Just when Zhu Youxiao was secretly thinking about how he, as the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, could save the Ming Dynasty that was about to collapse seventeen years later.

The small yellow gate outside the hall suddenly came to report, and Sun Chengzong, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of War, asked for a visit.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but feel a little happy. He now knew that Sun Chengzong, Xiong Tingbi and Wang Zaijin were considered capable ministers in dealing with the war in Liaodong.

Yuan Dapao naturally didn't count. Zhu Youxiao did not think that a person with great ambitions and talent could do much.

Although Yuan Dapao and Sun Chengzong's strategic ideas are somewhat similar, they both focus on building castles, expanding troops and building Guanning defense lines, Yuan Dapao is much more conceited and much smaller in mind than Sun Chengzong. Zhu Youxiao did not want Mao Wenlong to die at his hands.

Sun Chengzong did not complain about Zhu Youxiao's resignation from the eunuch party. He was quite fond of the legacy of Fan Wenzhenggong after receiving the imperial edict, and after receiving the imperial edict, he rushed to the capital without stopping. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he had no time to meet his friends in the court, so he came to the palace to ask for a meeting.

In the Ming Dynasty, not only Zhu Youxiao was worried about the future of the Ming Dynasty, but also Sun Chengzong was one of them.

As soon as he saw Zhu Youxiao, Sun Chengzong bowed and bowed: "The old minister has seen Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao hurriedly supported Sun Chengzong: "Mr. Sun doesn't have to stick to this. Speaking of which, you are my teacher, and I should bow to you."

"Heaven, earth, king and relatives, teachers and ministers are in front, teachers and students are behind, Your Majesty is a body of thousands of gold, and the old ministers dare not take it." Seeing that Zhu Youxiao was about to salute, Sun Chengzong hurriedly supported Zhu Youxiao.

"I was young and dismissed Mr. Sun because of a momentary anger. Now I think it's not right. Now I'm so anxious to get back Mr. Sun into the cabinet just after recovering from a serious illness. Unexpectedly, I ordered Mr. Sun to come to the capital so quickly, which made me very pleased. But it happened to be here. I was about to ask Mr. Wang, what is the real big trouble in the Ming Dynasty?"

During the period when Sun Chengzong was dismissed from his post and lived in vain, he also thought about many problems. In addition, after the war, he was different from other Donglin Party officials who were accustomed to talking about internal struggles.

As soon as Zhu Youxiao asked, Sun Chengzong immediately bowed: "Your Majesty, the old minister believes that our Ming Dynasty currently has three major problems, one is the dispute between the party and the foul, two is the Jurchens outside the pass, and three is the refugees."

Zhu Youxiao did not expect that Sun Chengzong would coincide with his own ideas. He was very happy and hurriedly asked Sun Chengzong what solution he had.

"Your Majesty, in fact, these three are all one problem, that is, money, food and taxes!

There is no money, food, no soldiers available, no cities to build, and no cannons to add. The soldiers of the barbarians can plunder at will and poison the people of our Ming Dynasty;

If there is no money and food, there is no scholar to support, and more people will sell official positions and titles. Those who are inclined to the brink of power will gradually fill the court inside and outside;

If there is no money and food, there will be no disaster to be relieved. People will go into exile and cannot fill their stomachs. They will naturally rise up and turn into thieves. In this way, the fields will become more and more deserted, and the country's money, grain and taxes will become even more difficult."

After Sun Chengzong finished speaking, Zhu Youxiao responded: "May I ask, where does my money, grain and tax come from in the Ming Dynasty?"

"It comes from the people of the world, but now the people are displaced and there are no ten lands left. Your Majesty can encourage the refugees to cultivate land and plant their own land and support their own land. In this way, the world can be protected without worries."

After all, Sun Chengzong was a bureaucrat of the gentry class. No matter how far-sighted he was, he would not realize that the Ming Dynasty’s money, grain and taxes were simply wrong to the people.

