Not long after the official left, I saw Lu Fang enter the cabinet with a silent step.

Seeing Lu Fang's arrival, everyone got up from their seats and saluted him respectfully: "I've seen Grandpa Lu!" ”

When Lu Fang heard this, he replied imperceptibly, and after looking around, he said unhurriedly: "You don't have to be so polite, our family came here this time to follow the will of His Majesty, and invite you to go to the Qianqing Palace!" ”

When everyone heard Yan Song's words, a look of surprise couldn't help but appear on their faces.

Then, I saw Yan Song stand up, look in the direction where Lu Fang was, and asked, "Dare to ask Gonggong Lu, does Your Majesty have anything to tell me to do?" ”

When Lu Fang heard this, he shook his head, withdrew his gaze from Yan Song's body, and said slowly: "Your Majesty didn't say it clearly, and our family doesn't know too much, in short, you will know when you go!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, he leaned down tremblingly and expressed his gratitude to Lu Fang: "Thank you Grandpa Lu!" ”

"Alright, without further ado, let's go with our family!"

After Lu Fang dropped this sentence, he turned around and left without waiting for everyone to respond.

Seeing this, Yan Song and the others hurriedly took three steps and two steps to keep up with Lu Fang's pace.

"Right now, not long after the imperial concubine Shen was born, His Majesty summoned me and others to go to the Qianqing Palace to discuss matters, it must not be a big deal, right?"

Thinking so, Yan Song couldn't help but secretly speed up his pace.

……

Outside the Qianqing Palace, I saw Lu Fang pause suddenly, turned to face everyone, and said slowly: "Please wait a while, let's go in first and inform Your Majesty!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, he arched his hand to Lu Fang, his face was full of humility: "There is Lao Lu's father-in-law!" ”

When Lu Fang heard this, he bowed slightly to Yan Song, and then stepped on the stairs of the Qianqing Palace.

After Lu Fang left, I saw Gao Gong take the lead in stirring up the topic: "What do you think, why did Your Majesty come to us to discuss matters at this time?" ”

As soon as Gao Gong's words fell, Hu Zongxian on the side gave his guess: "After a while, when the imperial concubine recovers, His Majesty will officially canonize her as the queen, maybe Your Majesty summoned us this time for this matter!" ”

Zhang Juzheng, who was on the side, heard Hu Zongxian's words, and the whole person seemed to have an understanding, and immediately, he nodded and continued to add: "Well, Hu Ge Lao is reasonable, in short, Your Majesty summoned us to the Qianqing Palace to discuss matters, and it must be related to this matter!" ”

At this moment, Yan Shifan, who had been silent from the beginning, had the courage to put forward such a conjecture: "Could it be that Your Majesty summoned us to discuss tax reductions and exemptions?" ”

When Yan Shifan's words fell, everyone's faces couldn't help but flash a look of sudden realization.

Generally speaking, when the people encountered natural disasters such as droughts, floods, floods, and locust plagues, the imperial court would issue an edict to reduce or exempt the taxes of the affected people.

In addition to the reduction and exemption due to disasters, there are also great days such as the new emperor's enthronement, the queen mother, the longevity of the Son of Heaven, the canonization of the queen, the new birth of the prince, and the celebration of martial arts.

Now, His Majesty is happy to have the prince, and soon after, he will canonize the imperial concubine Shen as the queen, and under the double happiness, it is natural to reduce the taxes of the people.

Moreover, at present, the treasury is unusually abundant, and the silver in the treasury is conservatively estimated, which is enough for the Ming Dynasty to squander for more than ten years!

Not long ago, the imperial court sent an army of 130,000 to uproot the Yang family, which had been operating for hundreds of years in Banzhou, and confiscated nearly 30 million taels of silver from the entire Yang family!

In comparison, the reduction of taxes is a drop in the bucket for the current Ming Dynasty.

After thinking about this, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and the whole person also relaxed.

At this moment, only Lu Fang's voice sounded in everyone's ears: "Your Majesty is waiting for you inside, you can go in!" ”

"I'm tired of Grandpa Lu!"

After that, under the guidance of Lu Fang, everyone stepped onto the stairs of the Qianqing Palace.

……

"Your Majesty, Yan Ge Lao, they have arrived!"

"Hmm."

After Lu Fang finished reporting to Jiajing, he went straight to Jiajing's side and stood still, like a sculpture.

Subsequently, all the people in the cabinet, under the leadership of Yan Song, the first assistant of the cabinet, knelt on the ground in unison, and said in unison: "The ministers knock on Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" ”

Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, heard this, glanced at Yan Song and the others, bowed his head slightly, and then ordered: "Well, you all get up!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After receiving Jiajing's consent, everyone slowly got up from the ground.

