Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 61 Yang Tinghe's Defense Breaks

Chen Jin's death sentence and Yang Tinghe's recovery became two big news at once and spread like wildfire among the people.

The Minister of Revenue Yang Tan naturally also knew that Chen Jin had been sentenced to death.

In fact, he knew better than anyone else why Chen Jin was listed as Jiang Bin's accomplice, and even why he was sentenced to death before Jiang Bin, Wei Bin and Wang Qiong were punished.

Because Yang Tan knew that this was not as simple as Chen Jin had once made friends with powerful eunuchs and treacherous ministers, but that Chen Jin had recently not only submitted a memorial criticizing the clearing of the farmland, but had also defied the will of heaven.

Although the new emperor showed that he loved his people like his own children and was kind and lenient to his scholars, he was obviously ruthless towards his disloyal ministers who oppressed and extorted him.

Yang Tan became uneasy when he thought about his recent request for an imperial decree to reduce the grain tax in Jiangnan by more than 1.5 million dan, which might be considered as deceiving God.

to this end.

Yang Tan took the initiative to come to the cabinet.

"Prime Minister, I've thought about it and feel that it's no longer necessary to exempt Nanzhi from rent and taxes for disaster relief, so it would be better to directly request the allocation of disaster relief grain."

"Southern Zhili has suffered from disasters for so long that the common people who needed to be exempted from rent and taxes have already starved to death or fled from famine."

"The only ones who remain in the area are the wealthy families who still have a lot of surplus grain, so exempting the rent and taxes at this time will only give the wealthy families an opportunity to annex the land, while also causing a loss of tax grain for the court."

"So, since we need to provide disaster relief, it is better to collect rent and taxes as usual, and at the same time directly allocate grain. This will allow the remaining local people to survive, and the local government will be able to recruit the refugees to borrow money to resume farming."

As soon as Yang Tan arrived at the cabinet, he expressed his latest attitude to Liang Chu.

Liang Chu smiled after hearing this and said, "I'm glad Zong Yuan can understand it."

"But let's not talk about this for now."

"You came just in time."

"I have something to ask you."

After Liang Chu said this.

Yang Tan's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed and said, "Please give me some advice, Prime Minister."

"Is such that."

"The Imperial Guards reported to Your Majesty that Wei Bin and Wang Qiong both confessed in prison that you had colluded with them in private."

"Your Majesty specifically asked about me when he summoned me."

"I naturally don't believe that you, Yang Zongyuan, would collude with the treacherous party, so I defend you in front of the emperor."

"Your Majesty has now dispelled some of his doubts."

When Liang Chu said this, he looked at Yang Tan who was blinking non-stop:

"But Zong Yuan, tell me the truth, have you ever colluded with them in private?"

"Let this old man have some idea in his mind."

"slander!"

"This is pure slander!"

Yang Tan was so panicked that he denied it immediately.

then.

Yang Tan immediately bowed to Liang Chu and shed tears, saying: "Prince, you know me well. I have always hated evil and have no sympathy for evil people. How could I have any contact with them?"

"I thank Yuanfu for defending me before your majesty."

"If Your Majesty asks Yuanfu again next time, please tell Your Majesty that although I am mediocre, I have a heart full of loyalty to the Emperor and that has never changed!"

Yang Tan continued speaking while bowing.

"I know you are a loyal minister."

Liang Chu smiled and said, "So I just happened to have something to discuss with you."

"Please speak frankly, Yuan Fu. As long as it benefits the country and the people and I am loyal to Your Majesty, I will be willing to bear the criticism from the world."

Yang Tan said at this time.

He knew that Liang Chu would definitely not let him do anything good.

After all, his request for exemption of tax payment for officials and gentry in Jiangnan would not be easily let off.

Therefore, Yang Tan expressed his position directly at this time.

"You said that."

"Then I will speak frankly."

Liang Chu smiled and said, "Now I need you to submit a petition to the Ministry of Revenue to borrow some money from His Majesty."

Yang Tan was stunned after hearing this.

"The people of the world are suffering."

Liang Chu stood up at this time and paced around the room casually.

"It's difficult for your majesty."

talking.

Liang Chu said one more sentence.

"They can't even maintain a decent army, so they can only sit back and watch the foreign invaders and traitors extort them."

"We, as ministers, should work harder and not let the people suffer, nor let the emperor and father be wronged."

“So, we have to shoulder more responsibilities.”

When Liang Chu said this, he turned around and looked at Yang Tan: "What do you think?"

Because the Cabinet in name does not represent the Secretariat of the outer court.

Only the Ministry of Revenue was nominally the central government agency that managed the finances on behalf of the imperial court.

If Zhu Houcong really wanted the outer court to borrow money from him to pay for the internal treasury, he would need to apply for a loan from the Ministry of Revenue, rather than the Cabinet.

Therefore, Liang Chu needed to persuade Yang Tan.

Yang Tan gritted his teeth and nodded: "This is truly a way to have the best of both worlds."

