"Wei Guo Gong, Bao Guo Gong, and you marquis and earls."
Chongzhen's eyes cooled down, he stared at Xu Hongji and other old nobles and said: "What exactly have you done and what are you thinking in your heart? I am like a mirror."
Xu Hongji wanted to say a few harsh words at this time.
But when the words came to my lips, I couldn't spit them out no matter what.
Even his whole body was shaking uncontrollably.
By Xu Hongji's generation, the Xu family had long lost the martial arts and courage of their ancestors.
Zhu Guobi, Chang Yanling and the others were almost the same, they were all frightened like quails.
At this time, they were really afraid that Chongzhen would confiscate their homes and exterminate their clans in a rage.
After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "If Emperor Taizu Gao is still alive, based on what you people have done, not to mention depriving the title of nobility, the Yi people will be treated lightly! Especially you Liu Kongzhao!"
"I am guilty, I am guilty." Liu Kongzhao kowtowed repeatedly.
Chongzhen said again: "But I am not Emperor Taizu Gao."
"Emperor Taizu Gao doesn't rub sand in his eyes, I don't."
Hearing this, Xu Hongji and others couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.
Even Liu Kongzhao couldn't help but think that maybe there would be a chance to save the dog's life this time.
After all, he was only involved in regicide and was fooled by the Donglin Party.
"I actually don't like killing people. Even if I kill the king, I only kill the first criminal, and there is no crime against these criminals' clansmen or even their families." Chongzhen said, "I don't want to do anything to you nobles.
Dao, after all your ancestors have made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, I really don’t want to bear the infamy of killing the descendants of heroes."
"I would like to thank you, Your Majesty." Xu Hongji couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard this.
"The Holy One is truly a benevolent king who has never been seen in ancient times. It is a blessing to all people that the Ming Dynasty can have such a benevolent king like the Holy One."
"Hey, don't rush to say thank you." Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "I can promise not to kill you, and I can not deprive you of your title, but it is impossible for you to be completely unpunished."
"Your Majesty, I am willing to accept punishment." Xu Hongji and others kowtowed repeatedly.
Liu Kongzhao was even more grateful and said: "I am willing to punish you in any way."
"Okay, this is what you said." Chongzhen said, "That's it. I just promised the Duke of Fujian to build a powerful navy that far exceeds Zheng He's fleet."
"But building a navy requires a huge sum of money."
"But my internal funds can no longer afford this money."
After a pause, he added: "So, I hope you can donate your money comfortably."
Hearing this, Xu Hongji and other nobles couldn't help but cursed, Your Majesty, what you said is too hypocritical. Now your internal funds are said to be upwards of 50 million taels, but you actually said that you can't come up with the money to build a navy?
But I only dare to say this in my stomach, I dare not say it openly.
Who allowed them to be caught by the Holy Spirit, so they could only waste money and eliminate disasters.
However, they underestimated Chongzhen's appetite. What Chongzhen wanted was not just to make them lose money.
At that moment, Xu Hongji said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to help you with one hundred thousand taels, no, two hundred thousand taels! I am willing to help you with two hundred thousand taels of silver to build the navy!"
Zhu Guobi, the protector of the country, said: "Your Majesty, I am also willing to help you with two hundred thousand taels!"
Chang Yanling, Tang Guozuo and other distinguished officials also donated generously, and the youngest, Cheng Anbo and Guo Zuoyong, also donated 50,000 yuan.
Because Liu Kongzhao was involved in the regicide, he risked his life and said generously: "Your Majesty, I will help you with five hundred thousand taels!"
"Haha, five hundred thousand? That's a lot." Chongzhen also had a smile on his face, and seemed quite satisfied with the result. In any case, it was really incredible to raise more than one million taels of silver in just one drink.
not enough.
However, just when Xu Hongji and others thought that this disaster was finally over, Chongzhen suddenly turned against him.
Chongzhen said with a straight face: "With just such a small amount of silver, are you sending a beggar away? Me?"
"Huh?" Xu Hongji, Zhu Guobi, Liu Kongzhao and other ten nobles suddenly looked at each other. This is almost 1.5 million. Which beggar needs so much to send? Grandpa Taizu?
Zheng Zhilong, Huang Degong and others were also dumbfounded.
They actually felt that one and a half million taels of silver was quite a lot.
But the Holy One seems not to be interested in it at all. One and a half million taels are still regarded as scattered silver taels?
Xu Hongji and Zhu Guobi looked at each other and said helplessly: "Your Majesty, how about you give us a charter? How much do you think I should donate?"
Chongzhen said: "Let me decide the regulations. Isn't this appropriate?"
"It's up to you, the Holy One, to decide if it's appropriate." Xu Hongji said hurriedly.
Zhu Guobi, Tang Guozuo, Liu Kongzhao and other distinguished officials also echoed the sentiment.
"Okay, you're welcome then." Chongzhen chuckled and said with a straight face, "Thirty million taels!"
"How much?" Xu Hongji, Zhu Guobi and other old nobles were stunned, as if they couldn't believe their ears. Zheng Zhilong, Huang Degong and other new nobles also looked at each other.
"Didn't you hear clearly? Then I'll say it again."
