Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall
Following Emperor Chongping's almost angry roar, expressions of emotion could be seen on the faces of all the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty in the entire hall.
Yang Guochang, the chief minister 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 goods into Liaodong. After being inspected by Yongning Bo, they owed officials every year. Alas, from the first year of Chongping to the fifteenth year, Yunsi suffered losses of more than 20 million taels year after year."
As soon as these words came out, most of the ministers in the palace were slightly shocked.
In fact, the previous burning of the old account books by the Salt Transportation Department had already shown that the Salt Transportation Department was fishy. How could the officials in the court not know about this matter?
But, didn’t Yong Ningbo go south to organize the army? This also conveniently cleaned up the salt affairs. More than 20 million taels will be recovered, and the national treasury, which was empty again, will become rich again.
No, there are still four general salt merchants who colluded with the Donglu and lost their family property. Once it is transferred into official funds, the national treasury... will not be able to contain it!
Some officials who are very thoughtful and sensitive to money figures have begun to think about it. Forty to fifty million taels, how should this be spent? Should the salaries of Beijing officials be increased?
Han Huang, the second assistant to the cabinet, was at the bottom, his brows furrowed and deep worry filling his eyes. Compared with the other ministers in the palace, they were secretly happy to have gained another windfall.
Jia Ziyu didn't stop when he went to Jiangnan. Not only did he make great achievements in military affairs, he also extended his hand to salt affairs, and he also obtained such a windfall for the emperor...
According to common sense, the farther away from the emperor, the holy family will gradually fade away. For example, Gao Zhongping, the governor of Sichuan, was also a favorite of Emperor Chongping back then. However, after being away for a long time, it was obvious that the holy family began to decline.
Emperor Chongping pondered and said: "Uncle Yongning went to the south of the Yangtze River to patrol salt and organize the army. This was an errand that I had ordered Uncle Yongning to do before. Liu Shengzao, the transshipment envoy to the Huaihe River, had already confessed. The Salt Transportation Department had a huge deficit. At the same time, the four major salt affairs generals In recent years, merchants have taken advantage of the imperial court to monopolize salt profits, but they have collaborated with the enemy and the Eastern captives. Uncle Yongning has already petitioned them to put all their illegal gains over the years into the national treasury."
With 40 to 50 million taels of property, both the national treasury and internal funds can be filled, and these are only four families. As for the remaining four families...it doesn't matter, Ziyu will take care of it!
Since, according to the memorial, the salt tax law is very popular, why should the salt tax be collected under the guise of the eight major merchants? Moreover, while inspecting the property of a salt merchant, Jia Heng characterized the property of the Yangzhou salt merchant as illegal wealth!
When the officials below heard this, they secretly said it was true.
As time went by, officials from the Six Ministries in Nanjing, in particular, impeached Jia Heng for killing local gentry in Yangzhou and seizing their personal property. This kind of memorial and criticism became known to the officials in Shenjing.
On this point, compared to the southern officials who have a strong business culture, Shenjing officials, whether from the Qi Party or the Zhejiang Party, have invariably maintained an eerie silence.
Not only because of the collusion with Donglu, it was difficult to establish the accusation against only four salt merchants, but also because Jiaheng used Jinyi Mansion to recover the illegal gains of the Sanhe Gang and sent millions of taels of silver to the national treasury, thus making the accused Official salary arrears for one year were halved and repaid.
In other words, in simple words, interests are related.
The confiscation of all the property of the four salt merchants obviously made the officials below feel hot. In fact, no one has much sympathy for the eight major merchants in Yangzhou, except for some officials who have interests to convey.
Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, also tacitly refrained from mentioning the matter and said thoughtfully: "The old minister believes that although recovering the deficit of the Transportation Department is important, it is especially important to get rid of the long-standing abuses of the government, reform the rules and regulations, and open up tax sources with the new salt law. "
Emperor Chongping said: "On this matter, Yongning Bo also wrote a joint memorial with Qi Kun, in which he changed the method of salt sales in Huaihe River and abolished the status of general merchant. All ordinary families can buy salt by sales vote. Small profits but quick turnover. , the worry of the imperial court’s insufficient salt tax no longer exists.”
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the officials in the palace changed slightly, thinking about the pros and cons of the salt vote method.
In fact, the method of voting salt was not an original creation of Jia Heng. The method of voting salt was briefly practiced for a period of time during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. However, the method was still relatively crude at that time, but there were knowledgeable officials present who were not ignorant.
Yao Yu, the Minister of Rites, hesitated for a moment, held an ivory wat tablet, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, will this method make the price of salt high and difficult for officials to eat, and the people will not be able to eat salt?"
At this time, Cen Weishan, the Minister of Punishment, frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this method was mentioned by Uncle Yong Ning. It has not yet achieved considerable results. I would like to ask Your Majesty to think again."
Emperor Chongping glanced at the ministers below and said in a deep voice: "According to Yongningbo's memorial, in order to strictly enforce tax collection, the imperial court set up yamen offices in the Huaihe River, stacked beds and houses, had many officials and redundant staff, and exploited them layer by layer. The more expensive the tax is, the more the price of salt is pushed up. As a result, the people do not eat the high-priced salt, but seek it from the salt dealers. This leads to a backlog of salt imports and the proliferation of illegal salt. These salt dealers collude with the salt officials. It has eroded the country's tax sources. Since the twelfth year of Chongping until now, the salt tax paid to the Ministry of Household Affairs has gradually decreased every year. Last year, the salt tax even exceeded one million. This does not mention that the surplus silver over the years is used for the operations of salt merchants and is used on credit. , misappropriation, and the shortage of transportation warehouses, how shocking!"
This is an excerpt from Jia Heng's "Chen Qianwu Er San Shi Shu". Emperor Chongping was obviously very good at memory. Although he recited excerpts, the general idea was vague.
Zhao Yi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, came out and said: "It is a clear warning from the Holy One that the salt tax collection package is paid to the general merchants. Those merchants are slippery by nature, deceive the superiors and deceive the inferiors, and earn the difference in price. On the contrary, they make the people slander and complain. As for the imperial court, it is imperative to abolish the system of diverting merchants to the shore, and as for the method of collecting salt, it can be tried out."
Emperor Chongping said: "Yong Ningbo also said the same in his memorial."
"Your Majesty, Uncle Yongning has also delivered a detailed charter, as well as military secrets related to the entire 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 in advance. Then he looked at the silver on it and felt inexplicably excited.
Emperor Chongping took the charter, began to read it, and nodded.
On the contrary, the Han ministers below were filled with anticipation and wanted to find out.
Emperor Chongping put down the summary book recording the regulations and ordered: "Dai Quan, show the salt affairs regulations to a few pavilion elders."
Because it is clear and clear, it is often published in the Di newspaper if necessary, and the new salt method should also be shown to all officials for the world to review its pros and cons.
Dai Quan bowed to answer the order, then took the memorial, returned below, and delivered the memorial to all the courtiers.
At this time, Fang Huan, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, pondered for a moment, then came out and said: "Your Majesty, since I have no official status and no wealth, should the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs and the Qi University Scholars jointly supervise the salt affairs?"
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is to some extent the headquarters of the Zhejiang Party, but in taking over the power of salt affairs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there is no distinction between the Qi and Zhejiang parties.
Emperor Chongping was picking up a military memorial about the Jiangnan camp to read. He glanced at Fang Huan and said calmly: "I have sent Princess Jinyang, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to go south to take charge of some affairs. And what Yongning Bo's memorial said, It is jointly controlled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Salt Patrol Censor, and it is all stated in the charter. Fang Qing will read it later."
