"Science and education are science and education, and exemption from service is exemption from service. Don't get mixed up here!" Zhu Yuanzhang scolded.
"Don't you scholars all have a high-pitched tone? What do you mean by 'establishing a heart for the world and establishing a destiny for the living and the people. Carrying on the unique knowledge for the saints and creating peace for all generations.'"
"After these four sentences, there's not one more sentence, 'Seeking land for the family, right?'"
"We are confused. Are you scholars studying just to take advantage of Ming Dynasty?"
These words were too serious. Wang Guangyang opened his mouth to argue, but Lao Zhu directly waved his sleeves: "Okay! No need to say more! Just stand down!"
"If it is really difficult for an official to serve, he can convert his salary into money and food."
"As for the specific folding method, in the past few days, the Ministry of Education of China will come up with practical steps for this matter!"
This was great, Lao Zhu immediately silenced him. Wang Guangyang could only wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and slowly retreated.
But I thought in my heart that I would put this imperial edict on hold for the time being in the name of the Prime Minister of Zhongshu Province. Then incite Ke Dao to give advice to His Majesty.
We must ask His Majesty to take back his orders and make this matter invisible.
Scholars are so valuable, how can they receive the same taxes and servitude as those mud-legged people?
This is a matter of course, but you still have to sacrifice money and food?
It’s really a big joke in the world.
"Is there anything else? Report it quickly." Lao Zhu said impatiently. These officials, we just want them to pay for the food and serve together, so we are whispering below.
Everyone is a traitor!
Lao Zhu now dislikes all civil and military officials no matter how he looks at them.
"Your Majesty." Haiyuan, the Minister of Household Affairs, came out and said: "The day before yesterday, Your Majesty ordered the generals to lead troops to Beiping Prefecture, and together with Wei Guogong, annihilate Jianzhou Jurchens."
"However, in order to supply the Northern Expedition army a year ago, the Ministry of Revenue no longer has much surplus food. Now that we have to go on another expedition, I am afraid that the military supplies and food supplies will not be able to support it."
"Your Majesty, please tell me where to cut expenditures."
After saying that, he bowed down and could not see the expression on his face.
"Can't supply?" Lao Zhu stared at him.
"Why didn't you say anything just now?"
"I am just a talented person, but I still have some extravagant hopes. Maybe if our household department saves a little, we can save this money and food."
"It's only now that I can figure out that this gap cannot be saved. To be honest with you, Your Majesty, even now, my mind is still full of abacus!"
Haiyuan said.
"Humph, you have done your duty faithfully. Even when you arrived at the court meeting, you are still full of calculations!" Zhu Yuanzhang mocked.
How could he not have guessed that these elite civil servants were posing difficult problems for him to express their dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of preferential and exemption policies in a subtle way.
"Please inform me to suspend the construction of the Imperial City of Zhongdu and divert the construction funds to support military expenditures!"
"We don't have to build the house in our hometown for now, but the Jurchens in Jianzhou must die!"
"Is this enough?" He looked down at the abyss.
"Yes. Your Majesty is wise." Haiyuan cupped his hands and said. "In this case, I will be fine."
"Since there is nothing to do, let's retreat from the court." Lao Zhu waved his hand impatiently.
All the officials bowed and left, and Zhu Yuanzhang, accompanied by Erhu, left the Fengtian Hall. Fang hadn't gone far when Zhu Biao caught up behind him.
"Father!"
"It's Biao'er." Lao Zhu stopped and came down. "What, is something wrong?"
"Father, is it possible to cancel the exemptions and exemptions?" Zhu Biao's words showed concern. Just now, he also attended the court meeting, and he took into account the resistance of the officials to the cancellation of preferential exemptions.
Although this matter was decided by his father himself, it might be difficult to implement it if all the officials were against it. If it is enforced forcefully, it might cause big trouble.
If this is the case, then the gain outweighs the loss.
"What do you call me father? Call me daddy!" Lao Zhu glared at his eldest son pretending to be reproachful. Then they waved their hands, and the guards and eunuchs bowed in understanding and deliberately slowed down their pace, leaving the father and son in front to walk side by side.
"Cancellation of preferential exemptions is of course impossible. Didn't you see that Wang Guangyang and Haiyuan went out of work to give us eye drops as soon as we waved them away?"
