Chapter 262 An unexpected reversal

If you don’t believe me, ask Magistrate Zhang.

He is in the same camp as you.

With a smile on his face, Yan Shaoting looked at the Minister of Rites Yan Ne, the Minister of Punishments Pan En, the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple Chi Fengxiang, and the Chief Justice of the Guanglu Temple Zhang Shouzhi.

What Magistrate Zhang, who is in cahoots with you, said.

At least it's more accurate than what a royalist like me says.

However, Yan Ne, Paine and others did not look at Zhang Juzheng, but at Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet.

Lord Xu.

Zhang Juzheng is your student.

Xu Jie was also having a headache at the moment, but he couldn't express his pain.

Since Zhang Juzheng returned to Beijing until today, he has never come to Xu's house, nor has he ever met me.

Is this still my student?

Xu Jie had already had a question mark in his mind.

especially.

This good student of his, this good student who was expected to inherit his mantle in the court in the future.

Even before returning to Beijing.

He had never discussed it with me at all.

He submitted a memorial to the emperor on his own initiative, requesting his approval for reforms.

That's it.

I have already made myself miserable.

Although no one dared to talk to him in person.

But in private, those former officials in the court have begun to make a lot of remarks.

Everyone was questioning whether Xu Jie, like his students, wanted to carry out reforms and destroy the family business and benefits that everyone had accumulated over the years with great difficulty.

You Xu Jie.

Have you betrayed everyone?

If Zhang Juzheng had not been demoted to the prefect of Shuntian.

I'm afraid this matter will escalate to the point where the censors will attack me as a teacher.

Zhang Juzheng also felt resentful in his heart, and glanced at Yan Shaoting with a rather resentful look.

You know this yourself.

Moreover, it was after he returned to Beijing that he specially searched the Shuntian Prefecture's Jiage Library to find it and then gave it to Yan Shaoting.

But he thought that Yan Shaoting would tell the story himself.

But he didn't expect that he would drag himself into it as well.

In full view.

Can I still say that I didn't know?

Then I'm afraid I will even have to move from the position of Shuntian prefect, which I haven't even sat on yet.

Jiajing also looked at Zhang Juzheng with deep eyes.

He also admired Zhang Juzheng.

At least in the original cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng can be considered a person who is willing to do things.

It’s just.

But he is a little younger and tough at heart.

But his toughness was different from the Hai Gangfeng he hadn't met yet.

Haigangfeng is hard from the inside out.

But Zhang Juzheng was soft on the outside but tough on the inside.

He is a potential candidate to run the country, but not now.

Can't help it.

Jiajing's eyes swept over Yan Shaoting and Zhang Juzheng.

I can't help feeling a little emotional.

When he first came to Beijing from Anlu, he did not have such capable ministers when he first ascended the throne.

But he could leave behind a group of capable ministers for the new emperor.

The change of mind was a little fast.

Jiajing quickly said, "Zhang Juzheng."

Zhang Juzheng immediately stepped forward with a bow and said, "I am here."

Jiajing asked, "What Yan Shaoting said, is there such a thing in Shuntian Prefecture? Is the tax on silk and satin in Shuntian Prefecture only charged to the silk and satin of Shuntian Prefecture, and then shared among the prefectures and counties in Shuntian Prefecture?"

Zhang Juzheng nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it is just as what Yan Shidu said. The Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture's records all state that the silk and satin were taken from the people of Shuntian Prefecture, but in fact, the tax was shared by all the counties and prefectures in Shuntian Prefecture."

Jiajing hummed.

There was no further news.

Yan Shaoting immediately took over the conversation and looked at Yan Ne and others.

"My dear superiors, now Lord Zhang has already explained that the tax on silk and satin for the population of Shuntian Prefecture is only mentioned in the Ministry of Revenue and the prefectural annals, but in fact it is shared by all the prefectures and counties of Shuntian Prefecture.

Then, the silk and satin of Huizhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili was obviously collected from the prefecture, just like Shuntian Prefecture. Why was it not shared by the six counties, but only borne by She County?"

Above the main hall of Wanshou Palace.

Apart from the lingering voice of Yan Shaoting, there was no other sound.

Because Yan Shaoting had already answered this question first.

Because it has been a long time, because the records made by the clerks at the time were wrong, because the accounts are unclear, and because it has been implemented for nearly two hundred years.

and so.