As soon as these words came out, the courtiers in the palace who had not yet seen the charter were slightly surprised. Why is it the Ministry of Internal Affairs again?
Is the Ministry of Internal Affairs still going to get involved in salt industry? How is this possible? How come Qi Ge is always in the south? How can we allow that kid to act so recklessly?
At this time, Pang Shilang, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for the salt affairs. I think it is inappropriate for the Ministry of Household Affairs to take charge of the salt affairs. Salt profit is the source of the country's grain, 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 they all agreed with him.
"Mr. Qi Ge from the Ministry of Household Affairs thinks it can be tried out, and Lin Ruhai, the Salt Patrol Censor, mentioned this and said that salt affairs often breed corruption. In this case, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Revenue can supervise and restrict each other internally, and then the Salt Patrol Censor Lin Ruhai Internal and external supervision, such internal and external checks and balances, can prevent and prevent corruption." Emperor Chongping put down the military affairs memorial in his hand and said coldly.
At this time, it became clear that Jia Heng had to let Qi Kun sign the chorus, 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 of Jiangnan Camp.
After Jiangnan Camp reorganized its military affairs, the commanders, commanders, and generals of the Five Guards were all vacant, and no generals could be dispatched to supplement them for a while.
Five conductors.
No one recommended Ziyu.
Emperor Chongping had this thought for a moment, but then he felt that the Jiangnan camp had just begun to be reorganized and lacked strong generals to lead the troops, so it would not be too late to wait.
In fact, so far, except for the candidates for the Henan Dusi and the Governor of Henan after the Battle of Henan, Jia Heng has never recommended anyone. As for the promotion of generals, they are all promoted by the Ministry of War.
Even if someone is willing to use Jia Heng to send people from the Jia clan to join the army, since most of them are low-level generals, it will be difficult to cultivate party members and install cronies.
At this time, the ministers below read the charter, and most of their faces showed surprise and doubt.
Among them, the division of responsibilities between the Salt Transportation Department and the Salt Patrol 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 for discussion, are all detailed in the regulations.
It's like an ingenious system design that isolates some potential risks. This kind of talent is worthy of Wang Zuo's talent.
Han Huang frowned, and a sense of crisis surged in his heart. This Uncle Yong Ning was not only a military general, but his talents were not limited to military aircraft.
As for Emperor Chongping, he put down the memorial at this moment and was immersed in the reverie that the national treasury and internal funds could collect 40 to 50 million taels of silver.
It seems that ordinary people have planted a super lottery and started to plan how to spend the money. Although the wealthy Ninth Five-Year Plan will not be like the emperor's golden hoe, but when the Han Dynasty uses silver everywhere, if these 40 to 50 million taels are invested Regarding national affairs, there is no doubt...a timely rain, no, this is a rain that lasts for three to five days.
To put it bluntly, with these four thousand and fifty taels, even if the bureaucracy of the Han Dynasty is idle, it can support the operation of the Han Dynasty for three years.
"It seems that sending Ziyu to Nan Province is really a party." Emperor Chongping said to himself with excitement. Well, the emperor was pleased with his ability to recognize people.
At this time, Chongping looked at the silent ministers below and muttered: "All the ministers have also read the new regulations on salt affairs. I have just thought about it. The regulations have their own way, especially the three parties and internal and external supervision. Don't take this opportunity to express your opinion, I think this can greatly curb corruption."
As he said that, he looked at Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, and asked in a deep voice: "Mr. Yang Ge, what do you think?"
When Yang Guochang was "named", his face could not help but he raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think this method is not without its drawbacks. For example, unscrupulous female businessmen put up quotations and hoard goods, or Guangjia Huaiyan invades If the two rivers are irrigated, the price of salt may be high or low, which may shake the foundation of the salt tax. I ask your Majesty to think twice."
In fact, it is a matter of market supply and demand control. What Yang Guochang said is actually reasonable. Therefore, as soon as Yang Guochang made this statement, many officials came out to echo it.
