Xie Ming

Chapter 410: Palace Discussion (Part )

The cabinet chief Qiu Weizhen continued his speech.
"Everyone, some of you have worked in the Ministry of Revenue!"

"Even if you have never collected money and grain, you must know all of this!"

"In our Ming Dynasty, since our great grandfather, the rule has been to pay taxes twice a year, in two parts: summer tax and autumn grain!"

"As for the summer tax, according to the established practice, it should have been collected at the end of August!"

"Right now, the war in the north is urgent and there is no time to delay. Therefore, in early July, our Nanjing Joint Department has already distributed and started collecting taxes, including the three taxes!"

"Cough" As he spoke, Qiu Weizheng coughed lightly and straightened his posture.

"It's just that your majesty came south and the new dynasty was just established!"

"During this July, the transfer of personnel from various departments is inevitable!"

"New dynasty, new atmosphere, haha." He laughed bitterly twice.

"It happens to be a period of national mourning, so although we are doing our best to deal with all the detailed matters of collecting taxes and silver, it will probably be the early August at the earliest before we can see the big money collected and brought back to the court!" As Qiu Weizheng said this, he turned around and nodded to the emperor, then looked back at the other officials.

"As for the autumn grain issue."

"Ugh"

“This may be even more difficult!”

"The imperial court usually collects grain in the month of January or February at the end of the year!"

"It's commonly called autumn grain!"

"It means we have to wait until the autumn harvest is over before we can start sending out orders!"

"The imperial court has already collected all the grain from last year, and it will be transported north to the capital before the New Year!"

"At this time, the world is changing, and the north is going to use troops again. We have no choice but to collect grain during the late summer festival."

"The crops in the fields of the common people are not yet ripe, and the food reserves in each household are not much to begin with!"

"So, collecting the tax is going to be even more difficult!" His voice dropped again.

"Of course!"

"This also explains why Zhenjiang Prefecture, Changzhou, and Danyang are in trouble!"

"The people have no food to eat!"

"If they can't fill their stomachs, these good people will cause trouble, become unruly, or even rebel against the people!"

"But then again, now that things have come to this, it is definitely not your Majesty's fault!"

"We are honored to be in high positions and serve as subjects!"

"You must take responsibility for this matter!"

Qiu Weizheng's explanation was serious and eloquent, and it can be said that he was loyal to the country!

"Cough cough."

"That's all! That's all!"

"Master Qiu, life is difficult. What's the point of talking about right and wrong?!"

"Today, what I want you to discuss is not about blaming or punishing, but about the way forward in the future!"

When Zhu Cilang heard this, he was very pleased, but he couldn't show it on his face!

So he interrupted the conversation and continued to discuss the topic so that he could take the opportunity to continue the discussion.

"Ah! Yes!"

"Your Majesty is right!"

"Well, let's talk about the method!"

"The war in the north is the most important thing!"

"Your Majesty has also made it clear!"

"War is all about money and food!"

"This has never changed since ancient times. This is the truth!"

"So, for the sake of our Ming soldiers who are fighting on the front lines, we can have enough food to eat, defeat the bandits, and stabilize Shandong!"

"I was at my wit's end and thought of raising the tax on new soldiers again!"

"Ugh"

“People, it’s getting tough!”

"But even if they continue to cause trouble and disrupt a few more counties, I think this is the end!"

"Then the various prefectures will send troops to suppress it!"

"It's better than the soldiers who are fighting in the front and turn against their own side because they are hungry. The harm they cause is much less!"

Qiu Weizhen, the elder Qiu, looked for an opportunity to bring up the issue of tax on new soldiers again.

What he said seemed to be all right and calm, without any emotion involved, but his meaning was exactly that, no matter how miserable the people are!

"what?!"

"what?!"

"After all the talk, they still want to use tax increases to plug the hole!"

"This won't work!"

