Lao Zhu spoke, and Han Du had to go in.
"Your Majesty, Han Du, pays homage to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Emperor."
"No need." Lao Zhu glanced at the two of them without even raising his eyes, and finally focused on Han Du. "I heard that you are very carefree these days. You sleep until three o'clock in the morning and don't get up until three o'clock in the morning, or you are wandering around the capital. Why did you use your free time today to come to my Jinshen Palace?"
Han Du laughed awkwardly. If possible, Han Du really didn't want to come to see Lao Zhu. Wouldn't it be better to take a stroll on the street? Now is the early years of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, and it is not yet the time when Neo-Confucianism is prevalent. Lao Zhu worshiped the ancients, and the etiquette system, court settings, and world laws of the Ming Dynasty almost copied those of the Tang Dynasty.
The coming of the Tang Dynasty shocked all nations, and the openness of the Tang Dynasty also spread to all nations. Therefore, in the early years of Hongwu, there were not so many problems with Neo-Confucianism. On the street, you can see the rich lady of some family strolling on the street with her maid. The antique style is a beautiful scenery.
Unless Han Du was mentally ill, he would give up the opportunity to see a beautiful woman and come face to face with Lao Zhu's face that could open its mouth at any time.
"I've been traveling around a lot lately, so I've spent a lot of money." Han Du said with a flattering smile.
"So?" Lao Zhu raised his eyebrows.
"So, I would like to ask the emperor to increase the salary of officials." Han Du threw a thunderbolt and suddenly knelt down.
Zhu Biao couldn't help but look at Han Du with wide eyes after hearing this. He didn't understand why Han Du didn't follow common sense. They had already discussed it. But at this time, Zhu Biao could not ask Han Du out loud, so he could only stand aside anxiously.
Han Du knelt with his back straight, but his eyes were lowered, looking at the ground.
The hall of Jinshen is as cold and silent as an ice cellar.
Lao Zhu sat on it and looked at Han Du and sneered. He had encountered many officials asking him for money in his life, but it was all needed for the court's expenses. Han Du was the only one who dared to ask him face to face to increase his salary.
Oh, no. Strictly speaking, Han Du is the second one, the first one is Guo Huan, but he will be peeled and hung in the Tutu Temple in a short time. Could it be that Han Du is the second one?
Do you want to hang up too?
"Increase salary? What you said is neither humble nor arrogant."
Han Du opened his eyes and looked at Lao Zhu and said: "It is natural for you to work and get paid. There is nothing to be humble about." Han Du spoke with righteous words, just like an employee asking the boss for a salary increase. Han Du had done this more than once before. Every time Han Du asked for a salary increase for legitimate reasons, and he succeeded every time.
Lao Zhu was so angry at Han Du's words that he picked up the tea cup and said, "Then tell me why I should increase your salary." After finishing speaking, Lao Zhu took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. Waiting for Han Du's quibble.
When Han Du heard this, he felt happy. As long as you can still listen to yourself, that's a good thing. What Han Du fears most is that Lao Zhu won't listen to anything and just goes to the knife, then Han Du will have no choice.
"May I ask Your Majesty, how much was the monthly salary of a seventh-rank official in the early years of Hongwu?"
"Wuguan." Lao Zhu said it casually, in an understatement.
"Then I dare to ask the emperor, this year is the 16th year of Hongwu, what is the monthly salary of a seventh-grade official?" Han Du continued to ask.
"It's still Wu Guan."
Han Du laughed when he heard this and said: "Your Majesty, the monthly salary of the seventh-rank officials in the early years of Hongwu is exactly the same as now, which seems to be no problem. But I have read the county annals of Yingtian Prefecture, and it clearly records that in the early years of Hongwu The annual grain price is about three hundred and fifty cents per stone."
Lao Zhu was still somewhat affected by this, so he nodded and said: "About that. I remember that when the world was first settled, the people had just ended the suffering of war, and the price of food was at its lowest, less than three hundred coins and one stone."
"Even if it's three hundred and fifty cents," Han Du said with a smile, "and this year's grain price, even if there is no drought, is at least around one hundred cents. And in the past sixteen years, not only food The prices of other types of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, meat, cloth, etc. are increasing.”
"With the same monthly salary of five guan, in the early years of Hongwu, you could buy almost fifteen dan of grain. A seventh-grade official and his family could only eat three dan of grain in a month, and still have twelve dan left. Twelve dan of grain is enough to buy, so that Firewood, rice, oil, salt, etc. for the official’s family
small book booth
Wait for something. But at this year's grain prices, a five-guan salary can't even buy five stones of grain. Only the food aspect is enough for the officials. Other food such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, etc. are out of the question, let alone eating meat to buy new clothes. "
"For the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty, I sincerely request the emperor to increase the salary of all officials in order to calm the hearts of all officials in the world."
After listening to Lao Zhu's words, the anger on his face suddenly disappeared. He was thinking about Han Du's words attentively. Even if Han Du quoted scriptures to reason with Lao Zhu, Lao Zhu might not be able to listen. Lao Zhu is also a diligent scholar and has his own unique insights into the allusions in the book. Han Du may not be able to convince him.
But Han Du found the most intuitive comparison in a unique way to let Lao Zhu understand what inflation is. Don't underestimate Han Du's use of food as a base, which can really make Lao Zhu feel deeply. Because in this era, food is often more useful than money. Even after the treasure notes are distributed, there are still people who exchange food for various supplies. If there is no more cloth, just exchange it for a few buckets of rice. If you want to eat meat, exchange it for a few buckets of rice. It can be said that in this era, rice can buy everything that money can buy. Even in years of food shortage, food is more useful than money.
"Of course, it's okay if the emperor doesn't increase the salary. Then according to the price of grain in the early years of Hongwu, replace the salary of all the ministers with rice grain. I think that the ministers must have special reasons and will be grateful to the emperor. ." Han Du smiled.
Lao Zhu glared at Han Du bitterly and said nothing. Not to mention that Lao Zhu can't come up with so much food now, even if he could, he wouldn't be willing.
It's not that Lao Zhu doesn't know that the prices of grain and other products have been rising year after year. It's just that in the past, they rose and fell again. This rise and fall gives people the feeling that there is no change. In addition, Lao Zhu has not studied the price issue carefully. Anyway, it is easier for him to distribute salaries to officials every year. In line with the mentality that even if he does not take advantage, he will never suffer a loss, he just takes it. The salaries of deceased officials will be based on those in the early years of Hongwu.
Not only that, Lao Zhu never paid out the full amount in the past, but only copper coins were mixed with treasure notes, as well as cloth and other messy things.
