Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 477

In a sense, Gan Gang is a derogatory term.

But for an emperor, it is a commendatory word instead.

Therefore, the emperor made it clear that the capital should be moved to Beijing on the grounds that the northern capital cannot be abolished.

Even in order to prevent future troubles, the emperor directly stated that he would officially arrive in Beijing in the second year of Shaowu, that is, before October next year.

In order to show his determination, the emperor directly ordered Jiang Yueguang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, to stay in Beijing and was ordered to repair the defense of the imperial palace and the capital.

Li Jizu and Chen Yongfu were left behind, guarding Shanhaiguan and Xuanfu towns respectively.

Therefore, the first to relocate among the six departments was the Ministry of Industry.

As soon as such determination was made, the ruling and opposition parties looked sideways, and they could only agree and express their compliance.

The domestic slaves who represented them went north to buy houses one after another to find a place for their families.

However, the Cao Gang is the happiest. These days, they are relying on helping the imperial court to transport military supplies to make ends meet, but it is not a long-term solution after all, and Beijing is the key to the prosperity of the canal.

Therefore, no matter whether it is the court or the emperor, it is impossible to attach too much importance to water transport.

And yes, after a few years, the post of Governor of Water Transport was established again.

It's just that compared with the previous governor of Lufeng who managed Fengyang Mansion, Huai'an Mansion, Yangzhou Mansion, Luzhou Mansion and Xuzhou, Hezhou and Chuzhou, the current governor can only manage the canal.

Back then, Ma Shiying had such an official position, so he became the chief assistant of the Hongguang Dynasty with his strength.

However, the emperor also made them responsible for overseeing the taxation of the entire canal.

That is, the governor's water transport and river management, tax supervision affairs yamen.

Needless to say, this is a big fat difference.

All the officials of the imperial court were scrambling to get the job, but it was Sun Changzhou, the former commander of Jinyiwei, who became the governor of the Water Transport.

"My humble minister bows to the emperor for his kindness!"

Sun Changzhou's gray hair became more energetic at this moment, his eyelids were raised, and his face was full of power.

"Get up!"

Zhu Yixi looked at Sun Changzhou who was getting older, and still felt a little emotional after all.

"I asked you to go to the canal this time because I want to make some reforms to the water transportation."

Sun Changzhou froze, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty can do whatever you want, and the old minister has only so much strength, so he can only do it with all his might."

"Since the beginning of Xuande, there have been eight banknote passes in the country, seven of which are located along the canal. From north to south, they are: Chongwenmen (Beijing), Hexiwu (moved to Tianjin in the Qing Dynasty), Linqing, Huai'an, Yangzhou, Hu Villa (North of Suzhou City), Beixin (Hangzhou).”

The emperor gritted his teeth, filled with resentment, and said word by word: "By the Wanli period, the commercial tax at the seven passes of the canal totaled more than 31 taels, and it increased to more than 42 taels in the Tianqi period..."

"And my tax card in Jiujiang is more than 100,000 taels per month."

"He neglected his duties and evaded taxes too numerous to mention. As long as he hangs the official flag, he can be exempted from taxation. I wonder how much he has missed for the court?"

"I should try my best to prevent tax evasion."

Sun Changzhou hurriedly cupped his hands.

"The matter of taxation is naturally handled by the transfer department of the Ministry of Households, and what you do is to supervise."

After copying with both hands, Zhu Yixi nodded in satisfaction.

Among other things, Sun Changzhou's attitude is good.

At this time.Zhu Yixi frowned slightly, as if thinking of something:
"Millions of waterworkers all depend on the canal to survive, but the canal has many disadvantages, and it has come to a situation where it has to be changed."

"What do you mean?" Sun Changzhou raised his head. It was about his own power, so he couldn't help being nervous.

"Both sea and land."

The emperor said a word very crisply and decisively.

"But Your Majesty, the sea is merciless, pirates are rampant, ships are in danger of being capsized, and once shipping is carried out, there will be no money customs, and there must be many people evading taxes."

Sun Changzhou hurriedly said.

"I have my own arrangements."

The emperor said noncommittally: "It is the practice of the country to transport 4 million stones by water, but from now on, half of them will be transported by sea and half by land."

The pirate problem raised by Sun Changzhou is the crux of the problem.

Shipping by sea has been implemented since the Yuan Dynasty, but it was also the first time that Japanese pirates invaded on a large scale since the Yuan Dynasty.

Needless to say, the navigation technology of the Yuan Dynasty was inherited from the Song Dynasty, but the intermittent Japanese pirates in the Ming Dynasty made shipping a decoration.

By the time the Japanese pirates are dealt with, the huge canal interest group has long been unable to get rid of it.

Wouldn't it be a waste of a great opportunity not to reform the canal while taking advantage of the wars these years?

Moreover, it is precisely because of the pirates that Zhu Yixi is willing to promote shipping on a large scale.

Although it is offshore transportation, in order to ensure safety, a huge navy will inevitably be established to protect it comprehensively, thereby promoting the navy to go to sea.

"Governor Sun!"

Zhu Yixi showed a smile: "From Guangdong and Jiaozhi, you can actually transport food, so you don't have to worry about going to the south of the Yangtze River."

"Ok?"

Sun Changzhou was startled suddenly, disbelief written all over his face.

It is said that the south is half of the country, but in fact it is most dependent on food.

That is, use the money collected from Jiangnan to buy grain from Huguang, and transport it northward.

And once grain and grass can be transported north from Guangdong, the dependence on Jiangnan will inevitably decrease.

To put it bluntly, in addition to solving economic problems, the simultaneous development of sea and land is actually to strengthen the centralization of power.

After he left, the emperor fell into deep thought.

Before I knew it, it was dusk.

"Let Yuansuke come over."

With the emperor's voice, Zhao Shu, who was just about to go home, took small steps to meet the beloved emperor again.

"Sir, don't you think Nanzhili is too big?"

"Huh?" Zhao Shu froze, then frowned, and said:

"Since the reign of Taizu, Nanzhili has been so big."

"Yes, the ancestral system is like this!"

The emperor laughed.

As the founder of the country, what he is most afraid of is the ancestral system.

Because his words and deeds will be the ancestral system of future emperors.

"However, Nanzhili is too big."

Zhu Yixi turned around with seriousness written on his face: "Therefore, the Nanjing Six Divisions can try their best to compete with Beijing, and the scholars from Nanzhili can occupy half of the Jinshi."

"Because of this, a Donglin Party has been formed."

"Party struggle is the key to the subjugation of the country."

Zhao Shu was shocked, and raised his head: "Then what does His Majesty mean, the purpose of moving the capital to Beijing is to divide Nanzhili?"

"That's right!"

Zhu Yixi finally figured it out, whether it was party disputes, commercial taxes, or water transportation issues, or even Japanese pirates, all of these were due to the centralization of power.

That's right, Japanese pirates.

It is precisely because of the lack of control over the south that the gentry colluded with pirates, and Beijing could not even ban smuggling.

The existence of Nanzhili naturally has an impact on Beijing, not to mention that there is a nominal leader of the Six Departments of Yamen in Nanjing.

"If there is no Zhen, or the crown prince, Nanzhili will be out of the control of the court."

(End of this chapter)