Zhu Di listened and stared at Gao Xiang.

The person in front of him, who looks ordinary and doesn't look outstanding, says things that are very orderly.

He paced two steps.

At this moment, Chen Li hurriedly came in and saluted Zhu Di: "Your Majesty, the officials of the Ministry of Jian and the Ministry of Officials have arrived." ”

He paused, and added: "The hundred officials ask to see." ”

It's too big.

The officials were served by a pot, and the court shook.

At this time, no one can sit still.

Zhu Di listened, showed a sneer, and said one by one: "It's just in time, call in." ”

After a while, Jian Yi and some ministers of the ministry, together with the scholars of Wenyuan Pavilion, as well as the books of various ministries, arrived one after another.

All of them had dejected faces and were about to salute.

Zhu Di just swept them coldly, and then waved his hand: "There is no need to salute, anyway, in your heart, I am just a thief." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone turned pale in fright, and hurriedly fell to the ground, not daring to come out.

Zhu Dili ignored them either, and he continued to stare at Gao Xiang.

Gao Xiang and the others are false to say that they are not nervous, but at this point, if there is still a bad pool, then they really deserve to be unlucky.

Zhu Di said: "You just said that each has its own account, what is the reason?" ”

Gao Xiang fixed his mind and said: "Distinguish the rights and responsibilities, manage the transportation well, this account is given to them, they just need to ensure that it is delivered." And those who levy grain will collect his grain, and as much as they collect, they will put it into the warehouse. In this way, it was prevented from warehousing, collection, and transportation from being left to the local officials, ensuring that they would not levy additional grain in the name of wastage, and also ensuring that the grain accounts were clear. ”

Zhu Di frowned, he groaned, and after thinking about it carefully, he said, "Put an end to the addition?" ”

Adding a faction has always been a difficult problem in the Ming Dynasty.

The biggest variable here is the fire consumption.

During the time of Emperor Taizu Gao, the taxes given to the people were extremely low.

How low?

At that time, the tax system was: Taizu set the world's officials and private fields, and the tax per mu of official land was five liters and five spoons, and the private land was reduced by two liters, and the heavy leased fields were eight liters and five in five spoons, and there were no official fields and one bucket and two liters.

It stands to reason that normal people's land is only a levy of more than three liters of grain, which is almost equivalent to thirty taxes and one tax.

But although Emperor Taizu Gao's tax system is like this, it is actually not the case, because it involves loss.

When the government collects grain from the people, it will use the name of loss to ask the people to pay more, plus other items, which leads to the fact that the grain collected by the people may be five liters or ten liters.

Of course, the government will not send these five or ten liters of grain to the imperial court as three liters.

It may be that only two liters are actually sent to the imperial court, because they also report the loss to the imperial court.

This is almost since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the so-called finch and rat food, or fire consumption grain, can be said to be a reasonable and legal income tacitly understood by everyone.

Gao Xiang said: "The problem of increasing the faction, the terrible thing is that there is no fixed number, if it is a good official, then it will be less dispatched, if it is greedy, it will be added to the excess, with this name, the tyranny is exceeded." After the Taiping Mansion clarified the accounts and separated the rights and responsibilities, everything was determined, and things were easy to do. ”

Zhu Di continued to ask: "What does it mean to make things easy to do?"

Gao Xiang said: "In the past, the gentry did not pay grain, and the hidden fields did not pay. Therefore, most of this tax is levied on the small people, and most of the small people do not know big words, and they do not understand the laws and regulations, so they obey it, so since they dare to be angry, they dare not speak, and even if they dare to speak, they do not know how to speak. ”

Gao Xiang paused and continued: "But the Taiping Mansion, in order to fight the White Lotus Sect, the hidden fields have been investigated, and the official gentry must be in the same boat with the government, in order to eliminate the remnants of the White Lotus Sect, so they need to pay for the grain in one piece......"

Zhang Anshi stood aside and was moved to listen, Gao Xiang really ......

Crying to death...... This guy is still thinking about the fight against the White Lotus Sect, and he Zhang Anshi almost forgot about it.

