Chapter 597: Paper Expensive in the Capital
A very vulgar word exploded in the Wenhua Hall.

moment.

Everyone fell silent and looked at Yuan Wei, the Deputy Prime Minister who had shouted this.

Even Li Chunfang, who was being scolded, widened his eyes.

To know.

This is the Wenhua Hall.

It is where the emperor handles state affairs, where his ministers discuss matters, and where the imperial lectures are held.

Even though there had been heated arguments over state affairs in the past, such vulgar language had never been heard.

after all.

We are all decent people.

Yuan Wei also reacted instantly, and then bowed to the emperor above.

Subsequently.

He acted with lightning speed and looked Li Chunfang straight in the eye before anyone else could attack.

"Everything that the gold industry does is based on money law."

"The gold business has never harmed the people. If the merchants in Jiangnan didn't have greed in their hearts, how could they take the bait and ruin their families?"

At this time, we have to put things back together.

Otherwise, you will have to make up some stories about the vulgar things that you did before the saint.

Yuan Wei glanced at the emperor from the corner of his eye. Seeing that the emperor didn't say anything and there was not much change on his face, he felt a little relieved and continued to look at Li Chunfang.

"Lord Li has really been an official for too long. Perhaps he has forgotten that outside the court, if you talk about business, there are gains and losses. No one dares to say that there is no loss in making a living. How can the gold shop pay money to subsidize them just because the gold shop made a profit this time and those merchants lost money?"

Li Chunfang's face turned red when Yuan Wei suddenly pressed her in such a close manner.

He took a step forward.

But before he could open his mouth, Yuan Wei came up with a lot of chatter.

"Who will subsidize the court when it suffers losses?"

"The Ministry of Revenue has suffered numerous deficits in the past. Who has subsidized them?"

"Now that the gold bank has gained some financial benefits, you want to return them?"

"There is no such thing as this in the world!"

After saying this, Yuan Wei glanced at the people present again.

Seeing everyone's expressions of agreement, I finally felt relieved.

After all, except Li Chunfang, no one is willing to give up the benefits that Jinxing has gained this time.

Now the same front is targeting Li Chunfang, and he lightly passed over the fact that he just spoke without restraint and was rude in front of the emperor.

Li Chunfang felt his blood boiling after hearing what he said.

Although they had fought with each other in the court in the past.

But it is very rare to see someone like today, where Yuan Wei cursed without showing any mercy at all.

Li Chunfang snorted coldly.

Even though Yuan Wei is the second in command of the cabinet, he is also a cabinet minister!

Wait until he becomes the prime minister, then he can scold me.

Li Chunfang immediately spoke up: "Mr. Yuan is really eloquent, and his words leave no one else able to interrupt."

Yin and Yang said something.

Li Chunfang said, "Mr. Yuan said that merchants outside may make money or lose money when they do business. This is true. But is the court also like merchants? Isn't what the court does for the common people? When did merchants cease to be considered common people?"

The throne above.

Zhu Zaigui's eyes flashed.

Li Chunfang was saying that the imperial court was now competing with the people for profits.

Seeing that he had said this, Yuan Wei sneered and said, "The court will not do what Li Gelao said to take away the profits from the people. But the gold shop is not the court. If I remember correctly, the Ministry of Revenue is the court, in charge of the money law. The gold shops in various places are just places where the money law is implemented by the money law and granted money to the world. I still remember that it is clearly recorded in the money law that in addition to the profits handed over to the court, the gold shops also assist the court in providing relief to the local areas, and they should be responsible for their own profits and losses in terms of withdrawals and expenditures."

Li Chunfang was stunned.

Is there such a record in the Money Law?

Li Chunfang quickly turned to look at the emperor: "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Zai's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he was already somewhat unhappy in his heart, but he said calmly: "I have heard everything you said. Although the report from the south has some waves, it seems that it has not affected the people. As for the profits made by the gold bank, has the Ministry of Revenue recently said that it will build a new border wall to provide relief to several places affected by disasters last year?"

The money has now gone into the gold shops and into the pockets of the imperial court.

How could I take it out again?
If the millions of dollars in profit this time can be used well, a lot of things can be done.

After Lu Fang told him the whole process of the gold bank's regulation of the silver price and how much profit it made in the end, Zhu Zaigui had already made up his mind and figured out how to use the silver.

As for Lu Fang and Yan Shaoting, they did not inform me in advance.

Zhu Zaigui also felt that these two people reported the matter only after it was done in order to avoid being contaminated by gold and silver and other yellow and white things, for fear of tarnishing the holy name.

It's rare to be so loyal.

Then.

As for Li Chunfang in front of him.

Zhu Zaigui looked at Li Chunfang deeply.

