RNP Chapter 774 Emperor Chongping: It doesn't matter, Ziyu will solve it! (Ask for a monthly pass!)
Chapter 774 Emperor Chongping: It doesn't matter, Ziyu will solve it! (Ask for a monthly pass!)
Chapter 774 Emperor Chongping: It doesn't matter, Ziyu will solve it! (Ask for a monthly pass!)
Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall
Following the almost angry roar of Emperor Chongping, in the entire hall, the faces of the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty were all moved.
Yang Guochang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, looked solemn, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty."
Facing the gazes of the officials below, Emperor Chongping said in a deep voice: "The eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, Cheng, Ma, Huang, and Bao, previously colluded with the Eastern captives and smuggled Liaodong. From the first year of Chongping to the 15th year of Chongping, Yunsi had a deficit of more than [-] million taels year after year."
As soon as these words came out, most of the ministers in the palace were slightly startled.
In fact, the burning of the old account books by the Salt Transport Department earlier showed that the Salt Transport Department was tricky. How could the court officials not know about this matter?
But, didn't this Yongningbo go south to reorganize the army?This conveniently also cleaned up the salt affairs.
More than [-] million taels, this has to be recovered, and the treasury, which was once empty again, has become rich again.
No, there are still four general merchants of salt affairs who colluded with the Eastern captives and lost their family wealth. Once it is filled with official funds, the treasury... can't hold it!
Some officials who are thoughtful and sensitive to money numbers have begun to imagine, forty to fifty million taels, this... how to spend it?The salaries of Beijing officials should be raised, right?
The cabinet's second assistant, Han Huang, was at the bottom, his brows were frowned, and deep worry was in his eyes.
Compared with the officials in the palace, they secretly rejoiced at getting another windfall.
Jia Ziyu went to the south of the Yangtze River without stopping. Not only did he make meritorious service in military affairs, but also extended his hand to salt affairs, and he also won such a windfall for the emperor...
According to common sense, the farther away you are from the emperor, the more the holy family will gradually fade away. For example, Gao Zhongping, the governor of Sichuan, was also the favorite minister of Emperor Chongping, but after a long time away, it is obvious that the holy family began to decline.
Emperor Chongping pondered and said: "Uncle Yongning went to the south of the Yangtze River to inspect the salt and reorganize the army. I ordered Uncle Yongning to do it before. Shang, taking advantage of the convenience of the imperial court to monopolize the salt profit these years, colluded with the enemy country and colluded with the Eastern captives, Yongning Bo has already petitioned to put all their illegal gains over the years into the treasury."
Four to fifty million taels of goods, the treasury and internal funds can be filled, and this is only four, as for the remaining four... It doesn't matter, Ziyu will take action to solve it!
Since, according to the memorabilia, the ticket and salt law prevails, how can the collection of salt tax be done under the guise of the Eight Great General Merchants?
Moreover, during the inspection of the property of a salt merchant, Jia Heng made a qualitative identification of the property of a salt merchant in Yangzhou-illegal wealth!
When the officials below heard the words, they secretly thought that it was true.
With the passage of time, especially the officials of the six ministries in Nanjing impeached Jia Heng for killing the local gentry in Yangzhou and taking away people's private property. This kind of memorial and attack has become known to Shenjing officials.
On this point, compared with southern officials with a strong business atmosphere, Shenjing officials, whether they are from the Qi Party or the Zhejiang Party, have all kept strangely silent.
Not only because of the collusion with the Eastern Captives, it was difficult to establish the accusation against only four salt merchants, but also because Jia Heng used the Jinyi Mansion to recover the illegal gains of the Sanhe Gang and sent millions of taels of silver to the treasury. The official salary arrears of one year was halved and reissued.
In other words, in simple terms, interests are related.
And the confiscation of the family wealth of the four salt merchants obviously made the officials below burst into flames.
In fact, no one has much sympathy for the eight major merchants in Yangzhou, unless there are some officials who have benefits.
