"Do you have any idea?" Zhu Gaochi asked in surprise.
"Yes."
After seeing Zhu Zhanzhen's whimsical thoughts, Zhu Gaochi would not classify his words as Tongyanwuji.
"Let's go, let's talk on the way back."
The carriage was padded with thick cotton. The prince's poor health made riding in the carriage uncomfortable, and the carriage was bumpy, so the carriage was padded with thick cotton to make it more comfortable to sit on.
"Zhan Zhen, what is the solution you just said you have?"
"Father, the emperor wants you to allocate funds to increase the soldiers' salaries. This is not a bad move. With the increase in salary and various benefits, more and more people will become soldiers."
Zhu Gaochi smiled bitterly: "How could you not know that this is a good thing, but the real money must be saved from other places."
The imperial court's salary is only so much in total. If it increases here, it will have to be reduced in other places. But now there is too much expenditure and every project is difficult.
"Father, if you can't reduce expenditure, you can consider increasing revenue."
As soon as these words came out, Zhu Gaochi suddenly turned black: "Look, you can't use taxes on the people to drain the lake. The burden on the people is already heavy enough. The harvest from a year of hard work is only enough to feed the family. If you add more taxes, it will inevitably cause more trouble."
Cause public resentment."
The main income of ancient dynasties came from taxes, so when Zhu Zhanzhen mentioned the source of income, Zhu Gaochi thought that his idea was to increase taxes, so his face was full of displeasure.
"Father, open source does not necessarily require increased taxes."
"Oh? What can I do?"
"Father, do you know the soldiers of your nobles?"
"Of course I know." Zhu Gaochi felt a little baffled as to why Zhu Zhanchen mentioned the imperial soldiers.
In the Ming Dynasty, there were a lot of nobles of the third class, including Dukes and Bosan, who were still in trouble after the founding of the country. Although Zhu Yuanzhang killed some, the number was still very large.
As long as these people are not too prodigal in their second or third generation, their families have a lot of money and food, and they have more or less government soldiers, ranging from a few to dozens of people, and some even have close to a hundred people in high-ranking mansions.
In addition to nobles with titles, there are basically government soldiers in the palaces of the third and higher civil and military ranks of the imperial court, and even those of the fourth and fifth ranks.
These imperial soldiers are not included in the establishment, and are similar to servants. If the conditions are good, they will make some armor to wear, while if the conditions are not good, they will wear ordinary civilian clothes.
Zhu Gaochi looked curious: "What are you planning to do with the government soldiers?"
"Father, I don't think these soldiers are not organized but are not under the control of the army. There may be several thousand people in the entire Yingtian City. This is a considerable force."
Zhu Zhanyong interrupted at this time: "Fifth brother, you are talking all over the place and you haven't answered my father's question."
Rolling a glance at his third brother, Zhu Zhanzhen continued: "Father, can we bring these soldiers under the management of the imperial court and establish an army? The nobles can rent soldiers from them and are not allowed to cultivate soldiers privately. Since it is less dangerous,
The fees for renting soldiers from the nobles can increase our income."
This method surprised Zhu Gaochi. After thinking about it carefully, he found that there were many benefits, but he frowned slightly. How could he get the nobles to agree to give up the soldiers he had trained?
Zhu Zhanzhen naturally knew what was the most difficult part of this.
Then he said: "Father, our Ming Dynasty was at its peak. Except for the Tatars in the north, everything was peaceful. The nobles kept soldiers for self-protection and against thieves. The court could use the excuse that all the troops were returned to the court.
act.”
"All the troops have returned to the court." Zhu Gaochi muttered these four words: "This matter must be slowed down. Starting from the third-class earl, they have few soldiers. We will act after seeing the effect."
Zhu Zhanzhen knew that his fat father should have initially agreed with his idea.
"Father, today the emperor said that we should be considerate to the elderly and disabled in the military. I think it is very reasonable. Or we can let this newly-built military department recruit soldiers with veterans who have served in the military for more than five years.
Lord, if you are disabled, you can let him work as a civilian. This will not only solve the emperor's worries, but also solve the source of soldiers."
Zhu Gaochi clapped his hands when he heard this and said, "Okay, okay. Being a soldier does not have to be the same as going to the battlefield. There are enough retired soldiers, which in turn solves their livelihood problems."
Zhu Zhanzhen continued: "In the end, it is our military department that pays the salaries of the government soldiers. Therefore, the government soldiers are nominally the government soldiers of the nobles, but their military status is in the military department and they are soldiers. When there is a war, these government soldiers gather together and become soldiers.
It’s a lot of power.”
The more Zhu Gaochi talked about it, the more he felt that this method was feasible. Although there was a mountain of noble interests ahead, he could try to kill two birds with one stone.
"After I return to the palace, I will discuss with your grandpa Huang. If I can do it, I will remember your great contribution."
Zhu Zhanzhen said with a smile: "But..."
"but what?"
"Father, if it is possible, this department will be subordinate to the military department, but we will try to make it run independently, with all income and expenditures independent."
"Why?"
Zhu Zhanzhen said sheepishly: "If this department can make a profit, the saved money will not have to be taken away by other places, and the department can become bigger. If it cannot, it means that the court will have to add more money."
"
After saying this, Zhu Zhanzhen looked at his father carefully. He was trying to trick him into hiding his private money. After all, this country belonged to his family. If he wanted to hide his private money again, he would look petty.
Zhu Gaochi thought for a while: "The specific decision will be made after I discuss it with His Majesty in the evening."
"Yes, father."
When he was approaching the palace city, Zhu Gaochi suddenly said: "Zhan Xing, since this is what you want to do, can you give me a name? Call it Jun Fu Bing Si or just Fu Bing Si?"
"Father, the name of a government soldier is not pleasant. It sounds like a private soldier of the government. Let's call him Security Division, vigilance guard."
"Alert guard." Zhu Gaochi muttered these four words, and the more he said them, the better he felt: "Okay, I will tell His Majesty by this name tonight."
The fat dad was in a good mood and looked at Yingtian City outside the car. At this time, the lights were on and the entire Yingtian City was extremely prosperous.
"My Ming Dynasty is a little worse than the prosperous Tang Dynasty."
"Nine heavens open the palace, and all nations worship Mian Liu."
"Looking back at Chang'an, there are piles of embroidery, and thousands of doors are opening on the top of the mountain."
The prince casually chanted two lines of poetry. As an ambitious prince, he hoped that the Ming Dynasty would be as prosperous as the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Perhaps being a prince in that era would not require him to try his best to make money and save money every day.
"I really don't like reviewing. Every time I come out, another day has passed. I have to read those memorials at night, alas."
Seeing his fat father lamenting his hard work, Zhu Zhanzhen firmly believed that I can't be the emperor. I'm too tired. I can't tell what time I'll go to bed at night. It's good that I can choose a concubine to sleep with me.
This fine tradition must be carried forward to the feudal king.
"Father, there is no need to worry. I have a way to prevent the reviewing soldiers from leaving the city in the future. They can just stay in the city at the entrance of the palace."
