Chapter 691: Slaughtering the donkey after the millstone is removed

"Minister Yu's suggestion is clearly harboring evil intentions and plotting rebellion. Your Majesty, I want to impeach Minister Yu for violating the law, harboring great ambitions, and intending to rebel! I request Your Majesty to issue a decree ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to strictly investigate Yu Zhaoan; he must be in collusion with Marquis Pingjiang."

"Absurd! Regarding major military and state affairs, we ministers are working together to share Your Majesty's worries, acting as advisors and brainstorming for Your Majesty. According to you, anyone who recommends someone is harboring evil intentions and plotting rebellion? Your Majesty, I want to impeach Minister Hu for using public office to settle private grudges, forming cliques, and causing chaos in the imperial court..."

"It is clearly you who are harboring great ambitions and plotting rebellion, flirting with Marquis Pingjiang. Marquis Pingjiang has been ineffective in pacifying the rebels; a mere Guo Dachun has been fought for so many years, yet he just won't die. Now you want to transfer him to the south to pacify the rebels. In this way, both the northern and southern armies will fall into the hands of Marquis Pingjiang. Your Majesty, this move must not be taken! This is an act of destroying the country! I implore Your Majesty to strictly investigate Yu Zhaoan; he must have ulterior motives."

Both sides sprayed and tore at each other in front of Emperor Taixing! Mere verbal slander and humiliation were no longer enough to express their inner indignation; if Li Liangcheng hadn't stepped out at a critical moment to stop the struggle between the two sides, this argument would surely have evolved into a physical brawl.

Look, Yu Zhaoan had even taken off his boots and was almost about to throw them at the other person's face.

Look, Minister Hu had already rolled up his sleeves, and if not for someone stopping him, his hands would have already started gouging out Yu Zhaoan's eyeballs.

They couldn't swallow this anger!

Emperor Taixing was trembling with anger!

These were the important ministers of the country—simply absurd!

So absurd that it would be written into history books, and future generations would laugh for three days.

He sternly reprimanded Yu Zhaoan and Minister Hu. Immediately after, he changed the subject and attacked Li Liangcheng. As the Grand Secretary, he could neither assist the Son of Heaven in solving major military and state affairs nor restrain the court officials, leading to the corruption of the court's atmosphere, chaotic personnel, and not a single major military or state affair being handled smoothly.

For the world to fall to this state, Li Liangcheng, as Grand Secretary, had an inescapable responsibility.

Seeing this, Li Liangcheng knew clearly that the Emperor had the intention of "slaughtering the donkey after the millstone is removed."

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately knelt down to plead guilty.

Emperor Taixing pushed the boat with the current, ordering Li Liangcheng to reflect at home. At the same time, he ordered the Secretariat to come up with a solution within three days. If they couldn't, they could all get out.

Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged civil officials are a dime a dozen. He didn't believe he couldn't find someone who could share his worries and solve his problems.

Regarding Emperor Taixing's cold and ungrateful side, the officials witnessed it once again.

They wanted to comfort Li Liangcheng, but words were too pale.

Li Liangcheng gave a desolate smile. "After I return, I will submit my resignation!"

"How could it come to this!" The officials tried to persuade him.

"I am old, my energy is insufficient, I cannot share the Emperor's worries, and I cannot restrain the court. Sigh, it is time to abdicate and let the virtuous take over; at least I can preserve the friendship between monarch and subject. If I am not sensible, Zheng Daochong's fate will be mine!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials had no more words and no longer tried to persuade him.

Now, everyone understood that Emperor Taixing was a cold and ungrateful master, and his "discarding the bridge after crossing the river" was incredibly smooth.

Everyone felt disheartened for a moment.

Yu Zhaoan also sighed. "Once Minister Li leaves, I am afraid I will also have to abdicate and let the virtuous take over."

"Minister Yu, do not be disheartened."

Yu Zhaoan shook his head and gave a self-deprecating smile. "The world knows that I am a fellow disciple of Prince Jin. That I was not implicated in Prince Jin's case was already the Emperor's grace. Now, the Emperor feels disgust at our group of old faces and can't wait for us to vacate our positions to promote his former subordinates from the Donggong. I will also learn from Minister Li and be a sensible person; at least I can preserve the friendship between monarch and subject."

