Xiao Qing watched Liang Xiao, suppressing a smile.
My dearest elder brother, my beloved, please begin your performance!
Wang Canghai nodded and said, "Your excellencies indeed need to atone for your mistakes, lest this matter spread and become a cause for criticism."
Upon hearing this, the opponents felt both angry and anxious, cursing Wang Canghai's ancestors through eighteen generations: This old fox must have waited a long time for this day!
Dugu Qun stared at Liang Xiao, forcing a faint smile. "It is indeed time to contribute a little of our meager strength and donate something..."
Liang Xiao quickly interrupted everyone, looking at Dugu Qun and pointing to the four sacred sayings. He smiled and said, "This marquis heard that Minister Dugu cried uncontrollably in this hall upon hearing these four sacred sayings that day, and immediately copied a set to hang in his main hall upon returning home."
Dugu Qun's brows twitched, and he chuckled dryly. "Yes, scholars like us should naturally remember the sacred sayings..."
At this moment, he wished he could jump in front of Liang Xiao and tear him to shreds!
Upon learning that these four sayings were written by Liang Xiao, Dugu Qun tore up the copy he had made at home on the spot.
"Minister Dugu has such magnanimity, this junior is deeply impressed!"
After Liang Xiao praised him with a smile, he then looked at He Wanli and others behind Dugu Qun.
"Before coming, this marquis had inquired. Your excellencies all come from prominent families with vast fortunes, truly the richest in the capital. For example, Minister Dugu, to eat one bowl of chicken tongue soup requires the slaughter of three hundred chickens..."
Everyone was dumbfounded, looking at Liang Xiao.
It was one thing for this scoundrel to offer them unsolicited courtesies, but did he have to bring up such matters in court?
Dugu Qun's fists trembled fiercely within his sleeves, and he chuckled dryly, "It's merely a personal preference..."
They usually liked to flaunt their wealth, and they did not hide it from the previous emperor, but they were still too embarrassed to do so in front of the new emperor, Xiao Qing.
They also understood that Liang Xiao's excessive praise had a clear purpose.
To fleece them severely!
Liang Xiao continued, "Your families possess immense wealth, and you are all important court officials. As the saying goes, with greater ability comes greater responsibility. Promoting cowpox vaccination nationwide, boiling water with firewood, and carving bamboo sections to make 'syringes' will require no small amount of money, but the national treasury is currently empty..."
Everyone could no longer remain calm.
Ou Yangji trembled, "Marquis An Guo, let's speak plainly, how much is needed!"
Dugu Qun and the others echoed his sentiment.
If they let him continue his praise, they would have to come up with even more!
Liang Xiao cleared his throat and said, "Let Minister Dugu donate one hundred thousand taels, Minister Ou Yang and Minister He each donate fifty thousand taels, and the rest of the ministers who opposed this policy earlier, a donation of twenty thousand taels to show your sincerity."
The moment he finished speaking, everyone's jaws dropped in astonishment!
Xiao Qing covered her mouth, nearly bursting into laughter.
And this is what he calls "showing your sincerity"?
"Impossible! You are asking for the moon!" Dugu Qun's face changed instantly, and he berated him angrily!
They had originally expected to donate a few hundred or a few thousand taels at most, as their visible monthly stipends were only tens or hundreds of taels.
One hundred thousand taels, was he planning for him to be a complete sucker?
The other officials also reacted fiercely, refusing one after another.
Liang Xiao pouted, "I've done some calculations for Minister Dugu. One tael is a thousand coins, and one chicken is about seventy coins. Three hundred chickens are about twenty-one taels. One hundred thousand taels is enough for Minister Dugu to eat four thousand seven hundred and sixty-one bowls of chicken tongue soup. If you eat one bowl a day, it's only enough for thirteen years. It's not that much, is it?"
Laughter could be heard from Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng and others in the hall, who could no longer hold back.
Xiao Qing covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter, her body trembling slightly.
Not that much, is it?
Dugu Qun's face turned ashen, as if he would jump at Liang Xiao and devour him alive at any moment.
His "chicken tongue soup," which he had once been so proud of, had now become Liang Xiao's naked humiliation!
