The emperor threw out a set of structures and ideas that seemed to have been well thought out, and then it became a question-and-answer time that made the advisers "painful" and "itchy".
"Your Majesty, if this is the case, Guangdong's expenditure next year will reach hundreds of thousands of taels. Where will the money come from?"
"Guangdong has decided to use taxes in lieu of wages, and with the newly added government land last year and this year, there will be no worries within a few years after the tenants are rented out."
"...Your Majesty, the people of Guangdong may not be able to afford more rent, and the hidden households have not been clarified."
"Ke Ze unified the rich and the poor to share the burden, and the people were not bound by corvee, so they could rent a lot. The rest, Huang Ming recorded, could be rented out."
"...Huang Ming Ji?"
"I ordered Wei Bin to go to sea with goods and bring only three things with him when he returned to Hong Kong: silver, human beings, and things that did not exist in the Ming Dynasty."
Wang Qiong's scalp was itchy and he tried hard to keep up: "So Huang Mingji can use the barbarians to farm, so the local corvee procurement must also be borne by them?"
"This is a detail that you and others need to discuss. Huang Mingji can bear it, or local commercial banks can bear it. The most important thing is that the people don't have to bring their own dry food to serve in the army during the slack time, or they don't get money when they answer the big battle. Yu Where the new law is understood, the wealthy gentry and wealthy households will naturally understand it. This method can make money faster than just escaping from taxes and servitude."
The huge government procurement market is worth hundreds of thousands and nearly one million taels a year, and how much can they earn from the output of all the fields in Guangdong in a year? There is only so much land.
What's more, there is also the private market that has become active accordingly.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that most of the squires will wait and see at first, so how can we establish trust?"
"This matter is nothing to worry about. Huang Mingji asked all the distinguished relatives to participate in it. Your Majesty, when the honorable relatives have done business before, they have no partners? These people know where the profit lies. What's more, Huang Mingji Sea Trading Company, Zhuan The large number of cars and boats required for operation, purchasing and hiring, is a huge business." Zhu Houcong looked at them, "The sea trade company went south with nearly three million taels of silver, and it turns over two or three times a year. Guangdong How huge are the business opportunities?”
"...Your Majesty, other provinces will not have such investment and effectiveness in the future..."
"Utility is first of all a rule. The common people can concentrate more on their own land, and the officials and gentry pay the grain together, so they have no worries about land tax; doing business and taxation are regulated, and the annual income of real money increases, and the expenses are flexible; farming, business, and education start from the bottom up. When more people's efforts are directed, vitality will be revealed; from the imperial court to local governments, etiquette and laws will be taught and covenants will be established, and the officials and people of the world will behave in an orderly manner."
Zhu Houcong paused for a moment and then said: "This is also in line with the laws of nature. This human principle is both an individual and a country. Everyone hopes to live a good life. If the current etiquette system only makes the officials and gentry become richer and the people more and more difficult, then it will The solitary yin does not arise and the solitary yang does not grow. Many of my thoughts on the new law originate from this. The reason why it is consistent with the laws of nature lies in the word circulation. People must circulate, money must circulate, and power must also circulate."
The government officials and the gentry uniformly paid grain and taxes, and the heavy pressure of the new law enveloped the counselors.
Guangdong has massively increased the number of officials and improved their remuneration. Can this reform really be carried out? What will be the reaction of other provinces after they know the true and complete face of the new law?
Yang Tinghe glanced at Sun Jiao: Yuan Zonggao is no longer here, and now you are the head of the country. Can you advise me?
Sun Jiao said nothing.
Yang Tinghe was heartbroken: Fei Hong, this old guy! After clearing up the situation where the old party still existed in the court, the emperor always had room for leeway. If the new law fails, the new party will collapse and die without a burial place.
Sun Jiao, the head of state, could sit firmly on the Diaoyutai and help the emperor control the overall situation.
