Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 167 Destined to Not Be a Benevolent King

Since Zhu Changluo proposed the idea of ​​a tax-sharing system at the court meeting, the most obvious change he felt was that the number of memorials was greatly reduced.

After returning to the Forbidden City, Tian Yi was asked about it and he knew the situation: "It's getting worse and worse."

Tian Yi was worried: "Now that the Beijing camp has been reorganized, I dare to say that the throne is not stable and this key is not as useful as last year. The matter involves all the officials in the court. We have just spent a lot of effort to fill the vacancies. The officials also know that Your Majesty wants to govern. This time there will definitely be a commotion, and I am afraid that many people will resign."

If the situation really develops to the point where new policies must be implemented, some people will resolutely resign because of their political views, or because they do not want to be in the spotlight. This is inevitable.

"So, you've already started to use this method to create pressure. Is there someone watching outside the study?"

"The Tongzhengshisi is just across the street." Tian Yi nodded, "Whoever submits a memorial, no matter what the reason is, will be punished by the scholars for currying favor with the emperor."

"What about Wang Xijue? Is his reputation even worse?"

Tian Yi smiled bitterly, "It's more than just bad. The Wang family of Taicang was first divorced by the marriage that was arranged for them since childhood. His son was in the imperial study, but now he has been ridiculed and sent to be a slave. I don't know how many people have written poems to ridicule him."

Zhu Changluo sneered: "Oh, slave."

This naturally refers to them being put together with eunuchs like Tian Yi, one is a eunuch, the other is a vertical slave, going straight to the organs.

The treatment Wang Xijue is receiving now must have been even worse for Zhang Juzheng back then.

Zhu Changluo looked at Tian Yi and asked, "Did you find out who was shouting like that?"

Tian Yi was stunned: "Your Majesty... want to question?"

"Of course." Zhu Changluo said sternly, "I changed the Hanlin Academy to have four academies, and I personally selected Wang Heng and others to hold positions. On the surface, it is a mockery of Wang Xijue, but in reality, isn't it a mockery of me? Xiao Daheng has been spreading rumors in Jiangnan that I am suspicious, and I am destined not to be the benevolent monarch they call me! Just take it and come to me and let me call it a day!"

"...I obey your order." Tian Yi hesitated as he felt that this was inappropriate and was afraid that it would damage the emperor's virtue in the future.

The most important thing is that they are all young scholars and their minds are not so clear.

"Ask Guo Zhenming to open the Kuai Tan Xuan as soon as possible, and let Shen Honglin and the others talk about it."

The next morning, there was naturally no shortage of guests in some restaurants and teahouses.

For the officials in the capital, the students in the Imperial Academy, and the scholars studying in the capital, isn't the best way to kill time to eat, drink, have fun, and talk?
"This place is so filthy and dirty. If we allow them to stay here longer, wouldn't that be a pretext for exploiting the people there?"

"It was fine before, with one tax inspector per province. But if we really do that, there will be several tax inspectors per county, and they will all be tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves!"

"It's a chaotic government. It's ok that His Majesty didn't dare to speak out directly during the court meeting. He even discussed it. It's ok that he didn't explain the pros and cons during the discussion. But there are still people who agree with it. They are really spineless."

"Now that the three palaces have not been built, the Qianqing Palace is close to the harem. I think since Wang Taicang has sent his son to serve as an official, it would be better to castrate him. Otherwise, wouldn't it be easy to cause gossip?"

"They all can't get it hard. There's no difference between eunuchs and slaves."

After saying that, he burst into laughter.

Then the two people at the table next to them looked at each other and stood up.

As they approached, they were naturally discovered: "Who are you? What do you want to do?"

Of course it was because the two of them looked stern and unfriendly.

"Jinyiwei." One of them just took out his badge and waved it. "Your Majesty, I heard that there are many profound opinions in the capital recently, which I find quite interesting. I think you two are very insightful. How about you come with us and repeat your original words in front of the emperor?"

The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, just put their hands on the shoulders of the two people who spoke last.

But it is clearly more insightful to say that the local governments may come up with various excuses, that there may be several tax collectors in one county, and that officials in the court dare not give direct advice.

The people at the table suddenly changed color. What the Jinyiwei said sounded nice, but wasn't this just punishment for speech?

Moreover, he is not only controlling those who are officials, but even those who are not officials are being controlled. No matter how you put it, why are all of them being controlled?

"Your Majesty is a wise and wise king, how could you do this? I think you are fakes! Do you know who I am?"

The emperor became a wise and enlightened ruler again.

Although the Jinyiwei Beizhenfu Division in Jiangnan also did some things, they were after all under imperial orders and were far away in Nanjing.

Since the tenth year of Wanli, due to the cooperation of the Jinyiwei with Zhang Juzheng that led to the subsequent purge, there has been no actual commander in charge for many years. It has been a long time since the Jinyiwei suddenly appeared in the capital to arrest someone.

But now that the two were not fake, they naturally did not bother to waste time talking to them, and just carried one person out, leaving the rest of them with pale faces, as well as other frightened people, the shopkeeper, and the waiters.

Today's court meeting lasted a particularly long time, and the emperor specially allowed a court meeting.

It was Shen Yikuan, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue and others who really requested the emperor to make a ruling. The emperor seemed to have noticed the ministers' discussions on expanding local financial power, so he simply allowed them to express their opinions in court.

