Emperor Zheng De had arrived at the Imperial Court!
"If there's anything, report. If there's nothing, withdraw!"
Just as the eunuch finished speaking.
"I have a report!"
The Imperial Censor stepped out of the court. The ban on the sea is actually the system of Taizu's ancestors and cannot be changed. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to continue to implement the ban on the sea to protect the safety of the coastal people of Guangdong and Guangxi! Now, the Ming Empire's coastal defense had many merchant ships entering the sea, and they treated the ancestral system as nothing!”
"I have something to report!"
As soon as the censor finished speaking, another censor stepped forward."I believe that the foundation of the world lies in agriculture. As farmers, businessmen, and merchants are the fourth-class people, Your Majesty should not attach so much importance to commerce. I implore Your Majesty to withdraw those decrees that reform commerce.”
Zhu Houzhao had long expected that if he carried out the reform, there would be a storm in the Ming Empire. However, he did not expect that this storm would come so quickly!
The imperial censors stepped forward one after another, begging the emperor to ban the sea and cancel the commercial tax…
These imperial censors naturally knew that Emperor Zhu Houzhao was decisive in killing, but they had already disregarded their lives in today's court.
In the imperial court, there were censors who were killed, but there were no censors who retreated!
This time, Zhu Houzhao finally felt the stubbornness of the Great Ming officials!
Since ancient times, censors were not afraid of death. Even if they were afraid of death, they would not be censors. Now, Zhu Houzhao was facing such a situation.
Moreover, these censors were all more interested in reputation than the last…
If they were sentenced to death by Zhu Houzhao because of their outspoken remonstrance, they would probably gain a great reputation among the scholars. Perhaps Zhu Houzhao would also gain a reputation for being ruthless.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the many imperial censors in the court and thought,"Looks like Zhen can only teach you a lesson! Today, I'll let you know that I'm the master who gives you food!”
……
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao's aura became fierce. Cao Zhengchun, who was beside him, could not help but tremble.
Cao Zhengchun was an official of the Emperor and had been with Zhu Houzhao for a long time. Naturally, he knew that the Emperor was already furious. These reckless Imperial Censors would probably be punished by the Emperor!
Facing Zhu Houzhao, Cao Zhengchun tried his best to maintain a more humble state.
All the officials in the court naturally knelt down and prostrated themselves on the ground.
Zhu Houzhao suddenly stood up and said to the three Imperial Censors in a dignified manner,""Do you think that your outspoken remonstrances are all reasonable?”
"I believe that we should enforce the ban on the sea again to protect the safety of the coastal people!”
"I believe that the ancestral system set by the Great Ancestor cannot be violated!”
"I thought that Liang Chu and Liu Jian would be severely punished!”
These three Imperial Censors were beating around the bush and saying that what they said made sense, and they did not answer Zhu Houzhao's previous question.
"Good, very good. Then I'm just telling you whether you want to ban the sea again, whether you want to restore the ancestral system, and whether you want to punish the cabinet chief!”
Zhu Houzhao's voice was resounding throughout the court!
……
Cao Zhengchun had the people of the East Chamber make preparations. As long as Zhu Houzhao gave the order, he would immediately get people to pull these three censors out and behead them!
However, before he died, Zhu Houzhao wanted them to die with a clear conscience.
He first pointed to the censor on the left and said,"You said you want to ban the sea again so that you can protect the safety of the coastal people?”
"Your Majesty is wise. The sea must be banned. Otherwise, what will happen to the people along the coast?”
"Nonsense!"
Zhu Houzhao got down from the dragon throne and came in front of him." Is it really good for the coastal people to re-ban the sea? Let me tell you, not to mention that there are no pirates who dare to cause trouble now, even if there are, I can destroy them! Within two years, I will destroy the Wei Nation! Forever eliminate the scourge of Japanese pirates! Why did I build a navy? I want the world to submit to me! Let the people of the Ming Empire travel all over the world!”
" This…" The Imperial Censor's head began to break out in cold sweat. He was infected by Zhu Houzhao's domineering aura, and for a moment, he was actually overwhelmed with emotions!
Wasn't this kind of Great Ming Empire the Great Ming Empire that they wanted in their hearts?
"Do you know what the coastal people were thinking even two years ago when the Japanese pirates were wreaking havoc? It wasn't just about defeating the Japanese pirates!" They still wanted to go out to sea. After all, that was their way of life. Back then, the founding ancestor banned the sea to protect the coastal people, but it also cut off their way of life. Do you know how many coastal people risked breaking the law to go out to fish when the sea was banned?”
"You shouldn't be saying in front of me that you want to start a new ban on the sea. You should go to Guangdong and Guangxi and tell the people along the coast that if they agree to it, I will agree to it!”
" I'm guilty, I…" The Imperial Censor on the left was drenched in sweat. He could tell that the Emperor wanted to banish him.
