The First Corrupt Official of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 270 Zhu Yuanzhang is soft again. The Ming Dynasty is black and white, and he is ordered to take Master Ye's life!
In Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden hawk-like gaze, Hu Weiyong just stood there respectfully.

Whether it is his facial expression or his tone and movements, they are all very fair and impartial, without any personal emotion at all.

It was as if Hu Weiyong came here just to report the tax inspection results. Whether Ye Qing was rewarded or punished had nothing to do with Hu Weiyong.

Whether Ye Qing was promoted to three levels in a row or whether he was cut into pieces with a thousand cuts, it had nothing to do with Hu Weiyong!
But Zhu Yuanzhang knew that it must be Ye Qing who was promoted to three levels in a row, Hu Xiang cried, and Hu Xiang smiled when he was cut into pieces with a thousand cuts!
Because of this, he hopes that the sentence "Except for agricultural taxes, all are more than ten times that of No. 2" means that the agricultural taxes in Yanmen County are far more than ten times that of No. 2.

But he had a bad premonition at this moment, always feeling that the real result was another result that he did not want.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced in the direction of Yanmen County out of the corner of his eye. His eyes were extremely sharp, and there was also a hint of 'threat' specifically for Ye Qing.

The next moment, he looked at Hu Weiyong with no emotion at all, just a businesslike look: "Then how much more is the agricultural tax in Yanmen County than No. 2?"

Hu Weiyong just replied rigorously: "Your Majesty, the agricultural tax money in Yanmen County is 2 kilograms more than No. 250, and the food in kind is 2 kilograms more than No. 250."

"What a coincidence. Whether it's money or real objects, there is one more 'two hundred and five' than No. 2!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's hand behind his back clenched into a fist.

At the same time, his whole body froze.

If it weren't for the fact that he didn't want Hu Weiyong to see his true thoughts from his reaction, he would have been furious.

You must know that for such a large agricultural country, agricultural taxes are the national foundation of the country. Therefore, when he inspected the agriculture of Yanmen County, Zhu Yuanzhang put in much more effort and time than inspecting industry and commerce.

Therefore, he himself can calculate the approximate grain output of Yanmen County!

Yanmen County has 40 acres of arable land, but due to manpower problems, only [-] acres are planted with rice. Most of it is plain fertile soil, and only a small part is mountain terraces.

In addition, what is being planted this time is the new rice seed developed by Ye Qing. The yield per mu can reach [-] to [-] jins. The maximum yield per mu in plain fertile soil can exceed [-] jins, and the yield per mu in terraced fields can exceed [-] jins.

Even if the average yield per mu is 6000 kilograms, the total output of [-] acres of land is [-] million kilograms!
One stone is 150 kilograms, which is a total of 40 stones of grain!

The agricultural tax of the Ming Dynasty was one hundred and five, which meant that the 40 shi of grain required a tax of [-] shi, and [-]% of the [-] shi of tax could be deducted with money.

In other words, the agricultural tax that Yanmen County needs to pay is [-] shi of grain and the equivalent of [-] shi of grain.

Of course, it is best to hand over everything in kind instead of deducting it with money!
This is still the tax that should be paid according to the Ming Dynasty tax law, but in addition to the tax law, the specific situation must be analyzed in detail.

What is a case-by-case analysis?

That is, since the annual grain output of Yanmen County is as high as 40 dan, it should consciously pay more taxes for the sake of the country!
How much more tax is appropriate?
In addition to the needs of the county and the basic retention of farmers, it is very appropriate to hand over all the excess to the court!

But in such a county with an annual grain output of 40 shi, the agricultural tax paid is only two "two hundred and five" more than No. 2?
Even a fool can see that he, Ye Qing, not only failed to think about the Ming Dynasty, but also consciously paid more taxes to the court, and even failed to comply with the basic tax laws!

Zhu Yuanzhang was still looking in the direction of Yanmen County with his peripheral vision, but his eyes were as sharp as a knife.

"You are so up to date!"

"Do you really dare to do something that makes the emperor angry and the prime minister happy?"

"The food is 2 kilograms more than No. 250, and the money is 2 kilograms more than No. 250?"

"We remember that our labor camp salary was also 250 cents. Do you like 'two hundred and five' so much?"

"Okay, then we will give you a lingchi execution and chop you with 250 knives before you die!"

Just when Zhu Yuanzhang secretly felt cruel, Hu Weiyong, who was still extremely respectful below, also glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang with his peripheral vision.

