Chapter 65: The common people are as guilty as the prince when they break the law
Zhu Gaochi listened for a while and suddenly felt that his second brother was not so angry and resentful. He even said that he was doing good deeds and should be rewarded heavily.
"If we were all like my second brother, who only collected 15% of the interest, the people would not have to sell their sons and daughters, and how many tragic incidents of separation of flesh and blood could be avoided! What he did is beautiful and his merits are immeasurable. I want to meet my father.
Emperor, please take credit for him!"
"etc."
Xu Jingchang stopped Zhu Gaochi and said, "Don't make any noise. At least you can't report to Your Majesty for the time being. Please suppress it first."
Fatty Zhu was startled, "Any meritorious service must be rewarded, and any fault must be punished. Even if it is the good deeds done by my second brother, I cannot hide it from my father. I still understand the principle that state affairs are the most important thing."
Xu Jingchang rolled his eyes at him, "What do you know? This matter has to wait no matter what, but it won't take a few days. I'll tell Your Majesty then. Anyway, I'll take the responsibility for whatever happens, so you don't need to take the responsibility."
.However, I would like to remind Your Highness, if you can't control yourself and cause trouble for me, not only will the King of Han not be grateful to you, but His Majesty will also blame you. I'll see how you end up doing that?"
Zhu Dapang was shocked, and he also heard that Xu Jingchang didn't seem to be doing this just to seize the heir for him and suppress the King of Han... He was just being sentimental.
At this moment, Yao Guangxiao coughed lightly and said: "Your Highness, just listen to Xu Tongzheng and wait and see what happens. I am here, and I will deal with your Majesty."
Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi breathed a sigh of relief, but he began to wonder what Xu Jingchang was going to do, and what results could be expected after a few days?
Three days later, in the General Administration Department, Xu Jingchang was drinking tea and fishing when suddenly news came that the Marquis of Jingan Wang Zhong had arrived.
After waiting for a while, six memorials were sent one after another, and Xu Jingchang asked for the Ministry of Punishments by name.
If you evade taxes, you can be punished three times, so the cost will go up!
Moreover, when the King of Han defaulted on taxes, he punished him three times, which was justifiable. The prince committed the same crime as the common people. Moreover, Xu Jingchang, who was in charge of taxation, could not refute it, and even had to support himself.
Xia Yuanji chuckled, "That's right, even our household department is not interested."
Zheng Ci was anxious, "Xia Shangshu, why do you always speak for the King of Han? What do you think?"
He raised his eyelids, glanced at Xu Jingchang, and immediately picked up the imperial pen and wore red without any hesitation.
Wang Zhong immediately said: "Xu Tongzheng, don't worry, as long as you give the order, I will charge forward, with swords and fire, no matter what."
Impeachment of a prince, even if it succeeds, will lead to enmity, not to mention that it is likely to fail... They are not ordinary public officials, and they need to fight for a future.
"Xu Tongzheng, things have become like this. If we really let the King of Han continue to handle it, the people of Yingtian, who only know the King of Han but not His Majesty, will be in trouble."
Zheng Ci's old face fell instantly, "So you guys hurry up and think of a way, I want to pass the test!"
Xia Yuanji manages finances, but also needs to replenish the national treasury.
Zheng Ci was stunned.
I still want to play chess with the old thief Bald. Talking too much to this idiot will affect my IQ.
Zheng Ci, the Minister of Punishment, looked at Xu Jingchang and said: "Xu Tongzheng, you see so many memorials to impeach the King of Han, we can't remain indifferent, right? Why don't you ask Your Majesty to make a decision?"
Xia Yuanji hummed: "What do I think? Do you want to accuse me of being a member of the Hanwang Party? I might as well explain the matter clearly. The Hanwang borrowed the money from the Baoqian Bureau, and he exchanged real gold and silver for the treasured banknotes.
, and then go to lend money, the Ministry of Revenue has no reason to object. I can clearly tell Zheng Shangshu that if you dare to go to His Majesty to impeach, I will tell the truth."
But Xu Jingchang remained tight-lipped, and Fatty Zhu had no choice but to wait. Fortunately, the General Affairs Department was the center of government affairs, and various memorials were constantly being sent, including more and more impeachments against the King of Han.
Zheng Ci grimaced and became more and more embarrassed.
Zhu Di still frowned, but suddenly Hou Xian ran in.
Jian Yi said with a sullen face: "There's no need for next time."
Only Zheng Ci remained at the end.
Zheng Ci still frowned, "Xu Tongzheng, can you speak more clearly? I still don't understand."
Zheng Ci couldn't help rolling his eyes, "Xu Tongzheng, this matter really has nothing to do with me. It's just that His Highness the King of Han provoked the powerful gentry in Yingtian. I really can't tell how many people will be involved. There will be more to come.
Impeachment cannot be suppressed, and the accusation will definitely come to His Majesty. When the time comes, the three judicial departments will hold a joint trial, and the Ministry of Punishment will take the lead. Whatever I do is wrong. I hope Xu Tongzheng can learn from it!"
As for Song Li, Luo Qian and others, they simply bowed their heads and remained silent. It has nothing to do with us.
In this way, after another seven days, the number of memorials to impeach Zhu Gaoxu reached 20, and the Xunhui meeting of the General Secretary Jiuqing was held.
