The young emperor shouted at the officials in the hall, and the civil and military ministers did not dare to say a word.
Although it was winter, his face was covered in sweat, dripping like rain.
Yan Shifan, the minister of Taichang Temple, a mere third-grade official, had found four hundred thousand taels of silver and countless precious treasures from his home…
And in this Great Ming, how could there only be this one Yan Shifan?
In the 63 provinces of the Ming Empire, how many officials could be honest?
Zhu Zaihou glanced at the palace officials and said in a clear voice,""I'll put these words here today. Anyone who preys on the people and deceives their superiors and subordinates will not be able to escape the punishment of the Ming Dynasty!”
"Retreat!"
The emperor left the court, but the civil and military officials had yet to recover from the dragon's might.
About half an hour later, Wang Shouren and the other important officials realized that the emperor had already left amid Cao Zhengchun's shouts.
"Grand Secretary Wang, Lord Xu, Lord Gao, His Majesty has invited the three of you to Yangxin Palace for a meeting.”
Wang Shouren, Xu Jie, and Gao Gong looked at each other. They had roughly guessed why the Emperor had summoned them.
The three ministers helped him up one after another and cupped their hands."Please lead the way, Eunuch Cao."
"Yes."
Cao Zhengchun led the three ministers to Yangxin Palace Hall.
The other officials in the court trembled as they staggered out of the Golden Hall.
Today, with the news of victory, they thought that the emperor would celebrate and invite all the officials.
He had never thought that what he had been waiting for would be a huge earthquake in the Imperial Court!
……
After the court session, the emperor changed into his usual clothes and sat in Yangxin Hall, reading the memorials from the provinces.
The three officials led by Cao Zhengchun said,""Milords, His Majesty is waiting in the hall. It's better to go in early so that His Majesty won't wait too long.”
"Thank you, Eunuch Cao."
Wang Shouren and the others expressed their gratitude and slowly walked into the hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live our Emperor.”
Zhu Zaihou raised his head slightly and said without anger,""No need for formalities."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The three ministers stood up and waited in front of the emperor.
Zhu Zaihou sat on the dragon chair, reading the memorial with an imperial pen in his hand.
Since the emperor did not speak, as a minister, he naturally did not dare to ask.
Wang Shouren and the other two ministers stood there like wooden pillars, waiting for the emperor's instructions.
Ever since the emperor ascended the throne, he had never summoned the three of them alone. Previously, the emperor had said that he would thoroughly investigate the buying and selling of officials, corrupt officials, and other matters, but there had been no movement.
Now, the emperor suddenly brought up this matter in the imperial court and summoned them here. One could guess what he meant…
After about half a minute, Zhu Zaihou put the memorial aside and said,""Zhen actually forgot that the three sirs have already arrived! Look at Zhen's memory. Men, give me a seat…"
Although the young emperor was joking, all the officials present were in high positions, how could they be ordinary people?
However, they didn't understand the meaning behind Tian Zi's words, so how could they dare to answer? He was flattered and said," Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. You should take care of your health. We can't share your worries. We feel guilty and dare not sit down."”
Zhu Zaihou smiled and waved his hand, saying kindly,""It's fine, it's fine. The three ministers are my subordinates, and Lord Gao is my teacher. There's no need to be so restrained.”
His childlike smile made it impossible for anyone to tell that he was fake.
However, when they thought of how the emperor had exterminated the Yan Song family and the Tartar Kingdom, and how 300,000 Tartars had died outside the Jiayu Pass, Wang Shouren and the others shuddered.
Only after Gao Gong took his seat did they follow suit.
Just as the emperor had said, Gao Gong was his teacher and his close minister. He would not harm him no matter what.
After the three ministers took their seats, the smile on Zhu Zaihou's face disappeared. The invisible majesty of the Son of Heaven was like a mountain, pressing down on their hearts.
Zhu Zaihou pointed to the memorial on the dragon table and said solemnly,""These are the provincial taxes that the Ministry of Revenue has submitted to me. On the surface, there is indeed no problem.”
"But! A thousand acres of fertile land, only pay grain no more than three stone.”
"It's just four or five mu. If you have eight people in your family, you still have to pay three stones of grain!”
"Do you want the people of the world to scold me for being a fatuous ruler and not paying attention?!”
A deafening sound struck the hearts of the three ministers. Wang Shouren and the others knelt down from the armchair in fear and kowtowed."Your Majesty, please calm down."
What the emperor said, Wang Shouren, Gao Gong and others have long known.
Although this kind of malady did not arise from the beginning of the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it could not be separated from these!
Emperor Hongwu established the Ming Dynasty, and Emperor Chengzu launched the Battle of Jingnan. They were successively awarded a large number of titles and fiefs.
This was one of the main reasons for the current situation.
Zhu Zaihou's face turned slightly cold as he said solemnly,""Today, I summoned the three beloved ministers to hand this matter over to you.”
"Order Wang Shouren, Xu Jie, and Gao Gong to be imperial envoys, measure the land of the world, and bestow them with imperial swords.”
"Anyone who tries to obstruct us, regardless of official rank, can be killed first and reported later!”
Wang Shouren and the others trembled. They naturally knew how difficult it was to measure the land in the world.
However, they understood Tian Zi's determination.
Under the heavens, there was no king's land, and there was no king's minister on the shore of the land.
Wang Shouren and the others knelt in front of the emperor and respectfully took the Longquan Sword with both hands. They said sternly,"We will obey."
"We will definitely not disappoint Your Majesty.”
Holding the Longquan sword, Wang Shouren felt an unprecedented weight.
This was not only the authority given to them by the emperor, but also the trust the emperor had in them!
At this moment, Wang Shouren and the others were determined. No matter how difficult it was to measure the land under heaven, they were willing to become a sword in the hands of the Son of Heaven and sweep away all the thorns in front of them…
……
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