travel through the past to be emperor

Chapter 154
When Anping closed the door, Zhao Fei saw that the faces of the officials in the room were a little panicked, so he couldn't help chuckling, and said: "Don't worry, everyone, I have always had an idea, and I want to take this opportunity today to make a deal with everyone. fan."

When Zhao Fei said this, everyone looked calm.

I can't blame everyone for panic, it's really Zhao Fei who made Anping close the door, and it really feels scary.

Most of the people present were learned people, and they all knew that on a certain day in history, there was also an emperor who locked his officials in the house, but when they entered, there were many people, and when they came out, only the emperor was alive.

So when Zhao Fei ordered to close the door, even though everyone clearly knew that Zhao Fei would not do such a thing, they were still a little worried that Zhao Fei's brain would twitch.

It wasn't until Zhao Fei said that his actions were only to allow everyone to have a safe environment to discuss something, that the hearts of everyone were relieved.

But even though they let it go, everyone still had some bad premonitions in their hearts.

After all, it was rare for Zhao Fei to be so sneaky when doing things. Now that he is acting like this, it must be something that is not so easy to solve.

The officials looked at me and I looked at you, and finally all eyes fell on Qin Hui.

As the head of all the officials, it is the most appropriate thing for Qin Hui to speak on behalf of them at this moment. Qin Hui sighed secretly, then took a step forward and said, "I wonder what your Majesty wants to discuss with the ministers?"

"It's about how to increase the revenue of the national treasury." Zhao Fei said indifferently: "Since I took the throne, the treasury has become increasingly empty, so I have been thinking about what caused the treasury to become empty every day."

Speaking of this, Zhao Fei paused for a moment, and then continued: "In sum, the annual income of our imperial court is quite a lot, but the money is getting tighter every year. Why is that? Facing the current situation The situation, what should the imperial court do, please tell me first."

The ministers really didn't expect Zhao Fei to talk about the emptiness of the treasury, let alone talk about how to increase the revenue of the treasury with them.

As for how to manage money, people who can achieve this position are not fools. Naturally, they know that increasing income and reducing expenditure is the kingly way.

Over the years, it is not uncommon for the court to discuss how to increase the revenue of the treasury. It can be said that almost every emperor will talk about this issue after he ascends the throne.

It's just that no matter how you talk about it, at the end of the day, it's always about reducing expenditure, not about increasing revenue. The result of every discussion is to reduce the state's financial expenditure.

Those present are all old fritters who have been in the officialdom for decades, so they naturally know how to speak.

It's just that this question belongs to the Ministry of Household Affairs, so although everyone's eyes are different, they all focus on Zhao Zilong.

Zhao Zilong was annoyed for a while, feeling that he was really unlucky today.

In the past, it was not that Zhao Zilong never mentioned the emptiness of the national treasury to Zhao Fei, but at that time Zhao Fei often laughed it off and let him figure it out.

Today, he was asked to talk about the reason for the emptiness of the national treasury, but he had to be a little entangled, offending everyone by telling the truth, and offending Zhao Fei by telling lies.

After all, looking at the emperor's posture today, he made it clear to tell everyone the reason for the emptiness of the treasury and how to increase the revenue of the treasury. The emperor knows well that he is going to be serious today.

If he, Zhao Zilong, dared to talk nonsense today, he might be fine now, and he would definitely be dragged out of the list by the emperor later.

But under the eyes of everyone, Zhao Zilong didn't dare not say anything, so he stood up bravely, sighed deeply in his heart, and then said: "Since I became Minister of the Household Department, I have carefully sorted out the account books of the Household Department... "

"Get to the point." Zhao Fei interrupted Zhao Zilong, and said, "Today, there are only us monarchs and ministers in this room. There is really no need to say those false things. Just tell us the reason!"

"Yes." Zhao Zilong nodded reluctantly, and said: "Since your majesty said so, I also said that the reason why the national treasury is becoming more and more empty than in the early years is not because the revenue of the treasury has decreased, but because It is because the common people are getting richer and the prices of goods in the society have risen, which directly causes the court to spend more money than before on everything, but the corresponding revenue of the treasury has not increased much compared with previous years, like this year In such a disaster year, the revenue of the national treasury has been reduced.”

"So in the face of this situation, how does the household department do?" Zhao Fei asked.

"Increase income and reduce expenditure." Zhao Zilong said: "The Ministry of Household Affairs has always been doing the work of increasing income and reducing expenditure, but the work of increasing income is a long-term solution. Faced with the current emptiness of the national treasury, the Ministry of Accountancy has adopted the method of reducing expenditure. After all, this This method will work the fastest."

"Then, what methods does the Ministry of Finance have to open source?" Zhao Fei asked again.

