Chapter 638: The Emperor’s New Clothes, 10 Heavy Duties

Zhu Di's complexion was as usual, but what he said made people tremble with fear.

"Come on."

"His Majesty!"

Hu Guang's body trembled for a while, but he didn't wait for the order to be sent to prison.

"Go, call Xing and Bo."

After the people left, Zhu Di sneered and said, "If that Zhu Zi dares to talk nonsense, I will never forgive him!"

Several people in the hall adjusted their standing uneasily, and then continued to deal with political affairs.

Who doesn't know these days? As long as you win the Juren, there is no need to report it, and you will be exempted from the food.

The peasant households who donate to Juren, Jinshi, and officials are blessed. Although they only change the object of tax payment to the main family, they can pay a lot less every year, and the family has a lot more food.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the hall became more and more dull, as if someone had added adhesives to the air, making it difficult to breathe.

After hesitating for a while, Yang Rong gritted his teeth and stood up. Under Zhu Di's deep gaze, he said, "Your Majesty, the preferential treatment for gentry nowadays is indeed... After that, most of them are free of money and food."

Hu Guang relaxed for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, the gentry is the foundation of my Ming Dynasty. Once alienated, there will be chaos. I remember the annual tax amount of the Ministry of Households, which is more than enough for the country. Why not..."

Everyone's position is different, Hu Guang's position is supplementary, but don't forget,

He also has another identity, that is, a disciple of Confucianism.

"Your Majesty, Xinghe Bo has arrived."

Fang Xing entered the hall, and after saluting, Zhu Di asked, "How do you know that most of the gentry are exempt from food?"

Fang Xing pointed to himself and said, "Your Majesty, before I was granted the title of Xinghe Bo, the Fangjiazhuang had already been exempted from money and food, and no one had ever come to collect taxes from the first minister..."

Hu Guang clenched his fists and said: "Your Majesty, Xinghe Bo is a young man with an ordinary family background. The magistrate just exempted his family's money and food as usual."

Fang Xing said with a smile: "It happened. When I woke up, I happened to meet the head of the food department and asked for food. However, what I want to say is that when I was in Beiping Mansion, the students who passed the exam didn't pay for the food! And... "

"Xing He Bo!"

Jin Youzi raised his eyebrows and said, "Preferential treatment of gentry is the ancestral system."

Shut up now! Otherwise, literati all over the world will hate you to death.

Fang Xing glanced at Zhu Di, and then said flatly, "What's the benefit to the country?"

Zhu Di squinted his eyes and said nothing, the gentry is indeed the foundation of Ming Dynasty's rule, once it collapses, it will represent the collapse of Ming Dynasty.

So why after Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming gentry became a truly privileged class, the reason is that this power is too great, and if you are not careful, it will cause a backlash.

Jin Youzi said loudly: "It can stabilize the township and counties and benefit the hometown."

Fang Xing revealed a look of sarcasm, and asked: "But by merging land and taking lawsuits to benefit Sangzi? Oh! I also forgot that they don't have to pay money and food, and all the taxes that should have been paid to them have been suppressed by the people in their hometown. On the head, is this to benefit Sangzi?"

hehe!

Seeing Jin Youzi's face flushed red, he couldn't speak, Fang Xing said, "The township examination is held every few years, and each time there will be a batch of candidates like this, and then the land taxed in that area will be reduced by another batch. Dare I ask my lords, If this situation lasts for a hundred years, will the people of Ming Dynasty still have land to grow? Will anyone still pay the taxes?"

"Scaremongering!"

Jin Youzi couldn't resist Fang Xing's rhetorical question, so he had to put a hat on him.

The world is peaceful today, but you are scaremongering. Do you think that the people under His Majesty's rule are living in the midst of fiery waters?

Fang Xing narrowed his eyes, stared at Jin Youzi and said: "There is a country in the west, the ministers of the country flatter and flatter, for a long time, the king considers it a god, but the people are miserable..."

That's not a good idea!

