They originally stood on the commanding heights and criticized the harm caused by the Railway Department to the Chief Envoy of Jiangxi Province.
But who would have thought that here, a question would suddenly be revealed that neither Xia Yuanji nor Hanlin could answer, or even dared to answer.
Xia Yuanji opened his mouth, as if he couldn't find the words for a moment. He paused for a long time before he bit the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue... will investigate this matter on its own. It may involve... Jiangxi's original plan to fill Huguang
,as well as……"
Zhu Di was obviously very dissatisfied with this answer, and even felt particularly angry at this time.
He said sharply: "Then tell me, how many households are there in Jiangxi?"
Xia Yuanji: "..."
Zhu Di said: "You are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. You lament the lack of money and food in the treasury every day. Where does this money and food come from? It comes from the soldiers and civilians in Huangce. You cry in front of me every day. Since you are like this
Cherishing money, why is it that there are only over 700,000 registered citizens in Jiangxi, but there are 1.2 million military and civilian households who have defected to the Railway Department? Could these extra 500,000 households be conjured out of thin air?
?”
Zhu Di sneered and said: "And these are the people who have defected to the Railway Department, what about those who have not defected to the Railway Department? Furthermore, the Railway Department has not yet penetrated deep into southern Jiangxi, and the people in southern Jiangxi have not yet migrated in large numbers. How many households are there?
?In just one year, the number of people who moved to various railway stations far exceeded the number of registered households in Jiangxi."
Probably because of his anger, Zhu Di's face became more and more tense, and he said: "I want to ask you, how many people are hidden up and down here? This is only the case in Jiangxi, so how many such hidden households are there in the whole world?"
Zhu Di himself was frightened.
Because this is really too scary.
In fact, it’s not that Zhu Di didn’t know about the problem of hidden households. He was not a fool. Naturally, he knew that hidden households had existed in the Ming Dynasty since Emperor Taizu Gao was around.
But... after all, it would be very time-consuming and laborious to conduct an inventory, so although Zhu Di knew about it, he only thought that the hidden households might only be a minority, and the vast majority of the people should still be registered.
But the report from the Railway Department suddenly revealed the fact that the hermit group was much more numerous than Zhu Di had imagined.~
The rule of law was so corrupt that Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, turned a blind eye and even pretended not to know anything.
Instead, he talked eloquently about the huge reduction in Jiangxi's tax revenue caused by the Railway Department.
The anger in Zhu Di's heart became more and more intense. He stared at Xia Yuanji. Seeing that he lowered his head and remained silent, he pressed closer and said, "I'm asking you a question!"
Xia Yuanji quickly prostrated himself and said with sincerity and fear: "I will do my best to investigate..."
Zhu Di's eyes seemed to be bursting with flames. He looked at Xia Yuanji coldly and said: "You can't be unclear about the situation. I don't want a specific number. I want you to answer, roughly how much?"
Xia Yuanji smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I don't know."
Zhu Di became even more angry and said: "If you don't know, then how much tax money is lost in this?"
Xia Yuanji said in panic: "I... have committed a crime of negligence."
"What do you mean by oversight?" Zhu Di asked rhetorically, and then continued slowly: "If I remember correctly, Xia Qing's ancestral home is from Dexing Prefecture, Jiangxi, right?"
As soon as he said this, Xia Yuanji's body trembled slightly, and his face became even more ugly.
Zhu Di clasped his hands behind his back and lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something. After a while, he continued slowly: "Before you became an official in the court, you should have known the situation in each state, who was registered and who was
It's a hidden house, wouldn't you know?"
Xia Yuanji: "..."
Zhu Di saw that he was still silent, as if his patience was about to run out. At this moment, he curled his lips and sneered, but it was even colder than before, and said: "Since you already know it, you have ignored it since you entered the court until you became the household minister."
The minister still turns a blind eye to this. He is usually concerned about the country and the people, and criticizes many inappropriate phenomena, but he has become blind or deaf on this matter!"
Zhu Di's words can be described as merciless!
Speaking of which, for the Minister of Household Affairs, such a stern reprimand can be regarded as a heart-wrenching remark.
