Zhu Cilang clenched his fists with a complicated expression.
Pass the losses on to the people?
Can Xie Sanbin and the Donglin Party do it?
Thinking of this, he asked seriously: "Sir, let's not talk about the officials of the court. There are countless eyes watching from the local area. How can Xie Sanbin and the Donglin Party pass on the losses?"
Ni Yuanlu shook his head: "I can't guess the specific method. Xie Sanbin may have already had it, or he may not have!"
"But this does not affect his plan!"
"Xie Sanbin is a smart man. He knows that he cannot stop the implementation of the national policy, so he simply volunteered to execute it to His Majesty and the court! If it succeeds, he will be appointed as a prime minister in the court, and will be welcomed and supported by the gentry outside the court! If it fails, the worst that can happen is that he will resign and return home. There is no other risk."
"No!" Zhu Cilang suddenly said, "The Liaodong war is imminent! The court needs a large amount of silver to fill the treasury. If Xie Sanbin fails to implement the new policy, he will most likely be executed by my father! For Xie Sanbin, this is a life-or-death situation!"
“Hahaha,” Ni Yuanlu laughed, “Your Highness underestimates Xie Sanbin! There may be some stupid people in the court, but there are definitely no fools.”
"What do you mean?"
"Since Xie Sanbin dared to accept this task, it means he has prepared a way to save his life!"
"What is the solution?"
"When a person is about to drown, if you want others to save him, you have to pull that person into the water. Especially those people that Your Majesty cannot kill or is reluctant to kill! As long as Xie Sanbin pulls this person into the water, Your Majesty will not kill him!"
"Who is this person...?" Zhu Cilang asked worriedly.
Ni Yuanlu smiled meaningfully and said, "Your Highness, I don't know."
Zhu Cilang narrowed his eyes and showed the same smile: "Sir, you don't know, but you don't dare to say it, right?"
"I really don't know!" Ni Yuanlu continued to deny.
"Ah!" Zhu Cilang sighed, "Since you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask any more questions."
"Your Highness should not focus on people, but on things." Ni Yuanlu interrupted Zhu Cilang's thoughts.
"What's up?"
"National policy!" Ni Yuanlu's expression became serious. "The national policy of currency reform is not only related to the tax revenue of the imperial court, but will also have an impact on the upcoming war in Liaodong."
"If we continue to delay, it will have serious consequences for the Ming Dynasty."
"In addition to affecting tax revenue and war, it may also cause social unrest, lead to instability among the people and affect the stability of the situation."
"I understand," Zhu Cilang interrupted Ni Yuanlu, "Next I have to help my father and the court promote currency reform in Jiangnan, especially in Nanzhili!"
"How do you want to help, Your Highness?"
Zhu Cilang rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth, saying fiercely: "First use courtesy, then force! If reasoning and appealing to their emotions cannot convince them, I will use the soldiers of the East Palace to force them to exchange their silver for Ming Yuanbao."
"Well," Ni Yuanlu nodded with satisfaction, "Your Highness's idea is correct, but you must grasp the scale."
"Size?" Zhu Cilang asked.
"Yes! Your Highness can choose to attack the nobles, but never the ministers or gentry."
"Why?"
Ni Yuanlu replied: "Ministers work for the court. If we deal with them now, who will help the court? Moreover, we have already dealt with Xu Yifan, a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel. The power of the nobles in the Nanjing court is growing. It is time to suppress their arrogance."
"And the most important point is that the resistance to the slow progress of currency reform comes from the gentry group, and officials are the defenders of the interests of the gentry group."
"Your Majesty asked the officials to solve this problem. Whether it succeeds or not is the officials' fault! Once Your Highness is involved, the officials will divert the trouble to Your Highness in order to protect themselves, making Your Majesty embarrassed!"
"Student understands!" Zhu Cilang bowed to Ni Yuanlu.
Ni Yuanlu was worried and explained: "If the currency reform is compared to a war, then this war can be divided into two fronts."
"One is the front of the royal family and nobles. Your Highness can do whatever he wants with this front, and His Majesty will back you up."
"The other is the front of officials and gentry, and this front must be left to the officials to handle."
"The contradictions within the two fronts can only be resolved internally. They must not be transferred to other places! Otherwise, the contradictions will be intensified and the situation will develop in an uncontrollable direction."
"Yes, thank you for your teachings, sir!" Zhu Cilang's recognition of Ni Yuanlu became increasingly higher.
The two discussed for a while, and then Ni Yuanlu stood up and said goodbye.
Two days later, Zhu Cilang issued an order in Chunhe Hall: In order to implement national policy, all royal family members and nobles in Nanjing must exchange all their cash in their homes for Ming Yuanbao within one month. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished.
As soon as the decree was issued, Nanjing did not experience the turmoil as imagined, but instead fell into a peaceful calm.
The royal family and nobles all ignored the order.
The imperial court has always maintained a moderate attitude in implementing the currency reform.
Simply put, it means not to force it.
Since there is no coercion, they will not take the initiative to exchange the silver for Ming Yuanbao.
In their opinion, how can an imperial decree force something that even an imperial edict cannot force?
Would the prince do something that even the emperor dare not do?
So, they chose to ignore it.
Five days later, the eunuch Zhang Rong from the East Factory came before Zhu Cilang.
Zhu Cilang asked: "Have the royal family and nobles in Nanjing exchanged their silver for Ming Yuanbao?"
"Your Highness, after the decree was issued, I sent people to monitor the situation. Not only did the royal family and nobles not take out the silver and exchange it for silver coins, but instead..."
"On the contrary what?" Zhu Cilang asked angrily.
"Instead, he acted as if he didn't see it and ignored your highness's order." Zhang Rong replied.
With a bang, Zhu Cilang slammed his right hand on the table, "How ridiculous! How ridiculous! How dare you ignore my order!"
"Chen Kuan!" Zhu Cilang shouted towards the palace door.
"I'm here." Eunuch Chen Kuan ran into the hall.
Zhu Cilang said in a deep voice: "Call Linhuai Marquis Li Zushu to come for questioning!"
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