Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

If these officials were really allowed to go back, it would probably hurt their feelings. From the perspective of the imperial tutor, he has the obligation to cover for the emperor.

So he asked Guo Yunhou.

"Is it true that the Ministry of Revenue has no more money left?"

Guo Yunhou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Old Sun knows that the military expenses for recruiting white-pole soldiers were all borrowed from the inner treasury. Where did the Ministry of Revenue get the money to keep?"

"There are still some calligraphy and paintings, land deeds, and house deeds. They were confiscated from the homes of Mao Songguang and others. As you know, in this world, real gold, silver, and grain are the hard currency."

"Originally, these things were estimated to be worth seven million taels, but when it came time to sell them, apart from the land deeds, no one was interested in the rest!"

"If you don't mind, Elder Sun, you can go to the warehouse and pick some. Just think of it as a reward from His Majesty, okay?"

The corners of Sun Chengzong's mouth twitched unnaturally for a few times, and he waved his hands and said, "What do I need those things for!"

He couldn't understand why Zhu Youxiao was so stingy...

After a long while, he looked at Wen Tiren and Zhu Youjian who were sitting in the main seat.

"Lord Wen, Prince Xin, I have something to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Zhu Youjian quickly bowed to him and said, "Mr. Sun, what are you talking about? Just speak your mind."

Wen Tiren also smiled at him flatteringly and said, "Mr. Sun is mature and steady, and he is also the emperor's teacher. Naturally, we must listen attentively."

Sun Chengzong sighed and said, "Everyone, even though I normally look down on Wei Zhongxian!"

"But when it comes to the art of making money, it seems that no one in this world can compare to him."

"I know that many people present here may not care about such a small reward."

"But officials work hard all year, but don't even get any rewards at the end of the year. If this gets out, I'm afraid it will bring shame to the court."

"It will also make the surrounding small countries look down on our Ming Dynasty!"

"I suggest that we invite Wei Zhongxian to come and let him see how to break this situation."

But as soon as he finished speaking, someone stood up.

"Mr. Sun, what you said is wrong. This is a matter of the outer court. How can we let a eunuch interfere?"

"If the court cannot give out rewards, it is the court that others will laugh at."

"But if we let a eunuch intervene in this matter, wouldn't it make the people of the world laugh at you and me for being incompetent?"

"Although my family is poor, I cannot accept this proposal even if I don't want to celebrate this year!"

Ever since Zhu Youxiao carried out a major reshuffle in the court, no one dared to use the word "eunuch" to describe Wei Zhongxian in such a situation for a long time.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked towards the person who spoke.

Wen Tiren frowned and stood up.

"Master Jiang, I'm afraid what you said is inappropriate?!"

"I heard that you stayed at Mianhualou all night yesterday?"

Chapter 177 You are the unfaithful and unfilial person!

The person who spoke first was Jiang Zhaokun, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Being questioned by Wen Tiren, he suddenly became panicked and spoke hesitantly.

"Well, well, that was a treat from my good friend."

"I didn't do anything. I just drank some wine and stayed there overnight after getting drunk."

"The Ming Dynasty law states that officials cannot visit prostitutes."

"Lord Wen, please don't tarnish my reputation!"

What he said was righteous, but there was no fool among those present.

Damn it!

Going to a brothel just to drink and sleep?

Wen Tiren stared at him as if he were a fool: "What you said is true. Do you want me to ask the Jinyiwei to come over and have a talk with you?"

Before he became a cabinet minister, he was a member of the eunuch party!

When he heard Wei Zhongxian being called a eunuch, he always felt that Jiang Zhaokun was hinting at something, so he, who had never had any official authority, rarely took real action at this moment.

Jiang Zhaokun's face turned pale in an instant, and he pointed at Wen Tiren and shouted.

"Lord Wen, catch the thief and seize the stolen goods, catch the adulterer and catch the couple, don't think that you can talk nonsense just because you are a minister!"

"Speaking for the eunuchs, are you going to oppose the scholars of the world?"

"Lord Wen, I advise you not to make mistakes!"

Prince Xin shook his head, turned to look at the officials and shouted.

"Where is Dali Temple Minister Zhang Jiude?"

Zhang Jiude hurriedly stepped out upon hearing this: "I, your subordinate is here!"

Prince Xin stroked the teacup in his hand with a playful look in his eyes.

"Master Zhang, how many girls did you call for Minister Jiang yesterday?"

"I won't ask about the case today, so feel free to talk."

Zhang Jiude shuddered. He could never have imagined that not only Wen Tiren knew about Jiang Zhaokun's prostitution, but Prince Xin actually knew that he was also present? ? ?

This guy is riding a horse!

He knelt down with a thud.

"Prince Xin, please spare my life. I really didn't do anything that would damage official etiquette."