Yang Guochang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, also tacitly did not mention this matter, and pondered: "The old minister thinks that although it is important to recover the deficit of the transportation department, it is especially important to eliminate the long-standing malpractices of the government, re-establish the rules and regulations, and open up tax sources with the new salt law. "
Emperor Chongping said: "On this matter, Uncle Yongning also wrote a memorandum jointly with Qi Kun. In Lianghuai, the method of ticket and salt was changed, and the status of the general merchant was abolished. All ordinary people can sell salt with tickets, with small profits but quick turnover. , the worries of the imperial court’s salt tax collection no longer exist.”
As soon as this remark came out, the complexions of the officials in the palace changed slightly, thinking about the pros and cons of the ticket and salt law.
The Piaoyan method was not actually created by Jia Heng. During the Jiajing period of the previous Ming Dynasty, the Piaoyan method was practiced for a short period of time, but the method was relatively crude at that time, but the officials present were knowledgeable and not unaware.
Yao Yu, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, hesitated for a moment, held an ivory wat board, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, will this method make official salt so expensive that people will not be able to eat salt?"
At this time, Cen Weishan, the servant of the Criminal Department, frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this method is the salt method mentioned by Uncle Yongning, but it has not yet been implemented to achieve considerable results. My minister, please think twice."
Emperor Chongping looked down at the ministers below, and said in a deep voice: "According to what Yongningbo said in the Memorial, the imperial court set up government offices in Lianghuai and Huaihe Rivers in order to strictly enforce taxes. The higher the price of official salt, the more the price of official salt is pushed up. The people do not eat high-priced salt, but ask for it from salt lords. This leads to a backlog of salt quotations, and the flood of private salt. Those salt merchants work together with salt officials to erode the country The source of taxation, since the 12th year of Chongping, the salt tax sent to the household department has been gradually reduced every year. Last year, the salt silver even exceeded one million. This has not yet mentioned that the balance of silver over the years is used for credit and misappropriation by salt merchants. How shocking is it that the warehouse is running out of money!"
This is an excerpt from the upper part of Jia Heng's "The Book of Two and Three Things about Chen Yiwu". Emperor Chongping obviously had a great ability to recall.
Zhao Yi, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, came out of the class and said: "The sage has learned that the salt tax is paid to the general merchants. Those merchants are treacherous and cunning by nature. It is imperative for the imperial court to abolish the system of directing merchants to the shore, and as for the law of ticket and salt, it can be tried."
Emperor Chongping said: "Bo Yongning also said the same in the memorial."
"Your Majesty, Uncle Yongning also delivered a detailed rules and regulations, as well as military secrets related to the whole army. In addition, there are two memorials." At this time, Dai Quan said cautiously.
Just now Emperor Chongping took Jia Heng's first memorial and read it first, and then looked at the silver on it, feeling inexplicably excited.
Emperor Chongping took the charter, began to read it, and nodded.
Instead, the big fellow officials below had some expectations in their hearts and wanted to find out.
Emperor Chongping put down the summary book that recorded the regulations, and ordered: "Dai Quan, show the regulations on salt affairs to some elders."
Because it is clear and sparse, if necessary, it is often published in the Mansion Newspaper, and the new system of salt law should also be disclosed to all ministers for the world to examine its pros and cons.
Dai Quan bowed to the order, then took the memorial, returned below, and delivered the memorial to the courtiers.
At this time, Fang Huan, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, pondered for a moment, and went out of the class to play: "My lord, since I am not an official property, should the Nanjing Ministry of Households supervise the salt affairs together with Qi Dashi?"
To a certain extent, the Ministry of Officials is the headquarters of the Zhejiang Party, but there is no distinction between the two parties in the matter of seizing the main power of salt affairs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Emperor Chongping was picking up a military memorial about the Jiangnan camp to read, glanced at Fang Huan, and said indifferently: "I have sent the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Princess Jinyang, to go south to preside over the affairs, and what Yongning Bo said in the memorial, The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Xunyan Yushi are jointly restricted by the three parties, and all of them are contained in the articles of association, and Fang Qing will read it later."
