Chapter 943 Magnificent Waves
On New Year's Eve, on this peaceful and beautiful day, the house of Wang Qing, a great scholar in the capital, was raided.
"Wang Qing's family was dragged out, and the East Factory's guards deliberately humiliated them, making them look disheveled and miserable. Lord, this is a slap in the face of the scholars in the capital!"
In Xu Jie's duty room, several old men were filled with righteous indignation.
"Are you famous?" Xu Wei asked with a smile.
An old man coughed dryly, "It is said that... three times is the limit. Wang regarded the good intentions of the Ministry of Revenue as weakness and refused to declare the land and population..."
"Things never happen more than three times?" Xu Jie knew about this, but at this moment he pretended not to know, "How can things never happen more than three times?"
"The Ministry of Revenue... The Ministry of Revenue's rules say that if you fail to report after being urged three times, it is considered contempt for the court and you may be punished."
"Tsk!" Xu Jie narrowed his eyes, "This matter...is not easy to handle!"
"But Lord, this matter... When Wang fell, the scholars in the capital were shocked. No one wants to celebrate the New Year now. They are all gathering outside to discuss countermeasures."
Several old men looked at Xu Jie.
You are the leader of the literati nominated by us. Wang was knocked to the ground by Jiang Qingzhi. You have to say something and think of a way to solve the problem.
Otherwise, have we chosen a dog, an old dog?
Xu Jie knew what they were thinking, but this matter was really difficult for him to handle.
"Someone is coming."
"Mr. Prime Minister." The attendant came in.
Xu Jie said, "Go to Chang Wei Bo's duty room and ask about this matter."
"Yes."
After the entourage left, Xu Jie stood up and personally poured tea for the elderly people, "Be patient and wait for news."
"That Jiang Qingzhi is so domineering and arrogant. To be honest, even Jiang Bin was not so unscrupulous back then."
"Jiang Bin died a miserable death. I don't think Jiang Qingzhi will escape the same fate."
Xu Jie listened with a smile. Later, his followers came and said, "I went to the guard room of Chang Wei Bo, but Chang Wei Bo has not returned yet. Zhang Juzheng, who is on duty, said that scholars do not pay taxes. Is there any law to prove it?"
Xu Jie was stunned and looked a little stunned.
An old man stamped his feet and said, "That's the emperor's tacit approval, why do we need laws?"
The attendant smiled bitterly, "I have also tried this before. Zhang Juzheng said, then, Lord, it is also the law for you to take action today."
Several old men were speechless.
Yes!
You said that the privileges of scholars are the tacit law, so isn't Jiang Qingzhi's action at this moment also the law?
"Does he dare to say that his words are in accordance with the law?" An old man said happily: "Sir, this is evidence of Jiang Qingzhi's tyranny."
These people are all senior and should have been enjoying their retirement and waiting for death at home. Now they are instigated to find Xu Jie, and they want to use their status as seniors to force Xu Jie to take action.
Those people behind the scenes are either related to the Wang family or they are worried that Jiang Qingzhi will target their own family next.
No one really cares about Wang's life or death. What they care about is whether their own interests will be damaged.
Xu Jie looked at the old men and said, "This matter is up to Jiang Qingzhi. I... am in a difficult position."
I, Xu Jie, am the prime minister. Can I go to Jiang Qingzhi and say: "Chang Wei Bo, it is a privilege for scholars to be exempt from tax?" Or: "It is a custom for scholars to be exempt from tax."
You can say this, but if I say this, I will be breaking the law knowingly.
No, it is knowing the law and yet blaspheming it.
Can this prime minister continue to do his job?
"Yan Song and his son are eyeing us covetously, and Jiang Qingzhi is also here with ill intentions. To be honest, I am alone in Zhilu and cannot do anything. If the two of them find any evidence against me..."
If I, the Prime Minister, fall, who will speak for you in the imperial court, in the imperial court, and before His Majesty?
