When the emperor drew out the knife and walked towards Zheng Cunzhong, Yan Song's scalp began to feel numb and his blood couldn't help but surge.
Your Majesty has seen through it, I’m afraid he has seen through it a long time ago!
So what if so many officials were appointed under the guise of "party strife" in the imperial court? The process of reshuffling the cards is also a process of redistribution of invisible powers by important ministers!
But are the backbone of this group of officials and gentry officials?
No, lift people!
In the early Ming Dynasty, the total number of surviving Jinshi was about two thousand; after Chenghua, it was only about three thousand.
And what about lifting people? The number of surviving people is more than 10,000.
Most of the Jinshi were in official positions, and the dignity of officials and the low profile required for promotion did not allow them to show off.
It serves as a link between the past and the next, connecting Jinshi officials with scholars and wealthy households, and plays a key role in various interest chains such as local fields and shops.
Do you know that people are promoted by gold and scholars are promoted by silver?
You know the truth!
Has the "party struggle" for several months implicated an opposition leader?
No.
Now Zhang Fujing sent an "innocent" Juren who had only committed one crime.
Your Majesty killed him with your own hands!
Yan Song looked at Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong. Their solemn expressions were not out of the ordinary.
The shock of the emperor's personal killing made every court official look like this.
But the emperor known to his advisers was not like this.
He is always easy-going, frank, tolerant, and prudent, and has an exceptionally pure youthful passion for the Ming Dynasty.
Liang Chu, Wang Qiong, Chen Jin, Wei Bin, Guo Xun, Zhang Heling... which one is not involved in greater crimes than Zheng Cunzhong? Your Majesty didn't kill anyone.
The counselors who had spent several months in a very harmonious elderly theory seminar suddenly faced this scene.
The emperor returned to his throne, and the first reaction inside and outside Fengtian Hall was to kneel down.
Zhu Houcong saw the fear in their eyes.
No matter what kind of intelligence, skill or temperament they have shown in the past, they have never had this kind of natural fear in their eyes.
That knife was like a coming-of-age ceremony.
At this point, the political animals in the court will completely forget his age.
It’s not someone who kills in a rage, he kills someone calmly and with a purpose.
"Everyone, get up."
The emperor spoke, the ceremonial officer shouted, and everyone inside and outside the palace stood up.
The floor has been cleaned and there are no prisoners here.
No one knew how to speak, and no one knew what the emperor was thinking right now.
Many officials standing in the sunshine outside the Fengtian Temple felt cold and their legs were shaking.
"How many officials and gentry in the world are like this Zheng Cunzhong?" Zhu Houcong said.
"Your Majesty, the rebels are uttering arrogant words. They have selfish desires that overwhelm the sky. They have a family but no country. Such arrogant and rebellious people are rare in the world. It is appropriate to spread the crime of disloyalty and disobedience to the world, and warn the three tribes of Yi and others. Province!"
Fei Hong was the first to answer, and many people nodded secretly: That’s it! There is no limit to the madness! How dare you imply that the flowing dynasty is an iron-clad aristocratic family?
We really don't have that much courage!
"No, what I'm asking is, how many officials and gentry in the world are guilty of evading taxes and servitude like this Zheng Cunzhong?"
Fei Hong's heart sank: It's really coming.
Yang Tinghe was in dizziness.
Who played whom?
Yang Shen's reckless behavior forced him to play the role of the party leader, but the emperor's sword cut off his possibility of playing a good guy again.
So the emperor also let them perform first, and let them shout slogans so loudly that there was no longer any way out?
This time, the emperor has shown his determination to fight resolutely, and there will be no chance of luck again.
Yang Tinghe could only bite the bullet and speak: "The saints have taught for two thousand years, and the imperial examinations have been selected for nearly a thousand years. Nowadays, just a few candidates dare to speak out like this! There are indeed very few people who are as wild and rebellious as him. How many people have such a wild and rebellious heart? ? Fei Zichong, why don’t you dare to answer His Majesty’s question!”
This scene can only last a lifetime. Fortunately, when Fei Hong wrote this script, he did not just expect that the emperor would retreat and take the initiative to mediate in the future.
If the show continues, the future of the counselors will at least be protected.
