Baidu otaku as Chongzhen

Chapter 481 Resignation
In Yang Reform's hand, he was reading a copy of the mansion newspaper.

The mansion newspaper is full of articles denouncing the shamelessness of the salt merchants, and there are many articles exposing the old background of Donglin Party. These can be regarded as the performance of the separation between officials and salt merchants, and then there are some praise articles. A certain feudal lord presented the Yanyin nest book again, and that honorable man presented the Yan Yin nest book again, and so on. In short, all the accusations were directed at the salt merchants and the salt class.

A piece of news, Yang Reform read it and smiled.

A few days ago, several "reports" pointed the finger at Liulizhai, saying that it was one of the criminal evidences in the case of Shanxi merchants and captives. It is said that Liulizhai also "may", "unaware", "improper management" and so on may have a little relationship with the Shanxi business case, of course it is only a little bit of relationship, this is actually the rumor released by Yang's reform arrangement, As a result, countless people immediately defended Liulizhai. Yang Reform originally arranged for "gunners". Liu Lizhai's defense was impossible to get on the board, and Yang Reform also sighed again, the power of this community of interests is really not for bragging.

The result of this incident has also come out. Liulizhai "voluntarily" donated 20 taels of silver to help the emperor exterminate the Eastern Captives on the grounds of professing his innocence. , The salt business case, reappeared in people's field of vision, and walked in the cusp of public opinion and history. No, now in the mansion newspaper, the bragging about Liulizhai's loyalty to the emperor and patriotism is what businessmen all over the world learned. A role model, compared with salt merchants, salt merchants should die of shame, and call on all merchants in the world to learn from Liulizhai.

Just a few articles earned Yang Reform 20 taels of silver. This article really couldn’t be more valuable. Anyway, it’s been a fat year. Starting today, Liulizhai began to distribute dividends, and it was published in the Dibao Big news, let the stockholders go to Liulizhai to get the silver.

Yang Reform looked at the news and smiled. It must have been empty for thousands of people.Pushing Liulizhai to the cusp of history with such a high profile, Yang Reform’s more consideration is to vigorously promote the new interest cooperation method of stocks, laying more foundations for future reforms, and then laying more foundations for future reforms of salt classes. Lay the groundwork and get ready.Among businessmen, who is reliable and who is not, is now planting a seed in people's hearts.

"Your Majesty, it's time to go to court..." Seeing the emperor staring at the mansion newspaper in a daze, Wang Chengen had to remind the emperor that he had to go to court.

"Hmm!..." Yang Reform came back to his senses, and said, "... let's go, don't make the ministers wait too long." After speaking, he looked at himself in the full-length mirror, and strode out of the Qianqing Palace.

……

Yang Reform still had the usual appearance, but in the eyes of the officials, he was a little more majestic and daunting.

Amidst the complicated etiquette, today's morning began.

First assistant Shi Fenglai said some things cheerfully, nothing more than that the vassal king and the nobles handed over the salt and nest book, and asked the emperor to give him praise and so on.

Yang Reform also laughed and accepted. Among them, except for the nobles, most of them voluntarily handed in the salt lessons. Among the vassal kings, there were entrustments arranged by themselves, and there were also vassal kings who followed the trend and really voluntarily handed in the salt books.

The ministers have long been accustomed to such scenes. In the past few days, the conversations among the ministers in the newspapers, streets and alleys are nothing more than this. They are all related to salt merchants and salt classes. The pace is getting closer and closer, it's just about when to do it, and many ministers have also predicted that someone should raise it this morning.

"Report to Your Majesty, I have something to play." A minister's voice sounded in the hall.All the ministers saw that it was Liu Zongzhou, and they were taken aback for a moment. This guy was from the Donglin Party the night before, but the next day, he made headlines criticizing the salt merchants for killing him, and dealt a heavy blow to the remnants of the Donglin Party. , In the matter of pouring out the salt merchants and the Donglin Party this time, he can be regarded as a heavyweight.

