Daming: I, Yang Xian, really govern Yang!

Chapter 182: Bullying the Heaven (4k)

After leaving the pharmacy.

on the carriage.

"Father, this is the drawback of the traditional old tax system. Local governments arbitrarily levy all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes. If this continues, the people will lose their support." Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was as sinking as water.

Not only that, he originally thought that the reason for the outstanding performance of the summer tax in various places except Jiangnan this year was due to the achievements in clearing the land.But now it seems that this is obviously not the case.

Zhu Yuanzhang planned to contact the local gentry and wealthy households as a businessman in the south of the Yangtze River.

A complete set of performances was performed. When he came, he had brought a batch of stain-free glass utensils with him.

a day later.

The big household in the city is Fan Mansion.

Fan Debiao looked at the stain-free glassware in his hand, his eyes lit up and he was full of praise.

"Glazed ware of this quality is only available in your Jiangnan region."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed deliberately and said: "So what, the Jiangnan area is also the first place to implement the new tax system. This year, you have paid a lot more money. Brother Fan, you are still living a comfortable life."

"Comfortable?" Fan Debiao got angry when he heard this. He put down the glass bottle in his hand and said. “Why don’t I just pay my taxes under the new tax system?”

"What's the reason?"

"Let's not hide this from Brother Hong. After all, it is like this in many places. The government agencies force us to donate money and food in order to achieve good tax results." Fan Debiao gritted his teeth.

"Is there still this?"

Fan Debiao then told Zhu Yuanzhang everything he knew, and cursed the government office all over.

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang realize that a large part of the beauty of Xia Shi came from the donations of the gentry like them.

At this point, there is no need to look further.

Out of Fan Mansion.

"Father."

Zhu Di was about to say something, but was interrupted by Zhu Biao who was standing beside him.

Zhu Biao, who understood Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts best, understood that his father was really angry this time, and it was best for no one to disturb him at this time.

"Let's go back to Beijing. Mao Xiang, please stay with someone to investigate the remaining matters." Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly.

"Yes, master."

half a month later.

Beijing.

Fifth watch, early morning.

In front of Fengtian Temple.

The ministers arranged their queues according to their rank.

"Prime Minister Li, the report cards submitted by various regions for the autumn tax are even more beautiful than those for the summer tax."

Hu Weiyong reported in a low voice: "Brothers from Huaixi have jointly submitted a letter requesting to delay the implementation of the New Deal."

Li Shan nodded without any trace.

In fact, it was not just the nobles of Huaixi, but also people from the East Zhejiang Party who were doing the same thing. The only difference was that they bypassed Liu Bowen.

As Yang Xian's status rose day by day, the situation on the East Zhejiang Party side became more delicate.

Liu Bowen has a noble temperament. He is said to be the leader, but in fact his control is not that strong.

Coupled with his nominal student Yang Xian, a series of reforms in recent years have targeted scholars.

The Confucian scholars headed by Song Lian had long been dissatisfied.

Otherwise, do you think that the Huaixi Party alone can directly bring this year’s autumn tax to the current level? The East Zhejiang Party also plays a part in this.

In the view of the East Zhejiang Party, the new tax system, in which officials and gentry pay taxes together, is tantamount to cutting off their privilege as scholars.

Also, do you think these Huaixi nobles are just greedy?

The scholars of the East Zhejiang Party are also greedy, but they have better food and good habits, and the things they are greedy for are different.

Just like the Yan Party and the Qingliu Party during the Jiajing period.

It is said that Yan Song and his son are extremely corrupt.

But the so-called Qingliu members of the Qingliu Party may not necessarily have less appetite.

Liu Bowen just reported that he was sick at home these days, out of sight and out of mind.

"Open the morning!"

The eunuchs singing and cheering sounded from the main hall, and the gate of Fengtian Hall slowly opened.

The ministers arranged their appearance and filed into the hall.

Above the main hall, Zhu Yuanzhang was already high on the dragon throne, looking down at the ministers.

"Tianfu is virtuous!"

"Haiyu Xianning!"

"Holy blessings!"

The ministers shouted three times.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand slightly.

"Zhu Qing is flat!"

"Thank you!"

After the ceremony.

First, we followed the procedure and discussed some innocuous matters.

But almost everyone's attention was not focused on it.

