I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 735 Good words can’t persuade a damned person

Zhang Juzheng saw the uneasy expressions of the nobles on the opposite side.

The cabinet and the civil servants in the Censorate headed by him knew what would happen today and were happy to see it happen.

Nobles are the soul of a military general.

Tens of thousands of officers and generals risked their lives, and their ultimate goal was to be awarded titles for military merit and be granted iron certificates to pass down their legacy.

The fact that he was awarded a title for his military merits made the civil officials extremely envious and jealous.

The civil officials relied on small brushes to write, studied hard for twenty years, and fought their way out of the army to be called out at Donghua Gate. But this was only the first step, and every step after that was like walking on thin ice, and every step was difficult. The road to the cabinet was littered with corpses, no less than the thousands of bones that died when a general succeeded.

There is a difference between meritorious military generals and civil officials, and they take different paths.

People with different ideals cannot work together. The two have more in common than apart.

Prior to this, the emperor had vigorously rectified his civil officials and pruned the literati circle, and the nobles and military generals supported him secretly. The ones who ran the most were the Jinyiwei, who had close ties with the nobles and military generals.

Now, the Emperor has made it clear that he wants to deal with the nobles and military generals, so naturally the civil officials have to roll up their sleeves and watch the fun from the sidelines.

Zhang Juzheng glanced and saw Tan Lun standing at the next seat.

His face was gloomy, neither happy nor angry, like a mountain and abyss. But Zhang Juzheng knew that Tan Lun had a hard time during this period and was under great pressure.

Tan Lun is indeed under a lot of pressure.

Previously, the Rong government was led by Hu Zongxian, and everything was peaceful. Now Hu Zongxian has suffered a stroke and fallen, and the Five Military Commands under the Rong government are still doing well, but the nobles have caused trouble.

Everyone who is interested knows that since Hu Zongxian retired due to illness, it is natural that Tan Lun will succeed him in the Rong government.

Tan Lun was also aware of this.

But the emperor has been slow to announce the successor to the chief military envoy of the military government. Rumors are flying all over the capital, and the nobles are becoming more and more restless, especially the old nobles who were canonized by the second ancestor. They hope to take this opportunity to return to the court and enter the highest decision-making level of the Ming Dynasty - the Advisory Bureau.

Tan Lun knew what the emperor was up to, but his identity was very embarrassing.

Although he was born a civil servant, he had to shoulder the responsibilities of a military leader.

Since it's embarrassing, let's not help either side.

Having made up his mind, Tan Lun glanced to the side and saw Pan Yinglong among the group of civil officials.

He was in his thirties, but among a group of ministers and chancellors in their forties and fifties, he looked exceptionally young, so young that it was enviable.

This is his path to becoming a cabinet advisor.

Hu Zongxian rebelled against the Yan Party and was not tolerated by the Yan Party or the Qingliu factions. He could only take refuge under the emperor's wing and serve as a lone minister to the end. In the end, he became a military minister, the highest position among high-ranking officials.

During the three major cases in Jiangnan, Zhang Juzheng watched his mentor Xu Jie's family being destroyed and his clan being wiped out without saying a word. He then cut off ties with the traditional literati, completed a major turn, and also submitted a very dazzling letter of allegiance.

So Wen became prime minister and held the highest position among officials.

I am the same. I am not a member of any party or group. I have been a lone minister since the beginning and have remained so until now.

Now that Pan Fengwu has become the emperor's cousin-in-law and a relative by marriage, if he wants to continue on this path, he must make a choice.

It's not an easy position to sit in as the highest official in the country.

Pan Yinglong looked calm, standing silently among the civil officials, but he was not so calm inside.

Once I take this step today, I can never go back.

In the eyes of the emperor, important ministers who are valued by the emperor cannot be indecisive and are not allowed to please both sides.

Isn’t this the case with powerful officials in every dynasty?
Not to mention the distant past, the recent Yan Song party, except for some of its followers, is incompatible with the majority of the "clean stream" and is a mortal enemy. If he wants to become a prime minister, step into the advisory bureau and take charge of the cabinet, he must break away from the military generals and nobles who hold military power.

