As for the tax matters in the five state capitals, Xiao Chen did not neglect it and asked Lin San and the others to get started.
For a few days, Zhang Dongyang would join other honest officials in the court and submit a letter every day, hoping to restore the previous tax system.
Chu Yanwu was so angry that his head hurt: "This Zhang Dongyang obviously has so many things, but he insists on sticking to this one thing!"
Chen Jinque interrupted at an inappropriate time: "Not only this matter, he seems to be secretly continuing to investigate the land annexation."
Zhang Dongyang had been unhappy for a long time. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chen Jin quickly suggested: "Your Majesty, this Zhang Dongyang is so disobedient. Raising him will sooner or later be a disaster."
After he finished speaking, Chu Yanwu glared at him: "What do you want, kill him?"
General Chu Yan threw the memorial aside, got up and walked to the door, looking at the full moon and feeling full of sadness.
"Let's not talk about Zhang Dongyang's high prestige in the court. Let's talk about his integrity and justice, serving the country and the people. At least he is not greedy."
It was because he understood Zhang Dongyang's character that he could safely hand over such an important position as prime minister to him.
If it were handed over to others, Chu Yanwu would be worried about raising a second Zhou Tianfu!
Chen Jin was a little unwilling: "But he has already begun to touch your interests."
How did Zhang Dongyang know that the things he was investigating were, on the surface, the work of Chen Jin, but in fact they were all under the sole control of Chu Yanwu.
If he knew the truth, I wonder if his belief in pursuing justice would collapse directly?
The rabbit has to bite people when it gets anxious. It's not afraid of ten thousand, it's just what happens!
Chen Jin cautiously advised: "Your Majesty, since Zhang Dongyang is not a fellow traveler, you must be on guard against others."
"Otherwise, with his wisdom, strength and prestige in the court, he should not be underestimated if he really gets into trouble."
He spoke earnestly, but what he received was a cold look from Chu Yanwu, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Chu Yanwu put his hands behind his back, his eyes were like torches, his cold eyes flashed with sharpness, "Why do you think the position of prime minister was divided into two?"
"Jin Guangyao, as the Right Prime Minister, looks like a decoration on the surface, but he is also an important part of sharing the Prime Minister's power."
"As long as I am willing, I can definitely correct Jin Guangyao!"
Jin Guangyao was born in the Jin family, one of the eight aristocratic families. Not only could he provide Chu Yanwu with the strength of the eight aristocratic families, he could also contain Zhang Dongyang.
The key is that Jin Guangyao is also a man who is greedy for money and profits. He can fawn over wherever he goes and is easy to control.
If it weren't for his stupid brain, there would really be nothing wrong with Zhang Dongyang.
Chu Yanwu Youyou lamented: "The court needs obedient people, but it also needs smart people to keep it running."
"Unless it is absolutely necessary, I still appreciate Zhang Dongyang's ability to do things."
Chen Jin did not dare to say anything, but just stared at the dozens of memorials scattered on the table, all headed by Zhang Dongyang, criticizing the land annexation and tax reform.
"Your Majesty, what about these memorials?"
"Just pretend you can't see it. There's nothing he can do anyway."
Chu Yanwu sneered: "No matter how powerful he is, he is on the right track. If I don't give him an attitude, then he will have to endure no matter how much injustice he feels."
"In the worst case, let him cause trouble for Xiao Chen. Didn't you just leave everything to Xiao Chen?"
"Xiao Chen is so smart, even to the point of being feared. The reason why I keep him is because I need this knife to clear the way for me!"
Xiao Chen did everything. If Zhang Dongyang really finds out something, at worst, the entire matter will be blamed on him.
Not only can he give Zhang Dongyang an explanation, but he can also eliminate the hidden danger in Xiao Chen's heart. Wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone?
Chen Jin was flattering him from the side and almost burst out of laughter: "Your Majesty is wise!"
…
Since the reform system was established, Zhang Dongyang has been unable to sleep at night.
The emperor was indifferent to his memorial, but his iron heart would not change.
Zhang Dongyang slammed the table: "Since the emperor is indifferent, then I will go directly to the person who handled all this, Xiao Chen!"
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Dongyang's expression was cold in the small room, and his eyes were as if he wanted to eat people.
He had always had a gentle face, but at this moment he really seemed a little bit intrusive.
"Prime Minister Zhang, what happened?"
The sense of oppression coming from the Prime Minister's high position cannot be underestimated.
Even if they dealt with Zhou Tianfu before, the two of them had accumulated a little friendship.
But the angry Zhang Dongyang still makes people feel a little unfamiliar, and even a little scary.
Zhang Dongyang looked sternly and said bluntly: "People in the light don't tell secrets. This investigation has been conducted before. Ji Yunzhang took the lead in proposing tax law reform. It was you who persuaded him, right?"
Xiao Chen paused slightly with the tea cup in his hand, hesitated for a moment but did not deny it.
Being able to ask this question means that he already has the exact answer.
Putting down the tea cup, Xiao Chen sighed helplessly: "You should know that I was forced to do nothing."
"Forced into helplessness?"
Zhang Dongyang sneered: "Ji Yunzhang worked diligently in office, but he also felt guilty because of that incident."
"You can obviously be perfunctory, but you still do your best to follow Chen Jin's words."
"Do you know how much burden Ji Yunzhang has put on thousands of families around the world just because he was the one who took the lead in the court because of your kindness?"
"You've never seen poor people who don't have enough to eat or clothes to keep warm. Why do you insist on helping the tyrants?"
His voice was sonorous and powerful, and his anger was self-evident.
He seemed to know that Zhang Dongyang also came to investigate.
In this way, Xiao Chen said calmly: "So what if I know? If I don't do it, no one else will do it?"
"I just followed the trend, not only to satisfy my wishes, but also to use my position to provide some compensation to the suffering people."
"I've already done my best, what else can I do?"
Just say that the land annexation of those ordinary people will pay high subsidies out of their own pockets.
Although it was money given by a corrupt official, he was still willing to spit it out.
Xiao Chen has a clear conscience!
This is the truth. Zhang Dongyang's mood dropped a bit, but the coldness on his face still did not dissipate.
"I'm not here today to settle a score with you, but to give you a warning."
"Stop helping Chen Jin. The truth has already decided to fight him to the end. Naturally, you who help him will not let him go unpunished."
"I came here today just for the sake of the common conspiracy in the past. It was a gamble and I am not a heinous person."
"If you were colluding with Chen Jin and persisted in your obsession, I thought I would be the first to take action on you as a sacrificial flag to declare war with Chen Jin!"
After the words fell, Zhang Dongyang strode away, leaving Xiao Chen alone unable to extricate himself from those shocking words.
