(Thanks to book friend "PurdueAGECON" for his two monthly tickets!)

Emperor Zhu Hongsan sat on the dragon throne and looked at the quiet ministers below and said sadly: "I am from a small family and cannot be said to be unable to eat, but I also know the sufferings of the people. Therefore, I have always wanted to reduce the burden on the people since Guangzhou became emperor. In the second year of Shenwu, I even levyed taxes on Susong's two prefectures for more than 200 years. But what about you? Look at what you all do? Are you worthy of me?"

Zhu Hongsan talked about the high taxes imposed on the five prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou since Zhu Yuanzhang had competed for the world at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. In addition to the warlord Chen Youliang, who occupied Huguang, there was also a warlord Zhang Shicheng named Zhu Yuanzhang in Songjiang and northern Zhejiang.

Zhang Shicheng was a great salt merchant at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Taking advantage of the situation where the heroes were in power at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, no one was concerned about Songjiang Prefecture and northern Zhejiang, he raised an army to occupy the most prosperous areas in China. Moreover, Zhang Shicheng was much stronger than Zhu Yuanzhang, who had only a small peasant consciousness. Zhang Shicheng was very good at the gentry under the occupation, so these gentry also made great efforts when resisting Zhu Yuanzhang.

However, Zhang Shicheng could not defeat the ruthless man Zhu Yuanzhang. After Zhang Shicheng's failure, the slim Zhu Yuanzhang began to persecute Su Song's two prefectures. The Ming Dynasty's five prefectures had the heaviest taxes, and once occupied one-third of the world's taxes.

After the Qing Dynasty occupied Southern Zhili, the governor of the six provinces, Hong Chengchou, was well aware of the drawbacks of tax collection in the Ming Dynasty, thus reducing the taxes in Susong to normal levels. This is also one of the main reasons why northern Zhejiang and Songjiang Prefectures did not have the fierce resistance to the Qing Dynasty than eastern Zhejiang.

After Zhu Hongsan occupied Nanjing, he did not restore the taxes in the two places to the level of the previous Ming Dynasty. This is not how kind Zhu Hongsan was, but Zhu Hongsan did not want to lose the people's hearts of the two places. Another main reason is that most of Zhu Hongsan's current income comes from commercial and foreign trade. He really didn't see the land tax of these two places that is more than one million a year.

The ministers from these two places in the court were very ashamed to hear the emperor say this. They used to know that Xu Bengao was doing something behind his back. In order to fight against the Huguang faction in the court, Xu Bengao did what they agreed to do, but it was not their intention to welcome King Gui.

The old Qian Qianyi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I know your Majesty's benevolence and righteousness, but Xu Bengao and others are definitely false accusations to welcome King Gui! Please be aware of it!"

Tang Yuanji said at this time: "Your Majesty, I have a letter written by Xu Bengao to Zhang Tongchang, a Hanlin scholar from Gui Ni at that time. Please watch it!"

Qian Qianyi's face turned dizzy when he heard that he had all the letters. He knew that the emperor was cruel and ruthless. If Xu Bengao had evidence to fall into the emperor's hands, the Xu family would be in trouble.

Zhu Hongsan didn't read the letters that Tang Yuanji said at all. He had decided to kill those landlords who opposed him. Evidence was not very important.

Zhu Hongsan said, "Come, I'll send an order! Qian Lide, commander of the Jinyiwei, you personally supervise the case of Xu Bengao's rebellion!" After hearing this, the officials of the Donglin Party were worried. Could this matter be fine if it falls into the hands of the Jinyiwei? You should know that Qian Lide, one of the Huguang troops was impeached just now. Now let him question this case, isn't this guy taking the opportunity to retaliate?

Zhu Hongsan looked at Ma Jiyuan and sighed and said, "Brother, if you are involved in a major rebellion case, you should step down as the chief minister first!"