As soon as this remark came out, the courtiers who hadn't seen the charter were mostly slightly surprised.
Why is it the Ministry of Internal Affairs again?
Does the Ministry of Internal Affairs want to intervene in the salt industry?How can this be?How did Qi Ge get old in the south?How could that child be allowed to act recklessly like this?
At this time, Pang Shilang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is acting as an agent for salt affairs. I think it is inappropriate. Salt is the source of the country's society, and the Ministry of Household Affairs should be in charge of the affairs."
At this moment, all the ministers in the court heard the words, and the Kedao Yushi Banlie quite echoed them.
"Old Qi Ge of the Ministry of Household Affairs thinks it can be tried, and Lin Ruhai, the patrolling salt censor, mentioned this matter, and also said that the salt affairs often breed corruption. External supervision by history, such internal and external checks and balances, can prevent corruption in its infancy." Emperor Chongping put down the military affairs memorial in his hand, and said in a cold voice.
At this time, it showed the necessity for Jia Heng to let Qi Kun sign the joint performance, otherwise the opposition would be particularly strong.
Looking at the ministers below, Emperor Chongping's eyes moved slightly, and his mind turned to thinking about the personnel affairs of Jiangnan Camp.
After the Jiangnan camp rectified its military affairs, the commanders of the five guards, the acquaintances of the commanders, and the officials were all vacant, and there were no generals to be dispatched to supplement the five commanders.
No one recommended Ziyu.
Emperor Chongping's thought was fleeting, and then he felt that the generals of the Jiangnan camp had to be rectified at the beginning, and there was a lack of strong generals to lead them, so it would not be too late to wait.
In fact, so far, except for the candidates for the Henan capital and the governor of Henan after the Henan War, Jia Heng has never recommended anyone. As for the promotion of generals, they are promoted by the Ministry of War.
Even if someone with a heart wants to use Jia Heng to send members of the Jia family to join the army, since most of them are low-ranking generals, it is difficult to cultivate party members and place cronies to rely on.
But at this time, the officials below read the regulations, and their faces were full of surprise.
Among them, the division of responsibilities between the Salt Transportation Department and the Patrol Salt Yushi Yamen, as well as the powers and responsibilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs, as well as various procedures, are all recorded in the detailed rules and regulations.
It is like an exquisite system design that isolates some potential risks. This kind of talent can be regarded as Wang Zuozhi's talent.
Han Huang frowned, feeling a sense of crisis in his heart. This Yongningbo is not just a general, but his talents are not limited to military aircraft.
As for Emperor Chongping, he put down the memorabilia and immersed himself in the reverie that the treasury and internal funds could receive 5000 to [-] million taels of silver.
It seems that ordinary people planted a super lottery and began to think about how to spend the money. Although the rich nine-five-year-old would not be like the emperor's golden hoe, when silver is used everywhere in the Han Dynasty, if the four or five million taels are invested Regarding state affairs, there is no doubt... a timely rain, no, this is a rain that lasted for three to five days.
To put it bluntly, with these four thousand and five taels, even if the bureaucratic system of Dahan is idling, it can support Dahan for three years.
"It seems that it's really a party to send Ziyu to the southern province." Emperor Chongping was emotionally agitated, and secretly said something.
Well, the emperor is delighted with his knowledge of people.
At this time, Chongping looked down at the silent group of ministers, and said in a deep thought: "All the ministers have read the new law on salt affairs. I just thought about it. The rules and regulations are self-contained, especially the tripartite and internal and external supervision. Don’t take the opportunity to express, presumably this move can greatly curb corruption.”
As he said that, he stared at Yang Guochang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and asked deeply: "Mr. Yang Ge, what do you think?"
