Although he had carried out so many reforms and propaganda, history had its own way of correcting itself.
There were many things that wouldn't appear if he didn't suppress them. They would still appear in other ways.
"Imperial Majesty, aren't we going to take a look?" Zhang Jing asked hesitantly when he saw Zhu Yijun standing still.
Waving his hand, Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "No, I'll just listen!"
With that, Zhu Yijun turned and walked outside. In fact, Zhu Yijun really didn't want to go.
So what if he went?
What was the point of using the person who said good things about him, or punishing those like the Donglin clique?
These two people were only two people after all.
Behind these two people stood different classes of interest in the Great Ming Dynasty.
As for collecting taxes, in fact, no one wanted anyone to benefit. In the future, perhaps the common people had a higher understanding, but there were still many who evaded taxes. It was like this in the future, let alone the current Daming.
In the eyes of the people of Daming, the world belonged to him, the emperor, and the taxes were naturally handed over to him.
As for taking from the common people, giving to the common people, disaster relief, repairing rivers and roads, what did that have to do with him?
Why should he take the money?
I worked hard to earn all the money I have.
Under such circumstances, there was no other way other than forcefully pushing or forcefully forcing her to do so.
"Yes, Imperial Majesty!"
Hearing Zhu Yijun say this, Zhang Jing hurriedly bowed. Zhang Jing didn't dare ask what Zhu Yijun was thinking, nor did he want to ask. He knew that keeping his mouth shut was the best choice.
When Zhu Yijun returned to the palace, the yamen of the tax department was very lively.
Wang Yongji was discussing matters with Li Biao.
Although Li Biao was the commander of the Imperial Bodyguard, ever since he took office, the relationship between the Imperial Bodyguard and the Tax Department had not been separated. With the development of the commercial tax, the relationship between the Imperial Bodyguard and the Tax Department had become closer.
"Lord Wang Yongji, you want to go to Jiangnan?" Li Biao looked at Wang Yongji and asked hesitantly.
In fact, Li Biao could understand Wang Yongji's thinking. However, the Emperor didn't have an imperial edict. Although the tax collection in Shun Tian Prefecture was proceeding smoothly, the seven northern provinces weren't.
Wouldn't it be inappropriate to leave the capital and go to Jiangnan at this time?
"Yes!"
Wang Yongji nodded with a serious expression. "The richest areas of Daming are all in Jiangnan and Southeast.
This is especially true for the flourishing commerce. If you want to collect business taxes, it will be the hardest in the southeast. "
"If I don't go, then Jiangnan will probably be in trouble."
Li Biao looked at Wang Yongji and sighed. "I admire Lord Wang Yongji's courage, but the current situation in the capital is unpredictable. Once you leave, I'm afraid there will be unforeseen events!"
Glancing at Li Biao, Wang Yongji smiled. "With the Emperor on the throne, no one will dare to cause trouble in the capital regions."
"Right now, the people in the capital are just waiting, waiting for something to happen. The most likely place to have trouble is Jiangnan, Jiangzhe. Once Jiangzhe is in chaos, the capital will be unstable."
After a moment of silence, Li Biao sighed. "Lord Wang, this trip to the south can be said to be a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. The slightest carelessness will lead to your death. Has Lord Wang really thought this through?"
Wang Yongji smiled. "The Emperor has treated me like a statesman, and I will repay him with a statesman. His Majesty has treated me with great kindness, so I will naturally repay him with all my might. Even if I have to die a horrible death, I will not hesitate."
"If that's the case, then I will go south with Lord Wang!" Li Biao said.
"In the area of Jiangnan, no one can guarantee who the local officials are. If Sir Wang goes alone, he will certainly be alone. Although the Brocade Guard is old and rotten, they are still somewhat useful."
"In addition, the Imperial Bodyguard is deeply rooted in Jiangnan. I think it will have a miraculous effect."
Wang Yongji looked at Li Biao and smiled. "If that's the case, the two of us will enter the palace together to ask for His Majesty's permission. We will go south together and work together to collect the taxes in Jiangnan."
Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.
Hearing Zhang Jing's words, Zhu Yijun asked, "Did Wang Yongji and Li Biao come together?"
"In reply to Imperial Majesty, yes!" Zhang Jing quickly said.
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "I didn't expect these two people to come in. I don't know what they want!" Waving his hand, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Let them come in!"
Not long after, Wang Yongji and Li Biao came in from the outside.
After greeting, Zhu Yijun waved his hand, indicating that the two of them did not need to greet each other. Then he asked, "You two, why have you come to see me together today? What's the matter?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, I would like to go south to Jiangnan to supervise the business tax in Jiangnan."
Wang Yongji didn't beat around the bush at all and directly stated his purpose of coming here.
Zhu Yijun was slightly stunned. He didn't think that Wang Yongji would actually want to go to Jiangnan. Looking at Wang Yongji's wrinkled face, Zhu Yijun sighed and felt slightly moved in his heart.
But from an official's point of view, Wang Yongji was now almost at the peak.
Although the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue did not have the title of a minister, his work was not constrained by the minister of the Ministry of Revenue. In addition, he entered the cabinet and became a scholar of the Wenhua Hall. It was very difficult to go further.
Under such circumstances, most people would not choose to take the risk of going to Jiangnan.
How dangerous the trip to Jiangnan would be, Zhu Yijun only needed to think for a moment to understand this point.
But Wang Yongji was still willing to go. This was hot blood. How could Zhu Yijun not be moved?
"Li, you are also asking for an imperial edict to go to Jiangnan?" Zhu Yijun turned his head to look at Li Biao and asked.
"Your Majesty, yes, your subject requests to go to Jiangnan with Sir Wang."
Li Biao said with a serious expression, "The importance of the Daming lies in the commercial tax, and the importance of the commercial tax lies in Jiangnan. If Jiangnan is not peaceful, then the Daming will not be peaceful."
"Sir Wang has such ambitions. Your subject is willing to go with Sir Wang."
"The Imperial Bodyguard is the Emperor's personal army and His Majesty's dogs. Under such circumstances, your subject requests to go south to Jiangnan and help His Majesty clean up those who conspire against the law in Jiangnan to ensure the smooth collection of the commercial tax."
Zhu Yijun looked at the two of them and did not speak for a long time.
In reality, did Zhu Yijun not know that the focus of the Daming's commercial tax was in Jiangnan?
Of course he knew. No one knew the power of the merchants in Jiangnan better than Zhu Yijun. Most of them were officials and merchants!
What they had done had directly pushed the Daming to the brink of destruction.
Originally, Zhu Yijun wanted to send someone over and use a relatively gentle method to bring up the commercial tax, but now it seemed that there was no basis for that.
Especially after reading Li Maocai's memorial, Zhu Yijun was ready to change his mind.
The reason why he did not choose to send someone was because Zhu Yijun had other arrangements.