The two people who walked into the main hall were one who presided over the reform of land and acres in Zhejiang Province, and the other who was far away in Japan.
Unexpectedly, they returned to the capital unexpectedly and entered the court to report. The officials in the palace couldn't help but feel curious, and looked at Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen with some unusual meaning.
Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen both had a hint of dew in late autumn, especially Zhang Wen.
He took a boat from the Yangtze River into the Qinhuai River and entered the city outside Dongshui Pass. Above the river, the water vapor is the heaviest at this moment.
When the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were curious and wondering why the two of them returned to Beijing at this time. Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen also looked puzzled at the positions between the emperor, prince and grandson on the steps.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the emperor's grandson sitting in an armchair. Then there was His Majesty the Emperor, who put his hand on Taisun's shoulder and stood aside with his hands on his hips.
Finally, the crown prince stood aside. Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen didn't have time to think too much. When they arrived at the palace, they shook their robes and knelt on the ground.
The two looked solemn and solemn.
"Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen, please see your majesty, the prince, and the grandson." With joy in his heart, Zhu Yunxi turned to look at the old man beside him.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his eldest grandson and nodded slightly. Then, Zhu Yunxi faced Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen and said, "I have returned from thousands of miles away with the emperor's orders. Get up." The two received the order to thank En and stood up.
Zhu Yunxi then said with a smile: "After all, you two have been away from Beijing for a long time. What is the situation in Zhejiang and the Japanese country now? Have the officers and soldiers of the Japanese army been brave enough?" Xia Yuanji and Zhang Wen looked at each other.
One of them was in charge of the reform of land and commercial taxation in Zhejiang. One is called the deputy general of the Japanese army, but he is actually the general responsible for the Ming Dynasty's military operations in the Japanese territory.
Xia Yuanji looked at Zhang Wen's eyes and smiled. Then, pride gradually emerged. Then he bowed to his Majesty's steps.
"Xia Yuanji, the minister, received the emperor's order and was appointed as the deputy director of Zhejiang Province's disaster relief and restructuring. He entered Zhejiang Province in the winter of the 24th year of Hongwu. He counted the acres of land, implemented the system of dividing the land into acres, integrating officials and gentry, and collecting commercial taxes. After the cold and summer, the country became more and more prosperous. Over the years, Zhejiang Road has been renovated and its appearance has begun to show results, so they returned to Beijing with the fruits and presented them to the court and His Majesty." The reform of Zhejiang Road has achieved results!
Although this result was expected by all the officials, no one wanted to see this day come with their own eyes when it came to the matter of sharing the land with the peasants and integrating the officials and the gentry.
However, the emperor spoke expectantly: "Oh? Thanks for your hard work, Xia Qing, quickly tell us about the current situation of Zhejiang Province. How much is the amount of summer grain and autumn tax in Zhejiang Province this year? How much is the commercial tax? What is the livelihood of the local people? How can they afford it?" Be fully clothed and warm." This is also the question of everyone in Zhongji Hall at this moment.
If Zhejiang Dao has achieved remarkable results after the restructuring from last winter to now, then there will no longer be any obstacles to the comprehensive implementation of restructuring by all Dao in the Ming Dynasty.
At least, the emperor will definitely enforce it by force. Facing Emperor Hongwu who was standing on the throne, no one wanted to become his enemy.
No! In today's Ming Dynasty, in today's world, no one is qualified to compete with him! This is the emperor's majesty established by every life and every head since the founding of the Ming Dynasty twenty-five years ago.
Xia Yuanji held his head high, took out the memorial he had compiled and written earlier from his sleeve, held it in his hands, and raised it above his head.
Sun Gouer, with sharp eyes and quick hands, hurriedly walked down the steps again, carefully took the memorial, trotted back to the steps, and presented it to the emperor.
Zhu Yuanzhang took the memorial. Xia Yuanji also said: "His Royal Highness the King of Qin, in charge of his ministers and others, has worked hard to reform Zhejiang Province, and the results have been remarkable." This Xia Weizhe really admitted that the results of Zhejiang Province's reform have been remarkable!
In the court hall, the officials began to whisper. But Xia Yuanji's voice echoed in the hall for a long time.
"This year, a total of 3,977,821 loads of rice and wheat were collected in Zhejiang Province for summer and autumn grains." There was a bang.
The entire Zhongji Palace was in an uproar, and the original whispers turned into loud thunder, which directly covered up the speech Xia Yuanji prepared next.
"This is impossible!"
"How could there be such an extra amount!"
"It's really shocking to achieve such results at just one year old..."
"There is exploitation happening in Zhejiang Province. Why is there such... such a harvest..." The color of the entire Zhongji Palace, especially those civil servants, those who hold household positions among the civil servants, has completely changed.
At this moment, even the supervisory censors on both sides of the hall forgot to correct the court discipline, as if their jaws were hitting the ground.
