Whatever you owe to the court must be paid back to me; whatever you have embezzled from the state must be spitted out. Not only must the full amount be paid, but a heavy fine must also be imposed, to bring these self-proclaimed superior scholars to the ground.
The crime of overdue rent and taxes is just a beating with a stick, which is too light. I will increase the punishment for them and make it very severe. Let's see if you dare to do it again in the future.
According to current laws, the punishment for overdue payments is beating with a stick.
Even such a light punishment was evaded by the gentry and bureaucrats. They had money, so hiring someone to give them a few beatings was no big deal.
After Zhu Youxiao had vented his anger, he picked up his pen and wrote a note to the Minister of Revenue Li Qiyuan, asking him to temporarily suspend the payment of overdue debts.
Since the officials and gentry are in collusion, the common people will suffer when the higher authorities demand payment; the stricter the demand, the more miserable the people will be.
Moreover, this is no longer a simple matter of arrears; it is tax evasion and a crime.
Postponing this isn't appeasement. I'm going to pull out all the stops. By this autumn or winter at the latest, you'll be crying out for mercy.
Well, I still lack a few Hai Ruis who can come up with a gift package of 240,000 acres in one go, just like they did to the Prime Minister Xu Jie in history.
Looking at the emperor's changeable expression and thinking about Xie Xie's actions, Wang Ti Gan guessed that the emperor was eyeing some new source of wealth.
Yes, that's it.
Well, look at the slightly pursed lips, as if smiling but with a hint of coldness in the eyes. It means that he has thought of a trick. Wang Ti Gan took a sneak peek and watched carefully.
Wang Tigan knew very well that the emperor was short of money.
Don't underestimate the four million he got by defeating Li Sancai. But besides the land and houses, he also had some valuable things that couldn't be spent yet, such as antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and other rare items. The real money was only about one million taels.
Before all these things were moved into the inner warehouse, the cash was almost spent after a few moves.
Then the new Minister of Revenue came to the emperor in a hurry and said that Li Sancai was an external official and the confiscated money should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice as fines and then sent to Taicang for use by the Ministry of Revenue.
Wang Tigan still remembers the young emperor’s confused look on his face. He had no idea this was happening!
Then, as Li Qiyuan kept quoting from classics, the young emperor argued and bargained, and finally took over several properties of Li Sancai in the capital. He nodded in agreement reluctantly and painfully.
This is also the main reason why Wang Tigan wants to overthrow the eunuchs in the palace. The emperor is short of money, so the family will help him. If the external officials don't work, then he can start with the eunuchs!
Sure enough, the young emperor, who had made some new money, was very happy for several days, and looked at himself with the same gentle eyes as when he looked at White Snake.
It is completely certain that if one can make money for the emperor, he will gain his favor. Wang Tigan decided to carry out the anti-corruption campaign in the palace to the end.
Who is next, Li Yongzhen, Tu Liangfu, or Liang Dong?
While Wang Tigan was daydreaming, Zhu Youxiao put down his pen, stretched vigorously, leaned back in his chair, and turned his gaze over.
Wang Tigan quickly gathered his thoughts, bowed and stood solemnly, waiting for instructions.
After a long while, the young emperor's somewhat lazy voice sounded, "Royal companion, check how much the 'Imperial Wine Room', 'Sweets Room', and 'Wine, Vinegar and Noodle Shop' can produce every day?"
Wang Ti Gan was stunned for a moment, thinking that these institutions were just places to make wine, vinegar and pickles. How much profit could they make, and how much money could they embezzle?
"I think those shops in the capital should not be idle. Selling some high-end goods used by the royal family would make a lot of money, right?"
Hearing the young emperor's plan, Wang Tigan felt his nose sting. He fell to his knees and started crying again. "Your Majesty, it's all because of my incompetence. I can't make a lot of money for you, and I let you..."
Zhu Youxiao was startled and blinked his eyes as he looked at Wang Tigan who suddenly knelt down and cried, wondering what was wrong with this servant.
Listening to the crying, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but roll his eyes. This guy thought I was so poor that I had to sell soy sauce and pickles!
"This..." Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to stop him, "Stop, Wang Ban, stop."
Wang Tigan stopped crying and looked at the emperor with tearful eyes.
"It's true that I'm short of money, but it's not to that extent."
Zhu Youxiao said unhappily, "The palace doesn't need that much anyway, so don't waste it. Find some smart and calculating palace maids and start using these shops as soon as possible. If you manage them well, I'll give you a raise."
Wang Tigan blinked his eyes and understood. This meant that the emperor was showing mercy again and was going to give the palace maids some more benefits!
"Your Majesty is so kind. I, a servant, thank you on behalf of the palace maids." Wang Tigan kowtowed to express his gratitude. Zhu Youxiao was a little frightened by the sound of his voice.
Is it time to repave the bricks in the temple? There’s so much space underneath!
Zhu Youxiao tilted his head to observe Wang Tigan's forehead, and began to wonder if this guy kowtowed so often that he had developed some kind of iron head skill.
………………
The coast was out of sight, and all I could see was the boundless sea. Waves rolled against the side of the boat, gently rocking it like a cradle.
Mao Wenlong withdrew his gaze, turned northward, and narrowed his eyes slightly. Leaving Dengzhou behind, he embarked on a life that was completely different from his past.
More than a dozen large ships were loaded with food, supplies, weapons, and armor, all for the Dongjiang garrison. With the return of several thousand more troops, plus the navy deployed to the garrison, the Dongjiang army could reach 12,000 men.
Mao Wenlong knew this was just the beginning. This raid in southern Liaoning had saved tens of thousands of Liao people. In the future, there would be no fewer Liao people fleeing and seeking refuge, and it would not be difficult to mobilize tens of thousands of troops.
The key lies in the support of the imperial court and the control of Denglai Governor Yuan Keli. Only with sufficient weapons and supplies can the remote Dongjiang Town overseas grow and develop, and have the strength to fight against the Later Jin.
During this trip to Denglai, Mao Wenlong finally recognized Yuan Keli's favor. The emperor not only entrusted him with full authority, but also granted him the imperial sword and the imperial axe, and even sent several Jinyiwei as Yuan Keli's personal soldiers.
As the emperor's tutor, imperial envoy, and frontier governor, Yuan Keli was probably the most favored and powerful governor in the Ming Dynasty.
In other words, Yuan Keli's attitude determined the fate of Dongjiang Town. If he supported it, it would prosper; if he disliked it, it would fail.
Now it seems that Yuan Keli still has high hopes for Mao Wenlong and tries his best to meet the material needs of Dongjiang Town.
But Mao Wenlong knew that if he had no achievements, Yuan Keli would have a hard time explaining himself and the court's attitude would change.
The argument that once prevailed in the court, which emphasized Liaodong over the coastal areas, will make a comeback, and it is not impossible that resources will be tilted towards Liaodong.
"General," Lieutenant General Chen Jisheng stepped onto the deck and saluted. "Shall we change our route to Guanglu Island and stop briefly at Sanshan Island?"
Mao Wenlong pondered for a moment and said, "There's no need to stay. Just watch from a distance."
Mao Wenlong naturally knew what Chen Jisheng was thinking.
According to Yuan Keli's plan, Dongjiang Town would occupy the islands along the Liaodong coast, and attack with three streams to tire out the enemy, forcing the Jiannu to be distracted, and then use the Denglai troops to attack the four guards in southern Liaoning.
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