Liu Ling glanced at the civil and military officials who did not dare to express their anger, turned his head, raised his chin, clasped his fists and said to Emperor Xiao: "Your Majesty, this humble minister has a way that is not a good idea, but can temporarily overcome the difficulties."
"What's Prince Zhong's clever plan?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xiao leaned over and asked.
"Your Majesty, our capitals in the Han Dynasty have been suffering from drought for a long time, and most areas have no income. It is absolutely impossible to increase taxes. Now the people's morale is loose. If we impose more taxes, I am afraid it will provoke a civil uprising. Your Majesty said
Well, water can carry a boat or capsize it, and the people in the world who cannot be offended the most are the people of Li."
"Since the fifth year of Qianyou, the late emperor has decreed not to increase taxes. Now the country is in troubled times, and excessive taxation will only increase the speed of the civil uprising. Likewise, since the fifth year of Qianyou, military expenditures have not increased.
I have stayed in the southern borderland for nearly seven years, and I know what kind of hard life our border officers and soldiers live."
"It is difficult to live and clothe ourselves just by relying on food and salary. If military expenditures are further reduced, it is not impossible for the soldiers to mutiny. If the morale of the military is chaotic and the morale of the people is chaotic, I think just relying on the adults here, I am afraid that we will not be able to survive."
Isn’t it enough to maintain the foundation of my great man?”
"My lords, Prime Minister Lu just said that some of you proposed to increase taxes, and some proposed to reduce military expenditures. You think so because of one thing. That is, you think that the people are my Han people, and the soldiers are my soldiers.
Soldiers of the Han Dynasty, if the country is in trouble, they will naturally have to fight against Kai. If they have money, they will contribute money, and if they have the strength, they will contribute, right?"
After Liu Ling finished asking, he glanced at the civil and military officials. He saw many people nodding slightly, obviously they all thought so.
Liu Ling continued: "It is true that the country is for everyone, and everyone must put national affairs first. Personal interests are not a big deal compared to the interests of the country. No eggs are left intact after the nest is overturned, and if the country is destroyed, the family will perish.
If everyone serves their own selfish interests and ignores the survival of the country, I am afraid that they will all end up dead without a burial."
Liu Ling walked up to Chen Lian, the Minister of Household Affairs, and asked: "Master Chen, is what I said correct?"
Chen Lian lowered his head and said: "What Prince Zhong said is absolutely true. Without a country, there is no home. As a citizen of my country, I naturally have to contribute to the Han Dynasty."
Liu Ling nodded and said: "Yes, as the subjects of our Han Dynasty, we must all contribute to our Han Dynasty and help our Han Dynasty tide over the difficulties. From your Majesty to the common people, we share the same hatred and work together.
What difficulty can we not overcome?”
All civil and military officials said: "Prince Zhong's words are right."
Liu Ling smiled and said with a change of tone: "If the country is in danger of survival, everyone is still worrying about the little profit for their own family and is unwilling to contribute to the country. Such people and soldiers will be
Deserve to kill!"
Emperor Xiao didn't say anything, and just listened quietly to Liu Ling's words. He knew what Liu Ling was going to say, and also understood the purpose of Liu Ling's words. Therefore, he didn't need to say anything, just looked at Liu Ling.
It's enough for Ling to do the work.
Liu Ling said with a cold look: "My lords, you are not only my subjects, but also the pillars of the imperial court! At this juncture, it is time for you to show your righteousness!"
Liu Ling walked back to the hundred officials, knelt down and said to Emperor Xiao: "Your Majesty, the way for the humble ministers is for all the officials of the Han Dynasty, including me, to voluntarily donate money and food to collect the annual tribute to help the court.
Get through this!”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the hall was shocked!
Although some people had vaguely felt that there was something in Liu Ling's words before, and seemed to have vaguely guessed something. But when Liu Ling said these words, all the civil and military officials in the court were still frightened.
Lu Sen glanced at the ministers, clasped his fists and said, "Prince Zhong, there seems to be something wrong with this matter."
Liu Ling said: "Prime Minister, what's wrong?"
Lu Sen said: "Your Majesty, Prince Zhong, I have the highest salary among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty. I have forty guan per month, sixty shi of grain, five pieces of cloth, and one piece of brocade. For officials of the second rank, every month
The money for third-rank officials is 30 guan and the grain is 50 shi. The monthly salary for third-rank officials is 25 guan and the grain is 40 shi. Officials of first, second, and third ranks may have a small surplus beyond their monthly expenses. Officials of fourth rank and below,
That is just enough for expenses. For officials who reach the ninth rank, their monthly salary is only three guan and five dan for food. If the family has a larger population, it may not be enough for food and clothing."
Liu Ling waved his hand to interrupt Lu Sen. He said word by word: "Is it possible that the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are suffering more than those victims of the disaster?"
He seemed to be a little excited. He pointed to the outside of the hall and said: "Now the capital is full of disaster victims. They beg during the day and sleep on the streets at night. These people don't have enough to eat and don't have enough clothes to cover their bodies. Are you even poorer than them?"
Liu Lingdao: "It is very common for the victims to not have a full meal for three to five days. There is famine everywhere. But these victims did not flee to other countries, but stayed here. Why? Because they all
Consider yourself a citizen of the Han Dynasty!"
Liu Ling said angrily: "And the soldiers on the frontier, what do they eat for every meal? It's bran, it's wild vegetables, it's leaves! Which of your families eats this kind of thing for dinner? Which family doesn't have fine wine and delicacies? You know
Does it taste like chaff? Have you tasted the taste of leaves? They didn’t complain, so why should you complain!”
