Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 247 Cater to Jiajing’s needs and become a reformer!
Editor Yao Lai sneered and said to Zhang Tong: "But we didn't expect that the Duke would really bring the Jinyiwei to arrest Zeng Quan!"

"I was planning to take him to the Imperial Prison first, so that I could control him and let him get close to Lu Youfu! But all you showed me was a dead body!"

"If you don't trust me, you don't have to tell me in the first place!"

After Zhang Tong explained, he pretended to be angry and slammed the Xiuchun Sword in his hand on the coffee table.

Yao Lai had already learned from others that Zhang Tong had framed Lu Youfu for Zeng Quan's death at the court meeting, so he still believed Zhang Tong's words to some extent and just said, "Okay! We are wrong in this matter, we apologize to you!"

As Yao Lai said this, he actually stood up and bowed to Zhang Tong to apologize.

Xu Jie also followed suit and bowed to Zhang Tong to apologize: "We are the ones who are wrong in this matter. I hope you will be magnanimous."

Zhang Tong just snorted and then asked the two of them, "I think you all know what happened in the court today."

The two nodded.

Then, Zhang Tong said: "Then you should understand more clearly now that it is useless to try to stop His Majesty from building warships by discrediting His Majesty and the Empress!"

"You are right, I think so too. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can only choose one of the two: stop Your Majesty from building warships or overthrow Zhang!"

After Xu Jie echoed this, he glanced at Yao Lai.

Yao Lai asked the two: "So, what do you mean?"

"Everyone knows that the good bamboo and wood for shipbuilding are controlled by the big families in Fujian and Zhejiang. Why don't you really provide enough bamboo and wood to the court so that His Majesty can really build a large number of warships as soon as possible!"

"This is better than your majesty asking Zhang Cong and others to confiscate your bamboo and wood directly!"

"In this way, Your Majesty will not be branded as a mean person, you will be spared from great disaster, and the court will avoid losing many talents capable of managing maritime trade, and will be able to use the support of you great families in Fujian and Zhejiang as soon as possible to build warships."

Xu Jie said with a smile.

Zhang Tong couldn't help but nodded and looked at Xu Jie with admiration.

Yao Lai frowned, then stood up and walked out.

Xu Jie couldn't help but sigh when he saw this.

Zhang Tong asked Xu Jie, "Why did Editor Xu sigh?"

Xu Jie said: "The great families of Fujian and Zhejiang are unwilling to support your majesty's powerful navy. If this is the case, Zhang Fujing may not be able to fall."

Zhang Tong nodded.

Moreover, Zhu Houcong did not know that Zhang Cong had already sent ships to transport a large amount of high-quality bamboo and wood to Beijing, and even included a memorial impeaching Xie Di for privately storing a large amount of golden nanmu and even colluding with the bamboo and wood extraction factory to burn the court bamboo and wood.

It was not until that afternoon that he learned from Zhang Tong about his contacts with Xu Jie and Yao Lai, and then he learned that the big families in Fujian and Zhejiang still had no intention of supporting his shipbuilding.

"It is easy to steal in foreign countries, but difficult to steal in China. It is even easier to steal in coastal areas of China, but it is even more difficult to steal in China!"

Zhu Houcong was therefore reminded of a saying by Zhu Wan in history.

It stands to reason.

The gap between the Ming Dynasty and the Portuguese in naval warfare is actually not that big. Actual combat experience has proven that even a deputy envoy in Guangdong can mobilize local government troops to engage in a confrontation with the Portuguese armed merchant ships, fight a good defense and security battle, and win.

However, if we want to take the Ming Dynasty's naval power to a higher level and have the ability to conduct long-distance expeditions and destroy the Portuguese nest, it will become very difficult. We will have to face the stubborn refusal to cooperate of the thieves in disguise!

Zhu Houcong could not help but rub his face with his hands, looking at the incense burner with the flickering flames, and fell into deep thought.