There was no way he would spit out the money, nor would he allow the clean stream in the court to be completely suppressed.

But if the other party is not tactful.

Then you can't blame yourself.

Zhao Zhenji, who was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the gold bank has transferred 3 million taels of silver to the Ministry of Revenue's Taicang Silver Vault. The Ministry of Revenue has also discussed and issued an additional 1 million taels to the Hetao and Yinshan New Border to resettle the relocated people, build the Qin Great Wall north of Yinshan, and build cities such as Wuchuan. The other 2 million taels will be sent to Henan, Shandong, Huguang and other places. These places suffered a lot of disasters last year. Although the court has provided relief, we think that after the disaster, it is a good time for major construction. While the court has silver on hand, it is better to repair the river channels in Henan, Shandong, Huguang and other places. The salaries and military pay owed by various places should also be paid."

After arranging the destination of the previous three million taels of silver.

Zhao Zhenji added: "As for the discussion between the Ministry of Revenue and the Bank of Finance, another 5 million taels of silver will be transferred to the Taicang Silver Vault, and the rest will be kept in the Bank of Finance for daily use. As for the subsequent 5 million taels of silver, we have also discussed it a little bit, and we think that the canal should be renovated. This will not cost much silver, at most 500,000 taels will be enough. But your majesty's mausoleum is also under construction now, and it is estimated that another 1 million taels will be transferred there. The Ministry of War and the Five Military Governors' Office sent a letter for consultation. The Beijing Camp, the Nine Frontiers and the local military guards are now being cleared. A large number of shortages will definitely be found out, and there will be a shortage of food, fodder, weapons and horses. Of the remaining more than 3 million taels of silver, 1 million will be reserved for reserve, and the rest will all be used for military use to make up for the shortages in the army, build weapons, breed war horses, and stockpile military food."

After saying this, Zhao Zhenji glanced at Li Chunfang indifferently.

Want money?
No!

Not a cent!

At least on the Ministry of Revenue's side, Li Chunfang couldn't even think of taking away a single tael of silver.

Li Chunfang was dumbfounded after hearing this.

Just a few words from the Ministry of Revenue, and eight million taels of silver were gone just like that?

If this was the tax collected by the court every year, he would not think much about it, but all this silver was plundered from the gold shop this time!

Isn't this going to kill him?
When I think about retiring and returning to my hometown in the future, I will return to Xinghua County, Yangzhou Prefecture.

By then, I am afraid that no neighbors will welcome me, and I will be despised by all people.

Who knows, by then I might become a floating corpse in the Grand Canal!

Li Chunfang trembled all over when he thought of that scene.

He quickly raised his arms, bowed, and was about to kneel down.

"Li Qing."

Zhu Zaigui saw that Li Chunfang looked unhappy and immediately called out to her.

Li Chunfang's heart trembled, his face became heavy, and he raised his head with a stiff neck and looked at the emperor: "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Zaigui sighed silently, and then said in a cold tone: "Mr. Li, since I ascended the throne, I have been working hard every day to govern the country. I often stay up all night and worry about it. I am afraid that the people will suffer, and I only hope that the world will be peaceful."

Li Chunfang's face was tense and he lowered his head silently.

But he also clenched his teeth.

The emperor's hint was already clear.

But the emperor continued in a deep voice: "I have succeeded the throne, carried on the wishes of the previous emperor, and followed the new policies of Jialong. Recently, the land survey in Nanzhili and Zhejiang is for the people. The collection of taxes in the two places is also for the people. I feel that I have never let the people down."

Zhu Zaigui looked at Li Chunfang who lowered his head in front of him.

It suddenly occurred to me.

Should he continue to do as the previous emperor did and keep a clean prime minister like Li Chunfang in the court and serve in the cabinet in order to maintain the balance of power in the court?

Perhaps... He sighed quietly: "I hope that Li Qing will understand my feelings deeply."

This statement came out.

It enters the ear.

Li Chunfang felt limp for no reason.

Even if I am extremely unwilling, it is of no use now.

The emperor has made up his mind.

After three or two breaths.

Li Chunfang bowed and said: "Your Majesty is virtuous and benevolent, and you are wise and wise. Since you succeeded the throne, you have worked hard day and night. You have the appearance of a benevolent monarch. I deeply respect you."

Zhu Zaigui nodded and glanced at the people around him.

He waved.

"In this case, the matter of the Gold Bank ends here and there is no further discussion."

After saying that, he no longer had the intention to stay here, so he stood up and left with Lu Fang serving him.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell."

Only after the sound of footsteps had faded from his ears did Li Chunfang raise his head and stand up with a bitter look on his face.

He looked silently at the people around him.

I knew I had lost this time.

