Borrow the day to change the day

() Although it is already afternoon, it is the warmest time of the day.But the Ming Dynasty was in the Little Ice Age, and it was the coldest period of the year. The guards of the Forbidden City, as long as no one was watching, would rub their hands and stomp their feet to increase the heat for themselves.

But at this time, a person outside the Meridian Gate was pacing back and forth non-stop, with sweat still appearing on his forehead.This person was Liang Shixun, Marquis of Baoding who had come to sue Emperor Chongzhen earlier in the morning.

He was told that the emperor was discussing matters with six ministers and cabinet ministers, and he could not see him for the time being.Then he learned that Uncle Zhongxing had already gone to see the emperor, but left him here, and he was very anxious.

As time passed, Uncle Zhongxing did not come out, and no one came to preach to him, Liang Shixun felt a little confused.

If Emperor Chongzhen believed Bo Zhongxing's complaint, then someone should arrest him, but he is still standing here.

If Emperor Chongzhen did not believe Uncle Zhongxing's complaint, then Uncle Zhongxing should have come out, but until now there has been no trace of Uncle Zhongxing coming out.

Liang Shixun finally judged that after Zhongxing Bo entered the Forbidden City, he was also left aside, and he would not be summoned until the emperor's discussion was over.

Liang Shixun was impatient to wait, and it was almost time to meet Li Fengxiang, the admiral and eunuch of the Beijing camp.I couldn't help being anxious, judging by the situation, Uncle Zhongxing would see the emperor sooner than himself.It's not a problem for me to wait here, I don't know if I will be summoned.It seems that I can only start from other aspects.

Liang Shixun thought for a while, and finally looked at the door opening in the afternoon. It was still quiet and there was no one, so he stamped his feet and turned to leave.

But he didn't know that there were always eyes staring at him in the hidden corner of the Forbidden City wall.Seeing Liang Shixun leave the Meridian Gate, he waved his hands back and followed with two plainclothes servants.

Uncle Liang, the steward of the Baoding Marquis Mansion, took a breath of relief after visiting the last censor, and then returned to his own mansion.As soon as he arrived at the door, he ran into Liang Shixun who hurried back.

Liang Shixun saw that there were few pedestrians on the street, and there was no one near his door.

So, without dismounting from his horse, he directly called Uncle Liang to him, and told him in a low voice, "There is something wrong with the Forbidden City, and the emperor has not been seen, but Uncle Zhongxing has been in the Forbidden City for a long time. How much more can you take?" Some money, let those censors help to invite important ministers in the court to impeach Zhongxing Bo, it must be a fatal blow."

Uncle Liang was a little surprised, but without hesitation, he agreed, and hurried into Baodinghoufu.Liang Shixun himself went directly to the old place to catch up.

Inside the Lord's Hall of Respect, Zhong Jinwei was about to answer Emperor Chongzhen's question when his stomach made a "gurgling" sound.

There were only Zhong Jinwei and Emperor Chongzhen in the hall, and when they were not talking, they were very quiet.This "grunt" sound is very clear.

Emperor Chongzhen was taken aback for a moment, only to realize that he was also very hungry.

He looked at the light reflected from outside the hall, and found that it was already afternoon.

At the moment, he smiled and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, every time I talk to you about things, I often forget to eat. Let Master Zhong stay with me hungry, no, your stomach is here to complain gone."

Zhong Jinwei was also excited about the conversation and forgot to eat.Hearing Emperor Chongzhen make a joke, he also smiled.

"Master Zhong, you have dinner with me, and talk while you eat." After finishing speaking, without waiting for Zhong Jinwei to express, he called the attendants outside to come in and arrange the meal.

The attendants outside the hall had been waiting anxiously, but Emperor Chongzhen had ordered them not to be disturbed, so they had to wait outside.

Now that I have received the order, hurry up to arrange meals.

While waiting, Zhong Jinwei answered Emperor Chongzhen's question just now: "Your Majesty, I don't agree with what you just said about striving for the interests of the people."

"Oh, what does Master Zhong mean?"

"Your Majesty, are the common people selling cement or glass? Neither. Then how can the imperial court compete with the people for profit when they sell these things?" Zhong Jinwei asked Emperor Chongzhen.

"Then the items sold by this state-owned enterprise are all things that have never existed before?"