The people of She County became the biggest victims.

Yan Song took the opportunity to speak up and said, "Your Majesty, I remember that an official named Huo Yuxia once said that every household in each county has cheated in paying taxes every year. The tax silver for silk and silk that She County has paid for 200 years now seems to be due to the negligence of the clerks, which led to the mistakes and caused the people of She County to suffer injustice for 200 years."

After saying that.

The old Prime Minister sighed.

"The evil of clerks has always existed."

"Let those who live in the fields be left without any registration, and let those who have no place to live be filled with registration."

Yan Song stood up slowly, looking a little clumsy.

I'm really getting old.

Jiajing's eyes flickered.

And Yan Song has already stood up.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise and virtuous. Since you ascended the throne, you have been implementing benevolent policies. Now you know the situation in She County. Although you cannot repay the taxes that the people of She County have paid for the past two hundred years, how can you let the people of She County suffer from paying more taxes? Your Majesty is decisive and wise, and you should rectify the chaos in time and be fair and just in the court."

Yan Shaoting followed closely behind.

He spoke with great emotion and as if he were there in person.

"Your Majesty, I ask that the four departments of Huizhou Prefecture pay 16,212 taels of silver, of which She County is responsible for 5,361 taels. Brick materials pay 708 taels of silver, of which She County is responsible for 234 taels. Military supplies pay 12,215 taels of silver, of which She County is responsible for 4,032 taels."

"In addition to the regular taxes, there are also miscellaneous taxes in Huizhou. She County alone bears one-third of the taxes in the entire prefecture. This is extremely heavy. How can the people be prosperous and their morale be high?"

"I also ask Your Majesty to give your wise consideration. At this time, the silk tax for the population of Huizhou Prefecture should be re-determined and distributed among the five counties of Huizhou Prefecture to relieve the hardship of the people of She County and demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence and fairness."

Both the grandfather and grandson of the Yan family made their positions clear.

The silk tax levied on the population of Huizhou Prefecture must be redetermined.

Yuan Wei, the cabinet assistant who had been waiting for a long time, immediately bowed and stood up.

"Your Majesty, since the original silk and satin tax of Huizhou Prefecture has been clearly identified, and Shuntian Prefecture also has silk and satin to be shared among the prefectures and counties, I think that the court should issue an edict to redefine the silk and satin tax of Huizhou Prefecture as Mr. Yan and Mr. Yan have said." "I second the motion."

After Yuan Wei, Guo Pu naturally followed suit and seconded the motion.

Next came Ouyang Bijin, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Lei Li, the Minister of Works.

Gao Gong and Gao Yao had not spoken yet.

Xu Jie took the lead and walked out.

This was the second time that Xu Jie stood in the Wanshou Palace Hall since the day Zhang Juzheng proposed reforms.

"His Majesty!"

"How can the Yellow Book, which has been in existence for 200 years, be changed?"

"Knowing that there is no way to solve the problem, they took advantage of the household tax regulations to present examples and then used them to indulge their own ideas. Regardless of the source and the wealth, they all reconciled and mixed up the taxes, using the name of sharing the burden as a means of creating chaos."

"Private calculations and private favors."

"Private conduct turns chaos into law."

as always.

Whenever Xu Jie opened his mouth, he would talk about the established law.

By the way, Yan Shaoting, who was bent on reducing the taxes borne by the people of She County, was said to be doing a private favor to the people of She County, but he did not know that this would disrupt the ancestral laws and further disrupt the government.

Xu Jie continued in a deep voice, "Once the imperial court decides to re-determine the silk tax for Huizhou Prefecture, the people of the five counties will go to the imperial court to file a petition, accusing She County of committing a crime of rebellion. The people of the five counties will call for a decisive battle to punish those who instigated the rebellion in She County and the court."

"Once the new order is made, the ancestral system is arbitrarily changed, the registers are disrupted, silk and silk are lavished, and the five counties are in chaos. The people of the five counties will certainly be angry and clamorous. If they are not dealt with in time, it will surely lead to a disaster."

After talking about the laws established by our ancestors.

Xu Jie then talked about the civil uprising in five counties.

Emperor, you don't want to see a civil uprising.

