After yesterday's many setbacks, Emperor Deqing has changed a lot. He no longer deliberately shows off his imperial majesty like before. Instead, his expression is much gloomier. I don't know whether this change is good or bad.
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After hearing Zhao Junchen's analysis, Emperor Deqing's eyes became even more gloomy.
After a moment of silence, Emperor Deqing said slowly: "Your analysis is good. Someone has indeed deliberately cut off the news exchange between me and the capital... I sent someone to inquire about Huang Yourong's messenger. He was obviously plotted secretly.
, I ate unclean food continuously along the way, and not only did I suffer from diarrhea, but I also became seriously ill, so I was delayed for such a long time."
After a brief pause, Emperor Deqing sneered and continued: "In addition to Huang Yourong, during my southern tour, I also deliberately kept Wang Shou, the Minister of the Ministry of War, in the center of the capital. Wang Shou came from a generation of nobles and was closely related to him.
He has a close relationship with the royal family and is one of my closest confidants. I kept him in the capital in order to keep abreast of the developments in the capital. After the prince revealed his intention to rectify the business tax, Wang Shou immediately dispatched
The messenger reported the news to me a few days earlier than Huang Yourong's secret report. However, after his messenger left the capital, he quickly lost his trace. I don't know if he is dead or alive. Wang Shou is also a waste. He has been separated for several days.
The genius discovered the anomaly and sent someone to deliver the message to me again, but unfortunately it was still a step too late. It was not until this morning that I received his message, but it was one night later than Huang Yourong's secret message."
Zhao Junchen said with a serious expression: "It seems that my conjecture is correct. Someone has indeed deliberately cut off the exchange of information between His Majesty and the capital, and concealed the prince's rectification of business taxes. It is really with ulterior motives... If I hadn't expected it...
Otherwise, in addition to Wang Shou Wang Shangshu and Huang Yourongge Elder, there are other ministers reporting the news to His Majesty, but their messengers also encountered accidents... However, to be able to do such a thing, the power of the people behind the scenes
The impact is really terrible."
Zhao Junchen's words are still alluding to Zhou Shangjing, but Zhao Junchen clearly knows that in this matter, Zhou Shangjing is only one of the participants at best. In addition to Zhou Shangjing, there are other forces involved!
That is the Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian!
Zhou Shangjing never likes to do things to perfection, and always leaves a leeway for others, such as the various encounters of Huang Yourong's messenger on the road. It is very representative. He just made some tricks in the food at the inn, so that Huang Yourong's
The messenger suffered from vomiting, diarrhea, and a serious illness. In the end, he succeeded in delaying the message. Not only did he achieve his goal, but it also made it difficult for people to grasp the clues.
But what happened to Wang Shou's messenger was completely different. Just after leaving the capital, he suddenly lost his trace. No one was found alive, and no body was found dead. If nothing else happened, the messenger would have been buried in a mass grave. This
Such fierce and ruthless methods were obviously not Zhou Shangjing's style. After Zhao Junchen heard what happened to Wang Shou's messenger, his first reaction was to think of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian!
In fact, Zhao Junchen's plan to use commercial taxes to rectify and plot against Prince Zhu Heyu has always had a potential ally, and this person is the seventh prince Zhu Hejian!
Zhu Hejian had long coveted Zhu Heyu's position as crown prince, and he would naturally be happy to see Zhao Junchen's plan to harm the crown prince Zhu Heyu come to fruition.
Therefore, before leaving Beijing, Zhao Junchen also informed Zhu Hejian of his plan through some secret channels, because Zhao Junchen knew that there were many loopholes in his plan. But Zhao Junchen could not fix these loopholes himself.
, otherwise it will increase a lot of risks in vain, and maybe your intentions will be exposed.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen thought of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian. Zhao Junchen believed that with Zhu Hejian's vision and means, he would take the initiative to help him make up for the loopholes.
In fact, Zhu Hejian did a very good job. Not only did he "help" Prince Zhu Heyu suppress the elder Huang Yourong, allowing Prince Zhu Heyu to smoothly implement the business tax rectification plan, he also isolated Emperor Deqing from the news exchange with the capital, so that
Emperor Deqing didn't know about the prince's rectification of business taxes until now.
Of course, Zhao Junchen would not inform Emperor Yu Deqing yet about the conjecture about the Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian, so he still poured all the dirty water on Zhou Shangjing.
