When things have reached this level, Zhu Houzhao will never let go of this opportunity.
Jinyiwei Mao Yuwen, Han Ziren, as well as the palace's chief steward, the chief minister of etiquette, and Liu Jin, the director of the East Factory, all called the emperor to announce it. Some activities must be carried out proactively.
Can you at least make up a sentence?
For example: the imperial village has more than 10,000 hectares, the middle officials have more than 10,000 hectares, totaling more than 20,000 hectares, and the remaining 20,000 hectares are in the hands of honorable ministers and officials of all sizes in the capital.
Zhu Houzhao did not have specific data. At this time, it would be meaningless to order measurements or ask officials at all levels to report it. The original purpose was to achieve public opinion, so it would be enough to compile roughly similar data.
Officially, Ming Pao reported that the palace had already issued a decree to return more than 20,000 hectares of farmland to the people, but privately Jinyiwei and Dongchang Fanzi spread the news that the Duke of the country would donate 100 acres, and the cabinet ministers would donate 100 acres. Hundred Acres of Rumors.
The first half of this sentence is true and the second half is false. Who can tell the difference clearly when there are so many illiterates?
As for the civil unrest itself, Zhu Houzhao was not worried. He had already asked Zhang Yong to lead the elite Shangzhi personal guards to set out just in case, and the Ministry of War was also dispatching troops from nearby guard posts.
And the order to divide the land was dismantling the foundation of civil unrest. Even if another prince rebelled at this time, his throne would still be secure.
Fei Hong, the governor of Sichuan, looked at the sudden chaos in Beijing with some concern. At this critical moment, the magistrate of Yibin County, Gu Renyi, whom he had brought over, disappeared.
When his servants came to report to him, he realized that Gu Renyi had gathered several like-minded colleagues to report to the emperor. The first person to be impeached was Li Dongyang, the head of the cabinet!
Someone from the cabinet came to Fei Hong and wanted to say hello, but Fei Hong only had one sentence: I can't stop Gu Renyi.
Oh, stop talking about them.
For a person like Gu Renyi, the thing he is sure of is that even the imperial edict cannot turn him back.
It’s nothing more than a life, just take it!
As soon as the news came out, he and several censor friends took out the latest edition of "Ming Pao" to vent their emotions in public. The young people were very excited. There were traitors in the temple, how could they not criticize them?
Considering that many people outside are illiterate, he did not speak in such a formal manner and spoke directly in the vernacular.
"...Everyone, since the emperor came to the throne, he has worked hard to govern and work hard at night. Hearing that the people in the northern Zhili area are suffering from livestock and poultry, he has implemented strict frugality and has canceled the livestock and poultry in more than 20 counties in the past few years! A few days ago, I was not According to His Majesty, the harm to the people and herdsmen is far less than that of Zhuang farmland! So His Majesty decreed that more than 20,000 hectares of fertile land in Huangzhuang and Zhongguan be returned to the landless people!"
"I, Gu Renyi, have been reading the books of sages since I was a child, for the sake of the country and the people of the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, there are disloyal ministers in the court who are disobedient and unwilling to satisfy their desires! Your Majesty allocates farmland to the people, but they occupy the farmland and return it at the same time. They say they are serving the country. They are really corrupt officials and are causing harm to the country and the people!"
"Corrupt officials bring disaster to the country and the people!"
"Corrupt officials bring disaster to the country and the people!"
…
Opposite Gu Renyi and several young officials, in the private room above the restaurant, was Wang Zhi from Weiningbo's Mansion. There was some indelible worry in her beautiful eyes.
In fact, she was reluctant to go out, but this matter was too big, and it directly involved her second brother, so she had to come out and take a look.
Logically speaking, it cannot be said that there are no discussions among some scholars and officials in the capital about matters in the court. But I will do some avoidance more or less.
Today is different. In the city that never sleeps, in broad daylight, we do this openly.
What's even more different is that the Jin Yiwei, who is responsible for the security of the capital, is nowhere to be seen.
