Seizing the title

Lin Naiqi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, was glaring fiercely at Chen Zefang, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, without saying a word. Chen Shilang had a sad face and sighed repeatedly.

After a long while, Chen Zefang cautiously spoke again: "Mr. Lin, please think of another way no matter what! Even if you allocate 50%, no, 30% is fine! If this continues, the Ministry of Rites will really have no way to explain! Every day

After a day, another hundred people would come forward, all from the clan, and several vassal princes clamored to go to Beijing to face the emperor to complain to the emperor. The scoldings were so unpleasant and unpleasant! If it weren't for the ancestral instructions, the vassal princes would not be able to leave the palace.

Let alone go to Beijing, my bones have already been eaten alive by them!"

Lin Naiqi continued to stare at Chen Shilang without blinking, patting the thick account book and shouting: "Military expenses cost money, river channels cost money, city repairs cost money, and disaster relief also costs money! Tian Fu's collection is getting less and less every year.

Expenses are increasing day by day! Your Majesty will reward you with 5,100,000 acres of farmland in Sancha. Can Mr. Lin be able to create mountains of gold and silver? If you have the ability, how about you come to the Ministry of Household Affairs to ask your Majesty tomorrow?

?If you are willing, I will jointly sign a memorial with you!"

Chen Zefang was a little annoyed: "Mr. Lin, you know clearly that your subordinate is from Songjiang, and the great ancestor clearly taught that people from Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Susong are not allowed to have official households. Please don't change the subject, okay?"

"The King of Jin is Zuo Zongzheng of the clan. You can go to him and ask for the clan's salary!"

Chen Zefang was really anxious: "Master Lin, please stop deliberately embarrassing me! Grandpa Taizu established the Zongren Mansion. When Grandpa Cheng changed hands, he only left the title of Zongzheng to Prince Jinzhi, and all matters were handed over to the Ministry of Rites.

, Weddings, funerals, births, and marriages are all matters of the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Husbandry is in charge of the world’s money and food. If a subordinate official doesn’t ask the Ministry of Husbandry for money, who else can he go to?”

"The Household Department has no money!" Lin Naiqi puffed his beard and slapped the pile of account books again, "The great ancestor thought well. He will be demoted to the prince for the first time. The problem is that if he is demoted to the lowest level of Fengguo Lieutenant, he will never be seen again.

Surrender! The clan's "nobles do not come to the people, and they do not manage things". They don't have to do anything. Everyone has food to eat, so why not work hard to have children and play? It's only been a few years, and there are already tens of thousands of people!

Not to mention the prince's annual salary of 10,000 shi, which is the 200 shi of rice given by Lieutenant Feng Guo. Even if the weather is good, it will still require eighty farmers to provide it! Last year, the grain supply was 4 million shi.

The salary is twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and twenty-four, and the salary is eight and a half million dan! Do you understand? You and I don’t want to eat. Hundreds of officials drink from the northwest wind.

After feeding the clan, it’s still half way! What do you want Lin to do? I’ve calculated that every thirty years, the clan’s population doubles! If this continues, in a few years, the clan will still be in the hundreds of thousands? What more?

In a hundred years, how many tens of millions will it cost? Everyone opens their mouths and eats them. Let me see, in just a few years, we in the Ming Dynasty will have to be eaten by people named Zhu..."

"Ahem, cough, cough." Zhang Hongxiang, the left minister of household affairs who was sitting next to him, hurriedly coughed to stop Lin Naiqi's growing anger.

Chen Zefang smiled bitterly and said: "Master Zhang, don't worry, we are all in the same boat. Master Lin is right, that's the truth! If this continues, no matter how much rice we have, it will only matter sooner or later."

Hearing what Chen Zefang said, Lin Naiqi's stern face finally relaxed a little, and he cupped his hands: "Mr. Chen, I really can't do anything. Please forgive me for the offense. However, it is not an option to continue like this.

, the Ministry of Rites should think of a long-term plan."