"Your Majesty!"

"If you feel angry, let it out. Don't try to be calm in front of me."

"Today, Your Majesty did not get angry with Ye Qing in front of me. I would be sorry if I personally went to the dock to work as a bookkeeper."

Thinking of this, he was ready to tell Zhu Yuanzhang an even more shocking news.

In fact, it was not just Ye Qing, the magistrate of Yanmen County, who took their Huaixi nobles as shit. It could be said that all the county magistrates under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture, and even Liu Wencheng, the prefect of Taiyuan Prefecture, did not take them seriously.

It's just that they don't have any emotional intelligence like Ye Qing, and they don't dare to reply with words like "You're a piece of shit" like Ye Qing did.

They did a very good job of pretending to be false and submissive!

Especially Liu Wencheng, the prefect of Taiyuan, is simply a master of hypocrisy and subterfuge!

In short, in one sentence, the power of their "Huaixi Group" not only cannot enter Yanmen County, but also cannot enter Taiyuan Prefecture!

Therefore, after Hu Weiyong learned that Ye Qing had dishonestly paid agricultural taxes, he did not immediately come to Zhu Yuanzhang to complain. He went directly to the Ministry of Household Affairs.

After he pulled up the tax data of the counties under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture, he discovered a shocking secret.

The No. 1 annual comprehensive tax collection performance in Hongwu’s six years is Yanmen County under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture. There is no suspense about this!
But after comparison, he found that the top three in terms of overall tax collection performance were all rounded up by Taiyuan Prefecture!

It's obvious that this 'small group' in Taiyuan Prefecture definitely has internal collusion!

After discovering this secret, he began to think about ways to use Zhu Yuanzhang's hand to bring down Taiyuan Mansion.

As long as Taiyuan Mansion is overthrown, he can move his own people in. In this way, the entire Taiyuan Mansion will become the territory of their Huaixi nobles.

Thinking of this, Hu Weiyong reported again: "Your Majesty, I discovered a very coincidental thing."

"Yanmen County's grain and deduction money are one hundred and fifty more than No. 2. This is a very coincidence."

"But the top three in tax performance among counties across the country are all rounded out by Taiyuan Prefecture. It's really a coincidence."

"Of course, this is just a coincidence that is too coincidental to be a coincidence!"

"It can only be said that Liu Wencheng, the magistrate of Taiyuan Prefecture, smokes from the ancestral grave of Mr. Liu. The three magistrates under his jurisdiction are all very capable people!"

"I would like to ask for merit for Master Liu!"

When Hu Weiyong said this last and briefest sentence, he finally strengthened his tone.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Weiyong, who was still standing below him with great respect, no personal emotions, and an absolute matter-of-fact attitude, as if he had seen his powerfully beating 'black heart'!
He knew very well what Hu Weiyong was thinking!
But he never expected that not only the magistrate of Yanmen County was seeking death, but the entire Taiyuan Prefecture was also seeking death.

It makes sense to think that without the seal of the Taiyuan magistrate, the tax ships and trucks from Yanmen County would not be able to reach the capital at all.

Zhu Yuanzhang really didn't want to fulfill his wish of Hu Weiyong, but what could he do if those people failed to live up to their expectations?
In this round, the imperial power was defeated and the Prime Minister was victorious!

At the cost of defeat, Taiyuan Prefecture is very likely to become the power territory of Prime Minister Quan and the Huaixi nobles!

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that the 250 dollars he had to shave Ye Qing was a bargain!
But Zhu Yuanzhang would never get angry in front of Hu Weiyong, and he would never fulfill Hu Weiyong's wishes in this regard.

"Mediocre!"

"Thank you for your hard work, we are a little tired."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang went to the dragon couch where he rested.

Although Hu Weiyong did not see Zhu Yuanzhang getting angry with Ye Qing in front of him, he also knew that Ye Qing would definitely die.

Strictly speaking, all officials on the eighth floor of Taiyuan Prefecture, from the prefecture to the prefecture level, will be killed.

Thinking of this, Hu Weiyong just smiled secretly in his heart, and respectfully withdrew, and gently closed the door for Zhu Yuanzhang.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang, whose eyes were already red and bloodshot, walked out.

At the same time, he also thought of what he saw in Taiyuan Prefecture. Although it was not as good as Yanmen County, it was still much better than other places.

In fact, he had such a premonition at the time, but he didn't know why he temporarily forgot about it.

