Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 123 Are we too lenient towards local officials? (First update)
Hear the words.

Zhao Mao and others looked at each other.

To move to the post station? Just to do business?

this.
They are not new officials. They have served under Zhu Yuanzhang for many years and are well aware of Zhu Yuanzhang's character.

Your Majesty, the current emperor, has a deep prejudice against businessmen. Your Majesty has always been committed to achieving a peaceful and prosperous life for the farmers and the people of the world.

Merchants were never included.

Now some people suggest opening up the post stations for commercial use.

Their hearts were beating fast.

Is Your Majesty trying to test them or are you really asking for these suggestions?

"I dare to ask Your Majesty, who wrote this memorial? How dare he speak so arrogantly?" Zhao Mao said.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhao Mao, his face showing no emotion, and said calmly: "Don't worry about who said it, I just want to hear your thoughts first."

Minister of War Wen Xiangqing hesitated for a moment and said, "I think it is totally unacceptable to open the post stations."

"The post station was established by the imperial court. Its original purpose was to convey the imperial court's political affairs. How could such a confidential place be opened to the public so easily, especially to merchants?"

“Once the economy opens up, it will be hard to distinguish between government officials and businessmen, and it will be easy for trouble to arise.”

"I think this is absolutely unacceptable."

Wen Xiangqing’s attitude is very clear.

The post station was mainly used to convey military and national affairs.

Another function is to deliver official documents and receive visiting officials.

If it is opened to merchants, it will inevitably slow down the delivery speed of the post station. If a war breaks out on the border, there will be countless casualties due to the delay of one or two days.

Moreover, merchants are profit-driven. Once the post is opened up, merchants will surely flock to the post stations, and the post stations will certainly not be enough. The imperial court will then be able to recruit more people, which will also be a considerable expense for the government and will increase the burden on the people.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

He did not express his opinion directly, but looked at the others and said, "What about you? Tell us what you think."

Mai Zhide smiled and said, "I think this suggestion has some merits."

"Oh, tell me where we can get it?" Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Mai Zhide bowed his hands respectfully and said, "Your Majesty has just mentioned that now that the world is stable, many post stations are idle. To a certain extent, there is indeed a lot of waste and loss of money and labor, especially in the south, which has not seen unrest for a long time, and the southern regions are busy with trade. If the court can open the post stations and provide certain conveniences for the transportation of goods, it can indeed collect a lot of money for the court."

"In this way, the post station is at least in the south, and perhaps the court can achieve the effect of not spending anything, but having a surplus."

"Are you saying that we should divide the post stations into two parts, north and south? The north will remain supported by the court as in the past, while the south will be used for the convenience of merchants?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes darkened, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Mai Zhide only felt a chill on his neck.

I secretly thought something was wrong.

He spoke too quickly just now, out of practical considerations, and made a distinction between north and south, but he overlooked the fact that His Majesty hates it most when someone divides the world into north and south.

Mai Zhide's face tensed, and he quickly said, "I have absolutely no such intention."

"The world is one, there is no north or south."

"Moreover, most of the southern trade is carried out through waterways and canals, and the merchants are cunning and there are many tax evaders. If the restrictions are further relaxed, it will inevitably lead to an overabundance of merchants, which will make it difficult for the court to collect taxes and increase the collusion between officials and merchants."

"I think this is a good idea, but it doesn't take the practical aspects into consideration at all."

"Your Majesty, please give me a clear warning."

Mai Zhide defended himself tremblingly.

My back is wet.

"More than that." Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, and continued Mai Zhide's words: "In addition to the difficulty in collecting taxes, more importantly, there are local officials who deduct money at every level. Even if the post station really makes a lot of money, I'm afraid that the money in our hands will still be very few."

Zhu Yuanzhang said this lightly, and everyone broke out in a cold sweat.

If the post station were to be opened, the interests involved would be too great.

Not all officials can resist temptation, but their Majesty hates greed the most. Since the founding of the country, countless corrupt officials have been executed and their entire families have been exterminated because of some silver matters.

Some officials were even skinned and stuffed with straw.

But even so, the number of corrupt officials in the world has not decreased, especially recently the Ministry of Revenue is being investigated.

The affairs of the Ministry of Revenue are already worrying, and now His Majesty has mentioned embezzlement. How can they not panic?

Could it be that Your Majesty has some hidden meaning?
Zhao Mao and others lowered their heads, not daring to look Zhu Yuanzhang directly in the eye.

They were really afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang was really ruthless and had no scruples at all, killing people all over the world and causing rivers of blood.

Zhu Yuanzhang obviously did not want to let this go. He looked at the ministers below and continued to ask: "Yu Xuan, tell us something too."

Yu Xuan's face turned pale, and he said with a stiff face: "Your Majesty, I think opening up the post stations will have both advantages and disadvantages for the country, but I don't know much about economics, so I dare not make a rash judgment. I hope Your Majesty can make the decision."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes.

He didn't like this kind of ambiguous talk.

