Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 208 Just Call Youjian
Dividing money is actually a difficult thing.

The reason why many people can share adversity but not wealth is because of the problem of distribution.

The court was in a dilemma because it wanted to avoid disrupting the direction, but at the same time it wanted so much silver and was worried about causing chaos.

When Guo Zhengyu heard the emperor express his dissatisfaction with local officials and gentry again, he could not insist that not punishing Shu Baiqing would be detrimental to the administration of officials and would not bring any benefits.

At least Wen Chun said that, apart from accepting some filial gifts from Guang Tongchen and then accepting other people's invitations to eat, drink and have fun, Shu Baiqing did not seem to have used his power to enrich himself.

Now that Shu Baiqing dared to "sacrifice his life for justice", he naturally would not be afraid of being investigated further, so Wang Dewan's report was credible.

How can the emperor and the central government ensure that the direction is correct and appease the local people?
"In this case, we should send some of the stolen silver to Beijing." Wang Xijue gritted his teeth, "Imperial College, the three palaces, river works, disaster relief..."

He listed a lot of places where money was needed right now. Zhu Changluo said, "But with so much money, there must be a lot of space left. Where should it be used?"

If all of them are kept, the royal family and local guards will covet them. Will they be used to pay out rewards for diligence and honesty? Or as public funds? That would encourage some places to plunder the gentry and wealthy families from now on.

Those who ultimately suffered were probably those who were overly cautious, which did not meet Zhu Changluo's needs.

Zhu Changluo is not unlovable, but how he spends money is a test of his ability.

Naturally, everyone talked about many ideas at once, but Zhu Changluo did not express any opinion.

Zhu Changluo spoke only when they could not think of any new ideas for the time being.

"Well, three things."

All four of them looked at him.

"First, starting from this year, when collecting taxes, all localities should stop playing tricks like kicking the scales. Over a three-year period, calculate how much silver should be kept. This portion can be secretly included in the reward for diligence and honesty and the public funds, so that local officials can restore some good reputation among the people."

Wang Xijue nodded. For this item alone, every place would actually collect at least 20% to 30% extra from the people, which was a considerable number.

"The second thing is to repair the prefectural schools, state schools, and county schools in various places. In addition, we need to calculate how much silver will be spent on water conservancy and roads and bridges. The period is also three years. During these three years, the silver related to education and roads and bridges will be exempted from the whole country through amnesty, and the local people will be hired to do it. This part can save some money."

The Queen is about to give birth, so she can indeed be exempted from some corvée labor across the country.

These are closely related to the interests of local people, so naturally, in the name of good governance, local governments are allowed to retain more of them, but they will then be used in these areas.

"Third, in the name of the birth of the eldest son or daughter of the emperor, order all places to congratulate. I do not want gifts, only congratulatory letters, which should be submitted in the form of memorials. Order all places to list in the congratulatory letters the budget for the three-year reward for diligence and integrity and the public funds. In these three years, do not ask for tributes from local gentry and wealthy families."

Zhu Changluo looked at them and said, "For these three things, each place can leave a sum of money, and work hard for three years without disturbing the people or the gentry. All places will investigate the case and surrender themselves, and they still have to obey the order. Only the part of the stolen money they submit will be kept, and the rest will be transported away."

He added: "In addition, a clear decree has been issued. All post stations in various places will be managed by the Privy Council, and the local government will be exempted from the tax and the money will be paid by the court. The Ministry of Revenue will pay a part, and the military expenditure will also pay a part for military intelligence exchanges. In the future, the local government will not have to bear this cost for official exchanges."

"Your Majesty..." Wang Xijue had something to say.

"The Ministry of War originally managed the water and land post stations, horse post stations, and military stations in various places. I know that this item alone originally cost more than 3 million taels of silver each year. Therefore, Zhang Jiangling established a new "Post Station Regulations" in the third year of Wanli, which can save 1 million taels of silver each year."

Zhu Changluo looked at him and said, "This money was originally spread all over the place. Now it is suddenly borne by the court. This stolen money is only once."

Wang Xijue said seriously: "Because of this, if we change it in this way, the local governments will inevitably worry that they will have to take money from them in the future. Otherwise, how can the court support its finances?"

