Chapter 254 The Emperor's Sinister Intentions

Inside the main hall of Wanshou Palace.

Xu Jie stood upright, appearing extremely calm.

Of course, he knew the pros and cons of Zhang Juzheng's proposal to collect taxes in the form of silver.

But I still brought it up.

If no one sees the disadvantages, then they will naturally push it forward and urge the emperor to approve it.

in this way.

Half of the Ming Dynasty's taxes fell into the hands of merchants in disguised form.

It fell into the hands of merchants.

This means that it has fallen into the hands of the gentry and wealthy people across the world.

If it were the same as just now.

Yan Shaoting discovered the drawbacks of collecting taxes in the form of silver.

Then I can still deal with it calmly.

Under everyone's puzzled gaze.

Xu Jie said slowly, "Reader Yan just said that Zhang Juzheng's proposal to collect taxes in the form of silver may be used by private merchants, causing the people to be further exploited and become even poorer. Although the court has obtained money, it has no real goods, and has to use money to buy from the people at high prices.

"What Yan Shidu said is truly insightful and hits the nail on the head.

I think that at this time, as the imperial court is in charge of rectifying the style of administration of officials, the cabinet minister Gao Gong can also rectify and supervise the price of the output of the people. "

Gao Gong frowned.

Isn't this just causing more trouble and adding to your own burden?
He immediately said, "Your Majesty, since everyone knows that the tax will be converted into silver, it will definitely affect the people. This move cannot be carried out rashly. I think it should be suppressed and the court should not be allowed to discuss it again."

Yan Shaoting immediately followed up: "The common people have many sorrows. All they want in life is to have enough food and clothing. The court has many taxes, but the common people can still pay for their own farming. Once the court's taxes are collected and merchants are added, the common people will definitely not have enough food and clothing. I agree with what Gao said. This request should be suppressed. No further discussion is allowed until a perfect and appropriate measure is taken."

Compared to Lao Gao, Yan Shaoting was more cautious.

After all, as the development progressed, the imperial court would eventually have to collect a large portion of taxes in the form of silver.

But it definitely cannot be what Xu Jie is proposing now.

and so.

If it is really perfect and suitable for implementation, then we can naturally discuss it again.

Xu Jie said calmly, "Your Majesty, governing is like a sword. A sword can kill people, but it can also hurt yourself. But should the government of the court give up sleep and food because of this? I think that now that the court has started to rectify the administration of officials, the officials will naturally be united under the leadership of Mr. Gao, so that our government can achieve a harmonious and harmonious state.

"Since Your Majesty and I are aware that taxes are converted into silver, and that merchants may take advantage of them, the court has a chance to be aware of it and avoid it. Instead, the Ministry of Revenue will investigate the tax items in various places throughout the country and set the tax items based on the average price of past years. This will not be changed. In this way, the people will not be exploited by unscrupulous merchants.

The court can also take the average price of the year, pay money, and purchase what is needed from private merchants, so that the demand can be met everywhere, and the court can save a lot of money. "

After saying this, Xu Jie glanced at Yan Shaoting and Gao Gong.

At the court level, the taxes that all kinds of people need to pay are priced in kind. You can no longer say that there are unscrupulous businessmen exploiting the people.

Gao Gong frowned immediately.

For a moment, no one could find any fault with Xu Jie's advice.

However, Yan Shaoting had a layer of gloom in his heart.

Is Xu Jie someone who can do good things that benefit the country and the people?
One thing must be acknowledged.

No matter what Xu Jie said, what is the starting point.

He is not a man who can do good things.

This man.

He has become so cruel as to be as ruthless as Pi Yanzi!

Yan Shaoting frowned when he saw the old Taoist's lips moved.

He immediately said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter must not be carried out. Zhang Juzheng is now on his way back to Beijing. He has not yet entered Beijing, but his memorial requesting the court to reform has already arrived in Beijing and before Your Majesty.

