Chapter 49: Zhou Yanru's Confession
The civil officials trusted by the Zhu Youxiao, such as Fang Congzhe and Xu Guangqi, were also called to the Ganqing Palace by Zhu Youxiao, and were asked by Zhu Youxiao to hide behind the screen to listen to Zhou Yanru's conversation with him.
Fang Congzhe and others were also quite curious about this, thinking to himself what His Majesty was going to do.
At this time.
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhou Yanru, raised his lips and said, "Zhou Yanru, you are still deceiving me until now. Do you really think I am so easy to fool? Or do you still don't take me seriously?!"
Zhou Yanru was stunned for a moment.
Immediately, Zhou Yanru's lips trembled, as if he was about to cry, and tears suddenly burst out: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die! But I really don't have the intention to kill the monarch! Moreover, I just followed the arrangements of Miao Xueshi and others. I didn't dare to do it at first, but they said that I could do this. It's okay to do this. I said that I am the top scholar and the people who want to enter the cabinet in the future. Before entering the cabinet, the ministers of the cabinet would make friends in the inner court, otherwise how could they rule in the future? It would be said that this would have happened when Mu Temple."
Zhu Youxiao asked: "In addition to installing eyeliners to monitor me and other inner court personnel, what are you planning to do? What are you trying to achieve in your hands?"
Zhou Yanru didn't understand what Zhu Youxiao wanted to ask at first, but he was the top scholar and was also a person who could become the prime minister in history, so he quickly guessed what Zhu Youxiao wanted to know.
Now he did not dare to disrespect Zhu Youxiao anymore, and just replied truthfully: "I, the officials of Donglin have always had rifts with the Qi, Chu and Zhejiang Party, and they are even more unwilling to have the power of the court fall into their hands, which has increased taxes and sharply reduced people's profits. Therefore, I, and others, wanted to drive Fang Congzhe away and welcome Ye Xianggao into the cabinet!"
Fang Congzhe heard this and clenched his fists slightly.
On this side, Zhou Yanru continued to say: "However, after Your Majesty ascended the throne, he actually wanted to pay attention to Fang Congzhe, so we dare not directly target Fang Congzhe, so we had to seize the power of Liao affairs first, let Xiong Tingbi step down, and support Liaodong Governor Yuan Yingtai as the strategy, and then jointly attack Fang Congzhe internally and externally, so that Fang Congzhe stepped down!
It just so happened that Xiong Tingbi was very strict with refugees from Liao, and did not allow refugees to enter the city, and carried out policies to strengthen the walls and clear the fields, cracked down on smuggling, making it impossible for business travelers. We were already dissatisfied with Xiong Tingbi, and most of the civil and military officials from Liao were dissatisfied with Xiong Tingbi, so letting Xiong Tingbi step down was something that both the officials, officials and gentry inside and outside the country hoped!
But he had no choice but to protect Xiong Tingbi. Your Majesty, you only listen to Fang Congzhe's words!
Moreover, Your Majesty, you also value the eunuch from the East Factory and asked Wei Zhongxian to kill the swearing officers and punish him with the order. China and the foreign countries have long been dissatisfied with Your Majesty, so they are all preparing to restart their previous plans and directly find ways to get Fang Congzhe to step down, making a fuss about Li Kezhuo's medicine for causing the death of the late emperor, impeach Fang Congzhe for killing the king and plotting rebellion, and forced Fang Congzhe to ask himself to leave the court!
As a son of man, His Majesty cannot keep Fang Congzhe.
In addition, we also strive to imitate the example of Liu Jin in the Wu Temple, and design it to encourage the emperor to slander Wei Zhongxian!"
Wei Zhongxian felt a little sad when he heard this. He didn't expect that these people would want to cut him down.
"Continue talking!"
Zhu Youxiao said this at this time.
"When the people are in full swing, they will urge the reduction of heavy taxes in Jiangnan, and implement the strategy of Liao people to protect Liao territory, which will greatly reduce the military pay expenditure of the court!"
Zhou Yanru replied to Taoism.
