How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

Fortunately, there were still some people who were more sober. ** quickly spoke up and disagreed, "There are countless officials in the Jian'an Dynasty. Three months ago, the policy of adding inspectors to various places was passed. The number of officials cannot be underestimated. If the salary is increased, the amount of silver involved is too large. I am afraid that the Ministry of Revenue cannot come up with it! I don't think this method will work!"

After hearing this, all the ministers rolled their eyes.

As the prime minister, you have a high monthly salary, so you don’t care about the little increase in your monthly salary, but they do care!

"That's wrong. Didn't the corrupt officials in the Ministry of Revenue just finish their property search and are currently counting the money? How come they can't get it out?" Xie Chengze immediately retorted.

"Your Highness, you also said that we are currently in the process of settling the accounts, and we don't know exactly how much money there is. Besides, don't we also have to prepare for disasters next year?" ** reminded.

"Oh my, look at my brain!" Xie Chengze immediately knocked his head with a distressed look on his face.

Seeing this, all the ministers were disappointed and looked at Xie Chengze with bitter expressions.

Who wouldn’t be sad when the monthly salary is gone?

Second Prince, how about you try harder? They always feel that they can still discuss it, instead of just killing it with one blow.

"In that case, why not increase the salaries of civil and military officials first?" Xie Chengze suddenly slapped his hands and said with sudden enlightenment, "Officials in various places are suffering, so are our court officials? For example, our Censor Chen, in order to donate silver to Yizhou half a year ago, he must have cut back on his clothes and food, right? I see that he has lost a lot of weight again!"

All the ministers could not help but turn their heads to look at Censor Chen. Sure enough, the old man's waist was more bent and his body became thinner.

"Your Majesty...donates the silver willingly." Censor Chen clasped his hands together, his lips trembling slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but stopped himself several times due to face-saving.

No one would not want a salary increase.

"Censor Chen is willing to work for the state, but his monthly salary is not enough to support his family." Xie Chengze raised his hand and talked freely, "Censor Chen is old and his legs are not very fast. In order to attend court on time, he can only buy a house in the capital, but the housing and commodity prices in the capital are so high that three generations of Censor Chen can only live in a remote hut in the corner of the capital. I have calculated carefully that the monthly salary is barely enough to make ends meet. Whenever Censor Chen's old cold legs flare up, he can only endure it and is reluctant to spend money on medicine."

Upon hearing this, one of the ministers couldn't help but shed tears and said, "Yes, Censor Chen is indeed very sad."

"Censor Chen is very proud and unwilling to accept help. Since the Second Prince has mentioned it, I, the old minister, would like to fight for Censor Chen!"

"Old Xu, Old Yang..." Censor Chen looked at his good friend who spoke for him and couldn't help but sigh heavily, feeling touched and helpless. "I will obey the court's arrangements in everything. Even if it's a bit hard, I am willing to do it..."

"Your Majesty, the monthly salary is really low nowadays, and we are often stretched to the limit. I haven't bought my wife a piece of flowery dress popular in the capital for a long time..."

"Yes, I also think that what the Second Prince said is right. We must not let the officials feel disappointed..."

All the ministers stared at Emperor Jian with their blazing eyes again.

Emperor Jian: ...

Emperor Jian couldn't figure out what Xie Chengze was up to. Was it really because he felt sorry for an honest official like Censor Chen that he planned to increase his salary?

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Xie Chengze say, "Father, when you increase the salary, don't forget to include your sons and ministers! Oh, yes, there are also the Crown Prince and Fourth Brother. The Crown Prince was fined half a year's salary because he didn't donate silver. I'm afraid he is short of money now. It just so happens that the half-year period has passed, so you should increase the monthly salary so that you can eat better."

Civil and military officials: ...?

So you asked for a monthly salary increase for your own sake! You even used the prince as a shield!

It seems like they were just moved for nothing!

The Second Prince is still the Second Prince who uses the Crown Prince as a gun to gain his own benefits!

"Hmm..." Emperor Jian pondered for a moment, "I have indeed neglected this matter. I did not expect that you, my dear ministers, have such a hard time. In this case, how about I leave this matter to you, Ze'er?"

Xie Chengze:?

