Chapter 264: Lone Minister
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Li Guoxian was indeed a bit tempted. With Zhou Yanru in charge of the Ministry of Rites, Huang Daozhou in charge of the Ministry of Finance, and himself in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three of them could work together to make something of themselves in court.
The problem is, the current emperor doesn't need them to accomplish anything, just to obediently listen.
Li Guoxian, no matter what, can be considered a senior figure of three dynasties, although not as good at observing and understanding as Huang Daozhou, but he can reach his current position, he is not a completely ignorant person.
Emperor Zhu Youjian was very ruthless towards his faction, and Li Guoxian was well aware of this.
The power of the original six ministries has been weakened by at least half due to the constant addition of people to the Cabinet.
Most importantly, Emperor Zhu Youjian is still very young. Unless something unexpected happens, Li Guoxian will not witness the tide of generational change in his lifetime.
So Li Guoxian tried to keep his distance from Huang Daozhou's approach of forming a coalition for warmth.
"Father, there's a secret report from Jiang Zhe, the Salt Party case is coming to a close, within three days, Yang Sichang will return to the capital to report." Cao Huachun cautiously reported the secret message brought by the Jin Yiwei.
Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, "I heard that Yang Sichang has a lot of incriminating evidence against the high-ranking officials in the court."
"Yang Sichang does have a lot of incriminating evidence," Cao Huachun quickly replied, "I have already investigated the people in the court who are involved in the Salt Merchant case. However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard does not have the authority to interrogate or arrest, so the evidence is all in the hands of Yang Sichang."
"Not bad," Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. "Make sure the Jin Yi Wei keep an eye on it."
Soon, news of Yang Sichang's return to Beijing spread. During the salt merchants' case that Yang Sichang had overseen, he had been threatened many times. Many people accused him, and some even wanted to take Yang He to task."
If it weren't for Zhu Youjian suppressing everything, Yang Sichang wouldn't have been able to investigate the Salt Gang case so smoothly.
"In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area, officials and merchants collude, act in their own interests, pervert the law, oppress the people, and betray the monarch."
"There are three third-ranked officials involved, seven fourth-ranked officials, twenty-eight fifth-ranked officials, forty-five sixth-ranked officials, and sixty-eight seventh-ranked officials involved."
"There are two hundred and fifty-eight salt merchants of all sizes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, including one hundred and twenty-eight merchant-officials involved in collusion, avoiding taxes, and selling illegal salt, and thirty-five merchants who have committed heinous crimes by oppressing the people and committing all sorts of evil."
“Conspiring to murder four government officials sent to investigate salt tax...”
“There are as many as sixty-two people involved in the murder cases...”
Zhu Youjian, who had mentally prepared himself, was startled by the list handed to him by Yang Sichang.
Zhu Youjian also knew that those big salt merchants were extremely wealthy and ruthless in their actions, but he could never have imagined that these merchants would dare to do such things.
Killing government officials, killing innocent people, forcibly seizing women...
"The chief judge of the Dali Temple, accompanied by prosecutors and supervisors from the Prosecution and Supervision Institutes, and the Ministry of Justice collects and arrests..."
With the Jin Yi Wei secretly collecting evidence and Zhu Youjian issuing strict orders to punish, the main members of the Salt Gang case were soon uprooted.
"Your Majesty, our suggestion is to execute the main culprits of the murder cases and punish the others according to the severity of their crimes."
"Ling Yiqu, Shi Bangyao, Li Banghua, and Lu Zhenfei jointly submitted a petition, and their intention is obvious, the implication being that this case involves too many people, including their relatives or friends."
“Yang Sichang, you are the organizer, how do you think these people should be convicted?” asked Zhu Youjian, without revealing any sense of suspicion towards Ling Yiqu and the others, and without giving away anything, he directly asked the question to Yang Sichang, who stood behind the four individuals.
After hearing Zhu Youjian's inquiry, Yang Sichang hesitated briefly before gritting his teeth and saying, "Execute them all!"
"Then they shall be killed!"
Zhu Youjian sneered and immediately issued a decree to execute all 218 of the main perpetrators in the Salt Gang case, while the remaining accomplices were to be imprisoned and have their property confiscated.
"Yang Sichang has achieved merit and is promoted to the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."
"With successive promotions, Yang Sichang has become the second in command at the Ministry of Rites, truly a rising star in the court favored by the Emperor's grace."
Many people have cold words for Yang Sichang. This left attendant of the Ministry of Rites completely climbed up the backs of others to achieve his position.
But they don't know that Yang Sichang had no choice. His father, Yang He, was imprisoned, and if no one could stand up, the Yang family would decline.
And now, in order to save his father Yang He's life, he can only firmly stand on the side of Zhu Youjian.
Yang Sichang made the right bet. Although Yang He was not released, his living conditions in prison improved a lot, and his family was allowed to visit him.
