Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 316: Removal of high officials due to taxation
The miners did not expect that the IRS tax collectors would actually open fire. The timid ones had already started to flee, while the brave ones just stood there stupidly.

The tax collectors from the IRS did not open fire again. After all, those who were obstructing law enforcement were Ming civilians, not foreigners, so there was no need to massacre them.

These tax collectors from the IRS came to the mining area armed only with muskets.

The miners standing at the gate of the mining area no longer had the courage to confront the tax collectors from the IRS and consciously made way for half of the passage.

Tax collectors from the IRS went in, cut the mining ropes, filled in the mine, put a seal on the gate, and transported away all the mined minerals.

Even the injured miners lying on the ground were carried away for treatment.

Only the other miners and Xu Guangzuo were still standing there in a daze.

For Xu Guangzuo and the miners, the current behavior of the tax collectors of the Imperial Taxation Bureau was shocking.

Because no matter how fierce the government is, it will be somewhat afraid when faced with mass incidents, fearing that it will incite civil unrest.

But now, the IRS is not afraid of so many miners occupying mines, but instead enforces the law.

Zhang Cong actually didn't want to do this, but there was no other way. He knew that his heavy taxes would not only offend the gentry but also the people, but he had to offend them! Otherwise, the increasing military expenditure would sooner or later drag down the empire.

Therefore, Zhang Cong continued to force the tax collectors of the National Tax Bureau to continue to collect taxes on minerals in various places, and the Ministry of Mines continued to put pressure on provincial governments.

But the backlash has also become stronger.

In addition, the incident in which Zhang Cong shot and killed civilians who obstructed law enforcement directly caused an uproar.

The first was Xu Guangzuo, who personally went to the Censorate to sue Zhang Cong for condoning the National Tax Bureau officers and soldiers in killing civilians.

Upon hearing this, the Left Imperial Censor Jin Xianmin was also horrified and immediately asked to see Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty, the Cabinet's Deputy Minister Zhang Cong acquiesced to the National Taxation Bureau officers and soldiers killing civilians without authorization and ignoring the royal law! I ask Your Majesty's permission to severely punish the National Taxation Bureau officers and soldiers who killed civilians without authorization, and to punish Deputy Minister Zhang Cong!"

Zhu Houzhao was speechless for a long time when he held the evidence brought up by Jin Xianmin through Xu Guangzuo. He naturally knew that the imposition of heavy taxes on the mining industry would definitely lead to conflicts between officials and the people, and casualties were inevitable. He would also be very reluctant to see a civilian who had not violated the law being killed, but he also knew that he could not punish Zhang Cong for this, nor could he punish the officers and soldiers of the State Taxation Bureau, otherwise they would never dare to enforce the law strictly on behalf of the Ming Dynasty again.

Therefore, after a long pause, Zhu Houzhao said, "Mr. Jin, please be patient. I will summon Zhang Cong now and ask him to explain the situation to you. If it is really the people from the National Taxation Bureau who enforce the law violently and kill the people without reason, they will naturally be dealt with according to the law. However, if the people resist taxes and violate administrative orders, and the law enforcers are forced to fight back in self-defense, that is another matter."

Zhang Cong was summoned into the palace. When he saw the unfriendly look of the Left Censor-in-Chief Jin Xianmin, he could guess what was going on. But after Zhu Houzhao handed him Xu Guangzuo's impeachment memorial, Zhang Cong also began to explain and explained the situation to Zhu Houzhao.

"It seems that the miners were violently resisting taxes. They shot and killed the attacker in self-defense, which is not a crime. Let's forget about it. However, Zhang Cong, you have to give orders to the officials of the National Tax Bureau to avoid bloodshed as much as possible!"

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Zhang Cong cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order!"

Jin Xianmin was also a little surprised when he saw this. He thought that His Majesty always loved the people, so why didn't he punish Zhang Cong today when he caused the people to bleed? However, Jin Xianmin knew that he couldn't just let it go. After all, the heavy tax on mining had violated the interests of many people. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, he had to take the risk of angering Zhu Houzhao:
"Your Majesty! I think this matter cannot be punished by law! Now the IRS's tax collection has caused public anger and bloodshed. If it is not handled properly, it may provoke a civil uprising!"

"This is not something you, the Left Censor-in-Chief, should be in charge of. Please step down."

Zhu Houzhao only said this lightly.

Zhu Houzhao knew that levying heavy taxes on the mining industry might cause civil unrest without Jin Xianmin's advice. However, not doing so would cause major changes in the world in the future. He could only use imperial power to force these officials to accept reality.

After being rebuked by the emperor, Jin Xianmin knew that it was meaningless to continue speaking, so he had to retreat. However, his face was still flushed red, and it was obvious that he was very unwilling. He was unwilling to see that Emperor Zhu Houzhao indulged Zhang Cong in doing this.

But at this time, Gu Dayong ran in: "Your Majesty, the chief minister Kang Hai wants to see you!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded, and without letting Zhang Cong leave, he let Kang Hai come in first.

As soon as Kang Hai arrived in front of Zhu Houzhao, he prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty, I ask Your Majesty to stop collecting mining taxes and dismiss Zhang Cong! Severely punish those who killed the people!"

Zhu Houzhao was quite surprised. He thought that if it was someone else who did not support Zhang Cong at this time, it would be understandable. However, Kang Hai, the chief minister of the cabinet, participated in the court discussion and knew the reason why Zhang Cong did this. That's why he also began to demand that he dismiss Zhang Cong and allow the collection of mining taxes.