He knew that he needed to whip these stubborn people who wanted everything.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong decided to issue an edict to summon cabinet members Mao Cheng and Yang Yiqing, and also asked Wang Qiong to come to the warm room of the Qianqing Palace to meet him.

Yang Yiqing also received a reply from the Minister of Works Tong Rui from officials in Fujian and Zhejiang on whether they supported the emperor's shipbuilding.

The reply Yang Yiqing received was still that the officials of Fujian and Zhejiang were unwilling to support the emperor in building ships, but were only willing to support the emperor in overthrowing Zhang.

This gave Yang Yiqing a headache and even made him a little angry.

"It is true that meat eaters are vulgar and cannot think long-term!"

Yang Yiqing even complained about this in his heart after meeting Tong Rui, and then he followed Mao Ji to the warm room of the Qianqing Palace because of the emperor's summons.

When he came to the warm room, he and Mao Ji discovered that Wang Qiong was also here!

The two of them suddenly felt like they didn't want to stay here anymore, as if they had met the plague god, and they wanted to turn around and leave.

Who made Wang Qiong shock them so much during the Zhengde era?

But this was in the presence of the emperor, so they couldn't just leave. They had to deliberately keep a distance of several body lengths from Wang Qiong.

Zhu Houcong also noticed the surprised expressions on Mao Ji and Yang Yiqing's faces, and smiled secretly.

"I summoned you here for no other reason than tax reform."

Zhu Houcong said this at this time.

Mao Ji and Yang Yiqing were struck by lightning when they heard this.

Wang Qiong's eyes lit up.

"What Zhang Fujing said at the time was correct. Tax policy is the foundation of all other policies. If the tax policy is not appropriate, all new policies will be rootless."

"So I called you here today to discuss this matter."

When Zhu Houcong got to this point, he said, "Please give me a seat and some tea!"

The three of them thanked him and sat down on the stool in front of Zhu Houcong.

After they were all seated, Yang Yiqing stood up and said, "Your Majesty, since we are discussing taxation, how can someone in prison discuss politics with the ministers in front of you?"

"I request that only the cabinet ministers be summoned to discuss this matter!"

"Is such that."

"In recent years, some ministers have repeatedly submitted memorials saying that Wang Qiong had no choice but to join the party of the powerful and corrupt. In order to save the good people, I have issued an edict to pardon him and restore his title of Shangshu to retirement."

"But because I heard that he has always had ideas about tax reform, I decided to call him to discuss it together. After all, he was the Minister of Revenue, so I think he really has unique views on tax policy."

After Zhu Houcong said this, he looked at Wang Qiong and said, "Wang Qiong, why don't you speak first?"

Wang Qiong, who was dressed in plain clothes, stood up and bowed, then replied:
"Your Majesty, you are wise and wise. I have always advocated a major tax reform to achieve a truly light taxation system! Instead of the current situation where the common people are taxed heavily, the gentry and the wealthy are taxed lightly, and the imperial court's income is always insufficient to cover its expenditures."

"Although the gentry were exempted from military service, the corrupt tax policy meant that they were not only exempt from military service, but also from taxes! This in turn increased the pressure on the people to pay tribute, resulting in a decrease in taxable land, and a growing burden on the people! It also made it increasingly difficult for the royal family to support themselves, and the army increasingly short of pay!"

"So, Zhang Fujing is right. All the bad things are caused by bad tax policies!"

Wang Qiong actually had not thought about reforming the tax policy, but now that the emperor said so, he naturally had to agree.

In short, if the emperor says that he is a man with his own opinions, then he will admit that he has his own opinions.

He was flexible in this regard, and could become a reformer or a conservative at any time depending on the emperor's needs.

Only in this way will he have the opportunity to return to the court.

