met free Chapter 1138 Your credit, Hu Weiyong, is so bad that you can't even scan a shared bike!
Chapter 1138 Your credit, Hu Weiyong, is so bad that you can't even scan a shared bike!
Hu Weiyong, that old scoundrel, is no saint; he has plenty of strength and means.
Don't even mention "seventy strokes of the cane reduced to a year and a half in prison." Even if Zhang Luer could reach Liaodong unharmed, he might not survive a year and a half of imprisonment.
Liu Bowen nodded slightly, then said in a low voice, "The prefect of Yingtian has a good idea. If he can actually get it done, it will be a great achievement."
Li Shanchang nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "I'll hand this matter over to the Ministry of Revenue later."
The two old foxes whispered a few words to each other, then turned their gazes to Emperor Zhu.
Emperor Zhu was still furious. He first glared fiercely at Zhang Luer, and then ordered Xia Yu, "Have someone drag this ox back to the palace and give it to Shangyuan County at market value."
After Xia Yu agreed, Emperor Zhu stormed out of the courtyard.
Yang Shaofeng reached out and poked the black sesame glutinous rice ball, and the two quickly followed.
Emperor Zhu suddenly sighed and said, "What do you think we should do?"
Yang Shaofeng shook his head slightly and said, "The same rice feeds a hundred different kinds of people. The Ming Dynasty has more than 70 million people. It would be really strange if there weren't a few lazy fools like Zhang Luer."
"In my opinion, it is a good thing that Shangyuan County has thought of helping the poor. After all, it can benefit the people. We must not ruin such a good policy because of Zhang Luer."
"As for lazy idiots like Zhang Luer who brought this upon themselves, it would be a waste to kill them, and it would be a waste of food to lock them up. They should be sent to Liaodong for reform."
"I believe that Governor Hu will be able to help Zhang Luer get rid of his many bad habits."
This is all thanks to the Ming Dynasty.
Sometimes you don't need to be too reasonable with officials, and you certainly don't need to try to win them over.
Zhu Biao spoke more directly than Yang Shaofeng: "Have Xia Yu find a few more typical cases like Zhang Luer and send them all to Liaodong for reform."
As the saying goes, "It is not scarcity that is a concern, but inequality; it is not poverty that is a concern, but instability."
"If this unhealthy trend is not stopped, I'm afraid even the hardworking and honest people will be led astray."
"It will be even more difficult to handle then."
Emperor Zhu grunted in agreement and said without turning his head, "You two discuss it and have someone properly discuss this matter during the grand court assembly tomorrow."
……
On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month of the seventh year of the Hongwu reign (1389), the day after the Little New Year in Jiangnan, the overwork-obsessed Emperor Zhu hastily convened a grand court assembly.
Yang Shaofeng, who was the emperor's son-in-law, Duke of Yingguo, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, inspector of eight provinces, prefect of Dengzhou, magistrate of Ningyang, and vice minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, also had to get up early to participate.
As a son-in-law who works away from home, you must give face to your father-in-law when it's due, attend all the important assemblies you're supposed to attend, and sleep by the dragon pillar when it's your turn.
However, just as Yang Shaofeng was about to find a dragon pillar to lean against and take a nap as usual, Emperor Zhu disregarded martial ethics and unleashed his full power.
"There are many things we need to discuss at today's grand court assembly. We'll go over them one by one later."
"If any of you gentlemen have any different ideas, please feel free to speak them out."
"The more you debate, the clearer things become."
At this point, Emperor Zhu glanced at his ministers again and said, "Let me make this clear in advance: there shall be no fighting during debates in the court."
"Even if you have to use force, you can't hit them in the face."
"After all, it's the end of the year, and in a few days it will be the eighth year of Hongwu. We don't want to see you ministers coming to court with bruises and swelling."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng's sleepiness vanished instantly.
What is Old Deng trying to do?
Are he drawing red lines and setting rules for government officials with these words?
The more I listen, the more it sounds like I'm telling you officials, "As long as you don't hit my face, you can hit me as much as you want."
The officials participating in the grand court assembly were all in high spirits.
They said you can't slap someone in the face, but they didn't say you can't pull their hair, right?
We don't want officials to come to court with bruises and swelling, but we didn't say that officials couldn't come to court with a limp, did we?
Almost instantly, the officials seized on the loophole in Lao Deng's words.
Once they understood this, the officials in the imperial court were once again stunned and bewildered.
The person in charge said there were many things to discuss today.
He even openly instigated fights among the officials after he rose to power.
Just how troublesome is the matter I'm going to talk about today?
The officials exchanged glances, and Yang Siyi, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward first, bowed to Emperor Zhu, and said, "Your Majesty, I request that the tax system of the Ming Dynasty be revised."
"First, the types of taxes were defined."
"Secondly, the tax rate was determined."
"Thirdly, clarify the responsibility for tax collection."
Fourth, clarify the purpose of taxation.
Fifth, clarify the tax allocation process.
"..."
The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Han Yangzheng, also jumped out and bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "Your Majesty, I request that the ranks of officials and their duties be redefined, so that the ranks and duties correspond to each other."
After rushing all the way, they finally arrived in the capital last night. After a short rest, the provincial governors, including Wang Guangyang and Hu Weiyong, were immediately bewildered when they were urged to attend the grand court assembly.
What is the new leader planning to do?
What is that old scoundrel Yang Siyi up to?
And what about the Minister of Rites? What's with this guy saying that rank and duties must correspond?
Hu Weiyong looked around, then quietly squeezed to the side of the dragon pillar and whispered to Yang Shaofeng, "Your Highness, what's going on here?"
Yang Shaofeng stared intently at the group of officials and said in a low voice, "This involves the reform of the court. Governor Hu should just watch the show for now. It's bound to break out into a fight soon."
Seeing Hu Weiyong's skeptical look, Yang Shaofeng simply added, "It's a good thing for Liaodong; at the very least, they can get some laborers."
labor?
Upon hearing the word "laborer," Hu Weiyong immediately perked up.
"how many?"
"Is he a criminal or a barbarian?"
"Could you make more?"
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Hu Weiyong and said sarcastically, "Getting more is no problem, but the problem is that you, Governor Hu, have been in charge of Liaodong for more than a day or two. When are you going to deliver on your promise to me about the laborers?"
What the hell?
Will you fulfill your promise to Yang Dianfeng regarding labor?
No, the one who promised you Yang Dianfeng was Hu Weiyong back then. Even if you want to find him, you should go find the Hu Weiyong from the sixth year of Hongwu. Why are you looking for me?
Hu Weiyong smiled shamelessly and began his tactic of feigning poverty: "My dear son-in-law, you've been to Liaodong before, you know how poor that place is."
"In order to build roads and houses for the people of Liaodong, I, Hu, have no choice but to swallow my pride and default on the debt owed to the Prince Consort for now."
"How about this? Give me two more years. Once the people are settled, I, Old Hu, will send all the available laborers to Dengzhou without hesitation. I will never break my promise!"
"..."
Hu Weiyong tried to play the victim and complain about being poor, but Yang Shaofeng almost laughed out of anger.
And what about saying you would never break your promise?
Based on your credit, Hu Weiyong, you wouldn't even be able to scan a shared bike in future generations!