Jiajing Chengming

"Since they have voluntarily confessed their crimes, we will first put them and their families in the Imperial Prison, and their families will not be exiled for the time being."

Zhu Houcong gave such instructions after Huang Jin came to report the matter.

Then, Zhu Houcong looked at Zhang Cong again and asked: "How is the Ministry of Revenue going with the bond issuance?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is ready to issue a loan of three million silver dollars first, and the memorial on this matter has been submitted."

At this time, Zhang Cong handed over the petition from the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhu Houcong took it and looked at it, then threw it back on the table: "Approve what he said!"

Subsequently.

Zhu Houcong sat up, looked at Zhang Cong, Zhao Huang and Gui E and said: "Wealth and honor are sought in danger. I hope that the wealthy families in this world are not so short-sighted and are willing to tie the fate of their families more closely to the fate of the country."

"They probably don't fear anything else, but they are only afraid that the imperial court will deny its obligations and even take advantage of the opportunity to rob the rich."

“Everyone would worry that if they bought the court’s debt, they would be targeted by the court and the bureaucrats, and then blackmailed for a long time.”

At this time, Zhang Cong dared to raise his concerns.

Zhao Huang, who was standing by, couldn't help but worry about Zhang Cong.

After all, this was a decision made by the emperor. It was the emperor who wanted to ease relations with the world's wealthy and powerful families. It was the emperor who hoped to make the world's wealthy and powerful families more loyal to the Ming Dynasty by uniting more of them to achieve wealth together with the country.

Therefore, saying these words at this time would undoubtedly dampen the emperor's mood.

But Zhu Houcong was not angry. He nodded and said, "This is also the disadvantage of the emperor ruling alone and all power in the world belongs to the officials. Few people in the world dare to show their wealth to the world, especially to the emperor like me."

"So, in order to prevent the wealthy and powerful from really thinking that I am doing this to find out that they are very wealthy and want to find an opportunity to confiscate their homes, and to prevent the powerful bureaucrats from blackmailing these wealthy families, I will not force them to buy bonds, nor will I assign purchase quotas to the bureaucrats. I will also strictly prohibit the bureaucrats from secretly forcing the wealthy to buy bonds in order to show their loyalty!"

"In addition, the Ministry of Revenue must set up a trading department and formulate relevant confidentiality regulations for bond transactions to ensure that no one except me, the officials related to the Ministry of Revenue, and the officials related to the Ministry of Finance can easily know the information of the buyers! Once a leak is found, it will be treated as a crime of disrupting the government."

"In short, I want to issue bonds only because of your mutual consent, and I will try my best to ensure that they are safe enough in this way of making profits that I encourage."

After Zhu Houcong said this, Gui E suggested: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, you can add another decree to make it clear that the profits from buying bonds from the Ministry of Revenue of the imperial court will not be counted as official even if the family is confiscated and convicted in the future, but will be returned to the family, just like the sacrificial land is not counted as official?"

Gui E continued, "Since the wealthy and powerful families in the world are likely to be afraid of the power of the emperor and officials and dare not show their wealth to buy bonds, Your Majesty can give them an extra reassurance and further show that Your Majesty has no intention of taking advantage of the wealthy families in order to achieve the rejuvenation of the world, but only wants the people of the country, regardless of their wealth or status, to prosper because of the rejuvenation of the world."

Zhu Houcong thought about it seriously.

But Zhu Houcong did not rush to express his opinion. Instead, he looked at Zhang Cong and Zhao Huang and asked, "What do you think?"

Zhao Huang pursed his lips, did not express his opinion, and just glanced at Zhu Houcong secretly.

Zhang Cong thought about it seriously, then clasped his hands and said, "I think this is a good idea, but since ancient times, when a person dies, the government often dies. Even if Your Majesty insists on determining that the profits from borrowing money from the state are not to be confiscated even if the property is confiscated, future monarchs and ministers may not be willing to comply, so it may not be very effective. It will only encourage some wealthy people to try to buy more court bonds."

"As long as it can encourage them to buy more bonds from the imperial court, it will be a good idea."

Zhu Houcong asked Zhao Huang, "What do you think, Lord Zhao?"

"Your Majesty, I think what Mr. Zhang said is very true."

Zhao Huang replied with a smile.

