After the annual party.
Ji Hao was reading memorials in Yangxin Palace as usual.
At this moment, Cao Zhengchun and Wei Zhongxian were waiting in the main hall.
Ji Hao finished reading the list of gifts from the king of Tubo and said,""I asked you to investigate the corruption of the officials in the world.”
Cao Zhengchun knelt on the ground and said respectfully,""Reporting to the Emperor, the corruption has been curbed. However, there are still some officials in the court who are corrupt. Although they are done secretly, they have been investigated one by one. During this period of time, more than 600 corrupt officials have been eliminated and more than 23,620,000 taels of dirty silver have been seized. I found out that Minister of Rites Wang Shouren's family property has already exceeded 1.3 million taels of silver, of which 300,000 taels were obtained from corruption, but Lord Wang has already restrained it.”
"Bo An, he was a meritorious minister of the previous emperor and a subordinate of mine. Since he has already restrained himself, I will order him to donate this 300,000 taels of silver to the national treasury as a warning to others.”
"Yes!"
Wei Zhongxian knelt on the ground and said respectfully,"Reporting to the Emperor, the East Chamber has seized more than five hundred corrupt officials and seized more than nineteen million seven hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver. Among those above the third rank in the court who needed the Emperor's decision, there was Minister of Works Wang Anshi. Lord Wang had embezzled more than 420,000 taels, but he had restrained himself.”
"Wang Anshi was the hero of the previous emperor's reform. Although he didn't achieve the desired result, he still laid the foundation for Shu Da's whip technique. 420,000 taels were also ordered to be donated to the national treasury as a warning to others. They hold high positions in the court and have already taken advantage of their families. If they continue to commit corruption, I will punish them severely.”
"Yes!"
"I asked you to secretly investigate Zhu Bujue, Dragon Guard Mountain Villa, and the World's Greatest Manor.”
Cao Zhengchun took out a few letters from his sleeve and said respectfully,""Your Majesty, the Guarding Dragon Mountain Villa and the World's First Villa are filled with experts, and they are not inferior to the Imperial Palace. However, I still found out that Zhu ignored him and secretly exchanged letters with King Fu. I ordered someone to make a copy, and the original was not touched at all.”
"Hand it over."
"Yes."
Cao Zhengchun handed the letter to Shangguan Wan 'er, and then she gave it to Ji Hao.
Ji Hao opened one of the letters, glanced at it for a while, then read the rest of the letters.
"The things discussed in this letter are just some ordinary things. Moreover, I also know that Zhu Bujue's biological sister is married to King Fu's Imperial Uncle.”
Wei Zhongxian cupped his hands and said," Your Majesty, my second in command of the West Hall, Yu Huatian, risked his life and entered the Guarding Dragon Mountain Villa and The Best Villa in the World. However, we found out that Zhu Bujue had a secret basement in the Guarding Dragon Mountain Villa. In that basement, a female corpse was hidden." The West Hall was also investigating the identity of the female corpse, and they believed that they would have a conclusion soon.”
"There is a female corpse hidden in the secret chamber.”
"Replying to the emperor, that female corpse is indeed a beauty.”
"I didn't expect that Zhu Bujue would have such a hobby. Since Zhu Bujue doesn't have any disloyalty, I can still use him.”
……
After Cao Zhengchun and Wei Zhongxian left.
Ji Hao thought to himself,'King Fu?
King Fu was his imperial uncle.
He was once a supporter of the previous emperor.
His fief was Fuzhou Prefecture!
A descendant of the royal family like King Fu.
Although the late emperor didn't have many descendants.
But he had many brothers.
Ji Hao had sixteen uncles like King Fu!
However, there were not many of these royal relatives and nobles who supported the former emperor like King Fu.
Not only did these nobles not have to pay taxes in their fiefs, but they could also collect taxes from the people in their fiefs.
Other than collecting taxes.
And the right to recruit soldiers!
It was fine to collect taxes.
This right to recruit soldiers was something that Ji Hao was wary of.
