Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 139: Without comparison, there is no difference.

Jin Lian slowly wrote characters on a memorial to the throne with his brush.

This is the "Memorial on Revenue from the First Half of the First Year of the Jingtai Era" that he was to present to Zhu Qiyu.

It has been eleven months since I was ordered to return to Beijing last October.

If we start counting from the time the Sixteen Policies on Frugality were officially implemented after the Lunar New Year, it has been more than eight months.

For more than eight months, he has been this busy every day.

Li Xian, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, along with several other officials and assistant ministers, were waiting in the back hall.

Jin Lian spoke up: "Minister Li."

Li Xian quickly stood up: "Your humble servant is here."

"Have you finished verifying it over there? How do the actual summer grain collection figures reported by various prefectures and counties compare to last year?"

Li Xian took out a thick booklet from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Reporting to Minister Jin, the verification has been completed."

This year's summer grain harvest totaled 8.4 million taels of silver.

This is a decrease of 2.4 million taels compared to the same period last year.

Jin Lian nodded: "Two million four hundred thousand taels, this difference is not much different from what I expected."

What are the specific figures for each provincial administration?

Li Xian looked at the booklet and reported one by one: "The summer grain harvest in Beizhili this year is only 420,000 taels, compared to 1.15 million taels in the same period last year."

Shanxi's summer grain harvest this year was only 380,000 taels, compared to 1.02 million taels in the same period last year.

Henan harvested 860,000 taels of summer grain this year, compared to 1.34 million taels in the same period last year.

Shandong collected 1.23 million taels of summer grain this year, compared with 1.08 million taels in the same period last year, a slight increase.

This year, the summer grain harvest in Southern Zhili amounted to 1.52 million taels.

Eighty-nine hundred thousand taels from Zhejiang.

Nine hundred and forty thousand taels from Jiangxi.

780,000 taels from Huguang.

Forty-two hundred thousand taels from Fujian.

A total of 960,000 taels were seized from Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places.

These places are roughly the same as the same period last year.

After listening, Jin Lian made a mark in the booklet: "When His Majesty ascended the throne, he issued an edict exempting Hebei, Shanxi, and other areas affected by war from land taxes for one year."

Li Xian replied, "That's exactly right."

Jin Lian then asked, "What about the salt and tea tax?"

Li Xian replied, "A total of 680,000 taels of silver were collected in the first half of the year, an increase of 210,000 taels compared with the same period last year."

Although the salt and tea merchants complained after the price was increased by two qian, they did not reduce the number of samples they were allowed to obtain.

In addition, 120,000 taels of silver were recovered from the collection of outstanding taxes accumulated over the years.

Jin Lian's eyes lit up: "Great, this number is much higher than expected."

What about currency reform?

What is the minting quota at the Treasury's Office?

Li Xian gave a wry smile: "Minister Jin, the reform of the currency system is not going well."

The common people didn't recognize the paper money, merchants wouldn't accept it, and even the government itself didn't want it.

Although some more were minted in the first half of the year, not many are still circulating in the market.

However, the ban on copper coins did have an effect; the private minting of copper coins decreased, and the credibility of official coins recovered somewhat.

Jin Lian nodded without saying anything more.

The reform of currency system requires the credibility of the imperial court.

Building credit is not something that can be done overnight, and he was prepared for that.

At this moment, a doctor stood up and reported: "Minister Jin, reports on the clearing of military settlements have been coming in from various garrisons and outposts."

A total of 578,000 mu of hidden farmland were uncovered in Shandong, Henan, and Beizhili.

The outstanding grain owed was recovered in the form of 213,000 taels of silver.

only----"

Jin Lian looked up: "Just what?"

The doctor said in a low voice, "It's just that some officers in the garrison are not very cooperative."

In several places, they even drove away the people sent by the Ministry of Revenue.

Jin Lian snorted coldly: "They've got some nerve!"

You just mentioned 578,000 mu?

Shandong had troops prepared against Japanese pirates, and many coastal areas were cultivated with their own land.

Furthermore, Henan is a major province in the Central Plains, with numerous military garrisons and outposts.