This is the emperor’s rule!
Pan Yinglong felt the gazes from the nobles opposite him. Most of them were very unfriendly. Some were like the eyes of poisonous snakes, some were like the eyes of fierce tigers, and some were like the eyes of vicious wolves. All of them were unfriendly and wanted to come up and bite him hard.

Pan Yinglong let out a long sigh and suddenly smiled.

At this point, he has finally let it all go.

So be it.

Zhu Yijun walked in like a gust of wind, walked quickly to the throne and sat down. The people on the left and right turned to the right and left in unison, facing the throne, and bowed with their hands crossed.

"I have met the emperor!"

"All the officials, please stand up." Zhu Yijun gave a false support and took a glance, and saw the Duke of Cheng, Zhu Xizhong, who stood out from the crowd. Other nobles wore python robes, flying fish robes, bullfighting robes, or unicorn robes, but he was the only one wearing a crane official robe.

Zhu Yijun knew that this was given to him by the Emperor.

At that time, he and Lu Bing were highly regarded by the emperor, so he was each given a set of official uniforms with crane patterns.

The crane official uniform was originally the regular dress for first-rank civil officials, but the emperor admired Xuan and was fond of Taoism, and believed that the crane was a very auspicious thing, so he used this official uniform to bestow upon favored officials. Later, as a result, first-rank civil officials such as Yan Song and Xu Jie did not dare to wear the crane official uniform easily.

Today, Zhu Xizhong happened to be wearing this official uniform and standing in the hall.

The old fox is so shrewd!

After all the ministers stood still, Zhu Yijun said, "I have invited you all here today because of an important matter.

Shuntian Prefecture launched a major operation called Fenglei, which brought together the Beijing Taxation Inspection Bureau, the Capital Taxation Bureau of the Pacification Office, and the Police Bureau to jointly enforce the law and crack down on tax evasion and tax avoidance.

You don’t know until you check. Once you check, you’ll be shocked. Thousands of corrupt officials have been found. These corrupt officials have evaded and evaded taxes on a large scale, with the total amount reaching 7 million yen. The preliminary calculation shows that the tax evasion is 1.5 million yen.”

Zhu Yijun looked around at everyone, "One million and five hundred thousand yuan. My Shaofujian pays taxes on time every month and is a model taxpayer of the Ministry of Revenue's Taxation Bureau every year.

The royal family has to pay taxes, and the nobles have to pay taxes. From me to the common people, everyone in the Ming Dynasty must pay taxes according to the law. This is an iron rule I have set.

But some people treat my orders as bullshit and insist on challenging them with great difficulty. They dare to challenge the Tax Police Corps, the Taxation Bureau, the Ming Dynasty's tax laws, and me.

All right, I will let him get what he wants and get what he wants! "

Hearing Zhu Yijun's calm tone but murderous words, all the civil and military officials in the hall were terrified.

The calmer the emperor's tone, the greater his murderous intent.

"Pan Yinglong."

"Chen is here!"

"Read to everyone the results of the first phase of Shuntianfu Fenglei Operation."

"According to the order!"

Pan Yinglong took out a document from his sleeve without any hurry and began to read it in the hall. His voice was clear and bright, and every word echoed clearly in the hall.

"Shuntianfu's Fenglei Operation was led by the Beijing Taxation Inspection Bureau, assisted by the Beijing Bureau of the Pacification Office and the Beijing Police Department. After two and a half months, a total of 126 tax evasions and 249 tax evasions were investigated and dealt with, involving 649 people."

Pan Yinglong talked about the handling of the Fenglei Operation in great detail, and then pointed out some major cases.

"Among them, the two major cases of Anlianghang and Chuyuexuan are the most typical. Others at least evaded and evaded taxes, but these two simply did not know what the Ming tax law was, and did not know where the Beijing Taxation Bureau was.