"Minister Jiang, it was Minister Jiang who invited me over, and he himself called three girls."

"I even called two more people for you, but you didn't agree. I went home after drinking."

"Your Highness Prince Xin, if you don't believe me, you can just have someone go to Mianhua Tower to investigate!"

Prince Xin smiled and nodded, then looked at Jiang Zhaokun.

"Minister Jiang, remember this. Next time you discuss politics, think about whether your butt is clean before you open your mouth!"

When he said this, his face suddenly turned cold.

"If your own bottom is not clean, don't stand out and make irresponsible remarks!"

"Considering that this is New Year's Eve, I will not pursue your matter for the time being, so that you can return home and be reunited with your family."

"Get out!"

Jiang Zhaokun was already sweating profusely from fear. Upon hearing this, he immediately crawled out of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Other officials had no objection to this.

In fact, Wen Tiren was just trying to scare Jiang Zhaokun. After all, although the law prohibits officials from visiting prostitutes, this is an extremely common thing!

Let alone other things, right now, almost 70% of the officials in Wenyuan Pavilion have a history of soliciting prostitution...

Even Old Man Wen did this when he was young!

We are all men, who hasn’t had some romantic experiences when young?

Watching Jiang Zhaokun leave, Wen Tiren glanced at the other officials.

"Who else has any objections to Elder Sun's proposal?"

If you have a dirty bottom, don't speak out!

With Jiang Zhaokun’s example before us, who would dare to speak up?

But just when Wen Tihen was about to ask someone to invite Wei Zhongxian, another person walked out of the crowd.

"Lord Wen, His Royal Highness Prince Xin, and Lord Sun!"

He bowed respectfully to the three people, stood up and spoke frankly.

"Please forgive me for being unreasonable."

"Although Minister Jiang failed to behave properly, I think what he just said makes sense."

Looking at this man, Prince Xin shook his head helplessly and sat down.

Wen Tiren seemed to have eaten a fly. He opened his mouth but didn't say a word.

Sun Chengzong stared at the man for a long time, shook his head and sighed.

"Feng Shixing, do you think I am willing to invite Wei Zhongxian over?"

"Again!"

"After working hard for a year, the officials went home empty-handed. If this gets out, how will people in the world view the court?"

"Even if you want to see the court make a fool of itself, why don't you care about your seriously ill mother at home?"

"And your son who is imprisoned in Shuntian Prefecture, are you really not going to let him go back to see the old man for the last time?"

Feng Shixing, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was an honest official. Among the officials present, he was one of the few who was so poor that he could barely make ends meet!

My mother is seriously ill and is dying.

Because his son was naughty, he was locked up in the prison of Shuntian Prefecture, waiting to pay a fine and be released.

If I can't get the money back today, I'm afraid...

After hearing what Sun Chengzong said, Feng Shixing shook his head stubbornly.

"You can't be both loyal and filial!"

"My mother will understand me!"

"It has always been a taboo for the inner court to interfere with the outer court!"

"The eunuch party has been a scourge to the court for a long time. Your Majesty has finally taken back some of Wei Zhongxian's power. How can you let the past happen again for us?"

Sun Chengzong became furious and pointed at Feng Shixing's nose and cursed.

"It's just as you wish!"

"Your old mother is dying on her bed, you are unfilial!"

"You are disloyal if you cannot give out rewards and let the court bear the blame!"

"What do you mean by loyalty and filial piety? I think you are the one who is disloyal and unfilial!"

Feng Shixing collapsed to the ground after being scolded, holding his chest, gasping for breath with a flushed face, and he didn't utter a word for a long time.

Upon seeing this, Wen Tiren sent a minor official to the East Factory to invite Wei Zhongxian to come and discuss matters.

Wei Zhongxian was very surprised!

Ever since Zhu Youxiao's resurrection, he has rarely interfered in state affairs. He never expected that the cabinet would actually ask him to discuss state affairs!

Moreover, this proposal was made by Sun Chengzong!

You know, they were almost mortal enemies before!

The reason why Sun Chengzong resigned from his official position and returned home was because of this!

Accompanied by a group of foreign followers, he came to Wenyuan Pavilion dressed in a fur coat.

Seeing so many officials present, he was even more confused.

After bowing to Prince Xin, he looked at Sun Chengzong very politely.

"I wonder why Mr. Sun asked us to come here?"

When Sun Chengzong saw his old face, he wanted to beat him to death with a shoe, but for the sake of the overall situation, he suppressed his anger and told him the reason.

Ask me to find a way to sell the inventory of the Ministry of Revenue and exchange it for silver to reward officials?

Or is this what the Emperor meant?

Wei Zhongxian asked Prince Xin for Zhu Youxiao's letter. After taking a look at it, he immediately grinned.

"Hahahaha!"

"Mr. Sun, I thought it was some difficult matter, but it turns out to be this!"