Chapter 90 I am originally a commoner from Huaiyou. What can the world do for me?

After a long while, the ministers, led by Zhu Biao, bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Having said that, the Wuxi Zhang family, which was once prosperous, was destroyed today, and all that was left behind was the everlasting infamy.

But it's what you deserve!

After all, Zhang Chou was the Minister of Rites and an important official of the country, but he did not have the slightest courage.

His words were full of loopholes, and Zhu Yuanzhang found evidence of his behavior, so he deserved to be executed along with his entire clan.

But the most urgent task now is to find a way of survival for the Jiangnan gentry.

Otherwise, the Zhang family of Wuxi today would be the Jiangnan of tomorrow.

Afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the unconscious Zhang Chou and waved his hand coldly.

The guards of the palace immediately understood what was going on, and they rushed forward and violently dragged the unconscious Zhang Chou out of the Fengtian Palace.

Seeing this, Zhu Gang turned his head to Li Wenxi again and said softly:
"Censor Li, Wuxi and Yixing are only two hundred miles apart, and I heard that the Zhang family of Wuxi and the Li family of Yixing are very close, and there are many in-laws."

"Then the Yixing Li family is completely unaware of the evil deeds committed by the Wuxi Zhang family. I don't believe it."

"Moreover, you are an imperial censor, and you have lived up to your reputation by being loyal and giving advice until your death. But in your words, apart from criticizing me, you have also protected Zhang Chou."

"So, Censor Li, I'm afraid you have to give an explanation to me and His Majesty today."

After saying this, Zhu Gang turned around again, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, knelt on one knee and said: "Your Majesty, I ask for your permission to hold a knife to intimidate the disobedient!"

Zhu Yuanzhang heard this and waved his hand gently:

"allow."

In response, Zhu Gang clasped his fists, and Wang Jinghong took out a knife and presented it to Zhu Gang. A cold light flashed again, and Zhu Gang stood with the knife drawn, his eyes full of coldness.

Being given a sword by the emperor to suppress rebellion is such a great honor!
Except for the nobles from Huaixi, all other ministers lowered their heads, with shock and fear in their eyes.

"Your Highness, I say I have no knowledge of this. Do you believe me?" Looking at Zhu Gang, who was holding a knife and asking for permission, Li Wenxi said calmly:

"It's easy to find excuses to accuse someone of something, but Jiangnan is just greedy and is suffering the consequences. So I ask Your Highness to find a way out for Jiangnan."

"I am willing to die as an apology."

After saying this, Li Wenxi looked at Zhu Gang, slowly leaned over, and kowtowed deeply.

The current situation is equivalent to an unsolvable dead end.

The initiative is only in the hands of the Zhu family. If they want Jiangnan to live, Jiangnan will live. The same is true in the opposite direction. If they want Jiangnan to die, Jiangnan will die.

After all, the rules have been set, who can go back on them? Who dares to go back on them?

But Li Wenxi also wanted to take a gamble. In a situation where there was no hope of survival, he wanted to break the situation with his own strength, change the situation, and create a situation where there was a chance of survival.

What is the difference between a situation where there is a chance of survival and a situation where there is a chance of survival while there is a chance of death nine times out of ten?
Yes! Fight for a chance!
But not for Jiangnan, only for the Li family of Yixing.

Facing Li Wenxi who was bowing with great ceremony, Zhu Gang's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he said:
"You're quite smart."

"Your Highness has a very deep plan, and I admire you. I am no match for him." Li Wenxi slowly raised his head and chuckled.

"Hmm?" Zhu Gang raised his eyebrows slightly, put the knife in his hand gently behind his back, and slowly knelt down in front of Li Wenxi, then said:
"Li Yushi, do you understand this game?"

"Of course." Li Wenxi still smiled.

"Tell me about it?" Zhu Gang asked.

"Here?" Li Wenxi raised his eyebrows.

"What else?" Zhu Gang asked again.

Li Wenxi raised his eyes again, glanced at the civil and military officials who were listening attentively, and Zhu Yuanzhang who was staring at them, and then turned back and said, "In front of the emperor, in front of the palace?"

"Are you afraid of death?" Zhu Gang put the knife in his arms and casually sat cross-legged in front of Li Wenxi.

"Don't be afraid." Li Wenxi shook his head.

After a pause, Li Wenxi understood what Zhu Gang meant, and then he looked at Zhu Gang again, smiled and kowtowed, saying: "Your Highness has a good plan."

If you still don't understand now, Li Wenxi doesn't deserve the title of Jiangnan Hero.

The rings are connected to each other, and not moving means the plan is well planned, and there is another game within the game.

What a wonderful game of chess that is linked together.

Thinking of this, Li Wenxi slowly stood up, looked at the civil and military officials in the hall, and slowly bowed:

"My fellow officers, if you stand up now, accept your guilt and punishment, you may have a chance of survival."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials in the Fengtian Hall looked at Li Wenxi with uncertain eyes.

How could they not understand what Li Wenxi meant, but they glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang secretly and sighed in their hearts.

