Chapter 130

Watching Feng Quji's departing back.

The ministers were dumbfounded; why did he just leave like that?

"Even the Prime Minister has left, so what should we do?"

"You ask me, but who should I ask?"

"This is truly a headache!"

Seeing that Feng Quji had slipped away, the ministers were at a loss for what to do.

Their gazes all turned toward Chunyu Yue.

"Doctor, the Prime Minister has left; what should we do?"

"That's right, Doctor, please make a decision."

"Sigh, what an eventful autumn!"

"Then should we also leave?"

Chunyu Yue shook his head with a bitter smile, not daring to speak.

He feared that walls have ears, and if he accidentally said something treasonous, he would be inviting trouble upon himself.

Some of the more quick-witted ministers had their expressions change rapidly, and then they all rose one after another to take their leave.

"This official has some matters at home, so I will take my leave first."

"That... this official also has some matters at home, so I'll be going first."

"Almost forgot, my wife is giving birth today, so this official must go back to help."

"What a coincidence, my wife is also giving birth, so I must go back to help too."

"Eh~~ are your wives the same person?"

"Yes... no, how could it be the same person."

In a moment, the ministers in the room found all sorts of reasons to leave.

Soon, only Chunyu Yue and the Censor-in-Chief remained in the room.

The two exchanged a glance, and the Censor-in-Chief Lin Zhichong smiled: "Doctor, shall we find another place to talk in detail?"

Chunyu Yue didn't say much, nodded, and left the room together.

"I wonder what business the Censor has with this old man?"

In a secluded, deserted spot, Chunyu Yue spoke first.

Lin Zhichong deliberated for a moment and said slowly: "I wonder if the Doctor has a strategy to stop the tax reform?"

"Such a reform is truly too inhumane; it would be better to keep things as they are!"

Chunyu Yue looked at the Censor-in-Chief in surprise.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Aren't you afraid that I will report you to His Majesty?"

Lin Zhichong smiled: "Doctor, stop joking; do you think I don't know your situation?"

"You are the one least willing to see reform, right? I know the reform hits your Rujia Sect the hardest."

"After all, the status of the students in your academy is extraordinary."

"They are all aristocrats! Whether they are new nobles or nobles from the former six states, your Rujia Sect group has the most."

"You should be one of the people least willing to see the reform succeed, right?"

"Coincidentally, I also don't wish for reform; if the reform succeeds, the loss to my interests will be too great."

Hearing this, Chunyu Yue's expression turned gloomy and unpredictable.

Looking around to ensure no one was nearby, he pulled Lin Zhichong into a room to discuss matters.

Outside the city gate.

Temporary military encampment.

A group of ministers arrived here stealthily.

They had been in the court for many years; no one was a fool, and even the Prime Minister didn't dare to defy the order.

After careful consideration, they knew that joining the collection of aristocratic taxes was the only way out.

Didn't they see that the soldiers surrounding the mansions of those who started collecting taxes had already withdrawn?

Their families were living in fear, unable to even leave the door; it was like house arrest, how boring.

Since that was the case, if they were having a hard time, they might as well make it hard for the aristocrats.

Why should they make things difficult for their own families? They should be making things difficult for the aristocrats instead.

Why should the aristocrats eat well and live in luxury while their families lived in misery?

The Ninth Prince made things difficult for them, and they had no choice, so they could only take it out on the aristocrats and make them uncomfortable; this was the best strategy!

Anyway, this tax reform had already begun, and the ones hurt the most were the aristocrats; although they were also affected, it wouldn't be enough to break their bones.

If they didn't go with the trend, that would be seeking death, the kind that leads to the extermination of the whole family!

They didn't dare to think about causing any trouble now.

They only hoped to complete the tax collection task as soon as possible so that their families could live in peace.

But as luck would have it, the ministers gathered together again outside the city gate.

"Eh~~ Minister Zhang, didn't you say your wife was giving birth and you had to go back to help? Why are you here?"

"Aren't you also saying your wife is giving birth? Why are you here?"

"Aren't your wives the same person..."

"Cough cough..."

"What a coincidence, everyone is here!"

"Hehehe~~~"

The ministers who met each other had a tacit understanding and revealed a smile that everyone understood.

The five thousand soldiers outside the city gate were quickly borrowed by these ministers.

The soldier commander saw that all the men had been borrowed at once.

There were still some ministers who didn't manage to borrow soldiers and could only stare blankly.

The soldier commander rode back to the military camp to continue mobilizing troops.

This was something the General had ordered in advance, and there would be rewards if it was done well.

The news here spread rapidly, and the tax collection began from Xianyang City.