In fact, for Wang Yongji, the Wenhua Hall's Grand Secretary didn't have much practical use. He was still doing his work in the tax department, but his status was not the same as before.
Just like in the future, a secretary who was a member of the Politburo and a secretary who wasn't were two completely different things.
Zhu Yijun could also understand Wang Yongji's excitement. He quietly waited for him to calm down and then said, "This time, I have an important matter for you to do."
"I am willing to serve Your Majesty!" Wang Yongji quickly bowed and said.
He had just received a generous reward, so naturally, he had to do something. Wang Yongji was not surprised at all.
"I am going to build a royal city in the western suburbs of the capital. I am sure you know about this, right?" Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Yongji and then said directly, "This matter is related to this."
How could Wang Yongji not know about this matter? He quickly nodded and said, "I know."
The imperial court's opening of a vassal state was a great strategy. Everyone knew that this was a big matter and also knew that this was a great merit, but no one was willing to get involved. After all, those vassal kings and Honours were not to be trifled with.
"That's good!"
Zhu Yijun nodded and then said, "I sent people to investigate a few days ago. The land in the western suburbs has almost been occupied."
Wang Yongji knew about the western suburbs of the capital. It was a good place in the capital. There were mountains and rivers there. It was originally a desolate place, but it was a place with beautiful scenery.
There was Jade Spring Mountain, which was specially used to supply water to the royal family. There was also Fragrant Mountain, which was definitely a good place.
Originally, it was not valued by the Honours. After all, everyone's life had not been good these years. However, it was valued by the temples.
The Yuan Shizu, Khubilai, built Zhao Hua Temple here. During the reign of Emperor Yingzong, there were Upper and Lower Hua Yan Temples and so on.
There were many large and small temples. It could be said to be a prosperous place in the capital.
These years, the Honours and their relatives had a good life. In addition, officials and businessmen from all over the capital gathered. These people liked gardens, so a beautiful place like the western suburbs naturally became a delicious cake in the eyes of these people.
Therefore, everyone began to build gardens, and the entire western suburbs began to be covered with gardens.
Among them, the most famous was the Tsinghua Garden built by the former Wu Qingbo, Li Wei. It was praised as the most famous garden in the capital after it was built. It occupied a large area and was willing to spend money, so it was magnificent.
When Wang Yongji found out that the Emperor wanted to build the Imperial City in the western suburbs, he knew that the Emperor didn't like these people.
Hearing the Emperor's words, Wang Yongji knew that the people in the western suburbs were going to be in trouble.
As a close official of the Emperor, Wang Yongji knew the Emperor of his own clan very well.
He didn't care much about antiques and treasures, and his daily life was very simple. However, the Imperial Majesty was very narrow-minded.
I've never had anything, but you actually have it?
The emperor always had four dishes and one soup for each meal. The people in the harem were also regulated.
Right now, the emperor hasn't even said anything about building a garden in the western suburbs, yet you people actually dare to build a garden there?
It was a heinous crime.
From Wang Yongji's point of view, this Son of Heaven of his family was envious.
However, he didn't dare to say it out loud. He could only think about it in his heart.
Zhu Yijun didn't know that his close minister actually thought of him this way. Otherwise, he would definitely drag him out and behead him. You can even see through my jealousy. How can I live in the capital?
The western suburbs sounded inconspicuous, but listen to the names of the places. Not to mention Yuquan Mountain and Xiangshan Mountain, that place would become the famous Summer Palace in the future. There were also Haidian District, Shijingshan District, and Fengtai District.
In the future, there wouldn't be any land or housing prices. Now, they were being forcibly occupied by these people. How could he tolerate this?
He absolutely couldn't tolerate it. He had to deal with it.
After learning about the situation in the western suburbs, Zhu Yijun knew that this was a sure win.
Someone had paid for the initial investment of building the CBD in the western suburbs.
Glancing at Wang Yongji, Zhu Yijun said directly, "I plan to set up a Western Suburbs Imperial City Construction Department. It will be a temporary government office. You will be the leader. You will also have people from the Shun Tian Prefecture, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Imperial Censorate to cooperate.
"Thoroughly investigate the land occupation in the western suburbs. Any illegal construction."
At this point, Zhu Yijun paused and thought for a moment. Then, he changed to a term that Wang Yongji could understand and explained, "Any privately built manors and temples will all be dealt with."
"The imperial court has laws. The imperial court will give land deeds to those who open up wastelands for cultivation. However, those are wastelands for them to cultivate crops. Who allowed them to build manors?"
"Thoroughly investigate all the fields, mountains, and rivers in the western suburbs and register them. For cultivated fields without land deeds, give them land deeds."
"Those who build manors on the land will all be treated according to the construction land. The western suburbs will implement a land classification system.