Xie Chengze hurriedly waved his hands in panic, "No, no, no, I am incompetent, let me..."

He pointed at the old men one by one, and finally pointed at the old man Chen Yushi. "Chen Yushi has always been frugal, so he must be very clear about the prices in Beijing. Besides, the Chen family has grandparents and grandchildren living together, so he must have experience in allocating money for a family of five. It is most appropriate for him to calculate the monthly salary, but..."

He paused, then looked at Shen Yuan, "However, Censor Chen is too frugal after all, and he might have calculated this month's salary by the slack. If someone gets sick or has a wedding or funeral, but has no money to pay for it, it would go against my original intention. It would be better to let Lord Shen increase the salary as appropriate, and then the Ministry of Revenue would cooperate and complete it together."

After saying that, he smiled at Shen Yuan deliberately, showing his expression of "giving the good thing to Shen Yuan and thus making friends with him" vividly.

Ministers: Oh my.

It turns out that the Second Prince wanted to take this opportunity to win over Lord Shen!

No wonder the issue of salary increase was suddenly brought up, it really kills two birds with one stone!

Xie Jinyu on the side had a slightly gloomy expression, and his eyes kept moving back and forth between Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan, as if he was displeased with something.

His Highness, one of them narrowed his eyes slightly and raised the corners of his lips as he watched this scene.

It seems that the Second Prince was persuaded and was planning to recruit Shen Yuan.

He was looking forward to the quarrel between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

"If that's the case, then let's do this." Emperor Jian raised his hand and gestured, "Lord Chen, Lord Shen, you two are required to submit the new salary list to the Ministry of Revenue within half a month. Is that feasible?"

"The old minister obeyed."

"My minister obeys."

Seeing this, Xie Chengze could not help but shout loudly and flattered, "Father, your majesty loves you like your own sons. We will definitely serve you wholeheartedly in the future, until our death!"

The ministers also bowed and shouted, unable to restrain themselves, "We will live up to your majesty's grace, work tirelessly and work even harder!"

-

After the court session ended, as if he was afraid that Emperor Jian would catch him reviewing memorials, Xie Chengze patted his butt and quickly rolled out of the Golden Palace.

Emperor Jian: ...

Do you think that since I can't take you to the Imperial Study, I can't go to Chenghuan Palace to find you in person?

So Emperor Jian threw all the memorials to the crown prince and went to Chenghuan Palace to wait for the opportunity.

As a result, by noon, Xie Chengze still hadn't shown up, so Emperor Jian sent someone to ask, and learned that Xie Chengze had gone to the Astronomical Bureau.

Emperor Jian rushed to the Tianjiansi again, but when he arrived there, everyone had already left. When he asked where they had gone, no one knew.

Emperor Jian: ...

Brat, you’re really good at hiding!

"Well, it's just a matter of raising the salary. Now it's winter and prices in the capital are rising. For an old minister like Chen Yushi, if the monthly salary is not increased, I'm afraid the whole family will have a hard time." Emperor Jian shook his head and said helplessly, "Just think of it as returning the silver donated to Yizhou before."

Eunuch Zhao couldn't help but nod, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted."

"But what exactly is this kid planning? Is he really just taking care of an old minister like Censor Chen?" Emperor Jian stroked his chin slightly and thought, "I always feel that it's not that simple."

Eunuch Zhao smiled and said, "The Second Prince may seem naughty, but he never does things without a purpose. Perhaps, Your Majesty will find out soon."

The facts were exactly as Eunuch Zhao said. Emperor Jian soon found out why Xie Chengze suddenly wanted to increase the monthly salary of all his ministers.

On this day, Emperor Jian was attending court as usual, asking questions to Xie Chengze as usual, and was answered as usual, "I don't know, ask so-and-so."

Suddenly, outside the main hall, a deep and distant sound of a huge bell was heard, like thunder in the sky, penetrating through the palaces and hitting the Golden Throne Hall. Then, one sound after another, each sound was like a heavy hammer hitting the heart, shocking people's mind and spirit!

All the ministers in the hall changed their expressions.

This is - the warning from the Heavenly Supervisor that the Heavenly Supervisor is about to issue a decree from heaven!