Zhu Houzhao's grand military parade officially ended. Soon after, the envoys in Beijing from all the countries surrounding the Ming Dynasty were shocked and frightened. The Ming Dynasty was simply unable to compete with such strength.
The news has spread out from the capital, and they don't know how much of a disturbance it will cause when they return to their respective countries. It depends on whether they are smart or not.
Putting aside these remarks, the Minister of Revenue came into the palace early in the morning. As soon as he entered the palace, he complained loudly that the treasury had no money. The cost of this military parade was more than the emperor's own military expedition. Now it is At the beginning of the first year of Zhengde, many places were in need of money, military pay, and court expenses. These have not yet been provided. What should we do? How can we make up for this gap.
It is impossible for the ministers not to be paid, as they have a large family to pay for, and it is impossible for the soldiers not to be paid. Your Majesty has just made a promise and then breaks his promise. How will the people of the world think about this?
"The balance of your Majesty's treasury is already insufficient. For this military parade, 110,000 silver will be used to reward 100,000 Iron Eagle Guards. The Datong, Xuanfu, and Jinzhou armies will each receive 50,000 silver, and the salary will be 900,000 taels. The imperial court will spend only 900,000 taels of silver this year. I'm afraid it will be reduced." The Minister of Household Affairs said aggrievedly.
He proposes to reduce the expenses of the court. He is afraid that if he goes out, he will be criticized, impeached and criticized by the ministers. There is no way. This is something that offends people in the first place. Who told us to have a noisy majesty?
Zhu Houzhao tapped the dragon case with his fingers. When the money arrived, there was money, but this was his own private treasury. The Ministry of Revenue was obviously here to ask for the money. Once this hole was opened, he would reach out when there was a shortage of money in the future. That would be fine. , No, we must not be fooled by this old guy.
But how to deal with this old guy? Zhu Houzhao had a headache.
The tax revenue from the south has been sent to the north for relief, and the commercial tax has just started. The effect will not be known until autumn at the earliest. Moreover, the tax system has only been tried out and is not yet perfect. Who knows the effect. Nothing can be accomplished overnight. No, step by step, Zhu Houzhao is also a man, not a god.
"I love you, please step aside. I will come up with a solution. Wait a few days and there will be money in the treasury." He sent the Minister of Revenue to leave.
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is puzzled and has no choice. If Your Majesty does not accept the offer, he has no choice. There is no money in the treasury, so I don’t know what your Majesty can do.
"I excuse myself."
After solving the border town, there is a shortage of silver in the court, and there is only so much tax revenue. It is not an option to demolish the east to make up for the west. Fortunately, someone made a big windfall a few days ago. In a few days, the contribution from the Confucius Mansion will be needed. Entering Beijing, as well as the trial operation of the commercial tax in the capital, must also be implemented in advance. Otherwise, how to pay the ministers salary, if this hurdle cannot be overcome, it will be a big trouble.
Zhu Houzhao was deep in thought. Outside the door, Liu Jin came in with breakfast. Seeing the emperor's deep thought, he said, "Your Majesty, it's time to eat. This is the soup the Queen Mother has cooked for you personally. I told my slaves to keep an eye on you." Drink.”
Liu Jin's words did not awaken Zhu Houzhao's thoughts, and he carefully called again; "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
After calling several times, Zhu Houzhao came back to his senses. He frowned listlessly and said, "Didn't you tell me not to disturb me?"
Liu Jin was startled and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, it's the Queen Mother's order. I don't dare to disturb you. It's time to eat."
Only then did Zhu Houzhao realize that the cup of soup he was holding in his hand exuded an alluring aroma. He seemed to be a little hungry. The late emperor advocated frugality. Although Zhu Houzhao was now in power, the rules in the palace remained the same. Save, the emperor's breakfast is not as rich as the breakfast in the minister's home, how pitiful.
Seeing that the emperor didn't lose his temper anymore, Liu Jin breathed a sigh of relief carefully and served Zhu Houzhao eating. While Zhu Houzhao was eating happily, he thought about the emperor's expression before and asked tentatively: "The emperor has something to worry about, slave. I am willing to share the emperor's worries, but the emperor is worried about money?"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he wiped his mouth, looked at the dead eunuch, and said with some meaning: "It seems that you know a lot about the imperial court."