When Ma Jiyuan heard that the emperor was going to deal with Xu Bengao just now, he knew that today was over. Now that he heard the emperor say this, he had to stand up and take off his official hat and follow the Jinyiwei out of the hall.

Tong Yangjia was overjoyed when he saw Ma Jiyuan's unluckyness, but he was alone in the court, and all his confidants were driven to the place by the emperor. There was no way Tong Yangjia had to wink Zhang Jiayu, meaning that he would stand up and recommend him as the chief minister.

But Zhang Jiayu is not stupid either. The benefits you gave to Tong Yangjia are not enough, and it is recommended that you be the prime minister, so Zhang Jiayu also pretended to be deaf and dumb, pretending that she didn't see it.

Seeing the fierce struggle in the court, Qian Qianyi had already thought of quitting. He stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the old man is seventy years old this year and really has no energy to serve Your Majesty. Please allow the old man to resign and return to his hometown!"

Zhu Hongsan looked at Qian Qianyi. This old guy looked older and older after three years. He was so powerful in the court. This old guy fell asleep. It’s okay! Let him go back to his hometown!

"Since Mr. Qian has this intention, I agree. You can retire according to the position of first-rank Taishi!" The old master of the Pavilion was from the first-rank, and the emperor gave Qian Qianyi a Taishi position, which was considered good.

Qian Qianyi let out a long sigh and finally left the mud pit. Qian Qianyi stood up and gave a deep gift, then took off his official hat and left the hall.

Qian Qianyi's resignation was due to his old age and physical weakness, but the main reason was that Lao Qian was sloppy. He saw that the emperor was no longer satisfied with the Donglin Party. Now he was just considering that the Northern Expedition was difficult to take action. He estimated that he would kill the Donglin Party in a few years. He should retreat as soon as possible to avoid the time being.

There are seven old people in the cabinet, and now there are three missing. Ma Jiyuan was dismissed, Qian Qianyi retired, and Zhu Dadian retired last year. Now there are only Tong Yangjia, Fu Wenlong, Jiang Yueguang, and Wang Yunchang left in the cabinet.

Zhu Hongsan looked at the remaining four people, belonging to different factions. Needless to say, Tong Yangjia was a mortal enemy with Ma Mingyuan, Fu Wenlong was Ma Jiyuan's relatives, Jiang Yueguang was the Donglin Party, and Wang Yunchang was Ma Mingyuan's person, but Ma Mingyuan could not let his family dominate even if he came to power.

Zhu Hongsan thought for a while and said, "I sent an order to restore Ma Mingyuan to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet! Feng Ziyong, the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Li Zhi, the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and Yu Yinggui, the Governor of Liangjiang, entered the cabinet!"

As soon as Zhu Hongsan's imperial edict was released, Zhang Jiayu and Tong Yangjia were very happy. Feng Ziyong had a relationship with the Guangdong faction recently, and Li Zhi was from Guangdong faction. Unexpectedly, two people entered the cabinet this time. Tong Yangjia was also very happy. Yu Yinggui was not the Donglin Party or the Huguang faction, but when he served as the governor of Huguang and the governor of Liangjiang, he had a good relationship with Tong Yangjia, and he was considered half of his own. Now that he entered the cabinet, he was finally no longer alone.

This change in the cabinet master once again reflected Zhu Hongsan and Ximian's ability. The Guangdong faction, who was kicked out of the cabinet at first, came back again. The Donglin Party, which originally occupied two seats in the cabinet, is now Jiang Yueguang, and although Ma Jiyuan has been demoted, his in-law Fu Wenlong is still in the cabinet. Although Wang Yunchang is now Ma Mingyuan's person, Wang Yunchang is Feng Ruoshu's student, and it is difficult to guarantee that he will not surrender to Feng Ziyong, so the newly appointed Ma Mingyuan has become a lonely person in the cabinet.