Manors cannot be built on cultivated land. For those who have built manors, in addition to paying a fine, they will also have to pay for the purchase of the land. "
"Those who don't pay will have their manors confiscated. No matter who they are, you can start with Wu Qingbo's mansion."
Wang Yongji sweated when he heard this. The emperor was too ruthless. It seemed that the people in the western suburbs had really provoked the emperor!
This was not jealousy. His heart was red.
As for the land deeds for cultivated wastelands, this could only be said.
In the previous inspection of the fields, the officials and gentry paid the grain as a whole. The fields were all registered. How could there be any land obtained from cultivated wastelands? The emperor was putting a label on them.
Occupying land to build manors and indulging in sensual pleasures was bound to be despised by the people.
This kind of behavior was simply outrageous. This was occupying the high ground of public opinion to cover for the following policies!
The act of collecting money later was no different from robbery. However, the emperor could still reason with them. You have to admit it whether you want to or not.
All the land under the heavens belonged to the emperor. All the people on the shores of the land belonged to the emperor.
Was it just a saying? Starting with Wu Qingbo's mansion was a show for others to see.
Although Wu Qingbo and Li Wei were dead, Queen Dowager Li was still alive. Directly starting with the Empress Dowager's maternal family and chopping off his uncle, the emperor was showing his determination.
I have even cleaned up my uncle's family. Who else would dare to cause trouble?
"By the way, let the Law and Discipline Department and the Corruption Department investigate all the manors of the official's family. Are the officials in the Daming so rich?
They can actually build a manor in the western suburbs. I don't have a summer resort yet. "
When Wang Yongji heard this, he immediately shrunk his neck. You see, I said that the emperor was jealous again!
After thinking about it, Wang Yongji felt that this was an opportunity. He had to ask someone to build a manor for the emperor in the western suburbs.
The emperor definitely wanted it, but he couldn't say it. His body was honest, but his mouth was stubborn. He had to find a way for the emperor to step down.
After thinking for a long time, Wang Yongji's eyes lit up. I got it.
"Your Majesty, this official thinks that we should build a temporary imperial residence in the western suburbs."
Wang Yongji said with a serious face: "The imperial city in the western suburbs is for the vassal kings. Your Majesty is the head of the imperial family. Of course, you should also have a residence here."
"The atmosphere in the palace is too solemn. This official thinks that it is not appropriate to build a temporary imperial residence in the western suburbs."
"To build a temporary imperial residence in the western suburbs, this official thinks that it is very appropriate. It can show that Your Majesty loves the vassal kings and won't make them feel cold. So, this official proposes to Your Majesty that we should build a temporary imperial residence in the western suburbs."
Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Yongji in surprise. He really didn't expect that Wang Yongji had this side.
However, seeing Wang Yongji's serious look, Zhu Yijun had a deep feeling. In this world, as long as you look for something, you can definitely find a justifiable reason.
Wang Yongji's justifiable reason was really good. No one dared to object when he took it out.
Whoever objected would directly go up and say, "Do you want to alienate the kinship of the imperial family?" No one dared to wear this big hat.
Whether or not to build a garden, Zhu Yijun was really quite hesitant.
In Zhu Yijun's heart, he actually didn't want to build a garden. Firstly, it was a waste of money and food. His money was saved to fight in the north.
Secondly, building a garden might leave a bad start for the Daming Dynasty. Everyone said that the Daming Emperor was extravagant. In fact, during the Ming Dynasty, there were not many emperors who carried out large-scale construction. They were so poor that they even lost their underwear.
The only one who built more was the Jiajing Emperor. He caught fire a few times while refining pills, but at most, he rebuilt a palace.
And then?
The Ming Dynasty Emperor was scolded, but look at the Qing Dynasty Emperors. Which one of them wasn't keen on building gardens?
Chengde Mountain Resort, Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan were all built generation after generation.
They gathered all the rare treasures in the world and placed them in the gardens for him to enjoy.
However, no one mentioned this matter. Instead, the Ming Dynasty Emperors who were so poor that they almost lost their underwear were all put on the hat of extravagance. They couldn't even take it off.
To put it bluntly, it was because they didn't have a good relationship with the civil officials. In addition, they were loyal to their new master. If they didn't expose the Ming Dynasty Emperor's dirt, how could they call themselves a loyal subject of the Qing Dynasty?
Qin Shihuang's burning of books and burying of Confucianism was written about, but the Qing Dynasty's literary inquisition was not nailed to the pillar of shame.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but sigh. There were some things that he couldn't say. However, what Wang Yongji said was quite reasonable.
Building a temporary imperial residence in the Imperial City could indeed show his closeness to the royal family.
Although everyone hadn't seen each other for several lifetimes, this era was particular about this. As the Emperor, he should set an example.
