The atmosphere of this banquet was very strange.
There are two tables in total.
Yun Zheng, Tuo Huan, Ji Ran and Wei Yu sat at the same table.
Those officials who were captured but had no family members or confidants sat at another table.
Not far from them, there was a group of people kneeling, trembling all over.
Eating in such a weird atmosphere, even though the dishes were very rich, the officials had no appetite at all.
Everyone was racking their brains to think about what Yun Zheng was trying to do.
On the other hand, Yun Zheng and the other three were talking and laughing.
However, they talked about unimportant things.
Even though there were many old hands in the officialdom among these people, they were unable to judge Yun Zheng's true intention from what they talked about.
...
...
Yun Zheng glanced at the uneasy people at the table, and a smile flashed in his eyes.
I really don’t know what these people are thinking.
You don't dare to confront me, but you insist on making things difficult for me?
Without a cerebral thrombosis for ten years, you would never do such a thing!
After eating and drinking, Yun Zheng slowly stood up.
Seeing Yun Zheng stand up, everyone who was sitting stood up one after another.
"Sit down, everyone sit down!"
Yun Zheng raised his hand and said with a smile: "I can see that everyone is not relaxed when I am here. In this case, I will go and take care of some things, and let Tuohuan and Lord Ji accompany you!"
Having said that, Yun Zheng was about to leave.
"Farewell, Your Majesty!"
Everyone saluted, but was completely confused.
What on earth is Yun Zheng up to?
Just leaving without saying anything?
"Alright, alright!"
Yun Zheng raised his hand to suppress it, "I will not spoil your fun. Everyone must eat and drink well! Don't tell others that you don't even have food to eat when you come to my place."
After saying that, Yun Zheng turned around and left.
Neither did they say how to deal with people like Hu Shicheng, nor did they say how to deal with these people.
Should we appease them or teach them a lesson?
What does this prince want to do?
After Yun Zheng left, Ji Ran said to everyone with a smile: "Everyone, the prince has left, don't be so reserved! Sit down, I see that the food and wine on your table have not been touched, is it because these food and wine are not to your taste?"
“No, no…”
Everyone shook their heads.
Without Yun Zheng's presence, everyone felt less depressed.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Hansong finally mustered up the courage to ask Ji Ran: "What is the purpose of your move, Lord? Please explain it to me, Lord Ji!"
"Yes! Lord Ji, what on earth does the prince want to do?" Another official echoed, "If we are guilty, the prince can just put us in jail, why bother with this?"
"That's right. If Your Majesty has anything to say, just say it! Why do this?" Another person echoed.
Following the lead of a few people, the others followed suit.
If you want to kill me, do it quickly!
Yun Zheng's action was tantamount to putting a knife on their necks and rubbing it against their necks.
They didn't know whether the knife would cut their necks, nor did they know whether the blade was sharp or not. This made them extremely nervous and uncomfortable.
"Everyone, please be patient."
Ji Ran raised his hand and said with a smile: "I have been with the prince for a few days. The prince is a reasonable person. As long as everyone has done nothing wrong, there is no need to worry! Let's eat and drink well first, and we will talk about business later."
"Business?"
Su Hansong frowned and looked at Ji Ran, "What is the serious matter that Lord Ji is talking about?"
After he asked this question, everyone started asking as well.
With Yun Zheng doing this, who the hell would have an appetite!
They just wanted to know what the important matter Ji Ran was talking about was.
Listening to the many inquiries around him, Ji Ran couldn't help but look at Tuo Huan in embarrassment, "Since everyone wants to know so much, Master Tuo Huan, do you think you should tell everyone about this first?"
"Then tell everyone!" Tuohuan smiled casually.
Ji Ran: "Please let the adults speak!"
Tuo Huan shook his head and smiled: "Just you say it, anyway, I am the one taking the blame!"
Take...the blame?
Hearing Tuohuan's words, everyone looked at him sideways.
What does Tuohuan mean?
Is he going to take the blame for Yun Zheng?
Could it be that Yun Zheng wanted to kill them all and then put the blame on Tuo Huan?
So...blatant?
"Well! In that case, let me tell you!"
Ji Ran smiled helplessly, then took out the imperial edict and said loudly: "The imperial court wants to reform our tax system and order Fuzhou to pilot the new tax system first..."
Ji Ran explained to everyone in detail the issue of dividing the land tax into land tax.
Everything, including what is the land-based tax distribution, is explained clearly.
After hearing Ji Ran's words, everyone's faces changed color.
The tax is distributed according to the land area!
These four simple words can harm the interests of many people.
Even including their own interests.
This is an offensive thing.
If you are not careful, you will get yourself into trouble.
If things go wrong, not only Tuohuan will have to take the blame, but they will have to take the blame too!
At this moment, those who were about to resign wanted to resign even more.
Even if you resign, you will still have the opportunity to serve as an official again in the future.
But if they are dragged to take the blame or something goes wrong, they will be dismissed and investigated!
It is basically impossible for an official who has been dismissed and investigated to serve as an official again!
Even saving one's life is difficult!
Thinking of this, Su Hansong immediately said: "Master Ji, we have already resigned from the court..."
Ji Ran smiled and said, "Don't even think about resigning! The imperial court wants to implement the land tax system in Fuzhou, and it's time to recruit people. Your resignation petitions have all been suppressed by the imperial court!"
Yun Zheng never submitted those memorials!
They were all held in Yun Zheng’s hands!
After hearing Ji Ran's words, everyone's expression changed again.
As long as the imperial court does not allow them to resign, they will have to continue holding these posts!
This is really troublesome.
Just when everyone was thinking about whether to resign again, Tuohuan suddenly said with a smile: "If you gentlemen really don't want to be officials, I can give you a suggestion."
"What's the idea?"
Everyone looked at Tuohuan with expectation.
Tuo Huan stood up slowly and said with a smile: "The implementation of the new tax system this time will be presided over by me!"
"We can all unite to fight against the court's new tax system!"
"Or maybe everyone is pretending to obey but secretly disobeying, trying every way to make things difficult for me and hinder the implementation of the new tax system!"
"If this happens, the imperial court will be furious and will dismiss you all from your posts! In this way, you won't have to be officials anymore!"
As Tuohuan finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in surprise.
This is not giving them any advice!
This is clearly a warning to them!
At this moment, some smart people have already understood what Tuohuan meant by "taking the blame".
If they dare to obstruct Yun Zheng from implementing the new tax system, Tuo Huan doesn't mind killing them!
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