After Luo Sigong and Wei Chao finished speaking, Emperor Tianqi gently put down the tea cup in his hand and glanced around the hall. Emperor Tianqi said lightly: "My dear friends, I wonder what you think after listening to this? I

But I have a lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts in my heart, so be it! No matter which dear friend you have, please stand up and say what you think. No matter what you say, I will not blame you!"

"Your Majesty, I feel that this case needs to be discussed. Liu Che, the governor of Jiliao, is a wise man. He has made great achievements in the early dynasty for many years. I think this case was fabricated by the Wei Dynasty, the governor of Dongchang, in order to frame Zhongliang. I

Your Majesty, please order the Third Law Division to thoroughly investigate this case and set the record straight!" The first person to stand up was still a censor, but I knew it was a city patrol censor named Cheng Feng.

Looking at the first person to speak, Emperor Tianqi nodded slowly, turned around and asked Chen Hongdao softly: "Where is this person from?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, Cheng Feng, the censor of the city, was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Wanli. He is a disciple of ** Xing, the Minister of Civil Affairs. A member of the Donglin Party, he once received the favor of Liu Che, the Governor of Jiliao." Chen Hong specially reviewed these materials yesterday.

He knew that he would definitely be able to use it today, and now it seems that his guess was indeed correct.

Nodding slowly, Emperor Tianqi said with a smile: "That's what Cheng Aiqing means. I wonder what other opinions you have? You can tell me. After all, this is the biggest case since I came to the throne. I must do it."

Be fair and strict.”

"Your Majesty, I think Cheng Yushi is talking nonsense. Governor Liu Che of Jiliao and others are wildly ambitious, embezzling military pay, and engaging in illicit slave-building. I think these people should punish the nine tribes, and all the principal culprits in this case should be executed without delay. I believe there must be someone in the court who is related to these people.

These people colluded with each other. I request your majesty to investigate this case strictly and make sure everyone is caught and punished severely!" The person who stepped forward this time was Yushi Feng Sanyuan. He was originally a strong general of the Donglin Party, but now he is the leader of the Donglin Party.

The Donglin Party was filled with hatred.

Nodding slowly, Emperor Tianqi said calmly: "Very good, this can be regarded as a way of saying, I wonder which of my beloveds has any other opinions? Speak out, I am listening!"

But after Feng Sanyuan stood up, the hall fell into silence. No one wanted to be regarded as an accomplice. Most people looked at Cheng Feng like an idiot, and those standing around him wanted to stay away from him.

Seeing that no one was speaking, Emperor Tianqi looked calm and said in a deep voice: "Since all my dear friends have nothing to say, I will tell you. Last year, I earned 3.2 million taels, and these 3.2 million taels are in addition to those from various places.

After receiving the military pay and food, there is not much left. Zhao Aiqing, I ask you, how much silver is left in the Treasury of this household?"

Zhao Xingbang, who didn't expect that things would come to him. He was just enjoying himself in a coquettish way, but now that he was involved, he suddenly felt at a loss. He lowered his head nervously, meditating there, and started to sweat on his forehead.

!

Looking at Zhao Xingbang with a frown, Emperor Tianqi said solemnly: "Zhao Aiqing, don't you, the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, even know how much money the Ministry of Hubu has?"

As if reflecting, Zhao Xingbang quickly replied: "Your Majesty, I know, I know. Last year's annual income was 3.2 million taels. In addition to military pay and officials' salaries, plus this year's disaster relief expenses, the Ministry of Household Affairs has no money left.

To three hundred thousand taels!"

"Ai Qing, have you heard this? The Ministry of Household Affairs has less than 300,000 taels of silver in it, and our annual tax in the Ming Dynasty is only 3.2 million taels. Cheng Aiqing, you said that this incident was caused by Dongchang's frame-up, you Go and take a look. Along with the prison escort vehicles, there are also vehicles transporting confiscated items. In Shenyang, Liaoyang, and Jizhou, the items taken from the homes of these people involved in the case were worth a total of 27 million taels of silver. This is How much is it? It’s equivalent to my annual income in ten years of the Ming Dynasty. Cheng Aiqing, let me ask you. Where did they get this money? Could it be that Dongchang put the blame on it?” Emperor Tianqi slammed the table and said loudly. .

There was silence in the main hall, and for a long time, Emperor Tianqi said in a deep voice: "This case is a real case, and I will punish it severely. No matter who is found, I will not be lenient. I hope you will do well. "

"I deserve death for my crime!" Everyone knelt down and said loudly.

Ignoring these people, Emperor Tianqi said loudly: "In order to avoid favoritism and malpractice, I appointed Yang He, the censor of Zuodu, as the chief judge of this case, Dongchang Governor Wei Chao, and Luo Sigong, commander of Jinyiweidu, as deputy judges. This time we must We will get to the bottom of it and we will never tolerate it!”

Yang He and others who were kneeling on the ground said loudly at the same time: "I accept the decree, long live my emperor!"