Jin Youzi's eyes almost burst into flames, he gritted his teeth and looked at Fang Xing.

"...just a liar said that he could make unparalleled gorgeous clothes, and the monarch paid a lot of money for it. Well, the monarch found that the clothes were invisible to the naked eye, and there was no trace of touch. ..."

"Fang Xing..."

Jin Youzi took a step forward and said angrily, "You're rude!"

Zhu Di looked at Fang Xing playfully, and listened to him continue telling the story.

Under Xia Yuanji's worried eyes, Fang Xing continued: "The carriage is ostentatiously passing through the market, and the common people dare not speak out when they see it. The king thinks that this dress is unparalleled in the world..."

Fruit Ben!

Xia Yuanji's eyelids twitched crazily, he felt that Fang Xing had some Wei Zheng's intentions today, and actually violated Yan Jin's admonition.

Fang Xing looked at Zhu Di calmly and said, "The monarch thought he was wearing clothes, and the common people didn't dare to speak up. In the end, an ignorant little girl yelled..."

"enough!"

Zhu Di kicked over the case and shouted: "Fork out! Ten sticks!"

A guard outside the door suddenly promised, then rushed in and grabbed Fang Xing's arms.

Fang Xing didn't resist, and followed outside.

Xia Yuanji couldn't help persuading: "Your Majesty, Xinghe Bo is just a child at heart, please forgive him this time."

Zhu Di turned around and left, the eunuch hurriedly followed, but Huang Yan took this opportunity to go outside.

Xia Yuanji stomped his feet, worried that Huang Yan would make trouble, so he followed out.

Yang Rong smiled bitterly: "This is good, this is good, who is right and who is wrong?"

Yang Shiqi sighed: "Uncle Xinghe is a brave man after all, he shouldn't say such things in front of His Majesty!"

The two looked at Hu Guang, only to realize that Hu Guang's face was ashen, and his hands were tightly grasped, his eyes wandering.

"Master Hu?"

Yang Shiqi asked tentatively.

Yang Rong couldn't help but sneered: "Master Hu thinks ten sticks are not enough?"

Hu Guang glanced at him, and said coldly: "Divide, rule! You and I have been fooled by Fang Dehua without knowing it!"

Yang Shiqi was surprised and said: "But how dare he break the boat like this?!"

Hu Guang lowered his eyes and said, "Why didn't he dare!"

They walked outside the hall and saw that Fang Xing had been tied to the bench, and there were two Jinyi guards standing beside him, and Huang Yan was being imprisoned.

When Xia Yuanji saw the board with the red paint falling off, he couldn't help but said anxiously: "You can wait patiently."

Huang Yan smiled sinisterly: "Lord Xia, the weight of this board has long been established in the palace, so there is no need to worry."

But just after finishing speaking, Huang Yan gave the two Jinyiwei winks, clearly wanting them to hit hard.

"Huang Yan! How dare you?"

Xia Yuanji shouted angrily.

One of the Jinyi guards went over with a cork, ready to stuff it into Fang Xing's mouth.

When Fang Xing saw the tooth marks on it, he shook his head and said, "Fang doesn't need it!"

"Really no need?"

The Jin Yiwei said in surprise: "Then you will bite your tongue."

Fang Xing shook his head resolutely and said, "I won't bite to death."

Huang Yan said hesitantly: "Since Xinghe Bo doesn't use it, then let's not force it, let's do it."

Hu Guang stared at the board and murmured: "Under the three trees, what can you ask for? Your Majesty, why do you want to balance! Isn't Confucianism not good enough?"

Yang Rong sneered and said: "Let's talk about the matter, I have given preferential treatment to the gentry! Uncle Xinghe is right, if this continues, sooner or later the people of Ming Dynasty will have no place to stand, and then there will be wars everywhere!"

Hu Guang was furious: "Without gentry, where did you and me come from! Without gentry, how stable is the Ming Dynasty!"

"here we go……"

Yang Shiqi didn't participate in the debate. He saw the two boards raised and couldn't help sighing: "Ten sticks are too many!"