I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 75.The Salt Tax and the Examiner
After Yan Shifan read the content of the confession, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The content recorded above was consistent with what Lu Fang had read just now. It was a partnership between Li Xuan, the river supervisor, and Yang Jinshui, the chief eunuch of the Weaving Bureau, who was greedy for ink. Confession of project payment.

"This Hu Zongxian is a kind man!" Yan Shifan couldn't help thinking.

After Yan Shifan read the confession, he circulated it to other court elders, and soon, all five elders finished reading the confession.

"It's all over, do you have anything to say?" Jiajing asked in a calm tone, looking around at the ministers.

"Your Majesty, the subject is guilty!" Yan Song knelt down on the ground first, pleading guilty to Jiajing tremblingly.

"Your Majesty, the subject is also guilty!" After Yan Song knelt down on the ground, Xu Jie followed closely.

As early as the moment Lu Fang finished reciting the confession, Yan Song understood that the emperor knew everything!
Seeing that the first and second assistants of the cabinet all knelt down, the rest of Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also knelt down, leaving only Yan Shifan still in the dark, with a dazed expression on his face.

Yan Shifan looked around and soon knelt down too.

But Yan Song knew very well in his heart that His Majesty should have found out the inside story of the damage to the dam in Zhejiang long ago!Previously, His Majesty sent Jin Yiwei Zhu Qi and the others to Zhejiang to investigate. With their means, it is not difficult to find out the truth. They are not dealing with themselves now, but because the reform of rice into mulberry has not yet been implemented, and they still have some uses, and they do not want to attract attention from the ruling and opposition parties. It's just turmoil.

"Why are you dear ones like this? It's just a confession, and it scares you into such a state. I just wanted to ask you what to do next. Why did you all kneel down and plead guilty?" Jiajing said with a face With a mocking look on his face, he spoke slowly.

"Get up, I don't want to have another incident like today, understand?" Jiajing looked at the trembling elders kneeling on the ground, and said coldly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness, and I will thank you, Your Majesty, long live my emperor!"

All the ministers got up from the ground one after another after thanking them, but when Yan Song got up, he staggered and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yan Shifan on the side had quick eyesight and quick hands, and hurriedly reached out to support Yan Song. Otherwise, the day when Hu Zongxian entered the cabinet was afraid It is much earlier.

Everyone present understood that the emperor was holding a heavy bomb right now, and the bomb could be detonated whenever the emperor wanted!With the emperor's righteousness in his hands, no one can resist bringing this matter to the public. Even if they don't punish the Nine Clans, they will have to leave a mark in the history books in the future, and they will end up with a notorious name that will last forever.

"In a while, it will be the day when the salt tax will be collected. Have you confirmed the candidate for the cabinet?" Jiajing said calmly after everyone calmed down.

"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend someone to collect the salt tax." Yan Song said slowly after bowing to Jiajing.

"Who?" Jiajing became interested in the person Yan Song wanted to recommend.

"Report to Your Majesty, I would like to recommend Yan Maoqing as the person who will collect the salt tax!"

"Yan Maoqing?" Jiajing thought for a moment, but had no memory at all.

"Your Majesty, Yan Maoqing is the censor of Zuo Fudu." Lu Fang beside Jiajing reminded softly.

"Oh, since that's the case, I agree! Let this Yan Maoqing collect the salt tax." Jiajing waved his hand indifferently, agreeing to Yan Song's suggestion.

"It's just that since the Hongwu period, the salt tax collected by the imperial court has become less and less. Last year, it only collected 120 million taels of silver. I hope this Yan Maoqing will not disappoint me..." Jiajing pretended to sigh, and then turned his gaze to Yan Song.

"Your Majesty, this person is quite talented, and he will be able to successfully complete the task of collecting salt tax." Yan Song lowered his head, not daring to make any movements, and said in a deep voice.

"Well, that's good, I'll wait for your good news when the time comes."

Jiajing was very satisfied with Yan Song's performance, then he picked up the teacup at the side, took a few sips, and couldn't help admiring: "It's really good tea!"

Soon, Xu Jie also stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, I have an answer!"

Jiajing looked at Xu Jie with great interest, and said softly, "Speak!"

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is full now. The Longevity Palace where His Majesty lived has not been repaired since it was destroyed by thunder and fire. For the sake of His Majesty's dragon body, I implore His Majesty to rebuild the Longevity Palace."

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he knelt down on the ground, knocking his head on the ground with a bang.

Yan Shifan on the side was shocked by Xu Jie's sudden operation, and for a while, he couldn't form a complete language.

If it were as usual, as long as the emperor showed the slightest intention to repair the palace, he would be ruthlessly criticized by Xu Jie, and he would show the old ways of emptying the treasury, citing scriptures, and abstaining from extravagance and impetuosity to make the emperor retreat.

Now, in order to please the emperor, Xu Jie offered to repair the Longevity Palace for His Majesty.

"This Xu Jie is really a shameless villain!" Yan Shifan thought so in his heart, and moved a step to the side without any trace.

"Ahem, Xu Aiqing thinks about my dragon body, that's good! But the palace will not be repaired for the time being. I live very well in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so don't mention this matter again in the future." Jiajing coughed lightly twice , Righteously rejected Xu Jie's suggestion.

"Now that the candidate for collecting the salt tax has been resolved, it's time to consider the candidate for the chief examiner of the imperial examination. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Your Majesty, according to the usual practice, the chief examiners of the imperial examinations are usually selected by the Ministry of Rites, but this year the Ministry of Rites is unwilling to appoint any more." Xu Jie spoke first and responded.

"Your Majesty doesn't know, the chief examiner of the imperial examination is a hard job!"

"I used to be the chief examiner once before. Before the start of the test, I had to make a comprehensive countermeasure, and I had to go to the test place to prepare in advance. There must be no mistakes in the whole process! And after the candidates have completed the answer papers, by the A special person copied the name and sent it to the examiner for correction. This correction took an entire night. Only after the ranking came out, could he regain his freedom. The whole process can be described as very laborious and laborious."

As Xu Jie spoke, he began to pour out bitter water.

"In your opinion, who will choose this year's chief examiner?" After listening to Xu Jie's complaint, Jiajing didn't comment, but directly threw the problem back.

"Your Majesty...or else, the Ministry of Rites will select the examiners for this year's imperial examination. After all, they have been out for so many years, and it's not bad once or twice." After hesitating for a moment, Yan Shifan gave his answer .

"No, the minister of the Ministry of Rites has already complained to me many times! Let's change the ministry this year, and we can't always let the Ministry of Rites produce people." Xu Jie did not think about it, and categorically rejected Yan Shifan's proposal.

"Who should I replace? The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Officials are too busy. Needless to say, the Ministry of Industry. Recently, the Ministry of Criminal Justice is also busy checking cases, and it is even more difficult to assign manpower..." This question stumped all the elders of the cabinet, and they all made up their minds. Contemplative.

"Your Majesty, I do have a candidate!" After Zhang Juzheng thought for a long time, his eyes lit up, and he bowed to Jiajing.

"Who?"

"Li Chunfang, currently serving as Taichang Shaoqing, is the same as Chen. He was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing. He was the No.

(End of this chapter)