Liu Jin didn't expect that his flattery would be slapped on the horse's leg. He didn't expect that his remarks would cause the emperor to misunderstand. What should he do? Please explain it quickly.
"Your Majesty, this servant is loyal and devoted to serving the Emperor. I don't have the courage. I just saw the Emperor's worries and made blind guesses on my own. Please see it clearly, Your Majesty...!"
Zhu Houzhao just warned him, and had no intention of blaming her. Liu Jin was still quite capable in doing things. This dead eunuch was still useful. Occasionally beating was still necessary. His tail was raised to the sky. He didn't know his last name. Yes, the effect is pretty good.
"Okay, okay, what's the point of showing loyalty? I don't blame you. Get up."
Liu Jin's back was dripping with cold sweat. The naughty prince who he could control his temper back then was now the emperor who dominated the world. It was better to be honest. The most important thing was to serve the emperor well and have a good death in the future.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for loving me. I'm so heartbroken that I can't repay you."
Zhu Houzhao took a few sips, drank the soup in the bowl, leaned back on the dragon chair with satisfaction, and pointed to his shoulder. Liu Jin understood and stood up to serve. Zhu Houzhao half-squinted his eyes and said: "You are right, I am I'm worried about money, there's no money in the treasury, and the court is running out of money this year, hey, it's such a big court."
Liu Jin knew what the emperor was thinking. He was trying to cause trouble again in disguise. The merchants in the capital investigated what they were talking about last time, but then there was no movement. Could it be that the emperor really forgot about them? Of course not. , it just lacks a proper opportunity and excuse.
Now, isn't it? The imperial court is short of money, so these "fat sheep" that have been clearly investigated will be slaughtered. Zhu Houzhao, who is sharpening his sword, probably has a countermeasure in mind.
Of course Zhu Houzhao had countermeasures, and he had planted the seeds a long time ago. There are many shops in the capital, big and small. Who doesn't have the background of a court official? The court has no money, but some people have money. Now the north has not worried about war for decades. , as long as the southeast and southwest are solved, he will be able to carry out his great dream of traveling around the world. Thinking about it makes him a little excited.
Liu Jin had no choice but to speak. The emperor was obviously asking him.
"Your Majesty, please leave this matter to your servant. I will definitely get money for you, Your Majesty. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I know what to do."
Zhu Houzhao squinted his eyes, didn't speak, and just nodded. He felt comfortable in his heart. It would be good to have a slave who could solve problems. As long as he showed a little bit of interest, someone would take care of it. In such a life, there would only be romance. .
The government order on commercial taxation was issued, and the Confucian government was the first to stand up and support the imperial court. Confucian scholars from all over the world wrote articles with splendid rhetoric and praising the emperor's new policies. There were wars and rebuttals everywhere. It didn't exist. The common people only cared about their own stomachs. Rich people only care about their own money, and Confucian scholars care about reputation. Who can resist the emperor's decree when he is full, and is he impatient to live?
Don't you see the fate of several great imperial merchants? Their homes were confiscated, beheaded, and exiled for three thousand miles. This is the fate of those who resisted the New Deal. The royal guards rode all over the world, and the east and west factories monitored and guarded the world. If there was any slight change, they would die without a burial. place.
After Liu Jin received the emperor's order, he went to Dongchang to find Fan Ting. The two had long since abandoned their previous grudges and were now both good servants of the emperor. They followed Zhu Houzhao wholeheartedly. Naturally, they were of the same mind. After some discussion, the capital began to collect commercial taxes. , according to the different goods, one will be drawn out of ten, two will be drawn, three will be drawn, and the highest one will be drawn at 50%.
The tax was not high, but those merchants could only grit their teeth and agree. Suddenly they felt that there was no hope at all in the Ming Dynasty, but it didn't take long for them to discover that the money they received from the court was not in vain, and the convenience given to them was also It's quite possible. The imperial court has issued a special tax tag, which allows passage without regional or town control. The official road stations along the way can also be used as a transit and rest for cargo and personnel, which greatly saves businessmen's time and money. silver.
