My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 116 Salt Policy Reform
"Your Majesty, Yuan Shizhen, respectfully wishes His Majesty's greetings."

After being introduced into the lobby by the eunuch, Yuan Shizhen bowed with great ceremony.

Looking at the haggard middle-aged man, Zhu Youxiao quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

This time it was him who was in trouble.

In the dead of winter, I entered the capital from Lianghuai on the [-]th. This speed was extremely fast in this era.

"I was worried about national affairs, so I asked my beloved to come to Beijing quickly, but I suffered a lot for my beloved."

"I dare not."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen, who had just been helped up, quickly bowed.

"It is the duty of a minister to share your worries with you."

Good guy, the emperor came to help him personally. How many ministers of the Ming Dynasty have received such treatment?

After waving to Liu Shimin and asking him to move a chair for Yuan Shizhen, Zhu Youxiao looked at this person carefully.

He must be a rich man.

Not for anything else, just because he is chubby and his two small eyes are very lively.

"Yuan Aiqing changed the Salt Introduction Law to the Gang Salt Law. The two Huaihe rivers pay more than one million taels of salt tax to the court every year. I think about it very well."

Hand over the Ming Dynasty tax overview summarized by Li Ruhua to Yuan Shizhen and Zhu Youxiao.

"Nowadays, the imperial court's expenditures are excessive and tax revenue has dropped sharply. I am very worried about this."

"I asked Bi Ziyan to set up a branch office and take an overview of the imperial court's expenses."

"Of course, Li Ruhua, the Minister of Household Affairs, is old and poor in intelligence. Apart from increasing land taxes, he can't think of any way to increase the income."

"No, Li Shangshu has made me anxious, so I recommend you, the person who brought money to the court from the salt administration."

"I saw your salt method and I think it's very good. I also have some ideas, so I want you to implement it for me."

Zhu Youxiao said and handed another copy of the statement he wrote to Yuan Shizhen.

"Take your salt method as an example. Go and change the Ming Dynasty's salt method from top to bottom for me, can you?"

"Your Majesty, this."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen took the note in his hand and flipped through a page. This was a rough summary of the emperor's salt law.

"The salt administration of the Ming Dynasty was established by Taizu to transport grain to Kaizhong. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, it was changed to the system of collecting silver to Kaizhong. It has been more than two hundred years now."

After reading the tax system summarized by Li Ruhua and considering the words, Yuan Shizhen said.

"The purpose of enforcing the salt law and enforcing the new law is to repay the old with the new. The court used the right to sell salt to dispose of the salt owed to merchants in the past. It is called the new law, which is actually to pay off the debt."

Yuan Shizhen said cautiously as he was a little afraid that the emperor would ask him to extract oil from the stone.

"Salt policy is related to people's livelihood, and I dare not touch it without permission."

To put it bluntly, it means using the regional distribution rights to offset the debt of the previous excessive issuance of salt.

"Well, that's the truth."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded in agreement.

"In the past, the imperial court issued excessive amounts of salt, and the salt could not be exchanged for salt at the salt field. As a result, the court's salt tax was unpaid, and the salt households were miserable. As for the salt merchants, they spent money to buy salt from the imperial court, but they were unable to produce salt. No salt is mentioned. All three parties are losing money."

"In the end, it led to the prevalence of private money, allowing some unfaithful and unfilial people to steal the money that should belong to the court."

"Your Majesty's wisdom."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen quickly bowed and said.

Good guy, this little emperor is so smart.

The problem with the salt policy was immediately apparent.

"Now the Ming Dynasty is seriously short of money, so I have to do something."

With a sigh, Zhu Youxiao said to Yuan Shizhen.

"I will appoint you as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the imperial envoy to reform the salt administration of the Ming Dynasty. Are you willing?"

"I am willing."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen quickly bowed and said.

Who would despise his own power?
"Ah."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and signaled Liu Shimin to draft an imperial edict to Yuan Shizhen.After seeing off Yuan Shizhen, Zhu Youxiao stood at the gate of Nanhaizi's old Yamen, looked out the door, and couldn't help but sigh.

Without saying a few words, he arranged errands for others.

As an emperor, he emphasizes efficiency in doing things.

As for Yuan Shizhen, he was also confused at this time.

Sitting on the carriage driving slowly towards Beijing, Yuan Shizhen looked at the imperial edict drafted in his hand.

He now needs to go to the cabinet to have the cabinet write a formal edict for him, and then take the formal edict and the draft to the Supervisor of Ceremonies for sealing.

In the cabinet, after all, Han Xu had studied calligraphy in the Hanlin Academy all his life. With one stroke of his pen, he had already written an imperial edict based on the emperor's wishes.

"Shilang Yuan, congratulations."

While waiting for the pen and ink to dry, Han Xu cupped his hands at Yuan Shizhen.

"I would also like to congratulate Minister Yuan on his promotion."

"Don't dare."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen quickly returned the greeting to Han Xu.

"They are all recommended by Mr. Li and valued by His Majesty. Someone has such a good opportunity and won this position. How dare I trouble Han Fu to congratulate me."

"Shilang Yuan, there is no need to be too modest."

Hearing this, Han Xu stroked a few goatees and said.

"When Yuan Shilang was in Lianghuai, he abolished the old and established the new. He changed the name of Kaizhong to Gangyan. He paid more than one million taels of salt tax to the court every year. He has made great contributions to the court. How can he be humble?"

"This is the spirit of the late emperor and the wisdom of Li Gong. The lower official is just a person who performs the work, how dare he take credit for it."

Regarding the trap in Han Xu's words, Yuan Shizhen said who are you trying to trick by putting it here.

It's okay to destroy the old and create the new. It's better not to put it on your own head.

With that said, Yuan Shizhen held the imperial edict and said to Han Xu.

"The lower official still has to go to the ceremonial department, so I won't bother Han Fu too much."

"Ha ha."

Seeing that Yuan Shizhen did not accept this trick, Han Xu smiled and said.

"Shilang Yuan is responsible for your Majesty's reform of the salt policy. Please do as you please."

With that said, Han Xu watched Yuan Shizhen leave the cabinet with a smile on his face.

When Yuan Shizhen left, Han Xu's expression began to change.

The Gangyan method is a good thing for the court and can increase the court's income.

But for salt merchants, or some salt merchants, they are something that can never get any worse.

The money obtained from the Gangsalt Law is more of a private salt tax than a salt tax.

This method allowed salt merchants and salt households to connect directly. The court no longer interfered, but directly took the commission from the salt merchants' accounts.

This is to put the private salt that used to operate underground in the open by paying money to the court.

This is certainly good news for the traditional big salt merchants.

The introduction of the Salt Law allowed them to directly monopolize the sales rights in certain areas, which also allowed them to get the rewards they had spent to buy waste paper and salt.

But Han Xu always had a feeling in his heart.

The emperor may have more plans than what can be seen now.

After being sealed by the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Yuan Shizhen went to the Ministry of Household Affairs with the imperial edict.

"Brother Li!"

"Brother Yuan!"

In the lobby of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Yuan Shizhen and Li Ruhua burst into tears as soon as they met.

"In 45, I recommended you to be the envoy to the Huaihe River and to regulate the salt administration. In the blink of an eye, it will be three years."

Li Ruhua reached out and patted Yuan Shizhen, and said with emotion.

"His Majesty is wise enough to appoint you as the Right Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs to rectify the salt administration. Brother, please show your ambition."

(End of this chapter)