eurekapd Chapter 334 Impeachment, targeting
Chapter 334 Impeachment, targeting
At the morning court session, an imperial censor impeached Taiping Coal Mine and the eldest princess, believing that they were competing with the people for profits.
This made Emperor Taihe, who was originally a little uninterested, look gloomy in an instant.
But before he could open his mouth to question, a general jumped out angrily, pointed at the censor and asked: "You said you were competing with the people for profit, but whose profit are you competing for?"
The censor's face changed, and he retorted sarcastically, "I heard that the Princess's Taiping Coal Mine Company charges one thousand taels of silver for each share.
But even so, many people still invested in it. You are in a hurry to jump out now, could it be that you have invested in it and are greedy for the profits of the coal mine?
Do you know how hard it is for ordinary merchants? They already have a hard time running their business, barely making ends meet, and yet the princess is so greedy that she competes with the common people for profit and steals their business.
And for the sake of the coal mine's profits, you not only refused to dissuade them, but also aided and abetted them, colluding with the princess! You are truly shameless and shameless, making it shameful to be associated with you!
"You still have the nerve to call me shameless? Everyone knows that you have eight concubines at home, the youngest of whom is only sixteen years old and could be your granddaughter!
Who are those ordinary merchants you're talking about? I recently heard that quite a few unscrupulous merchants were producing low-quality honeycomb coal, passing it off as Taiping Coal Mine coal, and passing it off as good quality, defrauding many people. In the end, they were reported to the government by the victims.
The ordinary merchants you're talking about aren't they these profiteers? You, the dignified Imperial Censor, actually spoke for these black-hearted profiteers, and even distorted right and wrong to slander the Princess!
I want to ask, how much money did you, He Guangzheng, accept from the profiteers to have the guts to run to the court and talk nonsense, throwing dirty water on the princess?
He Guangzheng's face flushed with anger. "You are simply slandering me. When have I ever accepted money from those profiteers?"
The general sneered, "Whether this is slander or not, you know it in your heart. If you hadn't accepted bribes from those coal merchants, would you, He Guangzheng, dare to slander the princess in the court?"
“You, you, you—” He Guangzheng was so angry that he was speechless. He suddenly covered his chest, pretending to be heartbroken, and knelt on the ground, crying out for justice: “Your Majesty, I am innocent!
As an Imperial Censor, it is my duty to inspect all officials and members of the imperial clan. My impeachment of the Princess today is not a deliberate act of targeting her, but simply a plea that she stop competing with the people for personal gain.
The eldest princess is of noble status and already enjoys the support of the people. If she continues to compete with the people for profit and cuts off their livelihood, she will surely be criticized and cursed by people all over the world!
I hope Your Majesty will reconsider and not condone the Princess's misconduct any longer!"
Emperor Taihe was so angry that his face turned black!
He slammed the table, pointed at the censor's nose and cursed: "I think you are the one who is getting old and confused! Come here! Drag him away and interrogate him! I want to see who is behind this, instructing the censor to talk nonsense!"
When He Guangzheng heard this, his face turned pale and he kept shouting that it was unfair.
After he was dragged away, the atmosphere in the entire hall became extremely solemn.
Emperor Taihe looked coldly at the civil and military officials below and asked quietly, "Do any of you have any different opinions?"
Everyone looks at their noses and their noses at their hearts, and some people choose to play dead silently.
The general who jumped out to question He Guangzheng said excitedly: "Your Majesty is wise! He Guangzheng has clearly accepted money from profiteers and has evil intentions, and wants to harm the princess!
Fortunately, His Majesty was very observant and saw through He Guangzheng's hypocrisy and shamelessness at a glance. He did not believe his lies and let the eldest princess suffer injustice!
"With Your Majesty as our wise ruler, Great Xia will surely enjoy peace and prosperity, and the people will live in peace and prosperity!"
After these words were spoken, Emperor Taihe felt a little embarrassed.
However, many people stood up and flattered him.
Emperor Taihe looked at these flatterers and felt speechless.
He actually knew that these people were all shareholders of Taiping Coal Mine Company!
However, thinking that it was not the eldest princess' fault this time, he did not scold them. He just couldn't help but coughed lightly to interrupt these people's flattery.
Emperor Taihe said with a stern face, "Since you nobles have no objection, let's put this matter aside for now. Do you nobles have anything else to report?"
The flatterers immediately shrank their necks and dared not show their heads again.
Unexpectedly, another imperial censor stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I think that the honeycomb briquettes produced by the Taiping Coal Mine are made from cheap crushed coal slag and yellow mud, yet they are sold for as much as fifteen cents. This is too expensive and disadvantageous to the people.
If the princess doesn't want to compete with the people for profits, she should take the initiative to lower the price of honeycomb coal, which will truly benefit the people, the country and the people."
Emperor Taihe frowned again.
He has a share in the Taiping Coal Mine Company, so naturally he hopes to make more money.
However, as an emperor, it would be a disgrace for him if the people under his rule really could not afford coal and died of hunger and cold in winter.
So Emperor Taihe looked displeased, but he did not scold as he did before.
He thought for a moment, then said, "I know about this matter and will discuss it with the Princess. Do you have anything else to say?"
The censor immediately lowered his head and said, "If the princess is willing to reduce the price of honeycomb coal to less than ten cents, I have no objection."
As soon as these words were spoken, Emperor Taihe's face darkened again.
He knew that a piece of honeycomb coal weighed about two catties! If the price was really reduced to less than ten cents, wouldn't it mean that a catty of honeycomb coal would only cost five cents?
Although honeycomb coal is made of crushed coal slag and yellow mud is added to it, he asked the princess and she said that the amount of yellow mud added is very small, and charcoal powder is also added to promote combustion.
There are several steps involved in making honeycomb coal, and Taiping Coal Mine Company has promised free door-to-door delivery.
If the price of honeycomb coal is really reduced to less than ten cents, how can we make money?
This Sun Yue is really a bastard!
The more Emperor Taihe thought about it, the angrier he became. However, Sun Yue was different from He Guangzheng. He was always upright and set an example by himself.
Even though Emperor Taihe disliked him for being stubborn and stubborn, he had to admire his character.
Moreover, this person has a very good reputation among the people, unlike hypocrites like Xie Yun.
Emperor Taihe knew that he said this not because he was bribed by the coal merchants, but simply because he wanted to lower the price of coal, so he felt it was a bit difficult to deal with.
He couldn't have Sun Yue arrested and interrogated, but it was obviously not appropriate to ask the princess to lower the price of coal to less than ten cents.
Just as he was hesitating, Sun Yue spoke again, "If Your Majesty finds this difficult, why not summon the Princess to the palace and personally ask her opinion? Perhaps the Princess, concerned for the country and the people, would be willing to take the initiative to lower the price of coal?"
Emperor Taihe's face turned even darker. What a bastard!
Sun Yue has said so. If he doesn't summon the eldest princess into the palace, wouldn't it seem like he is deliberately covering up for her?
Although he was dissatisfied, Emperor Taihe still sent someone to summon the eldest princess into the palace.
After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, the eldest princess, dressed in court robes, walked into the hall with a cold face.
As soon as she arrived, she looked at Sun Yue and asked, "Are you asking me to lower the price of honeycomb coal?"
Sun Yue bowed respectfully to her and said without flinching, "It is you, my humble servant."
The eldest princess smiled coldly: "I can lower the price, but there is a condition."