Brocade clothing as the country

Chapter 705
"Your Majesty, why is it that Wang Tongzhi is here when we are discussing important state affairs, and the guards in charge of the Jinyi guard are in charge of the police? This kind of battle has nothing to do with Wang Tongzhi."

The first person to speak was Wang Lin, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, but what he said was not about the policy, but asked why Wang Tong appeared on such an occasion.

Everyone probably knows who wrote the policy theory, but no one cares about it. Hearing Wang Lin's question, Emperor Wanli frowned and replied calmly:
"Wang Tong is still the battalion officer of the Forbidden Army now, and he has experienced several victories in the fortress. This time the military is involved, so he naturally called for a consultation."

Hearing what the emperor said, Wang Lin glanced at Wang Tong and stopped talking. Wang Lin was promoted by Zhang Siwei to be Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing. Yan Qing and the others are in a party, so naturally they won't have a good look with Wang Tong.

After Wang Lin said such a sentence, the atmosphere in the side hall became a little tense. It was Zhang Xueyan, Minister of the Ministry of War, who was in charge of such matters. His face was even uglier than others. When Wang Lin finished speaking, Zhang Xueyan stood up and said:
"Does Your Majesty know how much silver is in the treasury now?"

This question should have been asked by Wang Lin just now, but Emperor Wanli was most concerned about such matters, and he answered after a moment of pondering:
"Yesterday's report showed that there are still 520 million taels in the national treasury."

Shen Shixing, Zhang Xueyan, and Wang Lin looked at each other with expressions of astonishment. Unexpectedly, Emperor Wanli could know the amount in the treasury so clearly. Zhang Xueyan paused, and then continued:

"From five years later to the beginning of last year, these five years were the five years with the most prosperous taxation in my Ming Dynasty. Since the time of Taizu, there has never been such a scene in the past five years..." Hearing what Zhang Xueyan said, Emperor Wanli was also stunned, and then His expression sank, and he did better than the dozen or so emperors Taizu has done so far. This is indeed a compliment, but during those five years, it was not Emperor Wanli himself who presided over political affairs, but his teacher Zhang Juzheng.

At that time, the world did not know that there was an emperor, but only knew that there was old Zhang Ge. Emperor Wanli still broods about it. When Zhang Xueyan mentioned this matter, Emperor Wanli was naturally unhappy.

But Zhang Xueyan continued on his own:

"...In the past five years, the highest annual income of the national treasury was nearly ten million taels. Your Majesty is so clear that he did not waste the people's money. The ministers are cautious and dare not abuse the state funds. But why is there only more than five million taels in reserve now?"

When this question was asked, Emperor Wanli frowned and said:

"The accumulated treasury doesn't just sit there, it costs money everywhere, and the 520 million taels of silver will cost a lot in another month."

The expressions of the people in the room were different, Shen Shixing was slightly surprised, Wang Lin was gloomy, Zhang Xueyan was surprised but also relieved.

Wang Tong could understand that Emperor Wanli was so familiar with the details of the financial figures. This was only known to the palace and his cronies. Shen Shixing had always been indifferent and rarely took the initiative to inquire about it. Naturally, he was surprised. Listening to Emperor Wanli and Minister of the Ministry of War discussing the treasury and revenue and expenditure there, he couldn't get in the conversation, how could he feel comfortable? As for Zhang Xueyan, he was different from other people in the court. It was Zhang Siwei who changed him to the position of Minister of the Ministry of War, but he didn't belong to any place.

To be precise, Zhang Xueyan came up step by step because of his diligence and dedication. It all depends on this person's practical work, not his political skills and standing in line. This person is a rare practical bureaucrat in Ming Dynasty. For 30 years, it is natural to be clear everywhere. Now that Emperor Wanli is so clear about the practice, Zhang Xueyan naturally feels very relieved.

"Sacred Tomorrow is nothing better than Your Majesty. Why is the treasury's income the highest in the past years, but there is no surplus? It's not because the expenses are too heavy. One item of Zonglu and one item of military expenditure are already spent nearly [-]%. For the others, I don’t need to explain them one by one.”

Emperor Wanli frowned and leaned back in his chair. Zonglu was the salary of the relatives of the vassal kings everywhere. Since the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, they have been canonized for generations. These relatives were confined in the city. There are more and more children in the Zhu family, and the imperial court is responsible for distributing Lumi, which has become a huge burden.

Before Zhang Xueyan finished speaking, she continued to speak loudly:
"Zonglu doesn't mention it, there are various places on the nine sides, but taking last year as an example, Liaozhen's military expenditure was 130 million taels, Ji Town's 98 taels, and Xuanfu's 86 taels...a total of more than 770 million taels, and there is still a lot to be allocated from the treasury alone. Insufficient, there is also the salt law, and the self-financing of the mutual market with the Tartars. Your Majesty, this is still the case in peacetime. If it is in wartime... I have just arrived at the Ministry of War, and I am not deep in practice, but I also feel that this strategy is subtle and can be used for the future. The generation often disregards the reality of the national treasury, and the ministers don't care about the victory or defeat, but only the military expenditure. This is a national war. My Dabu is not inferior to the time of Oara, or the little prince of Tatar. It is stronger and stronger. The Horqin tribe is located in the northeast, and there are foreign barbarians to help out, how many soldiers will be used in such a big battle, and how much money will it cost?"

