"You don't need to be nervous."
Zhu Yunxuan smiled lightly and said: "Grandpa Huang left the palace to recuperate in Yangshan, didn't he just want them to jump out?"
"It would be bad if they didn't jump out."
Xu Miaojin murmured: "Do you really think this is the reason why Your Majesty went to Yangshan? Why do I think it is because I want to see your performance?"
Zhu Yunzhen was slightly startled and said, "Is there any difference?"
While the two were talking, a eunuch outside loudly called out: "Your Highness Taisun, Zhao Mian, the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry, and Yang Jing, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, would like to see you."
The eunuch knew that Taisun and Xu Miaojin had a secret discussion, so he just shouted outside.
"Let them in."
Zhu Yunxuan gave an order and then said to Xu Miaojin: "Although the method you said is not good, it also gave Gu some inspiration. There is a saying in the art of war that "with perfect combination, you can win with surprise." When Gu is in charge of the government, he should act in an upright way. , there is no need to do what they do like cocks and dogs."
"As long as Chaozuna's people are stabilized, they won't be able to make big waves."
Xu Miaojin was thoughtful.
At this time, Zhao Mian and Yang Jing had come to the palace.
"Your Highness Taisun, in this family of Hubu, I really can't be a junior official."
Zhao Mian complained as soon as he came up.
"Today's statement from the King of Jin states that tribes from the grassland sometimes move south. To pacify the grassland, the best way is to go out to the military garrison to intimidate the tribes."
"The Military Affairs Office agreed. I handed the document to the Counseling Office, and they all agreed."
"But now the Ministry of Finance really can't get out the money."
"The recruitment of the second phase of the new army is about to start. The strength of the new army is obvious to all. This money cannot be saved."
"The Technical Research and Manufacturing Bureau wants funding of two hundred thousand taels. It says that there are several important things that His Highness Taisun wants, so we must allocate the money."
"The compilation of the "Hongwu Dadian" also requires a huge sum of money. In addition, there is a severe drought in Shandong this year, and many crops have been harvested. Shandong not only cannot collect taxes, but also has to spend a large amount of money for disaster relief."
"But there is really no money in the treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs. I thought that the taxes and taxes paid by Suzhou would be able to make up for the shortfall, but now they have all been transferred to the construction of the new city of Magic City."
“If all the money deposited in the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury is withdrawn, it will not be enough to cover expenses.”
"If it were before, we could print millions more Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes."
"Nowadays, treasure banknotes are depreciating day by day. Printing them in large quantities will not help quench thirst by drinking poison. I really don't dare to take it lightly."
"I am incompetent, so I can only resign to His Highness the Grand Sun, and I hope His Highness the Grand Sun will give me permission."
…
Zhu Yunzhen's face turned slightly red.
In fact, during the Hongwu period, the financial situation of Ming Dynasty was not too bad, and there was basically a surplus every year.
It will not be necessary to make up for the shortfall by imposing "three rates" as in the later period.
The main reason why he has no money now is that he spent it.
The weapons equipped by the new army are very expensive.
The industrial level of this era is not high. Building a gun requires many processes and a lot of man-hours.
Due to their complex structure, breech-loading guns are much more expensive than front-loading flintlock guns.
In addition, the cost of custom-loaded bullets is also very high.
But after tasting the sweetness, Zhu Yunxi didn't want to stop there.
On the contrary, he has ordered that all the guns equipped by the new army be replaced with breech-loading guns with fixed ammunition.
This way the shooting efficiency will be much higher.
A breech-loading gun with fixed ammunition can fire continuously.
However, due to the constraints of the production process, each bullet is expensive to make.
The Bureau of Technology Research and Manufacturing is even more expensive.
Supporting those craftsmen to do research and create new gadgets is all done with money.
The Ming Dynasty was still a typical agricultural society. How could it support research that even an industrial society would find extremely expensive?
Although no funds were allocated from the Ministry of Household Affairs for the construction of the new city, Songjiang's taxes were all cut off first.
All the taxes, money and grain that Suzhou owed were shipped over.
In addition, the compilation of the Hongwu Canon was also very expensive.
Pens, ink, and paper were very expensive, and it took thousands of scholars to compile the book.
Knowledge in this era is very valuable, and the salaries given by these people are not low.
Thousands of talented scholars and famous scholars who compile books, the cost of raising them can support an army of tens of thousands.
Not to mention, to compile the canon, people also need to donate books and collect ancient and modern classics.
Of course, this dedication of the book was not in vain. The imperial court wanted to give a reward after receiving the book.
The value is often many times higher than the value of the donated books, so the cost is certainly not small.
However, if this were not the case, how could the common people submit their treasured books for compilation of the canon?
Taxes have not increased much, but expenditures have increased so much. It is no wonder that Zhao Mian, the Minister of Household Affairs, can no longer be a minister.
"Why should Zhao Shangshu resign in a hurry?" Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile: "The money I spent will be replenished to the national treasury."
Zhao Mian was stunned for a moment and said, "This is not a small amount of money."
Next to him, Yang Jing winked at him, and Zhao Mian suddenly came back to his senses: "His Royal Highness Taisun is working on state affairs, and it is not for personal matters. Is there any reason for His Highness Taisun to supplement it? It's because the lower official is incompetent..."
"I have a plan to make up for the shortfall in the national treasury." Zhu Yunzhen interrupted his polite words.