"You propose to reduce military expenditures and increase taxes. Well, you are right, because the people are the subjects of my Han Dynasty, and the soldiers are the soldiers of my Han Dynasty, so they naturally have to contribute to the country. What about you? Aren't you the subjects of my Han Dynasty?
!You can let others contribute money and efforts, but can you just stay out of it?"
Lu Sen's expression changed and he touched the ground with his head, and whispered: "Prince Zhong, there is no need to say any more. It was Wei Chen who was wrong."
Liu Ling said: "My lords, I know that your salary is indeed not much. But as human ministers, we set an example for the people. The country is in crisis of survival. As long as you donate generously, the people will naturally follow suit. A person's
The strength is very small, but if ten people, a hundred people, thousands of people, and the whole country unite, I don't believe we can't survive this difficulty!"
Liu Ling clasped his fists and said to Emperor Xiao: "Your Majesty, I still have sixty shi of grain and a surplus of salary at home. In addition to your majesty's reward, I should be able to donate three hundred guan of money, sixty shi of grain, and thirty cloths.
One piece, ten pieces of brocade. In addition, starting from this month, the salary of the ministers will be reduced by half, and the other half will be donated to the national treasury!"
Emperor Xiao's face changed color and he said: "Prince Zhong, you have always lived in poverty. I have rewarded you many times, but you have politely refused. You only received half of the prince's salary. If you donate all the money and food now, it will be used for food and drink in the house."
What should I do?"
Liu Ling said: "Your Majesty, my brother belongs to the royal family surnamed Liu, so I should set an example!"
Emperor Xiao wanted to say something more. At this time, someone said loudly: "Wei Chen agrees with Prince Zhong's proposal. Wei Chen is willing to donate all the money he has saved for the official for twenty years, including sixty-five guan, fifty-four shi of grain, and cloth and brocade."
Go out and contribute to the country!"
This man's voice was clear and clear, and everyone in the hall could hear every word clearly. Everyone looked for the voice and saw that the person speaking was Sima Lu, the Minister of Punishment!
Emperor Xiao said: "Sima, I know that you are an honest official. I can't help you."
All the officials couldn't help but be touched. Sima Lu had been an official for more than ten years, but he only had these savings, which shows that his reputation as an official is truly worthy of his reputation.
Sima Lu said loudly: "Your Majesty, I am not in trouble. What is in trouble is your Majesty and the people!"
Liu Ling praised: "Master Sima is so righteous, Liu Lingming is very grateful!"
Sima Lu clasped his fists and said, "Prince Zhong is so complimentary. This is the duty of a humble minister."
Lu Sen also said: "I am willing to donate all my savings over the years as state assets to share your Majesty's worries!"
At this time, many people are still silent. But people with quick thinking have already seen that it will not be so easy to go to court this morning. If they don't pay some money, I'm afraid His Majesty the Emperor will give an order.
It’s time not to pay some money, but to pay some blood.
Immediately, someone shouted: "I am willing to donate all my life savings to the national use!"
One, two, three, more and more people expressed their willingness to donate. In the end, a wave formed, and hundreds of officials rushed to express their willingness to contribute to the country and share His Majesty's worries. However, everyone knew in their hearts that this kind of donation
Positivity is nothing but something forced out by a knife.
Cutting a Lu Ming alive is a huge stone that weighs on the hearts of the ministers! Some smart people vaguely guessed that the emperor and Prince Zhong had colluded for today's drama. That Lu Ming, but
It was because of bad luck that he hit the knife edge and became the chicken that killed the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Emperor Xiao swept away the previous gloom and said with a chuckle: "My ministers, I am relieved!"
He waved his hand and said: "Where is the chamberlain?"
The eunuch in charge of the Zhengtai Palace immediately ran over, lifted up his clothes and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, my servant is here."
Emperor Xiao said loudly: "Remember, from now on, the expenses in the palace will be cut in half. I have three meals a day, no extravagance. I have two kinds of side dishes and a bowl of rice. From me onwards, everyone in the palace will eat it every month."
The regular fee will be reduced by half, including the Queen and the Prince!”
Emperor Xiao stood up, walked down the steps and said: "My ministers and ministers, if we, the emperor and the ministers, work together, we will definitely make our country prosperous!"
Later, Emperor Xiao issued an order to have the house of Lu Ming, the Minister of Rites, be ransacked, and the three tribes beheaded. The others were made slaves and classified as lowly, and they would never be able to stand up again.
Before today's morning court, I'm afraid no one thought that such a thing would happen. In fact, it was not very honorable for Emperor Xiao or Liu Ling to do this. The country is weak and the powerful country demands annual tribute. The national treasury is empty.
It is a sad thing in itself to ask ministers to donate money and food. However, with the current national strength of the Northern Han Dynasty, what else can we do if we don't do this?
After going to court, Liu Ling was called into the palace by Emperor Xiao to talk. As he walked, he was thinking about one thing in his mind. What he didn't expect was that the first one to stand up would be Sima Lu, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, a third-rank official.
A big official, after more than ten years of service as an official, his savings only amounted to sixty-five guan!
And Liu Ling also noticed a person. When Sima Lu was the first to stand up, this person had a murderous look in his eyes! Although this murderous look was fleeting, it was still difficult to escape Liu Ling's eyes! This kind of murderous look flashed in his eyes.
The cold murderous aura was all too familiar to Liu Ling, who had led troops in battles for many years.
This person is Pei Hao, the Minister of Justice!
In the eyes of this man looking at Sima Lu, Liu Ling discovered hatred, deep hatred! In the morning court, the only one who remained silent from beginning to end was this man. While everyone declared impassionedly that they would share the same fate with the great Han
When advancing or retreating, this person was the only one who remained silent!
Pei Hao?
Liu Ling recited the name silently in his mind. The people in the Criminal Department were becoming more and more interesting. (To be continued)
