Chapter 151 How high should this official be to be considered a leader? (Subscription Request)

A concubine in the Xu mansion.

Xu Jie coughed several times in succession.

But his face was full of righteousness, as if even if he died today, he would rather die as the Second Assistant Minister of the Cabinet.

Yan Shaoting, however, felt a little disgusted.

But he couldn't help but admire Old Xu's thick skin, which was one of the thickest among the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty!

It was obvious that he didn't want to lose power, and yet Yan Maoqing had his hometown messed up.

But all he said was about the Ming Dynasty.

Totally hypocritical.

All the good, bad and insults were said by him alone.

Xu Jie looked like he was about to cough to death, and his face showed that he would rather die while serving the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Shaoting sincerely admired Lao Xu's hypocritical skills. He was probably the boss of the two capitals and thirteen provinces in the Ming Dynasty.

After receiving Xu Jie's nod and reply, he returned to the cabinet to continue his work.

Yan Shaoting didn't want to stay any longer and gave Gao Gong a few glances.

The two of them left Xu's house with their own thoughts.

To the outside of Xu's house.

Gao Gong smiled and said, "Everything is going smoothly in the capital right now. There are few times when there are no disputes. I have even gotten enough sleep recently."

Yan Shaoting smiled in his heart.

It's just that you, Lao Gao, haven't really seen some changes that are not important now.

But he still cupped his hands and said, "With Elder Gao in charge of state affairs in the cabinet, and all officials in the court being of one mind, how can there be disputes every day?"

Gao Gong waved his hand, automatically filtering out such obvious flattery.

"Wu Guan will follow you in handling military supplies from now on."

"This child is an old man who was born in old age. I have spoiled him a lot in the past. Although he has served in the court for several years, he is still not as good as you.

"In the future, I will only scold and beat him, and I will never let him abuse his power just because he has power for a while, and cause the Gao family to fall into disrepute."

Just like Yan Shifan.

No matter how these fathers perform in the court, once it comes to matters concerning future generations, they will always become consistently simple and honest.

Yan Shaoting smiled and replied, "Although I haven't had much contact with Brother Gao, I have seen that Brother Gao has the demeanor of a cabinet elder, upright and incorruptible. Although he has little experience in holding power, who is born to be a cabinet minister?"

In response to Yan Shaoting's laughter and praise, Gao Gong showed a kind smile.

After speaking a few more words to Yan Shaoting, he got into his sedan chair.

Yan Shaoting stopped in front of the Xu Mansion and watched Lao Gao's sedan chair slowly leave.

And his eyelids gradually sank.

True.

Recently, Gao Gong has been quite friendly to him, both in the court and in private.

But all this was based on the fact that he had not really done anything illegal or disruptive to the Ming Dynasty court.

This person is Gao Gong.

His character was destined to make him blame everything in the Ming Dynasty on the bureaucracy based on his desire to do things.

This was also the reason why he launched a vigorous rectification of the Ming Dynasty's administration once he took the top position as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

The kindness Gao Gong showed to him now was only temporary.

Especially at this moment, prices in the capital have begun to rise slowly because of certain things happening in the southeast.

Even Yan Shaoting was not sure when the foreshadowing of Yan Maoqing that he had arranged earlier would trigger a huge turmoil in the court.

At that time.

I'm afraid Gao Gong will stand with Xu Jie again and continue to wave the banner of overthrowing Yan.

Just like the past.

When Gao Gong wanted to get things done, he would choose to cooperate with Xu Jie, overthrow Yan together, and suppress the power of Yan's party in the court.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

There are no eternal friends in official circles.

It's all about fame and fortune.

After sighing, he picked up his feet and went back to Yan's house.

Since he himself had not noticed the changes in the capital, the thunderbolt caused by Yan Maoqing's salt inspection would not make him wait too long.

……

"How long do we have to wait?"

Hai Rui, who was far away in the grain supervision office in Suzhou Prefecture, stood in front of Zhang Juzheng as slovenly as usual and asked with great pain.

Zhang Juzheng was also very troubled.

