Li Youzi was not angry after hearing Wang Guangguang's words. He just smiled and said, "The elder is joking. The subordinates don't regard me as thieves, but as gentlemen."
Wang Guoguang sneered: "Since we don't regard ministers as thieves, why do all the official residences have ingenious ways to prevent thieves?"
Li Youzi pretended to be puzzled and said, "Isn't it right? The subordinates have always been thinking about how to design the official residence in a better way to show the magnanimity and selflessness of the gentleman and the integrity of the ruling minister of the dynasty."
As he spoke, Li Youzi pointed to the group of official residences in front of him and said to Zhang Juzheng and the ruling ministers:
"Yuan Fu and all the princes, please see if each of these official residences is convenient for the cavalry to guard the princes on the high wall. You can see how the princes are busy with government affairs every day and still summon their subordinates in their private residences. ? So that the emperor can know the hard work of the minister?"
"In addition, these official residences all use high platforms, wide steps and high pillars. Is it enough to reflect His Majesty's instructions in the edict to show the magnificence of the ministers of our heaven?"
"Da Sikong is right. Building an official residence is a gift from God, not a suspicion!"
At this time, Zhang Juzheng took Li Youzi's place and said, "Even the imperial guards are only posted outside and on the high walls to guard the house. They don't enter the house or open the door. This shows that they are willing to trust the ruling minister."
"Yuan Fu is absolutely right!"
Zhang Siwei immediately responded, and suddenly said with emotion: "The emperor's grace is truly magnificent!"
After saying that, Zhang Siwei couldn't help but look north and bow.
Then, Zhang Siwei added: "This official residence is very solemn and elegant, which makes people feel excited. But what makes me feel guilty is that the servant did not make much achievements, and the body is in the cabinet. Now living in the official residence, it is really... If you can’t accept it, you can only offer it diligently in the future, and maybe you can be worthy of the emperor’s great kindness in case of any eventuality.”
After Zhang Siwei bowed and said this, and Zhang Juzheng also supported Li Youzi's statement, the ruling ministers had no choice but to follow suit, saying that this was a grace that they could not bear, so they could only accept it. Come down and work more seriously to repay His Majesty the Emperor.
Wang Guoguang glanced at Zhang Siwei after paying homage, and then while Zhang Siwei was being led by Li Youzi to identify Cifu's official residence, he whispered to Zhang Juzheng: "Uncle, Puzhou, you are a villain, beware of the future." Those who are counterattacking the New Deal must be eliminated!”
Zhang Juzheng did not express his position and walked forward.
Seeing this, Wang Guoguang didn't feel like saying anything. He just waved his hand, put it behind his back, and glanced at Zhang Juzheng's back.
After visiting various official residences, when the ministers were preparing to return to their respective residences, Zhang Juzheng suddenly brought out a secret message that Zhu Yijun had given him permission to summon the ministers and ministers to discuss the new policy to be implemented next:
"According to the decree, I would like to invite all the gentlemen to go to my official residence first to discuss the new policy that will be implemented next. In addition, Mr. Xu also has a letter for me, and everyone needs to talk about it together, so don't go back yet. Just leave the moving matter to your servants and servants."
Except for Ma Ziqiang and Shen Shixing, all the officials in power were stunned for a moment after hearing this.
At this moment, Wang Guoguang spoke first: "Uncle! Are you going to implement the New Deal again? Now that the treasury is abundant and the accumulated money can be used for several years, there is no need to make any more changes. We must give some meritorious service to those who come after us." opportunities for virtue; and the official residence has been set up, and the examination method is also very strict due to the achievements of Haigong, so that corrupt officials and mediocre officials have no escape, so there is no need to worry about having no available officials in the future; why should you and I put these It’s all for the sake of it, once the title book of clearing my father-in-law’s land comes up, I should also think about leisurely roaming in the forest and having fun with my grandchildren.”
"Yuanfu is a man who is loyal to the public and seeks for the country. If there are still old evils that need to be eradicated, we should naturally be driven by Yuanfu. Otherwise, how can we be worthy of the emperor's favor?"
Zhang Siwei also said something at this time.
"Ziwei is not in a hurry to become a country?"
Wang Guoguang asked after hearing this.
Zhang Siwei glanced at Wang Guiguang and said eagerly: "You think this is ridiculous! Although I have the ambition of Xiao Gui and Cao, I also know that when it comes to running the country, no one can be as good as Yuan to assist in the event of an emergency, so if I can Yuan The assistant has always been in charge of the affairs of the country, so I can resign with confidence at any time and leave to entertain my grandson!"
"Needless to say, it has not yet been decided whether to implement the New Deal. Today is just a discussion."
Zhang Juzheng said something at this time.
As a result, Zhang Siwei and Wang Guoguang said nothing. They just glanced at each other and then went to talk to other ministers.
