In the eyes of Zhao Wenjing, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, wine is just a dispensable pastime, and grain is the real precious commodity that supports the heaven and the earth. It is very sad that the people use grain to make wine.
Obviously, he does not care so much about the tax money collected, but he cares more about strictly controlling the tax collection and reducing it to a great extent as the cost of brewing wine increases. The middle and lower class people continue to make profits from grain and brewing wine without restraint.
The common people have no foresight and tend to follow the crowd when they see profit. They see one family benefiting and hundreds of families following suit. However, they do not know that once a natural or man-made disaster strikes, wealthy merchants and wealthy households can survive especially if they are large in size, without damaging their roots.
, but they are going to be smashed to pieces.
"Your Highness, drunkards consume people's money, take away people's food, and cause fights and lawsuits among drunkards. They should be supervised by the imperial court. It is forbidden for the people to make Shaoqu, destroy their cooking utensils, and restrain them from selling the wine they have burned.
, the song has been composed and reported to the official for registration.”
Zhu Biao said helplessly: "Qing Zhao, I want to discuss the wine tax policy with you, not to ban alcohol. Drinkers, from princes and officials to traders and footmen, all have lovers. Even in the past few years,
The imperial court has explicitly banned it, but private brewing has never happened, which shows that it is something beyond human power."
"It is said that it is better to block than to divert rather than to divert. Besides, the most important thing for the imperial court at the moment is to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. The wine tax is the measure that I have come to think of and can best replenish the national treasury. You must think carefully and not just ignore it."
Zhao Wenjing sighed and bowed: "I am biased and failed to understand His Highness's intentions. I am blind to Mount Tai. Please forgive me."
Zhu Biao gently put his hand on Zhao Wenjing and said, "What do you think of people like you? I know that lifting the ban on alcohol has both advantages and disadvantages. However, just strictly prohibiting alcohol is not a long-term strategy. You and I, the monarchs and ministers, must find ways to make it happen."
If the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, don’t suppress the advantages and encourage each other.”
Chen Mingjie, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice on the side, was very interested. Among the six ministers, the official department was said to be the most expensive, and the status of the other departments was equal. However, because of the trust of the prince, now, not to mention the six ministers, even the prime minister of Zhongshu was the most respected.
Three points of courtesy.
Zhao Wenjing had an upright temperament, and even if he was promoted to the crown prince, even if he expressed his intention to be given a posthumous title in the future, even if he said a few nice words, his attitude would not change.
But now that he knew what people were thinking, he couldn't help but blush. Compared with personal fame and fortune, what he hoped for more was that the common people in this world would not be hungry. After experiencing the chaos of the late Yuan Dynasty, he knew that he was young.
And people’s livelihood is great.
The king and his ministers know each other well, and the king treats each other with courtesy and trust as a scholar of the country, so why should the minister be so embarrassed?
The emotion in Zhao Wenjing's eyes disappeared when he raised his head: "I will carefully study the wine system of the Song Dynasty, select the good ones and change the bad ones, in order to benefit the country and the people."
"In this case, before the new wine order is issued, it is strictly forbidden for wealthy merchants to collect food from the people and practice illegal activities. Those who violate the prohibition will be punished with a rod of 100 yuan according to the original law, and then be caned for two months. Every time the local officials who fail to observe the law appear
Those who fail to observe three times will be demoted to three levels."
"promise."
"In the future, the cupbearer should also change according to the current situation. Heavy taxation in lean years and light taxation in good years is also a plan. It is safe to not stick to the rules and regulations, but to adapt to changes."
"promise."
After several conversations, the Minister of Hubu bowed to the prince, then gestured to the Minister of Punishment beside him, and then retreated. Since the regulations have been decided, it is necessary to formulate and implement them as soon as possible.
The imperial court deployed troops on three fronts, and the savings he had made through frugality in the past few years had been exhausted. Several large warehouses in the household department were empty and there was no need to send people to guard them.
After the Minister of Hubu retired, Zhu Biao faced the Minister of Punishment and said with a smile: "The imperial court is almost unable to pay out salaries. I am anxious about this matter, and for a while I ignored Chen Qing."
Chen Mingjie hurriedly bowed: "Your Highness, I am very happy to have the honor to accompany His Highness. How can I still be jealous of this young woman?"
"Chen Qingyada."
After joking for a while, Zhu Biao asked about business: "Can all the people from Liyang arrive in Beijing?"
"The time of application has arrived. The magistrate of Liyang County has confessed, and the ministers are preparing to go to the palace to report."