Liang Xiao then added another sharp blow with a cheerful demeanor, "Minister Dugu is concerned about the nation and its people, and has a heart to set up a life for the common folk, yet you almost made a great mistake. To forgo a few bowls of chicken tongue soup for the sake of the suffering common people, isn't that reasonable?"
Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng laughed even more heartily.
Wang Canghai also smiled, "It is very reasonable!"
"This old man can eat fewer bowls of chicken tongue soup for the people, but this, this..." Dugu Qun felt a lump in his throat.
This was thousands of bowls, enough for him to eat for thirteen years!
"Minister Dugu, this marquis is doing this for your own good!" Liang Xiao looked distressed and then turned to Ou Yangji and the others. "You are all of advanced age, yet you cannot even feel the sincere intentions of a junior?"
"What sincere intentions?" Everyone trembled, a chill running down their spines.
This little beast was smiling with a hidden dagger, eating people without spitting out bones!
Liang Xiao then changed his expression to one of concern and sighed, "With the guarantee of the Medical Sage, the common people will naturally accept the policy of smallpox prevention, and will naturally praise His Majesty's sagacity. If the common people know that all of you ministers strongly obstructed this policy in the Golden Palace today, it is inevitable that they will hate you to the bone."
Dugu Qun and the others had cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
For the events of today to spread, it would only take a decree...
Xiao Qing also added a stab, sighing, "At that time, to quell the public outrage, I will have no choice but to comply with the will of the people, dismiss a few of my esteemed ministers, and replace them with virtuous individuals. My lords, do not incite popular unrest, otherwise, to guard against the people 'cleansing the emperor's companions,' I will have no choice but to temporarily imprison all of you."
Upon hearing this, everyone's pupils contracted, and cold sweat poured down.
If Liang Xiao could indeed effectively prevent smallpox, it would be a deed of eternal fame!
At that time, they, the opponents who had nearly caused the policy to die in its infancy, might truly be overrun by the common people...
Losing their official positions would narrow their path to "making money"!
A short pain was better than a prolonged one; they had no choice but to spend money to avert disaster!
"Your subject is willing to donate one hundred thousand taels to support Marquis An Guo's policy..." Dugu Qun's voice trembled, with a hint of a sob.
"Your subject is also willing to donate fifty thousand taels..." He Wanli and Ou Yangji, with tears in their eyes, spoke one after another.
The officials behind the three also dejectedly promised to donate twenty thousand taels.
They were not as wealthy as the Dugu family; this time they would suffer a great loss!
Xiao Qing was both surprised and delighted, and slammed the table, "My heart is greatly comforted!"
She was shocked. This was tens of thousands of taels, not hundreds! They gave it so readily. Just how rich were these people, how reluctant were they to lose their positions, and how much had they extorted while in office!
She roughly calculated that the wealth promised by these incredibly rich officials exceeded one million taels!
All because of Liang Xiao's confrontation today!
At this moment, Xiao Qing was on the verge of tears, wishing she could hug Liang Xiao tightly and cling to him.
Unlike Xiao Qing's emotion, Wang Canghai and the Minister of Works, Huang Xing, were dumbfounded.
Liang Xiao's methods were fierce, striking directly at the vital points of Dugu Qun and the others, needless to say.
What truly shocked them was the arithmetic Liang Xiao had just performed!
Seventy coins for a chicken, more than three hundred days a year...
He had actually calculated the detailed figures on the spot and stunned Dugu Qun!
What terrifying mental calculation ability!
Wang Canghai looked at Liang Xiao smilingly praising Dugu Qun and the others, his eyes moist, and thought, "No wonder Her Majesty dotes on him; he is indeed the perfect candidate to continue the royal lineage..."
At this moment, Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi had similar thoughts, with tears in their eyes.
Dugu Qun and the others made their promises in front of Xiao Qing and immediately returned to donate the silver.
Xiao Qing beamed, ordered the promised amounts to be recorded, and then prepared to dismiss the court.
The opponents led by Dugu Qun, their hearts unable to bear it, turned to flee this heartbreaking place, avoiding Liang Xiao, the plague god.
"Your Majesty, please wait." Liang Xiao suddenly spoke again, "We have the money, but we still need people. Your families are full of talented individuals. It will be up to your families to send their disciples to be vaccinated with cowpox, and then travel to various regions to assist in smallpox prevention."
The moment he finished speaking, Dugu Qun and the others stumbled and fell to the ground!