This discovery made them overjoyed. At the official road station, each station has a certificate, official certificate, road guide, and personnel. The procedures used to be complicated, and the yamen took time to do the work. They had to register and make books at every turn. Now a tax plate can do it all. , Spending a little money is nothing. The more bulk goods are moved, the more manpower, material and financial resources are consumed. Now it's better. After all, their profits are higher than before.
Not only that, in order to make them have nothing to say, the government opened the door for convenience. Except for special controlled items, which were exclusively supplied by imperial merchants, such as glass, gunpowder, cement, weapons, salt and iron, and tea were all open to the public. For selling, as long as you hold the tax tag from the imperial court, you can travel unimpeded within the Ming Dynasty.
Those who were in Beijing at that time were all wealthy merchants who had migrated from Zhu Di. Their families were big and their businesses were all over the Ming Dynasty and even the surrounding vassal states. When this decree was conveyed, they were the first to profit. They found that after paying the business tax, they would be given the money. The benefits are even greater, and the key lies in the court's effective propaganda.
Jin Yiwei's incarnation of a business traveler holds a tax tag and walks along the road to preach, letting everyone realize the benefits of paying taxes. Who else will object?
When Liu Jin brought two million taels of silver to the treasury, the Minister of Household Affairs and several ministers were all shocked. Where did the emperor get so much silver? Two million taels of silver. How long had it been? ah.
"Master Shangshu, our family has already brought the money that the emperor promised you. From now on, we will not care about what happens to our family. We will take our leave."
Liu Jin led the Dongchang fans and left the Ministry of Household Treasury arrogantly, leaving behind a group of old people who stared at each other with big eyes and small eyes.
Zhu Houzhao was chatting with several auxiliary academicians in the palace about national affairs. What major affairs were they?
Of course it was the emperor's wedding. It was already the first year of Zhengde, and the original wedding date was approaching. Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, Yang Tinghe and the Minister of Rites came to the palace from time to time.
"Masters, you can just take care of the wedding. I will do as I am told. If there is any problem in the palace, the Queen Mother will make the decision. I really don't understand this, so I would like to ask some of the masters to take care of it."
Xie Qian and other pavilion elders were very satisfied with the emperor's attitude. Now they had nothing to give to His Majesty. They were satisfied to watch His Majesty get married. They could retire and return to their hometown, care for their grandchildren, and take care of themselves. .
"That being the case, I'm going to retire. Will you stop entering the palace these days? I'm going to retire."
Several elders got up and left. As soon as they walked outside the palace, a Forbidden Army guard came running in a hurry. It looked like there was something urgent. Yang Tinghe was walking at the end and happened to bump into the guard. Yang Tinghe ate. He cried out in pain and fell down.
Liu Jian and several other bachelors were also frightened. Fortunately, they dodge quickly, otherwise they would have been hit by their old arms and legs. They looked at the frightened guard slightly angrily.
Liu Jin happened to be returning to the palace. When he saw this scene, he shouted: "The bold guard dared to run rampant in the palace and collided with the bachelor. Someone is coming, take it down."
The guard was shocked and turned pale. The guard behind Liu Jin grabbed his body and hurriedly struggled to apologize and explain.
"Eunuch Liu makes atonement. It was because he was in a hurry and he collided with the Grand Scholar. It is because he deserved to die. There is really an emergency military situation. He just entered the palace and did not understand the rules. I still ask Eunuch Liu to make atonement. Grand Scholar Yang makes atonement. The three elders make atonement." ." The guards bowed and apologized. They were internal guards and were not required to kneel to the ministers.
When Liu Jian heard that there was an urgent military situation, he shouted: "It's important to go in and report this important matter."
He looked at several adults and nodded, and they returned to the hall again. Zhu Houzhao had already heard the noise outside and knew that there was trouble again. He sat behind the dragon case and waited to read the military report.
Xiaohuangmenzhuan reported: "The Emperor is informed that Bachelor Liu, Bachelor Xie, Bachelor Li, and Bachelor Yang request an audience."
"allow."