Chen Zefang sighed: "Well, Mr. Lin, to be honest, I have already used all the methods I can think of: Prince Chizhi has a child, and even if we are scolded, we will find ways to find the Holy Emperor to ask for Taicang's internal funds to supplement it; the King of Changsha, Huainan

The side branches of several princes and princes were all tortured to death by the Ministry of Rites and were not appointed to the title - without being given a title, they would have less money and food, right? A pair of Yuanzhi father and son who came from Prince Zhou's Mansion were about to starve.

After death, I remembered that the "Da Ming Law" stipulated that the clan was not allowed to enter the court to remonstrate, and deliberately discussed the government affairs. The purpose was to go to jail and eat in jail! This incident caused a sensation. You don't know it. Can it be regarded as an ancient anecdote?

You think, what else can our Rites Department do?"

Several people sighed with big eyes and small eyes. Zhang Hongxiang saw Xie Anning, the doctor of the Shaanxi Qing Dynasty who was accompanying him at the end of the seat, twisting a few times in his seat and looking like he was hesitant to speak, so he asked: "Zhiyuan (Xie

(An Ning’s word), do you have any thoughts?”

The Ministry of Household Affairs, which is "in charge of the world's money and food", has under its jurisdiction the Thirteen Purification and Purification Departments. In addition to being in charge of the money and grain taxation of the corresponding provinces, some matters that should be directly managed by the central government are also handed over to individual Purification Departments for unified planning. For example, the salt department

, the Shandong Qing Li Division is responsible for it, the Guizhou Division is responsible for customs duties, and the Yunnan Division is responsible for water transportation. The salary of the noble clan is the responsibility of the Shaanxi Qing Li Division.

Of course Xie Anning knew in her heart that she was called over just because of her position. The second- and third-rank ministers and other officials in the hall were discussing official matters. Naturally, she, a fifth-rank minister, had no business interrupting her. She was always respectful.

I bowed my head and sat down respectfully. However, after hearing this, I couldn't help but think of the news I got from my colleagues in the Sichuan Division last night. Fengyang Prefecture is under the jurisdiction of Nanzhili, and the Prefecture Health Office of Nanzhili is responsible for the affairs.

It was concurrently led by the Sichuan Division (North Zhili was concurrently led by the Fujian Division) - so I had some ideas and some hesitation in my heart, which was noticed by Zhang Shilang.

So he hurriedly left his seat and bowed his hands to the big bosses and said: "I am so bold in my humble position, but I hope you will forgive me. I am thinking about this. The Ministry of Households controls the world's money and food, and its main duties are to collect and spend money. It is called making the country strong and strengthening the people."

The only way to increase revenue is to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. This is true for both family and country. Our Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, but the land is limited after all. Since it is difficult to increase revenue, can we find some way out in terms of reducing expenditure? "

The three people at the top were all white-haired old foxes. They exchanged glances with each other, and Zhang Hongxiang encouraged: "It makes sense! Zhiyuan, keep talking."

Xie Anning bowed again: "Thank you, sir. It's a capital crime to be humbled by one's position! There may be some taboos in those below who are humbled by one's position..."

Lin Naiqi knew that it was time for him to express his position: "Zhiyuan is public-minded, but it doesn't matter. If there is really a good way, I and Mr. Chen will not have time to thank you!"

Chen Zefang hurriedly made a gesture to get up: "Zhiyuan, please don't show off, please tell me quickly! Thank you in advance..."

Xie Anning hurriedly bowed again to stop Chen Zefang's behavior: "Master Chen has killed me! I am thinking, if the clan violates the imperial ban, is it possible... to seize the title?"

Chen Zifang thought for a while and suddenly said: "What a good idea! During the Zhengtong period of the Jin Dynasty, there was a case in which King Yonghe of the Jin Dynasty 'violated human relations, damaged morals, committed the ten evils, and was demoted to a common man'!"

Zhang Hongxiang's eyes lit up and he asked meaningfully: "Zhiyuan, how did you come up with the idea of ​​this level? Could it be that... you heard something?"

