Borrow the day to change the day

() Zhong Jinwei replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, all civil and military officials, noble and royal relatives should be the richest group in the capital, but the value of donated materials is only half of that of other classes. It is definitely enough to make people angry."

"There's a saying: When you're full and think about sex, these people live a carefree life, and they turn into a style of corruption and luxury. Now that the trend has been formed, it will not be a matter of time to change it."

"Since ancient times, even in the time of the minister, issues related to the social atmosphere and the value orientation of life cannot be changed overnight. Your Majesty needs patience. It is still the problem of public opinion orientation that the minister said before. Forced suppression cannot be suppressed." Yes, it can only be subtle."

Zhong Jinwei talked a lot eloquently, but in fact there is still no one-shot solution. In fact, Emperor Chongzhen didn't know these truths, but he was only angry at these people's inaction.Usually they talk about serving the country and the people, but they can't find any way to serve the country and the people from their actual behavior.

"Master Zhong also saw it. Last night, I asked someone to calculate the money and food needed to resettle the refugees. The shortage is so large. I just issued an imperial decree, announcing that all the rewards given to officials during the Chinese New Year this year will be cancelled. According to the usual practice The ceremonies of the festival were also cancelled, and all the property obtained was embezzled for military supplies and resettlement of refugees.”

When Emperor Chongzhen said this, there was a hint of hatred on his face, and he said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, you don't know the expressions of those courtiers after hearing this decision, as if I cut off their lives. "

Speaking of this, I realized that I seemed to be speaking a little rudely, and smiled a little embarrassedly, and then said: "It is also fortunate that there is Wen Tiren, Bi Ziyan and the others support me, so they forcibly issued the decree."

Zhong Jinwei was a little worried: "If there were no such rewards, what would those upright officials eat for the New Year?"

"All the usual office expenses are paid by the imperial court. They don't charge them a penny or grain. As long as they don't bribe, don't compare, and don't extravagance, their monthly salary is enough. What's more, how little money do they usually earn? ? The imperial court is so difficult, and they still refuse to donate, so I will help them shed some blood."

Having said that, I spit out the depression in my heart and felt a little better.

Zhong Jinwei suddenly thought of a way, although it is not very good, but it can alleviate this extravagant atmosphere to a certain extent.So, he said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I have an idea, which should alleviate the corruption of social atmosphere."

"Oh, Master Zhong has another idea, isn't it the public opinion orientation just mentioned?" Emperor Chongzhen was not sure that Zhong Jinwei had new ideas.

"Your Majesty, this is what I think. After these people get rich, they start to enjoy themselves, while the poor starve to death. My idea is to tax all the rich, collect personal income tax, and classify, The higher the income, the higher the tax rate. This can limit the gap between the rich and the poor to a certain extent."

After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was not sure: "Master Zhong is talking about all the rich people? In addition to merchants, it also includes civil and military officials, honorable royal relatives?"

Zhong Jinwei nodded, of course.

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and said, "It's still reasonable to say that merchants are taxed. But civil and military officials, nobles and royal relatives are also taxed, which is unheard of. Also, what is the personal income tax you mentioned?"

"It's everyone's annual income." Zhong Jinwei explained.

Emperor Chongzhen felt even more absurd when he heard this, and said, "How do you know how much each person earns?"

When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he was stunned for a moment, as if this was ancient times. In his time, it was not a reliable thing to calculate personal income tax.He was speechless at the moment, and after a while, he said embarrassingly: "Is this the way I used to do in my hometown?"

"Including civil and military officials, honorable relatives?" Emperor Chongzhen didn't believe it.

"Yes." Zhong Jinwei nodded affirmatively. In fact, he had never seen the civil and military officials of his time, whether the honorable royal family paid taxes as honestly as himself, a wage earner.

Emperor Chongzhen thought it was unbelievable, but when he thought about it carefully, it seemed that the temptation was great.After thinking for a long time, I finally gave up.Said to Zhong Jinwei: "This matter has never happened in all dynasties. If it is promulgated, I am afraid that there will be an uproar. Put it on hold."

Emperor Chongzhen didn't want to continue this topic anymore, the temptation was too great, but he really didn't dare to discuss this matter now, if word got out, those people might ignore Jianlu and go to war with me directly.