"We know that the imperial court wants to increase annual revenue by strictly enforcing preferential exemptions and customs duties. However, the local government does not need to bear the burden of post stations. On the one hand, the people are exempted from the suffering of this corvée, and on the other hand, part of the expenses of local public transportation are equivalent to the expenses borne by the imperial court. In this case, there is no reason to ask the people to show their cards and ask the gentry and wealthy families to donate money. In addition, it is not that we need more than two million taels now, and there will be more in the future. This post station may generate some sources of income."

"…How to make money?"

"That's the matter of the Privy Council." Zhu Changluo said, "Anyway, let's do it this way. As for Shu Boqing, he has already offended the locals, so let him continue. My several good policies have also relieved the local gentry of many worries in the future. Can you say that I am ungrateful? But they, are they harming the people? Are they accusing them of embezzling money and evading taxes? The more than 270,000 taels of silver in Changxing County should be handled this way. Why do you complain that it is too much?"

After all, the emperor still loved money, so he just helped the local governments to distribute it first, and then took a portion of the silver that was to be transported to Beijing.

"For the rest, we can think about building the three palaces and the new outer court." Zhu Changluo looked at Wang Xijue and Guo Zhengyu, "As for how the court's decrees will be implemented as already agreed, how to monitor these matters in the future, the Administrative Council and the Inspection Council will come up with a strategy."

"…I accept your order."

Guo Zhengyu was a little confused. Why didn't the emperor look at Wen Chun when he mentioned the Inspection Office?

But after the emperor made his final judgment on the matter, he kept Wen Chun.

I had wanted to talk to him tomorrow, but since I'm here, I might as well chat with him.

"Just now this incident happened, and the Privy Council has more things to do. I intend to have you join the Privy Council. What do you think?"

Wen Chun was surprised: "Privy Council?"

Then he reacted, and naturally bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, if you want me to do anything, I will obey your orders."

Zhu Changluo looked at him deeply and said, "The Privy Council is not like the other three courts. You must understand this. Let me make it clear. Now in the Privy Council, civil officials can enter but not leave. Once you enter the Privy Council, you are no different from a military official."

Wen Chun looked up at the emperor's eyes and quickly replied, "I understand. The new policy is about to be implemented, and the Privy Council is indeed crucial."

"Not only do I want you to join the Privy Council, I also want you to select some loyal and upright officials to join the Privy Council. From now on, there will be a department in the Privy Council that specializes in military selection and military discipline."

"…Your Majesty trusts me so much that I dare not refuse."

Not only was he allowed to go, but he was also allowed to bring a team with him. This really shows trust.

Zhu Changluo nodded and said, "In that case, you can go to Tian Xizhi's residence tonight and he will tell you what the Privy Council will do in the future."

Wen Chun took his leave solemnly, as if he understood the emperor's confidence in remaining so calm about the "trouble" caused by Shu Baiqing, the magistrate of Changxing.

It not only took actions to appease the local gentry, but also prepared to deal with the chaos. This Privy Council was obviously very different from what everyone imagined. The emperor actually had the idea of ​​dividing the Privy Council and all other civil officials into two systems, and he was not going to let the future Inspection Council directly dictate to the military officials in the future?
Internally-provided military discipline office...

Wen Chun would only know the real truth after meeting Tian Le, and Li Hualong would have to wait until the next day to meet the emperor.

But the emperor's edict had already been passed on to the Imperial Academy, the Imperial Academy, and the Imperial Administration Academy.

It was just a direction, but to form a specific decree and official document, the details had to be discussed and reported to the emperor for approval.

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was overwhelmed by the fact that the court would have to bear the expenses of the post stations across the country in the future. The key issue was: how could we know how much stolen silver the entire Ming Dynasty would be able to transport to Beijing this year?

"In this case, wouldn't it mean that the Privy Council would have to pay more than five million taels?" Chen Qi was going crazy, "Five million taels!"

"…at the end of the year."

"Will it be like this every year from now on? Are they trying to force the customs, the port and other places to extort commercial taxes, or are they trying to force the localities to investigate cases and punish the corrupt officials every year?"

"...His Majesty said there won't be so many in the future."

"Can the expenses of the post station be reduced?"

"...That's the Privy Council's business." Wang Xijue answered him in the same way. "On the contrary, after strictly enforcing preferential exemptions and commercial taxes, how much more taxes should be sent to the court? This matter of increasing revenue is the most important task of the Executive Yuan."

"Your Majesty has ordered that after the strict exemption, the amount of transportation to be carried out will remain the same as before!"