"My dear friends, please rise up! My dear friends, whether you are involved in this matter or not, I hope you will learn the lessons of this incident. You must abide by the law, be self-restrained and serve the public, and you must not embezzle food and pay, and exploit the people. Although I have only been on the throne for a short time, , but civil uprisings occurred from time to time in various places. Although they were small in scale, they did not shake the rule of the Ming Dynasty. But my dear friends, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty said: The people can carry the boat or capsize it. I believe that among you, there is no A person doesn't understand this truth. Do you really want to see wars and wars everywhere, and the people are in dire straits? What good will it do to you if the Ming Dynasty is destroyed?" Emperor Tianqi's tone was still very serious, and finally he slammed the table again. , so frightened that the people below trembled.

After glancing at the people below, Emperor Tianqi said solemnly: "All of you are scholars and disciples of saints. Although some are from poor backgrounds, most of them are heirs of poems and books. Who among you knows what a real farmer is? As the saying goes, scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, among the four people, scholars refer to you. Your status is the most noble. No matter where you go, you will be surrounded by people, and you will live in eight seats."

After calming down his emotions, Emperor Tianqi said with a stern face: "But among the four people, the most tired are the farmers. In spring, the rooster crows. Perhaps many of my beloved ministers feel that they are very tired, and they get up very early in the court. It's early, but farmers get up earlier than you. They get up early every day, drive their oxen and plows to the fields to plant. Every seed they sow, hoping to grow crops. Finally, they grow, and some Pulling weeds and plowing. Under the scorching sun, the body is haggard. Finally, in autumn, there is a small harvest. In addition to paying taxes, how much is left? Some farmers do not have land themselves, and they have to pay land rent at the end of the year. .How many people are selling their children and daughters because they can’t afford the land rent?”

The ministers below were all kneeling on the ground at this time. Some people couldn't help but feel deeply when they heard Emperor Tianqi's words. Many people in this court came from poor backgrounds, but after becoming officials, many of them gradually I have completely forgotten all my thoughts. When I heard Emperor Tianqi’s words, I couldn’t help but think of my parents who worked hard to cultivate the land when I was young. They worked hard for me to study, and the good things I saved were all stuffed into my mouth. Although life was hard at that time, my heart was full. It's an ambition. I once vowed to be an upright official so that people in the world can live a good life and have food to eat. But after so many years, those things have really been forgotten. Are you really still yourself?

"Once there is a flood, drought or insect disaster, the whole family doesn't know what to do, but what about these officials? There are a few who can appreciate the hardships of the farmers, but most of them exploit the people and run rampant. Do you know that ordinary people

What you hate most are corrupt officials. Don’t you feel ashamed when someone pokes your spine and scolds them?" Emperor Tianqi's voice was still very low, and his tone was also quite heavy.

"I'm afraid very few of you know how those farmers suffered from hunger and cold, and how they lived without a fixed home. They ate grass roots, gnawed tree bark, and sold their sons and daughters. These things are beyond your imagination, but

Things like this are happening all the time in this world. I tell you, what will happen if there are too many of these things, that is, the people will not be able to make a living, and if the people are not able to make a living, the country will be destroyed.

I will make it clear today. From today on, no matter who it is, whether it is embezzlement of military pay or wanton exploitation of the people. I will crack down severely. As long as I know, I will punish each one. I will vilify the people in front of you.

I love you so much that you can take care of yourself, so don’t blame yourself for turning against others when the time comes. Since everyone thinks that being an official is for yourself, and being an official for thousands of miles is only for wealth, then I will tell you, there is no free lunch in the world!" Emperor Tianqi said coldly

Looking at the people below, he said loudly.

The ministers knelt on the ground for a long time before Emperor Apocalypse asked them to get up. At this time, many people lowered their heads and kept thinking in their hearts. They understood that this time Emperor Apocalypse was going to do something real. Some were afraid, some were afraid.

Others are happy, and the expression on everyone's face is different.

For a long time, Emperor Tianqi didn't speak, and the atmosphere in the hall became awkward. Finally, Emperor Tianqi looked at his mouth again, and his voice became much calmer, "I said these words here. I believe some of you have heard it, and some of you love me."

You think I'm telling a joke. There are so many officials in the world, and there are countless corrupt officials. It's just wishful thinking to catch them all. I won't say anything more. Dear friends, please wait and see. I believe there will be results soon!"

"I don't dare!" All the ministers said in unison after saluting Emperor Tianqi.

"I am going to set up a Dengwen Drum outside the Meridian Gate, one on the left and one on the left. The Dengwen Drum is set up for the people of the world. Its function is to give the people of the world a place to complain to the officials. As long as there is no way to redress the grievances, there will be

There is no place to complain. People who want to sue the officials can beat the Dengwen drum. If anyone dares to stop others from beating the Dengwen drum, no matter what the crime is, I will be executed without mercy. I hope all my dear friends will be well.

Think about what I said today!" Emperor Tianqi took a sip of tea and continued: "Tomorrow, post the imperial list, set up a drum to inform the whole world!"

Although what he said was to announce it to the world, Emperor Tianqi also knew that it could be spread throughout the capital now, but that was enough for the moment.
Chapter completed!