"Hey, they are a group of clear-minded scholars who can huddle together to keep warm."
"But..." Zhu Biao said doubtfully. "Isn't what Mr. Hai said about military expenditures?"
"You are still young and don't understand the twists and turns in the bellies of their scholars!" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted disdainfully. "We won't let Wang Guangyang speak. Wang Guangyang can't object. He uses his eyes to tell Haiyuan to go out and persuade me."
"Haiyuan didn't dare to speak out, so he found an opening to find fault with us."
"So that we can have some peace of mind and know that they, the officials, are dissatisfied with our order this time."
"In a few days, it was time for the Zhongshu Ministry to hand over the document requesting the suspension of the construction of Fengyang Imperial City and the misappropriation of funds to support military expenditures."
"This matter doesn't need to be mentioned in court. Today, we have to say it ourselves. This is deliberately to make us unhappy."
"This..." Zhu Biao was still young after all, and he didn't understand how these two unrelated things were connected.
However, he was still worried: "In this case, what if all the ministers and workers object to it?"
"I can't say it bluntly. I will be in trouble tomorrow. Otherwise, it will definitely cause waves, and I'm afraid there are ambitious people plotting secretly..."
"Hey, we still don't know what these civil servants are like!" Lao Zhu snorted. "We have already predicted their reaction. We didn't think about canceling all exemptions and exemptions from the beginning. Let the Zhongshu Province discuss it first. When they start to push back and forth, we will pretend to give in and set the quota for exemptions and exemptions. It’s just a category.”
"First put a band on these officials and gentry, and then slowly tighten it, narrowing the scope smaller and smaller. Seeing that we gave in, they naturally had nothing to say."
"It turns out that my father had the idea of limiting the amount of discounts and exemptions from the very beginning! Instead of trying to apply it across the board!" Zhu Biao suddenly realized.
"What if?" Lao Zhu replied. "We have no intention of fighting with these officials on such a trivial matter! This method cannot cure the root cause after all. The Jianzhou Jurchen incident is a bigger problem. At this time, we still need them to work hard and stabilize the country."
"In the future, there will be a way to cure the root cause, and then it's time for us two to make great efforts!"
"Yes. I understand, kid." Zhu Biao nodded.
"But we will see it this morning," Lao Zhu continued. "This Zhongshu Province is too powerful after all. It dares to show off against me at the court meeting..."
"In the future, the left and right prime ministers of Zhongshu Province will probably be the vanguard of those literati who bully our descendants."
"In the previous dynasties, there were many cases of treacherous prime ministers who disrupted the government. There will be so many unfaithful and unfilial officials in the Ming Dynasty. I am afraid that it is the powerful Zhongshu Province that provides them with a protective umbrella. "
"It's better to resolve this matter early..." Lao Zhu touched the short beard under his chin.
"Dad?" Zhu Biao was surprised. Doesn’t my father want to depose him?
This is a big move! Abandoning the phase for no reason will bring great turmoil to the country!
"Boss, what are you freaking out about? We haven't told you what to do yet."
"Now we still have to give priority to stability. However, Wang Guangyang and Haiyuan can't stay... They both belong to Qingliu. It's hard to say whether they will stumble the Huaixi generals on the matter of Jianzhou Jurchen!" Lao Zhu He snorted coldly. These Qingliu people all think that he does not know about the factional disputes in the DPRK, but in fact, he knows them all!
"Let Haiyuan go to be the governor of Fujian first. As for Wang Guangyang... this old scholar, if he doesn't study hard, he will have to break up with the Huaixi Gang."
"The position of left prime minister should be given to Hu Weiyong first, or Mr. Li should be appointed again..."
"By the way. Where is Lao Wu today?" As he was thinking about it in his mind, Lao Zhu suddenly changed the subject on his own.
"Fifth brother? I think he is in the main hall."
Zhu Biao replied. "Today is the day for gentlemen to test their studies against the kings."
"A few days ago, when my son went to visit Mr. Song, he learned that Mr. Song attached great importance to this mid-month exam. He had prepared different questions for the kings. He even wanted to bring some of his most proud young disciples with him. Set an example to all the kings.”
