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Chapter 789: Hot (Part )

This memorial was presented to the emperor. After reading it, Jiang Shaohua sighed to the ministers, "The Lu and Cui families are loyal to the country and are willing to donate money and grain for the 50-li river embankment to help me solve my problems. I have to appreciate their kindness."

"I intend to confer the title of earl on the Lu and Cui families. What do you think?"

The construction of a 50-li river embankment cost about one million yuan in money and grain.

This means that by paying one million taels of silver, one can exchange for a hereditary earldom.

Even Minister Zhang was cheered up. After all, the ministers were ready to make painful sacrifices. Wouldn't it be better if they could get some real benefits in return?

Dong Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites stepped forward, somewhat worried: "It is appropriate for the emperor to reward Lu and Cui with the title of earl. I am only worried that if this trend starts, it will be suspected of selling official positions. If it is recorded in the history books of future generations, won't it damage the emperor's good reputation?"

Selling official positions is definitely not a good reputation. Why would Her Majesty bear such a bad reputation just to raise money to repair the river embankment?
Minister Yang also disagreed, but he was more tactful than Minister Dong: "Your Majesty wants to erect a stone tablet for the Empress Dowager, why not also erect a tablet for the Lu and Cui families by the river bank to pass down through the ages."

Jiang Shaohua looked over and said, "Minister Dong and Minister Yang are both thinking about me, I know that. However, I know even more clearly that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Since they have paid for the food, I have to give them what they want."

"The Empress Dowager wants a good reputation, and I will help her to gain fame. The Lu and Cui families are prominent families in Daliang, and they are not short of reputation. If they want tangible benefits, I will give them that, too."

"You don't have to worry. I won't open this loophole casually. Official positions are not something that anyone can buy."

"I have had people do the math. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will pay for half of the money and grain, and Empress Dowager Li can cover 10% of the expenses. The Lu and Cui families have already contributed half of the remaining 40%. I will give them hereditary earldoms. After that, there will be at most two more earls."

"I will wait a little while. Perhaps in a few days, someone will take the initiative to submit a memorial to share my worries. If the contribution is great enough, I will give him the title of Duke."

Ministers: "..."

When the emperor said this, the eyes of all the ministers lit up, and they quickly weighed the pros and cons in their minds. The Ministry of Works had to repair more than 400 miles of river embankment, and after adding and subtracting, there were still 100 miles of river embankment left. The money and grain to be consumed was indeed staggering, but the important ministers present in the court were all wealthy, so it was not impossible to come up with the money...

It is not a bad deal to exchange half of the family fortune for a hereditary dukedom and a good reputation for serving the people of the country.

Unfortunately, not everyone can buy an official position. This generous bait is clearly reserved for Prime Minister Wang. Next, it depends on whether Prime Minister Wang is willing to swallow this bait.

……

As soon as the small court meeting was over, the news reached Prime Minister Wang's ears.

Prime Minister Wang first sneered, then frowned and remained silent, then paced back and forth in the study.

Unfortunately, Minister Dai retired and returned to his hometown, Minister Zhou was still at the river bank, and General Zuo was on his way back to the capital with his troops. Minister Zhang had already turned away from him.

The other officials of the prime minister's party did not hold high enough positions to be worthy of coming before him and giving him orders.

Prime Minister Wang was silent for a long time before he called his trusted aide Jiao to discuss whether to buy a dukedom.

Staff member Jiao carefully observed Prime Minister Wang's expression, then whispered, "This is a good deal."

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister has devoted all his energy and efforts to the Daliang government for most of his life. Now that the young master has established a firm foothold in the court, Your Excellency the Prime Minister should also consider how to step down gracefully."

It must be said that Jiao Muliao has served Prime Minister Wang for many years and is very tactful in his words.

He was not forced into this, nor was he being forced into it, but rather he withdrew gracefully for the sake of his son's future and the Wang family's.

In fact, Prime Minister Wang is clear in his mind. The emperor has made his attitude clear. If he still refuses to bleed, the Wang family will be faced with drastic measures.

The turmoil in the palace seemed to be initiated by the Grand Empress Dowager, but in fact it was Jiang Shaohua who forced her step by step, and naturally eliminated the Grand Empress Dowager's power. The Wang family certainly has many abilities and means. However, there is a difference between the monarch and the ministers. As long as the Wang family does not want to rebel, they must not go to that step.

The emperor was generous enough to even grant him the title of Duke. Why not accept the emperor's "good intention" and withdraw gracefully?

Although the substance is gone, at least the face is still there.

Wang Cheng can see and think more clearly than anyone else, but he is just missing a step.

Sure enough, after Jiao's remarks, Prime Minister Wang's expression softened visibly, but he still snorted coldly: "This Duke is too expensive. A hundred miles of river embankment! How much silver will it cost!"

Jiao Muliao nodded in agreement with Prime Minister Wang's words. After Prime Minister Wang vented his anger, he whispered, "This is not a trivial matter. Otherwise, let's wait until the young master comes back and discuss it again."

"Negotiate with him?" Prime Minister Wang sneered: "It's better to just pay the money directly."

"He is now a loyal dog of the emperor."

Jiao Muliao smiled and said: "Prime Minister, calm down. The young master is a loyal minister of Daliang, trusted and respected by the emperor, and is loyal to the country. In the future, he will become the prime minister of Daliang to bring honor to the family."

Prime Minister Wang curled his lips and said, "He is soft-hearted and soft-hearted, far inferior to me. How can he be a prime minister? It would be good if he doesn't squander the Wang family's wealth in the future."

After scolding his son, Prime Minister Wang calmed down a little.

Then, Prime Minister Wang waited patiently for his son to return home.

As Chen Changshi was away, all the trivial government affairs fell on Wang Zhongshuling's shoulders. Wang Jin was busy until midnight, when he finally returned home.

Prime Minister Wang was getting impatient waiting, and said with a gloomy face: "Why are you back so late? It's not like the emperor has no one else around him, so you have to be the only one!"

Wang Jin was used to being scolded, so he was not annoyed at all: "Father is so irritable tonight, could it be because of the money for repairing the river embankment?"

Prime Minister Wang was choked and couldn't help but sneer: "The emperor only promised a dukedom, but didn't specify the Wang family to pay the money."

Wang Jin looked at Prime Minister Wang and said, "Empress Dowager Li gave away her personal belongings in exchange for praise and fame from the whole court, and even a stone tablet will be erected by the river bank."

"The Lu and Cui families each built a fifty-li river bank in exchange for the title of earl."

"Now the Emperor has even promised the Dukedom to her, but Father refuses. Could it be that he wants to wait until another family snatches her away so he can regret it?"

Prime Minister Wang was stabbed in the sore spot by his son, and he immediately became angry and said: "Who dares to submit this memorial without the order of this Prime Minister?"

Wang Jin said: "It's hard to say. In my opinion, Minister Dong is eager to try today and is quite willing to submit a memorial."

Prime Minister Wang sneered: "The Dong family has only been in business for more than ten years, and they can't afford so much money."

"Minister Yang and Minister Ding also want to share the emperor's worries."

"They both have shallow foundations and are not worthy of the position of Duke."

"By the way, Minister Zhang seems to be interested in submitting a memorial as well."

Prime Minister Wang: "..."