Chapter 253: Elder Xu's repeated jumps

Yan Shaoting was not the only one who couldn't understand it at the moment.

Even Yan Ne, Pan En and Yang Bo were completely dumbfounded.

The three of them looked in surprise at Xu Jie who suddenly entered the palace today.

Thinking back to what Xu Jie had just said.

Lord Xu actually agreed with Zhang Juzheng's request for reform.

Then what have I become?

Has Lord Xu suddenly become the vanguard of the reformists?

Are we traitors?

The three of them couldn't help but turn their eyes to Yan Shaoting.

Their faces all looked strange.

Co-authored…

We are in the same group with Yan Shaoting from Sanhe.

Just as the three of them had already caused a huge uproar, Gao Gong, Yuan Wei and others also completely couldn't understand the current situation.

Yan Shaoting is a royalist.

Was Xu Jie a reformist?

If this matter were to be made public, it would probably immediately become the biggest joke of the 41st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty.

It's the kind of big joke that can make you laugh from the beginning of the year to the end of the year!
Behind the beaded curtain.

Jiajing almost lost his seat when listening to Xu Jie's words.

His eyes kept switching between Xu Jie and Yan Shaoting.

A strange emotion began to grow in his heart.

So I really misunderstood Yan Qing just now?

So was it actually Xu Jie who was behind Zhang Juzheng's sudden request for reform?
He is the only one!
He has been staying at home since the end of last year, and it was only today, by chance, that he entered the palace to seek an audience.

During this period, Xu Jie had every reason and time to contact Zhang Juzheng.

but……

It doesn't make sense.

Jiajing was filled with doubts.

No matter from which angle you look at it, Xu Jie could never be a reformer, but rather the most stubborn conservative in the court he presided over.

But Xu Jie continued, "Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty has been around for 200 years. At the beginning of the country, there were the reigns of Taizu and Chengzu, the reigns of Renzong and Xuanzong, and the restoration of Hongzhi. The dynasty has continued to this day. But in the past 200 years, there has not been a single reform, which is by no means a blessing.

"In the Former Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty abolished all schools of thought and promoted Confucianism alone. In the Former Tang Dynasty, there were also many reforms, and in the Former Song Dynasty, there were even more reforms.

The country has been passed down from generation to generation, and no one is perfect, so how can there be a perfect government? In line with the times, our dynasty has been in existence for 200 years, and as Zhang Juzheng said, there are many accumulated problems. We should innovate to boost the country and society. "

Got it!

It's out!
Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, was the biggest leader of the reform faction!
Everyone looked at Xu Jie in surprise.

Just one second.

Xu Jie continued, "However, Zhang Juzheng's time in the cabinet was short after all, and he was not yet able to take charge of all matters related to the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the country. Therefore, the matters he reported were not complete and contained many mistakes and omissions.

But I think that among all the things Zhang Juzheng requested, the most appropriate one is to convert the numerous tax items in the country into silver, which should be urgently implemented by the local governments in the two capitals and 13 provinces of our dynasty.

Xu Jie's eyes flickered.

He really looks like the leader of the reform faction.

But Yan Shaoting felt a sense of alarm in his heart.

Old Xu is digging a hole!
In other words, Xu Laohuo was not a reformist, but was just using Zhang Juzheng's memorials to plot things that were beneficial to him.

What is he planning?
Yan Shaoting was thinking quickly in his head.

But Xu Jie didn't give him enough time to think.

When Jiajing asked, "What Lord Xu said, that all taxes in the country should be calculated in silver, should be implemented throughout the country, why is that?"

Xu Jie immediately replied: "Nowadays, taxes are calculated in kind or in silver. If they are collected in kind, it will involve transportation and release, which will cost a lot of money. A shipload of grain from Huguang to the capital will consume half of the grain, which is a huge waste.

"Moreover, most of the local government clerks are veterans who have been around for many years and are involved in many complicated and intricate areas. The local government officials cannot go to every place to collect taxes, so they have to hand it over to the local clerks.

