Can things still be done like this?

Emperor Chongzhen's words fell on Yang Zhen's ears, and Yang Zhen was stunned again.

But thinking of Emperor Chongzhen's current situation, Yang Zhen opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't dare to say anything more. After thinking for a while, he kowtowed to the leader to thank him.

When Emperor Chongzhen saw that Yang Zhen had received the order and thanked him, he finally had a smile on his face again.

"Very good, Han Qing can understand my difficulties, I am very relieved! There are no other foreign ministers in front of the emperor, Han Qing, please don't be polite, get up and speak quickly!"

Emperor Chongzhen said to him while lifting Yang Zhen who was kneeling on the ground. After Yang Zhen stood up, he continued:

"Usually Han Qing is in Liaodong, and I am in the capital, so it is rare to see you. After meeting you this time, you will return to Liaodong again, but I don't know when we will meet again!"

"Why did Your Majesty say this? If Your Majesty wants to summon me, all I need is a verbal order. Even if I'm at the end of the world, I'll rush back to the capital to see you all day and night!"

Faced with the sudden words spoken by Emperor Chongzhen, Yang Zhen didn't know whether the emperor was testing him or whether he was simply sad, so he had to answer the question carefully and correctly.

After he said this, Emperor Chongzhen shook his head with a wry smile. After a long time, he said: "Yesterday, I summoned you on the platform to talk about the strategy of defending from the outside and attacking from the inside. I couldn't sleep last night, and I thought about it carefully. I think it makes sense. Yesterday, I summoned you on the platform, but you couldn’t say anything. Today, I summoned you, and I wanted Han Qing to give me a more detailed explanation!"

When Yang Zhen saw Emperor Chongzhen saying this, he looked around and saw that there was no one else. Only Wang Chengen was standing far away in a corner of the hall with his hands bowed and motionless. He immediately replied to the emperor:

"I wonder if your majesty has any doubts? Your majesty is asking you today. I should tell you everything I know, and I will tell you everything!"

Seeing that Yang Zhen seemed to understand what he meant, Emperor Chongzhen paced back and forth in the hall for a while, then turned to Yang Zhen and said:

"With the strategy of attacking in the east and defending in the west as you mentioned, Qing Han, I expect that the situation outside the pass can be temporarily stabilized for a while. Fighting against the outside and arranging the inside, the war against the outside can be temporarily relieved. However, this peace inside, How to implement the law?"

Emperor Chongzhen first said what he was wondering about, and then asked and answered himself: "Yesterday, you talked about the strategy of internal attack, which is to mobilize heavy troops to suppress the rogue bandits first, and then you can calm down the rogue bandits. But over the years, I have been like this However, whether the imperial court is pursuing them or appeasing them, the bandits are being suppressed more and more, and the more they are appeased, the more they are suppressed. In your opinion, what is the reason for this?"

When Yang Zhen heard Emperor Chongzhen's question, he thought for a moment and then replied: "Although I am a martial artist, I have also read the books of sages and heard that those who have permanent property have perseverance, and those who do not have perseverance.

"Today there are many people who have no permanent income. These people can still eat and have food and clothing in good years, but in famine years they will be unable to make a living and become homeless. If the local governments cannot provide relief and resettlement, these people will take desperate measures.

"In recent years, the northwest and the Central Plains have been experiencing drought in summer and autumn, and bitter cold in winter and spring. The climate has been different from the past. As a result, the rich have become poor, and the poor have become refugees, begging for food in all directions. The root cause of the inexhaustible suppression of rogue bandits lies here. also!"

Yang Zhen was afraid that he would make Emperor Chongzhen unhappy by talking too much, so he could only tell him what he could to tell him so that he would know the current situation in the world.

After he finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen nodded and responded: "I also know a little about what Han Qing said. All the people in the world are my innocent sons. Why don't I want to help the people of Sri Lanka? However, the imperial court's financial resources are not good, so what can I do? ?”

"Your Majesty can take over the land that has no owner in the world, and decree that it will be reclaimed to bring peace to the refugees!"

"I have also thought about this strategy. However, this strategy is too slow and will not help the emergency. Is there any quick and effective strategy for Han Qing?"

"Yes, there is, but I dare not say it."

"I will pardon you for speaking. You are innocent. Just speak!"

"Today's emergency response strategy is to re-employ factory guards, seize corrupt officials at the top, and seize wealthy businessmen at the bottom. In this way, Your Majesty has enough money and food, not only to recruit troops to suppress thieves, but also to provide relief to the victims——"

"How to do this?! Is this policy what the emperors of Yao and Shun should do?! It's inappropriate, it's inappropriate!"

When Emperor Chongzhen heard what Yang Zhen told him about this method of stealing money and food, he immediately changed his expression and shouted at Yang Zhen that it was inappropriate.

Seeing him like this, Yang Zhen lowered his head and said nothing, waiting for the emperor to calm down.

After a while, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to realize that he had lost his composure. He sighed, his expression softened a little, and he said to Yang Zhen:

"There are many people in the world, and the history is stained with ink. How can I, the emperor of tomorrow, implement such a policy?! Sir, is there any other policy that can remedy the current situation?"

"This, I do have a plan in mind, but I don't know whether to talk about it or not -"

"As long as the Duke is upright and it is beneficial to the country, why shouldn't you say it? Please tell me what you say!"

Yang Zhen had just seen Emperor Chongzhen change his face, and he was already a little uneasy. He was worried that his reputation would be ruined if word of this incident got out today.

But he saw Emperor Chongzhen looking at him anxiously and expectantly, waiting for him to give him advice, but he really couldn't bear to protect himself at this moment.