Complete defeat.

From now on, the Qingliu Old Party will no longer have any voice in the court.

Otherwise, the emperor might give up his last bit of kindness.

As for Jiangnan?

The Jiangnan gentry lost tens of millions in the blink of an eye. Even if they were good at making money, they would not be able to make up for their losses in a year or two.

Moreover, there are Zhang Juzheng and Gao Hanwen in Jiangnan now, who are eyeing the power of land measurement and are trying to use it to reorganize the land in Jiangnan.

Now, apart from rebellion, there is nothing we can do but cause chaos in the southeastern half of the country.

He could no longer think of any way to save the declining Qingliu Old Party.

But who dares to resist?

When he thought of what Zhao Zhenji had just said, he was terrified.

According to Zhao Zhenji's idea, the Ministry of Revenue will generously allocate millions of taels of silver to the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commanders' Office this time to make up for the shortfalls in the army.

The army has been removing old and weak soldiers, cleaning up corruption, and preparing for military training. Now with additional money and food, it will surely be able to restore its military power in a short period of time.

If there is trouble in the southeast, the imperial court will certainly mobilize the army to suppress it immediately.

At that time, if you dared to resist, you would only die.

Think about this.

Li Chunfang couldn't help but look at Hu Zongxian who was already following everyone outside.

Upon closer thought, it was the Yan family who pushed Hu Zongxian into the cabinet.

It can be said that Hu Zongxian is the one who knows the most about military affairs in the cabinet today.

When he was working in the southeast, his subordinates such as Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou, Tan Lun and others are now leading troops in the nine frontiers.

Add to that Gu Huan, Marquis of Zhenyuan, who is in charge of the Beijing camp.

Suddenly, Li Chunfang was stunned and looked a little dazed.

Looking at the backs of Gao Gong, Yuan Wei, Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian and Gao Yi who had already walked out of the Wenhua Hall.

A look of fear finally appeared on Li Chunfang's face.

A horrible thought arose in his mind that he could no longer control.

Perhaps some people have been waiting for chaos in the southeast!
After this thought appeared, it could no longer be controlled and continued to grow and multiply in Li Chunfang's mind.

What should I do next?
Li Chunfang actually began to think about his own way out.

however.

But no one outside would care about where Lord Li's escape route would be.

The news that the gold shop had made tens of millions in profit simply by manipulating the price of silver had spread like wildfire and was everywhere.

After all, with so much silver, it is impossible to hide the news.

For most officials in the court, this was naturally the best news possible.

At least, the court had so much silver that they no longer had to worry about being owed salaries, and the court could pay their salaries on time.

Subsequently.

It was the censors who reacted.

Oh my god!

The gold shop only made a small adjustment to the silver price, but it actually got tens of millions of taels of silver from Jiangnan.

What does this mean?
This shows that Jiangnan is still too rich!

Subsequently, more and more information came out from all directions, and countless details were exposed from nowhere.

The censors in the court became more and more aware of the silver price incident in Jiangnan.

soon.

The censors came to a conclusion.

In Jiangnan, the rich are unkind!

Everyone knows that in the past 200 years of the Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan had the heaviest taxes. But even in this case, the Jinhang could earn tens of millions from Jiangnan in a few months. This only shows that the court was too kind in the past.

For a while.

Jiangnan is like a piece of delicious cake, placed in front of everyone.

Know Jiangnan Fu.

But I didn’t know Jiangnan was so rich!
So censors began to submit memorials to the court, requesting that it conduct a thorough investigation into why the gentry and merchants in Jiangnan had so much wealth.

We all have one head and two hands, so why do they have the right to have a huge fortune?

Then people recalled the joke that Xu Bancheng had made that was circulated in the court and the public after Xu Jie's family was investigated.

This is a good thing.

The entire court was in an uproar.

Countless censors began to submit memorials to impeach Xu Jie, the former Minister of Rites Yan Ne, and the former Minister of Justice Pan En.

The entire court was caught up in the impeachment trend against the Qingliu Old Party, but it did not make it clear that it was aimed at the Qingliu Old Party.

slowly.

The targets of impeachment shifted from those who had already been dismissed from office to officials in the capital.

Almost all officials from Jiangnan were impeached.

At the end.

Even Li Chunfang finally began to be impeached.

Without him.

The reason why Lord Li was able to join the cabinet was because he was recommended by Xu Jie.

It’s also at this time.

The four words "Qingliu Old Party" were finally openly displayed in front of everyone.

And the result is.

Due to the wave of impeachments of officials in the capital, paper was once in short supply in the capital, and the paper used specifically for memorials became more and more expensive day by day.

Because of the impeachment by the censors.

It actually made paper expensive in the capital.

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)