Qian Chengzhi, Tang Xian and other names have become surprisingly high in the Ming officialdom recently.

"Lord Wang, have you heard that Qian Chengzhi was awarded the same knowledge of Changsha Mansion?"

"How can you not hear about it? At the end of last year, the forty-fifth new science and technology jinshi was released, and the six-rank senior member was released in less than the year of its establishment. ”

Someone next to him interjected: "Eh, I heard that he got to the top because of the above table to support the emperor's levy on the taxes of scholars." ”

"No, my classmates in the Ministry of Officials said that more than 80 people were in short supply of Huguang before and after this time, and they all volunteered to pay grain this time."

After being silent for a moment, Lord Wang said indignantly: "The most infuriating thing is that Tang Xian and Fan Liangjin are those guys, who pretended to oppose the payment of grain the day before, and the next day they submitted to the emperor!" As a result, they all had to be promoted, and they were still released to the Yuezhou area. ”

There was anger and envy in the eyes of several people.

One of them asked, "If that's the case, why should we be so stiff?" It may also be possible to go one step further. ”

"Lin Jiancheng, now that Huguang is exhausted, what's the use of going to the table at this time? On the contrary, it offended his colleagues in the Manchu Dynasty, you look at Tang Xian and Fan Liangjin, they have been scolded miserably in the past few days......"

"The first group of them to support the emperor has divided the benefits, and now they are following up with the harm."

A group of people all nodded, yes, it was easy to unite to block the emperor's idea of collecting everyone's taxes, how could they be divided and disintegrated by such a little sweetness? What's more, now the sweetness has been divided.

At this moment, someone hurried over, "Eh, Lord Wang, Lord Lin, Master Fu...... You're all here. He lowered his voice, "I just heard the news that the Ministry of Officials transferred more than 20 people, including Hou Maoyi and An Yucai, to Huguang to take up posts. ”

"That's not right," Lin Jian Cheng frowned, "They are the ones who shouted the most against the payment of grain, did they also learn from Tang Xian and the others to bow their heads to the emperor?" ”

"No," the visitor gasped, "Hou Maoyi has sealed Jingzhou Tongzhi, An Yu is the general judge, and Sun Ping is the county governor of Zhenyuan...... In short, it's a place where birds don't! ”

Several other people looked at each other in panic, this was obviously the emperor was going to attack the courtiers who opposed the payment of grain! They all have one thought in their hearts, will it be their turn next? It seems that even if you want to oppose the taxation of scholars in the future, you can't jump too high, so as not to become a bird.

Soon, this group of people left the private room of Tengsheng Building with their own thoughts.

In a pavilion in the western suburbs of Nanjing, Huang Jingfang and several important officials of the imperial court sat in a circle, as if they were drinking tea and watching the scenery.

An old man said, "Lord Huang, are you sure that the orders of Hou Maoyi, An Yucai and others were issued by Yang Ge Lao?" ”

Huang Jingfang nodded and said, "There is no mistake." None of the officials who were able to move the official documents that day had ever left. can use the big seal of the ministry, and send it to the cabinet unknowingly, only he, Yang Tinglin, can do it! ”

He Sheng of the Criminal Department said worriedly: "Is it possible, even Yang Ge Lao supports the payment of grain?" ”

The others immediately began to discuss, "If this is the case, the direction of the wind will change." ”

"It seems that no one can stop the emperor this time......"

"Lord Huang, or we ...... too"

"It's still early!" Huang Jingfang sneered and shook his head, "Actually, it's a good thing that Yang Tinglin jumped out so early. ”

"Lord Huang, what do you mean by that?"

Huang Jingfang squinted his eyes and said: "If no one picks the matter of paying for food, we can only work with the emperor to grind our efforts."

"But now that the government and the opposition know that he Yang Tinglin is urging the scholars to pay taxes, he can be used as a target! As long as he can be overturned, the emperor will know the determination of the courtiers, and the matter can be stopped. ”

Everyone was stunned, that was Yang Tinglin, the first assistant of the dynasty! Can you really pull him off the horse?

He Sheng said cautiously: "Lord Huang, I'm afraid it's not easy to do......