When Yang Guochang was "named", his expression changed, and he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister thinks that this method is not without its drawbacks, such as unscrupulous profiteers placing empty orders, hoarding goods for strange things, or Guangjiahuai salt, invading and feeding two people. Huai, whether the price of salt is expensive or cheap may shake the foundation of the salt tax, the old minister please think twice."
In fact, it is a matter of market supply and demand regulation, and what Yang Guochang said is actually not unreasonable.
Therefore, as soon as Yang Guochang said this, many officials came out to echo him.
The general meaning is that this method also has disadvantages, and it is by no means a perfect method, but there is no massive opposition.
Because compared to the damned salt merchants, this new method that everyone can be a salt merchant and share a share of the salt profit is still welcomed by the officials in the palace.
"According to the charter, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs will send personnel to check the people's sentiments in various provinces, and the inspectors will also cooperate with local prefectures and counties to carry out arrests and pickets. If there is a perfect law, how can there be any in the world? But it depends on time and place That's all." Emperor Chongping glanced at Yang Guochang and said coldly.
Hearing the words, Yang Guochang caught the coldness in Emperor Chongping's eyes, his heart trembled, he bowed his hands and retreated, not daring to say more.
The cabinet deputy Han Huang frowned, thinking about the pros and cons of this method, saving money and increasing profits, reducing the floating costs in circulation, and resetting the Lianghuai salt management system with this method is also a current expedient measure.
"Try it for a year first, and then see the effect." Emperor Chongping glanced at the courtiers below, and said in a deep voice: "The cabinet drafted a decree for Yongning Bo, who will supervise the trial of the new system of salt affairs in the Transshipment Department of the Huaihe River and Huaihe Capital. If the method is effective, then implement Changlu, Liangzhe, Hedong and other salt divisions."
When Yang Guochang and Han Huang heard the words, they should agree to hand in hand.
Other officials also responded one after another, and no longer talked about anything else.
After retiring from the court, as the courtiers left the palace in twos and threes, the court's changes to the salt system, or the new salt law proposed by Jia Heng, also spread like wildfire and quickly spread throughout the city of Shenjing.
And some officials with active minds have begun to think about taking the principal and going to Huainan to buy salt tickets, transport salt to Huguang, Liangjiang, Henan and other places to sell salt to earn money.
Emperor Chongping returned to the harem along the corridor under the retinue of a group of eunuchs.
As October approaches golden autumn, the summer heat in Guanzhong gradually recedes, and the cool autumn wind blows between the palaces and palaces. The wind chimes on the roof sway gently with the wind, making crisp and crisp sounds.
Emperor Chongping walked on the eaves of red lacquered wood under the majestic palaces. The fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus floated among the palaces. The fragrance is pleasant and refreshing.
Emperor Chongping asked Dai Quan beside him, "The sweet-scented osmanthus in the imperial garden is blooming?"
"Your Majesty, it's opened. This is a new variety that was tributed by the Osmanthus Bureau. I heard it was cultivated by the Xia family. In the past two days, the empress and the imperial concubine have been visiting the Imperial Garden." Dai Quan said with a light smile, said in a low voice.
Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "Putting out the imperial garden."
The emperor is obviously in a good mood these few days. After all, he just got a large sum of money, and the most difficult item of state affairs has been settled.
As for the old accounts during the Longzhi period, we can only settle them slowly.
Emperor Chongping withdrew his gaze from the Chonghua Palace, surrounded by inner guards, and headed towards the Imperial Garden, where the Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong were enjoying flowers and playing the piano in the Imperial Garden these days.
But today is a bit different, King Liang dropped out of the Imperial College, and routinely entered the palace to pay his respects to the Empress. Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong were discussing a marriage for King Liang.
As the prince grew older, it was time for marriage.
King Liang said in a low voice, "Queen Mother, Fifth Sister is not married yet, what should I do in a hurry?"
Empress Song wore a red dress, her hair was tied up in a peach-heart bun, and the gold hairpins, pearls, and emeralds were shining brightly and goldenly under the sunlight.