"Kang Hai, do you know what you are saying now? I don't want you to say this," Zhu Houzhao said coldly. Kang Hai stood up and said, "I understand, but Your Majesty, the heavy tax on mining in the interior is a harsh policy. Now the soldiers of the National Tax Bureau are in direct conflict with the people. I am worried that if this continues, the world will really be in chaos! Your Majesty, please think twice! Now the people of the world only hate the second assistant Zhang Cong. Therefore, I know that Zhang Cifu is wronged, but I also ask Your Majesty to dismiss Zhang Cong and punish him! Otherwise, in the future, people in the world will hate Your Majesty because of Zhang Cong!"

Zhang Cong did not speak and remained silent. He did not hate Kang Hai for this. He knew that Kang Hai was opposing him out of kindness. After all, if he was dealt with now, he might be able to save his head. If the heavy taxation of the mining industry that he was currently leading really led to major changes in the world, his crime would not be as simple as losing his head.

After Kang Hai said this, Zhu Houzhao did not look at Kang Hai, but looked at Zhang Cong. Seeing that Zhang Cong was silent, he knew that Zhang Cong must have been shaken.

Zhu Houzhao was the emperor. As an emperor, he naturally thought differently from Kang Hai and other ministers. He knew that if he wavered, Zhang Cong would waver even more thoroughly, and the imposition of heavy taxes on the mining industry would be a failure!

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao slammed the table and shouted at Kang Hai in anger: "Are you done? If you are, get out of here with me! Do you know that this matter should be handled by you as the chief minister of the cabinet? It was Zhang Cong who did this for you. You know it better than anyone else. Although this matter offends the scholars and people of the world, it is beneficial to the country for thousands of years!

Zhang Cong is the villain, and you, as the Prime Minister, have no responsibility to support him, but you backed off first and asked me to dismiss Zhang Cong! Get out of here, I don't have a Prime Minister as cowardly as you!"

Kang Hai had not seen His Majesty so angry for a long time, and he was angry at himself. He was so frightened that he quickly crawled on the ground with his head pressed to the ground. He was very panicked and could only nod his head stutteringly: "I admit my guilt!"

Zhang Cong felt a little sorry for this and quickly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is not ignorant of the reason. He is also considering the overall situation of the court. Please forgive the Prime Minister. What the Prime Minister said is also for the sake of Your Majesty and me."

"You don't have to plead for him! As the Prime Minister, he doesn't know the harm of changing his orders every day, but he is afraid of difficulties and retreats. Please retire! What's the point of staying in the court?"

Zhu Houzhao's words were tantamount to dismissing Kang Hai from his position as chief minister of the cabinet.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao was not really angry with Kang Hai in his heart. He just used the dismissal of Kang Hai to express to Zhang Cong and the outside world that he, as the emperor, still supported Zhang Cong. Zhang Cong's emperor favor was unmatched by others. Even if Kang Hai, the chief minister of the cabinet, wanted to slander Zhang Cong, he would be dismissed from office.

really.

As soon as the news of Kang Hai's dismissal spread out of the palace, the entire court and the public were shocked, especially when they learned that Kang Hai was dismissed because he opposed Zhang Cong.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims... Zhang Cong is appointed Grand Secretary of Jianji Palace, given the title of Grand Tutor, and granted an imperial sedan chair in the Forbidden City!"

When the decree for Zhang Cong's succession as Prime Minister was announced, people in the court and the public were shocked, but they also knew that the heavy mining tax was irreversible.

……

Zhu Houzhao knew that he had disregarded the feelings of the people and dismissed Kang Hai, promoting Zhang Cong, who was criticized by the world, to the position of chief minister. This was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire when the people's anger was burning fiercely, and it was tantamount to roasting Zhang Cong on an even more intense fire. He might even be hated by the people of the world.

But as an emperor, Zhu Houzhao knew that he had to be more resolute than anyone else at this time, so on the surface, he still showed favor to Zhang Cong without fear, and even called Zhang Cong "Sir".

Zhang Cong knew that he could not enjoy the emperor's respect casually. The more the emperor respected him, the more the emperor needed him, and the more jealousy and resentment he would attract. It could be said that the emperor's respect was a time bomb the emperor gave him.

But with examples of happy endings like Ma Wensheng and Jiao Fang, Zhang Cong still felt that the current Ming emperor was different from previous emperors. What he had to do now was to live up to the emperor's absolute trust in him.

As a result, Zhang Cong was more decisive in his subsequent actions.

Zhang Zheng, the governor of Jiangxi Province, who had always been an honest official, refused to obey the imperial edict, refused to establish a mining agency, and prevented people from the State Taxation Bureau from collecting mining taxes.

Zhang Cong had no choice but to ask for permission to dismiss Zhang Zheng from his post.

Zheng Yue, the Minister of Dali Temple, was forced by Zhang Cong to write a ten-thousand-word memorial impeaching Zhang Cong because he could not pay the taxes, and then he committed suicide by drinking poison.

Everyone in the court and the public was shocked when they heard the news.

Even when it came to the military, Zhang Cong had no intention of backing down or compromising.

"Tell General Li Long that he forced his officers and soldiers to mine for profit but did not pay them. Now he has deducted the military pay that the court gave to his officers and soldiers! The court's officers and soldiers are here to defend the borders against the enemy, not his slaves! The mine belongs to the emperor, not his private property for personal gain! He has three days to close the silver mine, otherwise I will have the Ministry of War dismiss him! And I will also report him to the Censorate to punish him!"

After learning from Gansu Governor Xu Zhen that Ganzhou General Li Long refused to pay mining taxes, Zhang Cong also issued a strict order directly to Governor Xu Zhen.

(End of this chapter)