Chapter 946 Lu Song is coming over
On New Year's Eve, the Embroidered Uniform Guard received news that someone was colluding and preparing to attack Jiang Qingzhi at the New Year's Grand Court Assembly.
The source of the news was reliable. After Lu Bing learned about it, he first found something to do until the afternoon. When it was almost time for dinner, he hurried into the palace to report.
Emperor Jiajing stood alone outside the Yongshou Palace waiting for his children. But even if they came, except for Changle, the two sons could only eat behind a screen or separately.
To be honest, in Lu Bing's opinion, this life is really not a life for human beings.
Looking at this lonely Taoist priest, Lu Bing hesitated for a moment and finally chose to tell the truth.
——As expected!
The Taoist looked at him, as if he knew everything and as if he knew nothing.
Just one glance, and Lu Bing seemed to be back in the Prince Xing's Mansion many years ago. At that time, he followed his brother around, and although he had no power or influence, he was extremely happy.
The pancakes from the east family are delicious, and the widow from the west family is beautiful... I go to the east of the city today and the west of the city tomorrow. I have no responsibilities and no goals.
As time passed, the master and servant became ruler and subject.
You have become a lonely man.
Ministers became slaves of power.
After walking out of Xiyuan, the gate was closed.
Lu Bing stood outside the gate of Xiyuan for a long time before he sighed. Along with the sigh, the white air he exhaled also dissipated.
……
Sure enough, those people took action.
Lu Bing glanced at Emperor Jiajing. He was relatively close and could see everything clearly. The familiar look of scorn appeared in Nai Ge's eyes again.
It's like watching a group of monkeys jumping up and down.
This is not an attack.
This was a precise sniper shot.
The target is not Jiang Qingzhi, but the maritime ban!
Everyone knows what lifting the maritime ban will bring.
money!
Lu Bing knew even more clearly that once the maritime ban was lifted, the literati, wealthy merchants, and officials in the south would band together to form a group with common interests.
As a result, there will be an extra wall between the north and the south.
A wall of rich and poor.
Therefore, even though Lu Bing knew that Jiang Qingzhi was planning to lift the maritime ban, he did not take it seriously. In his opinion, this matter would come naturally, and the southern officials would be the first to agree.
But he knew he was wrong.
Look at the hatred in those officials' eyes!
What are they hating?
Lu Bing suddenly took a deep breath, he understood.
In order to fight against the New Deal, these people would rather give up the huge benefits of overseas trade and the profits that were within their reach.
Lift the sea ban and you must die!
These people actually chose to suffer losses on both sides.
These gluttons who regard profit as their own parents actually made such a decision.
Lu Bing shuddered and looked at Jiang Qingzhi with pity in his eyes.
Jiang Qingzhi, you are digging your own grave!
Jiang Qingzhi stood at the front and said loudly: "As everyone knows, the government has been short of money in recent years. The Ministry of Revenue..."
Everyone turned their eyes and stared at Lu Song.
You are a Confucian general. At this time...which side are you on?
Emperor Jiajing narrowed his eyes, thinking that this idiot dragged Lu Song into the battlefield from the very beginning and forced him to take sides... Is he preparing to burn his boats?
Under the watchful eyes of the public, if Lu Song chooses to oppose, he will part ways with Jiang Qingzhi from then on.
There is no other reason!
If the lifting of the maritime ban is blocked, the new policy will be crippled.
This huge price was enough to make Jiang Qingzhi and Lu Song completely fall out.
Lu Song was a man who clearly distinguished between public and private affairs. This was the reason why Emperor Jiajing, knowing that he was a leading figure in Confucianism at the time, still chose to let him sit in the important position of the Ministry of Revenue and be in charge of the Ming Dynasty's purse.
This is a raid!
No one expected that the literati would choose to suddenly launch a decisive battle at the New Year's Day court meeting on the first day of the new year.
What do they want?
The Taoist priest knows it clearly.
What these people want is exchange.
They hoped to use the lifting of the maritime ban to force Daoye and Jiang Qingzhi to compromise on the issue of tax exemption privileges for scholars and officials.
In this way, you lift the maritime ban, and I will continue my generations of wealth and prosperity.
but!
They are still the ones who benefit the most from lifting the sea ban.
In other words, once Dao Ye and Jiang Qingzhi chose to compromise and exchange, the literati...won!
Using state affairs to threaten the emperor, this is fucking... I couldn't help but swear.
He thought of the things that happened to Emperor Taizu Gao in the past. When he was young, he thought that the old ancestor was too cruel to officials. He would skin them alive and stuff them with straw. If the people found an official breaking the law, they would be sent to the capital...
This is not the way to control subordinates, it is clearly the way to treat prisoners.
But at this moment he felt that his ancestors were wise.
Under the gaze of everyone, Lu Song stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I ask the foreign envoys to withdraw first."
Tsk!
Are you, Lu Song, going to blow up this place?
Dao Ye said calmly: "Yes!"
Sanjo originally wanted to watch a great war between the Ming emperor and his ministers, but he felt quite regretful and a sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.
This feeling of uneasiness came out of nowhere. San Tiao followed the eunuch out, looking at Jiang Qingzhi as he walked.
Jiang Qingzhi looked calm, and his lacquer-like eyes were full of confidence and sharpness.
He felt that his temperament had not changed, but after he gained power, others automatically gave him a halo.
But what he didn't know was that the place where he lives can change his temperament and the way he eats can change his body. At this moment, his temperament was changing unconsciously under the erosion of power.