Under the smooth and jade-like forehead, that Huayan jade face is as white and greasy as snow, with a gentle smile, put down the teacup in her slender hand, raised her eyes to look at King Liang, and said softly: "Wei'er, your fifth sister will definitely When you come down, you have to hurry up and settle down."
There was a trace of disdain in King Liang's eyes, and he muttered: "That Uncle Yongning? I think there is no one left in the Han Dynasty, and Fifth Sister insists on marrying him, a man who has a family?"
Empress Song frowned, with a bit of annoyance in her eyes, she asked: "This is your father's claim, you let your father hear it, and beat you carefully, then the mother will not beg for mercy. "
This kid is used to being open-mouthed, so he really just doesn't know which pot to open and which pot to carry?
Didn't she and his aunt know that Jia Ziyu had a family?
When King Liang heard the words, he gave a disgruntled "hmm", but he still had some disapproval in his heart.
Empress Song looked at Noble Concubine Duanrong who had stopped playing the piano at some point, her heart moved slightly, and she said to King Liang: "Ziyu is also a handsome man who is rare in a big man. This time he went to the south of the Yangtze River and made a lot of contributions. I will not wrong your Fifth Sister."
Liang Wang already didn't want to listen to Queen Song's words. With his eyes flickering, he caught a glimpse of the sweet potato seedlings in the southwest corner of the courtyard. A piece of green leaves, I don’t know how much I can harvest this year?”
Concubine Duanrong put down the guzheng in her hand, under her crescent-like eyebrows, she saw the color of thinking in her clear and beautiful eyes, and said softly: "Listen to Jia Ziyu, this sweet potato can be harvested dozens of stones, which is dozens of the current grain output." times."
Liang Wang smiled and said softly: "Auntie, it's not often said that oranges grown in Huainan are tangerines, and oranges grown in Huaibei are oranges? Thinking about the unsuitable water and soil in the two places will affect the yield of the field, it may not be certain."
The noble concubine Duanrong frowned, her cold and glamourous eyebrows were sullen, and she did not speak.
Obviously speaking to King Liang's low EQ, he felt a little displeased.
Even though they are sisters who serve a husband together, there is still a layer of separation between Empress Song and Concubine Duan Rong's feelings for each other's children.
In fact, if Xianning was born to Empress Song, there would be many twists and turns in her marriage with Jia Heng. Because she was not born in her own family, she would even take the initiative to match Princess Xianning and Jia Heng, just because she was born in her own family. The son has one more helper.
Similarly, Concubine Duan Rong has more of an impression of how her sister gave birth to such a brat to King Liang, who has been violent and arrogant since she was a child.
However, Concubine Duanrong never showed it, and her temperament was cold, and she was strict with her own daughter, so it did not cause empress Song to be alienated.
Empress Song glared at King Liang with her beautiful eyes, and said softly, "Ziyu never does anything uncertain. Since he said that this sweet potato will yield a high yield, he is [-]% sure. You child is always worrying."
"Mother, how can he be so sure about going up? He didn't know everything. How can there be someone who knows everything in this world? I heard from the supervisor of the Zijian in Beijing that now Henan officials call him Uncle Sweet Potato in private. .” King Liang said in a low voice.
"Uncle Sweet Potato?" Upon hearing this, Empress Song was surprised to see the rosy hibiscus jade noodles.
The noble concubine Duanrong also put down the teacup when she heard the words, and under her crescent eyebrows, her beautiful eyes like a pool of clear springs narrowed, looked at King Liang, and waited quietly for his words.
Although he had some complaints about Jia Heng, an "old man" who had a family, who provoked his daughter, but as time passed, he gradually recognized Jia Heng as a son-in-law.
Liang Wang said softly: "Didn't he let the historian Zhong Jinghou go to Henan to be the governor, and vigorously promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes in Runing Mansion, Kaifeng Mansion, Nanyang Mansion and other places, saying that it can be a high-yielding grain, and the officials and the people have a heart. Doubts, they call him Uncle Sweet Potato in private."
