In the Wuying Hall of the Imperial City, Zhu Yuanzhang was managing politics here, so Zhang Yifan naturally came here to pay homage to his father-in-law. It happened that Prime Minister Hu Weiyong was also here to perform something, and when he saw Zhang Yifan arriving, he stopped.
So Zhang Yifan stepped forward to greet him. As for Zhu Jingjing, she went back to the harem with "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" that Zhang Yifan dictated and she recorded.
As soon as the due etiquette was over, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him with a smile and said: "Do you want to ask about the price of cement? The official price I set is nine yuan per bag, for cement bags of your size! How much do you want to sell? , It’s all up to you!” Zhang Yifan was shocked when he heard this.
The Jin Yiwei had just been established, and the spying information came to him? But when he saw Zhu Yuanzhang smiling and seemed very satisfied, he felt something was wrong.
After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that it was probably Zhu Di who told his father! After understanding this, Zhang Yifan felt relieved a lot.
Then I remembered what I saw on the road, and it was just the right time to ask about this topic. So, he asked Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, I don't know how the court handles the cement?" After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the prime minister standing beside him with his hands down.
Hu Weiyong understood what he meant and said to Zhang Yifan: "With the provincial capital as the center, we will spread it across the country. We will first build all the official roads, and then we can sell money to the people for water conservancy projects."
"Wouldn't the imperial court spend a lot of money?" After hearing this, Zhang Yifan immediately asked,
"I just heard you say before that the imperial court is in a tight situation of money and food." When the imperial court was talking about Japanese pirates before reading the book, Hu Weiyong jumped out and talked about this money and food matter.
At this time, Hu Weiyong heard that this young boy suddenly jumped above him and spoke unceremoniously. He couldn't help scolding Li Shanchang for not being a human being. He was the Duke of the country. Why did he elevate this prince-in-law to such a high position?
However, on the surface, especially in front of the emperor, he still did not dare to show his dissatisfaction. He just replied normally: "The prince-in-law should know that the cost of cement is not high and the court cannot spend much money. Once the official road is repaired, just transporting grain and grass supplies to the north can be done." Save a lot!" The cement price set by the court was one cent cheaper than Zhang Yifan's previous estimate, which was a bit unimaginable.
Because he knew that the imperial court had no hydraulic facilities at all when it came to firing cement. Therefore, Zhang Yifan immediately asked again: "So, the imperial court conscripted a large number of civilians to bake cement? Doesn't this transfer the cost to those civilians and squeeze the people!" The raw materials for cement are everywhere. Yes, the construction of cement kilns can also be supervised by civilians, the fuel can be transported by civilians, and the crushing of coarse cement materials can be done by civilians.
According to this calculation, the court really couldn't spend much money. After all, civilian laborers had to bring their own dry food.
"Prince-in-law, don't talk nonsense!" Hu Weiyong was startled when he heard this. He glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and quickly explained: "It is natural for the imperial court to collect corvees. Once the official system is repaired, the people will also benefit. As long as it is not busy with farming. If the season affects farming, how can it be regarded as squeezing?" Zhang Yifan knew that this was actually the concept of ancient people, so he went to talk to Hu Weiyong, but it was of no use. The key lies with his father-in-law.
So, he turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang and said sincerely: "Father, collecting corvees, even in the off-farm time, is still a way of working for the people. If cement is fired and it is just for cultivating officialdom, it is okay. But this If the cement is still used for sale, then it is the blood and sweat of the people..." According to Zhu Yuanzhang's ambition, Kanshu La will start building cement roads all over the country at once.
It's really impossible to do it just by commercial means. According to ancient customs, civilians were recruited on a large scale, with provinces as the unit, and each state capital responsible for the work. It is estimated that within one year, all major official roads in the country will be covered with cement roads.
This can also be regarded as the superiority of concentrating efforts under the centralized monarchy. However, this approach is not sustainable because it is based on the exploitation of civilians.
Over time, there will inevitably be problems. For ordinary people, there was no such thing as cement, and there was no such thing as corvee.
As a result, when the cement came out, they had to do one more corvee. Even if the cement road was built, everyone would benefit, but as far as the people themselves are concerned, it is estimated that not many people would be willing to do this cement labor.
Maybe, because of this incident, Zhang Yifan will be stigmatized, scolding him for offering this cement!
Therefore, I heard him say to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, if I do this, I will be infamy, and my father will also be infamy. Corvee service is something that cannot be tolerated lightly!" Zhu Yuanzhang was born as a farmer, and of course he knew how unpleasant corvee labor can be. popular.
However, he does want to build cement roads and use cement to build water conservancy projects. In his opinion, these things are for the country and the people, not just for personal enjoyment like the previous dynasties.
