The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Xue Xuan frowned and reluctantly took out only two taels of silver: "The remaining five taels, you can buy some gifts."

Xue Shao let out a breath, and without asking who Xue Xuan should ask for the remaining money, he put away the remaining five taels and responded.

Xue Shao asked him, "Do you want to go with me?"

"Forget it. You are Chaoyang, and Prime Minister Yang is willing to meet you. But I am useless. He and I both know what he wants to say and what he will say. There is no need to meet." Xue Xuan said, "Give him my regards."

Xue Shao agreed.

Pan Yun filled his stomach and ate a bowl of noodles. He also learned from Yin Song that Yang Shiqi was seriously ill. He was really seriously ill.

So she said, "I'll go see Prime Minister Yang."

Pan Hong was surprised: "You can still see Prime Minister Yang?"

The Yang family is now closed to visitors and is not seeing anyone, but few people will visit the Yang family at this time.

The warmth and fickleness of human nature is vividly displayed.

So when Xue Shao visited, everyone in the Yang family was very surprised.

The old butler didn't dare to make a decision, so he came to Yang Shiqi to report.

Yang Shiqi sat up from the bed, thought for a moment and said, "Please ask him to come in."

Xue Shao came to visit with some bacon, snacks and fruits.

Yang Shiqi was leaning on the wooden couch by the window and could see him by just turning his head.

Seeing him holding a hand full of gifts, she couldn't help but smile: "People outside say that you are ungrateful and are now colluding with Wang Zhen's group to frame me, but you are the only one who can come to see me with bacon."

Xue Shao handed the things to the old housekeeper, and bowed deeply to Yang Shiqi through the window: "I don't care what others say about me, as long as Elder Yang is healthy."

Yang Shoufu waved his hand and smiled at him, "Come in and talk."

Xue Shao walked in and sat down beside the wooden couch.

Yang Shiqi asked the old housekeeper to make him some tea and asked in a gentle voice, "When will you leave Beijing?"

Xue Shao: "I'll leave tomorrow."

"It's very dangerous to go to Jiangnan," Yang Shiqi coughed and said softly, "They hate me, and they hate you too, so you have to be careful."

Xue Shao bowed his head and replied, "Yes."

The old man and the young man looked at each other in silence. Xue Shao was silent for a moment, then said, "Lord Yang, I will write a letter to severely punish Yang Ji..."

"I know," Yang Shiqi smiled at him kindly, "You are targeting the matter, not the person. I don't blame you. I... am very relieved. I am really relieved."

Yang Shiqi sighed and said, "You look like your uncle, but my son doesn't look like me."

Xue Shao was silent.

Yang Shiqi leaned back on the pillow, his eyes slightly tilted, looking at the sky outside the window, and murmured: "A filial person is good at carrying on the aspirations of others and narrating the deeds of others. You can inherit Xue Xuan's aspirations, which is the greatest filial piety..."

Xue Shao didn't know how to comfort him.

Yang Ji was brutal and violently killed more than a dozen people in Ji'an. This was the direct death toll.

Because of his cruelty, he indirectly caused the destruction of nearly forty people's families.

With so many families involved, Xue Shao couldn't say anything to comfort him, because in his heart, Yang Ji must die.

Fortunately, Yang Shiqi did not need his comfort. He quickly came to his senses, smiled at Xue Shao and said, "This may be the fate. Nine out of ten things in life are not satisfactory. I have taken advantage of the right time and place, but lost because of the harmony of people. This is in line with the will of heaven." Although he said this, Yang Shiqi still couldn't help coughing violently.

Xue Shao quickly stood up to help him massage his chest. The housekeeper immediately served him tea. Yang Shiqi took it and was about to take a sip when he suddenly vomited blood.

The old housekeeper was terrified, his knees went weak and he knelt on the ground: "Grandpa, you can't get into trouble, the master is still waiting for you to save him..."

