Zhu Youxiao used the utmost patience to listen to what these scholars had to say, and then said: "I generally understand what you mean! But I think that as a scholar, it is better to have some integrity and some integrity. Don’t be too snobbish! After all, studying is not about making money. There are many ways to make money, so why use this method?”
"I love my teacher, and I love the truth even more. This is what the Thai Aristotle said. It is still very philosophical! Even if you can't do this, you can't just have a mouthpiece and no brain of your own, otherwise , As soon as you open your mouth, I will know what you are hiding."
The scholars present were stunned after hearing this.
Isn’t it said that today’s people love to listen to academic explanations?
Why is there so much hidden meaning in these words now?
And it was obviously meant to humiliate people like themselves who were doing things for other people's money.
The scholars were naturally unhappy, but it was hard to show it.
At this time, Min Xuancheng also became quite uneasy.
He also did not expect that the emperor would be successfully brainwashed by these knowledgeable scholars who usually talked eloquently.
"Min Xuancheng!"
Suddenly, Zhu Youxiao called Min Xuancheng.
Min Xuancheng hurriedly stepped forward: "Please give me your Majesty's instructions."
"The imperial court has trained you in vain!"
Zhu Youxiao said this bluntly, and his tone was obviously harsher than those scholars just now.
After hearing this, Min Xuancheng dared not stand still. He immediately crouched on the ground, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but raise his sleeves to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He was afraid of making Zhu Youxiao dissatisfied, so he put his hands back on the ground.
"I am ashamed of myself!"
"How much benefit did they give you to work for them so wholeheartedly and fight for them? I remember that your social examination scores in Xingmingshe were pretty good and your consciousness was quite high. Why are you starting to act like a bastard to others now? The dog is coming, or are you beginning to believe in liberalism, sitting on their side, and agreeing with the reduction of imperial intervention and the increase of local autonomy?"
Zhu Youxiao asked.
"My lord, my lord, I just think that Suzhou is different from other places. There are some facts that your majesty needs to know, and these scholars may be able to point out a few things to your majesty. As the saying goes, listening to both will lead to enlightenment, but believing only to partiality will lead to darkness. I dare not say whether they are right or wrong. I only serve His Majesty and the people of Suzhou as an objective person."
Min Xuancheng replied.
"Are you asking me to listen to both?"
"But why can I only hear one sound?"
Zhu Youxiao asked.
"Your Majesty! You don't have to worry about the governor anymore. As the largest source of economic growth in the Ming Dynasty, Suzhou has an unparalleled wealth growth advantage. It should be a key investment place for national funds and should receive preferential treatment to promote the prosperity of the prosperous age! "
At this time, scholar Wu Nandai couldn't help but stand up and speak for Min Xuancheng.
Zhu Youxiao looked at him and said with a faint smile: "But Suzhou is not the only place in Ming Dynasty!"
Wu Nandai continued: "But Suzhou is the place that the court should pay most attention to!"
"Because Suzhou is the face of Ming Dynasty and the only place that can bring value to Suzhou, Suzhou deserves more preferential treatment!"
"Instead of like now, in Suzhou, merchants have difficulty in financing, but barren places like Yunnan, Guizhou, Longxi, and Anxi can receive huge amounts of national financial support every year. As a result, the built bridges and roads are only used by the imperial government and the military. , brought no economic benefits at all. In addition, Suzhou's wealth is different from other places, and the problems faced by the rulers are also different from other places. Therefore, some of the imperial decrees are only suitable for other places and are not suitable for Suzhou. They give Suzhou a certain The right of autonomy is beneficial to the people of Suzhou and makes them more prosperous."
"Suzhou has high per capita knowledge, a large number of technical talents, and developed industry and commerce. I recognize this."
"But this does not mean that Suzhou obtained all this by itself, driven by the developed domestic demand within the entire empire! Without the entire Ming Dynasty as its foundation, how could Suzhou rely on it to develop?"
"Relying on talents? How many of them are local talents?"
When Zhu Youxiao said this, he asked: "Are you local?"
Wu Nandai did not answer.
"How to use national funds, how to regulate the economy, and what role Suzhou will play in the entire Ming Dynasty. The court has its own arrangements. You can express your opinions, but it does not mean that the court must listen to you!"
When Zhu Youxiao said this, he looked at Min Xuancheng and said, "Min Xuancheng, go back and bring something to your masters:
Let's just say that before I came to the throne, the government-owned industries were not strong enough, and they were basically hollowed out by them using various means.
Just say that weaving bureaus and paper mills in various places, aren’t the better craftsmen secretly poached by them?
In addition, the profits from global trade at that time basically belonged to them. The power of the Western Barbarians was weaker than when I came to the throne, but why didn't they themselves strengthen their private power and form a powerful force that could force the imperial court to expand externally? And to gain personal gain for yourself?
Now, I have allowed the imperial government to expand and eliminate all kinds of obstacles. Finally, I have the strength to expand externally and have gained countless wealth. Why, they just want to come with nothing?
Just because you have a lot of money and know how to do business, you want the court to give you all the money. How can there be such a good thing! "
"If I were them or their ancestors, I would have earned a lot of money by selling raw silk and cotton cloth to the Western Yi, and used it to hire craftsmen, develop technology, build warships, and expand territories outside;
Instead, they only use money to annex domestic land, force compatriots in the country to be their tenant farmers, trap them with clan covenants and etiquette, and only think about the future and collect rent from generation to generation! For this reason, they even prevented the imperial court from opening the sea, just to tie the people to the land and cultivate the land for themselves. "
At this time, Wu Nandai wanted to refute.
Zhu Youxiao stretched out his hand to stop him, and said: "Don't say that the imperial court is dragging you down, such as excessive military expenditures on the nine sides, excessive expenditures on the royal family, etc. I admit that these are a huge burden. , but ask yourselves, before the increase in business taxes and the cancellation of privileges and exemptions for officials and gentry, are you bearing these burdens?
In short, you should reflect on yourselves as to why this is the case, and reflect on what you have done wrong, instead of just finding fault with the court and forcing the court to give you benefits. The court is not just your court! "
"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty! Why have private merchants never really become the mainstay of the country, but have always been suppressed by the powerful bureaucrats? What's wrong with them?"
At this time, a scholar named Zhang Daodi stood up and replied with his hands in hand.
"Among these scholars, you seem to be the one with a real academic heart!"
Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao replied, "In that case, I will say a few more words."