At this time, based on his understanding of Zhang Yifan, he couldn't help but be a little curious, so he asked: "Then what method can you use to cultivate officialdom and build water conservancy projects without laboring the people and not being scolded by the people?" Hu Weiyong was beside him. After hearing this, I couldn't help but sneer in my heart. How can there be such a good thing? I want it at the same time. It depends on how you respond to His Majesty!
But who would have thought that after hearing this, Zhang Yifan immediately replied: "There are two ways to avoid being scolded by the people and still get things done. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages." When Hu Weiyong heard this, he didn't believe it even more, and he still had two methods. method?
How can it be! Zhu Yuanzhang was also curious and immediately asked: "Which two methods can you tell me?" Zhang Yifan listened and replied without hesitation: "The first method is to change the corvee into a hired worker. All civilians who work, They can all get the money, so they won't have any complaints..." Before he could finish his words, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Didn't you say that money can't be printed randomly? Otherwise, this method will fail. It's feasible!" Although he still didn't understand the complicated matter of money, he already knew that Ming Dynasty banknotes cannot be printed at will.
Otherwise, he could indeed give money to all the people, and it would just be a matter of printing it. Hu Weiyong was a little confused when he heard this. Why didn’t I know what money should not be printed randomly?
Of course Zhang Yifan didn't know what he was thinking, so he just continued to answer Zhu Yuanzhang: "It is true that money cannot be printed indiscriminately, and the court does not have that much money at the moment, so that's okay. You can write a white note and give each migrant worker a white paper stamped by the government. , it was agreed that the amount should be cleared at the latest..." Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless and had to interrupt Zhang Yifan: "Then the court still has no money, how can it be cashed out?"
"Yes, Prince Consort, the imperial court is short of money and food. Even if it is delayed for a few years, I'm afraid there won't be that much money!" After hearing this, Hu Weiyong hurriedly agreed.
Zhang Yifan heard this, glanced at him, and then replied to Zhu Yuanzhang: "After the official road is completed, the cement workshop will continue to bake cement. This cement will be used to sell money, and the money can be used to cash in the IOUs in the hands of the people! That's it!" That is to say, these IOUs are endorsed by future cement profits as credibility." At this point, before Zhu Yuanzhang asked, he quickly added: "In order to maintain the normal operation of the cement workshop, subsequent cement workshops must follow normal procedures. For workshop management, the workers inside have to pay, and get the cost of the cement, plus a certain profit to sell it to people who need cement, so they can build houses, etc. Even the government has to pay for cement if it wants to use it. In this way, cement The workshop will be able to run for a long time, and the profits will be able to repay the money. After the IOUs are cashed, the profits will belong to the government."
"Also, it can be explained in advance that civilians who perform well can be given priority to become formal employees in the cement workshop to make money." After hearing this, Hu Weiyong said sarcastically: "Then if no one buys this cement, how will the money be paid back? ? At least it can't be sold for that much money, right? I'm afraid it's not safe to do this?" Zhang Yifan heard this, looked at him and said: "You can also use the second method, don't spread it out at once, don't make a white note, the cement workshop sells it first The money and income will be used to build official roads and water conservancy! How much is sold and repaired!" As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang kept thinking.
After hearing what he said, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "I am willing to reduce the burden on the people. But what Hu Qing said makes sense. How many people will buy cement, and how much can it be sold?"
"Then the government will buy it, and the court will buy it." After hearing this, Zhang Yifan said without thinking,
"Building official roads is also a kind of expense. In addition, the benefits of building houses with cement can be imagined. There are many rich people in Ming Dynasty. As long as this can be maintained, cement workshops will definitely make money." Zhu Yuanzhang did not agree with his statement. , shook his head and said: "You buy and sell by yourself, why bother?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Yifan immediately remembered that the classmate Zhu Yuanzhang in front of him hated commercial behavior and had a very typical small farmer mentality.
According to Zhu Yuanzhang's idea, it is best if each yamen, each guard station, and all units can be self-sufficient. That is the best.
Moreover, he also believed that taxes should be collected less in order to benefit the people. To this end, he even stipulated quotas in many aspects.
For example, in the Ming Dynasty's business, he set all commercial taxes to collect 200,000 guan a year. This total amount was distributed nationwide, and after receiving this amount, it would not be collected.
In the Song Dynasty, for example, during the reign of Song Renzong, commercial taxes reached 22 million yuan. He believed that it was exploiting the people and increasing their burden.
His idea of being content with being rich, or trying not to disturb the people as much as possible, is reflected in all aspects. His descendant, Emperor Chongzhen, eventually died of poverty, and part of the responsibility must be attributed to the financial and national policies he set at the beginning of the founding of the country.
To sum up, classmate Zhu Yuanzhang is great at fighting and seizing power, but his knowledge is really not enough!
Thinking of these, Zhang Yifan suddenly felt that there was a long way to go to transform the thinking of classmate Zhu Yuanzhang.
This cement matter involves a major national event. If I say this directly, I'm afraid I won't be able to convince him.