The general meaning is that this method also has disadvantages and is by no means a perfect method, but there is no strong opposition to it.
Because compared to the damn salt merchants, this new method where everyone can be a salt merchant and share the salt and gain a share of the pie is still welcomed by the officials in the palace.
"According to the charter, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs send personnel to check the public sentiment in various provinces, and the Salt Patrol Censor will also work with local governments and counties to carry out arrests and pickets. How can there be such a perfect method in the world? It's just a matter of time and place. That's all." Emperor Chongping glanced at Yang Guochang and said coldly.
When Yang Guochang heard this, he caught the coldness in Emperor Chongping's eyes, and his heart couldn't help but trembled, and he backed away, not daring to say anything more.
Han Huang, the second assistant to the cabinet, frowned and thought about the pros and cons of this method. Saving costs, increasing profits, and reducing floating expenses in circulation. This method can be regarded as an expedient measure to reset the Lianghuai salt business system.
"Let's try it out for a year and then see the results." Emperor Chongping glanced at the courtiers below and said in a deep voice: "The cabinet has drafted a decree to Yongning Bo, who has full authority to supervise the trial implementation of the new system of salt affairs in the transportation department of the Huaihe River. If the method is effective, we will implement it in Changlu, Liangzhe, Hedong and other salt divisions."
When Yang Guochang and Han Huang heard this, they handed over their hands.
Other officials also agreed and said nothing else.
After leaving the court, as the courtiers left the palace in twos and threes, the court's changes to the salt system, or the new salt method proposed by Jia Heng, spread like wildfire and quickly spread throughout the entire Shenjing City.
And some thoughtful officials have begun to think about going to Huaihe with their principal.
Nan is going to buy salt stamps and transport salt to Huguang, Liangjiang, Henan and other places to earn money.
Emperor Chongping returned to the harem along the corridor with the retinue of the internal guards.
It is approaching the golden autumn of October, and the heat in Guanzhong is gradually receding. The cool autumn wind blows between the palaces and palaces. The wind chimes on the roof sway gently in the wind, making a thin and crisp sound.
Emperor Chongping was walking on the eaves of the red lacquered wooden corridor under the majestic palace. The fragrant fragrance of osmanthus floated between the palaces. The fragrance was pleasant and refreshing.
Emperor Chongping asked Dai Quan on the side, "Are the osmanthus flowers in the imperial garden blooming?"
"Your Majesty, it's open. This is a new variety offered by the Osmanthus Bureau. I heard it was cultivated by the Xia family. In the past two days, the Queen and the Imperial Concubine have been visiting the Imperial Garden." Dai Quan chuckled and said, whispered.
Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "Place the Garden of Control."
The emperor was obviously in a good mood these days. After all, he had just received a large sum of money, and the most difficult item of state affairs had been settled.
As for the old accounts from the Longzhi period, we can only settle them slowly.
Emperor Chongping withdrew his gaze from the direction of Chonghua Palace and, surrounded by his inner guards, headed towards the Imperial Garden. In the past few days, Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong had been admiring flowers and playing the piano in the Imperial Garden.
But something was different today. Prince Liang came to the palace from the Imperial Academy to greet the queen as usual. Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong were discussing a marriage for Prince Liang.
As the prince grew older, it was time for marriage.
The King of Liang whispered: "Mother, the fifth sister is not married yet, what should I do in a hurry?"
The Empress of the Song Dynasty was dressed in a red dress, her hair was tied into a heart-shaped bun, and her golden hairpins and pearls shone brightly under the sunlight.
Under the smooth and clean jade forehead, the gorgeous jade face was as white as snow, with a gentle smile. She put down the tea cup in her slender hand, raised her eyes to look at Liang Wang, and said softly: "Wei'er, your fifth sister is determined to do this." Now that we’re down, you have to hurry up and settle down.”