"Your Majesty, I think that next year Guangdong will only open the Enke, restructure the government offices, and select officials first. As for taxes and levies, we should leave them to the year after next, right? We will compile and review the regulations next year, and there will be no major levies. If there are any, we will report them to the emperor and the local area. Buying from merchants. It will take time to educate the new laws, divide the gentry, and continue to use lawsuits and punishments as weapons to overwhelm the local area." Yang Tinghe still had to stick to the rhythm, "The most important thing, Your Majesty, the Beijing camp has not been completed, and the prince has not yet been born."
If Sun Jiao didn't persuade, Yang Tinghe would have to speak on his own.
He quickly assured: "The general outline of the new law has long been announced to the public, and taxes and levies must be implemented. Since the results can be observed five years before Jiajing, I think it is more secure to implement them step by step. Next year, the Guangdong government offices will have a new look, and officials will be able to fulfill their duties. One or two effects can also be seen in the procurement and commercial taxation; in the following year, taxes and levies will be determined, and the officials and gentry will pay them together. By then, the prince will be prosperous and the capital camp will be established. Even if the other provinces are frightened, they can only attack with more ammunition. Minister, wait."
Yang Tinghe said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, you will have to clearly understand the difficulties faced by the ministers."
The party leader asked for protection, and Zhu Houcong laughed: "Don't worry, Sir. I just hope that you and others will plan from the overall situation and don't shrink back. I have put forward these ideas, and you and others should try their best to act safely. Jiajing had a plan five years ago Just a preliminary look.”
Yang Tinghe breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty is wise."
Zhu Houcong looked at everyone again:
"In "The Supplement to the Explanations of the University", I read a sentence that I quite agree with. Whatever the people want, Heaven will follow it. Heaven uses the strength and wealth of the people in the world to entrust one person to be the king. It is not selfish, and will Rely on it to govern it, teach it, and nurture it.”
"Just as Taizu conquered the world, because of the rule of Meng Yuan, our Chinese people will always be slaves and their lives will be ruined. Those who comply with the destiny and act on behalf of heaven must comply with the human principles that everyone wants to settle down and live their lives. If I cannot make everyone in the world If it is possible to settle down and establish a destiny, the Ming Dynasty will increasingly violate human principles, and destiny will eventually belong to others. If everyone in the world is to be able to settle down and establish a destiny, the method may need to be found in physics."
Zhu Houcong paused for a moment: "There are many people in the world who call Qiu Gong evil talk, which is taboo for the emperor. He has a saying: Although the things in the world are born in heaven and earth, they must be equipped with human power to achieve their purpose. Their bodies have large, small, fine and thick. , its skill is shallow and deep, its price is how much. As far as a thousand coins, its body is either big or refined, and it must not be accomplished in a day. I deeply believe that this statement is based on the principles of things and people. reason."
"The world's wealth is not fixed, and the Ming Dynasty's fields produce all kinds of products. However, how the human power is used in accordance with physics will increase or decrease the world's wealth. I must implement new laws, because the Ming Dynasty's human power has been increasingly bound to the fields and corvee labor. Many things in the world are indifferent to it. Although this book cannot be fully trusted, it has the ability to understand the Tao, identify talents, judge the body, observe the people's sentiments, respect and revere, abstain from lust, be careful in words and deeds, maintain good dignity, value concubines, and strict internal governance. You can also read and think about the key points of governing the country such as establishing the foundation of the country, teaching relatives and relatives, etc."
The following paragraphs combine the framework of the Guangdong New Law with the theories of heaven, physics, and human principles, and the senior class is encouraged to follow up.
This was also a discovery that Zhu Houcong made after being introduced to him in the Wanfa Museum. Qiu Jun's "Addition to the Explanation of the Great Learning" was indeed "treasonous and unethical" in this era. It not only elaborated on the sensitive issue of the source of the monarch's legitimacy, but also even Proposed the concept of "labor determines value".
Although Zhu Houcong would not adopt all of them, it did not prevent him from using valuable contents to package his own theories of heavenly principles, physics, and humanities.
The current problem of Ming Dynasty is actually involution.
There are too many official restrictions, and everyone mainly thinks about the fields. The more daring merchants are subject to heavy restrictions, and sea trade merchants are even more prohibited. Although there are probably more than 100 million people, less than half of them have fled and become "hidden households" with no identity, no dignity, and no future.
