Chapter 39: The Emperor and His Ministers Have Met with the Time (39)

Qu Zhengcheng and others stayed in the palace until dusk.

In the past, they were concerned about Shen Minghuan and did not dare to interact with Luo Xiuyuan too openly. Now they knew that this man did not even have any people in place. Their caution was in vain. For a while, they all felt complicated.

Luo Xiuyuan learned from them about Shen Minghuan's subsequent plans. He was also the crown prince that everyone expected. After thinking for a while, he put forward many refreshing ideas.

For a while, they really felt that the king was sage and the ministers were virtuous, and they were happy. However, what they thought in their hearts and whether they had given up the idea of ​​making Shen Minghuan the emperor, only they themselves knew.

Lu Suiping, however, was always silent, which was unusual.

He did not speak in the presence of Shen Minghuan, which was understandable to everyone, but he was so taciturn in front of Luo Xiuyuan, which was worth pondering.

"Brother Lu, is there something on your mind?" Qu Zhengcheng asked as he walked out of the palace.

Lu Suiping shook his head and said in confusion: "I just can't figure it out. Why would Prince Shen... give me the land distribution issue? He values ​​this matter so much, doesn't he worry that I will do something about it?"

Qu Zhengcheng didn't expect him to be entangled with this, and couldn't help laughing: "Then will you?"

"Of course I won't." Lu Suiping didn't hesitate.

Lu Zhi also laughed, "Brother Lu, I know you also agree with the land distribution. If the prince takes this matter on himself and lets him take full responsibility, will Brother Lu think he wants to make trouble?"

"Of course not." Lu Suiping still didn't hesitate. After he finished speaking, he was stunned and sighed: "I understand."

What if the relationship is not good? Shen Minghuan doesn't care whether they are close or distant, his vision is not so narrow.

"But why did he choose me?" Could it be that he is actually more talented than others, and Shen Minghuan has a keen eye to see it? Lu Suiping thought seriously.

Lin Zhihang was indignant: "That's enough, just enjoy it secretly. If you keep showing off like this, I'll steal all the wine you have hidden in your house!"

Wang Jin also showed a jealous look and said sourly: "Because of your background."

Lu Suiping is the most distinguished person among them. His ancestors were wealthy merchants. They emptied half of their family property to help the founding emperor of the Qi Dynasty conquer the world. Later, the emperor generously gave him a title for his merits.

With the title as a springboard, the descendants of the Lu family gradually shifted their focus to studying and becoming officials.

Lu Suiping was not the highest official among the people present, but he was definitely the richest.

Lu Suiping shook his head firmly, "Impossible, the prince is not a person who judges people by their background."

"What are you thinking?" Wang Jin was speechless.

Qu Zhengcheng explained with a smile: "Although the Lu family does not interact with other noble families, in their eyes, they are more or less half a step into their circle. What's more, the Lu family is really rich, and yes, they also have a lot of land."

"So it is natural that they will naturally think that you will stand on the same front with them. When the land is distributed equally, Brother Lu, as a responsible official, your Lu family will definitely bear the brunt." Lu Zhi then added: "Not only will they not blame you, they may even have sympathy and pity, after all, you are the one who is oppressed the most by the prince."

No one present doubted that Lu Suiping would be unwilling to donate the Lu family's land.

No one who was not present believed that Lu Suiping would voluntarily donate his family's land to implement the equal-field system.

Lin Zhihang also understood it, and clapped his hands in sudden enlightenment: "In this way, they will not target officials too much, but will only hate the prince!"

Only "their own" Lu Suiping can have such an effect, otherwise, anyone else will be hated by the noble family. If the noble family targets one person, they don't care about the law.

The others were still listening with a smile, but when Lin Zhihang said this, they fell silent and the smiles on their faces gradually disappeared.

They were not afraid of death, and there would always be sacrifices in reforms, but how could they not burst into tears when someone was so cautious and careful in thinking and protecting them? Especially this person, who was risking his own life to fight for their greatest safety.

It has always been the old guys who protected others...

With Shen Minghuan's age and potential, he should be in the center of the encirclement without worries. Even if the dynasty fell, he was the one who should be alive.

"Then I..." Chen Xin muttered to himself.

Then he should not be someone Shen Minghuan pointed at casually. The man who chose him to be in charge of the imperial examinations may have a deep meaning.

Qu Zhengcheng glanced at him: "If I remember correctly, before Shuhuai died, he accused the Xue family of cheating in the imperial examinations in the court."

The late emperor reprimanded him for "talking nonsense", and the Xue family did not suffer any losses, but still hated Yin Shuhuai.

Chen Xin clenched his fists, brother...

Lin Zhihang patted his shoulder soothingly, "The dead are gone, brother Chen Xin, you still have to continue the unfinished work of brother Shu Huai, please accept my condolences."

The sun was setting, the sky and the earth were shrouded in a golden halo, and the treetops were covered with white snow.

They said goodbye in front of the magnificent palace gate, agreed to meet again tomorrow, and then left with satisfaction and a little regret.

Shen Minghuan.

That person has a rational enough vision to look at gains and losses, and is willing to give up the huge benefits within reach for the sake of the people of the world; that person has a soft enough heart to see the pain and unwillingness that his subjects have hidden for many years.

That person also has a broad enough mind and a compassionate enough vision, always protecting others regardless of his own safety.