Just like Corn Xiaofu, Jia Heng also got an edited title, mainly due to Shi Ding's active promotion of sweet potatoes among officials and people in Henan.
The two graceful beauties standing tall with cloud buns also looked thoughtful on their faces.
Liang Wang smiled and said: "Mother, there is no one who knows everything in this world. I am afraid that I don't know how to do it. Even if I don't talk about the farmland, I just talk about the salt affairs in Yangzhou. It is said that he has been there for so long. It's still a long time without a decision, there is nothing else but fighting and killing, he can't do these things, now it's not because my aunt brought Fifth Sister south to help him."
If it is to rectify the administration of officials and lead troops to fight, you may still have a little ability, but other things are commonplace.
"A few days ago, I heard from your father that he took four salt merchants. In fact, progress has been made in the matter of salt affairs." Empress Song frowned, and she also reflected that her son I may be a little dissatisfied with Jia Heng.
After all, he is a teenager at heart, eager to win.
Empress Song thought for a while, and under the willow-leaf eyebrows, the kind eyes that contained maternal rhyme were a little doting, and she said angrily: "You child, no matter how old or young, when Xianning passes through the door, you still have to often Calling Ziyu's brother-in-law."
Liang Wang curled his lips and thought to himself, Fifth Sister's character follows such a person, after all, she has been wronged.
At this time, Duanrong Guifei said with emotion: "I don't know where Xianning and Chanyue are, have they arrived in Yangzhou?"
At this moment, a female officer hurried over and said: "Empress, empress, your majesty is here."
When the king of Liang heard this, his heart skipped a beat, and he was a little apprehensive.
Wasn't the father reviewing the memorabilia in the study room of the Daming Palace at this time?What are you doing in the Royal Garden?
Empress Song looked at her son, who was about to slip away with oil on her feet, a beauty in her thirties, with eyebrows and eyes bent into crescent moons, smiled and said: "Look at you like that, like a cat seeing a mouse, waiting for your father Come here, just to discuss your marriage."
Liang Wang had a bitter face, but he didn't dare to refuse.
While talking, the inner supervisor said: "Your Majesty is here."
After a while, Emperor Chongping came to the back garden briskly with rosy cheeks and looked at the Song sisters in the gazebo.
"The concubine has seen Your Majesty." Empress Song stood up gracefully, left the pavilion with Concubine Duan Rong, and saluted Emperor Chongping. The beauty was dressed in a red dress, her face was as bright as a peach blossom under her peach heart bun, and her voice was round and smooth. Soft and gentle.
Liang Wang also came over bravely, and said softly: "My son has seen the father."
"Zitong, Concubine Rong is flat." Emperor Chongping said softly, and stretched out his hands to help him. For the first time, there was a smile on his face as cold as iron, which surprised Empress Song greatly.
"Your Majesty, could there be some happy event in the front hall?" Queen Song asked with a smile.
Emperor Chongping nodded, glanced at King Liang, and asked, "Did King Liang go to the Imperial College today?"
"Go back to Father, the Imperial College will take a rest today." Liang Wang said anxiously.
Emperor Chongping asked a random question, and didn't continue to ask, but the king of Liang seemed to be pardoned.
With the support of Empress Song, Emperor Chongping sat on the embroidered pier and said: "Ziyu's errand in Yangzhou has made great progress, and he has confiscated forty to five million taels, and has recovered tens of millions of taels for the imperial salt transportation department. , Zitong, I am afraid that the big man will not have to be so difficult in the past three years."
Compared to being in front of the ministers, he has to maintain an imperial bearing by 12 points, swallowing the world, and his majesty is unpredictable. In the harem, although the majesty is still the same, there is still some lightness in his tone.
5000 million taels, and there are four remaining salt merchants, [-] million taels?This is the income of the treasury for five years. With the implementation of the New Deal, ZTE Dahan has all the money.
(End of this chapter)