"Oh, what's the matter?" Yang Reform asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that the salt merchants are in the same position as the captives, and the people and gods are angry together. The crime is unforgivable. Nowadays, people in the world are arguing about things, and they are ashamed to have anything to do with the salt merchants. Ashamed of holding the Yanyin nest book, they handed back the Yanyin nest book one after another. Your Majesty, this is very good, but we must also consider the problem of the people in the world eating salt. Isn’t salt a problem? Therefore, for the people of the world to eat salt, I implore Your Majesty to find a way as soon as possible and make preparations in advance, so as not to cause problems in the world when people eat salt..." Liu Zhouzong is also considered cunning, he knows his own affairs The emperor promised him [-]% of the school fund for the salt class, so he knew that the matter of changing the salt class must be raised by him, otherwise, the emperor's school fund may be blown away. If he wants the school fund, he wants to It is absolutely impossible for celebrities to have a long history and not take some responsibility. Therefore, with the emperor's instruction, he proposed to change the salt class this morning. Of course, he also had his own considerations, and he did not rush to change Instead, they asked what should be done on the grounds that the people in the world eat salt. In fact, the matter of changing the salt class was put on the table.

When Liu Zongzhou said this, the ministers all looked sideways. Unexpectedly, it would be him who came out of the step of changing the salt class. It was indeed a bit unexpected. I thought it would be some imperial party, such as someone who has always had opinions on salt merchants. Bi Ziyan didn't expect it to be Liu Zongzhou. After seeing Liu Zongzhou, everyone looked up at the emperor again.

"Well, yes, what Liu Qing's family said makes sense. Although it is a good thing for everyone to hand in the Yanyin nest book one after another, it shows that everyone is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but as the Qing family said, everyone is ashamed to hold the Yanyin nest book. Now All the salt books have been handed back one after another. Isn’t this salt law abolished?... I also have to think about the problem of people eating salt! Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about what to do..." Yang Reformed early It’s not like I didn’t understand anything before, kicked the ball out again, and talked for a long time, which means that I didn’t say anything, let alone the substantive issue-changing the salt class, the three words of changing the salt class, Yang Reform would never say it from his own mouth. If he said it by himself and others, especially if it was said by the Donglin Party, the effect would be very different. Although it was only a small detail, Yang Reform also cared .

The officials looked at each other, but the imperial party was not moved at all. This matter should be purely a battle between the Donglin party and the Donglin party, and there is no need for the imperial party to get involved.

The scene was only a little cold, and immediately another official stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I think that since the Gangyan Law is no longer reliable, it has become a burden that drags down the court, and Yan Yinwo is even more successful. It is a tool for salt merchants to make profits, and it almost caused a catastrophe. I think that it has reached the point where it has to be changed. I think that the salt law should be changed..."

All the ministers were reasonable, and unexpectedly saw that the person who loudly said to change the salt class was actually the "former" Donglin Party, Minister of Rites. He Ruchong, many ministers speculated in their hearts, sure enough, the emperor wanted to make the Donglin Party fight Donglin Party!
Yang Reform was very satisfied, and said with a smile, "I don't know what the Qing family thinks, how should we change it?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, I think that the salt method is not enough and has become a burden. As for how to change it, it is not the director of the minister..." He Ruchong said that the task of changing the salt class was almost completed, and he did not want to do more. Say.

Yang Reform smiled, just take this crucial step, and didn't expect him to say anything, so he said immediately: "Do you have anything to say?" Yang Reform routinely asked the ministers.

The ministers look at me and I look at you, shaking their heads, no one dares to defend the current Gangyan Law, and now it has reached the point where people all over the world have handed back their salt books, and they are still defending the Gangyan Law , nobody is that stupid.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say..." an official came out and said.

"Oh, what do you have to say?" Yang Reform asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that the current salt law is bad because it cannot pay the salt tax in time and in accordance with the amount, which leads to a serious arrears of the salt tax, which drags down the court and becomes a burden. I think that the first priority is to change the salt tax. It is to allow the new salt law to be able to pay the salt tax in full and not to be in arrears..." No one came out to defend the gang salt law, so naturally, it started to discuss the new salt law.

This suggestion, or the request for the new salt law, has been approved by many people. Leaving aside the personal interests mixed in the salt law, this suggestion is still very pertinent as far as the facts are concerned.

Some people took the lead, and the ministers also became active. The Gang Salt Law has become history, so we can talk about the new salt law.

"My Majesty, I believe that in addition to paying the salt tax in full, it is also necessary to ensure the price of salt, to prevent salt merchants from raising the price of salt without permission, and to devour the blood of the common people. The new salt law should benefit all the people in the world. Good salt method..." There was also a suggestion.

This suggestion was also approved by many people, and the scene immediately became lively.Putting aside the personal interests mixed in the salt law, everyone is well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the salt law. Now that the salt class and the salt law have become the emperor's taboo, it is no longer possible to point fingers at the salt law. It was the first time that more people sincerely contributed to the court's major affairs.