Gao Xiang continued: "These officials and gentry and scholars have to pay grain, especially after checking their hidden fields, plus the spread of the land into the mu, then they must follow the rules, and they must not give people a handle, if they can't ensure fairness and justice, and can't gag their mouths, they will have endless troubles, and they will instigate the people in the township, or fan people to complain everywhere, making a fuss." ”

Zhu Di listened to it and suddenly woke up.

"There must be this rule, with rules, how many others are, they are as many, what should be theirs is theirs, what should be the government is what the government is, everyone does their own thing, only in this way can people have nothing to say and do things."

Zhu Di looked at Gao Xiang scrutinically.

He immediately raised his eyebrows and said, "But without loss, does the government want to come up with a large sum of silver?" ”

"Yes." Gao Xiang said: "This is Wei Guogong's idea, but this amount of silver, whether it is big or small, is not small." In the past, this amount of money was astronomical, and the government could not afford to hire so many people to transport grain, as well as the cost of cars and ships. But in order to crack down on the White Lotus Sect, the Taiping Mansion levied a commercial tax, and with the commercial tax, this is a small amount of money. ”

"This is tantamount to using the commercial tax to make up some grain tax, and if you want to levy the commercial tax, it is not easy to collect, you must first ensure it. The merchants in the Taiping Mansion can operate steadily in the Taiping Mansion, otherwise, it is just a matter of fishing with all their might, so the Tongzhi Department now has an additional responsibility, which is to occasionally solve problems for the workshops and provide them with some convenience, such as the gathering area of the workshop, to increase the construction of some roads and bridges, and to build some wharves. ”

Zhu Di listened, but felt that this was interlinked: "In order to collect grain from the gentry, you have to depose the loss and ensure fairness and justice." In order to solve the loss, it is necessary to have a commercial tax, and to prevent the merchants from fleeing to other places because of the commercial tax, and to do their best not to disturb them and appease them...... This...... Does it work? “

Gao Xiang said: "In this regard, it is necessary to work with the Department of Knowledge to be safe and not make mistakes." In addition, there is also the Tuiguan Hall, which must be able to collect public opinion feedback from the people in a timely manner to ensure that there will be no changes. Yes, there is also the Sho Mill, and the Sho Mill must restrain the officials so that they dare not cross the thunder pool. Then there are the counties below, and the county magistrates and county officials of each county, even the chief bookkeeper and the warden, and even the clerks and servants, all need to do their best. ”

Zhu Di said: "When you are a fellow intellectual, do you have an understanding of the first three counties?" ”

Gao Xiang said: "I know a little." ”

Zhu Di said casually: "Who is the county lieutenant of Wuhu County?" ”

Gao Xiang immediately said: "Liu Wudao, this person is old and in poor health, but since Wei Guogong attacked the White Lotus Sect, he has also done a lot of things, and he has taken the county officials to stop the chaos caused by several grain requisitions. ”

Zhu Di was a little surprised, and said: "Then who is the chief secretary of Tu County?" ”

Gao Xiang said without thinking: "The surname is Chen Mingzhou, Chen Zhou is very cautious, and he is responsible for the matter of money and grain, among the three counties, the accounts of Dangtu County are the clearest." Therefore, at the beginning, the untouchables let the master bookkeepers of each county learn from this master bookkeeper Chen. But this time, he was also dismissed. ”

Zhu Di gasped, and the more he listened, the more unbelievable he felt.

"You are so competent...... Zhu Di looked at Gao Xiang's words, there was an unconcealed appreciation in his eyes, he immediately groaned, and said: "I know everything about this mansion, why did you ...... in the first place?" Haven't you been recommended by anyone? ”

This is a talent! At least such a person, logically speaking, should not just be condescending to the same acquaintance in the same house.

"The untouchables are not of great talent, and like most of their peers, they did not have any special talents." Gao Xiang didn't have a trace of smugness on his face, but said calmly: "As for the things Your Majesty asked, they are all things that the lower officials have to understand and visit in order to crack down on the White Lotus Sect since Wei Guogong took office. ”

This guy is telling the truth.

