Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 388 The 26th year of Hongwu! At the first court meeting of the new year, Zhu Ying once again promulgated important laws!

Inside the two boxes.

Each had a pill placed there.

Upon opening the box, you can smell a captivating fragrance of cinnamon.

There was also a small note attached to the pill, on which a sentence was clearly visible: "Longevity Pill, can extend life by ten years."

"This...this is actually real."

"Big brother actually has an elixir of immortality."

"And...and they even gave me two of them."

Zhu Yunwen stared blankly at the pills in the box, clearly in disbelief.

"This is too expensive."

"This is priceless." Yunyu's voice trembled.

Obviously.

These two pills.

It's incredibly valuable.

Unimaginable value.

……

Time passed slowly!

soon.

Then came New Year's Eve.

This day!
This is the most important day for the Chinese nation, a day of reunion and universal celebration.

Naturally, this ushered in a period of national prosperity and peace, characterized by family reunion.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty.

Families gathered together in joy.

Enjoying the reunion time during the Spring Festival.

For the Ming Dynasty

The twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign is certainly worth remembering.

Because the national policy of "integrating land tax into poll tax" was truly implemented in this year and was carried out throughout the country, countless people of the Ming Dynasty were relieved of high taxes, and countless citizens of the Ming Dynasty were no longer burdened, thus enjoying peace and tranquility.

It was precisely because of this national policy that many landlords and powerful families had to sell their land or even pay people to farm it, changing the situation where people used to have to pay high rents to have land to cultivate.

all in all.

The implementation of the land tax reform had a tremendous impact on the Ming Dynasty. In addition to affecting the landlords and powerful families, it was of great significance to the common people, and truly promoted fairness in the Ming Dynasty.

Apart from that.

Various national policies were implemented, including a reduction in taxes for the people and the replacement of salt with fine salt, which was once prohibitively expensive. All these policies that benefited the country and its people were implemented in the 25th year of the Hongwu reign.

This year is destined to be remembered by countless citizens of the Ming Dynasty. It also filled them with longing for the future and solidified their identity as citizens of the Ming Dynasty.

Inside the palace!
At the turn of the year.

As dazzling fireworks soared into the sky and exploded throughout Yingtian City, the entire city entered a state of jubilation as the New Year approached.

The dazzling fireworks marked the beginning of a new year for the Ming Dynasty, the 26th year of Hongwu's reign.

Compared to everything in the original history.

The history of the Ming Dynasty has now undergone earth-shattering changes.

In front of Fengtian Palace!

The emperor and his two grandsons stood on the steps, gazing at the fireworks blooming in the sky, lost in thought.

"Compared to previous years."

"This year has actually been much more fulfilling," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Old man."

"Are you upset that I've given you so much to do?" Zhu Ying turned around and said jokingly.

"You little rascal," Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head helplessly.

But let’s talk.

"Indeed, you've given us a lot of trouble."

"It was the 'equalization of land tax and poll tax,' the introduction of fine salt, banks, workshops, and military reforms."

"This year, you've kept the entire Ming Dynasty running at full speed. If it weren't for the Ming Dynasty's current strength, it really wouldn't have been able to withstand your antics," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"It was precisely these reforms that led to a significant increase in the national strength of our Great Ming Dynasty."

“Every drink and every bite is just like that,” Zhu Ying said with a smile.

"This year's national policies have been implemented meticulously, and next year, the strength of our Great Ming will continue to grow," Zhu Biao said with a smile and a tone of certainty.

"After the year-end, the Ministry of Revenue and the banks will be able to make preliminary statistics on the nation's financial power and even the collection of commercial taxes."

"Soon, we will know exactly how well this national policy is being implemented," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

"Now that the Tatars are settled, the Tartars are at peace."

"What are your plans for next year?"

"Shouldn't we refrain from launching any military action for the time being?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked Zhu Ying.

Judging from his expression, he was genuinely worried that Zhu Ying would become warlike and continue to accelerate expansion.

"Old man."

“Several million miles of territory! So many of my Ming Dynasty’s troops are tied up there. Even if I wanted to mobilize troops, I would need soldiers to move.”

"Rectification is the priority now, and I won't be deploying troops for at least six months," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

"Only six months without any troops?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was initially relieved to hear that Zhu Ying seemed genuinely not going to launch an attack, but when he heard the words "six months," he was stunned again.

"Old man."

"The future path of our Great Ming Dynasty is conquest, and that will not change."