Yu Zhaoan knew very well that these words of his would surely reach Emperor Taixing's ears.

This was precisely his purpose.

Li Liangcheng had to retire.

With both left and right Grand Secretaries leaving office at the same time, the world would criticize! As long as Emperor Taixing had a bit of political sense, if he moved Li Liangcheng, he wouldn't move him, Yu Zhaoan.

This was advancing by retreating.

It was to remind Emperor Taixing not to be so ruthless. Did he still want his reputation? Did he still want the imperial court? Did he still want the world? If he wanted stability, he had to take it slowly.

He had started a massacre just last year, and people's hearts hadn't recovered yet; the imperial court couldn't withstand major turmoil right now.

Sure enough, Yu Zhaoan's scheme succeeded.

After Li Liangcheng resigned three times, on the final occasion, Emperor Taixing agreed to his request to retire and recuperate with a look of pain and regret, and even delivered a moving speech that moved the uninformed officials to tears. Afterward, he rewarded the Li family with many treasures.

Li Liangcheng's era, which spanned two reigns, finally ended.

Yu Zhaoan remained, but he was not promoted.

The most critical position of Left Grand Secretary was filled by the former Donggong Household Administrator. Everyone knew that this position was reserved for Xie Changling. It was just that Xie Changling was too young, his qualifications were not yet sufficient, and he needed a few more years of experience.

At the same time, Emperor Taixing promoted Xie Changling to Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, giving him a seat in the Secretariat, laying the foundation for him to ascend to the position of Left Grand Secretary.

In terms of favor, it had to be Xie Changling!

Even Zheng Daochong had to stand aside.

Marquis Pingjiang going south to pacify the rebels was just a joke and couldn't be taken seriously.

Marquis Pingjiang had been operating in the north for many years, which had already made many civil officials nervous. There were already voices in the court wanting to recall Marquis Pingjiang to the capital and send another general to pacify the rebels. How could they let him go south?

The rebel Prince Chu could not be ignored!

The officials finally discussed letting the old General Gao continue to command, but the court would arrange for a supervising official to go and urge old General Gao to pacify the rebels.

In addition, the Ministry of Revenue was short of money and grain, and both the north and south were urging for supplies. What was to be done?

Emperor Taixing finally decided to adopt the court officials' suggestion: increase taxes!

Once the decree was issued, there were complaints everywhere under heaven.

Even the commoners in the capital were complaining. Because this time, when taxes were increased, the commoners in the capital couldn't escape either; everyone was hit with a poll tax.

Changing the style of the late Emperor, who "didn't eat the grass around the rabbit hole," he treated the commoners in the capital equally.

Emperor Taixing's reputation was ruined.

The commoners in the capital began to miss the late Emperor's goodness.

No matter how muddled the late Emperor was, at least he didn't lay a hand on the commoners in the capital.

No matter how good Emperor Taixing was, treating the commoners in the capital equally was a point that made people break their defenses; they couldn't take it.

For the past few days, Chen Guanlou could hear the neighbors cursing the imperial court, softly cursing the Emperor, calling the Emperor muddled and greedy, a muddled monarch.

The owner of the braised meat stall on the street corner cursed the worst, because not only did he have an extra poll tax, but he was also apportioned a "city appearance fee." He was so angry that he hadn't eaten or slept well for several days.

"My family of thirteen, except for a few young ones, all have to pay the poll tax for nine people in one breath. The Garrison Command also wants to apportion a city appearance fee; if we don't pay, we aren't allowed to set up the stall. You tell me, is there any law, is there any heaven? Is it easy for us commoners to work hard to set up a stall to earn some money? The whole family relies on this stall to earn money to eat; this is forcing us to death!"

Chen Guanlou nodded repeatedly. "Mm-hmm-hmm... The imperial court is incompetent!"

"That's right, the imperial court is incompetent, the court officials are incompetent, and the Emperor is muddled."

"Eh, these words cannot be said carelessly. Beware of walls having ears!" ===== CHAPTER 692 =====