Huangming

Chapter 229 Reforming Taoism, Prince Fu Cries for Pay (Bonus Chapter for 1200 Monthly Tickets!)
The Zhengyi Successor was appointed by imperial decree and was in charge of all Taoist affairs in the land.

It's called the national religion, but it's nothing more than a decorative vase.

It has no real military or political power.

Zhu Youxiao valued the Zhengyi sect of Longhu Mountain because it had a detailed understanding of the officialdom in Jiangnan and enjoyed prestige among officials and the people, which could provide Zhu Youxiao with certain support in his salt inspection and tax collection in Jiangnan.

For example, when inspecting salt fields, Taoist priests could use the guise of "medical outreach" to penetrate the salt fields without being questioned by the government and obtain firsthand information.

Furthermore, the Zhengyi sect has deeply penetrated the salt gang, and many salt workers believe in Xuantian Shangdi, thus having a certain mass base.

In addition, Zhu Youxiao also wanted to reform Taoism, making it more like Catholicism, with a spirit of enterprise.

Modern Taoism is still too Buddhist.

When they go to Southeast Asia to plunder wealth and people in the future, this kind of Taoism will not be very useful.

He wanted to make Taoism more progressive, pioneering, and adventurous.

Only then can Taoism proceed first, followed by the main army, just like in Western colonization.

but.
I intend to give you an important position, but your Celestial Master's Mansion is being disrespectful. Don't blame me for that.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Chao and said coldly, "Have the cabinet draft an edict and have the Ministry of Rites issue a document questioning Zhang Xianyong, 'How dare you claim illness and refuse to attend court when summoned by the Emperor?' At the same time, suspend the granting of special privileges such as incense fields and ritual implements, recover the excessive rewards from previous years, confiscate illegal land, and suspend the issuance of ordination certificates."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes sharpened, and he said again, "Send someone to reprimand Zhang Xianyong, ordering him to come to the capital within a month. If he still dares to disobey, then we will not only use the methods mentioned before."

The granting of special privileges such as incense fields and ritual implements will be suspended, and all excessive rewards from previous years will be recovered. Illegal land will be confiscated, and the issuance of ordination certificates will be suspended.
These are economic sanctions.

However, if Zhang Xianyong remained obstinate, Zhu Youxiao had other methods.

For example, his title could be downgraded, such as from "Zhengyi Sijiao Zhenren" to "Zhengyi Yanfa Zhenren," thus weakening his authority.

They could even elevate the Quanzhen School and Wudang Mountain Taoists, thus sowing discord within the Taoist community.

If you are unwilling to cooperate, then I will find someone who is willing to cooperate.

Zhu Youxiao didn't believe it. "Without your Longhu Mountain, I can't use Taoism?"

If things went too far, Zhu You could have directly charged Zhang Xianyong with treason.

As for where to find the charge of treason?
That's easy to find.

Zhu Youxiao only needed to send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to conduct a thorough investigation, and the evidence would surely come out in abundance, because the Celestial Master's Mansion itself was not clean.

As a Taoist family, the Zhang family often intermarried with aristocratic families in Jiangnan. Officials used the Celestial Master's Mansion to "perform rituals" to launder embezzled funds, and some Celestial Masters became front men for officials.
Even more so, there are many unorthodox sects in the folk who use the name of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

If Zhu Youxiao were willing, the charge of treason could certainly be pinned on the Celestial Master's Mansion.

"Slave, you obey!"

When Wei Chao saw that the emperor's expression was cold and his eyes were like knives, he knew that the emperor was furious. He dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately bowed to accept the order.

After the incident with Zhang Xianyong, Zhu Youxiao ate his breakfast even faster.

After breakfast, the emperor immediately summoned Li Changgeng, the Minister of Revenue, to the palace for an audience.

On the surface, it was a routine questioning, but in reality, it was a covert check of the accounts.

Li Changgeng had indeed provided Zhu Youxiao with many ways to amass wealth, such as levying additional taxes on Liaodong, recovering outstanding salt taxes, intercepting customs duties, selling ordination certificates for monks and Taoists, and even openly selling official positions and titles.

However, these measures are merely stopgap measures, not only failing to address the root cause of the empty treasury but also exacerbating the people's poverty.

Either they simply don't have the capability to do it at this stage.

Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to give up and try to raise money and grain from other places.

After the accounts were checked, Zhu Youxiao moved to the palace gate to hold court, as was his custom.

As dawn broke, civil and military officials were already lined up outside Fengtian Gate, waiting for the sunrise.

Zhu Youxiao sat upright on the throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall, his expression solemn.

"Attend court!"

With a loud announcement from the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the morning court session officially began.

The most important matter at today's court meeting is the situation in Liaodong.

The Minister of War stepped forward to report, detailing the situation in Liaodong: the Jurchen army was stationed outside Shenyang, the border was in grave danger, and supplies of food, provisions, and weapons all needed to be replenished.

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then ordered the Ministry of Revenue to expedite the procurement of military supplies and strictly commanded border generals to strengthen their vigilance and not to slacken their efforts.

