The emperor raised the butcher's knife. No one could really stop him from removing the salt envoys from the two Huaidu capitals.
After the imperial edict came out, the salt transportation departments in other regions were greatly shocked.
First of all, the salt industry in this dynasty was all government-run. Now the court has changed the system and actually sold the management rights of the salt field to private individuals at a price. This seems to be a big piece of fat.
According to the new regulations, the auction price will be determined based on the amount of salt produced.
On average, if a salt farm with an annual output of 30,000 taels of salt is auctioned and managed by oneself, one has to pay 150,000 taels of silver.
Salt merchants can come up with this number.
In September of the first year of Zhengde, the salt auction was officially announced, attracting attention from the capital to Lianghuai and Zhejiang.
Of course, the sudden removal of the Salt Transportation Department was also shocking.
When the news came to Zhejiang, some salt merchants from Zhejiang and Zhejiang came to visit Mei Kejia.
When he arrived in Shandong, Shandong Yunsi investigated several illegal salt sales activities on his own and submitted a memorial to the capital.
But this time it didn’t cause much commotion in the court.
In fact, in addition to Lianghuai salt, there were also Liangzhe salt, Shandong salt, etc. among the owed salt yin. However, this time the court only paid the salt yin from Lianghuai, which made it difficult for the salt merchants who held salt yin from other places to balance.
However, the reform of the salt administration was such a big reform and it must be carried out step by step. Just like the elimination of the people's animal husbandry in Ma Zhengli, Zhu Houzhao also carried out it gradually.
He was very profound in the extent of his reforms, but relatively conservative in terms of progress. This is what later generations called prudent progress.
The memorials sent to the palace by other transport officials contained all kinds of information.
There is even a chaotic situation.
The cabinet later suggested that the imperial court should issue strict orders. Except for the Lianghuai Saltworks, all matters in the Salt Transportation Department and Salt Class Lifting Department should remain the same as in previous years, and no one should change them easily.
Zhu Houzhao agreed.
He didn't even go after Shandong Salt's private salt scandal, because this system set up gave room for private salt. He did nothing else in his life, only investigated private salt, and ensured that there would still be private salt in the world when he died. Salt.
"Seven things to open the door, firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea. Salt is a matter of great profit. The imperial court will auction the right to operate the salt farm. Even if there are some variables, there will be many people who want to try it. The auction method will definitely succeed."
If the result is great, 900,000 taels of silver will go into the national treasury.
It easily exceeds the salt class in Lianghuai in previous years, and it is not necessary to set up so many officials. In the past, we would send out salt inspection censors at one time, and prevent Zao households from changing their registrations at another. The administrative cost was really high.
But the auction of the salt farm will also have another problem.
"Some ministers and princes came to ask if they are allowed to participate in the court's new salt system?"
The emperor is shooting arrows,
He was surrounded by his favorite ministers, Gu Zuo, Chen Jili, and You Simeng, the right deputy envoy who had just jumped out of the mud and entered the ranks of the capital officials.
You Simeng is a middle-aged man who has just turned forty. He has dark skin and short stature. He looks honest and has dull eyes.
If this case had not been investigated this time, such a person would never have been summoned by the emperor once in his life.
But it is indeed not easy for such an unknown and mediocre person to maintain his integrity in such a big environment.
Zhu Houzhao didn't think he necessarily had strong abilities, but he was well-behaved, not aggressive enough and more conservative than conservative. This should still be the case.
"No."
Zhu Houzhao answered that question simply,
"Whether they are nobles or clan members, they are already receiving salaries from the imperial court. The imperial court's auction method is to fill the imperial warehouse. What about them? The most important thing is that these people are involved, which will easily destroy the balance. When the time comes, The new law is broken in their hands, should I kill people or not?"
Gu Zuo followed the current and said, "If your Majesty's mind has been made up, I think that I should carry out the decree for the whole world and make it heard at home and abroad."
There is the banner of the imperial edict,
The auction house only has good reasons when rejecting, otherwise it would be quite stressful to reject the marquis and princes every day...
no problem.
"I can write this decree. But the auction house must also pay attention to the relationships behind those businessmen. Be more careful and don't join in. Once my new law is broken, it will not be as simple as peeling off the skin."
The three people were trembling in their hearts.
"I don't dare."
Zhu Houzhao stopped and asked, "The auction house is still short of an envoy. Mr. Li, do you have any recommendations?"
Gu Zuo thought for a while and refused, "Wei Chen is busy every day, and most of the people he contacts are people in the Shaofu. It is difficult to name the right candidates for a while. Besides, the auction house is responsible for this. This is the Sacred Heart Silence. I really haven’t thought about this matter, and I hope your majesty will forgive me.”
The emperor heard that Gu Zuo also wanted to part with some of the things in his hands.
You can’t occupy everything.
"I understand."
He really had to consider this matter carefully.
Hiring people is one of the most important things for him as emperor, and the auction house is a new yamen. It can easily become troublesome if he doesn't find people well.
But it’s not easy to choose this person.
Most of the people he trusted were already in important positions. This envoy was a fifth-grade official. He couldn't let Yang Tinghe and Wang Qiong, who were second- and third-grade officials, hold the concurrent post.
And some other minor officials seemed not to fully understand what he meant.