He was the Emperor of Great Zhou and ruled the world. The civil and military officials in the court and the people of the world were all chess pieces in his hands.
He wanted to sit firmly on the throne!
The right to recruit soldiers in the hands of the royal family was one of the variables.
They were the imperial family, and they were also the orthodox members of the Great Zhou!
If a mutiny were to occur!
If he won, it would be fine.
If he lost!
He would probably be reduced to a prisoner!
Ji Hao's grandfather, Ji Di, was only the King of Yan.
However, because of his nephew, the Great Zhou Emperor, he cut off his vassal state.
Start a mutiny.
In the end, he defeated Ji Yunwen and seized the throne!
It had only been less than sixty years since the previous court incident.
How could he not be vigilant?
Directly imitate Ji Yunwen?
He felt that there was no need to do so.
The imperial family was spread all over the world. If they were not careful, they would cause a disaster.
After all, they were all family. It was better to use a gentle strategy to weaken the power of the royal family and the emperor!
He felt that it was time to use someone. He said,"Summon Lord Fuyan to see me."
"Yes!"
Two hours later, Zhufuyan arrived at Yangxin Palace Hall with a respectful expression.
"Your humble servant Zhufuyan pays his respects to the emperor. May my emperor live forever!”
"Please rise."
Zhufuyan bowed. He already knew the reason why the Emperor wanted to see him."This humble subject Zhufuyan thanks Your Majesty.”
"Zhufuyan, do you know why I summoned you?”
"Replying to the emperor, this official dares to guess that the emperor is only seeing this official because of the order of gratitude mentioned in this official's memorial.”
"You are very smart. I hope that your intelligence can be put on the right path.”
"This lowly subject will remember the emperor's teachings."
"Since you already know why I summoned you, tell me in detail about the token of gratitude you mentioned.”
"This humble subject obeys the imperial decree. There are at least ten million people in the imperial family now, and there are hundreds of people who have fiefs. These fiefdoms can not only collect taxes, but they also have the right to recruit soldiers.”
Zhufuyan repeated his words and observed his expression again and again. He was afraid that what he said would anger Long Yan.
However, he found that what he said didn't make Ji Hao's face change at all.
"Zhen knows all of this. Zhen asked you to say the Proclamation of Grace.”
"The Decree of Extending Grace is a strategy to cut off vassals. The previous dynasty had such a strategy. There was the Rebellion of the Eight Princes in ancient times and it has also happened in modern times. If they didn't do it well, it would lead to civil strife, causing the people to be in dire straits. This humble subject believes that the current system of fiefs is that the eldest son inherits the title of fief, and the order of grace allows the owner of the fief to distribute the fief to all his sons. In the long run, the fief will become smaller and smaller, and the power of the vassal king will be greatly weakened. This is the best way to cut the vassal.”
"Zhufuyan."
"Your humble subject is here."
"A strategist is powerless, but a plan can kill a million soldiers. Your plan of using the token of gratitude can cut down a vassal from the roots and can also be done without bloodshed. It's really good.”
"Your Majesty's praise is too much, this lowly official is ashamed to accept it.”
"After the Upper Yuan Festival, you will be the one to propose this token of gratitude.”
"This lowly subject obeys the decree!"
Zhufuyan and Ji Hao discussed about the token for about two hours.
He let Zhufuyan leave.
Zhufuyan was just a small official in Chang 'an. He was not even qualified to attend the court.
Now, he was actually summoned by His Majesty to see the dragon's face!
He knew that it was all because the Emperor had accepted the Proclamation of Grace that he had proposed!
He had to seize this opportunity.
Moreover, the Emperor's high evaluation of him made him extremely excited.
A strategist was powerless, but a plan could kill millions of troops. This Decree of Pushing Grace could weaken the power of the Royal Family and the various vassal kings without bloodshed. It was the best way to cut down the vassal states!
After Zhufuyan left the Imperial City, he went to the tavern to call his friends and drink for fun.
His friends asked him why he was so happy.
Zhufuyan knew that this was a national affair. Even though he was drunk, he did not say a word.
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