While the old and young men in the capital were reading newspapers and discussing tax matters, in a villa somewhere in the capital, Gao Yuanlong, Qian Qi and other officials from Jiangnan gathered together again.
“It’s honorable to pay taxes?”
"Since ancient times, this sage king has always been diligent and frugal in his duties and taxes. Unexpectedly, now, he not only exacts excessive taxes, but also makes you feel that this is right from the bottom of your heart."
"How absurd, how absurd!"
Gao Yuanlong slammed the newspaper in his hand onto the table, looking extremely angry.
"I have never seen such a shameless person!"
Qian Qi also nodded solemnly.
"The imperial court's taxes are sufficient, and there is no need to impose excessive taxes. The so-called infrastructure is just a massive construction project, and the so-called strengthening the army and the country is just for the militarism of some people."
"We, the Ming Dynasty, are a huge country. Since ancient times, we have conquered people with virtue. Therefore, we can conquer the world and allow barbarians from all over the world to come to court. We never use force to conquer people, and we do not like to expand and kill like barbarians.
"
"Now that we are engaged in military warfare and massive construction projects, the Ming Dynasty is in danger!"
"The military is noble and the literary is light. Since ancient times, most people who seek to usurp the throne are military generals. This Ming Dynasty will probably be in trouble in the future!"
Others also nodded and expressed their opinions.
In the eyes of these people, everything in the Ming Dynasty is getting further and further away from the dynasty dominated by traditional Confucianism.
Externally, the traditional idea is to convince people with virtue. Barbarians from all over the world do not know how to educate, so they are very barbaric. When Ming Dynasty is satisfied with these things, it should focus on education instead of conquest by force. Conquest by force is only
It will make them temporarily surrender, but they will not be able to convince others with virtue.
Internally, frivolous corvee and low taxes are the way for a sage king. The imposition of commercial taxes is to plunder the people's wealth. The key is that the emperor and the prince still have huge industries, and they are competing for profits with the people.
Carrying out infrastructure construction is just a large-scale construction project, which does not bring much benefit to the people of the country. It will only waste people's energy and financial resources. The country should hide its wealth from the people and cannot collect too many taxes. As long as the court's taxes are enough.
One after another expressed their views on the current situation, and they all seemed to be concerned about the country and the people, and were truly loyal and patriotic people.
If Liu Jin were here, he would definitely highlight the word "hypocrite" coldly.
"The emperor sent factory guards to investigate the attack on the tax office. Have you written back and asked everyone to wipe their butts clean?"
After complaining, everyone calmed down again, and Gao Yuanlong thought for a while and asked.
Regarding the attack on the tax yamen, they knew very well that behind it was actually the gentry, big families, and big businessmen from the Jiangnan area who joined forces to create it, and they also had their guidance.
The original intention was to rely on this matter to use the so-called public grievances to get Wang Shouren away. It would be best to give Emperor Hongzhi some eye drops to make him less trustful of Liu Jin, and then join forces with others to abolish the current system.
The tax system comes.
But who knew that they would be defeated in the imperial court. Although there were many officials who supported them, no one among the heavyweight officials supported them.
Emperor Hongzhi also asked Emperor Hongzhi to use public grievances as an excuse to have factory guards investigate the matter.
Once this matter gets involved, the implications will be very wide. Once these people are involved, they will definitely not be able to escape death. The family behind them will inevitably be exiled thousands of miles away.
Even the entire Jiangnan gentry will suffer a heavy blow. Just like several major cases that year, many Jiangnan bigwigs in the DPRK were dismissed from office.
Once that point is reached, Jiang Nan will really have no say in the court.
"I have already written back and the matter will be sorted out at home."
Qian Qi and others also replied one after another.
"Well, that's good~"
"But it must be dealt with thoroughly. The power of the factory guards is almost pervasive. Even if there are very small clues, they can find out the matter."
Gao Yuanlong nodded slightly, his face full of worry.
The factory guards are a terrifying force that belongs directly to the emperor. No one wants to deal with these factory guards. Once they enter the prison of the factory guards, they will peel off their skin even if they don't die.
"Is there any news from above regarding the arrangements for the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili?"
Gao Yuanlong thought for a while and then asked about the arrangements for the position of Chief Minister of Southern Zhili.
"There is already news. It was decided in the Chancellor's room yesterday."
"Liu Jin's son strongly recommended Wang Shouren to be promoted to the post of Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili. Liu Gong and Xie Qian said that he was young and promoted too quickly and was not suitable. However, he was opposed by Li Dongyang, Zhang Mao, Ji Zhong and others, and finally the emperor decided
Come down and let Wang Shouren serve as the chief envoy to Southern Zhili!"
Qian Qi quickly replied.
"What?"
"Really let Wang Shouren be appointed as the chief envoy to Southern Zhili?"
When the others heard this, they couldn't help but exclaimed.
