I smashed the emperor's daughter

Chapter 112

In front of the Huangji Gate, accompanied by Jing Yunhai's slightly dry voice of "retire from the court", Baiguanshan shouted long live, and this day's imperial gate hearing finally came to an end.

After watching the emperor sit on the shoulder car and drive back to the palace, Hubu Shangshu Du Zhi put the wat board in his hand into his sleeve, scanned back and forth with his eyes, and soon found a man who was facing north among the Manchu officials who retreated south. walking people.

What Du Zhi was looking for was none other than Shangguan Meng, who was a cabinet member, and today it was his turn to go to the Pingzhang Pavilion, so he did not leave the palace through the Meridian Gate, but went straight to the direction of Qianqing Palace go.

Seeing that Shangguan Meng was about to go far away, Du Zhi no longer stayed in the same place, but also set off to the same direction, stepping in an orderly manner, getting faster and faster.
"Old Shangguan Pavilion."

Hearing a familiar voice from behind, Shangguan Meng, who was walking slowly, turned his head and saw that it was Du Zhi, and joked first:
"Du Hubu is so flustered. I can't bear the old man's frailty and hard work. Today, he wants to enter the Pingzhang Pavilion and stay overnight for me?"

Du Zhi didn't show any abnormality on his face, and at the same time he bowed his hand, he said with all his might, "As long as you say something, not to mention today's value, it's every day's value."

Halfway through hearing the words, Shangguan Meng has already started to walk again; the two are both ministers of six books, but Du Zhi lowered his posture like this. I would like to hear one more sentence.

After being shut down, Du Zhi didn't give up. He quickened his pace and walked around to Shangguan Meng, blocking the old man's way, with a smile on his face, "Why is the old man in such a hurry?" , it’s not too late to hear what I have to say.”

Shangguanmeng put his hands behind his back, his puzzled face was also a little defensive, and his voice was also a little displeased: "If it's a private matter for Du Shangshu to find me, please go back; the old man eats the emperor's salary, Don't abolish public affairs for personal reasons, please wait until the day of rest to discuss private affairs."

"It's nice to hear. It made me think that there were other people who didn't come to the court a few days ago and were on duty for leave."

After secretly swearing in his heart, Du Zhi bowed again, and when he spoke, he moved closer: "Old Man Ge's words are very true, so I came here for business."

"Since it's a business matter, why don't you make it clear at the Yumen Tingzhengyi?" Shangguan Meng flicked his sleeves, and turned his body to bypass the "obstacle" in front of him. Discuss, what else can you come up with?"

Du Zhi didn't dare to stop him anymore, but just followed closely on Shangguan Meng's side, explaining as he walked: "I want to talk to Elder Ge again about the treasure."

"The case of Baochao has already been concluded today. Even though Buyi is cunning, it is difficult to cover up the shortcomings of officials at all levels!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Meng immediately choked back with an official tone, and then reiterated the decision made by the Yumen hearing officer:
"Several judges in Shuntian Mansion are in charge of trading in the bazaar, but they have not banned the treachery of the barbarians. Naturally, they have to be dismissed and investigated; while the main gate of the capital allows people to enter and leave day and night, and cannot be banned, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of War. , Fang Qingli, the official secretary of the Ministry of War, is not strict in inspection, and he can't escape the responsibility!
Why, is it possible that Du Hubu wants to intercede for them? "

"The old man's words are serious. These courtiers are to blame. What I want to say has nothing to do with them, but—" Halfway through the speech, Du Zhi glanced at Shangguan Meng again. Seeing that he was not very curious, he dared not speak again Selling off, decisively expressing the meaning:
"It's to make up for it!"

Shangguan Meng couldn't understand the meaning of the word "Buque" for a while, and he paused subconsciously; but Du Zhi knew that the opportunity came, so he hurriedly continued to explain:

"This Buyi cheated nearly ten million taels from the homes of officials and eunuchs in central Beijing through such a deceitful strategy. I thought that the emperor had also been deceived, and I would definitely try to find a way to make up for it. Who knows that His Majesty only punished those gangsters. In addition, no measures have been taken to recover the stolen money”

"How to chase!" Shangguan Meng sneered in his heart, and his voice suddenly raised a lot, "You have been officials for decades, but you still can't find any clues. Debriti thief, after the stolen money?"

