Chapter 396 The Old Taoist Priest’s Plan
There was an incomprehensible light flickering in Zhang Juzheng's eyes.

He glanced at the street outside the Grain Inspectorate.

Because this is the government office, there are basically few common people coming here.

This can basically also be applied to other local government offices of the imperial court.

After all, there is a difference between officials and civilians.

Ordinary people don't like to have too much to do with the government.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Hai Rui, who obviously had no chance of entering the Grain Inspectorate's Office before the matter was settled, and could only sigh helplessly.

After thinking about it, Zhang Juzheng simply separated one person from the other and sat on the same step with Hai Rui.

"Brother Gangfeng, I think you should know that I have been seeking to replace the current confusing tax names with a new tax system."

Hai Rui did not speak.

But he was not a fool. In fact, to some extent, he saw things more clearly than Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Hai Rui's reaction and could only smile. He continued, "Our dynasty has been in existence for 200 years. Since Emperor Taizu founded the country, the court has accumulated a lot of taxes and levies, which are too numerous to mention. The people have to work hard all year round for this, without a chance to breathe. Although I dare not say that I am as honest and upright as Brother Gangfeng, I care about the people of the world in my heart just like Brother Gangfeng."

There was some fluctuation on Hai Rui's face.

He glanced sideways at Zhang Juzheng, and he believed that Zhang Juzheng was telling the truth when he said this.

otherwise.

How could I possibly sit here with him?

Not to mention that he would even plot against Zhang Juzheng, the Governor-General and Minister of the Navy.

Although the two may have different governing philosophies.

But as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.

The truth is simple.

Seeing Hai Rui finally react, Zhang Juzheng smiled and said, "The road ahead is long and difficult, so Brother Gangfeng and I have had many conflicts in the past. But you and I both know that it is just because we have different ideas. But some things will eventually lead to the same result. I think Brother Gangfeng thinks the same about Yan Runwu."

See Zhang Juzheng mention Yan Shaoting.

A smile appeared on Hai Rui's face.

He nodded and said, "What Governor Zhang said today is pertinent."

It was rare that Hai Rui finally agreed with what he said.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He then said, "If Brother Gangfeng trusts me, you don't have to be so urgent about what you want to do in Jiangnan."

Without waiting for Hai Rui to ask the reason.

Zhang Juzheng immediately explained, "Of course, if Brother Gangfeng wants me to do something that is really needed, I, as the Governor-General and Minister of Maritime Affairs, will certainly do my best to help."

Hai Rui looked at Zhang Juzheng calmly, trying to find some answers from his face.

He asked in a low voice: "Why did Uncle Da suggest that I don't need to rush to go to Jiangnan?"

Zhang Juzheng, however, gave a mysterious smile.

It seemed that Hai Rui had already whetted his appetite.

Zhang Juzheng then spoke slowly: "There is no need to rush, but I am willing to help Brother Gangfeng to take charge of the situation in the eleven prefectures in Jiangnan. If my guess is correct, perhaps Brother Gangfeng and I will be able to see Yan Runwu in Jiangnan soon."

Hai Rui immediately raised his eyebrows.

He asked somewhat unsurely, "Are you saying that Guest Yan will come to Jiangnan?"

Seeing Hai Rui's big reaction, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but curl his lips, feeling sour in his heart.

Could it be that in Hai Rui's heart, he was inferior to Yan Shaoting?

Is it worth such a big reaction?

When Zhang Juzheng felt sour.

Hai Rui was already a little excited and said, "Yes, yes! Although Guest Yan has been in high office in the capital these years, he has mostly been writing in the south. Now that our dynasty has opened up to the sea, the situation in the south is becoming more complicated. If we want good governance to last, Guest Yan must come in person, take charge of Jiangnan, and clear away obstacles!"

It was obvious that Hai Rui was becoming more and more respectful of Yan Shaoting.

Zhang Juzheng finally couldn't help but speak up: "Brother Gangfeng may have some truth in what he said, but I think if Yan Runwu really wants to come to Jiangnan, he is also looking for more local experience. But no matter what, if he can come to Jiangnan, Brother Gangfeng will have greater support behind him no matter what he wants to do."

Hai Rui had already stood up by now and turned to face the Grain Inspectorate. Zhang Juzheng also stood up immediately.

Hai Rui turned to look at Zhang Juzheng with a smile on his face, "Thank you for your hard work, uncle. In the coming days, I can use the matter of opening the sea as an excuse to have the Maritime Customs Office investigate the merchants in the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of the Yingtian Governor."

After saying this, Hai Rui marched straight in as if he were treating the Suzhou Prefecture's Grain Supervisory Office as his own Yingtian Governor's Office.