Subsequently, the court discussions turned to matters of money and provisions.

Officials from the Ministry of Revenue presented tax reports from various regions, stating that the national treasury was empty and expenditures were insufficient. Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's expression grew even more grave.

He knew that if he did not find ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, the imperial court's finances would be unsustainable.

Therefore, he ordered the Ministry of Revenue to re-examine local taxes and crack down on corruption. At the same time, he ordered the cabinet to discuss new fundraising strategies to alleviate the pressure on the national treasury.

In the imperial court, the ministers expressed their opinions and debated endlessly.

Zhu Youxiao observed coldly, already having made his own plans.

After the discussion, he said in a deep voice, "The war in Liaodong is a matter of national security, and the issue of money and provisions is the foundation of the country. All of you must do your best and not shirk your responsibilities."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and rose, signaling the end of the court session.

When he returned to the palace from Fengtian Gate, it was nearly noon, and the sun was blazing overhead.

Zhu Youxiao was having lunch when the imperial kitchen presented a dazzling array of summer dishes: chilled fruits, steamed shad, honey-roasted ham, and chicken stewed with fresh bamboo shoots, all served with chilled plum juice, which was very appetizing.

Ice chests were placed in the four corners of the hall, and the cool air dispelled the summer heat, making it quite pleasant.

Just then, Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stepped forward lightly, bowed, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Prince Fu requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao paused slightly with the ivory and gold-inlaid chopsticks in his hand, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and said calmly, "Let him in."

Ever since Prince Fu was forcibly summoned from Luoyang to the capital, this imperial uncle has been like a caged beast, thinking day and night about returning to Luoyang to enjoy a life of luxury.

However, the ten million taels of silver that the emperor asked him to raise is still nowhere in sight, and even though he has sought help from all sides and tried to coerce and entice other vassal kings, it is still a drop in the ocean.

Now, the 300-pound Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, has finally lost his patience and is probably here to complain and beg for mercy.

Not long after, heavy footsteps were heard outside the hall, accompanied by slight panting.

Zhu Changxun was wearing a large, heavy imperial robe, but it was still stretched taut by his obese body, making him look like a fleshy ball wrapped in brocade.

He shuffled into the hall with difficulty, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and knelt down tremblingly to pay his respects: "Your subject, Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health!"

Zhu Youxiao raised a slight smile and gestured, saying, "Please rise, Imperial Uncle."

Zhu Changxun struggled to get up, but his body was too heavy, and he staggered for a moment.

The eunuchs rushed forward to help him, only to find him panting heavily, barely able to fit half of his buttocks into the round chair in the hall. His disheveled appearance almost made Zhu Youxiao burst out laughing.

"Cough-cough-"

Zhu Youxiao coughed twice to hide his smile, and asked with feigned concern, "How have you been these days, Imperial Uncle?"

Upon hearing the emperor's question, Zhu Changxun's fat face immediately scrunched up, and large tears rolled down his cheeks, making him look like a three-hundred-pound child who had suffered a great injustice.

He raised his wide sleeves and wiped away his tears haphazardly, but he couldn't stop the torrent of tears. Soon, a large area of ​​the front of his python robe was soaked.

"Waaaaah~ Your Majesty!"

Zhu Changxun cried out, his voice filled with grievance and helplessness.

"I have been suffering terribly these past few days!"

As he spoke, he completely opened up and began to pour out his grievances.

The tears fell like pearls from a broken string, as if they were trying to cry out all the grievances they had suffered these past few days.

"I have been working day and night to raise funds and provisions for Your Majesty, and I haven't even had time to eat properly. Look at me, I've lost a lot of weight!"

He patted his still-round belly and lamented, "But all those relatives are misers! I've talked myself hoarse, and I've only managed to raise one million taels of silver so far. Your Majesty, even if you stripped all my fat and used it to light a lantern, I still couldn't raise ten million taels!"

Looking at his uncle, who was crying like a baby, Zhu Youxiao thought to himself: "To be able to squeeze a million taels out of those stingy princes, it seems that Zhu Changxun really did use all his tricks."

"Oh?"

The emperor raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement.

"Then tell me, Imperial Uncle, who donated money? And how much did each person donate?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxun quickly wiped away his tears with his sleeve and replied, sobbing, "Your Majesty, most of the princes donated tens of thousands of taels of silver. The Prince of Zhou donated fifty thousand taels, the Prince of Lu donated thirty thousand taels, and the Prince of Shu donated twenty thousand taels. But what about the Prince of Chu?"

At this point, a look of indignation resurfaced on his chubby face.

“That King of Chu is utterly stingy! I sent people there three times, but he wouldn’t even let them in the door! He won’t give a single penny.”

At this point, Prince Fu was so angry that he made a snorting sound.

"The Chu Prince's mansion is filled with mountains of money, and its wealth is not much less than mine. The Fu Prince's mansion can produce several million taels of silver, and so can the Chu Prince's mansion! Your Majesty, please summon the Chu Prince to the capital!"

(End of this chapter)