Zhu Di couldn't help but glance at Zhang Anshi.

Then, Zhu Di said: "Do you know why you are rated inferior in Jingcha?" ”

"The untouchables don't know." Gao Xiang is not an honest person, and at this time, he knows that he can't answer this kind of question.

Zhu Di smiled coldly, he was not angry at this time, but then looked at the officials of the ministry, and said coldly: "What about you, why do you rate him as inferior?" ”

Jian Yi and the others only knelt down one by one, silent.

A trace of sarcasm flashed in Zhu Di's eyes, and he turned to say: "Who is in charge of the Jingcha matter?" ”

After a brief silence.

Liu Rong, the official of the Qing Dynasty, kowtowed tremblingly: "Yes...... It's a minister. ”

Zhu Di stared at him deadly: "Do you know Gao Xiang?" ”

Liu Rong said in a trembling voice: "No...... I don't know. ”

Zhu Di immediately asked: "I don't know, why is he inferior?" ”

He ...... They...... Liu Rong said, ......"Many people complained that they were powerful and prosperous in the Taiping Mansion and exploited the people......"

Zhu Di said: "Who reported it? ”

"Yes...... Yang Dan, a citizen of Tu County, and Deng Congren, a citizen of Wuhu County, ......"

Zhu Di turned his head at this time, looked at Gao Xiang and said, "Who are they?" ”

Gao Xiang said truthfully: "It is a local rich family, that Deng Cong is still a talent in the Zhizheng period, he has a son, and he has also been promoted, and this time the hidden field that came out of his house is more than 3,500 acres. As for Yang Dan, this person's hidden field is also more than 1,000 acres. ”

Zhu Di nodded, his expression was quite calm.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly said to Chen Li: "Send someone...... surrounded these two families, these two households made false accusations, the false accusers sat back, Yang Dan and Deng Cong, and killed immediately. They confiscated their land, and the rest of their families were exiled to New Island. ”

Chen Li said: "Obey the order." ”

Then he came out with a knife.

When Liu Rong heard this, he seemed to be electrocuted, and the whole person seemed to be so frightened that he couldn't possess his body.

The few households reported all ended up like this, so ...... People like him...... 'M afraid......

He trembled in shock, and without thinking about it, he immediately kowtowed to Zhu Di, kowtowing like pounding garlic, and his mouth was full of sadness: "Your Majesty...... Your Majesty......"

Zhu Di calmly continued to ask: "After receiving the report, did you verify it?" ”

"Nuclear...... Verified...... No, there is no verification...... Yes...... There is a verified ......" He began to speak incoherently.

Because he sadly found that whatever he said, it was wrong.

Verified, so why is this happening?

Not verified? How dare you be so indistinguishable from right and wrong without verification?

Zhu Di seemed to be trying to hide his anger, and said sharply: "Have you verified it?" ”

"Your Majesty, their official reputation is extremely bad, and their influence is very bad, and the ministers ...... The minister was ...... at that time When I heard about these things, I ...... Poop ......"

"The official reputation is extremely bad?" Zhu Di said: "Who are they who say that their official reputation is extremely bad?" ”

"Yes...... It's ......"

Zhu Di said: "If you don't say it, it's a cover-up!" ”

"At that time, the minister was in the ministry hall, and I heard the directors Liang Shangshi and Wu Kaisheng talk about this matter......"

Zhu Di said: "These two ...... Take. ”

"Whoa."

Zhu Di continued: "Is it just these two people? What else? Just by the words of these two people? “

"There are also the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Dali Temple, who assisted in this matter...... For the officials of the Taiping Mansion, there are also quite a lot of complaints. ”

"Quite a complaint?" Zhu Di raised his eyebrows indifferently and said, "What's the whisper?" ”

They said...... Such cruelty to the people, the people can't survive, this is to force the people to become thieves, is ......"

Zhu Di said impatiently: "The officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple, who co-organized the Jingcha, will take it immediately and show it to the public." ”

Others were commanded to go.

