Zhu Di was indeed not stingy when it came to spending money, but he was very picky about official salaries.
"I've given them enough, this is non-negotiable." Zhu Di said, "Can you think of other ways?"
"I'm sorry, I can't do anything." Li Qing couldn't help teasing, "I want the horse to run, but I also want the horse not to eat grass. How can such a good thing happen?"
Zhu Di was annoyed, "Then tell me why they ran away so much. There are still so many people."
"There are so many people, but there are not so many things to do." Li Qing corrected, "With the flow of population, the number of people coming from the countryside to the city continues to increase, and the government will naturally have more things to do."
Xiaopang took the opportunity to interject: "Li Qing is right. Now that the people are no longer restricted by population and taxes, they all want to go to the city to improve their lives. This is a good thing for the country, but for the government, it is far better for the people to go to the city than to stay where they are. Easy to manage.”
After a pause, he persuaded: "Father, after clearing the land and dividing the land into acres, the future tax increase of the Ming Dynasty will be at least more than 30%. There are nearly 40,000 officials in the Ming Dynasty. Even if each person adds five dan per month, it will not amount to more than 30%." Two hundred thousand dan is less than 20% of the additional tax;
And once it is implemented smoothly, the additional tax increase will definitely exceed this figure. On the contrary, the positive impact of the national policy of spreading the tax across the land will be reduced;
In comparison, this little money is nothing. "
Zhu Di frowned and thought for a moment, then turned to Yao Guangxiao, "Old monk, what suggestions do you have?"
The old monk didn't answer because he had already fallen asleep while sitting.
After shouting a few times, the old monk woke up as if from a dream, "Your Majesty, did you call me?"
Dao Yan is really old. At the age of eighty, his ears are somewhat deaf. He can't hear even if you don't speak loudly.
Xiaopang turned up the volume and briefly explained the matter.
After hearing this, Daoyan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I also think that officials can be given more salary increases."
Then, he added: "But it should not be increased according to grade, but unified. The government will increase by five dan, and the county magistrate will also increase by five dan. For the county magistrate, the increase of five dan will almost double. They must have energy; energy
The princes and princes do not do practical things. Although a five-stone monthly salary increase is nothing to them, it can comfort them and show that the emperor is fair! "
Dao Yan is old, but he is not confused. This move can be said to be very clever.
Although the increase was five stone, the main targets were local magistrates who were in charge of practical affairs.
Just like a company's salary increase, a manager with a monthly salary of 100,000 yuan gets a salary increase of 5,000 yuan, and an employee with a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan yuan gets a salary salary increase of 5,000 yuan. They are not the same thing at all. The latter's happiness index is much greater than the former.
Dao Yan said with a smile: "From the minister down to the seventh-rank county magistrate, the salary increase will be five stones. The county magistrate, chief registrar, classics, and criminal names below the county magistrate will all rise two stones. In total, the monthly salary will be extra. It will never exceed one hundred thousand stones.”
It was reduced by more than half at once, and Zhu Di's resistance was greatly reduced. He nodded and said: "Master's words make sense."
After saying that, he glanced at his son with dissatisfaction and said, "You can get an increase of 200,000 yuan just by opening your mouth, you loser."
"...Father is teaching you a lesson." Xiaopang smiled apologetically, "Then do you want to implement it?"
Zhu Di nodded unhappily, but still left this opportunity to sell favors to his son, "Go ahead and do it!"
"My son, I obey." Xiaopang bowed his hands and resigned.
~
Having solved the trouble and spent less money, Zhu Di was in a good mood. He relaxed his frown and looked at the wrinkled Dao Yan, who couldn't help but show a hint of worry.
"Old monk, your body is not as good as before!"
Dao Yan didn't hear clearly, so Zhu Di raised his voice and spoke again. Then Dao Yan smiled bitterly and said: "You are already eighty, how can you compare with before!"
"Yes!" Zhu Di sighed, "We are all old."
As he said that, he looked at Li Qing and said unhappily: "Your body looks the same as before!"
Li Qing said sarcastically: "I have been practicing martial arts since I was a child. I am not even sixty yet. My body is naturally much stronger than the master's."
He has been the capital of Hongwu for fifteen years, and has been here for more than thirty years. If he was twenty at that time, he is only over fifty now, so of course he does not need a walking stick.
The age he gave people was similar to that of Zhu Di, who were both in their fifties and early sixties.
Li Qing also thought about forging a golden crutch in a few years.