However, the biggest benefit of this arrangement was the emperor Zhu Hongsan himself. This not only appeased the Guangdong faction and attacked the Donglin Party. At the same time, its basic power of the Huguang faction was greatly improved. Although Ma Mingyuan, Tong Yangjia, Fu Wenlong, Feng Ziyong, and Wang Yunchang were all different, they were all Huguang faction and still spared no effort in supporting Zhu Hongsan.

When the emperor's imperial edict was issued, naturally a young eunuch went to Ma Mingyuan's mansion in the city to upload an edict, allowing the new chief minister to attend the court for political affairs.

Ma Mingyuan had been waiting at home for a long time. According to his arrangement, he would definitely succeed today, so Ma Mingyuan had already prepared his official uniform and was waiting for the imperial edict.

Ma Mingyuan's son Ma Shaojun was also very excited. Although Ma Mingyuan suffered no losses when demoted, Ma Shaojun lost his status in the capital playboy circle. He was all second-rank third-rank officials, and you were just a commoner. So today, Ma Shaojun did not go out to mess around, but was waiting for the eunuchs to announce the imperial edict at the gate.

Ma Shaojun waited until noon when he saw a group of Jinyiwei surrounded by a eunuch in red at the intersection of Mafu Street. Ma Shaojun was overjoyed and shouted: "Dad! Dad! Come! Come!"

Ma Mingyuan, who was sitting upright in the hall, was also very excited. Finally, he waited and got back!

But Ma Mingyuan had no expression on his face and cursed: "Rebellious, why are you panicking? Who is coming?"

"Dad! The official who sent the order has arrived! He has arrived at the intersection!"

"Well, let the butler prepare the incense table!"

The incense table was already ready. After receiving the news, the housekeeper Ma Fu opened four doors, and everyone from the Ma Mansion knelt at the door to welcome the angel!

Ma Mingyuan was the only one who had fame in the Ma Mansion. He was the only one who stood at the door wearing a commoner and bowed to him, "Ma Mingyuan, welcome the angel!"

The little eunuch laughed and said, "Congratulations to the prime minister in our family!"

After the little eunuch said that, he opened the bright yellow imperial edict and said, "Substantially, the emperor's system said! Ma Mingyuan regained the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and was given the title of Grand Tutor, the first rank, and the title of Marquis!"

After hearing the imperial edict, Ma Mingyuan was overjoyed. In the past, he was just a first-rank cabinet prime minister, but now he has been granted a marquis. You should know that in Zhu Hongsan's system, besides the dead Feng Ruoshu, Ma Mingyuan was also the first civil minister to be granted a marquis. This is an unparalleled glory.

After the little eunuch finished reciting the imperial edict, he handed over the imperial edict to Ma Mingyuan: "Sir, please follow our family to the palace! The emperor is waiting!"

Ma Mingyuan suppressed his excitement, took the imperial edict and said, "Please wait for the angel, I will go to change my clothes!"

In fact, Ma Mingyuan had already prepared the costume. When he returned to the study, he changed into a big red four-clawed python robe. This was the prince's uniform. Only the chief assistant could wear it in the court. Ma Mingyuan put on the official uniform and looked at himself in the mirror. He was very moved. Three years ago, he was dismissed from office. At that time, he thought he had taken it lightly. However, he thought that he could not give up his power when he saw this official uniform today.

Ma Mingyuan's eight concubines were also full of joy, and his second wife Cui Niang smiled and said, "The master is still wearing official uniforms and is so powerful!" Several other concubines also said this.

Ma Mingyuan is 1.8 meters tall and slender. He is 48 years old this year. It is the golden age of a man. He wears a python robe given by the emperor and stands in front of his wives and concubines, so those women are not flattering.

"Okay, madam, you have made arrangements. I guess there will be officials who come to the door to congratulate you later. If you ask the butler to stop you, you will return all the gifts you have received! Your Majesty will probably give you a banquet. I won't come back tonight for dinner!"
Chapter completed!