Zhang Juzheng, who was lagging behind, immediately rolled his eyes and spat at Hai Rui for asking him to work so quickly.

But Zhang Juzheng soon reacted.

He chased after him, holding his official robe.

"Hey!"

"Brother Gangfeng..."

"Please be kind enough to send a letter from the Yingtian Governor's Office."

"You can't really just trap me alone!"

"..."

……

Capital.

What the two troublemakers in Jiangnan will do next is still a very distant thing for the current officials in the court.

However, the capital is currently in the spotlight because of the impeachment of Xuanfu Town.

With Yang Bo's visit, he received the response of cooperation.

Yang Bo and Yan Shaoting also began to exert their influence in the court.

As the censors of the six ministries and the Censorate impeached the Xuanfu Town for its poor border defense, more and more censors from the six ministries and the Censorate submitted memorials to the court.

These people believe that the imperial court is a place where rewards and punishments are clearly defined, but it is also a place where reason prevails, and one should not act recklessly or let people lose faith in the court because of temporary gains and losses.

After all, in fact, Xuanfu Town stubbornly resisted the attack of the three armies outside the border wall. No matter what, this contribution cannot be discounted.

As for the more than 3,000 Mongols who sneaked into the capital, even if the Xuanfu border troops were at fault, they should not be counted when the enemy troops have not retreated.

As for what the censors said at the beginning, the court allocated an additional 300,000 taels of money, food and military supplies to Xuanfu Town at the beginning of this year.

Later censors believed that the money must have played the role it was supposed to play.

As for the corruption, we can ask the Ministry of Revenue and the Three Law Departments to send people to check it out. The accounts are there, and we will know whether there are any problems after the war.

In conclusion.

With Yang Bo and Yan Shaoting working secretly, the majority of voices in the court believed that no more arguing was needed now, and even if there was anything to say, everything should be discussed after the enemy was defeated.

By the way, it was also a yin and yang move, as he had impeached the censors of Xuanfu from the very beginning, secretly saying that these people were afraid that the court would be too peaceful.

That is, after new voices emerged in the court.

In the Wanshou Palace in Xiyuan.

Finally, the emperor's oral order was heard.

The next day, the Cabinet, the Six Ministries and the Censorate held a court meeting to discuss matters concerning Xuanfu.

It's not yet dawn outside the window.

The house is brightly lit.

Lu Wenyan, who was pregnant, personally took Yunniang and the maid to carefully change Yan Shaoting into the seldom-worn third-grade peacock red robe.

Yan Shaoting held the black gauze hat in his hand, looking down at the eldest sister, who was adjusting the gold and jade belt to the right position at her waist. He smiled and said, "Wait a few more years, and see your husband earn you a red robe with a crane pattern!"

Crane Dahongpao.

It was the daily uniform worn by a first-rank official in the imperial court, with an embroidered crane on the chest.

This is a great honor for a high-ranking official.

In addition to the Three Dukes and the Three Orphans, there are the three teachers of the crown prince, who can get a set of Crane-shaped Dahongpao with the official rank of the first or second rank.

elsewhere.

Even the six ministers were only of the second rank Jinji Dahongpao.

Facing the ridicule of her own man.

Lu Wenyan rolled her eyes and patted her chest: "Why don't you wait a few years and get an eight-beam crown?"

A first-rank official in the imperial court can wear a red robe with a crane pattern.

However, officials of the first rank could only wear a seven-beam crown when wearing court robes.

The Eight-Beam Crown can only be worn by a duke.

As for the Nine-Beam Crown...

Nine-beam court crown, crane-patterned court robe, golden belt, court shoes, and ivory tablet.

That would only be possible if one were to hold the highest position in the country or an official of the highest rank.

The young couple teased each other.

Yunniang looked at the sky outside and whispered, "My dear, the old master should be coming to the palace soon."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shaoting immediately reached out and pinched Sister Lu's face: "Be good and rest at home, and then go back to Changping after daybreak."

Lu Wenyan hummed, pushed Yan Shaoting around, and sent him out of the house.

Yan Shaoting smiled and waved his hand, then went to find Old Yan. The grandfather and grandson got into the carriage and were driven by the coachman to the Xi'an Gate of Xiyuan.

On the road.

Yan Song also took his eldest grandson to the alley next to Pu'en Temple in Anfufang, where they each ate a bowl of salty tofu brain and a fried dough stick. Yan Shaoting also ate an extra piece of glutinous rice cake, and then they leisurely walked out of the alley, turned to Xi'anmen Street, and entered Xiyuan from Xi'anmen.

Wait until the Yan family's carriage slowly stops in front of the Wanshou Palace.

