Chapter 435 A Threesome Must Have a Point King
"Hahahaha!"

"Now, whenever I think of Yan Shaoting's reaction when he saw those accounts, I can't help but laugh!"

"Yan Shaoting is so smart that he thinks he can make us bow our heads by checking the accounts. Let him check slowly. By the time he finds out the details, I'm afraid the New Year will be over!"

In Jinling Tower.

Yang Zongqi, who woke up after a night of drunkenness, gathered with the officials from various departments who had woken up one by one, drank sobering soup and discussed current affairs.

Xu Yangzheng, the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue, who was summoned last night, was also full of expectations: "This time, Minister Yang has finally helped us vent our anger. These days, we have been oppressed by Yan Shaoting and we can hardly breathe. Today, the accounts have been delivered as he wished, and I feel that breathing today is fragrant!"

Although everyone present had different thoughts, they all had smiles on their faces.

Regardless of their respective plots, what Xu Yangzheng said was true.

Because of Yan Shaoting's arrival.

These days, these people have really been oppressed. They are frowning all day long and have no interest in pursuing women. The usual drinking and having fun has become a way to drown their sorrows.

Now, all the accounts that had been squeezed for who knows how many years and could not be identified exactly where they belonged to had been sent over, and things had become unusually smooth.

Yang Zongqi laughed again, then stopped laughing: "But now that the accounts have been sent over, we still have to be careful of Yan Shaoting making trouble. It would be best if he raises any objections and we say that he didn't check it clearly and ask him to check it again. We all have to agree to it. In this way, he will be in Nanjing for one day, and he will only be able to focus on those accounts for one day, and he will have no time to take care of other things. Don't get confused with this statement."

He was now making his intentions clear and respectfully handed the accounts to Yan Shaoting.

As for whether Yan Shaoting could find out anything from these accounts, he would never admit it.

If you want to admit your mistake, that's fine.

Recheck.

There were so many government offices, and they were checked one by one, and they all nodded in agreement.

Otherwise it doesn’t count.

Xu Yangzheng thought of something else and whispered, "Yang Bu Tang, everyone, there is actually something else that everyone should pay attention to."

With Xu Yang standing by to actively cooperate with me.

Yang Zongqi immediately said, "Minister Xu, if you have anything to say, just say it. We are all in this together now, there are no outsiders."

Everyone looked at Xu Yangzheng with curiosity.

Xu Yangzheng then spoke up, "Yesterday, Wang Xijue, the runner-up in the 41st year of the Jiajing reign, was sent south on a mission by the imperial court to work at the Ministry of Revenue. When he left the yamen, he brought many clerks from the yamen to Yan Shaoting. It seems that some clerks from your yamen have also gone there."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone frowned and began to think.

Most of them left the yamen after leaving yesterday, and were then invited to Jinling Tower by Yang Zongqi. They didn't really know much about what was going on in the yamen.

Xu Yangzheng smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "Those petty officials entered the government office last year as scholars or candidates according to the imperial court's recommendation system for candidates to be officials. The imperial court meant that if they worked for nine years without any faults and were rated as excellent, they would be granted official positions. Most of these people probably recognized Yan Shaoting's reputation as a mentor, and now they have rushed forward to flatter him."

Yang Zongqi frowned immediately: "Minister Xu is saying that Yan Shaoting wants the clerks in our government office to check his accounts?"

Xu Yangzheng nodded: "I'm afraid that's what he meant. I didn't care about this matter at first, but now I think he came here just to check the accounts."

Yang Zongqi slammed the table immediately.

"How brave!"

"I will go back to the government office later to see which official is so bold as to dare to run to Yan Shaoting and offer his services in front of me!"

"Whoever dares to go, don't blame me for kicking him out of the government!"

Xu Yangzheng smiled and nodded.

He said this just because of this sentence.

Otherwise, if all the clerks in Nanjing were really asked to go to Xiyuan to check the accounts for Yan Shaoting, then the situation would be different.

However, Wang Yongbao, the Nanjing Minister of Personnel, frowned and said in a deep voice: "Students waiting for official positions... The court and the cabinet mean that these people are different from ordinary clerks. They are scholars and juren, but they have no hope of passing the imperial examinations, so they choose to become students waiting for official positions..."

Yang Zongqi immediately turned around and looked over: "What's going on? According to Minister Wang's opinion, can't I, the Governor-General of Nanjing and Minister of Grain Reserves, drive out the petty officials in my own office?"

Wang Yongbao frowned and looked at Yang Zongqi. "If Yang Butang wanted to drive out ordinary minor officials, he could do so without restraint. But these candidates for official posts are on the list of the Imperial College and are managed by Prince Yu and Elder Gao. Could it be that Yang Butang wants to drive out the people selected by Prince Yu and Elder Gao?"

As he spoke, Wang Yongbao, the Nanjing Minister of Personnel, was quickly going over the Ministry of Personnel's accounts in his head.