Whether it is Zhu Yuanzhang sitting on the dragon throne or the ministers standing under His Highness.

"The autumn grain collection across the country is very beautiful this year." Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said.

In the main hall, everyone's spirits were lifted.

The real drama finally begins.

"Everything depends on your majesty's plan to clear the land." Li Shanchang stood up, bowed and said.

"Oh, so it's all our fault." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

All the ministers also laughed and stood up to sing praises.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and wrote down these people one by one, and suddenly changed the topic: "But some people don't think so."

"Come here, bring Fan Debiao and the others up."

The voice just fell.

Outside the hall, the imperial guards who had been waiting for a long time brought Fan Debiao and his group to Fengtian Hall.

Who is Fan Debiao?
The ministers looked at each other, obviously they had never heard of this name, and they didn't know the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang brought them to the hall at this time.

Only Li Shanchang noticed something was wrong.

Fan Debiao and his party, who were kneeling under the main hall, also didn't know the reason.

I was living a good life at home, but suddenly these guards broke into my home and took me to the capital.

They were just local gentry, and they had never seen such a battle before.

He immediately fell to his knees and trembled.

Seeing everyone's confusion, Zhu Yuanzhang first briefly introduced the identities of Fan Debiao and others.

Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong and others, people with keen minds, have begun to change their expressions.

"Fan Debiao, I heard that the government officials forced you to donate taxes during the summer and autumn taxes. Is this possible?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"No, absolutely not!"

Fan Debiao and the others were lying on the ground, not daring to raise their heads at all. After all, they were gentry and knew some rules. They knew that there was a crime for commoners to look up at the king and intentionally assassinate the king. This was a capital crime!
But Fan Debiao always felt that the emperor's voice was somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

It shouldn’t be, I’ve never been to the capital.

Even if he comes to the capital, it is impossible to see the emperor.

The thought flashed by.

"How come I heard that's not the case?" Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly.

Fan Derbiao and the others were almost crying.

This is Fengtian Palace, can they tell the truth?Who are the people present? They are all the bosses of the county and government officials where they live.

If they tell the truth, they will not be able to live a good life for the rest of their lives.

"Your Majesty, we are all volunteering. The imperial court needs food and grass for the war, and the people of the world need to eat. There was a big disaster two years ago. It is the time when the court is in difficulty. It is natural for us to donate food and grass, money and food! It is right! As it should be!"

After listening to Fan Debiao's words.

The faces of Li Shanchang and other ministers finally looked better.

"Is this really true?" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a noncommittal smile on his face, looking at Li Shanchang. "Shan Chang, does your Zhongshu Province know about this?"

Li Shanchang hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the Emperor, this is the first time I have heard of it."

"The Zhongshu Province is only responsible for the tax reports submitted by the Ministry of Household Affairs. As for the specific tax collection process of various state governments, I really don't know."

Li Shanchang paused and then said: "It was my negligence."

"It's best to be negligent." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, took out a pile of memorials from his side, and raised his hand. "For those who don't know, I thought it was because someone wanted to fight against the New Deal, so they asked these local gentry to donate money and food."

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and glanced at the ministers.

The ministers were all sweating profusely.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, opened one of the memorials, and began to read out loud the names of the ministers who had signed the petition.

"Li Shanchang, Lu Zhongheng, Fei Ju."

"Song Lian, Lu Chang."

Every time a name was read, the minister whose name was read felt as if he was struck by lightning, and his face turned pale.

The crime Zhu Yuanzhang had just been charged with was against the New Deal. How could they just say anything? This is a capital crime.

Fan Debiao, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly felt blessed and said loudly: "Your Majesty, our donation is really out of passion and has nothing to do with anything else."

In the main hall, all the ministers got a blessing in disguise and had a chance to breathe.

Li Shanchang has decided to cut off his tail to survive.

In his view, it was now impossible to delay the New Deal any longer.

Because the reasons for their petition are no longer tenable. Regardless of whether Fan Derbiao and other wealthy gentry members made voluntary donations, one fact will not change.

That is the money collected from the old tax, which is far less beautiful than the report card submitted.

Li Shanchang was brewing some words in his mind and was about to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the dragon throne, spoke first.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Brother Fan, that's not what you said at the time. What you said was that those useless dog officials can't do anything except force you to donate."

