In the court.

Faced with Zeng Yinglin's attack, Fang Yuegong was not angry but very surprised.

Zeng Yinglin was a Jinshi in the seventh year of Chongzhen, and like Li Banghua, he was from Jiangxi.

The only difference is that Li Banghua is from Jishui County, Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.

Zeng Yinglin was from Ningdu County, Ganzhou Prefecture.

Before retiring and returning home, Li Banghua instructed Fang Yuegong to find ways to take care of officials from Jiangxi.

Fang Yuegong took care of many Jiangxi officials, and Zeng Yinglin was one of them.

It would have been fine if Zeng Yinglin had not been grateful, but he was the first to attack him.

At this moment, Fang Yuegong felt like a farmer bitten by a snake.

The other officials were also shocked by Zeng Yinglin's behavior. They all looked at the two of them and quietly observed the situation.

Fang Yuegong quickly regained his composure. He stepped out of the class and bowed, saying, "Zeng Yinglin, currency reform is a national policy!"

"What is national policy? A country's policy is also called national strategy! When implementing national policy, we should not rush for quick results or rush for quick success. We should proceed step by step and seek progress in a steady manner!"

"The currency reform in Jiangnan did encounter some troubles, which led to slow progress, but it is just slow, not no progress!"

"As long as we give local officials enough time, they will come up with corresponding results!"

"Haha," Zeng Yinglin sneered, "It's already this hour, and Minister Fang is still trying to shirk responsibility!"

"When did I shirk my responsibility? Explain yourself clearly!" Fang Yuegong glared at Zeng Yinglin.

Zeng Yinglin said, "When Minister Fang said that local officials should be given enough time, isn't that accusing the officials of the four southern provinces of inaction?"

Fang Yuegong sneered disdainfully, "Don't try to frame me! The slow progress is due to both time issues and the inaction of some officials. How can they be confused?"

"If you encounter an official who doesn't take action, you can find ways to replace him. If you encounter a time issue, you can only wait!"

Zeng Yinglin shook his head: "It is the same national policy. Other provinces are progressing very smoothly, but the four provinces in the south of the Yangtze River are progressing slowly!"

"The reason is that Jiangnan is rich, and those wealthy families don't want to suffer losses in their interests because of exchanging money, so they resist!"

"No matter how much time they are given, the result will be the same!"

"So, it's not a matter of time at all!"

"Nonsense!" Fang Yuegong stamped his right foot vigorously. "The key to currency reform is to gain the support of the gentry!"

"And the key to gaining the support of the gentry is the exchange of interests!"

"The court needs them to govern the local area, and they also need the court to maintain their authority!"

"As long as there is an opportunity to maintain authority, the gentry will naturally choose to compromise!"

"Wait?" Zeng Yinglin sneered again, "Wait until when? Your Majesty has already intended to pacify Liao. What if there is no opportunity before the pacification of Liao?"

"How can we recover Liaodong if there is a war in the front and chaos in the rear?"

Fang Yuegong was rarely choked. He took a deep breath and said coldly: "When the policy was formulated, a moderate tone was set, so it can only be implemented in a moderate way! Unless the tone is changed, there is no other way but to wait!"

The court fell into a brief silence.

The ministers first looked at Fang Yuegong, then their eyes passed from Zeng Yinglin and finally fell on Chongzhen.

They have to make a choice based on the emperor's reaction.

If the emperor continued to support Fang Yuegong, then they would attack Zeng Yinglin.

If the emperor showed dissatisfaction with Fang Yuegong, they would follow Zeng Yinglin to impeach Fang Yuegong.

Chongzhen sat on the dragon throne and did not express his opinion.

He was the instigator. If he jumped out now, he would not only expose himself but also make people feel stupid.

But the ministers were all waiting for his signal, and he had no choice but to speak.

So...

Chongzhen looked at the cabinet chief Fan Jingwen, "Lord Fan, the currency reform is progressing slowly in the four provinces of Jiangnan. What do you think?"

Fan Jingwen is a well-known old fox. He thinks quickly while coughing.

After stepping out of the line and saluting, Fan Jingwen said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, the cabinet believes that..."

Fan Jingwen tried to hide his personal ideas behind the collective will of the cabinet.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Fan!" Chongzhen did not give him any chance and hurriedly stopped him, saying, "I want to hear your personal opinion, not the cabinet's opinion."

Fan Jingwen paused awkwardly and continued, "I think...currency reform cannot be rushed, nor can it be delayed!"

......

After waiting for a while, seeing that Fan Jingwen did not continue, Chongzhen asked, "Is that all?"

"Your Majesty, these are my thoughts!"

Old fox!

Chongzhen cursed inwardly.

It was the same as if Fan Jingwen hadn't said anything, so he didn't offend either side.

But...the problem remains.

This was equivalent to throwing the problem back to Chongzhen.

Chongzhen clenched his right fist and wanted to beat Fan Jingwen up.

But he was the emperor after all, and he couldn't hit anyone, so he could only find a way to fight with his wits.

Under everyone's gaze, Chongzhen slowly said, "Then let's do as Lord Fan wishes!"

Why?

All the civil and military officials in the court were frozen at the same time.

Do as Fan Jingwen says, but Fan Jingwen's words are nonsense and don't mean anything.

What does it mean to do as he wishes?

"I don't understand, Your Majesty, please explain it to me!" Fang Yuegong bowed.

"I don't understand either, Your Majesty, please explain it to me clearly!" Zeng Yinglin did not show any weakness and followed suit in saluting.

"Your Majesty, please make it clear!" The ministers bowed and put pressure on Chongzhen, trying to make him make his words clear.

On this kind of question, Chongzhen only answered multiple-choice questions and did not fill in the blanks.

He smiled experiencedly: "If you don't understand, you can ask Elder Fan, he knows!"

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