After the emperor and his ministers reached an agreement on military affairs, Zhu Qiyu decided to continue testing, and smiled at everyone: "What do you think about the voyage to the West?"
In the previous battle to defend Beijing, Zhu Qiyu only communicated with his closest confidants regarding the most core secrets. Even Chen Xun, Wang Wen and others were excluded.
Zhu Qiyu knew in his heart that it was only a temporary measure and could never be repeated. If he always hides and tucks in with Chen Xun, Wang Wen and other cronies, they will have bad feelings over time.
So now, Zhu Qiyu didn't hide it anymore and directly told everyone that he wanted to sail to the West again.
When it comes to voyages to the West, these civil servants who have lived decades older have psychological shadows.
Back then, all the money spent on the voyages to the West and shipbuilding fleets were from the imperial court.
The huge profits from Western trade were all transferred into internal funds and went into the emperor's pocket.
What is this?
The most critical thing is that Emperor Taizong also used the money to do the two things that ministers hated the most: building Beijing, forcibly moving the capital, and constantly conquering Mongolia.
Forget about years of fighting and wasting people and money.
This move of the capital really touched the interests of the ministers.
As a result, the newly built Forbidden City in Beijing encountered "thunder and fire from heaven" less than a hundred days after it was opened. The three main halls in front of it: Fengtian Hall, Huagai Hall, and Jinshen Hall were completely burned.
Then Taizong actually issued an edict to punish himself for this.
That's Taizong, why are you so cowardly? Zhu Qiyu never understood.
Fortunately, in the Zhengtong Dynasty, when Zhu Qizhen succeeded to the throne at a young age, the ministers completely stopped their overseas voyages.
I just didn’t expect to send one away and another one to come.
This was only the third day of the Jingtai Dynasty, and the emperor came to discuss the voyage to the West.
Wang Wen was afraid that other people would say nonsense and offend the emperor, so he quickly stood up and asked: "May I ask your Majesty, how exactly will the voyage to the West be carried out?"
Zhu Qiyu explained patiently: "To build the fleet, the imperial court provided half of the money, and I contributed half of the money from internal funds. I took no profit from the Western trade, and all of it was at the disposal of the imperial court. It was used to pay salaries to civil and military officials, provide relief to the people, and prevent floods. Manage rivers and build water conservancy projects.”
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other in shock. Everyone has lived for so long, and today they are meeting the new emperor.
In the past, emperors desperately moved the wealth of the imperial court to their own inner treasury. The current Emperor Jingtai has completely reversed the situation and sent all his own money to the court.
This made it difficult for the ministers to deal with: The emperor is public-minded and candid to this extent, so do we still oppose the voyages to the West?
Before anyone could react, Wang Wen immediately changed the question: "May I ask your Majesty, is your Majesty interested in reforming the land and field tax?"
Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "I have no interest in messing with the land. I just want to sail to the West. If the profits from the Western trade are large enough, I intend to reduce the land tax and corvee."
Especially in Jiangnan, the taxes levied by the court are really too heavy, and I can't stand it. Didn’t I give Suzhou and other five prefectures a reduction of 50,000 shi of white grain before?
When the imperial court becomes rich in the future, I will further reduce or reduce the amount of grain levied. "
After saying that, Zhu Qiyu immediately added: "The grain supply must be greatly reduced. The number of troops in the capital must also be reduced, and the imperial guards in Beijing must be merged into Nanjing.
As well as the eunuchs and maids in the palace, those who could be dismissed were dismissed, and those who could not be dismissed were also placed in Nanjing.
It is necessary to reduce the population of Beijing, reduce the pressure on water transportation, and significantly reduce the burden on the people in Jiangnan.
The people of Jiangnan are also my people, and they can no longer be squeezed to death like before. "
After everyone heard this, they continued to look at each other. Such an emperor is really rare.
In the past, ministers and emperors would compete with each other and argue over the division of interests. It's better now, everyone doesn't have to do anything, the emperor will take the initiative to spit out the benefits.
This made everyone very uncomfortable.
Zhu Qiyu waved his hands and smiled at everyone: "You don't have to think that I am ridiculous, that is my character. I also sincerely do not love power and position, love vanity, nor are I arrogant or extravagant or greedy for pleasure.
I just copied a few eunuchs, and then used the money I got to build a palace that I wanted, and then lived in it and felt free, that's all.
Again, there is no need to even repair the imperial mausoleum, just a little bit can save the common people. "
When Wang Wen heard this, he ignored Chen Xun and knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty is the reincarnation of Emperor Xiaowen, the true Holy Emperor!"
The ministers reacted and quickly knelt down, shouting long live the mountain.
Zhu Qiyu's old face turned red. Although Wang Wen's flattery was a bit exaggerated, it sounds like it is very useful anyway.
The ministers were also very happy. The emperor did not compete with the people or the officials for profits, so most of the problems were easily solved.
Especially for ministers, the core interests still come from land. Since the emperor promised not only to protect the officials' interests in the land, but also to reduce taxes and service to benefit the people. The ministers' worries were completely relieved.
As for Western trade, it did not affect the interests of hundreds of officials as much as imagined.
At least not to the extent that the emperor needs to fall into the water.
Zhu Qiyu made a bold move and proposed another reform measure: the abolition of the medical household system.
The ministers all have a keen eye, and Ling Chi needs to be cut three thousand times, which will last at least three days. Princess Shunde's consort Shi Jing is still being beheaded, and the ministers were forced to watch the execution yesterday by the emperor.
Taking advantage of the fact that Princess Shunde was poisoned by the consort and the imperial doctor, the emperor wanted to make reforms to the medical households. No one dared to go up and touch the emperor's bad luck.
Just change it, it's just a doctor, it doesn't matter to the ministers.
So the monarch and his ministers reached an agreement that the hereditary inheritance of medical households was cancelled, and they could participate in the imperial examination and no longer be imprisoned for generations.
The ministers also know very well that after the reform of medical households, there will definitely be reforms of military households and craftsmen households.
But the ministers were really tired today and did not want to listen to the emperor talk about his reform ideas endlessly.
Especially for the generals present, it is enough to ensure that they have titles, land, and wealth. No one cared what exactly the emperor wanted to reform.
Zhu Qiyu also had a keen eye, and he didn't want to torment his cronies endlessly during the New Year, so he clapped his hands, and then more than ten women walked in.
The leading woman was particularly charming and beautiful, and everyone's eyes suddenly lit up. Most people also recognized that this was Li Xi'er, the master of the Goddess Pavilion, who was formerly the number one courtesan in the capital.
Zhu Qiyu looked at Li Xier carefully and couldn't help but nod his head. After the historical incident of seizing the gate, the Queen Mother Sun's edict to depose Jingtai said, "Destroy the palace first and build the palace to house the demon prostitutes." The demon prostitute in it refers to Li Xi'er.
Now that I have seen Li Xi'er with my own eyes, her appearance, figure, and tenderness are worthy of the word "beauties bring disaster". No wonder Jingtai is so fascinated.
After enjoying Li Xier's song and dance, Zhu Qiyu ordered a large reward and then returned to the backyard.
As soon as Zhu Qiyu left, the ministers became at ease. They were drinking and watching Li Xier dance, which was very happy.
Nothing to say for a day.
Early the next morning, the beloved concubines began to pack up their belongings and instruct their guards to load the cars.
Zhu Qiyu seized the free time in the middle and summoned Tuotaobuhua, Ala, and the leaders of the three guards of Duoyan.
(End of chapter)