After giving this will, his anger seemed to have subsided a little, but he stared at Liu Rong and said step by step: "Is it just these people?" Just because of these people, you don't ask about right and wrong? ”

Liu Rong raised his head cautiously, and then glanced sideways at Jian Yi who was kneeling beside him in fear.

His lips twitched and trembled, the fear in his heart was constantly expanding, and tears rained down: "No...... There was no one else, and the minister didn't notice it for a while. ”

"It's a good one to be unaware of for a while." Zhu Di said: "Just because you don't notice it for a while, you want me to be a capable official of the Ming Dynasty and exiled to Qiongzhou for generations." Naturally, it is inevitable that if you don't notice it for a while, you can teach those who are corrupt and pervert the law to be judged as superior and promoted. Is this your ignorance? ”

"Ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths...... Liu Rong has broken his head, his Tong hole continues to shrink, and Ai Ai said: "Minister...... Minister...... The minister is guilty of ten thousand deaths, please ask Your Majesty to depose your minister. ”

Zhu Di put his hands behind his back and said coldly: "Deposed? Why do you have such thoughts? ”

Liu Rong trembled, raised his head, and looked at Zhu Di pleadingly.

Zhu Di said: "If I only depose you, what will others think? They will think, it's not a big deal, if you make a mistake, it's just a big deal to get rid of the office. What's more, if you are deposed, those who are complicit with you will definitely think that you are in order to protect their interests, so you ended up being dismissed, just afraid that they will make you like a bodhisattva, and be grateful to you. You've returned to your hometown, and those gentry are afraid that they will still respect you like a god! ”

Zhu Di stared straight at him, as if he wanted to see him through, and then laughed mockingly: "Haha......... Is there such a good thing in the world? ”

Liu Rong said: "Your Majesty...... Your Majesty......"

Zhu Di said: "Destroy the three clans and kill him." ”

Liu Rong: "......"

Liu Rong froze completely, he thought that he might cause death, but he never expected that Zhu Di would be so ruthless.

He only felt that his brain was buzzing, as if because of his desire to survive, he didn't wait for the guards to come and get him, he suddenly said hysterically: "What is the crime of the minister?" ”

He roared: "What is the attack on the White Lotus Sect, it is clearly by attacking the White Lotus Sect...... Kill the people! The people of the three counties of Taiping Prefecture, especially Deng Cong and Yang Danren, are all local elders, wild sages, and are willing to give on weekdays...... Such people, the Taiping Mansion, forced them to such a point, what is the difference between Gao Xiang and others and cool officials? Your Majesty...... Killing ministers today will cause a big mess, from now on, I am afraid that the people of the world will be detached from Your Majesty, Your Majesty does not care about these? ”

Zhu Di's eyes suddenly flashed a trace of awe, and he sneered: "Emperor Taizu Gao won the world, relying on the soldiers on the battlefield, and the people of Li who couldn't stand the tyranny. I have won the world today because of the courage of the three armies, and it is the good people who pay their taxes honestly. The people you are talking about, what are they? ”

"At the beginning...... They were in and out of the Mongols, but they were able to keep the tyranny? Today...... These people have been treated so favorably by this dynasty, but they still dare not be satisfied, and they still dare to coerce the people, and use the so-called public opinion to blackmail me. ”

Zhu Di looked at him disdainfully and said: "If this is the case, it will be detached from morality, do these dogs still dare to rebel?" If you want to rebel, then rebel early, but teach them to know whether my sword is still good or not. ”

After that, Zhu Di's eyes widened, pointing at Liu Rong, and his voice was extremely cold: "Ling Chi is executed, kill his whole family!" ”

The guards did not hesitate any longer, dragging Liu Rong and leaving.

Liu Rong no longer had the courage to be talented at this time, he was already scared to pee at this time, and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the minister has repented, spare your life, spare your life......"

Zhu Di didn't look at this Liu Rong, but looked at the minister who was kneeling all over the ground.

His eyes erupted with fire, and he suddenly said, "Jian Qing's family ......"