"Lord Ho, taking food is a matter of public wrath! He Yang Tinglin is just one person, not to mention anything else, just my colleagues in the Ministry give him some white eyes, and this government will be unsustainable! ”

"That's right! Everyone has seen the situation of the court meeting a few days ago, except for those who have been transferred to Huguang, the courtiers are all fiercely opposed to the payment of grain. ”

"At that time, even if Elder Yang Ge has more prestige, how can he suppress hundreds of courtiers alone?!"

Huang Jingfang saw that there were still two people with hesitant expressions, and couldn't help but say coldly: "This matter is now more than just paying food. When today's son is extremely strong, this time he gave orders against the will of the courtiers, if we can't resist it, I am afraid that the future will be the situation of the Taizu and Chengzu dynasties. ”

He scanned the crowd for a week, "If the matter of receiving food is stopped, then it will be the same as when the gods were in the past." Where to go, please think carefully. ”

When several people heard this, they immediately showed solemn expressions. Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Chengzu Zhu Di, they are all masters of their word, who dares to take advantage of them in the court? The courtiers all lived tremblingly, and if they made a mistake in their behavior, they would be dismissed at least and lose their heads at worst.

And Shenzong is the Wanli Emperor. He "fought for the country", but in the end he bowed to the courtiers, and did not go to the court all the year round.

Finally, the two who were still a little hesitant looked firm and said in unison: "Okay! We listen to Lord Huang! ”

Two days later.

Morning meeting.

First of all, it is naturally the preparation for the Northern Expedition, which is the great righteousness of the country, and no one dares to slack off.

Subsequently, Zhu Linmiao smiled and praised Zeng Jian, Xu Erlu, Yao Qisheng, Fang Yizhi and other officials who voluntarily paid taxes, along with Tang Xian, Fan Liangjin and others.

After he finished speaking, some courtiers immediately "routinely" objected, and the reasons were still the same as before, such as "the established rules should not be changed without authorization", "the list and measurement of acres of land will affect the Northern Expedition", "the future will be slowly planned", and so on. However, there are obviously a lot fewer people who stand up than a few days ago, and it seems that a series of "carrots and sticks" still have some effect.

At this moment, He Sheng, the middle of the criminal department, stood up and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the minister has a play." Yang Ge Lao did not discuss with the Ministry of Officials a few days ago, so he urgently transferred Yu Yongwei, a member of the household department, to Huguang to take up a post. Lord Yu was originally responsible for supervising the transfer of grain and grass in Guangde, but the incident happened suddenly, so that thousands of stones of grain and grass were delayed for three days. The minister thought that Yang Gelao's move was very inappropriate. ”

The court was suddenly silent, is this Lord He crazy? How dare you attack Yang Shoufu?!

But everyone immediately thought that it was rumored that Yang Tinglin personally transferred Hou Maoyi, An Yucai and other people who opposed the payment of grain to ghost places such as Jingzhou.

It seems that someone is going to do something to the "grain faction"!

Sure enough, someone came out and said: "The minister also has a play." In the month of last year, Yang Ge Lao violated the system and transferred the Yunnan political envoy to Gong Xiqian to Dali Temple......"

"Your Majesty, An Yucai Lord An has always had a leg disease, how can he be sentenced to death? Yang Ge Lao's dispatch may be very inappropriate......"

"The Ministers Have Their Own ......"

Yang Tinglin was miserable, and he couldn't refute standing aside, only hoping that the Son of Heaven would say something "These people are transferred to Huguang is what I mean."

However, Zhu Linmiao just waved his hand and said, "Ah, I'll talk about this later." I have one more important matter here. ”

He looked at the courtiers in front of the Wenhua Palace, and said loudly: "The Department of Household Affairs and Commerce has undertaken a lot of affairs recently, and it has been burdened with heavy rules. Therefore, I decided to change the Department of Commerce to the Ministry of Commerce from now on, which will be on par with the other seven ministries such as the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Households, and set up the eighth department of the Ming Dynasty.

"Huang Zongxi, the principle of Shang Shilang, was temporarily appointed as the secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. The Cabinet, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of Households will be implemented as soon as possible. ”

All the ministers of the court and the central government were stunned, although there were rumors about the establishment of the Ministry of Commerce, but why did it suddenly appear at this time?

Yang Tinglin, Zhang Canghai and a cabinet boss hurriedly went out to shake their hands, "Minister, obey the order." ”