The audacity was shocking. During the interrogation, we found that the main culprit had such a disregard for the law, and the most important reason was that he relied on the support of the powerful behind him.

Well, here comes the meat of the drama, Pan Yinglong, you are starting to show your true colors. "While we were investigating the mastermind behind the crime, a murder occurred. Xiu Qiguang, the licensee and chief manager of Anlianghang, the main culprit, was killed in the special case detention center, and then his wife and children were killed in Wanping County.
They dared to kill the criminal and his family in broad daylight, right under the noses of the task force. This is so cruel! "

There was silence in the hall, and everyone looked at Zhu Yijun involuntarily, waiting for his verdict on the matter.

"How dare you!" Zhu Yijun spoke, his tone was calm, but his eyes were fierce, "In the eyes of these people, the laws of the Ming Dynasty have become straw paper for wiping their butts.

I pay taxes according to the law. Why do these people think they are exempt? Are they more supreme than me? "

Oh my god, the familiar scene is about to appear again.

The emperor began to use his special skill again and raised his hat.

But there is nothing wrong with what the emperor said.

He paid taxes according to the law, but you dared to evade and avoid taxes. Are you more respected than the emperor?
Everyone in the palace couldn't help but think of what the emperor had repeatedly emphasized at the meeting before: "The most important thing for our civil and military officials to do practical work and solve problems is to lead by example. As long as this is done well, many problems will be solved."

That's right.

The emperor set an example by paying taxes according to the law, and the benchmark was immediately set.

You evaded and taxed, are you more powerful than the emperor? Immediately, the insignificant evasion and tax evasion became contempt for the emperor, which was completely different in nature.

How disrespectful!
It’s an unforgivable crime!

If you don't agree, then let me ask you, has the emperor paid taxes?

No matter how much it was, he paid it. Every year, the tax payment items of various industrial and commercial enterprises under the name of the Shaofujian would be published in the "Huang Ming Dynasty Newspaper" and the "China Political Newspaper" of the cabinet in the name of the Taxation Policy Department.

It’s written in black and white!
The emperor has paid taxes, how dare you evade and avoid taxes?

How brave!

After hearing what Zhu Yijun said, some people felt disappointed. It was over. There was no escape this time.

Some people were ecstatic, damn, I finally muddied the waters.

After Zhu Yijun defined the case, he pointed at Pan Yinglong with his right hand and said, "Tell me, who is so bold and presumptuous?"

"Reporting to the emperor, after many twists and turns, the special investigation team has thoroughly investigated and found that the boss behind Anliangxing is Xu Wenshuo, the son of Yongkang Marquis, and the second boss is Gu Chengzu, the son of Zhenyuan Marquis. The boss behind Chuyuexuan is Guo Yingyong, the son of Wuding Marquis, and the second boss is Zhu Yingzhen, the son of Chengguo Duke."

Everyone couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.

With such a strong background, it’s no wonder these two companies are so arrogant as to disregard tax laws.

The civil officials on the left all showed expressions of gloating. Are the nobles playing such a big game this time? Are they preparing to blow themselves up and let the emperor kill them all?

With a plop, Xu Qiaosong, Marquis of Yongkang, stepped forward a few steps and knelt in front of the altar.

"Your Majesty, I have failed to educate my son properly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely and serve as a warning to the world."

Then Wuding Hou Guo Dacheng stepped forward, knelt beside Xu Qiaosong, kowtowed and admitted his mistake.

Gu Huan looked at the two people's backs and couldn't help but curse in his heart.

You pig-head, I don't know what kind of magic potion those people fed you to make you come out in person and drag us down with you to muddy the water, give those people a break, and then get some rewards.

Do you think that it is just tax evasion and tax avoidance, minor crimes, and that the Yongkang Marquis Mansion will be safe and sound if you just hand over the "unfilial son"?
wrong!

The Emperor instructed Pan Yinglong to dig deep underground in the name of investigating tax evasion and tax avoidance. Was he really going through so much trouble just for the one million yuan in tax silver?

