Some of the Honours were confused, some were worried, some were expressionless, and some were slightly embarrassed.
Zhu Yijun sighed and continued, "The Daming's Honours and relatives have fallen so low that they have to sell salt. I don't feel good about it.
The Marquis of Xining is even worse. The wife of the Marquis of Xining's maiden family has gone to sell salt. "
"I was thinking that the Daming's Honours and relatives have fallen into such a difficult situation. I have cared too little for you."
Those who didn't understand understood now. The Emperor wasn't pitying them, he was mocking them!
Did the royal family give you too little?
Or are you not satisfied with your current life?
You actually want to sell salt, and even sell salt illegally. The Emperor was dissatisfied.
Those who didn't participate looked indifferent, but those who participated were trembling with fear.
"Which one of you can tell me how difficult it is for your family? If they can't afford to eat, it's okay. I will definitely make sure they can afford to eat."
"Although the Daming's situation is difficult, I still have some savings in the palace treasury. At the very least, it shouldn't be a big problem for you to eat.
Come, which one of you can stand up and say it? I will sit here and listen. "
When he said the last part, Zhu Yijun didn't have any intention of joking. His expression was unusually serious.
At this time, the nobles also understood that the Emperor was dissatisfied with their participation in the salt administration. No one was stupid enough to believe that the Emperor was telling the truth. If they stood out at this time, they would probably be removed from their positions and stripped of their titles.
"I am guilty!"
At this time, Duke Zhang Yong took a step forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down like a collapsing mountain. He said loudly, "I am guilty!"
At this time, the other Honours and relatives also reacted. They knelt on the ground and said loudly, "I am guilty!"
Zhu Yijun looked at the group of Honours and relatives kneeling on the ground without any expression on his face.
In fact, he didn't have a good impression of this group of Honours. However, he needed the support of the Honours.
What Zhu Yijun needed to do now was to separate the Honours and relatives from the salt administration. That way, it would be much easier to deal with them.
Zhu Yijun believed that there were absolutely no Honours or relatives who dared to oppose him. Even if there were, they would be in the minority.
If that was the case, Zhu Yijun wouldn't mind issuing a few imperial edicts and confiscating the titles of nobles. It just so happened that there would be a few vacant titles.
"Guilty?" Zhu Yijun smiled. "It's good that you know you're guilty."
After all, the purpose of this time was to beat them up. Zhu Yijun couldn't go too far with his words. His previous words were already very rude.
"You are the Honours of the Daming, the relatives of the Daming. You are the pillars of the imperial court, the cornerstone of the country. You must know what you can do and what you can't do.
The salt administration is the main source of income for the Daming. "
"Taking all this money back to your home is digging up the foundations of the Daming."
"We have made it clear. Whoever digs up the roots of the Daming, We will take his life."
His gaze swept across the faces of the Honours who were kneeling on the ground. Zhu Yijun directly said, "We also want you to have a good life. However, you must remember, only when the Daming lives well can you live well."
"Otherwise, when the country is about to collapse and the Daming is no longer here, where will you be?"
"If the skin doesn't exist, where will the hair attach?
Don't you understand these principles? "
"The Marquis of Xining connived with his relatives to sell illicit salt and store salt permits. In consideration of the contributions of his ancestors, We demote him to the Count of Xining and confiscate his salary for three years. All the profits from selling salt will be confiscated. I hope that you will take this as a warning."
Xun Gui and Xun Qi's hearts trembled. The emperor was serious ah!
Paying some money and confiscating his salary was a small matter. However, demoting him was not a light punishment.
At the same time, everyone knew that this was a demotion. If anyone was still stubborn after this, they would really be demoted.
The Honours were different from the civil officials. If they were demoted back home, it would not affect them. However, if the Honours were demoted, they would definitely end up in a miserable state.
"We accept the decree. Thank you!" The Marquis of Xining hurriedly kowtowed and said loudly.
The others also said loudly, "We respectfully await the Emperor's instruction!"
Zhu Yijun nodded and said in a deep voice, "All right, get up!"
When everyone stood up, Zhu Yijun said again, "We have said what we have to say. Go back and think about your mistakes!"
Seeing the Honours and relatives walk out, Zhu Yijun let out a sigh of relief.
Although he wanted to use the Honours and relatives, it was necessary to give them a warning. Otherwise, they would not be able to use them in the future.
This was only the beginning. They still had to clean up in the future. Moreover, they had to replenish the Honours with new blood. It was not good to keep relying on these old people.
"Send someone to keep an eye on them. If there are any bad people, report immediately!" On the way back to the palace, Zhu Yijun ordered Zhang Jing.
After leaving the palace, Duke Zhang Yong waved his hand and called Count Xining to his side. Although he was a little dejected, he also seemed to be relieved of a heavy burden. Zhang Yong smiled and said, "Not bad. I thought you would be unconvinced!"