Actually, Zhu Youjian wanted to only execute those who committed homicides, but there was too much resistance to his salt tax reform. In many places, petitions were submitted, lengthy and detailed, arguing that Zhu Youjian's salt tax reform violated ancestral traditions.
Even the vassal kings who are still fighting desperately with the Shaanxi rebels have also petitioned to persuade Zhu Youjian to give up the salt monopoly, which shows how great the interests involved are.
There's no way, Zhu Youjian is not in the mood to slowly influence these insatiable people.
If they don't listen, then we'll kill them. Zhu Youjian wants to see if anyone dares to stand up against salt reform.
As for Yang Sichang, his ability is really good and his methods are not those of a rigid conservative. Zhu Youjian plans to train him well.
Since Yang Sichang chose to stand by Zhu Youjian's side, he must be mentally prepared to be a lone minister.
Yang Sichang is not an isolated individual, and the Yang family is not a humble family. Three generations of the Yang family have all been high-ranking officials in the court, and they have many students and former subordinates. If Yang Sichang is not isolated, Zhu Youjian will not rely too heavily on him.
The current clan power is not strong enough, but the faction is the greatest enemy of the royal authority.
Zhu Youjian constantly disintegrates the functions of the original six ministries, not only to make the political system more perfect, but also to minimize the power of certain individuals.
As for Li Guoxian, Zhu Youjian valued only one thing about him: he was ruthless enough to take action. He didn't have the moralistic rhetoric of a Confucian scholar, didn't constantly talk about using virtue to persuade people, and didn't show compassion for other countries.
国与国之间，永远都应该利益至上，而不是自己都快饿死了，还要装天朝上国砸锅卖铁的去帮助那些白眼狼。
外务部独立衙门还没建好，只能暂时借用礼部的一个偏庭做衙门。
As a newly rich man, Li Guoxian can be said to be full of glory. In just one year, he has climbed from a small attendant in the Ministry of Rites to a big shot in charge of a ministry.
And not just any big shot, not only does he lead a ministry, but he has also entered the cabinet, becoming a core member of the power center of the Great Ming dynasty.
More importantly, Li Guo Xian is a favored person in front of the emperor Zhu Youjian. It can be said that as long as Li Guo Xian earnestly understands Zhu Youjian's intentions and satisfies Zhu Youjian, then his position as a high-ranking official will be secure.
"Gentlemen," Li Guoxian looked at the senior officials of the Foreign Ministry with a serious expression and said, "The Foreign Ministry has just been established, and there is much work to be done. During this time, I ask you all to put in extra effort and not to be negligent, so as not to fail to live up to the Emperor's grace."
The problem is, the current emperor doesn't need them to accomplish anything, just to obediently listen.
Li Guoxian, no matter what, can be considered a senior figure of three dynasties, although not as good at observing and understanding as Huang Daozhou, but he can reach his current position, he is not a completely ignorant person.
Emperor Zhu Youjian was very ruthless towards his faction, and Li Guoxian was well aware of this.
The power of the original six ministries has been weakened by at least half due to the constant addition of people to the Cabinet.
Most importantly, Emperor Zhu Youjian is still very young. Unless something unexpected happens, Li Guoxian will not witness the tide of generational change in his lifetime.
So Li Guoxian tried to keep his distance from Huang Daozhou's approach of forming a coalition for warmth.
"Father, there's a secret report from Jiang Zhe, the Salt Party case is coming to a close, within three days, Yang Sichang will return to the capital to report." Cao Huachun cautiously reported the secret message brought by the Jin Yiwei.
Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, "I heard that Yang Sichang has a lot of incriminating evidence against the high-ranking officials in the court."
"Yang Sichang does have a lot of incriminating evidence," Cao Huachun quickly replied, "I have already investigated the people in the court who are involved in the Salt Merchant case. However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard does not have the authority to interrogate or arrest, so the evidence is all in the hands of Yang Sichang."
"Not bad," Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. "Make sure the Jin Yi Wei keep an eye on it."
Soon, news of Yang Sichang's return to Beijing spread. During the salt merchants' case that Yang Sichang had overseen, he had been threatened many times. Many people accused him, and some even wanted to take Yang He to task."
If it weren't for Zhu Youjian suppressing everything, Yang Sichang wouldn't have been able to investigate the Salt Gang case so smoothly.
"In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area, officials and merchants collude, act in their own interests, pervert the law, oppress the people, and betray the monarch."
"There are three third-ranked officials involved, seven fourth-ranked officials, twenty-eight fifth-ranked officials, forty-five sixth-ranked officials, and sixty-eight seventh-ranked officials involved."
"There are two hundred and fifty-eight salt merchants of all sizes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, including one hundred and twenty-eight merchant-officials involved in collusion, avoiding taxes, and selling illegal salt, and thirty-five merchants who have committed heinous crimes by oppressing the people and committing all sorts of evil."
“Conspiring to murder four government officials sent to investigate salt tax...”
