I want to be a grandson

Chapter 617

This year is destined to be comfortable for civil and military officials.

A hundred-day banquet for His Majesty's sons was held in the palace a few years ago, all officials above the fourth rank in the capital attended, and those below the fourth rank also held a banquet for them at Honglu Temple.

And the rewards are quite generous.

After all, this is the emperor's eldest son. If there are no accidents, he will definitely inherit the throne in the future, so in order to show solemnity, the last specification must not be lowered.

So after enjoying the banquet, each official returned home with silver coins and precious spices.

Everyone was smiling, because these spices are so expensive!
In the wonderful book "Plum Blossoms in a Golden Vase" of the Ming Dynasty, Li Ping'er was thinking about remarrying and wanted to buy a house for her good boyfriend Ximen Daguanren.

In the end, these spices were sold for a total of 380 taels of silver, allowing Ximenqing to buy a house in Qinghe County with "two rooms on the front and four floors on the bottom", and this four-story building with two fronts, It only cost 120 taels.

According to the current housing prices in the county, the total value of these spices is definitely 700 million!This shows the preciousness of spices at that time.

When it was converted into salaries and distributed to officials in the Ming Dynasty, the price was generally calculated at ten to twenty taels of silver per catty. As a result, pepper was even more valuable than silver!
So at this time, it is a proper grace to distribute pepper to the officials as a reward!
During the annual review of the Ministry of Households last year, we found out the difficulties of the other five departments. It was because Ma He brought a lot of goods to the West and failed to make a profit in time.
In the past, it was the Ministry of Households who stuck their necks, but last year the Ministry of Finance finally let out a bad breath!
But this year, with a large ship and a large ship of goods arriving in the capital, the Household Department is finally proud among the six departments!
Excluding this year's expenses, the money spent by the household department, and the money sent to the palace to subsidize His Majesty's internal storage, there is still a surplus of more than 2000 million taels!
Therefore, when the six ministers were planning the important affairs of the Xuanwu three-year court, the household department immediately became the uncle!Enjoying their "fawning".

After all, money is a master!

Who would have thought that Feng Shui would take turns...

The turning point is so fast!

Other customers also had to temporarily lose face and wanted to withdraw more money from the household department. After all, more money is easier to handle.

"You two, the Ministry of War is going to replace a batch of weapons in the spring of next year, as well as armor bowstrings, and also purchase a batch of war horses.
Some other guards also need to rest and recuperate, the expansion that should be expanded, the repair that should be repaired, if a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools..."

"Our Ministry of Rites will hold the Chunwei Examination in the beginning of spring next year, so many scholars will come to the capital to take the exam, we can't let them sleep in the open, with no food or clothing!
These scholars all have fame and fame, and the imperial court must take care of them, especially those from poor families, who need more preferential treatment..."

"In addition, there are still some counties that do not have county schools, and some county schools still live in dilapidated old houses. When it is rainy, the schools will accumulate water and form puddles, and they have to be repaired...

Talent is the cornerstone of the imperial court. In the future, if they succeed in their studies, they will be able to serve the imperial court and serve the country, so no matter what, students cannot be wronged..."

Qin Kui, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, did not wait for Minister of Rites Ren Hengtai to finish speaking, he stood up quickly and said: "The affairs of the Ministry of Rites are important, and the affairs of our Ministry of Industry must not be sloppy!"

"In order to build the embankment of the Yellow River, so that the water of the Yellow River will no longer flood, Huang Guan lived on the embankment day and night and never even returned home! A few days ago, I wrote a letter reporting the situation of the river, and also said that because of lack of money, So the construction period has been slowed down..."

"You all know how much firearms, artillery, and ammunition are consumed in the Shenji Camp. The craftsmen in the Armament Bureau can't keep up with the overtime work. I vow to increase the manpower, otherwise I can't bear the blame from His Majesty... "

Naturally, Qi Tai, the servant of the official department, was not to be outdone. He sat on a chair, leaned forward, and stared at the two servants of the household department: "It's not easy for our official department..."

Yang Jing, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment said: "It's not easy to say, and it's even more difficult for our Ministry of Punishment..."

Immediately afterwards, there was a lot of noise in the Bunren Hall, and there was a lot of noise, everyone scrambled to explain what they were going to do, and then reached out to ask the household department for money.

The household department has so much money this year, it would be too much to justify not killing it!
Listening to their messy and urgent words, Yu Xin and Fu Youwen also had a headache.

"My lords, although there is a little surplus this year..."

"It's not just a little bit, it's overflowing!" Minister of the Ministry of War Ru Yu laughed.

