"Divide the clan into large clans and side branches, so that the entire clan can be divided, reduce the resistance to the implementation of the policy, and according to the minister's investigation, at present, those side branches and low-level clans receive only three taels of silver from the large clans each time, and even those who are strapped even need to rely on loans to survive."

"And the standard of the imperial court to distribute silver and Lu rice is according to the standard of the lieutenant of Wupin Fengguo, that is, seven taels and six coins and four cents."

Yan Song deliberately paused when he said this, and everyone present also understood what he meant.

Jiajing, behind the bead curtain, coughed lightly twice and said, "I have some folds handed over by the vassal king here, you can take a look." ”

When Lu Fang heard this, he hurriedly took the fold from Jiajing's hand and distributed it to the elders present.

Yan Song put on reading glasses, quickly finished reading the content of the folds, and then said: "Your Majesty, the contents of these folds are not credible!" Not to mention anything else, just take King Hui as an example, he forcibly occupied 120,000 acres of land in Henan, displaced the people, and almost provoked a civil uprising! ”

Xu Jie was also quite angry after reading the recital, and followed suit: "These vassal kings still have the face to tell how miserable their family is in the letter, even a small Pingliang Mansion is paved with white jade and yellow bricks, and the wealth of King Hui, King Gui, and King Zhao will only be even worse!" ”

After Zhang Juzheng read the contents of the fold, he immediately called the officials and asked him to find out the records of the silver and rice distributed by the imperial court to the clan every year.

"You see, a large part of the silver and rice distributed by the imperial court every year are taken away by King Hui, King Gui, and King Zhao." Zhang Juzheng flipped through the record and said in a deep voice.

"According to the officials in charge of this matter, they always receive the most share on the grounds that there are many children in the house, and the rest of the clans dare not speak out, who calls them the most powerful?" After Gao Gong read it, he couldn't help but comment.

"And these few, the wives and concubines below are countless, and the number may even reach the point of estimating in thousands! Since birth, these children have automatically obtained the lowest title, that is, lieutenant of Fengguo, and enjoy the treatment of five grades, and the imperial court will issue them seven taels and six yuan and four cents every year.

"And the number of people in the clan is getting bigger and bigger, so it's an astronomical amount to accumulate over time!" After reading this, Yan Shifan couldn't help but feel very tricky, and said in a deep voice to Jiajing behind the bead curtain.

"I don't know if you still remember the method that Zhang Xuan (cong) once carried out?" Jiajing, who was sitting behind the bead curtain, spoke slowly.

"Zhang Xuan, the word Bingyong, Zhengde 16 years of Jinshi, served as the first assistant of the cabinet three times, during his tenure of office to reform corruption, clean Zhuangtian, vigorously rectify the official system, in Jiajing 18 years of illness died in Wenzhou.

"Zhang Xuan? Your Majesty means that according to the suggestion once put forward by Zhang Ge Lao, only eight people will be crowned for each generation of vassal kings? Seeing Jiajing suddenly mention his idol, Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up, and after a little thought, he gave the answer.

"That's right." Seeing that Zhang Juzheng guessed what he was thinking, Jiajing was in a good mood.

"It's a pity that later, you only need to pay bribes to the Ministry of Rites to be able to give more names, and this policy has existed in name only." Yan Shifan also sighed helplessly.

"If it is a good policy, it should be continued, how can anyone be justified in dying? Yan Song, I will leave this matter to you, if there is more fame in the Ministry of Rites, you can deal with it directly, and you don't need to report it to me! Jiajing, who was sitting behind the bead curtain, commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Weichen obeys." After Yan Song heard Jiajing's words, he bowed and saluted.

"Since you want to cut the expenses of the clan, how far do you think it should be reduced?" After a problem was solved, Jiajing immediately threw out another question.

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister thinks that for the large clans, they should be cut by at least half of their expenses, and let them control their births, reduce the number of children, and for those side branches, they should properly maintain their original treatment, and they should not be left without work." Yan Song thought for a long time and said slowly.

"No, the number of those side branches adds up to a lot, and the amount of silver consumed every year is also an astronomical amount, and the minister thinks that the treatment should also be appropriately reduced." After listening to Yan Song's speech, Gao Gong did not agree.

"It's understandable to cut the expenses of those big clans, and those side branches only rely on the little silver and rice issued by the imperial court to feed the family, His Majesty Emperor Taizu stipulates that the clan is not allowed to engage in other affairs, you do this, isn't it cutting off people's livelihoods? What a traitor! After Yan Shifan listened to Gao Gong's words, he couldn't help but say angrily.

"Who are you scolding? I am also thinking about the treasury, for the sake of Your Majesty, and for the sake of my Ming Dynasty! Gao arched his neck and responded.

"Stop arguing." Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again at the cabinet meeting, Jiajing hurriedly spoke up and stopped them.

"What Elder Fang Cai Xiaoge said reminded me that it was precisely because Emperor Taizu stipulated that the clan could not engage in other affairs, so he could only live on the silver and rice issued by the imperial court. The disciples of the sect are clothed and fed, and they have nothing to do all day long, so they can only give birth one by one? I think I should find something for them to do. ”

"Your Majesty means ......" Yan Song sensed Jiajing's meaning from his words, but he didn't dare to break it.

"I mean to abolish this rule, so that the clan can participate in the imperial examination, and can also freely engage in professions such as farming, industry and commerce, etc., which is like letting the imperial court pay for them, and the silver and rice will be distributed for a year as usual, what do you think?" Jiajing took in the expression on Yan Song's face and said loudly.

"Your Majesty, this is a rule set by His Majesty Emperor Taizu himself, and it is strictly ordered not to be changed, besides, if the clan chooses his profession freely, I am afraid that he will lose his royal face!" When Xu Jie heard what Jiajing said, his expression was shocked, and he immediately jumped out and dissuaded Jiajing, followed by Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, who also knelt on the ground together.

"Is there anything immutable? There is a way, change is passable, unchanged is strong, change is prosperous, unchanged is decay, change is life, unchanged is death! You don't need to be persuaded, I've made up my mind. Jiajing didn't look at the few people kneeling on the ground, but said to himself, his words full of irrefutable meaning.

"In addition, the title of my Daming is no longer hereditary, it is gradually decreasing, and only those who have meritorious service can be retained." After saying this, Jiajing suddenly added.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind completely, several people did not dare to oppose it anymore.

"Okay, that's all for the time being, Elder Xu Ge, you read it to me."

"Yes." Xu Jie said, and took the paper from the hand of the official who was in charge of recording on the side.

"First of all, the clan was divided into large and side branches, and for the large ones, their expenses were cut by half, and the side branches were given a year's worth of silver and rice as appropriate, and they were allowed to engage in their profession freely.

"In addition, the policy of reactivating Zhang Xuan and Zhang Ge's old age, each generation of vassal kings can only seal eight people, and the rest of them are not included in the roster and cannot receive money and food! This matter is in charge of Yan Song, the first assistant of the cabinet, and the title of my Daming is no longer hereditary, but gradually decreasing, and only those who have meritorious service can be retained. ”

"Your Majesty, Wechen is done." After Xu Jie finished reading the things recorded on it, he handed it back to the official.

"Okay, that's probably it, after your cabinet has drafted it, send it to the celebrant superintendent, and after the celebrant approves it, it will be promulgated directly. After Jiajing saw that there was no deviation in the content of the record, he nodded and commanded.

"Okay, I'm a little tired, so the meeting is over!"

"Yes."