The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

Emperor Chongzhen's question stumped everyone present.

It's yet another dilemma, a situation where one is caught between a rock and a hard place.

Ministers Xu Guangqi and others fell into deep thought, while the people at the post station were filled with gratitude. This emperor, whom they dared not even look at, was actually considering their needs.

Indeed, that was the case. Without the post stations, they really wouldn't know where to go.

Bandits?

They never imagined they would become bandits.

Emperor Chongzhen asked again, "So, the reason I've come this time is to hear your true thoughts: do you want to abolish the postal stations?"

"In no mood."

This time, the postmaster resolutely shook his head, and everyone else at the post station followed suit.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "You do not want to abolish the post stations, but the court does not have enough money and grain to support so many post stations. Therefore, I believe that the only way for the post stations to survive is to rely on their own efforts."

Self-reliance?

This word means to recover and rebuild oneself without relying on external forces.

Xu Guangqi and several other ministers' eyes lit up, and then they showed expressions of curiosity.

The best way for the post station to be self-reliant is of course, but the key question is, how can it be self-reliant?

Emperor Chongzhen said, "The post stations should be opened for commercial and civilian use."

These words shocked everyone in the room.

Since ancient times, post stations have been an important national institution, mainly used to transmit government orders and military intelligence, and to receive officials and envoys. They provided food, lodging, and transportation for officials, candidates for the imperial examinations, and diplomatic envoys. They also transported tribute, taxes, and military supplies to the imperial court. Some border post stations even had reconnaissance and early warning functions.

In general, this was an institution that served the imperial court exclusively.

Now, to open up post stations for commercial and civilian use is a rather audacious idea, especially since it came from the Emperor himself.

"Can……"

Soon, an official who had come with them seemed about to say something, but hesitated and stopped.

Emperor Chongzhen said, "Speak freely."

The Governor of Shaanxi, Hu Tingyan, said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the post stations are a product of the imperial court's efforts for important military and national affairs. If they are opened up for commercial and civilian use, the distinction between officials and civilians will become blurred, military operations will be delayed, and trouble may ensue!"

Emperor Chongzhen was clearly prepared, and immediately replied, "Let's separate."

Hu Tingyan pressed further, "How will you separate?"

Chongzhen replied, "Didn't you submit a memorial to reduce the number of post stations? Only a portion of the key post stations should be left open to the general public and used for important military and national affairs."

"And those bloated and redundant post stations that you suggested cutting have now been converted for commercial and civilian use instead of being cut."

Upon hearing this, Hu Tingyan was speechless.

At the same time, some ministers began to nod in agreement.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Xu Guangqi, who was silently nodding and deep in thought: "Minister Xu, what do you think?"

Xu Guangqi replied, "Your Majesty's words are to the point, enlightening me greatly. However, I have one more question: how can post stations be used for commercial or civilian purposes?"

"Good question!"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to say. How do we use it?"

"As the saying goes, a letter from home is worth a thousand pieces of gold. In the past, ordinary people could only send letters by having someone deliver them. Once the imperial post stations are opened to civilian use, a great many people will flock to them. At that time, the post stations will be filled with a large amount of letters and goods, right?"

Everyone nodded.

There is no doubt about this; they can all imagine the bustling scene once the post station opens.

"In the past, when people helped deliver messages, the host family would have to pay some kind of fee. Now that our post stations are open to them, of course we can't let them use them for free. So, if people want to send letters or goods through the post stations, they have to pay a fee."

"How much will it cost?"

At this point, Emperor Chongzhen did not rush to continue, but instead beckoned, "Bring me a pen."

Soon, Wang Chengen handed over paper and pen.

Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Chongzhen wrote the character "邮" (post) on the paper.

This character originally meant "post station," but the Emperor has written it down now. What does this mean? And how does it relate to the toll fees mentioned earlier?

Everyone looked puzzled.

Chongzhen said, "This ticket with the character '邮' on it is a certificate. Before sending anything, people need to buy this stamp from the post station and then affix it to the letter or the goods."

"The fact that a receipt has been affixed means that the sender has paid for the postage service."

"Furthermore, the number of stamps the sender needs to affix depends on the distance of the mail and the weight of the goods."

"In this way, won't our redundant post stations that were originally going to be cut, along with the military horses, mules, and you postmasters and soldiers, have something to do and income?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room seemed to be frozen in place, staring in disbelief.

This time, you could truly hear a pin drop.

Even Xu Guangqi found it unbelievable.

Where did the Emperor get these ingenious ideas?

He even managed to come up with something like stamps!

Chongzhen continued, "As for commercial use, it's simple: provide food, lodging, and cargo storage for passing caravans, essentially like an inn on the official road."

"The imperial court currently spends a staggering one million taels of silver annually on postal services. The reduction of postal services is intended to cut costs, which might save several hundred thousand taels of silver. But if we could increase revenue, the savings would be far more than one million!"

Chongzhen's words were nothing short of a wake-up call.

The way to manage finances is nothing more than increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. The ministers only thought of ways to reduce expenditure, but only the emperor thought of ways to increase revenue.

After being stunned for a while...

Finally, one of the ministers realized what was happening and immediately bowed down:

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty has a keen insight into the changes of the past and present, and a keen understanding of the opportunities facing the world. Today's policies are in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people. Who but Your Majesty, with your divine wisdom, could have achieved this?"

"Breaking with convention to usher in a new era, changing old rules to align with the times. In the past, Emperor Wu of Han reformed the system and Emperor Taizong of Tang changed the system. Their courage and determination are just as brilliant as the imperial decrees of today."

Others followed suit.

The people at the post station didn't know what to say, so they could only bow down along with them.

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, get up, all of you."

After everyone stood up, Chongzhen suddenly asked, "By the way, is there anyone named Li Zicheng in your post station?"