"Many of the clerks are cruel. When collecting taxes in kind, they often exploit the people. For example, if the tax grain is one dan, the people will have to pay one or two dou more, or even three or four dou more, after the cruel clerks have collected it.

"If all taxes are calculated in silver, the imperial court will determine the tax amount for each prefecture and county, and the people only need to pay enough silver to the government clerks for registration, then the tax amount for this year will be paid.

For the common people, exploitation was eliminated and the burden was lifted. For the imperial court, the number of women and horses needed to transport silver and money was greatly reduced, and the loss was halved. The imperial court actually received silver and money, and the silver and money deposited in the Ministry of Revenue were used to purchase goods according to needs, or to distribute silver to local areas and border gates to allow them to purchase goods on their own. The transportation expenses and fire consumption no longer existed. "

Inside the main hall, Xu Jie argued that he agreed with this item of Zhang Juzheng's reform.

He already looked like a leader of the vanguard of the reform faction.

But as soon as he finished speaking.

Yan Shaoting immediately said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty! I object! This is absolutely not feasible!"

There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Yan Shaoting glanced sideways at Xu Jie.

At this time, he finally understood why Old Xu seemed to support Zhang Juzheng's request for reform.

And just as Old Man Xu had expected, he was not pursuing the so-called reform at all, but was only doing it for his own selfish interests.

Among the various reforms promoted by Zhang Juzheng, Yan Shaoting was originally prepared to criticize and oppose the one that calculated taxes in silver.

The so-called tax calculation based on silver.

Maybe the starting point is good, but the idea is too naive.

Or maybe it was restricted from the beginning.

Something that could have made it easier for people to pay taxes turned into a more serious exploitation of the people because of the involvement of merchants.

Once Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie's request is approved, all taxes in the Ming Dynasty will be calculated and levied in silver.

The people could only sell the food and other things they produced to merchants in exchange for silver, and then they could take the silver to the government to pay taxes.

but.

Can a businessman be a good person?
Even if there are one or two occasionally.

But in the final analysis, businessmen are all profit-seeking.

When the people took the food and other items they produced to sell, the merchants would naturally come up with various reasons, or they would not need any reasons at all. All the merchants would collude with each other and directly lower the prices to buy the things from the people at extremely low prices.

Then the people took the silver to the government to pay taxes.

There is basically not much left, or even not enough.

When the people were unable to survive, they would have no choice but to sell their land, wives and children, and eventually become tenants of the rich. And what about the imperial court?

Although the court might get the full amount of silver.

However, the imperial court lost the power to directly collect taxes in kind and had to use silver to find private merchants to purchase the items they needed.

at this time.

Merchants would naturally raise prices again, selling the things they bought at low prices to the court at high prices.

One to two to go.

The imperial court had completely fallen to the point of working for this group of merchants and the gentry and wealthy families behind them.

And he finally understood why Xu Jie suddenly came to the palace to ask for an audience today.

I also understood why Xu Jie sounded like a reformist as soon as he opened his mouth.

And why did he single out the Single Whip Law to levy taxes in silver?

because.

The Xu family and other wealthy gentry in the southeast controlled almost half of the commercial circulation in the Ming Dynasty.

Agree with this reform.

In fact, it means agreeing to let them earn more profits.

It was just when Yan Shaoting shouted that it was not feasible.

Xu Jie immediately spoke up, "Your Majesty, I think most of Zhang Juzheng's requests are indeed unfeasible, just as Yan Shidu said!"

Ok?
In the main hall of Wanshou Palace.

There was another moment of surprise.

Lord Xu began to agree with Yan Shaoting's opinion again?
Everyone looked at Lord Xu Jie, who was standing steadily in the hall. He did not show any signs of illness. It was clear that he had not moved at all.

But it clearly seemed as if it was jumping back and forth non-stop.

Are you a reformer or a conservative?
Or.

Are you going to be a royalist like Yan Shaoting?

then.

Wanshou Palace returned to the starting point.

Who are the reformists?
But Xu Jie obviously hadn't finished speaking.