Du Zhi hastily made a silent gesture, fearing that there would be too much movement here, causing some eunuchs to stop and watch, and at the same time continued to explain in a low voice:

"So I thought of a way to gather the treasures in everyone's hands and bring them to the common people in exchange for rice grains, and then sell the rice grains in exchange for the money to be distributed to everyone; although it can't make up for all the losses, it can."

Hearing these remarks, Shangguan Mengdeng lost interest immediately, and rebuked casually: "Are the common people stupid, they will take out the rice and exchange it for these waste papers!"

"The state tax collects silver, but the common people grow grain and wheat in their fields. Therefore, when the summer and autumn taxes are levied every year, the grain merchants buy rice at a lower price and profit from it. Because the common people have to pay the tax, they can only eat rice. This is a dark loss; but this time, the court may be asked to order that after the treasure banknotes are exchanged for grain, the treasure banknotes can be used to offset taxes in the coming year, so that there will be less exploitation of grain merchants in the middle;

For example, in Huguang, the imperial court collected nine cents of silver per mu of land. If there were a thousand mu of land in a mile, they would have to pay tax of 90 taels of silver (1 tael = 100 cents); and the imperial court exchanged treasure banknotes at the current market price. For the rice grain, this village will be allowed to pay taxes in banknotes in the coming year, and the part earned by the grain merchant will not fall into the hands of the imperial court?

If no one is willing, a certain discount can be promised, just like the tax silver of 90 taels per thousand mu can be reduced to 80 taels, is it afraid that no one is willing to exchange it? "

Although the big man can't be called a prosperous age nowadays, it is far better than some "hungry and dead" prosperous times. In rich places such as Huguang and Suhu, small households have more or less surplus food, and it is not sweet potatoes or potatoes but Rice and wheat; therefore, there is a basis for this strategy to be implemented, but Shangguan Meng's eyes are as bright as a torch, and there is a problem at a glance:
"I thought it was a good idea, but I didn't expect it to be a plan to live without money. Let me ask you, would His Majesty agree to take the country's taxes in the coming year to fill the deficit of the courtiers?

Let’s talk about Hubei Province, which has more than 500 million mu of arable land. Even if every household does as you do, the total is only more than [-] million taels of silver, which is far less than [-] million taels; ! "

"Don't worry, Mr. Ge, don't I have a plan!"

The smile on Du Zhi's face was even wider, and at the same time, he lightly pressed Shangguan Meng's arm, signaling him to walk slowly, and continued without haste:

"Treasure banknotes can be tax deductible, but when the tax is collected in the coming year, the rules should be made clear - only one percent of the tax can be deducted with treasure banknotes every year;

In this way, the tax of that province will not be affected too much."

While talking, Du Zhi still put on a sympathetic attitude, but the words that came out of his mouth became more and more unspeakable:

"It's better to suffer the common people again this time. If there is really a curse, it will be blamed on me, the Minister of the Household Department!"

Shangguanmeng's expression turned serious, he was a little shameless towards his behavior, not because he felt pity for Li Shu, but because he felt that deceiving the people like this would reduce the credibility of the imperial court. Although it would be profitable for a while, it would bury the grave for the long-term governance of the imperial court. less evil.

It is tantamount to killing the chicken and picking the egg!
But he didn't intend to start from here to persuade, but turned his head and pointed at the key point: "Du Shangshu said so much, but he didn't solve one problem - this world belongs to your majesty, how could the emperor allow you?" , to do such a detrimental act?”

Faced with such a question, Du Zhi didn't panic at all, as if he had expected this question a long time ago; instead of answering directly, he asked a meaningful question instead:
"Elder Ge thinks, in His Majesty's eyes, is the treasury public or the internal funds public?"

Shangguan Meng, who has been ups and downs in the officialdom for decades, soon understood what Du Zhi said:
The world naturally belongs to the emperor, but the current little emperor can't dictate to the imperial court, and the taxes collected can't be controlled according to the emperor's wishes.

But the emperor's financial pressure is not so small. Leaving aside the recent wedding, the salary of the three guards of the imperial army will be a big problem in the near future; Will be obstructed by the Queen Mother.

But if we can find another source of income, everything will be solved
"Only 500 million taels is not enough, but the subsequent matters are all under the control of the imperial court."

