"Your Majesty, I am doing all this for the sake of Daliang!"
"absurd!"
Dai Yushi wanted to convict Zhou Kongfang immediately. Before Zhou Kongfang could continue, he pointed at Zhou Kongfang's nose and loudly refuted it.
"You secretly hid silk and made millions of profits, but you still have the nerve to say it's for Daliang?"
"Everyone, listen up, there are people in the world who confuse right and wrong!"
"Dai Zhen!"
Zhou Kongfang became angry.
"You can't wait to convict me. Is it because you hate me? Or do you want to make money by ransacking my house? Our families are family friends. You are such a villain, aren't you afraid of thunder from the sky?!"
"Zhou Kongfang, you are so bloody mouthful!"
"I think you are just talking nonsense!"
"You dare to interfere with me before the matter is fully investigated. As the censor of Zuoqiandu, you are of the fourth rank, and you just heard about it?"
"Today I will show you what kind of person I, Zhou Kongfang, am! As he spoke, Zhou Kongfang raised the memorial above his head."
"His Majesty!"
"I am asking to see you today to ask for a donation of five million taels of silver to fill the national treasury for disaster relief!"
Zhu Youde's face instantly showed a look of shock.
The ministers also did not hesitate to make more concessions.
"Zhou Aiqing, what did you say?!"
"I know that the national treasury is empty and unable to provide disaster relief. I have been awake at night and want to contribute to Daliang!"
"By luck, I learned that without the trade of Tianguang silk, foreign merchants might be executed when they return home, so I had an idea. This memorial tells the story of my private collection of Tianguang silk and the silk auction..."
"The total profit was 3.9 million taels of silver. I spent all my wealth to make up the amount to 5 million taels and donated it all. I hope your majesty will make it happen!"
"As for disobeying the imperial edict, I know that I am guilty. Your Majesty, please grant me death!"
Zhou Kongfang finished explaining the causes and consequences.
Everyone was moved!
There are such loyal people in the world!
The Hunjun ordered people to burn the silk out of anger, but Zhou Kongfang risked beheading to hide it secretly. Not only did Daliang not lose half a year's tax revenue, but he sold nearly four million taels of silver!
And he did this not for himself!
It’s for Daliang!
It's for the people who are in dire straits in Fuzhou!
Some ministers who were very emotional couldn't help crying on the spot.
I just feel a surge of energy in my chest. If I don't express it, I will never be happy in this life!
Feng Baigong, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, was the first to kneel in front of the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Zhou Kongfang's resistance to the imperial edict is for my sake and it is a great meritorious deed! Please spare Zhou Kongfang's life for the sake of the people of Fuzhou!"
"Such a countryman is unparalleled! Your Majesty, you can't kill him!"
The officials are excited!
They gave various reasons to excuse Zhou Kongfang, as if Zhou Kongfang was their beloved relative and friend!
Especially the loyal ministers, they wish they could imitate He Lao and die in court for his advice!
Everyone is afraid of the foolish king on the throne who kills people indiscriminately!
Dai Zhen was so shocked that he was speechless.
As family friends, we all know the approximate family background of the other person.
I suddenly donated millions of taels of cash out of my own pocket, and the hundreds of people in the Zhou family were prepared to live by selling off their property?
All the ministers were waiting for the emperor's answer.
But Zhu Youde let out a long sigh and stepped down from the dragon chair step by step. Then, he helped Zhou Kongfang up with his own hands.
"It is a great blessing for the country to have a square hole in Daliang!"
Zhu You took Zhou Kong's square hand and sighed.
Then he added: "Since it was Zhou Aiqing who made the donation, how about Zhou Aiqing serve as an imperial envoy and go to Fuzhou to provide disaster relief? If the merits and demerits are balanced, I agree not to pursue the matter of resisting the decree.
Zhu Youde is really worried about other people taking this money!
The ministers were excited and had tears in their eyes, unaware of the emperor's intentions.
It's really unimaginable.
The foolish king actually did an extremely wise and good deed today!
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
"Long live my emperor, long live my emperor!"
The ministers all knelt down, sincerely.
You can wait until the emperor sits back on the throne.
