Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 522 It’s time to settle the grudges! (Please subscribe!!)
"He can be made a king. That's pretty good."

When Empress Ma heard Zhu Yuanzhang's arrangement, she nodded with satisfaction.

"Sister, don't publicize this for now, and don't tell Ouyang Lun. The tax reform is still ongoing, and we don't know what the tax results will be today. If we reward them first, and something goes wrong, we will be embarrassed again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly reminded.

"Don't worry, I'm more tight-lipped than you, so you'd better not let anything slip!" Empress Ma knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was a person who cared about his reputation, so she didn't dwell on it too much.

"Hehe, my sister is so considerate!" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and then touched his stomach. "Sister, we've talked so much and I'm hungry. Can you give us something to eat?"

"Look at you, you don't look like an emperor at all, but clearly a shameless rogue! Sit for a moment, I'll get it done for you." Queen Ma smiled and got up to go to her small kitchen.

"Sister, I'll go with you. I can also light a fire for you!" Zhu Yuanzhang immediately followed.

Ouyang Lun was completely unaware of the conversation between Empress Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang. He was currently busy dealing with matters related to the Ministry of Revenue and the Tax Inspection Bureau.

This tax reform mainly benefits the people. Not only can they enjoy tax exemption and tax refund, but they can also get tax reward tickets. Naturally, they fully support it, so the tax exemption and tax refund policy for the people is implemented particularly smoothly.

But tax reform is not just about tax exemption and tax refund, more importantly, it is about collecting taxes!
Now that 60% of ordinary people’s taxes are exempted, the tax pressure is concentrated on the rich and powerful people in the Ming Dynasty.

It would be impossible for anyone else to compete with all the rich and powerful people in the Ming Dynasty on his own, but for Ouyang Lun now, he has the confidence and strength to do so.

You must know that Ouyang Lun now controls three government offices, namely the Ministry of Clan Affairs, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Tax Inspection Bureau. This is equivalent to the three money bags of the Ming Dynasty's national treasury, the inner treasury, and the clan fund, all of which are in his hands. Officials' salaries, year-end bonuses, and various expenses also require Ouyang Lun's approval before they can be issued.

There are still many difficulties in collecting taxes from the rich and the dignitaries. In the past, anyone with honors or official positions could be exempted from taxes. Now with the tax reform, this "benefit" has been abolished. This was a big reason why Li Shanchang and those dignitaries ran to Zhu Yuanzhang to complain in anger!
In addition, not all officials receive year-end bonuses, and even those officials who have made no contribution will have money deducted.

There are quite a few officials involved in this.

There are hundreds of officials in the Huaixi Party alone, not to mention other officials.

Ouyang Lun's tax reform can be said to be drastic.

The people applauded, but the officials were all worried and gloomy, waiting for the judgment of fate.

It's not like they haven't resisted before. The children of those protesting officials are still being held in the Tax Inspection Bureau's prison, and Li Shanchang's protest with them ended in failure.

Even Li Shanchang failed.

Others had no chance to compete with Ouyang Lun. Instead of resisting and being beaten by Ouyang Lun, it would be better for them to just stay at home and curse him from time to time to vent their anger.

Of course, not all officials feel uncomfortable.

Officials who truly worked for the Ming Dynasty and had relatively good ratings soon received condolences from the Ministry of Revenue. They received year-end bonuses and condolence gift packages. The year-end bonuses that far exceeded expectations plus the exquisite and practical gift packages made these officials very excited!

Some officials even set off firecrackers outside their homes to celebrate after receiving their year-end bonuses and consolation gift packages!

This is not only a reward, but also an honor!!

Others who did not receive year-end bonuses or consolation gift packages were naturally envious and fearful.

The Duke's Mansion of Liang Kingdom.

In the reception room, several officials from the Huaixi Party gathered together.

Their faces were uglier than each other, and they kept yelling.

"This Ouyang Lun is really going too far!"

"This Ouyang Lun is simply a devil!"

"They still haven't given out year-end bonuses or gifts yet. I'm starving!"

"Many officials have received year-end bonuses and consolation gifts, but they are dragging us down. This is revenge on us!"

"Humph! Now everyone knows that the later you get your year-end bonus, the worse your performance is! I'm embarrassed to go out!"

The officials complained and then looked at the man sitting in the first seat.

This person was none other than Duke Lan Yu of Liang.

"My Lord Duke, Prime Minister Li is being watched by Ouyang Lun. Now you are our backbone. You have to make the decision! We can't let Ouyang Lun bully us like this!"