Jiajing didn't plan to go around in circles with Yan Song, but chose to go straight to the point: "The reason why I called you all over is to discuss the issue of reducing taxes for the people!" ”

"Sure enough, Your Majesty summoned us to the Qianqing Palace just to reduce taxes!"

Everyone thought so, and the hanging stone in their hearts finally fell to the ground.

After this, I saw Jiajing turn his gaze to Yan Song, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Yan Song, what do you think?" ”

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, Yan Song responded without thinking: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that this strategy is very good, and now that the treasury is abundant, it doesn't hurt to reduce or exempt some taxes appropriately!" ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks this strategy is very good, in this way, it can make the people rich and the country rich, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, only when the people's lives are better, they will support Your Majesty more firmly!"

When Yan Song's words fell, Xu Jie, who was on the side, also stood up, and then added: "Your Majesty, Weichen has also agreed to reduce taxes, and the silver accumulated in the treasury is enough for Daming to squander it for more than ten years!" ”

"In comparison, the reduction of taxes can be regarded as a drop in the bucket, and more importantly, the people of the world will always be grateful for Your Majesty's kindness, so that you can greatly recover the hearts of the people!"

After that, Hu Zongxian, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Yan Shifan also expressed their opinions one after another.

Without exception, all of them supported Jiajing's decision and agreed to reduce the people's taxes.

Jiajing obviously didn't expect things to go so smoothly, and after being stunned for a moment, he saw Jiajing come back to his senses and continue to ask: "Then according to your Aiqing, how much tax reduction is more appropriate?" ”

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, I saw Xu Jie stand up, look in the direction where Jiajing was, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that on the existing basis, he should reduce or reduce the tax by 30% as appropriate!" ”

After Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng also stood up and expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that thirty percent is too little, how about reducing fifty percent of taxes?" ”

When Zhang Juzheng's words fell, I saw Gao Gong stand up, lean down, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, Xu Ge Lao mentioned earlier that the silver accumulated in the treasury is enough for Daming to squander for more than ten years!" ”

"In that case, why should we stick to the little taxes paid by the people?"

"Therefore, Weichen proposes that it is better to be tax-free for a year, so that he can rest with the people, and the people will be grateful!"

Everyone obviously didn't expect Gao Gong to be so bold and actually propose a one-year tax exemption, so they couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

When Jiajing heard this, he did not respond immediately, but tapped the bookcase in front of him with his index finger very rhythmically, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

In this process, there was silence in the Qianqing Palace, and even the movement of a needle dropped could be heard clearly.

After a long time, I saw Jiajing come back to his senses, looked in the direction where Gao Gong was, nodded, and said slowly: "Well, I think it is feasible, then according to Gao Aiqing's words, I will be exempted from paying taxes for one year!" ”

Seeing that Jiajing had already made a decision, everyone lowered their heads and responded respectfully: "Your Majesty Shengming!" ”

After that, I saw Jiajing sweep his gaze from the faces of everyone present one by one, and added: "Of course it's a good thing to exempt the people from paying taxes for a year, but I don't want what happened last time to happen again, do you understand?" ”

Of course, everyone knew what Jiajing was referring to, but they didn't know who it was, and they found out that the taxes reduced and exempted by the imperial court to the people had not been implemented.

For this reason, Jiajing appointed Zhao Zhenji, who was still the inspectorate of the imperial history at that time, as the minister of the Imperial Mission, to rush to Zhejiang to thoroughly investigate the case, and only after killing a large number of officials involved in this matter did he give up.

Now that Jiajing is bringing up the old matter, he is clearly warning Yan Song and the others that if such a thing happens again, then you are ready to come and see it!

When Jiajing's words fell, everyone's faces couldn't help but show a look of panic, and they knelt on the ground in unison, and said respectfully: "Obey, Your Majesty!" ”

After this, I saw Jiajing turn his gaze to Yan Song, and then ordered: "After you come down later, your cabinet will officially announce the news, and in addition, list a detailed charter!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, his expression immediately turned grim, and he responded in a deep voice: "Yes, Your Majesty!" ”

Seeing that the matter had settled, Jiajing withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and commanded: "Okay, since the matter has been decided, you guys go down and get busy!" ”

"Obey, Your Majesty, the ministers will retire!"

After that, I saw Yan Song and the others get up from the ground one after another and bow to Jiajing.

……

After the cabinet and his party left, Jiajing turned around, looked at Lu Fang on the side, and asked, "Lu Fang, I ask you, what is the current situation of the Information Agency?" ”

Seeing that Jiajing asked him about the information of the Information Agency, Lu Fang did not dare to hide it in the slightest, and immediately revealed everything he knew.

"Your Majesty, according to your previous instructions, right now, in the capital areas of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of my Ming Dynasty, there are all information bureaus!"