Xu Jie then continued, "All the counties are angry and causing troubles. How should we deal with the proposal to change the tax system? Their criticism is only to show their anger towards the Yins; their cries are only to seek an explanation from the government; their urgent feelings are only to seek to communicate with the emperor and father."

Go here.

Xu Jie has already made it clear what problems might occur.

If the silk tax of Huizhou Prefecture is arbitrarily changed now, it might lead to civil unrest.

In the end, things evolved and expanded step by step.

One involved only a tax of 6,146 taels of silver.

It would disturb the emperor to the point of being extremely annoyed.

The price is too high.

Your Majesty, I don’t think you would want your meditation to be disturbed.

Xu Jie's eyes sparkled.

With Xu Jie taking the lead.

The Minister of Rites Yan Ne, who was humiliated by Yan Shaoting's rebuttal.

He jumped out again immediately.

"Your Majesty, She County has inherited silk for 200 years. It has become a law established by our ancestors. How can it be easily changed?"

"If this is changed at this time, I'm afraid the five counties will be in chaos."

"The civil uprising is imminent, and Huizhou Prefecture is close to Nanzhili. Once the people of the five counties feel that they are dissatisfied, they will all go to Nanjing..."

When Yan Ne said this, his eyes flashed.

He said quietly, "I'm afraid it will disturb the Xiaoling Mausoleum..."

Xiaoling.

That is the burial place of Emperor Gaozu of the Ming Dynasty and his empress.

It is located on Zhongshan Mountain in the northeast corner of Nanjing City.

After saying that.

Yan Ne looked at Yan Shaoting indifferently.

If that is really the case.

Then the serious crime of disturbing the Xiaoling Mausoleum can be pinned on Yan Shaoting and the Yan family.

That would be a crime of disturbing the tomb of Emperor Taizu Gao.

He will be beheaded.

Beheading is not enough.

You have to play a game of Match 3 to win.

Yan Shaoting's brows suddenly furrowed.

This Yan Ne is really sinister.

Jiajing was also frightened.

He dared not allow anything to disturb the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu Gao.

Yan Shaoting's eyes were gloomy.

He could imagine that Xu Jie and his gang would use the civil unrest as an excuse.

But he really didn't expect that this old man Xu Jie would dare to use the Xiaoling Mausoleum as a threat.

This is not just about capturing the old Taoist priest with one hand.

Xu Jie sneered in his heart.

At this point, it is impossible to change this matter.

Yan Ne, Paine and others were laughing in their hearts.

No matter how much Yan Shaoting says, as long as the charge of disturbing the Xiaoling Mausoleum is brought out, even the emperor would not dare to easily change the matter.

Just after a brief period of haze.

Yan Shaoting quickly raised his head and looked at the old Taoist priest who was about to make a holy judgment to maintain the status quo.

"His Majesty!"

"Now that things have come to this, and it is clear that the people of She County have been paying a silk tax of 6,146 taels per head for nearly 200 years."

"I ask your Majesty to issue an order to abolish the silk tax in Huizhou Prefecture."

"To show your majesty's benevolence!"

"To show your majesty's wisdom!"

"To show your majesty's love for the people, and to let everyone in the world know your majesty's benevolence and justice!"

Maybe it's because of urgency.

Yan Shaoting's voice is very loud.

Everyone in the Wanshou Palace could hear it clearly.

No one expected it.

Even though Yan Shaoting was forced into a desperate situation by Xu Jie on the charge of disturbing the Xiaoling Mausoleum, he was able to turn the situation around like this.

Completely abolish the silk tax that She County, Huizhou Prefecture, has borne for 200 years?
This is something no one has thought about.

Everyone looked at the emperor.

Yan Shaoting continued, "Thanks to your majesty's benevolent administration, last year we decided to increase silk production in the southeast for overseas sales. Last year we received a deposit of three million taels, and this year we will receive no less than seven million taels of money and goods.

"The silk and satin tax of the people in Huizhou Prefecture is only over 6,000 taels, and the people of She County in Huizhou Prefecture have already paid for 200 years. The abolition of the tax now is not really an abolition, but the people have already paid in advance for the future as well.

“If this tax is abolished now, the people of She County will be relieved of their hardship, and Your Majesty will be known as a benevolent ruler and father, and the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing will not be disturbed by the angry people of the five counties.

I ask Your Majesty to grant my permission!"

…………

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(End of this chapter)