"That's right. Even though Prime Minister Li led us to defeat last time, many of us are unwilling to accept the defeat!"

"It's really too aggrieved to let Ouyang Lun ride on our heads."

"If Ouyang Lun is sensible... that would be fine. But now Ouyang Lun is clearly trying to push us into a dead end!"

"My Lord, we brothers have fought with you all the way here. No matter what decision you make, we will support you!"

"How can Ouyang Lun decide our year-end bonuses? He even wants to punish us. Does he deserve it?!"

"While we were working hard for the Ming Dynasty, he was still playing in the mud!"

As he listened to what everyone said, Duke Liang Lan Yu's eyes became increasingly cold.

"Humph! Ouyang Lun, this fellow, took advantage of the trust that His Majesty and the Crown Prince had in him and ignored us and targeted us everywhere. I will never let this matter go like this!"

Lan Yu said angrily.

Upon hearing this, all the Huaixi Party officials looked delighted. Now that Li Shanchang was called to the Ministry of Revenue to be on duty, he was actually under the surveillance of Ouyang Lun and the Prince Consort's Party and could not do anything at all.

Therefore, Duke of Liang Lan Yu naturally became the new helmsman of the Huaixi Party.

Lan Yu is only a few years older than Ouyang Lun, and he is a rising star in the Ming Dynasty. Most importantly, Lan Yu is also the brother-in-law of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

It goes without saying that after Crown Prince Zhu Biao ascends the throne in the future, Lan Yu's status will be even higher, so it would be most appropriate for Lan Yu to serve as the new helmsman of the Huaixi Party.

Even Li Shanchang recognized this point, and he had been cultivating Lan Yu over the years.

"If we want to take revenge on Ouyang Lun, it will be useless if we just sit here and discuss and curse him!"

"As far as I know, many people will not receive their year-end bonuses and year-end consolation gifts this time, and most of them are from our Huaixi Party. It is obvious that Ouyang Lun's purpose in doing this is to strike a blow against our Huaixi people!"

"If we keep going like this, it won't take long before the Huaixi Party is doomed to be in name only!"

After hearing what Lan Yu said, several Huaixi Party officials suddenly became nervous.

"Damn it! If Ouyang Lun dares not to give me the year-end bonus, I...I will fight him!"

"Ouyang Lun is too domineering!"

"My Lord Duke, what can you do? We must stop Ouyang Lun, or we will be doomed!"

The officials of the Huaixi Party once again looked at Lan Yu with expectation.

Lan Yu clenched his fist tightly and said in a deep voice: "This time we will teach Ouyang Lun a lesson in a more direct way. We must let Ouyang Lun and the people of the Prince Consort's Party know that we are definitely not the objects for him to ravage at will!"

"Your Excellency the Duke is mighty!"

"Mad, this should have happened a long time ago!"

"Then Ouyang Lun is just an outsider. If it weren't for His Majesty's appreciation of him, he would probably still be in the small county town of Beiping, serving his poor county magistrate!"

"The Ming Dynasty was conquered by us brothers with the help of Your Majesty. What can Ouyang Lun compare with us?" The officials of the Huaixi Party spoke up one after another.

"Well said. Since Prime Minister Li can't defeat Ouyang Lun with words, let's use force this time! Since he can't be used by us, let's use some force on him. This is exactly what I am good at!"

Duke Lan Yu of Liang said in a deep voice.

This statement was naturally recognized by the others at the scene, who shouted "The Duke is awesome!"

However, some officials of the Huaixi Party worriedly said, "Sir, I naturally support you, but this matter is of great importance. Should we look down on Prime Minister Li? This will be more appropriate!"

"How can we ask for instructions? The old prime minister is right under Li Shanchang's nose. If the news leaks out, our plan will fail. So the fewer people who know about this, the better!"

Lan Yu Duan Ran refused Li Shanchang's suggestion to discuss the matter, and said, "Next, I plan to do this..."

Just when several officials of the Huaixi Party came over and were ready to listen carefully to Lan Yu's method.

"Master! Someone from the Ministry of Revenue is coming!"

A servant ran in and said hurriedly.

"Ministry of Revenue? Did old Prime Minister Li send someone to deliver a message?!" Lan Yu asked suspiciously.

"It doesn't seem so." The servant shook his head, "But they asked to see you by name, Master."

"Your Excellency the Duke, is he here to give you your year-end bonus?" a Huaixi Party official speculated.

Um! ?