His body shook unconsciously, and then he kowtowed and said, "I... am guilty of ten thousand deaths."
Zhu Di continued to say slowly: "Wan Shi? Yes, I rely on you a lot. Even if Xia Qing tells me many times, I still tolerate it. This is because I think you are a loyal person. So
For many years, I have been teaching you to be in charge of the household department and entrusting you with all the money in the world. It can be said that you are untrustworthy, but now I know that you actually have such a cunning side."
Xia Yuanji was already heartbroken.
For the emperor, he could tolerate mistakes made by his ministers, even incompetence, but it was not intolerable.
Only the word cunning, once it has such a definition, it becomes purely a matter of trust.
When a person becomes untrustworthy, then...how can he be hired?
"I... am guilty of death. I beg your majesty to remember that I still have to work hard. I am willing to resign and serve..." Xia Yuanji kowtowed and fell on the ground. His tone became particularly sad.
At this point, if you can become an official, it will actually be a good ending.
Zhu Di sneered and said, "Do you want to leave now?"
Xia Yuanji trembled, his face was ashen, but he did not dare to express his anger. He lowered his head silently, waiting for the final verdict.
Zhu Di squinted his eyes, walked back and forth for a few steps, and then said, "Who can take your place?"
Xia Yuanji was stunned. He never expected that Zhu Di would approve his appointment and even asked him about the candidate for the Minister of Household Affairs.
Xia Yuanji said: "The minister of household affairs, Zuo Jin, is loyal and familiar with ministry affairs..."
Zhu Di said calmly: "Has this person ever talked about the issue of hiding a house?"
Xia Yuanji hurriedly said: "No... never..."
Zhu Di sneered: "Isn't this another Xia Qing?"
Xia Yuanji: "..."
With a sarcastic look on his face, Zhu Di continued: "The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the world's money and food. How dare I use such a person..."
As he spoke, Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and said, "There is a man named Gao Xiang in Zhili. Does he hold any position now?"
Hanlins, you look at me, I look at you, this name sounds a little familiar, but also a little strange.
Zhang Anshi said at this time: "Your Majesty, Gao Xiang is currently the Chief Envoy of Henan."
Zhu Di said calmly: "This man is good at business. He was recalled to the capital and appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs. Xia Qing will discuss the crime separately and deal with it later."
Zhang Anshi himself never thought that Zhu Di would still remember this Gao Xiang.
This Gao Xiang can be regarded as Zhang Anshi's best friend. He followed Zhang Anshi in implementing the New Deal in Zhili for many years. Now he serves as the Chief Envoy of Henan and is also vigorously promoting the New Deal in Henan.
Logically speaking, he had almost no chance of joining the imperial court. After all, there were so many chief ministers in the world, and it was extremely rare for him to become a minister.
Today, the Ming Dynasty has six ministries, from the traditional one, and later added the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, for a total of eight ministries.
Among these eight ministries, Zhang Anshi is in charge of the Ministry of Railways, and Yang Pu is in charge of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. If Gao Xiang, who is in charge of the Ministry of Finance, is added to the list, almost all the three ministries in the world that are involved in money and food will fall into the hands of Zhang Anshi.
Yang Pu and Gao Xiang were the hardcore New Dealers.
The Hanlin officials were shocked, and they were obviously aware of the potential problems involved. In the past, there was always a household department, but now the household department has been tainted. If the New Deal is implemented, it will almost...
Just when everyone was uneasy, who knew that Zhu Di glanced at them and said: "I have listened to so many lectures, and all the ministers also talk freely on weekdays. They have many suggestions for me, but why am I alone?"
No one mentioned the matter of hiding the house. Did the ministers not know about it, or did they know it but did not report it?"
Zhu Di's tone at this time was quite calm. After hearing this, the officials felt uneasiness on their faces and bowed down one after another.
They don't dare to do this.
To be honest, everyone is not a fool, even though they usually act like loyal ministers and talk about the world's affairs!
But this hidden house is really related to interests. Even if there is no interest related, once it is revealed, I am afraid that the scholars all over the world will regard it as a national traitor and be completely ruined. We are not fools, but we dare not make anything about it.