I can’t afford to gamble! I really can’t afford to gamble!
If you bet wrong, there is no recovery!
But if you take a step back, you will die! If you take a step forward, you will also die!
So, is he stubborn and trying to survive, or is he asking for forgiveness in Fengtian Hall?
After a while, an imperial censor stepped out of the queue, looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang and bowed:

"My lord, please forgive me!"

Just three words, and everything is at stake.

In response, Zhu Yuanzhang gently moved his wrist, then stretched out three fingers and said softly:

"Three breaths."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang's words were light, they struck the hall like a heavy hammer, and every word carried unquestionable power.

Upon hearing the voice, the ministers couldn't help but tremble. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze, and even their breathing seemed to become cautious.

During these "three breaths", it was so quiet in the Fengtian Hall that only the sound of each other's heartbeats and the occasional sound of wind outside the window could be heard. Tension and uneasiness flickered in everyone's eyes.

In particular, the foreheads of the civil servants from Jiangnan and the teachers from eastern Zhejiang were covered with beads of sweat, and they exchanged uneasy glances with each other.

"One breath."

In this suffocating silence, the first breath passed away quietly, as if taking away the last bit of warmth in the hall.

No one has stepped forward.

Li Wenxi even sighed softly.

"Two breaths."

The cold voice rang out again, like the sound of a bronze bell at night.

Faced with such a depressing atmosphere, several Jiangnan civil officials took a deep breath, then stepped out together, bowed down, and apologized:

"My lord, you are guilty!"

This show of weakness was like opening the floodgates. Immediately afterwards, several old officials from Jiangnan also came forward and kowtowed to apologize.

"Three breaths."

The sound rang out, and after three breaths, the air was so tense that sparks could almost be created.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly raised his hand again, signaling the ministers to be quiet, and then he swept his eyes over the ministers kneeling below one by one, and said softly:
"Decree that anyone who confesses his crime in Fengtian Hall will be given a lighter punishment. Only the ringleader and his relatives will be executed, and no one else will be held accountable."

"Also, survey the land and carry it out as soon as possible. Anyone who conceals the truth will be executed, and his entire family will be exiled to Lingnan. This decree shall be made public to the world."

While thinking, Zhu Yuanzhang tapped the imperial desk with his finger, looked around at the ministers, and asked, "Do you have any objections?"

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence among the ministers, and the atmosphere was heavy.

But the minister who kowtowed to apologize had tears in his eyes. He kowtowed again and again, crying bitterly, "I thank your majesty for your grace!"

The laws of the Ming Dynasty are merciless, so they must die! But if their relatives do not pursue the matter, they can die with peace of mind.

Moreover, this ending is much better than that of the stubborn Jiangnan gentry. We should be content.

Otherwise, the Jiangnan gentry will be destroyed today!
But then again, after this battle, can the Jiangnan gentry still be called the Jiangnan gentry?
Their reputation has been plummeting again and again. In order to pursue personal gain, they are not afraid to damage the foundation of the country. In addition, they are taking advantage of the Lu family in Jiangnan to attack them when they are down. All of these are enough to illustrate the ugliness of the Jiangnan gentry.

How can we still expect scholars to take the Jiangnan gentry as their role models?

Don't even think about it. History is as vast as the sea of ​​smoke. Some people will leave their names in history and be remembered through the ages, and some will be remembered for eternity and be despised by others.

From then on, the four words "Jiangnan gentry" meant "thieves" throughout history.

"It's a pity that I didn't meet you earlier." Zhu Gang raised his head and looked at Li Wenxi again.

Upon hearing this, Li Wenxi bowed.

"Your Highness, please see me off on my journey."

The smile is as gentle as before, as if relieved.

Zhu Gang slowly stood up and raised the knife in his hand.

"it is good."

As the voice fell, a cold light flashed and instantly passed across Li Wenxi's neck.

Blood bloomed, and Li Wenxi's body collapsed with a loud bang. In an instant, silence returned.

As for Zhu Gang, he was still standing in the same place, the knife in his hand shaking slightly, a few drops of bright red from the tip of the knife gently fell to the ground, splashing tiny blood flowers.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao turned around, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, I request your permission to bury you with honor."

"Okay." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Li Wenxi was indeed a talented man, but it was a pity that he was from Jiangnan and could not be used by the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, Hu Weiyong took another step forward, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Your Majesty, I still have something to report."

"Since the seizure of the people's farmland in Huaixi, and today the infringement on the foundation of the country, the sacred weapon of the country has been shaken."

"I believe that the old ways are difficult to apply today. We need innovation and reform to stabilize the country, reassure the people and settle the world."

"So today, I, an old minister, have the audacity to ask for your approval to reform the corrupt government and review the land area of ​​the country, in order to seek the well-being of the country and the people."

After saying this, Hu Weiyong leaned forward and kowtowed.

However, these words did not cause the slightest shock among the civil and military officials. After all, they had lost too badly today and even lost the right to speak.

Therefore, all of this, whether you refute it or not, will come to fruition naturally and will not be able to shake the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about this for a moment before looking at Hu Weiyong who was knelt down and said:

"Prime Minister Hu, do you have any ideas?"

