Emperor Wu of the Ming Dynasty: Suppress the mythical martial arts at the beginning!

Chapter 123 The existence of clans in the world is the greatest injustice!

At this time, Xu Jie, the Minister of Rites, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, recently some small border countries want to come to our Ming Dynasty to pay homage. I wonder if they can agree?"

"Promise, your etiquette department will handle such a small matter."

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

Xu Jie nodded and stepped back.

Then, Yu Maojian, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, reported several cases of the Ministry of Punishment to Zhu Yijun.

Either the gangsters robbed a large household, or Zhang San and Li Si gathered to cause trouble due to property disputes.

All in all, it's a mess.

Zhu Yijun didn't say much nonsense and directly gave instructions with a pen for him to handle.

then……

The courtiers talked about irrelevant things again.

After everything was said, Zhu Yijun yawned, and then said calmly: "Since there is nothing else to do, let's retreat from the court!"

"According to the order!"

The ministers took the order.

Afterwards, they all dispersed.

Looking at the retreating figures of the civil and military officials, Zhu Yijun narrowed his eyes slightly.

Immediately, he waved his hand to the little eunuch beside him: "Go and call Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Fang Rui, the Minister of Household Affairs, to the Yangxin Hall!"

"Yes!"

The little eunuch saluted and then chased after him with small steps.

……

Half an hour later, Zhu Yijun was sitting on the dragon chair in the Yangxin Hall.

Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and Fang Rui were lined up on both sides.

The three looked at each other.

Obviously, they are all thinking about the same question.

Why did the emperor call them here?

Zhu Yijun picked up the teacup calmly and took a sip of tea.

"Cough-cough-"

He suddenly coughed twice violently.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng hurriedly bowed and asked: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Do you want to send the imperial doctor?"

Zhu Yijun shook his head slightly and said calmly: "I have nothing to do."

After a pause, Zhu Yijun looked at the three of them and asked: "The three of you are ministers of our Ming Dynasty. What do you think of the current business affairs that our Ming Dynasty is encountering?"

Hearing this, Gao Gong and the other three looked at each other, stunned for a moment.

Obviously he didn't expect that the emperor would raise this question.

After all, the cabinet had just given a brief introduction in the court.

Gao Gong thought for a moment, then raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the top priority is to carry out business reforms as soon as possible to stabilize prices."

"Of course I know this, but do you think that based on what you just said in the court, the expected results can be achieved?"

Zhu Yijun frowned.

"Your Majesty, although the current situation is not optimistic. However, this is only temporary. Our Ming Dynasty has a full treasury and abundant supplies. Sooner or later the status quo will be reversed."

At this time, Fang Blun said with confidence.

Hearing this, Zhu Yijun snorted coldly and asked, "Are you sure?"

When asked this question, Fang Blun hesitated a little, and couldn't help but hesitated: "This... veteran..."

"I don't dare to deceive the emperor. In fact, I am not sure, but I think there should be no problem."

"should?"

Zhu Yijun frowned slightly and his voice became heavier.

Seeing this, Zhang Juzheng quickly said to Fang Rui: "Your Majesty, we are too stupid to understand things!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Please enlighten me!"

Zhu Yijun sighed lightly and did not answer the question directly. Instead, he continued to ask: "What kind of trouble do you think is behind this business incident?"

Hearing this, the three of them looked at each other again.This time, isn't it just the businessmen who are greedy for money and the emperor's relatives are behind it?

Could it be that there is something else?

The three of them were all a little confused.

"Your Majesty, is there anything else besides businessmen and royal relatives?"

Fang Blun asked tentatively.

Zhu Yijun smiled lightly and looked at the pile of booklets on the table.

"You three, come and take a look at these."

As he said that, he pointed at the thick stack of books on the table.

The three people moved forward in confusion, and when they opened it, they showed surprised expressions.

After watching for a while, the three of them were extremely shocked and speechless.

This is a booklet that records tax payments in detail.

Among them, the amount of each monthly tax is very clear.

And the most shocking thing is that there are many exorbitant taxes recorded in it.

One is more outrageous than the other, and one is more harsh than the other!
Some of them even hit the bottom line of the law!
For example, some officials and gentry secretly transferred taxes and deducted public grain...

These charges are simply appalling!
Moreover, this is just data recorded neatly on a page.

It is conceivable that in the Ming Dynasty, there must be a lot of things like this!
"Your Majesty, this..."

Gao Gong opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

However, he stopped talking.

Because he discovered an even more shocking problem.

That is, the tax payment between common people and clans is full of huge unfairness!

For example, for an ordinary family with three people and two acres of land, they need to pay up to five shi of food!
However, the Kong family has a hundred people and thousands of acres of fertile land, and they only need to pay four stones for food!
The gap is so outrageous, it’s simply jaw-dropping!
Gao Gong swallowed, obviously he still hadn't reacted.

On the other side, Fang Blun looked at the contents of the booklet with a sullen face.

At this time, he couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, are all these true?"

Zhu Yijun smiled slightly, nodded, and said: "Of course! This can prove that I have never wronged anyone. This booklet is the evidence."

"And I can confirm that the actual situation is definitely worse and more unbelievable than what is recorded above!"

"Then, if these situations are true, the previous system had too many loopholes! The clans had escaped countless taxes before!" Fang Blun spoke again, with a serious expression.

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other and took a deep breath.

"It's natural!"

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "This is just the one on top. Take a look at the booklet below."

"Those are from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions!"

"As the richest region in the Ming Dynasty, the taxes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang are outrageous and appalling!"

With that said, Zhu Yijun handed the booklet in his hand to Gao Gong.

Gao Gong took the booklet and read it carefully.

After reading it, Gao Gong's face was full of solemn expression and he didn't say anything for a long time.

Because what is recorded in these books is even more unbelievable!

For example, here is a real example.

A certain farmer in Jiangsu, with a family of five, actually paid ten taels of silver a year.

But the big households in the same county only paid eight taels!

And that big family had nearly 100 servants and servants!

This is simply a world of difference!
Moreover, this is just a situation in Jiangnan.

Jiangsu as a whole is so rich,

If you look at it carefully, it is simply terrifying to think about it!
Thinking of this, the three Gao Gong looked at each other and took a breath of air.

After a while, Gao Gong hugged Zhu Yijun and said with a look of shame: "Your Majesty, the people are suffering so much, but we are completely unaware of it!"

"Ashamed, I am very ashamed!"

As he spoke, he sighed and shook his head.

(End of this chapter)