Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 771 An Unsolvable Reincarnation
In the internal shipping warehouse.

Emperor Wanli stared greedily at the rows of iron shelves in the warehouse with an almost obsessed gaze.All placed on the iron frame are silver ingots and gold coins.

Zhang Jing, who was at the side, thought to himself: The emperor looked at Yin Zi, just like an old farmer who hasn't had enough to eat for decades, seeing a bumper harvest.

He Liu once said to his grandson Li Hanjiao that he could punish any corrupt official in the court, but he could not punish the most corrupt person in the world.

That person is the king of a country, the lord of the country, the Wanli Emperor!
Emperor Wanli said: "The income from selling calligraphy and paintings is nearly 200 million taels, and the property of moths in the East Factory is seized, and there are more than 100 million taels. Zhang Jing, how much silver is there in total?"

Zhang Jing replied: "The gold is also converted into silver, and the total silver in the internal storage warehouse is now 980 million taels."

Emperor Wanli's obsessive-compulsive disorder committed again: "What? Is it still not enough for 1000 million taels?"

Zhang Jing hurriedly said: "Damn the maidservant, she didn't manage the internal storage well."

Emperor Wanli asked Wei Zhongxian, who was in charge of the Yongshou Palace at the side, "Little Wei, what can you do to make the inner storage more substantial?"

Wei Zhongxian is the grandson of Wang An.Although Wang An is not as knowledgeable as the cabinet members, he is a good person who cares about the common people in his heart.Wei Zhongxian is different from his grandpa Wang An.In his eyes, compared with the emperor, the common people are nothing.

Wei Zhongxian's brain turned fast enough.He said: "Report to the emperor. The calligraphy and paintings in the inner carrier warehouse are all royal treasures. The slaves think that it is unseemly to live among the people."

After Wei Zhongxian said this, Zhang Jing was happy.Zhang Jing has always been at odds with Wang An.Didn't Wang An's god-son say this to question the emperor, shouldn't he sell the calligraphy and paintings in the shipping warehouse?Zhang Jing thought to himself: Wei Zhongxian, Wei Zhongxian, thank you for being eloquent.To say such a thing.Just wait for the emperor to punish you!

Emperor Wanli frowned when he heard the words: "Wei Zhongxian, what do you mean by that?"

Wei Zhongxian said calmly: "Your Majesty, there are still ten days before your 34th birthday. As your subjects, all the officials of the court should present birthday gifts to show their filial piety. The servants think, the Emperor is usually the most Those who like calligraphy and paintings by famous artists. Why don’t slaves and maidservants tell the courtiers in private. Say don’t give gold and silver vulgar things for birthdays! Send more calligraphy and paintings by famous artists that can be handed down from generation to generation.”

How smart is Emperor Wanli?He immediately understood what Wei Zhongxian meant!
Calligraphy and paintings by famous artists were sold to an antique shop in Beijing for 200 million taels of silver.Taking advantage of his birthday, he, the king of a country, can let his courtiers buy back these famous calligraphy and paintings from the antique shop with their own pockets, and present them to him as a birthday gift!

Back and forth, calligraphy and paintings of famous artists are still in the inner storage.As an emperor, he earned 200 million taels of silver for nothing!
This kind of trick can be played once a year!From now on, the internal transport depot will add 200 million taels of silver every year out of thin air!To put it bluntly, those calligraphy and paintings by famous artists became a tool used by Emperor Wanli to make money!

Emperor Wanli was happy in his heart, but his face was calm.He said to Wei Zhongxian: "Oh, then you can figure it out."

Zhang Jing on the side was dumbfounded!He knew that Wei Zhongxian's strategy was appreciated by Emperor Wanli!Originally, he planned to watch Wei Zhongxian make a fool of himself, but instead of making a fool of himself, he turned out to be brilliant!

Three days later, the He residence.

Several ministers and servants from the Sixth Division, and several military commanders from the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion came to He's Mansion in a swarm.

He Liu was a little strange, and asked: "Everyone, you are all important officials of the court. You are not working in the headquarters at this time, why are you all here?"

Li Yun'an, the left servant of the Ministry of Industry, said: "Master Liu, we heard that you have a very close relationship with the antique shop in the capital?"

He Liu nodded: "I used to be an apprentice under the old shopkeeper Xu Yanping of Duanguzhai. I have contacts with many people in the antique shop in the capital. What's wrong?"

Li Yunan said: "Can you discuss with the people in the antique shop and sell us a few of the rare calligraphy and paintings of the inner palace that they recently bought at a lower price? We will increase the price appropriately for them so that they can earn less some."

He Liu was at a loss: "What? You want to buy calligraphy and painting? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Li Yun'an replied: "Cough. It will be the emperor's 34th birthday in a few days. Eunuch Wei, who is in charge of the Yongshou Palace, understands the emperor's thoughts quite well. He let out the wind that the birthday gift that the emperor most hopes for this birthday is precious calligraphy and paintings." ..."

He Liuyi slapped his head: "The emperor wants to..."

He Liu originally wanted to say that the emperor wanted to use the batch of inner palace calligraphy and paintings to squeeze the officials of the court!But when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them again.

Li Yun'an asked: "Master Liu, what does the Emperor want?"

He Liudao: "Oh, it's nothing. I can discuss this matter with the people in the antique shop for you. But those calligraphy and paintings are quite expensive. I'm afraid you won't be able to afford them."

Li Yun'an said with a righteous face: "The emperor is the father of all the subjects in the world! Those of us who are courtiers, finally have the opportunity to honor his old man, even if it is to sell the iron, we will not hesitate!"

That batch of calligraphy and paintings by famous artists cost several thousand or tens of thousands of taels.It stands to reason that honest officials cannot afford so much money.

But now, the administration of officials is no longer what it was when Zhang Juzheng, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue were in power.Examination law, which specifically restrains officials, has existed in name only.The officialdom of the Ming Dynasty has changed back to the scene in the last years of Jiajing.Eight of the ten officials are corrupt, and the remaining two are honest officials.Three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflakes in silver!

History is like an endless cycle.The people of Qin had no time to mourn, but later generations mourned.Later generations mourn for them without learning from them, and it also makes future generations mourn for future generations! !

In short, all the officials, big and small, in the capital can spend thousands of taels of silver to buy calligraphy and paintings casually, and invite favor in front of Emperor Wanli.In stark contrast, the Taicang treasury is empty!The hunger and cold of the people of Limin!
He Liu looked at these officials and sighed: "Oh, all right. I'll go and connect you with the antique shop."

Seeing that He Liu agreed, all the officials were happy.Li Yunan said: "Master Liu, then we thank you for being old!"

Seven days later, the Yongshou Palace was decorated with lanterns and festoons.Emperor Wanli held a birthday banquet to entertain his ministers!
Li Yu's "Entering the Country to Know Education", Liu Songnian's "Drunk Pine", and Huang Tingjian's "Night Tour with Candle". . .Calligraphy and paintings of famous artists that had just been sold from the inner storage to the folks returned to the palace.Emperor Wanli was obviously playing the autumn wind of his officials.Zhou Yu beat Huang Gai, and the old Huang Gai were also happy to get blood this time in order to invite the holy favor.

As the Prince Shaobao, He Liu also attended the banquet.He stared solemnly at the piles of calligraphy and paintings of famous artists in front of the hall, his mouth seemed to eat a fly.

The emperor is greedy, and the officials below must follow suit.You are greedy, I am greedy, everyone is greedy.How can the treasury not be stretched?It would be strange if the common people could live a good life!
This is not a festive birthday banquet at all, but a complete farce!

(End of this chapter)