Chapter 370 Great Merits and the Sin of Ten Thousand Deaths
Zhang Anshi said, and slapped the form directly on the coffee table nearby.
The minister Zeng Guang was speechless for a moment, always feeling that Zhang Anshi was not very polite.
But being polite or not, he didn't have much to say, so he just stepped forward, took the form, and looked at it carefully.
Looking at it, I just feel dizzy.
Zeng Guang narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, he was a little stunned.
The table is actually very clear and can even be said to be clear at a glance.
Even people who were unfamiliar with this before can understand everything at a glance.
But the number inside made Zeng Guang look at it several times.
Tax silver, 9,756,730 taels.
Food, 3.21 million shi.
Not to mention the grain tax, although it can be considered a large increase, it is still within the scope of Zeng Guang's understanding.
But this tax money...
Zeng Guang looked at this number intently. What is the concept of this number?
A few years ago, the annual tax revenue of the Ministry of Household Affairs was around 2.5 million taels. This is actually understandable. The tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty mainly came from in-kind taxes.
And now, after one year, the tax revenue of the Right Dudu Prefecture is directly four times that of the Ministry of Revenue's national tax revenue a few years ago.
Zeng Guang has been in the Ministry of Household Affairs for a long time, how could he not know how powerful this place is?
Compared with last year, business taxes have skyrocketed, and it can even be said that they are constantly doubling.
Zeng Guang took a deep breath and raised his head, only to see Zhang An Shizheng crossing his legs with a smile on his face and looking at him with a smile.
Zeng Guang pondered for a long time before saying: "Is this... this... number correct?"
"What do you think?" Zhang Anshi looked at him with a half-smile.
Zeng Guang smiled bitterly. By this time, he had nothing to say.
Zhang Anshi said: "This time, I came here specifically for nothing else but to plead guilty. The Ministry of Household Affairs has been urging me these days, and the money and food of the Right Governor's Mansion has only been calculated clearly now. Oh, it's really
Ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths! Now all the officials in the right governor's office are extremely anxious, saying that they missed important national events this time."
"But what should we do? Counting them and me, we are both ministers who are waiting for punishment. Mr. Zeng, if the Ministry of Hus wants to punish you, we have nothing to say."
After hearing this, Zeng Guang blushed and waved his hands: "This... this... no need, no need..."
Just kidding, one right governor's office, even now, is worth the income of three world silver taxes. If the right governor's office is punished, wouldn't it be a big joke?
"What? No punishment?"
"Of course not, this time...this time..." Although Zeng Guang was still unwilling to give in, he had to admit that An Shibie had no other skills. He had a lot of money-making skills.
Until now, he still couldn't imagine where so much tax money came from?
After Zhang Anshi heard this, he said with a solemn expression: "This can't be done. How can you not accept the punishment if you make a mistake? Even if you don't accept the punishment, I have thought about it. From today on, all the officials in the Right Governor's Mansion will be fined for one month. I thought
Punishment, if you dare to commit such a thing again in the future, then those who deserve to be dismissed will be dismissed, and those who deserve to get out will get out. How can the court have no rules? Don’t you think so, Minister Zeng?"
"Ah..." Zeng Guang was lost for a moment, and after hearing this, he was even more horrified.
Zhang Anshi said: "Shilang Zeng doesn't seem to want to talk?"
"No, no, no." Zeng Guang said hurriedly: "I'll be the official, I'll be the official..."
Zhang Anshi was a little impatient at this time, and said disdainfully: "It's really hard to talk to you. It's a pity that Mr. Xia is not here. If Mr. Xia were here, I would probably be chatting and laughing with him now. I and Mr. Xia have been friends for many years! Forget it.
It’s no use telling you this. Goodbye.”
Zhang Anshi said and walked away without stopping.
Exited the household department.
The guards outside were already waiting.
Chen Li quietly arrived at Zhang Anshi's side.
Zhang Anshi asked in a low voice: "Are you sure it's Zeng Guang, right?"
Chen Li said: "Yes, there is another one, and it is all for Liu Zhennan, who is involved in the matter."
Zhang Anshi nodded and said softly: "Okay, I understand."
Chen Li looked at Zhang Anshi in confusion: "The Governor plans to..."