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's analysis, Emperor Deqing looked solemn and nodded slowly: "I think so too. I just recruited several leaders from Dongchang and Jinyiwei just to send them to investigate strictly.
This matter! Some people are really bold and dare to plot against me like this. After I stabilize the situation between the government and the opposition, I will never let them off lightly!"
Speaking of what happened next, Emperor Deqing could no longer suppress his anger and murderous intent, and his tone was extremely gloomy.
At this time, Zhao Junchen naturally did not dare to refute anything, and quickly followed Emperor Deqing's wishes and said: "Your Majesty, those with ulterior motives will never escape His Majesty's sanctions even if they can gain temporary benefits."
Emperor Deqing seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly added: "Just now, I summoned all the high-level officials of the factory guard to discuss matters, but I did not call you to see me. This is not because I don't trust you, but because I know that you have always been responsible.
All matters related to the southern tour, after you return to the capital, you will have to help me clean up the mess of commercial tax rectification, so I simply will not let you participate in this matter. This is because I understand your misfortune, not because of me.
I don’t trust you, so you must not think differently.”
"Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. You show your love and concern for me. I am so grateful that it is too late to burst into tears. How can I doubt anything!"
While speaking, Zhao Junchen's expression was sincere, but only Zhao Junchen himself knew what he was thinking.
Emperor Deqing nodded with satisfaction. Seeing that Zhao Junchen stopped talking, he asked: "You just said that there are four doubts about the prince's rectification of business taxation. You have already explained three of them. What's more?"
Why don't you continue talking about the last remaining doubt?"
Hearing Emperor Deqing's questioning, Zhao Junchen showed hesitation. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said: "As for the last doubt, I don't know if it's just a coincidence... But, after reading Mr. Huang Ge's secret book, I don't know.
, I found that His Highness the Crown Prince’s various measures to rectify business taxes are actually almost consistent with some of the minister’s ideas, so I was a little surprised.”
During Emperor Deqing's southern tour, the fundamental reason why Prince Zhu Heyu suddenly thought of rectifying commercial taxes was because of Zhao Junchen's secret instigation. The prince's various measures to rectify commercial taxes also originated from Chu Jiayi
In the end, Prince Zhu Heyu followed the plan "stolen" from Zhao Junchen on the rectification of commercial taxes.
Although Chu Jiayi's identity is sensitive, Zhu Heyu may not expose her existence, but government officials have always been lax. Zhao Junchen decided to be just in case.
After Emperor Deqing returns to the capital, he will definitely investigate the reasons why Prince Zhu Heyu rectified the business tax. By that time, this matter may be found out. In this case, Zhao Junchen simply took the initiative to report this matter himself
Speak out and lay the groundwork for future development.
Of course, it is still risky to take the initiative to tell this matter. After all, Zhou Shangjing deduced Zhao Junchen's plan and purpose from this matter.
However, Emperor Deqing was different from Zhou Shangjing. In the eyes of Emperor Deqing, Zhao Junchen was just a jester who was greedy for money and afraid of getting into trouble. He would leave a lot of flaws even when engaging in corruption and bribery, and he could not design such a sophisticated plan at all.
, Zhao Junchen's various flaws were deliberately left to Emperor Deqing. Therefore, Emperor Deqing did not have too many doubts about Zhao Junchen. Even if doubts arose in his heart, Zhao Junchen had follow-up methods to dispel them.
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's description, Emperor Deqing frowned and asked, "What do you mean? Please explain it in detail."
Zhao Junchen replied: "Your Majesty, ever since I became the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, I have known that it is very difficult for our dynasty to circulate money and grain. It has always been the biggest obstacle to your administration. I have received the emperor's favor, so naturally I want to reverse this situation.
There was once a time when I wanted to start with commercial taxes. After all, our dynasty’s commercial taxes were too chaotic. Coupled with the proliferation of smuggling, our dynasty’s commercial taxes have always been very few. Therefore, I once wrote
A note. I suggest that your Majesty drastically rectify the commercial tax, abolish the tax collection stations privately set up by the prefectural and county yamen, Huangzhuang, military towns, and even the six yamen, and at the same time severely crack down on smuggling firms, so as to increase the commercial tax of our dynasty.
income……"
Having said this, Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly and continued: "However, after writing this memorial, I found that I took it for granted. If I follow my ideas, the government and the public will inevitably be in turmoil. It can be said that the pros and cons are difficult to calculate.