Several old men looked at each other, and one of them said, "Even if Wang's crime is a three-time offense, arresting someone and confiscating their property is too much."
"Yes! This is not a serious crime. Why did Jiang Qingzhi arrest him?"
"Everyone." Xu Jie said calmly, "Was it Jiang Qingzhi who did it?"
"Hey! It's someone from the East Factory."
"This is……"
Xu Jie pointed in the direction of Yongshou Palace.
understand?
This is what your majesty meant.
The East Depot was the emperor's household slave. The fact that it was the East Depot, rather than the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that carried out the house search and seizure represented the emperor's anger.
……
"A bunch of idiots!"
In Yongshou Palace, the Taoist priest swung his whisk, saluted the statue, and turned around to say, "Qingzhi's words were very good, and he has established his foothold. What is the public opinion now?"
Under the influence of Jiang Qingzhi, Dao Ye attached much more importance to public opinion than in the same period in history.
Lu Bing said: "Nowadays, everyone in the market is calling for Wang's downfall, but scholars are filled with righteous indignation."
"Oh! Why is everyone calling for his death?"
"There was a rumor circulating within the Wang family, saying that among the four classes of people in the world, scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, scholars are noble people, while farmers, merchants and artisans are lowly people. They are born to be enslaved by scholars."
Huang Jin took a deep breath, and immediately became furious.
Whether they are willing or not, women have to cut off their husbands' genitals to enter the palace. The conditions of their families are self-evident.
Huang Jin, who had suffered in misery since childhood, was also angry.
"How dare Wang do this?"
"Huang Ban is angry too?" Emperor Jiajing said meaningfully, "Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans are the four classes of people in the world. Farmers, merchants and artisans are the people."
"Your Majesty, what...what is that scholar?" Zhang Tong couldn't help but ask.
"They think they are human beings." The Jiajing Emperor raised his lips slightly and said sarcastically, "The people of the world they are talking about are scholars. As for farmers, businessmen, and industrialists..."
"Doesn't that mean... he's not a human?" Zhang Tong was stunned.
Looking at the astonishment and anger in those innocent eyes, Huang Jin sighed, "They are cattle and horses, they are beasts, they are not human beings."
Lu Bing continued, "Chang Wei Bo was furious and immediately ordered the Eastern Depot to arrest Wang's family and confiscate a lot of their belongings."
He glanced at Emperor Jiajing and thought of the sudden betrayal of Wang's servant, "I wonder who took over Wang's servant..." "East Factory." Emperor Jiajing said indifferently.
"Yes." Is it the old enemy?
Lu Bing didn't know that Emperor Jiajing was covering up for Jiang Qingzhi, and secretly criticized Rui Jingxian for planting spies everywhere in the capital. "When I came here, Lord Changwei asked me to ask Your Majesty where to send Wang."
Where it is handed over represents the emperor's attitude towards the Wang family and this matter.
"Imperial Prison...wait." Emperor Jiajing raised his hand, and Lu Bing, who was about to leave, looked up.
"Hand it over to... the Ministry of Justice. Order the Ministry of Justice to handle it according to the law!"
The news spread immediately.
"If he is sent to the Imperial Prison, it is the will of the Emperor. If he is handed over to the Ministry of Justice, it is in accordance with the law. Your Majesty's handling of this matter is the most appropriate."
Xia Yan was drinking tea with Tang Shunzhi at Bo's house and smiled after receiving the news.
"That's right, the new policy should be based on the law." Tang Shunzhi was also quite pleased. "It seems that after going through those things, Your Majesty has found a way to deal with those people."
"If the king is virtuous, I will serve as his assistant. Why do you have worldly desires?" Xia Yan said with a smile.
Tang Shunzhi shook his head, "The king is virtuous, but the minister is greedy. I'd better not wade into this muddy water."
"Are you willing to just live like an idle wanderer and let all your knowledge go to waste?" Xia Yan asked.