Zhang Anshi snorted and said: "You have offended me, Zhang Anshi, and you still want to leave? But don't worry now, you go... let Gao Xiang come and take charge of all the people here, and they all go to me."
A memorial to apologize."
"After I finished writing, they all stood in their yamen and thought about their mistakes. Is there any reason not to punish them for making such a big mistake? If they don't learn this lesson this time, I'll see if they dare to rebel next time."
Chen Li's face twitched. He wanted to say that the governor's words were a bit harsh.
But after thinking about it, he put his thoughts away.
The governor can say whatever he wants, and he will be right to do as he is told.
Immediately, Zhang Anshi led the people and left.
…………
Zeng Guang was already anxious at this time. He first checked the accounts with some disbelief.
And these accounts are indeed almost the same as those in the table.
After that, Zeng Guang hurried to the room where Du Gui was on duty.
"Liu Du's business, Liu Du's business."
Liu Zhennan was sitting in the check-in room at this time, holding a pen and practicing calligraphy.
Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw Zeng Guang coming, smiling and saying: "Shilang Zeng..."
After the two met, Zeng Guangcai said anxiously: "Look at this..."
Liu Zhennan took the form, and his expression suddenly changed.
He looked at Zeng Guang in disbelief and said: "Has such a thing happened in all dynasties?"
"Where can it be?" Zeng Guang said: "After so many years of reading and working in the Ministry of Household Affairs, I have never seen anything like this. Ten million taels of silver..."
Liu Zhennan put down his pen and said with a wry smile: "Isn't it possible that destiny is over there and I'm not waiting for you?"
Zeng Guang looked at it in confusion: "What did Liu Dushi say?"
Liu Zhennan sighed and said: "Looking at it this way, this Anshi is going to become even more popular. It's really unimaginable."
Zeng Guang then said: "Not only that, Zhang Anshi came in person this time, saying that he came to plead guilty, and also said that he would severely punish the officials, and he would..."
After hearing this, Liu Zhennan's face became even more miserable.
Zeng Guang frowned slightly and said, "I think something is wrong."
"There's more than just something wrong..." Liu Zhennan's eyebrows had already furrowed into the Chinese character "Sichuan" and he said, "This is trying to push everyone to death."
Zeng Guang's heart skipped a beat, and he raised his eyebrows and said, "How can you see that?"
"You have been in the ministry for a long time and are not familiar with the affairs of the inner dynasty on weekdays. I have done nothing to trouble you, but you have to go in and out of Wenyuan Pavilion to communicate." Liu Zhennan said: "Think about it, with so much money,
After paying such a high tax, which has never happened before, he still has to be punished and has to bear thorns to plead guilty. What about other people? Compared with him, the taxes and taxes collected every year are like fireflies competing with the sun and the moon.
What about the various chief envoys and prefectures? If someone who has made great contributions still has to plead guilty, then what is the face of other people who have not done much... not to plead guilty?"
"you mean?"
A stern look flashed across Liu Zhennan's eyes: "This is an official who wants to make people laugh at the world, and this household department... I'm afraid it will also be blamed."
Zeng Guang took a deep breath and said with a straight face: "This guy is too arrogant."
Liu Zhennan smiled bitterly, clicked on the form on the slip, and then said: "Crazy has the capital to be crazy."
"We should wait until Duke Xia comes back to discuss this matter with him."
"Xia Gong?" Liu Zhennan smiled bitterly again.
Zeng Guang said: "Just now, Zhang Anshi took one mouthful of Xia Gong on the left and Xia Gong on the right..."
Liu Zhennan's face turned even more ashen, and he finally sighed and said, "Hey... let's wait and see what the palace's attitude will be."
The two of them were full of worries at this time.
They wanted to sow discord with all their hearts, but little did they know that for Zhang Anshi, he had no intention of starting a fight.
But now, Zhang Anshi casually said "Xia Gong", but directly silenced the two of them.
Only people with evil intentions will think that others are also evil.
The more profound a person is, the more he will think that others are not simple like himself.
Because of this, whenever Zhang Anshi mentions Duke Xia, people like Zeng Guang always feel a sense of physical discomfort and disgust.
Zeng Guang said: "It seems that this is the only way."
He was about to leave.
However, Liu Zhennan's eyes were slightly red and he hurriedly covered his eyes with his long sleeves.
Zeng Guang said in surprise: "Why is Liu Du so like this?"