Zhu Houcong nodded: "Then approve Gui Gelao's proposal and issue such an edict to the world!"

"Yes!" Zhu Houcong then smiled and said, "As Gui Ge Lao said just now, I sincerely hope that the people of the world, regardless of their wealth or status, can become more prosperous because of the revival of the world, rather than really following the example of the bandits and robbing the rich to help the poor."

"The reason why the new policies nowadays seem to repeatedly make the wealthy suffer while the common people benefit is because many officials and scholars who came from wealthy families have forgotten the teachings of the saints and only want to enrich themselves, not others! They have even intentionally or unintentionally made the path for the common people to achieve personal wealth narrower and narrower, and even gradually blocked it to the point where it will be completely blocked!"

"At the same time, they also want to seize the emperor's power to rule alone. They want the whole world to be ruled by them alone. They are dissatisfied with the current situation of the emperor's supremacy and want the emperor to share the world with them!"

"As the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Only a three-year-old child would want to have it both ways. But they are not children anymore. On the contrary, they are either officials of the Imperial Academy or Jinshi (academic scholars). So, they can't be really stupid, but really bad! This forces me to kill them severely!"

Zhang Cong then cupped his hands and echoed, "Your Majesty is right. My family is now a wealthy family with countless fertile lands and rich properties. I am not deliberately going against Yang Tinghe. If I really want to prevent the wealthy families in the world from becoming richer, I even hope that they can all become richer, because in this way, the world can be more peaceful and prosperous. However, they are not enterprising and are unwilling to increase profits through hard work. Instead, they would rather disrupt the great etiquette, ruin the national politics, and go against the grace of the emperor. They would also only use the means of power struggle and wanton annexation to reduce the etiquette of the world, and for this, they would not hesitate to sacrifice the emperor and the common people!"

"I feel ashamed of this, and I also know that this is not the way to ensure long-term peace and stability in the world."

"That's why I have no choice but to oppose them. I know that Your Majesty will have to take harsh measures against them because of this!"

"As the saying goes, thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the Lord!"

"They often receive only the grace of thunder and lightning. The fault lies not with the king or father, but with themselves."

"They should reflect on themselves! In many cases, they should look for the reasons in themselves and think about whether they have seriously practiced the way of the saints!"

"And Your Majesty, as the ruler of the world, it is actually very difficult. Sometimes you have to be strict!"

After Zhang Cong said this, Zhu Houcong nodded and smiled: "I am lucky to have you when I first ascended the throne!"

"I don't deserve it!"

Zhang Cong hurriedly bowed, but his eyes could not help but turn red at this time, and when he left the imperial study, he and Gui E could not help but smile at each other.

Gui E said to Zhang Cong: "It is indeed a blessing for the world that we have you in this dynasty!"

"The world is lucky to have a resolute and wise ruler like Your Majesty!"

Zhang Cong laughed and refuted Gui E, adding: "There has always been no shortage of loyal, capable, and wise ministers, but there has only been a lack of sage rulers! Especially sage rulers who are strong and unyielding!"

"Yes!"

Gui E nodded and sighed.

Next, the Ministry of Revenue drafted relevant regulations for issuing bonds in accordance with Zhu Houcong's wishes.

Therefore, the purchase of Ming Dynasty national bonds became a political achievement activity that was not mandatory by the court.

At the same time, Zhu Houcong asked the cabinet to issue an edict that the interest income from national debt would not be confiscated into government property even if the property was confiscated.

But many wealthy individuals are not actively buying bonds.

The reason.

They were worried that the emperor with absolute power would go back on his word and take their money by trickery. Also, the conflicts and resentments caused by the reforms over the years made many wealthy and extravagant families want the financial situation of the court under Zhang Fujing to become even worse, thus forcing the emperor to dismiss Zhang Cong and compromise.

Therefore, when Lu Shen, the chief priest of the Imperial College, attended a gathering of the local party members in Beijing at the guild hall, he said:

"Saving money, exercising benevolent governance, and being gracious to distant places are the fundamental good governance, not lending money to the rich in order to appease the grievances of the rich, letting them earn interest and share profits! Instead of turning the court into a tool for profit-making both inside and outside the court, and even the emperor and his ministers becoming tools for the rich to make money!"

"How can this be allowed? Therefore, any sensible person should not buy these bonds!" (End of this chapter)