"That's just the beginning." Wang Xijue snorted coldly, "In Changxing County alone, so much confiscated money has been found. There are only so many officials in the area. There will always be a number of how much should be kept!"

Chen Qi looked at Wang Xijue, who was ambitious after becoming the "Assistant Prime Minister", and was speechless for a moment.

"Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back!" Wang Xijue said, "I'm afraid it will be like Zhang Jiangling, who would die if he didn't succeed! With the financial situation of the court, someone will be cut off. Your Majesty always has grace when this happens. If the local authorities don't know the importance of the matter and can't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, they will inevitably start a war in the future! This time, they were allowed to keep three years of silver and exempted from the hard labor of the local post stations. If the local authorities are still greedy and continue to transport the money as usual, they really can't understand the emperor's intentions."

Chen Qi was dumbfounded: "...The Prime Minister is saying that this grace just changes the amount of money that should be released after Li Xing was exempted?"

"Your Majesty, you have even given Shu Baiqing a chance to mend his ways. If the others are stubborn and refuse to change, this village will be gone after this year! You can submit a memorial to the emperor to list in detail the local diligence and honesty rewards and public funds, so can't you submit a memorial to list in detail the local new imperial examinations and the amount of money retained for transportation?"

Wang Xijue said without question: "At least the Executive Yuan must issue this document!"

That night, Wen Chun learned what kind of Privy Council was, and Zang Maoxun still didn't know how to deal with Shu Baiqing. After Chen Qi returned home, he was excited about the possible surge in regular tax revenue, but also worried about the foggy future.

But late at night on that day, at 1:55 p.m. on July 19, the second year of Taichang, the Forbidden City suddenly became noisy.

The imperial doctors on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau were hurriedly brought into the palace, and Zhu Changluo also rushed from the Qianqing Palace to the outside of the Kunning Palace.

At the hour of Yin, all the officials who were supposed to attend the court meeting were waiting for a while, and they all knew that the queen was giving birth.

Will it go smoothly? Is it a boy or a girl?

These will greatly determine the emperor's mood and many things.

If the eldest prince is born successfully, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty will be established, which will undoubtedly suppress some people's thoughts to a great extent.

Smart people know very well that everything now can be said to leave a more maneuverable country for the next Ming emperor in the future.

The emperor refused to stay with the status quo, saying it was for the sake of the people and the country, but in fact, wasn't the most direct reason for it to be for his own offspring?
It was not until six quarters past three in the morning, when the sky had already brightened, that the ministers could faintly hear the sound of firecrackers in the palace.

After a while, the congratulatory voices from afar reached the Meridian Gate.

The third drum finally sounded, and the usually serious Chen Ju couldn't help showing his joy, repeating and shouting: "Great joy! The queen successfully gave birth to the emperor's eldest son, and the country has an heir! The emperor's decree: The court meeting will continue, and all ministers come to the court to congratulate!"

Everyone outside the Meridian Gate immediately knelt down, congratulated in unison, and shouted "Long live the emperor".

Not long after, another imperial decree was announced to the world: the empress had given birth to a son, and the emperor exempted the entire country from three years of silver from educational and road and bridge labor service.

Many officials who did not know the emperor's opinion were confused, but at least the ordinary people in the capital suddenly heard about such good policies. They immediately thanked God from the bottom of their hearts for allowing the queen to give birth to a prince smoothly, and prayed that the eldest prince would grow up smoothly.

Li Hualong will not be able to see the emperor today, nor for the next three days.

In the Forbidden City, Zhu Yijun was also carried to the Kunning Palace. He watched his son holding his grandson walked up to him to show him.

Looking at his chubby grandson sleeping, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but have tears in his eyes.

No matter what, this is his bloodline and his first grandson.

"What should you call him?" Empress Dowager Li was so happy that she wanted to hug him in her arms, and then asked Zhu Changluo.

"Just call it Yujian."

The other two queen dowagers only saw the changes in the looks of Queen Dowager Li and Zhu Yijun. Queen Dowager Li even asked tremblingly, "By...inspection?"

Zhu Changluo nodded affirmatively: "By inspection!"

This Youjian is of course not the original Youjian, after all, the ranking is different.

“…Emperor…” Empress Dowager Li was a little scared.

But Zhu Changluo only looked at his son's face, and then said firmly: "Since I have been chosen by heaven, I will naturally leave him a different legacy! Grandmother, Father, the Ming Dynasty is different today!"

(End of this chapter)