Liu Zhennan said sadly: "I lament how difficult the people's livelihood is. I lament that some people, for the sake of political achievements, expropriate and plunder violently, just for... ah..."
Zeng Guang opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing.
…………
Xia Yuanji was standing awkwardly in the literary building at this time.
Zhu Di looked obviously unhappy.
Yang Rong and others also stood quietly one by one.
Zhu Di then said slowly and authentically: "Xia Qing's family and the right governor's house have not received the money and food yet?"
"Never so far." Xia Yuanji said awkwardly: "I have urged you several times..."
Zhu Di frowned and said, "It's getting late. The expenses for the coming year must be taken care of before the year ends. The Ministry of Revenue... needs to step up."
Xia Yuanji was very embarrassed and said: "It's just that the money and food from the Right Governor's Mansion have not arrived, and many of the revenue and expenditures of the Ministry of Revenue are not good..."
Zhu Di glanced at Xia Yuanji coldly and said in a deep voice: "You are the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Don't you understand the principle of obeying authority in urgent matters?"
Xia Yuanji had no choice but to say: "Yes, I will die."
Zhu Di added: "While the troops and horses are still in motion, food and grass go first. This is how you run an army, and it is also how you run a country. Money and food are the foundation of the country. However, there is something strange about the Right Governor's Mansion this time."
Having said this, Zhu Di's eyes turned to the other two people and said: "Yang Qing, Hu Qing, what do you think?"
Hu Guangdao: "The Right Governor's Mansion needs some punishment. You know, all the states and counties in the world have submitted it. But the Right Governor's Mansion is at the foot of the emperor, but it has not yet been sent. What is the reason? What if we can follow suit?
, all the chief envoys and state governments are like this, so how can the imperial court govern?"
"I believe that no matter what, some punishment must be given, so that it can serve as a warning to others and make people convinced."
Zhu Di listened and remained silent.
Hu Guang glanced at Yang Rong, asking Yang Rong to give him some advice.
This matter is indeed not a small matter. It can be seen that Yang Rong still looked thoughtful. Hu Guang added: "When Emperor Taizu Gao was the emperor, if any state government dared to be so negligent, Emperor Taizu Gao would kill someone."
After a pause, he continued: "Your Majesty, I have no enmity with Zhang Anshi, I just feel that some punishment must be given, otherwise..."
At this time, Yang Rong said calmly: "What Mr. Hu said is not unreasonable. But... I am thinking about one thing."
Everyone looked at Yang Rong in unison.
But Yang Rong continued to take his time and said: "The Right Governor's Mansion is at the foot of the emperor. It is easy to go back and forth. It is only an hour's journey from the Ministry of Household Affairs. In the past two years, nothing like this happened, but this year, it is a big delay.
It's been more than half a month, but I still haven't received the money and food book."
"No matter how you look at it, things are very strange. Instead of yelling at him at this time, it is better to ask him in detail what happened."
Xia Yuanji smiled bitterly at this time and said: "I've asked several times, and they all said I'm almost ready. It's not that I don't want to ask... it's just..."
Yang Rong smiled slightly and said: "Although Governor Zhang is sometimes confused, things like this... Your Majesty, I have never seen Governor Zhang neglecting serious matters, so I feel that something is wrong... I think it is best to find out.
good."
After hearing this, Zhu Di nodded: "Yes..."
Zhu Di said, stood up and said: "Yi Shiha..."
"His Majesty……"
Before Yi Shiha could respond, a eunuch came over to the General Administration Department in a hurry. The eunuch called out from outside the palace.
Zhu Di said: "Come in."
The eunuch stepped in and saluted: "Your Majesty, someone from the Ministry of Revenue said that the money and grain from the Right Governor's Mansion have been presented."
"Huh?" Zhu Di was stunned, looked at the eunuch and said, "Bring the account to me for a look."
So an account was quickly delivered to Zhu Di.
After Zhu Di saw it, he took a deep breath.
Then he was silent for a long time.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Hu Guang saw Zhu Di's strange reaction and couldn't help but exchange reminders in a low voice.
Only then did Zhu Di come back to his senses. He stared at Hu Guang without saying a word.
Hu Guangdao: "Your Majesty... this..."
Zhu Di suddenly yelled: "Damn it, have this account... been calculated?"
Hu Guang was suddenly startled.
