Zhu Houliang understood that he had always ignored a problem, that is, people in this era have a deep-rooted dependence on land. Yan Song pointed it out pointedly.
If he wants to touch the land, it is equivalent to touching the lifeblood of those people. This is not an idea that people can easily compromise. If it is not done well, it may really turn the world upside down and shake the country's foundation.
Not to mention the kinship relations of the Manchu ministers, even the current auxiliary minister Xie Qian, it is said that the Xie family owned countless lands in the south of the Yangtze River, and the Xie family was a powerful family with intricate relationships.
Although Liu Jian, who has been raised by the family, is not as good as the Xie family, he still has a lot of acres.
Li Dongyang is the son-in-law of the Kong family, and the land of the Kong family is appallingly measured in acres.
How many officials like this are there in the DPRK and China?
Zhu Houzhao could already imagine the terrifying scene. If he dared to move, there would be smoke everywhere. This was no joke.
After Yan Song finished speaking, he waited for the emperor to digest it before continuing: "Resistance from the gentry and wealthy families? In fact, from the minister's point of view, they are really not a problem. It only takes a small official to deal with them."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he was a little confused. In Zhu Houzhao's eyes, the most numerous gentry and wealthy families in the world were the most difficult to deal with. Unexpectedly, Yan Song said that they were the most difficult to deal with. What kind of statement is this?
"Oh, why?" Zhu Houzhao suddenly became interested and wanted to hear what Yan Song had to say.
Yan Song sat up straight, cupped his hands, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that the prerequisite for our government's preferential treatment of the gentry is that they have merit and fame."
Zhu Houzhao still didn't understand and looked at Yan Song curiously, waiting for him to continue.
"Gentlemen are gentry only if they have fame and fame. Without fame, they are nothing. Therefore, dealing with them is only a matter of will." Yan Song talked eloquently and let go completely.
Zhu Houzhao seemed to understand somewhat what Yan Song meant, but still didn't fully understand.
Yan Song did not dare to show off, and said directly: "The emperor only needs to issue a decree. If those who have meritorious status fail the exam three times, their benefits will be cancelled, and everything will be solved."
Damn it, what a vicious strategy, it's just draining money from the bottom of the pot.
Zhu Houzhao was completely convinced. No wonder this guy was able to rule the Ming Dynasty for more than 20 years. Such ruthless methods and thoughts are really unconvincing.
Yes, this move is indeed extremely vicious, and it makes sense. Even if someone opposes it, it will be useless because you will not be able to live up to your expectations.
Unexpectedly, he originally just wanted to listen to Yan Song's advice on this matter, but he would get such an unexpected gain.
But obviously, Yan Song hasn't finished speaking yet.
Just listen to him continue: "Your Majesty, although the opposition of the gentry is not a problem, why the innovation has repeatedly failed? The core of the problem still returns to the original place, the land."
Zhu Houzhao nodded, this is indeed the biggest trouble.
The dependence on land in this era cannot be transformed in a short time. The idea that a single move can affect the whole body is really unsolvable for the time being.
He couldn't help but think that if grain production could be increased significantly, maybe...!
Wait, food? Yes, it is possible to increase grain production and reduce dependence on land. It used to take more than ten or twenty acres of land to feed a family, but now it only takes one or two acres to feed a family. So what will happen? ?
Yan Song didn't know what the emperor was thinking about. Seeing that the emperor was silent, he had no choice but to pour cold water on him again.
"The people's dependence on land is actually the biggest failure of the innovation. If it cannot solve the problem of people's livelihood, any innovation will end in failure."
After Yan Song finished speaking, he breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling uneasy in his heart. He didn't know if the emperor had listened, and he didn't know if his sincere and pertinent speech could enter the emperor's heart.
Zhu Houzhao's heart was overturned.
Yan Song is right, the people are the biggest failure of the reform. Yes, Wang Anshi carried out the reform, but in the end he ignored the people, and the gentry and officials were involved, which finally aroused strong resistance from the people, leading to the final failure.
Fortunately, I thought I had advanced ideas and concepts, but my eight lives of life experience are not as clear as an ancient person. The people do not have enough to eat. No matter how good the purpose of your innovation is, they will oppose it.
Yan Song thought he poured cold water on Zhu Houzhao, but in fact, his words gave Zhu Houzhao a new way of thinking. As long as he appeased the people and allowed them to see a better life prospect, as long as they could eat enough, they would not care. You innovate something, they just want to be fed and clothed.
Zhu Houzhao's brows gradually relaxed, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he burst into hearty laughter, which spread outside, causing Liu Jin to look sideways and feel happy in his heart.
Although Yan Song didn't know why His Majesty was laughing, he felt truly relieved at this moment.
He could feel that the emperor was really happy.
Zhu Houzhao looked at Yan Song, and he couldn't help but think that Yan Song had really good abilities, especially his ability to observe the essence of events. He often took the wrong approach, but could hit the nail on the head. He was a talented person.
Yan Song smiled and bowed his head without saying a word.
"I am very happy. Aiqing has relieved me of a big knot in my heart. You are very good. Although I cannot give you a high official and a generous salary now, I promise you that you can hope to join the cabinet in the future." Zhu Houzhao said this painfully .
When Yan Song heard this, he immediately prostrated himself on the ground.
"I am overjoyed to receive the emperor's love. I thank you, your Majesty. I would like to repay your majesty with all my heart and soul. Long live my emperor." Yan Song was so excited that he could finally see the moonlight after the clouds cleared.
Zhu Houzhao helped him up with a smile, and then his words made him stunned again.
"Okay, this is what you said. I think it's up to you to do this. You take the lead and submit a memorial. It will be presented to the palace tomorrow. It's settled." Zhu Houzhao patted his face. Shoulder said.
