The court’s approval came quickly.
Just a few days later, Yun Zheng received the imperial edict.
They were allowed to implement the land-based tax system in Fuzhou as a pilot project for tax reform.
After receiving the imperial edict, Yun Zheng couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
The imperial court still doesn’t dare to follow!
Alas, the third brother just lacks courage!
The goal is to weaken the aristocratic families and clans anyway, so wouldn’t it be good to take a two-pronged approach?
Isn't he short of money?
If he forces those powerful families and clans to rise up and show their teeth to the imperial court, wouldn't he be able to confiscate their property and make money?
The system of allocating taxes based on land area will sooner or later be promoted nationwide.
...
...
The third brother cuts a knife today and a knife tomorrow, purely playing with the mentality of family and clan.
After complaining in his heart for a while, Yun Zheng immediately called Tuo Huan and Ji Ran: "According to the previous plan, order all counties and prefectures to immediately organize people to explain the new tax system to the people and re-measure the land and register it!"
Ji Ran had a headache and said worriedly, "Once the order from the provincial government is passed down, the officials below will probably just do it perfunctorily or even slack off, and there are so many people who have resigned before..."
"What are you afraid of?"
Yun Zheng interrupted Ji Ran, "Even if the sky falls, I am still here, right? By the way, tomorrow is the deadline I set. Have all the officials who resigned arrived in Jingyang Prefecture?"
“Everyone has arrived.”
Ji Ran nodded helplessly and asked again: "Does the prince want to summon them?"
Did they all arrive in advance?
Yun Zheng smiled and immediately ordered: "Please wait and see before sending out orders to the counties! Tomorrow at noon, I will host a banquet at the Governor's Mansion to entertain the officials who resigned. Tell them to be on time!"
"yes!"
…
The next day, noon.
Yun Zheng held a banquet at the governor's mansion, and all the officials who had resigned previously arrived on time.
"Master Hu, what do you think this prince means?"
"How should I know!"
"In my opinion, the prince wants to appease us because so many of us have resigned from our posts!"
"Not necessarily! This prince is an iron-blooded prince. Maybe he wants to treat us to a final feast before execution!"
"No way? We are just resigning from our posts. No matter how domineering he is, he can't kill us all!"
"That's right. The court has its own laws. Even if he is a prince, he can't act so recklessly! Does he still want his reputation?"
"Don't underestimate this prince's tyranny. You all know what happened to the crown prince's attendant Cui Wenjing, right?"
"I heard that when this prince was in Suizhou, he condoned bandits and beat most of the officials in the county to death..."
Before Yun Zheng showed up, a group of officials gathered together to discuss the matter.
Some people were worried that this was a invitation to their last meal, while others whispered to everyone about Yun Zheng’s past glorious deeds.
Many people are still somewhat afraid of Prince Yun Zheng.
Not to mention that Yun Zheng was a prince on horseback, and had personally taken up a sword to fight the Beihuan people several times, it was just that when Yun Zheng had his wedding in Sifang County, he beat the prince's attendant so hard that he vomited blood in front of the crown prince Yun Li, and the crown prince could not do anything to him.
Many of the people present had witnessed Yun Zheng's tyranny.
However, some people disagreed and firmly believed that Yun Zheng would not dare to do anything to them.
Fuzhou is so big, can Yun Zheng govern it alone?
In the end, doesn't it still depend on officials like them to govern?
If he kills officials without authorization, which official will dare to work for Yun Zheng in the future?
Just as everyone was talking, Ji Ran walked in slowly.
When they saw Ji Ran, everyone bowed to him.
"No need to be so polite, everyone."
Ji Ran laughed, "The prince is waiting for you in the back hall, please follow me!"
Having said that, Ji Ran led everyone to the back hall.
Hu Shicheng, who was quite familiar with Ji Ran, walked quickly to Ji Ran and asked in a low voice: "Master Ji, why did the prince host a banquet for us?"
Ji Ran turned his head to look at Hu Shicheng and asked in confusion: "Didn't the person who was sent to deliver the message to you tell you?"
“I said it!”
Hu Shicheng replied: "But the messenger only told me that the prince wanted to talk to me about my resignation, and didn't say anything else."
Yun Zheng just wanted to talk to them about this, so Hu Shicheng naturally didn't believe it.
Hu Shicheng already had something to hide, and after hearing what his colleagues were saying, he felt even more uneasy.
Now he just wanted to know what Yun Zheng’s intention was so that he could make some preparations in advance.
Seeing Hu Shicheng's uneasy look, Ji Ran sighed secretly in his heart and said perfunctorily: "I only know that the prince wants to talk to you, and I don't know the rest."
Hearing Ji Ran's words, Hu Shicheng became even more flustered.
Under the leadership of Ji Ran, everyone finally arrived at the back hall.
As soon as they entered the back hall, Hu Shicheng and three other officials were stunned.
In the back hall, Yun Zheng and Tuo Huan were sitting there leisurely. In front of them, there were more than a dozen people kneeling on the ground.
Hu Shicheng recognized him at a glance: his wife, concubine and only son were all kneeling on the ground, trembling all over.
In front of them, there were two large boxes.
There is still some dirt on top of the box.
Hu Shicheng recognized it at a glance; it was the box that contained his gold, silver and treasures.
It’s over!
This is indeed the last meal for execution!
Hu Shicheng felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground with a dejected look on his face.
His wives, concubines and sons were all captured, and even the boxes were dug out, but he didn't receive any news at all.
It's already obvious!
When he set out for Jingyang Prefecture, Yun Zheng had already sent people to his house to arrest someone. I'm afraid all the people in his house have been under control!
All his secrets are no longer secrets in front of Yun Zheng.
He knows best what he has done.
After a long while, Hu Shicheng struggled to get up and kneel down, wailing with a dead look on his face: "I know my crime, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive me. I am willing to serve Your Majesty like a slave and repay Your Majesty's great kindness..."
As Hu Shicheng's voice rang out, the other three officials also knelt on the ground with a "bang", kowtowed and begged for mercy with despair on their faces.
Their situation is similar to that of Hu Shicheng.
All their family members or confidants who knew about their troubles were brought here by Yun Zheng and made to kneel down.
Those boxes are filled with evidence of their crimes!
There are both witnesses and evidence!
Yun Zheng didn't even give them a chance to quibble!
What a drastic measure!
Looking at the scene before them, everyone couldn't help but fall into a daze.
What does Yun Zheng mean?
Killing the chicken to scare the monkey?
Or is there a deeper meaning?
Everyone was so busy thinking that they even forgot to salute Yun Zheng.
Yun Zheng didn't argue with them. He just looked at them. There was no anger on his face. Instead, he smiled. He waved his hand and said, "Kneel aside! Don't delay my banquet for you all!"
As he spoke, Yun Zheng clapped his hands again and introduced Tuo Huan and Wei Yu to the officials who had not yet kneeled down. He then asked everyone to take their seats and ordered people to serve wine and food...
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