When Li Ruhua first became the Minister of Household Affairs, he naturally knew that imposing additional Liao pay would increase the burden on the people.
But the reason why he dared to do this was not only that the court was at war and needed a lot of military pay, but also because he also knew that as long as he did not impose additional taxes on the powerful, gentry and wealthy businessmen, his reputation would not be too bad.
After all, ordinary people would not come to the court to express their opinions.
However, Li Ruhua did not expect that since Fang Shihong started to win over a group of literati and gangsters from the Donglin Party, they would now also hack him.
He actually started to speak up for the people.
Although usually scholar-officials love to advise the king on behalf of the people.
But it doesn’t mean that everyone really cares about the interests of the people.
Li Ruhua really couldn't stand the sharp criticism of him by a group of literati from Chongwen Temple controlled by Fang Shihong.
Because it is too cruel.
He actually said that he was worse than Yan Song.
Everyone knows that Yan Song is the most treacherous official in the Ming Dynasty in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty civil servants.
Therefore, Li Ruhua is really worried that if these remarks continue to spread like this or even spread, he will really be in trouble.
Li Ruhua hurriedly came to the cabinet, found Fang Congzhe, and started to cry: "Yuan Fu! How did I offend your son? To be scolded by him to such an extent, he might as well just go to Shu and ask your majesty to confiscate my house and execute him." ! I proposed to increase the Liao salary for Da Si Nong Shi Shangshu, and it was also for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. I am not greedy for a penny! You know it, woo hoo!"
Seeing Li Ruhua crying so sadly, Fang Congzhe felt funny in his heart, but on the surface he was kind-hearted and comforted him: "Otsuka Zai, there is no need to be so angry. I already know about this, and I have already given that traitor a severe punishment!"
"Yuansuke, what you are doing now is indeed getting more and more excessive. A while ago, you arranged the people in Donglin to the point that even a three-year-old child would say these people are selfish hypocrites. Now he is talking about Otsuka Zai, and he is also Calling Otsuka Zai even more evil than Yan Song, you see, how does Otsuka Zai feel about this? Looking at this attitude, I'm afraid we veterans will get a bad name sooner or later."
Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites, also came to the cabinet and started talking as soon as he saw Fang Congzhe.
Han Xu also said: "Yes, Yuan Fu, you can't ignore this matter, otherwise we will have to resign. After all, if we continue to follow the order, we will all be shameless in this court!"
Wang Yingjiao, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, came to the cabinet and said: "However, Liao's wages have indeed harmed the people very seriously. When Governor Yu Baoding was in Baoding, he saw with his own eyes that some people sold their sons and daughters because of the increase in Liao's wages, and more than a thousand people were ruined. Hu, Baoding is a prosperous place in North Zhili, and thousands of people have been displaced as a result. You can imagine how miserable the people in other places are. It seems that the prince of Yuanfu couldn't bear to see the people suffer so much, so he blamed Otsuka Zai. However, Otsuka Zai changed his name. It would be easy, that is, to propose a ban on Liao pay."
Li Ruhua glanced at Wang Yingjiao.
He felt that Wang Yingjiao's words were a bit harsh. As a colleague, instead of comforting himself at this time, he actually said that he had caused the displacement of the people.
But Li Ruhua couldn't directly express his dissatisfaction with Wang Yingjiao, and just said: "That's fine! It's all my fault. How can I have the shame to be listed in the court? You must ask your majesty to remove me from my official position and punish my crime. As for the salary, Whether to ban it or not depends on the will of the Holy Spirit!"
"If Yuan Fu doesn't care about his son, Sun will have to resign, otherwise he won't know who he will be arranged by his people."
Sun Ruyou said something angrily.
"Yes! Even if Otsuka Zai was ashamed of Li Shu back then, he still did his best for the country, but now he is said like this by your noble master. It is really unjustifiable. If Yuanfu ignores the order and asks him not to slander the old ministers in the court, I will I don’t dare to stay in the court anymore.”
Han Xu also spoke.
