Tang Zonglu's words attracted everyone's attention, and the two ministers also turned their attention to Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen smiled calmly and nodded slightly: "Yes, the original intention of setting up the three courtyards is to improve the lives of Jurong people so that their families can have enough money to pay taxes and have enough to eat. In addition, no As for years of disaster or famine, there is no way to save oneself and one can only wait for the imperial court to rescue them."
"Gu Zhi County is righteous!"
Tang Zonglu was in awe, and after saluting, without waiting for Gu Zhengchen to return the salute, he asked, "May I ask how much profit the county government made from this transaction?"
Gu Zhengchen wanted to curse loudly, but this guy was so pleasant before, but now he turned around and started handing out knives!
Officialdom is dangerous, not just for words.
Gu Zhengchen did not shy away and said bluntly: "All the business profits of the three courtyards in Jurong will be divided into three parts, 50% of which will be given to those who work in the three courtyards to provide incentives and support their families. The county government will take 20% , such as the county treasury for raising honest silver and other purposes. The remaining 30% is dedicated to the workshop and the corvees and workers summoned by the workshop."
"What is the value of raising honest silver?"
Tang Jun, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, was a little surprised.
Tang Zonglu knew that Tang Jun was out of town some time ago and was not in Jinling. He didn't know what happened in Jurong, so he helped explain: "Yanglian Silver is an original creation of Jurong County Government. It uses the silver from the county treasury to subsidize officials so that they will not take money due to meager salary and poverty." It harms the people and harms the people. It is said that a subordinate official earns four ounces of money every month."
Tang Junxin suddenly picked it up. Thinking about his poor rice bag, he envied the officials in Jurong and asked quickly: "Does your Majesty know this?"
Li Min coughed and felt quite depressed: "Of course your Majesty knows, but let's not think about it. Jurong's Lianlian Yin came from Guzhi County's source of income, not from the exploitation of the people. Our Ministry of Industry has no place to source it. go……"
Huang Su nodded.
These things are not a secret. There are many people in the court who are envious of the treatment of Jurong officials, but no one impeaches Gu Zhengchen for this.
The reason is very clear. The Lian Lian Yin issued by Gu Zhengchen was earned by Gu Zhengchen himself, and was not issued by withdrawing money from the original Jurong County government treasury. Gu Zhengchen could have lived happily on his own with a large amount of money, but He just secretly put the money into the county treasury for the purpose of raising honest money.
This method is similar to using one's own money to subsidize officials. It is supposedly against the rules, but the emperor acquiesced.
But this approach is unlikely to be repeated elsewhere, especially Jinling.
You must know that this money first came from the family, then entered the county treasury, and then was distributed in the name of the court as a special bank for raising integrity.
This means that even if there are wealthy households in Jinling who want to pay subsidies to officials out of their own pockets, the money will be given directly to the emperor and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and then distributed in the form of imperial salaries.
As for who paid the money and how much was given, no one will know without going to the Accounts Department to look through the account books.
What's more, where in the world can there be such a fool who pays money to the court and loses his own profits without even having a name?
What the world cares about is gaining both fame and fortune. If fame and fortune are both lost, who would be willing to do it?
Gu Zhengchen was a fool, but who could be the second Gu Zhengchen?
Taking a step back, it would be okay for Gu Zhengchen to get the little money from the Jurong County Government to give the subordinate officials a year and a half of money to support their integrity, but if it were taken to Jinling, he might not even be able to pay it out for a month.
Jinling is the foundation of the world. There are so many civil and military officials, as well as subordinate officials and government servants. Who can afford such a sum of money?
No one except Tobe.
But the current Ministry of Household Affairs in the Ming Dynasty cannot be said to be empty. It has financial review power, statistical power, management power...
But the fiscal expenditure authority depends on Lao Zhu’s intention. A small household minister is the steward of the Ming Dynasty. What the steward does is not allowed to listen to the master’s words...
These factors have also determined that Yanglianyin currently only appears in Jurong.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the people who were lamenting and said seriously: "In fact, from the official's point of view, it may not be impossible for the imperial court to spread money and raise honest silver."
Li Min's eyes lit up and he asked eagerly: "What's the plan?"
Huang Su, Tang Zonglu and others also came over. Even though they were high-ranking officials, the higher the official, the higher the consumption. For a small official to go to court, he might as well ride a donkey, but for a high-ranking official, he needs to ride a horse or a carriage, so raising a horse is better than raising a horse. Donkey cost is too much...
Gu Zhengchen solemnly said: "It is said in "Sun Tzu: Virtual Reality Chapter": Soldiers have no constant momentum, and water has no constant shape. This statement is not only suitable for the battlefield, but also for the imperial finance."
"What's the explanation?"
Huang Su asked.
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the bucket beside him: "In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were many wastes waiting to be renovated, and the court's tax revenue was limited. It would be difficult to raise honest money like the water in this bucket. On the contrary, it would be easy to exploit the people and make rest and recuperation an empty talk. From this point of view, His Majesty has his own reasons for setting a low salary."
Li Min, Huang Su and others had to nod.
Gu Zhengchen took two steps and came to a water vat: "If the imperial court's tax revenue gradually increases, the water from the bucket will become the water in the vat, increasing five times, eight times or even ten times. The imperial court will have sufficient finances. Naturally, the treatment of officials will be improved, and money to support integrity will also appear."
Li Min frowned and thought: "You mean to fill the national treasury? But this is such a difficult thing, and I don't know how many years it will take to achieve it."
Huang Su felt bitter, but that was not the case. Nowadays, in the court, officials leave at any time and change at any time. People have no long-term worries, only short-term worries.
How many years will it take for Hongwu to fill the treasury?
Besides, the people present were all from the Ministry of Works, not the Ministry of Household Affairs, so there was no point in saying these things.
Gu Zhengchen took a roundabout way and said softly: "The key is the method. If we find the right method, it may not be impossible to increase the treasury tax revenue by 30% or 50% within three to five years."
Li Min became excited: "Do you have any idea?"
Gu Zhengchen smiled and showed his white teeth: "Isn't it Jurong's approach to the Three Great Courtyards in Jurong? If it were left to the imperial court, there would probably be a suitable approach, right?"
Huang Su and others understood.
Gu Zhengchen is using Jurong as an experiment. He is using his own methods to increase the Jurong county treasury. If it is really feasible, then Jurong's success may attract the attention of the court!
However, Jurong is a county.
Governing a small county is different from governing a government. It is even different from governing a province. It is even more different from governing a country.
Li Min and others are not optimistic about Gu Zhengchen's idea.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Li Min, Huang Su and others, secretly gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Actually, when I looked through the history books of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, I found that a considerable part of their finances came from shipping. I thought, If the Ministry of Industry can build large-scale sea ships to sail to the Southeast Asia, it may not be impossible to obtain great benefits for the imperial court. And these benefits can not only fund the defense, but also the hundreds of officials!"