What does it mean that no one is stopping these angry young officials?
"If the name is not right, the words will not go smoothly, and if the words are not right, things will not happen." The girl murmured to herself. She actually had a slight understanding that the one in the palace wanted to be invincible in the name of the Holy King.
If it's just ordinary people, that's it, but some people who already have official status have begun to say this, which means that the outer court officials themselves have become divided.
The emperor has two hands. On the one hand, he uses morality, and on the other hand, he uses the desire of so many ordinary officials to be promoted.
Now that the emperor has this kind of "image" regarding the return of land, the question arises. If the matter cannot be pushed forward, where is the blockage?
When the time comes to kill some people, it won't be an indiscriminate killing of innocent people. It will definitely be justice for heaven.
Wang Zhi felt shocked in her heart. She called one of the maids in the house and ordered: "Xiao He, go back to the house and ask the general accountant how many acres of land the Weining House has in the capital?"
Weiningbo is not as prominent as it used to be, but it still has some acres.
Now the ministers are unwilling to retreat, and the officials are unwilling to retreat either.
It's not easy for the emperor to catch all these people and kill them.
But someone will want to kill them.
As for her second brother who caused trouble... I don't know what to do yet.
…
During the cabinet inspection at this time, although there were no crowds gathering to make trouble, the fact that there were as many memorials as snowflakes made Li and Liu feel that the situation was not good.
If so many people are impeaching, there's only one thing they can do now.
Please resign.
So the two handed the note and waited outside Qianqing Palace.
Wait until Jin Gui takes them in,
Before they could speak, the emperor asked: "Two pavilion elders, I have previously issued an order to divide thousands of hectares of imperial estate among the people. Do you have any progress to report?"
Li Dongyang took off his official hat, lifted up his robe and knelt down, "The matters entrusted by His Majesty's imperial decree have been circulated by the cabinet to all prefectures and counties, and they are strictly ordered to act in accordance with the decree and not to bend the law for personal gain. However, the two ministers are not here to report. Progress, but to your Majesty...please resign! In the current dynasty, there are many ministers who accuse me of being stupid. It is difficult for me to defend myself, but I feel that I have betrayed the holy grace, and I feel extremely guilty in my heart. Kuang Chen is old and decayed, especially since the first year of Zhengde , The hair and blood are getting weaker day by day, the ambition is getting weaker and weaker, and the body is no longer able to use it. I beg your majesty to allow me to beg my body and return home, I will be so grateful that I will burst into tears!"
Zhu Houzhao's expression remained unchanged, but he turned to look at Xie Qian again.
Xie Qian also knelt on the ground, "It is difficult for me to hold the position of cabinet minister if I bear the divine grace!"
Should we replace these two veterans?
Zhu Houzhao has considered this issue many times in the past, but this time he is seriously considering it.
I have not replaced them before, for two reasons:
First, Liu Daxia went too far and couldn't bear it anymore, so he took away his official position soon after he ascended the throne and threw him into prison. He has not come out yet. Liu Jian is slightly better, but he is no longer in the cabinet after all. As an old minister left to him by Emperor Hongzhi, it would not be good in today's political environment if he dealt with them all in a short period of time.
Don't underestimate the four words "justifiable". Those who have gained the right will get more help, while those who have lost the right will get less help. If you, the emperor, always act like a bad guy, then the people around you will basically be this kind of people.
Second, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian are not treacherous ministers after all.
As cabinet ministers, they do not control the government and exclude dissidents; they do not live in their positions and only focus on making money. As for whether they do well or badly, there are only a few routines in the Confucian way of governing the country. He, a future time traveler They are still making progress step by step and gradually deepening. What magical methods can people of this era have?
At least during the two years they were in the cabinet, the court basically handled government affairs in a serious manner every day, and there were not so many trivial matters.
But in this incident, they really couldn't keep up with the emperor's holy will.
But no matter what, the veteran's resignation cannot be agreed to at once.