Without him, money will do whatever you want!
Zhu Di glanced at him angrily and softened his tone, "At this age, you still care about appearance. Don't wear this mask anymore. You suffered this injury for Daming. Who dares to make irresponsible remarks? I will chop it up." he."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Qing said with a smile, "I'm used to wearing it, but now I'm not used to taking it off. That's good."
"It's up to you!" Zhu Di didn't force it, "Let's go to the front hall to chat for a while."
As he grows older, the once heroic King Yan is now showing signs of fatigue. He is no longer as brave as he once was, and he talks about things in the past.
When people get older, they like to talk about things from their youth, and Zhu Di is no exception.
The imperial dining room brought wine and food, and the three of them chatted while eating. Daoyan didn't drink, but he didn't hesitate to brag.
However, Zhu Di was mostly talking and the two of them listened.
"When my father was fighting against the world, I dared to look for him single-handedly when I was less than ten years old. My father even praised me." Zhu Di sighed, "At that time, I didn't know what fear was. It seemed like there was something in my body. Endless energy..."
Zhu Di rambled on, and the central idea was that his father had high expectations for him, and his love for him was second only to his eldest brother Zhu Biao.
Li Qing understood that this was a manifestation of Zhu Di's guilty conscience. Wasn't getting the throne always a pain point for him? He hoped that in this way, he could prove that he was the most valued person by Taizu besides Prince Yiwen.
The Records of Taizu compiled by Jianwen were scrapped by Zhu Di, and he re-edited them himself, with a lot of private information mixed in to cover up his guilty conscience.
Speaking of which, Zhu Di was also a poor man. He was trembling when Jianwen was in power. After he came to the throne, he was still trembling. He was afraid of being scolded, afraid of Jianwen's comeback, afraid... that he would be unable to face his father when he went underground.
Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief and said seriously: "Your Majesty, actually... Taizu has thought about passing the throne to you."
"Seriously?" Zhu Di paused and his breathing became rapid, "Father, have you really thought about whether the inheritance is located in me?"
Li Qing nodded, "Well, it's just because of the overall situation. I'm afraid that it will set a precedent for a vassal king to seize Dabao, and future generations will follow his example, so I have no choice but to do it."
"I knew it, I knew it..." Zhu Di took a sip of wine and his chest heaved violently. It took a while before his excitement slowly calmed down.
"What my father is thinking about is that if it were me, I would probably make the same decision." Zhu Di sighed, but he was still happy.
"Living Officer!"
The living officer hurriedly stepped forward and smartly began to record. As he walked forward, he was still chanting, "Ren Shenyue, banquet for the Grand Master and the Young Master;
Taishi said: Taizu intended to pass on the throne, but..."
"It's all Jianwen's fault." Zhu Di added.
The living officer was stunned for a moment and had no choice but to record it.
Li Qing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
After the living officer finished taking notes, Zhu Di dismissed him and continued eating, drinking and chatting.
~
Zhu Di was in a good mood. He drank a lot of wine, his face was red, and he was a little drunk.
"I wonder how Jianwen is doing." Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief, "It would be great if we could find him and our uncle and nephew could sit together and have a peaceful chat!"
As he said that, he looked at Li Qing and said, "You think so?"
Li Qing was speechless. Zhu Di couldn't hide the look in his eyes that wanted to kill someone, no matter how much he tried to hide it.
He didn't understand what the fourth child was thinking.
"The emperor is right, but it's a pity... alas!" Li Qing said regretfully, "Maybe he has... passed away."
Zhu Di looked straight at Li Qing, but Li Qing was wearing a mask and couldn't see the flaw at all, so he had no choice but to give up.
"Honestly, do you know where Jianwen is?"
"I really don't know." Li Qing shook his head, "Why do you think, Your Majesty, that he was hidden by me? If I want to support him, will I still help you?"
Zhu Di opened his mouth, and finally turned into a bitter smile, "Let's not talk about this anymore, let's continue."
…
A good man also talks about his bravery in the past, and Zhu Di talks about the prosperous days in the past. Li Qing is tired of listening to it for a long time, and it's just a perfunctory "um um ah ah".
After chatting for a long time, the banquet ended.
Zhu Di said: "Old monk, don't run back and forth in the future. Let your grandson find you."
After a pause, "Li Qing, you should be more considerate. The prince is like that. The grandson cannot slack off. Don't just think about being lazy. This is the hope of our Ming Dynasty."