Another very important point was to raise the standard. In the Imperial City, without the Emperor's temporary imperial residence, it would always feel like something was missing.
If he went, he would definitely be able to raise the Imperial City to a higher level.
Another advantage was that with the temporary imperial residence, he could station troops there.
If it was just the Imperial City, there would probably be a lot of dissatisfaction if he put a lot of troops there. However, with the banner of guarding the temporary imperial residence, it would be perfectly justifiable.
Although everyone could see what was going on, the people of this era fell for it.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said, "Let's discuss this matter later!"
Wang Yongji didn't try to persuade him. Instead, he bowed and said, "This subject will take his leave!"
Although the matter of Wang Yongji organizing the construction of the Imperial City in the western suburbs had a great impact, it didn't cause a huge uproar in the capital. After all, it hadn't started yet. It was just a transfer of manpower.
On the contrary, the case of the Assistant Minister of Revenue once again made the officials of the capital tremble with fear.
After the Department of Justice finished their investigation, the Supreme Court made a decision, and then the Ministry of Justice sentenced them. This time, there was no nonsense. The Ministry of Justice directly sentenced them to death by hanging. A large number of officials were hanged once again.
The confiscation of family property and the banishment of their entire families. This kind of heavy punishment was really frightening.
Although this matter was frightening, everyone was still mentally prepared. After all, there was the case of Assistant Minister Zhao Deqian of the Ministry of Personnel. This case could be considered a precedent. However, what happened next made people uneasy.
Zhao Lian was the head of the Department of Justice. Originally, everyone was waiting to see what he would do, but in the end, another big case broke out in the Department of Justice.
The case of the Assistant Minister of Justice taking bribes and bending the law!
Once this case broke out, the officials of the capital were completely infuriated. Were they not done yet?
First it was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, then the Assistant Minister of Revenue, and now the Assistant Minister of Justice. Every case resulted in a large number of officials being sentenced to death by hanging, confiscation of family property, and banishment of their entire families.
Then these three assistant ministers were done for. Whose turn would it be?
Would it be us?
Who wouldn't be afraid?
In an instant, the public opinion in the capital was turbulent. The officials were scared out of their wits. Many people began to make connections, and some even directly submitted letters of resignation.
Submitting a letter of impeachment to the Department of Justice was out of the question. They were only investigating the case. It was normal for them to investigate if one was corrupt.
There was nothing to criticize about the Supreme Court. It was just a final verdict. As for the Ministry of Justice, there was nothing to say. They were only sentencing according to the Daming Law.
The officials wanted to impeach them, but they didn't know where to start.
Of course, there were still smart people in this world.
Soon, someone realized that what everyone was afraid of was not the Department of Justice, the Supreme Court, or the Ministry of Justice.
What everyone was afraid of was the Daming Law. It was too ruthless.
The officials were afraid. The court was unstable. The first yamen to feel it was the Cabinet.
However, the scholars in the Cabinet really didn't have any good ideas. Previously, the Emperor flew into a rage because the Ministry of Justice's sentence was too lenient. The Emperor's words were still ringing in their ears.
The Emperor also ordered all yamens to strictly follow the Daming Law.
If they went to the Emperor to plead for leniency now, wouldn't that be disrespecting the Great Emperor?
How could the imperial court change so quickly?
Now that a big case had broken out in the Ministry of Justice, and the Minister of Justice, Xu Xuemo, had angered the Emperor, it was likely that he wouldn't be able to escape this time.
If they went to trouble the Emperor now, would there be any good consequences?
They couldn't admonish the Emperor, and they couldn't appease the officials. The pressure on the Cabinet suddenly increased.
In the Cabinet's duty room.
Shen Shixing put down the teacup in his hand and sighed. "The current situation is difficult. Does anyone have any good ideas?"
Everyone fell silent. This matter was not easy to handle. It seemed like the only way was to admonish the Emperor, but how could the Emperor be so easily admonished? If they didn't do it well, the Emperor might take his anger out on them.
Times were different now. The Emperor's power was growing day by day, and his power was flourishing. If they acted like this, it would be easy to get into trouble.
But if they didn't admonish the Emperor, were they just going to sit and watch the imperial court rot?
Now, the officials were panicking and at a loss. Some people had already started to submit their resignation letters.
Inside and outside the imperial court, no matter how big or small an official's hat wasn't fought over.
Now, some people actually started to resign. Although the people who resigned were guilty and extremely stupid, how could they not be suspected if they resigned now? But this represented a trend.
"This is the memorial from the Imperial Censor of the Five Cities, Hai Rui, praising the Law and Discipline Department," Shen Shixing said lightly as he held a memorial in his hand.
Everyone was stunned, and their expressions changed. This Hai Rui was about to die of old age, but he still didn't stop. Did he think it wasn't chaotic enough?