The lively discussion scene, abandoning the discussion of self-interest, the atmosphere is getting more and more harmonious. For the first time, many ministers feel that they can be so flexible and the atmosphere can be so harmonious when discussing important affairs of the court without racking their brains. , It is completely a "contest of gentlemen", and it can be so profound when looking at the problem.

Yang Reform looked at it for a while before pressing down.The courtiers immediately fell silent, waiting for the emperor to speak.

"I have listened to your discussions and opinions, and all of your suggestions for the new salt law have their merits. Yes, is the Ministry of Households here?" Yang Reform said with a smile. Everything was as expected and did not exceed his expectations. expected.

"The minister is here." Bi Ziyan, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, came out and replied immediately. He knew the details of how to change the salt law, but now the court is still discussing how to change the salt law, which is a bit funny.Of course, he is not the only one who understands best.

"The reform of the salt law has a lot to do with the Ministry of Household Affairs. To improve the salt class is related to the income of the Ming Dynasty. We must pay attention to it. The Ministry of Household Affairs has drawn up a new plan based on the opinions and suggestions of today's ministers. For the salt law, be sure to take into account the suggestions and questions raised by the nobles today, and formulate a new and good salt law for our Ming Dynasty, and we must not repeat the mistakes of today." Yang Reform said.

"The minister leads the decree!" Bi Ziyan, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, who has already studied the new salt law in detail, promised to start drafting the new salt law...

This was expected, many ministers saw it, and they were still sighing. The salt merchants had been in the Ming Dynasty for 200 years and enjoyed 200 years of prosperity. This time, they were uprooted by the emperor and disappeared!

After dealing with some trivial matters, I left early.

……

As soon as Yang Reform, who had passed the imperial court, returned to Qianqing Palace, Wang Chengen reported, "Your Majesty, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Qiao Yunsheng, please see me!"

"Oh, let him in." Yang Reformed.Qiao Yunsheng's resignation was expected. Originally, those who resigned would not resign to see the emperor, but Yang Reform specifically asked Qiao Yunsheng to come and see him when he resigned and returned home.

"Your majesty!" Qiao Yunsheng calmed down a lot, he was no longer as aggressive as before, and he calmly saluted the emperor, but he was still wearing Shangshu's court uniform. This was also the last time he wore this court uniform. After today, He was about to go home, and he reached a tacit agreement with the emperor. The emperor reserved some bottom lines for them, and they also needed to be "conscious".

"Exemption!" Yang Reformed said.Then he pointed to the chair beside him and said, "Sit down."

Qiao Yunsheng looked at the emperor, then at the chair, thanked him, and sat quietly on the chair.

"What do the Qing family think about the salt law?" Yang Reform first asked this question.

"Returning to Your Majesty, in all fairness, what my colleagues in the court today mentioned are quite pertinent. If Your Majesty wants to change the salt law, you only need to combine the suggestions of your colleagues, and there will always be a suitable new salt law..." Qiao Yunsheng said calmly He replied that Qiao Yunsheng had been an official for so many years in the atmosphere of discussing the new salt law in the court today. Make people feel happy physically and mentally.It was the first time he met, but it was also the last time. After today, he will no longer be an official.

"...But I think that His Majesty has already considered the salt law." Qiao Yunsheng asked calmly.

"Hehe, yes, there is no better salt law, and I dare not talk about changing the salt law, let alone running a salt merchant..." Yang Reform stared at Qiao Yunsheng and smiled.

"Your Majesty's skillful means, I admire... I don't know... I don't know if I can feast my eyes in advance?" Qiao Yunsheng hesitated for a long time, but still wanted to see what the emperor's new salt law is. The gang salt law is no longer irreversible, but Qiao Yunsheng Wanting to see what the emperor's new salt law is like is a wish.After today, the court has nothing to do with him, and he also wants to know what kind of thorough preparations the emperor made to make them lose so badly.

Yang Reform smiled and said: "It's okay, anyway, this salt method will come out in a few days, it's okay if the Qing family wants to take a look first."

The emperor is so generous, Qiao Yunsheng can't help sighing, just because of this, the emperor is more generous than them, they engage in party disputes, and they always kill their opponents. , easy to talk, but the kind of master who gets angry at every turn and shouts to fight and kill. Apart from fighting to the death, he will never compromise with the emperor, and he will definitely fight to the death.