The butt determines the head. Sun Chengzong's suggestion would be fine in the early or mid-term of the Ming Dynasty, but in the absence of external crises, it would be possible to ease class contradictions by increasing arable land.

However, due to the influence of the small glacier climate and the large amount of land is concentrated in the hands of gentry, it is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to get out of its financial difficulties in a short period of time by relying solely on land reclamation and farming.

People in this era don’t know, but Zhu Youxiao knew that in less than a year, the entire north, especially in the western Shaanxi area, would encounter severe droughts. In addition, there is also the terrifying plague in history that will sweep the north.

The big reason why Li Zicheng's uprising was successful was this. In addition, there was also a soldier mutiny caused by the lack of silver. In short, to completely solve the financial problems of the Ming Dynasty, the only way to attack the vested interest groups.

This interest group is the gentry of Jiangnan represented by the Donglin Party, who occupied most of the empire's wealth.

The fall of the Ming Dynasty was due to the fact that they were too strict with the people and too lenient with the literati. The Qing Dynasty in later generations was able to rule China for so long, which was not unrelated to their strict control over the gentry.

The literary inquisition that often confiscates and exterminates the clans has only controlled social wealth in the hands of the Qing emperors. Even Heshen, who was once extremely glorious, was just a fat pig raised by Qianlong for Jiaqing.

Zhu Youchao disregarded Sun Chengzong's final view, and sighed secretly and said, "What Mr. Husband said is some truth, but it is difficult to save the nearby fire. If the Ming Dynasty still wants to survive, it can only increase the intensity of commercial taxes, rectify the administration of officials, and take back the land of the people embezzled by the corrupt officials! Mr. Husband is willing to help me!"

At this time, Sun Chengzong seemed to have a thunder on his head. He did not expect that the emperor wanted to attack the bureaucrats and gentry directly. He admitted that this was more effective than what he had just said, but the resistance faced was greater. From Shang Yang of Qin, Wang Mang of Han, An Shi of Song, and Zhang Jiangling of the early Wanli period, although they all rejuvenated the country, they were all declared failure in the end.

But when Sun Chengzong saw Zhu Youxiao staring at him seriously, he knew that he had to make a choice now, either stand on His Majesty's side, attack his former colleagues and friends, or choose to refuse, and then dismiss his post and return home again.

Thinking of the countless refugees and officials and gentry who had seen on the way to the capital, plus his ambitions, Sun Chengzong resolutely knelt down and gave a big gift to Zhu Youxiao:

"The old minister is willing to devote himself to His Majesty and do whatever he wants to do in his fire and water!"

Whether Sun Chengzong was greedy for power or really wanted to do something for the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youxiao saw that he finally chose to stand on his side, and his favor for him increased a lot, so he hurriedly helped Sun Chengzong up:

"Why should you do such a great gift? It's really a shame to me. You must rely on me in the future for everything in the future." As he said, Zhu Youxiao ordered the eunuch who was on duty, "Give me the order to give Mr. Sun a bullfighting uniform and be granted the title of Grand Tutor."

Since Sun Chengzong chose to stand on his side, Zhu Youxiao naturally did not hesitate to promote him.

Sun Chengzong was not afraid of being favored and disgraced. After thanking him, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter that I have to report to Your Majesty."

"Sir, please tell me." Zhu Youxiao is in a good mood now. Now there is a capable minister standing on this side, as if a swordsman is excited after getting a sword.

"Although the gentry in Jiangnan represented by the Donglin Party was the biggest obstacle to the Ming Dynasty, Your Majesty was the king of the world after all, and it was impossible to completely disappoint the gentry in Jiangnan. Moreover, there were many loyal and righteous ministers in the Donglin Party. Although there were good ministers in the eunuch party, most of them were villains. Your Majesty had to be the only one who was talented and impartial. In addition, Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch at the Silis and Priests, was already powerful and offended too many people. Your Majesty should give an explanation to the people of the world."
Chapter completed!