Yan Song was immediately speechless, his face full of disbelief, "Your Majesty, I don't want to die."
But he didn't dare to refuse, and he couldn't refuse.
Wang Hua, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang are all old when they join the cabinet. Liu Daxia, Jiao Fang, who else? Is it still far away in the future?
Your Majesty can entrust me with such an important matter. Is this a test or a trust? No, it must be trust.
"I understand, Your Majesty, don't worry, I know what to do." Yan Song immediately expressed his position.
This is a smart person. When an opportunity comes, no matter it is good or bad, he will seize it and try his best to make it happen. This is the attitude of doing great things.
This is what Zhu Houzhao likes about him. To say how much he trusts Yan Song is nonsense. But this matter can only be done by Yan Song for two reasons.
First, Yan Song belongs to Qingliu. Although he secretly helped Zhu Houzhao, he was never exposed. People would not think that this was His Majesty's intention. Then there would not be so many voices of resistance inside and outside the court.
Secondly, there is Zhang Sheng behind Yan Song. This person has not been used by Zhu Houzhao and is idle at home. However, even though Zhang Sheng is not in the court, this person is famous both in the government and in the public.
There are many people and ministers who believe in him.
If Yan Song wants to accomplish this, he needs Zhang Sheng. Haha, Zhu Houzhao is determined to accomplish this. Yang Shen is young after all, and he only sees terrible consequences.
But the core analysis was ignored, and the same was true for Zhu Houzhao. If Yan Song had not pointed out the essential problem this time, although he was unwilling to do so, he would not dare to act arbitrarily.
Now that I have untied my knot, I can only wait for Yan Song to move the cauldron of innovation and watch the storm surge.
Yan Song left the palace, first returned to the waiting room to ask for leave, and then, as Zhu Houzhao suspected, he went straight to Zhang Sheng's mansion.
The two of them talked about it for a long time, and at sunset, Yan Song said goodbye and left with a calm face. It is said that Zhang Sheng personally saw him out. After that, a servant of Zhang Sheng's house visited the ministers of the DPRK with a famous invitation.
All this was under the supervision of Jin Yiwei, and then passed to the palace through Mou Bin.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the fiery sunset and sighed: "Tomorrow, it will be good weather again, haha."
the next day.
The clatter of horse hooves.
Lu Bu was victorious and traveled all the way across the state and provinces, finally reaching the capital.
The reports from the Zhongguan, Yushi, Jinyiwei, Ministry of War, and Wang Shouren arrived in the capital almost at the same time.
In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight shines down, a new wave of turmoil is about to hit the court.
Yan Song is not stupid. Of course, he will not rashly submit a memorial. Naturally, he has to use others to come forward. This time the matter is a bit big, and he will make people angry if he doesn't know, so he will not come forward.
The natural candidate is Zhang Sheng. There is no one more suitable than him, and no one else will do. If the ministers in the court submit a memorial, they will definitely be scolded to death.
But there is no need for Zhang Sheng to worry. No one would think that a person who is no longer in the court would be His Majesty's pawn.
Yan Song was waiting for an imperial edict, and he had to be at least sixth grade before he could enter the palace. Obviously he was not qualified, but it was not a problem for him. He had done everything he had to do and was just waiting for Zhang Sheng's memorial to resound throughout the court.
"You have your roots to start playing, but you have no roots to retreat from the court." Liu Jin sang loudly.
Zhu Houzhao sat quietly on the dragon chair and looked at the ministers below.
When Liu Jin finished speaking, a censor came out and said: "Your Majesty, I have this memorial."
Zhu Houzhao thought to himself, here we come.
"Send it up."
Liu Jin walked down, took the memorial, and held it in front of Zhu Houzhao with both hands.
The censor said loudly: "Your Majesty, during my inspection of the various states, I heard many times that the gentry and country people set up private torture halls and harmed the people with their private laws. Those who drowned in the pond were whipped until they died. There is no way to remember them. Although our government treats the gentry well, we still punish them. If we don’t go to the countryside, but the country has national laws, how can we set up private execution halls? This trend must not last long.”
boom.
In the court, some people who didn't know what was going on looked at the censor, are you crazy? It’s a great court meeting, why are you talking about this?
Could it be….
Everyone looked at the man sitting on the dragon's throne, and they couldn't help but guess that it was His Majesty who wanted to attack the gentry and deliberately found an excuse.
But that censor, they knew that this person was neither Yang Tinghe nor Liu Daxia Jiao Fang, but a real Qingliu. This person was famous in the court for his uprightness, outspokenness and courage to admonish, and he was the one who heard about things. , most of them are lawless people, people who have solid evidence.
Could such a person be His Majesty's?
Zhu Houzhao looked at the memorial. Although he knew it was arranged, when he saw the contents of the memorial, he was still shocked and angry. Is this all true?
"Shameful, hateful, and worthy of death." Zhu Houzhao slapped the dragon chair angrily and shouted angrily.
He then asked: "All the things presented in the memorial are true. Have they been verified?"
The censor, who had a lot of free time, said without being humble or arrogant: "Everything has been verified to be correct. Please give your Majesty's Holy Judgment."
Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "How can such heinous people be worthy of fame and honor? You spend all your time educating people. Could it be that you have educated bastards like them? Who will tell me what you have taught?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down." The ministers fell to the ground.
They still don't understand what happened. It wasn't until Zhu Houzhao ordered the memorial to be passed on that they knew what happened?
Yang Tinghe, Liu Daxia, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang all had angry faces. No wonder His Majesty was suddenly furious. Even they wanted to get angry when they saw it.
So what exactly was written in the memorial?