No one dared to speak.
Zhu Di's eyes revealed a look of great disappointment.
If a group of people pleads for the people, thinks about the court, and cares about the country and the people, it will always be around you and influence you.
Moreover, they are all impressive, speak politely, and talk about the world and the common people every day. But when you find out, they only criticize every day when it is good for them and not good for themselves.
But they try their best to cover up such things. If you look at them again, they will be as indistinguishable as clowns.
Zhu Di only felt cold in his teeth.
But now, he didn't care about it for the time being, but looked at Zhang Anshi and said: "Zhang Qing, keep playing."
Only then did Zhang Anshi calm down and said: "Yes... The number of households in the Railway Department has increased by 1.13 million. The taxes levied this year are 3.27 million taels of silver, of which commercial taxes are the largest, including tea and salt."
Second to taxes.”
Listening to the numbers one by one, Zhu Di sighed sincerely: "In just a short period of time, the taxes collected by a Jiangxi Railway Secretary have far exceeded the taxes of the Jiangxi Chief Envoy and Secretary for several years..."
Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "The taxes levied by the Railway Department are all in accordance with the imperial court, especially commercial taxes. In the past year, a large amount of commercial goods have been circulating in Jiangxi, so naturally... there are a lot of them.
In the future, when the railways in all prefectures and counties in Jiangxi are connected, it will be even more amazing."
Zhu Di's gloomy mood finally dissipated a lot, and now he looked very pleased and said: "Zhan Ji has really worked hard."
In fact, when Zhang Anshi reported this number, the academicians who had just been shocked by the problem of hermitage were now dumbfounded.
The revenue from the railways, plus taxes, combined, is equal to the income of the entire Ming Dynasty before the New Deal. To reach this level in just one year is really mind-numbing.
Of course, with Zhang Anshi's leadership in governing Zhili, the glory of the emperor's grandson may not be conspicuous, but it is enough to attract people's attention.
More than five million taels a year. This is only the result of one year. Even if it continues to be implemented, it will obviously increase on a large scale. Who knows what it will be like in the end.
Furthermore, more than one million households of civilians have been added. To be honest, the vast majority of these more than one million households of soldiers and civilians are not registered people. This is equivalent to the population directly brought to the imperial court.
, which is quite astonishing.
Zhang Anshi said: "Some time ago, there were some rumors in the court, saying that it was because of the Railway Department that the Jiangxi Chief Envoy's money and food this year were greatly reduced, and the lost taxes were paid by the government.
?
"But your Majesty... lost hundreds of thousands of taels of taxes from the Jiangxi Chief Envoy, but gained more than 5 million taels of revenue from the Railway Department. I am not good at arithmetic, but I can still calculate this.
The accounts are calculated clearly and clearly! But these days, some people are taking advantage of this to criticize the emperor and grandson. I... thought... there might not be a conspiracy behind this."
All Hanlin: "..."
Zhu Di said coldly: "Yes, now it seems that the problem of this hermit household is so serious. It must be these people who have taken in hermit households and trampled on our laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty. When my grandson was in Jiangxi, he settled in hermit households.
The damage caused to these people... is not small. This must be the result of collusion between people at the top and bottom. Jinyiwei... needs to investigate thoroughly. I want to see who it is that is so bold!"
Zhu Di's face suddenly turned frosty, and his eyes swept across everyone's faces coldly.
Zhang Anshi said: "I obey the decree."
Zhu Di then said to the officials: "What do you think?"
After saying that, he continued to stare at them coldly. The Hanlin officials all shivered and just lowered their heads, not knowing how to deal with it for a moment.
If you object, then you must be colluding with those who have trampled on the laws of the Ming Dynasty and secretly housed hermits. The laws of the Ming Dynasty are very strict about concealing the population. This must be a serious crime.
Your support is tantamount to ruining your reputation. To many scholars, you are flattering the emperor and want to kill all the seeds of reading in the world.
