At this time, Yang Sichang had calmed down a lot, at least he no longer sweated. The question he raised is actually a return to the old path.
Why do we have to settle down internally first before we fight externally?
Isn't it just because of the strength of the imperial court that it feels unable to fight against the outside world and keep the inside at home at the same time. Therefore, the strategy proposed by Yang Sichang was to reduce the burden on the court. In order to fight against the outside world, one must first settle the internal affairs.
However, this strategy was rejected by Emperor Chongzhen after time travel. Yang Sichang acknowledged the reasons for rejection and felt that the emperor was right. But then, the old and difficult problem comes back again, how to solve the problem of money and food?
If it were the original Emperor Chongzhen, he would probably have a headache and be unable to sleep. Due to the limitations of the times, he had no way, and therefore, the country perished. However, for the current Emperor Chongzhen, he at least has a vision beyond this era, so he has naturally considered it.
Yang Sichang saw that Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be thinking, so he looked at each other with the other two ministers, and then said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the Liao and Suppression rates are no longer enough. If we continue to increase these two rates, I'm afraid that the court's face will be lost. But now the Manchu army is raging in the pass, and the subsequent aftermath will also require a lot of money. The mobilization of King Qin's troops in various places is also inseparable from money. And the national treasury has no silver left."
After listening to Yang Sichang's detailed explanation, Emperor Chongzhen calmly glanced at the three assistant ministers standing below, then glanced at Cao Huachun who was serving beside him, and then asked slowly: "My lords, are you?" He is my right-hand man. Now that you have raised this matter, what advice can you give me?"
He just said a word and kicked the ball back. Because of his status, the courtiers below could not help but pick it up. After all, eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor, at least on the surface, are human righteousness and cannot be violated.
However, if there was an easy solution to this problem, Ming Dynasty would not have perished. Therefore, for a while, no one spoke, and the Wenhua Hall seemed very quiet.
Emperor Chongzhen just looked at the courtiers below quietly for a while, then suddenly looked at Cao Huachun and asked: "Cao Daban, do you have any ideas?"
When Cao Huachun heard this, he was immediately shocked. He did not expect that Emperor Chongzhen would ask him for his opinion. After thinking for a few times, he quickly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed that this important national event cannot be compared to the ministers of the cabinet!"
Obviously, he kicked the ball to three cabinet ministers.
Emperor Chongzhen didn't get angry after hearing this, and even his expression didn't change. He turned to look at the three ministers.
Yang Sichang saw that his colleagues were all lowering their heads, and knowing that this was his suggestion, he had no choice but to reply: "Your Majesty, it is impossible to do without money and food now. In this case, we can only collect taxes. I thought , now the Manchu and Qing armies are unstoppable in attacking cities and territories within the pass. This situation is probably due to the lack of elite local soldiers. For this reason, the court may as well take this as an opportunity to collect training fees to train local soldiers. There will no longer be the situation today Tragic. In this way, the imperial court will be rich again!"
Emperor Chongzhen's butterfly effect was demonstrated for the first time. The proposal of training salary was originally proposed by Yang Sichang in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, that is, next year. But now, in order to save his image in front of Emperor Chongzhen, he told this method in advance.
If in the original history, Emperor Chongzhen was ill and sought medical treatment, he would naturally agree to his proposal, and there would be the so-called "three rates" in the late Ming Dynasty.
But now, since Emperor Chongzhen came from later generations and had plans in mind, he did not immediately reject it, nor did he get angry. He just said lightly: "Even if we want to create a new name and increase taxes, water from afar cannot quench our thirst. Dear Sirs, But what else can you teach me?"
It could be heard that the emperor seemed dissatisfied with this, which made Yang Sichang, who was fully hoping to be praised by the emperor, couldn't help but feel embarrassed. For a moment, he had no other choice but to lower his head and remain silent.
Another assistant minister, Fang Fengnian, acted like an old monk in meditation from beginning to end. He didn't say a word and seemed to be thinking without any intention of speaking.
The remaining assistant minister Xue Guoguan seemed to have an idea, but he did not speak. He just looked at his two colleagues and saw that they both lowered their heads and remained silent. Next to him, Cao Huachun, the admiral of Dongchang and the eunuch of Bingbi, also remained silent. Involuntarily, anger welled up in his heart, and there seemed to be a faint look of risk-taking.
At this time, I suddenly heard Emperor Chongzhen saying: "It has been nearly three hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Could it be that the longer this time goes by, the less wealth the Ming Dynasty will have, making it unable to cope with internal and external wars? If there is no other way, come again Have you collected the money and food that the imperial court urgently needs?"
