Jiajing mentally mourned for a moment of silence for the candidates taking the exam, and then put the exam questions aside.
"I have good news to tell everyone." Jiajing turned his eyes to Xu Jie and said slowly.
"May I ask Your Majesty, what is the good news?" Even though Yan Song had already guessed it, he still showed great interest.
"A sum of money will be sent to the treasury in the near future, about thirty million taels." Jiajing looked around the ministers and said calmly.
"What? Thirty million taels!" After hearing the number reported by the emperor, all the ministers were dumbfounded, while Yan Song was stunned on the spot.
Yan Song had already expected that this amount of silver would be a lot, but he did not expect it to be so much. At present, there are still 26 million taels of silver in the treasury, plus the 30 million that will be sent to the treasury immediately, and Before the salt tax is collected, the money in the treasury will reach an extremely terrifying 60 million taels!
This made Yan Song, who had been the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty for more than 20 years and was accustomed to living in poverty, a little uncomfortable for a while.
When did the money in the treasury become so abundant? And not long ago, he was still struggling with the national treasury deficit.
who I am? where am I? Am I dreaming? This is fifty-six million taels of silver!
After Yan Song suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, he took the lead to kneel on the ground and said respectfully: "All of this depends on your majesty's wise leadership, which transformed the national treasury from a previous deficit to a current surplus of 60 million taels!
"I have so much admiration for Your Majesty! You are the father of millions of people in our Ming Dynasty. In our Ming Dynasty, there are two capitals and thirteen provinces, but Your Majesty has only one sun!" Yan Song said and bowed again.
Xu Jie on the side frowned without any trace, and his heart was full of contempt: "Yan Song, this old guy, is already eighty-one years old, and he can still say such flattering and disgusting words. He is really a treacherous person!"
After a while, the remaining people all knelt down and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, you are wise!"
"Well, get up, everyone, get up." Jiajing waved his hand and asked everyone to get up.
I have to say that Yan Song's flattery earlier was very helpful to Jiajing, and his mood improved a lot.
Seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, Yan Song continued tremblingly: "Your Majesty, since the treasury is so abundant now, some of the previous matters can be put on the agenda, such as the salary increase for officials."
In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu's reign in the Ming Dynasty, the official salary was set at 87 dan per month for the first-grade official, while the lowest one for the ninth-grade official had only 5 shi per month. The difference between the two was more than ten times, and for the absolute For most officials, it is difficult to support their families solely relying on their salaries!
Salaries are paid in the form of rice, silver, banknotes, silk, cloth and various physical objects. The proportions often change. Due to excessive issuance of treasure banknotes, they are becoming less and less valuable. Therefore, many high-ranking officials use money when receiving their salaries. The imperial court refused to use treasure banknotes as deductions, and this part of senior officials was naturally passed on to lower-level officials, and most of their salaries were deducted from treasure banknotes.
"Your Majesty, I think what Mr. Yan Ge said is very good! Nowadays, prices are getting more and more expensive, but the salary of officials has hardly changed. If nothing else, take the price of rice as an example. The price of rice in the capital is from The previous one hundred and twenty cash has increased to the current one hundred and fifty cash."
"There are still many officials who need to support their families!"
After Yan Song proposed a salary increase for officials, Xu Jie knelt on the ground and begged the emperor.
"Well, what the two pavilion elders said makes sense. What do you think?" Jiajing said, turning his eyes to the other three people and asking.
"Your Majesty, I agree with the two elders that officials' salaries should be increased." Gao Gong, who was standing by, saw the emperor's eyes turning to him and said quickly.
"Where are you two?" Jiajing turned to Yan Shifan and Zhang Juzheng who had been silent and asked.
"Your Majesty, our opinion is the same as that of the elders, and we agree to raise the salary of officials!" Zhang Juzheng and Yan Shifan looked at each other and said at the same time.
No matter who it is right now, as long as they show a hint of opposition, they will soon become the target of public criticism and be ostracized by the entire bureaucracy! Since ancient times, there have only been individuals who betrayed their classes, not classes who betrayed their interests.
"Well, you all are so unanimous, so you must have talked to each other beforehand, right?" Jiajing said with a smile and a calm tone.
"I don't dare!" After hearing the emperor's words, a trace of panic flashed across the faces of all the ministers, and then they all knelt down on the ground.
"But, I'm not against raising salaries for officials. The lower-level officials are also having a hard time. That salary alone is not enough to support the whole family." Jiajing looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground and suddenly changed the subject and spoke. road.
"But, I don't know who should be responsible for raising the salary of officials?" Jiajing showed a hesitant look on his face, and then glanced at Yan Song and Xu Jie.
"Your Majesty, I would like to share your worries with you!" This time, Xu Jie took the lead and requested the emperor.
"Your Majesty, this suggestion was made by Wei Chen and should be handled by Wei Chen!" Yan Song glanced at Xu Jie and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen has been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue for many years and is very familiar with the salary of large and small officials! If this matter is left to Wei Chen, it will be done with twice the result with half the effort." Xu Jie gritted his teeth and continued to request the emperor. .
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen is the chief minister of the cabinet. He has assisted your Majesty in managing the government for more than 20 years. His experience in this area is as much as that of Xu Ge! What's more, this proposal was proposed by Wei Chen. Wei Chen I also have a definite plan over there.”
The first minister of the cabinet and the second minister of the cabinet had a quarrel over who would raise the salary of officials. Without him, the hidden benefits were too tempting! It can make thousands of court officials think of you well, and it can also form a good relationship, leaving an extra escape route, and it can also greatly expand your sphere of influence and attract more party members.
"Your Majesty..."
Just as the two elders were arguing, Jiajing frowned and immediately spoke to end the dispute.
"Stop arguing! Look at you two, do you still have the appearance of the first minister of the cabinet and the second minister of the cabinet?" Jiajing yelled angrily.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Seeing the emperor's anger, Yan Song and Xu Jie stopped quarreling and apologized to the emperor.
"Well, since the two pavilion elders want to take charge of this matter, then I will leave this matter to you two! You'd better come up with a definite solution for me, otherwise I will definitely not take it lightly. Spare you two." Jiajing said in a deep voice after thinking for a moment.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Then Xu Jie and Yan Song looked at each other and sighed helplessly.
"Okay, okay, I'm a little tired too. That's it for today's cabinet meeting!" Jiajing waved his hands with an impatient look on his face.
"Yes, I will send you off to your Majesty!" Then everyone bowed to the emperor to see him off.
…
Soon, with the spread of the news by thoughtful people, the emperor's plan to raise the salary of all officials became a hot topic, and officials of all sizes in the entire capital were talking about it.
"Hey, have you heard? Your Majesty is going to give us a salary increase?"
"I've heard about it a long time ago. It's spread all over the capital. Your Majesty is indeed a holy king!"
"I heard that this salary increase was presided over by Yan Song, the first assistant to the cabinet, and Xu Jie, the second assistant to the cabinet?"
"Hey, who cares who is in charge? It would be good to get more salary increases. I can hardly afford to eat..."
(End of chapter)