Zhu Houcong knew that there would be many problems with the details of the new law, but that was something that his subordinates should help him think through.
His general direction is only one: loosen the ties first and release the productivity from people.
Seeing that they were thoughtful, Zhu Houxuan smiled and said: "This is an occasional gain, but I still need you to think carefully about it. I don't need the gist of the new law or the essence of learning. I just want a prosperous Ming Dynasty."
The seventeenth counselor and the two companions looked at him with complicated emotions.
Occasional gains... Except for Wu Tingju, everyone else is thinking: You have too many occasional gains, how come you always have gains?
The emperor does not want this reputation. He wants these advisers to use his wisdom to show off, to build a halo, and to gain fame.
But he wants results.
Of course, the advisers don't dare to talk about new academic discoveries outside now - they don't dare to snatch this honor by using themselves to save others. I'm afraid the emperor will also consider when he will officially disclose his knowledge.
Now it is just to reassure them: the new law is not random imagination, the new law is also in line with the teachings of the saints, and in line with the laws of heaven, physics, and human beings.
Therefore, the reform was also part of the way they created their literary name.
The consultants did not spend a long time discussing the feasibility of this structure, because after the structure was opened, they already knew the divisive effect of Guangdong's expansion and improved treatment on the Guangdong gentry.
With Huang Mingji doing the purchasing himself and the emperor borrowing money from the account department to do the purchasing, the financial pressure on Guangdong in a short period of time was really not that great.
So it soon became clear what to do next: institutional reform.
Having more official positions is naturally welcome, and it is also very effective to divide the resistance. It is also the basis for the next step to mobilize taxes, open businesses, and collect business taxes.
Next comes a very clear question: Who is responsible for going to Guangdong to promote the new law?
Sun Jiao asked, "I'll go. Once the queen is chosen, I'll probably be criticized if I still list the pavilions. Jiefu will implement new laws and reform government agencies in Guangdong, and other provinces will be in an uproar. I went to Guangdong, but To preach the new law and only supervise those who preach it can be regarded as your majesty’s warning of Jiefu’s power to focus on Guangdong.”
Ng Ting is confused: Starting screenwriting again?
Zhu Houcong thought about it and this was indeed the case. The head of state and cabinet minister was really eye-catching.
"Then let's arrange it like this. After the wedding ceremony, please go south. As for the people who preach the new law, the Ministry of Civil Affairs can gather all the officials in Beijing who were selected to take up posts in Guangdong to study together. We still need more manpower. One point, let's transfer people from the Imperial Academy, and you can also choose some people from the Hanlin Academy." Zhu Houcong remembered something and introduced it to them with a smile, "As for propaganda, I have sent Wen Zhengming, Zhu Yunming, and Tang Yin south."
The others looked at him in astonishment, did this action mean anything?
"Since Yang Shen visited the gentry, I ordered the three of them to record the changes in Guangdong in the past few months. Zhang Fu respectfully submitted that the poems, prose and paintings of the three of them are exquisite and can be published in a book. I have already approved the three of them. I am afraid that the poems and paintings are a bit sophisticated, so Zhang Fujing asked painters and poets to compile some simple and easy-to-understand poems for distribution in Guangdong. They were all signed in the names of the three of them and printed privately."
Yang Ting's and theirs' mouths opened wide.
Is this how Wuzhong Talent uses it? Isn't this worse than killing them?
Just find some cats and dogs to write and draw, let them sign their names, and let so many people read it!
Zhu Houcong didn't care what they thought, he only used them to their best advantage, and at most he could make up for it: "So it would be easier to preach education. Chen Jin has arrived in Guangdong, and the inspector Wang Hong and the commander-in-chief Jiang Xiuyi are all on duty. Zhang Fujing reported that there was no such thing. Due to the new disaster, Guangdong will only deal with those who seek rebellion, and there will be no major problems for the time being. I have ordered Wen Zhengming and three others to bring the new imperial examination son of Guangdong to Beijing. Before the wedding ceremony, please prepare the new law to preach and educate. Next year, Guangdong is expanding, adding more colleges and universities to take exams, and recruiting talents."