So the chief minister of the dignified cabinet knelt down and said with shame: "The land I received, the land I bought in my family, the number of people in my family, and the officials didn't take the initiative to urge me to pay taxes! I'm still like this, and the world will know!"
Then he raised his head and said decisively: "Since ancient times, reform requires the monarch and his ministers to work together! If His Majesty is determined, the ministers must take the initiative to apply for payment! The new law cannot be delayed, and the old system of taxes and servitude must be made easier!"
Zhu Houcong asked Fei Hong: "Mr. Fei Ge, what do you think?"
Fei Hong also knelt down and choked up: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed! If your Majesty only seeks to enrich the country, then the officials and gentry in the world are really guilty. However, the way to govern a country is not just to enrich the country! Order of hierarchy and etiquette are the foundation. ! Your Majesty has been in power for one year and four months, and powerful traitors have been talking about reforms that will shake the foundation of the country. What is their motive? Your Majesty, the stability of the country is the most important thing, and the most important thing is to lighten the corvee and reduce the wealth and recuperate! Why don't your Majesty slowly plan for the future? "
Yang Tinghe angrily scolded: "There are already such traitors in Guangdong. Fei Zichong falsely accuses me of being a powerful traitor. Do you want to give the world's traitors a chance to recuperate? Scholars all over the world have forgotten how much the saint's teachings have been. Do you feel clear in your heart? Quanzi can't bear to do corvee work." All the suffering has fallen on the common people, and the gentry in Guangzhou have already called him Yang Buxiu! Who is not cultivating his body? Who has an evil heart? Does the Fei family have too much land, so they ignore the reality of the world? "
In the midst of the personal attack, Fei Hong just cried and cried: "Your Majesty, the policy of exempting Ding from taxation is as long as the officials are strictly ordered not to exceed it. The policies of the new law have not yet been agreed upon, and Guangdong is already concerned about it. How can Yang Tinghe be thorough in advocating the new law?" A good strategy is presented to Your Majesty? The old minister is loyal only for the stability of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty has learned from it clearly!"
As the emperor killed Zheng Cunzhong in "fury", the direction of the court seemed to be settled. Fei Hong could only admit the existence of the fact and could only admonish the emperor with the danger of turmoil.
And he has accepted that changes in taxes and services can be directed to appointing officials.
Zhu Houcong sighed with extreme disappointment: "A hurricane has blown away the devastation of the Ming Dynasty. For more than a hundred years, scholars have been admitted to the school, and scholars have written articles about loyalty to the emperor and love the people. With the addition of fame and fame, the teachings of sages have been forgotten, and they are willing to do their best. How many honest and loyal ministers are there? They have a family but no country. They regard the people as slaves. They respect the king and father and seek their property. They are like enemies if they are given a little admonishment. Where is the justice of heaven if people want to do this?"
Just like that time when news about Yang Shen reached the Imperial Study Room, the emperor's words shocked the hearts of other court officials.
Your Majesty...it seems that your heart is broken. The recognition of Confucianism is wavering.
Yang Tinghe wanted to open his mouth to build an extra layer of protective halo for himself, but he knew that now he really needed "allies" to bear the firepower together.
Only then did Yan Song go out and kneel down, and bowed with great salute: "Your Majesty, Yan Song, dares to offer you a special favor to welcome Duke Zhongwu to enjoy the Ancestral Temple, as a model for the officials and scholars in the world! There will be a lot of people who are loyal to the emperor and love the people! If the origin is pure, we should do it." currently!"
The reaction was exactly the same, but there were more people. Many people looked at Yan Song in disbelief.
And Zhang Zilin also came out to join the team: "My minister Zhang Zilin has the courage to ask your Majesty to order the Ministry of Rites to discuss the posthumous name of Emperor Jing's temple! He was ordered to turn the tide in the face of danger. Although Emperor Jing inherited the vassal king, he has made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty! Your Majesty has the ability to enrich the country. Ambition, love the people like a son. Now that selfish desires are rampant in the world, Your Majesty wants to recreate the Ming Dynasty, and I will do my best!"