"Almost, only in this way can the profit be high." Zhong Jinwei nodded.

"Wait, why do I feel that what you just said is still wrong." Emperor Chongzhen said suddenly.

When Zhong Jinwei heard that there was nothing wrong, he looked at Emperor Chongzhen.

Emperor Chongzhen sat back on the imperial chair, stared at the imperial table, and then slowly squeezed out his doubts from his mind: "This item you have never had before will also compete with the people for profit."

After the Emperor Chongzhen opened a conversation, he seemed to have cleared his mind, looked up at Zhong Jinwei and said, "Look, someone else bought your glassware, so where did the money for this glassware come from? It should have been used to buy ceramics Utensils, don’t buy them now. Doesn’t the common people who sell ceramic utensils have no income, isn’t this a competition with him for this profit, isn’t it a competition with the people?”

According to Emperor Chongzhen's words, he really competed with the people for profit.Zhong Jinwei thought for a while, and just about to refute, the waiters came to arrange meals with various food boxes.

Therefore, Zhong Jinwei asked them to arrange a meal first. They were very hungry, and delaying them was delaying their own stomach to eat.

Emperor Chongzhen was also hungry, so he didn't urge Zhong Jinwei.

After the servants finished making arrangements, Emperor Chongzhen still drove them out.Then he said to Zhong Jinwei: "Come on, Master Zhong, take a few mouthfuls to fill your stomach first."

Naturally, Zhong Jinwei would not be polite to Emperor Chongzhen, he had to eat first, at least half full.

After a while, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't bear it anymore. Even though he saw Zhong Jinwei eating and drinking without any appearance, he still asked: "If the ministers use this reason to oppose this state-owned enterprise, how should they refute it?"

Zhong Jinwei heard Emperor Chongzhen talking to him, so he had to stop for a while, and replied: "Your Majesty, I think that few officials who can really plead for the people will do so. Basically speaking of people who are fighting for the interests of the people, in fact They all have ulterior motives. When they oppressed the people, why didn't they think of competing with the people for profit."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded: "That's the reason, but there are still a few officials who would do this."

"Okay, if they say that, what about the salt and iron monopoly of the past dynasties? Is it also abolished? Shouldn't the court collect taxes, because the money collected could have been used to buy things so that People who sell things make money."

If the state monopolizes anything, it is to compete with the people for profit, so Zhong Jinwei has nothing to say, and starts to make strong arguments.

"This doesn't seem very convincing." Emperor Chongzhen said hesitantly.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be so entangled. As a state-owned enterprise, what is the money earned? It is not used by the court itself, not by His Majesty, but ultimately by the common people. So what is there to talk about for profit? "Zhong Jinwei had no choice but to avoid competing for profits with the people, but to talk about the purpose of fighting for profits.

Emperor Chongzhen's explanation of Zhong Jinwei was quite fresh, so he looked at Zhong Jinwei to see what he said next.

"Your Majesty, look: one of the money earned is used to maintain roads, and it is used for people to travel. Is this used for people?"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, yes.

"It is also used for national education. The people of Ming Dynasty benefited from it. Is it used on them again?"

"Master Zhong said so."

"It will also be used to increase the salaries of officials, so that officials can do things with peace of mind and do good things for the people. Is this used on the people again?"

Emperor Chongzhen felt that this seems a bit reluctant. According to this statement, it is reasonable for officials to steal money from the people to enrich themselves.But he wanted to return to his thoughts and didn't interrupt Zhong Jinwei.

"The money earned will be used for disaster relief, and it will be used on the people; it will be used to fight Jianlu, and protect the people from the abuse of Jianlu, and it will be used on the people; it will be used to build water conservancy projects, and it will be used on the people. ..”

Zhong Jinwei was talking endlessly, but Emperor Chongzhen had a new feeling about the taxation of the court.In the past, I always felt that it was to maintain the rule of Ming Dynasty, and it was for my country and country.After Zhong Jinwei said this, it turns out that all taxes are for the welfare of the people of Ming Dynasty, so why are we competing for profit with the people!

Zhong Jinwei talked for a long time, and finally concluded: "Your Majesty, as long as the state's tax revenue and the profits earned by state-owned enterprises are used for the people, is there anyone who can compete with the people for profits against state-owned enterprises?"