Let Guangdong scholars first feel the temptation from the exam editor.
…
Yang Tinghe gradually became a stranger to the officials in the capital, not only because of his "resolute" attitude, but also because of the many "imaginative" plans he came up with.
Everyone knows that Guangdong is going to implement a new law. The new law that Yang Tinghe mentioned at the court meeting where His Majesty killed someone last time is new enough. I didn't expect it to be so new now.
The organization has undergone major changes. From the officials who have not yet joined the ranks but are on the staff, to the governor, there will be nearly 10,000 officials in Guangdong Province alone whose salaries are distributed by the court and local governments.
This is nearly 10,000 officials with improved remuneration!
Then, the New Party actually "borrowed" 400,000 taels of silver from His Majesty's internal funds!
This has not happened for a long time. Emperor Zhengde never lent money to Hubuhua!
The strength of the new party is so terrifying that the lion opened his mouth and His Majesty actually agreed.
But His Majesty did not fully support it. The Queen was Sun Jiao's daughter. After the news spread throughout the capital, many people's jaws dropped.
His Majesty has said that this year's draft will no longer just select from ordinary people's families, but isn't this queen's background too terrifying?
The end of Sun Jiao's imagination did come true. He did not say that His Majesty could not make Sun Ming his queen, but said that Sun Jiao should not serve as a cabinet minister again.
They all stayed in the Central Government and were later appointed: Sun Jiao went to Guangdong to supervise and preach the new law. He was sent on a temporary basis and only took care of this matter and did not conflict with the Governor of Guangdong.
Checks and balances! There must be checks and balances!
We must implement new laws to strengthen the country, and we must guard against Yang Tinghe's continued rise to power!
Everyone sometimes thinks about Yang Tinghe and feels both admiration and pity.
After enduring it for so many years, it turned out to be a reform party, and its loyalty to the country was unprecedented in a century. Is it for the Ancestral Temple or for conscience?
I don't know, I admire him for having so many ideas in his mind for so many years.
But pity him: Guangdong's approach has simply pushed financial pressure to the extreme, and wants to use expansion to reduce resistance.
I don't know if it will work. But if it fails, Yang Tinghe and the New Party will be finished, and they will be punished by the clan.
Yang Tinghe's life seemed increasingly heroic. Every time he entered the palace and saw eunuchs starting to practice the ten physical fitness techniques, he couldn't help complaining in his heart.
This is the secret technique of boudoir. What have you practiced?
There was a lot of negative energy in his heart, thinking that the emperor asked him to show off and be busy, while the emperor himself was leisurely playing happily in the palace with the newly selected harem concubines, and Yang Tinghe felt aggrieved.
It was a very leisurely old age life.
Why didn't you imitate Liang Chu and run away quickly?
Wang Qiong is also super tired: Guangdong is undergoing a major organizational reform, and the most practical workload lies in other departments! There are so many yamen, so many officials and officials, how to name, determine their grades, fix their salaries, how to select and pass the exams, all of which need to be figured out as soon as possible.
"Just this time, if Guangdong's new law is successful, other provinces will follow suit in the future." Wang Qiong summoned all the officials, "Mr. Yang Ge said, those officials and clerks who deal directly with the people, Their official names and powers must be simple and clear. Also, pay attention to the superior and inferior jurisdiction of the Ministry of Punishment and the Sentencing Department, the superior and subordinate jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Taxation Department, and the superior and inferior jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Originally, according to the Procuratorate Division We also need to think carefully about how to reorganize it into the Department of Public Security."
A bald official in the staff department said: "...Great Heavenly Official, can't you add some people to our staff department first?"
"If you want to be promoted and if you want to hire more people in the civil service department in the future, do it first in Guangdong!"
The subordinate officials murmured: The original imperialists like the Datianguan helped the new party gain power, right, so that His Majesty could rely on them to check and balance the new party?
After all, there were stains in the past, and it was too precarious for the official position to be solely tied to the whims of His Majesty. A new value for existence must be created.