When the grandfather and grandson of the old Yan family got off the carriage, they saw that people from the cabinet, the six ministries, and the Censorate had already arrived.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but glance at Old Yan.

If it were me, there would be no way I could have chosen the location so accurately and be the last one to arrive.

After all, he has been the Prime Minister for decades, and he has already reached the point where he can control the time precisely without having to worry about such things.

Lu Fang, who had been guarding the palace gate, saw the Prime Minister arrive and did not say much. He led everyone into the Wanshou Palace.

Followed by a silence.

The old Taoist priest, wearing his loose Taoist robe, floated lightly on the throne in the wind.

Jiajing glanced at the ministers present with a smile on his face.

"It's time to get to the bottom of how those thieves sneaked into the capital during the battle of Changping a few days ago."

I know exactly what we are going to discuss today.

But Jiajing was still in control.

Huang Jin, the commander of the factory guards, immediately stepped forward and said, "My lord, we have already found out that the White Lotus Cult has been lurking in the capital for many years and has secretly dragged many people into it. This time, it was something that happened in Yanqing Prefecture that allowed these rebels to lead the Mongols in."

This is actually not a secret.

For those present, they already knew everything they needed to know about what the Jinyiwei had found out.

unknown.

That means the grade and status are not yet in place.

These are obvious things.

Minister of Personnel Guo Pu immediately stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, this time the White Lotus Sect is lurking in the capital and connecting with people from all walks of life in Yanqing Prefecture. I ask Your Majesty to issue an order to severely punish those involved in the case in Yanqin Prefecture, clean up the mess, and use this opportunity to follow the clues and restore order to the capital."

Although it's all vague.

But Huang Jin and Guo Pu mentioned Yanqing Prefecture one after another, which actually meant that there were accomplices of the White Lotus Sect in the Yanqing Prefecture government.

It was only out of consideration for the dignity of the court that the matter was not made clear.

Jiajing nodded and said, "If so, the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guards can arrest people according to the names, and they don't have to be handed over to the Three Judicial Departments. They can all be dealt with as treason."

After saying this, Jiajing glanced at everyone present with a calm gaze.

This was his first attempt today.

Gao Gong immediately followed up: "Your Majesty is wise, and the court has been rectifying the administration for a long time. Under such strong pressure, there are still snakes and rats lurking, and they are colluding with the rebel party and foreign enemies. Their crimes are unforgivable. They should be treated as treason to deter the evildoers and eliminate the hidden dangers."

After the high arch.

But a person who no one expected stood up.

Yan Shifan took a step forward slowly, holding his tablet in his arms. He said, "Yanqing Prefecture is located at the border, with Xuanfu in front and the capital behind. It is a strategic location and should be dealt with quickly. Your Majesty's decision is a wise one."

Hearing Yan Shifan say this, many people in the hall frowned slightly.

Because this matter has nothing to do with Yan Shifan, and the emperor also said that the three judicial departments do not need to take over this time.

If that's the case, Yan Shifan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, should be dissatisfied.

But no matter what everyone thinks.

When Jiajing saw that no one opposed his decision, he couldn't help but smile.

This first step is accomplished.

Jiajing immediately said: "Since you all share this view, let's investigate it quickly. The Ministry of Personnel should also quickly select officials to take over the affairs of Yanqing Prefecture."

Guo Pu immediately bowed and accepted the order.

Except for important positions in the court, the appointment of officials below the fifth rank is basically just a matter of going through the procedures in the Ministry of Personnel.

Seeing that everyone had no objection to this.

Jiajing glanced at the people present again.

He spoke slowly: "The capital has been in turmoil these days, and there have been constant quarrels inside and outside the court. The censors are fighting each other and engaging in verbal battles over the Mongolian invasion. This is not good!"

Yan Song quickly stood up from his stool and said, "The court officials are arguing endlessly. This is because I, as an old minister, have failed to supervise and control the court officials, disturbing the emperor's meditation."

However, Yan Song began to speculate secretly in his heart.

After all, what the emperor just said was because of the Mongolian invasion, not because Xuanfu failed to defend the border.

Although the matter is the same, the words are different, so the nature is also different.

Jiajing waved his hand and said, "It is the etiquette of our dynasty that the censors report upon hearing the news. It has nothing to do with the Prime Minister."

Yan Song admitted his mistake, and Jiajing naturally took the opportunity to explain for him.

Seeing that the emperor and Yan Song were in such harmony with each other, Xu Jie pretended to understand and really wanted to bring the matter back to the issue of Xuanfu's poor border defense.

But then, Jiajing spoke.

"But the noise can't go on forever."

"I am going to issue an order to summon Ma Fang, the general of Xuanfu Town, to return to the capital to report on his duties."

…………

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(End of this chapter)