bookrandom Chapter 1302
Chapter 1302
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty!" Zhuo Jing said gratefully as he stood up.
Then he noticed Yuan Tai, who had been in the hall since early morning. His eyes lit up as he glanced at him, and seeing the man's haggard and tired appearance, he fixed his gaze on him and thought, "He's a man who gets things done. His Majesty's judgment is indeed sharp."
He nodded slightly to the other party in greeting, saying, "Lord Yuan, you've worked hard."
Zhuo Jing was satisfied with Yuan Tai, but Yuan Tai was equally dissatisfied with Zhuo Jing. Both of them knew that the hard work of the past month was just the beginning, and the real project was yet to come. They needed a strong determination to get things done.
Yuan Tai also showed respect and returned the greeting with a nod: "Lord Zhuo, you have worked hard."
Before Zhuo Jingxian could even begin to report, Zhu Yunwen said, "Both of you are pillars of the Ming Dynasty, and I am well aware of that. However... I fear that this matter will only now begin to be taken seriously." His gaze toward the two men was filled with a chilling and sharp intensity.
Regarding what Zhu Yunwen said.
Zhuo Jing and Yuan Tai had already anticipated this, and they exchanged a knowing glance before bowing firmly in unison.
"But I will serve Your Majesty!"
"Your humble servant would gladly die for you!"
Zhu Yunwen nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Zhuo Jing and said, "Yuan Tai returned before you. I have a detailed understanding of the situation in Guangdong Province. As the saying goes, all crows are black, so I imagine Sichuan is no better."
"Yuan Tai, you and Zhuo Jingxian should communicate quickly," Zhu Yunwen said to Yuan Tai.
Yuan Tai nodded.
Now, returning to the main matter, his gaze unconsciously held a hint of disdain and resentment: "May I ask, Lord Zhuo, is it not true that land is offered to conceal people? Is it not true that land is fraudulently used to evade taxes? Is it not true that land is scattered to harm the people? Is it not true that you collude with clerks to make false registrations in the fish-scale register?!"
Now he was fully aware of all the methods and tricks involved. Without hesitation, as he spoke, he recalled everything he had seen and personally verified, and his tone became more and more indignant with each sentence.
"Yes! That's right!...Exactly..."
Zhuo Jing's experience was similar to his; he understood everything without needing lengthy explanations. Naturally, his emotions surged, and he gritted his teeth, saying angrily, "These people are hateful! They deserve to die!"
The two people reached a strong consensus in just a few words.
This naturally saved Zhu Yunwen from having to hear from Zhuo Jing about the situation in the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commission again.
After the two finished exchanging these words...
Zhu Yunwen lightly tapped the dragon desk with his finger and said, "I have already heard the details of these situations from Minister Yuan. I have a good understanding of them. You and I, as emperor and minister, both know that there is such a malignant tumor in the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, we should seek treatment as soon as possible. I want you to bring this matter to the table at tomorrow's morning court!"
Yuan Tai was waiting for this very sentence: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"
Zhuo Jing also sensed Zhu Yunwen's emphasis, seriousness, and urgency regarding this matter.
He was one of the earliest people to follow Zhu Yunwen and knew that Zhu Yunwen always had a plan in mind. The fact that he had to bring this matter up as soon as he returned showed that although this "tumor" was unsightly, His Majesty probably already had a solution in mind!
Overjoyed, he bowed without asking any further questions and said, "Your humble servant obeys!"
……
Zhuo Jing and Yuan Tai have returned.
Although the two had claimed to be ill and secretly left Yingtian Prefecture without being noticed, they did not make any effort to conceal their whereabouts when they returned.
Yingtian Prefecture is a place with many people and many eyes, and many people have their own "eyes".
This unusual news spread like wildfire:
"What? Yuan Tai and... that Zhuo Jing have returned to the capital? Weren't they sick and recuperating at home?"