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Chapter 51: All merchants should borrow money to order Li Mao to donate million silver

With the western border secured, the Li Dynasty focused its energy on national production and development.

However, the country had experienced repeated famines and wars, and had been in a standoff with Xibian for half a year, which had cost the country a huge amount of money and left the treasury empty.

However, from local officials to concubines in the harem, everyone practiced frugality and cut unnecessary expenses.

However, the money saved is just a drop in the bucket compared to the deficit in the national treasury and is of no help.

On the other hand, people's lives have just shown signs of recovery, and it is impossible to increase taxes at this time. If taxes are increased, it may cause public resentment.

For various reasons, the imperial court issued an edict ordering officials at all levels to borrow money from merchants and wealthy families in various places.

The imperial edict stated: "Any merchant who donates more than 500,000 taels of silver will be designated as a supported industry by the imperial court to enhance the reputation of the merchant. If a merchant donates more than 100 taels of silver, one member of their family will be granted a deputy ninth-rank position, responsible for supervising local merchant affairs."

After the imperial edict was issued, the people and merchants were all talking about it.

A few wealthy merchants generously donated one million taels of silver, while a few small merchants donated half a million taels of silver. However, the rest of the merchants donated only a few hundred to a few thousand taels of silver, simply expressing their willingness to respond to the imperial order.

Inside Liuhua Palace, people were also discussing the newly issued decree.

Lord Lin, as a relative of the emperor, set an example by generously donating a whole year's tax revenue from his own farm and shop. Seeing this, the maternal families of the other concubines followed suit, making donations of varying sizes.

At this time, Yunshan hurried in to report the news she had learned to Concubine Lin.

Seeing this, Lin Yu ordered the wet nurse to take the eldest prince to another place, leaving only her, Yunshan and Yunjin in the palace.

Yunshan said softly, "Your Majesty, the Empress's family has not yet made any statement."

Lin Yu nodded slightly and explained, "The Huangfu family has never had many descendants. In addition, the family is very strict in governing the country, so the people from the side branches of the family have not put their minds on the management of the farm and shop."

She thought for a moment and continued,
"If we conduct a thorough investigation according to national law, I'm afraid these aristocratic families all have some shady ways of amassing wealth. However, the Huangfu family is absolutely innocent and would never engage in such behavior."

The two nodded, and Yunshan said:

"Your Majesty is right. However, relying solely on individual officials to raise funds is unlikely to yield significant results. After all, at this critical juncture, if anyone contributed a large sum of money and was reported by the censors, they would be courting disaster and asking for trouble."

"But those merchants are all wealthy. His Majesty has already issued an edict, willing to donate one million taels of silver in exchange for an official position. Why are there so few people responding and why is it so deserted?" Yun Jin looked puzzled and couldn't help but ask.

Lin Yu frowned slightly, lowered his voice and explained slowly: "This is just a slanted official position in exchange for a million taels of silver. When I was young, my father mentioned those slanted officials."

"It can't be inherited, nor can there be a path to promotion. Moreover, even if one donates money to obtain an official position, his descendants will still be unable to escape the status of merchants."

"Doesn't that mean I still can't take the imperial examinations, nor can I participate in the martial arts examinations to seek fame?"

"That way, it's naturally not very attractive to those merchants." Yun Shan nodded slightly and agreed:
"Each business has its own management and leaders. Most of the merchants who can afford to spend a million taels of silver are already the leaders of the local business and have considerable influence in the business world."

"Yunshan has hit the nail on the head. The power that this ninth-rank official can bring is probably insignificant and insignificant in their eyes."

Lin Yu looked worried and reluctant. She sighed, "But I really can't bear to see His Majesty so anxious and worried about this matter. Yunjin, why don't you take out half of my dowry and pawn it for some money to help His Majesty solve his problems?"

Yun Shan quickly dissuaded her, saying, "Your Majesty, the palace is full of complicated matters, and there are many things that need to be taken care of on a daily basis. If you donate your dowry, it will be difficult to deal with any urgent need for money in the future." "Furthermore, if Your Majesty is the first to donate your dowry, wouldn't that overshadow the Empress? Moreover, our Lord Lin has already taken the lead in donating his land and shop taxes. If Your Majesty does the same again, I'm afraid someone will accuse you of violating the order of rank."

As the three of them were discussing this, they suddenly heard a knock on the door. It turned out to be Aunt Zhuang coming with new news.

"I heard that a wealthy businessman named Li donated eight million taels of silver!" Aunt Zhuang walked quickly into the hall, gesturing excitedly with her hands, her expression full of amazement.

"His Majesty was delighted upon learning of this and planned to summon the merchant to the palace to commend him generously."

"Eight million taels?!" Lin Yu and others were all shocked when they heard this.

These eight million taels of silver are equivalent to Yezhou's entire year's tax revenue. You know, Yezhou is the richest of the five states of Li Dynasty.

"Who is this wealthy man who has such strong financial resources?" Yun Jin was puzzled and couldn't help asking.

Lin Yu frowned slightly and speculated secretly, "Surname Li? Could it be the Li family that runs the porcelain and glass business in Nanzhou? I heard that their son Li Mao came to Kyoto in recent years. Before I got married, I heard my cousin Li Song mention the Li family."

When Li Song was mentioned inadvertently, Yunshan's heart couldn't help but ache.

She calmed herself down, regained her composure, and began to chat, "I wonder what exactly this businessman surnamed Li wants, considering he's spending eight million taels like this?"

As everyone discussed the matter, Lin Yu's expression gradually relaxed. Now, when the emperor was upset, she felt sad, and when the emperor was happy, she felt happy too.

----

"I come to see Your Majesty. I do not ask for any reward of official title." Li Mao knelt respectfully in front of the hall and spoke sincerely.

"Oh? It is a blessing for our dynasty that Young Master Li has such a sincere love for his country and family." The emperor raised his hand slightly and gently gestured for him to stand up and answer.

However, after the emperor finished speaking, Li Mao continued to kneel on the ground with a solemn expression, as if he had something important to say but hesitated.

Seeing this, the emperor nodded slightly, indicating that he could speak freely.

"Your Majesty, I dare to risk my life to offer a suggestion. Your Majesty has granted me an official position by donating one million silver coins. This is a great reward from the court. However, for many wealthy merchants, this incentive may not be enough."

"Oh?" The emperor said calmly, without comment, "Go on."

"Since the time of the previous emperor, there have been occasional appointments of officials with oblique titles. However, these officials are often despised and looked down upon by the ministers at court, with neither actual power nor the possibility of promotion;"

"There's a joke circulating among merchants: 'Once you're given a high-ranking official position, it'll take you ten years to recoup your salary. Your colleagues at court will mock you, and your fellow merchants will scoff at you.'"

"How dare you! Stop talking nonsense!" The eunuch in charge yelled at Li Mao in a shrill voice.

The emperor waved his hand gently and said soothingly, "It's okay, let him continue."

Li Mao kowtowed heavily, and then said:

"I am donating eight million taels of silver this time not for personal gain, but for a request that Your Majesty grant me."

(End of this chapter)