Yu Xin was helpless, so he had no choice but to continue: "My lords, the Ministry of Finance is in charge of the national treasury, and every sum of money spent must be spent on the most important things. It is not up to our Ministry of Finance to make decisions. To Your Majesty, Your Majesty please reply...

Last year, His Majesty ordered the Ministry of Households to tighten up the spending of money and not to spend it casually. I am afraid that the court will plan something this year, so... you must be cautious when spending this money! "

Everyone naturally understood that this might have something to do with the Wa Kingdom. Although His Majesty did not specify when the war to destroy the country would be held, nor did he have a specific date.

But always plan ahead.

Ru Yu stroked her beard and said with a smile on her face, "Both of you, we also understand the affairs of the court, but we still have to spend the money that should be spent. We can't stop everything."

"exactly!

Qin Kui, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, echoed: "They are all doing things for the court, but the court not only has one thing to do, but also many things to do, so let's talk about it..."

Yu Xin: "..."

But no matter what they said, no matter how good the reasons they gave, Yu Xin and Fu Youwen, the servants of the household department, made up their minds, tightly held their money bags, and refused to take more than they said!

Want to take the opportunity to "take more and take more"?no way!

There is always a priority!

In Benren Hall, the noise rose again...

……

"Your Majesty, Yu Xin, Minister of the Household Department, has attached a letter asking for an interview, and is waiting outside the palace."

In the hall, Zhu Yunxi was dealing with government affairs, when he heard this, he stopped the pen in his hand, "Let them in."

"Yes, slaves obey."

Starting tomorrow, the officials will start to take a rest and prepare for the New Year.

The memorials on the desk have not been processed yet, so in order not to work overtime during the year, Zhu Yunxi had to step up the processing these two days to avoid government affairs from piling up.

"My humble minister, Yu Xin (Fu Youwen), pay homage to Your Majesty, Your Majesty's congratulations!" When the two came to the hall, they saluted and kowtowed.

"I bow to you, please come up, my dear friends."

After getting up, Yu Xin reported: "His Majesty, the six departments of the imperial court have done a year-end audit, and now there are results, and the ministers and others came here to present it to His Majesty."

As he spoke, he bowed and handed a memorial to Wang Zhong, who placed it on His Majesty's desk.

Zhu Yunxi picked up a memorial and said, "Come here, show them the seats."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Wei Chen."

The little eunuch moved a stool, and the two sat down.

In the memorial, the Ministry of Households wrote down the amount of expenditure for the six departments next year and what aspects of the expenditure.

After reading the memorial, Zhu Yunxi said: "I heard that the sound of quarreling in Benren Hall can be heard from a long distance away. Why, are they embarrassing you?"

Yu Xin and Fu Youwen glanced at each other, and couldn't help smiling wryly,
It's more than embarrassing!

It's like peeling off three layers of skin from them!

Yu Xin saluted and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the various ministers plan to do a lot of things next year, so the expenses will be much higher, and the amount reported is also large. The Ministry of Households dare not make decisions without authorization, so there are some...discussions..."

Zhu Yunxi naturally knew how they "discussed", but quarreling was normal, and he didn't expose it right away.

To Wang Zhong who was standing by the side: "Go, let someone call Tie Xuan over."

"Yes, I will order you to go down now..." Wang Zhong retreated, whispered a few words to the little eunuch, and then returned to the hall.

Zhu Yunxi looked at the memorial and said: "The Inland Guard of the Ministry of War is not in a hurry to replace the ordnance, but the northern border can replace a batch of unusable ones. As for the number, let the Ministry of War report it."

"As for the management of the Yellow River by the Ministry of Industry and the Military Weapons Bureau..."

Zhu Yunxi paused for a moment, and then continued: "I know how hard it is for the Yellow River here in Huangguan. This is a hard job. The money for the river workers must be paid. Your household department will use this money."

"Yes, Wei Chen obeys."

"As for the Military Weapons Bureau... after the Chinese New Year, the Military Weapons Bureau will expand its scale. We need to stock up on guns, cannons, and gunpowder, so as not to be nervous when using them. This money can't be saved..."

"Uh, yes, I will obey your orders."

His Majesty had spoken, and the two had no choice but to obey.

Zhu Yunxi looked at the memorial and said: "The Ministry of Rites will be in the spring this year..."

"His Majesty!"

Yu Xin was really afraid that the emperor would ask them to spend more money, so he mustered up his courage and said quickly: "Your Majesty, the increased expenses of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry alone are quite a lot..."

"oh, I see……"

Zhu Yunxi thought for a while and said: "Then the money will be paid out of the inner warehouse that I earned, and it will be regarded as sympathetic to scholars..."