Fortunately.

The Ministry of Personnel was not an office that managed money and grain, nor did it have any past money and grain. It was only responsible for the office's expenses and for performance appraisals, rewards and punishments.

Even if there are mistakes or omissions in this account, the most I would get if it happened to me would be a warning or a salary fine.

There won’t even be a salary deduction.

However, in official circles, especially in the city of Nanjing, the first rule for an official is to blend in with the world.

Otherwise, why did I stay in Jinling Tower until now when I knew clearly what Yang Zongqi was thinking last night?

Just blend in with the world!
However, when listening to the words of Wang Yongbao, the Minister of Personnel who was in charge of the officials in the south of the Yangtze River, Yang Zongqi frowned.

"Can't we really drive any of them away?"

Wang Yongbao just glanced at Yang Zongqi calmly: "Even if Yang Butang is not afraid of offending Prince Yu and Gao Ge Lao and drives these people away, what will happen after they are driven away? Can you, Yang Butang, still put them in jail and prevent them from going to the West Garden?"

People can be driven out of the yamen.

But even Yang Zongqi couldn't stop these people from going to the West Garden.

heard this explanation.

Yang Zongqi was furious again: "Is there nothing we can do to Yan Shaoting?"

Xu Yangzheng slowly spoke up, "Actually, there is a solution. Since these people are clerks in the government office, they must abide by the rules of the government office. What Minister Wang said is very true. Instead of kicking them out of the government office, it is better to use the rules to control their legs."

Yang Zongqi's face was already gloomy at this time.

After a while.

Then he spat in front of everyone.

"I'll be watching from today on, and see who dares to seek peace with Yan Shaoting in front of me!"

……

"Tell them that since they have chosen the path of waiting officials, they must not make mistakes in the evaluation at the end of the nine-year term. Now they must work hard in the government office during the day and put government business first. After finishing the government business, they can come to the West Garden."

West Garden Study.

Yan Shaoting looked at the boxes filled with accounts piled all the way from the study to the outside, and gave instructions to Wang Xijue who was serving him tea.

Wang Xijue brought a cup of tea to Yan Shaoting and nodded: "Don't worry, sir. I have already explained this matter to my fellow apprentices. I will not let anyone else get hold of any evidence against me in this matter."

See Wang Xijue has already made arrangements.

Yan Shaoting was still a little worried: "Tell them again that after this matter is settled, if they are willing, they can go to work in various ministries and government offices in Beijing, or anywhere else they voluntarily go. After all, we can have a say over the Imperial College."

Wang Xijue smiled when he heard this.

"Teacher, please consider carefully for us students because of this matter. We students should do our best to complete this task."

Yan Shaoting waved his hand casually, looked at the packed boxes with a dim smile on his face.

"Do they think... these accounts can drown me?"

Faced with this sentence, Wang Xijue wisely chose to keep silent.

He also followed the gentleman's line of sight and glanced at the boxes piled outside the house.

He always felt that in the master's mind, these accounts were not that important.

But he didn't dare to say this either.

The teacher is plotting to save the Ming Dynasty. As a student, I just need to obey the teacher's orders.

After thinking about it, Wang Xijue realized that this time he went south, in addition to returning home to celebrate his father's birthday, he also wanted to finish the task for his master here.

Return to Beijing when the time comes.

Besides, his three-year term had already expired, and he could also make a difference in the officialdom in Beijing.

After leaving the study room to the good student Wang Xijue.

Yan Shaoting walked out of the study on his own and paced to find Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui who were feeding fish in Yiran Pavilion not far from the study.

See where the two people are.

Yan Shaoting immediately stepped forward.

"My two brothers are really in a good mood."

Zhang Juzheng held the fish food in his hand, just looked back at Yan Shaoting, and then continued his task of feeding the fish.

When Hai Rui saw Yan Shaoting finally show up, he immediately dropped the fish food and pulled Yan Shaoting into the pavilion.

"Runwu, you're finally here after finishing your work!"

After pressing Yan Shaoting onto the stool, Hai Rui turned around and forcefully pulled Zhang Juzheng, who was unwilling to give up feeding the fish, over to him.

All three of them were seated.

Hai Rui immediately spoke up, "Yesterday, the three of us mentioned the issue of returning the farmland occupied by the local wealthy to the common people. I wonder if there is any good solution for this matter, besides asking the officials and the people to pay the land tax together, that can be regarded as a good plan for the people of the country?"

Zhang Juzheng sat aside, holding the teacup and sipping it slowly, then glanced at Hai Rui who was speaking hurriedly.

So irritable!

I muttered to myself.

However, Zhang Juzheng still glanced at Yan Shaoting secretly.

He had figured out the matter of officials and civilians paying land tax together in the past two days.

That's a good idea.

However, it cannot completely solve the problem of large households constantly encroaching on the fields of ordinary people.

Yan Shaoting turned his eyes and said, "What the two brothers are thinking about is nothing more than hoping to return the land occupied by the big families to the people."