Hearing this, Lan Yu felt slightly delighted. You know, sending the year-end bonus at this time, although it does not mean that he, Lan Yu, has done a great job in the past year, it is also a very good evaluation.

"If you really come to give out year-end bonuses, then I would like to congratulate you, Your Excellency! You are the first person in our Huaixi Party to receive a year-end bonus!"

"It seems that Ouyang Lun also knows how to behave. He knows that the Duke is the leader of my Huaixi disciples. He sent me the year-end bonus at this time, which is also a gesture of goodwill!"

"The Duke has his year-end bonus, so ours will be coming soon."

Hearing these words, Lan Yu's mouth corners slightly raised, and she said calmly: "Ahem, don't guess randomly, it's still unclear whether it is this or not!"

"But if they really are sending year-end bonuses, we can postpone our actions against Ouyang Lun and wait and see how he performs in the future."

When the other Huaixi Party officials heard this, they smiled knowingly and said in unison: "Your Excellency, the Duke, is so famous!"

"You guys go hide in the back for a while. Come out after I meet the people from the Ministry of Revenue to avoid being criticized." Lan Yu said after thinking for a while.

"Yes."

After several Huaixi Party officials agreed, they all hid behind.

Lan Yu straightened his robes and said to the servant, "Go and invite the people from the Ministry of Revenue in. Be sure to be polite to them."

"It's Master."

After the servant agreed, he ran out quickly.

After a while, an official from the Ministry of Revenue came in, followed by two people, each holding a box.

"Your humble servant greets the Duke of Liang."

"No need for the formalities. I wonder what brings this gentleman to my house?" Lan Yu looked at the two boxes and became more convinced that they were here to give him a year-end bonus and a consolation gift box.

My mood improved a lot and a smile appeared on my face.

"Duke Liang, I am here on the orders of Lord Ouyang to tell you something. The New Year is coming soon. Everyone should be more restrained and have a good time. Lord Li Shanchang also agrees to this."

"I have delivered your message. I will take my leave now."

After saying this, the Ministry of Revenue official prepared to leave.

Um! ?

Lan Yu stood there in a daze, his mind full of question marks. Is it gone just like that?
A surge of anger suddenly rose in my heart.

"and many more!"

Lan Yu called out to the Ministry of Household Affairs official loudly.

"Duke Liang, is there anything else?" The official from the Ministry of Revenue turned around in confusion.

"Let me ask you, besides telling you to deliver the message, did Ouyang Lun tell you anything else?"

Lan Yu asked in a deep voice.

"No." The Ministry of Revenue official shook his head.

"Then what are the two people next to you holding? Aren't they year-end bonuses or consolation gifts for me?" Lan Yu's voice became deeper.

Hearing this, the official from the Ministry of Revenue glanced around him, then smiled and said, "These two things are indeed year-end bonuses and consolation gifts, but Duke Liang has misunderstood, these are not for you."

what! !

Not for me? ! !
When Lan Yu heard this, he almost fainted from anger.

His whole body was shaking with anger, and his fists were clenched tightly, like a tiger about to bite someone.

"Duke Liang, please be at ease. Lord Ouyang has long said that you, Duke Liang, have made contributions to the Ming Dynasty. I believe that it won't be long before your year-end bonus and consolation gifts are delivered!"

"I'll take my leave!"

After saying this, the Ministry of Revenue official quickly left with his men.

After a long time, Lan Yu stood there, without reacting.

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue who were hiding in the back gradually came out, each with a complicated expression. They were naturally very angry, but they were more worried about angering Lan Yu.

"Oh shit!"

"Who cares about year-end bonuses and consolation gifts? I can't live without them!"

Lan Yu growled.

"Your Excellency the Duke is right. This year-end bonus and consolation gift is just a means for Ouyang Lun to win people's hearts. We must not be fooled!"

"That's right, it's just money. We are all nobles of the Ming Dynasty. We can even submit to Ouyang Lun for this!"

"Your Excellency the Duke, if you give the order, let's get started!"

Just when several Huaixi Party officials were indignant, Lan Yu regained his senses and waved his hand, "Although I don't like Ouyang Lun and want to tear that guy to pieces in my dreams, he is right. The New Year is coming soon. If we make any noise at this time, His Majesty the Emperor will not let us go!"

"I, Lan Yu, will let Ouyang Lun keep this grudge for the time being. If the old Prime Minister is not convenient to do it, then I, Lan Yu, will do it!"

"Ouyang Lun, it's time to resolve the grudge between us!"

(End of this chapter)