Just like Jiajing resisted all officials when he first took the throne, Zhu Zaijing must not give these civil servants room for imagination.
They thought that the previous emperor had been ruling alone for more than 40 years, and now that there was a new emperor, it was time for all ministers to rule the world together.
Zhu Zaijing will rule the world with his emperor and his ministers, but this minister is truly a minister like Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong who dares to change and serve the country and the people, not nerds like you who only know how to do it.
The officials felt very contemptuous when they saw the emperor's indecent remarks.
vulgar! Too vulgar!
Hope is not like a human king!
Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong even exchanged looks, as if to say, are these students taught by us?
"Back off!"
The man wanted to fight again, but when he saw Mr. Xu Ge winking, he retreated.
"Is there anything else you want to report? If not, just retreat!"
Zhu Zaijing waited for a while, but no one came out.
"That's the end of the morning meeting."
"Dear clan lords, don't go back yet!"
The Zhu family vassal kings, who had been napping, finally waited until they retired, but when they heard that they could not leave yet, there was a look of confusion on their faces.
"It's been a long time since our Zhu family got together. I've told Guanglu Temple to hold a banquet tonight. I want to have a good time catching up with my relatives!"
It's true that Lao Zhu's family hasn't gotten together for a long time.
Jiajing was originally a withdrawn person. He rarely even saw his son, let alone the vassal kings from various places.
As for the New Year, sacrifices, and other activities that the vassal princes could return to Beijing to participate in, they could have met the emperor, but Jiajing did not even attend the court meeting, let alone participate in these activities.
Therefore, Lao Zhu's family has not had a good gathering for more than 40 years, and it has been almost two generations since they have had a good meeting with the emperor.
Of course, Zhu Zaijing came to them not for family ties at all, but to borrow money.
Who should I borrow money from if not relatives?
The vassals of the Ming Dynasty were indeed a huge burden on the national finances, but the source of this problem was not Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang named all his sons kings of Sai. They all led troops on the border and occasionally went out to fight Mongolia and defend the Central Plains.
Lao Zhu probably did this because he felt that it was safer to have military power in the hands of his own family.
Moreover, at that time, the vassal kings did not have so many benefits and privileges.
The vassals back then were not useless losers like they are now. At least they had soldiers and could occasionally quell rebellions or something.
Not to mention the vassal kings such as King Ning, King Qin, and King Jin who have excellent military abilities.
The current vassal system was created by Zhu Di.
It is said that after Laosi succeeded in his rebellion, he was also afraid that others would imitate him, so he moved all the vassal kings to the inland, Jiangnan, reduced their military power, increased various welfare benefits, provided money and food, and entertained them with good food and drinks.
You can just eat and drink in the fiefdom and wait for death to enjoy it for the rest of your life. Don't have any inappropriate thoughts.
Moreover, every son of the vassal king will have a title. These Zhu family members who have nothing to do in the fiefdom can only give birth to children. After dozens of children are born, the eldest son will inherit the title, and the others will have other titles. All these expenses must be paid by the court.
Zhu Zaijing looked at the account books of the Ministry of Revenue yesterday and found that 40% of national fiscal expenditures, military expenditures, 20% official salaries, 10% palace expenses, and the other 27% were used to support these vassal princes.
Only 3% is used for disaster relief and various projects.
How could such a Ming Dynasty be rich!
In the surprised eyes of all the vassal princes, Zhu Zaijing walked out of the Huangji Palace.
Cabinet ministers followed suit.
In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Zaijing changed into his regular clothes when he came in.
Damn it, this dragon robe is hot and stuffy to wear, and the various gold and silver threads on it are quite heavy.
"I will tell you a few things first, and then you can go to your respective offices."
Zhu Zaijing said to the cabinet ministers while washing his face.
"First of all, it's a matter of the treasury, Taiyue."
"I'm here," Zhang Juzheng said.
"The national treasury only has more than 1.5 million taels of money, and the major granaries in the capital don't have much food."
The early years of Longqing were very difficult.
Almost until the third year of Longqing, the national finances still had not recovered.
Zhang Juzheng nodded, the current situation is so poor.
"Your Majesty, there is only three months of food available in the capital, and as the New Year is approaching, envoys from various countries come to pay tribute, as well as their return gifts, various rewards, etc."
"Increase revenue and reduce expenditure. We won't be able to increase revenue for a while. Let's start with cutting expenditure. First, stop all unnecessary expenditures." Zhu Zaijing wiped his face, "It was decreed to Guanglu Temple that the palace's expenditures should be reduced." to 100,000 taels per year.”
"Your Majesty!" Xu Jie exclaimed, "Your Majesty is the emperor, and to work so hard on yourself is detrimental to the royal family's face."
"I want to save face and suffer!" Zhu Zaijing said, "How poor is this country? Now the annual expenditure in the palace is more than 1 to 2 million taels! Let the people starve and freeze, and I myself enjoy the luxury in the palace ?How can I feel at ease?"
Gao Gong also stood up and said, "Your Majesty has wronged me so much. Why don't you ask me to wait..."
"I have made up my mind on this matter and there is no need to discuss it further!"
In fact, the royal family of the Ming Dynasty spent a lot of money.
It hovers between 1 million and 2 million taels all year round.
You must know that at the time when Shiquan Laoer, who was known for his extravagant enjoyment in the Braided Dynasty, the palace only had an annual expenditure of more than 2 million taels.
When Kang Mazi almost returned to Shanhaiguan after pinging San Francisco, the palace's expenses were reduced to 70,000 taels.
So, the Lao Ai family is indeed much better than the Lao Zhu family in terms of finances. Look at how many times they paid indemnities in the late Qing Dynasty, and they still had money to buy warships from Europe.
Zhang Juzheng looked at his student and couldn't help but sigh.
"There is hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty!"
Gao Gong was also relieved. Although his students interrupted him very rarely and did not listen to his opinions, he had to say that the emperor did the right thing.
After all, these people came from the period when the people squeezed the last grain of food out of their mouths to build the palace for Jiajing. The new emperor could be so sensible, which reassured them a lot.
"Envoys from various countries who come to pay tribute should not return gifts three to five times as before. They should pay back as many gifts as they bring. Oh, except for those tribes in the north, if they come to pay tribute, they should return gifts twice as much. It will be stable for the time being. If we live with them, we will make a profit if they don’t come to harass the border.”
Li Chunfang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, if countries come to pay tribute and pay shabby tribute in return, I'm afraid they will despise the Celestial Empire and undermine the country's prestige!"
This is what Zhu Zaijing hates to hear the most.
Countless lessons in history tell us that money cannot buy peace, peace must be fought with a knife and a gun. Why don’t these smartest people in the world understand this truth?
Look at America, if you don’t cheat the surrounding countries and don’t cut their leeks, it’s considered light. Do any of them dare to be dissatisfied with America?
Does anyone dare to accuse America of lacking aid and support?
"Mr. Li Ge!"
Li Chunfang is the second assistant, and can also be called the elder.
"National prestige is achieved through fists, not through gifts!"
"If giving gifts can enhance the country's prestige, then the Song Dynasty gave away hundreds of years of coins, and the Liao Kingdom, the Jin Kingdom, and the former Yuan Dynasty, do any of them regard him as a human being?"
Lin Chunfang was speechless for a moment.
"I have read Taizu's Records no less than you. In the early days of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there were very few reciprocal gifts to tributary countries. Is there anyone who says anything?"
The common people don't have enough to eat and they have to make a fool of themselves.
From now on this bad habit must be broken.