So he gritted his teeth, bowed and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the people with permanent property in the world are the gentry. The people with the land in the world are the gentry! Especially the wealth of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River is known to all the world! Your Majesty can give orders to the officials and the people of the world

If the gentry pays the food as one body, the money and food difficulties of the court can be alleviated!"

After Yang Zhen said these words, he boldly looked at Emperor Chongzhen's expression. He saw that the emperor was gnashing his teeth for a while, gasping for breath for a while, and his face was changing.

Yang Zhen thought to himself that if Emperor Chongzhen could accept this suggestion and make up his mind to do this, then he would be willing to abandon everything he had done in Liaodong and lead his troops to the capital to assist the emperor in implementing this strategy.

However, Yang Zhen was determined to deal with the method proposed by Emperor Chongzhen. Emperor Chongzhen hesitated and finally rejected it:

"Well, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the officials, the people, the gentry and the gentry to pay for the food together. Nowadays, among the civil and military ministers of the dynasty, which family is not a gentry?

"Furthermore, since Emperor Hongwu and Gao, our Ming Dynasty has treated scholars all over the world with preferential treatment and exempted and exempted taxes. It has become a routine. Now if we want to make them all pay the grain, I am afraid that the court will not get through this hurdle!"

Having said this, Emperor Chongzhen looked at Yang Zhen, shaking his head as he spoke, with a bitter look on his face.

Seeing this, Yang Zhen couldn't help but knelt on the ground again, kowtowed to Emperor Chongzhen and said: "Your Majesty is the emperor. He is entrusted by heaven. His words make the constitution. When he makes up his mind on everything, he should be independent and decisive. Why should he insist on discussing in the court?

, are you obsessed with those book business?! If everything is resorted to court discussion, I’m afraid nothing can be done!”

Seeing Yang Zhen's appearance, Emperor Chongzhen knew that Yang Zhen was speaking to him from the bottom of his heart. He first nodded to Yang Zhen with relief, then wandered for a few steps in the hall, then smiled and said:

"Han Qing, Han Qing, you are just a border general. You know how to guard the border and charge into battle, but you don't understand the matters above the court. The court discussions are fierce and it is difficult to go against the will of the people. The matters involved are not yours.

Can imagine!”

Having said this, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to remember all the controversial scenes in the court. He stopped, looked at Yang Zhen, sighed, and said:

"Alas——, even though I am the Son of Heaven, I can't go against Heaven's will!"

However, Emperor Chongzhen's words made Yang Zhen a little angry. He was a little sad for his misfortune and angry for his inability to argue, so he said loudly:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and the heart of the Emperor is the Heart of Heaven! Whatever you do with this heart, you are upholding Heaven's will and embracing Heaven's Heart!"

It is a pity that Emperor Chongzhen was not only unmoved after hearing what Yang Zhen said, but instead smiled, with a slightly bitter and mocking look on his face, shook his head, and said to Yang Zhen:

"Han Qing, Han Qing, this is just what I said. I'm here to tell you what Tianxin is today! - Tianxin is the people's heart, and the people's heart, this people's heart, is the heart of the gentlemen in the world!

"Does Han Qing have some doubts in his heart? What is the heart of a gentleman in the world? Haha, I'm here to tell you that court discussion is the heart of a gentleman in the world!"

When Emperor Chongzhen said this, he seemed to still have a lot to say. Regardless of whether Yang Zhen listened or not and what his reaction was after hearing it, he just said to himself:

"Although our Ming Dynasty did not expressly say that we would rule the world together with the scholar-officials like the previous Song Dynasty, but look at the emperors in the past dynasties, which of them did not rule the world together with the scholar-officials?! Why should we do this? All because the heart of heaven is the scholar-gentleman.

My heart!"

After hearing what Emperor Chongzhen said, Yang Zhen was so full of words that he suddenly didn't know where to start.

He could only kneel on the ground, look up at Emperor Chongzhen's back, sigh in his heart, and finally fell silent.

"Han Qing, Han Qing, if all the ministers were like you, how difficult would it be to govern this world? - It's just that there is no one in the court who can think like you except you!"

After Emperor Chongzhen said this, he turned around and looked at Yang Zhen, and finally waved his hand bitterly and said: "Go back, go back to the outside world! I will leave the affairs of Liaodong to you!"

After Emperor Chongzhen said these words, he waved his hand towards Yang Zhen again, then turned around and left the bright room of Qianqing Palace and walked towards the Nuan Pavilion on the west side.

When Yang Zhen saw Emperor Chongzhen leaving, he thought for a moment that this might be his last meeting with Emperor Chongzhen. He also thought of Emperor Chongzhen's expectations for him, so he kowtowed to the ground and shouted:

“Your Majesty—take care!”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard Yang Zhen's somewhat strange farewell words, he suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Yang Zhen, thought for a while, and then said:

"The capital is a place of right and wrong. You don't understand. Don't stay here too long! After receiving the imperial seal tomorrow, rush back to Liaodong as soon as possible! Also, remember, I am here, looking forward to your success in Pingliao.

Come soon!"

After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he turned around and left.

At this time, the great eunuch Wang Chengen, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the hall, came to Yang Zhen with a bright yellow satin scroll in his hand, handed it to him, and said:

"Captain Yang, this is the handwriting that Long live the Lord promised to you. Take it. With this handwriting, the Governor can do things conveniently in Liaodong!"

After Wang Chengen said this, he cupped his hands towards Yang Zhenyi, said "take care", then turned around and left with the driver.

After everyone left, Yang Zhen knelt on the gold bricks of Qianqing Palace, raised his face and stared at the plaque honoring Heaven and the Patriarch. He looked at it quietly for a while, then stood up, put Emperor Chongzhen's handwriting into his sleeve, turned around and left. to the main hall.
Chapter completed!