Chapter 1284: Recommendation _1
Chapter 1284: Recommendation _1
Outside the meridian Gate, the cold wind whistled.
The officials of the capital arrived in carriages one after another. They arrived at the palace and then walked to the meridian Gate.
The whistling cold wind was like a bone-scraping steel knife, swaying the lanterns hanging on the city gate tower and the stone lamps on the roadside. The torches in the guards ‘hands shook violently.
The officials were all wrapped in thick cloaks and wearing Windproof Hats. A careful person would notice that no matter how high or low their rank was, or how much power they held, everyone was dressed very simply.
The cloak was made of wool, and the hat was made of rat skin.
Even the wealthier families in the capital could afford to wear this outfit.
The attitude of the capital’s officials was very clear. Everyone was poor, and they had enough to feed themselves. Where would they get the silver to donate?
There was still an hour before the court conference. The officials gathered in groups of twos and threes, discussing in low voices.
The Imperial censors who were in charge of order turned a blind eye.
“Every day there is a court session. His Majesty is determined to torment us.”
that’s right. Why don’t we just donate some silver? it’s not a lot.
“Sir yang is muddle-headed. He said that he would only ask us to donate three months” worth of salary, but in reality, it was just His Majesty’s plan to feign. I only want to ask you, when chief advisor Wang takes the initiative to donate a year’s worth of salary, will you all respond or not? Did he really think that this amount of donation was enough? You’re just prying open our mouths first.”
“This … Lord Zhu’s words are reasonable, this yang understands.”
“We can’t relent on this matter, just as we discussed yesterday. As long as we follow your steps and don’t give in, His Majesty will at most torture us for a few more days.”
“AI, I’m a clean and honest man, and the house I’m living in now is rented. The capital is already lacking in food. If we donate our salaries, how are we going to survive?”
“We are the same as Lord Zhao, we are all scholars with clean sleeves.”
“Milords, it’s so cold and this official’s body is not well, I really can’t stand it. Why don’t we just donate it according to your Majesty’s wishes?”
This was an official who was in a wait-and-see state and was biased toward donating.
The official beside him immediately looked angry. “Lord li is too muddleheaded. Snow disasters keep happening everywhere, and we’re short of food, charcoal, and silver. How can we fill the National Treasury with our meager salary?”
“Lord li only sees what’s in front of him and doesn’t think deeper. The reason why the Dukes are gritting their teeth is that they’re setting a new precedent. If there’s one, there’ll be two, and if there’s two, there’ll be three. When His Majesty is short of money later, he’ll come to donate again. Then, we’ll be left with nothing to eat.”
“Such a simple logic, but that Shu ji shi can not understand the new year.”
“How is it that he doesn’t understand? he is clearly pretending to be deaf and dumb to please His Majesty.”
“This kid is full of himself, relying on his cousin’s prestige and looking down on everyone. Recently, he has also gotten close to the chief Assistant, so he is a little smug.”
“Heh, you’re not a son.”
One of the officials spat.
On the other side, Zhang xingying, who had been promoted to imperial censor of the right, slowly walked toward Liu Hong and sighed in a low voice, ”
“Your Highness’s idea is very good. If we can call on the scholars and officials to donate, then the local authorities will call on the Squires to donate. With money and food, we can greatly alleviate the disaster and control the refugees.
“As long as we can survive this winter, the people will see the hope of spring plowing and will not cause trouble everywhere.
“It’s a pity that Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and your reputation is not good enough. If Lord Wei had not passed away, he would have been able to work with chief advisor Wang to promote the donation.
“Now … Sigh, some of our subordinates are also dissatisfied.”
His Highness huaiqing urged Xu Erlang to make a memorial, but the former Wei supporters did not know about it at first.
After the discussion, several core members had thought that this plan would not succeed and would encounter great obstacles.
First of all, it was extremely difficult to take advantage of the civil and military officials. They were both people who had come from Emperor Yuan jing’s era, so how could they not know each other’s character?
He ate, took, and asked for money, accumulating wealth without limit.
Was it really the previous Emperor’s fault that Da Feng’s strength had weakened to this day? If the previous emperor was not upright, the people under him would follow suit.
Usually, he would not even have the time to accumulate wealth. It was conceivable how much resistance he would face if he wanted to get a handful of wool from these old Taotie.
Secondly, who knew when this ” cold disaster “, which was the last straw that broke the camel’s back, would end? it had only been a month since winter, and the colder times had yet to come.
At that time, if the Imperial court still had no money, what would happen to His Majesty? Another appeal for donations?
In the end, this was essentially still a game in the Imperial court.
The Emperor and the officials belonged to two opposing camps. The new king did something like this when he ascended to the throne, which made the group of civil officials smell a trace of bad smell.
Whether it was out of position or out of love for money, it was an instinctive resistance.
Not to mention Emperor Yongxing, even Emperor Yuan jing would also encounter resistance when he did this when he ascended the throne.
Liu Hong glanced at the officials who were huddled together and whispering to each other, ”
“Perhaps, at this moment, His Highness huaiqing is watching from the side. Who agreed to donate, who agreed in their hearts but didn’t dare to anger the public, and who didn’t?Which people are so stingy that they don’t want to spit out a single cent?”
“She knew that it wouldn’t work?” Zhang xingying asked in realization.
“If that’s the case, then we’ll be harming Xu cijiu,” he frowned.
Liu Hong laughed. it’s unlikely. He has chief advisor Wang’s support. At most, he’ll be sitting on the bench for a few years.
Zhang xingying nodded and sighed, ”
“I still hope that this matter can be done. The National Treasury really has no more silver, and now the refugees are causing trouble everywhere, and there are already signs of the country falling into chaos. If we don’t extinguish it soon, chaos will break out sooner or later.”
Liu Hong revealed a meaningful smile. At this moment, a commotion in the distance attracted the two of them.