After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao asked again: "Why do you want the court to do this?"
Zhou Yanru replied: "Because the tax on land in Jiangnan has always been the heaviest, and now the fields in Jiangnan are mostly in the hands of gentry, we do not want to bear such heavy taxes. The Liao people defended the Liao territory, so they did not need the guest army. After all, letting the guest army enter Liao to participate in the war will be incurred a lot of military pay. Whether it is to transfer Zhejiang troops from Zhejiang or wolf troops from Guangxi to Sichuan, they all cost money and food. Therefore, if the Liao people defended the Liao territory, the imperial court could save money and even if the national treasury tax was reduced, it could be turned over!
"As soon as the late emperor ascended the throne, he followed your words, withdrew the mining tax and tax deliberations. You are not satisfied and you still need to reduce taxes. Once the Liao people fail to defend the Liao territory, and there will be rebellion or even major disasters in other places, the court will undoubtedly need more money and grain to maintain the stability of the country. But what should I do if I can't get so much money and grain because the tax cuts can't be used to? How can I finish the eggs when I collapse the nest? Do you just want to get the whole country that you can't think of?"
Zhu Youxiao asked questions as he said that.
Zhou Yanru hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, I am not only considering myself, but also thinking about the country! Even if there is an unexpected incident, the emperor will be wise and kind, and can save it by the treasury without adding any impact to the world! This is a strategy for both worlds! My Donglin master, all of you, think this is a good strategy! Even Your Majesty's master Sun Jijiu (Sun Chengzong), also agrees with the Liao people's strategy to defend Liao territory!"
At this time, behind the screen, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but look at Sun Chengzong because Zhou Yanru said this.
Sun Chengzong sat upright, without any intention of denying it.
Zhou Yanru continued: "What's more, since ancient times, since wise rulers have been resting with the people, not competing for profits with the people, and light taxes and taxes. Only in this way can the country be revived or even ruled!"
"The country has enjoyed peace for a long time, and more and more people in the world have become more and more powerful and gentry. However, the number of land has not increased much. There will undoubtedly be more and more proletarian people, and they will become more and more refugees. Once there are too many refugees, they will be in chaos. Not to mention the increase in the expenditure of the imperial court to raise royal family members, relatives, officials and gentry, but the expenditure to suppress the rebellion will also increase. However, my treasury is limited, not to mention that there will be no investment after the tax ban on taxes and mines. At that time, my treasury will be spent. What should I do?"
Zhu Youxiao asked as he spoke.
Zhou Yanru pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, the people who live in the ears of cattle and sheep are like cattle and sheep. If they are sad and starved, they should starve to death or wait for relief. How can they rebel and cause chaos? If they are chaotic, they should be killed. If cattle and sheep have no grass to eat, they should starve to death. How can they rebel and eat people because of hunger!"
Zhu Youxiao was a little shocked when he heard Zhou Yanru's remarks.
Xu Guangqi stood up behind the screen, breathing a little rapid, and almost walked out directly. He argued with Zhou Yanru, but was grabbed by Sun Chengzong.
Fang Congzhe was much calmer and only shook his eyebrows slightly.
However, Zhou Yanru guessed that someone was listening to his and Zhu Youxiao's remarks because of Xu Guangqi's sudden stand-up behavior, and he looked at the screen for a moment.
Zhu Youxiao ordered: "Removing the screen, you can speak freely. How should you evaluate Zhou Yanru's words?"
Both Fang Congzhe and Sun Chengzong did not speak.
Xu Guangqi first took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty! The sage once said that God has the virtue of being a virtuous person and people have compassion. Mr. Hengqu of the Northern Song Dynasty also had a saying that scholars in the world should establish their destiny for the people, but Zhou Yanru said that people are like cattle and sheep, and if they are hungry, they should starve to death! He is really indifferent, not the way of a saint!"
"Your Majesty, I am not a cold saying. It is a small matter to starve to death, and a big matter to lose my integrity. How can the people who live in life become troublemakers and traitors because of hunger!"
Chapter completed!