, so I burned the memorial not long after... However, after I read Mr. Huang Ge's secret memorial, I found that the prince's various measures to rectify business taxes were very similar to what I had originally thought.
However, I have never disclosed this matter to anyone, so I have some doubts in my heart... Of course, it may be just a coincidence."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen suddenly became silent.
But the implication was that if it wasn't a coincidence, the prince had placed an informant around Zhao Junchen.
As the crown prince, Zhu Heyu would be disgraceful if he really did such a thing.
Therefore, after hearing Zhao Junchen's description, Emperor Deqing's eyes flashed, and he waved his hand decisively and said: "Although the prince is a little reckless, his heart has always been upright. This incident should be just a coincidence, but it is Junchen. What do you think?"
Already."
Zhao Junchen glanced at Emperor Deqing, as if he wanted to say something more, and finally said: "Your Majesty, I am indeed overthinking."
Having said this, Emperor Deqing seemed a little tired. After discussing the arrangements for returning to Beijing for a few more words with Zhao Junchen, he waved Zhao Junchen to leave.
After Zhao Junchen left, Emperor Deqing suddenly sighed heavily and sat back on his chair, his expression full of exhaustion and helplessness.
Emperor Deqing could not have guessed that things would develop to this point.
During this southern tour, Emperor Deqing took away the chief minister Zhou Shangjing and the elder Shen Changmao, as well as many generals from the major factions in the court, but left Huang Yourong, who had a relatively weak personality, as the auxiliary minister, and the elder Mr.
Cheng Yuandao, a die-hard supporter of the prince, wanted to allow the prince Zhu Heyu to establish an advantage in the capital and have absolute convenience when doing things.
However, Emperor Deqing gave Prince Zhu Heyu so many advantages and conveniences in order to allow Prince Zhu Heyu to suppress dissidents and fight for power! Even Prince Zhu Heyu framed ministers and oppressed him during Emperor Deqing's southern tour.
Zhongliang, Emperor Deqing will never be angry, but will be happy to see the results.
After all, compared with the other major factions in the court, Prince Zhu Heyu's power was somewhat weak, and he was repeatedly suppressed. Emperor Deqing did this to prepare for a rainy day.
Of course, during this period, it would be even better if Zhu Heyu could gain some experience in government affairs and gain some imperial savvy!
Unfortunately, Emperor Deqing never expected that Zhu Hejian would take advantage of this rare opportunity to not only fail to expand his power and suppress dissidents, but instead launched a rectification of business and taxation, putting himself at the forefront and offending everyone.
Stakeholders... In the end, not only was Emperor Deqing's good intentions, but also hindered Emperor Deqing, causing Emperor Deqing to rush back to the capital to deal with the aftermath...
At this moment, Emperor Deqing felt extremely helpless and exhausted...
At the same time, Emperor Deqing finally couldn't help but have doubts in his heart. Is a prince like Zhu Heyu really a qualified emperor? After a hundred years, can Zhu Heyu really be able to support the Ming Dynasty?
?
Such doubts dealt a heavier blow to Emperor Deqing than his defeat by Zhou Shangjing!
…
ps: Some of the content in these two chapters should have appeared in later chapters, but some old readers thought that the plot of "the prince alone promotes commercial and tax rectification" was a bug, so they wrote it in advance, which is regarded as Chongzi's explanation of this plot.
.
Well, in fact, these contents have been hinted at before, such as Chapter 296 "Two Lists", and the content about the inn and messenger in the previous chapter, and the content about the Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian... and this chapter only explains the reasons.
Summarize it.
In addition, there is a difference between "commercial tax rectification" and "commercial tax reform". Prince Zhu Heyu does not have the right to adjust tax rates, and Chongzi has never hinted that the prince will adjust commercial taxes. In fact, Chongzi has said it many times before.
, In fact, the commercial tax in the Ming Dynasty was considered low, but the problem of repeated tax collection was too serious. The prince's commercial tax rectification was initially only aimed at the private tax collection stations set up by the yamen at all levels. As a supervisor, he had this power.
He still has it.
In addition, when Emperor Deqing left Beijing, the prince had an advantage in the cabinet. Don't forget that although the prince's die-hard supporter Cheng Yuandao often played soy sauce, he was also the elder of the cabinet.