Faced with Yang Zhong's accusations, Xie Yun and Qiu Tangshi quickly stepped forward to defend him, saying, "Your Majesty, we are willing to increase the land tax and commercial tax not because we consider ourselves merchants, but because our families do indeed own many shops. Moreover, in our opinion, more than 70% of the shops in the city are owned by scions of prominent families."
"With the nation in peril, why is the treasury empty? The common people cannot bear the heavy taxes, so the treasury is naturally empty. Although the commercial tax is high, the shops in the seven cities are all under the control of aristocratic families who do not need to pay commercial taxes. How can the treasury be full?" Xie Yun spoke with certainty and conviction.
However, the old party members far outnumbered the new party members. Yang Zhong's eyes turned cold, and he threw down his robes and knelt. With his kneeling, seven-tenths of the court knelt as well. "Your subject objects!"
The voices of opposition were loud and clear, as if they were about to shatter Emperor Mingde's eardrums.
"This matter should be discussed later..." Emperor Mingde looked at the fact that more than 70% of the court officials opposed the matter, and reluctantly wanted to say that it should be discussed later.
But Huo Baichuan interrupted him, "Your Majesty, please grant me the authority to mobilize troops. I don't ask for much, just General Peng." He was referring to Peng Rui.
Emperor Mingde was in perfect harmony with him at this moment, but to be on the safe side, he said solemnly, "My dear ministers, you may serve the country for now. Granted."
After uttering the two words "approved," he hastily waved his hand to leave the court as if there were insects on his throne, not even glancing at the expressions of Yang Zhong and other members of the old faction who were about to commit suicide by crashing into a pillar in their remonstrance. Some officials even stood up and pointed at the back of his head, cursing: "You tyrant! Heaven is going to destroy Da Yong!"
Such treasonous and blatant threats were met with no response from Emperor Mingde, who could only erupt in anger and order his men to seize and execute the offender.
Liang Yunsi cleverly took Luo Hu's memorial, shouted "Dismiss the court!" and followed Emperor Mingde through a side gate to the inner palace. Emperor Mingde did not go anywhere; he found a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, sat down, and slowly read Luo Hu's memorial.
After reading the memorial, his face turned ashen, and his eyes seemed to spit fire, which enraged the emperor. "Guards! Investigate! Investigate!"
There was only Liang Yunsi and a group of eunuchs and palace maids present, no officials. Liang Yunsi asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, which official do you wish to send to investigate? This servant will summon him."
Emperor Mingde slammed the memorial onto the stone table. "Have the people of the Secretariat draft an edict ordering Prince Yong to go to Chu County to manage the floods, and Hu Lin to investigate who was delaying the urgent report. The flood in Chu County has gone unreported! This is outrageous!" Chu County is much closer to the capital than Shu County. It was already unusual for urgent reports from Jiangnan and Shu County to arrive at the same time, yet no one reported the flood in Chu County!
They have absolutely no respect for the imperial court, and they have absolutely no respect for him, the emperor!
After receiving the order, Liang Yunsi lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Wei has gone to Beiding Prefecture."
The meaning was already clear. After hearing this, Emperor Mingde sneered, "What trouble can the descendants of the defeated generals of the Taizu cause? If the Bei Zhong family were really so capable, could they raise a child like Sun Zhongshi? However, we must not be careless. This matter is entrusted to Wang Jiyang. Tell him to set off immediately."
"Yes." Liang Yunsi had served Emperor Mingde for decades. Although he was just a eunuch, he had learned about opportunities through his long exposure to the world. The calamity that had befallen them was an opportunity.
The opportunity for rebellion and the opportunity for pacification are both present, so Huo Baichuan wants to start reforms at this juncture, and others will also rise up in rebellion during this period.
Everything is self-evident; no investigation is needed. Even a child could figure it out.
When Zhao Shu learned that Huo Baichuan had actually started a medical insurance program in Dayong, she was dumbfounded. It was as surprising as reading a novel in modern times and finding out that the author wrote that there were no multiplication tables in ancient times.
It should be noted that the multiplication table already existed during the Warring States period.
After the initial surprise, she felt it was perfectly reasonable. However, this matter had nothing to do with her. If the court asked her to pay taxes, she would pay them; if it asked her to pay for medical insurance, she would pay it.
He summoned Fei Peng and said, "The imperial court is going to levy medical insurance. Go and calculate the total amount. All expenses for everyone in the manor will be paid by the Prince's Mansion."
Huo Baichuan was very efficient. With Emperor Mingde's permission, he immediately wrote down this measure in vernacular Chinese and posted it at the city gate. Soon, all the people in the city knew that the court had issued a new decree that would reduce the cost of medical treatment and medicine in the future!
Fei Peng was naturally aware of this and was about to pay when he heard Zhao Shu's words. He was shocked. The monthly allowance of the Prince's Mansion was the highest in the capital, and the treatment was the best. He never expected that even the silver that the court wanted to collect could be generously paid from the Prince's Mansion's account. With such a master, who could have even the slightest thought of rebellion?
He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times without saying a word, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Princess."
"Get up. The Jiangying Garden renovation project needs to be completed as soon as possible." Zhao Shu was just parroting what others had said. If a few taels of silver could make her people more loyal, why not?
"Yes." Fei Peng stood up as instructed, without the slightest regret in his heart about staying in the Prince's Mansion. Even if he were to be a lowly merchant, he would be content with it. Fei Chi was now an official of the imperial court and had a mansion in the capital, but he did not choose to go back. Instead, he continued to stay in the Prince's Mansion. Now, he even vowed to protect the Prince's Mansion and not let those demons and monsters smear it.
After receiving the order, he briefly reported on the matter of the Marquis of Yiguang's residence, "Princess, rest assured, the matter of the Marquis of Yiguang's residence has been dealt with. That man was a rogue and a scoundrel, and his son was a beggar in disguise. The woman died after mistakenly eating the poisonous herb. Now the man has been detained by the government. There are two imperial physicians here, and everyone is buying our goods again."
Such trivial tricks are easy to crack, so she didn't care. When she was planning to do business, she sought cooperation with the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital to prevent anyone from using underhanded methods to smear her.
"You may leave now. The affairs of the flower market must be settled before the disaster victims enter the city. Also, send some people to teach those disaster victims how to sell flowers." There are still princes outside who are eager to make their move. The national treasury's silver cannot be touched, but disaster relief cannot be neglected. So, the only option is to fleece the fat sheep.
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