Ever since Hai Rui said he would submit the 32 reports on the concealment of land in Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures to the court, he left the Grain Inspectorate and returned to Zhejiang.

But I didn't expect that this person is really not afraid of getting tired.

He just rushed back to Suzhou Prefecture today, and he came to me again.

Zhang Juzheng rubbed his forehead with both hands and asked in a low voice: "What are you waiting for? What do you want to ask?"

In fact, Zhang Juzheng is now feeling very conflicted and difficult inside.

In the past, he was in the capital, holding a high position in the government, and he did not see many things clearly.

Even though I have heard some things before, I am still not sure.

But it was this trip to the southeast that really made him see clearly many things in the past and also made him believe some of the things he had heard in the past.

Just like the land concealed by the two prefectures of Su and Song, no one knew how to fight this time in the court. Finally, an imperial decree was issued to re-measure the land in the two prefectures on the pretext of changing cotton to mulberry.

The result shocked Zhang Juzheng.

After the land in the two prefectures was re-measured, Zhang Juzheng immediately got a horrifying number.

After the two governments have settled their accounts this time, the amount of taxes the court can collect will be twice as much as before!
This does not include the amount of commercial taxes in the southeast that Yan Maoqing, who is now in Yangzhou Prefecture and is entrusted with the imperial mission, has to investigate.

Shocking at the same time.

Zhang Juzheng was also deeply saddened.

He never imagined that the country would become like this.

What's more, I didn't expect that those high-ranking officials in the court who used to eat the emperor's food and share the emperor's worries actually had such another side.

Then, he fell into deep thought.

Zhang Juzheng wanted to change all this.

But he knew that it was impossible for him to change anything in his current state.

And now, Hai Rui stood in front of him again.

Did he really not know what Hai Rui was asking?

It’s just because I don’t know what to do now.

Nothing can be done!

Hai Rui also looked pale and weak.

He couldn't understand why these people who wanted to change seemed to be blind to everything that was happening right now.

But can't they really see that the people are already living in dire straits?

Hai Rui said in a deep voice: "I have previously submitted 32 memorials regarding the land in the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang. Although the court has issued an edict, instructing the ministers to re-survey the land in the two prefectures, I have not seen any mention of my 32 memorials in the past court reports." Where did my memorials go? And why was there no news in the court?

Mr. Zhang is in the cabinet and is an assistant minister of the Ming cabinet. Does he have any other information and know the reason behind this matter? "

Zhang Juzheng looked up at Hai Rui, his eyes sparkling.

He knew that Hai Rui was still holding on to this matter.

Zhang Juzheng said wearily, "Since the imperial court has issued an order, I have already re-measured the land in the two prefectures. Why do you still want to delve into the reasons behind this?"

"That's not how it works!"

Hai Rui's brows were solemn as he responded stubbornly.

Zhang Juzheng put his hands on the table and glared at Hai Rui: "What should we do? What do you want to do? Do you really want to provoke chaos among the millions of people in the two capitals and 13 provinces of the Ming Dynasty?"

Hai Rui was fearless as always: "You are right, Lord! In the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songshan, Lord will be able to survey the countless hidden fields this time, and the tax revenue of the two prefectures will be twice as much as before.

The two prefectures are like this, and it can be seen that the two capitals and thirteen provinces of our Ming Dynasty are all like this. Since we know that there are countless filth in the local areas, how can we not change them? "

According to Hai Rui's philosophy, if you know something is bad, you must change it.

Otherwise, you would be unworthy of the king and the people.

Zhang Juzheng showed a pained expression: "Do you really not know how serious the issue of land is? This is a matter that concerns the foundation of our Ming Dynasty. The two governments were able to conduct land surveys this time because of the righteousness of the court and the cover of changing rice to mulberry.

"Can the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the world be restored?

"I have told you countless times that matters in the court are not what you, Hai Rui, think.

"I am not the salary man that you, Hai Rui, are talking about! But I am an official in the court, and I have my own constraints. Even if I were in the cabinet, I would not dare to talk about this matter lightly!
Do you understand? "

Zhang Juzheng really hoped that Hai Rui could understand that things in the world are not done the way he thinks.