On the steps, Zhu Yuanzhang's hand holding the memorial was also trembling silently. Zhu Yunxi had already expected it, so when he saw such a scene, he was not anxious. Instead, he waited for a while, then coughed twice and said in a deep voice: "Silence!" After repeating this several times, the supervisory censors on both sides Only then did he wake up and began to join the team that corrected the discipline of the court.
After a while, the restlessness in Zhongji Hall became smaller. Zhu Yunxi looked at the energetic Xia Yuanji and signaled: "Weizhe, continue." Xia Yuanji nodded. When he first saw this number, he was far more shocked and surprised than the officials in the court now.
Xia Yuanji continued: "This year, Zhejiang Province has levied taxes on merchants, merchants, gateways, merchants, and maritime merchants, totaling 770,000 taels of silver."
"The salt tax is levied at 370,000 yuan."
"There are tea classes, weaving, pearl fishing, firewood, coinage, etc., if there is an increase..." Xia Yuanji continued to report the harvest of Hongwu, Zhejiang Province in the past twenty-five years one by one.
But in Zhongji Hall, all the civil and military officials, up to the emperor, were completely numb.
"When did our Ming Dynasty become so rich?"
"Such a lot of money, grain, and banknotes?"
"So much, hearing it is like a dream..."
"..." Sighs blurted out uncontrollably from Baiguan's mouth. Zhu Yunxi was also greatly surprised.
Although he knew that the restructuring of Zhejiang Province would achieve fruitful results, he never imagined that there would be such huge benefits.
Just like the two taxes in summer and autumn. In recent years, Zhejiang Province has only collected more than 2.7 million Dan per year because the mountains are divided into seven parts and the land is divided into three parts.
But this year, nearly four million dan were collected. An increase of about 1.3 million dan! And the commercial tax is even more excessive, with a tax of nearly 800,000 taels!
So damn rich! Even Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but sigh fiercely in his heart at this moment.
Like everyone in the palace, Prince Zhu Biao also had a surprised expression at this moment, but he quickly reacted. Then he looked at Xia Yuanji and said in a deep voice: "Xia Weizhe, is what Zhejiang Dao said true?" The summer and autumn taxes increased by 1.3 million taels, and the commercial tax increased by nearly 800,000 taels.
Not to mention other taxes such as salt class, tea class, etc. Just these two things are enough to be called great merit. Xia Yuanji solemnly nodded: "Reporting to the crown prince, everything Zhejiang Dao said is true. Today, in Taicang, Hangzhou Prefecture, there are 3 million dan of Zhejiang Dao's summer and autumn taxes released, 600,000 taels of tax silver, and countless other taxes levied by various taxes. The imperial court can send officials at any time to the Hangzhou Prefecture for inventory and accounting." This is the advantage of the imperial center having direct control over taxes. The taxes collected can be collected directly and clearly and delivered to Taicang, the state capital, and no fraud is allowed.
The prince smiled, very happy. Zhu Yunxi turned back to look at the old man, whose eyes were constantly shining at this moment.
Then, he looked at the officials in the court, who all looked shocked. Zhu Yunxi immediately asked in a deep voice: "Weizhe, Zhejiang Province, whether there is any exploitation of the two taxes, commercial taxes, and various taxes this year, can the people have enough food and clothing, and can the place live in peace and contentment?" This is also the most important question. .
If they are exploited, they don't give the people any surplus grain, and they confiscate every merchant, no matter how much grain they have, they can get it.
The most important thing for the imperial court is to make the country rich and the people strong. Xia Yuanji raised his already high head even higher, and straightened his straight waist even more.
"Reporting to my grandson, the people of Zhejiang Province are living in peace, their families have enough food and clothing, and the merchants are operating smoothly and the economy is flowing. There will be no exploitation and forced conquest in Zhejiang Province this year. The imperial court can do this and order the Third Division and Jinyiwei to check. Zhejiang Province will never cover up or deceive!" Throughout the year, Xia Yuanji visited eleven prefectures and counties in Zhejiang Province, leading people to verify the summer and autumn taxes, commercial taxes, and the collection of various taxes one by one.
"The achievements of Zhejiang Dao are brilliant, I am very happy!" Finally, after a long shock, Zhu Yuanzhang, as the emperor, personally affirmed Xia Yuanji's official report.
The emperor finished speaking. Countless people took steps on the civil service train. Zhan Hui, the Minister of Civil Affairs, grabbed the first place, waving his sleeves and standing in front of the court with a rosy face.
"Zhan Hui, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, please report to Your Majesty and issue an edict to grant permission to the capital of the Ming Dynasty and the remaining eleven provinces to carry out the restructuring of Zhejiang Province this year, to increase taxes for the country and to provide more food and clothing for the people. , create a peaceful and prosperous Ming Dynasty for all eternity!" Yu Xin, who was still thinking about the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, was half a step too late after all.
He had no choice but to stick to Zhan Hui and bow down to ask for orders: "I second the proposal, please your Majesty to implement the reform of Zhejiang Dao." Behind, more officials from various departments and departments of the court came out to report.