Not long after, Zhang Juzheng and the ministers and ministers of the cabinet arrived and sat down in the meeting hall of the official residence of the chief minister of the cabinet.
Zhang Juzheng naturally sat in the chair, and asked Fang Fengshi to accompany him on the right side.
Zhang Siwei, Wang Guoguang, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, Liu Yingjie, etc. sat on the guest seats on both sides.
Zhang Juzheng first looked at Ma Ziqiang and Shen Shixing and said: "The two cabinet ministers have come back from Beijing to inspect the local area. They must have made some opinions. Let me mention that if this dynasty continues to implement the new policy, what new policy should be implemented and what shortcomings are there? "
Ma Ziqiang stood up first and said: "In that case, I will give you some ideas, and first I will mention what I learned after inspecting the place according to the order."
After saying that, Ma Ziqiang said: "In my humble opinion, thanks to the diligent administration of the emperor and the good deeds of the Yuan Dynasty, the world has become clear, the farmers are not aware of hunger, the merchants are not afraid of long roads, and they do not pick up lost things along the way. The houses are open at night, everyone respects the imperial style, and the bureaucracy has also been greatly reduced, the local vassal treasuries have accumulated a lot of money, and the Changping granaries are full of grains, so there is really no need to get rid of these long-term disadvantages immediately."
"It's just that although the farmers are not aware of hunger, they are not rich; although the merchants are prosperous, they are not rich;"
"Therefore, the increase of stalls in the acres will seriously harm the farmers and is not conducive to the preservation of farmers; and the increase in commercial taxes is because many wealthy businessmen have powerful backgrounds, while small traders are not rich like farmers, so the increase in taxes can only result in the loss of farmers." The consequences of exploiting the common people;"
"After thinking about it, if we really want to plan for the future and continue to reform the system, the only way is to cancel the preferential exemptions and make the officials and gentry pay taxes as a whole. In the second year of Longqing, the clan was even required to pay a land tax of dingyin for the additional land purchased outside the given land. In addition, the clan should be ordered to give the land and receive the land as a gift of Ding Yin."
After Ma Ziqiang said this, all the ministers thought deeply. They neither spoke out in opposition nor in support, but only looked at Shen Shixing.
Shen Shixing followed suit and said: "I have the same idea as Ma Gong. The preferential exemptions should be abolished during the restructuring, and the officials and gentry all over the world should pay for the food and work as errands. It is untimely to increase the commercial tax and the tenants to join the mu association. The small people in the north will suffer, while the increased commercial tax will harm the small people in the south. However, only the officials and gentry will pay the food and serve as servants. This will not hurt the people in the north nor the people in the south, but only the officials and gentry, or No matter how hard it is for the clan, you will suffer."
"Why do we have to suffer from the officials and the gentry, and the clan? Is it because the country has no money and no savings, or is it because the common people have difficulty surviving?"
Wang Guoguang said something at this time.
Shen Shixing replied at this time: "Of course it is for the future."
Wang Guoguang said: "Can't future things be taken care of by future people? Why must we do it now? Do we have to suffer the officials, gentry, and clan clan now? Even if we let the cows and horses work, we have to give them a break, right?"
After Wang Guoguang finished speaking, he looked at the ministers present.
As a result, no one expressed their opinion, and everyone kept staring at Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Juzheng knew the reason why the ministers present did not express their opinions. He also knew that Wang Guoguang’s objection to the officials, gentry, and clan members receiving food and serving as errands was not because he could not accept the officials, gentry, and clan members paying rations and serving as errands. Therefore, he did not show any dissatisfaction and only said:
"Since the two cabinet ministers inspected the local area and felt that if the restructuring was to continue, the exemptions and exemptions should be cancelled, then if the restructuring is to continue, perhaps this policy can only be implemented;"
"However, Your Majesty still doesn't know that the two cabinet ministers have proposed that the clan, officials and gentry can be integrated into the system of paying taxes and serving as errands. I don't really want to ask Your Majesty to continue the reform."
"I still have to listen to your opinions first. If you think it is not necessary to implement it, this restructuring does not need to be carried out anymore. It is time for me to return the power to the emperor. But if you think it can be implemented, I will not continue to work hard with you. For Your Majesty, I will suffer one more hardship for the common people of the country, the clans, officials and gentry all over the world."
Wang Guoguang still said first: "Then I don't have to say anything. I've already said it. It's up to others."
Wang Guoguang said and looked at Zhang Siwei: "You are the second assistant, don't you want to talk?"
Zhang Siwei glanced at Wang Guoguang with blazing eyes and said: "I only obey Yuan Fu's orders!"
And everyone else stood up because of this: "Only Yuan Fu's orders will be followed!"
Zhang Juzheng: "..."
When Wang Guoguang saw this, he asked, "Is it possible that I have no conscience and only know how to speak for the clan gentry?"
(End of chapter)
