Although the weather was as hot as fire, there was a bit of chill in the imperial study hall. This chill was not the effect of the ice cubes, but the chill brought about by the discussions.
The imperial court's finances were exhausted, and it could no longer pay salaries or military salaries. A clever woman could not make a living without rice. It was rare for several prime ministers to have a unified opinion and jointly put pressure on the emperor, asking the emperor to use money from the internal treasury to solve the current financial crisis.
.
Of course the emperor's inner treasury is rich. Last year, he forcibly issued 17 million guan of huizi to wealthy merchants from all over the country. The imperial court received 10 million guan and the remaining 7 million guan went into the inner treasury.
In normal times, there is also the income from the palace, the rental income from hundreds of houses in various places, and the share of the wine tax, etc., which amounts to at least one million yuan a year. It has lasted for so many years, and it can only go in and out. Even the expenses of the palace are the burden of the imperial court.
Imagine how much money the emperor has in his inner treasury?
Zhao Gou said in a hoarse voice: "I remember that there are a lot of light goods in Zuozang's warehouse, which can be sold for money."
Light goods refer to valuables such as cloth, silk, satin, colored silk, porcelain, jade, lacquerware, etc. Xu Xiantu sighed and said: "I have counted all the light goods in Zuo Zang's warehouse. The total of all the light goods can probably bring in millions of dollars, but
We already owe three months of military and official salaries. The total needs is 1.8 million guan, and there is still a gap of 800,000 guan. Warehouses everywhere are empty. We have thought of all the ways we can think of.
Unless we sell official land and real estate, even selling land and houses will take time, and now the water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the nearer."
Zhao Gou was silent for a moment and said to Qin Hui: "I remember Qin Xianggong said last year that 30 million guan of huizi could be issued, but in the end there were only 17 million guan. What's the reason for such a big gap?"
Qin Hui was speechless. No matter what he said, the wealthy people fled, but Qin Hui reacted very quickly and found a reason.
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen said that the issuance of 30 million yuan actually included a lot of unowned properties and land. Later, most of them became government properties and were not sold. In addition, there was also the Fujian Road side that did not have time to issue Huizi.
"
"Is there no potential to be tapped?" Zhao Gou asked again.
"Your Majesty, he is either a local wealthy family or a powerful official."
"They can't touch it because it will shake the foundation of the country. What I mean is that if we spread it wider and spread it thinner, there will be more than just a few wealthy businessmen in the world."
What Zhao Gou means is not to just focus on the wealthy businessmen, issue guilds to ordinary businessmen, and gather sand into a tower. He also knows that local wealthy families cannot touch, officials and powerful people cannot touch, and the people at the bottom cannot squeeze out money, so they can only ask for help.
The entire business class was under the knife.
Everyone was silent. Once the scope was enlarged, it would probably cause a strong public backlash. No one could afford this consequence.
Zhao Gou ignored them and knocked on the table and said: "You guys can figure it out for yourself! Use a suitable excuse and opportunity to promote Huizi, you are businessmen! The imperial court has supported them enough, now it's their turn to support the imperial court."
The issue has returned to its original point. Even if the merchants are forced to issue huizi, they will not be able to get the money in a day or two. The distant water cannot quench the immediate thirst. Now they are in urgent need of money, and they want the emperor to take out a sum of money from the inner treasury to meet their urgent needs.
But everyone also knew that the emperor proposed to expand the scope of Huizi issuance because he was unwilling to spend money. At this time, Zhang Jun said: "Your Majesty, maybe we can use a compromise method and borrow a sum of money from the inner treasury from the imperial court. Once the imperial government's finances are relieved,
Return it to Your Majesty immediately!"
Xu Xiantu also said: "Your Majesty, the soldiers have not been paid for two months. I heard that there are signs of mutiny in the Wenzhou garrison. If the salary is not paid, the situation will be out of control."
Qin Hui also said: "Your Majesty, most of the officials and craftsmen from Shaofu Temple and the Ordnance Supervision have fled and their whereabouts are unknown. Especially the craftsmen have not been paid for five months. If the problem is not solved, all the craftsmen will disappear. I am afraid that we will not be able to make even a single bow."
come out."
The continuous pressure from the prime ministers forced Zhao Gou to compromise. He pondered for a while and said: "Forget it, just use Zhang Aiqing's plan! I will advance the payment to the court first, how much is needed?"
Everyone looked at each other with joy on their faces. Qin Hui quickly said: "Your Majesty, we need at least three million strings!"
Zhao Gou was stunned, "You want so much?"
Xu Xiantu said: "Your Majesty, we not only have to make up for what we owe for a few months, but we also have to keep two months in reserve. If the salt tax dilemma has not improved, I'm afraid two months will not be enough."
There was silence in the meeting hall. The salt tax was the key. Without the source of tax revenue, it would only become a stagnant pool of water. In the end, it would not even be able to maintain the political power.
Zhao Gou suddenly asked angrily: "Why hasn't Yan Dutong come yet?"
The eunuch hurriedly said at the door: "Yan Dutong has arrived, wait outside!"
"Send him in immediately!"
After a moment, Yan Xin, the commander of the Plum Blossom Guards, walked in quickly, knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"
"Sit down flat!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yan Xin sat down on a chair nearby.
Zhao Gou asked: "How is the progress of the investigation of illegal salt?"
Yan Xin secretly rejoiced that he had called Lu Gang in the morning, otherwise he would not have been able to answer.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have some clues."
Zhao Gou perked up and asked quickly: "Tell me, what clues are there?"
"Your Majesty, I have found out three salt lords, Li Zengping from Xuanzhou, Luo Zhi from Ningguo Mansion, and Lu Guang from Jiankang Mansion. They are responsible for transporting private salt from various places in the south of the Yangtze River. I have sent people to secretly investigate
Find out their whereabouts and arrest them as soon as they are located!"
"If we catch them, will the illegal reputation disappear?"
Yan Xinxin laughed and said: "Illegal salt sales are composed of three links. One is the source, which is the salt field, one is transportation and resale, mainly salt lords, and the other is sales in various states. Catching the salt lords in a humble position will only cut off the transportation.
The resale link also includes sales at the source and in each state.”
Yan Xin leaned forward and said: "I had such suspicions in my humble position, so I went to visit Lu Gang. He told me clearly that the proliferation of illegal salt in Jiangnan had nothing to do with them, and there was no need for them to do such a despicable thing to ruin their reputation."
Qin Hui sneered and said: "Of course he will say that, and he will definitely not admit that he sells private salt. Does Yan Dutong believe it?"
"Beizhong was a little dubious at first, but then something happened that made Beizhong realize that the proliferation of illegal sex might really have nothing to do with them."
Zhao Gou raised his eyebrows and asked, "What happened?"
Yan Xin bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Wei Chen heard that many housekeepers of large families buy private salt and then use the official salt price to pay the bills, lining their own pockets. Wei Chen went back to interrogate his own housekeeper, and he actually did the same thing.
, embezzled hundreds of dollars, and the angry officials asked him where he bought the salt salt privately. He was forced to confess that he bought the salt salt privately from Feng Daji's dry goods store."
As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was in an uproar. The dignified head of the country was actually selling private salt.
Qin Hui asked anxiously: "Is there any evidence?"
Yan Xin took out a receipt and handed it over, "This is a delivery note I found from the housekeeper today. It is the delivery note from Feng Ji Dry Goods Store, and it also has the shopkeeper's seal. It is clearly written on it, delivery
One hundred catties of salt, seventy cents per catty, reported to Qin Xiangguo, our official salt is three hundred cents per catty, this is the evidence."