Wang Qiong changed his line: "If the officials and gentry in the world are indiscriminate and forget the teachings of the saints, their merits and honors should be revoked and they should take the exam again! Your Majesty, Wang Qiong, seconded the proposal and asked your Majesty to set this precedent. People with lofty ideals from all over the world will surely gather here. Your Majesty Tongzuo will create a prosperous era."
The new party and the imperialist party merged, and Fei Hong seemed to be alone.
This drama has finally come to this point. In full view of the public, the emperor would no longer back down.
He is really not afraid of this difficulty.
So Fei Hong wanted to express his last bit of loyalty, kowtowed and cried: "Old minister, I dare to speak directly! The policies of the new law have not yet been decided, and your majesty must not implement them properly. If it continues to be implemented, officials will be greedy for merit and will harm subordinates. People, Your Majesty must take this as a warning from Xining’s past events!”
After saying that, he straightened up and glared at Yang Tinghe and the others: "Invitation to disrupt the country! Those who are greedy for merit! Invite traitors! Yang Tinghe, you are planning everything, and you are a party member, really just to help His Majesty create a prosperous world? Do you have any magic tricks that can make the world follow new laws? No chaos? I have been vague for more than a year. Could it be that in the end it is just the restructuring of the market and the official application for payment? With these two things, you are still trying to deserve the imperial temple? "
The contradictions intensified, and Yan Song, Zhang Zilin, Wang Qiong and others seemed to have become Yang Tinghe's accomplices in trying to open the door of the Ancestral Temple.
The new law has caused panic all over the world. Indeed, so far, only after the land was cleared, a market restructuring was carried out in Guangdong, and then Yang Ting and the officials who resolutely expressed their stance today applied for the payment of taxes and servitude.
At that time, Wang Anshi still clearly understood the "Notes on Nothing Happened in This Dynasty for a Hundred Years", which established three departments of regulations to coordinate finances, including the uniform transfer method, the young crop method, and later the recruitment method, the Baojia method, and the Fang Tianjun method. Tax laws, market transactions laws, exemption laws...
Yang Tinghe took a deep breath and replied in a deep voice: "Of course! Your Majesty, the national policy meeting has been discussed for more than a year, and all the staff have gradually come together to achieve the goal of reforming the Ming Dynasty with His Majesty. Fei Zichong has the heart of a villain. I don’t bother to argue with you when you try to save a gentleman! Now that I’ve asked you about it, I will directly state the general outline of the new law and other new laws.”
After he stood up, he spoke eloquently to the ministers: "The general outline is: Separate taxes and servitude, unify the disciplines, and share the responsibilities of the rich and the poor. Procurement, agriculture and commerce should be promoted simultaneously, and regulations should be drawn. Tax inspections should be established on a permanent basis, financial accounts should be predetermined, and rates should be determined. It belongs to the imperial court. The laws and regulations should be revised, salaries and salaries should be clarified, and officials should abide by them."
"The method has three steps. First, it is tried out in Guangdong. After three years, the results will be reviewed and revised and improved. Then the laws will be formulated. New yamen will be established in each province, officials will be selected, and the notice will be announced to the world. After three years, they will be practiced in Guangdong. Later. Promote it throughout the world, patrol the world to supervise its implementation, and implement it, and all rewards and punishments will comply with the new rules."
"It has nine laws: accounting law, budgeting law, procurement method, treasury law, taxation law, commercial law, examination law, official treatment law, and Ming Dynasty laws and regulations. I invite you to read out the gist of them one by one."
After finishing this series of words, he took out a thick memorial book from his sleeve and held it up shamelessly: "All that I have gained from our discussion is in this "Book of Principles of Wealth Plans for Making the Country Rich in the Ming Dynasty", and I submit it to your majesty for your inspection! "
So what followed became a scene where the new party and the imperial party took the results of months of deliberations as their own merits and announced them to the public.
The emperor accepted Fei Hong's advice, and he had to leave some room for it.
Zhu Houcong doesn't need the reputation of many of his creative ideas, he only needs these things to be implemented.
On the throne, the emperor looked down at the memorial.
In the Fengtian Hall, the counselor generously explained the new law.
The Minister of Accounts explained the "Accounting Method", and the ministers were slightly shocked by the double-entry accounting method.
