Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 148 Impeachment Again

Inside Fengtian Gate, Zhu Qiyu's gaze slowly swept across the area below.

Today's court assembly is destined to be anything but peaceful.

Last night, the Eastern Depot sent word that someone had conspired with more than a dozen censors to launch an attack today.

Xing'an, as usual, sang: "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

As soon as the words were spoken, a man stepped forward and knelt down: "Your subject, Liu Dun, Supervising Censor of Fujian Circuit of the Censorate, has a memorial to present!"

Zhu Qiyu's gaze fell on that person.

Liu Dun, 43 years old, was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the tenth year of the Zhengtong era. He was a well-known "tough nut to crack" in the Censorate.

This man prided himself on his integrity and impeached many people.

Moreover, he never formed factions and had a relatively good reputation among the censors.

Zhu Qiyu said calmly, "Speak."

Liu Dun loudly proclaimed, "I impeach Jin Lian, the Minister of Revenue, for abusing his power for personal gain, disrupting the salt administration, and failing to live up to His Majesty's grace!"

Upon hearing this, a low murmur of discussion immediately arose in the hall.

Jin Lian stood in the train, his brows slightly furrowed.

Liu Dun took out a memorial from his sleeve: "Since the renewal of the bonds, the Ministry of Revenue has been using the lure of 'extra salt permits' to entice merchants to continue holding the bonds."

This so-called extra quota was not recorded in the regular salt transport office's accounts, nor was it subject to the regular verification by the Ministry of Revenue; it was entirely approved by Jin Lian alone!

Where do these extra salts come from?

Salt permits were a state monopoly, with each permit corresponding to a fixed amount of salt.

The Ministry of Revenue has issued so many salt permits out of thin air; isn't this disrupting the salt administration?

Who knows if those merchants who obtained salt permits secretly bribed Jin Lian?

How can we be sure that Jin Lian didn't abuse his power for personal gain and accept bribes?

He held the folding tablet above his head: "Your Majesty, the salt law is a matter of national importance."

During the Hongwu reign, Emperor Taizu established the salt law, which stipulated a fixed number of salt permits. Merchants could obtain salt by presenting their permits, which was convenient for both officials and the people.

If everyone can exchange bonds for salt permits, what will become of the salt laws?

Where is the imperial court's prestige?

Your Majesty, I implore you to thoroughly investigate Jin Lian and uncover the origins and details of these extra salt permits!

Zhu Qiyu looked at Xing'an, who stepped down from the imperial steps, took the folded document, and presented it to the emperor.

Zhu Qiyu opened the folded book and read through it line by line.

Liu Dun wrote in great detail, listing which merchant firm held how many bonds and how many salt permits they obtained.

Finally, a table was attached, comparing the salt taxes paid by these businesses last year and this year.

This suggests that some businesses that obtained salt permits have paid less tax.

After reading the memorial, Zhu Qiyu put it aside and looked at Liu Dun: "Imperial Censor Liu, your memorial is quite detailed."

"I want to know where you got this data?"

Liu Dun said, "Your Majesty, I have visited thirteen businesses in the capital."

I also reviewed the list of bondholders publicly released by the Ministry of Revenue.

I have checked each item one by one and compiled this document.

Zhu Qiyu nodded, then looked at Jin Lian: "Minister Jin, what do you have to say about the memorial submitted by Imperial Censor Liu?"

Jin Lian stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I can explain the matter reported by Imperial Censor Liu."

But I would like to ask Imperial Censor Liu a question first: Has Imperial Censor Liu investigated where those extra salt permits came from?

Liu Dun replied, "Of course it came from the Ministry of Revenue. Minister Jin personally approved it; how could it be fake?"

Jin Lian shook his head: "Imperial Censor Liu only knows one side of the story, not the other."

Those salt permits did indeed originate from the Ministry of Revenue, but they didn't appear out of thin air.

After saying this, Jin Lian turned to Zhu Qiyu, took out a booklet from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is the Ministry of Revenue's general account of salt permit revenue and expenditure this year. Please review it."

Xing'an received it and forwarded it to Zhu Qiyu.

Jin Lian continued, "It is true that salt permits are a monopoly and there is a fixed quota every year."

However, there is an additional item beyond the fixed quota.

What is Yu Yin?

