With the lessons of the past, the officials in the court could only be in fear.
Facing the nine-year-old Son of Heaven, they couldn't help but feel a strong sense of fear.
In their panic, no one actually dared to make a report. They were all completely suppressed by the imperial aura that Zhu Qizhen had just emitted.
Whether it was the cabinet or the six ministries, they were terrified by the vicious way the nine-year-old emperor had gotten into trouble…
Such a terrifying nine-year-old emperor was unprecedented!
The Minister of Revenue, Wang Anshi, was personally promoted by Zhu Qizhen.
He was young and promising. A newborn calf was not afraid of a tiger. When the ministers were in awe, he suddenly stood up.
"I have something to report."
"Yes."
Wang Anshi took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it. He knelt on the ground and said,"This is a reform system that I wrote overnight. I hope Your Majesty can take a look.”
Reformation?
The ministers discussed animatedly.
The three Yang of the cabinet had been highly valued by the Empress Dowager. Now that the Emperor was in charge, the three old ministers gradually lost their power in the court.
Now that someone had proposed a reform system, wasn't this tearing down the stage for these old civil officials?
The young eunuch Wang Zhen hurriedly handed Wang Anshi's memorial to Zhu Qizhen.
"Read it!" Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.
Wang Zhen trembled. He opened the memorial with trembling hands and began to read it out to the ministers.
The ministers in the court pricked up their ears and began to listen to the contents of the new policy. This was related to the foundation of the country.
" New Deal System: The Law of the Rich Country."
" Green Crops Law: During February and May of each year, the government will lend money and grain to the farmers. Every six months, they will collect 20% interest and 30% goods, which will be returned with the summer and autumn taxes.”
" Recruiting Law: The original household rotation of corvee will be changed to the government hiring people to bear the responsibility. Those who are unwilling to serve corvee will pay a certain amount of money according to their wealth.”
" Square Field Average Law: Order the entire country to clear out the disciples, verify the owners of the disciples, and divide the disciples into five grades according to the quality of the soil as the basis for collecting talents.”
" The Law of Water Conservancy: encourage the reclamation of wasteland and the construction of water irrigation. The cost of the construction of water irrigation will be funded by the local residents according to the level of wealth.”
"Trading Law: Set up a trading department in each department to purchase unsalable goods and sell them when the market is in short supply.”
" Equally Losing Method: Set up a shipping envoy to grasp the production situation and the needs of the imperial court. According to the principle of 'moving the expensive to the cheap, using the near to the far' to unify the purchase and transportation.”
After Wang Zhen finished reading, he put away the memorial and handed it to Zhu Qizhen.
Zhu Qizhen took the memorial and glanced at the ministers."Do you have anything to add after listening?”
These new systems were all set up for the sake of making the country rich. Now that the Ming Dynasty was in its heyday, why was there a need for reform?
Wasn't this unnecessary?
Yang Shiqi, an old minister of the cabinet, stepped forward and reported,"This old minister has a memorial."
"Yes."
"The new laws implemented by Minister Wang are contrary to our Great Ming's tax system. This subject believes that these new policies will not be effective in our Great Ming and will not be able to enrich the country.”
"I agree!"
"I agree!"
"I agree!"
As soon as Yang Shiqi finished speaking, the other ministers in the court stepped forward. Yang Rong and Yang Pu, who were the chief assistants of the cabinet, all knelt on the ground and agreed.
Seeing many of the officials kneeling on the ground, Zhu Qizhen understood that this was a battle between the old and new factions.
Wang Anshi was personally promoted by him, and these opposition parties were all important ministers who listened to the Empress Dowager's orders.
Zhu Qizhen wanted to use Wang Anshi's new policy to distinguish who was truly obedient to him and who had always been dissatisfied with him.
The moment the new policy was announced, so many ministers immediately stood up to oppose it. It really opened Zhu Qizhen's eyes.
Based on his own memories, Zhu Qizhen knew that the three Yang leaders were important ministers entrusted by the previous emperor.
He did not expect that these important ministers would jump out to oppose him as soon as he took charge of the government.
Zhu Qizhen clenched his fists tightly. Those who were unwilling to truly submit to him in the court would become a huge problem for him as long as he did not get rid of them.
"I haven't even said that I want to implement a new policy, and you all have jumped out to oppose it. You are really my good subjects!”
Yang Shiqi was shocked and quickly kowtowed."This old subject is guilty."
"Grand Elder Yang, you are a senior of the four dynasties and a loyal minister entrusted by the late emperor. I have just taken over the government. Instead of assisting me properly, you are diligent in jumping out to oppose.”
Yang Shiqi's body trembled more and more violently. Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine.
It turned out that Zhu Qizhen's question just now was actually a trap.
Yang Shiqi had even harmed many of the old officials who had received the Empress Dowager's favor.
"A memorial to the new policies allowed me to see whether you are loyal to me. Are you…insulting me, a young and ignorant emperor?”
Yang Shiqi's voice trembled." This old minister is wronged…The new policy concerns the foundation of the country. This old minister is also thinking about the Ming Dynasty!"”
"The three old ministers of the cabinet are already so old. Why don't you go back and hug your grandchildren and retire?”
Yang Shiqi was stunned and continued to advise,""This old minister has been thinking for the sake of the Great Ming Empire all my life. The new policy is related to the foundation of the country.”
"Grand Elder Yang, since you are a senior of four dynasties and a loyal official, I will not punish you. Go back and reflect on your mistakes.”
The king's orders cannot be disobeyed!
Yang Shiqi and the old ministers were all prostrated on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. No one spoke up for Yang Shiqi.
In the face of the majestic imperial power, what else could they do other than tremble?
Even Grand Secretary Yang, the head of the cabinet, had been rebutted by the nine-year-old emperor. How could they…dare to risk their lives to advise him?
Yu Qian suddenly stepped forward and said,"I have something to report.”
"Yes."
"I think that Minister Wang's new policy is against the will of the people, and Grand Secretary Yang should have the same thoughts as me. I hope that Your Majesty will be merciful and exempt Grand Secretary Yang from punishment.”
"Against the will of the people? If you can really add something, I will exempt Grand Secretary Yang from punishment.”
Yu Qian said,"The foundation of the new policy of Minister Wang is to enrich the country, and the foundation of the country lies in the people. Although the laws mentioned in the new law increased the country's financial revenue, it added a huge burden to the people. I believe that we must add that it cannot be forcibly collected in order to truly comply with the will of the people and implement the new policy.”
The real Yu Qian was really different from the hot-blooded, young, and frivolous Yu Qian in history.
Yu Qian's suggestion was exactly what Zhu Qizhen wanted to change.
After Zhu Qizhen heard Yu Qian's words, he suddenly laughed.
"Hahahahaha…"
Zhu Qizhen smiled, and all the ministers in the court were shocked!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。