Coming out of Chengqian Palace, Chongzhen felt happy in his heart, and went straight back to Wenhua Hall to deal with the government.

More than a month has passed, and Chongzhen seems to have forgotten about the ministers, and never mentioned it again.

In fact, Chongzhen was paying attention to it all the time, and the various actions of the courtiers naturally fed back to him one by one through different channels, and he was thinking: "Hmph, let's make trouble, let's make fun of it, I just want to enjoy your performance." ”

The courtiers didn't know, but seeing that he had not made a ruling for a long time, Wen Tiren believed Zhou Yanru's words more and more, carefully planned, and was ready to fight back at any time; Qian Qianyi was worried that something would change later, and from time to time he would make some scandals between Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru to arouse the courtiers' contempt for them.

Seeing that the dispute between the two sides was getting more and more intense, and gradually the terrain was the same, the first assistant Li Biao was afraid that they would make trouble, and he couldn't help but be secretly anxious. On this day, seeing that Chongzhen was in a good mood, he saw the opportunity to speak and remind, but he saw that the king of the military department was in the Jin class and said: "Your Majesty, Liaodong is urgent." ”

Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" Could it be that Yuan Aiqing has started a decisive battle with Houjin? After speaking, he looked at Wang Zaijin expectantly.

Wang Zaijin didn't expect him to think of it, paused slightly, and said: "Because of the long-term arrears, soldiers mutinied in Ningyuan, Jinzhou and other places. ”

"Mutiny? This is something that has never happened before, could it be that Yuan Chonghuan wants to take the opportunity to blackmail me? It shouldn't be, Yuan Chonghuan made it clear to me that I didn't treat him badly, he shouldn't have gone back on his word like this. If not, then why? When Chongzhen heard this, he thought quickly, but he couldn't think of it for a while, so he reluctantly turned to the courtiers and said, "Let's discuss it." ”

The courtiers saw that he was thoughtful, they didn't know what he thought, where they dared to ask for themselves, so they lowered their heads one after another, and he urged him again and again, but no one was willing to speak first.

Zhou Yanru saw through Emperor Chongzhen's thoughts at a glance and said: "The imperial court has never owed anything to the grain and salary in Liaodong, how can there be soldiers who suddenly mutini because of the arrears?" There must be a secret in this. The minister guessed, could it not be that the arrogant border general instigated trouble to threaten Inspector Yuan? ”

Hearing him say this, Chongzhen relieved himself and asked, "In Aiqing's view, how should this matter be handled?" ”

Zhou Yanru said: "What are the border guards doing, to prevent foreign enemies from invading. The minister thought that he could not increase the military salary because of the mutiny, otherwise, he would all learn according to it, and in the future, should he prevent foreign invasion or guard the border guards? ”

Chongzhen let out an "oh" and said with interest: "It makes sense, Aiqing and talk about it specifically." ”

After receiving the praise, Zhou Yanru looked back at his colleagues smugly, and said: "I think everyone knows that because the emperor is sympathetic to the people, and immediately exempted the industrial and commercial tax after ascending the throne, the treasury is not very full, and the problem of arrears of wages has begun to appear in many places. ”

"This Zhou Yanru, I really didn't read it wrong, and I can think about it." Sighing secretly, Chongzhen suddenly remembered that he was not on the cabinet selection list, and couldn't help but think: "No wonder they are getting more and more troublesome, it seems that someone must have done it behind their backs......"

Just thinking about it, Han Yi had already said: "Even so, the treasury may not be able to afford it, if you want to ensure the full supply of Liaodong's salary, you must restore the industrial and commercial tax." ”

Wen Tiren saw that Zhou Yanru had taken the lead again, and was anxious to attract Chongzhen's attention, and when he heard this, he immediately retorted: "No, absolutely not, in that case, how can the emperor's face remain?" ”

Han Yiden was choked, and Qian Longxi answered: "The emperor's face has been saved, but where does Liaodong's salary come from?" After that, I immediately felt speechless, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Chongzhen glanced at him fiercely, but what he said was the truth, and it was inconvenient to blame, so in desperation, he couldn't help but turn to Zhou Yanru again, in his mind, Zhou Yanru was undoubtedly the most trustworthy person.

Zhou Yanru didn't want to get involved, he was thinking about his own thoughts, and he didn't want Chongzhen to turn to him again, so he had to say: "What the adults said makes sense, in Yanru's opinion, there is no need for several adults to argue about this, since it is to raise food and salary for Liaodong, the levy of Liaoyu is not only to save the emperor's face, but also to raise enough food and salary for Liaodong, and to make the people of the world clear at a glance." ”

"In this case, wouldn't Chonghuan be pushed to the opposite side of the common people? This Zhou Yanru is full of benevolence, righteousness and morality, and he doesn't want to be so vicious! The courtiers secretly thought, Chongzhen had already said: "Okay, Zhou Aiqing has a good plan, just do it!" ”

Chongzhen said this, naturally he has his own calculations: Liaodong is a place to burn money, didn't you Yuan Chonghuan promise me to return to Liao in five years? Okay, I'll use the people of the world to force you, and see that you can't fulfill your promise at that time, how should you explain to the people of the world?

Thinking about it, lest there be any more courtiers to oppose it, Chongzhen immediately expressed his position.

But he heard Shoufu Li Biao say unhurriedly: "The minister thinks that the emperor has to think about this matter again." ”

Chongzhen said impatiently: "Zhou Aiqing has already made the reason very clear, do you still have any objections?" ”

Li Biao said: "Regardless of the impact of this on the border generals, let's just say that the object of the levy, the businessmen targeted by the industrial and commercial tax, are the wealthy, and the ordinary people targeted by the Liaojiao, no, to be precise, are the rich people who pay the same as the ordinary people, and the unfairness is self-evident."

More importantly, we have recently received reports of drought in Shaanxi and other places, saying that the sky is as red as blood, and it is estimated that there will be no harvest, and there is already a problem of homeless people gathering in many places. At this time, if it is necessary to levy Liao salary again, it is really inappropriate. ”

As soon as Li Biao finished speaking, Han Yi, Qian Longxi and others echoed one after another.

In fact, Chongzhen has already considered these things, and has asked Zhou Hou's opinion, and Zhou Hou is also resolutely opposed.

Chongzhen originally wanted to make a decision as soon as possible, but he didn't want Li Biao to mention it out of place again, and he got the support of the courtiers, so he couldn't help but think: "Oh, what I have decided, you still oppose it, is this emperor done by you or by me?" Hum. ”

Thinking secretly, he said, "Is there an accident over there in Shaanxi?" Didn't you? ”

Han Yi said: "Not yet, but it is definitely not a good thing for the homeless people to gather." ”

Chongzhen said angrily: "Could it be that the officials in Shaanxi all eat dry rice? I don't lack their money, they only know how to eat dry food, what else do I want them to do? Otherwise, you say, what should be done about Liaodong? ”

Seeing that he was angry, the courtiers did not dare to say any more.

He looked around at them complacently and said, "Okay, don't fight anymore, Aiqing, I have decided, so it's decided." ”