"Your Majesty is wise! Scholars in the world will be grateful to His Majesty and repay their loyalty!" Fu Youwen immediately sent a wave of praise.

As long as they don't let them spend money, they can do whatever they want!

It's just a matter of moving your mouth, anyway, it's a tael of silver!
Zhu Yunxi paid the money willingly!

How many candidates can come to the capital to take the examination?

According to historical statistics, the number of examinees in the early years of the Ming Dynasty was about 5000, and later increased to an average of [-] to [-].

When Zhu Yunxi discussed with the Ministry of Rites before, they had reported the number of candidates who took part in the general examination, which was more than [-].

This can be counted, as long as you check the number of candidates, and then combine the number of exams in previous years to calculate a rough estimate.

There are [-] candidates, even if they proudly give each candidate five taels of silver as a "subsidy", that's only more than [-] taels!

You must know that five taels of silver is already a lot!

It doesn't cost much, but it can buy the hearts of the scholars. It's worth the money!

Moreover, the recipients of favors are Juren, so this is spending money wisely!

After discussing for a while, Tie Xuan came to the hall and sat on the brocade stool after saluting.

At this time, Fu Youwen suggested: "Your Majesty, Ma He brought back a lot of spices from his mission to the West this time, including a lot of pepper. These peppers are all stored in the warehouse. Weichen thinks that they should be sold as soon as possible so that they can be exchanged. Materials useful to the imperial court."

Yu Xin also said: "Your Majesty, I feel that the pepper can be regarded as the salaries of officials and given to them at a discount."

Zhu Yunxie nodded and said: "Okay, let the household department do this matter, and the discounted price should not be too harsh, so as not to let the officials lose money..."

"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty, please rest assured..." Yu Xin and Fu Youwen saluted.

The reason for this order is because the imperial court sells pepper, and the large-scale entry of pepper into the market will inevitably lead to a significant reduction in its price.

At this time, the pepper in the hands of Baiguan is not as valuable as it used to be. If the discount is too severe, they may even have to pay for their salary!
Then there will be resentment.

And who is this resentment directed at?

The officials in the early Ming Dynasty were not as greedy and rich as they were in the late Ming Dynasty, and the mere salary was not in their eyes at all, so it didn't matter even if they cheated them.
The current officials are still very simple, and they really can't be fooled!

If you really want to do that, it's a bit shameless...

Zhu Yunxi couldn't bear it either...

"In addition, the Ministry of Households must be strict. Don't reveal how much pepper and other spices the imperial court currently has, understand?" Zhu Yunxi stared at them and ordered.

"I understand that there are no tongues in the household department, please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

"Tie Xuan, if so many peppers are sold by the Ministry of Households, it may take until the year of the monkey. Your business department often deals with merchants, and you will be responsible for selling this matter!"

"Yes, I obey!"

Zhu Yunxi turned to Yu Xin and Fu Youwen, glanced at them, the two of them understood, they quickly got up and left.

Tie Xuan also understood that His Majesty had something to say, so he stood up and became more respectful.

Zhu Yunxi took a sip of the tea offered by Wang Zhong, moistened his throat and said, "Tie Xuan, these spices can't be delayed, the longer they are stolen, the lower the price, so they should be sold as soon as possible, do you understand?"

Hearing this, Tie Xuan couldn't help feeling bitter in his heart, and it was as if he had a mouthful of Coptis chinensis in his mouth!
These are some businessmen who made it clear that they want to trick themselves!
The Ministry of Housekeeping keeps it secret and does not let the merchants know how much pepper the court has. Then when they sell it themselves, as long as it is profitable, they will buy it no matter how high the price is!

After all, things are rare.

If you lower the price a little bit and give them some "profit", how can they not be attracted!
At that time, the pepper sales will definitely be fast!
But what followed was that the price of pepper plummeted, and they lost all their money!
His Majesty……

Tie Xuan struggled and said, "Your Majesty, the Department of Commerce and Trade still needs to deal with businessmen in the future, so... what can we do in the future..."

Zhu Yunxi smiled and comforted him: "Don't worry, those businessmen are all very smart, how many of them don't understand the truth of the cunning rabbit and the three caves? Daming's business tax is too low, and they earn too much. This time, let's just charge a little interest..."

"Yes, my minister... obey..."

Tie Xuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and deal with this matter...

In fact, the sooner a businessman buys spices, the more he will lose. There is no possibility of not paying. This is for sure. Zhu Yunxie just accelerated the process...

Well, frankly!

(End of this chapter)