If the new law is enacted, will we bring the world's complaints to overthrow the new party and enjoy its success?
Dingguo Gong Xu Guangzuo also felt as tired as Wang Qiong.
All the way to Guangdong, my buttocks were almost knocked apart by the carriage, and I felt seasick again.
After I went there, I became a tool man.
Does Zhang Fuking have the authority to mobilize Huguang soldiers to go south? If he is not transferred here, Xu Guangzuo will rest. After being transferred, Xu Guangzuo put on a good show.
Of course, it's not useless.
With the establishment of important ministers and top ministers in Guangdong, the court's determination and deterrence are full.
But he was not allowed to rest for a while, and he hurried back to Beijing - His Majesty was getting married, and he had to go to welcome the bride on behalf of Your Majesty.
In three months, they fought from Beijing to Guangdong, and from Guangdong back to Beijing. The whole road was a rush march! Quick delivery!
Even if we were like Wen Zhengming and others, they could take a leisurely boat ride back to Beijing with the candidates for the new imperial examination in Guangdong?
If I had known this, I might as well have trained like Guo Xun!
The new imperial examination candidates are all paid by the government to take them to Beijing to take the examination. Guangdong is a long distance away, so it is better to start earlier for this subject.
The three great talents were only given Jinshi background, Wen Zhengming had not even passed the imperial examination, and the three of them were not in the mood to pay attention to those new candidates.
"I tried to resign this offering after arriving in Beijing!" Tang Yin said sadly and angrily, "Those paintings are like children's graffiti. How could I be allowed to sign and leave that seal! I, Tang Bohu, the first generation, have a famous name... Text Father, you must plead for me!"
Wen Zhengming's eyes were bright red: "I don't want to think that I will become a relative of the country after all."
"...Although she is not a queen, she is still one of the two concubines. I heard that it will be given to a count."
Wen Zhengming didn't want to speak and glanced helplessly at Tang Yin. He was only worried about the safety of his precious daughter who was raised a little wildly in the palace.
"Xizhe, why don't you say anything?" Tang Yin had no choice but to look for Zhu Yunming.
"You two have never been officials." Zhu Yunming was silent for a while, "I have been in Xingning County for several years, but I came here in a daze. I thought I was an official for one of my parents, and I did some practical things in those years. Look at these few months. When I came here, I realized the hardships of the people. I never thought about it deeply. You all have no official status and have always been carefree. I have been an official for several years, but I still bought some land. Now that I think about it..."
The three of them were silent for a moment.
"After returning to Beijing, I would like to ask your majesty to publish the work of the three of us into a collection. Zhengming, Bohu, your majesty has made the right use of the three of us. We are really not talented officials. We are already fifty or sixty years old. It’s just a bit of a bad name. The situation in Guangdong is the situation in the world. It is a matter of merit to spread our name. In addition to poems, paintings and paintings, there must be something else left behind in this life."
The plight of the people was not what touched him.
It was Yang Shen's madness, Zhang Fujing's decisiveness, Gui E's shrewdness, Huo Tao's tact...many real officials touched him.
In the big drama before Guangdong, Zhu Yunming finally realized that he was not suitable to be an official.
But now they knew the emperor's intention of ordering the three of them to go south.
Tang Yin thought for a while and then laughed: "I'm afraid it's a new law that will be recorded in history. Do the three of us want to leave our names with this? It's a happy event, Jingchang Valley, but it's a pity that he left a little early."
Xu Zhenqing died young, and one of the four talented people in Wuzhong has passed away. Now the remaining three have different opportunities.
The emperor invited them to serve as worshippers, not to compose palace poems and create portraits of noble people, but to travel around the world and record the world's affairs.
At this time, it is how people like Zhang Fujing are struggling to move forward, and how the people are suffering under natural and man-made disasters.
"In this way, will there be a day when you and I can draw a picture of a prosperous age?" Tang Yin asked again after drinking.
Zhu Yunming and Wen Zhengming didn't say anything, and looked at the river outside the boat together.
Who can say for sure?
But who doesn’t like prosperity?
(End of chapter)
