[Red Chamber] The imperial examination life of the great master

Although Taishan Fengchan went smoothly, after returning to the capital, the problem that should be solved was still not resolved.

After all, Taishan Fengchan can only stabilize people's hearts and appease public opinion, but the real solution to the problem still depends on people themselves.

Morning time.

The courtiers were still arguing endlessly over the issue of military pay.

Right now the situation on the frontier is very good. General Huang led his army northward and beat the barbarians by surprise with the Thunderbolt. Most of the barbarians were cavalry. This was their advantage, but when they faced the "Thunderbolt", this advantage changed became a disadvantage.

As soon as the war horses touched the "shocking thunder", they were in chaos, and this chaos even brought other war horses into chaos.

Therefore, it can be said that there are frequent good news from Da'an.

However, Zhentianlei is limited after all, and will be used up sooner or later.

If you don't hurry up and rush to produce another batch, the results obtained now may disappear in smoke.

"Your Majesty, now that the locust plague has improved, the people will surely understand if we increase the tax a little bit." Yu Yihang, the Minister of Household Affairs, said loudly.

Others also echoed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, there is a precedent for this, and there is nothing wrong with following it."

Jia Amnesty watched these people scrambling to lobby Tuyuan to increase taxes.

These people may not be ignorant of the people who can't even pay the original taxes now, and what the consequences would be if the taxes were increased, but for their own benefit, they still brazenly made such a request.

After all, such a request does not harm their interests at all.

Tu Yuan frowned, seeming to be in trouble.

Jia Amnesty came out of the ranks at this time, "Your Majesty, the national treasury is in a hurry because the people are overtaxed and unable to pay. If the tax is increased, it will be like adding fuel to the fire and making the situation worse. This will only make the people worse. I can’t bear it, and although the locust plague has been temporarily resolved, the people still need to recuperate, even if they planted the seeds, they will not be able to harvest for a while, how can they pay taxes?”

Others who disapproved of higher taxes nodded their heads.

"Lord Jia is right. Although Master Yu's proposal is to imitate what the previous court did, it ignores that when the previous court proposed to increase taxes, it was when the people were rich. Now the people are cash-strapped, and some families are trying to support their families. And they have to sell their sons and daughters, wouldn't the increase in taxes destroy their family?" Liu Yuanzhi said.

"That's right, increasing taxes is unacceptable, we have to find another way!"

……

In the early court, there were a lot of discussions and quarrels.

Some insisted that taxes must be increased, while others insisted not!

In fact, this is no longer just a question of whether to increase taxes, but a question between the old party and the new party. Although there is no Seventh Prince faction nowadays, there is gradually a faction of old ministers like Yu Yihang in the court. The old party and the new party headed by Jia Amnesty.

Yu Yihang and his old party have made great contributions through two dynasties, their family is well-off, they have made a lot of money by relying on their official positions, and now they have made great contributions to the dragon.

Most of the new parties like Jia Amnesty are full of vigor, and they want to make a career out of it. They have not been infiltrated by the secular atmosphere in the court, and they still have a heart to serve the country and love the people.

There is a natural contradiction between them.

This time the national treasury is in an emergency, which highlights the contradiction between the old and new parties.

"Since Mr. Jia thinks that increasing taxes is not an option, does Mr. Jia have a way to solve the problem of military pay?" Yu Yihang frowned displeasedly and said,

Like most people in the old party, Yu Yihang also dislikes the new party, thinking that they are all newborns who are not afraid of tigers. Although they are energetic, they often do "bad things".

"Yes! Since Mr. Jia thinks Mr. Yu's method is not good, let's talk about your method." Other members of the old party said.

Jia Amnesty was waiting for their words, and he said: "Master Yu is really right, I happen to have a way, which can not only save the people and money, but also relieve the military's urgent salary."

"Oh?" Yu Yihang sneered, "Lord Jia, don't blow the cowhide, this is in front of His Majesty, if you can't do it, it's a crime of deceiving the emperor."

His words are righteous and powerful.

If it was someone else, he might really be intimidated by him.

But Jia She was used to strong winds and waves, Xu Chengsong couldn't frighten him, let alone Yu Yihang.

He said indifferently: "I can't guarantee that this plan will solve the shortage of military pay, but I can guarantee that it will definitely not waste people's money."

The implication is to satirize Yu Yihang and others for their own benefit, disregarding the life and death of the people.

After all, everyone knows that one of the reasons for the deficit of the national treasury is that the court ministers borrowed money from the national treasury, but did not pay it back.

Not long after Tu Yuan came to the throne, in order to win people's hearts, he couldn't force them to pay back the money.

But the money is crucial!

The faces of Yu Yihang and the others changed at that time. They were all old foxes, and they could hear the unexplained meaning in Jia She's words.

