Zhang Yan smiled, but there was no smile in her eyes: "Is King Xin here?"
"My brother has met the emperor's sister-in-law." Zhu Youjian came out and saluted.
Zhang Yan said: "Do you agree with what Liu Mao said?"
Zhu Youjian said: "My brother thinks that what Mr. Liu said is based on the ancestral system established by Taizu. Whether it is based on the ancestral system or not, I ask the empress to judge!"
Zhang Yan smiled and said: "King Xin, do you mean you agree?"
"yes!"
Zhu Youjian straightened his neck, looked directly at Huang Xiao on the left side of Zhang Yan, and said loudly: "Brother Huang was killed by a traitor! Now his life and death are unknown, the country will be destroyed, and it is my duty to do so!"
"My lord, second the motion!"
"My lord, please trust His Majesty the King to supervise the country!"
"Now that the evildoers are in power in the court and the court is in a state of decline, it is time for His Highness King Xin to bring order to the chaos!"
…
All the ministers made noises one after another.
After the eunuch who maintained order cracked his whip, the ministers fell silent.
Zhang Yan was furious. Zhu Youjian's words about life and death were unclear. He clearly meant that he didn't believe what he said. She suppressed her anger and said calmly: "The King of Believe is right. Since all the ministers have to invite Taizu taught me this, and I think it’s okay!”
All the ministers were surprised.
But I heard Zhang Yan ask Wei Zhongxian.
"Factory officials, according to the teachings of Taizu, officials are corrupt. How to convict them?"
All the ministers were shocked.
Wei Zhongxian said: "The "Great Edict" promulgated by Taizu stipulates that anyone who embezzles more than 10 taels will be dismissed from office and sent to the army, and those who embezzle more than 60 taels will be skinned and used as grass!"
All the ministers were horrified!
They all looked at Liu Mao angrily!
You clearly know that the Queen and Huang Xiao don't play according to the routine, but you, Liu Mao, just mentioned the ancestral precepts!
You didn't dare to talk about what we discussed before, but you insisted on breaking the ancestral teachings. Now it's okay! How to end it!
Liu Mao also had troubles to express. The ministers pushed him out and said that they were starting with the rumors about Huang Xiao and the Queen. But when the matter came to a close, Liu Mao backed down. They could discuss this in private. In the Jinluan Palace, he But I don’t dare.
At this moment, he could only bite the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, the times have changed, and the provisions of the "Great Imperial Order" are no longer suitable for use, so..."
Zhang Yan interrupted with a sneer: "So, if it suits you, you can use it, and if it doesn't suit you, don't use it, right?"
Liu Mao was sweating profusely and speechless.
Zhang Yan said: "In two days, all of you, ministers of the Ming Dynasty, have donated 20 million taels of silver! Ha! If Taizu had appeared, you would have been skinned and stuffed with grass, and hung in front of the Yamen for public display! What shame would you have? Let’s talk loudly here!”
"You are all scholars. Could it be that the more you read, the thicker your skin becomes? Have you become shameless after reading the books of sages?"
All the ministers were trembling with anger, but they didn't know how to refute.
Zhang Yan said: "If it weren't for your majesty's previous decree to let things go, I can ask you and others for questioning today! I am here to say it again. I can let things go for past corruption, but if it happens again in the future, Such behavior shall be severely punished without mercy!”
"Empress Shengming!" All the ministers breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhang Yan said: "Your Majesty has an order. With loyalty and perseverance, Huang Xiao will assist me and temporarily handle the affairs of the court! If you disobey the order, you will be severely punished!"
The ministers were silent and no one answered.
Zhu Youjian was trembling with anger.
Gu Bingqian said: "Madam, I am old and frail, and I am not qualified for the position of chief assistant. Please retire and return home!"
"I am too old, please resign!"
…
Wow! The ground was full of ministers kneeling.
Zhang Yan said calmly: "You are resigning and are not willing to assist me. Well, I agree!"
"You will leave it to Liu An, the acting commander of the Jinyi Guards, to verify the past! If you are innocent, you can resign and return home."
All the ministers were trembling!
This move... is too cruel!
"Your Majesty, after listening to your Majesty's teachings, I feel enlightened. I can still share my worries with your Majesty and serve the Ming Dynasty!"
"In this chaotic situation, I cannot resign! I cannot let down the expectations of my empress and your majesty!"
"I also think I can do it for a few more years!"
…
The ministers all stood up.
Zhang Yan laughed out loud.
Huang Xiao was also amazed. The reputation of a scholar is really not something to hide!
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "I'll just listen to you! What does Marquis Zhongyi have to say?"
Huang Xiaodao: "What Lord Liu Mao said just now, I think it makes sense. Times have changed, and it's time for the ancestral system to change!"
All the officials were stunned.
Huang Xiaodao: "During the Taizu era, laws were used to control corruption, and hundreds of thousands of corrupt officials were killed. However, why is it still difficult to eradicate it to this day? Of course, it is because of the greed of people, and there is also the reason of improper system. Our court The salary is so low that it is difficult to support a family and live a life corresponding to one’s status!”
"Therefore, I would like to invite you to redefine your salary!"
All the ministers were overjoyed!
The look in Huang Xiao's eyes changed!
This is not a sycophant, this is clearly the lucky star I have been waiting for!
The salary system of the Ming Dynasty is really difficult to describe.
During the Zhu Yuanzhang period, a salary system that combined rice and treasure notes was implemented.
For example, for a first-class official, the monthly salary is 85 shi, but not necessarily all of them are given rice, but a large part of them are paid with treasure money.
The lowest is from the ninth grade, with a monthly salary of 5 shi of rice.
After the treasure banknotes depreciated rapidly, they turned into rice + various combinations.
From the Yongle period, officials' salaries began to be reduced.
Zheng He went to the West and brought back a large amount of pepper, sappanwood and other items, so Zhu Di used these items to pay for 70% of the salary of the officials in the capital, and the remaining 30% was still rice. Wood, pepper".
Especially after pepper was widely cultivated, it became worthless, so that people used it to make food and sell it, such as Yueniang's spicy soup stall...
But the court still calculated the value based on the value when it was just brought back!
This is a bit deceptive.
No matter how you calculate it, if you only rely on your salary to live, you really can't survive.
For example, a chief assistant must have bearers, doormen, servants, cooks, nurses, maids, and other personnel. This expenditure cannot be achieved by salary alone!
Subordinates send ice and charcoal in summer and winter. During the New Year, there are Nian Jing, Happy Jing, Mourning Jing, and Men Jing...
Of course, salary is actually secondary, and invisible benefits are their important income.
Tianding Youwu is the main source of income.
For example: Scholar, the lowest level, can be exempted from 40 acres of tax and free of labor for two people.
After conversion, a first-grade official can enjoy tax exemption of nearly 10,000 acres! This income is enough!
Zhang Yan naturally followed the good advice and said: "How do you think Hou Zhongyi should distribute salaries so that officials can have a quality life without having to engage in corruption?"
All the ministers were refreshed and looked at Huang Xiao with bright eyes.
Huang Xiaodao: "Still adopt the monthly salary system, no longer discount the salary, just give money directly!"
Zhang Yan nodded, and all the officials agreed.
Huang Xiaodao: "As for how much to send, this will be discussed by you all and then handed over to the empress for judgment!"
Decide yourself?
Is there such a good thing?
The ministers were stunned.