When Fang Congzhe saw this, he sighed and said helplessly: "I can't control the traitor now. The traitor can go directly to the palace to see His Majesty. Even if I am the first assistant, I have to convey it to the eunuch first. It can be seen that the servant Now his position in His Majesty's heart is no longer as good as that of the rebellious son! How can you let your servants take care of him?"
Fang Congzhe said, "However, it is unwise to resign. Now because the traitor is favored by the imperial court, Gu Bingqian and Feng Quan have begun to form a party with the traitor. If you resign, it will be full of troubles." The court is really full of treacherous people, and you are all veterans, can you really bear to see the court controlled by a group of villains?"
When Fang Congzhe asked, everyone fell silent.
"I must try my best to prevent the rebellious son in the family from causing trouble by taking advantage of his favor. However, I also ask all the princes to bear the humiliation and bear the heavy burden for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and work hard for state affairs! Suppress evil and promote righteousness!"
Fang Conzhe said with a serious expression and then added: "Da Sinong was right just now. The matter of Otsuka Zai can be easily solved. Shangshu suggested that the imperial court should ban Liao pay and re-establish a new money law to prove its reputation. Is there any reason to resign and escape? Besides, this is not what a man would do. If there are mistakes, he should correct them. It is one of the responsibilities of a scholar-official to establish a life for the people. Since he has been ashamed of the people, he should fight to get rid of this evil for the people. Politics.”
Li Ruhua still said nothing, only clenched his fists.
Fang Congzhe continued: "What's more, today's Holy Lord and all the princes also know that although he enforces strict government, he is very wise and loves the people. When the princes asked for money and food from your majesty for the army and the people, your majesty directly gave out tens of millions of internal funds, which shows his benevolence!
If we suggest that your Majesty, for the sake of the people of the world, abolish the Liao salary and implement new money and tax policies to replenish the national treasury, your Majesty will definitely agree and will not criticize you harshly! Although the Liao salary was proposed by Otsuka Zai, it was approved by the temple after court discussion. "
After saying that, Fang Congzhe added: "So resigning now is a hasty move. It is a failure to both the emperor and the people. It is also unwise and not good for oneself!"
Your Majesty often says that if the people of the world abandon the country and ignore the country, then they will also abandon the world and ignore it. Please think about it carefully, why does your Majesty say this? His original intention is that he cannot bear the corruption of the government! That’s why we govern the country with strict laws!
As a servant, if you are dedicated to the affairs of the state, your Majesty will definitely forget the past, but if you really don't take your Majesty's wishes into account, the consequences will be unimaginable! "
"What's more, although Wei Zhongxian and other eunuchs are ruthless in their methods, they are still sensible and do not frame others forcibly and harm others. Your Majesty does not rely too much on these people and still entrusts the great affairs to us and other civil servants. But if we really Therefore, if you turn your back on your father, do you really want to see eunuchs and even warriors having exclusive power in the future?"
These veterans are not stupid people. When they thought that the emperor once said that he would return to Fengyang to rebel in a hurry, they naturally understood what Fang Congzhe said, and they all said: "What Yuan Fu said is absolutely true!"
Fang Congzhe therefore cupped his hands towards Li Ruhua and Wang Yingjiao and said, "In that case, we will jointly request Your Majesty to launch a new money and taxation policy to eliminate the disadvantages of Liao's salary. How about that?"
"Forget it, otherwise it won't be enough to wash away my sins. I'm willing to join the petition."
Li Ruhua replied that he had no other choice.
Wang Yingjiao couldn't hide his joy and said excitedly: "I am also willing to do this!"
"Please, gentlemen."
As Fang Congzhe said this, he entered his check-in room first and began to write the intro himself.
Han Xu frowned as he looked at the backs of the three of them and thought to himself: "Aren't we trying to stop Fang Congzhe's son from slandering our scholar-bureaucrats like this? How come he suddenly wants to assist His Majesty in reforming the government? What exactly is Fang Congzhe doing?" What kind of medicine is sold there? Did he ask his son to do this from the beginning just to get rid of Liao's salary and reform the money law? When did Fang Congzhe become so dedicated to the country? "