Everyone deliberated for a long time, but there was no conclusion.
Xia Yuanji chuckled and said: "How to pass the test? You said that the King of Han's 15% interest rate is wrong? Can you deceive your majesty by telling lies with your eyes open?"
Zheng Ci was stunned for a moment, "Well, what should I do if he doesn't agree?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said, "It's not that serious. Let's sit down and drink tea first."
Zheng Ci scratched his head and returned to the Ministry of Punishment, constantly thinking about what Xu Jingchang said, how to increase the cost? There is no doubt that it is to make the King of Han spend more money, how to make him spend more money?
Looking at the piles of case files on the table, Zheng Ci suddenly had an idea.
Xu Jingchang invited him in and asked with a smile: "Are the troops and horses ready?"
"Your Majesty, the Minister of Punishment, Zheng Ci, the Minister of Dali Temple, Wuzhong, and the Censor of Zuodu, Guo Zi, are here to ask for an audience."
Although Hanwang borrowed money at only 15% interest, he still made money. Since he made money, he had to pay taxes.
Zheng Ci said bitterly: "Xia Shangshu, you don't know that such low interest rates from the King of Han will really breed idlers. I heard that some people got something for nothing and even borrowed money with an interest rate of 15%, and then resold them at 20%.
It's really too much to lend money to the people in the countryside and reap half of the profits out of thin air."
"Okay, you can take care of the rest while I go to the palace first."
Since the introduction of commercial tax, there have been endless cases of tax evasion.
Xu Jingchang laughed angrily, "Have you never heard what the common people say, there are people who do the business of beheading, but no one does the business of losing money. As long as you increase his costs and force him to add interest, no one will do it."
That’s it.”
If we drag these two people together and gain some leverage, we may not be able to get away if we get him to His Majesty.
From a pile of memorials, he dug out one of the punishments for Zhu Gaoxu, the king of Han.
It turns out that the person named Xia has already eaten enough. With him escorting us, it’s really difficult to handle.
What about competing with the people for profit, exploiting the people, being crazy, and even saying that the King of Han bought people's hearts and plotted to rebel... The more Zhu Gaochi saw, the more frightened he became. He even had the idea that his second brother really wanted to rebel, and his cousin was
Waiting for evidence?
Xu Jingchang said: "There is no time, Your Majesty, please approve it quickly. I will immediately tell the private newspaper to report this matter vigorously. If the prince breaks the law, he is guilty of the same crime as the common people... If the common people break the law, are they guilty of the same crime as the prince?"
Zhu Di frowned, "I haven't seen it clearly yet. This seems to be an attempt to impeach the second son. Please explain clearly."
The more Zheng Ci thought about it, the more it made sense. Xu Jingchang hinted to himself that this was also the case.
That kid is really a genius.
"Your Majesty, hurry up and use your seal to approve the request of the Ministry of Punishment."
Zheng Ci frowned, "Xu Tongzheng, it's really not me who is meddlesome. More and more people are impeaching us. If the Ministry of Punishments doesn't have an attitude, they will definitely accuse us of dereliction of duty. Next time, I will be impeached as well."
"You don't understand? I don't understand either!" Xu Jingchang turned away and didn't bother to say another word.
Xu Jingchang rolled his eyelids and said thoughtfully: "Zheng Shangshu, I might as well make my words clear. If I really impeach and criticize the King of Han, I will stand up and help him. After all, the King of Han has done nothing wrong. The only way now is
Let him give up the business when faced with difficulties, or offer the interest to more than 30%, just like the big guys."
Xu Jingchang looked at him and said in a low voice: "Zheng Shangshu, tell me the truth. Is it because your family is lending money and the King of Han has taken away the business? That's why you are so anxious?"
Xu Jingchang smiled, "Zheng Shangshu, I know what you mean, but Xia Shangshu also knows what he means. If you want to criticize competing for profit with the people, or say that profit is inappropriate, he will not agree. If it is like
What those people said is to frame the King of Han with evil intentions, and I can’t agree to it here. You know what the crime is by framing the direct prince. Don’t forget, the Queen is still here, so if you want to seek death, this is not the way to do it.”
Jian Yi directly announced the end of the Xun meeting. He patted his butt and left. Xia Yuanji and others also left one after another.
Xu Jingchang smiled and said, "I'm talking about Zheng Shangshu, the matter of the King of Han's loan has been circulated for several days. I thought that everyone who should know the situation is also clear. If you want to be impeached by the Ministry of Punishment, I will definitely not join the General Affairs Department.
You do as you please."
The creature who sits firmly at the top of the court thinks that it is better to do less than to do more, especially the unnecessary things, the less the better.
Zhu Di was startled for a moment, and all three law divisions came.
Xia Yuanji snorted: "That's because someone is too greedy. Even 20% profit is considered a conscience, let alone 15%!"
Jian Yi added: "Someone has already come to the Ministry of Personnel to report."
After saying that, Xu Jingchang went straight into the palace without looking back and met Zhu Di.
Xu Jingchang felt relieved. If he wanted to change now, he needed to force Zhu Di to take back his life.
That's impossible!
I recommend a new book of the same period, "Han Chef", which uses the world as a pot and outstanding people as dishes to stir up the Han Empire.
