I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 245 The Fundamentals of the Rise of the Salt Merchant

Seeing the emperor utter such heartbreaking words, everyone present became more panicked, and a trace of remorse could not help but flash in their hearts.

Immediately Jiajing came to Yan Song, looked at him condescendingly, and said slowly.

"Yan Song, as the chief assistant of the cabinet, do you know about this?"

"Report to Your Majesty, this minister is completely unaware of this matter!"

Seeing the emperor walking in front of him, the look on Yan Song's face was even more frightened, and he saw a big drop of sweat rolling down his forehead.

After listening to Yan Song's explanation, Jiajing didn't care about it, and then walked leisurely, returned to the dragon chair and sat down.

"Do you still remember how much salt tax the court collected last year?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he said on his own without waiting for everyone to answer.

"That's right, less than 120 million taels of silver."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he deliberately paused for a moment, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and continued.

"Hmph, think of the two capitals and thirteen provinces in the Ming Dynasty, I only collected less than 120 million taels of salt tax! This is really ironic."

"According to the Jiangxi group of salt merchants, every year when the imperial court sends people to collect salt tax, they will pay an extra part, and the extra part ranges from five to six million taels to as many as six to seven million taels!"

"Last year, the imperial court collected a total of less than 120 million taels of silver, and the part that was handed over by the group of salt merchants alone was 500 million taels."

"Therefore, I would like to ask you, where did this part of the money go?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, his expression was quite calm, and his eyes swept over everyone present.

But at this moment, everyone knelt down on the ground tremblingly, and no one dared to answer the emperor's question.

"You damned insects, you are digging up the roots of my Ming dynasty, you know?"

"Also, was this canal in my Ming Dynasty built for you?"

"My money!"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he picked up the teacup on the side and threw it at Yan Song's position.

There was a crisp sound of 'bang', and the teacup shattered beside Yan Song, turning into countless ceramic fragments, and the tea in the cup was just spilled on the ground, still steaming a little.

Everyone present was startled by the emperor's sudden move.

Especially Yan Song, at this moment, his brain has shut down, his face is pale, his whole body is trembling, and he just froze in place.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

Seeing this situation, Lu Fang on the side quickly comforted her.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang, the rest of the people also followed closely to comfort them.

I saw Jiajing caressing the dragon head carved on the dragon chair, scanning the crowd again with a look of disdain, and ordered.

"After this cabinet meeting is over, you must come up with an explanation for me!"

"Otherwise, you just wait for Jin Yiwei to come to your door."

"Do you understand?"

Seeing that the emperor had issued an ultimatum, the people present couldn't understand that if they didn't follow what the emperor said, everyone would have to finish playing together tonight at the latest!
"I obey Your Majesty, we will definitely find out the specific reason and recover all the stolen money!"

Xu Jie looked at Yan Song who had fallen into a daze, then gritted his teeth, stood up, and promised Jiajing.

"Well, yes, since Mr. Xu Ge is willing to make this promise, then I will wait for your good news."

"Sit, all sit."

After Jiajing received Xu Jie's assurance, his whole body calmed down instantly, with a warm smile on his face, he said this to everyone, as if the previous storm did not exist.

The emperor changed his face so quickly, which made everyone present feel unreal, and then they were even more afraid of Jiajing in their hearts.

"Yan Song, what are you still doing there? Return to your seat and sit down."

Seeing that Yan Song was still in a daze, Jiajing couldn't help but frowned, saying so.

"Wei Chen obeys!"

It wasn't until this moment that Yan Song came to his senses. After saluting Jiajing tremblingly, he returned to his seat and sat down.

Immediately after hearing a 'ding', Jiajing knocked on the jade pan beside him, which also meant that the cabinet meeting officially started!
Shortly after the sound of Yupan sounded, Gao Gong immediately stood up and asked Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, since the Maritime Trade Department released the news that the first batch of certificates to go to sea will be auctioned, a large number of wealthy merchants have gathered in the capital right now!"

"Therefore, I implore Your Majesty, at that time, the government will take the lead in organizing an auction, and auction off the first batch of thirty sea-going certificates."

"In this way, at least 600 million taels of income can be added to the imperial court."

After listening to Gao Gong's proposal, Jiajing waved his hand and responded.

"Well, I'm sure, you Maritime Trade Department can figure it out."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that Jiajing agreed to his proposal, Gao Gong couldn't hide his excitement. This meant that the Department of Maritime Trade under his jurisdiction finally had a role to play.

When Jiajing saw Gao Gong's proposal that the auction certificate would bring at least 600 million taels of income to the court, he looked at Xu Jie and asked.

"By the way, how is the expansion of the treasury going?"

Seeing the emperor asking himself about the progress of the expansion of the treasury, Xu Jie immediately had a well-thought-out plan.

"Report to Your Majesty, the treasury has basically been expanded and will be officially put into use soon."

After listening to Xu Jie's answer, Jiajing also nodded and encouraged.

"Well, well done, there is still a batch of silver that will be charged to the national treasury, you ask the people at the Ministry of Accounts to prepare in advance!"

"May I ask Your Majesty, what is the approximate amount of the next batch of silver? I should prepare it in advance."

Seeing this, Xu Jie asked Jiajing after hesitating for a moment.

"It seems to be 5000 million taels!"

After Jiajing recalled for a moment, he gave the answer.

"What? 5000 million taels!"

After learning the specific number from the emperor, all the people present couldn't help but gasped, and then said in amazement.

And Jiajing seemed to see what everyone was thinking, and then explained.

"The 5000 million taels of silver were all copied by Hu Zongxian from the homes of those salt merchants."

"I have to say, these salt merchants are really rich!"

When Jiajing said this, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

At this moment, Xu Jie, who was at the side, was still thinking about the manpower needed to count the 5000 million taels of silver!

As the Minister of the Household Department, he couldn't be more clear about how much money the treasury currently has.

Earlier, the silver taels stored in the treasury had to be counted in billions. Adding in the 5000 million taels of silver that will be sent to the treasury, the current silver taels stored in the treasury have exceeded [-] million!
And this is equivalent to the taxation of the Ming Dynasty for almost ten years!
"Do you know what methods these salt merchants rely on to accumulate such a huge amount of wealth?"

Jiajing then turned his gaze to the crowd and asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, as far as I can see, most of these salt merchants have accumulated such a huge amount of wealth by selling private salt and reselling salt."

"And all of this is based on the opening of the Chinese law implemented by the court at the beginning!"

"At the beginning, in order to save money, the imperial court asked these merchants to transport supplies such as general rations and horses to more remote areas to ensure the smooth supply of supplies."

"And the imperial court provides salt guides according to the amount of materials they transport, and this is also the root of the rise of this group of salt merchants!"

Seeing the emperor mentioning this aspect, Yan Song, who had been silent all this time, immediately stood up and gave his own answer.

(End of this chapter)