"Oh, it's easy to confess. You will be severely punished according to the law."
"promise."
After accepting the promise, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment hesitated for a moment and then said: "I dare not hide it from Your Highness. This case is indeed proved to be irrefutable. The county magistrate and Yamen officials who were escorted have all confessed to what Huang Lu has accused him. However, Wei Chen's subordinate Lang Guan said that there are still doubts about this case.
place."
"Why worry?"
The Minister of Punishment smiled bitterly and said: "He only said that this trip was in a hurry and did not allow for a thorough investigation. He felt uneasy."
Zhu Biao was not angry either: "It is a good thing to do your job properly and there is no need to be harsh. However, after all, this incident has been known to the emperor and the civil and military officials of the DPRK and China are waiting and watching. It still needs to be dealt with strictly as soon as possible."
After saying this, he said meaningfully: "Since the county magistrate's officer pleaded guilty and was dismissed from public service, he is a criminal and a prisoner. I don't know when the Ministry of Punishment will be unable to handle even one prisoner."
"The humble minister is foolish."
The dignified Minister of the Ministry of Punishment is not a stupid person. How could he not know such a simple thing as telling the truth when tortured?
This kind of thing is the most difficult to deal with when the emperor is at the feet of all the officials. If it crosses the line a little bit, the Dali Temple and Yushitai gangs will be like meat and bones. They have to pounce on the Ministry of Punishment and take a bite of it, so they have to be cautious.
"Go ahead, don't delay, but don't make any mistakes."
"promise."
The Minister of Punishment quickly returned to the Yamen. A Langguan was pacing back and forth anxiously. When he saw his Minister coming back, he hurriedly greeted him. He was so anxious that he didn't say anything and just looked at him anxiously.
Chen Mingjie nodded solemnly without any hesitation, and Ma Ze turned around and ran to the punishment room. The prison of the Ministry of Punishment was not here, but occasionally very important prisoners would be temporarily detained here.
Li Gao, the magistrate of Liyang County, had his hands tied and hung from the beam with only his toes slightly touching the ground. His face was pale and he was moaning in pain. When he saw Ma Ze entering, he quickly begged for mercy: "It hurts... Sir, please let the guilty officer go, or he will die."
He is already dead, so why bother to humiliate him? They are all disciples of saints and once served as officials in the same court..."
Ma Ze laughed ferociously: "Shut up! A mere county magistrate is willing to talk to me about going to the same court as me. I'm afraid you have never been to a pilgrimage to see the Holy One in your life."
"Come here! Get the instruments of torture and set them on fire!"
Li Gao was so frightened that he screamed repeatedly, his thin body twisting like an earthworm, looking extremely ridiculous: "I am also an official of the imperial court. Even if I violate the criminal law and want to be killed or beheaded, I should be dealt with by the Holy One. You can't lynching me!"
"
Ma Ze paid no attention to him, but told the executioner who had brought the torture tools: "First give him twenty lashes to appetize him, and remember not to break his face."
"Hey, sir, don't worry. This little one's skills have been passed down from generation to generation. If you want them to be bruised and bruised, I'll give you a little oily skin. I'll give you a drink with my head!"
After speaking, the thin whip dipped in salt water shot out of the air, hitting the flesh and blood with a clear and loud sound. The thin sound was accompanied by howls. The officials from the Ministry of Justice who passed by would stop and taste it carefully. They didn't need to go in, most of them could
You can directly guess who the executioner is by the rhythm of the whip.
Listening to Li Gao's shrill wails and screams for mercy, Ma Ze's expression relaxed, and he was not in a hurry to ask questions. During the short period of time he was taken to the capital, Li Gao was not punished due to his official status, but the other government officials did not have the same
Treated.
The government officials were very tight-lipped, and Mo Hu, who was tortured, would like to say something, but once his mind recovered, he would rather bite his tongue and seek death than confess. Obviously, there is something that scares them more than death.
This book is nothing. I only used a few of the torturers' methods. As long as I have enough time and there is nothing I can't find out, death? There is nothing happier than death.
But now that everyone is being pressed up and down, there is no time to torture them carefully, and even under the attention of many people, no one dares to be tortured to death, so they can only simmer on a low fire.
You must know that once such an incident is reported to the Holy Spirit, there will be no chance to repent. If the problem is discovered later, you can only make mistakes, or even take the initiative to cover up the truth.
Ma Ze walked to another room. The wailing here was not as loud as Li Gao's. It was dull and weak. Several victims were covered in blood. It was obvious that they had been injured to the point of being unable to speak after just over an hour in Beijing.