"The main income of the imperial court comes from taxation on the people, mainly farmers, and this tax is mainly calculated based on the land area." Zhao Zilong said: "So if we want to increase this tax, we must first find a way on the land. In the past, on the one hand, the Ministry of Households has been issuing documents to various places to encourage farmers to reclaim wasteland, which can increase the land area;

"How's the effect?" Zhao Fei asked.

"The imperial court's tax revenue has increased by one level in recent years, and most of the income comes from land reclamation and uncovered previously concealed land." Zhao Zilong said.

"Is there any other way?" Zhao Fei's eyes flashed.

"Isn't it currently being implemented." Zhao Zilong shook his head.

"I see." Zhao Fei nodded, then looked at the others and said, "What about you? What do you think?"

When the leader asks this question, you must pay attention, and you must not say that you have no idea. You must say an idea, even if the idea is similar to others, or it is a weird idea that makes people laugh.

So everyone spoke one after another, as the head of the hundred officials, Qin Hui is still the first.

"Your Majesty, I think that since the imperial treasury is now empty, should we consider further saving the court's related expenses?" Qin Hui said.

"How to save money?" Zhao Fei asked.

"First of all, it is necessary to stop the salaries of court officials." Qin Hui said.

"Stop the salary?" Zhao Fei sneered and said, "Qin Aiqing, are you confused? The last time the court arrears caused hundreds of officials to make trouble, if the salary is stopped this time, wouldn't it trigger a new round of them?" trouble."

"Stopping pay does not mean not paying." Qin Hui explained slowly: "It's not that the court doesn't pay them salaries, it just suspends them temporarily. I believe that as long as the explanation is done well, all officials will understand the court's decision. "

"What you said is simple, but how do you explain it?" Zhao Fei said coldly: "The news that the treasury has no money cannot be hidden. How can you convince the officials who are owed salaries to believe you."

"Your Majesty, in a few months, the second batch of taxes collected by the imperial court this year will be escorted to Beijing." Qin Huidao: "The imperial court can use this reason to prevaricate the officials."

Hearing what Qin Hui said, Zhao Fei frowned, and said: "This is impossible, I have promised the officials last time, from now on the court will not owe any salary, if you do things like this now, there is no such thing as a joke. It’s okay, do you have any other opinions?”

"The subject is gone." Qin Hui silently retreated to his seat.

Liu Yong then stood up.

"What's Liu Aiqing thinking?" Zhao Fei's eyes flashed.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is not a matter of increasing income and reducing expenditure overnight. I think this matter should be discussed in a long-term way." Liu Yong said.

"A long-term plan?" Zhao Fei laughed, and said, "How about a long-term plan? If the imperial court doesn't want to find a way to solve the matter, then the imperial court may not even be able to distribute your salaries next month."

"Your Majesty, can you go from the inner library first..." Liu Yong whispered.

It was just that he started and was interrupted by Zhao Fei, who sneered and said, "I knew you would plan on my inner treasury, since I mentioned this, then I won't hide it from everyone, there is indeed a fortune in the inner treasury." Silver, but the amount is not much, it is only enough for an emergency, and it is impossible to solve the problem fundamentally."

Liu Yong glanced at Zhao Fei sadly, thinking what nonsense are you talking about, I just paid you a large sum of money to His Majesty.

It's just that this kind of private transaction can't be put on the table. Facing Zhao Fei's words, Liu Yong could only spread his hands and said: "Then can we take this money out for emergency, and wait for the second batch of taxes from the court this year?" Once the money arrives, it will greatly ease the financial situation of the court.”

"I'm not a stingy person, I can use this money to relieve the court's finances." Zhao Fei said coldly: "It's just that this problem has not been solved. This time I can use money to solve it, and if I don't have money next time, the court will How to solve it?"

"This..." Liu Yong looked at Zhao Fei's cold gaze, and immediately dared not speak.

Zhao Fei sneered, and continued: "So I keep you here today, not to embarrass you, nor to let you think of ways to take money out of my pocket, just to solve the problem fundamentally, this way you Have it?"

As Zhao Fei spoke, he turned his gaze to Liu Yong.

"I don't have any." Liu Yong shook his head.

"Then you step back." Zhao Fei said lightly, then turned his gaze to Lin Wanrong and said, "Do you have any?"

"Your Majesty has no solution to the problem. It's just that the Ministry of Rites can reduce part of the funds for this exam." Lin Wanrong said, "However, Your Majesty also knows that the Ministry of Rites has always spent less money, so this reduction is not much."

"I know the situation of the Ministry of Rites. Just keep your little money, there is no need to reduce it." Zhao Fei said: "Education is a national plan, no matter how hard it is, you can't suffer from education, and you can't suffer from poor students studying hard."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Long En." Lin Wanrong retreated with a look of emotion.

"Do you have it?" Zhao Fei looked at Wang Qinian again.

Wang Qinian came out slowly, and said: "Your Majesty, I think I can think of a way to do this Cuju competition."

"What way?" Zhao Fei looked at the old man inquisitively.

(End of this chapter)