The sixth day of May in the second year of Dalong's reign of peace.
Great court meeting.
Liu Mingzhi waited in the back hall until all civil and military officials had arrived, and then pretended to be late and walked out from the back hall.
"Your Majesty has arrived, and all the officials are saluting."
"I see you, Your Majesty. Long live your Majesty."
"Free admission!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After the usual set of greetings, Liu Mingzhi walked towards the bottom of the dragon platform as always, his eyes scanning the officials' hands from time to time.
It looked like the officials had nearly one memorial in their hands, and some even had two to five memorials in their hands.
Liu Mingzhi's heart twitched violently, and the corners of his eyes trembled involuntarily.
The folds that were delivered three days ago were barely approved around midnight last night. So many have arrived as soon as the court came today. It’s hard to say whether there will be other folds in the future.
These bastards really don't intend to give themselves a way to survive.
Liu Mingzhi silently took out the documents about the establishment of the cabinet and the palace of the ten kings that were drafted by the Queen and approved only after he had approved them. Liu Mingzhi sat down cross-legged on the spot.
The document in his hand gently patted his palms, and Liu Mingzhi glanced at the civil and military officials on both sides with a neutral expression.
"My lords, do you have any plans to report?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have my own intention."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have my own report."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I also have my own intention."
"..."
Liu Mingzhi looked at the officials who were holding the memorials one after another like a swarm of bees, and the corner of his mouth curled up helplessly.
"Tobe, you say it first!"
"According to the order!"
Jiang Yuanming gently opened the memorial in his hand: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this year's summer taxes have been calculated, and the total is more than 48,360,000 taels, which is more than 10 million taels more than last year.
However, the tax amount seems to be more than ten million taels higher than last year, but in fact it is more than enough to make ends meet.
This amount of silver is not only the taxes paid by the people of various prefectures in our inner city, but also the taxes paid by the Jin people of the 23 prefectures of Songzhou and Daizhou and the 28 Turkic people of Xinfu.
Therefore, compared with last year, this year's silver taels spent to appease the Jin people and the new Turkic people, the state treasury is still in deficit by more than 11.7 million taels of silver after charging the summer tax.
Nowadays, the various expenditures of various state governments have reached the point where emergency funds need to be used.
Your Majesty, please come up with a charter as soon as possible, otherwise I will not be able to continue as the Minister of Household Affairs. "
Liu Mingzhi frowned slightly and pondered for a while: "Have you brought the tax accounting accounts from the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
"Replying to your majesty, I naturally brought it here. Please take a look at it!"
Jiang Yuanming put together the memorial, took out a thick account book from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Mingzhi.
"You all should take your seats first. I will calculate the summer tax accounts before proceeding."
"According to the order."
Liu Mingzhi took the account book, dipped his finger in the corner of his mouth and silently flipped through the accounts in his hand. Under the surprised eyes of the officials, Liu Mingzhi muttered softly for a while before continuing to read the next accounts.
About half an hour later, Liu Mingzhi stretched and closed the ledger with a snap, causing all officials to tremble instinctively.
Some nodding and dozing off, the drowsy officials hurriedly wiped the saliva from the corners of their mouths, rubbed the corners of their eyes vaguely and looked at Liu Mingzhi.
"Tobe!"
"I'm here!"
Liu Mingzhi chuckled and shook his head. He put the account on his knees and looked at Jiang Yuanming: "You old fox, you are playing tricks on me."
The embarrassment in Lao Jiang's eyes flashed away, and he hurriedly raised his head and lowered his eyebrows, not daring to look at Liu Mingzhi: "I don't dare, why did your majesty say this?
The old minister is so brave that he dare not play tricks with His Majesty! "
"I ask you, the new Turkic people lack gold, silver, and food, so they pay taxes with livestock, cattle, sheep, and leather goods.
The Jin people in Beifu have just stabilized, and the autumn grain has not yet been harvested. They use a small amount of gold, silver and medicinal materials to pay half of the taxes, and then use the autumn grain to pay the summer delayed taxes. Why didn't you explain it clearly in a sentence?
After selling the cattle and sheep, isn’t it money? Isn’t it money after selling medicinal materials and mountain products? Due to special circumstances, Jin Min could only pay half of the tax first, so it was understandable that he would delay replenishing it for one season.