"I second the proposal and ask Your Majesty to approve the reform." These people are either loyal to the court, or they work hard to govern, or they are loyal and good people who serve the country in the name of the country.
The purpose is different, but the goal is the same. But those officials who came from noble families, had countless fertile fields in their families, and were dependent on merchants, were like sitting on wax.
Seeing each and every colleague completely abandoning their neutral or hesitant attitude towards the restructuring of Zhejiang Province and fully moving towards promoting the restructuring, I felt anxious and uneasy.
The tide has changed. Everyone knows that there is a lot of money in the world, but no one really thought that the imperial court could have so much money without affecting the people's livelihood.
You know, Zhejiang Road is a place divided into seven parts by mountains and three parts by land. Even in such a place, the tax collection amount is nearly 4 million dan.
If it were moved to important grain-producing areas such as Zhili, Huguang, Jiangxi, Henan, and Shandong, how much more tax would the court pay?
If the commercial tax reform is implemented in Zhili, just Suzhou Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture, Changzhou Prefecture, and Yangzhou Prefecture, where merchants are developed, will be able to collect as much tax money as possible for the imperial court.
OK! OK! No one dared to imagine what that would be like. Can the Ocang of the Ministry of Revenue and Taicang of various parts of the imperial court be accommodated?
At this moment, almost most of the officials were already wondering whether the imperial palace could hold the taxes and taxes collected.
Even Zhu Yunxi didn't expect that change would come so quickly. But he didn't know that more than half of the officials who went out to work not only saw the fact that the imperial court's annual income had greatly increased, but also saw that the emperor had completely decided on this matter, so why not do it more cheerfully at this time.
Zhu Yuanzhang, on the other hand, glanced at the officials in front of him who were asking for memorials, and looked at Zhang Wen, the deputy general of the anti-Japanese army and Marquis of Huining, who was standing aside.
"Marquis Huining, how are the affairs of the Japanese state?" The emperor was not eager to make a conclusion on the restructuring because of the achievements of Zhejiang Road, but asked about the affairs of the Japanese state.
Huining Hou Zhang Wen was shocked. After hearing what Xia Yuanji said about Zhejiang Road, Zhang Wen was already thinking about what they were doing in the Japanese country, and it should not be exposed to the eyes of His Majesty and the court officials.
Zhang Wen coughed slightly and spoke slowly: "Reporting to your majesty, I went out to suppress the Japanese army in the autumn of last year. I arrived at the Japanese rock site in early winter. I gathered craftsmen and husbands of the Korean and Japanese people of the Li family. When the ministers went to sea and returned to the capital in the early summer of this year, a total of Five hundred thousand taels of silver were mined and smelted, and this time they were anchored outside Dongshui Pass. There were also other outputs such as copper and iron that could not be transported back to Beijing this time, and were stored in the camp of the Japanese army. Three thousand Japanese were also liberated and transported to Shanxi and other coal mines. There are more than two thousand Japanese pirates currently imprisoned in Suzhou Prefecture, guarded by Zhenhai Guards." Zhang Wen said clearly.
This time I brought back 500,000 taels of silver and they were just outside Dongshui Pass. Another 3,000 Japanese were sent to Shanxi to dig coal mines, and more than 2,000 Japanese were imprisoned in Suzhou Prefecture.
Five hundred thousand taels compared to nearly 800,000 taels of tax money in Zhejiang Province is not surprising at first glance. However, just between the messages, someone calculated it and woke up.
Damn it, the Japanese army arrived last winter to search for, mine, excavate, and smelt. They shipped it back to Beijing in early summer this year, bringing back half a million taels of silver in less than half a year.
This will save the time to build the mine in the early stage. If more miners are added, some people have concluded that the Japanese court can get a minimum of two million taels of silver income per year!
A household manager suddenly stretched his neck, belched loudly, then raised his eyes, and fell straight back to the ground.
The entire Zhongji Palace went crazy. At this moment, both civil servants and military generals began to whisper to each other without scruples, constantly discussing the extra money and food provided by the court.
Yu Xin, who had not become the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, also opened his mouth and muttered: "I have never been such a wealthy official of the Ministry of Finance..."
"Okay!" This time, Zhu Yunxi was the first to speak, staring at Zhang Wen with twinkling eyes: "The army that suppressed the Japanese has made great contributions to the country, and the imperial court will definitely reward him generously. All the soldiers on the front line will have their merits tested!" The eldest grandson shouted. Zhu Yuanzhang, who unconsciously fell into a dream, was awakened.
Looking at Zhongji Hall, which had completely lost its appearance from the early morning, Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of getting angry.
He looked down at his eldest grandson sitting in an armchair. Looking at the lively court hall at the entrance of the city, a surge of pride that was so lively that he almost had to shout to vent it was constantly growing in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.
“We have money in Ming Dynasty!”…………Now that Ming Dynasty has money, I also want to have a monthly pass~~~