Xie Anning said: "Your Majesty, I heard about this from Qiu Bijiang, Sichuan Secretary last night, and an official document was sent from Fengyang Mansion in South Zhili..."

…

Emperor Daozong Zhu Yunji had not been in charge of government for four or five years. He only went to court for two or three days every month. The rest of the time he spent in Xiyuan playing the game of cultivating immortals by himself.

The reason for this is that in addition to being born lazy and cancerous, it is also an important reason that it is difficult to cope with the increasingly heavy expenses of the clan: I can't take care of it, and I don't want to take care of it. It's up to you. The sky won't fall anyway - even if it does, it will be smashed first.

You, therefore, you should make up your own mind! Today I received a memorial jointly signed by the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites. After reading it, I immediately became interested.

After the court, Lin and Chen were specially called to Yingtai. When they heard Lin Naiqi say that "the food from Shanxi and Henan is not enough to provide half of the rice for the clans of the two provinces," he immediately made up his mind. Soon, a vigorous and vigorous battle took place.

The operation to seize the title quietly and thunderously began in the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

When the third uncle, who was lying half-dead on the bed, was carried to the door to receive the order, he thought it was the Holy Emperor venting his anger on him. He was gnashing his teeth in joy. He didn't expect to see his great enemy Yang Mingzhen following the angel eunuchs in a big way, and he felt suddenly.

It was not good. When everyone fell down to receive the order, a thunderbolt struck from the blue. They were dumbfounded when they heard, "Contempting the imperial court is the same as treason. I would like to think of my relatives in the side branches and commit suicide with the blessings." Three expressions were lying on the side.

My aunt had just straightened up and wanted to act up. She was still holding the eunuch's laifu which was deliberately spread open and not closed, and she drank: "Bold! The angel declares the edict as if the emperor is coming in person! How disrespectful! Come here, show us a beating!"

Laifu is the eunuch of Du Zhi Jian. Du Zhi Jian is one of the twelve eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty (initially twenty-four eunuchs, later streamlined, and will be discussed in detail later). He is responsible for the emperor's travels to show off his power and appearance. Each "eunuch"

It was managed by three leaders. At this time, the "eunuch" had an official position and was the fourth rank; the deputy was called the "young eunuch" and was divided into left and right, all from the fourth rank. Calling all the father-in-law eunuchs was a flattery later, and then became

The derogatory meaning came much later. Because the purpose of this trip was to seize the title for the clan rather than to supervise military discipline at the bitter cold frontier, the Holy Emperor wanted to use this first example as an example, so he sent the eunuch, the boss of the governor of the capital, to

Go out in person.

After working in the palace for decades, he became the head of the first prison. Laifu was very good at observing people's behavior and watching people order dishes. The inner prison is the emperor's domestic slave, and the clan is the emperor's relative, no matter how distant the relative is.

, and their status is much higher than that of domestic slaves. Therefore, in normal times, in theory, Laifu has to kowtow when he meets the clan. However, there is an exception: when the holy decree is in hand, it is as if the emperor is coming in person! If the imperial edict is combined

If he is handed over to the party leading the order, Laifu will immediately return to his status as a domestic slave. His three cousins ​​and uncles will not be able to hide from him even if they beat him. However, Laifu, who has been able to get along well in the undercurrents that never stop for a moment, wants to deal with a few

Isn't it easy for a country bumpkin who has never seen the world? If the other party is not fooled, Laifu has prepared another trick: scolding. People in the capital are naturally good at scolding and are the best in the world. The father-in-laws in the palace are even more superb.

Dubu Yunei! Anyway, the Holy One has already told you to "admonish". There is no difference between a curse and a day of curses! As long as you kneel down and move your legs a little, the charge of disrespect will be waiting for you...

Laifu had received the decree, especially with the hints from the Holy Emperor and several pavilion elders. The group had already prepared for such a situation. Two Feiyu (Jin Yiwei) stepped forward, one of them held the third cousin's arms from behind,

The other person rounded his arms and slapped him hard one after another with his big mouth... The Jin Yiwei are the emperor's personal soldiers, and the people sent on this trip are all carefully selected talents, and after the admiral's instructions from the factory owner

, Laifu’s insinuations along the way have already made him clear about what he should do.