He must have been angered by Ye Qing!

The next moment, the regular eunuch who was waiting outside heard crackling inside. He didn't even need to use his eyes to see that His Majesty the Emperor was taking something to vent his anger on.

"asshole!"

"A bunch of bastards who bully the heavens and fool the people below!"

"Someone, come quickly!"

The eunuch who often served him rushed into the royal study and said, "Your Majesty, my servant is here."

"Pass an edict to apprehend the prefect of Taiyuan Prefecture, as well as the chief and deputy officials of the prefectures and counties under his jurisdiction."

Outside the royal study, the eunuch who served often bumped into Queen Ma who was coming over with health tea, and told Queen Ma everything he heard outside the door.

When Queen Ma heard this, she was immediately shocked. "If your Majesty is fine, I will go and deliver the order."

"and many more!"

After Queen Ma stopped the eunuch, she handed the tray in her hand to the eunuch, and then looked in the direction of Yanmen County, her eyes were serious and deep, even a little disappointed!
But then, there was suddenly a hint of 'lucky' in her eyes!
Queen Ma naturally knew the seriousness of this matter. If this matter was taken seriously, then all Ye Qing's previous achievements would be useless.

Not only that, it was enough to prove that he, Ye Qing, was a person who acted like a chaste and loyal woman on the surface but engaged in the business of a bitch secretly.

No matter how talented such a person is, he cannot be used. Even the more talented he is, the sooner he should be killed, lest he become the An Lushan of the Ming Dynasty or the 'Successful An Lushan'.

But this matter is really strange!
The amount of grain and deductible money were two hundred and fifty more than No. 2, which proved that Ye Qing knew how much the agricultural tax in No. 2 was in kind and in money.

Therefore, it is enough to prove that there is collusion among officials in Taiyuan Mansion!
But Ye Qing’s taxes were too arbitrary!
If he, Ye Qing, is a person who 'appears to be a chaste and virtuous woman but secretly engages in bitch business', how come he pays all other taxes honestly and only pays the agricultural tax?

Yes,

Yanmen County's agricultural tax is indeed high, but compared to their cloth manufacturing, salt and iron mining, and industrial and commercial trade, it is simply not enough!

You must know that a piece of good cloth is worth enough to carry several carts of grain!

Her Queen Ma's labor camp was in the fabric workshop in Yanmen Industrial Park, so she definitely knew more about industrial and commercial manufacturing than Zhu Yuanzhang.

Not to mention fabric products, even the glaze manufacturing industry cannot be compared with grains with high output and low value!
Thinking of this, Queen Ma felt more and more strange the more she thought about it!

"There's no need to go and deliver the message."

Although Queen Ma's voice is not as loud as Zhu Yuanzhang's, in the eyes of the eunuch Chang Shi, the serious Queen Ma is more terrifying than Zhu Yuanzhang.

"This slave will obey your Majesty's decree!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch who always served him took the health tea and followed Queen Ma to the royal study.

Queen Ma looked at the mess outside the Imperial Study Room and immediately knew what happened inside.

In the eyes of the eunuch who often served at the palace, Empress Ma walked like wind at this moment. She crossed the high threshold in one fell swoop. A virtuous queen instantly became the 'most fierce woman in the Ming Dynasty'!
"Everyone, step back and close the door at the same time."

Queen Ma stood in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and ordered the young eunuchs on both sides of him at the same time.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting behind Long An, subconsciously recoiled, and then said loudly: "Don't move, we have to have someone around us to take care of us, right?"

But these eunuchs on duty in the imperial study directly ignored Zhu Yuanzhang's words and not only quickly retreated, but also helped close the door.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew what Queen Ma was here for. He must have known that he was going to arrest someone, so he came to persuade him to think twice before acting.

But this time, he will never tolerate it again!

If he still tolerates this, then he will really become an 'ear rake' as Ye Qing said!

Zhu Yuanzhang said forcefully: "Sister, you must already know how much of a bastard Ye Qing is."

"Not only Ye Qing, but also the entire Taiyuan Prefecture officials are as bastards as Ye Qing."

"Okay, just forget about this matter and go back to the palace to have a good rest!"

"Stop meddling in my affairs from now on!"

Empress Ma just smiled lightly and said, "Your Majesty, you want to say that the inner court is not allowed to interfere in politics, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded directly without even thinking about it and said: "Yes, we, no, that's what I mean, you just need to know."