With a hint of disdain in his eyes, Prince Liang muttered, "That Uncle Yongning? I thought there was no one left in the Han Dynasty. Does Fifth Sister insist on marrying him, a man with a family?"
Empress Song frowned, with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, and asked, "This is your father's opinion. If you let your father hear it, and strike your mark carefully, then the queen mother will not ask you for mercy." "
This kid is used to speaking freely. Is there really nothing he can do about it? Didn't she and his aunt know that Jia Ziyu had a family?
When King Liang heard this, he said "hmm" unhappily, but he still had some disapproval in his heart.
Empress Song looked at Concubine Duanrong who had stopped playing the piano at some point. Her heart moved slightly and she said to Prince Liang: "Ziyu is also a rare handsome man among the Han Dynasties. He went to Jiangnan this time and made great contributions. In the future, I won’t wrong your fifth sister.”
Prince Liang already didn't want to hear what Empress Song said. His eyes flickered when he caught a glimpse of the sweet potato seedlings in the southwest corner of the courtyard. He changed the topic and said with a smile: "Mother, the sweet potatoes my father planted this year look like they are growing well. A piece of green leaves, I wonder how much I can harvest this year?"
Concubine Duanrong put down the guzheng in her hand, and under her eyebrows as curved as a crescent moon, she could see a thoughtful look in her bright and beautiful eyes. She said softly: "I heard from Jia Ziyu that these sweet potatoes can yield dozens of dan, which is dozens of grain output today." Times."
King Liang smiled and said softly: "Auntie, isn't it often said that oranges grow in Huainan and become oranges, and oranges grow in north Huaibei become zhi? It's not necessarily true that the unsuitable soil and water in the two places will affect the yield of the fields."
Concubine Duanrong frowned, a hint of sullenness appeared on her cold and beautiful eyebrows, but did not speak. Obviously, he felt a little displeased with Liang Wang's low emotional intelligence speech.
Even though they are sisters serving the same husband, Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong still have a layer of separation between their feelings for each other's children.
In fact, if Xianning was born to the Empress of the Song Dynasty, there would be many twists and turns in her marriage to Jia Heng. Precisely because she was not born in her own family, she would even be happy to see Princess Xianning and Jia Heng succeed, and would take the initiative to match them up, just in time for her family. My son has one more helper.
Similarly, Concubine Duanrong's view of Prince Liang, who had been grumpy and arrogant since childhood, was more like how her sister gave birth to such a naughty child.
However, Concubine Duanrong never showed it, and she had a cold temperament and was strict with her daughter, so it did not cause any estrangement between Empress Song.
Empress Song glared at Prince Liang with her beautiful eyes and said softly: "Ziyu never does anything he is not sure about. Since he said that these sweet potatoes will have a high yield, he is 70-80% sure. You kid is always worrying in vain."
"Mother, how can you be so sure about where he is? He doesn't know everything. How can there be anyone in this world who knows everything? I heard from the superintendent of the Zhongzhong Prison in Beijing that Henan officials now call him Uncle Fanshu in private. ." King Liang said in a low voice.
"Uncle Sweet Potato?" When Empress Song heard this, her white and rosy hibiscus jade noodles suddenly looked surprised.
After hearing the words, Imperial Concubine Duanrong also put down the tea cup. Under her eyebrows, her beautiful eyes, like a clear spring, stared at Prince Liang, waiting for his words.
Although he had previously criticized Jia Heng, an "old man" with a family, for provoking his own daughter, over time, he gradually recognized Jia Heng as his son-in-law.
The King of Liang said softly: "Didn't he ask the historian Zhongjing Marquis to go to Henan as governor and vigorously promote sweet potato cultivation in Runing Prefecture, Kaifeng Prefecture, Nanyang Prefecture and other places, saying that it can be a high-yielding grain? The officials and the people were worried If they have any doubts, they all call him Sweet Potato Uncle in private."