"And if I want to become stronger and gain more, I also need to conquer."

"However, I will continue to implement some national policies in the Ming Dynasty for the next six months."

"Just give me your full support when the time comes," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

next year.

Zhu Ying has a lot to do.

The imperial examination system was used to attract talent, unlike in previous years.

Instead, it truly seeks to attract talent from all over the world.

"Looks like you're up to something big again."

Seeing Zhu Ying's seemingly preemptive actions, Zhu Yuanzhang could already guess what big thing Zhu Ying was going to do next year.

"New Year."

"The twenty-sixth year of Hongwu".

"Old man."

"You must live well and strive to live to the hundredth or a thousandth year of the Hongwu reign."

Zhu Ying turned his head and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang sincerely.

"Hahaha."

“You’ve lived through a hundred years of the Hongwu reign. If it were a thousand years, wouldn’t we be old monsters?”

"And does your father intend to be the crown prince for the rest of his life?" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a loud laugh.

"father."

"I'd be happy to be the crown prince for the rest of my life," Zhu Biao replied with a smile, showing no concern whatsoever about ascending the throne.

after all.

Zhu Biao now wields power no different from that of the emperor; it's just a matter of a step away, a change of title.

same.

Zhu Ying was the same.

The Zhu family was truly exceptional among the dynasties of Chinese history.

"To unify the world."

"I hope we can see it soon too."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, looked at the splendor of the sky, and slowly spoke.

……

Time flies!

The holiday break passed quickly.

Perhaps holidays are just that short.

Inside the Fengtian Hall.

All the civil and military officials gathered. Many of the generals who had been leading troops in the north also returned.

The first court meeting in the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign.

It is of great significance.

Zhu Yuanzhang and his three generations of descendants all came here.

After the court ceremony concluded.

"Let's start playing, Your Majesty."

"Regarding bank deposits, banks in all prefectures and regions across the country have now submitted their accounts, and the preliminary work has been completed after statistics were compiled."

Zhao Mian stepped forward, his old face showing excitement.

"how many?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, sitting on the dragon throne, asked with an expectant look.

With the full support of the Ming Dynasty court, and within a year, thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Revenue and its departments in various regions, as well as Zhao Mian's full supervision, banks have been established in all prefectures and counties of the Ming Dynasty.

With the Ming Dynasty's national strength at its peak, there was also the incentive to promote people's livelihood needs, such as the "equalization of land tax and poll tax".

Banks have indeed had a significant impact on the public, and many people have indeed deposited their money in banks.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not know the exact number.

"Return to the Emperor."

"All the people under heaven trust my Great Ming Dynasty."

"The total amount of money deposited in the Imperial Bank of the Great Ming Dynasty is equivalent to the annual silver reserves of the national treasury in the twenty-fourth year of the Hongwu reign, reaching 23 million taels of silver," Zhao Mian reported to Zhu Yuanzhang with an excited expression.

As soon as these words fell.

Twenty-three million taels of silver.

This is only because the Royal Bank has been established in the Ming Dynasty for a year, and in many prefectures it has been open for less than a few months, yet it has so much silver deposited.

The entire court was astonished by this number.

"The bank has only been established for a year, yet it has already collected 23 million taels of silver?"

"This...this is truly unbelievable."

"How can this bank be so good at accumulating wealth?"

"No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince said that after the emergence of banks, our Great Ming will usher in an era of money circulation. People will deposit their money in banks, and banks can then use it to lend to the people. Even the government can borrow money from banks when it is short of funds. In this way, money will circulate throughout our Great Ming. Only through circulation can commerce and trade be promoted."

"Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

"The existence of this bank is truly beneficial to the country and its people."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly a sage and a man of great talent."

……

above the hall.

Many civil and military officials began to discuss it, and everyone was astonished by the speed at which the bank was amassing wealth and power from all over the world.

Although everyone knows that the money was deposited in the bank by ordinary people and does not entirely belong to the bank, as long as it is deposited there, the bank can access it.

Since the bank was transferred to the Ming Dynasty, the money could be used by the Ming Dynasty.

It's very meaningful.

"There's so much silver in storage?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao, both of them looking shocked.

Zhu Ying, however, remained calm, clearly having anticipated this situation.

This may only be the beginning.

When the Ming Dynasty becomes wealthy in the future, the amount of silver deposited in the banks will also increase.

After all, there was only one royal bank in the entire Ming Dynasty, so there was no competition, and it could be said that all financial power was concentrated in one person.

and!

