Summary of the previous chapter: Ma Xiaoquan's words caused a lot of discussion among the officials of the Ming Dynasty in the court, but Ma Xiaoquan cleverly used the majesty of the Apocalypse Emperor Zhu Youxiao to successfully resolve it...
Zhu Youxiao coughed and said: "My dear friends, what Deacon Ma said is right. The imperial court supports you so that you can stand up at critical moments. I don't have high demands on you. Each person's monthly salary will be reduced."
Just go to 30% and support the Ningyuan war!"
"Thirty percent?" A minister stood up and said with a livid face, "Your Majesty, our salary is not much to begin with. If we take away 30%, our family expenses will not be able to keep up."
Zhu Youxiao frowned, and an unhappy look appeared on his face. Although he was in charge of government affairs, it did not mean that he was not involved in government affairs. The treasury was currently empty, and he could only scrape together several hundred thousand taels.
"What's your name?" Zhu Youxiao asked.
"Replying to the Emperor, Liang Kuan, a humble minister, has taken office..."
Before Liang Kuan finished speaking, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and interrupted: "Pack up your clothes and leave. Come here, let me confiscate his house! All the money will be confiscated!"
"Ah? This... Your Majesty, the minister has not broken the law. Why..."
Zhu Youxiao said angrily: "My salary is only 30%, and you are complaining about me. What if I increase it to half?"
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head secretly in his heart. What Zhu Youxiao did was purely nonsense. It was because of his status as emperor that he could act like this. If it had been anyone else, he would have been pulled down and beaten to death.
Ma Xiaoquan pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Mr. Liang is also telling the truth. The officials of the imperial court rely on their salaries to survive and have rashly reduced them. I'm afraid there will be complaints."
Liang Kuan snorted coldly and accused Ma Xiaoquan: "Deacon Ma, if it hadn't been for your suggestion, would the emperor have deducted our salary?"
Ma Xiaoquan said unhappy: "Master Liang, what you said is biased. I, Ma Xiaoquan, still said the same thing. If you are not convinced, I will defend you. Or I can investigate you carefully and see if your butt is clean."
"you!"
"Okay, stop arguing!" Zhu Youxiao said angrily, "Ma Aiqing, Liang Kuan, you all shut up, let me give up on the salary deduction, but I limit you to give me an explanation within three days.
, Otherwise, wherever they come from, they will be returned to me."
Ma Xiaoquan winked at Ye Xianggao and Xing, meaning Ye Shoufu, Mr. Zhao, aren't you the Donglin Party? Didn't you just agree with my suggestion? What's the matter, now you are silent?
Xing and Ye Xianggao looked at each other, and they both stepped forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, there is no need to deduct your salary."
"Oh?" Upon hearing that there was a solution, Zhu Youxiao asked calmly, "What solution have you two come up with?"
Xingdao: "Weichen heard that someone has been monopolizing various businesses in Beijing recently, which has made the merchants in the city miserable."
Ye Xianggao interrupted: "Yes, Your Majesty, I have also heard some rumors, well, especially what happened in the city recently, oh, by the way, Ye Shanshui, it is said..."
Ma Xiaoquan was secretly surprised. He had not discussed the matter of "Wild Landscapes" with Ye Xianggao and Xing, but how could these two people talk so clearly? Moreover, it seemed to him that their words were clearly biased towards him.
This way.
With the support of Ye Xianggao and Xing, some discordant sounds in the court gradually became quieter.
It has to be said that old slickers like Ye Xianggao and Xing are really eloquent when they talk. Not only are their reasons clear, but they also easily make people think "that's it."
All the officials from the school and the court were convinced.
After hearing what these two people said, Liang Kuan, who was still angry at first, changed his complaining expression and apologized to Ma Xiaoquan.
Ma Xiaoquan didn't really want to get into trouble with Liang Kuan. After all, in the officialdom, it is better to have more friends than less enemies.
...
"Well, based on what Ye Shoufu and Xing said, my roots in the imperial city really need to be investigated carefully, Ma Xiaoquan!"
Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward respectfully: "I'm here!"
"You have one month to investigate clearly for me, who is sabotaging the business under the Imperial City?"
"According to the order!" Ma Xiaoquan took two steps back respectfully, lowered his head, and was filled with ecstasy in his heart.
...
After the morning session, Ma Xiaoquan walked slowly, filled with sorrow.
Several officials who didn't agree with him came over and said, "Deacon Ma, what's the matter? You've got a good job and you're still worried?"
Ma Xiaoquan sneered: "Fat job? Otherwise, I will tell the emperor now, sir, do you want to take over my job? How about it?"
"Hehe, only a fool takes it. Come on, my dear deacon, just do it well, haha..."
Watching the other party leave, Ma Xiaoquan shook his head.
At this time, Wang Wenyan walked over, his eyes rolling quickly, but he didn't speak.
"Haha" Ma Xiaoquan cupped his hands at Wang Wenyan and prepared to leave.
Seeing that the others were almost gone, Wang Wenyan grabbed Ma Xiaoquan and whispered: "Master Deacon, can you take a moment to speak?"
Ma Xiaoquan was stunned for a moment and turned to look at Wang Wenyan, only to see the old guy looking at him with a smile on his face and a scheming look on his face.
Ma Xiaoquan looked around to make sure there was no one around, and then responded in a low voice: "Master Wang, I remember that we don't have much interaction, right?"
Wang Wenyan shook his head: "No, no, sir, you, a person who hardly ever goes to court, suddenly came to court today. I'm afraid this is the last purpose, right?"
Ma Xiaoquan was shocked and said calmly: "Master Wang, you are overthinking."
"No, no, no, I don't have much to think about. Mr. Deacon, I don't understand. Do you have any grudge against the Zhang family?"
The second half of Wang Wenyan's words was spoken so quietly that it was almost impossible to hear him unless he was close.
Ma Xiaoquan gasped and was shocked again.
"Master Wang, I don't think it's better than this. If you have time, you can go to my heaven and earth club and sit there. I'll wait for you there," Ma Xiaoquan said softly with a smile.
"Yeah, okay, okay, okay, then it's better to choose a day. I think it will be in the afternoon. Deacon, could you please wait for me at the club, uh, I don't have a membership card."
"It's easy to talk about." Ma Xiaoquan smiled slightly, "As long as I am here, Mr. Wang can come often. There is no need for a membership card or anything."
The two agreed on a specific time in the afternoon and then went their separate ways.
On the way back, Ma Xiaoquan suddenly felt a little scared.
Wang Wenyan usually doesn't talk much, but why does he know so much about his own affairs? No wonder Wei Zhongxian didn't defeat him for the first time in history.