Daming: Apocalypse of Longevity

Chapter 23 Night Talk at the Qian Mansion
But these are all things for later, and it won’t be too late to wait until everyone is here. The top priority now is to deal with the ministers in the court first. The matter of the tax and labor reform should also be finalized. Now they have been left alone. After many days, when the heat was almost there, Zhu Tianqi told Wang Yuanbao, "Go to court early tomorrow!"
Originally, this morning court should be held every day, but most of the emperors in the late Ming Dynasty were lazy, and "asking for leave" became the norm. Of course, Chongzhen, a workaholic, was an exception.

However, Zhu Tianqi is not as diligent as Chongzhen. It is not that Zhu Tianqi is too lazy, but that he has to get up early in the morning to prepare for the morning court every time. It is harmful to health!

Therefore, Zhu Tianqi had been reasoning that "the dragon's body was not in good condition" in the past few days, and waited until he felt that the time was right before he asked Wang Yuanbao to notify him and arrange tomorrow's morning meeting.

Hearing that the emperor was finally going to attend the morning court again, the ministers who had been a little discouraged instantly became active again. After all, they had submitted a memorial to the emperor and did not approve it, and they did not attend the morning court. They could not even see the emperor's face. Everyone was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

Not many of these ministers have clean family backgrounds. The reason why they are so anxious is not only for their own superficial interests, but also the pressure from the wealthy businessmen and gentry behind them.

Now that the emperor was finally going to court again, they decided to seize this opportunity to make the emperor change his mind and come up with an explanation. As a result, none of them were sleepy at all and gathered at Qian Longxi's house to discuss the plans for tomorrow's morning court. Countermeasures.

Although the ministers were talking a lot, Qian Longxi, who was sitting in the middle, always looked worried and thoughtful.

Finally someone couldn't help it anymore, stood up and saluted Qian Longxi, "Sir Qian, please say something, I'm waiting for you to make your decision!"

As soon as these words came out, the dozens of officials in the hall fell silent instantly and turned to look at Qian Longxi who was sitting in the main seat, but Qian Longxi still looked worried and seemed a little embarrassed.

Qian Longxi raised his head and glanced at everyone. He felt that it would be unreasonable if he didn't say something at this time. After all, he was the one who initiated the tax reform, so he had to stand up, give a circle of salutes, and slowly spoke.

"My lords, Mr. Qian has something to say, do you know whether to say it or not?"

Everyone below was almost anxious to death. How could they care to listen to what he said? They immediately urged: "Hey, Mr. Qian, just say it if you have something to say. Now everyone is a grasshopper on a rope, what else?" Can't you say it in front of everyone?"

Qian Longxi simply stopped being pretentious, nodded, and said as if he had made a lot of determination: "Qian thinks that the memorial that the emperor read during the previous morning court actually makes some sense. If it is If we can really promote it and implement it, maybe the financial problems of our Ming Dynasty can be easily solved..."

As soon as Qian Longxi said these words, everyone was in a panic. They didn't even care about etiquette and started shouting orders.

"Master Qian, how can you think so? If we really follow the three items written in the memorial, how will we deal with ourselves?" "Yes, Master Qian, you wanted to take us with you at the beginning. Your Majesty asked to adjust taxes, but now the industrial and commercial tax has not been cancelled, but has been intensified, with [-]% to [-]% being levied all of a sudden. Isn't this going to drive people to death?"

"And that article of 'One World Under Heaven' actually requires us scholars to pay taxes like the stupid people. How unethical is this? It is really a strange thing that has not happened in thousands of years. Doesn't the emperor intend to share it with the scholars all over the world?" Have you ruled the world?"

"My lords, please listen to what Qian has to say!" Seeing that their words were getting more and more outrageous, Qian Longxi quickly raised his voice to signal them to calm down first, and then continued: "My lords, I know you are worried. What, the three reform plans mentioned in the memorial are indeed too harsh. Not to mention that you can’t accept it, I can’t accept it either!

But everyone needs to understand one thing, that is, "the country must be the most important thing in everything." Everyone understands the principle that no eggs are left unbroken when the nest is overturned. Now our Ming Dynasty is facing unprecedented internal and external troubles, and there are external slave invasions. In Liaodong, there are natural disasters that have harmed the people. The court's salary arrears alone have accumulated to nearly ten million taels. If the problem of money cannot be solved, I am afraid that the Ming Dynasty will be in danger and will not survive for a long time..."

After hearing this, everyone calmed down a lot, but it was obvious that most people were just out of sympathy and didn't want to show themselves to be unreasonable. As for being moved, they were not moved at all, and they were still thinking about themselves in their hearts. That little benefit.

Qian Longxi sighed and continued: "So Qian also implores everyone to think more about the court and the Ming Dynasty. If our own life is a little more difficult, it will be over. If the court goes out This matter is no joke. Regarding the tax and labor reform, we might as well take a step back and wait until the court’s difficulties are over. Then it’s not too late to ask the emperor to make rectifications!”

It's a pity that although Qian Longxi's words were sincere, they only moved him. Now everyone below does not agree with him. Qian Longxi took the lead in this tax reform. , everyone trusted him and therefore followed him to the meeting. The purpose was very simple, mainly hoping that the emperor would cancel the industrial and commercial tax.

It's a good time now. If you steal the chicken, you will lose the rice. Not to mention the industrial and commercial taxes are increasing instead of decreasing. There is also an extra "one whip" and "university under heaven". Who the hell can just admit defeat like this?

You, Qian Longxi, are noble and great. After all, you still have little land in your family and too few businesses under your control, so you don’t feel sad. But you also have to think about others. Don’t talk about money. Are wealthy businessmen and gentry easy to get along with?If the industrial and commercial tax is really raised to [-]% to [-]%, it would be strange if they eat us alive!
At this moment, someone in the hall suddenly laughed loudly. Everyone couldn't help but look towards this person, and saw that the person laughing was actually Zhou Yanru.

Although Zhou Yanru is not a member of the Donglin Party, he has been associated with the Donglin Party since he was a child, so he can be regarded as one of his own. Moreover, he is from Zhejiang, and he must have a lot of real estate and business. He is a member of the "Abolition of Industrial and Commercial Tax" ” is a staunch advocate, and that’s why I’m sitting here tonight.

Facing the doubtful looks of everyone, Zhou Yanru stepped out from the crowd, walked up to him, and said with a loud smile: "Let me tell you, how could such a trivial matter have made things so difficult for you? There will be many places where you will suffer in the future. Now, can you still be tortured to death?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Everyone stared at him, some looked shocked, some looked unhappy, and some even became angry with embarrassment!
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(End of this chapter)