Hai Rui suddenly sneered.

Zhang Juzheng looked at him with confusion.

Hai Rui sneered and said, "I remember that the Minister said before that he would not bring up this matter again until he becomes the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty.

“But, the elder is now also an assistant minister of the Ming Dynasty cabinet and a grand councilor.

"In the past, he was in charge of the Ministry of War, but now he holds the title of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and is also in charge of increasing silk production in the southeast.

"The power and position of the elders has long been rare in the court.

"It is nothing more than saying that one is second to none and above ten thousand.

"I just don't understand what is in the elder's mind.

"How high of an official position should one hold?

"How heavy does this power have to be before it ends?

How long will the millions of people of the Ming Dynasty have to wait for Lord Zhang?"

Every word Hai Rui said added a gloomier touch to Zhang Juzheng's already tired face.

With every word, Zhang Juzheng clenched his fists a little more.

When Hai Rui finished speaking, Zhang Juzheng was already furious.

Bang.

Zhang Juzheng slammed his hands heavily on the table.

There was a loud bang.

Zhang Juzheng stared at Hai Rui with anger in his eyes: "Are you saying that I want to be a powerful official? Are you mocking me for wanting power?
“Okay, okay!

"Even if I, Zhang Juzheng, really do what you say, are you, Hai Rui, really doing this for the common people of the world that you always talk about?"

Zhang Juzheng was really angry.

This Hai Rui was actually hinting that he wanted to be a powerful official who only cared about power.

Hai Rui's expression remained unchanged.

Obviously, he was just as Zhang Juzheng said.

They are scolding him for wanting to be a powerful official.

Zhang Juzheng's hands were shaking as he said excitedly, "Hai Rui! You keep saying that you are doing this for the country and people of the Ming Dynasty, for the two capitals and 13 provinces, and for the millions of people.

"But do you know that if you do what you want, the Ming Dynasty will be in flames!

“In the southeast, everyone says that you, Hai Gangfeng, are an upright person, incorruptible, and dedicated to the people.

"Even now, many officials in the southeast region take you, Hai Gangfeng, as an example and hope to make friends with you.

"But in my opinion, you, Hai Rui, are nothing more than a fame-hungry person!

"What you call the common people of the world is just to fulfill your reputation as Hai Rui, the "Brush Holder"!

"You said that I was seeking power, but you, Hai Rui, were seeking fame!

You and I, don't say anything to each other!"

Zhang Juzheng cursed angrily.

Hai Rui's face also flushed red.

He threw his sleeves in anger.

"Since I am also a famous person in the eyes of the elder, I have nothing to say."

Finish this sentence.

Hai Rui has turned around and is about to leave.

He walked to the door, but turned around to look at Zhang Juzheng, who was still full of anger.

"I know one thing."

"Yan Shidu in the capital was the main reason for the execution of Zheng Michang and He Maocai in Zhejiang."

"I have a different opinion from you, Lord."

"From now on, I will never enter your grain supervision office again!"

"Lord, please take care and think carefully."

After saying that.

Hai Rui finally left.

Looking at Hai Rui who had declared that he would never come here again, Zhang Juzheng was really furious for a moment.

What made Zhang Juzheng even more angry was.

Hai Rui actually compared Yan Shaoting's execution of Zheng Michang and He Maocai with that of Zhang Juzheng.

Murder and kill!
Hai Rui is killing people and destroying their hearts!
"Somebody come!"

Zhang Juzheng roared.

A minor official from outside came in.

Zhang Juzheng asked angrily, "Where is Hai Rui going?"

The clerk didn't know why the old man was so angry, so he could only whisper: "The Imperial Censor Hai said before he left that he wanted to investigate the land taxation in various places in Nanzhili..."

Zhang Juzheng's face was gloomy. After pondering for a while, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Send someone to keep a close eye on him."

"But if there is anything unusual, please report it to me!"

…………

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

(End of this chapter)