The Minister of Civil Affairs explains the "Kaocheng Law", and the national policy conference determines the policy every year and every three years, and then dismantles it and arranges it for each ministry and province. From now on, officials will have some quantifiable and measurable annual tasks.
The Minister of Rites explained the "Law on the Treatment of Officials", which everyone was happy to hear because the salaries of lower-level officials have been increased and will be unified in silver in the future. Each government office also stipulated some benefits that were borne by the finance department, such as some staff expenses, travel and entertainment expenses that in the past had to be borne by the officials themselves.
Li Chongsi, the Minister of Punishment, explained the "Ming Dynasty Laws and Regulations". This point only said that the Ming Dynasty Laws and the Punishment Regulations would be revised in the next few years and unified into clear laws and regulations. From then on, the punishments would be clear. The most significant change will be to change the original five punishments of flogging, rod, imprisonment, exile and death to three punishments of death, imprisonment and silver. The prison also includes labor, and there will be labor during the prison period. The specific strategy will be detailed later. The principle of atonement will also be changed to incomplete atonement for serious crimes.
The most important ones are the "Budget Resolution Law", "Tax Law", "Adoption Measures", and "Commercial Law", which all determine whether money can be received.
The "Budget Resolution Law" involves the management of financial expenditures from the Ministry of Household Affairs to the chief ministers, governors, and health offices. The most significant change will be that the cleaning and official departments of the Ministry of Household will be integrated into the provinces, and household houses in all prefectures and counties will also be transferred to each province. The Ministry of Accounts will be under direct management, although normal direct management only involves tax revenue and expenditure at the financial accounting level.
The "Tax Law" involves land tax, commercial tax, salt tax, etc. Tax collection will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Household Affairs and local officials. However, in the future, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will set up permanent inspection bureaus in each province to supervise the collection of various taxes, which will also only be subject to the imperial court. Responsible.
In addition to purchasing the annual affairs required by the palace and the court, the most important difference in the "Procurement Methods" will be that the local government will directly collect money after unifying the laws, and the money will be collected according to the "land rights" of the land, that is, Taxation is based on the area cultivated or rented and the number of people. Preferences and exemptions for officials and gentry remain as usual, but the excess must be paid. With this money, the local government can purchase all its needs, whether in kind or labor services.
The highlight is "Business Law". The government has so much purchasing demand. In addition to paying the land tax and grain, the common people will also need to sell a lot of other output into money. The previous budgets, final accounts, taxes, procurement, etc. all reduced the powers of local governments in disguise, but the commercial law gave them a new power, which is the unified management of registration licenses and accounting of all businesses.
A very important point is that if relatives and relatives conduct business according to the Emperor's Mingji, the court will also prepare some trading companies in the fields of salt, mining, iron, water transportation, etc., and current officials and their descendants cannot do business.
There are naturally many secret ways to work around it, but at the same time, what Yang Tinghe affirmed is the importance of commercial law to tax law, and the severity of punishment for merchants who violate the "Ming Laws": This is the beginning of supporting greater finances in the future. With the basic flow of annual income, those who evade taxes and commit corruption will be severely sentenced.
"Your Majesty! I have to discuss how all the laws will be implemented in Guangdong one by one. But there is one thing. All merchants established by the imperial court should abide by the laws and regulations. However, the crime of honoring relatives will be judged by your majesty in the past. I ask your majesty to If this law is approved, the three departments will be given the power to determine the sentence.”
After this performance, many people looked at Yang Tinghe with different eyes.
This guy is not acting, he is serious, and his ideas are not only on the relatives of the nobles, but also on all the officials, gentry and wealthy households in the world.
Nowadays, who is doing business in the world without a background? Although many companies do not state it explicitly, which one does not have such and such hidden shares?
After setting this example, Yang Tinghe cut himself off from his relatives and officials in the world.
If the emperor approves, then the new party will really have all the power in the government and the opposition, and I am afraid it will have to use harsh means to implement it and maintain stability.
How could Yang Tinghe not think about his own life?