Working under Shen Minghuan is really a very reassuring thing. You can trust the measures he proposes and do it without any worries.

Because he will watch and protect.

So there is really nothing to worry about.

Even Qu Zhengcheng has to admit that Shen Minghuan is a natural leader and a natural king.

Not being able to become the common lord of the world is a loss for the world, not for him.

*

Then the time gate seemed to have been pressed on the accelerator.

Shen Minghuan asked Chen Xiaoyu to assign a team of people to Lu Suiping, both to protect his safety and to forcefully promote the equal distribution of land by force. He took a big step. Before the Xue family's land was divided and the wasteland in the suburbs was reclaimed, he had already started to attack the wealthy people in Yanling.

Shen Minghuan posted notices everywhere in the city, took the imperial seal to issue an imperial decree, and very impolitely instructed the eunuchs in the palace to go door to door to convey the decree according to the degree of wealth.

He expressed his willingness to pay a price higher than the market price and take back the land of each family in the name of the court.

Unfortunately, he was willing to spend money, but there were still few people who responded.

To be precise, only the Lu family and the Shen family were willing, and no one else was willing.

This is simple, you don't want to, right? Just kill them, then the land will be ownerless, and you can save a lot of money.

Shen Minghuan's crazy words were spread by Lu Suiping, moving countless wealthy people. On the same day, someone rode a carriage holding a land deed and knocked on the door of the Lu Mansion.

There are still a few people who know the current situation. More people have a glimmer of luck in their hearts, thinking that Shen Minghuan would not dare to be so bold.

The law does not punish the masses, so is Shen Minghuan above the king's law?

After the head of the Zheng family made the above remarks, he used his life to prove that Shen Minghuan was indeed bold and reckless.

The Zheng family followed the footsteps of the Xue family. The head of the family was killed as a warning to the monkeys, and all the property was confiscated. The descendants who did evil were either beheaded or exiled, and the innocent were dismissed.

However, if you were born in Xue and Zheng, even if you did not do evil yourself, you would have the crime of knowing but not reporting it, so almost the entire "family" was annihilated.

Both families are large families with prosperous populations. In just a few days, the blood in Yanling City almost dyed the white snow red, and Shen Minghuan's notoriety also spread throughout the capital with the blood, and it also had the effect of stopping children from crying at night.

At the same time, the new imperial examination was also proceeding steadily and orderly.

With Chen Xin and others in charge, there is no need to worry about someone playing tricks. At most, they are afraid that they will pretend to obey but actually disobey, shirk their responsibilities and refuse to do anything, which will affect efficiency.

Shen Minghuan then divided the work into very detailed parts, accurately indicating what should be completed every day.

If it can be completed within the specified time, congratulations, there is still hope to see the sun tomorrow. If it cannot be completed, I am afraid that I will have to go to the underworld to find the sun.

Shen Minghuan's already bad reputation was immediately made worse.

All the officials in the court are scholars, and they all have pens like knives and words like swords. They dare not disobey, but privately degrade Shen Minghuan to the dust, and even list him as "Ten Evils", as if he would not be able to thank the world if he did not die.

However, Luo Xiuyuan's reputation rose step by step on Shen Minghuan.

First, just like what Shen Minghuan did before at the gate of Xue's house, everything was done in the name of the court, and all the merits were pushed onto Luo Xiuyuan. He even did not show up in person afterwards, and he completely concealed his involvement.

The people only knew that the new emperor was kind-hearted, and he eliminated bullies and distributed land for them.

The students also only knew that the new emperor was wise and powerful, and he swept away the shadow of the imperial examination and gave them more opportunities.

Secondly, the officials and nobles hated Shen Minghuan very much, and they were willing to add fuel to the fire, worship Luo Xiuyuan on the altar, and set up Shen Minghuan as a model of treacherous ministers.

Qu Zhengcheng's previous plans have now come true.

- Successfully put Shen Minghuan in a situation where everyone in the world is an enemy, despised by everyone, and isolated and helpless.

Half a month later, the imperial examination finally came to an end, and the distribution of land in Yanling was still difficult to start.

After the imperial examination-related matters were on the right track, Shen Minghuan did not intervene too much, and even the palace examination was handed over to Luo Xiuyuan. He just selected a few people.

Of course, the people who were selected didn't know that they were selected. They thought that their literary talent was too brilliant and radiated a dazzling light, so Luo Xiuyuan recognized them.

There was no way. Although they were not good at the Four Books and Five Classics, they were all good seedlings for various "strange and lewd skills".

However, Shen Minghuan was very fair and did not let them squeeze out the opportunities of others. The number of people selected for the imperial examination this time was unprecedentedly large. In the past, the best of the best were selected, but now as long as they have real talents and can pass the examination, Shen Minghuan will take them all.

——After the aristocratic families, he is going to take action against officials. Most of the officialdom that will be vacant is in urgent need of replacement.

Shen Minghuan took the list from Lu Suiping and said, "The Cui family still refuses? How stupid! Life is the most important thing."

"So you know that, Your Majesty." Lu Suiping said calmly, with a hint of sarcasm.

In just half a month, Shen Minghuan had experienced dozens of assassinations, and Lu Suiping had witnessed no less than five of them.

He really didn't understand why this man was so radical, as if there was something behind him urging him.