Chapter 460 The ambitions of powerful officials are shattered, Zhang Gui makes a decision!
Zhang Gui raised his eyebrows when he saw this: "Why did Mr. Chengge do this! Who wrote this secret melody, please forgive me for not being able to tell. This is a rule, and it can only be shown to others with the permission of the emperor."
Cheng Jiming heard what Zhang Gui said, so he could only bow down and apologize: "I lost my temper, so I should be punished."
"Hey! Don't blame yourself so much."
Zhang Gui waved his hand, didn't care about this matter, and just continued: "Gu took out this memorial, but it's not really to ask at this time who among the lords is seeking benefits for the powerful officials and gentry at the expense of the country. Li, what's more, based on this secret report alone, it is impossible to find out who it is, and it is impossible to say arbitrarily that those who advocated reducing expenditures and avoiding the waste of state funds in the past are all people with ulterior motives."
When Zhang Gui said this, Cheng Jiming and other bureaucrats who advocated cutting expenses were slightly relieved, and they were really grateful to Zhang Gui for his generosity.
And Zhang Gui wanted this kind of effect.
He knew that it was impossible for the bureaucrats of Ming Dynasty to learn to respect him, a relative who was ennobled by the king.
Because people in this era have never learned what respect between people is. Even when the emperor is not liked by them, they will still curse the emperor in black and white.
Zhang Gui can only let these bureaucrats know that they are afraid of him or respect him.
"Today, I have released this secret memorial just for you to talk about. Is there any truth to what this secret memorial says? The princes who advocate cutting expenses and benefiting the people are also thinking about it. If the imperial court really does this, Will it make the imperial court give up a lot of benefits, but also in the hands of the majority of the people, and fall into the private pockets of the powerful bureaucrats?"
"In addition, you must be aware that with the increase in the population of the entire Ming Dynasty, even if the problems of redundant staff, redundant expenses, and redundant soldiers are solved, the number of officials needed, the number of soldiers needed, and the places that need to be spent will continue to increase. But have you thought about it, once the expenditure is really cut, and the world's great profits fall into the private pockets of the powerful and bureaucrats, whether the inevitable increase in expenditure will be forced to find a way to increase taxes, and then increase taxes for the people ?”
"There are also local powerful officials and gentry, once they become richer than the enemy, will the authority of the imperial court be greatly affected?"
After Zhang Gui said this, Bi Ziyan said first: "This situation must not be allowed to happen! Your Highness is right. Giving benefits to the people is tantamount to giving power to the people. If this is the case, there will be chaos!"
"If it doesn't benefit the people, what's the point of reforming the law? Mencius said that the people are the most important, the monarch is the least, and the community is second. If the court does not benefit the people, what is the significance of the court to establish a country?"
Liu Hongxun asked at this time.
"The sage only mentioned the people, but did not mention the rich and poor among the people. It can be seen that the learning from the sages needs to be carried forward again. In my opinion, benefiting the people is not simply to benefit the people, but to make the rich not poor. The poor get rid of poverty, the tricksters know the law, the fools know the learning, and the lazy are fearful. This needs to be coordinated by the court. If the governance of the country is only to benefit the people, then it is better to have it. Let the rich get richer and the poor get better in this world. Poverty is."
Lu Xiangsheng, who succeeded Yuan Keli as Minister of the Ministry of Officials, also spoke at this time, and obviously supported Bi Ziyan's point of view.
And Sun Chuanting, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, also said: "His Royal Highness is right to worry. Saving the state's money can only be done for a while, and the real way is to have the imperial court organize the resources and make overall arrangements for distribution. The government became the government of the powerful officials and gentry because it benefited the people, not the government of the central court.”
Wen Tiren also said: "Yes, there can only be one emperor in the Ming Dynasty, and officials from all over the world can only act on behalf of the emperor and guard the land, not separatist princes. All power and benefits belong to the imperial court."
Most courtiers obviously cannot accept the destruction of the centralized system model. After all, if it is destroyed, their own power will also be affected.
Therefore, most courtiers cannot accept the existence of rich and powerful officials and gentry among the people, which will challenge the authority of the central government.
Only a few courtiers who were really bribed or simply pedantic still insisted on making concessions to the people.
In the end, Zhang Gui also said bluntly because of this: "Gu also believes that what the current imperial court should consider is not to reduce expenditure, not to solve the problem of redundant staff, redundant expenses, and redundant troops. In fact, it cannot be solved, but to continue to increase the national treasury. Income, and not to increase the revenue of the treasury by increasing taxes, that is, to continue to expand the government-run industries, and to turn the interests of the world into the interests of the entire country. If there are some big rats who steal the state funds and enrich themselves, that can only be fat. For a while, you can't enrich the world's dignitaries, officials and gentry forever!"
As Zhang Gui said, he looked at Cheng Jiming and the others: "If anyone can't accept this national policy, they can go directly to the office and resign. There is no need to think about seeking opportunities to reverse the national policy. Now, if you leave decently, you can still get a job." An opportunity for honor."
After Zhang Gui said this, he announced to see off the guests.
The next day, Cheng Jiming and others delivered his resignation to the court.
Zhang Gui also signaled Wen Tiren and Wei Zhongxian to give their approval.
The Great Ming Dynasty Hall has progressed to the present stage. After Zhang Gui used the secret concert system to pinch the fate of the bureaucrats all over the world, there is no need to fight to the death with officials with different political views, because there is no need to force the other party. tear face.
At this point, those who are still in the court basically support the ministers who continue to expand the Ming Dynasty, continue to increase revenue, and increase the revenue of the treasury.
It's just that the departure of the courtiers who supported the reduction of expenditure and benefited the people disappointed many powerful bureaucrats who hoped to make more profits in the wave of the steam industry.
"Unexpectedly, Uncle Zhang Guo still chose to support people like Bi Ziyan and Lu Xiangsheng. In this way, our plan to open coal mines to earn big profits fell through. Lian Wuqing Hou and the others wanted to get the right to operate the railway from Tianjin to the capital. It also fell through. In addition, Bi Ziyan, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, has already sent a censor to inspect the mines in the world, so as to prevent the government and the people from exploiting mines privately and seizing national interests!"
Zhu Changhao spoke to Fan Wencheng and others quite disappointedly at this time.
"It should be people like Bi Ziyan and Lu Xiangsheng who chose to support Uncle Zhang Guo!"
Fan Wencheng also replied angrily, and said: "Uncle Zhang Guo used the secret concert system to control the powerful officials and gentry in the world, and then used the secret concert to win over the court officials such as Bi Ziyan and Lu Xiangsheng. Most of the bureaucrats who only want to unify the world, and use this to deal with the rumors we create about them, so that the possibility of us wanting to benefit from the world will be shattered!"
Zhu Changhao nodded: "You are right, this Uncle Zhang Guo is really scheming!"
…
"It's not because the husband is scheming, but because those selfish people are not moral! That's why the husband has to do this."
Zhang Gui also told Shang Jinghui the real reason for setting up the secret concert system, and then asked Shang Jinghui: "Have you found out who was the first to spread the rumor that your husband and Princess Le'an had committed adultery? "
Shang Jinghui nodded: "Found it!"
"who is it?!"
(end of this chapter)