Seeing that his third cousin was also beaten to the point of being half breathed, Lai Fu coughed lightly to stop Fei Yu, closed the imperial edict, resumed his original identity as a eunuch, and said with a smile: "The emperor's life is on my side, Lai Fu

Please forgive me, auntie." He stuffed the imperial edict into her arms and said, "Put it away and don't drop it - that's even more disrespectful! No matter how good the villain is, I can't protect you anymore..." Almost

The third cousin, who was beaten to death, used her remaining little mind to ponder: Does this big-mouthed person really mean anything? Is he really protecting me? Why is there something wrong... The more he thought about it, the more confused he became, and his head tilted.

, passed out.

Eunuch Laifu turned to the frightened Third Aunt and bared his teeth in amusement: "Laifu will help Third Aunt choose a blessed place for you." He pointed at the main hall and said, "This is a good place for our family." He pursed his lips as he spoke.

, the two flying fish took out a piece of light yellow silk from their arms and threw it over the beam, quickly pulled the buckle, dragged a chair, pulled the third uncle up and put the noose around his neck.

.

The third uncle, who had been lying down all the time, got the strength from nowhere, and actually stood firmly. His toothless mouth mumbled "have mercy" incomprehensibly. Laifu looked up and sighed: "You guys are the best."

Help me!" Without saying a word, a flying fish kicked over the chair. The group of people raised their heads and watched with interest as the third uncle gradually stopped kicking his legs and hung there leisurely.

At the same time, officials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces received an explicit order from the Holy Emperor: "I will abide by the teachings of my ancestors and pastor the world with virtue... I will do whatever is illegal for the clan members in the local area, and those who cheat will be severely punished."

.

On the official road, there was an endless stream of post horses galloping from south to north, east to west. After receiving the order, officials from various places invariably missed their elders who were far away in the capital, and sent greetings and blessings to their disciples.

Of course, at the end, they all mentioned in a roundabout way that they had encountered some confusion recently and asked their mentors and elders for advice. As for what the confusion was, no one mentioned it. The adults in the capital also replied to the letter and taught them again.

Disciples, sons and nephews, no matter what kind of confusion they encounter, they must remember: care about the common people, not be afraid of the powerful, share the worries of the Holy Emperor, and benefit the Ming Dynasty!

Soon, memorials like snowflakes poured into the capital.

The Holy Emperor was "furious", well, it looked like he was really angry.

"The king of Huining County in the Qin Mansion left the house and lived in Fengxiang." - The county king was given to commit suicide! His father, the general of the auxiliary country, Gong Nai, took away half of his rice!

"Jianmingfu Zhongling King Jinzui indulged in sexual desires and deceived his children and concubines. Chen Min did not remonstrate his father's evil and had an affair with the palace people" - seize the title and depose him as a commoner!

"King Jing saw that Xun had violated the precepts of his ancestors and destroyed the laws of nature" - he seized the title, deposed him as a commoner, and imprisoned him in the west!

"Zhong Shao, the king of Ninghua in the Jin Dynasty, and his younger brother Zhong Guo, the general Zhong Tao, were incompatible with each other. Zhong Tao tried all kinds of illegal things against Zhong Tao, and Zhong Tao also criticized Zhong Tao for his unfilial piety." - Zhong Tao removed his crown and brought Lumi, and Zhong Tao removed Lumi three times.

Second!

"Zhong Kai, the auxiliary general of the Prince of Ninghua, often went to the house of a prostitute at night, or entered the palace and stayed there for several years." - Ge Suilu 3-2!

…

Yang Mingzhen, who was just starting out and was not afraid of the powerful, rose to fame in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty and received personal praise from the Holy Emperor! Soon, he was transferred back to the capital by order and joined the Supervisory Council as the supervisory censor.
Chapter completed!