However, if Yu Hui insisted on this statement, there was nothing he could do.

After all, Yu Hui had never worked in the Ministry of Revenue.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang also knew. He continued to ask, but could not get anything out of him. He said, "Don't you want to know who proposed it? Then I will tell you, it was this year's new champion, Xia Zhibai, who ran away to become a 'business official'."

Summer White?
Zhao Mao and others were stunned.

Then he showed a look of realization.

It seems that only Xia Zhibai dares to do such a bold thing. And his main job now is business.

in business.

This all makes sense.

However, Xia Zhibai's memorial frightened them enough. Zhao Mao's eyes turned cold and he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I think Xia Zhibai's idea is too dangerous. If such a person continues to hold an official position, it may lead to misunderstanding that the court has relaxed restrictions on merchants."

"I suggest that Xia Zhibai's status as a Jinshi be dismissed."

"Since he is doing business, he should be a thorough businessman."

"How can a businessman interfere in state affairs?"

Yu Xun also hurriedly said, "I also have something to say."

"The post station was built by the state to convey military and national affairs. If it is opened to merchants, wouldn't it be putting the cart before the horse?"

"Moreover, merchants are of low status, and the post stations were used by officials in the past. If we open them up, won't it cause confusion between officials and merchants, and a loss of order between the superior and the inferior?!"

"I think it is absolutely impossible."

"I also have a report." Mai Zhide spoke with great sorrow at this moment.

If it was a memorial from someone else in the court, perhaps from a vassal king or some civil officials, they might be a little wary, but how could they take a mere Xia Zhibai seriously? In terms of status and official title, they were much higher than Xia Zhibai.

Your Majesty hates businessmen.

How could they really open up the post stations? Moreover, if the government operated the post stations, corruption would inevitably become rampant.

This is also something Your Majesty absolutely cannot allow.

So it is right to oppose.

For a while.

There was a lot of calls for condemnation in the Fengtian Hall.

Hearing the attacks from Zhao Mao and others, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned cold.

They are just a bunch of opportunistic termites.

"You all object, but Xia Zhibai told us something different. It not only involves money and grain, but also involves the court's governance of the local areas." Zhu Yuanzhang spoke directly without waiting for Zhao Mao and others to calm down, interrupting them.

Zhao Mao and others instantly quieted down.

"The national taxes collected by the Ming Dynasty are not much each year, but they are barely enough. We don't like to compete with the common people for profits, nor do we like merchants. If it is just to get more money and food, we won't even have time to consider it. It's just that Xia Zhibai told me something that I haven't paid attention to in the past."

"data!"

"Xia Zhibai gives us the example of selling salt."

"After these three months, the salt factory managed by Xia Zhibai almost monopolized the salt market in Yingtian Prefecture."

Zhao Mao and others nodded.

They know this.

But he didn't take it seriously and just took advantage of the court's loopholes.

If I didn't hold an official position, it wouldn't have been so smooth.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "He told us that by comparing the monthly salt sales in Yingtian Prefecture, we can get a glimpse of the current living conditions in Yingtian Prefecture."

"If the people are rich, they will sell more salt. If the people are poor, they will tighten their belts. By comparing the sales over the past year, we can roughly determine how many people there are in Yingtian Prefecture. If we compare these judgments with the data registered by the government, we can conduct a two-way verification."

"Have the local government engaged in fraud?"

One word fell.

The Fengtian Hall was completely quiet.

The pupils of Zhao Mao and others shrank slightly, and a hint of horror appeared in their eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Salt is only one aspect. Another aspect is the circulation of goods. By counting the amount of goods entering and leaving a place, we can judge the governance of the local government. These data and information closely related to the local area were not in the hands of the court in the past."

"If the imperial court takes action in these areas, it can open up the court's eyes and ears in the local areas."

Zhao Mao and others took a deep breath.

They didn't think much of it at first, but when Zhu Yuanzhang explained it all to them, they felt their scalps tingling.

If the imperial court really did this, the local officials would probably be trembling with fear. They would not dare to do accounting so casually anymore, let alone have the "empty seal" of the past. In addition, they would not dare to be responsible for Guo Huan's embezzlement this time.

Just this way.
There will be too many problems with local governments.

Think of this.

All they felt was darkness before their eyes.

Zhao Mao and others turned pale and dared not say anything.

a long time.

Zhao Mao and other officials came back to their senses. They all bowed their heads respectfully and said in a deep voice: "This is a matter of great importance. We dare not make rash comments. Please ask Your Majesty to make the decision."

A cold look appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's lips.

Zhao Mao and others spoke righteous words before, but when they were asked to think about the court, they all fell silent.

These are the ministers of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I am just a common man, how can I know so much? How dare I make a rash decision? But I think I have been too lenient with local officials in the past. It is time to tighten up these local officials. But I have not figured out how to arrange it yet."

"Go down and help us think about it carefully."

"I obey your command." Zhao Mao and other officials responded quickly.

(End of this chapter)