These include salt certificates that salt merchants did not claim last year, salt certificates that were recalled due to unsold goods caused by famine, and salt certificates confiscated by the Salt Transport Bureau after seizing smuggled salt.

These surplus funds can be retained for adjustment and use in the following year according to regulations, or they can be disposed of by the Ministry of Revenue at its discretion.

Censor Liu just said that those salt permits appeared out of thin air and were not recorded in the Salt Transport Office's accounts.

I can tell Imperial Censor Liu definitively that every extra salt permit was drawn from the surplus permits, and this is clearly recorded in the Salt Transport Office's accounts.

If Censor Liu has any questions, he may check the accounts at the Salt Transport Office at any time.

Liu Dun's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Even so, isn't Minister Jin's use of salt permits as bait to entice merchants to continue holding bonds abusing his power for personal gain?"

Didn't those merchants who obtained salt permits bribe Minister Jin?

Jin Lian looked at him: "Imperial Censor Liu's words are accusing me of accepting bribes."

Does Censor Liu have any evidence?

Liu Dun was momentarily speechless at his question, then replied, "If I have solid evidence, it is not an impeachment, but a request for Your Majesty to issue an order to arrest the person."

"I was merely raising a question; I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

Jin Lian turned to Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, I am willing to accept any investigation."

All accounts of the Ministry of Revenue are available for inspection at any time.

Every transaction of silver I handled and every salt certificate I approved during my year in the Ministry of Revenue is documented.

If even a single penny falls into my own pocket, I am willing to accept any punishment.

Zhu Qiyu looked at him without saying a word.

Just then, another person stepped forward: "Your subject, Li Kan, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, has a memorial to present!"

Li Kan was the Chief Censor of the Ministry of Revenue, in charge of auditing the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. He was one of the censors who specifically kept an eye on the Ministry of Revenue.

As soon as he stepped forward, all eyes turned to him.

Zhu Qiyu said, "Speak."

Li Kan said, "I am not impeaching Minister Jin, but only wish to add a few words for Imperial Censor Liu."

What Imperial Censor Liu just said is indeed debatable.

The salt permits were taken from the remaining permits; I can testify to this.

The Ministry of Revenue's accounts are audited monthly, and the officials have investigated the origins and details of these extra salt permits.

Just as Minister Kim said, there is no problem.

Liu Dun's expression changed.

Li Kan changed the subject: "But I would like to ask Minister Jin a question: why use salt and tea as bait?"

The continuation of bond holdings was originally a matter of mutual benefit between the imperial court and merchants.

Offering interest, priority redemption rights, or even physical rewards are all acceptable.

Why specifically give salt and tea permits?

Salt and tea were state monopolies and were always linked to important military and national affairs.

The border region was short of food, so the government opened a channel to exchange salt for grain.

Disaster relief requires money, so additional salt and tea were temporarily issued to raise funds.

These are all being used correctly.

The renewal of bonds is ultimately just a matter of the imperial court's cash flow; why would it require the use of salt and tea permits?

Jin Lian slowly said, "Because only salt and tea permits can entice those big merchants."

Do you know what the biggest problem the Ministry of Revenue faces in this bond renewal is?

The biggest problem isn't those retail investors.

The Ministry of Revenue could easily pay out the few taels or tens of taels held by individual investors if they gritted their teeth.

The real trouble lies with those big players.

The Shanxi merchants, the Jiangnan merchants, and the eight major merchants in the capital held hundreds of thousands of bonds.

If these people all rush to withdraw their funds, the Ministry of Revenue will have no choice but to empty the Taicang granary.

Li, the clerk, then said that he could offer interest, priority redemption rights, and material rewards.

These ministers have all tried it.

Retail investors buy into this, but large investors don't.

What do big spenders want?

These are real benefits, things that can make them money.

What are salt and tea additives?

It's money!

If I give them salt and tea permits, they will be willing to continue holding the bonds.

The Ministry of Revenue wouldn't need to provide so much cash.

They obtained permits for salt and tea, which also boosted their income from salt and tea.

This is called exchanging silver for silver, a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Li Kan frowned and said, "If a merchant controls too many salt and tea permits, it will form a monopoly."

This led to higher prices for salt and tea, harming the interests of the people and the imperial court.

Our country limits the number of purchases per person in order to prevent such incidents from happening.

Is there any personal interest involved in Kim Sang-seo's decision to break this rule?