Just like Maize Xiaofu, Jia Heng also got an arranged title, mainly because Shi Ding mobilized officials and people to actively promote sweet potatoes in Henan.
The two graceful beauties, with their buns in their buns standing tall, had a thoughtful look on their faces.
The King of Liang smiled and said: "Mother, is there anyone in this world who knows everything? I'm afraid he doesn't know how to do it. Even if we don't talk about farmland and crops, let's talk about the Yangzhou Salt Service. Ordinarily he has been away for such a long time. There is still no decision for a long time, and there is nothing else but fighting and killing. He cannot do these things, and now it is not my aunt who has taken the fifth sister down south to help him. "
In this way, he may still have some ability to organize officials and lead troops to fight, but other things are ordinary.
"A few days ago, I heard that your father had also arrested four salt merchants. There has actually been progress in the salt affairs." Empress Song frowned and said, but she also realized that her son You may be a little unconvinced with Jia Heng.
After all, it is the nature of a young man to be competitive.
Empress Song thought for a while, and under her eyebrows, her kind and maternal eyes contained a bit of doting, and said angrily: "You child, no matter how big or small, wait for Xianning to come through, you will still have to do it all the time." Call me brother-in-law Ziyu."
Prince Liang curled his lips and thought to himself that with such a character as the Fifth Sister, she would be wronged after all by being followed by such a person.
At this time, Concubine Duanrong sighed: "I wonder where Xianning and Chanyue are, and whether they have arrived in Yangzhou."
At this moment, a female official hurried over and said, "Queen, Your Majesty, your Majesty is here."
When King Liang heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he felt a little frightened.
Isn't my father reviewing memorials in the study room of Daming Palace at this time? What to do in Royal Garden?
Empress Song looked at her son, who was about to rub oil on her soles and run away. She was a beauty in her thirties, her eyebrows were curved into crescent moons, and she smiled and said: "Looking at you, you are like a cat seeing a mouse. Wait for your father to The emperor is here to discuss your marriage."
King Liang had a sad face, but he did not dare to refuse.
While he was talking, the eunuch said: "Your Majesty has arrived."
After a while, Emperor Chongping came to the back garden with rosy cheeks and brisk steps, and looked at the Song sisters in the pavilion.
"I have met your Majesty." Empress Song stood up Yingying, left the pavilion with Concubine Duanrong beside her, and saluted Emperor Chongping. The beauty was dressed in a red dress. Her face under the heart-shaped bun was as bright as a peach blossom, and her voice was round and jade-like. Soft and gentle.
King Liang also bravely came over and said softly: "My son has met my father."
"Zi Tong, Concubine Rong is free." Emperor Chongping said softly and stretched out his hands to support her. His face, which used to be as cold as iron, was now smiling for the first time. This really surprised Empress Song.
"Your Majesty, is there something happy happening in the front hall?" Queen Song asked with a smile.
Emperor Chongping nodded, glanced at Prince Liang, and asked: "Prince Liang today
Didn't you go to the Imperial College? "Go back to my father, the Imperial Academy will have a collective rest today." King Liang said in a worried mood.
Emperor Chongping asked casually, and did not continue to ask. Instead, he asked King Liang to grant him a general amnesty.
Emperor Chongping, supported by Empress Song, sat on the embroidered pier and said: "Ziyu's errand in Yangzhou has made great progress. He has confiscated 40 to 50 million taels, and has recovered tens of millions in deficit for the Imperial Salt Transportation Department. Two, Zitong, I'm afraid the big man won't have to be so difficult in the past three years."
Compared to how he had to maintain an imperial demeanor in front of the ministers, swallowing the whole world with anger, and unpredictable power, in the harem, although the majesty was still the same, there was still some lightness in his tone.
Forty to fifty million taels, and there are four salt merchants left, one hundred million taels? This is the income of the national treasury for five years. After the implementation of the New Deal, ZTE has money.