Empress Ma just picked up a book on the ground, walked to Zhu Yuanzhang, and gently placed it on the dragon table in front of him.

Immediately afterwards, he silently sorted out all the books and memorials that he had messed up.

At the same time, Empress Ma's eyes were full of memories, and she sighed: "When you were conquering the world, you never said that the inner court was not allowed to get involved in politics. I haven't even finished my confinement yet, so I helped you take care of your money and food expenses."

"In order to help you, a poor commander, save money, I led Xu Da and his family to open up wasteland and cultivate land."

"The poor commander-in-chief back then became a great emperor. I said a few words and you labeled him as someone who interfered in the affairs of the inner court."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Queen Ma who was tidying up for him while talking about the past in detail, and immediately pressed Queen Ma on the dragon throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood below, held Queen Ma's hand tightly and said: "We said the wrong thing, sister, don't take it to heart."

"It's just that Ye Qing is so disappointing!"

"You think we don't want to protect him, you think we don't know that they want to use our knife to kill them?"

"We don't want to do this, we don't want to do this, but those bastards have to let us do it!"

After Empress Ma saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was willing to talk nicely, she was too lazy to count the past years in detail.

In turn, she held Zhu Yuanzhang's hand tightly and said, "Don't frown all the time. If you get used to frowning, your face will become more and more fierce. This is not a good thing."

"Don't you think this is strange?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled and asked: "The obvious evasion of agricultural taxes has shaken the country's foundation. What's wrong?"

After Empress Ma told everything he suspected, Zhu Yuanzhang became an afterthought again.

"Yup!"

"In Yanmen County, which of the fabric manufacturing, salt and iron mining, and industrial and commercial trade is not more than the agricultural tax?"

"Why does he pay special attention to the agricultural tax?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he remembered his promise to the fallen veteran. Even if he felt that Ye Qing deserved his crime, he would still send someone he trusted to investigate carefully.

"Here comes Mao Xiang from the command room of Xuanjin Yiwei."

After habitually looking for Mao Xiang, Zhu Yuanzhang realized that he could not look for Mao Xiang.

Not to mention that Ye Qing knew Mao Xiang, Mao Xiang's impartiality was already questionable!

"Xuan Chao Censor, Zheng Shiyuan!"

"Xuan Chao Censor, Han Yike!"

"The deputy commander of the Xuan Jin Yiwei, Jiang Yu!"

When Empress Ma saw Zhu Yuanzhang summoning these three people, she nodded with satisfaction.

Zheng Shiyuan and Han Yi were the bread-winners of the Ming Dynasty, and officials secretly named them "Black and White Impermanence" and "Ghost Sees Sorrow".

As long as corrupt officials are targeted by their black and white pair, these greedy people should really look sad.

These two people would not openly say that being a Huaixi noble is nothing, but in their hearts they think they are worse than nothing.

Especially Zheng Shiyuan, he is someone who even the emperor dares to sue!
If she, Queen Ma, hadn't been protecting her, Zheng Shiyuan's head would have fallen off several times!

Anyway, she is not unreasonably favoring Ye Qing. What she wants is a clear truth, so that her family Chongba will not be accused of killing the hero by mistake!
When it comes to finding the truth, it would be perfect to send these two people there!

Thinking of this, Empress Ma stood up from the dragon chair, bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty has to deal with political affairs, I will take my leave now."

"The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. I will always remember this."

Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly smiled and helped Queen Ma up and said: "What did the Queen say? Why do we two have to take it so seriously?"

"They didn't come so quickly. Let's take you back first."

In the eyes of the little eunuch outside the door, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled again and accompanied Queen Ma to the direction of Qianqing Palace.

Looking at this scene, they once again confirmed their behavior of listening to the queen but not the emperor just now!

an hour later,
The three of them, Zheng Shiyuan, walked out of the imperial study and were on their way out of the palace.

The three people with serious faces walked out of Chengtian Gate side by side, walked side by side across the Waiwulong Bridge, and walked straight on Hongwu Avenue from the palace.

On the left side of Hongwu Avenue is the location of Zhongshu Province and the Five Prefectures, and on the right side of Hongwu Avenue is the location of Zongren Mansion and Six Ministries.

Not only the nobles of Huaixi, it can be said that most of the civil and military officials in the court are concentrated here! .
　Please follow up with the support of the officials, and please support the recommendation ticket and monthly ticket, thank you!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)