The new Turkic people, the Jin people in Beifu, have just recovered from more than ten years of war, and they need to be given some time to gradually stabilize.
Your Ministry of Accounts only calculates the amount of cash, how can the national treasury not be in deficit?
I guess that the Household Offices in various state capitals are now dumping cattle, sheep, leather goods, medicinal materials, mountain goods and other in-demand goods from the two countries in exchange for gold and silver, right?
Yes or no? "
Jiang Yuanming nodded awkwardly: "Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise.
But Your Majesty also has to consider the difficulty of the old minister. It always takes a lot of time to exchange goods for gold and silver.
Nowadays, apart from emergency silver, the national treasury really has no money.
If a major event such as a natural or man-made disaster occurs in any state capital, Lao Chen, the Minister of Household Affairs, will be the first to bear the blame if he cannot come up with money!
Moreover, two days ago, Mr. Anjiang He'an, the Hou of Haining, came to the government office again to look for his old minister, saying that he was scheduled to set sail again on May 15th to trade with all nations.
At that time, there will be another huge expenditure of money. Now, in order to raise money, the old minister is as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.
Lao Chen, there is really nothing we can do about this! "
Liu Mingzhi subconsciously looked at An Gouer: "Jiang...Haining Hou, are you going to sail out to sea again?"
An Gou'er came out holding the Chao Hut: "Reporting to Your Majesty, that's right.
Now that the in-demand goods brought back from the West have been dumped, the Westerners who returned with the fleet have also sold all their goods.
At present, the wind and sun are beautiful and the sea breeze is smooth. It is a God-given opportunity to set sail and trade with all countries.
The minister discussed with his colleagues and decided to schedule another trip to Haijin Port in Haijin Town to set sail on the 15th of this month.
I originally thought that I would report the matter to His Majesty at the court meeting today, but I didn't expect that Jiang Shangshu had already spoken out on my behalf. "
Jiang Yuanming nodded in agreement with An Gou'er's words and looked at Liu Mingzhi with a bitter expression. "Look, Your Majesty, I am not making this up."
Liu Mingzhi nodded silently: "Now that the goods have been sold, it is indeed time to inspect the Western trading nations again."
"Brother... Your Majesty, do you agree?"
“Of course I agree, why don’t I agree with this good thing that benefits the country and the people?
correct! What are those Westerners who sold their goods for silver doing now? "
An Gouer looked at He Zheng, the minister of Honglu Temple: "Your Majesty, let the King of Honglu Temple talk about this matter. Honglu Temple is responsible for entertaining businessmen and envoys who accept Westerners. He knows the current situation of Westerners better than I do. action!"
"Master Wang?"
Wang Hezheng hurriedly walked out: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Western merchants and Western envoys are buying my Dalong's silk, porcelain, tea... and other goods in Shiliufang City, and are preparing to take them back to the Western mainland for sale. .
After all, compared with their Western goods that are in short supply, our country has a treasure trove of treasures and countless treasures. The goods they bring back from our country can often be sold three times or even several times in the country, making a lot of money.
Nowadays, Western merchants are in Shiliufang City, and they are transporting their purchased goods to the inns and inns arranged for them.
Everything is ready, just waiting for Haining to set sail, so that they can return to the country with the ship and bring these goods back. "
Liu Mingzhi tapped his knees lightly with his fingers and nodded gently: "A good thing is a good thing if gold and silver can flow into the people and make the people rich.
Are those Westerners still buying goods now? "
"I'm still wandering around the city. I heard that Haininghou will set sail on the 15th of this month. These Westerners are more aggressive than ever in buying my Dalong goods. They can't wait to take a break all day long!"
Liu Mingzhi clasped his chin and thought for a while, then raised his eyes and glanced at Jiang Yuanming.
"Old Jiang, you are sitting on the treasure mountain without realizing it. The opportunity to enrich the national treasury is right under your nose, can't you seize it?"
Old Jiang was stunned for a while, then gradually came to his senses, and suddenly raised his hand and slapped his forehead heavily.
"Oh, I am so confused!
However, Your Majesty, you must also understand the difficulties of the veteran. Now that the country has been unified for a long time, the records of various ministries and offices are piling up, and the veteran has no time to go around.
Otherwise, why would you be so anxious here? I’m still complaining to you! "