"Absolutely not!" Unexpectedly, just as Qiu Geshou finished talking about the tax increase method, the Minister of Rites Li Shichun, who was standing solemnly beside him, suddenly jumped out with a hot temper, and his voice disrupted the atmosphere.

"Master Qiu!"

"Your Majesty just said that the people's hearts are to be feared, but they must not be lost!"

"With such heavy taxes, people in various states have already started selling their children!"

"What are you talking about the recruit tax?"

"What are you up to?!"

"Are you going to force the common people to rebel?!"

Li Shichun hit the sore spot of the new tax in court!
It seems that he is posing with a righteous and awe-inspiring attitude.

"Li Erhe (Li Shichun, courtesy name Erhe)!"

"It's so easy for you to say!" At this moment, seeing that the situation had changed, Ma Shiying stepped forward and retorted.

"The elder has put all his energy into this matter of raising food for the northern expedition, and he has been scolded and bullied everywhere!"

"But for the sake of the emperor and the war situation in Shandong, he had to swallow his anger!"

"He won't be able to raise grain without raising taxes!"

"Do you really not understand, or are you just pretending to be confused?!"

"You are a minister of rites, and you are so easy to talk, but you are the first to jump out and sing a different tune!"

"The new recruits tax is not okay, so why don't you come up with a set of rules so that we can discuss it?!"

Ma Shiying refuted his words and defended the cabinet chief Qiu Weizheng.

Hearing this, Li Shichun showed no fear at all and followed with a loud voice!

"Humph!"

"Ma Yaocao (Ma Shiying, with the courtesy name Yaocao)!"

"If you don't speak, I'm going to ask you that too!"

"Let's not talk about the recruit tax!"

"Your Ministry of Works proposed in July to build a palace for the palace!"

"Three million taels is the starting price!"

"Does it cost so much money to oversee the repairs?!"

"Ma Yaocao, you are so calculating. You really can't show that you are from the Ministry of Industry if you don't do some work, right?!"

"The current situation of suppressing the rebellion is almost critical!"

"Keep it simple, don't you understand?!"

"Why are you causing trouble here?!"

After a burst of criticism, Li Shichun took advantage of the situation and directed his criticism at Ma Shiying.

Seeing his performance, Ma Shiying was so angry that his teeth were itching!
Thinking about it, as expected, this Li Erhe is here to disrupt the situation!

So he rolled up his sleeves, without any hesitation, he went up to him and pointed at his nose and retorted.

"Wow, wow!"

"Li Erhe!"

"You are so good, Li Erhe, I knew it!"

"You will eventually end up calculating with His Majesty!" Ma Shiying suddenly uttered this, which was the most heart-piercing remark!
Upon hearing this, Li Shichun was shocked and horrified. He quickly glanced at Zhu Cilang's location, feeling terrified and anxious!
After speaking back to Ma Shiying, his voice became even louder!

"you!"

"Ma Shiying, if you want to kill someone, just come and chop him with your knife!"

"There's no need to accuse me like this!"

"I didn't say we shouldn't build a palace in the palace!"

"What I want to say is that you, Ma Shiying, shouldn't be so extravagant and try to cover up the truth!" Li Shichun was still anxious.

"Pooh!"

"Come on!"

"People who do practical things are blamed and scolded everywhere!"

"You, the self-proclaimed upright people, are fanning the flames and watching the fun!"

"If you ask me, the Ming Dynasty is in trouble! It's all because of you guys!"

"We, the Ministry of Works, supervised the construction of the Yangxin Palace, all for the Emperor!"

"Li Erhe, if you really want to, just open your eyes and take a good look!"

"In order to save money for the temple renovation, the Emperor was so preoccupied with state affairs that he had no time to care for the Holy Body. He has already cut back on the money spent!"

“The Imperial City of Nanjing is old and musty everywhere!”

"May His Majesty be healthy!"

"Shouldn't this new temple be built?!"

"You have no compassion. As a subordinate, I, Ma Shiying, feel heartbroken when I see you!"

(End of this chapter)