All the preparations before were for this moment. Even Zhu Gang looked at Hu Weiyong with a deep look in his eyes.

Once the tax burden was equalized according to the amount of land used and officials and gentry had to pay taxes together, Hu Weiyong became a lone minister in name only.

Hu Weiyong thought about it, then raised his head, looked at Crown Prince Zhu Biao, bowed, and kowtowed to Zhu Yuanzhang again:

"I am an old minister who is not very smart. Reforming the system is not easy. Fortunately, with the guidance of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, I have come up with a good plan: to distribute the tax according to the amount of land, and to make officials and gentry pay taxes together."

"Today I am bold enough to present this to Your Majesty."

As he spoke, Hu Weiyong took out another memorial from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

The tax rate is distributed according to the amount of land, and officials and gentry all pay taxes together?
Although Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict that all officials in Beijing could attend the morning court, those who were able to come were all self-aware and extremely smart.

The literal meaning of this "taxation based on land area and officials and gentry paying taxes together" is also its core idea.

But the civil and military officials present now include those who have been convicted and those who are stubborn and trying to make a living on their own.

They were the Huaixi nobles and some upright ministers.

For the Huaixi nobles, Zhu Yuanzhang's opinion was their opinion. If Zhu Yuanzhang agreed, they would support him. If Zhu Yuanzhang opposed, they would firmly resist him.

Therefore, even if the Huaixi nobles understood the meaning of this, they would not stand up to oppose it.

As for the remaining ministers, they would not say anything to refute, after all, this would benefit the people and not harm them.

Let’s put it this way, there are loyal and treacherous people in the world, and it is difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, but those who truly care about the people are only a few in the Fengtian Hall.

Afterwards, after Zhu Yuanzhang finished reading the memorial, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He looked at Hu Weiyong and exclaimed: "Prime Minister Hu, you are indeed a talented person."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. This is not the achievement of me alone. If it were not for Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I would not have realized it." Hu Weiyong remained humble.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand indifferently, raised the memorial in his hand, and said with a smile:

"Prime Minister Hu, we understand, but the civil and military officials in this palace still don't understand. Explain it to us."

"As ordered." Hu Weiyong stood up and turned to the civil and military officials in the hall, saying loudly:
"The so-called 'taxation based on land' means that the corvée and taxes originally levied based on the number of people are now levied based on the land area."

"For those who own more land, the tax is higher, and conversely, for those who own less land, the tax is lower."

"This move is intended to eliminate the unfair tax burden caused by uneven population mobility, ensure that every inch of land bears the corresponding tax responsibility, protect poor farmers, and ensure the stable growth of national fiscal revenue."

"Let's talk about 'officials and gentry paying taxes together' again. Some officials, gentry and aristocratic families were exempted from the tax obligations they should bear due to 'privileges'."

"But it will not be the case from now on. Regardless of official rank or family background, all landowners will be subject to the same tax, without exception."

“This move is aimed at strengthening the court’s legal system, eliminating “privileges”, achieving fair taxation, and ensuring a balance between the burden on court officials and the people.”

"These two policies will be implemented simultaneously. They will fundamentally adjust the taxation of our Ming Dynasty, fundamentally consider the people, promote farming, stabilize the country, and allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

After saying this, Hu Weiyong turned around and bowed, looking at Zhu Yuanzhang again and paying homage:
"Your Majesty, I dare not take credit for this. This is your Majesty's achievement, and it is also a blessing for the world and the people!"

"In the past, the land tax was heavy and uneven, the labor service was heavy, the people suffered, and the state finances were not sufficient."

"Your Majesty is heartbroken, worried all day and unable to sleep at night. I can understand your Majesty's heart!"

"Only then can we take the risk today and reform the bad policies."

"Just based on this, and your dedication to the country and the people, your Majesty deserves to be the greatest emperor of all time!"

The sound is deafening!
Not to mention all the civil and military officials in the hall, even Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked, and his eyes exuded a deep look.

An ancient emperor.

Can he, Zhu Chongba, bear it?
The way to be a king has ancient records that can be followed, such as Emperor Gaozu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and many other emperors.

But Zhu Yuanzhang could never understand it, and always felt that it was not the way to be a ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

So what exactly is the Ming Dynasty’s way of governing?
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head as if he realized something.

I am originally a commoner from Huaiyou. What can the world do for me?

Zhu Yuanzhang failed to grasp the way of the Ming Dynasty, but Zhu Chongba did!
It was that year that his parents starved to death. Zhu Yuanzhang had been a monk and a beggar, and he stumbled onto the Huaixi Road and stumbled towards Yingtian Prefecture.

Ascended to the highest seat.

Everything we did, everything we did, was originally just to have a full meal.

Today, this bowl of rice is no longer a bowl of rice on the table, but a meal for millions of people all over the world!
“The world does not belong to one person, but to everyone in the world.”

“The Ming Dynasty’s governance began with difficulty, was achieved through the will of all, and flourished through innovation.”

"What we should be worthy of is not the world, but the people of the world, as well as the spirits of our parents in heaven."

(End of this chapter)