gnovel Chapter 63 I only swindle money from the eldest and third brothers, why are you all getting involved
Chapter 63 I only swindle money from the eldest and third brothers, why are you all getting involved
The next morning, Zhu Gaochi put on his brand-new python robe and headed to the Fengtian Hall.
His red python robe caused quite a stir along the way.
Not only that, at this moment, when he arrived at the entrance of Fengtian Hall, he still strolled around for a while, which made the eunuchs and palace maids go crazy.
However, Zhu Gaoxu also knew that he couldn't go too far. After all, he had already wandered outside the palace all afternoon yesterday, and he couldn't do that again today.
He first went to the Fengtian Hall, and then entered the Shangshu Room.
"Your Highness!" Little Snot immediately came over and began to greet him enthusiastically.
"Alright, no need to be so polite," Zhu Gaoxu said. "Yesterday, I had the eldest and third brothers raise the silver. Has it been handed over?"
Little Snot said, "We handed them in, we handed them all in."
After saying that, he took the account book.
"His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Zhao have each handed over their 20,000 taels of silver. Now, only the 10,000 taels of silver from Prince Han Da Xi are left," Little Snot said with a smile.
"What?!" Zhu Gaoxu's lips twitched.
He took it anyway and started reading.
He should have looked away, because once he did, his eyes popped out of their sockets.
Because, according to this ledger, apart from His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Zhao, all the civil and military officials seemed to have raised a considerable amount of silver.
The total amount of money in this ledger is a staggering 500,000 taels!
What the hell!
Zhu Gaoxu is numb!
I asked the eldest and third brothers to raise the money, what are you guys doing getting involved?!
"Have these officials gone mad?" Zhu Gaochi roared. "I didn't ask them to raise money!"
"Why are they all getting involved?"
His Highness the Prince of Han is very angry!
"They all say that His Majesty is going on a northern expedition this time, and the national treasury is short of money."
"His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Zhao have both done their part, so we, as their subjects, cannot lag behind," Little Snot explained.
Hastily!
Zhu Gaoxu stated that this counterattack against Zhu Di and others was still hasty.
This time, he actually only wanted to trick the eldest and third brothers.
But now, all these officials are rushing to follow suit.
Zhu Gaoxu sighed. It seemed that this first counterattack had not only failed, but had actually done the old man a good thing.
Little Snot asked, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Zhu Gaoxu said, "You can go now, I want to be alone for a while."
"that……"
"What's wrong?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at him.
"His Majesty has issued an oral decree."
"What imperial edict?" Zhu Gaochi asked. "What, do you expect me to kneel and listen?"
"No, no, no!" Little Snot quickly said, "That's not necessary."
"His Majesty said that you did a good job this time, keep up the good work."
Zhu Gaoxu: ...
I'll try my best, you son of a bitch!
Zhu Gaoxu was very unhappy.
"Summon all officials and have them come to the Imperial Study to see me," Zhu Gaoxu ordered.
Little Snot was taken aback at first, but finally nodded.
Time flew by, and the Imperial Study was packed with civil and military officials.
"They're all here?" Zhu Gaoxu first looked at the three Yangs of the cabinet, and then at all the civil and military officials.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Han."
Seeing this, they all spoke up.
"You all contributed quite a bit to this account book!" Zhu Gaochi said. "I only asked His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince of Zhao to raise some money to replenish the national treasury, but you all joined in the fun?"
The officials' hearts skipped a beat. What did His Highness the Prince of Han mean by that?
Was their fundraising attempt another mistake?
"We are all doing this to share His Majesty's burdens and to alleviate the worries of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Yes, this time, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Zhao set an example by raising money. We, as their subjects, naturally cannot sit idly by."
"Yeah yeah!"
In an instant, all the civil and military officials spoke up.
"Is that so?" Zhu Gaochi said, "But I, the current king, have no trump card."
"Your role models are the Crown Prince and the King of Zhao, right?"
The officials were uneasy, but Zhu Gaochi said, "How about this, you all contribute my ten thousand taels of silver as well?"
"this……"
The officials were all cursing under their breath.
Shameless! This Prince of Han is utterly shameless!
They hadn't expected His Highness the Prince of Han to pull such a stunt.
"What, you're unwilling?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.
One of the officials said, "Your Highness, we have already handed over all our silver, and we don't have much silver left on us."
Another minister said, "Indeed, we hope Your Highness, the Prince of Han, will make the right decision!"
"Yeah?!"
Zhu Gaoxu smiled faintly.
Where are the Embroidered Uniform Guards?
The officials felt a sudden tightness in their chrysanthemums.
What is His Highness the Prince of Han going to do?
"Greetings, Your Highness!" The Imperial Guards appeared simultaneously.
"Seize the homes of those officials who raised the money!"
"Let's see if it's really as they say, that we're out of money?" Zhu Gaoxu said.
The officials were all pale-faced, but the three Yangs of the cabinet remained calm and composed.
The three of them seemed completely unfazed.
"Why aren't you going yet?!" Zhu Gaoxu roared.
"Yes, yes!"
The Imperial Guards began raiding homes.
This grand display truly terrified the corrupt officials, both civil and military.
Zhu Gaoxu also noticed Yang Shiqi and the other two. At this moment, the three of them were standing there, and their faces showed no change.
"What, aren't you afraid at all?"
Yang Shiqi was the first to speak: "Because we really don't have much money."
"Oh?" Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flashed, and he also looked at the account book.
The three of them, including Yang Shiqi, only handed over a mere twenty taels of silver.
That's indeed pitifully little.
Because the other officials raised more than a thousand taels of silver.
Even the lowest price is several hundred taels.
The money raised by Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu this time was indeed not respectable.
"Well then, let's wait."
Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said, "I still have a lot of faith in the actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guards."
"I believe the answer will come soon."
Instantly, countless civil and military officials in the entire Imperial Study felt their hair stand on end and were restless.
Zhu Gaoxu saw it all and naturally realized that these people were definitely feeling guilty.
"However, confiscating property isn't something that can be done in a short time."
"How about I show off my sword skills to liven things up for you all?!"
The entire court: ...
Meanwhile, the civil service officials were even more furious.
What kind of behavior is this? What kind of behavior is this?
You sent people to ransack our homes, and now you're even brandishing a big knife in front of us to add to the festivities?
Why don't you just die? Don't you have a conscience?!
Zhu Gaoxu ignored them; the swords and spears he kept in his study were precisely for this very moment.