Huangming

Chapter 113 Examining the Jade Register for Corrections, Discussing Issues on the Imperial Throne

The tenth day of the eleventh month of the first year of the Taichang reign.

At the emperor's urging, the account books of the imperial estates in various places were finally sent to the East Warm Pavilion and presented directly to the emperor.

However, when the emperor saw the numbers, his face showed no joy. Instead, it was gloomy, like a cloudy day about to bring a torrential downpour, extremely unpleasant.

When Wei Chao took these account books, he knew things were going to go wrong, so he tried his best to shrink his neck and minimize his presence.

However.
His large size made it quite difficult for him to hide in the East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Chao and said, "The Shuntian Prefecture imperial estates yielded 80,000 taels of silver and 120,000 shi of rice and wheat annually, a full 30% less than in the 37th year of the Wanli reign! The Baoding Prefecture imperial estates saw a 40% drop in cotton production compared to the 35th year of the Wanli reign. The Hejian Prefecture imperial estates had half the number of livestock pens compared to the previous records. The Jinan Prefecture imperial estates had 50,000 mu of cotton fields, and the salt fields suffered 30% 'losses'. The Yingtian Prefecture imperial estates reported a 50% reduction in production due to 'flood damage to fertile land'."

The emperor spoke as if reciting a menu, but the closer he got to the end, the more murderous intent his words carried.

"hehe."

Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly and asked, "Wei Dalang, haven't I killed enough people already?"

Thump~
His Majesty was furious. Wei Chao was so frightened that he knelt down and hurriedly said, "It is those servants below who have become so audacious. Your Majesty can simply send someone to question and arrest them. Do not anger yourself."

If we're talking about the eunuchs in Beijing, they all knew about his methods and his cruelty long ago.

There are many things I dare not do.
Even Wei Zhongxian, in front of Zhu Youxiao, could only fawn over him and dared not deceive him in anything he did.

However.
Just as imperial power was difficult to extend to the county level, the farther away from the Forbidden City, the less control the emperor had over the local area.

Did those imperial eunuchs really think he was still the Taichang Emperor?

It’s really deceiving!
How dare you take my money!
Zhu Youxiao's eyes were filled with a murderous glint.

"Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot investigate! They must investigate thoroughly!"

"Tell those parasites that if they do not make up for the embezzlement and deficits of the past ten years, and if the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot find evidence of embezzlement and deceiving the emperor, I will follow the example of Emperor Taizu and punish corrupt officials by skinning them alive!"

Wei Chao immediately said, "This servant will go and inform the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

To be honest, the profits from the imperial estates weren't that much.

The most anyone could embezzle was a few hundred thousand taels.

Zhu Youxiao's main purpose was to prepare for the land survey of the imperial estates, and then use the land of the imperial estates to support the families of the soldiers he recruited, so that he could have an army that would be completely loyal to him.

For Zhu Youxiao, this was the key to seizing military power.

The matter of the imperial estate prompted Zhu Youxiao to think about many other things.

Among the eunuchs, there was a type whose influence on the country far exceeded that of the imperial family.

That's the mining tax eunuch!
Starting in the 24th year of the Wanli reign, Emperor Shenzong dispatched a large number of eunuchs to serve as mining supervisors and tax collectors, resulting in 21 permanent mining tax collection points throughout the country by the end of the Wanli reign.

In the 48th year of the Wanli reign, there were 23 mining supervisors and tax collectors stationed outside the capital.

After Emperor Taichang ascended the throne, he immediately issued an edict to abolish mining taxes throughout the country, but the actual implementation was delayed due to the emperor's early death.

After Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne, he said he would abolish mining taxes throughout the country, but he never took any action.

Currently, there are still nineteen mining supervisors and tax collectors stationed outside the area.

These eunuchs, representing the emperor, went to collect money, but many colluded with local officials to embezzle large amounts of mining taxes, and even instigated numerous popular uprisings.

For example, Chen Feng, the mining supervisor of Huguang, caused the Wuchang Uprising in the 29th year of the Wanli reign by forcibly collecting mining taxes. His tax office was burned down by the people, but he was not punished and was still in office in the first year of the Taichang reign.

Yang Rong, the mining supervisor in Yunnan, tortured and killed rebellious miners. In the first year of the Taichang reign, he was impeached by Shen Jingkai, the governor of Yunnan, but the matter was shelved before it could be dealt with due to the emperor's death.

Furthermore, some of the mining tax eunuchs have already taken root.

There seems to be a tendency to outwardly comply with but inwardly defy the emperor's edicts.

Emperor Taichang's edict had actually been issued to the local areas, but in reality only four eunuchs were recalled (Chen Zeng from Shandong, Zhao Qin from Shaanxi, etc.), and the rest were delayed due to collusion among local interests.

Having learned from the example of the eunuchs at the imperial estates, Zhu Youxiao felt that the eunuchs in charge of mining taxes were no better.

Or even worse.

They can't do bad things outside and then he, the emperor, has to take the blame while he doesn't get any benefits.

Zhu Youxiao would absolutely never do such a thing.

After Wang Chengen and his men finished confiscating the homes of the eight major Shanxi merchants, they were to prepare to take over from the mining supervisors and tax collectors.

How can a country prosper if salt taxes are not collected?
Is the chaos in Liaodong really something that can be resolved by confiscating property?

