Chapter 138 Let’s talk to someone else

There was silence in the study.

Emperor Yongchang walked around the palace as usual.

Li Hu, the Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers stood on both sides of the imperial desk, their eyes quietly following the footsteps of Emperor Yongchang.

Emperor Yongchang walked to the window and stopped, looking at the sky outside the window, and spoke: “A thousand-year-old field has eight hundred owners. There is no unchanging field, and no unchanging owner. Let the people who are good at farming go to the land to cultivate the land. The grain they grow can be sold to the herdsmen, and it can also solve the military supply problem of the Hetao garrison, which will benefit both the national economy and the people’s livelihood.”

After a pause, he said, “Although it is the imperial court’s land, it is also the pasture on which the herdsmen depend for their survival, and the compensation they deserve must not be reduced.”

At this time, only the Prime Minister could respond and answer “yes”.

Emperor Yongchang continued, “I know that in Jiangnan, the land produces 50 dan of rice per acre in a good year, and 40 dan per acre in a bad year. I also know that the land in the Xitao Plain is more fertile than that in Jiangnan, and it produces a lot of crops such as rice and wheat. It can also be used to graze horses and cattle, which are much more valuable than grain. I will not ask for much from them. In addition to paying the court for the land purchase money, I will compensate the herders with 20 dan of rice per acre.”

The Prime Minister hesitated for a moment and said softly, “It’s so expensive, I’m afraid the gentry in Jiangnan won’t be willing to pay.”

Emperor Yongchang interrupted him directly: “If they don’t buy it, there are plenty of people who will.”

All eyes turned to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister paused and said, “As you wish.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Then do it immediately.”

“Yes.” The Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers answered almost at the same time.

They all bowed to Emperor Yongchang and left.

Only Li Hu was left standing there.

Dai Quan looked at him in surprise.

Emperor Yongchang sensed it from the corner of his eye, but without turning around, he asked, “Is it Li Hu?”

Li Hu quickly replied, “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang was still looking out the window: “Why aren’t you leaving yet? Aren’t you going to have dinner with the daughter of the Lin family today?” As he said this, he couldn’t help laughing.

Dai Quan also laughed, but quickly held it back.

MMP!

Li Hu coughed and replied, “Your Majesty, I have another plan. It can raise military funds, keep the land in the hands of the court, and strike at the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.”

Emperor Yongchang turned around abruptly and said, “Speak.”

Li Hu made a killing gesture.

The upper study fell into deathly silence again.

When Dai Quan saw that Li Hu acted so cruelly, he suddenly remembered his notorious reputation as “Li the Barber” and his heart skipped a beat. What a cruel man!
After a moment of silence, Emperor Yongchang spoke up: “You should read more books when you have nothing to do, instead of fighting and killing all day long! Killing people won’t solve the problem.”

Li Hu wanted to reply “How did you get the throne?” but he didn’t dare to say it.

Seeing that Li Hu looked unconvinced, Emperor Yongchang smiled and said, “In your opinion, killing people can solve the problem. But I can’t do that. I am the emperor and I have to consider various factors. For example, I can only tolerate these Jiangnan gentry. I know what they have done in Jiangnan. I can only punish them by dealing with the officials they have lured, but I cannot punish them. Gentry are not salt merchants. If I touch them, there will be great resistance. If I force them, the whole Jiangnan will be in chaos.” Having said that, he looked at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan continued: “Dashun has more than just the Tatars as its enemy. There are also enemies in the northwest, southern Xinjiang, and even on the sea. The heartland of the Central Plains cannot be in chaos.”

“At least we can’t mess around now.”

Emperor Yongchang walked back to the dragon throne and sat down: “The tax silver in Jiangnan is getting less and less every year. The gentry with official titles have annexed the land of the common people, but they don’t have to pay taxes.”

Hearing this, Li Hu remembered Qian Xiaosi’s father’s “equalizing the land tax” and swallowed the words back. It would be better to discuss this matter with the prince in private. After all, Emperor Yongchang was a very suspicious emperor.

Emperor Yongchang: “After the contract is signed with the Jurchens and the court has calmed down, I will first deal with those Jiangnan officials in Beijing who are traitors, eating the court’s salary but working for the Jiangnan gentry.” When he said this, a fierce light flashed in his eyes.

Li Hu sighed silently. Although he had guessed that the emperor was acting, he still felt a little disappointed.

At this moment, the eunuch on duty came in holding a thick memorial, walked to the imperial desk, and said softly: “Your Majesty, this is a memorial forwarded by the cabinet.”

Emperor Yongchang stared at the memorial and asked, “Whose is it?”

The chief eunuch: “Left Vice-Minister of the Imperial Censorate Jia Jing.”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes lit up.

Dai Quan hurried over, took the memorial, walked back to Emperor Yongchang, and held it there.

Emperor Yongchang took the memorial and read it. As he read it, a smile appeared on his face, with excitement that he could not conceal.

After reading the memorial, Emperor Yongchang placed Jia Jing’s memorial in his palm and clapped it twice, with an expression of appreciation and satisfaction in his eyes. He glanced at Li Hu and said, “You can take a look at it too.” As he said that, he handed it to him.

Li Hu walked forward, took it with both hands and started to read it.

