"Shut up!" Seeing that his brother actually blamed himself in turn, Li Shan shouted angrily in a low voice.
Li Cunyou was a mediocre scholar, and he relied on his elder brother Li Shanchang to make a living. Even he was resentful because the treasure banknote matter fell through, let alone the other officials in the court.
Li Shanchang turned his head and saw that the princes in the court who had knelt down to him a few days ago were now complaining implicitly. He couldn't help but feel a thump in his heart. He wanted to use the money to win over the officials to come back, but he didn't want to be in power and act according to common sense. I am failing in my move, and it will come back to bite me...
"Li Xiang, you can come up with some idea!" Zhan Tong, the official minister, said anxiously. He was the only one in the court who risked his life to report that this time the business tax was levied on the family members of court officials, and he would definitely bear the brunt. If nothing is done, all the wealth that one has worked so hard to save may be lost...
In panic and eagerness, his tone towards Li Shanchang was already somewhat unkind.
This is the disadvantage of using gold and silver to win over people's hearts. Once there is no profit, not only will others no longer be respectful, but they will even feel upset and blame the person who tried to lure them with the blame for the failure to obtain benefits. Seeing the sad faces of his father and second uncle, Li Qi, the eldest son of Li Shanchang, was secretly happy in his heart.
It would be better if the treasure banknote matter fell through, then my father would not be able to be a powerful minister. How could powerful officials end up well since ancient times? The Li family has clearly become the Duke of the country and is extremely wealthy...
"Gentlemen, please be patient for a moment. I'll think about it for a while." Unlike what Li Qi thought, Li Shanchang did not give up this opportunity. "The current plan is to give up the idea of increasing commercial taxes."
"Whether it is treasure money or increased taxes, the fundamental purpose is to collect money for the imperial court and solve the financial crisis of the national treasury."
"Then, as long as this law of increasing business taxes fails to amass wealth..."
All the officials were stunned, and Zhan Tong said tremblingly: "Does Prime Minister Li want me to wait... to resist taxes?"
"Your Majesty has already said that those who refuse to pay will be punished. This..."
"Haha, you are so concerned that you are in chaos. Your Majesty increases the commercial tax. Doesn't it have to go through the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
"There is no need to take risks to resist the tax. I just thought of a perfect way..."
As he spoke, so-and-so, so-and-so, he recounted the plan he had in mind.
Following Li Shanchang's words, the originally frightened officials gradually lost their anxiety and praised Prime Minister Li highly for his brilliance. Behind Li Shanchang, Li Qi became more frightened the more he listened.
"My father was blinded by the desire for power in his heart, and he went too far!" Looking at his proud father being praised by the stars, Li Qi was already breaking out in a cold sweat.
"If His Majesty finds out about this matter... wouldn't it be... deceiving the Emperor?"
"...If it doesn't work, I have to find a way to survive for my Li family..."
Li Qi gradually made a decision in his heart.
…
Over here, after Zhu Su finished presenting his business tax strategy, he came to the Prince's Mansion with Zhu Fan.
Not only are we here to look for Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, Zhu Chong, and Mu Ying are also here. As soon as he saw Mu Ying, Zhu Su told him the good news about the success of steelmaking, and Mu Ying was also overjoyed.
"The Third Highness has actually refined low carbon steel? This is great! So, Xiao Wu, what you said, those thunder cannons that can be carried around, and the new fire cannons that can be fired continuously without worrying about exploding the barrel, Can you build it all?" Mu Ying's eyes lit up.
"It's better to rely on Lao Wu's drawings. Moreover, if you want to make those muskets and firearms, you need lathes and other sophisticated trial production..." As he said, he looked at Zhu Su: "Lao Wu, what other drawings do you have? Leave them all to me. You are such a careless person, how can you focus on these boring trial productions?"
"Besides, you are already in charge of the Imperial Academy, and the second and fourth brothers also have positions. I have also applied to my father to be the director of the Ministry of Industry. How many of these important weapons of the country do you still have in your stomach? Give them all to me."
He always felt that there was something in Zhu Fan's words and his eyes were hard to understand. It seemed that he could no longer hide it from this shrewd third brother. Zhu Su could only look around and said with a smile: "Okay, okay. I will give him the drawings of the lathe and so on later." Send them to Third Brother as well. The development of firecrackers, ship cannons and other things depends on Third Brother."
"With new weapons, our Ming Dynasty will be even more powerful when it comes to expanding its territory!" Zhu Di also said excitedly. "Although the position of the Jin Yiwei is prestigious, but now that I think about it, I still enjoy leading troops on the battlefield to kill the enemy."
"Lao Wu, do you have any idea when dad is going to send troops to destroy Bei Yuan?"
"The centipede insect of the Northern Yuan Dynasty can't be wiped out so easily." Zhu Su said with a smile. “But I think dad’s intention is to deal with Japan Island first.”
"We have laid a secret on the Japanese island before. As long as things progress, Mr. Gao and others will definitely incite the Japanese royal family to submit their credentials to the Ming Dynasty and ask for troops."
"Japanese islands are rich in resources. Taking them can not only eliminate the troubles of Japanese pirates forever, but also greatly enhance the national strength. When the time comes to station troops in Japanese countries, it is the time when new weapons will be of great use!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was excited. Zhu Biao saw Zhu Di and Muying gearing up and almost wanted to fly to the Japanese island immediately. He couldn't help laughing and said: "Fifth brother, please stop teasing them. It's not enough to say this at this time. It's too early."
"If you want to conquer the Japanese, you need to build ships and guns, and you need to have a rich treasury and calm the government and the public. Now the fifth brother is reforming Confucianism, and the father is also rectifying the imperial court. We must first calm down internal worries, and then we can concentrate on foreign affairs. These things cannot be rushed. .”
"Your Highnesses, Lord Song Lian and Uncle Chengyi would like to see you." Several brothers were chatting when a young boy came in to report.
"Oh, you must be here to find me." Zhu Su stood up. "After all, I am still young, so I need to ask these two elders to help me with some things."
"Brother, please let me borrow the study in my house."
"Let's go." Zhu Biao said with a smile. A servant came forward and led Zhu Su to the study. After a while, someone brought Song Lian and Liu Bowen over. Zhu Su hurriedly stood up to greet them: "I should have gone to find these two gentlemen in person, but there are so many things in the city that I really can't escape. I'm tired. Well done to you two gentlemen."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Song Lian chuckled. "Bo Chengyi and I have been away from home for a long time. When we return to the city this time, we just want to go home for a visit."
"I wonder if His Highness can give me some advice when he calls us here?"
Zhu Su asked the two of them to sit down and poured tea for the two old men respectfully. Fang said seriously: "To be honest, there are indeed two important things that require the help of these two gentlemen."
"I have been favored by my father and asked me to take charge of the Imperial College. Previously, many Confucian students had far-fetched ideas and misinterpreted the saint's meaning, and many Imperial College students suffered from it."
"As the Prince of the Imperial Academy, I am in charge of this place where the country's talents are bestowed upon. Naturally, I must be even more cautious."
"Therefore... I am going to compile a book to serve the country and redefine the world of Confucianism!" Zhu Su said.
(End of chapter)