Count Xining smiled bitterly and said, "Duke, this junior is just glad that I avoided a calamity."
"It's good that you think so!"
Zhang Yong smiled and patted Song Yi's shoulder and said, "Take out your salt permits tomorrow morning and obediently return them to His Majesty. Those things are very troublesome."
Marquis of Xining nodded repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, Duke. This junior knows what to do."
"That's good!"
Zhang Yong nodded in satisfaction and then stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Since this matter is over, shouldn't the matter between our two families be settled?
Both of our children are not young anymore. "
"I'm still waiting to hold my great-grandson. You have to give me this opportunity!"
Count Xining was stunned for a moment, then said with a pleasantly surprised expression, "Everything is up to the Duke."
"Alright, I will send someone to propose marriage tomorrow!" After saying this, Zhang Yong turned around and left.
Looking at Zhang Yong's back, Count Xining sighed helplessly. His heart was warm. The Duke really knew how to conduct himself.
Not only did he stop him at the palace gates, he even told him about the marriage between the two families.
Originally, when his family was demoted, there would definitely be people who would kick him when he was down. Probably no one would dare to do so now.
After returning to his home, Song Yi looked at the plaque of the Marquis Manor and felt a little lost. The Marquis plaque that his ancestors had fought for was actually demoted to a Count in his hands. He immediately felt very upset.
After a while, Song Yi said to the doorman beside him, "Find someone to take down this plaque!"
The doorman was stunned. Why did they have to take down the plaque for no reason!
This plaque was the face of the Marquis Manor. They didn't dare to touch it easily. But now that it had to be taken down, the doorman didn't know what to do.
Song Yi suddenly felt an evil fire in his heart and loudly scolded, "Take it down. My words don't have any effect, do they?"
"Yes, yes!" The doorman quickly nodded and ran to find a ladder.
When he returned to the rear residence, Song Yi found that not only was his wife there, but his son and daughter were also there. He forced a smile and said, "Why are you all here?
Don't you want to eat?
I'm hungry. "
Marquis Xining looked at his husband and said with some heartache, "Has the punishment been given?"
"Yes, his salary is forfeited for three years. All the income from selling salt is confiscated and his title is demoted to Count Xining."
Song Yi glanced at his wife and knew that this kind of thing couldn't be hidden. He could only say so. However, he still comforted his wife, "It's okay. There's no difference between a Marquis and a Count. They're both hereditary anyway."
Count Xining's wife's eyes instantly turned red. She walked over and hugged Song Yi, ignoring the presence of her son and daughter.
"Husband, I'm sorry!"
"It's okay, it's okay. It's all in the past. This is already very good. The Emperor is remembering old times. Otherwise, Count Xining would have lost his title.
There's another good news for you. When you left the palace today. "
"The Duke of England told me about Qianer's marriage. His two children aren't young anymore. He's anxious to have a great-grandson."
Saying this, Song Yi glanced at Song Qianer and said, "Tomorrow, the House of Lords will come to propose marriage."
Song Qianer's face was full of shock. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Her expression was very complicated.
Count Xining's son, Song Liang, looked at his sister and said, "Congratulations, sister. You'll get what you want now."
Seeing his sister glare at him, Song Liang didn't care. He turned to Count Xining's wife and said, "Mother, don't be sad. We already said in the academy that we won't rely on our father's shadow for the rest of our lives."
"How did our ancestors get their titles?
They were all earned. "
"Scholarly honors need to be obtained immediately. Now that our family has been demoted to a Count, it's time for me to show off."
"Not just a Marquis, I'll definitely get it back. Back in the academy, the Emperor said that to immediately become a Marquis is a man's nature." Saying this, Song Liang's voice rose quite a bit.
"When I accomplish a great deed, I'll definitely get Xining's Marquis title back for father."
"When the time comes, I'll earn my own Marquis title. Our Song family will have two Marquises!"
"Mother, do you know what the most popular title in the academy is?
It's the Champion Marquis!
The Emperor said to us that sooner or later, we'll fight our way to Sealing Wolf Storey Mountain. When the time comes, whoever can fight their way there first will be granted the title of Champion Marquis. "
"You don't know, but these students in the academy all want this title with all their might."
"The little duke of the House of Lords and the little duke of the Dingguo household all want it. They've all said that once they obtain the title of Champion Marquis, they'll let their brothers inherit the title of Duke.
I'll also obtain this title. When the time comes, Xining's Marquis title will be given to my younger brother! "
Looking at his strong-looking son, Song Yi suddenly smiled. The gloominess of being demoted was swept away. He reached out and patted his son's shoulder. "My son has grown up. Yes, let's do this. Earn me the title of Champion Marquis."
"You don't need to fight for the title of Marquis Xining. I'm not old yet. I'll fight for it myself. Brat, are you looking down on your father?"