Wang Shouren and the others have already learned the lesson. The key to being a real great person is not to take the hard and the soft.
It is not that these big landowners, big businessmen, and big gentry in the south of the Yangtze River tried their best to win over Wang Shouren, but it was of no use whether they sent beauties or gold and silver treasures.
Wang Shouren just didn't follow that trick and just did whatever he wanted, which also caused many people in the Jiangnan area to suffer a lot.
They had never paid taxes, but when they saw people from the tax office carrying away box after box of gold and silver hidden in their home, they even wanted to kill Wang Shouren.
Originally, I wanted to get rid of Wang Shouren, but now the result is better. Not only was Wang Shouren not removed, but Wang Shouren was promoted and directly became the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili.
If Wang Shouren was allowed to serve as the chief envoy of Nanzhili for a few years, all the big businessmen, big gentry, big landowners, and big families in Jiangnan would all leave, and they would be punished to death by Wang Shouren.
"Hmm~"
"It is estimated that the formal appointment will be announced in the next few days, as well as the personnel arrangements for this time."
"It is said that this time, Liu Jin'er abused his power and dispatched a large number of our officials from Jiangnan to Australia, Golden Island, Nanyang and other places to serve. By then, those of us here may also have to leave the Ming Dynasty and go to various places.
Take office."
Qian Qi nodded solemnly, looking very helpless.
Their official ranks are still very low, and Liu Jin's arrangements for them meant that they could be transferred directly without going through the cabinet or the emperor.
If you want to get them to Australia, just get them to Australia. They have no choice but to resign and return home and stop serving as officials.
"Young Liu Jin, you are extremely hateful!"
When Gao Yuanlong heard this, he immediately said angrily.
"There is no use in anger now. It is better for everyone to spread the news back to Jiangnan as soon as possible and let the family discuss countermeasures."
Qian Qi sighed helplessly and shook his head.
No matter how much he cursed him here, there was nothing he could do to Liu Jin, and it had no effect on Liu Jin.
But I still need to worry about things at home.
The factory guards completely attacked the tax office, and Wang Shouren was transferred to the post of Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili. These two incidents were enough to worry the gentry in the Jiangnan region.
The news spread back to Nanzhili as quickly as possible.
A large flower boat on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing.
This flower boat is large in scale and very luxuriously decorated. The birds and birds on the boat are accompanied by a gust of river breeze, which blows the scent of rouge and gouache to both sides of the bank, making passersby look at it with envy and envy.
To this flower boat.
Different from the past, at this moment, the atmosphere on the flower boat was very heavy. The usually charming beauties also wisely left the largest venue, leaving the big shots in the Jiangnan area discussing something.
"News has come from the capital. The emperor has sent factory guards to thoroughly investigate the attack on the tax yamen. He wants us to wipe our butts clean and make sure we don't leak anything. This time, the emperor is probably going to hit us Jiangnan nobles hard again.
."
Someone spoke to break the heavy atmosphere.
"What?"
"Is it going to be the same as before?"
"It's hard to tell, I've also received the news."
"I, Jiangnan Shilin, don't have many people in the court anymore. If we are hit again, wouldn't it mean that from now on, I, Jiangnan, will have no say in the court."
"Still thinking about the future?"
"Let's think about how to get through this hurdle first before we talk about it."
"The factory guards are conducting a thorough investigation into the attack on the tax yamen. Once found out, all of us here will probably be miserable."
"Is it really going to kill us Jiangnan nobles?"
"We, the Jiangnan nobles, have always been the mainstay of the dynasty. How can the emperor lead us like this?"
"The emperor was flattered and bewitched by villains. The ancient kings were all frivolous and underpaid. Now look at the emperor of today. He conscripts and levies violently, engages in military warfare, and builds massive construction projects. Is this what the Ming army did?"
"Yes, yes, it's all because of being bewitched by villains and treacherous ministers that I, an upright man from the south of the Yangtze River, cannot gain any importance and is often suppressed."
"These are useless words. Let's go back and clean up our tails."
"It was also mentioned above that Wang Shouren will be promoted to Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili and take charge of our Southern Zhili."
"What?"
"Not only was Wang Shouren not transferred, but he was actually appointed as the chief envoy to Southern Zhili?"
"No, I guess I have already accepted my fate. Once Wang Shouren becomes the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili, we will never have peace in Jiangnan again."
"I'm afraid I won't be able to ride on this flower boat again in the future."
"It's over, it's over~ Now that Wang Shouren has been appointed as the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili, we can't even think about having a good life."
"If he really wants me to have a hard time, I will go to Zhejiang to dig his ancestral grave. Wang Shouren is also from Zhejiang. How can he do this? Do he really want to break with our Jiangnan gentry?"
"Hehe~ We have already broken up."
"It's over, it's over. There will no longer be peace in Jiangnan, and there will be a dark cloud in the bright world. Do we, the Jiangnan nobles, really have to move overseas to have a place to live?"