At the court meeting, everyone has already lined up to go to court. Although there is no His Majesty, almost all the ministers are there, and the prince and queen can still preside. The officials of Shuntian Mansion's southern patrol and the officials staying in Nanjing discuss matters together as soon as possible.
I share your worries for Your Majesty.
Naturally, no one dared to sit on the dragon chair above. Prince Zhu Cihong and Queen Zhou just sat aside. The ministers stood below one after another, waiting for the discussion to begin.
Wu Linzheng was naturally the main person in charge of the court affairs. Seeing that all the officials had arrived, he went out and coughed twice in front of the officials. After the noisy scene gradually calmed down, he turned around and saluted the prince and Queen Zhou, and then greeted the ministers again.
They said: "Today's discussion in Nanjing has the following aspects on the agenda. First, the issue of commercial taxation that His Majesty discussed during his southern tour."
As soon as the words came out, the officials below started talking about it. Their words and expressions showed their disdain and even dissatisfaction with this matter. Wu Linzheng and others had already mentioned this matter to His Majesty on the way before, but left it alone. Today
Wu Linzheng mentioned it, but officials in Nanjing avoided it.
"quiet!"
After a scolding, the scene instantly became quiet. Fu said again: "Second, should His Majesty return to Nanjing and take charge of the overall situation."
Just when Wu Linzheng was about to continue speaking, a Nanjing official in red official robes came out, looked around and said loudly: "Master Wu, please read below, the first point does not need to be discussed, the discussion should be the second.
Two."
After the words fell, there was another uproar in the court. Everyone continued to talk to each other, turning the court into a vegetable market again. However, Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng, the powerful figures in Nanjing, sneered from the side, and they could see their disdain for Wu Linzheng.
There is dissatisfaction and contempt for today's proceedings.
After hearing the words, Wu Linzheng looked at this person with a cold face and asked: "Who are you?"
"The lower official is Guan Hongyu from the Nanjing Military Department, who is involved in the matter. I think he should be able to speak." After that, Guan Hongyu's face was so provocative that the officials around him couldn't help but feel speechless. Although they knew that he was nothing but
It's a matter of course, but after all, His Majesty is not present today.
And there is naturally someone behind him. If he were helpless, he would not be so bold.
But obviously, Wu Linzheng was not His Majesty and would not care about his own face. He immediately reprimanded: "You interrupt me for no reason when I am speaking in court. It is really disrespectful! I am above you in official position. It is so rude.
This is disrespectful! Come here! Get this person out!"
After saying that, two armored guards strode in from outside the main hall. They immediately pushed the arrogant Guan Hongyu to the ground, and then dragged him out regardless of his hissing. This scene immediately made all the officials stay silent.
My heart feels cold and I don’t dare to be presumptuous anymore.
Li Banghua, Ni Yuanlu and other Shuntian officials looked indifferent and felt that there was nothing wrong with them. They all thought that this person was too domineering and did not take Wu Linzheng seriously. With this person's appearance, it could even be said that the officials of the six ministries in Nanjing all regarded them as the capital.
The officials of the six ministries were very dissatisfied and felt that they had robbed them of their official positions.
I just took this opportunity to hammer it out, lest others think that the six divisions of their capital were just fake.
But taking Guan Hongyu directly would be a slap in Ma Shiying's face, and he couldn't bear to be treated like this by his men. If he didn't intercede, I'm afraid no one would be willing to follow him. He immediately handed over his hand and said: "The official thinks that although Guan Hongyu has
It's disrespectful, but as an official of the imperial court, you shouldn't be treated so roughly."
Hearing this, Wu Linzheng looked at Ma Shiying who was interceding for him. He had some guesses about the relationship between the two, and then said: "Governor Ma, you should be your governor in Fengyang at this time. When will you arrive in Nanjing?"
?”
Ma Shiying was immediately speechless. He didn't expect that Wu Linzheng would ask such a question, which really caught him off guard. He didn't know how to reply for a while. Fortunately, Wei Guogong Xu Wenjue, who was standing aside, came out and explained: "Wu
Sir, Governor Ma came here specially to pick up Your Majesty, so he arrived in Nanjing a few days ago."
Wu Linzheng looked like he suddenly realized it, and said innocently: "So, since Governor Ma is here to pick up His Majesty, there is a reason. But now that His Majesty has not arrived, Fengyang still has to be guarded. If there is another attack by thieves, I'm afraid
Governor Ma is also not easy to deal with."
"I will go back in a few days." Ma Shiying said bitterly, holding his breath.
No longer paying attention to them, Wu Lin Zhengfu said again: "Third, recruit soldiers and reorganize the army. Today we will only talk about these three things. Everyone can speak on the first thing, business taxation."
"The commercial tax proposed by your Excellency, should it be raised or reduced?" After the words fell, an official came out to ask questions.