"Did Qingzhi ask you to ask?" Tang Shunzhi asked back.
"Hmm!" Xia Yan stroked his beard. "I won't hide it from you. Qingzhi said that Old Tang is a great talent. If he were to become an official, it would be of great benefit to the country. Rather than putting all his knowledge into practice, it is better to become an official and govern the people."
Tang Shunzhi shook his head without even thinking about it. "To be honest, if I had heard these words five years ago and the situation was like this, I would probably be tempted. But now, this moment is good. Very good!"
Xia Yan smiled slightly and stopped persuading him.
Jiang Qingzhi is back.
Xia Yan smiled and said, "I am an incompetent lobbyist, and Mr. Jingchuan is unwilling to serve as an official."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Tang Shunzhi and suddenly smiled, "Actually, I don't want Old Tang to be an official. It would be best if he could serve by my side as an advisor, a teacher, a friend, and a confidant... wouldn't that be wonderful!"
Tang Shunzhi pointed at him and said, "You, you just want the Jiang faction to have a leader in the officialdom? I won't take up an official post, but Wang Yiqi or even Lu Song will do."
"Lü Song?" Xia Yan was startled. "Has his position wavered?"
Tang Shunzhi shook his head. "I have thought about Lu Song. He seems to be a great Confucian general and is the most resolute in defending Confucianism. But the more resolute he is at this moment, the more thoroughly his position will reverse when disappointment comes."
"The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment." Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "Forget it, let's not talk about it. By the way, Old Tang won't leave today, right?"
Tang Shunzhi glanced at Xia Yan, and Xia Yan smiled and said, "I have made an appointment with him to drink and stay up till dawn today."
"How about we go together?" Jiang Qingzhi asked hypocritically.
"Come on, there will be a court meeting tomorrow, and there will be so many open and hidden attacks waiting for you." Xia Yan said.
In the afternoon of the 30th night, the number of people on the streets of the entire capital was rapidly decreasing.
Those who could go home have gone home.
Hua Yan was wandering aimlessly on the street.
"Captain, let's find a place to eat!" said the attendant.
Hua Yan shook her head, "They are so lively, it makes me miss home."
She missed every tree and blade of grass in her hometown, as well as...
"Hua Yan!"
The sadness in Hua Yan's eyes suddenly exploded into joy. She turned around and asked happily, "Why are you here?"
Sun Chonglou reined in his horse and dismounted, "I've been looking for you for a long time. Come on, follow me to the Bo's Mansion!"
"I... they said that everyone will spend their days at their own home today, and no one will visit other people's homes."
This is the rule.
As long as you have a home, no one will go to someone else's home to celebrate the New Year.
"Young Master said that we are all family." Sun Chonglou looked at Hua Yan with sharp eyes, "Young Master is very happy today and cooked many delicious dishes himself... Let's go quickly."
"I..." Hua Yan hesitated for a moment, and Sun Chonglou came over and held her hand, "Let's go!"
"Hey! You..."
"What are you?"
"You let go!"
"I won't let go!"
"Believe it or not, I will kick you!"
"I'm thick-skinned!"
Several followers blinked their eyes.
"What about us?"
When Hua Yan arrived at the Bo's house, she saw a lot of people standing in the yard, all looking at the kitchen.
Smoke rose from the kitchen.
There were various sounds of cooking coming from inside, especially the sound of the food being put into the pot...
So much of the worldly flavor is contained in that one sound.
"That's it!"
Jiang Qingzhi walked out while unbuttoning his waistband. Seeing Hua Yan, he smiled and asked, "Are you here?"
Somehow, Hua Yan felt that all her sorrows disappeared in this smile, and she nodded vigorously.
"coming!"
in the palace.
Emperor Jiajing stood outside the palace with his hands behind his back, looking at the fireworks rising from time to time and the smoke from cooking all over the city, and said softly:
"The 31st year of Jiajing is here! The magnificent event is here too!"
(End of this chapter)
