Daming: Dad, you are really not good at governing the country

Chapter 322: Reforming the Ministry of Revenue's malpractices requires only eight words: separation of financial power and mutual control
Zhu Gang knew very well why Zhu Yuanzhang had such a big reaction.

This is because the essence of cooking the books is to provide false financial information.

This false financial information would cause the emperor to misjudge the current situation of the treasury and make wrong decisions.

The reason why the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zhang Yi knew nothing about anything was because he was dismissed on the spot by Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the Ministry of Revenue of the Ming Dynasty, there was one Minister of Revenue and two Vice Ministers of Revenue.

The work of these three people was unrelated to each other. According to the standards of later generations, it could even be said that they were officials from three different departments.

A vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue had his own separate office and was directly responsible to Zhu Yuanzhang.

He reported his work directly to the emperor, without going through the Minister of Revenue.

The job of this assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue was limited to supervising the treasury and grain storage, and he did not participate in other work of the Ministry of Revenue.

Sometimes this assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue would be promoted to another "Minister of the Ministry of Revenue", which means that it is possible for two Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue to appear in the Ming Dynasty at the same time.

Another assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue was more straightforward, and his job was usually to be assigned abroad.

For example, serving as a special envoy to manage the canal, or going to the border areas to manage military supplies.

In other words, this dispatched Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue might not be in Yingtian Prefecture at ordinary times.

Zhang Yi, a reserve cadre who could be promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue at any time, neglected his duties to the point of being almost incompetent, which Zhu Yuanzhang absolutely could not tolerate.

Especially after listening to Zhu Gang's explanation of 21 methods of falsifying accounts, Zhu Yuanzhang subconsciously thought that there might be big problems in the Ministry of Revenue.

He was afraid that another "empty seal case" would occur, and how to deal with the officials involved would become a very troublesome matter.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang could not remove all the financial and grain officials in the thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty like he did with those officials in charge of seals.

If they really did that, the Ming Dynasty would probably collapse and no one would dare to try the case.

Thinking of this, in order to appease Zhu Yuanzhang's broken heart, Zhu Gang said with emotion: "Officials should naturally be honest officials, but honest officials must also understand the routines of corrupt officials.

The so-called knowing oneself and the enemy will never end in a hundred battles.

Only honest officials who have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances can remain invincible and ultimately defeat those corrupt officials.

Of course, as to how to reform the many malpractices of the Ministry of Revenue, I think only eight words will work.

Financial power is separated and they check and balance each other.

It is normal and common for there to be a conflict between the two.

After all, one is about spending money and the other is about limiting spending.

As a spender, who doesn’t want to spend money without limits?

So one person wants to spend the money freely, while the other person is responsible for requiring the former to spend the money according to the rules. "

Empress Ma, who had been silent all this time, suddenly made a startling statement: "In a dynasty without the rule of law, everyone will yearn for power and money.

Because these things can make everyone become a superior person in the eyes of others.

However, once power becomes uncontrollable, no one can avoid being swallowed up by it.

The reason why Jianer established the Daming Money House was to make the officials of the Ministry of Revenue spend the money in the national treasury according to regulations. "

Zhu Gang nodded and said, "Mother is worthy of being one of the 'Ten Great Virtuous Empresses in History', who is as famous as Empress Changsun. She pointed out the original intention of my son to establish the Daming Money House.

Using silver to exchange for salt was an attempt by the Ming Dynasty money houses to consolidate their financial power.

When Zhu Gang mentioned the "Ten Great Empresses in History", Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I have heard from Song Lian, who is over 300 years old, that there have been nearly empresses in history.

You said there are only ten people who can be called "virtuous queens". Then, apart from my sister and Empress Zhangsun of the Tang Dynasty, who are the other eight people?"

Seeing his father's impatient look, Zhu Gang knew with his toes what the consequences would be if he didn't put Empress Ma first. "The tenth place is Dou Yifang."

Seeing Zhu Gang write Empress Dowager Dou's name on the paper, Zhu Yuanzhang said thoughtfully: "According to Song Lian, Dou Yifang was originally an ordinary peasant girl.

However, although she was born into a commoner family, she was born with extraordinary beauty.

During the reign of Emperor Hui of Han, Dou Yifang entered the palace to serve Empress Dowager Lu.

Later, she was given to King Dai Liu Heng and was responsible for monitoring his every move.

As a result, Dou Yifang was moved by Liu Heng and eventually helped him seize the throne.

Because she came from a poor family, she could better understand the miserable experiences of the common people.

Dou Yifang often advised Emperor Wen of Han to practice frugality and reduce the burden on the people.

At the same time, Dou Yifang was also the last ruler of China who adhered to the Huang-Lao thought.

Under her influence, the Han Dynasty continued to adopt the policy of 'governing the people and governing by inaction' established during the reign of Liu Bang, which eventually pushed the Han Dynasty to the peak of its prosperity.

According to historical records: Dou Yifang planned to pass on the throne to Jiaodong and inherited the strategy of Pei Gong; when she was about to leave for Guanjin, her name was left behind by the Han Dynasty.

Her era inherited the great achievements of Emperor Gaozu of Han and preceded the great achievements of Emperor Wu of Han. She can indeed be called a virtuous empress. "

Zhu Gang corrected him by saying, "In fact, Empress Dou's hair was already getting thinner when she was young.

Eventually, she even developed baldness, which her family often felt ashamed of.

On the night of July 7th every year, Empress Dou's family members would go out to see the Weaver Girl, but she was the only one who was not allowed to go out.

Therefore, although Empress Dou was born into a commoner family, she could not be described as having an extraordinary appearance. "

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a little embarrassment: "We were also deceived by Jing Lian. Fortunately, he has been implicated in the 'Hu Weiyong case' and has been exiled to Maozhou, Sichuan."

Imperial tutors were a special group in the Ming Dynasty. They held high positions and had a significant influence, satisfying almost all the career dreams of scholars.

However, accompanying Zhu Yuanzhang day and night and being in close contact with the court struggles is a high-risk job.

Not only is it often difficult for them to have a good end, but their families may even be affected.

Although the pinnacle of Song Lian's glorious life was when he taught Zhu Yuanzhang and his elder brother Zhu Biao in Yingtian Prefecture.

However, in Zhu Gang's view, the precarious career as an imperial tutor was far less fulfilling and happy than the time when Song Lian coached Zheng Yimen in Pujiang.

As the "chief secretary" of the Ming Dynasty, Song Lian often followed Zhu Yuanzhang.

Although he knew many court secrets, he kept them secret and never leaked them to outsiders, just as strictly as Zhu Yuanzhang's code box.

It is for this reason that Zhu Yuanzhang admired Song Lian's style very much.

He often praised Song Lian in front of the ministers, saying, "Jing Lian has served us for so many years and has never told a lie or criticized others.

Isn’t this what the ancients called a wise man or a noble man? "

However, such a virtuous gentleman was involved in the "Hu Weiyong case".

If Zhu Gang had not asked Empress Ma for help and had her mediation to change the sentence to exile, Song Lian would have almost been beheaded by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Gang felt a little regretful when he thought of Song Lian, who was in shackles in history and died in Fengjie after a long journey and torture.

"Father, in order to strengthen the control over the vassal states, the court should set up the post of Tongzhishi.

Song Lian's sons Song Yan and Song Shen are both talented and can serve as the chief and deputy governors of Ryukyu respectively."

(End of this chapter)