Chapter 75. Salt Tax and Examiner

Author: Spring turns to summer

Chapter 75. Salt Tax and Examiner

After Yan Shifan read the content of the confession, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. The content recorded above was consistent with what Lu Fang had just read. It was that Li Xuan, the river supervisor, and his godfather, the eunuch Yang Jinshui, the chief eunuch of the Weaving Bureau, formed a partnership to commit corruption.

Statement of project funds.

"This Hu Zongxian is a kind man!" Yan Shifan couldn't help but think.

After Yan Shifan read the confession, he circulated it to other cabinet elders. Soon, all five cabinet elders had finished reading the confession.

"After reading it all, do you have anything to say?" Jiajing spoke calmly, looked around the ministers, and asked softly.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Yan Song took the lead and knelt on the ground, tremblingly pleading guilty to Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, I am also guilty!" After Yan Song knelt down on the ground, Xu Jie followed suit.

As early as the moment Lu Fang finished reciting the confession, Yan Song understood that the emperor knew everything!

Seeing that both the first and second ministers of the cabinet knelt down, the remaining Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also knelt down, leaving only Yan Shifan who was still in the dark and looked at a loss.

Yan Shifan looked around and quickly knelt down.

Yan Song knew very well in his heart that His Majesty should have found out the inside story of the damage to the dam in Zhejiang! Previously, His Majesty also sent Zhu Qi and others to Zhejiang to investigate. With their methods, it is not difficult to find out the truth. They will not deal with it now.

For me, it's just because the conversion of rice to mulberry has not yet been implemented, I still have some use, and I don't want to cause turmoil in the government and the public.

"My dears, why are you like this? It's just a confession, and I've scared you into this. I just wanted to ask you what to do next, so why are you all kneeling down to apologize?" Jiajing's face

With a mocking look on his face, he slowly spoke.

"Everyone, get up. I don't want something like today to happen again, understand?" Jiajing looked at the trembling elders kneeling on the ground and said coldly.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace. I would like to thank Your Majesty. Long live my Emperor!"

After all the ministers thanked him, they stood up from the ground one after another. However, when Yan Song stood up, he staggered and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yan Shifan on the side had quick eyes and quick hands and hurriedly reached out to support Yan Song. Otherwise, Hu Zongxian would not have been able to enter the cabinet.

It has to be done much earlier.

Everyone present understood that the emperor was holding a blockbuster in his hands right now, and the emperor could detonate this bomb whenever he wanted! The emperor had great righteousness, and no one could resist bringing this matter to light.

, even if the nine tribes are not killed, they will still have to leave a mark in the history books in the future and end up with an infamy that will last forever.

"In a while, it will be the day to collect the salt tax. Have you decided on the candidates for the cabinet?" After everyone calmed down, Jiajing said calmly.

"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend someone to collect the salt tax," Yan Song said slowly after bowing to Jiajing.

"Who?" Jiajing became interested in the person Yan Song wanted to recommend.

"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend Yan Maoqing to be the person who collects the salt tax this time!"

"Yan Maoqing?" Jiajing thought for a moment and had no impression at all.

"Your Majesty, Yan Maoqing is the censor of the Zuo Deputy Capital." Lu Fang, who was beside Jiajing, reminded him softly.

"Oh, in that case, I'm sure! Let Yan Maoqing collect the salt tax." Jiajing waved his hand indifferently, agreeing with Yan Song's suggestion.

"It's just that since the Hongwu period, the salt tax collected by the court has become less and less. Last year, it only collected 1.2 million taels of silver. I hope this Yan Maoqing will not disappoint me..." Jiajing pretended to sigh, and then

Turning his gaze to Yan Song.

"Your Majesty, this person is quite talented and will definitely be able to successfully complete the task of collecting salt tax." Yan Song lowered his head and said in a deep voice without daring to make any move.

"Well, that's good, I'll be waiting for your good news then."

Jiajing was very satisfied with Yan Song's performance. He then picked up the tea cup beside him, took a few sips, and couldn't help but admired: "What a good tea!"

Soon, Xu Jie also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I have this memorial!"

Jiajing looked at Xu Jie with interest and said softly: "Speak!"

"Your Majesty, the treasury is now full. The Longevity Palace where Your Majesty previously lived has not been repaired since it was destroyed by thunder and fire. For the sake of Your Majesty's dragon body, I kindly ask Your Majesty to rebuild the Longevity Palace."

After Xu Jie said this, he knelt on the ground and knocked his head on the ground with a thumping sound.

Yan Shifan on the side was shocked by Xu Jie's sudden operation. For a moment, he couldn't formulate a complete sentence.

If things were going as usual, as long as the emperor showed even the slightest hint of wanting to repair the palace, he would be ruthlessly criticized by Xu Jie, who would use the old methods of citing the empty treasury, citing scriptures, and abstaining from extravagance and impetuosity to make the emperor retreat.

Now, in order to please the emperor, Xu Jie actually offered to repair the Wanshou Palace for His Majesty.

"This Xu Jie is really a shameless villain!" Yan Shifan thought in his heart and moved a step to the side without leaving any trace.

"Ahem, Xu Aiqing is thinking about my dragon body. That's good! But the palace will not be repaired for the time being. I live very well in Yangxin Palace. You should not mention this matter again in the future." Jiajing coughed twice.

, righteously rejected Xu Jie's suggestion.

"Now that the candidates for collecting the salt tax have been decided, it's time to consider the candidates for the chief examiner of the imperial examination. Do you have anyone to recommend?"

"Your Majesty, as a rule, the examiners for the imperial examinations are usually appointed by the Ministry of Rites, but this year the Ministry of Rites is unwilling to appoint anyone else." Xu Jie was the first to speak and responded.

"Your Majesty, you don't know. The examiner of this imperial examination is a hard worker!"

"I have served as an examiner before. I had to make complete countermeasures before the exam started. I also had to go to the exam place to prepare in advance. There must be no mistakes in the whole process! And after the candidates completed the answer sheet,

Specialized people copy the names and send them to the examiner for correction. This correction lasts all night. Only after the rankings are announced can you regain your freedom. The whole process can be said to be very laborious and laborious."

As Xu Jie talked, he began to pour out his bitterness.

"Then according to your opinion, who will be the examiner this year?" After hearing Xu Jie's complaint, Jiajing did not comment, but just threw the problem back.

"Your Majesty... Otherwise, the selection of examiners for this year's imperial examinations should be made by the Ministry of Rites. After all, they have been there for so many years, and they are not bad once or twice." After hesitating for a moment, Yan Shifan gave his answer.

.

"No, the Minister of Rites has complained to me many times! Let's change the ministry this year, and we can't always let people come from the Ministry of Rites." Xu Jie did not think twice and flatly rejected Yan Shifan's proposal.

"Who should be replaced? The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Personnel are too busy. Needless to say, the Ministry of Works. Recently, the Ministry of Punishment has also been busy verifying cases, and it is even more difficult to find the manpower..." This question stumped all the cabinet ministers, and they all said

Pensive state.

"Your Majesty, I do have a candidate for your position!" After thinking for a long time, Zhang Juzheng's eyes shone and he bowed to Jiajing.

"who?"

"Li Chunfang is currently serving as Taichang Shaoqing. Like Chen, he was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing. He was the number one scholar in that year, while I was only the ninth Jinshi in the second class."
Chapter completed!