"It can be seen that Zhang Juzheng must have made thorough preparations and must have had a backup plan. He continued to try to implement reforms and would not have ended it hastily.

"If Your Majesty approves this today, officials in the court will think that Your Majesty is willing to reform the political system at this time. The same will be true for Zhang Juzheng.

"I can still see that by then, countless officials will follow Zhang Juzheng in the court, and there will be a constant stream of petitions for reforms both inside and outside the court.

"The trend of reform is prevalent in the court. Where there are supporters, there will inevitably be opponents. So at that time, all officials in the court, big and small, will be deeply involved in the dispute over whether to reform, and will have no intention of doing their job.

I ask Your Majesty to understand that this is not the time to make hasty reforms.”

Yan Shaoting said it very seriously.

He almost said the word "party strife".

Since the old Taoist priest is unwilling to initiate reforms in his time, then he will go in this direction.

He looked up at the old Taoist priest behind the bead curtain.

Taoist priest, you don’t want the court to be caught up in the political reform and party struggles.

Jiajing, who had originally been inclined to agree with Xu Jie's request to collect taxes from all over the country in the form of silver, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Let the court be caught up in a factional struggle over whether to reform?
Then I’m afraid I won’t be able to have a peaceful day for a single day.

We must not allow anything that involves reform and innovation to begin!
Jiajing understood it instantly.

Just, once again.

Just when Jiajing was about to speak and pronounce the imperial judgment.

Xu Jie had already bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty has been around for two hundred years. Local officials are intertwined and have taken advantage of the situation of collecting taxes for the court to enrich themselves. How many people have handed over twice the amount of grain to corrupt officials, and the court is unaware of it.

"How much money and grain would be wasted on the government transporting the grain to various provinces and prefectures, and even sending it to the imperial court's Ministry of Revenue's warehouse? And how many local governments would waste money and grain if they had to send it with the right people?

"The people have been repeatedly exploited, the court and Your Majesty have been deceived, countless mountains of money and grain, which should have belonged to the court and the treasury, have been embezzled by corrupt officials. One year in one place, ten years in the whole country, I really dare not estimate how much money and grain has been embezzled from the court and the treasury.

“Now that we have a good policy, although it has its drawbacks, we only need to be a little cautious and implement it throughout the country, then the money and grain of the country will not be damaged, and the money and grain of the court and the treasury will be full. There will no longer be a situation where the court and the treasury are stretched to the limit and suffer an embarrassing situation.

Your Majesty is wise and will be able to make wise decisions."

It’s over.

The old Taoist priest was probably going to agree to Xu Jie's request.

When Xu Jie said these last words.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Xu Jie had grasped the emperor's mind. What was the thing that the old Taoist priest could not tolerate the most?
Naturally, someone secretly embezzled the money that should have belonged to him.

Compared with this, what is party strife?
Over the years, there were countless disputes, big and small, in the imperial court, which were actually initiated by the emperor or approved by the emperor.

Only silver.

This is what the old Taoist priest values ​​most.

really.

This time.

Jiajing immediately said, "Approve what Lord Xu requested!"

He did not give anyone else a chance to speak and argue, and immediately made his own arbitrary decision.

The Ming Dynasty was about to begin to implement the tax collection method based on silver.

After making up your mind.

Jiajing smiled, nodded and looked at everyone.

"Although I approve this law, I have no intention of reforming it, nor do I know the pros and cons of it."

These words marked a new beginning.

You cannot use this incident as an opportunity to discuss and request reforms.

Jiajing then said, "But as Lord Xu said, the Ministry of Revenue should first investigate the taxes collected by all prefectures and counties across the country, trace the prices of the items used as evidence in the past, and set the average price as a precedent. Merchants should not be allowed to take advantage of the opportunity to exploit the people, nor should they be allowed to sell to the court at high prices!"

Yan Shaoting immediately said: "Your Majesty..."