How did you manage to clear out all of this?

The physician said, "Minister Jin is wise."

During my inspection, I also discovered that the Shandong Military Command governed the guards of Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou.

The military settlements for defending against Japanese pirates were widespread along the coast, with a particularly large number of settlements during the Hongwu era.

However, over the past few decades, due to the encroachment and sale of garrison officers, the occupation by powerful local families, and the desertion of military households, about 50% to 60% of the area has been lost.

This investigation will uncover those cases of the most blatant embezzlement and discrepancies in the accounts.

As for those who acted cleanly and colluded with superiors, they cannot be found out for the time being.

Jin Lian understood; it wasn't that these places were without problems, but rather that their accounting was done well.

A thorough investigation would require a significant amount of time and manpower.

For example, in Henan, during the Hongwu period, the Henan Military Command had more than 36,000 cattle.

It ranks first in the country, so one can imagine the amount of land it has cultivated.

This time, more than 200,000 mu of farmland were finally identified.

Anyone can tell that this number is wrong; they're not that clean!

After a moment of silence, Jin Lian said, "Continue, which garrisons and outposts are the most obstructive?"

The doctor said, "There are three main places: Dengzhou Guard in Shandong, Xuanwu Guard in Henan, and Yongqing Guard in Beizhili."

Jin Lian's gaze sharpened: "Yongqing Guard? Who is in charge of the Yongqing Guard?"

The collective name for Yongqing Guard, Yongqing Left Guard, and Yongqing Right Guard.

It was under the jurisdiction of the Rear Army Commandery and was stationed in Yongqing County, Shuntian Prefecture, which was only about 200 li away from the capital.

That was the capital region, and Jin Lian never expected that there would be such an arrogant person right under the emperor's nose.

The physician said, "The commander of Yongqing Guard is Zhou Ang, who is the brother-in-law of Marquis Wuqing, Shi Heng."

Jin Lian: "Alright, I will report the situation of these garrisons to His Majesty. Also, how is the matter concerning the ordination certificates for monks and Taoists progressing?"

Another doctor stood up and replied, "Reporting to Minister Jin, the matter of ordination certificates for monks and Taoists is also not going smoothly."

The Ministry of Rites cooperated by suspending the issuance of new ordination certificates for half a year.

However, the number of monks, nuns, and Taoist priests reported by temples and monasteries in various places is far different from what we have.

I suspect that at least 30% of the monks and Taoist priests did not report their information.

Jin Lian frowned: "Continue the investigation."

The matter of ordination certificates was addressed by sending officials from various localities to temples and monasteries to count them.

Investigate each temple one by one, and each monastery one by one.

If any concealment is found, the fine will be doubled.

East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qiyu was reviewing the newly compiled "Memorials and Discussions of Famous Officials Throughout History" by the Hanlin Academy.

This was written at their request by Zhu Qiyu.

He wanted to use this to warn his current and future ministers: this is how a good minister should be!

Zhu Jianshen and his two companions were practicing calligraphy on the side.

Now, in addition to telling them stories every day, Zhu Qiyu has added a calligraphy practice class.

Zhu Jianshen secretly glanced at Zhu Qiyu; he now felt both respect and fear towards this imperial uncle.

What I admire is that Zhu Qiyu's stories were indeed very engaging.

From Emperor Taizu's conquest of the country to Emperor Taizong's relocation of the capital.

From the Three Yangs' regency to the Tumu Crisis.

What's frightening is the look in Zhu Qiyu's eyes that occasionally appears, as if he can see right through what's on his mind.

Zhu Qiyu was also struggling internally.

Without comparison, there is no difference, after spending these days together.

Zhu Qiyu discovered that Zhu Jianshen was far superior to his two sons.

For example, when Zhu Qiyu recounted those major cases during the Hongwu era, Zhu Jianshen would clap his hands in delight.

He would also offer his own opinions, even though his ideas were rather naive.

In contrast, Zhu Qiyu's two sons only knew how to praise the founding emperor.

In modern terms, his two sons only knew how to shout "666".

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