After Youyou said something, the courtiers felt that there was something wrong with this morning's court meeting?
"Five million taels of silver is just an urgent need to relieve the famine in Fuzhou. But the national treasury is still empty. I see that all the beloved ministers are so united in protecting Zhou Kongfang. I guess all the beloved ministers are also national scholars, right?"
"Zhang Shoufu, what do you think?"
Zhang Shoufu is a mature man.
Hearing that Zhou Kongfang donated five million taels of silver before, he felt that there seemed to be a pit in it. Looking at the way the little emperor meant something in his words, he felt that it was even more like a pit!
But now that he was called by the emperor, he could only bite the bullet and go out.
"Your Majesty is so complimentary that I would not dare to serve as a national official. But I have dedicated myself to the Liang Dynasty and died, and it is my duty to serve you!"
"good!"
Zhu Youde was so happy that he patted the armrest of the dragon chair.
"I am very pleased that you are so loyal to the king and the country!"
"Zhou Aiqing, a mere seventh-rank imperial merchant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, can donate five million taels of silver. So now that the national treasury is still empty, I guess all the princes in the hall are also willing to contribute to Daliang, right?"
The ministers really didn't expect that the emperor would be waiting for them here!
They actually asked them to donate money!
For a moment, no one among the ministers responded, they were all thinking quickly.
The atmosphere is so heated.
Each and every one of them behaved so loyally and patriotic, and they were unparalleled in the country.
It's definitely not justified without bleeding.
But how much blood will bleed is a question.
Especially Zhou Kongfang, five million taels of silver, with pearls and jade in front!
If they donate less, wouldn't it be a slap in the face just now?
Thinking of this, the ministers who had previously regarded Zhou Kongfang as their beloved relatives and friends all looked at Zhou Kongfang with hatred.
Donate so much!
You're fucking tricking us!
In the end, a total of three honest officials, led by Feng Baigong, stood up first.
"Your Majesty, my family is poor and far less wealthy than the imperial merchants. But I am willing to donate twenty taels as food for disaster relief!"
"I am willing to donate twelve and a half yuan to Fu Dahe."
"I donate nineteen taels."
Zhu Youde heard that the three people actually had zero and round numbers, and looked at the magnanimous and beautiful faces of the three people.
Then he looked at the other civil and military officials who were rolling their eyes around with all kinds of weird ideas.
I just feel desolate inside!
It turns out that in my Liang Dynasty, there are only these three honest officials!
If any of these three people are good at acting, there may not even be three! But Zhu Youde has already prepared for this.
He was far from angry.
He still patrolled the ministers below with expectant eyes.
It doesn't matter if you are greedy.
But when I clearly said that I need you to donate money, I can’t say that no one can even do the word “loyalty”!
"Your Majesty, I am also willing to eat chaffy vegetables for a whole year and donate twenty taels!"
A fat-headed official said shamelessly first.
And after him, it was like the floodgates were opened.
None of the ministers, who were obviously wealthy, gave the figures that Zhu Youde wanted to hear.
"I am poor, so I am willing to donate three taels."
"Your Majesty, although I haven't changed into new clothes for three years, I am willing to donate fifty taels!"
Heard it halfway.
Zhu Youde put on a surprised look.
"I, the official of Daliang, are so poor that I can't even compare to a fraction of a businessman's?"
"Who says it's not the case? Your Majesty sees everything clearly and is wise!"
I didn’t expect Hunjun to be so easy to fool!
The courtiers winked and expressed their gratitude to Feng Baigong, a stinky stone, for taking the lead and giving them such a good step.
"But my dear friends said that they are willing to die for Daliang! From this point of view, you are all saints!"
Zhu Youde looked extremely moved.
A cold light flashed in his eyes.
I wanted to give you one last chance, but now it seems that I can only sharpen my sword and fight against the pigs and sheep!
Zhang Shoufu failed to detect the murderous intention of the little emperor.
Finally, he concluded with a shy face: "Your Majesty, thank you very much. This is our duty as ministers!"
"No, no, I am deeply moved by the love and patriotism shown by everyone."
"Wang Banban, write down everyone's donation amounts and family circumstances word for word!"
"I want to carve it into a stone tablet and watch it every day!"