When Zhu Di saw all the Hanlin officials bowing their heads and being silent, he smiled and said, "No one is talking anymore. Isn't it possible that no one responded to Zhang Qing's good advice? It seems like... you are not
Agree? Since none of the ministers answered, then...Chen Zhi, you are usually the best at talking and the most worried about the country. Please tell me."
Chen Zhinai is a Hanlin editor. He is very young. Of course, he is full of energy and has done many things with righteous words.
He is obviously different from the eloquent person he used to be. Chen Zhi's face was livid, he was mumbling, and he didn't know how to speak.
Zhu Di said angrily: "Are you mute?"
Chen Zhi's face was filled with despair, and he kowtowed miserably: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... I know nothing about the hidden house. Before I became an official, I only read the books of sages..."
Zhu Di smiled even colder, looked at him mockingly and said: "I only read the books of sages and don't hear anything outside the window? Isn't this wrong? A few days ago, the Qing family also published a book with ten thousand words, talking about local government.
How come the county's issue of encouraging students to study has suddenly become so ignorant of worldly affairs? Could it be..."
Before Zhu Di could say anything else, Chen Zhi turned pale with shock and hurriedly kowtowed: "I... I... am guilty of tens of thousands of deaths. My corpse is a plain meal. It is said that eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor, but unexpectedly, he did it to the person who lives in seclusion."
The matter was so overlooked, I...I beg you...I beg your Majesty, please allow me...I..."
He looked at Ai Ai for a long time, obviously knowing that this time he would extend his head and retract his head, and it would also be a slash. There was no way he could dodge it no matter what.
He immediately took a deep breath and seemed to have summoned up the courage, and said: "I sincerely request your Majesty to allow me to go to sea and move to the residence of the chief historian of the outer vassal for training..."
As soon as these words came out, the palace suddenly fell into extreme silence.
Many Hanlin officials looked at Chen Zhi in surprise.
They had to admire Chen Zhi's quick wit. At the beginning, Xie Jin proposed that the young Jinshi go overseas for training, and Zhu Di also approved this matter.
Therefore, quite a few Hanlin officials and imperial censors went to sea, certainly with plans for their future.
But there are some people who don't take it seriously. On the one hand, they can't let go of their status as nobles. If they don't go, no one can do anything. At worst, they don't expect to be granted the title of marquis or prime minister in the future.
On the other hand, there are also people who are lucky. After all, the capital is the core, and once you go to sea, you will really be thousands of miles away. Compared with being in the capital, you may be appreciated, but overseas, once you leave,
The center of power, who knows if he will still have his place when he comes back.
People like Chen Zhi obviously don't want to go.
But now, he actually invited himself to go to sea.
Zhu Di took a deep look at Chen Zhi. It was obvious that Zhu Di also knew that this guy was lucky enough to pass the test, so he just nodded and said: "Since Chen Qing has this intention, it is gratifying.
If so, then I will give Chen Qing some conveniences, and I will approve whichever Changshi Mansion Chen Qing wants to go to."
After hearing this, Chen Zhi finally secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was not his intention to go overseas, it was not bad to take the initiative to ask for help. At least there would be some benefits.
Immediately, he said without hesitation: "I invite you to go to Java."
Zhu Di said immediately and grandly: "That's right."
Jie Jin, who was standing aside, had a smile on his face, and even his eyes couldn't help but smile.
Zhu Di did not intend to let the others go easily, so he said: "Where are the ministers? Come, let's talk one by one, let's talk about Yinhu... Do you still need me to come and roll your name?"
The Hanlin officials were shocked. They never expected that today they were here to teach the emperor a lesson, but who knew that this place would become their burial place.
This is nothing less than inner suffering for everyone. No matter what your choice, you will inevitably suffer.
At this time, someone said: "I... also invited myself to go to Java."
Another person said: "Please go to Java..."
By the ninth time, Zhu Di's face visibly dropped, and he said impatiently: "Is everyone going to Java? From now on, those who come after you are not allowed to go to Java."
The Hanlin people in the back were all complaining. Who would have thought that going to sea, which was like being exiled at the beginning, would now be like crossing a single-plank bridge with thousands of troops?