The real significance today lies not in the silver deposited in banks, but in the commercial tax reform.

This is the true source of tax revenue for the Ming Dynasty.

In modern terms, the tax levied on merchants was a value-added tax, which was comprehensive and did not reflect the previous disdain for merchants by the Ming Dynasty, who were even thought to contribute little tax revenue.

but!
Last summer, Zhu Ying had already ordered a change to the commercial tax, levying taxes on merchants from all over the country.

Although many merchants across the land had complaints, they had no other choice.

In short, the more you earn, the more taxes you pay.

When the land tax was converted into poll tax, even the powerful clans could not defy the Ming Dynasty's policy, let alone the merchants who had the lowest status in the Ming Dynasty. Even though they were rich, they were ultimately powerless and had no soldiers.

They dared not disobey the court's will, so they could only pay the new commercial taxes according to the court's rules.

"Banks gather the wealth of the world, which is equivalent to borrowing money from all the people of the world, and then using the borrowed money to make greater profits. By connecting the wealth of the world through banks and allowing the economy of the world to circulate, we can promote the national strength of the Ming Dynasty."

"Of course."

"The banks wield immense financial power, and the imperial court provides them with full support; there can be no oversights."

"I have already instructed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to inspect the banks across the country every month on behalf of my grandfather, and to extract bank accounts at any time."

"If anyone dares to embezzle money, they shall be punished in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty."

"Before that."

"I will establish another law."

"From today onwards."

"All officials of the Great Ming Dynasty who receive the emperor's salary! If they embezzle more than 10 taels, they will be fined one year's salary, dismissed from office, and their descendants will be barred from taking the imperial examinations! If they embezzle more than 100 taels, they will be imprisoned directly and sentenced to at least five years in prison, and their descendants will be barred from participating in the imperial examinations, joining the army, or serving as officials! If they embezzle 1000 taels, their entire family will be exiled and never pardoned! If they embezzle more than 10000 taels, their entire family will be executed!"

"This clause will be recorded in the law and jointly enforced by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard acting as the inspector. If the two ministries fail to report it, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has the right to take direct action."

In front of the entire court, Zhu Ying stood up and spoke loudly.

Upon hearing Zhu Ying's proposed new punitive law, almost all the ministers in the court changed their expressions.

This law will continue to be implemented.

It cannot be said that it is not strict.

In this era.

The emergence of such a law can be said to be completely unprecedented.

Moreover, this is not just a punishment for corrupt officials. Even if the first two offenses involve embezzling ten or a hundred taels of silver, it may be insignificant to the ministers in the court.

Besides being dismissed from office, their descendants were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations, and the latter were even forbidden from becoming officials or joining the army.

What kind of accountability is this?
It will affect future generations.

This is truly a tremendous shock.

"May I ask...may I ask the Grandson?"

"Isn't this law a bit too harsh?"

A minister stepped forward with a nervous expression and tentatively spoke.

After he finished speaking.

Many ministers in the court looked at Zhu Ying with a sense of apprehension, and many hesitated to speak.

Obviously.

Zhu Ying's newly added law truly frightened the ministers in the court.

"Duke Yansheng"

Are you telling me that you can't keep this promise?

Zhu Ying frowned and looked directly at the minister who had stood up to oppose him.

And this person.

Even now, in the imperial court, he is merely a powerless mascot belonging to the Ming Dynasty, the Duke Yansheng, the patriarch of the Northern Kong clan.

"I don't dare."

Sensing Zhu Ying's cold gaze, Chief Bei Kong was so frightened that he knelt on the ground.

Don't assume he's particularly loyal or has great integrity.

If he had such power, he wouldn't be in the Ming court; he would have perished along with the Northern Yuan.

The sins of those who have cultivated virtue and surrendered cannot be cleansed!

"Officials in the Ming Dynasty held official positions and received government stipends."

"My grandfather has already issued an edict to increase salaries, which are now more than ten times the monthly and annual income of ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty."

"This proposal was also put forward by me."

"The purpose is to encourage integrity through high salaries, so that officials will not be corrupt and will no longer covet the national treasury or the wealth of the world."

"I have even established a system of rewards and punishments. As long as one serves the country loyally, one will be rewarded with half a year's or even a year's salary as a favor."

"It's all about using high salaries to prevent corruption."

"But if the Ming Dynasty gives officials such high salaries, and there are still people who embezzle, then you can't blame me for being heartless."

Zhu Ying surveyed the court with a cold expression.

……

(End of this chapter)