Moreover, His Majesty's words rendered him speechless!
How can a country in the Heavenly Dynasty ban the sea?
The Ming Empire wanted to walk out of the Weijia Sea! No matter where the people of the Ming Empire went, they could not be humiliated! Because behind them was the powerful Ming Empire!
Make all countries submit!
"No, you are not guilty!"
Zhu Houzhao's face suddenly broke into a warm smile, but in the eyes of the Imperial Censor, he was so frightened that his body couldn't help trembling.
"However, I want to give you a task. Didn't you say that you want to re-enforce the ban on the sea? I think you're right, but the people of Guangdong and Guangxi don't agree.”
Since Zhu Houzhao had already said so, the Imperial Censor did not dare to say anything else. His body seemed to have been drained of energy, and he knelt down to thank Zhu Houzhao."This subject obeys the decree!"
He thought to himself that when the Emperor's anger subsided, he might let him go and let him return to the court as an official.
Zhu Houzhao added,"If the people along the coast of Guangdong and Guangxi do not agree to the re-implementation of the sea ban, then you can stay there forever!"”
After hearing this, the Imperial Censor almost fainted, but he still forced himself to hold back and replied with a trembling voice,"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
He knew very well that he could never return to the capital again. In despair, he even began to think about how to sell his property in the capital and choose a place to settle down in Guangdong and Guangxi.
Zhu Houzhao walked to the censor in the middle and said,"You said you want to restore the ancestral system of the Great Ancestor?”
"I think so!"
The Imperial Censor was already beginning to feel a little afraid. The previous Imperial Censor's fate was also quite terrifying in his opinion. It was equivalent to cutting off his official career and there was no possibility of further advancement. He would even be reviled by the coastal people of Guangdong and Guangxi.
These censors were not afraid of death, but they were afraid of being infamy for ten thousand years.
"Since this is the ancestral system, do you know why I want to change it?”Zhu Houzhao asked.
"I don't know." The Imperial Censor in the middle bent down.
"Humph."
Zhu Houzhao returned to his throne."Then this one will tell you, this one is doing this because this one feels that there is something wrong with this ancestral system, so it has to be changed. In spring, summer, and autumn, it is fine for you to come to court so early, but it is only in winter that the weather is freezing. How can this one bear to let the officials come to court so early!”
"Let's not talk about young and strong officials like you. What about the old officials like Minister Liu and Grand Secretary Liu? Can their bodies withstand the cold weather and wait for the court?”
"What if they are bedridden because of this cold weather? What if I lose these capable officials? What if Great Ming loses this pillar of the country? When it comes to employing people, who should I use? Do I need you?"
Zhu Houzhao's tone was filled with contempt.
Compared to the Four Virtues, these censors knew nothing about other things except for complaining!
Zhu Houzhao's every word was like a sharp sword, piercing right into the heart. The Imperial Censor kneeling in the middle was already beginning to back out.
Now, under Zhu Houzhao's barrage of questions, he didn't know how to answer.
In the end, after thinking about it, he could only say,"I deserve to die. Please calm down, Your Majesty!”
"Let's avoid death!" Zhu Houzhao shook his head.
"Go back and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion. Your position as Imperial Censor will be temporarily suspended. We'll talk about it in the future. To think that you've read the books of sages and sages. Your mind is full of pedantic thoughts and doesn't know how to change!”
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!”The Imperial Censor had escaped death and kowtowed to Zhu Houzhao in gratitude.
In the end, Zhu Houzhao turned his gaze to the Imperial Censor on the right. Coincidentally, he also had other matters to settle with him.
You impeached Liu Jian and Liang Chu for accepting bribes from merchants and then vigorously promoted policies that were beneficial to merchants. Let's not talk about whether Liang Chu and Liu Jian accepted bribes.
Not long ago, Zhu Houzhao had received a secret report from Cao Zhengchun, saying that this censor had accepted a bribe of 100,000 taels of silver from an unknown person. This 100,000 taels of silver was divided into five batches, and each batch of 20,000 taels was sent to his residence.
It was obvious that these censors had attacked the cabinet and obstructed Zhu Houzhao's change because they were ordered by someone!
"Zhen also wants to know, after you accepted this hundred thousand taels of silver, what did those people ask you to do?”
Zhu Houzhao sat on the dragon throne and looked at the trembling Imperial Censor with a faint smile.""And you, are you going to hide that hundred thousand taels of silver well?”
The Imperial Censor was instantly drenched in sweat!
"Don't let me find you…"
Plop!
This censor, who was known for his noble character, collapsed to the ground.
"I…I was confused! I was confused for a moment!"
Pa!
Zhu Houzhao slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily,""Do you think my East Chamber is just for decoration?”
Zhu Houzhao's voice echoed in the hall! Deafening! The entire court was awed by the might of the emperor!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]