GBP Chapter 598 Yang Shaofeng: I have two strategies
Chapter 598 Yang Shaofeng: I have two strategies
The grand assembly on the second day was not held.
Or rather, before Emperor Zhu could even bring up the topic of "the way of being an official" at the grand court assembly the next day, a sudden piece of news completely enraged him.
Tax officials in multiple locations were killed.
The places where these tax collectors were killed were mostly concentrated in the Jiangnan region, or the southeastern area.
The reason for killing tax collectors was simple: taxes were getting higher and higher, making business unprofitable, merchants were unwilling to do business, shop owners were unwilling to open their shops, and ordinary people employed by these people had no way to make a living.
Then, the people, having no other way to survive, spontaneously gathered together and killed the tax collectors.
The thousands of "common people" used sticks as weapons, killing only tax collectors and not harming the innocent. They did not even storm the county magistrate's or prefect's offices, nor did they disturb other people. Their "military discipline was impeccable."
Then, after killing the tax collectors, Ge Cheng, the one who led the killing, went to the government office to surrender himself and demanded to take full responsibility for the crime.
By this time, the prefects, who had "recovered," convicted Ge Cheng of "gathering a crowd to incite rebellion" and even hurriedly ordered the nearby garrisons to come and help arrest these "rebels" who had already scattered.
Yang Shaofeng leaned against the dragon pillar, momentarily at a loss for words.
It's so familiar, so incredibly familiar.
It's exactly the same as the "Tombstone Inscription of the Five People".
The difference is that the inscription on the tombstone of the five people took place in Suzhou Prefecture, while this tax resistance during the Lao Deng era occurred in several prefectures in Jiangnan.
The procedures were almost identical, the prefects were almost identical, and even the people who stepped forward to take the blame were almost identical.
Besides these, there were countless memorials, some pleading for the "common people," and others requesting the court to reduce or exempt some commercial taxes.
Of course, the main impeachment was against Yang Shaofeng for "competing with the people for profit" and corrupting the officialdom, and demands were made to execute Yang the Madman to appease public anger.
Even worse, some officials claimed in their memorials that as long as Yang's epilepsy is not cured, the people will remain uneasy, and similar situations may occur again in the future.
Emperor Zhu was completely bewildered.
What do you mean?
It's said that the people of Jiangnan understand the law. Jiangnan is known as the land of fish and rice, yet the people would rather work for others than farm, and would rather kill tax collectors to resist taxes than farm.
But if you say that the people of Jiangnan don't understand the law, after killing the tax collectors, there are still people who go to the government to confess their crimes and resist punishment.
Moreover, judging from the content of these memorials, it seems that only killing that bastard can appease public anger.
Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, and other civil and military officials were equally bewildered.
To be precise, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, and others were not bewildered, but rather experiencing a deep-seated despair.
Seriously, can't these idiots learn their lesson?
First there was the plow case, then the Sun Gupu rebellion case, then the blank seal case, and the black coal mine case from a while ago is still not completely resolved, and now this tax official case has come out.
No, you mean if you guys were to handle all these big cases, it would be fine if Yang the Madman could get a little benefit out of it.
But every time you suffer heavy losses.
Besides, that's Zhu Chongba's son-in-law!
If you used this trick on other officials, that would be one thing, but you used it on Zhu Chongba's son-in-law!
Zhu Chongba already disliked you, and now you're threatening him to kill his good son-in-law.
And they even incited several prefectures to cause trouble?
With Dengzhou University and the border market there, as long as Yang the Madman doesn't rebel, it won't do you any good even if you turn Jiangnan into a war zone, you bastards!
Besides, are you dealing with Yang the madman?
You are dealing with Princess Funing and Princess Fuyang behind him—not to mention the princes, including His Highness the Crown Prince, who were all raised by them, but also the children of the civil and military officials and noble families. How many of them were younger than His Highness the Crown Prince and had not been taken care of by them?
If you try to harm their husbands, they don't even need to beg Empress Ma. Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and those纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) from Lan Yu's family can tear you apart and eat you alive without even needing soy sauce!
Liu Bowen shook his head in despair, then unconsciously glanced at Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and the others.
Xu Da almost couldn't hold it in.
No.
Are there really that many idiots in the world?
Back when we were on the Northern Expedition against Hu Yuan, the leader didn't hesitate to bring Chang Heizi back, but he didn't intend to let go of the Li Tou case. Now you're doing this again.
Xu Da shook his head slightly, then glanced at Yang Shaofeng with a smile.
Yang Shaofeng almost burst out laughing.
Old Deng originally intended to discuss the principles of officialdom with his ministers.
However, as everyone knows, Old Deng hadn't read many books; at most, he could only say things like "working diligently day and night and faithfully fulfilling his duties."
Now, before he could even utter those words, these officials slapped him hard across the face several times.
Several prefectures executed tax collectors almost simultaneously; how could these officials not know about it?
If they knew the truth, how could they be considered loyal?
If someone is aware of something but fails to report it, and doesn't make any preparations in advance, how can they be considered to be fulfilling their duties?
The key point is that several prefectures are experiencing problems at the same time. Doesn't that clearly mean something's wrong?
Or do these people really think that Old Deng is brainless and easy to fool?
Although Old Deng doesn't seem very smart, he's always cunning like Seven, but he doesn't quite understand how to calculate things.
Just as Yang Shaofeng was mentally ranting, Emperor Zhu laughed in fury, "Good, very good. Our Ming Dynasty officials have improved. At least they know how to protect the people under their rule and exonerate them from punishment."
After a slight pause, Emperor Zhu turned his gaze to Yang Shaofeng and asked, "Come, tell me, how should this matter be handled?"
Yang Shaofeng looked around and saw that his colleagues were all keeping their distance. Helpless, he could only step forward, cup his hands, and bow, saying, "Your subject has two strategies."
"The best course of action is to raise the issue high and then lower it lightly, severely punishing the corrupt officials and ringleaders while letting the other people go free, to show His Majesty's magnanimity."
"However, the best approach is to treat the symptoms but not the root cause."
"It is inevitable that other places will follow suit in the future."
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng continued, "As for the worst option, it can be considered a fundamental solution, but it is rather ruthless."
Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and said, "Go on."
Yang Shaofeng sneered and said, "Killing an official is rebellion, but does that mean killing a tax collector isn't rebellion?"
"Rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family."
"Didn't someone step forward and plead guilty?"
"Then let Commander Xia bring the people and their entire families back, and let the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate conduct a joint trial, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard sitting in the background."
"Indeed, I am also very curious whether these people are truly rebelling because they cannot survive due to excessive taxes, or whether they are being instigated by someone else?"
As Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, a collective gasp of astonishment filled the court.
Poison, it's fucking poisonous.
The prefects characterized the crime as "gathering a crowd to incite rebellion," and even if they were to sentence someone, they would only give them a suspended death sentence.
When it came to Yang Dianfeng, it directly became a rebellion by killing officials.
Is this going to stir up another tax official case?