"Mr. Li Ge, Mr. Xie Ge, Gu'an County is still in civil unrest, and the land of more than 20,000 hectares and more than 2 million acres is not so easy to divide. At this time, you two... are deeply favored by the country. Old minister, do you want to abandon me?"
Li Dongyang's nose felt sour when he heard the emperor's words, "Your Majesty, this is not something I don't want to do, it's just that I can't."
"Why not?! Behind the cabinet is the Forbidden City. Is there anyone who dares to attack the cabinet?!" Zhu Houzhao suddenly shouted, "There is no need for you two to hand over your resignations to me. I just ignored what I said just now." I heard it! The matter in Gu'an County has not yet been resolved, and I don't know whether the land distribution is smooth. If you really feel that you have wronged me, then go back and handle these two matters carefully. The common people will not be able to survive. Are we still playing these court tricks?"
The emperor's verbal refusal did not look like a lie.
Moreover, at this moment, the court is indeed busy.
"Then... I will once again obey His Majesty's imperial edict. Between the two of you, one is responsible for civil unrest and the other is responsible for dividing the land. They will definitely give Your Majesty a satisfactory result."
"Okay." Zhu Houzhao said seriously.
After these two people left, Wang Hao walked out of the room on the side of Qianqing Palace. He heard all the conversation just now.
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask for your Majesty's decree."
Zhu Houzhao turned sideways when he heard the voice, "Sir, please speak."
"I would like to plead with Your Majesty that even if the cabinet ministers are replaced, Mr. Li Ge and Mr. Xie Ge should not be allowed to serve."
"Then let them do it?"
"Your Majesty, isn't Mr. Xixian the one you sent to Shandong?"
This becomes more obvious once you say it.
But it was not easy to do that at that time.
And if he wasn't someone like Liu Jian, even if the emperor wanted to keep him, he himself would feel embarrassed and refuse.
Wang Hao continued: "This time... the two cabinet elders really lacked courage and lacked the courage to go forward despite tens of thousands of people. But Li Binzhi and Xie Yuqiao were all good ministers for a while. If such people are allowed to , to return to his hometown to retire, that is His Majesty’s loss.”
Zhu Houzhao did not answer immediately.
Speaking of which, Xie Qian and Wang Hao were in the same department, and they could be regarded as admiring each other.
"I don't know anyone who has the courage to go there despite thousands of people."
"Your Majesty, isn't there a Gu Renyi?"
"He is a magistrate in Yibin County, Sichuan."
"He can be promoted to the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, and he can implement the land distribution. In this way, your Majesty will have nothing to worry about for the hundreds of thousands of people in Shuntian Prefecture."
This is a method, but while Gu Renyi wrote a memorial to impeach the minister, he also discussed the rights and wrongs of the ministers in the capital. Promoting him is not as simple as becoming a prefect...
To put it simply, if this were to happen, there would be nothing the two cabinet ministers could do.
However, Zhu Houzhao is not a character who hesitates to make decisions.
He paced briefly in front of the palace with his hands behind his hands, and then ordered, "Jin Gui, draw up the decree."
"yes!"
Wang Hao added: "Years ago, His Majesty also asked his ministers to recommend one or two good ministers in Zhejiang and Fujian. This time they can all be promoted to prefects."
In the North Zhili region, in addition to Shuntian Prefecture and Baoding Prefecture, there are six prefectures including Hejian Prefecture, Zhending Prefecture, Shunde Prefecture, and two prefectures, Yanqing Prefecture and Baoan Prefecture.
"Okay! According to what Mr. Wang said, the matter of dividing the land is not a trivial matter. In that case, let's change it all!"
Jin Gui was a little excited. The emperor could not be said to be prudent in his actions, because there were times when he was radical, but it could not be said that he was relieved every time. There was always a time to consider the overall situation.
This time, all the prefects of Beizhili were eliminated at once, which was a relatively exciting move.
In other words, the division of land is inevitable and no one can stop it!
(End of chapter)
