step down and use Li Kezhuo. He made a fuss about the death of the late emperor by offering medicine to him, impeached Fang Congzhe for the crime of regicide and conspiracy, and forced Fang Congzhe to ask himself to leave the court! ,
The matter involves the death of the late emperor. As the son of a human being, it is impossible for Your Majesty to retain Fang Congzhe.
In addition, we also strive to imitate the example of beheading Liu Jin in the Wu Temple, and design to encourage the emperor to delay Wei Zhongxian! "
When Wei Zhongxian heard this, his heart skipped a beat. He didn't expect that these people already wanted to chop him.
"Keep talking!"
Zhu Youxiao said something at this time.
"When the people are in power, they will urge the heavy taxes and reductions in Jiangnan, and implement the Liao people's policy of guarding the Liao soil, so that the imperial military expenditures will be greatly reduced!"
Zhou Yanru replied.
After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao asked: "Why do you want the court to do this?"
Zhou Yanru replied: "Because the land tax in the south of the Yangtze River has always been the heaviest, and now most of the land in the south of the Yangtze River is in the hands of the Jin gentry, we don't want to bear such a heavy tax. And the Liao people defend the Liao territory, so they don't need guest troops. When the army enters the Liao Dynasty and participates in the war, it will waste a lot of military pay. Whether it is to mobilize Zhejiang soldiers from Zhejiang or to mobilize wolf soldiers from Guangxi and Baigan soldiers from Sichuan, it will cost money and food. Therefore, by letting the Liao people guard the Liao territory, the court can save money and the national treasury Even if taxes are reduced, turnover can still be achieved!
"The late Emperor followed your advice and canceled the mining tax and the tax as soon as he came to the throne. You are not satisfied yet and want to reduce taxes. Once the Liao people fail to defend the Liao territory, there may even be rebellions or even catastrophes in other places. At that time, the imperial court will undoubtedly need more money and food to maintain the stability of the country, but what should we do if we can’t get that much money and food due to tax cuts? If the nest is overturned, there will be no eggs left. Do you just want to get the stability of the country that you can’t think of? "
Zhu Youxiao started questioning as he spoke.
Zhou Yanru hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, I think not only of myself, but also of the country! Even if there is an emergency, the emperor's sage and benevolence can save it with internal funds, without causing trouble to the world!" This is a strategy that has the best of both worlds! All the Dukes of Donglin think this is a good strategy! Even His Majesty’s master Sun Jijiu (Sun Chengzong) also agrees with the Liao people’s strategy of guarding the Liao territory!”
At this time, behind the screen, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but glance at Sun Chengzong because Zhou Yanru said this.
Sun Chengzong sat upright and had no intention of denying it.
Zhou Yanru continued: "What's more, since ancient times, Ming emperors have always governed the country by resting with the people, not competing for profits with the people, and frivolous corvee and low taxes. Only in this way can the country be rejuvenated and even prospered!"
"The country has been enjoying peace for a long time. As a result, there are more and more people in the world, and there are more and more clans, dignitaries and gentry. However, the number of fields has not increased much. There will undoubtedly be more and more propertyless people, and it will become more and more The more refugees there are, the more refugees there will be, the more chaos will occur. Not only will the imperial court’s expenditure on raising the clan, officials, gentry, and gentry increase, but the expenditure on fighting the rebellion will also increase. However, my internal funds are limited, not to mention the self-imposed ban on tax mining. There won’t be much input after tax, and when the time comes, all my internal funds will be spent, what should I do?”
Zhu Youxiao asked as he spoke.
Zhou Yanru pondered for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, the living people are like cattle and sheep. If they mourn and die of hunger, they should starve to death or wait for relief. How can they rebel and cause chaos? If there is chaos, they should be killed, just like cattle." Once the sheep have no grass to eat, they will starve to death. How can they rebel and eat people just because they are hungry?"
Zhu Youxiao was a little shocked when he heard Zhou Yanru's remarks.
Xu Guangqi, who was behind the screen, stood up, breathing a little quickly, and almost walked out, arguing with Zhou Yanru, but was stopped by Sun Chengzong.
Fang Congzhe was much calmer and calmer, only twitching his eyebrows slightly.
However, Zhou Yanru also guessed that someone behind him was listening to his and Zhu Youxiao's remarks because of Xu Guangqi's sudden behavior, and he looked at the screen for a moment.
Zhu Youxiao also ordered at this time: "Remove the screen, you can speak freely. How do you think Zhou Yanru's words should be evaluated?"
Neither Fang Congzhe nor Sun Chengzong spoke.
But Xu Guangqi took the initiative and said: "Your Majesty! The sage once said that God has the virtue of good life and people have compassion. Mr. Hengqu of the Northern Song Dynasty also once said that the world's scholars should establish their lives for the sake of the people, but Zhou Yanru said that life If the people are like cattle and sheep, if they die of hunger, they should starve to death! It is really extremely indifferent and not the way of a saint!"
"Your Majesty, I am not speaking indifferently. Death by starvation is a small matter, but failure to maintain integrity is a big matter. How can the living people become unruly and rebel because they are hungry!"
Zhou Yanru argued vigorously.