"Please express it clearly to His Majesty the Grand Sun." Zhao Mian bowed his hands and did not say any more flattering words.
He thought about it again and again, but for a moment he couldn't figure out where to get a large sum of money from.
It's just that the grandson's behavior is full of surprises and expectations.
"When people are short of money, they borrow money from neighbors, relatives and friends to tide over the difficulties."
Zhu Yunzhen said: "Now the imperial court does not have enough money and the national treasury is empty, so let's borrow it from the people."
"No!"
As soon as he said this, Zhao Mian and Yang Jing spoke up at the same time.
"The imposition of additional business taxes has caused quite a stir. Although His Highness Taisun skillfully resolved it, there are still many wealthy businessmen and merchants who are dissatisfied, not to mention the high-ranking ministers among them."
"If we borrow money from the people again, I'm afraid it will cause huge disasters."
"If a civil uprising is triggered, it will be out of control."
Zhu Yunxuan laughed loudly: "Don't you think that the "borrowing" Gu said was "forced borrowing"?"
Is not it?
Both of them were stunned.
The government borrowed money and grain from large private households, which has happened in all dynasties.
But that was usually a deal reached between the local government and the local gentry to solve the immediate needs of the local government.
As for subsequent repayments?
Since the Song Dynasty, the practice of "imperial power not extending to counties" has gradually formed.
Most local governments entrusted gentry to collect local taxes, and repayments were naturally deducted from the taxes.
Therefore, in most cases, the wealthy gentry are not worried about the local government not repaying their loans.
The situation in Suzhou is quite special, so later large households are reluctant to borrow.
But borrowing money from the imperial court is different from borrowing money from local governments.
Giving you a plaque means giving you face.
If you want to pay back the money, there is no way.
If you borrow from a big owner, it will be a blow to the powerful.
If you "borrow" from ordinary people, it is just to collect an extra layer of tax in the name of borrowing.
How can this be "borrowed" at will?
No wonder Zhao Mian and Yang Jing had such a big reaction.
"What I mean is, issue national bonds!"
Zhu Yunzhen had already had a plan in mind.
The issuance of government bonds must precede currency reform.
Raise a large sum of gold and silver through the issuance of national bonds.
Then use this as a reserve to issue new banknotes and carry out currency reforms.
In this way, Ming's financial crisis can be resolved virtually.
"National debt?"
Zhao Mian and Yang Jing were both stunned when they heard this term for the first time.
"In the name of building a new army and preparing military expenditures, we issue national bonds and let the people buy them. With their trust in the new army, they will definitely snap up..."
Zhu Yunzhen explained to them in detail.
What are Treasury bonds and how do they work...
His Highness Taisun is indeed a genius, and he can have such fantastic ideas.
only.
"Although this strategy can solve the immediate emergency, it will eventually have to be repaid in the future."
Zhao Mian was still a little worried.
Strictly speaking, agricultural societies do not actually have the conditions to issue national bonds.
Because interest must be paid on national debt.
The interest on the national debt of industrial society is covered by economic growth.
Therefore, all countries are willing to issue national debt.
But in agricultural society, the economy is almost at a standstill.
Year after year, it's always the same.
At this time, even paying the lowest interest is not cost-effective.
"Don't worry, by then the Ming Dynasty's treasury will already have money that can't be spent."
Zhu Yunxuan is full of confidence in this.
What Daming needs now is just a start-up capital.
The Technical Research and Manufacturing Bureau is still in the investment stage. Although it has made a series of advances in breech-loading guns, custom-loaded ammunition, and printing technology, it has not yet reached the stage of large-scale "profit".
At this time, we need to keep throwing money, throwing money, throwing money...
However, as time goes by, the subsequent rewards will be very generous.
The New Army's ability to defeat the Japanese pirates in one fell swoop this time is the best example.
Although no money was directly made.
But I can in the future.
If that doesn't work, you can still go on an expedition to Japan.
One is to completely solve the problem of Japanese pirates.
Secondly, he has long been coveting the Japanese silver.
Iwami Silver Mountain has not yet been excavated on a large scale at this time. If it could be captured, wouldn't there be silver?
With weapons that spanned the ages, Zhu Yunxian had no worries that his expedition to Japan would not succeed.
Zheng He was already building warships, and an expedition was not too far away.
"Then I will go and do it."
When Zhao Mian saw his grandson saying this, he immediately agreed.
In fact, he didn't really want to resign, he just wanted to complain and see if his grandson could cut off any expenses.
Unexpectedly, even though expenses were not cut, there was a way to make money.
Zhao Mian could barely accept this result.
Anyway, when it comes time to pay back the money in the future, he should no longer be the Minister of Household Affairs, so let the next one have the headache.
After Zhao Mian left, Zhu Yunxi asked Yang Jing: "Yang Shangshu, what important matter do you have that you want to report to him face to face?"
Yang Jing bowed his hands and bowed: "The lower official is in charge of the Ministry of Justice and is in charge of illegal things. Today, I am specifically referring to Zhao Mian, the Secretary of the Ministry of Husbandry, for abusing his power, embezzling and accepting bribes. The Commander-in-Chief, Ouyang Lun, is committing lawlessness, allowing his maids to commit crimes, and evading taxes."
"Oh?" Zhu Yunxi was slightly stunned.
(End of chapter)