Fei Hong was still trying to persuade: "Your Majesty! Yang Ting and his laws are too different from the current practice. How can we encourage merchants to be cunning? The court and the people compete for profits, and many purchases will eventually come from the court and be taken back to the court. Although this accounting method New, left-right collusion, how can we stop people from embezzling state money? Apart from the accounting laws, everything is chaotic. I am afraid that when the annual income does not increase, the court's expenditure will be exhausted. If there are natural disasters on the border, is it possible that people's wealth will be plundered again? Ke Ze So what if the silver discount is unified, the people sell grain, and the merchants hoard and disrupt the market?"
Zhu Houcong was silent for a long time, put down the memorial and looked at Yang Ting and them: "Unexpectedly, you and others have discussed many new laws. Although they cannot be said to be comprehensive, they have been very careful."
The court officials clearly saw that Fei Hong's body was trembling slightly and he was extremely depressed.
"The troubles in Guangdong are still vivid in my mind, and the officials and gentry in the world have families but no country. Now that I have ascended the throne as emperor, if I can't recreate the Ming Dynasty, how will I see my ancestors in the future?" Zhu Houcong's calm expression finally faded, allowing the officials to see Seeing his anger and unwillingness, "Three years is not enough, so five years! I am not a stupid king. I will decide whether the new method will work or not. I will decide based on its effectiveness. Yang Tinghe!"
"I'm here!"
"I order you to take charge of the trial implementation of the new law in Guangdong. If the honorable relatives you have requested violate the law, the three law divisions can first determine the punishment and then submit it to me for judgment. Tell the world that before Jiajing five years ago, the other provinces will wait and see its effect. If anyone Yao Shi Qiao is trying to obstruct it, and those who find out the real evidence will be deemed as treason!"
"...I accept the order and will live up to His Majesty's trust!"
"Fei Hong!"
"I'm here!"
"Now that I have decided, the court can no longer argue. I order you to be the governor of Sichuan and still serve the country."
The ministers froze when they saw Yang Tinghe's excited expression, while Fei Hong could only cry and thank him.
The tone was set, but the emperor firstly still held the final decision on his relatives, and secondly, he asked Fei Hong to keep an eye on Yang Ting and his hometown without taking up his official post.
Today's situation is really intriguing.
"Yan Song, Zhang Zilin and Wang Qiong."
"I'm here!"
"Your petition is correct! I want to see if there are any honest and honest ministers in our Jiajing Dynasty! If I have no way to govern the country and disrupt the country's skills, I will not be able to enter the temple! If I recreate the prosperous and powerful Ming Dynasty, I will be able to do it for a hundred years." Later, I hope that my good ministers will accompany you to worship and share the blood food of future generations!"
"Your Majesty is wise! There must be loyal ministers in the world who are loyal to the king and the country!"
Zhu Houcong stood up and looked down at the ministers: "Gentlemen are honored, officials are exempted and exempted, and the national law has long been in place. How can we tolerate or forget the teachings of sages, loyalty to the emperor and love for the people? Today I tell the world that my vassal king will succeed to the throne. I only hope that the Ming Dynasty will be ruled and the dynasty will be full of virtuous ministers. . If you live a long life this month and get married next month, there is no need for anyone in the world to make sacrifices or disturb the people."
"...Your Majesty is kind and loving to the people, and I am grateful to you."
Zhu Houcong finally smiled: "The wedding is coming soon, and I have also learned the Zhou Gong's etiquette according to the order of my mother. Not long ago, the female official Lin had given birth to a dragon. I intend to make her a concubine first when choosing a concubine. I will make a queen in the future. When my legitimate son grows up, I hope to pass on a prosperous and powerful Ming Dynasty to him in a hundred years."
The amount of information exploded in one sentence, and all the counselors glanced at Sun Jiao.
Although I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, the emperor has already reserved a seed!
The female official who is currently pregnant will only be a concubine.
And it was clearly stated that in the future the throne would belong to the legitimate son.
As long as you have the guts.
Yang Tinghe was sincerely overjoyed.
Step by step, he became the real leader of the New Law Party, and he had no way out.
If the emperor can have a queen, this is the real guarantee.
Immediately, there was a sound of obeisance inside and outside Fengtian Hall: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, Your Majesty! There is a successor to the Ming Dynasty. Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live your Majesty!"
The rising sun outside the palace is getting brighter, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty has been stabilized!
This truly is the perfect time to announce the news!
(End of chapter)