"What does Master Jia mean?" Yu Yihang glared at Jia Amnesty angrily.

Zhang Heng raised his brows, "Why is Master Yu angry? We are all discussing how to alleviate the urgent issue of military pay, and we are all for the sake of the country. If Master Jia has a clever plan, wouldn't it be good?"

Yu Yihang gritted his teeth.

If he couldn't tell that Zhang Heng was speaking for Jia She, then he wouldn't have to mess around in the court.

That's all Zhang Heng meant, I'm afraid that the disciple behind Zhang Heng also meant the same thing.

If Tuyuan really forced them to pay back the money, they would have to pay a lot of money.

"Okay, of course it's good." Yu Yihang said, "I'm waiting to hear Master Jia's 'smart plan'."

Jia She lightly cupped his hands towards Tu Yuan, and said, "Your Majesty, I have been thinking about it recently, the army's salary is urgent, since it cannot be obtained from the common people, why can't it be obtained from the court ministers and wealthy businessmen?"

He wasn't finished yet.

It was interrupted by Yu Yihang.

Yu Yihang frowned, with a cold face, "Mr. Jia's family is well-off, a thousand taels is nothing to you if you think about it, but other people in our court also have a family to support, where can they get the money?"

"That's right, our family of a dozen or so members all count on my salary to support us, Mr. Jia really doesn't hurt his back while standing and talking."

Jia Amnesty looked at the person who said this, and a sarcasm flashed in his eyes. If he remembered correctly, the adult who spoke was said to be able to hire the oiran lady of the Nephrite Jade Building for more than six months. The lady said less than a hundred taels of silver overnight, these six months are not a small sum.

"Don't worry, my lords, what I want is absolutely not to force you to pay money," Jia She interrupted them, and said each word with a smile: "After all, I also know that your lords are very 'clean'."

Jia Amnesty's sarcasm didn't hurt Yu Yihang and others at all.

If they would be ashamed, why would they propose such shameless proposals as higher taxes?

"Then Master Jia wants to sell his official position?" Yu Yihang stared at Jia Amnesty and said, "Excuse me, this is not a good idea. Businessmen seek profits and don't know how to show compassion to the common people. , and I am afraid that it will cause a lot of public opinion and discussion, and the students among the scholars may also be frustrated and complain about grievances."

"No." Jia She said.

"Since this is not the case, then it is not." Yu Yihang sneered in his heart, and he said with a little contempt: "Then what exactly does Master Jia want?"

Jia She said calmly: "Master Yu, don't worry. Your Majesty, this is what I think. Your Majesty can set up a monument of merit and call on all officials and wealthy merchants to donate money. They will be ranked in order according to the amount of donations. His name and amount are recorded on the monument of merit and virtue, in this way, it will not waste money and people, and it will solve the urgent need at the moment."

Everyone was stunned.

For a while, the hall fell silent.

Jia Amnesty's method will indeed not waste people's money, and it will not touch the interests of civil and military ministers, but, but...

"Wonderful!" Zhang Heng quickly understood, and he said in admiration, "This method is very good. Your Majesty, if you implement this method, you will have three benefits. Once this method is implemented, it will not cost a single gold or silver. Secondly, this method is very effective, and it must be able to raise a huge sum of money within a few days, and thirdly, even scholars can not find any faults."

Jia Amnesty couldn't help laughing secretly.

This Zhang Heng's mouth is indeed ruthless, and the last sentence is clearly a rebuke to what Yu Yihang said just now.

However, the righteous words he said made people unable to find fault.

Yu Yihang's face turned blue and then pale, he opened his mouth, trying to stop it, but he couldn't give a reason to refute.

After all, this method is indeed the best method they can use now.

But Yu Yihang always felt that there was something wrong behind this method.

"Your Majesty, Master Jia's strategy is indeed good, but is this move too worldly?" Yu Yihang couldn't help but stop it.

Tu Yuan frowned, "Secular? Does Master Yu have a better way?"

Tu Yuan's one sentence knocked Yu Yihang down.

Yu Yihang opened his mouth, and finally had no choice but to say helplessly, "I didn't think of a good solution just now."

"In that case, let's do it this way." Tu Yuan said lightly.

A smile flashed across Jia She's eyes.

Yu Yihang did not guess wrong, there was indeed another purpose behind his method.

Donating money can be listed on the monument of merit and virtue. This is a good thing for generations to come and leave a name in history. Not to mention those wealthy businessmen, these officials are also excited. Who doesn't want to have their names still known to future generations after thousands of years.

However, those who didn't owe money donated money naturally didn't matter, and those who owed money would be in trouble.

If they want to donate money, they have to pay back the money owed to the treasury first.

Otherwise, you have to explain to Tu Yuan why you can donate money to the merit monument if you have money, but you have no money to return to the treasury!