Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 98: The trouble is diverted to others, and the clean stream is secretly afraid!
Liang Chu couldn't help but smile when he saw the two people's attitudes change so quickly.

Subsequently.

He went to Qingning Palace in a sedan chair.

Because after the court meeting, the emperor sent someone to say that he wanted to see him.

Let’s talk.

Mao Cheng and Wang Xian both couldn't help but sigh after this.

"We can't let Wang Qiong be reinstated as an official!"

Mao Cheng also said this.

Wang Xian nodded: "Yes, I would rather offend the people who made a fuss about this than let Wang Qiong come!"

Mao Cheng said: "We should not do anything to deceive the emperor, and we should not accept money. We should let our families and subordinates live a harder life, but we won't lose our heads with them."

Wang Xian nodded.

The outcome of this incident was indeed beyond the expectations of many ministers.

Especially the ministers of the conservative party who protect rituals.

They really didn't expect that the result would develop into many senior officials in Beijing and Nanjing being thrown into prison, some sentenced to death, some exiled, and the Ministry of Revenue was almost wiped out.

Almost all the officials in Lianghuai were also caught in one fell swoop.

And this result.

Surprisingly not. The three million taels of silver were successfully divided up by everyone. The hungry people either starved to death or were killed as bandits. Then everyone would make another fortune from the military operation to eliminate the bandits.

then.

They impeached Zhang Cong for corruption on the grounds of hearsay, but did not provide any evidence. However, this was enough to make the emperor disappointed in Zhang Cong and then give up relying on Zhang Cong to carry out salt administration reform.

Therefore, Xu Chengming, Shu Fen and others who had escaped because their families were deliberately spared by the Jinyiwei, secretly gathered together again with Ke Weixiong and Zhang Tong to review what had happened.

"What exactly is the problem?"

"Why did Wang Yangming suddenly come to Lianghuai to be the governor-general for suppressing bandits and also in charge of salt administration?"

"Also, how come the Royal Guards discovered our account transfer in advance?"

"Even if the main reason this time was that the despicable Zhang Cong fooled the people of Lianghuai, it shouldn't be so easy for the Jinyiwei to find out where we transferred the money, right?"

"Is there someone else who is betraying us besides Zhang Cong?!"

Bang!
Covey Bear said as he slapped the table and stood up.

I am filled with indignation.

and.

Kewei Xiong also looked at Zhang Tong specifically.

Zhang Tong squeezed his teacup and took the initiative to speak: "As for Wang Yangming, I have never met him in person. I only heard from Commander Luo who guards the Dong'an Gate that he went to the cabinet last month."

"cabinet?"

Xu Chengming asked in astonishment.

Zhang Tong added: "As for where the account was found this time."

"I heard from the people in the Pacification Office that Wang Jing and his men were just lucky this time because they suddenly received an anonymous letter saying that someone was having a secret gathering here, so they sent people here on short notice and they actually found us. However, since our family members had less debts to pay, they left early and were not caught."

"anonymous letter?"

Fei Maozhong, Fei Hong's nephew, who was reinstated by Zhu Houcong as an editor in the Hanlin Academy because of Fei Hong's meritorious service in resisting Prince Ning, asked in surprise at this time.

Shu Fen rubbed his face and said seriously:

"The situation is becoming more complicated."

"Someone leaked the news to the Pacification Bureau in advance?"

"Are you trying to lift the lid on this to please the cabinet, or to please His Majesty?"

Ke Weixiong asked at this time, and then suddenly pointed at Fei Maozhong:
"Could it be you?"

Fei Maozhong was puzzled: "Why me?"

"So that my uncle can return to the cabinet."

Covey Bear replied.

Xu Chengming nodded.

Shu Fen also looked at Fei Maozhong.

Everyone seemed to feel that this was a possibility and was terrified for a moment.

Fei Maozhong spread his hands and said, "I am innocent! I have never been to the cabinet. I only met the Grand Tutor after entering Beijing!"

"The Master is no longer worthy of our trust."

Covey Bear said.

Xu Chengming nodded: "That's right!"

Fei Maozhong felt more and more aggrieved: "No, you don't trust the Grand Tutor, so don't you trust me? I am the same as you. I just hope that the emperor can recognize Emperor Xiaozong as his father, and I don't want them to change the laws of our ancestors!"

Zhang Tong couldn't hold back his emotion and had to cover his mouth for a moment. Then he pretended to be serious and said:

"You are all the gods of literature, so I think you know more than me. It's hard to explain these things clearly. Fortunately, we have escaped a disaster, so let's talk about what to do now. Do you want to continue to communicate?"

"How can we not interact?"

"The emperor has just ascended the throne, and he needs wise and close ministers like you who are willing to interact with scholars and officials, so that we can know which treacherous and evil people around the emperor are slandering and misleading him."

Xu Chengming said something at this time.

Shu Fen followed up, "That's right. Gentlemen are open and honest, while villains are always worried. We should still interact with each other. For the sake of serving the king like Yao and Shun, and for the sake of the country and the people, we should not be afraid of difficulties and not move forward. But we should still be cautious in the future."