Before Shangguan Meng finished thinking, the voice of the Minister of the Household Department began to chatter again:
"When paying taxes in the coming year, there will inevitably be many people who cannot pay the tax. At that time, the imperial court will come forward to buy the land of the people at a low price, and then sell it to the rich. The benefits of this will be really great;
And after the land is gone, it will be a problem for the people to eat food. At that time, the relief grain transferred from other provinces will be sold to the people at a high price to recover the silver taels they got from selling the land, and they can make another fortune, which can also prevent They took the silver and went to buy land;

But they don’t need to worry about their livelihoods. So much land always needs to be plowed by people. When they go to the landlord’s house to be a tenant, they can’t do without the food in their mouths; and the tenants of this dynasty have the right to live forever. If the land is not theirs, they don’t need it anymore. Worried about being confiscated land;
From this point of view, this is also a benevolent government! "

Shangguan Meng has been an official for decades, and there are not a few officials who regard the people as worthless, but it is rare for them to be so thick-faced and black-hearted that they can call the actions of the disabled and harm the people a virtuous government; Hearing people's noises, he secretly exerted strength under his feet, leaving people behind.

Seeing this situation, Du Zhi reluctantly rushed up again, before he could speak, the words in his mouth were choked back by Shangguan Meng:

"The emperor wants money, but the old man doesn't want it. You explain to the emperor yourself, why bother to borrow money from the old men!"

Being reprimanded like this, Du Zhi's face gradually became gloomy, he hesitated, and said slowly: "According to the elder Ge's intention, the household department's deficit of several million taels has nothing to do with the elder Shangguan!"

These words were not loud, but Shangguan Meng gave a pause, while Du Zhi hurriedly rushed up, and when he got in front of people, his face was more calm.

Shangguan Meng's kung fu of nourishing Qi was still a bit advanced, his expression returned to normal immediately, and he reasoned vigorously: "The deficit was there when the late emperor, and we worked for the late emperor, and the reason for it, the pure emperor also roughly understands."

The so-called work is to make money, and the innovation cost huge billions. Even if Emperor Qiansheng didn't like to see the old officials, it was impossible to get rid of them all. With most of their power restricted, they only had the task of making money for the emperor.

When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people observe it, there will be no disciples. Naturally, Shangguan Meng couldn't be alone, and he also received a lot of money; but when it came to eating and drinking, the old emperor turned a blind eye at that time; perhaps He will settle accounts after the fall, but the world is impermanent. The emperor who used to be the ninety-five-year-old emperor has now turned into a pile of loess.

But a bad account was left behind.

"The pure emperor knows it well, but now he can't rub the sand in his eyes; the previous treasure banknotes only lost a few 10 taels, so he went to war and deposed and punished several court officials. If your majesty knows that the household department has hundreds If there is a shortfall in ten thousand taels, what should I do?
As the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, I can't escape the blame, and my fate will not be good; but as the chief assistant of the cabinet, can Elder Ge escape from being implicated?

My life is not a pity, but if Elder Ge ruins his future because of this, it will be greatly worthless.

Ge is an old man who seeks the country, has the talents of the world, and is also the head of the country. The pure emperor acts cruelly, but he also sees it clearly. He said that now is a world of great contention. It needs to be reset; there is no one more suitable for this position than Ge Lao in the current court.

But if there is a mistake in the matter of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the emperor would still trust the youngest in the pavilion? "

These words suddenly hit Shangguan Meng's weakness, he is not very rich, not very lustful, and the only person who is trying to figure it out is the word "power"; if the imperial court really wants to reset the post of prime minister, he can go one step further wish!

Which is better, Shangguan Meng made a decision in almost a moment, and immediately asked:

"Who else have you told this to?"

"This strategy was drawn up by Qian Shilin, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, Li Yihe, Youdu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Yu Jin, Minister of Dali Temple, and several people from the Sixth Division. Mr. Ge, do you understand?"

From these names, Shangguan Meng keenly noticed a pattern - the officials listed were all from Jiangsu and Zhejiang; when he thought of the Duzhi remnants, he used Hubei province as an example, and he immediately felt tight:
The Huxiang and Jiangsu and Zhejiang parties in the imperial court once put aside their prejudices and united because of their opposition to the New Deal. However, with the death of the late emperor, the New Deal disappeared, and the struggle between the two parties has resumed.

And Du Zhi's actions even implicitly asked him to stand in line!

　Traveling to ancient times, Shen Yi got involved in a life lawsuit as soon as he opened his eyes!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)