Inside the imperial study, Emperor Yongzheng was reviewing the memorials on the table. These were all reports from the ministers, outlining the opinions of the people. From them, he could understand the needs of the farmers across the land and what methods they hoped to use to change their current situation.
With millions of people under heaven, the ministers have already selected some meaningful information and compiled it, making it easy to understand at a glance without much effort. However, coming up with a good policy that benefits the country and its people is still very time-consuming.
After reading it, the Fourth Prince reissued the policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax, and summoned the people from the Ministry of Revenue to the palace, ordering them to implement the court's policy throughout the country.
After this matter was concluded and the policy was implemented for a period of time, all that remained was to wait for the local state official's report.
No sooner had the imperial decree been issued to the Vice Minister of Revenue than the Prefect of the Capital requested an audience.
At that time, the Fourth Prince was reviewing other memorials. Many ministers submitted memorials saying that after the general amnesty, many people whose crimes were not serious returned to their hometowns, lived in peace and prosperity, and were quite comfortable. The Fourth Prince looked at these memorials, smiled gently, and felt very relieved.
The Fourth Prince summoned the Prefect of the Capital. The Prefect, with a serious expression, greeted the Prince and then began to recount some recent events. “When my men were drinking tea and listening to storytelling in several teahouses in the capital, they overheard some storytellers talking about things from the Ming Dynasty. Their words were loaded with meaning, clearly alluding to the Emperor.”
The smile on the Fourth Prince's face vanished suddenly, and his eyes turned cold as he looked at the serious face of the Prefect of the Capital, saying, "I have already granted a general amnesty, how can there still be such rumors?"
The Prefect of the Capital said, “His Majesty cares for the people and has issued a decree to grant a general amnesty. Although this has somewhat stopped the rumors, and those who were granted the amnesty are grateful to His Majesty, there are still some people spreading rumors in the streets that are not good for His Majesty. Your humble servant has heard some of these rumors and finds them unbearable to hear.”
"Rumors?" Yongzheng's tone was icy, and he gave a light snort. "Who are these people who are dissatisfied with me? Have you investigated?"
The Prefect of the Capital replied, "Your Majesty, I have already sent people to keep an eye on several storytellers. This rumor was originally spread by them."
Many people drink tea and listen to storytelling in teahouses, so if a storyteller spreads rumors in a teahouse, it would be the fastest way to spread them.
Yongzheng threw his pen on the table, the ink spreading across the clean white paper. His eyes were sinister as he said, "Send men to interrogate these people and make them confess who instructed them. I believe they must have been instructed by someone, otherwise how could a few scholars dare to discuss the emperor?"
The Prefect of the Capital bowed, his voice firm and resolute, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it immediately."
After saying that, he turned and left quickly, but the Fourth Master's face still seemed to be covered with a layer of frost.
The Prefect of the Capital acted swiftly, quickly dispatching men to the homes of the storytellers to apprehend them.
The storytellers were all panicked. When they were arrested, they shouted in a panic, "What did I do wrong? Why are you arresting me?"
The soldier sneered and tied him up tightly with rope. "Words can be dangerous, sir. You've heard that saying before!"
The storyteller's face turned bright red. His hands and feet were already bound, and he was thrown into the carriage. "You can't do this! How dare you do this in broad daylight? Is there no law anymore...?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a wad of cotton cloth was stuffed into his mouth, and he could only make "mmm" sounds.
Once all these people had been captured, the Prefect of the Capital ordered them all to be thrown into the Prefect's prison.
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