"The first two issues of the newspaper were well received upon their release, and in addition to the cost, the Information Agency even had an additional surplus of nearly 1 million taels of silver!"

"In addition, there are countless businessmen who have traveled thousands of miles to the capital from all over the country to sponsor the Daming Daily issued by the imperial court, hoping to occupy a vacant space in the newspaper to promote their own products."

After Jiajing learned the news from Lu Fang's mouth, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and said with emotion: "This group of guys is really unprofitable!" ”

Having said that, Jiajing was happy to see this happen, after all, his original intention in founding the newspaper was to regain the right to speak from the hands of those officials and gentry.

Only when the newspaper is popularized among the people of the Ming Dynasty can Jiajing's idea be realized step by step!

If the emperor wants to accomplish something, he naturally cannot do without the assistance of officials at all levels, and in the process of conveying orders, it is inevitable that there will be poor information.

Sometimes, when a policy goes from the central to the local level, due to the cumbersome process in the middle, coupled with layers of additives, the policy has already become unrecognizable after it is transmitted to the local level.

As a result, a policy that was originally beneficial to the country and the people has been put into dissatisfaction in the actual implementation of the policy, which has caused the people's resentment to boil and the voices to complain.

Jiajing founded the newspaper, on the one hand, in order to regain the right to speak from the hands of the officials and gentry, and on the other hand, to break this information gap!

Then, I saw Jiajing withdraw his gaze from Lu Fang's body, and after a moment of silence, he commanded: "Lu Fang, this third issue of the newspaper, just take today's incident as the headline!" ”

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, the whole person immediately understood, and then, he lowered his head and cautiously confirmed to Jiajing: "Your Majesty means that the news of tax exemption for one year will be announced through the newspaper issued by the imperial court?" ”

Hearing this, Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang, nodded, and said slowly: "Well, exactly, in this way, we can also avoid as much as possible, what happened last time!" ”

"After all, the imperial court has announced the policy of tax exemption for one year through the newspaper, and if anyone dares to do anything on it, check it out!"

Lu Fang on the side took in the expression on Jiajing's face, and at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of horror in his heart.

He originally thought that Jiajing had decided to create the Information Agency and publish the Daming Daily on a whim.

Who knows, the Information Agency not only made a profit of nearly one million taels of silver, but also gained popularity among the people.

Nowadays, it is possible to directly convey the policies that the imperial court is about to implement to the people accurately.

In this way, the deception of officials at all levels can be reduced as much as possible, so that the policy of tax exemption for one year in the imperial court can be implemented, and then truly benefit the people!

"Could it be that Your Majesty expected this to happen from the beginning?"

Jiajing saw that Lu Fang hadn't responded for a long time, so he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and asked, "Lu Fang, did you hear what I just said?" ”

When Lu Fang heard this, he suddenly came back to his senses, hurriedly lowered his head, and responded respectfully: "Your Majesty, after the slave comes down, I must ask the Information Agency to step up the printing of the third issue of Daming Daily!" ”

When Jiajing heard Lu Fang's words, he shook his head imperceptibly, and immediately commanded: "Okay, accompany me to Ganlu Palace!" ”

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, Lu Fang lowered his head and replied without thinking: "Obey, Your Majesty!" ”

After that, Lu Fang, as usual, followed Jiajing's pace step by step, marching in the direction where the Ganlu Palace was located.

……

On the other side, the Forbidden City, the Cabinet.

The efficiency of the cabinet was very fast, and soon after Yan Song and his party returned to the cabinet, the matter was implemented.

The news that the imperial court was about to be tax-exempt for a year was also announced by the cabinet.

As soon as this news came out, it quickly caused an uproar in the court, after all, this time, the imperial court directly reduced the tax for one year!

At this moment, on the bulletin board outside the cabinet, many officials who rushed to hear the news had already gathered, and began to discuss this matter.

"Ah, what, the news is actually true, Your Majesty has really decided to be tax-free for one year, so that the people can recuperate, Your Majesty Shengming!"

"I heard that it was proposed to His Majesty by the elder of the Gao Gong High Pavilion, will this matter affect our fortune?"

"Hmph, it's really nonsense, I have a friend who works in the household department, and it is said that the money in the treasury is almost impossible to put down!"

"Ouch, this white flower of silver is just scattered to the people, what a sin!"

Under the impetus of well-intentioned people, the news that the imperial court was about to be tax-exempt for one year soon spread throughout the capital.

As soon as this news came out, the people all cheered and ran around to tell each other, after all, this is a real benefit, such as tax exemption for a year, maybe you can't meet it once in your life!

For a time, the sound of singing praises of virtue was endless, and even many people spontaneously went to temples and Taoist temples to pray for the emperor.

……

Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Weaving Bureau.

