Qin Xiao couldn't help but wonder if Lu Bin had lied in desperation to get away with the crime and buy some time to survive.
Lu Bin explained weakly:
"Your Majesty, the tax policy of this dynasty only stipulates that the tax paid by the people is one-tenth of the harvest."
“But there is no requirement that if you earn more, you must pay more taxes.”
"Yunzhou did hand over the full amount according to the stipulation of one-tenth of the harvest. The guilty minister did not deceive the court."
I heard this argument.
Everyone was stunned.
Qin Xiao was also stunned, and quickly came to his senses: "I saw it with my own eyes and the results of the investigation by the officials stationed there. Yunzhou has a bumper harvest that is rare everywhere."
"You harvest so much food, but the amount of taxes you pay is about the same as other places. Do you still think there is no problem?"
The ministers all nodded in agreement. .
That corrupt officials are hateful is not the real point.
The point is, Yunzhou Magistrate, Lu Bin fell today.
The big guys in the court will have the opportunity to install their cronies in Yunzhou and increase their power.
This is what they really want.
Chen Yong shouted fiercely: "Lu Bin! The evidence of the crime is solid, you still want to quibble?"
"The taxes and grains paid during the great harvest have not been increased accordingly. To deceive the Holy One is a crime worthy of death."
After scolding, Chen Yong knelt down to Qin Xiao again and said:
"Your Majesty, the matter is very clear. Please punish Lu Bin for his serious crime of corruption."
A large number of Chen Yong's followers knelt down: "Your Majesty, please punish Lu Bin for his crime."
Seeing this, Qin Xiao's eyes contained an icy cold light.
He stared at Chen Yong with evil eyes.
Chen Yong, on the other hand, was too stupid to realize that he had made a big mistake.
He is a minister, and Qin Xiao is the monarch.
Chen Yongyong waited for Qin Xiao to speak and made the final decision for him first.
This was something Qin Xiao couldn't tolerate.
After Chen Yong became prime minister, with the power in his hands, he became a little greedy and often made decisions for him as the emperor unconsciously.
Qin Xiao saw his arrogant and power-hungry ambitions.
Qin Xiao was the founding emperor of the Zhou Dynasty.
A man of iron blood who commanded thousands of troops and conquered thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.
He would never allow this.
Qin Xiao has been plotting painstakingly to keep the supreme power of the Zhou Dynasty in the hands of himself and his descendants for the sake of the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
For this reason, Qin Xiao even showed no mercy and killed many of the founding heroes with the help of some major cases.
Just to ensure that power is not usurped.
Chen Yong and his party members acted blatantly.
It can be said that it not only touched Qin Xiao's reverse scale, but also the result he wanted.
Just take advantage of Chen Yongbu's arrogant behavior to let him destroy himself!
Qin Xiao smiled coldly: "If you want to make a solid case, you must first check and confirm that the food is in the granary before you can convict!"
Hearing this, all the officials present felt chilled.
Some ministers were so frightened that they broke out in cold sweat.
Your Majesty's tone is not kind.
Especially those officials who just knelt down with Chen Yong were wondering if they had been too impatient and joined Chen Yong too early.
He doesn't take the emperor seriously.
Do you really think that Your Majesty is a good person?
When no one spoke, Lu Bin spoke: "Your Majesty, the guilty minister still has something to say."
He was still kneeling on the ground, but now he puffed out his chest: "Your Majesty, Yunzhou has had a good harvest for four consecutive years."
"The food stored in the grain depot alone is enough to cover Yunzhou's expenses for four years."
Qin Xiao took a breath when he heard this.
Surprised, he leaned forward obliviously.
Just the food stored in the warehouse is enough for Yunzhou to feed for four years? !
How much does this have to be?
Qin Xiao became even more annoyed and asked: "Tell me, why did you save it?"
Lu Bin sighed: "I don't dare to hand it over, nor do I dare to let the people take it. I can only put the extra grain every year into the warehouse and store it."
"When the granary is full, we will sell it."
Buzz!
All the civil and military officials could not help but talk in low voices and were surprised and confused.
Yunzhou has enough food reserves for four years!
This is unheard of in other states.
Qin Xiao asked again: "Why didn't you let the people use it themselves, and why did you hide it and not report it?"
As soon as Qin Xiao opened his mouth, the ministers immediately shut up and pricked up their ears to hear the answer.
If Lu Bin's answer does not satisfy Qin Xiao.
Even if he has some credit for saving grain, he will be severely punished by Qin Xiao.
Lu Bin said helplessly: "The cheap grain hurts the farmers."
"If there is more grain circulating on the market, prices will fall. If farmers have a bumper harvest, their incomes may not increase."
"If it were left to the people to use on their own, they wouldn't be able to eat it all and there wouldn't be enough granaries to store it."
"It will allow the food to mold in vain, which is a huge waste."
"So, the Yunzhou government came forward to buy grain from the people at a price higher than the market price and stored it in the granary."
"Wait until it is needed, or sell it in places where food is scarce. It kills two birds with one stone."
I see.
Qin Xiao remained motionless for a long time, still recalling what Lu Bin said in his mind.
In this way, Yunzhou will not hurt farmers because of low grain prices and dampen farmers' enthusiasm for farming.
It can also help other places tide over difficulties.
This is not to kill two birds with one stone. What is the best of both worlds? !
"Ha ha."
Suddenly, Qin Xiao looked up to the sky and smiled.
Yunzhou's approach is the most in line with Qin Xiao's wishes.
This is how he truly cares for the people.
Qin Xiao is now very satisfied with Lu Bin's thoughts and decisions.
But none of the civil and military officials in the court could laugh.
They had all made up their minds and were waiting for Lu Bin to be punished and arrange for people to enter Yunzhou.
The result is like this?
Not only would Qin Xiao not punish Lu Bin, but he also seemed to believe that he had made a great contribution?
At this moment, Qin Xiao's anger turned into joy.
This is my loyal minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who has worked hard for the benefit of the people.
They are afraid that falling food prices will hurt farmers, so they reserve food and transfer it to other areas that are short of food.
It looks simple, but it is very laborious and troublesome to do.
This shows that Lu Bin's character and ability are quite high.
Lu Bin only made one mistake, that is, he did not report it to the court in advance.
But his ability to make Yunzhou have a good harvest every year is not something he can do for a living.
Otherwise, there are so many states in the world, why can’t other officials do it?
But now things are clear.
Qin Xiao was a little embarrassed.
Just now, he was reprimanding Lu Bin in a tense manner, shouting that he would be beaten and killed.
In a blink of an eye, Lu Bin was not only not a corrupt official, but also a good official who cared about the people.
Qin Xiao couldn't stand being slapped in the face like this in public.
"Hurry up and untie Master Lu!"
After hearing the emperor's words, Chen Yong's face turned ugly.
He said unwillingly: "Your Majesty, this is just Lu Bin's family opinion..."
Qin Xiao interrupted him coldly: "I will send someone to find out whether it is true or false."