You really don't understand our emperor.

That's right. Before this, you have always been on the fringe of the court and have not personally experienced the emperor's methods, so you think it's nothing special.

Ha ha!

You guys want to commit suicide, why are you dragging us down?
Gu Huan turned around and saw Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong looking at him with a helpless look on his face.

We were extremely careful, on guard against the Emperor's intention to punish us nobles, but you, a bunch of pigs, just kept moving forward without knowing the consequences.

You didn't know how deep the emperor's scheming was and how clever his methods were before, but today you will definitely experience it. But if you experience it today, you will definitely not have time to appreciate it, and you will only regret it.

Funing Marquis Zhu Gang, Fengcheng Marquis Li Huan, Ningyang Marquis Chen Daji, Xinning Earl Tan Guozuo, Huaining Marquis Sun Shizhong, Yingcheng Earl Sun Wendong and Nanhe Earl Fang Yingqi stepped forward and knelt in a row, all saying that they had failed to discipline their children and that an unfilial son had been produced in their family, and requested the Emperor to punish the child severely.

Zhang Juzheng and other civil servants secretly laughed when they heard this.

Are you asking for forgiveness?
You are playing the game of not taking responsibility for the group!

This trick is what we have left over! It's just that you nobles don't have as many people as we civil officials.

You have been away from the court for a long time, living a life of drunkenness and dreams, and have no idea how cruel our emperor is.

As long as you are willing to die, he will be willing to bury you. No matter how many people there are, he can dig a hole big enough to bury you all.

After laughing, Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun realized something.

If these nobles were used as pawns, who was behind it? Was there anyone in the court cooperating? Could there be someone behind the scenes among those standing in the palace today?
This tactic of surrounding Wei to save Zhao is a clever one!

The literati in the world were not more prosperous than those in Jiangnan. When the three major cases broke out, most of the prominent families, celebrities, and great scholars who were looking forward to success were suppressed, and the literati were unable to recover.

Then Zhang Siwei went to Jiangnan under the banner of the Cultural Construction Committee. No one knew what he was going to do, but an article titled "The Ming Dynasty does not need the study of national destruction!" hit home!
He went to dig up the roots of Shilin!

They really were suffocating over there, so they were taking roundabout ways, taking advantage of Hu Zongxian's illness to stir up trouble and muddy the waters.

Unexpectedly, the emperor instructed Pan Yinglong to use tax inspection to investigate the local thugs, gangs and other forces in the five cities of the capital and the capital. In addition to the complicated relationship with the former five cities' military headquarters, most of these local tyrants also have connections with local households and noble families.

Anyone with a keen eye can guess where the sword is pointed at if they think carefully.

So he went with the flow and somehow convinced nobles like Xu Qiaosong to wade into the muddy water, and also went so far as to drag in the Duke of Chengguo, Marquis of Zhenyuan, Marquis of Xining, Marquis of Gongshun, Marquis of Wuan, and Marquis of Anyuan, all of whom were close to the Southeast faction and had been "following the dragon" since the emperor was still the crown prince.

You think you are Sun Wukong, who can cause havoc in the Heavenly Palace, but you don’t know that the emperor is Tathagata Buddha. No matter how much you jump around, you are still in his palm.

Zhang Juzheng and the other two looked at each other and remained silent.

Duke of England Zhang Rong was stunned and could not help but look at Zhu Xizhong and Gu Huan.

what happened?

Is this a confession?
This is simply a demonstration!

Do these stupid teammates know how to write the word death?

Zhu Xizhong and Gu Huan looked helplessly in return.

It's hard to persuade the damn ghost with good words, and mercy can't help others.

There is nothing we can do.

At this time, Zhu Yijun spoke.

He looked at Zhu Xizhong and Gu Huan and asked meaningfully, "Marquis Yongkang and the others have all apologized. Duke Chengguo and Marquis Zhenyuan, what do you two want?"

Everyone in the hall turned their gazes towards the two of them.

(End of this chapter)