Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

"I'm here!" Hu Kedu said. Chen Shou, a short middle-aged man, immediately walked from the team to the front of the royal road.

Zhu Youtang looked at the losers of this faction and immediately asked in a deep voice: "Why do you want to refute my "Enthronement Grace" and explain to me the reason?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately looked at each other.

After all, Zhu Youtang was not the kind-hearted prince as rumored, but a young emperor with a sharp edge. Li Shou's rejection offended the young emperor, and now Zhu Youtang is going to delve into the reasons for the rejection at this court meeting, which is destined to cause a storm.

In fact, there are great differences in the current salt policy. The Qing faction has always believed that the failure of the salt policy was caused by the widespread salt epidemic, but the view put forward by His Majesty is that government and businessmen colluded.

To a certain extent, when Chen Shou prevented His Majesty from using salt as a reward for his accession to the throne, it was the Qing faction that was challenging the imperial authority.

Fengtianmen Square was already chilly, but I suddenly felt a chill coming over my face.

"Reporting to your majesty, I learned from the Ministry of Household Affairs that the regular amount of large and small yin in the Ming Dynasty was less than 2 million yin every year. This year, the late emperor has been indiscriminately distributing more than 1 million yin. As a result, the current salt law has been ruined. There is more yin and less salt in places. I'm afraid Destroy the foundation of the salt administration of the Ming Dynasty. Now that your majesty has ascended the throne, if you continue to send 300,000 yuan indiscriminately, the salt law of the Ming Dynasty will no longer be smooth. I think that the Ministry of Revenue’s words are reasonable, and I have the power to refute it!" Chen Shou does not seem to be convinced! He was afraid that Zhu Youtang would raise an army to investigate, but responded with reason.

Of course, it can be said that this matter is all pushed to the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhu Youtang's eyes fell on the Ministry of Household officials again, and he asked calmly: "Board of Households? I don't know which official of the Ministry of Households thinks so. Please stand up and say it now!"

The officials of the Thirteenth Division naturally did not have the courage, so they looked at the three giants in front of them with complicated eyes.

Since these three giants are friends in the same age, they know that the three of them are on the same mountain, so they have always been full of awe.

However, after His Majesty mobilized troops to investigate the charges, and His Majesty's attitude towards the Ministry of Household officials, they could not help but consider the issue of re-aligning their ranks.

"I and others think so, so I ask your Majesty to take back your order!" Li Min, the Minister of Household Affairs, glanced at Li Si and Ye Qi, and immediately stood up to express his position.

When things got to this point, they had no way out.

We can only force His Majesty to give in to the widespread appreciation of salt and openly admit that the symptoms of the salt policy are spreading indiscriminately. Only in this way can we ensure that the salt policy does not deviate from its original direction.

Not to mention that the indiscriminate distribution of salt will infringe their interests. Once His Majesty really takes action against "collusion between government and businessmen", the damage will indeed be too great.

Not to mention that their income has dropped sharply, I am afraid they will also face a huge headcount. After all, many of their officials make money through the salt administration system.

Zhu Youtang looked at the iron triangle of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and immediately asked with a cold face: "How much was the annual income from the salt tax during the Shenzong period of the Northern Song Dynasty? How much is the total salt tax in this dynasty? How much is a pound of salt in the capital now? How much does a pound of salt cost you today? Just tell me and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty clearly!"

When the civil and military officials present saw that His Majesty had no intention of giving in, they immediately cheered up and turned to look at the Tobe Iron Triangle standing in the center.

Since they have no access to the core interests of the salt administration, many officials do not know the mystery behind it. Most of them just stand here and watch the excitement.

Li Si and Ye Qi realized that the young emperor was not a confused king. Li Min, the Minister of Household Affairs, said tactfully: "Your Majesty, what we are talking about now is the indiscriminate distribution of salt. How can you talk about the Song Dynasty? There is so much salt introduced in this dynasty. Young Master, this is a matter that is known to the whole world, please stop posting indiscriminately!"

"Young master, you are trying to be clever in front of me. If you don't take advantage of the world, the world belongs to me! The problem of salt in the Ming Dynasty is not due to the imperial court taking too much. If the salt administration can be smoothed by stopping the supply of salt, neither I nor the late emperor will take advantage of it." Don't let the salt issue go!" Zhu Youtang was determined to promote the reform of the salt policy, so he was no longer vague and honest.

Li Si and Ye Qi felt Zhu Youtang's determination and couldn't help but look at each other.

Li Min realized that Zhu Youtang was not an indecisive person at all, but he still had to bite the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, if the court can stop the indiscriminate distribution of salt, I will ensure that the salt matter will flow smoothly, and the people will not be trapped without salt!"

The officials of the Thirteenth Division silently exchanged glances. If they had not experienced yesterday's exam, they might believe this nonsense, but now they are already doubtful about this statement.