It's a rare opportunity to discuss matters in court, so naturally we have to show our ability. After all, the emperor's attitude doesn't seem so firm. How can we not fight for everyone's collective interests?
"Local taxes are only collected from civilian households. Even if more can be collected, the local royal family and the guards will make a fuss about providing enough food and salary. Is this allowed or not? If the guards have enough food, if they collude with the clerks of generations, and the gentry have grievances, once they work together to suppress the officials or even kill them, won't separatism break out?"

If we start thinking from the perspective of really allowing local governments to take more money out of the hands of wealthy gentry, some people's deductions cannot be said to be unreasonable.

At first, he might have just been talking about the hidden worry that local officials might turn His Majesty's good governance into chaos. Later, as long as the emperor looked thoughtful, his emotions would naturally get more and more intense. Debates are easy to get excited about.

"If we talk about increasing revenue, the easiest thing to do is to cultivate land in local garrisons. The more land there is in the garrisons, the fewer soldiers there are, and the local government needs to provide them with food and salaries. Now that the Beijing garrison has been reorganized, it's time to start with the easy ones and then move on to the difficult ones, and fix the problems in the garrisons."

Hou Xianchun, the last person who mentioned the problems of the garrisons at the court meeting, has already arrived at the border town, and now someone is talking about this topic again.

Wang Xijue angrily shouted, "What are you up to? How can you move lightly when you are in a place guarded by a garrison?"

"I just want to ask Lord Wang! If the local areas can collect more money and grain, and do not have to send them to the two capitals, will the local garrisons petition for sufficient salary and grain? If they petition, will the court agree? If it agrees, will the local areas have collected the money and grain in vain? If it does not agree, will the local garrisons feel resentful?"

A certain doctor from the military department kept questioning him, but he hadn't mentioned the royal family yet.

In fact, he raised a very sharp issue: the local interest groups are not just the gentry group, but also the generals and officers of the local garrisons.

Either they fleece the poor people, or they fleece the gentry, or they take action against the generals of the garrisons.

Starting from commercial taxes, there is actually a firewall of merchants who go out to do business. In fact, many of them are also dependent on local civil and military officials and gentry families.

The interests of the merchants, civil and military gentry were mainly affected, but the damage was limited, and everyone could reluctantly appease the emperor and the court.

But if local governments are allowed to collect more taxes and grain, then merchants will not be able to make enough money. If we cannot impose additional taxes on the poor people, should we move the gentry or the guards?

Zhu Changluo watched them debate quietly.

When the old order is maintained, everyone is loyal. If there is a change, everyone will feel resentful, and then exaggerate to the point of rebellion and secession, which will eventually cause the people to suffer and rebellion will rise everywhere.

This is the opposition party’s old trick, exaggerating the consequences and confusing the essence.

The debate lasted for most of the morning and the emperor did not stop it.

Although the emperor understood that he was asked to stick to the facts and not to make personal attacks, sarcasm and ridicule still occurred afterwards.

Only a minority firmly believed that changes should be made, led by Wang Xijue, some old officials with conscience who returned from local areas, and some new officials who were full of enthusiasm.

Although the leaders of the "old party" did not express much opinion, the entire "old party" has pushed the superficial battle line back to "don't give more officials to the local governments and allow more money and grain to be collected."

It feels like the code is still running so don't move it lightly.

Just at this time, Wang Zhizhen came back and reported to the emperor.

"Then bring it up." Zhu Changluo nodded. "Since this matter is being discussed by the court and the public, let's also listen to what the scholars have to say."

The ministers looked at the emperor in astonishment. Soon after, they saw a group of pale-faced young scholars being brought to the court meeting. Some of them even found their own sons among them.

But they finally realized how terrifying the situation was and did not mindlessly call him dad.

"...Common people..."

"……student……"

The young scholars who had been talking and making suggestions about state affairs not long ago were really brought before the emperor at such a fast pace. They looked frightened and trembling, kneeling among the civil and military officials in the court like chickens.

"Wang Zhizhen, please tell me first, what are their general opinions?"

"Your Majesty," Wang Zhizhen said, "I have received reports that scholars are concerned about state affairs and have many opinions. However, they are not in the court, and some of their words are vulgar and insulting to your Majesty."

After saying this, the faces of the court officials who had originally thought that the emperor would not really allow the scholars to express their opinions changed drastically, and the fathers of some of the scholars were even extremely anxious.

"Maybe the truth is not as bad as it seems?"

Zhu Changluo also said something "vulgar" and pointed directly at the person in front of him: "You, the one in the white robe with bamboo embroidery, what's your name? Tell me your name, and say it in your original words."

Those who were arrested were brought in immediately because they said truly "vulgar words". How could they dare to say the original words?
“…The student is talking nonsense… Your Majesty, please forgive me…” Those who were named immediately started to act like chickens pecking at rice.

"Why are you talking nonsense again? Do you want me to forgive you?" Zhu Changluo looked at Wang Zhizhen again, "What exactly did they discuss? Wang Zhizhen, answer truthfully."

"The minister obeys the order."

So Wang Zhizhen repeated it in court.

It cannot be said that these are the exact words, but the adjectives that ridiculed Wang Xijue and other officials who supported the new policy and insulted their families were still used.

It was indeed vulgar, so vulgar that Wang Xijue's face turned red, and so vulgar that many people's faces turned pale.

The emperor actually arranged for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring these scholars who were discussing the matter among the people to the court meeting, clearly intending to clear Wang Xijue's name and support him.

Then what was the purpose of pushing back the front so passionately before?
The emperor's face darkened. After Wang Zhizhen finished speaking, he asked the scholars in fancy clothes in front of him, "Is what Commander Wang said really your opinion?"

(End of this chapter)