But Xu Jie bowed deeply and said, "I obey your command!"

Jiajing looked at Yan Shaoting, who had a lot to say.

"Yan Qing, I have made up my mind."

After saying this, Jiajing looked at Yan Shaoting with a scrutinizing gaze.

Yan Shaoting sighed slightly in his heart. Things had come to this point. The old Taoist priest had made up his mind and it was difficult to change it.

He could only bow and nod unwillingly: "I obey your command."

When Yan Shaoting had nothing to say.

Everyone present bowed and nodded.

"I will take your orders..."

Seeing that the ministers in front of him had no more objections, Jiajing smiled.

He spoke slowly, "I approve this law for the sake of our ancestors. All the taxes in the world are collected from the people and used for the people. No matter what the law is, officials and clerks in the court are not allowed to exploit the people, and private merchants are not allowed to take advantage of the opportunity to commit illegal acts.

"If this law is implemented, the people will benefit from it, and the government will reduce the amount of money spent on transportation. It is a win-win for both sides. The cabinet and the officials who should issue letters to the local authorities must follow the order. If there is any violation of the law, it will be severely punished at this time of rectifying the administration of officials!
This law has been implemented for the taxation of autumn grain this year. However, if there are any hidden cases, please report them to the officials and make corrections. It is ordered that this will become a precedent and cannot be changed in the future. "

"Your subjects shall obey the Holy Order!"

This time, everyone in the hall responded in unison.

But Yan Shaoting sighed deeply in his heart.

It can be seen that the old Taoist priest is very anxious about this matter.

As a result, this law will not be implemented until next year, but will be implemented in the autumn tax after this year's summer tax.

The people are mourning.

No one knows how much corruption will be fostered by the method of converting taxes into silver, which is strongly supported by Xu Jie, and how many people will become poorer as a result.

It was also at this time.

Jiajing's eyes quietly turned to Yan Shaoting.

Jiajing always had complicated feelings towards this young official.

But a subject is a subject.

No matter how favored you are, you should know what your identity is.

Jiajing's gaze became long.

While everyone was waiting to leave the court.

Jiajing said, "As an assistant minister of the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng has the intention to protect the country, but he does not think about the stability of the country. He has never made any suggestions to the court, but has insisted on his own way. He has made countless mistakes in requesting reforms. Yan Shaoting, the attendant reader of the Hanlin Academy, has been ordered to convey the decree to demote Zhang Juzheng to the governor of Shuntian Prefecture and deprive him of his power to interfere in the cabinet."

Boom!
The people who were waiting to go home after get off work all looked up with surprise at the emperor who had made the decision behind the pearl curtain.

Just these words.

Zhang Juzheng went from being a cabinet minister in the Ming Dynasty to a small prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

Yan Shaoting almost burst into swearing.

Old Taoist priest, you really have evil intentions!
He can even do such inhuman things!
He was asked to convey an imperial decree to Zhang Juzheng, and the decree was to demote Zhang from the cabinet to the governor of Shuntian.

Why was Lao Zhang demoted this time?
Because he requested reform.

And what about yourself?

There have also been attempts to petition for reforms in the past.

Asking himself to convey the imperial edict to Zhang Juzheng was just an attempt to destroy the possibility of the reformists secretly colluding with each other.

And more importantly.

Now Zhang Juzheng has clearly raised the banner of reform and innovation.

From today on, as long as Zhang Juzheng is in the court, he will be inseparable from the reform.

The old Taoist priest with sinister intentions asked him to convey the imperial edict to Zhang Juzheng who was about to arrive.

Isn't this clearly putting himself and Zhang Juzheng in opposition?

By that time, Zhang Juzheng was a reformer, and he himself would really become a conservative, or what he called a royalist.

Any official in the court who supported Zhang Juzheng's reforms would have to distance themselves from him from now on.

Old Taoist priest!
You really are no longer a human being!
…………

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(End of this chapter)