Ouyang Lun stood stunned on the spot.
Snapped!
The folding fan in his hand fell to the ground.
Many officials at the rear were even more stunned.
"See His Highness Taisun."
Ouyang Lun and other officials quickly saluted.
"My uncle is so happy that he actually has time to visit the cargo ship at this pier."
Zhu Yunzhen's eyes swept over him with a smile, and then looked at the officials behind him and said, "Everyone is very relaxed. You are all here to play."
Ouyang Lun was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly: "The weather is nice today, so I will come to this pier for a walk."
"Ah...yes, yes!"
All the officials responded in unison.
"oh!"
Zhu Yunzhen responded and said: "I heard someone accuse me of colluding with court officials, not applying for tax certificates, smuggling goods, and evading taxes."
"I thought that my uncle could not be such a person. Someone must have maliciously slandered me, spread rumors and caused trouble, and slandered my uncle's reputation."
Ouyang Lun answered quickly: "Yes, those people are the ones spreading rumors."
Zhu Yunzhen smiled and said: "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely clear your name. As long as my uncle shows you the tax certificate for the goods and the tax payable certificate, your innocence will be self-evident."
Ouyang Lun was stunned and stayed there without moving for a long time.
Zhu Yunxuan asked: "What? Does my uncle think that I am not qualified to see your old man's tax certificate and tax payment receipt?"
"His Royal Highness Taisun is serious." Ouyang Lun smiled and said, "Come here and get the tax certificate and tax payment receipt."
After a while, a man who looked like a servant took some papers and handed them over.
Ouyang Lun came over uneasily, bent down and whispered: "Your Highness, your aunt talks about you every day, saying that you used to be naughty. When she saw her, she would act coquettishly and beg for a hug. The whole family was enjoying themselves."
"Now that you are the grandson, you are busy with state affairs and have no time to reunite with your family. She always wants to go to the palace to visit His Highness the grandson."
"I miss Aunt Anqing very much. If I have time, I will definitely visit my aunt."
Zhu Yunzhen smiled and reached out to take the paper in his hand.
I glanced around and saw that it was indeed a tax certificate issued by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
But the tax paid on the tax receipt was only a penny.
Zhu Yunzhen even suspected that he had seen it wrong.
He blinked his eyes to clear his vision.
That's right.
A penny indeed.
This is a blatant insult to our own tax laws.
His face suddenly sank.
"With so many goods, do you only have to pay a penny of tax?"
"It was approved by the Ministry of Household Affairs." Ouyang Lun said: "Since ancient times, I have never heard of a royal family doing some business and having to pay taxes."
"It's just that His Highness Taisun's new policy will treat everyone equally."
"I am also a law-abiding person. I apply for certificates in accordance with the law and pay taxes in accordance with the law. I dare not be negligent in the slightest."
Zhu Yunzhen looked at him.
Ouyang Lun stood there with his hands hunched over, motionless.
Zhu Yunzhen's eyes moved to the officials behind him and asked: "You all have shares in the cargo business on the ship, right?"
The expressions of all the officials changed again and again in an instant.
They didn't dare to deny it in front of Ouyang Lun.
How could Ouyang Lun let go if he jumped ship at this time?
Not only will he not be able to escape, he will also be bitten to death.
They had no choice but to bow their heads and remain silent.
"I paid a penny in tax." Zhu Yunxuan muttered: "That means that the total value of the goods in these dozen ships is only five penny."
"It's not easy for my uncle to do business. The imperial court will spend ten cents to purchase all these goods."
"Come here, seize the goods and put them into the national treasury."
The imperial guards surrounding him had already appeared.
Hear the order and step forward immediately.
"Why are you so slow?" Ouyang Lun stopped him, looked at Zhu Yunxian and said, "Does His Highness Taisun really not care about the face of the Tian family and the family ties?"
Zhu Yunxuan snorted coldly and said: "The inspection of the Municipal Shipping Department is just an eighth-grade petty official, and he knows that law enforcement is ruthless and selfless."
"As a grandson alone, supervising the affairs of the country, is he not even as good as him?"
"Of course we take care of family ties and orphans, but the law of the country comes first, how can we tolerate personal relationships?"
Ouyang Lun said: "Your Highness Taisun, it has never been heard of since ancient times that the imperial court collects business taxes from the princess's family!"
"Even ordinary people can be exempted from land tax, corvee labor and family service as long as they obtain a meritorious service."
“This is how you farm, and how you should do business.”
"The princess's house still has to pay business tax? It's simply ridiculous!"
He spoke louder and louder, as if he was righteous and confident.
Zhu Yunzhen just looked at him coldly and said, "So, you are not convinced?"