Although they have no concept of economy, these figures at the top of the pyramid naturally know that the wealth of the Ming Dynasty today is far from what it was at the beginning of the founding of the country. Just the population alone has increased by an unknown number of times. The luxurious life of Chinese people is evidenced by the large number of romantic places.
Hearing Emperor Chongzhen's words, Xue Guoguan suddenly felt something in his heart. He raised his head and carefully observed Emperor Chongzhen's face. He suddenly showed some determination and gave Cao Huachun a fierce look. Then he ignored his colleagues and immediately said respectfully. : "Your Majesty, I have a countermeasure that can alleviate the court's urgent shortage of money and food!"
The moment he spoke, he immediately attracted everyone's attention. Even the maids who were waiting on the side looked sideways.
Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but be very interested. Cao Huachun secretly called him Xue Manzi, a stinking piece of shit. Could there really be any way? Could it be that you want to go together with yourself?
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face, encouraging Xue Guoguan: "Xue Qing has a good idea, just come forward!"
Cao Huachun saw Xue Guoguan's glare just now, and vaguely, he had a bad feeling. Could it be that Xue Manzi's idea was related to him?
Even Yang Sichang and others felt something bad after hearing Xue Guoguan's words and seeing his demeanor. They felt that this Xue Manzi was going to be a troublemaker.
Xue Guoguan made a decision in his mind and did not hesitate any longer. He immediately said loudly and vigorously: "As your Majesty said, the wealth of the country is naturally far greater than that of the founding of the country. However, the wealth of our country is all corrupt officials. The income of corrupt officials is such that the revenue of the treasury is far less than the expenditure, which is why we have today's worries. If the factory guards get suitable candidates, who dares to be greedy?"
His words were firm and forceful, like a bolt from the blue. He was so frightened that Cao Huachun was sweating profusely in this winter. No matter how much he thought about it, he never expected that Xue Guoguan would point the finger at him face to face. Suddenly, he cursed in his heart, Xue Manzi, you stinking piece of shit, our family will kill you...
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen's face turned cold and turned to look at him, Cao Huachun hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, I am conscientious and conscientious in my work, and I have never been negligent for a moment. Mr. Xue Ge impeached me like this, or it is because I am incompetent. , please convict Your Majesty!"
He avoided Xue Guoguan's accusation and changed the topic to say that even if something really happened, it should be a matter of his ability. It has to be said that he is also quite cunning, using retreat as an opportunity to advance and find a way out for him in the future.
In the original history, after Xue Guoguan became the first assistant, he retired from his hometown due to illness.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen said calmly: "Xue Qing didn't say that my companion was corrupt. Please get up and wait."
After hearing this, although Cao Huachun was not angry and punished, the cold sweat broke out again. The unresolved situation is the most frightening thing. What worried Cao Huachun even more was that he had no idea what Emperor Chongzhen was thinking at this time.
At this time, Cao Huachun was very frightened. He stood up according to the instructions, stood with his hands down, bowed his head and said nothing.
Yang Sichang and Fang Fengnian, who were standing by the side, were sweating on their backs as they watched all this happen. They all thought that Xue Manzi was indeed Xue Manzi. If they couldn't defeat Cao Huachun, they would just wait to die!
As they were thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen spoke again, and they heard him say to Xue Guoguan: "Rectifying the administration of officials has always been the top priority of the imperial court. In the days of Taizu, peeling off the skin and grass to warn others was one of the methods. But now the Manchu Qing Dynasty The army is raging in the pass, the people's livelihood is in ruins, and the national treasury is empty. Xue Qing, can you give me some good advice? "
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen did not deal with Cao Huachun immediately, Xue Guoguan was very disappointed. He was not a fool. He knew that he had offended Admiral Dongchang by doing this. Before, he thought that the emperor would have to express his opinions if he told the truth in person, but it turned out that he didn't.
However, since he was ready to fight anyway, he didn't care about it. When he heard Emperor Chongzhen's second question, he bowed again and said: "Your Majesty, now all the wealthy families in our Ming Dynasty are civil servants and military generals, and relatives of the emperor." Your Majesty. If the court is in urgent need of money, it is better to borrow money from them for emergency purposes. The borrowings of officials and officials outside will be borne by the cabinet; the borrowings of the emperor's relatives and relatives inside must be made by the emperor."
As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Sichang and Fang Fengnian broke out in cold sweat. If I had known that Xue Manzi was so messy today, I wouldn't have come with him. This simply offended all his colleagues, as well as internal officials and relatives of the emperor!
In the original history, Xue Guoguan did propose these two methods to Emperor Chongzhen, but only after he became the chief minister. In this plane, due to Emperor Chongzhen's time travel, by chance, he revealed the two methods buried in his heart in advance.