Yang Reform quietly waited for Qiao Yunsheng to read the ticket.

As soon as Qiao Yunsheng got the new salt method, he couldn't wait to look at it. After looking at it for a while, he respectfully returned the new salt method.

"Your Majesty is indeed a great talent. This method is quite beautiful. According to this salt method, there should be tens of millions of salt sales every year. Compared with this, the salt merchants are indeed too greedy. They eat the country's offerings and suck the blood. It must be appropriate! It is said that they dragged the imperial court's hind legs and cooperated with the Eastern captives, and they did not wrong them. I am ashamed, I defended the salt merchants before, but now I see His Majesty's new salt law, and I feel ashamed..." Qiao Yunsheng said shamefully , Now the Gangsalt Law has become a thing of the past, and the salt merchants have collapsed. After excluding the intermingling of interests, looking back at the past, I feel a lot of emotion. As things stand, the Bills and Salts Law is quite good.

"... I don't know who wrote this salt law? It's so perfect?" Abandoning self-interest, it's all about this law, Qiao Yunsheng also appreciates this new salt law, and really wants to know who wrote it.

"Hehe, let's not talk about it for now, I want to ask, what does the Qing family think of the former Song Dynasty?" Yang Reform did not answer directly, but asked Qiao Yunsheng about it.

"Former Song Dynasty? What does His Majesty mean?" Qiao Yunsheng didn't understand what the emperor meant.

"Hehe, didn't the Qing family ask about the salt law just now? The Qing family should be full of history books. They should know how much salt lessons there were in the previous Song Dynasty, and how much income was there in the previous Song Dynasty?" Yang Reform asked with a smile.

"This..." Qiao Yunsheng immediately became embarrassed. Although he didn't have a specific figure on how much salt lessons the former Song Dynasty earned each year, he also knew that he would never be like Daming, whose annual income was less than one million taels. As soon as I asked, I immediately blushed, and was too ashamed to speak. The matter was revealed, and the truth was revealed.

"Actually, the answer has existed since ancient times. In the former Song Dynasty, I was able to earn 5000 to 3000 million taels a year with a single couple. In Ming Dynasty, even if the land tax is included, it is only 400 million taels a year, and the Ministry of Household Affairs is only 500 million taels of silver. Every time I worry about resisting foreign thieves and appeasing the people, it is really far away. If calculated by the limit, the former Song Dynasty could be as high as [-] million, but my dynasty, in such a dangerous situation now, I still have to pay for a mere [-] million Worrying about two silver coins, I had to be ruthless to run a salt merchant. My Taizu said that wealth is hidden by the people, but some people are rich and enjoy the prosperity and well-being brought by my Ming Dynasty, but it is of no benefit to the court or the community..., alas ..." Yang Reform said with emotion.

Putting aside the mixed interests, thinking about this issue honestly, Qiao Yunsheng's face was flushed, and he was so ashamed that he couldn't bear the shame. What the emperor said was the truth, he couldn't argue...

"I'm ashamed, I've been blinded by selfish interests, I'm really ashamed to be a minister..." Qiao Yunsheng knelt down and said.

"Hey, get up, the matter of the salt merchants is over. I said this, not to bring up the old things, nor to humiliate the Qing family. I just envy the former Song Dynasty. The king and the scholars ruled the world together. Tens of thousands of people were buried with them, and compared with Ming Dynasty, I am really ashamed... In fact, I don't want to kill more people!" Yang Reform said with emotion.

Qiao Yunsheng didn't believe what the emperor said about the former Song Dynasty, that the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats ruled the world together. When the Ming Dynasty was founded, the scholar-bureaucrats were never taken seriously, and the slaughtered scholars could go around Beijing a few times.Is this root buried so easy to untie?

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy! This trip will never stop His Majesty from running a salt merchant, and will never stop His Majesty from changing the salt law. I only hope that Your Majesty will show more mercy..." After Qiao Yunsheng finished speaking, he kowtowed a few more times, which was regarded as a obeisance. do not.

He gave up fighting with the emperor, because he thought that the emperor was not bad, not the kind of person who kicked to the end, let alone the kind who shouted and killed all day long. He pretended not to hear it, his understanding, the emperor told him this, just told him that since they didn't die, the emperor would stay on the line and wouldn't make them miserable, what he can do now , just count on the emperor's character, of course, don't expect the emperor to do nothing, everyone is safe and sound, that's unrealistic.

(End of this chapter)