Zhu Houcong had long known that Wang Qiong was a clever man who was good at taking advantage of opportunities. Now seeing him so readily and decisively transform himself into a supporter of tax reform, he was even more certain that this man was indeed very flexible and knew how to cooperate with him. He was much more useful than those stubborn guys who refused to give up any benefits.

"Your Majesty, the tax policy must be changed, but this matter cannot be rushed. It should be done slowly, because if it is changed rashly, it may cause unrest."

Yang Yiqing spoke at this time.

“Having said that, we can’t really do nothing.”

"My intention is that when the imperial decree is issued to recommend the Grand Secretary, Wang Qing should be allowed to enter the cabinet first and take over the National Taxation Bureau to make corresponding preparations for tax reform instead of just talking about it."

Zhu Houcong said.

Yang Yiqing replied: "Your Majesty is right. I think this can be done."

Zhu Houcong nodded: "Then issue an order to recommend a Grand Secretary first!"

Mao Jizhen looked at Yang Yiqing in surprise, but after Zhu Houcong said this, he had no choice but to bow and agree.

Wang Qiong couldn't help but show a look of joy.

After Mao Ji and Yang Yiqing returned to the cabinet, he hurriedly asked Yang Yiqing: "Why did you support His Majesty just now and say that Wang Qiong could be admitted to the cabinet first?"

“What can I do if I don’t support you?”

"If you don't support it, then we have to leave first!"

"Your Majesty wants to use Wang Qiong. The purpose is obvious. He thinks we are too slow in shipbuilding! So, he simply puts the tax policy rectification on the agenda, intending to implement a new policy that we are even more unwilling to accept, forcing us to be more active in shipbuilding!"

Yang Yiqing replied with a wry smile.

Mao Ji slapped the armrest of his chair and sighed, "But it's not us who built the ship for Your Majesty!"

"But His Majesty needs us to make this happen!"

"Your Majesty is indeed a wise and intelligent ruler. On the other hand, the Fujian and Zhejiang nobles who went against your will are truly greedy and short-sighted."

"Now it seems that instead of counting on them to help us overthrow Zhang, it is better for us to help His Majesty build the ship first."

After Yang Yiqing finished speaking, he said, "I think we should meet the Grand Master."

Mao Ji asked, "Why do you want to see him?"

"Hasn't Nanzhi always wanted to have a minister join the cabinet? Isn't he willing to offer auspicious signs to His Majesty for this?"

“But even though they don’t have enough bamboo and wood, they have money!”

Yang Yiqing said.

Mao Ji nodded after hearing this: "That makes sense. If Xie Yuyao and the others are unwilling to support Your Majesty, then let Wang Ao join the cabinet to check and balance Wang Qiong!"

then.

Wu Yipeng was invited to the cabinet.

"Your Majesty has issued a decree to recommend a Grand Secretary, and intends to have Wang Qiong join the cabinet! He and our cabinet ministers have been summoned to the warm room today."

In front of Wu Yipeng, Mao Ji did not hide his dislike for Wang Qiong at all and called her by her name.

Wu Yipeng asked directly after hearing this: "I wonder what the two elders need me to do?"

"We believe that only Mr. Zhenze's entry into the cabinet can check and balance this man, and only Mr. Zhenze's reputation can prevent Your Majesty from relying on this man!"

Yang Yiqing and Mao Ji looked at each other and said.

After hearing this, Wu Yipeng said, "But your Majesty may not be willing to allow Mr. Zhenze, a highly respected teacher of the late emperor, to join the cabinet!"

"It all depends on man!"

"The Portuguese are arrogant and domineering, and they have no respect for the Celestial Empire. Your Majesty is angry and the people are angry. Therefore, Your Majesty is currently aiming to strengthen the maritime defenses. You are suffering from a lack of money. I have heard for a long time that your hometown is a civilized and virtuous place. I believe that you are of the same mind as your father and are willing to relieve your worries and dispel the anger of the people!"

Yang Yiqing said.

(End of this chapter)