Seeing that the other party was not of high rank and was so mentally retarded in asking the question, Wu Linzheng naturally responded domineeringly: "This is a really good question, sir. When have you ever seen me paying high commercial tax? The commercial tax is only thirty to one.
With such a low tax, you still have to ask whether it should be reduced, or why not just not charge it? It’s even an argument.”
"I would like to ask, how much will the commercial tax be increased? In which areas will it be increased? When will it be implemented?" This person directly asked a series of questions, leaving everyone confused.
But Wu Linzheng was not afraid at all and said calmly: "The issues you raised are exactly what will be discussed later. If these issues have already been discussed, I will naturally not summon you to come to discuss the matter, but will inform you directly."
After hearing this, the official retreated angrily.
"As for the first question, how many did you mention?" When this question was asked, the officials immediately fell silent, looked at each other, and finally lowered their heads, trying to make themselves feel that they did not belong here.
Scanning the faces of everyone, only a dozen ministers from the capital still straightened their chests, while the rest of the officials lowered their heads. It was obvious that this issue directly touched their own interests, so they all pretended to be deaf and dumb, unwilling to
Answer: Seeing this situation, Wu Linzheng had already anticipated it when he negotiated with Ni Yuanlu and others last night.
I know that these people are unreliable, but if I need to rely on them for execution, I still have to say something.
"I believe that commercial taxes should be raised to the same level as agricultural taxes, especially in Zhejiang and Zhejiang provinces, and should be implemented first. Furthermore, agricultural taxes should be reduced, and even some places such as Shanxi, Shaanxi, Beizhili, and Hubei have all reduced taxes.
, until the imperial court recovers." At this time, Ni Yuanlu, who had always opposed raising commercial taxes, suddenly spoke.
Wu Linzheng was puzzled by these remarks this time. Shangshu Ni was the most opposed to raising commercial taxes before, but now he supports it for some reason. Although he doesn’t know the reason, he supports it after all. However, the provinces he mentioned,
Even if we wanted to collect taxes, we couldn't collect them, so we didn't say anything.
"Second the proposal." Li Banghua stood up and said directly.
Seeing that Li Banghua had already agreed to the matter, more than a dozen officials from the capital all stood up and seconded the proposal. Seeing that so many people agreed in an instant, some Nanjing officials also came out to second the proposal. Only Ma Shiying and others were left standing.
The officials in front did not speak aloud, but remained motionless.
But Wu Linzheng, who acted vigorously and resolutely, ignored them. When he found that the number of people exceeded half, he immediately turned to the prince and Queen Zhou and said: "Prince and Queen, the number of people who seconded the proposal has exceeded half. According to the laws of our court, it should be approved."
The prince and Queen Zhou who were sitting above naturally agreed. After nodding slightly, Wu Linzheng also started the next topic. He cleared his throat and continued: "Everyone, the next topic is whether His Majesty should return to Nanjing to take charge of the overall situation."
Those officials from the Six Ministries of Nanjing who had not seconded the proposal finally had a chance to speak at this time. Therefore, after Wu Linzheng finished speaking, someone said: "I think your Majesty should be allowed to return to Nanjing and take charge of the overall situation. This is something that many officials agree with."
.There are many benefits to it, as it should be.”
"We second the proposal." This time it was Ma Shiying and others' turn to agree, and more than a dozen people came forward to say.
"I object."
However, Li Banghua directly came out to object, which made Ma Shiying and others speechless and helpless. Why did the officials from the capital begin to object as soon as they spoke? Could it be that they were deliberately going against them?
"Why don't Mr. Li want His Majesty to return to Nanjing? Do you know that bandits are rampant everywhere in the north of my name? Once in danger, it will inevitably destabilize the court and make the world uneasy. If such a thing happens, who can be responsible?
"Ma Shiying knew that he had found an opportunity to refute, and continued to refuse.
"But if we return to Nanjing to take charge of the overall situation, all the officials will surely return to their hearts, and the Ming Dynasty will definitely have a backbone. Wouldn't it be better to recover the land of my Ming Dynasty scholars later?"
Hearing this, Li Banghua's face was full of disdain, as if he regarded the other party as a fool, and said slowly: "If His Majesty returns to Nanjing, it will have advantages, but it is not without disadvantages. Now, except for the Shandong part, the rest are
If your Majesty returns to Nanjing, the capital will be isolated and helpless, and Wu Sangui in Shanhaiguan will become an isolated city. Even if there is sufficient food and grass and there is no shortage of soldiers, once you know that they are the only ones in the north of Nuo, you will definitely feel extremely disappointed."
"What if His Majesty is in danger? Can Mr. Li be able to shoulder this responsibility?" Wang Duo, a great scholar, came out to question, his tone full of dissatisfaction.