Yang Shiqi glared at him and said coldly, "Shut up and get out!"

"Old man..."

"I know I can't control you. You dare to hint at my guests in front of me. If that's the case, you should go away as soon as possible. Go back to whoever you belong to."

The old housekeeper turned pale and knelt on the ground immediately: "Old Master, your body cannot get angry. I know I was wrong and I will never mention it again."

Yang Shiqi stared at him coldly for a while, then snorted coldly, then lay down trembling all over, holding onto Xue Shao's arm.

Xue Shao looked at him worriedly, "Master Yang?"

Yang Shiqi grabbed his arm tightly and said to the old housekeeper, "Go down. I want to invite you to dinner. Go and ask the kitchen to prepare something delicious."

The old butler could only stand up and leave.

Xue Shao frowned and said worriedly, "Lord Yang, do you want me to ask someone to come to the mansion to take care of you?"

"Do you think they are someone else's people?" Yang Shiqi shook his head slightly. "They are a bunch of slaves who only seek profit and avoid harm. Your Majesty is still looking after me, so they dare not neglect me."

Yang Shiqi looked at Xue Shao with a far-reaching gaze, looking at him, but not looking at him: "You must learn from my lesson. No matter what position you are in, you must take good care of your family. Don't be like me, whose fame and success in life were ruined in an instant."

Xue Shao responded in a low voice.

Yang Shiqi raised the corner of his mouth slightly, patted his arm and said: "Don't be afraid, His Majesty is sentimental. He is angry now, but when he calms down after a while, he will transfer you back and won't let you stay in Jiangnan for too long."

Xue Shao said, "There is nothing wrong with going to Jiangnan for inspection. The country's problems are concentrated in Jiangnan. If we can sort out the problems in Jiangnan, then the court can learn from Jiangnan's solutions and sort out the country."

"What a great ambition!" Yang Shiqi lamented, "If I were twenty years younger and met you, I would be so happy."

Twenty years ago, Xue Shao was not yet born.

"Jiangnan~~" Yang Shiqi looked outside and saw no one, so he said softly: "I am from Jiangnan, it is a very beautiful place, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and outstanding people.

There are loyal ministers and righteous men, but there are also stubborn old men and people who pursue fame and fortune. "

"The problems you can see are indeed long-standing, but the ones you can't see are also starting to become serious," Yang Shiqi said softly, "For example, there are many problems with private military settlements. You can go to the garrisons and take a look. There is also the problem of official salaries. It's not just in Jiangnan, but in the entire Ming Dynasty, including the officials in Beijing. The salaries of middle and lower-level officials cannot be collected on time and cannot support their families. If this continues, greed and cruelty will gradually arise, and the atmosphere will gradually deteriorate."

Xue Shao didn't expect Yang Shiqi to say this to him, and he couldn't help but take it more seriously.

Yang Shiqi tightened his grip on his wrist and whispered, "Yang Rong, Yang Pu and I have worked hard for many years. When the Empress Dowager was alive, the cabinet acted in moderation. Although there were corrupt officials in the court every year, overall the situation was not serious. Why?"

Xue Shao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Because when the Empress Dowager was alive, the salaries of officials from the cabinet to the poor counties were all paid on time, without any debt or deduction with other items."

"Yes, although life is not easy, the salary can support the family and the status is decent. Except for a few people, no one would risk being beheaded for greed."

"But later on, salaries could not be paid on time or were deducted by other things. Everyone was oppressed. Only when Wang Zhen came to power could he persuade everyone to follow him."

Wang Zhen was able to gain the support of hundreds of people, and everyone was vying to please him. Of course, it was not because of his personal charm, but because of the interests involved.

Yang Shiqi said: "If you want to reform, the salaries of officials must be changed. In order to allow officials to get the salaries they deserve, the treasury must be full. You have to find a way to make money for the country and make enough money."

Xue Shao seemed to be thinking about something. (End of this chapter)