Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 56: The Two Grand Secretaries Are Truly a Disaster for the Nation!

Silence reigned in Xu Pu's residence.

Dozens of high-ranking officials, all of the fourth rank or above, stood as still as wooden chickens, rooted to the spot, lost in thought.

The reaction of all the officials present was almost identical to that of Xu Pu, Liu Jian, and Jia Jun when they first heard the order several hours earlier.

No one dared to believe that Zhu Youtang would be so domineering, so unreasonable.

To ask them, these officials and ministers, to raise silver to build palaces for the emperor.

And if they couldn't raise enough silver, they would be investigated, not only in the capital but also in their hometowns.

If any problems were found, the consequences would be the execution of their entire families.

Heavens!

Is there still law?

Is there still justice?

Unprecedented, unprecedented!!!

After a moment of silence, Wang Shu was so angry that his face turned ashen, his lips trembled, and he spoke falteringly.

This… this kind of thing is unheard of… unheard of!

How can His Majesty be so willful, so domineering in his actions?!

Grand Scholar of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Li Dongyang, also looked incredulous: "Is… is this all true? Did His Majesty really say that?"

Liu Jian sighed deeply: "Absolutely true, that's exactly what happened."

Dali Temple Minister Wang Ji collapsed: "His Majesty first forbade us from using silver, forcing us to exchange it for Hongzhi banknotes."

"Now he wants to force us to raise silver to build palaces for him. Is His Majesty trying to drive us to our deaths?"

Xie Qian, also a Grand Secretary, was filled with resentment and anger, staring directly at Xu Pu and Liu Jian.

"The Emperor originally wanted the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Treasury to each contribute half of the silver to repair the palace."

"Now, thanks to your persuasion, it has become our officials who have to raise the silver."

"You two… you are really, truly harming us all!"

Xie Qian's words immediately drew support from the Six Ministries and Nine Courts.

"That's right! Grand Secretaries Xu and Liu, you are really harming all the civil and military officials!"

"Grand Secretaries, this matter started because of the two of you, you must give the officials an explanation!"

"With the two of you in the Grand Secretariat, it is truly a disaster for the dynasty, a calamity for the nation!"

"…"

Xu Pu and Liu Jian were so scolded by the Six Ministries and Nine Courts that they couldn't lift their heads.

These officials were well-read in poetry and books, and aside from anything else, they were truly scathing when it came to scolding people.

One second, they were still the blessing of the Ming Dynasty, the fortune of the nation.

The next second, they had become a disaster for the dynasty, a calamity for the nation.

The antithesis was perfect, the tones rhymed, truly worthy of being scholars, even their scolding was so cultured.

"That's how it should be. Grand Secretary Xu, Grand Secretary Liu, you must contribute the lion's share of this money!"

Jia Jun, who had originally faded from the view of the officials, couldn't help but complain to Xu Pu and Liu Jian at this moment.

Faced with Jia Jun's accusation, Xu Pu and Liu Jian were both unhappy.

This matter originated with you, and we two took the blame for you, and now you want to bite us back?!

Jia Jun's move was considered to have offended Xu Pu and Liu Jian, and the two also began to expose Jia Jun's past.

Xu Pu looked at Jia Jun with a dark face and said coldly, "Minister Jia, don't pretend to be so innocent."

"The price you initially gave His Majesty, Xixian and I heard it clearly outside the Imperial Study."

"You dared to ask His Majesty for six million taels of silver just to repair the roof of the three main halls of Fengtian!"

"Jia Jun, what a big appetite you have!"

Liu Jian also said阴恻恻: "Six million taels of silver is enough to rebuild the three main halls of Fengtian!"

"If you hadn't quoted this sky-high price, His Majesty might have allocated silver from the Imperial Treasury to repair it long ago, and there would have been no need for the Ministry of Revenue's silver."

Now, the angry gazes of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts shifted to Jia Jun.

Everyone present was not easily fooled.

Many people had even served in the Ministry of Works, the Directorate of Works, and other places.

They were no strangers to the expenses of building palaces, and were even very familiar with them.

Six million taels of silver was simply a huge sum of money, Jia Jun's heart was too black.

The Left Director of the Directorate of Works suppressed his anger: "Just to repair the roof of the three main halls of Fengtian, the Ministry of Works dared to ask for six million taels."

"Minister Jia, why don't you just go and rob His Majesty's Imperial Treasury?!"

Now that everything had been said, Jia Jun didn't pretend anymore.

Jia Jun felt wronged in his heart: "Does all this six million taels of silver go into my pocket alone?"

"The silver passes through the Ministry of Revenue, the local Administration Commissioner, the Governor-General of the Southwest, and the Maritime Trade Supervisorate cannot be left out…"

"After being allocated layer by layer, how much silver is left in the hands of our Ministry of Works?"

"The Ministry of Works, from top to bottom, has thousands of officials, big and small, who wouldn't want to share a piece of the pie?"

"The previous Minister of Works, Liu Zhao, dared to ask Emperor Xianzong for eight million taels of silver to repair the roof, what's wrong with me asking for six million taels?!"

"They could do it like this before, why can't I do it now?!"

"How many people in the court are waiting for this money to eat!"

"Instead, you blame me?!"

Wang Shu said painfully and angrily, slapping the table: "Jia Jun, is today the same as in the past?!"

"Don't you understand what kind of personality the current Emperor has?!"

"How many days has it been since the corrupt officials who were investigated died outside the city? Have you forgotten?!"

"Are you determined to kill us all before you are satisfied?!"

"I…" Jia Jun's lips trembled, and he didn't say anything to refute.

After all, that bloody nightmare was still echoing in his mind.

But the officials of the Ming Dynasty were so strange. Although they knew that after corruption, there was a high probability of being investigated, arrested, and beheaded.

But when there was an opportunity to be corrupt, they would still seize every opportunity, use various means, and engage in rampant corruption.

Even if a living example happened before their eyes, they would not wake up.

As long as the knife didn't fall on their heads, they wouldn't stop, they would rather die than be corrupt!

Therefore, throughout the Ming Dynasty, corruption was repeatedly prohibited but never stopped.

The topic became heavy, everyone was silent, and the courtyard was deathly still.

Finally, Xu Pu broke the silence: "Now that things have come to this, there is no point in talking more."

"Let's think about how much silver we need to raise."

"Minister Jia, please give us a number first."

Jia Jun also calmed down: "Yes, Chief Minister Xu."

While thinking, he reported a number: "Just repairing the three main halls of Fengtian, one million two hundred thousand taels would be enough."

"But in addition to repairing the three main halls of Fengtian, His Majesty also wants to build a Hall of Mental Cultivation, and also rebuild the West Garden once."

"Building the Hall of Mental Cultivation will probably require eight hundred thousand taels."

"But if we want to rebuild the West Garden, it will cost at least three million taels or more."

"Calculating it this way, we probably need to raise at least five million taels."

"Five million taels…"

The Six Ministries and Nine Courts were so angry when they heard this astronomical figure that they almost fainted.

"Five million taels of silver is more than the annual tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Where are we going to raise this five million taels of silver?"

"Minister Jia, we are not the Emperor, don't falsely report the amount!"

"That's right, Minister Jia, our silver is hard-earned, don't think about making money from us!"

Jia Jun felt wronged: "This is really the lowest price."

"If this garden is not repaired well, we will all be unlucky, how dare I have other thoughts."

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