Liu Zhong hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said firmly with a firm look: "Li Shangshu, stopping the issuance of salt is not a good way to solve the problem of salt! If you issue salt on time, the salt tax in the Song Dynasty will be 1,200 guan, but in this dynasty you can only get 1 silver. More than a million taels are less than the eleven in the Song Dynasty, and the country suffers huge losses and benefits!"

"Shallow! This dynasty's salt administration pursues light taxation on the people, how can it be compared with the evil Song Dynasty!" Li Min did not expect that Liu Zhong would dare to challenge his authority, and immediately retorted with a cold face.

Chen Kun rolled his little eyes and jumped out to say sarcastically: "Taizu really wanted to give light to the people, but the government and businessmen colluded, and the people suffered the consequences! The price of salt in the Song Dynasty was fifty cents per catty, and the capital of this dynasty was It’s already three hundred coins per catty, but the current salt policy is not beneficial to the country and the people are trapped in salt!”

When the officials of the Thirteenth Division saw Liu Zhong and Chen Kun jumping out one after another, they couldn't help but feel anxious. This seemed to be a good opportunity for political speculation.

"Shut up, you two! Don't tell me that the Ming Dynasty's salt affairs are extremely involved. How credible is the data you quoted? Don't talk nonsense here!" Ye Qi saw a traitor in the Ministry of Household Affairs and immediately took advantage of the situation. It's overwhelming.

Chen Kun knew that there was no turning back, so he said tit for tat: "Xia Guan has been working in the Ministry of Household Affairs for more than ten years, and the data used can be found in documents. However, Shi Lang Ye has just arrived, so it is not appropriate to express his opinions on the salt matter!"

Ye Qi was so sarcastic that she suddenly turned red with anger.

"I have already said that day that the late emperor believed that the crime of salt administration was not indiscriminate, but collusion between local officials and businessmen! But I did not expect that the dignified Minister of Household Affairs had such a shallow understanding. Since you have owed the favor of the late emperor, you are not one of my Good minister! Li Shangshu is staying here with his crown, and Li Si, the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, will temporarily handle all affairs in the Ministry of Household Affairs!" Zhu Youtang saw that the inside was loose, and he immediately took Li Min down and said.

As soon as these words came out, the people around him were immediately shocked.

The so-called "living in idleness with a crown" actually means suspending work for reflection.

Li Si has indeed always been on the same side as Li Min, even in the last second. But now that I heard that His Majesty belittled Li Min in such a way, but asked me to take charge of the household affairs, my heart immediately started to beat violently.

From a minister to a minister, it seems to be only a small step, but after taking this step, it is already the ceiling for non-Hanlin officials and becomes the minister of household affairs respected by everyone.

this……

Senior officials such as Wan An and Liu Ji were immediately shocked. This seemingly harmless young emperor "had already become a blockbuster without making a sound", but the dignified Minister of Household Affairs actually took it directly.

Xu Pu first opened his lips in shock, and then winked at Li Si and Ye Qi crazily.

Li Si and Ye Qi knew that now they had to make a desperate effort to save Li Min. They immediately knelt down and prepared to advance and retreat with Li Min: "Your Majesty, the old and new dynasties have changed, and all matters in the Ministry of Household Affairs cannot be separated from Li Shangshu..."

"Don't force me to withdraw you all! Even if the three of you don't work, I still have thirteen capable household doctors. If the thirteen doctors don't work, I still have thirteen household members, wailang, and Twenty-six heads of household department!" Zhu Youtang knew that he could not give in at this moment, so he interrupted them immediately.

When the officials of the Thirteenth Division heard these words, they all looked at the iron triangle in front of them expectantly. At this moment, they wanted to encourage the three of them to advance and retreat together, so as to free up the three coveted positions.

Li Si, the left minister of the Ministry of Finance, faced the firm Zhu Youtang and swallowed the words that came to his lips.

Ye Qi, the right minister of the household department, finally reached this point and chose to remain silent. If Li Min, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, is eventually dismissed from office, according to Zhu Youtang's current employment regulations, he is likely to take the opportunity to go further.

"Your Majesty, Li Shangshu is an old man who has been planning for the country. He is a rare financial expert in the Ming Dynasty. Please take back your life!" Xu Pu saw that the two colleagues in front of him had flinched, and he immediately stood up and begged for mercy.

When Zhu Youtang saw Xu Pu standing up, he announced on the spot: "Today I ascend to Dabao for the first time. I originally wanted to use salt to attract the officials and the people, but the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs made me extremely disappointed. You actually have to do it for me." He begged for mercy, and I was very disappointed! There is no need to discuss the favor of the throne. The official does not worry about the king, so the favor is not accepted and I will withdraw from the court!"

As soon as these words came out, the officials present were completely dumbfounded.