"You have been working as a weaver in Suhang for more than four years. How many benefits have you reaped?"
Li Chen's straight-to-the-point question highlighted his simplicity and crudeness.
He Kun, who was already nervous and uneasy, was sweating coldly. He did not hesitate at all and replied: "Those big textile, weaving, dyeing and other large companies have given benefits to the weaving department every season over the years."
"It was a bit reserved at first, but in the past two years it has become more and more upright. The Weaving Department has also acquiesced that there will be a fixed income every quarter."
"Weichen has received countless benefits over the years. It is impossible to calculate them all, but in terms of silver, they are about four to five million taels."
Hearing the last number, even Chen Tong couldn't help but glance sideways at He Kun, who was lying on the ground shivering.
Four to five million taels!
What concept is this!?
Chen Tong's annual salary is more than 300 taels, which he can barely reach with Dongchang's allowance and a series of benefits. For other officials of the same level, 200 taels would be considered good.
But now this small five-pin weaving company has made more than four million taels in more than four years, averaging one million taels a year.
The huge gap made Chen Tong feel a little tight in his chest.
After serving in Dongchang for so many years, Chen Tong caught countless corrupt officials, among whom the number of corrupt officials was greater than that of He Kun.
But there is no such thing as a fifth-grade official who can be greedy for so much.
Secretly clenching his fists, Chen Tong decided that after returning, he would focus more on local officials, who were all fat and oily worms.
"very good."
Li Chen threw out two words in a nonchalant manner, which made He Kun, who was already worried, feel even more at a loss as to what to do.
He didn't know if the prince's "very good" words meant that he had a good attitude towards honesty, or if he was speaking sarcastically out of anger after spending so much money.
Thinking quickly, He Kun swallowed and said hurriedly: "Your Highness, the situation is difficult now. Both local people and officials are having a hard time. In addition, the imperial court's control over the local area has been reduced year by year, so there is chaos.
There are many elephants, and the humble minister is incompetent. I am willing to offer suggestions and advice to His Highness."
Li Chen said indifferently: "Where did your plan come from, and what is your plan?"
He Kun immediately spoke at a very fast speed: "The officialdom is as cold as three feet of ice, which cannot be frozen in a day, and it will not be eliminated in one day. If Your Highness wants to rectify the officialdom, it takes three steps in the opinion of the humble minister."
.”
"The first step is for Your Highness to fully grasp the power of the government. If there are still many obstacles to the government, then the government decree will be a piece of waste paper after it leaves the capital. Local officials rely on the mountains to be high and the emperor to be far away, and they will be perfunctory and slack in government. This is the first
.”
"The second step is to use heavy rituals in troubled times and use capital punishment to kill a group of models to rectify the political atmosphere. However, this step requires His Highness to fully grasp the power of the government and to have a large number of reserve officials who can make up for it at any time. Otherwise,
The vacancies of local officials will lead to blocked government orders and local chaos, which is a serious problem."
"The third step... I don't dare to speak nonsense."
After listening to the first two sentences, Li Chen was already somewhat interested. What He Kun said was slightly different from his own policies, but the general direction was the same. This made Li Chen see He Kun's talent, so he said directly
: "Whatever you say, no matter what you say, I forgive you."
He Kun kowtowed again and said: "Significantly increase the salaries of officials all over the world and implement high salaries to maintain integrity."