In the room, Yan Maoqing, Wang Ting, and Pang Qian, the chief eunuch of the Weaving Bureau, were gathering together to discuss the next countermeasures.

I saw Yan Maoqing pick up the teacup on the table, take a sip, and complain: "That Ma Ningyuan is really a hard bone, even if he uses up the punishment, he is unwilling to speak, and he insists that he did the whole thing alone!" ”

Pang Qian, the eunuch in charge of the Weaving Bureau on the side, heard Yan Maoqing's words, and a trace of worry flashed on his face: "Is it really okay to do this, you must know that Hu Zongxian is Ma Ningyuan's teacher, in case the time comes, ......?"

Before Pang Qian's words were finished, he was interrupted by Wang Ting's words on the side: "No way, Zhao Zhenji only gave us ten days to investigate the case, and we must pry Ma Ningyuan's mouth open as soon as possible!" ”

When Wang Ting said this, he paused for a moment, his face was full of helplessness, and continued: "Otherwise, we won't be able to explain to the superiors!" ”

After saying this, I saw Wang Ting looking at Pang Qian with a straight face, and urged: "Father-in-law Pang, you can't continue to drag it on, you see, in the past two days, haven't the people we sent out have not happened to anything?" ”

Pang Qian heard Wang Ting's words, his face couldn't help flashing a trace of entanglement, after Zheng Michang and He Maocai were suspended one after another, the Weaving Bureau, together with those businessmen, began to buy raw silk in the hands of the people at a low price.

Out of prudence, Pang Qian only sent a small number of merchants, under the sign of the Weaving Bureau, to buy raw silk in the hands of the people.

And the small number of merchants he sent out to buy raw silk in the hands of the people was just used as bait to test Zhao Zhenji's attitude.

Once these businessmen are attacked by the government, then Pang Qian will act cautiously.

But in a blink of an eye, two days passed, and the businessman who was responsible for purchasing the raw silk in the hands of the people went well, and Zhao Zhenji did not make any moves, as if he had acquiesced.

Therefore, as the chief eunuch of the Weaving Bureau, Pang Qian's doubts dissipated most of the doubts in his heart, coupled with Wang Ting and Yan Maoqing's constant urging on the side, which made him can't help but have the urge to gamble.

After all, after buying raw silk in the hands of the people at a low price, you only need to sell it to grab dozens of times the profit, and this is enough to make anyone crazy!

"After this matter is over, relying on the part of the money that is divided, I Pang Qian said that I may not be able to catch the line of Father-in-law Lu, if I can become Father-in-law Lu's godson......"

Just as Pang Qian was still in reverie, he only heard Yan Maoqing's slightly eager voice, which sounded in his ears: "Grandpa Pang, you can't delay it any longer, let the remaining businessmen also act together!" ”

When Pang Qian heard Yan Maoqing's words, he suddenly came back to his senses.

Then, I saw him take a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Well, now, our family has also let out, and tomorrow our family will let those remaining businessmen start buying raw silk in the hands of the people!" ”

Yan Maoqing and Wang Ting couldn't help but be happy when they saw that Pang Qian had made up his mind.

Then, I saw Wang Ting patting his chest and reassuring Pang Qian: "Grandpa Pang, don't worry, after the matter is completed, your share will be indispensable!" ”

When Pang Qian heard Yan Maoqing's words, a smile appeared on his face, and he saw him pick up the teacup on the table and said slowly: "Then there is Lord Laowang!" ”

When Wang Ting heard this, after glancing at Yan Maoqing, he stroked his beard and responded with a smile: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say!" ”

……

On the other side, in the Chamber of the Governor's Palace.

I saw an official of the Governor's Palace, leaning down, looking at Zhao Zhenji, who was sitting at the top, and respectfully reported.

"Lord Governor, in the past two days, many businessmen have used the signboard of the Weaving Bureau to buy raw silk in the hands of the people at a low price!"

"According to the current price of raw silk on the market, a pound of raw silk is sold for at least two taels of silver, but the price was maliciously suppressed by those merchants and pressed to less than one tael of silver!"

"With such a low price, the people are naturally reluctant to sell cheaply, because those businessmen have the support of the Weaving Bureau behind them, and they are very arrogant, and they treat those people who are not willing to sell raw silk at a low price, without saying a word, they will send thugs to beat them up!"

"In the process, countless people were injured, and five of them died of their injuries!"

"This matter has now reached the government, and the government is also quite a headache, after all, it involves the Weaving Bureau, do you want to ......?"

After listening to the official's report, the expression on Zhao Zhenji's face suddenly turned cold, only to see him wave his hand and command: "Well, the official knows, tell the government over there, let them do it according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, and have the official behind them to support them!" ”

"Yes, Governor!" (End of chapter)