The messengers left.
The civil officials stared at Lu Song with sharp eyes. Xu Jie lowered his eyes slightly. He knew about today's battle and he had given his opinions.
What he was worried about was not Lu Song, but the powerful people.
Jiang Qingzhi used the issue of maritime trade to reach a settlement with the dignitaries. Today's attack on lifting the maritime ban will inevitably lead to strong opposition from the dignitaries.
He glanced at the dignitaries, and they were all looking at Jiang Qingzhi.
Xu Jie firmly believed that if Jiang Qingzhi gave a hint at this moment, these powerful people would help without hesitation.
But even so, there are still only a minority of people who agree to lift the maritime ban.
How can Emperor Jiajing and Jiang Qingzhi fight back?
Xu Jie thought about it for a long time yesterday and felt that the best way was to compromise.
If they stubbornly refuse to yield, or force the lifting of the maritime ban, the officials and literati in the south will have ways to resist.
For thousands of years, in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad, many times the compromises that seem incredible in the eyes of others, the exchanges that make people feel sad for their loved ones and happy for their enemies, are actually done out of necessity.
What are the consequences of forcing it?
Refer to the reforms of Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi.
Forcing it forward will not only be of no help, but will make internal conflicts more intense.
Xu Jie concluded that Emperor Jiajing would choose compromise and exchange, just as he had decided to retreat to the Western Garden many years ago.
He has no choice!
Jiang Qingzhi is young and energetic, so he might choose to endure it.
But since Emperor Jiajing spoke, he could only choose to endure it.
And so... great things are accomplished.
Xu Jie thought of the fertile fields at home and the anger expressed in the letter from his eldest son Xu Fan.
Things should have a result.
Xu Jie looked up, and just then, Lu Song spoke.
"In the 10th year of Jiajing, the Ministry of Revenue's expenditures increased by 20% compared to the 1st year of Jiajing. In the 20th year of Jiajing, the Ministry of Revenue's expenditures increased by 20% compared to the 10th year of Jiajing. In the 30th year of Jiajing, the Ministry of Revenue's expenditures... excluding the expenses of the Northern Expedition, increased by 30%."
Lu Song's voice echoed in the hall... Even if you stood in the farthest corner, you could still hear it clearly.
This is the miracle brought by the skillful hands of craftsmen.
"The Ministry of Revenue has been robbing Peter to pay Paul every year. As the Minister of Revenue, I am a housewife without rice, and I wish I could break every penny in half. But even so, the expenses still cannot be stopped."
Old Lu, continue... Jiang Qingzhi's mouth curled up slightly.
He is gambling!
Bet that Lu Song will choose the overall situation.
The expenses come from the increase in officials and the increase in various expenses.
"Many people say that the Ministry of Revenue seems to be important, but in fact it is simple, it is just about increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. This is true, but where can we increase revenue?"
coming!
Emperor Jiajing stroked the jade cone, and he actually felt a little expectant.
Lu Song, what choice will this Confucian general make!
Yan Song and his son were also looking forward to it.
As the Prime Minister, Yan Song was fed up with the hard life of lack of money and food. But he was not optimistic about the opening of the sea view.
As soon as the war broke out today, Yan Song signaled to his followers not to act rashly and to follow his lead.
He knew the importance of this battle, and if things went wrong it would affect his own family.
So, watch the battle first!
"Saving money means saving money everywhere."
This is to suggest the absurdity of all kinds of drifting.
The blatant corruption should be stopped and restrained.
"Open source, there are only so many fields in the world, and the annual output is limited, so we can ignore it here."
Everyone nodded.
"So, looking around, what other sources of income does the entire Ming Dynasty have?" Lu Song sighed: "The biggest source of income still comes from the fields."
Yan Song's eyes narrowed, and a thought surged in his mind.
Lu Song...no, and he wouldn't dare!
"The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the Yellow Book, and I know the population growth every year. Including the fields!" Lu Song suddenly smiled.
"This field...will disappear into thin air!"
Most of the civil servants changed color instantly.
"The land is right here on the ground, how could it disappear out of thin air? Those fields that disappeared... along with the taxes that should have been paid also disappeared."
Lu Song took a deep breath. He knew what his decision would bring, but he had no choice.
He walked to the front and turned to look at the officials.
"This Ming Dynasty cannot continue like this!"
Lu Song's voice gradually became more excited. "Expenditures are getting bigger and bigger every year. Can this loophole be plugged? How many people will be heartbroken if it is plugged? Why? Because their corrupt hands are blocked."
"I know they will hate me to the core because of this, but even so, I still want to tell you and others, tell them. This Ming Dynasty...if it continues like this, how long can it last?"
"Money and grain are the lifeblood of the dynasty, but they are being arbitrarily intercepted and embezzled. With the lifeblood cut off, how long can the Ming Dynasty survive? How long!!!"
Lu Song was roaring, "When I was a child, my teacher said that studying is to inherit the lost knowledge of the sages, to establish a life for the people, and to bring peace to the world. But in the Ming Dynasty today, the people are hungry, and peace... How can there be peace without money and food? The lost knowledge of the sages... Who cares about the books of sages? They only care about their own interests. But what about the Ming Dynasty? What about the world? What are you in their eyes?"
What the hell!
Looking at those officials who couldn't believe it, Jiang Qingzhi blinked and thought of Tang Shunzhi's words.
——Lü Song can be won over!
Old Tang!
No need to win over.
What the hell!
Lu Song’s own family came over.
(End of this chapter)