Chongzhen stared at Xu Hongji and said word by word: "I said, 30 million!"
Thirty million, this number was estimated by Chongzhen, but basically there is no big problem.
Li Zicheng was chasing the stolen goods and paying them back to Beijing, and he actually looted 70 million taels! As the capital of Nanjing, as the political, economic and commercial center of Jiangnan, the total wealth is only much greater than that of Beijing.
And most of the wealth in Nanjing is concentrated in the hands of the noble gentry.
In particular, nobles such as Wei Guogong, Bao Guogong, Huaiyuan Marquis, and Lingbi Marquis have been passed down for more than two hundred years. How much wealth will they accumulate? You can open your imagination.
So these ten nobles can really spend 30 million.
However, after taking out 30 million, these ten noble families were basically bankrupt.
In other words, the title does not need to be taken away, and the person does not even need to be killed, but you cannot keep a single cent of all the family property you have accumulated over generations, and you must contribute it in full!
This is the correct way to save money and eliminate disasters.
"Your Majesty, how can I get so much money?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After confirming that it was really 30 million, Xu Hongji suddenly burst into tears.
Zhu Guobi, Tang Guozuo, Chang Yanling and others also kowtowed and cried loudly.
However, Chongzhen was unmoved at all and said coldly: "It doesn't matter if you can't come up with so much cash. You can use fields to offset it, or you can use antiques, calligraphy and paintings, jewelry, or even a house to offset it."
After saying this, Chongzhen stared at Xu Hongji and said: "I think Duke Wei's big house by the Qinhuai River can be used to pay for at least 500,000! In short, I don't want to pick it, I can use any property to pay for it."
Hearing this, Xu Hongji and others suddenly felt as if they were mourning for their heirs, and they finally came to their senses.
The Holy Spirit said that any property can be used as cash, but no property will be left to them.
This is to confiscate the family, but in a different name, so as to leave them with dignity, and he himself will not leave a long-term infamy for treating nobles harshly in the history books. It is really a good plan!
And they doubted whether they would be able to receive the salary of the title in the future?
Maybe a hundred years from now, their descendants will be begging on the street with a broken bowl while bragging to others that their grandpa is a descendant of a certain duke, a serious duke of the Ming Dynasty!
Then a bunch of naughty kids picked up stones and threw them over, the prince begging for food!
Thinking of this, Xu Hongji and the others are really ready to die. Your Majesty, you can kill us.
All the money, land, antiques, jewelry and even the house were confiscated. The servants and maids in the house must also have disappeared, and they will only have to live a miserable life from now on.
But they were all born with a golden key in their mouths, so how could they endure such hardship?
At that moment, Xu Hongji said with a grimace: "Your Majesty, 30 million is really too much."
"Thirty million, not even a copper is less." Chongzhen said with a cold face, "If you really can't get it all, you can borrow it temporarily from the Royal Bank."
"Ah? Temporary loan?!"
Xu Hongji and others just stayed there stupidly.
There is no need to doubt it now, it has become a reality directly.
You have to repay the money you borrowed, so what can you use to repay it? You can only repay it with the salary from the title. Now their descendants will really have to beg for food. Your Majesty, you are too cruel.
This really leaves no way for us to survive.
Seeing the reluctance on the faces of Xu Hongji and others, Chongzhen said with a straight face: "I have been very kind to you. In addition, I might as well tell you that I am just unwilling to kill, not that I cannot kill."
This is Chi Guoguo's threat. If he doesn't give money, he will pay with his life.
Moreover, after a murder, there is a high probability that the home will be ransacked, and the family members may not be able to survive.
Xu Hongji sighed, cupped his hands and said, "I will go back to my house to collect money and collect my share as soon as possible."
After saying that, Xu Hongji turned around and was about to leave. As soon as he took one foot out, he was stopped by Chongzhen: "Wait a minute!"
"Huh?" Xu Hongji turned around and looked at Chongzhen innocently and said, "Your Majesty, I am going back to collect some money."
"For such a trivial matter as collecting money, there is no need for Duke Wei to go there in person, just send a steward back." Chongzhen said, "As for you, Duke Wei, if you are still there, please stay in Yuejiang Tower with me to continue the banquet."
"When will your house gather these 30 million taels of silver, then you can go back to your house."
After saying this, Chongzhen continued: "Oh, by the way, these 30 million are not based on head count, 3 million taels per family, but you are counted together to make a total of 30 million taels of silver."
Hearing this, Xu Hongji and Zhu Guobi couldn't help but sigh.
Guo Zuoyong, Fang Yiyuan and other distinguished nobles were relieved. Fortunately, they did not need to pay three million. Otherwise, even if they had advanced all the salaries of the Guo family and the next eighteen generations of the Fang family, they would not be able to collect these three million.
million.
At that moment, Xu Hongji, Zhu Guobi and other ten nobles summoned their respective housekeepers and asked them to go back and collect money.
Chongzhen also said to the ten housekeepers very considerately: "If you need to use fields, antiques, jewelry, or houses to pay for your money, you can go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and see Ma Mingluo. Deputy Chief Ma is fair and will definitely give you a good deal."