"Yes!" Ouyang Lun said: "I don't accept it!"
His eyes were red and he looked at Zhu Yunzhen.
"Where are you?" Zhu Yunzhen ignored him and asked the officials around him.
"His Royal Highness, the taxation of the emperor's relatives is unprecedented in history and should be abolished."
"His Royal Highness, Taisun, has imposed excessive levies and expropriations. Although this is a long-term strategy, I hope that Your Highness will continue to do good."
"His Royal Highness Taisun wants to increase the commercial tax to solve the financial problems of the imperial court. It is also appropriate. However, this matter should be compared with the land tax. All relatives of the emperor, noble ministers, court officials, and scholars with meritorious honors should be exempted. All taxes.”
…
All the officials spoke out one after another.
"Okay! Very good!" Zhu Yunzhen nodded and asked Ouyang Lun: "You just said that the inspection of the Municipal Shipping Department was sunk in the Yangtze River?"
"That patrolman is looking for death..." Ouyang Lun defended himself, and then went on to say a lot.
Zhu Yunzhen listened to him quietly and uttered four words.
"Kill for life!"
Ouyang Lun was stunned for a moment, his eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief.
"You...you...you can't kill me!" He exclaimed: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty will never agree. Have you considered the consequences?"
"I...I want to see the princess, I...I want to see your majesty."
he shouted in horror.
Princess Anqing also knows about business matters.
Based on their relationship as husband and wife, if the princess knew about it, she would definitely plead hard for him.
Although Zhu Yunxuan was a grandson who oversaw the administration of the country, how could he dare to be accused of disregarding human relations and not caring about family ties?
Not to mention His Majesty.
Your Majesty will definitely make his daughter a widower.
Zhu Yunxuan sighed: "It's too late!"
"Aren't you dissatisfied?"
"I can give you a chance to complain to the Lord of Hell."
He spoke loudly and said: "The prince-in-law Ouyang Lun evades huge amounts of taxes, kills court officials without permission, and regards the laws of the country as nothing."
"According to the law - execution!"
"No!" Ouyang Lun screamed.
He always felt that even if what he did was brought to court, it would not be a big deal.
The imperial court also had an eight-discussing system, where relatives and nobles were discussed and had the privilege of mitigating punishments.
With the princess here, he must be safe.
But he never expected that Zhu Yunzhen would not give him a chance to submit it to the court for public discussion.
Immediately going to death.
Ouyang Lun became anxious now.
Before his voice fell, he was already captured by two Jinyi guards.
"Because you are my aunt's husband, keep your body intact."
Zhu Yunxuan's sentence pronounced Ouyang Lun's fate.
thump!
But it was Liu Zhixiang, the general judge of Yingtian Mansion, who knelt down.
"Your Highness Taisun, you must not do it. After all, he is the husband of Princess Anqing. If you execute the Prince Consort, your Majesty will definitely be furious."
Liu Zhixiang said with almost snot and tears: "Even if he needs to be punished, he should be handed over to His Majesty. Please give an order to punish him."
"Ah, yes, yes!"
All the officials agreed.
Next to him, Xu Miaojin whispered: "You must not listen to them. If Ouyang Lun is handed over to His Majesty, it will be embarrassing for His Majesty."
"With your son-in-law on one side and the laws of the Ming Dynasty on the other, how should your Majesty handle yourself?"
Zhu Yunzhen nodded slightly.
This may be what these officials are trying to achieve.
With Lao Zhu's character, he probably wouldn't let Ouyang Lun go.
But if he leaves all the difficult things to Lao Zhu to deal with, the impression in his mind will be greatly deteriorated.
Although killing Ouyang Lun may leave an impression on Lao Zhu that he does not care about family ties, it is the lesser of two evils.
What's more, the current implementation of commercial tax also requires killing the chicken and respecting the monkey.
Only by severely punishing Ouyang Lun can we clear the way for the imperial court to collect commercial taxes.
Even the prince-in-law was executed, who would dare not pay taxes?
"No need!" Zhu Yunxuan ordered: "Just commit suicide on the Yangtze River."
He waved his hand, and two guards in royal robes escorted Ouyang Lun, dragged him to the water's edge, and pushed his head into the river.
Ouyang Lun struggled desperately, but in vain.
Gradually there was no movement.
All the officials looked frightened.
The dignified Prince Consort, the Commander-in-Chief, was executed like this?
"Now, it's your turn."
Zhu Yunxuan saw Jin Yiwei checking and confirming that Ouyang Lun was no longer breathing, and turned his attention to other officials present.
thump!
thump!
thump!
All the officials fell to their knees.
"Your Highness Taisun, please spare your life!"
(End of chapter)