The hall was quiet, Zhang Xueyan looked solemn, and continued in a solemn voice:
"At present, the northern border is peaceful. In order to achieve success for a while, we have exhausted all the power of the world. Needless to say, if you lose, it doesn't matter if you win. Great victories will not be wiped out. After defeat, it is easy to regroup and come back again. At that time, not to mention the North, the officials in the world have no salary, and the soldiers have no military pay. If taxes are increased, the people will be chaotic. If taxes are not increased Then the officials will turn into chaos..."

This kind of situation is indeed shocking, what Zhang Xueyan said is in every detail, Emperor Wanli almost forgot the previous unhappiness, and pondered hard there.

Before Zhang Xueyan finished speaking, this person was indeed Fangzheng, and he said again:
"The minister just said that the calculations are based on the taxes of the past few years. Does Your Majesty know that from this year to now, the taxes collected from various places are less than [-]% of last year, and I am afraid that next year will be even worse."

After saying this, Zhang Xueyan saluted and returned to his seat. Emperor Wanli looked gloomy, knocked on the armrest and said in a deep voice:

"What Zhang Aiqing said is true, and I know the taxation situation. Many places have abolished the one-whip law, but this is helpless. Although the one-whip law deducts the miscellaneous labor into the silver tael, many places discount the miscellaneous labor to the silver tael." As a tax increase, it is indeed a good law and a good policy, but it has gone out of shape when it is placed below. There have been many civil uprisings in Henan and Shaanxi, and I have no choice but to let it be abolished. Wish, I can't do anything to those who do anything."

In the end, it has turned into a sneer. Although Zhang Juzheng was extremely mournful after his death, the attitude of Emperor Wanli towards the Zhang family's children was seen by everyone. In addition to Zhang Siwei's liquidation, Zhang Juzheng's policy has already made officials and Zhang Juzheng feel very sad. The high-ranking gentry below resisted. With such an attitude in the court, the people below would naturally abolish all Zhang Juzheng's policies. No matter whether it was good governance or bad governance, Emperor Wanli was helpless.

Zhang Xueyan talked so much, Wang Lin felt ashamed and sat there, wondering if there was any room for him to speak, Shen Shixing pondered for a while, got up and Chen Zuo said:

"Your Majesty summoned his ministers to come here today. There are the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs. They are nothing more than asking whether they can fight or not, and how to arrange the battle. However, His Majesty has heard what Zhang Shangshu said just now. What I want Chen Zuo to say is In the battle of national power, victory is of course the achievement of generations to come. If you lose, what will you do? The society will be in turmoil, and what's more, the Tartars will re-enter the Central Plains, and the lives will be ruined. Has your Majesty ever thought of such a risk? It's just a word of stability, no matter what, the survival of the country and the country is the most important thing, Your Majesty must be careful!"

Wang Tong lowered his head, but his mind was spinning rapidly. Shen Shixing's meaning should be the consideration of benefits and risks, and what Zhang Xueyan said was the cost.

"Your Majesty, you must not be deceived by the villain of martial arts, and put the great country built by the ancestors in danger. Whoever made such a plan for your majesty, and whoever tricked your majesty into thinking about this matter, I think you should be severely punished and punished, so as to serve as an example to others! !"

Wang Lin, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, stood up and said these words, Wang Tong just sneered, seeing that the conclusion had been reached, he just wanted to draw the disaster to him so that he could get himself down, but this Wang Lin saw Wang Tong He speculated wildly at the scene, but he didn't know that Wang Tong was just witnessing and testifying, submitting what Qi Jiguang said.

What Zhang Xueyan and Shen Shixing said, Emperor Wanli showed a pensive look, but Emperor Wanli was obviously disgusted by Wang Lin's words, but he didn't get angry, he just waved his hands and said:
"I will carefully consider what you dear friends say, let's leave first."

Everyone stood up as a courtesy, and retreated out in sequence. After walking out, Wang Tong had the lowest status, so he naturally fell behind the crowd. Zhang Xueyan and Wang Lin ignored him at all.

On the other hand, when Shen Shixing passed by him, he looked ahead and said calmly:
"Now that you are in a high position, your glory and wealth are due to His Majesty, and it is because of this Great Ming Dynasty. Don't ruin your foundation and go to that dead end. Wang Tong, you should do it yourself!"

Wang Tong smiled wryly and bowed his head. Shen Shixing had already gone far, and before he had gone too far, Zhao Jinliang had already run out of the side hall and shouted:
"Long Live Lord summoned Wang Tong for questioning, please come back, Mr. Wang!"

The three people in front looked back and continued on. Wang Tong shook his head, turned around and entered the hall again. Emperor Wanli frowned and looked at the document in his hand, but his expression was rather disappointed. Throwing away the document, he opened his mouth and said to Wang Tong:
"Qi Jiguang, I don't trust that he is in Jizhen, but if this person dares to give me this policy, it will definitely not be harmful to the country, but what Zhang Xueyan said just now is also reasonable."

"Your Majesty, do you remember the secret talks between Qi Jiguang and my minister in Tianjin Wei after the great victory at Gubeikou, and the minister had a secret document explaining that time..."

Wang Tong asked with a bow.
-
thanks for your support

　Thank you for your subscription and monthly pass, thank you "Reincarnation 9, qianbobo, The Lion King = Simba, haven't finished watching, marcoliu, little pole" for your rewards, thank you all

　　
　
(End of this chapter)