I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 262 Military Pay and Clan

"I understand, Your Majesty, please rest assured. When the time comes, I will ask the Metropolitan Procuratorate to dispatch the censor to patrol the border and distribute food and salary."

Before Wang Yingjiao could express his position, Liu Yishen and others spoke one after another and became determined.

The issue of arrears of pay in Jiubian has always been the most troublesome issue for the cabinet. Now that the Ministry of Revenue has sufficient money and food, they are naturally willing to solve this problem. After all, no one wants to annoy those big soldiers, which would be bad if it triggers a mutiny.

Listening to the cabinet's statement, Zhu Youxiao also nodded in agreement.

He knew in his heart that when these arrears were actually distributed to the lower-level soldiers, they would have been transferred countless times.

It's just that he must not refuse to pay the soldiers for this reason. It is better for the soldiers to get less than no pay. Paying them arrears will at least give them a hope, giving them hope to survive first, and not forcing them to rebel.

You must know that most of the leaders of the rebellion in the late Ming Dynasty came to rebel when they could no longer survive in the frontier army. Their identities were recorded by the court, otherwise they would not have given themselves various names. They are all used to hide their identities.

Therefore, in Zhu Youxiao's view, as long as the border troops are paid on time, the border troops will not be eliminated so quickly. It will not only improve the combat effectiveness of the court's border troops, but also reduce the strength of future rebels in disguise, killing two birds with one stone. Why not do it.

"My dear friends, the annual cost of military pay is huge, but I have a doubt. I remember that the Jiujiang Army's pay was only a few 10 taels during the Jiajing Dynasty. Why does it cost millions of taels now? It feels more and more inadequate."

The pay of the nine-border troops accumulated over time and had become a serious burden and hidden danger to the imperial court. However, they defended the borders and resisted Mongolia, and the imperial court had no choice but to fill this hole.

It's just that this hole is so big. Even if the imperial court is wealthy, it can't bear the annual expenditure of 800 million taels of silver from Liaodong and Jiubianqi.

Everyone present is aware of this situation, but to say who has the most say, it belongs to the Minister of the Ministry of War, Wang Zai Jin. He was the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War before and had some knowledge of this matter.

Zhu Youxiao also cast his gaze at him, with a questioning look in his eyes. Wang Zaijin felt the burning eyes of everyone and the emperor, and stood up to explain the reason.

"Your Majesty, the important town of Jiubian has always been relied upon by the imperial court. During the period of Taizu and Chengzu, in order to spare the people and money, they set up farmers and armies, set up guard posts to carry out farming, and also implemented the Central Law to encourage merchants to transport grain to the border. The merchants wanted to obtain Yanyin often established trading villages on the frontiers, so Jiubian could be completely self-sufficient in food and wages.

However, since Emperor Xiaozong and Emperor Wuzong, the military settlements have been in great disarray. Many military households have fled, and all the land has been abandoned or occupied. The imperial court also implemented the outline salt policy. Although it still implemented the Kaichu law, those who were willing to come to the border areas to Kaichu The number of merchants has been greatly reduced, and the border trading villages cannot be sustained.

The border areas were already suffering from cold weather and lacked food, especially in the military towns on the three northwest sides. The deterioration of the military and commercial villages meant that the border towns could no longer supply food and wages on their own, so they had no choice but to turn to the imperial court for help. "

"Then I understand, as long as the nine-border merchant and military garrison are ruined, it means that the money required from the court will be one cent more. Now the nine-border military pay is more than 270 million taels. It seems that the nine-border merchant garrison is Yujuntun has been extremely ruined."

Wang Zaijin's explanation was easy to understand, and Zhu Youxiao also understood it. To put it bluntly, Jiubian had the ability to form blood in the past and did not need to be controlled by the court. Now Jiubian Military Town has declined and been abandoned, so the court must allocate annual funds to maintain it.

"It can't be said that. According to statistics from the Ministry of Household Affairs, there are still military and commercial villages in Jiubian, but the number is not as large as before, but it is enough to support one-third of military expenditures." Wang Yingjiao immediately answered after hearing this. , in his opinion, this result is already very good, at least one third is left.

But after Zhu Youxiao heard this answer, his heart was filled with helplessness. There was still one third that could be supported. What about the other two thirds? Did the land of those military camps disappear out of thin air?

Where did all this land go?He already had the answer in his mind. Aren't those generals corrupt?

He had long wanted to reform the border army, but now that the rebellion was imminent, he could not act rashly against the border army.

But if he can't change it now, it doesn't mean he won't be able to change it in the future. Seeing how much the border army spends every year, his heart bleeds after hearing this, and he is more certain in his mind. When things are settled in the White Lotus Sect, he will try to find a pilot reform pilot in the border town. .

"The frontier army has many accumulated shortcomings, but its position is important and cannot be changed lightly. It is better to pay the previous arrears as early as possible. This year's salary will be paid according to the rules of previous years. Don't default on it."

"Sir, you understand."

Now that the imperial court expenditures were discussed, Zhu Youxiao not only thought of another expenditure. The military salary was so much that it was at least worth hearing, but the other one was completely wasted and had no effect at all.

"There are two major items of expenditure for the imperial court. One is military pay. Every year, border pay and Liao pay cost a lot. Every year, they move around for this military pay, which takes a lot of effort. Fortunately, Xiong Tingbi and Yang Lian did not let me down. They worked hard in Liaodong and finally stabilized the situation. Given the current situation, the money spent is considered worthwhile, but besides that there is another big item which is the clan expenses."

When everyone present heard what the emperor said, they were secretly surprised that the emperor suddenly mentioned this matter. Although the royal family's expenses were a big item, after all, the royal family's expenses were the royal family's own business. Although the court contributed the money, it could not What to say, I can only admit it.But since the emperor has said these words, is it possible that he is also thinking about this big expense?
Looking at the silent crowd, Zhu Youxiao asked Wang Yingjiao unhurriedly.

"Wang Yingjiao, I have never paid attention to the clan salary before. You are in charge of the household department. Although you are not in charge of clan affairs, you allocate the money. Tell me, how much does it cost every year?"

Wang Yingjiao, as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was very familiar with the expenses of the Ministry of Revenue. He knew every account clearly. After hearing this, he thought for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty, the royal family's salary and silver are not fixed every year. When I was in charge of the household department, I checked the accounts and found that the actual salary and silver paid in the third year of Wanli was about 120 million taels. More than forty years later, in the 48th year of Wanli, the actual payment was The actual amount of silver is approximately 150 taels."

"1506 million taels, hmm~ This amount is not small."

Even Zhu Youxiao, who had already expected it, was secretly surprised when he heard it. Although this number was lower than his psychological expectations, it still cost a lot of money.

If military pay is added in, the total adds up to about 1000 million taels of silver every year.

Thinking about these money figures now really gives me a headache. The emperor's family had to live such a tight and careful life. No wonder Emperor Chongzhen couldn't bear it later.With so much money and debt on you, you still keep losing battles. If you want to win, you have to throw more money into it. In this vicious cycle, even the Ming Dynasty, with its mountains of gold and silver, can't afford to build like this!
Increase revenue and reduce expenditure!We must increase revenue and reduce expenditure!
(End of this chapter)