Emperor Yongchang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. Seeing Li Hu frowning, he suddenly remembered something and smiled.

Li Hu read it with difficulty, praising Jia Jing in his heart, saying that he was worthy of being a Jinshi who passed the imperial examinations twice. His handwriting was quite beautiful, but he couldn’t understand many parts of it, as they were all quotations from classics. However, he understood the meaning of this memorial. Jia Jing impeached many officials of the Censorate, some of whom he had heard of. They often participated in the poetry gatherings held by Shui Rong, and were considered officials of his lineage.

Shui Rong probably didn’t expect that Jia Jing’s revenge would come so quickly.

This is just the first fire that Jia Jing has started!

After reading the memorial, Li Hu gently closed it and placed it on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang: “From today on, none of these officials from the Censorate are allowed to go home. They must all stay in the Censorate and be interrogated by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice. If anyone is found guilty, we will punish him!”

“Yes!” Dai Quan responded loudly!
Dai Quan walked out holding the memorial. The Fourth Prince came in again in a hurry and called softly, “Father.” Emperor Yongchang looked at him and said, “Go ahead.”

The fourth prince: “The Jurchen envoy has arrived.”

Emperor Yongchang did not respond at all.

The fourth prince glanced at Li Hu first, then said: “They say that the Jurchens admire heroes the most and want to make friends through martial arts.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Who?”

The fourth prince: “General Li Hu.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Fukangan?”

The fourth prince: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang sneered: “How shameless!”

The fourth prince nodded. It was indeed shameless. Fu Kang’an was at the peak of his martial arts and had extremely rich experience in fighting.

Li Hu was about to speak when the Fourth Prince spoke again: “Hong Zhou said that as long as General Li agrees to compete with Fu Kang’an, regardless of winning or losing, they will…”

“You ungrateful animal!”

Emperor Yongchang slammed his palm on the imperial desk and said, “Tell the Jurchens that if they want to negotiate, send someone else.”

The fourth prince couldn’t believe it: “Father.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Do it immediately.”

The fourth prince had no choice but to answer, “Yes,” and turned and ran out.

Li Hu was silent for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, I can do it.”

Emperor Yongchang waved his hand and said, “Stop talking. You are a bunch of greedy bastards!”

Li Hu suddenly remembered: “Your Majesty, Hong Zhou and Fu Kang’an are both in the capital now, should we take advantage of this opportunity?”

Emperor Yongchang said unhappily: “When two countries are at war, envoys should not be killed.”

Li Hu: “I am talking about Datong.”

Emperor Yongchang: “You can imagine it, and the Jurchens can imagine it too. Even if we achieve some results, it will not have much impact on the overall situation, but will only damage our reputation. Well, I am tired.”

“Yes.” Li Hu bowed, turned around and strode out.

Emperor Yongchang shook his head: “It’s still immature.”

The sky gradually darkened and the lights in Huitong Hall came on.

All the officials of the Jurchen delegation came, but they just stood there silently, and no one said a word.

Hong Zhou was like a wounded beast, pacing back and forth in the middle of the hall. He stopped suddenly beside the coffee table and slapped it angrily, “Where’s Fu Kang An? Why hasn’t he come yet?”

An official with a red hat said: “Your Highness, we have already sent two groups of people to look for him.”

Hong Zhou: “Send another person! Tell him to get back here as soon as possible!”

The official in the red hat answered loudly, “Yes!” and ran out quickly.

Hong Zhou suddenly remembered: “Go, throw those bitches out!”

Another red-topped official: “Hey!”

Suddenly, a Jurchen voice came from outside: “Here he comes! Marquis Jiayong is back!”

After a while, Fu Kang’an, dressed in Han Chinese clothes, strode in.

Fu Kang’an glanced at everyone’s faces and said, “Why is it so lively? Hey, did the Han people agree?”

With a “pa” sound, Hong Zhou slapped the coffee table.

Fu Kang’an was startled and looked at Hong Zhou: “Your Majesty.”

Hong Zhou: “The Han emperor asked us to talk to someone else again! Are you satisfied now?!”

Those red and blue hats looked at him in surprise!
Fu Kang’an was also surprised: “What?!”

Hong Zhou’s eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, “Stop pretending. You just want to ruin the peace talks and not give me a chance to redeem myself for my crimes!”

The officials looked at each other, then turned their attention to Fu Kang’an.

Fu Kang’an’s face flushed: “Your Majesty, what do you mean? Do we still expect to continue fighting?”

Hong Zhou: “I won’t tell you now, we will see the outcome when the time comes! Tell those nobles behind you, don’t expect to drive me out of the army. I will apologize for the matter of the Ikh Zhao League, and the emperor will make the judgment. You just need to take care of your own business, you don’t need to worry about the affairs of the royal family!” He then said to others, “We’ll leave tomorrow.” After that, he strode out.

The veins on Fukangan’s forehead began to throb, and he slapped the coffee table with his palm. With a “crack”, the coffee table broke into pieces in an instant.

Everyone present was shocked.

A flash of cold light flashed in Fukangan’s eyes, followed by a loud roar: “Get out!”

With a bang, those houses with red and blue roofs were squeezed out of the door and dispersed.

(End of this chapter)