Thinking of this, he changed the subject, and said to Zhong Jinwei: "I called you back from the barracks outside the city, one is because the elimination of troops has been completed, and my purpose of sending Master Zhong to help Master Sun has been completed; Hurry up and give me the pattern of banknotes that Master Zhong said, and I will let you take a look."

When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he no longer cared about the affairs of civil and military officials. It took Emperor Chongzhen two days to print the banknote samples, which is worth looking forward to.

Emperor Chongzhen picked up a piece of paper from the imperial case and handed it over to Zhong Jinwei.

Zhong Jinwei picked it up and looked at it, speechless.I saw that the pattern of this banknote is larger than that of ordinary books in later generations.The horizontal mark of the pattern is "Daming Tongxing Treasure Coin", and the two ends are protected by flames.In the upper frame of the flower fence, the denomination "Yiguan" is printed on the top, and there are ten strings of money Guan patterns printed on the middle and bottom. The Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of Zhunzhun printed the text: "The Ministry of the Household Zhunzhun printed and made Daming treasure coins and copper coins for general use. The counterfeiters would be beheaded, and the arresters would be rewarded with two hundred and fifty taels of silver, and the prisoner's property would still be given. Chongzhen Year, Month Day".A total of 42 characters are engraved in seven vertical lines.

It's so uncreative, it's completely copied from the previous Daming Banknote.

Emperor Chongzhen explained on the side: "They originally wanted to exchange the ten strings of money for my profile picture, but they were scolded by me. Master Zhong, what do you think?"

Zhong Jinwei smiled bitterly and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I am very speechless. Ah, being speechless means that I am speechless. Isn't this the treasure of the Ming Dynasty?"

"They told me that this banknote was named Daming Treasure Coin. The name is different from Daming Treasure Banknote. That's the difference."

In fact, Emperor Chongzhen knew that this pattern was almost the same as the previous banknotes, and it was obviously not very suitable, but looking at the contents of the pattern, it seemed that every element was needed, so he had to recruit Zhong Jinwei and ask him to mention it. Opinion up.

"Your Majesty, I have a few suggestions, please listen to them and see if they are reasonable."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, he was recruited to offer advice.

"Your Majesty, banknotes are used to replace silver and copper coins for circulation. Therefore, the first one must be durable, and the second one must be exquisite and difficult to imitate. Because of the bad influence of the previous Daming banknotes, there must be relatively large ones. It is only necessary to distinguish. In addition, it is best to use the back of the banknote, and this banknote is too big, it is not very convenient to carry, and the cost is estimated to be high, all of which are unfavorable factors."

Zhong Jinwei thought for a while, and added: "I suggest that it is best to call the most famous experts in printing, engraving, ink, etc. in the country. Oh, experts are not experts, but masters. Let's study this banknote pattern together and try to make it better. To the above requirements."

Zhong Jinwei was already sensitive to Emperor Chongzhen's expression, and he could tell by looking at his expression that there might be something wrong with some words, and he couldn't understand, so he explained it by the way.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, but he didn't expect such a high request for this small banknote.It seems that to do anything well, you have to work hard.

He thought of this, and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, please wait, I will send the Minister of the Household Department to ask."

Soon, Bi Ziyan, Minister of the Household Department, came to see him.He first saluted Emperor Chongzhen, and then also saluted Zhong Jinwei, saying, "Thank you Uncle Zhongxing."

Zhong Jinwei knew that he was thanking himself for being able to eliminate so many troops and help him relieve the heavy logistical pressure.At the moment, he didn't dare to ask too much. In terms of age, he was more than twice his age, so he quickly returned the courtesy.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't care about Bi Ziyan's behavior of not listening to himself to tell him the reason for summoning him first, but going to courteously with Zhong Jinwei first, because this was an informal occasion after all.

In fact, even in formal occasions, the courtiers in the late Ming Dynasty didn't pay much attention to etiquette before the emperor.

Someone summed up a sentence: Those who owed civil servants in the early Ming Dynasty, the civil servants came to collect debts in the late Ming Dynasty.It's just that this debt collection is too harsh, and Da Ming has been extorted.