Then, Yang Tan also bowed to Liang Chu and said: "Prince Fu Gong is loyal to the country, and I will follow closely. I would like to submit this report to help the Ministry of Revenue, save the lives of the people, and repay the emperor's kindness!"

"If you have this heart, why worry about the world not prospering?"

Liang Chu replied with a smile.

then.

At the instruction of the cabinet, the Minister of Revenue Yang Tan submitted a petition requesting a loan of 5 million taels of silver from the Xingming Bank.

at the same time.

The cabinet issued an edict to establish the Xingming Bank.

The so-called Xingming Bank naturally belonged to the emperor.

This is done so as to avoid lending directly in the name of the internal transport warehouse, so that the two can assume different functions.

Zhu Houcong naturally approved the Ministry of Revenue's proposal quickly.

The loan of five million taels of silver was then transported to Taicang in batches.

Besides.

Yang Tan also submitted a petition requesting grain allocation for disaster relief, but did not propose reducing grain taxes.

Zhu Houcong naturally approved it after the cabinet voted on it.

Let’s talk.

The day after Yang Tinghe learned that Chen Jin had been ordered to hang himself, he found out that the Ministry of Revenue had borrowed 5 million taels of silver from the Xingming Bank.

"Loan from the treasury?"

"It's a good thing Liang Shunde is willing to do that!"

"Your Majesty is a holy and benevolent ruler, why doesn't Liang Shunde dare to compete with the inner court? Is he so afraid of offending the inner court? Is he so cowardly? Does he like to be a good guy?!"

"They actually resorted to borrowing money from the treasury."

"Who will pay it back and how?!"

All of a sudden.

Yang Tinghe really couldn't keep his composure anymore.

Completely breaking the defense!

Because this means that if he really returns to the cabinet, he will have to bear the task of repaying a loan of five million taels plus an annual interest rate of 3%.

Unless he asked the emperor to give up the debt, it would be tantamount to defaulting on it.

But now the emperor has approved the Ministry of Revenue's request, which means that the outer court and the inner court have reached a consensus.

If he asked the emperor to give up, it would mean that he would ask the emperor to really swallow up the imperial edict he had issued before, and deny all the ministers who had accomplished this.

The emperor would naturally not trample on his imperial power, and the ministers who accomplished this would naturally not deny themselves.

Therefore, Yang Tinghe knew that if he really wanted to return to the cabinet, he could only grit his teeth and take on this task.

In fact, it is not difficult to complete this task, but to do this means to reform the system and to carry out real reforms.

However, Yang Tinghe would rather stop being the Prime Minister than to carry out reforms.

Just like, in history, he would rather retire than compromise on the etiquette he believed in.

Therefore, Yang Tinghe knew that once the imperial edict on the Ministry of Revenue to lend money to Xingming Bank came out, he would not be able to return to the cabinet for a while.

Naturally, he lived in Bengbu.

In a fit of rage.

Yang Tinghe's eyes went blurry and he almost fell to the ground.

"father!"

Upon seeing this, Yang Shen hurriedly supported him, and immediately asked someone to call a doctor and ordered people to clean up the situation.

After Yang Tinghe calmed down a bit, Yang Shen said, "Dad, it is possible that Liang Shunde wanted to continue to be the Prime Minister, so he came up with such a vicious plan, or maybe the emperor really likes him."

"My son thinks we should find someone to report him!"

"Father should go back to the cabinet first."

"It's just a loan of five million taels. We can repay it by raiding a few houses."

Yang Shen said at this time.

Yang Tinghe smiled bitterly: "If it was just a matter of confiscating the property, wouldn't the court have stopped clearing the land last time?"

Yang Shen: “…”

“People’s hearts have really changed.”

"We scholars are not as united as before."

"Some have begun to question sages like Zhu Xi, and some have even begun to wish to change the rules of their ancestors!"

Yang Tinghe let out a long sigh and began to feel emotional.

then.

Yang Tinghe waved his hands and said, "I can't go back now. If I go back, I will be dancing on three eggs: the emperor, the rich, and the common people. It would be inappropriate to step on any one of them!"

Afterwards, Yang Tinghe lay down on the couch behind the cushion and said helplessly: "I originally thought that Your Majesty was willing to be a benevolent monarch, so I just let Your Majesty suffer some grievances and restore the Hongzhi policy."

"But your Majesty will not agree now!"

Yang Tinghe smiled bitterly when he said this: "Because some ministers are willing to use the treasury in the form of loans."

"Don't write a thank you letter. Just tell everyone that my old illness has suddenly worsened."

Yang Tinghe then gave instructions to Yang Shen.

Yang Shen said yes, and asked: "Then are we really going to do nothing?"

"Before the situation is clear, don't be arrogant and act rashly. Ask your fourth uncle to send a letter and ask to see Liang Shunde. Let me have a good talk with him on his behalf."

Yang Tinghe said with a frustrated look: "You are fortunate to have a good ruler who is willing to be diligent, frugal and benevolent, but there are too many treacherous ministers, making it even more difficult for Your Majesty to become a ruler like Yao and Shun!"

(End of this chapter)