There are limits to ransacking homes.

As new nobles gradually replace the old money, the number of people Zhu Youxiao can confiscate will only decrease.

That won't do.
Is he someone who plagiarizes himself?

"How many of the mining supervisors and tax collectors stationed outside the area are in contact with you?"

The current Wei Dynasty is ruled by the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who is the ancestor of all eunuchs. Zhu Youxiao doesn't believe that those people wouldn't offer some benefits to the Wei Dynasty.

With the emperor already furious and mentioning the mining supervisors and tax commissioners, Wei Chao panicked and immediately said, "Some people still have connections."

Zhu Youxiao slowly asked, "How much do you really know about them?"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Wei Chao's forehead. He bowed even lower, his voice tinged with fear and caution: "Your Majesty, this servant...this servant is really not very familiar with those mining supervisors and tax collectors. Most of them are old men from the previous dynasty, and they rarely even submit a memorial of tribute. Even...even with Wang An, the former Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial who had his property confiscated, I heard he wasn't very well acquainted."

As he said this, he glanced up discreetly and caught sight of the emperor's gloomy face. He quickly added, "These people are used to throwing their weight around outside; they've probably forgotten all the rules of the Forbidden City. I'll send someone to investigate right away, and we'll get to the bottom of this!"

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and asked again, "Would they dare not give you tribute?"

You, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, are trying too hard to absolve yourself of all responsibility.

Wei Chao dared not deceive the emperor and hurriedly explained, "They will send a message with tribute money, but that tribute money has not yet been sent to the capital."

Transporting bribes also takes time.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Chao, shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, and asked, "How did you divide it?"

Wei Chao was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly and said, "This servant dares not embezzle. If they send tribute money, this servant will report to His Majesty and send it to the imperial treasury. I dare not keep it for myself."

The emperor waved his hand.

"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If you are truly serving me, I will not blame you for accepting some benefits."

When dealing with your subordinates, be strict where necessary, but be lenient where appropriate.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao felt a sense of relief. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly recounted the tribute given to him by the mining supervisor and tax collector:

Wei Chao lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold blue bricks, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, those mining supervisors and tax collectors, according to custom, split the profits 30/70. For example, Chen Feng from Huguang sent 30,000 taels last year, claiming it was a surplus from mining taxes, but I know in my heart that it was probably less than 10%."

He glanced at the emperor's expression and quickly added, "After the Directorate of Ceremonial received the silver, according to the old rule, it was divided into three parts: thirty percent was kept for public use, thirty percent was distributed to the scribes and attendants of each directorate, and the remaining forty percent..."

She suddenly stopped speaking, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes.

Zhu Youxiao sneered and tapped his finger on the imperial desk: "What? You few officials in charge embezzled the remaining forty percent?"

"This servant wouldn't dare!" Wei Chao suddenly straightened up, then hurriedly knelt down again.

"Thirty percent of that needs to be used to bribe officials in the Imperial Archives and the Imperial Horse Stables, and only the last ten percent..."

His voice grew quieter.

"Only the chief eunuchs received a small share."

The emperor suddenly leaned forward, startling Wei Chao. Zhu Youxiao asked ominously, "So, when my money passes through your hands, seventy percent is skimmed off first?"

Wei Chao hurriedly waved her hands, "Your Majesty, please understand! Those are outdated customs from the previous dynasty. Since you ascended the throne, we servants have long dared not do such things."

He suddenly pulled a blue booklet from his sleeve and held it high above his head.

"This is a register of all the tribute silver since the first year of the Taichang reign, and it has been kept untouched in the side hall of the Inner Treasury!"

Wei Chao's words were half true and half false.

Zhu Youxiao would not believe it completely.

In reality, he received the most; ironically, he was the one who received the least, according to his own account.

They still wouldn't tell the truth in front of him.
This Wei dynasty, I don't know if it was clever or stupid.

According to Zhu Youxiao's understanding, before taking office, the mining supervisor had to pay an "appointment fee" to the Directorate of Ceremonial, which was usually one-fifth of the estimated annual income.

Although an edict was issued in the first year of the Taichang reign to abolish mining taxes, local eunuchs, in order to keep their positions, intensified their extortion and bribery.

In reality, the amount of money given as filial piety gifts would only be more.

Filial piety does involve a system of sharing expenses, but it is not a three-thirds system.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs' 'shared silver' accounted for one-third of the total revenue.

The 'pen and ink fee' of the eunuch in charge of writing accounts for one-tenth of the total income.

The eunuchs' "tea and fruit silver" accounted for one-twentieth of the total revenue.

If a region's revenue is 100,000 taels, then 30,000 taels of it must be given to the Wei Dynasty, and the tax revenue reported is only what they have divided up.

How else could Wang An have obtained so much wealth from the confiscation of his property?
The annual income of someone holding the position of Director of Ceremonial Affairs is in the millions of taels of silver.

Besides the emperor, is there any position with a higher salary?

but
Zhu Youxiao did not care about Wei Chao's concealment.

As I always say: fatten up the pig before you slaughter it!

His current focus should be on consolidating military power. Once Britain makes a public announcement, the tactics he has been preparing for many days can be used against the Beijing garrison!

P.S.: I'm exhausted. Even a little description has to be reviewed. Qidian's review mechanism is really problematic.

(End of this chapter)