Jian Yi kowtowed: "The minister is here." ”

Zhu Di said: "Jingcha reported to you here for this Shangshu, have you verified it?" ”

Jian Yi had always remained silent, but now, he knew that he couldn't be silent anymore.

Jian Yi said: "Verified." ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Di's thick eyebrows furrowed: "What is the result of verification?" ”

"There is no mistake with the one who reported it from below." Jian Yi said: "I won the heart of the old minister." ”

Zhu Di looked at Jian Yi with a strange look and said, "So, the matter of Gao Xiang and others is also related to you?" ”

"It's really relevant." Jian Yidao.

"Why?" Zhu Di was furious.

Jian Yi said: "The dynasty treats the gentry and scholars preferentially, and the gentry and scholars serve the court, which is a matter of all dynasties. When the world is peaceful, soldiers are really needed, but when you get off the horse and sit in the world, you must not rely on the soldiers, and you think that it is ...... Taiping ...... What I did was really a hidden danger for me, and the minister was planning for the country, so I made this decision. ”

Zhu Di looked at Jian Yi coldly: "In this way, all this is done by you on purpose?" ”

Jian Yi said: "Yes, so please don't embarrass Liu Rong, Deng Cong, the people of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Dali Temple, etc., the three clans of the Xuchen are enough." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was moved.

I saw Jian Yi continue: "The minister also cherishes his own life, and he also cares about his own people, the minister has been studying since he was a child, and he does not dare to slack off, what he has learned ...... It is nothing more than the principles of governing the country and leveling the world, and these truths have been abandoned by the monarchs of all dynasties, and some have taken them as a guideline. But dare to ask Your Majesty, where are those who have abandoned them as if they were in peace? ”

Zhu Di sneered: "Okay, you are a righteous man! ”

Jian Yi didn't seem to feel Zhu Di's anger, and said calmly: "Taiping Mansion, it's just a grain collection, relying on the Taiping Mansion's grain collection, the money and grain in the world are full, but dare to ask Your Majesty...... What about the human heart? Your Majesty, can you exchange the hearts of people just for this money and food? ”

Zhu Di pursed his lips, the anger in his eyes decreased, and he said calmly: "Strong words are reasonable." ”

Jian Yi said: "Minister...... Knowing that there is no chance of capital crimes, what I say today is not a strong word, but I just feel that it is ...... Your Majesty can't trust one person only. The minister has no prejudice against Wei Guogong, as a military minister, although he is a relative, he has made great contributions to the court several times, and he is by no means an ordinary fortunate minister. But if the minister is fair, Wei Guogong is indeed not suitable for governing the world, governing the world is not a march to fight, and it is by no means a simple calculation of the amount of money and food, all dynasties, the holy monarch is ruled by the arch, and the monarch and the minister can have a peaceful and prosperous world, is this also wrong? ”

He continued to kowtow, and continued: "If Your Majesty thinks that the old minister is wrong, but the old minister firmly believes that the amount of money and food for a while will not bring much benefit to the world, but will cause endless harm...... Zhuchen. ”

With that, he said nothing more, and fell silent.

And Zhu Di also fell silent.

Jianyi seems to be reasonable, but Zhu Di is still full of resentment, and he is extremely disgusted with what Jianyi said.

But he glanced at Zhu Qing who was kneeling at his feet, but he noticed that almost all of them showed a sad look of rabbit and fox.

Zhu Di was silent for a while, and finally fixed his eyes on one person, and said, "Hu Guang, what do you say I should do?" ”

Hu Guang was silent for a moment before he said: "Your Majesty, the minister has been studying since childhood, and what is said in the book is true, the minister ...... Minister...... I hope that Your Majesty can be magnanimous, Jian Yi is an old minister, and the credit is in the community, please remember His Majesty that he is old......"

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows, impatiently fell on the other person, and said, "Yang Qing's family, you come on." ”

In general, when the emperor is not satisfied with one person's answer, he will ask the other person until he is satisfied.

And Yang Rong also knows this.