Moreover, this position is actually very challenging. Because it is a new thing, it requires the person to be smart enough and obedient enough. On the one hand, he should take the emperor's wishes into consideration instead of giving him all kinds of old-fashioned opinions every day. At the same time, he must also be capable. Be able to deal with new problems in the new yamen.
In fact, list these requirements together,
There is only one person who can make Zhu Houzhao feel relieved.
It's just that he didn't expect it to be so soon. After entering the Yichou Division in the 18th year of Hongzhi, he entered the attendant's room, and it has only been more than a year now.
After the emperor saw off his ministers, he walked slowly to Qianqing Palace. When he arrived at the door, he saw Jin Gui and Yan Song sorting documents inside.
"Jin Aiqing,"
The familiar voice appeared, startling Jin and Yan. They hurried over and knelt down, "See your majesty."
"No courtesy. Jin Aiqing, come out. I have something to say to you."
"yes."
Yan Song looked at this scene with some confusion. It was rare for the emperor to call someone like this.
Outside the Qianqing Palace, the sun was no longer scorching, and the autumn temperature even made people feel comfortable. The emperor walked in front, and Jin Gui followed behind.
"What do you think of Yan Weizhong?"
"Your Majesty, Wei Zhong is diligent in his duties and is a steady man. I hope that he has the talents of a pillar."
"Wang Xian is gone. Xie Pi is away temporarily and will not come back within two or three months. Yan Song, I will also send you away. Of these four people, you are the first to come, but you may be the last to leave."
Jin Gui was slightly panicked, lifted up his official robe and knelt down, "I am willing to serve the king and perform my duties with loyalty. I have never thought of him. Your Majesty said this, which is really embarrassing for me!"
"You are a person of few words, and I only have a few words with you on weekdays. But today I want to hear a few words from your heart. Do you really have no complaints if you tell the truth?"
Jin Gui still said the same thing, "Your Majesty will be the next generation of a wise king, and his ministers will serve in front of the emperor. The people in the world are envious of him. How can there be any complaints?"
"So after Yan Weizhong leaves, two more people will be hired. Do you have any suitable candidates that you can recommend?"
"Your Majesty knows me well. Apart from the matters at hand, I don't want to think too much about other people."
"You have an easy life..." Zhu Houzhao said this meaningfully,
In fact, simple people are also good at simplicity.
He could also simply come.
"You go back. Besides..."
Jin Gui lowered his head.
"Uncle Weining has passed away. Please write a eulogy for me. Just send it to the Dragon Eucalyptus."
"I obey the decree."
Yes,
After much deliberation, Zhu Houzhao decided that Yan Song was the suitable candidate.
Although it was a bit early to suddenly let him leave the attendant's room.
But plans can’t keep up with changes. Things and challenges are right in front of us. If there are suitable people but they don’t use them, wouldn’t that be a fool?
At least Yan Song has always been by his side and knows his attitude towards Yan Zheng.
If something goes wrong here, he has to go back to Qianqing Palace and wait for his pulse to be taken.
In August, Doctor Tan and Xin Hui came, but this time it was Miss Kui'er.
When I got there, I found that there was only Miss Kui'er.
She is still as beautiful as ever, and Kui'er is tall. Dr. Tan raised her since she was a child. I wonder if she took any medicinal baths or took any supplements.
In short, she has a slim waist and slender legs, with towering breasts. She is dressed in a simple and elegant light green skirt, which makes her body extremely slender. Standing up, she is not much shorter than this man. You must know that he often exercises and eats well, but he is also 1.7 meters tall. too much.
"The daughter of the people comes to see your majesty."
"Just be fine. Where's Dr. Tan? Why is it just you?"
"Reply to Your Majesty. Master has gone to Yongshou Palace."
"Yongshou Palace?"
"Master said that His Majesty has recovered from his illness and is in good health. He just needs to be followed up every month. But over at Yongshou Palace..."
"Oh, I understand. You don't need to explain." Zhu Houzhao already knew it in his heart.
Ever since the wedding was put on the agenda, the Mei sisters became anxious. They really wanted to celebrate the wedding, so it was okay to smile, after all, they had done it before. My sister Huaiyan didn't know what was going on, and there was no movement in her belly.
Some time ago, the two of them were deceived and went to do "faithful rituals". In fact, it was also because of this mentality.
"The two nobles are born with good luck, and your majesty is also a king loved by the people. He will definitely be blessed in the future." Miss Kui'er said comforting words, because she saw that the emperor seemed to be in a trance.
But she didn't dare to take a closer look. At a quick glance, she only felt that the young emperor was high-spirited and had a sharp look in his brows.
The emperor stretched out his hand in front of her,
As a doctor, she was even more nervous and her pulse beat very fast.
A strand of black hair hangs down from her ears, but it can't hide her blushing face.
The shyness of a girl is one of the most beautiful sights in the world.
Then I stretched out my hand to take my pulse, as if I felt an electric shock.
Thump, thump...
Kui'er thought she had made a mistake at first, her green eyebrows furrowed slightly, but when she looked more closely she realized that something was wrong, it was the emperor's pulse.
"Your Majesty..." Kui'er looked serious, "Why is your Majesty's pulse so fast?"
As a doctor, this was a symptom and the emperor's pulse, and there was no room for her to be careless.
As a result, I heard the emperor say: "The spring breeze passes by the willow waist, and hundreds of birds follow the fragrance. Of course my pulse will be fast."