He then said: "Although Yan Shidu has been in the court for a short time, he is very intelligent. I, as an old minister, think the same as him. Reforms should not be implemented hastily. However, this tax payment can be implemented immediately to relieve the people's long-standing troubles."

Yan Shaoting hurriedly faced the old Taoist priest, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think that what Zhang Juzheng proposed should not be implemented right now! And the various reforms that Zhang Juzheng proposed today are full of mistakes and omissions as Xu Ge Lao said. If they are implemented hastily, it will surely bring disaster to the people. I think Your Majesty should issue an oral order to punish Zhang Juzheng and put an end to his eagerness to reform!"

Jiajing narrowed his eyes and looked at Yan Shaoting and Xu Jie who were standing in front of him.

Interesting.

These two people are quite interesting today.

Jiajing patted the table lightly and said, "I already know what Lord Xu said about the reason why the taxes borne by the people are collected in silver. But Yan Shaoting, why do you strongly oppose this change?"

Yan Shaoting nodded, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, if the tax paid by the people is levied in silver, it will inevitably lead to the people selling their output, and the merchants will buy it at a low price, which will further exploit the people. Although the court will control the silver and money at that time, if the merchants make excuses and sell it at a high price, the court will suffer huge losses!
"This move is a very inappropriate policy for both the country and the people! It seems to be convenient for the people and a good policy for the common people, but in fact it is an even greater exploitation of the people. The court has completely lost the power to collect taxes, and the court's finances will definitely fall into the hands of merchants!

I ask Your Majesty to think twice and not to initiate this reform rashly!"

Follow the authority in urgent matters.

Yan Shaoting used the simplest words to explain the matter clearly to the old Taoist priest.

But Xu Jie, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but frown.

This Yan Shaoting!
I was able to react so quickly.

Jiajing's eyes also narrowed.

If it weren't for Yan Shaoting's explanation at this moment, I'm afraid I don't know when I would be able to react to this matter and figure out the real situation.

Xu Jie was one step faster.

He immediately bowed to Yan Shaoting and said, "Mr. Yan is a man of high righteousness. He can actually see something that I have never seen!"

Yan Shaoting frowned.

Why did Xu Jie become so unrecognizable today?
Is it so difficult to deal with?

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to speak.

Xu Jie had already turned to the emperor behind the pearl curtain.

"Your Majesty, I had not anticipated this situation just now. It was indeed my fault for not noticing this.

"But this also further proves that the various reforms that Zhang Juzheng advised were hastily decided without much thought, and there are many mistakes and omissions in them. Once implemented, they will definitely bring disaster to the people.

I dare to advise Your Majesty that you must not encourage this trend. You should issue an order to severely punish Zhang Juzheng as Yan Shidu said, so that no one in the court can talk about reforms in such a careless way in the future!"

suddenly.

Xu Jie's figure swayed again.

Jump sideways again.

Yan Shaoting's brows were already frowned.

Today's Xu Jie is really hard to understand!
What does he want to do?
Just as Yan Shaoting kept guessing what Xu Jie's real plan was today.

Xu Jie looked at himself again.

Then he spoke with a smile.

"Your Majesty, just now after the analysis by Yan Shidu..."

"I think the previous report on the collection of taxes paid by the people of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty in the form of silver can still be implemented as before."

"Please allow me, Your Majesty, to make this matter known to you."

now.

Finally, even Yan Song, who had been sitting as steady as a mountain, turned his head to look at Xu Jie who was smiling.

Yan Song and Yan Shaoting, grandfather and grandson, looked at each other, with confusion and puzzlement in their eyes.

What exactly does Xu Jie want to do!
…………

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

　There is too much to write, and if godfathers pay attention to the number of words in today's chapter, they may find it.

A lot of details and content related to subsequent reforms need to be sorted out. Lao Zhang is already an enhanced version, and Lao Xu has also started to change after the Chinese New Year, so I have been checking them repeatedly today, so it's a little late, sorry.

It’s the last day of June. If you godfathers still have monthly tickets, please give them to me. Thank you so much!

　
(End of this chapter)