But this inquiry was obviously addressed to the General Secretary.
The eunuch from the General Affairs Department hurriedly kowtowed: "The Ministry of Revenue should have done the accounting, and there shouldn't be any mistakes."
Zhu Di couldn't help but said: "It's terrible, it's too terrible."
Seeing that all the ministers were confused.
Zhu Di turned around and said: "This year...the Right Governor's Mansion has a silver tax of 9.75 million and a grain tax of 3 million shi... This is not only the best in the world, but even if the money and food all over the world are put together, it is not as good as
His right is the Governor's Mansion!"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned and speechless.
What is the concept?
This should be the first time since the Ming Dynasty that a right-wing governor's office is an administrative unit similar to the chief envoy. The tax on silver alone is many times higher than the previous tax on money in the world.
I don’t know what to use to describe this kind of record.
And the imperial court must be very wealthy. To what extent?
Judging from the situation in the past when half of it was turned over to the national treasury, a right governor's office directly increased the amount of silver by five million taels.
This is double the silver tax of previous years.
It can be said that Xia Yuanji has never been so wealthy after being the Minister of Household Affairs for so many years.
"How could there be so many?" Xia Yuanji was really shocked. For a moment, his eyes widened in shock.
Zhu Di said: "You ask me, and I want to ask you, the Minister of Household Affairs. You, the Minister of Household Affairs, can't understand the real situation, but you come to ask me?"
Xia Yuanji: "..."
Zhu Di said: "Speaking of which, this year has exceeded too much. This number is really unimaginable... people are coming... people are coming... hurry up and summon Zhang Anshi to come and see you."
"yes."
After hearing this, the eunuch from the General Administration Department kowtowed and hurriedly retired.
Zhu Di then looked at the ministers and said: "Now, I can really sit back and relax. Zhang Anshi... ha, this guy, is he a magician? In the Jin Qing family, your magic is far inferior to Zhang Qing's."
Jin Zhong: "..."
Jin Zhong was silent for a moment, and finally stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I am not a magician. I did know some small tricks in the past, but this way is metaphysics..."
"Okay, okay, I understand." Zhu Di waved his hand and continued: "I don't mean to belittle you, I'm just making an analogy."
While Zhu Di was talking, he added: "If something goes wrong, you will become a monster. I...I really didn't expect...My lords...aren't you howling every day for a little money and food? Come on, all of them
Let’s talk about it, why is this Right Governor’s Mansion what it is today?”
In fact, no one can tell.
Zhu Di looked at Xia Yuanji.
Xia Yuanji could only smile bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, this is the result of the New Deal."
Zhu Di asked again: "Then why did the New Deal have this result?"
"This..." Xia Yuanji opened his mouth for a long time, but seemed to have nothing to say.
Zhu Di glared at him and said with a little annoyance: "Study hard and don't bury your head in the sand. Otherwise, what is the use of my household department?"
More than an hour passed, but Zhang Anshi had not been seen for a long time.
Just when the monarchs and ministers were impatient, they saw the eunuch walking in quickly and said: "Your Majesty, I have already gone to invite Governor Zhang, and Governor Zhang is on his way, but...just..."
The eunuch had a hesitant look on his face, as if he was torn about whether or not to say anything.
Zhu Di said impatiently: "Just what?"
Seeing that His Majesty seemed unhappy, the eunuch hurriedly said: "When the servant was delivering your Majesty's oral instructions, Governor Zhang was punishing the officials above and below, and... I asked the servant to bring these memorials first. Governor Zhang said...
If the memorial is not received, he will be ashamed to see His Majesty."
Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and said, "Memories? So many memorials?"
Zhu Di looked at the eunuch, who was indeed holding a stack of memorials in his hand. He couldn't help but become curious and said: "This guy... can actually understand tens of thousands of words? It seems that his ability to make money has improved a lot recently.
I also read a lot of books.”
Zhu Di rolled up his long sleeves and continued: "Bring it to me and take a look."
Memorials piled up like a mountain were placed on Zhu Di's desk.
Zhu Di took one of them at random, and when he took a closer look, his face suddenly dropped.
"Apologise?" Zhu Di suddenly shouted loudly: "What kind of sin are they asking for?"
As soon as this statement came out, many people were confused.
However, the attentive Yang Rong seemed to have guessed something at once. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head secretly.