As soon as the word "Brother Fan" came out of his mouth, Fan Debiao's whole body felt like he was getting an electric shock.

I remembered it, everything came to mind.

No wonder the emperor's words always seemed so familiar just now.

"Head up."

After receiving the order, Fan Debiao slowly raised his head, and then he saw that familiar face.

Hong Da, a glass merchant from the south of the Yangtze River.

"Do you still recognize me?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Fan Debiao and smiled.

"It's a capital crime for common people, a capital crime!" Fan Debiao quickly lowered his head and kept kowtowing.

Seeing this scene, Li Shanchang turned pale, and he could only swallow the words he had prepared.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Take him down."

After the words fell, the imperial guards took Fan Debiao and other local gentry down.

And things have just begun.

"Shan Chang, please tell us now why the tax performance of various places is so good this year?" Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the main hall, came to Li Shanchang's side, and said.

A drop of cold sweat slipped from Li Shanchang's forehead.

"Your Majesty, no matter what the means, it is a good thing for the court to be able to get these gentry and wealthy households to donate." Li Shanchang reluctantly said.

If it was really just like this, how could Zhu Yuanzhang be so angry.

Zhu Yuanzhang took out a memorial from his body, smashed it directly on Li Shanchang, and said coldly: "This is the real tax situation of Shaoguan Prefecture in Guangdong Province. Take a good look at it yourself!"

Li Shanchang bent down, picked up the account book on the ground and looked at it. His eyes went dark and he almost fainted.

He didn't expect that the people below would actually take things to this point.

It really hurts me!

"The capitation tax for the entire Shaoguan Prefecture has been directly increased by [-]%! In addition, all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are beyond your imagination, and there is nothing you can't see, and these are all what we have witnessed with our own eyes."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at everyone and said angrily: "And this is the old tax system that you say is okay."

"The harsh government is as fierce as a tiger. If you want to delay the implementation of the New Deal, do you want the people of Ming Dynasty to live like this for another year?!"

Under the dragon's roar.

The ministers were silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked back to the Dragon Court step by step, looked down at everyone in the hall, and then said: "The officials who randomly increased taxes this time will be captured and killed without mercy once verified."

"This is bullying!"

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Li Shanchang.

"Li Shanchang neglected his duties and was fined three years' salary!"

"Retreat!"

Afterwards.

Until after leaving the palace.

All the ministers still felt a chill on the back of their necks and had lingering fears.

Deceiving the emperor is a serious crime of beheading.

They were really scared at the time, and Zhu Yuanzhang captured them directly.

In fact, if Zhu Biao hadn't persuaded him in advance.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's previous temper, it was really possible to do this.

The main reason is that the scope involved this time is too wide, affecting the Huaixi and Eastern Zhejiang parties, and almost involving the vast majority of officials in Beijing and local areas.

If they are all punished as deceiving the emperor.

I was afraid that everyone was going to be killed, and tens of thousands of people's heads fell to the ground.

This is obviously not the right time for today's DaMing.

But even so, the scope has been controlled within a controllable range, but many people will still die this time.

The court is obviously going to undergo a major reshuffle.

Zhu Yuanzhang's punishment of Li Shanchang was already sending a signal.

Don't look at it as a simple one-year fine. What is fine is not important. What is important is the meaning of it.

Those officials who were lucky enough to escape immediately began to write letters one after another after returning home, boasting about the new tax system and eager to implement it immediately.At the same time, in the memorial, he lamented that he was also blinded by the tax data from the Ministry of Household Affairs, which is why he jointly submitted such a stupid request.

Lu Chang, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, had ten thousand grass and mud horses galloping past in his heart.

I had no choice but to write a letter and directly resign.

But it was not allowed in the end.

At this point, the turmoil over tax reform has finally come to an end.

All agree.

That is, starting from the sixth year of Hongwu next year, the new system will be completely rolled out to the whole country.

Mobei, grassland.

Expand the king's tent.

"Uncle Wang Kuangkuo, I believe you have also heard that the high wall in Beiping City has begun to be rebuilt. If we don't take action, we may not have a chance." Princess Haibie said.

Wang Baobao did not reply.

Even Haibie could know this information, so how could he not know it.

These days, he has been inactive because Wang Baobao is thinking about a problem.

That is, whether what he did is good or bad for the people on the grassland.

(End of this chapter)