“There are as many as sixty-two people involved in the murder cases...”
Zhu Youjian, who had mentally prepared himself, was startled by the list handed to him by Yang Sichang.
Zhu Youjian also knew that those big salt merchants were extremely wealthy and ruthless in their actions, but he could never have imagined that these merchants would dare to do such things.
Killing government officials, killing innocent people, forcibly seizing women...
"The chief judge of the Dali Temple, accompanied by prosecutors and supervisors from the Prosecution and Supervision Institutes, and the Ministry of Justice collects and arrests..."
With the Jin Yi Wei secretly collecting evidence and Zhu Youjian issuing strict orders to punish, the main members of the Salt Gang case were soon uprooted.
"Your Majesty, our suggestion is to execute the main culprits of the murder cases and punish the others according to the severity of their crimes."
"Ling Yiqu, Shi Bangyao, Li Banghua, and Lu Zhenfei jointly submitted a petition, and their intention is obvious, the implication being that this case involves too many people, including their relatives or friends."
“Yang Sichang, you are the organizer, how do you think these people should be convicted?” asked Zhu Youjian, without revealing any sense of suspicion towards Ling Yiqu and the others, and without giving away anything, he directly asked the question to Yang Sichang, who stood behind the four individuals.
After hearing Zhu Youjian's inquiry, Yang Sichang hesitated briefly before gritting his teeth and saying, "Execute them all!"
"Then they shall be killed!"
Zhu Youjian sneered and immediately issued a decree to execute all 218 of the main perpetrators in the Salt Gang case, while the remaining accomplices were to be imprisoned and have their property confiscated.
"Yang Sichang has achieved merit and is promoted to the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."
"With successive promotions, Yang Sichang has become the second in command at the Ministry of Rites, truly a rising star in the court favored by the Emperor's grace."
Many people have cold words for Yang Sichang. This left attendant of the Ministry of Rites completely climbed up the backs of others to achieve his position.
But they don't know that Yang Sichang had no choice. His father, Yang He, was imprisoned, and if no one could stand up, the Yang family would decline.
And now, in order to save his father Yang He's life, he can only firmly stand on the side of Zhu Youjian.
Yang Sichang made the right bet. Although Yang He was not released, his living conditions in prison improved a lot, and his family was allowed to visit him.
Actually, Zhu Youjian wanted to only execute those who committed homicides, but there was too much resistance to his salt tax reform. In many places, petitions were submitted, lengthy and detailed, arguing that Zhu Youjian's salt tax reform violated ancestral traditions.
Even the vassal kings who are still fighting desperately with the Shaanxi rebels have also petitioned to persuade Zhu Youjian to give up the salt monopoly, which shows how great the interests involved are.
There's no way, Zhu Youjian is not in the mood to slowly influence these insatiable people.
If they don't listen, then we'll kill them. Zhu Youjian wants to see if anyone dares to stand up against salt reform.
As for Yang Sichang, his ability is really good and his methods are not those of a rigid conservative. Zhu Youjian plans to train him well.
Since Yang Sichang chose to stand by Zhu Youjian's side, he must be mentally prepared to be a lone minister.
Yang Sichang is not an isolated individual, and the Yang family is not a humble family. Three generations of the Yang family have all been high-ranking officials in the court, and they have many students and former subordinates. If Yang Sichang is not isolated, Zhu Youjian will not rely too heavily on him.
The current clan power is not strong enough, but the faction is the greatest enemy of the royal authority.
Zhu Youjian constantly disintegrates the functions of the original six ministries, not only to make the political system more perfect, but also to minimize the power of certain individuals.
As for Li Guoxian, Zhu Youjian valued only one thing about him: he was ruthless enough to take action. He didn't have the moralistic rhetoric of a Confucian scholar, didn't constantly talk about using virtue to persuade people, and didn't show compassion for other countries.
国与国之间，永远都应该利益至上，而不是自己都快饿死了，还要装天朝上国砸锅卖铁的去帮助那些白眼狼。
外务部独立衙门还没建好，只能暂时借用礼部的一个偏庭做衙门。
As a newly rich man, Li Guoxian can be said to be full of glory. In just one year, he has climbed from a small attendant in the Ministry of Rites to a big shot in charge of a ministry.
And not just any big shot, not only does he lead a ministry, but he has also entered the cabinet, becoming a core member of the power center of the Great Ming dynasty.
More importantly, Li Guo Xian is a favored person in front of the emperor Zhu Youjian. It can be said that as long as Li Guo Xian earnestly understands Zhu Youjian's intentions and satisfies Zhu Youjian, then his position as a high-ranking official will be secure.
"Gentlemen," Li Guoxian looked at the senior officials of the Foreign Ministry with a serious expression and said, "The Foreign Ministry has just been established, and there is much work to be done. During this time, I ask you all to put in extra effort and not to be negligent, so as not to fail to live up to the Emperor's grace."