After Shu Fen said this, she glanced at Fei Maozhong and said, "There are villains among the literati too!" "I really don't have any!"

Fei Maozhong couldn't help but stand up and said angrily.

"I didn't say anything about you."

"I'm talking about Zhang Cong, Zhang Fujing!"

Shu Fen replied.

Fei Maozhong almost gritted his teeth and glared at Shu Fen, but he didn't say anything.

Only Ke Wei Xiong and Zhang Tong looked at each other.

Shu Fen came to Yang Tinghe that night and told Yang Tinghe and Yang Shen, father and son, what he and Zhang Tong had said.

"Wang Yangming appeared in the cabinet last month?"

Yang Tinghe asked this question after listening to Shu Fen.

Shu Fen nodded.

"Who provided the information?!"

Yang Tinghe looked serious.

Shu Fen replied, "It was provided by Zhang Tong, a close minister to your Majesty."

Yang Tinghe couldn't help but think of the fact that Liang Chu had refused to agree to employ Wang Yangming.

then.

Yang Tinghe couldn't help but smile grimly: "I understand."

Yang Shen couldn't help but ask, "What did father understand?"

"This Liang Shunde is so cunning and sly. He deceived me!"

"I'm afraid even the late emperor was deceived by him!"

"He has been hiding his true abilities for so many years, but I have only just seen through him now. He is actually someone who has long wanted to disrupt the laws of our ancestors! His cowardice is just an act!"

After saying this, Yang Tinghe smiled bitterly.

For him, he was always the one who played with others, but he didn't expect that he would be played by others.

Therefore, Yang Tinghe was very depressed.

Yang Shen and Shu Fen also nodded, believing in Yang Tinghe's words without a doubt.

Let’s talk.

Before Liang Chu arrived at the imperial palace, Zhu Houcong said to him, "Recently, Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, Ningxia, Gansu and other places have frequently reported news of the Tatars of Altan's tribe invading the border. In my opinion, this is a demonstration against the court!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"They must have known that many ministers had been captured and killed, so they deliberately spread the news that the enemy was powerful, in order to prevent the court from touching the border officials."

"This is using the captives to threaten you."

Liang Chu replied.

Snapped!
Zhu Houcong slammed the table and stood up: "I can't tolerate this kind of coercion!"

"Thinking back to the time of our great ancestor and great emperor, only the Tartars were afraid of our Ming dynasty. There was never a time when our Ming dynasty was afraid of them, and even these border officials dared to use their power to threaten us!"

Zhu Houcong looked at Liang Chu sternly and said.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

"The decline of a country's fortunes did not happen overnight. Your Majesty cannot revive it overnight. You cannot be impatient. The late emperor is an example of this."

"However, once Wang Yangming has sorted out the salt administration in Lianghuai, the imperial court will have a lot more annual revenue for the time being. Add to that the proceeds from the confiscation of property, and we will be able to stop worrying about the Tartars."

Liang Chu replied.

Zhu Houcong nodded and said, "After the New Year, we will calculate the surplus. If there is a lot of surplus, we will build the outer city first. There are too many refugees in Lianghuai. After relief, we can transport them to Beijing in batches. We will use them as the main force for building the outer city and implement the policy of "work instead of relief". We don't need to recruit extra labor and increase the burden of corvée on the people."

"Your Majesty is wise and benevolent, and is a blessing to the country and the people."

Liang Chuzheng said, "This is about transporting people to the capital, and even building outer cities. It requires the unity of the bureaucracy and proper coordination. In order to avoid corruption and ruin things, the administration of officials must be strengthened. To strengthen the administration of officials, we need to combine grace and authority. Now that authority is there, grace should be added."

Zhu Houcong nodded: "I know. We need to make a budget first to increase the income of all officials, grant more favors, and transport people to Beijing to build the outer city."

"Everything is prepared, and without preparation, there is failure."

After Zhu Houcong said this, Liang Chu nodded and secretly sighed that Your Majesty was well versed in "Book of Rites".

Liang Chu then said to Zhu Houcong:
"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to say!"

"speak!"

"So many people were arrested and killed in the capital, Huaibei and Nanjing this time. Wang Yangming may have killed even more people in Huaibei. The corrupt officials and evil merchants in the world not only did not make any profit from this disaster relief, but lost a lot instead."

"So, in my humble opinion, they will not let this go."

"Using captives to threaten you is only one aspect."

"I'm afraid they will come up with more tricks later."

"The most frightening thing is that the collection of land tax and various miscellaneous taxes this year will become very difficult."

"in addition!"

"People like Wang Yangming, Zhang Bingyong (Zhang Cong) and the Grand Chancellor (Shi Yan)."

"It may cause bad publicity and be disapproved by the world."

"and then!"

"The presence of these loyal ministers in the court will also become a reason for them not to actively pay taxes and grain to the court."

(End of this chapter)