Hai Rui nodded repeatedly, "That's right! The rich are rich, but they are greedy. The common people are impoverished and often become homeless in years of disaster. In a prosperous dynasty, the tillers should own the land, but nowadays, the tillers often do not own the land. The common people have a hard time making a living, so they can only become tenants of the rich, or even sell themselves into slavery. This is the long-term plan for the country."

Yan Shaoting hummed: "Such problems have actually existed in every dynasty."

Hai Rui slammed his palm on the table, frowned and glared, saying: "The previous dynasty has become a thing of the past, so we naturally have no control over it, but we all need to work together on the current situation. Runwu said before that officials and civilians should pay land tax together. I think his intention is to hope that the court will require everyone to pay land tax regardless of their background to achieve balance. But I'm afraid this method can only solve the problem temporarily, but not forever."

Yan Shaoting glanced at Hai Rui, and also glanced at Zhang Juzheng who was secretly thinking on the side.

He knew the answer to the question very well.

But he wasn't going to say it outright.

How can it be better if I say it myself than if I let Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui come up with it themselves?

He immediately smiled and said, "Brother Gangfeng, what I want is for officials and civilians to pay the land tax together. Just as Brother Gangfeng said, it is for everyone to pay taxes regardless of their background. Brother Gangfeng has been an official in the local area for a long time, so I think he knows better how to make this law more detailed to limit or prevent the big families from encroaching on the land of the people..."

“Restrict or prevent…”

They were all smart people. Hai Rui immediately grasped the key point of Yan Shaoting's words and couldn't help but frown and think about it.

However, just as he was thinking about it.

Zhang Juzheng, who was standing by, raised his eyebrows and his eyes lit up.

He has an idea!

Yan Shaoting, who had been observing Lao Zhang silently, immediately said with a smile: "I think Uncle Brother has already come up with a solution."

Upon hearing this, Hai Rui immediately looked over.

Before I figured it out, Zhang Juzheng had already thought of it?
Zhang Juzheng smiled and shook his head: "Speaking of which, this method should also be inspired by what Runwu said."

Hai Rui pressed Zhang Juzheng's arm and said, "Just speak frankly. There are three of us here. Don't be secretive!"

Zhang Juzheng rolled his eyes at Hai Rui, and then said, "The idea of ​​Runwu asking officials and civilians to pay taxes together is to solve the problem of family background. But it cannot really restrict the big families from encroaching on the people's land. If we really want to restrict it, it still falls on the land, not the family background or the people!"

It seemed that Zhang Juzheng was very close to the correct answer.

Yan Shaoting immediately said, "Brother Uncle, please release us."

Zhang Juzheng did not speak immediately, but glanced at Yan Shaoting deeply.

I don't know why this thought suddenly came to my mind.

He vaguely felt that what he was thinking was probably already in Yan Shaoting's head.

It’s just that the other party didn’t say it at the moment.

Hai Rui was waiting anxiously from the side.

Zhang Juzheng could only speak for himself: "Officials and civilians all pay taxes, just to solve their origins, to show the fairness of the court. But as I said before with Brother Gangfeng, the rich can hide their land by abandoning it, and there are many other ways to avoid the land tax. Therefore, if we really want to prevent the rich from encroaching and the people from having no land to cultivate, we must focus on the root cause, that is, the land!"

As he explained.

Hai Rui, who had been staring with eyes wide open, suddenly brightened up.

I seem to have realized something!
Without waiting for Zhang Juzheng to speak.

Hai Rui said anxiously, "What Uncle Da said is that all the land tax of the imperial court should be attributed to the land. The imperial court only needs to re-measure the number of acres of land in various places and compare it with the average yield in the past. Then, it can weigh whether there is a disaster that year, the harvest of the land, and evenly distribute the land tax to the number of acres of land in the local areas."

After finishing speaking.

Hai Rui clapped his hands and stood up.

His eyes sparkled.

Zhang Juzheng moved his mouth, but seeing that what he was thinking had already been said by Hai Rui, he wisely chose to shut up.

Hai Rui laughed and said, "This is a good idea! This is a good idea! From now on, the court will no longer collect taxes based on other things, but only on the number of acres of land! It doesn't matter whether the land belongs to the rich and powerful or to the common people, only the number of acres of land and the amount of tax that has been evenly distributed will be counted."

In Yiran Pavilion.

Yan Shaoting smiled but said nothing.

Zhang Juzheng observed Yan Shaoting's words and expressions and became more and more certain that the method that he and Hai Rui seemed to have figured out on their own must have already been in Yan Shaoting's mind.

But Hai Rui suddenly became quiet.

Subsequently.

Under the gaze of two people in the pavilion.

He turned and retreated to the edge of the pavilion, looking at the two of them with sparkling eyes.

Under the gaze of the two.

He raised a finger excitedly.

"If you do this..."

"I have a good idea here that will benefit the country and the people!"

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)